Favorite Frugal Tips...

[youthere]

Thanks to the asshat currently hijacking the whitehouse, things are getting tight for all of us...Post your favorite money saving tips here.

[Akoto]

1. My ideas ...

Use coupons. Many people (myself included) have neglected them because they think it makes one seem cheap or a nuisance, but coupons are a good way of saving money. Stores wouldn't put them out if they didn't want them to be used!

Also, try to get some good recipes that you can cook, and start making things from scratch. Meals can be surprisingly cheap when you buy the raw ingredients and prepare them yourself.

[Roon]

2. Get rid of your car

Quit smoking, quit drinking. Give up gambling.

:i meant this to be a response to the original post:

[OffWithTheirHeads]

3. Oh just kill me now!

nt

[Roon]

5. LOL eom

[Akoto]

6. All great suggestions, Roon. Also ...

If you have a bike and the ability to use it, take that to nearby places instead of your car. You'll save a fortune in gas alone.

[youthere]

4. Great tips Akoto...

It's shocking how much can be saved on the grocery bill by cooking "from scratch".

[Akoto]

7. Indeed! And ...

Meals you prepare yourself are often healthier for you, and because of the cheapness of the raw ingredients, you can prepare very sizeable portions.

It's a really great idea to make a big pot of soup with a cheap cut of meat (cooking in the broth will tenderize it) and lots of veggies. After you eat that night, you'll have leftovers for a couple days thereafter. Yeah, it's not a wildly varied way of eating, but it's good for you and stretches your dollar.

[Kali]

19. cooking your own food is good but I find

maybe 3 out of dozens of coupons are for anything I ever buy - they are either for houshold chemicals I don't use or plastic throw away crap I don't use or over-processed garbage I don't eat (and can't afford even if I did eat it or used the coupon) It is worth a sunday paper, usually but man one or two bucks off a 250 dollar grocery tab is pretty pitiful.

An added benefit when you start cooking with real food is the amazing reduction of garbage in the trash can! (of course I have chickens so even the food scraps don't go in there, but my family of five (three teenagers) only generates one large garbage bag about every 10 days or so - plus newspapers stacked on the side. Oh we also burn our regular paper trash,and recycle aluminum cans. Can't do much but toss glass around here - it kills me but that goes in the trash unless its a good storage jar or drinking glass. (some ready made pasta sauces come in good mason jars so I do buy those when there is a coupon)

[MissB]

36. Yeah, once you step down from highly processed food to

scratch cooking, coupons become pretty useless. I have yet to find a coupon for bulk couscous. :D

I just added chickens to the mix this spring. The kids have loved raising them. I can't wait until they start popping out eggs. Great little compost machines.

[trackfan]

53. This is true.

Good luck with the chickens. We have been using our hens' eggs for the last five years, and they are far superior to store. Late in the year we sometimes run out, and have to buy eggs, and it's just not the same.

[Kali]

54. I just LOVE chickens

I'm down to 4 plus a rooster now : ( and three of them are pretty old. I think if my life changed and I had to move to town - even an apartment, I would still try to have at least one.

What kind do you have? My faves are Barred Rocks - they are such wonderful old fashioned "chicken chickens". My three old girls are BRs. The rooster and "young" hen (still, a couple years on them too) are Auracanas (spell?) the "easter egg" chickens that lay blue and green eggs. I don't like their sort of "big head" look, but the eggs are fun. The BR's are supposed to be good for meat too, but I never seem to have any extras around. One year we tried to raise a batch for the freezer but a dog got them right before they were ready so I haven't been motivated to try that again. Chicks are fun, but I have this problem almost everytime they get to that age/size so the last time we replaced them I bought adults. I would like to find a few more, we've been short on eggs for a while. One of the teens LIVES on eggs and will eat three or four a day.

I have tried ducks and guineas too, but wasn't too happy - the guineas make too much noise, and they are kind of dumb, ducks too messy. Usually raise a couple of turkeys but the last one I butchered was so big it kind of grossed me out. And I hate plucking. It was almost 45 pounds! But delicious. :9

[MADem]

8. Watch your heating, cooling and lighting requirements carefullly

Turn lights out, use florescent lights where you can, in winter turn down the heat and put on a sweater, in summer turn down the AC and take off a layer. Turn off the TV if you are not using it.

