Tell Us Your Tightwad Secrets!!

[Mellie2162]

Oh, I have such a funny generic story!

I grew up on generic. I feed my family generic. No problems here.

My DH grew up on NAME BRAND. His parents NEVER buy generic, anything.

So, for our upcoming vacation, I was writing down what flavor of soda everyone wanted in the cooler for picnic lunches. My kids kindly gave me the generic flavors, without blinking an eye. My DH told me "Coca Cola". I asked.. will generic cola work? NOOOOOO. He explained, there is only ONE Coca Cola, no generic. He also insisted that he needs Ruffles. No generic ripple chips.

He's been eating my generic food for 12 years now. I just had to laugh.

Thats so funny. My kids were drinking sprite and coke before, now they drink generic. They also only get one box and it has to last until the next grocery day, so actually they end up having maybe one a day and water the rest of the time now. At first my dd really grumbled alot about the generic, but I told her that if it wasnt up to standards she was welcomed to just drink water and the leave the rest for everyone else. Now she sings a different tune and things they are just as good. lol.

 

[ZPT1022]

- Swapping - I belong to a internet message board for moms local to my area. We all routinely post "offers" and "In search of" lists to swap with each other, no money trading hands. I was astonished one day that someone needed/wanted my cookie press that I had but never used; in exchange she had several boxes of the only kind of scented candle that doesn't aggravate my husband's allergies. I've also swapped a no-longer-needed babysling for the right to pick a couple quarts of blueberries in the recipient's backyard, and some of my homemade chocolate sauce for a princess dress.

Would you mind sharing a link to the mom's swap group. You can PM me if you like. I like this idea so much more than freecycle. Our local freecycle seems to be plagued with people looking to resell or thinking they should never have to buy anything again since people from freecycle should give them one. There are regular posts asking for cars

 

[mjbaby]

Would you mind sharing a link to the mom's swap group. You can PM me if you like. I like this idea so much more than freecycle. Our local freecycle seems to be plagued with people looking to resell or thinking they should never have to buy anything again since people from freecycle should give them one. There are regular posts asking for cars

I wouldn't mind sharing the link at all with you - it's a great bunch of socially aware, environmentally- and financially-responsible moms who are tons of fun, to boot - but I don't think it would do you much good! The group focuses on a couple towns in Philadelphia's western 'burbs and it looks like you're in CT, right?

Why not start your own group? It's easy to do with Yahoo and, I swear, I don't know what I'd do without it. In addition to offering support and ideas for parenting, we talk about books, movies, local events and also do the swapping. We've had co-ops for all kinds of stuff, too - organic beef and pork, canvas bags, kids' clothes, toys and so on. I highly recommend this kind of mom-based community group.

 

[mickeyfan2]

I wouldn't mind sharing the link at all with you - it's a great bunch of socially aware, environmentally- and financially-responsible moms who are tons of fun, to boot - but I don't think it would do you much good! The group focuses on a couple towns in Philadelphia's western 'burbs and it looks like you're in CT, right?

Why not start your own group? It's easy to do with Yahoo and, I swear, I don't know what I'd do without it. In addition to offering support and ideas for parenting, we talk about books, movies, local events and also do the swapping. We've had co-ops for all kinds of stuff, too - organic beef and pork, canvas bags, kids' clothes, toys and so on. I highly recommend this kind of mom-based community group.

What western 'burbs do they focus on? Do you have to be a mom to partak in the organic beef etc?

 

[SeeDisney]

this is probably very well-known, but I dilute their juices up to 75%, they don't know the difference.

Sometimes, I'll dilute their milk in the cereal as well.

 

[mommiepoppins]

this is probably very well-known, but I dilute their juices up to 75%, they don't know the difference.

Sometimes, I'll dilute their milk in the cereal as well.

well I dilute the milk for the cereal. The kids no they need to use the milk with the green cap milk for the cereal. They also drink milk with the cereal and that is NOT diluted. That milk has the purple cap.

 

[katlas&kids]

I took DD#2 out of her swim diaper, yesterday, and thought, "hmmmmm, I don't think she peed in this at all."

If I knew how to save the stinking things, I would.

Oh, we also like to eat out, occasionally, and we sign up for b-day clubs to get free meals.

As a swim teacher for the parent-tot kids, and a mom of 4, I tell the parents in my class that you can tell if the child has done something in the water cause it will be warm! Even so, you can take the swim diaper, rinse it in water, turn it inside out & hang it up. Then the next day, turn it the other way and let it finish drying, if needed. It can be used again, and again! Better than paying a dollar a pop in the early season if you didn't know you'd need them the end of season before!

I also like you eat out program. That is a good idea!Denny's here also lets kids eat free on certian nights, along with a few other restuarants!

 

[mommiepoppins]

belevie or not my dd who will be 15 did not use a swim diaper.. they were not invented .. so I would use a clth diaper with plastic undies in her suit and it worked fine

 

[mom2my3kids]

One thing I wont give up is heat in the winter and air condition in the summer, well worth the money..

We have free movie days in my city at a local theater, its free on a certain day per week. We are going to try it out this summer. We have a pool so we swim at home instead of the local pools. I am trying to eat out less and more at home that is where our money goes..

 

[TNKBELL]

Yesterday I tried the using 1/2 the amount of laundry detergent, it was fine!!!
I didn't notice a difference, but I will notice not having to go to the store all the time for more!!

