Best painless "stretching things" budget tips?

[Shelly F - Ohio]

Okay, this is probably very old news to all of you, but...

=
Along those same lines, we take the water from our dehumidifier in the basement and lug it outside to water plants.

!

Hey Disney cruise ships save the water from the A/C units on the ship and use it to wash the ships down. I was talking to one of the engineers on the ship and he told me this little tid bit.

 

[dani blaski]

subscribing!

 

[Chicklogic]

Growing a herb garden (with as many or few herbs as you like) is a great and painless way to cut down the grocery bill

Those herb bundles or plastic packets usually have either too little for a recipe or way too much and the rest goes to waste! They run $2 - $3 EACH! Here in Florida we can buy the fresh herbs in pots at Albertson's ,Publix or Walmart for $1.99.

Leave them in the pots or plunk 'em in the ground and your good to go for months!

 

[annsteere]

Crest whitestrips.

I discovered that I can cut each strip in half lengthwise. It's still wide enough to cover my teeth and sticks on by itself. (I do this while I'm not talking). I don't really care if the insides of my teeth are two shades whiter.

So, a box lasts twice as long.

I bought a box to look my best for a family wedding. It occurs to me that the really budget idea would be to cut back on the coffee so I didn't need whitestrips at all.

 

[StillPinballFamily]

Crest whitestrips.

I discovered that I can cut each strip in half lengthwise. It's still wide enough to cover my teeth and sticks on by itself. (I do this while I'm not talking). I don't really care if the insides of my teeth are two shades whiter.

So, a box lasts twice as long.

This is an AWESOME tip! I've been saving up for the "deluxe" whitening kit I read about on these boards - the one sold by dentists. I checked with my dentist a few months ago and it is $50, but everyone (the dentist and folks on this board) says it is so much better than the over-the-counter ones. I'm not sure if this kit uses strips or trays, but if it's strips, I'll borrow your tip and will have enough for two treatments! (Or I'll share the kit with DH...)

 

[semo233]

I just wanted to say that I have used many of the ideas listed here. I am all in for saving and using less!

 

[Chicklogic]

a (really really) basic stretching tip is to water down younger kids juice (or older kids who won't complain) to AT LEAST 50/50. I tend to do 25/75 juice to water ratio - no complaints and it saves them all the sugar intake!

 

[pjlla]

This is an AWESOME tip! I've been saving up for the "deluxe" whitening kit I read about on these boards - the one sold by dentists. I checked with my dentist a few months ago and it is $50, but everyone (the dentist and folks on this board) says it is so much better than the over-the-counter ones. I'm not sure if this kit uses strips or trays, but if it's strips, I'll borrow your tip and will have enough for two treatments! (Or I'll share the kit with DH...)

YOu may want to try the OTC kits first. I have been using the regular Whitestrips for a few years now (less frequently now than at first) without any trouble and they worked great (although more slowly than the Supreme). Anyhow.... DH wanted to whiten quickly... he wanted to whiten within two weeks and then get his tooth bonding replaced to match the new whiter color. He found that the Supreme Whitestrips he bought at the dentist's office made his teeth hurt too badly to use. He gave up after trying them for just a day or two. He said it was more than just sensitivity, that it actually HURT.

I have used his Supreme strips without trouble, so fortunately they didn't go to waste! I use them about once a month. But it would be a shame to spend the $$ on these and not be able to use them. Try buying the regular Whitestrips and trying them to check for sensitivity or see if your dentist would offer you your $$ back if you couldn't use them..................P

 

[Leader of the Club]

When I make a hamburger-helper-type dish I only use 1/2 to 3/4 pounds of meat instead of a whole pound. Couple this with a veggie and rolls or cheap biscuits and no one notices the missing meat

I also wait until hambuger is on sale and only buy it at the meat counter. I HATE HATE HATE that the pre-packaged packages never ever have a pound of meat in the them--always way more.

Okay, I want to go back and read the rest of these tips, but I have to go to work. Why does life get in the way of the DIS?

 

[StillPinballFamily]

YOu may want to try the OTC kits first. I have been using the regular Whitestrips for a few years now (less frequently now than at first) without any trouble and they worked great (although more slowly than the Supreme). Anyhow.... DH wanted to whiten quickly... he wanted to whiten within two weeks and then get his tooth bonding replaced to match the new whiter color. He found that the Supreme Whitestrips he bought at the dentist's office made his teeth hurt too badly to use. He gave up after trying them for just a day or two. He said it was more than just sensitivity, that it actually HURT.