Walk if you can, bike if it is a bit too far to walk, and if you must have a car, use it sparingly. Plan trips so you use the least amount of gas; if you can double or triple up excursions, all the better.

Use it up, wear it out, make it do, or do without!

Go through your house, do the housecleaning show thing: pitch it, keep it, sell it...then hold a yard sale.

If you need something, check the charity shops first--a lot of times you can get a fine bargain, and better quality.

[Jeff In Milwaukee]

63. Check with you local power company

Some of them will do a "home energy audit" where they walk down your house or apartment and show you where you have leaky window or door sills. They'll also check your attic insulation and other energy wasters. Even if you have to pay for it (I had one done several years back for $25) they will save you money in the long run.

Homeowners -- don't forget the benefits of thermal-wrapping your hot water heater and your hot water pipes.

[Guy Fawkes]

9. Did you know that walking is REALLY good for you?

yeah... wow. And it doesn't cost 2.75 a gallon.

[intheflow]

10. "Confessions of a Tightwad" - archived DU thread

This thread had so many excellent money-saving tips I bookmarked it:
http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_topic&forum=105&topic_id=3821419

:hi:

[youthere]

12. I remeber that thread...that's what inspired me to post this one.

I never bookmarked it though. Thanks for providing that link!!

[Festivito]

11. Depends on what level you need, these were mine for a while.

Instead of coupons I bought the sale come-ons from the weekly store circulars, checking and buying on the day the next weeks circular(s) would arrive.

Consider you have to save extra if a store is far. $.50 per mile is about right now since most of us underestimate distance when we think we are saving.

Keep an ice chest in the trunk.

Haggle with CC companies.

If you pay your bills late or every other month, increase each payment to the next 10 or 100 dollars higher which will leave you with a small positive balance so when you go two months without they won't be as mad.

Buy name-brand sodapop only when it hits $1/6pack or LESS. Store on basement floor. Or, quit the sugar fizz altogether.

Find hole-in-the-wall restarants. The food is better, cheaper, and bigger. Take leftovers home and reheat it in the next day or maybe two. Ice chest!

Take your own pop in the ice chest. Just buy the fast-food sandwich instead of the dealy-meal. Water is a better life choice, but we all maintain some bad habits.

Buy your bad habits ONLY at the good price. Do without for a few days until the price returns.

Heat/Cool only part of your house. (Won't work if you have kids.)

Use a fan to blow hot air out of your attic at night so the AC won't have to work so hard during the day.

I have a side porch that can heat the house in spring and fall, then closed off each night.

Don't water a lawn. Let it learn to grow roots.

Garage sales are good as long as you are not a pack rat personality without sufficient will.

That's it for now.

[youthere]

13. The fan in the attic is a terrific tip...

I wish I would have heard that earlier this summer!

[MissB]

34. We're going to install solar attic fans next year.

No electricity usage- they pull the hot air out of the attic space. We don't have much use for a whole-house air conditioner here, but there are a few weeks of really uncomfy days each summer.

We currently use a window air conditioner to cool our kids' room, but I expect we'll probably dump that next year.

The solar attic fans run about $300. We have an "L" shaped home so we'll need two - if we still had our box-shaped home, we could get away with just one.

[mcscajun]

16. "Don't water a lawn. Let it learn to grow roots."

I love it.

Be mean to your lawn. It's got to learn how to live in a tough world just like the rest of us!

:rofl:

[youthere]

30. tough love..what doesn't it fix?

[Kali]

22. we usually forget the beverages

but I am proud my kids know to go get the cold store soda out of the machine in front of safeway for a quarter instead of the same amount watered down for a buck and half at the junk food places.

[shanti]

28. better yet

have them drink water or kool aid. yes, kool aid has sugar, but it's not as bad as soda, which is poison with the high fructose corn syrup added in. :-(

[youthere]

32. Here's our house rule:

Milk at mealtimes
I make ONE pitcher of Kool-aid a day. They can drink that if they are thirsty between meals and when the Kool-aid is gone they drink water.

