What frugal things have you tried and liked,what do you still want to try?

**MANDERS** · 02-15-2002, 12:16 AM

WHat frugal things do you do.And what do you like about them or dislike?Any that you would rather not do?
Here is what I do and like

hang laundry
wash dishes by hand
make hm babyfood
cut babywipes into 1/2
cook mostly from scratch
yard sale/thrift store/damaged goods store
hm gifts
do it yoursleves
coupons(only on sale or double triple coupons)
lights out all day/one on at night
heat down to 65
5 min showers(yes we time them)
shop loss leaders
regift
track daily spending
reuse everything(yes I am a pack rat)
write letters or email instead of longdistance(I will call my sister and tell her to cal me back on her cell phone after 7 since it is free then)

wash baggies/foil

I am wanting to start dumpster diving and a garden this spring any tips on either one of those would be great.I am working on my pricebook right now as we speak,just mostly getting the prices from various stores,have to force myself to spend the $10 on an ink cartridge,so I can print out the pricebook sheets from here.

I won't use reusable pads,eeeeeewwww nor will i be so tight that I put my families health in jeopardy(like I will let them eat however much they want and I am not going to freeze them out esp since one is only 9 mo.

Anyone else care to share

**Jerseygirl** · 02-15-2002, 01:33 PM

I enjoy the challenge of shopping sales and using coupons for everything. I am doing ok with doing more of my own sewing-especially curtains-there are 34 windows in my house and I can never find the perfect set in the stores anyway. I can live with keeping the heat down, doing dishes by hand , hanging laundry and did a lot of homemade craft and basket gifts for the holidays, and I have started composting for a summer garden. I have even begun enjoying after-season vacations-going away to a resort 2 weeks after their real season has ended generally saves us 40-60 0/0. I will not go without a car for both of us, I will not go without spending entirely too much money entertaining-our housewarming is set for June and the costs are already getting up there. We went without computer and cable for 2 years and I don't think I would like to do that again. Lately I am focusing on cutting down our use of paper products, I haven't bought paper plates or cups in about 6 weeks and have been using more reusable rag towels for cleaning, but it is much harder to break dh of these habits.

**MANDERS** · 02-16-2002, 12:34 AM

Wow 34 windows!! I would hate to clean all of them.I also shop sales all the time.Today I got DD 2 shirts from kmart for $1.5 ea and an overalls outfit with shirt for $5.Also half off valentines stuff.
I made a lot of gift baskets too.And a lot of candles.All the stuff I used for gift baskets and candles,well just about any kind of craft stuff is bought from yard sales.So roughly each basket cost me about $10 to make and fill.I made 10 baskets this year.

**Michelle** · 02-16-2002, 07:52 AM

I have always been really good with my money--never a squanderer. I think part of that was from my upbringing (my mother was very, very poor growing up as her father passed away when she was 3 yr old, and my grandmother had to raise 3 girls on her own) and part has been because we just have never had much money to waste. We are completely self-made. No financial help from our families at all.

Anyway, recently I've been trying more frugal ideas because my dh has been forced to take a lot of unpaid time off from work.

Here is what I do so far:
Hang laundry
no more juice boxes for dd's preschool--she brings a drink in her thermos
coupons
shop loss leaders
regift
sell baby clothes, baby supplies, and other things on auctions
cook mostly from scratch
eliminated eating out (one of our favorite things to do)
home made baby wipes
home made household cleaners
home made gifts
herb garden (started inside from seed)
shop for clothes and gifts on re-sale boards/Ebay/other auctions

What I haven't done yet but want to do:
working on a price book
home made laundry detergent
cloth pads (maybe...this one still grosses me out a little, but I may do it as an environmental cause type of thing)
bigger garden than in years past with lots of veggies and fruits

What I can't/won't do:
turn down my heat (growing up, it was so cold in our house, and I still can't bring myself to be cold like that again)
dumpster dive (mostly just chicken about this and a bit squeamish about what I'll find)

**those of you that do baskets and candles, I would appreciate(and I know others would too!) if you would post your ideas on the crafting board

**

**weddell** · 02-21-2002, 08:36 AM

Well

We live in an apartment building so have to pay $1 to wash clothes and $1 to dry. I NEVER use the dryer and hang all of our clothes.

