A penny-pinching thread! Favorite ideas?

[Terri]

I have heard that as much as half of a households electric bill is due to things being plugged in.

Television sets NEVER need to warm up before they go on any more: it is because a small current is used by them all of the time. The plugged in clocks. the microwave with the correct time on it.

All of these take CONSTANT electricity, and electricity is never free. Unplugging anything not in use has sometimes saved people half of their electric bill.

What is your FAVORITE penny-pinching idea?

[Shamrock1121]

This isn't original to me, but it's a good one:

"Use everything like it's your last."

We can use most things in smaller amounts than what we think.

-If you take that to heart, your toothpaste will last 4-5 times longer than when you load a full brush full, when you only need a bit about the size of a small pea.

-Thirty-six inches of TP when 4-6 sheets can do the job.

-In most recipes, you can cut the sugar in them by 10-25-percent.

-Karen

[homemade_mamma]

Lots of little things, like the ones Karen mentioned above.

My newest one on my list is to save on the water bill.
When the kids take baths I use the water when they are done and fill my washing machine and do a load with it. Did you know it takes from 16-20 gallons to just run the wash cycle? They usually aren't filthy little piggies so I think the water is perfect to use. It even adds a bit more soap to the laundry that way ;)
Also on my recent list is:
-make all of our own bread items
-keep heat down (every degree you turn it down saves you 5% on your bill)
-learning to buy only on sale and stock pile groceries
-AND stay away from Wal-mart as much as possible... this is also my new year's resolution by the way ;D

~Debbie

[flatwater]

OK let me add my list , Wife cuts my own hair, Soap for shaving cream , 3 minute showers every other day unless needed , ride motor scooter any day above freezing and no ice , Grow veggies and hunt for meat or raise my own Make love to wife on only the days that start with T , thats Tunday Tonday , tuesday, twednesday , thursday , teiday and tanterday. Well I may be stretching the last one a little

[MNMOM]

ROFL, Flatwater, you are a stitch!

Glad to see that you are getting your exercise! ;D

[michiganmom]

I make my own laundry soap, dog treats, hang clothes to dry in the house in the winter, buy food on sale and in bulk and make bar soap and quilts out of old clothes/ sheets ect.
I enjoy doing all these things too.

[jonvee]

I actually got this from by brother -

if you have trash service ask the trash company to discontinue the yard waste can because you compost - will save $5 month (in our area), ask for a small size regular trashcan saves $3 a month (in our area)

I keep a container on the sink to empty water glasses, juice and ice into. When it's full I water my potted plants. Larger pots of water like from boiling pasta, potatoes etc is cooled and used for potted plants also.

[hillbillygal]

If you catch the water while you're waiting for it to warm for a shower, you can use it for many uses. For example, watering plants, watering animals, filling the toilet tank, etc. We keep a bucket in the bathroom so it's handy when we need it.

[MNMOM]

I make my own laundry soap, dog treats, hang clothes to dry in the house in the winter, buy food on sale and in bulk and make bar soap and quilts out of old clothes/ sheets ect.
I enjoy doing all these things too.

I make my own laundry soap also, and it does a wonderful job of cleaning.

I have cut my DH's hair since we got married, I wonder how much I've saved through the years?

I sew most of my clothes and sew a lot for the grandchildren. I love sewing and a lot of the presents that I give are something that I've sewn. I also make quilts, mainly for the creative part of me. I also do a little upholstering, you can make old look new again.

I can, dehydrate and freeze everything out of my garden. Everything we eat is made from scratch.

I like to make a game out of penny pinching, it just makes it more fun that way.

[Dawgus]

I buy all of my work clothes at goodwill
We make our own soap, cleaners, and laundry detergent
We hang clothes to dry inside in winter and outdoors in summer, and I'm STILL looking around for a good used wringer washer.
We grow/raise most of our own food, and I hunt& fish for others. One thing I always point out is that the more of our piddly acre I use for food production, the less I have to mow. What we have left now,I use a reel mower.
My wife makes all of our own bread, soups,chili, salsa,jams, jellies, and way more than I can list
We only buy groceries when they are on sale and most things we buy in bulk.
The tv, cable, and cable internet are going bye bye at the end of this month. Internet will be wireless after that. $115 down to $30 ;D
We eliminated most electric appliances and gadgets. No microwave, electric mixers, alarm clocks,toaster,can opener,coffee maker,electric razor, very few lights/lamps.
Since we recycle and compost nearly everything, my wife managed to get our garbage pickup to once every-other week, cutting the bill in half.
I'm a notorius jobsite dumpster diver. I can't begin to list the building materials I've taken from dumpsters and used for something here. Last year I made our composter, 2 cold frames, and most of my rabbit hutches and chicken tractor all from scavenged lumber & materials. Just last week I brought home 12-6 foot 2x4's I dug out of a dumpster.Anything else I need, I buy from a Habitat for Humanity store, from craigslist or from freecycle. Also last year, I swapped a van load of lumber for 2 salmon rods that were collecting dust. I don't think I've paid full price for lumber in 2 years.

