What's your favorite frugal tip?

[hillbilly_mom]

What do you do that saves you money?


I save all of the heels of the bread and turn them into bread crumbs. I whirl them in the food processor and put them on a cookie sheet. If I put them in the oven with just the light bulb on they are dry within 2 days. I can store them on the pantry shelf without having to worry about them molding.

What do you do?

[gypho]

We just eat ours. It's the favorite part of the bread, to us. And it doesn't take up any storage space... ;)

gypho ;D

[sma]

drink water. seriously. instead of buying juice or sodas we just drink water. we also refill water bottles and keep in the fridge to take with us instead of just buying more bottled water. i calculated that we save at least $40 a month by not drinking soda and refilling the water bottles. plus it's better for you! ;D

[gypho]

drink water. seriously. instead of buying juice or sodas we just drink water. we also refill water bottles and keep in the fridge to take with us instead of just buying more bottled water. i calculated that we save at least $40 a month by not drinking soda and refilling the water bottles. plus it's better for you! ;D


HEY!!! We do that too! And for the same reasons, lol!

Way to go, sma!

gypho

[edward_4576]

Eat what you stock, stock what you eat.

Make it last, wear it out, make it do or do with out.

[Smoky]

I look for products in re-usable containers. If I have to buy something at a store, I try to only pay for a container I can use for something else, saves throwing so much trash too.

[leera]

Price shop.......seriously. I have so many stores to choose from that it really pays for me to go online and check out the weekly ads before I do any shopping.

I only buy meat in bulk from the butcher though,so that saves me money too.

There's a store near me that has what they call "meat bundles" you get so much of each different kind of meat for one price. I always buy the $100.00 bundle,that gets us six months or more of meat,and variety.

Other than that.........dumpster dive,I don't dive for food though.......just other things I need.

[wolfe]

Take leftovers for lunch. Saves me $25.00 a week!

[Mysticdream44]

Well one of mine is send off for free samples. I've gotten spegetti sauce, olive oil, dishwasher soap, lemon juice, drink mixes, shampoo & creme rinse, deorderant, bath soap, perfumes, razors, vitamins, cat food, even some tools & gloves for my DH, t-shirts for my son, etc.
Thats one of those ways I stretch my money, because lots of time they send coupons with those samples.

[NYCBOY]

always check your cash registers receipt....you'll be surprised how much money you can recoup from errors. my favorite line is.....oh that was on sale last week they must've forgot to take down the sign.

[leera]

Freecycle,if you don't have one in your area,start one.Freecycle is great.

I've gotten clothes,yarn,planters,canning jars,sewing machines,all kinds of stuff,and it's all FREE.You do have to spend a little gas money to get the things though.

I do use a lot of coupons when I shop.The one store I go to doubles all $1.00 coupons,so I often get things for free if it's on sale for $2.00 or less.

I haven't paid for pasta in a couple of years. They often have Ronzoni's whole wheat pasta on sale for $1.00,and I always have coupons for it.

When I want fresh pasta for ravioli or whatever,I just make it myself,can't beat that for freshness.

OH yeah!!! Bottle refunds.Here in Michigan we have a 10 cent bottle deposit.People at work are too lazy to turn them in,so I save them and once a week or sometimes every other week I turn them in,and often get $5.00 or more.This week was $7.80.

[countryjo]

Freezing green peppers, celery and onions, I chopped them and they are ready to make into recipes also make my own stewed tomatoes with green peppers and onions and cook for about 10 mins and put in freezer containers and this is great to add to soups. I love going to the freezer and pulling out everything to make a soup and not have to go to the store.

[Zarah]

I'm a full-time grad student with two jobs on the side ::) and my husband is working more-than-full-time with a nasty commute to work, so we're always scrambling for time. At some point we noticed that if there's frozen pizza in the freezer, it will get eaten within a day or two. But frozen pizza is expensive and not very good for you, so we decided to make our own convenience foods and freeze them.

We took a weekend and made up big batches of chili, chicken soup, beans and rice, small pizzas, stews, spaghetti sauces, and other foods that could be easily frozen and warmed up for quick meals during the week. Suddenly it was easier to eat something out of the freezer than go out and get takeout or a prepackaged convenience meal -- and so we almost always eat at home these days.

This way we've saved ourselves a lot of time and money, and worrying over what's for dinner. We stock fewer storebought canned goods because we're more likely to grab homemade soups and sauces instead. And since everything is packaged in 2-serving quantities, we waste less food and have more control over our portion sizes at the same time.



