[sprik]

do u do anything to a product to save money? My ex grandma would sneak left overs into the food u eat the next night. I take toothpaste and roll it all the way up, put tiny drop of water in my foundation bottle and ketcup bottle, if i make popcorn i melt the last bit of butter out of container.

[H3rmit]

I do lots of things to save money, but I would avoid adding water to any product in which bacteria can form - such as ketchup and foundation.

[Travelinglady]

Yeah, I do things like add water to my shampoo bottle, when it's almost empty. And I squeeze toothpaste tubes for all they're worth to try to get all the toothpaste out.

[anneo59]

Originally Posted by PAYNE1

Yeah, I do things like add water to my shampoo bottle, when it's almost empty. And I squeeze toothpaste tubes for all they're worth to try to get all the toothpaste out.

I use bar soap till the very end!!!!!

[shezbut]

I use a lot of grocery containers for art projects, rather than buying plain new boxes and tubes. Like paper towel rolls, toilet paper rolls, plastic bottles, spaghetti and jam jars. The jars also come in handy as drink glasses, like "Mason jars".

It benefits the environment and my pocketbook.

[Perna]

If I want to save money, I generally do less of something rather than work at making something last longer. For example, if I wash my hair every 5 days, I'd switch and do it once a week or something to save on shampoo. I recently cut back on the sugar I use one place (my coffee) so I could have a piece of candy later in the day instead; I make trade offs like that, too.

[JadeAmethyst]

I don't use shampoo, only conditioner on my hair. I use the pods for laundry soap, saves us a lot $$$ instead of the large bottles.

[sprik]

good ideas thanks

[spondiferous]

I come from a family that's super obsessed about saving. Scraping peanut butter/mayonnaise/jam jars with a spatula to get out every last bit...rolling/squeezing the toothpaste tube, adding vinegar (not water) to the ketchup, water to the shampoo, reusing bags and containers, eating bread ends, etc.

[anneo59]

Originally Posted by Perna

If I want to save money, I generally do less of something rather than work at making something last longer. For example, if I wash my hair every 5 days, I'd switch and do it once a week or something to save on shampoo. I recently cut back on the sugar I use one place (my coffee) so I could have a piece of candy later in the day instead; I make trade offs like that, too.

I do this a lot too, especially more with myself, than with other family members

[anneo59]

Originally Posted by sprik

do u do anything to a product to save money? My ex grandma would sneak left overs into the food u eat the next night. I take toothpaste and roll it all the way up, put tiny drop of water in my foundation bottle and ketcup bottle, if i make popcorn i melt the last bit of butter out of container.

I dress up leftovers a lot, espec w stuff I already have

I wear out my clothes before buying new ones.

[LiteraryLark]

Frugile? Must be Italian.

I use every container I own to put things in. I use tic tac boxes to put my tacks in them (get it?).



In my dresser...I used the cubby from my vanity to use as a scarf holder. I used a box from a gift and a box from a coffee mug to hold my nail polish and hair clips. I used empty toilet paper rolls to hold head bands.

I used a pretty flower box to hold my meds.

I removed the knobs from my cubbies and screwed them into the wall to use as purse hangers.

I used an almond rocha box to hold my condoms.

[Phreak]

Originally Posted by DrSkipper

Frugile? Must be Italian.

It has duel etymology, it's from both french and latin, and it's frugal not frugile.

[Evening]

Since I'm saving money for a house, while renting on my own, studying, and working only a part time job, I have been living like somewhat of a bogan.

I do put water in my shampoo to make it last longer

I order a lot of samples for products (I don't know what sites they have in other countries but there is one Australian site that I've managed to get quite a number of things from, beauty products, pet food, mouth wash). I use these samples sparingly and even the small ones can last a few weeks.

I buy the big cheap dish washing liquids, 2 in 1 shampoo/conditioners when they are on sale (I bought 2 bottles on sale for less than $2 each and they've lasted perhaps 6 months).

I collect bottles and cans (even ones I find on the ground) and recycle them (you get 10c per bottle or can), and I've made about $40 off that so far.

I have a pond in my yard and have found that people are very willing to buy the duck weed/azolla that grows. I sell it for $3 a bag and have made at least $30-$40 off that.

I bought a pilling remover for my clothes when they start to get linty, so I can get them looking good again instead of buying new clothes.

I buy $2 cleaning products, and use things like vinegar and bi-carb soda, as both of these are cheap and can be used for a million things.

That's all I can think of right now, but I have become quite stingey, haha.

[herethennow]

well, for me, i cut the toothpaste tube open after rolling it and squeezing it because there are stubborn parts that wont come out!! XD

[Citrine]

I buy alot of reduced food. Its starting to be the 1st place I go to when I enter the shop. Not only do I save money but I feel sick at the waste Id rather buy some than it go in the bin.
I also shop around at bargain stores, why the h would I buy my shampoo at 2 times the cost in the shop 5 min walk down? Crackers.
Charity shops...wow I have had some v v expensive stuff from them for pennies in relation.

