Why buy fabric softener when you can put that money towards paying your school loans.

Amen. Also dryer sheets. #1..I always get complimented when hugged b/c I use the island breeze Gain detergent. Probobaly b/c I use 2 cups instead of one. #2 I dont iron my clothes. I just throw them into the dryer 10-15 minutes before I wear them and use like 10 dryer sheets (after I've already dried them of course). I dont mind spending a few extra bucks to smell nice :)

My husband is super into old-school chemistry stuff and makes his own soap. We started using thin flakes of it for laundry (good quality knives are a good investment and a sharp one will flake the hell out of some soap) and the clothes A) got perfectly clean and B) got softer.

What kind of soap do you use? Very good idea!

He literally makes the soap, starting with lye and oils/fats.

Then again I guess if you have kids or something, but if you have kids and cant afford laundry detergent you kind of fucked up already, didn't you?

I have to pay just a bit more to get the hypo allergenic soaps and dryer sheets. My son is allergic to about all cleaners except the dreft or purex. Glad I can make it a priority and save the time of attempting to make it.