Tell Us Your Tightwad Secrets!!

[*MickeyFan*]

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

 

[cinamin27]

Used fabric softener sheets are great for getting baked on crust off your dishes, pots, pans, etc. Fill the dirty item with warm soapy water and throw in the used fabric softener sheet. Let soak for at least 30 minutes (I let them sit longer). The crud will come right off!

WOW! Thank you! Thats a new one on me! I'll (well my 14 yr old daughter ) will have to give that one a try!

 

[mommiepoppins]

I reuse veggie bags.
I reuse butter containers.
I was foil.
I hang dry towels out side.
I use freebees deoderent and raziors
I get books from the libary.
My kids split meals with me or each other
I never order soda when out to eat (nor do I buy it at home)
my dh and I are going to try to use fans insted of ac this summer our down stair is cool enough .
I shop Salvation Army only on Wedness day - 50 % off

 

[cinamin27]

this is not mine but my co-worker once mentioned to me that she snips the tops (the skinny flat part) of lotion tubes (you know the kind where you screw the lid off the bottom or flip the lid open & squeeze it out, like bath & body) & scoops out the additional lotion stuck to the walls of the tube. she just keeps snipping as needed till she gets to the lid/end. she says this lasts her for days & days more.

similiar to that, I flatten out my tube of toothpaste with the end my toothbrush as I go along to be sure I get every doggone squirt I possibly can out of it. I set the tube down on the counter & push from the end as flat as I can get it. (A pet peeve of mine is the middle of the tube squeezers! )

 

[carmie3377]

With lipstick, I will use a Q-tip or small make-up brush to get the lipstick in the bottom. There's usually at least 1/2 inch of lipstick stuck in the bottom of the tube. That will last me for days or even weeks.

 

[dreamalittledream]

our AC is not working so we are cutting way back on the energy bills this year. does that count?

also the drier broke this weekend, so I'll be hanging things up. I already hang at least 1/2 of my clothes, so I'm going to hold out on getting it fixed for now. that will cut the energy bill even more right?

 

[KristinU]

Great thread!

A tip I reads here on the board over a year ago was to use a couple of squirts of dish detergent (i.e. Dawn or Palmolive) rather than laundry soap, and to use vinegar in the Downey ball instead of softener. I've been using both since I read it here and I've been happy with the results. I also wash in cold, except for underwear and socks And hang to dry year 'round - outside in the good weather, inside in the winter. I did notice a decrease in gas and electricity when I started washing in cold and line drying.

Something that isn't cheap to start, but a big savings in the long run is compact fluorescent bulbs. We switched everything in our whole house except some track lighting that has flood lights in the basement and we saw a savings right away. I'd say it was around $100 to do all of our bulbs and we've been saving around $20 a month - so now that it has been about 6 months the savings is real.

 

[mjbaby]

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 thought of more:

- I learned to can fruits, veggies, pickles, jams and sauces. Although canning doesn't give one rock-bottom costs for food, it does give a good value for the quality of food that you're making - and I can mostly local, organic stuff so doing so in season gives me an excellent quality of food year 'round. I also make things like chocolate sauce (which I'd never buy), pickled peppers, marinated mushrooms and other "fancy" foods to give as gifts.

- I work from home and generate a lot of printed pages for my work. For the pages that aren't subject to my confidentiality agreements I keep them for my kids' coloring sheets (they can color on the other sides - unfortunately, I cannot double-print for my work). This goes for all kinds of junk mail we get, too. Any paper that's blank on one side goes in the "art drawers" for use in coloring and projects.

- 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.

 

[Savin4Disney]

Hang your clothes. Where I live the dryer is 1.00 a load. Well I can save up to 20.00 a month. Also the dryer is your biggest energy output.

I am doing an experiement. I have 50 oz bottle of Tide. Tide claims I can get 16 loads out of it. So far I have gotten 7 -- I only use 2 tablespoons per load. That is plenty.

Eat at home. Cook bigger meals. make a homemade TV dinner for later..those nights you don't want to cook or are in a hurry.

Save coupons - for sales. I have gotten TP for as low as .25 a roll. I currently have 44 rolls stockpiled. Won't need any for a long time.

use fans instead of AC. Cheaper power use.

Unplug anything not being used. If you use a desk top -- Turn off that monitor when not in use.

 

[Plantlady]

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

I use cheap detergent. The kind from Aldi that is between $2-3. I find no problems using 1/2 per load. I tried it once, and everything still smelled nice and fresh, so i haven't looked back.

I don't see a huge difference between using cold and warm for our clothes. We use propane. I don't notice a huge cost difference. I do still use cold for everything but whites, just so I use less propane, in an effort to be kind to the environment, not really a cost savings that I've noticed.

 

[lillygator]

these tips are great! I know I am terrible about overloading the detergent!!

Also, do washers ever need to be cleaned out?

 

[HelenePA]

You can wash your washer with vinagar... or if your done with a jar of pickles use the juice, just run your washer empty... do you know washers are one of the worst places in your house for germs?? use bleach every now and again... or all you do is swish those germs around... eekkssss

 

[samanthacatangel]

I have a high efficiency washer, and the repairman (for a recall-related event) told me it is best to use less soap, and always water down the fabric softener. I also cut the dryer sheets.

Eat what is on sale. If chicken is on sale, eat chicken. This week filet mignon is on sale, so I am buying it and freezing it in individual portions.

