What new frugal thing have you done? - Page 7

[Mollyma]

Hi everyone- I also really appreciate everyone's ideas-good work mamas! I'm trying in many ways- trying to cook more whole foods and not completely omitting convience foods -but really cutting back (things like canned chili,soup) MUCH more careful about pretty much only buying groceries on sale and finally going to other stores for certain items other than the health food store-it's "in" to go to the health food store, you know?!! But I'm wising up on that...
It may sound wierd...but taking less showers- I was sort of addicted to taking them last thing at night to relax before bed-I've done that probably 5-6 nights of each week for several years-so it now makes me rely on other ways to relax- reading more, being nicer to my husband (!) really!...so I don't have stress and anger that I have to "rinse"away... So it's good to try to be cutting back on showers. Just trying to consume less in general. I'm realizing everybit counts- and I'm doing good for where I'm at right now- not canning or making everything from scratch-for from it- but also not buying hardly any nonessentials-mainly just food, dinner out on occcassional date nights,gas... I'm trying...

[jenerationx]

Originally Posted by missmich

I will NOT allow myself to buy any bath and body products except for toothpaste,deo and tampons for at least the next 6 months! I have way to many things all ready and don't need to waste any more money!

This is something I have been working on, too. I bought a bunch of shampoo and conditioner early this spring or summer because I wanted to use more natural things. Turns out I hate almost all the stuff! I'm working on using it up and allowed myself to buy a bottle of shampoo (which was on sale, I had a coupon for AND it came with a small bottle of shampoo and a small bottle of conditioner) to sort of tide me over till all this other stuff is gone.

I also need to be better about eating leftovers and making our food waste as close to zero as possible. I put veggies and a roast in the crockpot this morning and finally got smart and cut the roast in half and put the other half in the freezer for another meal.

[Pumpkin_Pie]

I wanted to add that I have started shopping at the dollar store too. Last week I found leg warmers that look EXACTLY like Babylegs for a buck a piece! Woo Hoo!! I bought 6 pairs and now have enough to keep DS and my daycare boys legs warm and toasty all winter for less than the price of one pair of Babylegs!

[gurumama]

1. Stopped buying $10/lb Starbucks coffee, which is one of my few luxuries. I got a great deal on organic Yuban on Amazon.com (around $3/lb) and it's nearly as good.

2. We're about to cancel the Y (save $72.50/month)

3. About to take our second car off the road and save $50/month

4. Considering cancelling the $68/month cell phone and going preparid (contract cancellation is $175, though...14 months left on contract, so the savings would be clear).

5. Paying for phone service by the year instead by the month (saves $60/year).

6. Eating EVERY leftover (not letting anything go bad).

7. Keeping heat at 60 at night, 65 during the day (higher than most people, yes, but VERY cold for us).

We're trying to live completely on DH's income as I can't work regularly, and if we really do these things we can.

So far I feel NO deprivation except for the heat . The difference between 65 and 68 is really startling.

[gurumama]

Oh, we stopped convenience foods. It's really not that hard to cook--when you have *no alternative* it's interesting how you just cope.

[madskye]

Originally Posted by gurumama

1. Stopped buying $10/lb Starbucks coffee, which is one of my few luxuries. I got a great deal on organic Yuban on Amazon.com (around $3/lb) and it's nearly as good.

Can you post a link for that?

[justamama]

Okay, I have to post my biggie for this week! We got rid of cable in September. I haven't really missed it. We still have PBS, Create (which we did NOT get with cable), and basic channels. Around 10 or so altogether. Plus, we randomly get some of the local cable services OnDemand selections. A perk of a digital/HD/whatever technology tv, I guess, since it happens to people who pay for cable as well. So we normally have a selection of things to watch. Plus we use the internet to watch TV.

So, our cable company must have noticed we cancelled cable with all the extra channels, DVR, and everything else. Because they called and offered us six months at half price if we signed back up. And DP and I said no! This is big because the DVR was very convenient, we both miss some of our cable channels (oh TLC how I miss thee!).

[mommy68]

I bought paper towels at Aldi. I never buy paper products there because I'm afraid they are "too" cheap, but they work great. I always buy in bulk and I'm glad I got them.

We've gotten much better about eating leftovers now that the kids are being homeschooled. Nothing goes to waste and it's awesome to see our fridge get almost emptied out sometimes because we are actually "eating" the food and not trashing it because it got old first.

[gothnurse3]

I have been garage sale going for the things we need. I have been couponing and eating everything we have in the house already.I haven't bought anything extra.

[momz3]

Well we just started today! We are not really strapped for cash, but we are trying to spend better and learn to save. We usually spend a little over 200 for us. (fam of 4!) and alot of it is junk. But today we spend only 170.

I made out a dinner menu (and school lunch menu for the kids) that covered the next 2 weeks and bought what was on the list PLUS basics (milk, eggs, bread, cereal). I didn't shop aisle to aisle like I normally do and that saved us money I had to do without something. I love Folders Caramel Drizzle Coffee (around $5) and did without it.

We don't always buy name brand anymore.

For snacks we shop at the dollar tree. So instead of paying almost 3 bucks for cookies, we will pay 1.00.

