TTT, or Todays Tiny Tip !

[eeyoresmom]

Hi everyone and Happy New Year to all ! I'm starting this thread (and hope you'll all join in), to pass on those really small tips that may not sound like much. This time of the year I see lots of folks really trying to either get serious about their budgeting or get back on the budgeting wagon. There's lots of advice out there about cutting cable, no more eating out etc. All excellent advice, but a lot of us already do all those things and are looking for less obvious tips to shave a few more pennies off the spending. Here's mine for today: The toothpaste with the screw off lid ( you know the one most of us grew up with ) is usually considerably cheaper than the tubes with the flip top lid. (I know that the screw off lid is the only kind our local dollar store sells. ) Well, those flip lids fit the tube that comes with the screw off lids, so before you throw away your toothpaste, save the flip lid and buy the cheaper version to save a few pennies. I actually did this this morning with two diffeent brands ( Colgate to Aim ) and the lid fit.

 

[Malibustyle23]

Moneywise: cut your fabric softener sheets in half to get twice the value out of a box. Only use half a sheet per load.

Timewise: The next time you clean the top of your fridge off, cover the top of it with plastic wrap. You may have to wet it a little to get the wrap to cling. The next time you have to clean it again you will just need to remove the old wrap and replace it with new. No more scrubbing or dusting that area.

 

[cglaura]

Fluff and shake out your clothes from the washer (you know how they get all compact from the spin cycle?) before putting in the dryer, this allows the air to circulate better. Also, throw a dry towel into the dryer with the wet clothes, it will absorb a bit of the moisture. Doing both these cuts down about 10-15 minutes of drying time, which over the year can add up to a lot!

 

[Disneefun]

The toothpaste with the screw off lid ( you know the one most of us grew up with ) is usually considerably cheaper than the tubes with the flip top lid.

And if you stick a pushpin in those lids, they make great lamps for dollhouses! (A cheap tip from my own childhood).

 

[eeyoresmom]

And if you stick a pushpin in those lids, they make great lamps for dollhouses! (A cheap tip from my own childhood).

LOL ! I can totally picture that. What a cute visual!

 

[4Pirates&APrincess]

I buy the foaming soap dispensers and instead of throwing them out when empty I buy regular hand soap in the big container and put about 1/3 soap and the rest water to refill the dispensers. One refill bottle lasts several months for 3 dispensers.

 

[LOVETHATMOUSE]

I like this thread . I take old stained cotton t-shirts and tear them up to use as dust rags. Also use old socks too. I usually do a separate laundry load to clean them to use again.

 

[mjantz]

I cut those face wipes (the ones that you 'activate' by putting under a running faucet) in half. I tried 1/4 but it wasn't enough. 1/2 is perfect & gives me 2 months for the cost of 1.

 

[Ava]

Moneywise: cut your fabric softener sheets in half to get twice the value out of a box. Only use half a sheet per load.

Or you can go one step further and not use fabric softener at all. I use dryer balls instead of fabric softener and everything comes out soft. The dryer balls cost a bit up front, but it's a one-time expense.

 

[cajunbaby1]

An easy way to save for your trip is to pay with paper money and put all the change in a jar. It adds up fast. Some banks even have a change counter that will count it for free. If you buy coke products, join mycokerewards.com and you can earn pts towards future coke products or gift cards,etc.

 

[arkansas mom]

I buy the foaming soap dispensers and instead of throwing them out when empty I buy regular hand soap in the big container and put about 1/3 soap and the rest water to refill the dispensers. One refill bottle lasts several months for 3 dispensers.

Interesting. So does the soap come out foamy? DH loves the foam soap, but I won't buy it because it goes too fast.

 

[Malibustyle23]

An easy way to save for your trip is to pay with paper money and put all the change in a jar. It adds up fast. Some banks even have a change counter that will count it for free. If you buy coke products, join mycokerewards.com and you can earn pts towards future coke products or gift cards,etc.

I join every rewards program I can. I figure if I spend money on your product I am gonna reap the benefits from my money.
Stouffers Dinner Club, DMR, Coke Rewards, TGIF Dinner Club, Regal Cinema Movie club, the list goes on and on. It may take forever but the benefits do add up.

Also we don't go out often but when we do I research the best deals like our local small town theater offers fill a bag day. On Tuesdays you can take any bag you want and they will fill it for FREE with popcorn. Combined with their self serve soda station that has free refills the matinee can actually be almost affordable again. Research and know what days and specials your town offers you'd be surprised at what you can do on the cheap around town.

 

[windycitymom]

Here's a tip (based on another thread I responded to): Check out Dave Ramsey and Financial Peace University regardless of how much debt you have or don't have!!

 

[eeyoresmom]

Interesting. So does the soap come out foamy? DH loves the foam soap, but I won't buy it because it goes too fast.

Yes it does, can't tell the difference.

 

[dyna]

Cutting shampoo in half with water works too esp for young kids who tend to use to much anyway or during summer when we wash our hair more frequently.

Cheap conditioner works well as a shaving gel.

I use the boxes of baking soda that I've used in fridge an freezer to clean drains with then take that a step further an reuse vinegar with it that I've soaked ice cube trays or cups from bathroom etc. Or sometimes use the fridge freezer baking soda in laundry.

Wax my shower an tub walls a couple times a yr with car wax saving both money for cleaner (doesn't take as much to clean) saves me time cleaning too.

When boiling water for pasta etc cover pan with lid water will boil faster saving that bit of energy.

I started using extra sharp cheddar cheese instead of regular cheddar usually use half as much saving myself half the price on the cheese an half the calories in my body.

 

[hsmamato2]

Well, those flip lids fit the tube that comes with the screw off lids, so before you throw away your toothpaste, save the flip lid and buy the cheaper version to save a few pennies.

I've tried this ( I must be cheap) but it didn't work for the brands I had....I'll try again with what I have on hand

 

[hsmamato2]

Or you can go one step further and not use fabric softener at all. I use dryer balls instead of fabric softener and everything comes out soft. The dryer balls cost a bit up front, but it's a one-time expense.

I got the dryer balls at Dollar Tree

 

[dougsmom98]

If you use lotion that comes in a squeeze tube (usually the smaller ones or trial size come like this), when you can't get any more out of the tube, cut the end off. There is a ton of lotion in there. I can usually get 2-3 more days worth of lotion out of there.

 

[hsmamato2]

yes.along the lotion lines I use Oil of Olay for my face and when that pump tube stops pumping, I take it apart and use the remnants for the next couple of days till it's TRULY empty
I bought a shark steam mop at Goodwill,and now use only hot water to clean the floors,no more soap cleaners....

 

[indimom]

My tenny tiny tip I'm starting this year, is getting rid of the paper towels on the kitchen counter (I'll still keep some, but they won't be as accessible). My family grabs them for every little thing instead of getting a washcloth and rinsing it when they are done. I was sickened by how much I spent last year just for paper products. I'll be interested to see how much this saves. I know I'll have to wash the dish clothes, but we can reuse them a couple times first if they rinse and hang it to dry at the sink.

Last year, I bought the dryer balls and they worked fantastic in the summer. Now, I've noticed a little more static this winter, so I may occasionally throw in 1/2 a dryer sheet to cut down on that. But, other than that, fantastic money saver.
I also cut WAY back on my laundry soap last year. I followed the advice I received to take a washed and dried towel and put it in the washer with just water. If soap bubbles form, you know you are using too much soap. Yep! I had a ton of bubbles. I cut my laundry soap in half for every load! That was a pretty BIG cost savings.