Best painless "stretching things" budget tips?

[SGMCO]

I've just bought "The Tightwad Gazette III" maybe after reading
I will be able to add more ideas.
I've cut our Electric Bill by 1/2 from
last years summer months--since we live in Colorado and it's dry air
we turned off our airconditioner and put on a "Swamp Cooler".
Plus, I've started hanging out our clothes on a Clothes line.
I can't believe how much electricity a dryer takes.

 

[happycampers]

I've just bought "The Tightwad Gazette III" maybe after reading
I will be able to add more ideas.
I've cut our Electric Bill by 1/2 from
last years summer months--since we live in Colorado and it's dry air
we turned off our airconditioner and put on a "Swamp Cooler".
Plus, I've started hanging out our clothes on a Clothes line.
I can't believe how much electricity a dryer takes.

I've got that book, too. Before that, I was a subscriber to her newsletter. She's got a lot of good ideas, though some are a bit extreme for me.

A "swamp cooler" was able to cut your electric bill in half? I've never heard of one. Would you mind telling me a little more about them?

Our dryer runs on natural gas, so I don't know exactly how that compares to electric, but the thing that really surprised me was the dishwasher. I always take a look at the electric meter when I walk around that side of the house and see how fast that disk is spinning. (It makes me feel better when ours is spinning more slowly than the one on the two story next door.) One day, it was flying, and I knew our AC wasn't even on. I asked DD to stop the dishwasher, and the wheel slowed down considerably. When she turned it back on, it sped right back up. To some, that may have been common knowledge, but for me it was a shocker.

 

[minnie1928]

Our dryer runs on natural gas, so I don't know exactly how that compares to electric, but the thing that really surprised me was the dishwasher. I always take a look at the electric meter when I walk around that side of the house and see how fast that disk is spinning. (It makes me feel better when ours is spinning more slowly than the one on the two story next door.) One day, it was flying, and I knew our AC wasn't even on. I asked DD to stop the dishwasher, and the wheel slowed down considerably. When she turned it back on, it sped right back up. To some, that may have been common knowledge, but for me it was a shocker.

I'm curious...how old is your dishwasher. We just moved into this house and I've been questioning the efficiency of ours (it's about 8 years old).

 

[RichNKatHolly]

re: the tuna cakes-

I've always made them just with tuna, some sort of bread product, egg, and seasonings.

But you can use lots of different stuff for the bread product. My grandma always used saltine crackers crushed up. I made them once with some stale Cheez-Its and they were fantastic. Who woulda thought? I have also made them with the little crumbies in the potato chip bag. It's a really good way to use up that odd leftover stuff, and stale doesn't matter.

I'm late to this party, but the crushed cheez-its are super as breading for chicken breasts too!

Sorry if it's already been posted.

 

[SGMCO]

I've got that book, too. Before that, I was a subscriber to her newsletter. She's got a lot of good ideas, though some are a bit extreme for me.

A "swamp cooler" was able to cut your electric bill in half? I've never heard of one. Would you mind telling me a little more about them?

Our dryer runs on natural gas, so I don't know exactly how that compares to electric, but the thing that really surprised me was the dishwasher. I always take a look at the electric meter when I walk around that side of the house and see how fast that disk is spinning. (It makes me feel better when ours is spinning more slowly than the one on the two story next door.) One day, it was flying, and I knew our AC wasn't even on. I asked DD to stop the dishwasher, and the wheel slowed down considerably. When she turned it back on, it sped right back up. To some, that may have been common knowledge, but for me it was a shocker.

I didn't know anything about a "Swamp Cooler" (grew up in Louisiana) either until we moved to Colorado--It's a cooling system that uses evaparative water and air to cool.
Swamp Coolers are only used where there in little humidity. Plus, hang out the clothes cut out a big chunk. We also purchased a new energy effeciant Dishwasher because my old one died. My DH dug out last summers bill statement and we were in shock about the savings, even with everything going up in cost.
What I hate about the Utility bills is that most the cost is for added fees and taxes.

Well I've already gone thru most of my "TightWade Gazette II" and I'm disappointed because most of it is very outdated and will be of no use to me. Plus part 3 talks about things that you can find in parts 1 & 2
but doesn't give you the recipes so you would have to buy the original books to make the 3rd book useful at all.

 

[happycampers]

I'm curious...how old is your dishwasher. We just moved into this house and I've been questioning the efficiency of ours (it's about 8 years old).

Ours is about 8 years old as well. It's what came with the house when we had it built, so it's a "builder grade" model. I wonder if it is the efficiency of lower end models, older models or if they can lose efficiency as they age.

I didn't know anything about a "Swamp Cooler" (grew up in Louisiana) either until we moved to Colorado--It's a cooling system that uses evaparative water and air to cool.
Swamp Coolers are only used where there in little humidity. Plus, hang out the clothes cut out a big chunk. We also purchased a new energy effeciant Dishwasher because my old one died. My DS dug out last summers bill statement and we were in shock about the savings, even with everything going up in cost.
What I hate about the Utility bills is that most the cost is for added fees and taxes.

Well I've already gone thru most of my "TightWade Gazette II" and I'm disappointed because most of it is very outdated and will be of no use to me. Plus part 3 talks about things that you can find in parts 1 & 2
but doesn't give you the recipes so you would have to buy the original books to make the 3rd book useful at all.