I have used his Supreme strips without trouble, so fortunately they didn't go to waste! I use them about once a month. But it would be a shame to spend the $$ on these and not be able to use them. Try buying the regular Whitestrips and trying them to check for sensitivity or see if your dentist would offer you your $$ back if you couldn't use them..................P

Thanks for this - I had no idea. (It would be a shame to not be able to use these suckers after scraping up the $ for them!) I do have sensitive teeth anyway - not all, but in several areas, so the bleaching might make that worse, and the Supreme ones might be too strong. I'll grab the Sunday ads, I think RiteAid had the regular Crest strips on sale this week for $14.99 after a $5 rebate... Is this a good price?

 

[Sleepingbooty]

This is a great thread! I'm taking lots of your ideas and using them.

One thing I don't know if anyone has mentioned: I'm trying to stretch my gas budget by improving my mileage. On the highway, I'm trying to keep it to 55mph. I read that by going 60 its like paying 20 cents more per gallon, going 65 is like paying 40 cents more! Also, I checked my tire inflation and put in a new air filter. I used to get about 22 mpg city, 25 hwy. I'll be checking to see how much these measures improve it.

 

[abish19]

Sleepingbooty - Your last tip made me think of something related to that: In the summertime especially, keep you gas tank mostly full - more than 1/2. This reduces the amount of gas that can evaporate and thus be wasted.

I love this thread! Thanks for the tips on the Whitestrips too. I'd wanted to try them but didn't know if they were worth the $$$.

 

[dani blaski]

YOu may want to try the OTC kits first. I have been using the regular Whitestrips for a few years now (less frequently now than at first) without any trouble and they worked great (although more slowly than the Supreme). Anyhow.... DH wanted to whiten quickly... he wanted to whiten within two weeks and then get his tooth bonding replaced to match the new whiter color. He found that the Supreme Whitestrips he bought at the dentist's office made his teeth hurt too badly to use. He gave up after trying them for just a day or two. He said it was more than just sensitivity, that it actually HURT.

I have used his Supreme strips without trouble, so fortunately they didn't go to waste! I use them about once a month. But it would be a shame to spend the $$ on these and not be able to use them. Try buying the regular Whitestrips and trying them to check for sensitivity or see if your dentist would offer you your $$ back if you couldn't use them..................P

The In-office kits are stronger than OTC kits obviously. What I have always told patients is try the OTC kit first and see what your results are. Some people do have sensitivity with the in-office treatments and it can be alleviated/reduced by using fluoride rinses or sensitivity toothpastes that are OTC before & after treatments.

Hope this helps!

 

[jmtf2004]

Sleepingbooty - Your last tip made me think of something related to that: In the summertime especially, keep you gas tank mostly full - more than 1/2. This reduces the amount of gas that can evaporate and thus be wasted.

Along those lines, it is also better to fill up your car with gas in the coolest part of the day. As it gets warmer the gas expands (and is more volatile) so you don't get as much for the same money. Could be just a little, but every little bit helps right?
Joan

 

[lillygator]

these are great ideas!

 

[happymom9802]

keep 'em coming, guys!

Thanks!

 

[Chicklogic]

When I make a hamburger-helper-type dish I only use 1/2 to 3/4 pounds of meat instead of a whole pound. Couple this with a veggie and rolls or cheap biscuits and no one notices the missing meat

I also wait until hambuger is on sale and only buy it at the meat counter. I HATE HATE HATE that the pre-packaged packages never ever have a pound of meat in the them--always way more.


I stretch by using half ground beef and half TVP - NO ONE in my family has even noticed and TVP is waaaaayyyy cheap

 

[dbogen]

QUOTE=Leader of the Club;25847748]

I stretch by using half ground beef and half TVP - NO ONE in my family has even noticed and TVP is waaaaayyyy cheap [/QUOTE]

What is TVP?

 

[jmtf2004]

QUOTE=Leader of the Club;25847748]
What is TVP?

Texturized Vegetable Protein...available in health food stores.

 

[semo233]

Inspired by what everyone has been posting, I've been trying to cut back everywhere I can. I tried something new tonight.
I had a piece of leftover steak and one leftover grilled chicken breast.
I wanted to use all stuff I had in the house:

Mexican Rice:
1 cup brown rice
1 small can tomatoe paste
1/2 tsp garlic powder
2 c water

Cooked until all water was absorbed.

Added
black beans
pinto beans
cheddar cheese

Served in a pita pocket with choice of sliced steak or diced chicken.

The kids loved it! My 12 yo daugher asked for one without the chicken and liked it even better! Because rice & beans make a complete protein, I'm okay with that! Her friend loved it too!
I'm going to remember this one when I have a bunch of kids over!