My other mantra is, "If you're not using it, give it away!" I don't know to what extent it saves us money, but it definitely saves time and sanity when the only things we have in the cupboard/closet/whatever are the ones we love and use on a daily basis. We don't have to find the space to store those things, spend time and energy cleaning, organizing, and repairing them, and we're less likely to go out to the store and buy something we think we need, only to discover that we already had one shoved at the back of some drawer.

[MYellowRose]

Zarah I like your idea about giving things you don't need away. I know many people donate their stuff to resale stores but if you don't need the tax deduction I know that there are a lot of people, like me, who live on a fixed income that might appreciate something you're getting rid of. Just ask, you might be surprised and get a yes. Also remember that not everyone can take advantage of places like Freecycle as they don't have a computer at home nor do they have a way to go pick up things. There are still a lot of us out here who live near or under the poverty line.

[Zarah]

MYellowRose, you're right that there are often people who can use whatever we're not using. I like to ask around when I'm giving something away -- if nobody's interested, I have no problem handing it over to a thrift shop, but it always feels good to be able to offer something to a friend or neighbor instead. I find that many times it also comes back and blesses me in return, when folks have something they no longer need.

I guess holding loosely to our possessions is a pretty good attitude overall.

[nancy1340]

I have four packages right now waiting to be mailed out.
Fabric, HD tee's, yarn & some fleese I bought in Canada for a spinner friend of mine.

[ozarkinit]

be very careful with electricity. when not in use, everything gets unplugged, the stereo, the microwave, the toaster, the printer, the coffee maker. those standbys, and clocks all use electricity. if the daughter leaves on an unused light more than 3 times in a week, she pays the electric bill. she's not once had to.

[daphodil]

I was having trouble with my dds using waaay too much toilet paper. I'd set out a roll (the double size) and a couple days later, half of it was gone.

This continued despite asking them to not use so much.

So, now I buy them cheap boxes of tissue (the pull out kind.)

No more problems!

Just in general, I'd say that I try to save money by knowing what things are regularly priced and recognizing when something is 'cheap.'

I wouldn't, for instance, buy toiletry things at a grocery store.

dh still buys soda occasionally (but that is a great tip--because it's very bad for you)

my oldest dd does drink water with all her meals because she does not like the juice or milk I offer and our family dr said to limit all kool-aid and chips (junk foods) to special occasions. This has been a godsend because I can say--dr's orders that you eat your vegetables.

I make my own desserts. I rarely buy rip open cookies. I make a lot of bars because they are easy yet tasty.
If I buy a dessert it will be ice cream or donuts.

I don't know that I save a lot by doing my own cooking--as I still buy the basics to make them such as flour, sugar, nuts, etc. I think it's just a matter of--well, I spend on the basics, while someone else buys it already made and that may save them time--at the very least baking time.

[zebraman]

Hey Guys;I am one of those Rare men who really like Shopping.I don't live in the Village-or skip to work,but I do love shopping.
Tip #1.Grocery Stores charge "Slotting Fees" for manufacturers.Everything that is on the shelf at "Eye-Level" for the average height adult is the Most Expensive.What is on the Top shelf and everything on the lowest shelf (near yhe floor)is where you'll find the best price.
Tip # 2.NEVER buy Anything off an End-Cap.at the front of the store at the start of the Isles.These garner the highest slotting fees.Manufacturers pay premium fees to display merchandise that doesn't sell on the shelf.If its on an end cap that lets you know nobody is buying it.Pass it up.Force the manufacturers to come up with Better Products.
Tip # 3. If a store is advertising a 70 % off sale,Do the math.Look at the sale price,figure out what the price would be if it weren't on sale,If you know it would Never sell at that price,then don't buy it.Its not really 70% OFF.-

[MYellowRose]