Thanks for the info on that swamp cooler. Sounds like it wouldn't work here since our humidity can get fairly high in the summer.

If you need a recipe from the TG III that is in one of the older books, your library may have them (ours does). If that doesn't work out, you are welcome to PM me and I'll look through my old issues and see if I can find what you need.

 

[Chicklogic]

Glad to see this thread still alive!

It's TOTALLY painless to check out the reduced meat section in the grocery store

I bought 7 pounds of pork chops (boneless) today at Publix for $3

 

[Tinka_Belle]

I have a quick recipe that saves money for those that like the flavored rices.

Instead of buying a mix for the chicken flavored rice I use one cube of chicken buillion (sp?) to 3 cups of instant rice plus the water that the box calls for. (for cajun chicken flavored rice you can add some Creole seasoning also) This also works with the beef buillion cubes for beef flavored rice. (don't forget the salt though)

 

[fabfive]

I love this thread! Now if I could remember all the things I have read today.

 

[emh1129]

Great thread. We are seriously trying to pinch pennies here and some of these tips might really help!

 

[Tinka_Belle]

I made my own laundry soap today and did my first load of laundry. I had a load of laundry that got forgotten in the washer. My DH was very skeptical that it would clean the clothes and he definitely thought that it wasn't going to get the smell out. Well the load of laundry is done and I have to say that I am a believer in homemade laundry soap. I also used vinegar in my Downy ball. The entire load of clothes smelled so fresh. I will not be buying anymore commercial laundry soap.

 

[Chipmunk89]

I made my own laundry soap today and did my first load of laundry. I had a load of laundry that got forgotten in the washer. My DH was very skeptical that it would clean the clothes and he definitely thought that it wasn't going to get the smell out. Well the load of laundry is done and I have to say that I am a believer in homemade laundry soap. I also used vinegar in my Downy ball. The entire load of clothes smelled so fresh. I will not be buying anymore commercial laundry soap.

Do tell. How did you make your own laundry soap?

 

[ticktock]

I made my own laundry soap today and did my first load of laundry. I had a load of laundry that got forgotten in the washer. My DH was very skeptical that it would clean the clothes and he definitely thought that it wasn't going to get the smell out. Well the load of laundry is done and I have to say that I am a believer in homemade laundry soap. I also used vinegar in my Downy ball. The entire load of clothes smelled so fresh. I will not be buying anymore commercial laundry soap.

Will you please post you laundry soap recipe? I've been wanting to try this but I don't even like other commercial soaps other than Tide. So I've been sceptical about HM soaps but if yours gets out the "forgot it in the washer for two days" smell it MUST be good.

 

[Dopey Rocks!]

subbing! Can't wait to read the entire thread and add some of my own ideas.

 

[TotalSnowWhite]

subbing! Can't wait to read the entire thread and add some of my own ideas.

Great thread, isn't it?!? Just wanted to say hey neighbor!!

 

[happycampers]

Do tell. How did you make your own laundry soap?

Check out this thread:
http://www.disboards.com/showthread.php?p=25659132#post25659132&highlight=laundry+detergent

 

[Chipmunk89]

Thanks! I'll have to give it a try!

 

[Tinka_Belle]

The recipe I use is in post #10 of the thread that was posted by a pp. This is the link to the post: http://www.disboards.com/showpost.php?p=25664915&postcount=10

I just added a 1/2 a cup of vinegar to my Downy ball instead of Fabric Softener. DH used one of the towels that I washed in that load and it was softer and smelled better than the ones that were washed in regular soap. I have a half a bottle of regular detergeant that I don't know what to do with now. I also read that the vinegar will make sure that all of the soap residue is washed off of the clothes making them brighter. (I think I read that on this thread.)

 

[mrsklamc]

Several of my recipes include 'cream of whatever' soup. The price has skyrocketed though! I googled for homemade cream of potato recipes for cooking and most results are for a mixture using powdered milk...Does anyone use this and did your family notice? It would be wayyy cheaper but I'm hesitant...

 

[happycampers]

Several of my recipes include 'cream of whatever' soup. The price has skyrocketed though! I googled for homemade cream of potato recipes for cooking and most results are for a mixture using powdered milk...Does anyone use this and did your family notice? It would be wayyy cheaper but I'm hesitant...

I've successfully used this one in casseroles and crock pot dishes. I haven't tried it as a soup itself.

Homemade Cream of ___ Soup Mix
2 cups powdered milk
¾-1 ¼ cups cornstarch or 2 ½ cups flour
¼ cups chicken, beef, or vegetable bouillon granules
2 Tablespoons dried onion flakes or 1 teaspoon of onion powder
1 teaspoon dried thyme, crushed
1 teaspoon dried basil or marjoram, crushed
½ teaspoon black or white pepper
Combine all ingredients and blend until mixed. Store in an airtight container in a cool dry place for up to 1 year. This recipe makes 3 cups and is enough for 9 cans of soup.
To substitute for one can of condensed cream soup:
In a 1-quart saucepan or microwave safe bowl, combine 1/3 cup of soup mix and 1 1/4 cup water. (If made with flour, add ½ cup mix to 1 ¼ water.)
For soup, double the water. Bring to a boil or microwave on high for 2 to 2 1/2 minutes, stirring occasionally.