Using bits of time adds up to huge savings!

**guest2** · 01-26-2005, 05:29 PM

Today it hit me while I was home on my lunch break how using bits of time here and there can add up to huge savings. As I was eating my lunch (bulk cooking casserole made 3 months ago and frozen, thawed out overnight in the fridge) and having a cup of tea (water boiled this morning and put in a thermal caraffe to keep it hot all day) I realized how just using bits of time here and there had made my life much less hectic today and saved me money in the process. After I finished my lunch I chatted with a friend while throwing together a mexican layered casserole in the crockpot to cook on low until dinner time tonight. I got to thinking about how just spending those 15 minutes saved us $$ in fast food takeout and was much healthier for us too.

Some other saving hints that only take bits of time are:
1. Mend your clothes as soon as you see a problem to avoid large repairs or replacement.
2. Soak beans overnight or cook overnight in a crockpot. Package up the beans in meals sized portions and freeze (way cheaper than canned beans).
3. Fill a pitcher up with water and put it in the fridge so it's ready when you want something cold to drink.
4. Throw those over ripe bananas in the freezer for banana bread and smoothies later.
5. Hang up a load of laundry on the line. It only takes about 5 minutes and you get to enjoy the sunshine and fresh air while you are out there.
6. Check in daily at the Frugal Village to be inspired, share a laugh, vent, give and get hugs and share some wisdom.

7. Turn your thermostats down at night and when you leave the house.
8. Buy cheese when it is on sale and shred it. Put in ziplock bags and freeze it for casserole. nachos, pizza, etc..
9. Shred your excess zuchinni and package it up in ziplock bags and freeze to use in zuchiini bread, muffins, cookies and casseroles later.
10. Wash off and pop those excess tomatoes from you garden into ziplock bags and freeze for soups and stews later.
11. Take 5 minutes (or less) and email someone encouraging them! It could feel like winning the jackpot that day for them.

12. Clean or change your furnace and air purifier filters. Makes for cleaner air and cuts your operating costs.
13. Vacuum your smoke detectors while you are vacuuming the rug.
14. Rub some vaseline on your feet at night and slip on some white cotton socks. Your feet soften up and won't look like alligators!
15. Don't forget to renew your library books if you can't get them back on time. You'll avoid fines!

I have to run to work now but please add your ideas!

**sunshine** · 01-26-2005, 06:11 PM

Pack leftovers for tomorrow's lunch- place in fridge for quick grab in the morning.

Peruse the grocery sale ads and make a meal plan based on your pantry supply and the ads.

Check fluid level in your car (oil, transmission fluid, radiator fluid, etc.) to prevent huge expensive repairs later.

Learn to cut your family member's hair-- it took me a few minutes to look over the instructions and video that came with our set of clippers. It saves us a 20 mile round trip to the beautician, plus $10/ cut, for the guys-- $15/cut for the gals.

**graci42** · 01-26-2005, 06:30 PM

Sort your clothes as you remove them...saves time when you wash laundry later. Don't forget to check your pockets...Exploding ink pens cost money!

**Shell** · 01-26-2005, 07:09 PM

Great ideas!

**baxjul** · 01-26-2005, 07:34 PM

Great ideas! Thanks everyone.

**guest2** · 01-27-2005, 11:44 AM

Thanks Ladies! And Graci~you could not be more right about the pens! My sons rotate doing the laundry and I cannot tell you how many times we have found pens in there!

Here's another kind of off the wall one but it works for us. Tape your favorite TV shows so that you can watch them commercial free and at your convenience. It saves you time and aggrevation too because you can just pause or stop the show if someone needs you. I like to work on mending clothes while watching my favorite tapes shows.

**PrairieRose** · 01-27-2005, 11:50 AM

If you have a checking account, take a few minutes every day or 2 and bring your balance forward. Keeps you from fretting over your balance as well as saves you the overdraft charges.

**Bessiemae** · 01-27-2005, 12:20 PM

What kind ideas!

I like to make out my weekly menus with my calendar to coordinate our activities with meal plans....busy nights get CP, or freezer meals, etc.

I also always seem to have a load of laundry in the machine. It's easy to toss a load in before bed and switch it when I get up.

Keep a list of books you want to read in your purse. Most library systems have on-line catalogs, so you can reserve the books on line.

Same with movies or CD's.

Never go up or down stairs empty handed.

Always balance ckbk BEFORE you head out for ANY purchasing. Sobering.

Carry small calculator in purse to check "sale" prices.

**kimmie** · 01-27-2005, 01:12 PM

These are all such great ideas!

I carry a calculator in my coupon box...what I need to work on is taking the coupon box with me everywhere! I can't count the number of times I found a great sale (somewhere other than the grocery store) for which I knew I had a coupon at home!

I also do the Easy Saver thing at Walgreens.

And I can't do without a list. Otherwise I end up wandering about the house wondering why I went to that room!