frugal habits

[jtur88]

Originally Posted by BergenCountyJohnny

Just a few...

When I need some paper towel, instead of ripping off a sheet, or even a half sheet, I rip off a small strip - about 1/4 or 1/5 of a sheet, and sometimes even half of that. I have found that for most things that actually does the job. .

When I make my weekly trip to Burger King to use my perpetually renewing free-Whopper coupon (back of the register ticket), I always take a handful of at least a dozen napkins home with me. So I never need to buy paper towels or tissues. I use launderable cloth napkins at the table.

Here's something you need to know. In the produce department, if the net bag says 3 pounds of onions, they keep putting onions in the bag until it goes over 3 pounds. I weigh several bags on the produce scale and take the heaviest. Always at least 3.3 pounds, once I hit the jackpot at 3.9. Same with carrots. Five 1-pound bags will weigh at least 6 pounds, and will be as cheap as a 5-pound bag.

My supermarket bakery always makes holiday-themed cookies. They're half price the day after the holiday.

[yellowsnow]

Originally Posted by LittleDolphin

We've become accustomed to sharing one car between us. It took some getting used to and accommodation.

Like last night.

I had a girl-friend pot luck to go to. My DH had another event to attend in a neighboring town. I rode my bike to my friend's house. And as it was dark by the time my pot-luck ended (no lights on bike, thinking of getting some), my DH came and picked me up after his event ended and I left the bike at my friend's house and got a lift to pick it up this AM.

We figured all this out easily and without any whining of "But I need the car." As I said, it took getting used to but works smoothly now...

And we're saving a bunch of money on insurance, registration, maintenance and repairs...plus we both really like bicycling around town.

I like this idea. I need to get my bike fixed!

[taurus430]

This is a great thread. Thanks for all the good ideas. We use the grocery bags for garbage also.

I buy whole chicken legs w/back on sale at $.49 /lb. I chop the back off and bake them Italian style (garlic, herbs, onions, vinegar/wine, cajun seasoning. You can get about 7-8 legs for $4 and change. Add quartered potaoes to the chicken and salad or veggie.

[Jaxson]

Originally Posted by Moonwalkr

Regarding things I don't think about... I don't flush all night until leaving for work in the morning, unless I think it'll perhaps get clogged. Usually feces don't smell after a while when you get used to it.

Our rule for overnight trips to the restroom is: if it is yellow let it mellow, if it is brown flush it down.


We do quite a few things already listed plus these:

~~Stopped all magazine subscriptions check them out at the library for free. Same with DVDs and VHS movies.

~~Stopped smoking that saves about $300 per month.

~~Only order water to drink if we go out to eat that saves our family at least $10-$12 on one trip. Never buy soda pop for home either; water, milk, tea or juice are the choices here.

~~Use vinegar instead of fabric softener in my laundry. Also use vinegar to wash windows wiping with newspaper and use it mixed with a little water to dust with.

~~Plant garden and always can up the bounty. Was raised doing that.

~~I buy meat in bulk to get the price break then put it in the freezer in the sizes we need.

~~Bake our own cakes & cookies so much cheaper and end up with more than comes in the packages at a store.

~~Hang clothes to dry on a clothes line in the summer in the winter I hang them on a long bar in my utility room.

~~Fill water bottles 3/4 full with water place in the freezer. When frozen put them in insulated lunch bags instead of buying those plastic reusable ones. By the time lunch rolls around it has melted enough to drink the water instead of buying a drink. Bring home the empty bottle and repeat.

~~Cook double quantities of beans, soups and casseroles eat one freeze one.

~~Always take an insulated mug in the car with me with water in it. Same for the kids.

~~Middle console in the van has granola bars, cheese crackers and dried fruits to stave off hunger instead of going to fast food joints.

[sarahkate_m]

It's too cold here to hang dry in the winter, so I hang the heaviest things like towels then when they're almost dried out, I'll put them in the dryer with other things.

When it was warmer, I'd hang the towels till they were dry then put them with wet things in the dryter. My theory is the dry towels help the other things dry faster. The dryer helps the towels get soft (we don't use liquid softener but I'm thinking about the vinegar idea now!!!)

Kate

[jtur88]

I never buy paper products. I eat once or twice a week at fast food places, and take a dozen or so napkins from the dispenser each time---so I never buy napkins, paper towels, kleenex or toilet paper. For printer paper, I use the blank backs of junk mail. Envelopes for note pads.

For trash containers, I rinse out tin cans, and keep one in each room. Little bits of trash get stuffed inside, and when they're full, the whole thing goes. Except the kitchen, where I use the free plastic bags from the store.

[scrappinJudy]

I never buy paper products. I eat once or twice a week at fast food places, and take a dozen or so napkins from the dispenser each time-

of course that hikes up the overhead of the FF joint & thus increases the price for you & the rest of us. Plus it is stealing, isn't it????????????

you also take their s&p & sugar & ketchup & etc???? HELP YOURSELF!

[sdhivya]

this is a really good forum and i am learning lots. i am not a shopaholic but not as thrifty as some others.
some of the things i have been doing are

grocery bags in trash cans
keeping water/snacks in the car every time i go out
taking my own snack/drink to the movies
packing my lunch to work.

i have been trying to save money on clothes and eating out and i think i am better than before. i have also learnt about the coupons for grocery and i have gotten some and will be using it this week.

i shud also think of doing grocery shopping once in 2 weeks instead of whenever i need it. also planning to buy meat in bulk and keep it so i can cook it whenever i want and dont have to go to the shop just to get that.

[Jess5]

Originally Posted by BergenCountyJohnny

Just a few...

When I need some paper towel, instead of ripping off a sheet, or even a half sheet, I rip off a small strip - about 1/4 or 1/5 of a sheet, and sometimes even half of that. I have found that for most things that actually does the job. If not, I rip off a little more. I've realized that there is almost nothing that requires one sheet - everything can be done with less than half a sheet, or it's the other extreme, requiring several sheets (like a big spill). And in the case of a several-sheet situation, I now use a towel instead, anyway.

I do as many of my errands in my own town as I can, and it involves the 1/2 mile walk into town and back. Bank, post office, light shopping, all done on foot. I don't even mail things to town hall anymore, I walk them there.

I pay bills online to save on postage and checks.

I canceled netflix and make full use of my town's library (which I usually walk to and from) as well as the other libraries in the county which I have access to.

I make a night out of a nice walk in the woods or in the city and then a cheap street meal and maybe a cup of coffee and dessert instead of going to full service restaurants and then to bars for a few beers. This saves easily more than half of what I used to spend, so I can afford to splurge on a movie or bar or sit-down, full service dinner once in a while - and I appreciate those things more now, too.

I envy those of you who can walk to town, stroll through town, and walk home. My area is so congested, you are taking your life in your hands just walking down the street!