Another thing I do is buy store or off brands. We have a local chain here that so far has been able to keep out or run out most competition, it's prices are that good. They actually have two different store brands, HEB and Hill Country Fair, and many times they have different prices on the two! I can usually get the HEB items a penny or two cheaper, ex: HEB tomato sauce, 5 8oz. cans for $1, Hill Contry Fair tomato sauce 22 cents for the same 8 oz. can!
I also like the stuff in reusable containers. They pack their fruit spread in square jars, with rounded corners of course, that I like to reuse. I also get a rice blend in a clear plastic jar that is easy and convenient to reuse.
Also, I'm not beyond washing and reusing the foil sheets that I buy in a box of 500 at Sam's for about $7 or so. I'm still working on the box that I bought last year and sometimes when I wrap meat for the freezer, like chicken leg quarters, it takes two pieces of foil instead of one. I tried that Reynolds Release foil just after it came out and didn't find it all that much easier to get it off of the food while the food was still frozen. It was a little easier with thawed food but not enough for me to want to spend that extra money to buy it.
I've also learned that when someone wants to "borrow" something, like a can of tomatoes, I ask what they have to trade! I only do this with people that I've learned won't return a like item at a later time. I just can't afford to give away food since I'm on a fixed income. Also, I haven't had the landlady ask to "borrow" anything since I made her trade me something in return the last time I asked. She's married and I think her husband works so they have more income than I do so I feel it's only fair that we trade food items.

[hillbilly_mom]

I like the "trade" thing instead of borrowing. When we lived in town we had a neighbor that "borrowed" all the time. We knew she wasn't borrowing because she never returned what she took. Good Idea!

And Daphodil, you are saving money by making the stuff yourself. Divide the cost of a cup of flour, ½ a cup of sugar and the rest of the ingredients. You will see that the stuff you make still comes out cheaper and it is a lot healthier for you too, because it won't have all the preservatives in it.

It is the same thing with making your own "convienence" foods. Try to have something in the freezer for quick meals, like Zarah said. The chicken I pulled out for tonight's supper didn't thaw. I pulled out food that I was able to thaw and heat in the microwave for supper. All because I doubled a batch of meatloaf when I made it. I baked two meatloaves instead of one. I put one in the freezer for nights like tonight. All I had to do was make the vegetables to go with the meat that I thawed. It sure beat sending DH back to town 20 miles away to buy fast food, then driving 20 miles home and us eating cold food. Especially after he worked 10 hours today and had to drive 65 miles home from work.

[bookwormom]

shop at ALDI if possible, Walmart can not compare.
if you do not know how, learn how to cook from scratch, avoid all mixes, cake, biscuit, and so on, the time saving is minimal and the cost is high. compare the cost of the ingredients, especially things with potatoes and using simple arithmatic you'll notice how much you can save on cooking, avoiding sodas. baking bread is a money saver if you have the time to do it.
Go to the library
don't buy sleazy products, they are a waste of money.

[flatwater]

Check your bank statement and know where your money is going and adjust accordingly. I do this about once a quarter and usually change my spending habits. And slow up on the lattaes. Make good quality home made gifts, not only do you save money but it's a quality gift it's appreciated more

[sheen_estevez]

shop at ALDI if possible,

I love Aldi's but don't buy their chips, they stink, my wife bought a big box of the small bags of chips for the kids lunches they were old.

The only problem I have with Aldi's is the paying a deposit for a shopping cart, I know I get the quarter back but I have issues with that
;D

[MYellowRose]

If you like rice and can find it buy the Texmati in the clear plastic containers. I love them but don't eat a lot of rice and what I do get comes to me for free so unless I buy the mixture of white, brown, and wild rice they have I'm outa luck on the containers. LOL
I've been looking for the roll of 110 13 gallon trash bags that Dollar General is supposed to carry but the one I go to hasn't had them for over a month. I like to get them because it's only $3.50 for the roll and it lasts me a long time. Used my last trash bag this morning so I'm going to have to buy some somewhere, don't have any choice anymore!
Will have leftovers from dinner last night for tonight.
I always ask for "double" bags at the grocery store since I ride the bus then use them at home for small trash bags.

[blackpowderbill]

Ah, I got tired of going to the range and some other butthole has left brass,(cartridge casings); all over the place! My pet peeve is when the brass is left on the benches.
Being I reload and sell reloading supplies, a long time ago I started collecting some of the brass.

Well about a year ago I was going through boxes and finding all kinds of brass I never sold or that did not sell.

So now I collect all the brass I can off the range and am tossing it into buckets to take to the scrap yard. ;D

This week I'll make a run to the club and then to the scrap yard to see what they will give me.
I'll report back here to you guys on my windfall. LOL

[nancy1340]

That is going to be very profitable for you.
I retired cop I know goes to the range and cleans up the spent cartridges. He says it supplements his retirement pay very well.

