TTT, or Todays Tiny Tip !

[charming23]

I love everyone's tips. I have gotten so many helpful tips from the budget board that I absolutely love. My favorite one ever has to be the vinegar for fabric softener one. I have sensitivity to lots of scents in fabric softner and was spending so much money on the hypoallergenic ones until I read about vinegar on here. I have been using it for almost a year and love it. My skin no longer feels irritated and I save so much money because a big bottle of vinegar seems to last about 4 months. I even got my family and friends addicted.

 

[mdrob214]

Oh right, we also don't have children. That saves us LOTS of money. (I understand they can be quite expensive.)

JK!

Ain't that the truth!?! I have a DD16 and a DS13--enough said.

I have stopped buying most cleaners. I buy big jugs of vinegar and I buy the occasional bottle of ammonia. Between those 2, I can clean almost anything.

 

[pixiewings71]

For the kids' lunch boxes, I buy the fold over sandwich bags instead of ziplocks (much cheaper). I make out the chip and dessert bags for the week and store them in a gallon zip-lock. That way the food does not get stale over the course of the week.

We switched over to assorted sizes of small tupperwares for our snacks. Not only is it cheaper (and better for the environment), but it keeps the chips and other delicates from getting crushed!

This!! we have small reusable Rubbermaid containers that we use over and over again for our snacks. We do have Ziplocs and will use those occasionally but mostly we use the Rubbermaid, especially since I lost my job in June, this really helps keep our Target bill down.

Some good tips. Here are some we do that I haven't read yet.

We unplug small appliances, chargers, etc when not using them -- the exception being alarm clocks. It really does save on the electric bill.

Also, about the dryer sheets. I used to do half and then cut it back to a quarter -- which did not work. I have settled on a third.

Also, meal planning. I'm not always very disciplined when it comes to this, but I spend so much less when I do it.

We have everything plugged into power strips, the TV, the DVD player, the computers, etc etc, at night the computer all go off and power strips get turned off. We also keep our small appliances unplugged when not in use.

I'm an Okie too!
I live in Tecumseh, used to live in Shawnee.
Work in OKC, used in work in Norman.

My tip is putting a little salt on your hands when you wash them. It really exfoliates and makes them soft.

I do this with sugar. Salt is a little bit rough for my skin, sugar is much better. I've made my own bath scrub using olive oil and sugar as well.

 

[minnie1928]

We too have almost stopped using Ziploc bags, we use containers instead.

A time and money saver that I use is I buy the BIG packages of ground beef at BJs. Then I brown that beef all at once and split it into packages that are about 3/4 of a lb. Most recipes that I have call for 1lb of beef. This forces me to use a smaller amount which is better for my wallet and my heart. Browning it all at once saves me a lot of time, and energy since I'm only heating up the stove and the pan once. Ohhh, I just realized that I only have to wash that pan once too!! Even better!

 

[Soben]

We too have almost stopped using Ziploc bags, we use containers instead.

The bad thing with the containers is that if you have an unreliable child, you may not get it back and you're better off kissing the baggie good-bye than even a cheap-o container. Learned that lesson the hard way. (took several times)

 

[LOVETHATMOUSE]

I love everyone's tips. I have gotten so many helpful tips from the budget board that I absolutely love. My favorite one ever has to be the vinegar for fabric softener one. I have sensitivity to lots of scents in fabric softner and was spending so much money on the hypoallergenic ones until I read about vinegar on here. I have been using it for almost a year and love it. My skin no longer feels irritated and I save so much money because a big bottle of vinegar seems to last about 4 months. I even got my family and friends addicted.

Do you pour the vinegar where you usually pour the fabric softener? Also don't all your clothes smell like a big salad?

 

[charming23]

Do you pour the vinegar where you usually pour the fabric softener? Also don't all your clothes smell like a big salad?

I pour mine where I would normally pour the fabric softner. The clothes do not smell like a salad, love this. That was what I was most afraid of but the come out of the dryer smelling clean and fresh, no vinegar smell at all.

 

[pixiewings71]

The bad thing with the containers is that if you have an unreliable child, you may not get it back and you're better off kissing the baggie good-bye than even a cheap-o container. Learned that lesson the hard way. (took several times)

I don't have this problem, my kids bring everything home. I worry more about DBF then the girls, but he's good about it as well. I just explaing it to him in a money way and he brings the dishes home. lol

Do you pour the vinegar where you usually pour the fabric softener? Also don't all your clothes smell like a big salad?

I use vinegar for softener with certain things, it removes the smell of urine like nothing I've ever used before!!!! There is NO smell at all when you take the clothes of the dryer, you can smell it when you take them from washer to dryer but after they are dry they smell fine. NO vinegar smell at all. And yes, you put the vinegar in the dispenser where the softener would normally go.

 

[Anastasia]

Does the vinegar as fabric softener keep the clothes from getting static cling in the dryer?

 

[tink2dw]

Oregon had the orange shower and tub syndrome too. it is either rust Or there is too much iron in the water. the Scrubbing Bubbles hanging shower cleaner[I bought it at a Dollar Store] worked wonders cleaning and keeping that day glow orange from ever showing up again!!

My washer doesn't have a place to pour fabric softer, I just put the detergent and vinegar in at the start of the wash.

Bay Leaves really DO keep roaches out of your house!!! I put them everywhere! under the toaster, the microwave, and under the Internet router! Under the computers cpus.Under the washer and drier!! Under the sinks, in the corners of the bathrooms, around the sinks, just everywhere!! especially Kitties cardboard box, where she naps. For $3.00 a bottle it a very budget friendly, non pesticide way to foil the beasts!!

What drives me CRAZY is coming from a state that recycled everything, soda cans, soda bottles, beer can and beer bottles, even bottled water bottles were recycled!!!!! To a state that does NOT recycle any of these!!!!!

 

[KKB]

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.

I bought baby wipes (still cut in half)--SO much cheaper than face wipes. Just be sure to NOT buy any w/ diaper rash ointment in them!! (I thought I had found THE bargain at the dollar store...NOT so much!)

We turn off the wifi every night. I read an article about a school that had not put it in correctly & there was a rash of cancer outbreak. So I decided to shut it off when it isn't in use--figure it saves money, too!

We practically NEVER throw out leftovers...usually they are taken for lunch the next day or we have leftovers on the fly on busy nights.

I rarely buy ANYTHING that isn't on sale. Food, clothes, appliances, trips. I try to find everything at the best possible price.

 

[lalijack]

Hi everyone! I saw a previous poster's suggestion to make lunches the night before. I agree completely, and last school year I took that one step further when I decided that my kids (then ages 10 and 8) would make their own lunches the night before. We work together to be sure they're making healthy, balanced choices. Before I grocery shop, we all discuss which items need to be purchased for the coming week's lunches. They know that they have the choice of yogurt, fresh fruits, this or that lunch meat, cut veggies with dip, etc. They choose their own "dessert" and mid-morning snack as well.

I figure that this helps them make good food choices AND take responsibility for themselves at least that much. They set their chosen lunch items aside on a designated shelf in the fridge, and I do the actual packing of the lunch in the morning (this way I get to double check what they've chosen ).