Jan
07
What are your unique ways of being frugal?
Posted ByNot talking about cutting down on lunches (although it saves tons of $) or separating need vs want. Just unique ways to make things stretch a little….
For Example: sometimes, when money’s tight, I microwave that slither of bar soap for 10 seconds in the microwave. It puffs up into a bigger size, lathers better, and it saves me bundles.
I also use kitchen products, like olive oil, to get rid of makeup.
What do you guys do?
7 Comments
January 7th, 2010 at 11:04 am
Check out the library for books and magazine articles on frugal living. While at the library, use their printers to print things instead of using your home equipment and supplies. Many libraries allow you to check out videos, games, and have workshops for free. I literally save hundreds of dollars a year by not buying things until I know for sure that I want or need them.
January 7th, 2010 at 12:00 pm
i do a few things – i always carry water with me so i don’t have to stop at an expensive place to pick one up. I also refill it while out if needed. (I live in a city, so walk alot and often find myself out for longer than expected.)
i pay attention to my car, keep it clean and don’t carry extra weight, make sure it is maintained well etc. in addition i take the defensive driving course so my car insurance is lower.
similar to your soap idea (thanks for that!), i put containers into hot water to get the last bits out of things like lotion, conditioner etc. makes the product softer and it comes out more easily.
here are some sites that may interest you:
http://www.frugalweekly.com/e-books.htm
http://www.frugal-families.com/index.htm
http://www.thefrugallife.com/
Have fun!
January 7th, 2010 at 12:06 pm
We reuse ziplock bags several times depending on what was inside the previous time.
We use plastic weis bags as small trash bags in the little trash cans.
We’ve started to burn everything that is cardboard, paper, etc, so that it doesn’t go in the trash and that saves us money on the trash bill (and we use less trash bags.)
We use old rags to dust and clean with, and then wash them… rather than buying sponges and paper towels as often.
Definitely hang out your clothes to dry and some people make their own detergent. (I haven’t done that yet, but it sounds reasonable.) Also wash your clothes in cold water.
If you do go out for dinner – share a dinner with someone. Portions are plenty big…. or buy a dinner especially for its “left over” value. When I go out to eat, I only get dinners that reheat well, because then I get a “free” lunch out of it the next day.
Its actually fun to live frugally because there are always new things to try, and I know I’m helping the environment AND saving so much money!
January 7th, 2010 at 12:59 pm
Standing shampoo bottles upside down when near empty so every bit of it runs toward the opening. When it’s empty fill about a 1/3 full of water and you’ll easily get another 2 shampoos.
January 7th, 2010 at 1:48 pm
Well, i’m rich so i don’t need to spend my time coming up with ways to be Frugal.
January 7th, 2010 at 2:08 pm
I like to be frugal. I:
-reuse ziploc type bags I get from the dollar store
-keep scrimpy pieces of soap in a jar of water to make liquid handsoap
-take brown bag lunches for work
-get freebies off the internet like free samples of soap, shampoo, toothpaste
-use coupons to the point of gettign stuff free
-put a glass juice bottle in the back of the toilet tank
January 7th, 2010 at 2:32 pm
Do not buy prepared foods but start from scratch. Cook enough for three meals. Very really use paper towels,cloth ones instead.