[rideaway]

Shopping at the "Dollar Tree" that we have all over here in Oregon. I get name brand shampoos, etc. in large bottles, plus name brand toothpaste, store brand feminine products, etc. for only $1.00 I spend $30 and come out w/ tons of stuff.

[MYellowRose]

I've got dog and cat food coupons that I got with samples of the food but I'm going to call around and see what the cost of the food is as I'll probably have to go somewhere like PetsMart since it's not carried in the grocery store. That $3 dog food coupon may very well be useless if the food costs too much, the $1.50 cat food coupon will probably be the same way. Yes, I'd rather feed them the expensive stuff but I just can't afford it. I don't however feed the really cheap stuff as it generally gives them the runs, something I don't want to deal with! LOL
Been making biscuit sandwiches with on Pillsbury Grands biscuit, 2 pieces of Canadian bacon, 1 slice of cheese, and 1 hard fried egg cut in half. I divide the biscuit in thirds, break the cheese in 4 pieces, cut the eggs into halfs then layer it together. That gives me a very filling sandwich and one is all I need. Even though I use the same ingredients they all taste different depending on how long brown the bacon for and how long I cook the egg, also depending on what, if any, seasonings I use. I keep forgetting I want to try it with some picante sauce.

[nancy1340]

YellowRose, Canadian bacon is so expencive I use salt cured ham and have it sliced kinda thin. About lunch meat thin. Boil it in water for a short while and rinse off with cool wanter. On a sandwich I really can't tell much difference except in my wallet. ;)

[Txanne]

* I've got dog and cat food coupons that I got with samples of the food but I'm going to call around and see what the cost of the food is as I'll probably have to go somewhere like PetsMart since it's not carried in the grocery store. *That $3 dog food coupon may very well be useless if the food costs too much, the $1.50 cat food coupon will probably be the same way. *Yes, I'd rather feed them the expensive stuff but I just can't afford it. *I don't however feed the really cheap stuff as it generally gives them the runs, something I don't want to deal with! LOL
* Been making biscuit sandwiches with on Pillsbury Grands biscuit, 2 pieces of Canadian bacon, 1 slice of cheese, and 1 hard fried egg cut in half. *I divide the biscuit in thirds, break the cheese in 4 pieces, cut the eggs into halfs then layer it together. *That gives me a very filling sandwich and one is all I need. *Even though I use the same ingredients they all taste different depending on how long brown the bacon for and how long I cook the egg, also depending on what, if any, seasonings I use. *I keep forgetting I want to try it with some picante sauce. *

MYR---Your very wise not to feed the Cheap dog food--

Its like cardboard-and full of salt--dogs eat and drink gallons water--bloats them.

And the food value leaves a lot to be desired.

I have your addy---will send you coupons for the animals---and do you have one of those rolling shopping carts??????
You can take them on the bus with you? They fold until you need them---

let me know OK----

annie ;D

[leera]

I don't feed mine the cheapo food either........gives them HORRIBLE GAS!

I feed the dog Pedigree,and the cat either gets Friskies or Purina Naturals.........

[theresehirko]

I'm not sure if this will work yet as I only heard this tip 2 weeks ago, but I'm going to try it. We have very "clayee" soil here in Brandon so almost everyone does raised beds. On NPR we have Felder Rushing giving us tips on gardening. One man called up and said that instead of building raised beds with railroad ties or 2x4s, he brings home cope paper boxes from work and uses them for his raised beds. I'm going to try this one this year and see how it goes. Supposedly after you harvest, you just throw the box in your compost bin. Hey, it's free as I can get all of the boxes I need at work!

[independent]

I was told years ago never buy anything you can't find three different uses for.

[nancy1340]

I was told years ago never buy anything you can't find three different uses for.


And your lookin' for a man??? :o


LOL LOL LOL


My apologies to all the great men here. I am teasing Indy. ;)

[MYellowRose]

With the recent pet food scare I was really thankful that the cat food I buy for D'Mitri ( my almost toothless cat) wasn't on that list. I called my neighbor to let her know that one of the store brands we buy at our local chain was on the list. I did that because I know she mixes the pouch food with the dry for her older mini Doxie and didn't want anything to happen to Sophie. Glad I did as she said that was what she had been feeding her but luckily it wasn't from the plant with the problem.
Got coupons for free canned cat and dog food from this last Sunday's paper which will take a little off the grocery bill. I'll use the canned dog food, it's Alpo brand, as a treat for my dog.

[theresehirko]

We make our own dog food for our Golden Retriever. She is a very healthy 7 year old dog plus we have saved money over the years doing this.

