I should have thought of that!

Am I the only one who makes her own iced mochas by using leftover coffee, ice and chocolate syrup? Today, readers share tips they swear they thought up themselves. Are any familiar?

KEEP SHEET SETS TOGETHER: After laundering, I roll and put the sheets and the extra pillowcase in the other pillowcase. (These are king-size cases.) My homemade “bed in a bag” is stored in the linen closet until it’s needed. — Cele R., Georgia

REFILL SODA BOTTLES: I buy 2-liter bottles of soda for anywhere from 88 cents to $1 and refill my 20-ounce bottle. It averages out to around 30 cents to 33 cents per refill for a little over three refills per 2-liter, compared to the vending machine at work, where it costs $1.50 for the same size. — Brenda S., New York

REUSE BOXES: I reuse my tissue boxes once they’re empty. I cut the top open and staple the sides down and use them in my cupboards and drawers as organizers. They’re pretty sturdy, and if you buy the right kind, they’re nice to look at. I also use them (without cutting the tops) to shove plastic bags into so you can dispense them one at a time. If I have a lot of extra plastic grocery bags, I store them in empty 12-pack boxes that soda pop comes packaged in. — S.B., California

USE LESS COFFEE GROUNDS: Since my husband takes a large coffee to work with him in the morning, I always have to make another pot for myself. I just add one more scoop to the same grounds as the first pot. Tastes fine to me. — D.B., Minnesota

NEW USE FOR SHOWER CAPS: I buy shower caps at the dollar store. They sell a package of 12 for $1. I use these for covering the bowls that don’t have covers. They even fit over my very large, old Tupperware bowls. Much cheaper than the plastic covers you buy in the paper/plastics section of the grocery store. — Melissa E., Colorado

MAKESHIFT AIR CONDITIONER: Take a glass lasagna pan half-filled with water, and place it in the freezer. Place pan in the bedroom, and top it off with cold water. Place fan so that it blows air onto the water/ice. It cools the room by 10 F. It works like an evaporative/swamp cooler. — P.N., e-mail

DON’T TOSS BREAD TABS: I use the little square plastic bread tie tabs as scrapers for dishes or cleaning my griddle. –S.S., Wyoming

ELIMINATE STICKY MEASURING CUPS: If you have to measure out something sticky, such as honey or corn syrup, hold your metal measuring cup in very hot water until it is steaming. The sticky ingredients won’t adhere to the measuring cup as they would if the cup were cold. — Michelle H., California

REUSE PAPER BAGS: I use paper grocery bags to drain excess oil from fried foods like French fries, onion rings, squash, okra, burgers, sausage and fried chicken. Works better than paper towels, and it keeps the foods crispier. It’s cheaper, too, because the bags are free. — C.D., North Carolina

HOMEMADE PILLOWCASES: I make my own pillowcases. Sew easy! One double-bed-size flat sheet will yield six pillowcases, which is a considerable savings. — Margery, e-mail

Posted by Sara Noel on November 7 2007. Filed under Frugal Tips.
Sara Noel owns Frugal Village, LLC and is a nationally syndicated columnist with Universal Uclick. Bio, Follow me on Twitter, Join us on Facebook