Make Those Dollars Last Longer!

**Shell** · 10-28-2005, 12:10 AM

Everyday I work on trying to make my dollars last longer. Here are some things I work on everyday:

~Use your left-overs
~Use less shampoo, soap, detergent
~Use nail polish to stop runs in your nylons or try trouser socks with pants, they last a lot longer
~Go shopping in your closet instead of the mall
~stay out of the mall

What do you work on everyday?

**SHOPGIRL** · 10-28-2005, 12:50 AM

I do the same thing. My current challenge is avoiding Starbuck's drive-thru. It's on the way home from work, and I am so tempted to stop. So far, I've avoided it all week.

**hollyhill** · 10-28-2005, 01:18 AM

I am working at making my gas last longer. I try to use the car less and more wisely.

I also try and stay out of the grocery store by reworking my menus, to use what I have.
For instance I have no meet (except 6 weiners) left. But I have cheese. So my dinners will be-
~vegetarian spagetti with salad &homemade buns
~quesidilas with beans and cheese along with spanish rice and corn
~macaroni and cheese with coleslaw
~homemade pizza and salad, pumpkin pie
~lentil soup with weiners

I think you get the idea. I just rework my menus until I have to go shopping.

I also try and streeetchhh my detergent, dish soap, cleaners etc.

**sunshine** · 10-28-2005, 06:16 AM

portion control on meats

navy showers to save on water

space heaters, rice bags, electric blankets rather than making the entire house

creative entertainment at home, rather than going "out"

**sarathom** · 10-28-2005, 08:18 AM

Using leftovers is a biggie. I saved some hm meatballs and marinara sauce. I think there was only 3 or 4 meatballs left. I mushed them up in the sauce, added 1 can tomato soup and 3 soup cans of milk. I grated some cheddar cheese into the mixture and added 2-1/4 cups uncooked macaroni. I baked it up and was it ever delicious. It fed a family of four with leftovers for lunch the next day! I keep every little bit of meat, rice, potatoes etc. and make crazy creations! Stirfries, soups, casseroles, quesadillas....it amazes me how many extra meals I can actually get. My meat freezer still has tonnes of meat whereas before, I would have just chucked the little pieces and would have kept pulling out new meat for each night!

Other things are lights off, heat down, wash in cold water, grocery shop once a week. If I do run out of something during the week, I try to see if I can make it to the next grocery shop but if I just can't, I walk into the grocery store and only buy what I actually need which takes tonnes of discipline but has been working for quite a while now.

Also, being content with the fall/thanksgiving decorations I have and not buying new ones. Also, being content with the decorations I have for xmas and not buying anymore.

Whew! That's off the top of my head. I know there is more. It's a day to day thing but it sure pays off!

**sanderson76** · 10-28-2005, 08:27 AM

-Try to cut down on the use of gas

-Only grocery shop once a week and only take the money in that I have in budget to spend

-Wash just once a week

-Run dishwasher every other day

-Keep heat down and lights off

**Emerald_Mommy** · 10-28-2005, 08:59 AM

~ We eat our leftovers for lunch
~ We use less of every product we can (soap, shampoo, cleaners, etc.)
~ We don't shop - stay out of the stores!
~ We entertain ourselves with books, movies, & board games instead of expensive outings (those are special occasion only!)
~ Heat turned down or air turned up (depending on the season)
~ Isabel does not watch t.v (less begging/materialism)

**daddys3chicks** · 10-28-2005, 09:06 AM

~ we eat leftovers for lunch too
~ I throw away all the catalogs I get which are a ton now that the holidays are approaching - toss the temptation
~ I don't go anywhere I don't have to - save gas
~ put an extra blanket on the bed - thermostat down
~ make tea to drink instead of soft drinks
~ and of course - come here for ideas!

**Michele Annette** · 10-28-2005, 11:40 AM

* Once I get the bulk of the groceries for two weeks, I stay out of the grocery store (or any store) unless I absolutely need something and resorted to using cash only so as to not over spend once I'm in the building. This has saved me a ton of money! I used to spend about $400 a month on groceries for two adults about two years ago.