[bookwormom]

well, great, can you share the recipe? I take it you do not get a kibble shape but my dogs won't care. Binki is a pig and just loves to eat.

[JakeLeg]

i wouldn't say it's my favorite, but it comes to mind cuz today is laundry day.

i tried an experiment whereby i stop the clothes dryer mid-cycle and clean out the lint screen. i thought that the accumulation of lint on the screen was partially blocking the flow of air and making the dryer less efficient. after experimenting for a while i noticed that by doing this i can get the clothes dry in 1 hour versus 1 hour, 20 minutes. If doing a lot of cottons, i might empty the screen twice, since cottons leave more lint. This is, of course, when weather doesn't permit my hanging the clothes outside.

Another thing - within close proximity to wife and my work, there are: Walmart, Depot, Lowe's, Sears, craft store, staples, etc, etc. On the way home are 2 supermarkets, and several gas stations, as well as the township recycling trailer. So ALL of our errands are done while going to or from work. The rule is that we DO NOT leave the house unless going to work. If we get home from work at 8pm after errands, then so be it. This is good because where we live, the nearest stores are no closer than 20 minutes, thus a 40 minute round trip, and all the gasoline use and mileage that could easily be avoided by just doing errand during the week.

When it comes to garbage, there is a hierarchy:

- Is it compostable?
- Is it reusable?
- Is it recyclable?
- Is it burnable?
and finally, lastly, if it doesn't fit the above, then it's trash. We generate very little trash...

Pay all bills the day the come in the mail so as to avoid the potential of late fees.

I only shave every OTHER day and not at all on the weekends. (i wouldn't at all but facial hair drives me INSANE)

[JakeLeg]

I love Aldi's but don't buy their chips, they stink, my wife bought a big box of the small bags of chips for the kids lunches they were old.

The only problem I have with Aldi's is the paying a deposit for a shopping cart, I know I get the quarter back but I have issues with that
;D


we've got an Aldi's here and it's pretty good. Kinda like the Big Lots of grocery stores... frozen pizzas for 50 cents (good for snacks and cheaper than can be made at home) woohoo!

i don't mind depositing the quarter at all... i'd even PAY a quarter since i save way more than that by going there.

[JakeLeg]

OH! here's another one, since gardening season is coming up: all of the mulch i use in the vegetable garden and the herb garden is 2 layers, with the first layer being a couple thicknesses of newspaper and then grass clippings. The newspaper blocks weeds from sprouting underneath, and the grass clippings hold the newspaper down and retain moisture. i normally have to replenish the grass clippings a couple times, and maybe have to add more newspaper, but it's all free and compostable at the end of the growing season.

[JakeLeg]

well, i'm on a roll tonight! here's another:

don't pay someone to do menial tasks that you are physically able to do. change your own oil and wiper blades. check your own auto fluids (washer, brake flied, steering fluid, etc) grease your own steering joints. do your own weatherstripping and caulking in the house. clean your own gutters to avoid water damage. Etc, and so on. None of these things require more than 15 minutes of instruction so get someone to show you how if you don't know. If you can do it yourself, then do it yourself.

I get my neighbor (who's a mechanic) to help me with the more difficult auto-related tasks, and in trade i help him with any building projects since that's my field.

Set up trading circles in your group of friends, neighbors, church. Offer to babysit for someone who will do your sewing, for example.

[edward_4576]

A few things:

I remember a while back that a thread similar to this was started and someone said that bread was color coated as to the day it was baked by the color of it's twist tie.

If you have something to get rid of instead of throwing it out donate it to the DAV or Salvation Army, they can always find a use and you get a receipt that you can deduct on your income taxes.

Save aluminum, it's more cost effective then investing into some stocks on the stock market and as long as you get less then $600 where ever you sell your scrap metal at won't report it to the IRS.

[docjered]

I do love Aldis too: especially their tomato paste and occasional fruit and veggies. One thing, though, when I go there, I always leave my "quarter cart" in the lot so somebody else can have a free cart and a quarter to boot. There have been times that it would have been a godsend to me, and I am just hoping that it is so for somebody else who crosses my path. I know, silly of me, but it is just one small way of sharing anonymously.

[JBinKC]

Do anything in your power to avoid paying interest. If you can't afford it don't buy it.

[creekside-angie]

I have an electric stove, and use alot of cast iron pans.When the food is near done I shut off the burner and let the heat retained by the cast iron do the rest of the cooking.Also simple things like putting a lid on foods will cook them faster.