[Kali]

40. Its amazing how much water they can actually handle

when the choice is water or water! :rofl:

We aren't perfect and I have to admit soda goes with junk food so if we are doing that it has to be soda for me too. But when you eat at home most of the time the occasional garbage is a treat and doesn't make you feel like oh my god I ate that crap and spent all that money again! Wait! yes it does. oops.

[mcscajun]

14. Cook from scratch and make friends with your freezer.

Remember: It's more than just a place to make ice cubes and store frozen veggies and ice cream.

Those little Ziploc and Glad "disposable" freezer containers are great, and you don't have to throw them out. They clean up very neatly in hand washing. I don't have a dishwasher, so I couldn't tell you anything about that. A cheap roll of freezer tape and a marker pen, and you're all set.

One jar of pasta sauce can cost far more than a large can of good quality crushed tomatoes or tomato puree, and it's likely to spoil before you finish it as a single. Buy the crushed tomatoes and puree to make a 'from scratch' sauce, fry up a mess of meatballs or sweet sausage, put the whole business in Ziploc freezer containers in portion sizes, and you're covered for a few weeks of good pasta meals.

Gradually wean yourself from 'brand loyalty' -- you won't abandon all your favorites, to be sure, but once in a while, try the generic brand -- if you can't really notice much difference, then you've made another saving choice.

Almost any food a single person (*or sometimes a couple*) is likely not to consume before it spoils can find safety in the freezer until its time has come.

My freezer routinely contains homemade soups, a stew or chili, spaghetti sauce with and without meats, butter, english muffins, unbaked scones, and other breads, all in portions so I can pick out what I want at a moment's notice. Sometimes there will even be a delicacy or two, like homemade wontons that can be thrown into chicken broth, or fried for snacks.

If you're going to be on a budget, you've got to really cook.

You don't have to cook every night, though. Most of what I mentioned above can be done on a Sunday set aside for the purpose once or twice a month...more often in colder months, naturally.

Buy "family pack" meats when on sale and freeze them in portions as well. Any bread likely to spoil before use also heads for the freezer, and bacon gets wrapped in 2-3 strip packages and frozen for easy use later.

The key is eliminating waste, using NO or nearly NO "convenience foods" and making as much of your own stuff as possible.

Plus, it's important to adhere to the three rules of supermarket shopping:

Don't shop when you are hungry.
Don't shop without a list.
Don't shop when you are tired.

The # 1 Rule of "Bargains" = Nothing is a "bargain" if it will spoil before you finish it.

I'm reminded of an ex-husband cajoling me to buy the large can of olive oil, when I knew as just two of us, we'd never get through the can before most of the oil went rancid. ICK.

I'm going back to baking bread as soon as a) it gets colder, and b) I get a new range. My oven's been busted a LONG TIME. I can't afford to be without it anymore.

[nothingshocksmeanymore]

24. I love your tips...I already do most of them..all I would add

is make sure you use green plugs or an energy saving freezer or none of it is a bargain ;)

[Kali]

25. Some really good tips/rules here

I woud add if you enjoy it and have the time and space, drying stuff is another way to store the "bargains" and no electricity if you live in a dry climate.

If you do run a frezer KEEP IT FULL - same with the fridge even if its just jugs of water. It will run better. (let things cool before you put them in there, though)

Baking your own bread tends to be a little more money than cheap, on sale tasteless stuff (I have teenagers), but can be competitive if you normally buy the good stuff and totally ROCKS for taste!

[RevCheesehead]

27. If you make a lot of bread, buy a breadmaker.

I don't use mine much, but I love it. Probably saves energy, too.

[mcscajun]

33. Don't know if it saves energy or not, but Kneading is such a satisfying

activity. :)

I can knock off four loaves at once in an oven, vs. one at a time in a breadmaker. Maybe somebody can do the calculations?

[MissB]

37. I can't imagine using a breadmaker

but I'd hate to make bread without my kitchen aid mixer.

[NMDemDist2]

41. olive oil keeps a long time in the refrigerator. I buy the half gallons

and keep it in the refer. I made an olive oil bottle to keep in the cupboard for $0.79 by just keeping a pretty bottle (you can beg one off a bar or coffee shop too) and buying a pour spout at any liquor store.

when I need more for the cupboard the EVOO will go back to liquid from the slush it turns to in the refer in a couple hours on the counter, I pour it off and pop it back in the refer. I've kept it up to a year like that with no problems!