I freeze everything, I buy the reduced bread at Walmart and freeze it. I freeze all kinds of food, I'm a food hoarder lol, but for good reason. I've gone hungry too much in my life to throw food away. It is sometimes a problem, but it has sure come in handy at times! (such as when the hurricanes hit and I was the most popular neighbor on the block for my good and plenteous food lol)

I am frugal to a fault. I recycle everything. I currently have a fruit bowl made out of a cardboard box on my counters. I save napkins and use them for baby wipes and toilet paper when I'm out. I save shampoo/conditioner in the bottle and store it under my sink for hard times. Razor blades too. I save Ramen noodle flavoring and add to regular rice or beans, great flavor. Don't throw anything away, which I am working on. I re-use old rugs and line my cabinets with them, its better than contact paper. I also stuff pillows with old socks that are worn and sew them back up. More tips? PM me lol!

[myjade_84]

I only use conditioner twice a week to save money.

[LiteraryLark]

Originally Posted by Citrine

I also shop around at bargain stores, why the h would I buy my shampoo at 2 times the cost in the shop 5 min walk down? Crackers.

haha was that like, "Oh, darn. Crackers!" I'm gonna use that, that's pretty funny.

[sprik]

wow good ones thanks

[Marla500]

good thread, I've learned a few things!! I use bread bags instead of zip lock bags, especially for freezing meat and I use grocery bags to freeze bread. its good to use two bags, that protects against freezer burn for the meat and keeps the bread fresh longer. I also buy whole chickens when they are on sale, cook them on the stop top in some water with vegetables to make broth, and cook the giblets separately for dog treats. the broth can be frozen if it is not used in a day or two. the broth can be used to make sauces for casseroles instead of using cream of chicken soup (that stuff is so expensive!!). also if you crochet you can make rugs using old t shirts and large hooks or you can make trivets/hot pads for the kitchen (only use cotton fabric, don't use acrylic fabric, it will melt).

[gma45]

When my kids were growing up I would make orange juice from frozen concentrate and it says to add 3 cups cold water, I would always say add 4 cause we are poor! to this day I still add 4, I like it that way and it saves.

[ptangptang]

Great thread. DON'T THROW AWAY STALE BREAD!!!!. I just made (and might make some more today) bread pudding.
About half a pound ( thats about a quarter of a large loaf) of stale bread ( and when i say stale the bread i used you could hammer nails in with). Soak in water until soft. Wring as much of the water out as you can. Break up in dish. Add sugar, mixed fruit ( or any dried fruit really), 1 egg, mixed spice and any other flavouring that you like ( i add a touch of whisky). Mix to cake like consistency and put dish in oven medium heat for 1 or 1 1/2 hours, till top is golden brown. Sprinkle top with sugar. Who would think that something so unappealing could be so moreish and delish. The top is lovely and chewy with a few crucnhy bits and undeneath is moist and yummy. Walkers and cyclists love it cos it is easy to carry and gives instant energy and slow burning carbs. Like a stir fry you can put in vitually what you like. Dont forget there is sugar in the fruit and fat in the bread already.
This ones a bit icky. I seem to accumulate tissues around the house at an alarming rate. They used to get thrown away. Why not just reuse them as cough, cough, bum ( or butt as you crazy americans say-why would you wipe a tramp?) wipes.
Two uses for the price of one. Depends of course what you used it for in the first place. You don't want to wipe your butt with a tissue you used to mop up bleach.!!! More tips to follow from Ebenezer McScrooge.

[ptangptang]

Ok a couple of gardening tips.
I used to have a new garden that was untouched ground and had the thickest weeds ( really it was like 'The Day of the Triffids) and stoniest ground you could imagine. I didn't want to use a really strong weedkiller (like sodium chlorate) that kills everything but means you cant grow anything for years so i did this. I got hold of a old all wool ( not foam backed) carpet that someone was throwing out. Strimmed the weeds level to the ground and laid the carpet (top side down) over it. Then i planted potatoes through the carpet and waited. The weeds can't grow back, the potatoes grow strongly cos there's no competiton, they dont need earthing up cos the capet covers em and when you dig the pots up you break up the ground and can remove stones at the the same time. After a few years the carpet breaks up and rots down and by that time you should have a good, stone free soil to grow super veg and flowers ( or a lawn on). Good for allotments too.
Back to the toilet ( or rest room as you americans so coyly put it). Gardeners know that the best way to activate the compost heap is to use diluted wee wee ( how coy is that). I wont say what the Chinese do with the solid stuff ( no they don't eat it) but really we should do trhe same at a local level. Such an abundbant, readily available fuel resource shouldn't be wasted.
I'm not really a gardener i just like to think of how we can reuse things.
I'm sure everone knows the trick of cutiing through an old car tyre ( still on the wheel) and inverting it to make a plant tub. You can paint it or slap a cement/soil mix on for a natural look.