As far as shopping I will usually think about things a few times, then if I still want it and can't get it used I'll go ahead and get it.Hopefully on sale and out of season!
I also check my receipts after I pay,then if I've been over charged I can collect "bounty"! Thats money earned!

I get my bread products at the bread outlet store where they take all the bread that didn't sell @ the stores and mark it down to .39-.59 cents a package/loaf.If I go on the right day, I get it for .05 cents a loaf! I also get the really old stuff to supplement the animals feed 10.00 for all you can haul!
In the spring I get my baby chicks on the day before the feed store gets a fresh batch in so I get a good discount, and their already a week older than what they would of been if I paid full price.

I will also look for last seasons seeds, their usually off to the side in a basket or bin marked 50-75 % off, depending on where I shop.

I always take a beverage with me in the truck so I don't need to buy one some place.
When we travel I always pack a cooler so we don't need to eat out, just restock it at any grocery store.And if we go to the drive in I always take our own popcorn and snacks! :D

[remington]

This doesn't sound frugal at first, but stick with me. Buy quality. Don't waste money buying a cheaply made product. In some instances and with some products it doesn't matter but as a general rule if it is cheaply made, it will break at the worst time possible. You will end up using less money in the long run. This doesn't mean buy the most expensive, but the one without all the fancy stuff and will get your job done without breaking.

[MYellowRose]

When I went to Walgreen's the other day I found 8.5"x11" notebook paper, that's only half an inch longer than the regular stuff but since I buy the college-ruled not the wide ruled I can put more on it. Spent $5 there yesterday on a box with 72 pencils, 24 or so end cap erasers, 5 pencil sharpeners, and 3 large pink erasers. Not sure but there may have been a couple more items in the box. I'm going to open it and put some of the contents in pencil boxes I bought for my oldest two granddaughters and then save the rest for my neighbors grand-kids when they go to school in the fall. I don't think the 4 year old can use the pencils because they aren't the fat ones but the 9 year old and the 13 year olds probably can use them. I took a coupon out of the ad in the Sunday paper and got 3 packs of pens for $1. I also got 2 packs of the 8.5"x11" notebook paper for $1.99 each.

[creekside-angie]

Right now, during blue berry season,I go and pick pound for pound.I pick a pound for me and a pound for the owner of the patch.
He gets to re-sell them to people that put in orders for berries that don't want to or don't have time to pick their own, and I get mine for free! ;D
I also did this at strawberry season,only quart for quart! ;D
It only costs me my time and with the kids helpin' it don't take long.Plus they get their fill in the patch and don't eat as many at home! ;)

[bookwormom]

lucky you. no setup like that around where I live. Berries are luxuries. So far I have eaten three raspberries this year.

[annabella1]

Aldi's has a double your money back satisfaction guarantee. If you found stale chips you should have just taken them back. I read all the information on the flyers ;D

[ncgrl]

I do love Aldis too: especially their tomato paste and occasional fruit and veggies. One thing, though, when I go there, I always leave my "quarter cart" in the lot so somebody else can have a free cart and a quarter to boot. There have been times that it would have been a godsend to me, and I am just hoping that it is so for somebody else who crosses my path. I know, silly of me, but it is just one small way of sharing anonymously.

I do this almost every time I go there.I like putting good karma out there.I hope the next person will pass it on.

[Naughty_Pines]

I've got a deal with my favorite restaurant owner. Every Friday he has clam chowder and will not save the left overs. Saturday I go in and pick up his left overs.

His clam chowder is hand made and is great stuff. I got about a quart last Saturday and even had it for breakfast Sunday. Plus, I get storage containers too boot.

[TNDadx4]

I have an electric stove, and use alot of cast iron pans.When the food is near done I shut off the burner and let the heat retained by the cast iron do the rest of the cooking.Also simple things like putting a lid on foods will cook them faster.


I do this, too. The same concept works while ironing. You casn unplug the iron whern you are a few minutes away from being done and use the residual heat to finish up :)

[TNDadx4]

I have an electric stove, and use alot of cast iron pans.When the food is near done I shut off the burner and let the heat retained by the cast iron do the rest of the cooking.also simple things like putting a lid on foods will cook them faster.


