Am I really this cheap??? LOL

[pigletto]

Then I'm a big meanie, too, because mine aren't either. Actually I'm worse because I only buy them for vacations, otherwise I fill refillable bottles with juice or water from home.

I used to to this as well. Now? DS gets water for his lunch and sometimes milk.
All that juice gave him cavaties and it is off limits as per dentists orders. So I'm even meaner!

 

[Zoesmama03]

I rarely buy juice either. DD mostly drinks water and soy, rice or almond milk which are fairly low in sugar.

I used to to this as well. Now? DS gets water for his lunch and sometimes milk.
All that juice gave him cavaties and it is off limits as per dentists orders. So I'm even meaner!

Does he/she realize milk has a lot of sugar too. The same as some of the lower sugar juices even.

 

[indimom]

1. We have A family cell phone - yep, we share, for four people. My daughter just LOVES us...and DH and I's brothers/sisters seem amused/confused/alarmed by it.

2. I make a monthly menu of meals and buy weekly due to limited pantry space. On the last week of the month (when I'm working on the following months' menu), I go through the freezer and the pantry and figure out what I can make the following week using what we have leftover. NOTHING is wasted. This also falls on the week we pay our mortgage, so only buying milk and bread is a bonus that week.

We have a lot of pot luck breakfasts (think leftover pancakes/muffins, waffles) and unusual pasta dishes at the beginning of every month because I freeze all the leftovers...and serve them up the first week of the following month. (And yes, I reuse the freezer bags.)

I also make "trail mix" for a snack out of small portions of cereal, chocolate chips, broken cookies, pretzels bits from the bottom of the bag, oyster crackers, popcorn, peanuts, raisins...whatever is left in the cupboard from the prior month that can be mixed together.

 

[Virgderon]

DH's mom used to cut mold of off the bread and use it anyway. Gross.

 

[TxRabbit]

Reused Arrowhead water bottles with sports tops-they work great!

Just want to offer a caution on this one. Plastic water bottles are intended for one time use. The plastic used is an inexpensive grade that begins to degrade quickly. The reason bottled water has an expiration date is because the water inside will get contaminated by the degrading plastic. If you reuse water bottles, then you are likely drinking water that is being contaminated by the plastic bottle. Especially if the plastic EVER gets heated by either cleaning or sitting out in the sun, being in a hot car, etc.

DH's mom used to cut mold of off the bread and use it anyway. Gross.

I do this with cheese, so did my mom.

 

[hsmamato2]

I am sure there are alot, but the one that popped in my head is...

My Kids are not allowed to drink juice boxes at home. They are only for school, and outings. My kids think I am a big meanie.

not mean...I do this too! what a waste to grab a bottle of water or juice box instead of a cup out of the cabinet

 

[gabriellyn]

Just want to offer a caution on this one. Plastic water bottles are intended for one time use. The plastic used is an inexpensive grade that begins to degrade quickly. The reason bottled water has an expiration date is because the water inside will get contaminated by the degrading plastic. If you reuse water bottles, then you are likely drinking water that is being contaminated by the plastic bottle. Especially if the plastic EVER gets heated by either cleaning or sitting out in the sun, being in a hot car, etc.



I do this with cheese, so did my mom.

Me too!

 

[hsmamato2]

we have one prepaid cellphone (mine) in the family,plus one cheap prepaid for dsteen who is out and about a lot. He pays for half his prepaid (cheapo) minutes,and basically has no love for his cheap phone. shocking,considering most children today have better phones than I do,in multiples usually!

 

[rockiesfan]

I do this with cheese, so did my mom.

So do I. My SIL was the gourmet foods buyer for a national upscale department store and she used to say "cheese IS mold."

 

[dispor]

Oh, and yesterday I searched online for a snowcone syrup recipe and made several different flavors. They taste great and are very cheap to make. Once I mastered the whole concept, I came up with more ideas-i.e. Cinammon

I made, so far,:
Hawaiian Punch Lemon Berry Blast
Raspberry Lemonade
Key Lime (can't wait to try this one out)
Cinnamon-this is really good! Was a little harder to make but so worth it.

Can you share the snowcone syrup recipe? I bought as much as I could on clearance at Walmart a few weeks back. Why they don't stock the stuff in the SUMMER is beyond me....

 

[ohanaMAMA]

I do my best to keep spending minimal... However. DH grew up really poor. He and his brothers often went without food let alone the extra things they wanted. His mom is/was the MASTER at making things stretch. BUT my dh wont have it. If he catches me using any "tricks" he totally freaks out.My sister in law says his brother is the same way. I guess having gone without so much it makes them feel "rich" to have the things they didnt as a kid for our girls.

Soooo We buy ziplocks, foil, and shrink wrap. We ALWAYS MUST have name brand juice, pop, milk, bottled water, koolaid, juice boxes ect on hand all the time. If he shops with me any new product that looks fun goes in the buggy... not to mention popcicles. ALWAYS ice cream or popcicles. He doesnt even usually eat them.. he just wants to have them onhand.

