Tell Us Your Tightwad Secrets!!

[me again]

Actually planned menus, at least for dinner. It really works! First, I "shopped" in my fridge and pantry, saw what I had, realized I didn't need to do too much shopping, planned dinners around what I had and what I needed to buy I did using coupons and sales,found some double and triple coupons, total spent this week came to $20, just for milk, bread, some incidentals.

Can't do that good every week, but planning out the menus really reduces the impulse buying or ordering a pizza or take out when tired and hungry.

 

[ZPT1022]

Shoes and shirts that were too grungy to donate to Goodwill-:

I think I read somewhere that they sell those clothes and they get repurposed into sponges and stuff. Kind of like recycling for clothes

 

[miss missy]

I wash nearly everything in cold water - except socks & underwear. I just feel better washing that stuff in hot water, with all the germs and such.

Add some Oxi-clean powder to that and you feel real clean too!

 

[miss missy]

Don't take your children grocery shopping. I always walk out with stuff that's not on my list if the kids (or DH is there).

My tip is to take my DH.. he says "you don't need that" or "I don't need that" and we buy nothing when he is around.

 

[Lisa loves Pooh]

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.

Mythbusters busted that....

I think the result was around 40mph or so....

Slower than that, what you say is true....

Faster than that, no difference what so ever.


(or it could be vice versa--I forget maybe the other person knows. But one way it doesn't cost your more)

 

[Lisa loves Pooh]

Check with your local newspaper....

I'm not even sure mine still does this as I still have the same rolls I picked up several years ago.....


But the leftover rolls they have from printing the paper have bunches left on them for art projects. Our newspaper left them out standing on their loading docks free for anyone who wants to take them.

Call yours and check if they do this, or if they will let you have them for free if they don't. (Especially if they are just tossing them into the dumpster).

 

[Lisa loves Pooh]

We did the grocery game once upon a time but let it lapse (I just don't use everything--didn't have the coupon stockpile and don't like shopping on the day that the list was ready which I think was Sunday).

So now I go to my grocer's website on Thursdays when they release their ad and i can build my list right there. For free.

Now I don't knock grocery game--it is neat and all and a great way to learn. But I figured out how to do it on my own (Sort of---also it took me over a year before learning this).

I can get sales ads for Publix and Wild Oats this way. (winn Dixie and Albertson's has it as well).





Also--I work from home. Wish this was available to me back in college. No gas, no work clothes, no wasted time....log in and go.

 

[HenDuck]

I love this thread. It's just what I need to get me back on track!

I do a lot of what has been offered here.

I do like to use the WalMart brand (Equate) on many items from hydrocortisone to their version of Cetaphil. Most of the time, it's just as good as the name brand.

We use bath towels at least twice, then use them to wipe up the shower and tub, then use them to dust the countertops in the bathroom, then wash!
In the guest bathrooms, we only have towels for drying hands, those I change out only weekly.

I also figured out that I was wasting food on DS' school lunches this summer. I am giving him way too much food, and half of it comes back home. In another month or so, I'll try to get him to eat a little more and then I start making him more food.

And I have recommitted to bringing home lunch myself. I have just been spending waaaaay too much on lunches out, most of which I am not that thrilled with. Plus if I leave the office to get lunch, I am more likely to stop by Macy's or Ross - baaaad idea!

I have picked up a lot of good ideas here, so thanks!

 

[HenDuck]

I just cancelled my vitamin/supplement auto ship pack. I'm not thrilled with at least two of the items in the pack, so I'm not using them. I can still auto ship the supplements I actually use, I figure that will save me quite a bit.

I cancelled our extra services on our home phone because we didn't use most of them. I also replaced the pricey voice mail system with a plain old answering machine.

My next project is to convince DH that we DON'T need digital cable on both TVs in the house.

Stopped buying soda a while ago, so I'll stop drinking it, , but it's also saving us money too. (Although I'm getting sick of drinking water).

Oh, and I was soooo proud of myself last week. We had a church potluck, and instead of buying ready made food and dessert, I actually COOKED my own! Hahaha...this is really a budget buster for me. My favorite bakery is right down the road and it's so easy to pick up a couple of cakes or pies when we have a potluck. That usually runs $20-25. But I actually made BBQ meatballs and a chocolate cake for less than half that! (I"m learning... )

Thanks again!

 

[D&DDisney]

Actually planned menus, at least for dinner. It really works! First, I "shopped" in my fridge and pantry, saw what I had, realized I didn't need to do too much shopping, planned dinners around what I had and what I needed to buy I did using coupons and sales,found some double and triple coupons, total spent this week came to $20, just for milk, bread, some incidentals.

Can't do that good every week, but planning out the menus really reduces the impulse buying or ordering a pizza or take out when tired and hungry.

I will second this. Planning menus is the way to go. I've planned them for years and manage to stay in budget each week. Couldn't imagine going to the store without my list and weekly menu.

Also...
-Not subscribing to cable/satellite saves at least $50 each month.
-Growing veggies in your own garden
-Only having basic service on your phone
-Making children's lunches for school at least $30 per month

 

[OceanAnnie]

OT- Lisa Loves Pooh, I didn't know you had your baby! I hadn't seen you posting, maybe I missed them. Beautiful picture of the kids.