I'm sure I can think of more....lol

[momma_to_seven_chi]

Never buy New unless absolutely necessary. That is our main saving strategy. And if you have to buy new - get it on sale. WM often runs dollar racks, so if I can get clothes on those, I will rather than at yardsales or thrift stores. I bought dd 8 pairs of jeans and a dozen shirts off the dollar rack before Christmas. I also got each son 6 new polo type shirts for a dollar each. Any clothes that we can't get on really good new sales like that comes second hand.
We also buy food on sale and keep a full pantry. Plus we raise our own rabbits, eggs, garden, goat milk, etc.
Another great frugal tip is to make friends with the Amish. They have wonderful (reasonably priced) grains to buy directly from their mill. They also have a green house, bakery, furniture, etc. We try to frequent their businesses before spending elsewhere if it is at all possible. They are nice people.
When contemplating building projects, we go to a local place that sells salvaged windows, wood, siding, and even bricks. Last summer we bought several bricks of shingles for only $5 each. They sell plywood for 5-6 dollars a sheet. I can certainly handle a knot or two if it saves me over twenty dollars a sheet for plywood. Salvaged materials and irregular materials can work just as well as expensive ones.
The biggest money saving tip is to just stay home. You can't waste money if you stay out of stores and restaurants where you would normally spend it. Blizzards do great things for the pockets just by keeping you home.

[leera]

Oh wow,where to start with this one?

1)Make my own laundry soap
2)save water from shower to flush toilet,or do laundry.
3)hang clothes indoors to dry(out of need to start with,now just because it's cheaper)
4)shop clearance sales.
5)I do use a lot of coupons,which usually double
6)Buy in bulk
7)Either make my own bread or only buy what's marked down at the store,usually around $0.49 a loaf.
8 ) plan all drivng,this saves at least one tank of gas a week.
9)I frequent thrift stores,etc,a lot
10)Keep the thermostat turned down a bit
double up on the blankets instead
11)Look for freebie deals(we have a local church that has a clothing and household goods give away every week,this has saved us hundreds of $$$)
12) avoid the use of plastic currency....I've been quilty of this in the past,it's a hard and exspensive lesson to learn.
13)make all my own jams,jellies,sauces and salsa.
14)grow as much food as I can in my container garden.

My number one rule is:

NEVER pay full price for anything unless you have no other options....... :)

[GoodDaughter]

I always think of alternatives to everything.

For example, for groceries that I don't grow/raise myself, I like to go to the local scratch and dent grocery store. They usually have scratch/dent stuff, but also misdirected freight or good food that came off a damaged pallet (eggs, for example... a while back they had bought a few pallets of eggs where one side of the pallet had been crushed, so the whole pallet was just sold off as salvage and they sold them for .50 cents/doz. I get eggs from my hens but I bought a few doz. for family). Crushed boxes of cereal for .89 or .99 cents are just fine because the inner pouch is still intact. Coffee cans dented but still vacuum sealed. Toilet paper that comes by the 2000 ft. commercial sized roll for $1.99, and brown paper towels like in restrooms are 800 ft. for $3. I seldom use paper towels so these will last me years, probably.

Think 'ALTERNATIVE'. Where can I go to buy things other than Wal Mart or Kroger or Brookshires (within reason of course; I'd never buy food from the flea market--I've seen some horrible stuff there).

Clothes and household goods from resale shops. Keep looking long enough and something you want will eventually turn up.

Buy flat sheets instead of buying the flat/fitted set, and buy a size larger than your bed so they will stay tucked under. I see new in the package flat sheets frequently, usually just a few dollars at the resale shop.

Learn to do simple sewing because you can turn out really nice things by learning to simply sew a single straight stitch. No need to learn fancy techniques at first.

[cubcadet]

Buy essentials like TP, grains, beans, meat, laundry soap, beer (at least for me), and most freezables and dry goods in as large bulk amounts as possible. Try to heat with wood. Avoid buying food in regular supermarkets. Stay away from Mickey D`s. Scan the local Thrifty Nickel for deals. Go to farmstands for vegetables that you don`t grow yourselves. Buy late harvested crops like tomatoes, squash, broccoli, onions and potatoes late in the season in large amounts for either canning or cold storage. Frequent a favorite grower and befriend them. They may just give stuff to you free. I have a guy like this that gives me free excess garlic and zukes, which I just freeze. If your dog has unexpected puppies, keep them. When you run across a farmer that looks like he needs a dog, offer him one. Offer him 2. You never know what it may get you.

[Maranna]

I have a well, but am very careful how I use water.

I have no hot water heater, so have to heat water for bathing, so save water that way too.

I make most of my own dog food, I buy rice, cook a big pot full every few days for the dogs. I buy some cheap pork fat to cook in with the rice for flavor. I do buy an 18# bag of some dry food to add to the rice for the larger dog, he's old, but still has his teeth, the smaller dog has no teeth, so can only eat the rice.

I make my own hot cocoa, which saves a bundle. I'm using powdered milk that's 4 or 5 years old.

I don't have a dryer, and have a very old washer, with only one wash, rinse and two spin cycles. I wash one load of colored clothes a week and one load of white clothes a month. Have enough sheets, towels and underwear, so I can do that. Everything is lined dried.

I have $50 a month to buy groceries on, so have to be very careful.

I live on an old piece of commercial property, so have commercial electricity and the bill never runs more than $50, even running two window ac units in the summer and a small heater in the winter.

I live in an 18 (not counting the tongue) camper, so it's easy to heat and cool.

I have tons of clothes and linens, given to me. The clothes I can't wear, I turn into rag doll clothes.

I have almost a half an acres of raw land next door, that I mow, using a gas powered push mower. I have a grass catcher, so all the clippings are in two huge piles composting. I also bought one of those composting barrels that's suppose to make compost in two week. I've had it four years and it's never made a load of compost yet, ti was a waste of money.