Matt and I have been brainstorming some very big things this week. This is just a spin-off of what we've been talking about... Training our kids in business NOW. We are praying about a big decision, but in the meantime, adoption is still front and center.
The deal?
We want to take our kids with us to China. We have decided to take Alex and Ansley for sure (Lord willing the funds are there), and possibly even Aidan. Averleigh is just too young.
BUT the airline tickets are about $1500.00 per person. That means we need to come up with at least $3000.00. $4500.00 if Aidan goes. I know, my math is amazing isn't it?
While I was reading this article an idea literally popped into my head!
What if the kids and I made our own laundry detergent and turned it into a FUNdraiser?!
I've been trying to become more frugal lately. The notion of making my own soap has come across my mind several times over the past months. It is so cost effective and EASY to make your own.
So I googled some recipes and came across my favorite family's recipe for homemade laundry detergent.
I went to the store, bought the three products for a whopping $8.77, picked the kids up from school, got home, & got to work!
We had a blast!
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| No, the recipe does NOT call for eyeballs. Thank heavens. |
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| Aidan, cleaning out our 5 gallon bucket. The recipe makes 10 gallons total! |
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| shaving the Fels-Naptha |
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| And stealing a little smooch |
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| Miss Av "helps" mommy by mixing the other two ingredients. |
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| The warm water to disolve the Fels-Naptha |
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| Stirring |
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| more stirring |
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| Adding the other ingredients and the melted Fels-Naptha to the half-full bucket of warm water. |
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| Stirring, stirring, stirring |
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| And more stirring. |
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| Ta-Daa! |
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| Covered for the night |
Then we raced out to the Dollar Store to look for some inexpensive containers...
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| We got these 16oz. containers: 5 for $1.00. We decided to start with 4 sets just to make sure they work. |
The recipe says to cover it and let it set overnight. When we woke up this morning we found that it had jelled just like it was suppose to.
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| More stirring |
So we diluted it with water, as the recipe calls, and filled our little containers.
Now we need to go buy out the supply of 16oz. containers!
Our grand total spent so far?
$12.77! $4.00 of that is the containers, so...
$8.77 FOR 640 LOADS OF LAUNDRY!!!
AND it actually smells really nice too. You can add essential oils for added fragrance if you want, but we chose not to for cost reasons.
I'm brainstorming our selling options. So far I'm thinking the wagon and 3 kids going door to door in our neighborhood, emails and phone calls to friends and family, and possibly even our community farmers market. Gotta check into that one. I also need to come up with an inexpensive idea for labels. Any suggestions?
We are thinking of asking $5.00 each. There are at least 4 loads of soap in each container and we plan to include the recipe so that the customer can then turn around and make their own. So they actually save in the long run! That means we would have to sell 600 of these to pay for 2 plane tickets. I don't know if we'll be able to sell 600, but that's ok. Every little bit helps. And who knows? Maybe we will sell 900 and pay for all 3! With God, all things are possible and I believe He's the one who planted this idea in my mind.
Whadaya think???
Oh and BTW, I just finished my first load of stinky towels with the homemade soap and it turned out GREAT! I didn't use bleach or fabric softener bc I wanted to see if they looked and smelled clean and they actually did! Yipee!
Blessings,
Rebecca
Definitely FUN!!! My Sis in law does this and gave us some for my bday one year. It was GREAT!!!!!
ReplyDeleteRebecca, Sometimes airlines will offer adoption discounts on the international leg of the flight at the airlines discretion. You'll likely meet up with your travel group in Beijing before flying 2 hrs to Chongqing. Air China has direct flights to Beijing while other carriers fly into Hong Kong first. IF you can swing a few days in Beijing before meeting up with your in country guide do it! Beijing has alot to see including the Great wall and Forbidden City. MANY hotels to choose from as well.
ReplyDeletePhil
This is a fantastic idea! The pics are great-oh how I miss y'all!!
ReplyDelete~Aunt Tracy
Great idea to raise some $$$!!! Hope you make a lot of sales.
ReplyDeleteIt's an amazing opportunity for siblings to travel during these adoption trips. Morgan has been to China 2x and Bulgaria 1x. She has seen things most kids in this country will never see- and I don't mean "tourist" sites; but the real stuff going on in the world. It's a good trip to grow both academically AND in compassion for others. Blessings, Jennifer
P.S. If you take a trip north, of course you would be more then welcome to stop by!! We would love to meet you all :)
ReplyDeleteRebecca, can I share this on one of my FB groups?
ReplyDeleteHi Annie! Yes, of course you can! I hope that someone else might benefit from it. I'm not sure how we are going to make it happen for us just yet. I found out that I need a business license to sell it at the farmers market:( Which is fine except that it's not free to get one and then you have to pay taxes on your sales. It may not be worth it.
ReplyDeleteXo!
I was going to ask how the sales are going, but just read your last comment. Have you gone door to door yet?
ReplyDeleteThanks for sharing Rebecca!!!