It sure makes me thankful for my upbringing and knowing that having these things make him feel better? I dont usually argue.

 

[Playsm]

I am sure there are alot, but the one that popped in my head is...

My Kids are not allowed to drink juice boxes at home. They are only for school, and outings. My kids think I am a big meanie.

Me too! My son thinks I am a meany too!

I'm sure he would think I was more of a meany if I didn't pay for football this year though! It's amazing what cutting back little things here and there (after you have already cut back the big things) can do to make life better and less stressful

Edited to add: My son went to a Minor leauge baseball game yesterday and if the home team won, you can take your ticket to wendy's for a free frosty. The home team won and he went around picking up people's tickets they had dropped so that he could get his Granny and Grandad a treat of a free Frosty for picking him up from camp Frugal is as Frugal does!

 

[mhsjax]

I don't buy juice boxes, I rarely buy juice. I do use water bottles, but we reuse them all the time, plus I do have the regular water bottles that you purchase and wash.
I have never bought a happy meal in my life, I refuse to do it. They get water bottles in their lunch for school, and I also refuse to buy lunchables.
I don't go out to dinner, not even with a coupon, I can save more by not going at all. There are alot of things here on the Dis boards that I see people buying that I won't. I am really almost too cheap. I have my father in me. I will go without, even if I really need it. Except for my Disney trips, those will happen no matter what. I have to draw the line somewhere.

 

[gabriellyn]

I do my best to keep spending minimal... However. DH grew up really poor. He and his brothers often went without food let alone the extra things they wanted. His mom is/was the MASTER at making things stretch. BUT my dh wont have it. If he catches me using any "tricks" he totally freaks out.My sister in law says his brother is the same way. I guess having gone without so much it makes them feel "rich" to have the things they didnt as a kid for our girls.

Soooo We buy ziplocks, foil, and shrink wrap. We ALWAYS MUST have name brand juice, pop, milk, bottled water, koolaid, juice boxes ect on hand all the time. If he shops with me any new product that looks fun goes in the buggy... not to mention popcicles. ALWAYS ice cream or popcicles. He doesnt even usually eat them.. he just wants to have them onhand.

It sure makes me thankful for my upbringing and knowing that having these things make him feel better? I dont usually argue.

What a sad story. I would do the same as you.

I don't buy juice boxes, I rarely buy juice. I do use water bottles, but we reuse them all the time, plus I do have the regular water bottles that you purchase and wash.
I have never bought a happy meal in my life, I refuse to do it. They get water bottles in their lunch for school, and I also refuse to buy lunchables.
I don't go out to dinner, not even with a coupon, I can save more by not going at all. There are alot of things here on the Dis boards that I see people buying that I won't. I am really almost too cheap. I have my father in me. I will go without, even if I really need it. Except for my Disney trips, those will happen no matter what. I have to draw the line somewhere.

 

[PrincessSuzanne]

Some of you have entirely too much time on your hands. Who has time to sit and rip paper out of a spiral notebook? That is really ridiculous. To me time is money and that is just a waste of both to me.

I am frugal, but some things just shouldn't be used a second time, like sandwich bags. Are they that expensive, no and I buy them in bulk at Sams for only 1 person that uses them. Washing them out is really not sanitary and can make you very ill if you miss even a micro speck of food, not to mention putting your children at risk of food poisoning.

I buy store brands of some thing, cause they are less expensive and sometimes they taste better than the name brand. I do only have 2 adults to feed and I learned alot from watching my grandmother grocery shop, but she still bought brand names of most items.

I stock pile paper towels and toilet paper, but they have to be a certain brand. I stockpile shampoo and buy large packages of bath soap, when I have good coupons, but you can go too far even with this.

Watering down juice, that is gross. Buy 2% milk, instead of whole milk for less sugar and buy the store brand.

I don't know, there is a fine line between being frugal and ridiculous.

Suzanne

 

[ROSR]

Juice boxes are for school, etc. in our house, too. I only buy clothes when things are cleareanced out or online with a percentage off and free shipping code. I can tell you my 2 older girls went to every high school dance - 3 a piece a year - and most dresses were 16.00 - 50.00 with the exception of the oldest ones Senior Prom - that was 99.00 (which killed me). I get this from my mom, who is very frugal. On the rare treat that we would get to go to McDonalds or a place called Henry's Hamburgers, we were allowed to get a hamburger only because we had cheese at home LOL. Yeah, that's what I want - wait till I got home to put a cold piece of cheese on the now cold hamburger. This was not because we were poor- we traveled all over, including Disney,Hawaii, Mexico,Puerto Rico, etc. every year since I was 2 (I'm 45) for 3 weeks at a time. She still is this way. It's like a game - just think of all the money we are saving!

