tips you heard when you started

**Mom23boys** · 12-22-2002, 06:33 PM

Are there tips you heard when you started down the frugal road that you said you would NEVER do, but are now doing?

I guess mine would be washing baggies and freezing leftovers. I don't wash baggies all the time, but sometimes do. I also never used to save leftovers. I would always throw them out, but now I freeze them into smaller portions and reheat them for individual meals/lunches.

What about you?

**justjenn** · 12-22-2002, 09:53 PM

Yes. I used to think that washing baggies, and reusing aluminum foil was taking it way too far. But, after reading TG books I learned that it was the little things that made the difference.

**CountryMom** · 12-22-2002, 10:04 PM

Washing baggies it definatly right near the top. Another one is using cloth diapers, although I must admit I didn't last long with that one.

**AmyBoz** · 12-22-2002, 10:35 PM

How funny...when I read the question, washing and reusing baggies was the first thing that came to mind. However, just this week, I put a note in dd's lunchbag, asking the woman who watches her during the day to please send home the baggies we send her sandwiches in.

**Jenlee** · 12-26-2002, 11:29 AM

I thought making my own laundry detergent would be over the top, but it works so great and is much cheaper. I don't reuse baggies if they contained meat, but the rest I do.

**katiebug** · 12-26-2002, 11:48 AM

Washing baggies and foil came right to my mind, too....not so much the baggies, but I never really thought I would wash and reuse foil.

I also never thought I'd be one to boil turkey or chicken bones for soup....now the bones go right into the pot as soon as I have taken the meat off of them

.

**jettsmom** · 12-26-2002, 12:00 PM

I remember a lady washing baggies about 15 years ago. I thought she was nuts. Boy, I could have learned a lot back then. I do reuse them when I can.

**TheCottageRose** · 12-26-2002, 12:39 PM

Like Katiebug, I never thought I'd save a turkey carcass for Stock...I mean, how totally wierd and gross! Plus, I have saved all the chicken bones and skin I cooked this month (OAMC) for soup/stock.

Nor did I think I could make a menu for a month, to plan was a waste of time!

Nor did I think I'd be the one to put a stop to sensless eating out.

Still debating the MIY bread.

Today, those left overs are given a day or two to see if anyone will want a late snack or prefer them to what's for dinner, then they are labled and tossed into the freezer (flat, of course, lol).

Baggies, yes I wash them if they didn't have raw meat, really spicy stuff, or too much fat to deal with. when I get the dishwasher, they will all go in there.

Haven't yet started the foil thing...But, I definitely think it is coming

**Lori Biever-Launder** · 12-26-2002, 08:26 PM

I use the wax paper from cereal boxes to cover foods in the mcirowave. People think I have totally lost it when they see me pull a bag out of my drawer and tear a pices off to put over a plate!

**Mom23boys** · 12-26-2002, 08:28 PM

Originally posted by Lori Biever-Launder
I use the wax paper from cereal boxes to cover foods in the mcirowave. People think I have totally lost it when they see me pull a bag out of my drawer and tear a pices off to put over a plate!

Never thought of that. Good idea. Thanks!

**katiebug** · 12-28-2002, 03:34 PM

I just remembered another one. I read once in the Tightwad Gazette about someone who re-used her coffee grounds. I do this sometimes when I am just in the mood for a little more caffeine kick, though I wouldn't serve it to company.

Another one is saving butter wrappers. I fold them up and put them in a baggy in the fridge...then when I have to grease a pan, I just use one or two of the butter wrappers and then throw them away.

**LeShea** · 02-23-2003, 12:10 AM

In all your frugal endeavors, have you ever done more than you ever thought you would? I was using my cloth wipes and thinking....now this is something I never even thought about doing just a year ago.....Hmmmmm. How about you? Have you suprised yourself lately??

**dz_blonde_girl** · 02-23-2003, 07:25 AM

I find it interesting that 10 years ago with ds I used store bought baby wipes. I knew about home made wipes, but never even tried them. Now, with dd, I prefer the home made. I stayed at home several months with ds and never even tried to make baby food. I tried with dd, but I couldn't get it to work (I think it's because I used garden fresh vegees and the texture is different). I still wash the bottle liners though! By the way, we had a lot less money when we had ds.

**justjenn** · 02-23-2003, 10:22 AM

I never would have dreamed that I would be reusing my vacuum cleaner bags, or reusing aluminum foil, and freezer bags.

**mrscornbread** · 02-23-2003, 10:30 AM

Okay, I was very spoiled, (I still am, it is just on hiatus) My favorite food is chicken. We eat chicken just about every night. The breast is whatI prefer, in fact I do not like the legs or thighs. I love wings, but they, like breasts are too expensive. I thought I would never eat legs and thighs. Well, guess what I am now eating them because I caught a sale for 19 cents a pound. They are not so bad. (At least that is what I keep telling myself, I am on Atkins again and I keep telling myself that these legs and thighs are making me skinny. That helps)