Inspired by the budget thread - what's the strangest 'frugal' habit?

[Figaro]

Well, I re-use the non-stick aluminum foil sheets because once I get it bent just right to cover up the loaves of banana bread I can't stand to throw it out and go through the hassle of bending and fitting a new one. Of course, it isn't dirty, as it sat up over the loaves of bread.

 

[twinmomplus2new]

My MIL is responsible for all the weird things I have seen in regards to being frugal.

She also reuses baggies and in some cases tin foil.

She also squeezes the ketchup from packets (fast Food) Into her larger ketchup bottle at home.

Once and only once, when I was first married I asked her how do you know if balony is still ok to eat? And she told me it stayed good along time. If it got green just to scape it off.

Honestly in ten years, I don't think I have aten anything from the house.

I am very wasteful, and she is very frugal and loaded. So I don't know who the fool is me or her?

 

[Cindy B]

Hmm.. i've seen putting the soy packets from the chinese place into a soy bottle... using leftover sesame seeds from stelladoro breadsticks and using them in sesame chicken.

My granmother always reused Xmas wrap.
My FIL also believes in the mold can always be cut off and the rest is fine!

 

[Blueberry]

My father will drive a hundred miles out of the way to avoid paying a toll on a road...of less than a dollar...

My DHs parents used to bury garbage in the yard at night too avoid the pick up fee, and they did it at night as there was a law againest it then..So they had to sneak out in the dark and bury the garbage in the garden....

My mother reuses wax paper...

 

[100%Disney]

I reuse gift bags and I save the little utensil packets that we get when we order take out, that way I can use then later for picnics.

 

[BrerMom]

I miss my Grandma. I wonder what we'd be like if we had to raise kids during the depression? I think I know the answer. I wish I still had more of her "thrifty" nature.

Yes, some people border on psychotic, but we, as a nation, have become very wasteful.

 

[missyc]

My ex-husband's grandma came to visit from Puerto Rico, she saved "barely dirty" toilet paper on the back of the toilet to use next time! She stayed too long, of course, and had so many wierd habits! She didn't flush toilet paper, just threw it in the trash! Not being cheap, but gross!
She layed paper towls out to dry to use again.
The worst was the neatly folded dirty toilet paper!!

 

[BrerMom]

Originally posted by missyc
She didn't flush toilet paper, just threw it in the trash! Not being cheap, but gross!

Is this something more common with people who have a septic tank? I know I've heard this several times.

The worst was the neatly folded dirty toilet paper!!

Yuck!

 

[luvdisney81]

i do reuse tissue paper. I crumple it, then just fold it up, no ironing. This is the paper which will be used in the previously used gift bag's bottom. You always need that cushion ya know, so that's how it is used. The new stuff goes on top to look pretty. I'm one of those weird ones everyone talks about.

I do reuse ziploc bags if no meat or hard to clean stuff was used. Spaghetti sauces and such go in the trash.

I have been known to reuse paper plates if they weren't messy. Lol yep I don't put my sandwhich down on them, it is meant to catch the crumbs.

I make my own envelops from scratch paper and staples. I work at an office supply store to, you'd think I wouldn't do this.

I bet I have more just can't think of them all.

 

[meeshi]

Oh my goodness... some of these have me

I had a friend growing up whose grandfather would wash paper plates and hang them on the clothes line to dry.

 

[Doesney]

I too liked the one buying an extra bun for a double burger. Also like the poeple that use the fixins bar to make a salad. Guess I'm still judging.

 

[LadyAurora]

Well, I don't know how strange my habits are...
Mom used to reuse the ziplocs, so once in a while I do too. Sometimes I reuse my paper lunch sack, if no food got on it.
Refill my water bottles, over and over and over. I'm not worried about the carcinogenic qualities of plastic washed in the dishwasher.
Use Disney World popcorn buckets for cookie jars instead of buying one.
Buy generic groceries or HBA items, unless I already tried that item and I know I don't like the generic version. In fact, sometimes I put generic into the name brand container if I think DH is going to be fussy about it (not foods).

 

[Doesney]

Originally posted by missyc
The worst was the neatly folded dirty toilet paper!!

yuk

 

[KimR]

Originally posted by missyc
My ex-husband's grandma came to visit from Puerto Rico, she saved "barely dirty" toilet paper on the back of the toilet to use next time!

eeeeeewwwww!!!!!!

 

[skiwee1]

Originally posted by BrerMom
Is this something more common with people who have a septic tank? I know I've heard this several times.
Yuck!

We have a septic tank and I have never heard of such a thing. That is gross!

 

[Jenn Lynn]

Originally posted by Pooh Girl 71
lol my grandmother would never give any one a whole piece of gum. She would always tear it in half.

OMG! My Grandma totally did this too! Thanks for bringing back the memory.

 

[missyc]

Originally posted by skiwee1
We have a septic tank and I have never heard of such a thing. That is gross!

I guess it's more of a South American/Carib. sorta thing. Maybe places that don't have real good plumbing? My DH is from Mexico but he would never do that, however, we have had house guests from many places (Nicaragua, Mexico, Guatamala, etc.) and have actually taken the trash can out of the bathroom as a "reminder" that we FLUSH it here! LOL

You know...it's one thing to throw it away to save the plumbing, it's another to save it to RE-USE it!

 

[N.Bailey]

Originally posted by missyc


You know...it's one thing to throw it away to save the plumbing, it's another to save it to RE-USE it!

This whole thread is hilarious! My 12 year old sat here with me as I read over every post and she LOVED it. LOL

 

[momm2four]

i do reuse tissue paper. I crumple it, then just fold it up, no ironing. This is the paper which will be used in the previously used gift bag's bottom. You always need that cushion ya know, so that's how it is used. The new stuff goes on top to look pretty. I'm one of those weird ones everyone talks about.

I actually think that is pretty smart. It's the ironing part that gets me. I mean, I don't even iron my clothes on a regular basis, let alone used tissue.

I loved the burying trash after dark story.

Lori P.

 

[tar heel]

My dear mother-in-law uses Ziplocs until they fall apart. She washes them with dish soap and water -- doesn't matter what they had in them. Sometimes the "clean" ones look a little greasy to me!

I'm very close to her and gave her grief about this habit for years. Finally, I embraced it and bought her a plastic bag drying rack. I'm not kidding. It is four wooden flowers of different heights -- got it from Lillian Vernon. She said all her friends want one, too!