I have a question. You mentione cooking with cast iron on an electric stove. I wanted to purchase some cat iron cookware, but a friend told me that they can only be used on gas stoves. He said that the heat from the skillet (or whatever) would crack the stovetop. Can you cook on a flat glass top or only on electric burners?

Thanks!

[bookwormom]

I have used cast iron on electric stoves for 38 years. Now I have gas and hate it. the handles get too hot and it is ruining the handles of some pots I had for 20 years.
Creekside Angie's advice is sound.

[annabella1]

I use cast iron on a flat glass top induction heating electric stove. No problems. The only problem I can forsee is if you put a really big heavy pot on that might break but that would be a problem with any heavy pot not just cast iron. Only ferrous materials work on this kind of stove the stove top does not heat just the pan.

[TNDadx4]

Thank you very much for your replies. I appreciate your advice!

My wife and I have wanted to get some nice cast iron cookware but was leary because of what we've heard.

Thanks again!

[TNDadx4]

Oh, I hav another tip. I save used paper towel (and toilet paper rolls) and fill them with dryer lint to make firestarters.

I know, I know, I shouldn't be using a dryer, but I haven't put a clothesline up yet.

[bookwormom]

the frugal queen is my friend Gina. she would go to the store with her kids, one had a birthday. they all huddled around the card section, snickering and giggling, while the birthday child had to stand by the side. when they had one picked out they called him, let him read the card, they all had a laugh and put the card back.

[blackpowderbill]

I found this one out by accident.
A few years back I stopped at a road side veggie stand. Bought up a few quarts of rome tomatoes. Took them home , washed, halved, tossed in a big plastic container and slipped them into the freezer. A few days later again I picked up a basket of tomatoes and did the same.

On my days off I took the maters out of the freezer to find a block of ice on top about 2 inches thick. I removed the ice tossed it out with a smile. I had just cut my cook down time in half.
I then took the tomatoes and placed in a collendar , let drain while I prepared the jars.
Last I ran them through the blender then into the pot.

I figure in all, my cooking time was cut by at least 4 hours. ;D

BPB

[Katrina-Sisu]

I freeze bread so it won't go old. I just pull out what I need as I go. One loaf lasts us a good 3-4 weeks.

I chop up my onions all at once. I divide them into 1/2-1 cup measurements and freeze. They fry up well for lo mein and are delicious still.

I freeze leftovers that are too small for one meal and thaw them out for a big "variety meal". It is fun and I don't have to cook it lol. :)

I always buy storebrand here and the quality is just as good as namebrand.

All I can think of now lol.

Katrina

[MYellowRose]

I had lunch out with a friend today at my favorite restaurant, soup and salad and iced tea. After finishing the soup I put the large paper napkin in the plastic container and asked for a lid. I now have a good sturdy pint plastic container and lid to use at home. I can portion out my home-made soup in them, I've got several, pop them in the freezer, then thaw and into the microwave to reheat at a later date! The manager where I ate said she packs her hubby's lunch in the same container so he can just toss them when he's done.
Not long ago I met my daughter, her 3 girls, my younger niece and her 4 kids at another one of that chain's restaurants and bought two gallons of tea for them. When we were done I took the empty gallon buckets, they have lids, home with me to use as canisters!

[Katrina-Sisu]

I found you can actually freeze mashed potatos leftovers.

When you unfreeze them they will seem runny and yucky, but just mix them up well and microwave them. The microwave sucks the moisture back into the potatoes and they come out delicious!

Katrina

[ericknowschrist]

My wife makes her own greeting cards. She prints them on cardstock - they come out as nice or nicer than what we buy at the store. Sometimes she is "inspired" by a card she sees in the store or receives from someone else, but usually her cards are unique creations!

Like so many here have pointed out we cook in bulk, and then package and freeze. I love those leftovers for lunch! My wife says her friends say many husbands don't like leftovers, but I love them, and I am the envy of my office - everyone always asks what that wonderful smell is coming from the microwave!

We try to keep lights off, and buy CFLs on sale. We heat our home with wood we cut on our own property.

We buy in bulk. Cook a lot from scratch. But it seems that while we are ever so frugal in so many ways, we manage to find ways to waste the money we save on other junk! lol For example we don't get satellite or cable TV, but we subscribe to Netflix! lol

[Katrina-Sisu]

If you water down shampoo you get alot more uses from it and it leaves less residue in your hair.

I only condition 2x a week and I have no split ends. If you have very dry hair, it might be better to get a more expensive moisturizing shampoo so you don't have to spend the extra on conditioner.