* We eat and use all of our leftovers.

* I make my coffee at home.

* I make pretty much everything from scratch.

* We budget everything and DH is with me 100%.

* I stockpile

* I use homemade cleaners and laundry detergent. I hang my laundry on the line in the basement all year round.

* I exercise at home now and have quit my gym membership. Not that I didn't like going, I used to love going, but it cost me $60 a month. Someday I may go back once ALL of my debt is paid off. I like the classes and activities they offer, but for now I'm doing it at home and it's good for now.

* I menu plan.

* I save my change in a change jar and when I have loose $1 bills in my wallet they go in there too.

**Early Bird** · 10-28-2005, 12:08 PM

Good thread!

We eat leftovers for lunch; throw away catalogs; and turn the heat down too.

I keep the TV off during the day.
I reuse homeschooling materials -- For example, my youngest is using the math book my oldest used 2 years ago.
I check a LOT of materials out from the library.

I shop thrift stores. And WOW! Have I ever found some great bargains there -- a 100% cashmere sweater that fits DD#1 ... for $0.75. A like-new Toby Weston purse (retails for $70) ... for $2. A very nice Aigner purse ... leather ... for $2. Discovery Toys Think-It-Through Puzzles ... with a dozen workbooks ... for $5. Great stuff!

I cook almost all of our meals at home.

I send leftovers with DH for lunch ... and his coworkers are envious! (which would you rather: Fight the crowds for a burger and fries? Or heat up Chicken Cordon Blue in the office toaster oven?)

And I plan our menus.

**PrairieRose** · 10-28-2005, 05:06 PM

We:
~eat leftovers for lunch
~I'm working very hard on making sure all leftovers are used, even if in a soup or something
~I'm drinking water all day long now
~have been combining all errands to save gas
~keeping a close eye on that thermostat and when I notice Gripey has "had his way with it" I'll sneak back in a while and turn it back down....

~tossing the catalogs before I look at em
~doing more research online when we're going to make a purchase
~watching the loss leaders more closely for my stockpile
~cooking most meals at home

**Shell** · 10-29-2005, 09:08 AM

Now, here are some things I need to work on:

~borrow more books from Mom or go to the library
~bring lunch to work
~no more new clothes (for a while!)

**schellie69** · 10-31-2005, 11:56 AM

I plan menu for two weeks, make list from that
Stock pile a little each two weeks
Keep a running list of what I am out of. If it is something I do not need right away it stays on the list until I find it on sale or really need it.
Use half of cleaners shampoos ect
Hang laundry when I can
keep lights/tv ect off when not in use
Keep price book and watch sales for loss leaders
keep thermostate at 72 in summer and 65 in winter have it set at 58 right now not to cold here yet,
have change jar
buy store brand unless coupon and sale make name brand less expensive
joined a coupon train
get newspaper from grandma, when she is done with it
check here for more idea
make master mixes still looking for one that i lost a butter milk mix, for biscutes
have kids play a money game trying to get electric and water bill down
check mark downs at stores
fill out for samples and frebbies
use net flix for movies (liabary here does not have many videos)
buy products that i can use in many ways just not for one thing
I buy all my cleaning products as store brand or on sale with coupons or mark downs.
shop garage sales for cloths and house hold items also have found lots of material also
buy marterial in mark down area only
sew what ever i can clothes cloth napkins curtins ect using old material or blankets and shetts that i don't use anymore,
always see what something can be made into

**MOMMYDEAREST** · 12-05-2005, 06:09 PM

leftovers...leftovers...leftovers....and be careful how i use the gas in my van

**Mojjo** · 12-05-2005, 07:52 PM

lately it's been stretching leftovers and eating them all.
also, avoiding wasting money at work on snacks and sodas
another is staying home one day a week...it's been rough with working 5 days a week, but it's been good with the family
also, no meals out...no matter how convenient and this only works with planning and having some "convenient" meals already in the fridge/freezer