Watch how much you use

photo by playingwithbrushes

The first tip is a good reminder to closely monitor the amount of products you use. She mentions laundry detergent as an example. I’d like to add that when using liquid detergent, the cap is not meant to be filled. By force of habit, many people simply fill it. The measurement lines are on the inside of the cap and are often hard to see, and instructions for amounts are on the container. You can measure and mark the cap with permanent marker or simply use your own measuring cup. Many people use far less than is recommended with favorable results, too.

MEASURE ACCURATELY: Use the least amount possible of something to get the job done. Measure for accuracy. Guessing how much something “is” usually ends up in waste. This goes for everything from laundry detergent to cooking in the kitchen and anything else you use by a measured amount. That teaspoon of vanilla you just “eyeballed” may have been more like two, so you just wasted a teaspoon. Do you mindlessly make five or six passes on your underarms with deodorant when one or two will do? I broke my husband of adding too much dishwashing soap to the water by having him measure it in a one-eighth measuring spoon. A wise person once said to use things like it was your last one. — Karen, Kansas

DISCOUNT PAINT: I go to Lowe’s and Home Depot and look in the paint section for the paint that people bring back. I have gotten several great colors for $5 a gallon. I use that a lot to change the look of a room. — Moor, Ohio

CONSERVE WATER: I work for the water company. If you have an aboveground or family pool, see if your water department offers a pool credit. We only ask for the size of the pool in gallons, and the resident doesn’t pay sewer fees on those gallons of water. Also, we have irrigation meters. There are costs for the initial setup for ours, as well as a state-required yearly test, but if you use a lot of water to irrigate your lawn, it certainly helps because the water running through the second meter is not charged sewer fees. Last but not least, check for leaks periodically. You can’t always see or hear leaks. An easy way to check for leaks in the toilet is to place a packet of Kool-Aid, Jell-O or food coloring in the tank. Do not flush. Let it set for 15 minutes, and if any color has settled into the toilet bowl, you have a leak and are wasting water. A cheap way to find leaks is to read your meter right before going to bed. If no one has used any water during the night, your meter reading should be the exact same in the morning. Check your consumption. The average person consumes 2,000 gallons of water per month for all his or her needs (showering, flushing, dishes, clothes, etc.). So if you only have two people in your home and you are regularly consuming 20,000 gallons of water, there is a problem. — Nichole M., Iowa

GLASS BOTTLES: I keep an empty vodka bottle in my pantry. When I’m making anything that needs a rolling pin, I use the vodka bottle. It’s especially good for making piecrusts because piecrusts benefit from being cold. I fill my bottle up with ice water, and it helps to keep the dough chilled. — Lisa N., Texas

Posted by Sara Noel on September 12 2009. 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