Tell Us Your Tightwad Secrets!!

[Momerath]

I got this from the July issue of Parents magazine--I hope I'm not breaking a whole bunch of copyright laws --but they said white vinegar is cheap, good for the environment and safe for kids, I plan to try these tips:

Stain Remover/Window Cleaner - 1/2 vinegar and 1/2 water spray on clothes before wash or use like Windex

Furniture Polish - 1/2 vingegar and 1/2 vegetable oil

Dishwasher rinse - straight vinegar (also can use to clean washer itself)



This is a great thread. I tried two loads of laundry using 1/2 the amount of soap and only 1/2 dryer sheet and all the clothes came out fresh & clean and smelling good. I also buy generic everything and used baby clothes and gear. I got DS a bunch of Disney tee shirts in great condition (no stains) froma neighborhood garage sale for only $0.25 each.

One way that has helped us curb the budget-buster of eating out is to post a menu for the week on the fridge. If I know what I'm making that night I'm much less tempted to say...let's just go to Subway/Wendy's/get a pizza. It also helped me to stay on budget at the grocery store.

Keep the good tips coming...every penny squeezed is one that will help bring us a step closer to getting out of debt and taking out next WDW trip!

 

[Orange County Girl]

The price of a gallon of milk has risen over a dollar in the past few months.I saw on the news that it could rise to $4.50 a gallon. I am going to buy a box of powdered milk to use in recipes that call for a large amount of milk and see how that works.

Also I have decided to save money this summer by staying home! I am also a Target-holic! Trips to town are going to be taken once or twice a week with my kids. We will take advantage of the dollar movie at the theater, the free bowling passes from the bowling alley(a free bowl every day), library, and the dollar menu from McDonald's. They are also offering a 42 oz. drink for $.69 all summer.

 

[OceanAnnie]

We've not eating out as often including not ordering pizza every Friday night. We're tired of pizza. Looking for some different, fun things to eat that we can make at home.

And we've been taking advantage of our library! Love it!

 

[heatherlynn444]

the most obvious one that comes to mind first is....pay off your credit cards! i dont buy anything if i don't have the money, and I pay my cc bill that month. saves a lootttt of money on interest when ppl buy stuff they "have to have"

air conditioner is one thing i will splurge on living in mississippi....i would die. as would me dog that stays home all day. but i do use celing fans to and that helps some.

i pack a lunch for work and only go get something on fridays as my "splurge" from a fast food place. this also saves on gas having to go get something to eat.

we use towels 3-4 times before we wash, b/c your clean anyway right?

i know this is awful but i also have been known to re-gift. if someone gives me soemthing i flat out dont want or already have and i cant return, i just regift it to someone else for their birthday etc.

most of the things I do others have already mentioned. i also try not to use teh AC in the car if its not to hot, i just roll the windows down, and using your cruise control saves gas.

we have a dinsey "jar" and if i find spare change laying around the house, it goes in the jar, thats the rule. or if my husband leaves $$ in his pants when i do the launrdy...into the disney fund it goes!

loving this thread, keep the tips coming!

 

[disneyred]

does anyone have any ideas out there how to keep their whites looking white without using bleach ?/

thanks !

 

[mickeyfan2]

does anyone have any ideas out there how to keep their whites looking white without using bleach ?/

thanks !

I just wash mine in our sanitze cycle. They are always white.

 

[mommiepoppins]

the most obvious one that comes to mind first is....pay off your credit cards! i dont buy anything if i don't have the money, and I pay my cc bill that month. saves a lootttt of money on interest when ppl buy stuff they "have to have"

air conditioner is one thing i will splurge on living in mississippi....i would die. as would me dog that stays home all day. but i do use celing fans to and that helps some.

i pack a lunch for work and only go get something on fridays as my "splurge" from a fast food place. this also saves on gas having to go get something to eat.

we use towels 3-4 times before we wash, b/c your clean anyway right?

i know this is awful but i also have been known to re-gift. if someone gives me soemthing i flat out dont want or already have and i cant return, i just regift it to someone else for their birthday etc.

most of the things I do others have already mentioned. i also try not to use teh AC in the car if its not to hot, i just roll the windows down, and using your cruise control saves gas.

we have a dinsey "jar" and if i find spare change laying around the house, it goes in the jar, thats the rule. or if my husband leaves $$ in his pants when i do the launrdy...into the disney fund it goes!

loving this thread, keep the tips coming!

