Is That Pile Of Dirty Dishes Costing You Big?

I haven’t been feeling too great the past few weeks and am still recovering from the Flu. One thing I noticed is that we ended up getting a lot more convenience foods and take-out. I just didn’t have the energy to face a sink full of dirty dishes and tried hard not to do too much cooking to avoid getting the rest of my family sick.

While canned soup and pizza deliveries work fine for the short term in a case like this, it can seriously hurt your budget in the long run. I was reminded of this by the following article that my friend Jill from LivingOnADime.com emailed me a few days ago.

Dirty Dishes Cause Debt!
by Jill Cooper
http://www.LivingOnADime.com

The other day I was asked one of the most common questions that people ask me: “Where do I start if I want to get out of debt?” After telling me of her huge credit card debt and how they eat out almost every night, the lady took a deep breath and said, “How do I save on laundry detergent and cleaning supplies?” Sometimes we can’t see the forest for the trees.

Even though saving money on cleaning supplies does help and should be part of your plan, that usually isn’t where the biggest problem with the debt lies. This woman never once thought to ask me how to stop eating out so much. Most people don’t want to face the real causes of their debt because their biggest problems are the things they like the most. Going out to eat is one of the top five causes of debt.

Get those dirty dishes out of the sink!!

We go out to eat because we can’t face a dirty kitchen. Keeping your kitchen empty of dirty dishes is the key to saving money. This is probably the #1 way to start getting out of debt. Most people are so overwhelmed with piled counter tops and dirty dishes that they would rather go out to eat than face a dirty kitchen.

Do the dishes after every meal and keep hot soapy water in the sink while you are baking or cooking. Clean as you go. If your sink is empty and the dishes are washed, your kitchen always looks good. This helps you save money because you have the time and space to cook.

To get in and out of the kitchen quickly, try these easy steps:

1. Put all dirty dishes in the dishwasher. Fill the sink with hot soapy water and put the hand washables in it to soak.
2. Wipe off counter tops and tables with hot soapy water. (This way, if you have unexpected company, at least your table and counters will be clean.)
3. Sweep the floor and shake throw rugs if needed.
4. Wash the dishes that have been soaking.
5. Wipe down the faucets and dry with a towel. (Be sure to wipe any sticky appliances, too.)
6. Put out a clean dish rag and towel.
7. Take out the trash.

These simple steps can help you start climbing your way out of debt. You will be amazed how much better you will feel just having the kitchen clean.

Jill Cooper and Tawra Kellam are frugal living experts and the authors of the Dining On A Dime Cookbook. Dining On A Dime will help you save money on groceries and get out of debt, by cooking quick and simple homemade meals. For free tips & recipes visit www.hillbillyhousewife.com/load

I’m doing much better and am ready to tackle that sink full of dishes just as soon as I finish my coffee. I know it will feel great to have a clean kitchen and dishes put away. It always motivates me to plan my meals for the week and put on a pot of homemade soup.

I Highly Recommend The Entire Living On A Dime Series For Frugal Living