Confess frugal habit

**Jerseygirl** · 01-27-2002, 11:14 AM

Confess:
What is one thing you started doing out of absolute need, but can't seem to get out of the habit of doing now?
I realized a few years ago that I was spending nearly $2 a pair on knee highs that many times I only got 2 wears from. I found Walgreens has sales every 6-8 weeks on their brand for .25-.35 each, their decent, and if I took them off as soon as I got home and washed by hand I could get a number of wears from them. Now everytime I see them on sale I find myself stocking up, and I still treat them like some precious commodity, washing by hand, drying flat. I cant seem to stop.

**strawberryfire** · 01-27-2002, 05:18 PM

buying tolet paper (decent stuff) and margarine in bulk when its on special! you should see our freezer!

**MicheleMomof3** · 01-27-2002, 11:19 PM

We still save for things we have money in savings to pay for. Like I want a blender, so instead of taking money out for one Im finding ways to cut corners out of our budget to pay it.
~Michele~

**TAMA-TOE** · 01-28-2002, 03:05 AM

My frugal habit is to buy a lot of something when it goes on a remarkable sale. This use to drive my DH insane, he just didn't understand why we had to have 20-5lbs of flour around the house and when I explained that I bought them at .33 cents per 5lbs he just laughs at me (in a good way). It was about our 10 year of marriage that he finally just gave up on me and now he lets me buy how ever much I feel I need to when stuff goes on sale.
Buying the dks school clothes for the next year at the end of season clearance is another habit. I save up to do this every every 6 months, once in Jan for winter and once in July for summer.

**KathiS** · 01-28-2002, 03:50 AM

I buy so many things at the thrift shops. Some of my friends think I am crazy but, have done it for years. I just love hunting around the thrift shop and getting items for good prices. Have gotten to the place that if I can't get it at a thrift shop, yard sale or marked way down at a discount store, I don't want it!

It's a frugal habit I hope I never give up!

**CountryMom** · 01-29-2002, 10:30 PM

I buy a lot when it is on sale too Tama-Toe. I don't think I will ever need to buy mustard again. lol

The "strangest" thing I do is save my used up deodorants, scrape out the inside, microwave and repour. So for every 4-5 used up deodorants I get another half a stick for free. I know, I'm strange. lol

**mommie2luvbug** · 02-01-2002, 09:24 PM

I go to the dollar stores to get things like soap, shampoo, TP. I also go to yard sales and thrift shops to buy clothes for my 20 month old.

**krazeeblonde1959** · 02-02-2002, 04:46 AM

My DH still kids me about the time I bought a BUNCH of TP on sale. He came home from work one evening, right after my son and I had unloaded the groceries, to find the couch and half of the LR floor covered with packages of TP. Hey! They were on sale! What can I say? LOL (He laughs, but he never has to worry about running out of "necessary" paper!)

Hey CountryMom...It may seem a little weird about the deodorant, but I am going to try it! Thanks for the tip! I have been wondering about how to save the leftovers! I have always done this with lipstick, but didn't think about deodorant!

**Lori Biever-Launder** · 02-10-2002, 10:18 PM

I had to laugh about the tissue! About a year ago, Rite Aid changed their house brands and they had a huge close out sale on the old brands. I got four packs of tissue for .25!! Yep, that's right--a quarter! I spent $35.00 on tissue--all I could get in my car! It wasn't the greatest stuff, but hey, for a quarter, we used it. DH called it Soviet toilet paper because it was a bit rough. We have laughed and laughed over this and have decided that the Cold War was won by us because we have better tissue! LOLOL

**hollyhill** · 05-07-2009, 07:53 PM

Dare I admit it?
Not buying bras, when I really should..... my bras are so tattered, but when I go to spend the money I balk.... and end up wearing the same three forever....

**Incognito** · 05-08-2009, 12:22 AM

Your bra confession inspires me to confess my own "thrifty undies confession".
I buy new undies at the Thrift Shop for 25 cents a pair. Usually, the medium and large sizes are there brand-new. Now, in order to make these fit me comfortably, I cut them apart at the side-seams, sew in a 1 inch lace insert (salvaged from a half-slip hem, etc. and elasticized at waist and leg openings); and voila!, new pretty undies in a comfie size.

**NCnatalie** · 05-08-2009, 01:05 AM

Originally Posted by hollyhill

Dare I admit it?
Not buying bras, when I really should..... my bras are so tattered, but when I go to spend the money I balk.... and end up wearing the same three forever....

same here-and when the underwire pops out i have been known to use a good rubber cement type of glue to hold it in to make it last even longer

**mauimagic** · 05-08-2009, 01:14 AM

Stocking up on toilet paper is normal here in Hawaii for those of us who remember the shipping strike when there was none available on the shelves. Such a shortage will happen never in our house!!

**hippytreehugger4ever** · 05-08-2009, 01:36 AM

You can never have too much tp

**mamamia** · 05-08-2009, 02:22 AM

Hmmmm! I know it's so UN-Green of me, but I use paper towels. When hubby lost his job in 2000, I still bought them, but always rinsed them at the end of the night, along with my sponges, in a sink full of hot water and a capful or so of bleach. Then I'd lay them out over the sink to dry overnight. If they were still decent, I'd use them for more kitchen duty. If not, they got folded and kept for daily bathroom cleaning (think males), or really messy jobs like overspills that go under the burners of my cooktop.

So my "frugal confession" is that after 9 years, I never stopped doing this. But it still saves me a bundle, and relieves some of that un-green guilt I feel...lol!

Good topic Jerseygirl!

Theresa