I was watching Myth Busters and it dose not cost any extra for ac on the highway . Dh and I always have that arguement

 

[mickeyfan2]

I was watching Myth Busters and it dose not cost any extra for ac on the highway . Dh and I always have that arguement

It ususally costs less to run the air then have the windows open with the added drag. The car is designed to be aerodynamic when the windows are up. Turn on the A/C and save gas.

 

[TNKBELL]

http://www.your2cents.com/Register.asp

I just got my first $5.00 check that I'm saving for our trip. Everytime you take a survey you get $$ anywhere from $1-$4. It's legit!

 

[NCardella]

Thanks for the tip, TNK! I registered!

btw...i've been enjoying your posts on your upcoming budgeted trip (have fun!), tightwad secrets, and under $10 days!

 

[me again]

http://www.your2cents.com/Register.asp

I just got my first $5.00 check that I'm saving for our trip. Everytime you take a survey you get $$ anywhere from $1-$4. It's legit!

Hey thanks

I just signed up for this, got $7 credit for doing the information surveys, but no actual surveys yet. How much do you need to cash out? How many surveys can you take a day? How do they pay--paypal, check? Could add up to a nice little bit. Thanks again!

 

[disneychrista]

The health survey on that site OMG I am at like 20 mins and still going. A little much for $1

 

[TNKBELL]

Hey thanks

I just signed up for this, got $7 credit for doing the information surveys, but no actual surveys yet. How much do you need to cash out? How many surveys can you take a day? How do they pay--paypal, check? Could add up to a nice little bit. Thanks again!

I'm not sure, but I cashed out at $5, so I say cash out!!
They mail a check to your home.

 

[Diznejen1]

Thanks ya'll!! As of this morning, I too am a your2cents opinon giver! It was strange how some of the surveys are REALLY long, and some are just two or three questions...oh well..as long as they send the check that's all that matters. I took the 7 this moring and am waiting for more to be sent to me. Thanks again for bringing this to my attention! Have a great day!

 

[Plantlady]

My tip.. Rechargeable batteries.

My kids have 1 million and one toys/electronics that need AA batteries.

Even buying the cheap ones.. at the dollar store, paying $1 per package of four.. it is cheaper to buy rechargable.

Rechargable batteries cost about $7 for four. The savings will come through very quickly.

 

[TNKBELL]

My tip.. Rechargeable batteries.

My kids have 1 million and one toys/electronics that need AA batteries.

Even buying the cheap ones.. at the dollar store, paying $1 per package of four.. it is cheaper to buy rechargable.

Rechargable batteries cost about $7 for four. The savings will come through very quickly.

Sooo true!!

 

[KKB]

sorry duplicate

 

[KKB]

Hi, I need to learn to be a tightwad! I have a question... on the cutting your laundry soap, what kind are you using? I buy the cheap stuff. It's like $3 something a bottle (liquid). Does always using cold water cut down your electric bill that much? I usually only use cold/cold for my DD boutique items. Normally do the warm/cold. whites and towels get warm/warm. jen

Era, Surf, All...catch em on sale for $3. Use half a capful.

We was everything except whites in cold/cold. .03/load electricity(vs. .25-50/load for warm/hot). There is no need to do towels in warm/warm...you are generally drying off clean bodies! We also only wash towels once a week for this reason. (Kitchen towels go in whites...so different story there!)

 

[hsmamato2]

I 2nd rechargable batteries, they're better for the environment too...mine last about 3-4 years on heavy usage!
My whites seem ok using the vinegar in the wash..... we still haven't gotten the a/c put in yet,and it's been over 90 for a couple of days.....bleh- i do stuff around the house in the a.m.- close the house down completely in the afternoon and take off for somewhere to cool down, today it's the library and Moms swimming pond! by 4p.m.- it's about 95 out on the deck,and a 'cool" 81 in the kitchen, then as soon as the sun sets we open up the windows!

 

[KKB]

It is not a "phantom power drain" but there is a part of the circuitry that is awake to sense the remote power button being pushed. When the circuitry senses the power button it wakes up the rest of the electronics.

Turning them off will reset clocks and stored data (such as the digital cable channel guide) . These may not be side effects that the user finds appealing.

Turning off the computer, not just the monitor, is a good idea. It prevents a hacker from accessing the computer while you sleep.

If you aren't connected to the internet, they cannot hack; if you are connected, you should have good firewall to prevent hacking...

THAT BEING SAID, this baby gets shut down every night, and when we are gone during the day.