[Kali]

46. Excellent idea

I have always been reluctant to buy a large quantity - duh keep it in the fridge. Can't believe I didn't think of that!

[NMDemDist2]

47. hehe, Heck, nobody can think of EVERYTHING! that's what friends

are for, to remember all the stuff you can't

:rofl:

[Kali]

51. DU is a fantasic community, that is for sure!

What a resource. (see my 30+ posts thread tying to load photos finally after however long I have been here (will have to check my own profile, now - can't remember that either! :crazy: :silly:

[nothingshocksmeanymore]

15. Add ice to your piss and it will be lemonade

[youthere]

21. what...no sugar?

[BiggJawn]

50. With my Diabetes, it's cloyingly sweet...

Hah! first one to say that!

[youthere]

55. Now if you could just market that in a concentrate. LOL

[samplegirl]

17. take extra

mustard, ketsup, & sugar packets like the old folks do.

[caledesi]

18. Make your own window cleaner and clean your windows (mirrors)

with newspapers. You heard me newspapers...cheaper than paper towels and they work better.

Recipe for window cleaner (like Windex)
1/3 cup alcohol
1/3 cup ammonia
1/2 cup water
drop of food coloring (optional)

Put in spray bottle and get your newspapers out.

[barackmyworld]

26. wow, newspapers don't leave a print residue?

do they work on other surfaces which use the windex/paper towel combination, like desks? I use so many paper towels!

[youthere]

29. You might think about buying a pack of cloth baby diapers...

After they've been washed and dried (it might take a couple times to get all the lint out of them) they are awesome for washing windows! You may even be able to pick some up at a yard sale. Old t shirts are good too-unless you use fabric softener (which you shouldn't anyway) because it will leave streaks.

But newspapers work really good for cleaning windows. No streaks and the windows are crystal clear.

[caledesi]

39. Oh yeah. Tell me about it.

I learned about the newspapers from an elderly lady who "showed me the way" about the newspapers. I was quite skeptical about this bec I thought the "print" would show up. It didn't and the elderly lady was right.

[NMDemDist2]

43. or terry towels, you can get 3 dozen at a car parts place or Costco

for about $12. they are much better than paper towels wash up nice and last a LONG time. If I absolutely need paper for a mess I use the cheap paper napkins instead of paper towels, takes a few more but they are CHEAP and I'd buy them anyway.

also make sure you have terry towel hooks next to the kitchen sink to dry hands (I also have a hook on the refer for the "dish drying only" towel for dishes. When it gets changed for a fresh one it moves to the "hand dry" towel hook so I get two uses for only one trip through the washing machine.

Instead of using Lysol or some other disinfectant in the kitchen, do what the resturants do, mix 1/2 teaspoon of bleach to a pint of water in a spray bottle to spray down your counters. and the white terry towels (above) don't mind bleach on them at all

[LeftyMom]

59. If you have a diaper service nearby

you can get thier worn out prefolds (the rectangular diapers with the thicker part in the middle) for >$5 doz. Worn diapers make excelent cleaning rags.

I keep a bucket of worn out diapers and a bucket of worn-out towels for cleaning.

[Jeff In Milwaukee]

64. Who remembers the rag bag?

I swear to God I'm not that old, but I remember when we never bought paper towels at all -- old t-shirts were torn into smaller pieces and stuffed into a bag. When we needed to clean something, we reached into the rag bag and grabbed one. Rinsed it out and dropped it in the dirty laundry when we were done.

Reduce, Reuse, Recycle.

Props for the homemade Windex recipe! I'm going to try it!

[sendero]

66. Use newspapers..

..... on glass only. The ink is actually a low-grade abrasive, newspaper will clean glass better than anything :)

[youthere]

20. Homemade pancake syrup:

1 3/4 c. white sugar
1/4 c. brown sugar
1 c. water
1/2 tsp. vanilla extract
1/2 tsp. maple flavoring

Bring sugars, and water to a boil. Allow to boil 1 minute (do not stir!). Remove from heat, add flavorings. (For a "buttery" syrup you can add 1/2 tsp butter flavor after removing from heat). needs no refrigeration.

