The cutest way to save money

I will admit that when I decided to use cloth diapers, it wasn't because it saves money or is good for the environment, but rather because

1. It hearkened back to the good ol' days, which I have a habit of being nostalgic for, despite the Polio and lack of running water.

2. It seemed the trendy thing to do and all the other mom-bloggers were doing it.

3. But mostly because cloth diapers are CUTE.

The cuteness is 99% of the reason that I cloth diaper.

Or rather, 99% of the reason that I began. 

I currently have the smallest diaper stash known to man, and am in the process of convincing Travis that we need more diapers, but here's how we save money:

I have 11 cloth diapers (there used to be a dozen, but one got lost somewhere...?) which means that the boys go through 6 diapers every other day, then 5 diapers every other day. And I do wash every other evening.

So, we'll say we use 5.5 diapers a day.

In one week, that saves us 38.5 diapers. In one month (or four weeks) that saves us 154 diapers.

In 52 weeks, that saves us 2,002 diapers.

Over 2,000 diapers a year! 

A box of Pampers from Target gives you 234 diapers for $48.50.

If I understand basic maths (which I probably don't), that means that 2,002 diapers would cost $415.

So, by using only 5-6 reusable diapers a day, I am saving over 400$ a year.

And how much have I spent on cloth diapers themselves?

I bought all 12 of my cloth diapers (and they're the nice expensive kind) when they were on sale for about $120. (I don't remember the exact price).

We bought a diaper sprayer to hook to the toilet for an additional $14.

We don't pay for our own water (yay!) and I make my own insanely cheap laundry detergent, for probably 25$ a year (for all our detergent, not just for the diapers.)

If they use the diapers for three years, that's really only about 50$ a year (including detergent, sprayer, and diapers with the cost spread out over that time...)

So cloth saves us 365 dollars a year.

I've been figuring this math out as I go along (and you accountants and financial people can just shut your mouths about my poor math skills!) so that's about a dollar a day!

And even though a dollar a day doesn't SEEM like that much... it totally is.

And if a dollar a day doesn't seem like that much, just imagine 6 or 7 super sized boxes of disposable diapers, because that's what we're saving here.

Cloth diapers, I am back, baby!

I hope your weekend is awesome, and I would love a little vote!