We do most of our grocery shopping at Aldi and try not to buy convienence foods. We do buy our produce at a different store that is closer to our apartment, but buy what is in season and on sale.

Make most things from scratch--all baked goods and we are trying to make things like our own crackers and breads.

I use the keeper and washable pads, but I started this for environmental reason not to save money.

All of our clothes are from thrift stores or great clearance sales. (DH just got some new jeans from a jcpenney that was going out of business)

We are obsessed with recording all purchases in Microsoft Money and tracking spending. We have a budget that we are very good about following.

I would like to try and make all of our crackers, breads etc from scratch, but I work full-time and am a half-time student, so this isn't always practical.

We are looking into buying a house and would like to get a chest freezer to be able to freeze more sale priced food and produce.

We are going to start putting money into my work sponsered retirement plan. Which will be frugal in the long run

**aylasmommy** · 02-22-2002, 05:08 AM

I like not going out to the movies or out to eat too often
We have gone to the movies twice in the last three years, and one of those was a 1$ ticket movie theater.

We rarely even rent a movie..we are happy with the tv most nights, and now we buy a video or dvd if we really want it so it's an investment. I figure it's worth it to not have to freak out 5 days later wondering if thats the day we need to take the movie back.

I like to rip my wipes in half when I can..same with my paper towels.

I buy things clearance or goodwill or garage sale or online very cheap.

I use coupons/rainchecks/rebates/valupage

I use a coupon when I take in my recyclables to get an extra 10 cents a pound.

I like washing my ziplock bags

I dehydrate or freeze the fruits/veggies when they are super cheap.

I use less than the suggested serving size when using most recipes on the back of packages.

I like reusing my dryer sheets.

I had leftover wedding envelopes and used them for trading coupons. I used parts of extra wedding invites to reuse into Christmas cards.

I trade the btfe on my cereal boxes..and the huggies and pampers points I might happen to have for more coupons.
My hubby gets kinda upset though because I cut them out BEFORE we've used the product!

I pick up change and coupons off the floor..

I add flour to my biscuick pancake/waffle recipes..or whole wheat.

I water down the whole milk and soy milk for myself.

I would love to get better at tracking our spending. Right now I am great at saving receipts for all my shopping at the market, but it's my husbands spending that gets us stuck at the end of the month. Every time I ask him what it costs.." I don't know, I didn't look" is what he says.

I can't dry my own clothes here..or plant a garden..if I could I would do those as well. I wish I could find a good dumbster to dive for coupon inserts. I also want to sew my own napkins so we can elliminate paper dinner napkins.

**MicheleMomof3** · 02-26-2002, 12:14 PM

The one thing I do that is frugal and I love the most......dumpster diving/curbside mall. I usually only get into dumpster from Goodwill or newspaper for the coupons. The rest of the things I find are from others curbside trash.
I also love to:
cook from scratch ( I can make yogurt, how about that? lol)
thrift store/yard sale shop
play the grocery game (see how low I can get our grocery bill)
sewing things
trading stuff online (coupons, things for my daughters etc.)
gardening

I enjoyed reading others post, its been inspiring!
~Michele~

**yolo** · 02-26-2002, 12:31 PM

Wow you guys are a great source of inspiration. This is what we do so far:

hang laundry
shop loss leaders
garden
yard sale
made baby food when kids were little
shop thrift stores
use a price book
cook mostly from scratch
can, freeze, and dehydrate food
make some homemade cleaners

Would like to do:

sewing
make more homemade cleaners
make homemade laundry soap

yolo

**CountryMom** · 02-26-2002, 07:21 PM

Things I do now

Keep my thermostate turned down
wash dishes by hand
reuse baggies
hang laundry
buy some of my kids clothes from ebay
resell clothing on ebay
use baking soda and vinegar to clean with
shop loss leaders with coupons and shop at Aldi's
no cable
no long distance (use calling cards)
make baby wipes
tear dryer sheets in 4ths

Things I should do...
make laundry detergent
take short showers
eat out less
shop garage sales

Things I won't do...
use homemade pads (gag)
use "the keeper"