Another tip I got from Tawra Kellum's Living On a Dime newsletter is not to be so quick to wash every piece of clothing after 1 use. Most of you probably already do this but after Mass, we just hang up our Church clothes and only wash if they were somehow soiled. Unfortunately the DKs can't get away with not washing thier daily clothes after 1 wear(especially DS8 who thinks that t-shirts are actually giant napkins!) I do wear my clothes more than 1 day(although not in a row!) but my tops seem to get spit up and drool on them as well as messy hands that like to hug!!

 

[katlas&kids]

LOL!

We live in SE Pennsylvania and there's always a point in summer that goes beyond uncomfortable and heads straight into dangerously hot. That's when we use the AC units (our 200 year old house doesn't have central air). If I had babies or if an elderly relative was visiting (or we lived in a less temperate climate), it would be a different matter but for us using the AC is something to do for safety, not for mere discomfort. I live in coastal SE VA, and the heat & humidity can be bad here. We have 1 big window unit that takes the humidity out of the house, but doesn't coool to well. We try too wait until July to turn it on, or even later if things don't heat up to bad. No one is at home during the day & we have ceiling fans in almost all the rooms for the nights. My oldest son does run one in his room now, as he is upstairs, so if it is to hot (1 night so far) and he isn't home, we'll stay up there.



- Swapping - I belong to a internet message board for moms local to my area. We all routinely post "offers" and "In search of" lists to swap with each other, no money trading hands. I was astonished one day that someone needed/wanted my cookie press that I had but never used; in exchange she had several boxes of the only kind of scented candle that doesn't aggravate my husband's allergies. I've also swapped a no-longer-needed babysling for the right to pick a couple quarts of blueberries in the recipient's backyard, and some of my homemade chocolate sauce for a princess dress.

There are also internt groups called freecycle(.org for your area) that run through yahoo groups. They have led me to other boards in my area that either swap, give away, let you look for or sell cheaper than retail. It is worth looking into!

 

[katlas&kids]

Take this one with a grain of salt.

I also have an older house, and gas heat. Cant set our thermostat above 65, or it will run continously. When I dry a load indoors in the winter, I put a pair of old panty hose on the end of the dryer hose to catch the lint, (after i have closed off the end to the outside) & use the heat in side the house. It helps add humidity to the dry indoor air, and we get the benifit of having warm air!

 

[crusoe2]

For those of you looking for meal ideas that won't heat up the house, what about cooking in a crockpot or on a George Forman grill? This won't generate so much heat and cooking in the crockpot allows you to dump everything in and do other things while dinner cooks. Not sure how much elec. these appliances use, tho. I've never looked into it. I wouldn't think they would use as much as the stove and oven would, tho.

 

[mickeyfan2]

For those of you looking for meal ideas that won't heat up the house, what about cooking in a crockpot or on a George Forman grill? This won't generate so much heat and cooking in the crockpot allows you to dump everything in and do other things while dinner cooks. Not sure how much elec. these appliances use, tho. I've never looked into it. I wouldn't think they would use as much as the stove and oven would, tho.

We use our convection toaster oven. What a time and energy saver.

 

[crusoe2]

We use our convection toaster oven. What a time and energy saver.

Oh, yeah. I didn't even think about that. (Duh!) This thread has been great - I've gotten so many good ideas.

 

[punkin]

Take this one with a grain of salt.

I also have an older house, and gas heat. Cant set our thermostat above 65, or it will run continously. When I dry a load indoors in the winter, I put a pair of old panty hose on the end of the dryer hose to catch the lint, (after i have closed off the end to the outside) & use the heat in side the house. It helps add humidity to the dry indoor air, and we get the benifit of having warm air!

Is that safe? doesn't that cause a buildup of carbon monoxide or something?

 

[MichelleB]

This isn't mine, but my sister's....when she goes to fast food restaurants she grabs extra napkins (and I mean extra) so she never has to buy them.

 

[RichNKatHolly]

Yesterday I tried the using 1/2 the amount of laundry detergent, it was fine!!!
I didn't notice a difference, but I will notice not having to go to the store all the time for more!!

Another tip I got from Tawra Kellum's Living On a Dime newsletter is not to be so quick to wash every piece of clothing after 1 use. Most of you probably already do this but after Mass, we just hang up our Church clothes and only wash if they were somehow soiled. Unfortunately the DKs can't get away with not washing thier daily clothes after 1 wear(especially DS8 who thinks that t-shirts are actually giant napkins!) I do wear my clothes more than 1 day(although not in a row!) but my tops seem to get spit up and drool on them as well as messy hands that like to hug!!

I don't have any ideas other than what has already been posted, but I had to respond to your DS8. My DS7 does the same thing. I can put 100 napkins in front of him, on his lap, etc. and he will still use his shirt and pants!! Arrgg!!

 

[Pigeon]

Take this one with a grain of salt.

I also have an older house, and gas heat. Cant set our thermostat above 65, or it will run continously. When I dry a load indoors in the winter, I put a pair of old panty hose on the end of the dryer hose to catch the lint, (after i have closed off the end to the outside) & use the heat in side the house. It helps add humidity to the dry indoor air, and we get the benifit of having warm air!

I would be very careful with this idea. It could be very dangerous from a buildup of combustion products such as carbon monoxide in the living area.

 

[asgt]

Or, it could also be a way of saying, "Hey, I don't need to adhere to society's false expectations about what I should own or how I should spend my money! I'm going to strip away others' demands of my money and prioritize *my* life and *my* finances accordingly."

Here Here!!! Isnt it amazing the way we all judge how to spend each others money.

Yes we live without A/C (we are in Michigan by the way) and dont miss it for a second. You could look at it this way, I will not be complaing one bit in the hot Disney sun this september.