Do you have a limit?

[ChetMC]

Do you have a limit when it comes to frugality? Is there a line that you won't cross?

I once lived with a girl whose mom washed and reused ziploc bags and tin foil. She felt that one of the best things about moving out on her own was not having to wash out the ziploc bags anymore.

I feel that some of the stuff we do is well worth the effort. The amount of money we've saved having three kids in cloth diapers instead of disposables is well worth the minimal effort. Sometimes I wonder though if other things are worth my time.

[Paxjourney]

I will wash ziploc bags but I will not reuse them for food, I reuse the large sizes ones trash bags for the car.

[Paxjourney]

oh and I won't use family cloth in place of tp

[Purple Sage]

When I was in middle school, I had a friend whose mother made her take a bath in the same water her brother had just taken a bath in. That's where I draw the line.

[Leta]

I totally wash Ziplocs! I have little clothesline in the pantry that I hang them on (inside out, of course).

I won't buy b*llsh*t food just because it's cheaper. I could probably buy ninety nine cent white bread and break even vs. baking our own yummy bread, but no thanks.

[sugareemoma]

My limit is the environment. I don't care how cheap it is, if it isn't eco friendly I will find another solution. I can't afford many of the fancy schmancy organic cleaning products so I try to make my own. I do also reuse tin foil and plastic bags, my parents did it like the gals you were talking about. I don't think it's too odd actually.

[Theoretica]

I'll re-use ziplocs of they had dry ingredients. But otherwise nope.

I cloth diaper when DH isn't home, as I prefer it and don't mind washing. But when DH is home I use sposies as he's clothaphobic. Don't worry mamas...I'm wearing him down slowly LOLOL

I would have two kids bathing at the same time to save water and time, but not if they thought it was gross, so prob only while they are little.

My (step)mom washes the styrofoam meat trays and reuses them for cookie plates. That's a bit much for me.

[Purple Sage]

Originally Posted by Theoretica

I would have two kids bathing at the same time to save water and time, but not if they thought it was gross, so prob only while they are little.

I bathe my two younger kids at the same time, but they're little. If I remember correctly, my friend whose mother wouldn't let her take a bath with fresh water was 12 or 13 and her brother was out of high school. It didn't seem to bother my friend, but it really grossed me out.

My (step)mom washes the styrofoam meat trays and reuses them for cookie plates. That's a bit much for me.

I will reuse Ziplocks, but definitely not meat trays.

[Jane]

I won't give up my paper towels for soaking grease out of hamburger meat.

I like my dimmer switches so I don't use florescent bulbs in some fixtures. I suppose I might be convinced to give it up one day. Or when LED lights get cheaper. So I guess that's not a total limit.

[Poddi]

I would wash ziploc bags that's been used to hold fruits and veggies. The ones used for meat and other greasy food go into the trash. I just can't reuse bags that held raw meat.

I reuse tin foil and sometimes plastic wraps. I always tear off a whole piece, though. My grandma would cut off a piece of plastic wrap about 4 square inches just enough to cover the tiny bit of leftovers. I don't think I'll ever do that.

[~Shanna~]

I must have a line, but everything above I would consider doing or always do anyway. So I guess No, I don't have a limit.

Wait, I just thought of one. i buy crap food if it's for a potluck or something like that. No WAY am I springing for organic, etc for people who don't care anyway. I feel bad about it. But not that bad.

[Theoretica]

Originally Posted by ~Shanna~

I must have a line, but everything above I would consider doing or always do anyway. So I guess No, I don't have a limit.

Wait, I just thought of one. i buy crap food if it's for a potluck or something like that. No WAY am I springing for organic, etc for people who don't care anyway. I feel bad about it. But not that bad.

OMG I do too!!

If it's my local homeschool group I make something crunchy, but if it's just any ol' potluck then Cheesy Mac here I come! LOLOL

[Tangled Hill]

I have a house full of animals (3 dogs and 5 cats ). I refuse to give up my paper towels when dealing with animal messes.

Other than that, though, I'm pretty open to anything that saves me money!

[2xy]

Originally Posted by Tangled Hill

I have a house full of animals (3 dogs and 5 cats ). I refuse to give up my paper towels when dealing with animal messes.

Same here. I have one cat who is a puker, and my little dog is a piddler. I do use cloth rags to soak up pee puddles (he's a old Chi, so they're small puddles and sprinkles), but cat barf is just disgusting.

I rarely use Ziplocs for anything BUT meat, so they usually get thrown out. If they have been holding breads or veggies or something, I'll wash and reuse.

[kay4]

I'll reuse ziploc bags but nothing with meat, mostly dry stuff or fruits and veggies

For me, no cloth TP and no dumpster diving. And I will only go so far to lower my grocery budget. That's all I can think of that would be over the line for me personally.

[Fuamami]

I had a friend who had to board with a family while she was in high school. They had a lot of kids and not very much money, and the mom told her when she moved in that if she tore off too much toilet paper and didn't actually use it all, she could just stack the leftover squares on the back of the toilet for the next person.

That's where I draw the line.

[Sailor]

I won't eat junk for the sake of frugality. Like those cup of noodle soups - when I was scraping by, barely, they were always so tempting. Where I was, they constantly had deals on them. Sometimes they had them for 25 cents each.

However, I could never bring myself to eat the Ramen noodles or the 60 cent boxes of mac and cheese. I figured if I continued in that direction, I'd be paying for it with my health in the longrun.

[herwitsend]

oh and I won't use family cloth in place of tp

I thought I felt the same way, but we ran out of TP one month after the $$ in that part of the budget ran out (we are hard core budgeting- Dave Ramsey Style)... I reluctantly pulled out the baby wipes and we have shockingly never looked back!! I can honestly say I love cloth!! It feels SO great and I really love wet wipes for #2! Sorry TMI!!

[MilkTrance]

My line could change depending on the cirucumstance; however, I would say that in general, wearing clothing that fits me is very important to me. If I can only afford second-hand or Wal Mart, so be it, but I will not be one of those women you see in the grocery store with the scraggly hair and gigantic wool sweater.

[Sonnenwende]

Originally Posted by Paxjourney

oh and I won't use family cloth in place of tp

Yeah, I really don't think it is worth the 6-7 bucks every 3 weeks (for my family). We rarely buy other paper products though. I can't think of the last time a roll of paper towels was in the house.