Something Frugal You Do That You Don't Tell DH!

**Shell** · 10-29-2005, 08:08 PM

My dh won't eat leftovers.

So, what I do is create it into something completely different and don't mention we had it last night.

I was thinking I bet I'm not the only who doesn't mention some of the things they do to save money. What do you do to say money that you don't mention to dh?

**Valerie in WA** · 10-30-2005, 02:14 AM

When making taco meat or spaghetti sauce, sometimes I cut the ground beef with TVP.

More often, I hide things from him, like his favorite pop, which never goes on sale. I bought a 24 pack of it (at full price) a while ago. Every once in a while, I pull out a 6-pack, and let him have a break from his 2nd favorite pop. I also bought a big jar of peanuts, but just put a pint canning jar full of peanuts where he would find it. The big jar is tucked away.

At first he didn't know about my Diva cup, but that was more out of decorum than trying to pull a fast one. Eventually the topic came up without me making a big deal out of it.

**sarathom** · 10-30-2005, 07:04 AM

Yep, creative leftovers are wonderful and dh doesn't have a clue!

I roll up change and stash it away. If not, he would spend it on slurpees!

I have cut down the amount of meat in every meal and use fillers: oatmeal, rice, etc. Dh is a big meat eater but hasn't figured out he is eating more fibre than meat!

I keep the heat down very low during the week, but on weekends, dh always turns it up. So after he turns it up, I go over and lower it one degree. He doesn't notice and I am saving money!

There are so many little things I do that benefit the family without them knowing. I don't feel guilty because every penny I save, we can get the fun things we want!!!! (recreation vehicles, entertainment purchases etc.)

**nodmicks** · 10-30-2005, 09:17 AM

I occasionally make powdered milk flavor it with chocolate and put in in the milk jug. He swears he hated dry milk but humm ~ he drinks it because he can't tell the difference!

**Indy Granny** · 10-30-2005, 08:36 PM

My DH says he can really tell a difference when I use a cheap fabric softener. What he doesn't know is that I have been buying cheap softener, cutting it with water and putting it in a Downy bottle that I got at the recycle center. I've been doing this for two years and he's none the wiser.

**Lori Biever-Launder** · 10-30-2005, 09:32 PM

DH knows all of the stuff I do because I brag about it. He doesn't complain for the most part, so I guess I sort of have him converted to frugalism...

**Shell** · 10-30-2005, 09:34 PM

Originally posted by Indy Granny
My DH says he can really tell a difference when I use a cheap fabric softener. What he doesn't know is that I have been buying cheap softener, cutting it with water and putting it in a Downy bottle that I got at the recycle center. I've been doing this for two years and he's none the wiser.

**kittykatstrong** · 11-02-2008, 04:19 AM

I dont tell my Dh that I have a stash of money that I am building so we can have a real family vacation.

**missyali** · 11-02-2008, 07:57 AM

I cannot keep anything from dh. I tell him about all of my frugal-doings. I can't help but brag about the savings!

**Dancing Lotus** · 11-02-2008, 08:04 AM

I like to brag so dh knows everything. I did try to switch his expensive brand of OJ once for the cheap stuff and he knew right away. DARN!

**nvmommyx6** · 11-02-2008, 08:12 AM

Originally Posted by missyali

I cannot keep anything from dh. I tell him about all of my frugal-doings. I can't help but brag about the savings!

I have to agree with this, I get so excited when I see the difference in something because of my frugality, I have to tell him!!!
On the other hand, I do sneak stuff he does (or says he does not like) not like into our meals, and he is none the wiser.....I think the biggest thing was bulk cereal! He love frosted flakes, I bought the bulk kind and his reaction was, " I hate that crap it is disgusting" lol
So, I hid an empty tony the tiger box, filled it with the bulk cereal from my shopping trip, he ate all of it and never complained, about a year after that my father made a comment about the "crappy cereal" and hubby said, oh yeah, she bought me that crap once, it was so gross, I would never eat that crap again" and not being able to contain myself, I replied, "you've been eating that CRAP for over a year, I just poor it in the kellogs box, guess there really is no difference eh??!!!!"

I thought my dad was going to need medical assistance from laughing so hard and hubby was in shock for a few days!! He does not have a problem with bulk cereal now though!!!

**TheRootedNomad** · 11-02-2008, 08:36 AM

The longer we are together the more converted/accepting he gets. A lot of mine/ours was/is "don't ask, don't tell".

I use to do the recreate the leftovers thing because he swore he WOULDN'T eat leftovers. Eventually he caught on and now eats leftovers whether I recreate them or not. I never really hid it. I just never said "Oh we're having leftovers".

I use to try and substitue ground turkey for ground beef but he didn't buy that one.

He never went grocery shopping with me so he didn't know I bought meat from the mark down basket. When he saw the sticker the first time he had a cow. When I told him he's been eating marked down meat for almost a decade he got quiet and walked away. Now he jokes about it.

I also stash some money. Some is ours, some is mine. He knows I am a stasher. He knows he is a spender. We have, without ever really talking about it, come to a silent agreement about this. They are usually small stashes I don't include in our normal finance discussions. Most of the time it is money from my "allowance" I've saved up anyway. Sometimes it's the beginning of a savings category we will be adding soon.

I never lie about anything I'm doing and I would never mess with anything that's truely important to him, like switching out his soda and putting generic in the bottle. If I want to try something new that pertains to something he wouldn't generally discuss with me than I just don't bring it up.

Ex: He could care less what type of laundry detergent I bought at the store. So when I switched to making my own I didn't tell him. When he went to do laundry one day and found the homemade detergent I got some looks but as he's had no complaints with his clothes he just went on with it.

**rainbowgc** · 11-02-2008, 08:48 AM

Snuck ground turkey by ground veal LOL, I have a secret cash stash.

**The Muse** · 11-02-2008, 09:38 AM

He knows pretty much everything. The only thing he doesn't know is that sometimes, I'll make soup or something with veggies that are past their prime. Most people would throw them out, but I cut around the squishy parts and once they're cooked, you can't tell the difference.

**Kris B** · 11-02-2008, 10:57 AM

Originally Posted by nvmommyx6

So, I hid an empty tony the tiger box, filled it with the bulk cereal from my shopping trip, he ate all of it and never complained, about a year after that my father made a comment about the "crappy cereal" and hubby said, oh yeah, she bought me that crap once, it was so gross, I would never eat that crap again" and not being able to contain myself, I replied, "you've been eating that CRAP for over a year, I just poor it in the kellogs box, guess there really is no difference eh??!!!!"

I thought my dad was going to need medical assistance from laughing so hard and hubby was in shock for a few days!! He does not have a problem with bulk cereal now though!!!

I love it!!!