I browse through thrift shops. I snagged a very nice winter coat for my son for only $10 last week. I've bough winter items for both for around 50 cents to a dollar and some change a piece. I browse online for sales as well.
childrensplace.com has alot of sale items (girls pants for 6 dollars) that can go along way instead of paying full price!!

It takes commitment and discipline, but it does work!

[grniys]

I've been using the ikea paper I wrapped my glass jars I bought from them as pattern templates. It saved me from having to go buy paper. The size is perfect for cloth diaper patterns.

I finally bought a gallon of water to make iced tea at home instead of spending $1.50 on a small bottle every day. This may not sound like a big deal, but my tap water is sooo disgusting that it's undrinkable, so I have to use pre-bottled.

[mum4boys]

Originally Posted by monkey's mom

~The other day, instead of just cracking open the new dish detergent, I poured some in the old bottle and added a bunch of water. We'll see if it goes farther that way.

Okay I took this one step further and actually researched what dish soap that worked the best. It turned out Dawn one. It cost more but you use less of it so it comes out cheaper in the long run. I got the foaming one really cheap but I ran out and that stuff is $$$$ so I bought regular Dawn with a coupon put it in the foam container and mixed with water. It works the same. Same great results, plus we are not using as much.

[Pinoikoi]

Originally Posted by mum4boys

Okay I took this one step further and actually researched what dish soap that worked the best. It turned out Dawn one. It cost more but you use less of it so it comes out cheaper in the long run. I got the foaming one really cheap but I ran out and that stuff is $$$$ so I bought regular Dawn with a coupon put it in the foam container and mixed with water. It works the same. Same great results, plus we are not using as much.

A friend of mine bought some soap pumps from Pampered chef. I can't remember their name. But basically they make soap into foam. He said that although the pumps cost him about $8.50 each (I think??) he has been able to use the same bottle of soap to fill them for about a year.. If it really makes soap that more lasting- then about when would he break even financially? I am considering doing this- we use liquid soap in the bathrooms, too- but I don't want to get caught up in something that I *think* will save me money and then it doesn't, kwim? (plus the bottles' design doesn't really go with my decor )

Here's a link:
https://www.pamperedchef.com/orderin...634&words=pump

(oh, and I would need 4- one for the kitchen, and one for each bathroom, so..)

[KayleeZoo]

the plastic bath and body foam soap dispensers can be refilled with regular liquid soap, and they're on sale for $3 right now- and that's for one full of soap that you can use. just unscrew the top when it's empty and refill. it's working great for us and we have lots of kids in and out of the bathrooms, haven't had one break yet.

[LiLStar]

we just bought a house and its made both of us much more conscious of our spending. Mortgage is a lot higher than rent, and so its given me, at least, a little healthy paranoia about spending. We've had a bit of a problem with not planning meals well, and being impulsive with spending. Trying really, really hard to hold back! So, we decided no more shopping at whole foods. The apt we lived in over the summer was across the street from whole foods so we did almost all our shopping there! Expensive. I go out of my way to turn off lights that don't need to be on. I have a sweet tooth and I've commited to, if I need a treat, I have to bake it myself from scratch. We're signing up for emealz (I think thats what its called) its really cheap (forget the price) and they send you recipes and a shopping list and you cook that. We're *that bad* at meal planning that we're paying someone else to tell us what to cook. Cheaper than eating out, at least. I *didn't* buy any halloween candy yesterday from the after halloween sales :P We found where the grocery outlet is around here and we're going to check that out. Oh and I'm 12 weeks pregnant and haven't bought 1 single thing for this baby!! Thats a miracle in itself.

What I'm definitely not doing is turning down the thermostat..no thanks!!! Below 70, I get uncomfortable, any lower than 68 and I'm huddled up in the corner in the fetal position with my teeth chattering. Can't do it!! I've tried to tough it out with a sweater on and deal with it, but as soon as I put one on, dd demands to nurse. And then I have to take it off anyway. Sigh...

[kay4]

Don't remember if i posted this already but i made my own laundry detergent. Couldn't find my recipe and ended up making wrong but it has worked GREAT! Cost about 75 cents!

[EineMama]

I line dry everything, use cloth diapers only, save every piece of food, use coupons as much as possible, stay off ebay and amazon, cook every day from scratch, bake our own bread, and we will make as many presents as possible for the holidays. We will use some of our points from our cc for gift cards.
Nothing new or exciting, sorry!

[ollineeba]

Do any of you know where I can buy a metal drying rack? The one that I bought a while back from Target totally fell apart.. it was made of cheap materials. I need a solid one, either all wood or all metal. TIA!

[slsurface]

Originally Posted by ollineeba

Do any of you know where I can buy a metal drying rack? The one that I bought a while back from Target totally fell apart.. it was made of cheap materials. I need a solid one, either all wood or all metal. TIA!

I bought my metal folding drying rack from Linens and Things about 8 years ago. I have no idea if they still carry something like it, but you may get a good buy since they are going out of business.

[becominkindacruncy]

We are really trying to stick to a budget and cut down on food, gas and extra item expenses.