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Partially for frugality but mostly for kicks: upon seeing an increase in my water bill last year, I looked for ways to cut my water bill. I actually did bucket bathes (the same way they teach you to shower in Peace Corps in poorer countries) for a few times. I have long hair and I could make myself clean on 5 gallons of water. Average navy showers use around 12-15 gallons.
I know it's unethical but sometimes I put alcohol in a water bottle and put it in my bag. The places I go don't check bags which is silly but it's an advantage for me. I save a lot of money on drinks. I can still socialize without breaking the bank- I will buy one drink just to look like I bought a drink there. Sometimes I pre game, too. I save hundreds of dollars a year.
I also use the plastic bags from grocery stores as garbage bags for the bathroom as I can never remember to take the reusable bags into the store with me. Around the holidays, I get paper bags and use those to wrap/label packages. I get all my boxes from work.
I use old socks as dust rags. Just slip them on my hand and I'm good to go.
I have a programmable thermostat though I'm not sure if I'm saving anything that way. I also don't turn on the sprinklers until the yard is on the verge of becoming a fire hazard, which in this area isn't typically until the end of July.
I use junk mail offer envelopes as scratch paper-a trait I inherited from my father.
I'm trying a "just in time" inventory system on my perishable food items to try to cut back on the food that goes to waste despite my best intentions.
ETA: When my candles get low, I combine them so I can burn all the wax instead of wasting the last little bit.
Last edited by NWGirl74; 08-09-2012 at 12:18 PM..
Reason: Remembered something else
I know it's unethical but sometimes I put alcohol in a water bottle and put it in my bag. The places I go don't check bags which is silly but it's an advantage for me. I save a lot of money on drinks. I can still socialize without breaking the bank- I will buy one drink just to look like I bought a drink there. Sometimes I pre game, too. I save hundreds of dollars a year.
I use a lot of hand and body lotion, and I found that when the bottle stops pumping lotion, there is still a decent amount left inside. So when the bottle seems empty, I cut it open, and scrape out the remaining lotion. There is usually enough for about 3-4 days left in there, coating the insides of the bottle. Can't believe that for years I wasted that!
I use a lot of hand and body lotion, and I found that when the bottle stops pumping lotion, there is still a decent amount left inside. So when the bottle seems empty, I cut it open, and scrape out the remaining lotion. There is usually enough for about 3-4 days left in there, coating the insides of the bottle. Can't believe that for years I wasted that!
I've been known to remove the pump and just bang the bottle against my hand to get every last bit out.
Oh and someone once told me she does this: she saves all the cereal dust/crumbs in a container. When she bakes cookies she adds in the cereal crumbs to the batter, and gets a few more cookies out of the batch.
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