Often, when we run into financial difficulties, the first thing we think of is "How do I make my own laundry soap?" Now, what you've spent on laundry soap isn't the problem. It's what you've spent on everything that's the real problem. Learning to make your own laundry soap isn't going to put your bank book back in the black again.
If you want to feel the satisfaction of making your own laundry soap, you're certainly entitled to that. You can't save yourself from foreclosure or repossessions by doing this, but it is a nice little trick to know nonetheless.
All you need is a bar of real soap. It can be Ivory or home made soap. Shave or shred it so that you can put it in a 4 quart pot on the stove. Add two quarts of water. Simmer until the soap is completely melted. Pour this into a 5 gallon bucket and 4 gallons of cool water. This will set up into a sort of gel that you can use for laundering your clothes and treating stains. It's kind of a slimy feeling goop, but you can use two cups of this gel to wash a full load of laundry.
Since Ivory soap is so inexpensive, generally around .25 a bar for the personal size, you've made your laundry soap for mere nano-pennies a load.
Now, you've done something financially responsible and taken a baby step in the right direction. You can apply this mindset to the rest of your budget, finding ways to cut costs and spending. First off, though, contact your creditors and let them know you very much intend to pay them. See if you can work out a plan that you can afford for getting caught up. Not a permanent plan. A temporary one that will bring you up to current on your debts. Then, continue paying until you have your debts cleared out.
Creditors don't have repossession or foreclosure as their goal. They just want to be paid the money you promised to pay them when you made the debt. Contacting them before proceedings begin can stay the proceedings and put both your and your creditors' minds at ease.
Soap is very basic, but it's not the end-all-and-be-all of debt management.