[Kali]

23. that one is new to me

corn syrup and maple flavor is fine too - in fact is pretty much what is in most of them.

[MadAsHellNewYorker]

31. Shop for fresh Fruits and Veggies in Chinatown

at least in NYC, you can get 4 bags worth of fresh fruits and veggies for $15 dollars, while at the normal supermarket it could cost you upwards of $30 for the same amount...

[MissB]

35. If you have space, plant a garden

If you have just a little space in your yard, consider checking out a book called Square Foot Gardening by Mel Bartholomew. Even though I have a large lot, I still use his techniques. It's just easier and less time consuming imo.

If you're inclined to garden, start small. After a couple of summers, you'll figure out what works and what doesn't. My garden grows each year- this year I added asparagus roots and artichokes and potatoes. The asparagus roots don't really produce for the first two years. The artichokes will start producing next year. I've never grown potatoes and I don't really have a large space for them, but they seem to be growing incredibly well.

This fall I'm planning on adding an apple tree or two and a hazelnut tree. Hopefully next spring I'll get a package of mushroom plugs.

[youthere]

38. This was the first year we got to harvest asparagus..

what a treat! I can hardly wait until next year when we can harvest a little heavier.

[achtung_circus]

42. Case lot sales for stuff you use a lot. Costco.

and compact flourescent lightbulbs- cheaper to operate and last a LOT longer. Be the light police, if you're not in the room, turn off the light.

[yellowdogintexas]

44. never even try on clothing that isn't at least 30% off

iced tea instead of soft drinks
save leftover cooked rice and pasta in small ziploc baggies. Wonderful to add to soup, and you can also use the frozen pasta in those pasta bowl dishes.

I do one with chicken breast and fresh vegetables..saute the meat, saute the vegetables, garlic, onion, salt pepper whatever herb flavor I am in the mood for, maybe a can of mushrooms, a little white wine, etc.

drop the frozen pasta in some boiling water or nuke it in water, drain and add to the meat/veg mixture.

yum yum yum

[lildreamer316]

45. Please see this:

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_topic&forum=105&topic_id=3917911
and this: http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_topic&forum=105&topic_id=3918110

[Kipepeo]

48. Clothes:

1) There is some great shit to be found in thrift stores.

2) One of my friends has a "free pile" party where everyone brings X number of clothes and we do a big swap. It's fun AND you can get rid of your old shit AND go home with a new (to you) outfit.

I save most of my money on clothes. I hardly every buy anything retail.

[lildreamer316]

52. I found all this brand name stuff in a thrift store!

I'm not ususally a brand junkie but if I'm thrift shopping I take it as assurance of a certain quality. I found stuff from RL and CK and even DKNY & etc with the tags still on!! bad ass!!

[Nigel_Tufnel]

49. bags from inside cereal boxes are better than zip-lock bags...

they keep vegetables fresh in the fridge for a long time. also, they make great freezer bags!

i squeeze the air out of them and close them with rubber bands from broccoli or asparagus.

[patricia92243]

67. Oh that is a great idea. I'll share this on with my sister. We both live

alone and have a lot of stuff in the frig or freezer. Don't know why I've never thought of it.

[youthere]

56. GREAT tips everyone!

[Lars39]

57. Homemade "Spray N Wash"

I've been using this mixture for going on 5 yrs now.
Works very well and is pretty cheap to make.
About six or seven bucks of the ingredients lasted me about 2 years.
Not bad when you consider a bottle of Spray N Wash costs up wards of $2
and I was easily using 2 bottles a month when the kids were younger. The
only thing I haven't used it on is baby formula stains.

To fill a regular size bottle, add 3/4 cup each in this order:
ammonia
Whisk detergent
white vinegar

****Do not use this formula with bleach.****

[SOteric]

58. Coupons aren't frugal if you use them

to buy products you don't need or items more expensive than your usual even with the savings.

They're very useful when you can use them to save a bit on products you already normally buy.

Find a coupon file at your local office supplies store and keep it up to date and with you on all shopping trips.