Know your prices. B1G1 isn't always the cheapest price per item. Same with bulk shopping.

Prep your food as soon as possible to bringing it home. When I buy 9 pounds of sale chicken, within the next 24 hours I cut them into cutlets/strips and feeze in Press N Seal and then in a freezer bag. Makes easy work of making dinner during the week. Time is money.


Always check if there is a lower price on services you already use. I call Verizon to double check my bill periodically, and there has NEVER been a call where they didn't offer me some sort of promo package that lowers my bill. A few days ago I changed to a different type of bundled package (we have Fios) and saved $10/month.

I have also double checked car insurance rates. I switched to a new insurance company about a week after I sent out payment to the then current company. No big deal, the payment was refunded, and I saved over $400 per year. Worth the "hassle."

Stockpile gifts, and don't be afraid to ask about prices. I had to buy teacher gifts (DD has 10 teachers) and went to Bath and Body Works. Found 7 of one gift set, 3 of another, marked 75% off of $25. Cashier said one of the gifts shouldn't have been marked down - but I showed her where I found it, and there was another of the same kind in there. No problem, it was marked down as well. I worked in retail for 10 years through college (I was on the extended plan, lol) and being nice and polite always helped in any situation where there may have been a discrepancy.

Freecycle. The best Yahoo group ever invented. Ask, and ye shall receive. I sell on eBay and I receive free packing supplies through this group, not to mention toys for DD, clothes for her, etc. I also give lots of stuff away. Really worth looking into.

Will post more as they come to my old brain.

Samantha

 

[prncess674]

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

if you are only going to use warm then just use. I use cold/cold for all clothes, which makes them last longer and the colors look nicer longer. Sheets, towel, socks and cotton undies are washed in a hot water wash with a cold rinse. Using "warm" doesn't do much of anything but waste electricity

 

[lady9]

We have a friend that raises beef cows (all organic feed) and we buy a side of beef about 15-18 months. We just got one in May and there was 230 pounds of beef total. The packing company packages and labels the beef in vacuum sealed packages so it goes straight to the freezer once we get home with no other prep work from us. The year we got 8 filets, 12 strip steaks, more than 30 roasts of different cuts, a nice prime rib, along with hamburger, etc. We paid less than $3 per pound. The hamburger is so lean I don't have to drain it after it is browned.

We also eat at home for almost all meals except after church on Sunday.

Our debit card has reward points with it. We use the points to "pay" the annual fee. We use the debit card for everything we can. We have enough points for a $50 gift card to Wal Mart every 3-4 months. There are other gift cards to choose from as well.

Our church has a children's toy and clothing sale twice a year. The only sell next to new(and I have gotten things still with tags!) items. I dress my kids well for a fraction of the retail cost. I also buy clothes at the end of the season for usually 75% off.

 

[carmie3377]

Our debit card has reward points with it. We use the points to "pay" the annual fee. We use the debit card for everything we can. We have enough points for a $50 gift card to Wal Mart every 3-4 months. There are other gift cards to choose from as well.

I keep seeing ideas that remind me of tips I have. This is a great thread, as we just bought a new home and trying to adjust to the new budget.

We have reward credit cards. I pay them in full every month, so I don't have interest charges and there is no annual fee. I get 5X the points at gas stations, drug stores and grocery stores. I also charge everything I can, from utility bills to insurance. I get enough points for $100.00 gift card every 3 or 4 months. If we're running low in the budget, I'll exchange my points for Target or Exxon. If we're okay on the buget, I'll exchange them for TGIFridays, Chili's, or Old Navy.

 

[Plantlady]

I do all of my errands in one trip. We live 18 miles from town. I only go there to shop once a week. If we run out before then, we make do.

I'd try to bump it to once every other week, but I have three sons, and one husband who don't quite agree with the fact, that when I bring food into the house, it doens't have to be eaten within the first 5 minutes. They are not much for spacing it out. so, once a week groceries works best for us.

 

[kcrew]

I shop Salvation Army only on Wedness day - 50 % off

I saw this and immediately looked over to see where you are from, because my 50% day is Wednesday too and that's the day I go. Sure enough I am from central NY too! You don't look familiar though!!

 

[mommiepoppins]

I saw this and immediately looked over to see where you are from, because my 50% day is Wednesday too and that's the day I go. Sure enough I am from central NY too! You don't look familiar though!!

lol. I have not been in a while. I buy my girls long skirts from there (they go to a Christain school and that is the dress code). I will only buy if the tag color is on sale. . I do not know where you are from, but I found a place that is way better than Salvation army. I can get 10x the amount for 5$

 

[Gymbomom]

My tightwad laundry tip is I use Tide and the cheap stuff.

I use my cheap detergent on all sheets, socks, jeans, underwear, towels. I use 1/2 sheet of Bounce in the dryer.

I use Tide and Downy on all darks, colors, and whites. I hang dry all of these as well.

I have found my Tide lasts a REALLY long time this way. Sometimes I only use the Tide for 3 to 4 loads a week!!

I find I can;t go without Tide for our nice clothes as it keeps them look nicer longer (I see fading, can't get the stains out, peeling..with the cheaper detergent)And, if your clothes stay looking nicer longer.....we wear them longer (or with the kids we can sell them on ebay), which is a money saver too!