 

[pilesoflaundry]

I do my best to keep spending minimal... However. DH grew up really poor. He and his brothers often went without food let alone the extra things they wanted. His mom is/was the MASTER at making things stretch. BUT my dh wont have it. If he catches me using any "tricks" he totally freaks out.My sister in law says his brother is the same way. I guess having gone without so much it makes them feel "rich" to have the things they didnt as a kid for our girls.

Soooo We buy ziplocks, foil, and shrink wrap. We ALWAYS MUST have name brand juice, pop, milk, bottled water, koolaid, juice boxes ect on hand all the time. If he shops with me any new product that looks fun goes in the buggy... not to mention popcicles. ALWAYS ice cream or popcicles. He doesnt even usually eat them.. he just wants to have them onhand.

It sure makes me thankful for my upbringing and knowing that having these things make him feel better? I dont usually argue.

I am like that for certain things because of going without as a kid. I really can't help it. I'm so thankful every day my kids have no idea what it's like to grow up like that.

My kids think I'm mean because there is currently a tower of juice boxes in the house that they can't touch. They were on sale really cheap at the commissary so I bought enough for the first few months of school and the boxes stacked up are taunting them. Two of my kids refuse to eat school lunch so 1 box only lasts a week. They are a school treat. They can drink water or I will make lemonade.

Dh sometimes wants me to reuse ziploc bags but I draw the line there. I tell him sure dear, save them until he goes to work and then toss them . My gram saved foil and that makes sense to me but he thinks that is crazy. But washing plastic bags isn't?

I'm super cheap with the water and electric. I time the kids in the shower and we unplug everything at night so only the a/c and the fridge runs.

 

[allison443]

I do my best to keep spending minimal... However. DH grew up really poor. He and his brothers often went without food let alone the extra things they wanted. His mom is/was the MASTER at making things stretch. BUT my dh wont have it. If he catches me using any "tricks" he totally freaks out.My sister in law says his brother is the same way. I guess having gone without so much it makes them feel "rich" to have the things they didnt as a kid for our girls.

Soooo We buy ziplocks, foil, and shrink wrap. We ALWAYS MUST have name brand juice, pop, milk, bottled water, koolaid, juice boxes ect on hand all the time. If he shops with me any new product that looks fun goes in the buggy... not to mention popcicles. ALWAYS ice cream or popcicles. He doesnt even usually eat them.. he just wants to have them onhand.

It sure makes me thankful for my upbringing and knowing that having these things make him feel better? I dont usually argue.

Why would you argue? Assuming you can afford it, there is nothing wrong with buying name brands and juice boxes. I don't think it is more virtuous to be frugal, although sometimes here on the budget board it does seem that way! It's a choice people make and economically it may be a good choice, but it doesn't make someone a better person if they buy generic brands instead of name brands, or rip paper out of a notebook instead of buying a package of filler paper. Again, assuming you can afford what you are buying.

 

[ccgirl]

Some of you have entirely too much time on your hands. Who has time to sit and rip paper out of a spiral notebook? That is really ridiculous. To me time is money and that is just a waste of both to me.

I am frugal, but some things just shouldn't be used a second time, like sandwich bags. Are they that expensive, no and I buy them in bulk at Sams for only 1 person that uses them. Washing them out is really not sanitary and can make you very ill if you miss even a micro speck of food, not to mention putting your children at risk of food poisoning.

I buy store brands of some thing, cause they are less expensive and sometimes they taste better than the name brand. I do only have 2 adults to feed and I learned alot from watching my grandmother grocery shop, but she still bought brand names of most items.


I stock pile paper towels and toilet paper, but they have to be a certain brand. I stockpile shampoo and buy large packages of bath soap, when I have good coupons, but you can go too far even with this.

Watering down juice, that is gross. Buy 2% milk, instead of whole milk for less sugar and buy the store brand.

I don't know, there is a fine line between being frugal and ridiculous.

Suzanne

I am with you on reusing the plastic baggies. I prefer to use tupperware instead and just wash.

But...why is watering down juice gross? I do this for my DS2 mostly to cut down on the sugar. As a matter of fact, his pediatrician recommended that. So, why is watering it down gross? He has never said a thing.

Buying 2% milk instead of whole milk doesn't cut down the sugar that much. My mom used to water down milk all the time. Why....because we simply had no money. It wasn't "gross" but a necessity.

As far as buying name brand milk. Sometimes, the store milk actually is name brand. Same for a lot of generics. If you read the labels you can see where the item was manufactured and a lot of times it is the same place as the so called "name brand."

 

[disneydreamersx4]

I'm wondering how much to water down shampoo and conditioner, do you water down with 1/2 water?

I'll only re-use the baggies if they had things like cookies, dry food or carrots and fruit. I won't re-use for sandwiches or meat, too much chance for contamination.

I forgot where I read this but a plumber said to use 1/2 the recommended amount of laundry detergent, let clothes sit overnight then wash.