 

[the Fidge]

Regarding gorcery shopping. I had no diea how it sunk into my DS but Dh joined us grocery shopping and went to get something and DS said sorry Dad....if its not on sale and Mom doesn't have a coupon for it , you can forget it!

Now if I could just get him to clean his room!

I get SUndays paper delivered only as it will have more coupons than any Sunday paper at the store will. I also have a gas station and a deli that save the coupons for me and pick them up on Monday.

 

[minnie1928]

Question some of your bills to see if discounts are offered. Yesterday I called our local newspaper regarding mom's subscription renewal. The bill was for 1 year, am/pm/weekend service = $189. I called the newspaper and said that I would like to know of any discounts available. The operator stated that if I paid the bill in full right then with a credit/debit card that she could cut the bill in half! So, we dropped the pm paper (mom doesn't read it anyway), got the 50% discount and ended up saving $107!!! I usually renew for one year in order to avoid any price increases too.

I did this a few months ago for myself and got the same discount for the newspaper. Mom's cable is also under a discount program (which should be ending soon...) that I asked about. I think it's currently cutting her cable by about $15/mth if I remember correctly. In a few weeks I'll call them again to see if we can roll her into another discount.

 

[mommiepoppins]

I was watching the BBC show How clean is your house. They had some frugal cleaning tips... Clean windows with vinigar and whipe them off with newspaper. I will give that a try


Here is a frugal move I made today. I went into a food store for one item I can only buy there. They have the coupon machines... so I went down the isles and grabed coupons that I could use. I will take them and use them at wal mart

 

[My2Angels]

If we eat out, we always get water. At even casual restaurants, this saves us almost $10.00! We make lemonade from lemons and water and the sugar on the table, or use the kool-aid single serving packs I carry in my purse. I also try to eat out only on free kids nights. We can eat cheaper at OCharley's than McDonald's if we order water and I order something cheap, because kids eat free. For birthdays, lots of places give you a free meal or ice cream (like Coldstone) if you sign up on their website.

 

[scribega]

Don't Use Coupons!
I am sure your first response is WHAT? So let me explain.

I clip coupons every Sunday from our newspaper. My wife makes our weekly meal plan and then I go do the shopping. I usually end up taking about 10 coupons and usually use 2-4. Buy store brand. The store brand still maybe cheaper than the name brand that has a coupon that that saves you a $1.

 

[lg3]

Like this thread!

We save bows and wrapping paper (if the paper is decent enough to) to re-use, especially at Christmas time. I thought everyone did it until I went to my first Christmas at dh's mom's home (when he was dbf). They started throwing away all the beautiful bows and I must have had a horrified look on my face, because they asked me "what's wrong?" I just said "Oh, could we save them - we always did that at our house growing up." Now everyone gives us theirs. Hee hee! Plus, they don't make great bows like they used to, so the older ones are extra-special and often have a sentimental value too.

I do some surveys, and every bit helps. It is difficult to find the time though!

I also try to see how long I can go without going to the grocery store and exhausting all menu possibilities before dashing out. It really does make a difference. I always buy the lowest priced milk and OJ. (for dh). I love shopping at Aldi's - great bargains on food and Disney items at times. If we had a free-standing freezer I would buy more and stock up on milk and meat, etc. from Sam's.
Lately I have been trying to be healthier and lose a little weight before our Disney trip in Sept - really watching what food I eat and cutting back on that glass of wine every night with dinner. That has saved a lot of $ and calories already!
Dh has many allergies, so we can never have the windows open. We have the film on the large windows that face the sun so that it doesn't beat down on the thermostat. I also close all the drapes on that side of the house that gets the hot afternoon sun.
I swear by Shout Color-catcher sheets. I can was darks and lights together and do fewer loads. Love it!

 

[Mickey13]

I buy store brands and use coupons.

I drive with my windows up and don't use the air conditioner. (Yes, I live in southern Arizona. Temp today was 110F). Vents only. I only do this when I'm alone in the car.

I buy a 25 lb bag of beans, and a 25 lb bag of rice. I will cook a big pot of both. That's what I will eat for sometimes several days straight. Of course, this may not be for everyone. I happen to love beans and rice.

I make my lunch to take to work.

I know this sounds bad, but sometimes I will wear my cargo shorts a couple days in a row. The laundry won't pile up that quick.

I try to do all my errands on one trip.

 

[Mickeyorbust]

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

thanks !

Sorry, if someone's already posted this. My tip doesn't do the whole load at once, just stains on white. Before you wash it, soak the stain in lemon juice and lay in the sun. Once the stain is no longer visible launder as normal. And you can do it over and over without ruining the fabric like bleach will. My eldest daughter has extrememly sensitive skin and this is how I get stains out of her whites. Hope it helps!

 

[Mickeyorbust]

I use so many already listed and got some ideas. Here's mine...I make my own cleaning wipes. The recipes came from organizedhome.com http://www.organizedhome.com/content-11.html