Maybe you’ve been frugal all along

photo by jmb1977 Many people practice frugality and don’t realize it. It’s just a way of life. Some tips are practical, while others seem extreme or too time-consuming. It’s always fun to share some of the readers’ daily frugal tips to be less wasteful. Maybe there are a few you’ve tried.

FAST-FOOD REFILL: I’ve refilled a ketchup bottle with packets after a fast-food trip. I use the wax-paper bags from cereal to cover plates in the microwave, too. — Lori, Oregon

CAT-FOOD HOLDER: I’ve saved plastic trays from TV dinners. I use those to heat food in or put cat food in. I also save water bottles and keep them refilled. If we’re going out for the day, I just grab one and don’t have to buy water or a soda. — Tammy, Alabama

MIXED MILK: My family goes through a lot of milk each week. I always have an extra milk jug, so when I buy a new gallon of milk, I pour half of it into the empty jug and then I fill them both to the top with mixed nonfat dry milk. No one can tell the difference. — aupodge, e-mail

GIVING LIP: I have medicine bottles and film canisters filled with lotions or lip balm. — Milissa, Georgia

JUICY: I save an extra juice bottle so when I buy juice, I pour half into an empty bottle and fill both up with water. When I buy frozen juice, I double the water. — itsahumanzoo, e-mail

DO YOU KNOW THE MUFFIN MAN?: My wife bought throwaway aluminum muffin pans about a year ago, and I still use them every Sunday when I make muffins. — Jerry, New York

SAVE THE PLASTICWARE: I make the kids save their plastic utensils, and I run the plasticware through the dishwasher for them to take with their lunches! — Kim, Colorado

YESTERDAY’S NEWS: I shred the newspaper for cat litter. — Michelle, Texas

ONE MORE POT: I make back-to-back pots of coffee and add one more scoop of grounds to the already used grounds. — jskell911, e-mail

ON A ROLL: I use toilet-paper rolls cut in half to plant seedlings. They can be buried in the soil just like peat pots. — Jaded, e-mail

ONE BAG BETTER THAN TWO: I dump the bathroom trash into the kitchen trash so I don’t have to throw away the bathroom trash bag. — Stephanie, California

ONCE YOU POP: I reuse Pringle cans. I have a couple in my linen closet to hold hair accessories. I save them for trips in the summer to hold cookies and pretzels because they keep the sand out and the snacks don’t get crushed. — pkellyc, Connecticut

MARSHMALLOW KEBOB: I take wooden skewers and break off the sharp point. Then I take a mini marshmallow and stick on one end. Then I lace the stick itself with Froot Loops and put a mini marshmallow on the other. Perfect snack for my granddaughter. — Barbara, Virginia

CHEAP SWITCH: My husband likes to use my favorite shampoo, so I keep two bottles of my favorite shampoo in the shower, one high and one low. He’s very tall, so the one at the top is full of cheap generic stuff I bought for a buck. He has no clue that he’s not using my favorite. — frooz, e-mail

Posted by Sara Noel on August 3 2008. 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