* When you run errands, think about your trip before you leave and plan the route for the most efficient use of your time and gas.

* Scrutinise all your receipts and billings to make certain that the promised 'savings' actually materialise. If there are too many repeated failures find a different place to shop or get service.

* Good organisation, regular cleaning and maintenance save you a great deal of money in the long run. If you know where things are, you won't find yourself running out to replace them unnecessarily. Cleaning and maintenance will prolong the life of most of your possessions and keep appliances functioning at the peak of efficiency.

[LeftyMom]

60. "disposable" anything is wasteful

Unless there's a biohazard-type concern stick with reusable cloth cleaning supplies.

Wash on the coolest temperature that gets stuff clean. Use the minimal amount of laundry soap (depending on your washimg machine and water this could be 1/4 of the recommended amount or even less.) Buy your laundry soap in quantity (the ecological laundry soap that costs $8 for 64 ozs at the store is $60 for 50 lbs online. That's gonna save me a bundle.) Hang clothes on a line outside, on a rack inside or out or on plastic hangers on your shower bar.

Plan your meals in advance and eat your leftovers for breakfast or lunch the next day. If you have lots of leftovers freeze them to use on a day you don't have the time or inclination to cook.

Learn to sew, at least enough to mend your clothes and change hem lengths yourself.

[NV Whino]

61. I've eliminated almost all cleaning supplies

except bleach and vinegar.

I also saw the handwriting on the wall a couple of years ago and built raised vegetable beds from left over lumber from one of my clients' remodels. My plan is to increase the garden size a little each year and eventually add some fruit trees.

I also try to "drive smart" as in planning trips carefully. I've actually lowered my fuel costs even with the increased gas prices. Think before you drive.

[UncleSepp]

62. Reuse and try to avoid disposable anything

I got embarrassed by the volumes of trash I generated moving into a new place and started working on that. It is saving some money, too!

I have been using shop rags and bar towels for cleaning instead of paper towels. Each one starts as a "clean stuff" towel - drying clean dishes, or keeping bugs off of food sitting to cool. Then when it gets a little dirtier, it's a counter cleaner. When it's too dirty for that, it can be used to clean the bathroom, and last, the toilet before going into the wash. A "swiffer" mop with a shop rag on it and a few squirts of cleaner does just fine for the floor, too - there used to be similar mops made out of wood that you'd put a rag on.

At the grocery store, I try to remember to bring my own bags, and not use the plastic bags for fruits and veggies unless I am getting a bunch of little things of all the same kind. With the plastic bags I do get, I use the twist tie instead of knotting the bag, and save the bag and the tie to use again. No need to buy sandwich bags!

Save glass jars for leftovers. It lasts longer than plastic and doesn't absorb things like tomato color.

Shop often for food. Know what the weight of a portion is, and how much is enough. I am very bad at "eyeballing" the amount of food people need, so having a number of ounces that equals a portion prevents waste.

Save the end bits and tops and peels and other vegetable waste to make your own vegetable stock. If you don't make much vegetable waste in a week, you can always put the stuff in the freezer and keep adding until there's enough. You'll end up with good fresh stock which can then be frozen, and it smells good when it's cooking. If you eat meat, keep a separate batch going of bones and bits, too.

Don't buy bottled water. If your tap water is nasty, get a water filter pitcher, preferably a big one. Get your own bottles to carry the water in - I use a glass milk bottle to go to work, and a plastic army canteen for the gym. Just don't put anything that isn't water in the canteen, and be sure it's drained and dried daily, or it will taste bad.

Use salt as a facial scrub, added to your favorite soap. Sea salt, the cheapest kind, seems to work better than the Morton's iodized salt for some reason.

If you can, skip cable TV. Find something else to do.

Don't skimp on your shoes. It's not worth it. You save more in the end with a couple of good pairs rather than a series of cheap ones, and your feet and back will thank you!

[Ciggies and coffee]

65. dumpster diving

Just start hunting. You will be amazed at what can be found, and appalled at how much is wasted. Hard to believe, but dumpsters (other than those behind restaurants) are not unsightly to enter and search. You will have plenty to share with others as well. There is a book written about it, "The Art and Science of Dumpster Diving." Check your library.