“Making My Own Bread”: 32 Folks Gave Up On These Frugal Hacks That Weren’t Worth It

For me and for my wife, proper climate control is a medical necessity.

Then take care of a good thermal insulation so you don't heat or cool your surroundings but only your home.

That was the idea. They introduced peak hours but know most wouldn't be able to work with it so they got a nice excuse to raise costs. Oh yeah peak hours are 10am to 7pm, right during the hottest hours when no one would be comfortable without A/C. It was probably some way to raise rates by getting around some kind of government regulations about electricity costs by saying people had a choice which time to use it ..

Lucky me. I don't need to worry about peak-hour issues. I just wash and dry when I can. Even peak-hour issues, I would do the same.

I save a few jars and plastic containers (like cottage cheese ones) in a small box under my kitchen sink, and use them when I need to throw away spoiled food that might leak from the garbage bag. I try not to let food spoil, but sometimes it happens.

I save one or two peanut butter jars and mayo jars. The PB jars are great for storing self-injection sharps and the mayo jar holds cooking grease. Everything else gets recycled.

I agree. I use paper towels for really gross (think dog vomit) or greasy cleanups. A dishrag works just fine for everything else.

I do use paper towels, but use them judiciously. I go through one roll every 4 months or so. (I live alone.) No disgusting rags.

I bought some rags from either amazon or Home Depot and use them for spills then just wash them in dish soap and let dry

I buy in bulk now only when there is a significant unit price savings and the stuff won't go bad before we can use it. Oh, yes, and if we have a place to store it. Our current apartment has nearly zero storage, so we buy what we have room for.

When we buy in bulk we split it with my mom and my sister so that's three households. We can manage some cheaper stuff with that.

During covid, I purchased a small freezer to store bulk food, so I didn't have to go out as much. I'm just 1 person with 2 dogs and STILL use my freezer. I like NOT having to the grocery store as often.

And saving time, and gas, and time...

We got a one store every week for the bogos. We got to Trader Joe's about once a month for specialty items. And we go to Walmart first most of the stuff.

Mel in Georgia

Mel in Georgia

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I made my husband iron his own shirts because I could never do it (and launderers could never do it) well enough for him. Good on him for agreeing to it!

My mother and grand mother ironed their gusbands shirts. I told my husband he gad to do his own. He just drys them in the dryer, good enough. Why would I iron his shirts? I just don't get it. I'm 63 BTW.

They always seem to iron my buttons. That makes them fragile / break. Custom shirts buttons aren't cheap. I have gone to 2 places that immediately have button issues.

I went with Rubbermaid's Brilliant wear and have never looked back. That box of ziplocks may be the last.

I bought the reusable zip lock bags

Really, your husband's pacemaker doesn't use that much juice, so let it be.

How much could this really save? I'm genuinely curious! Plus, you're wearing out the plugs/outlets... I never even turn off my computers/tablets/phones let alone unplug them!

Has no one heard of power timers. I don't know if they make them for ranges or dryers but they help save money on basic appliances, shutting them off automatically in the middle of the night when you are asleep. Great for fridges and freezers because they power cycle if you like or not.

You have to plan to use what you buy. I learned this lesson.

I keep some shelf stable or frozen "easy meals" on hand for when I am too sick to make something myself.

If you're cooking from scratch you need to plan.

Now there's a metric I'm going to remember.

After all these years, I just figured out that hang drying clothes is free.

I'm lucky to live in a place where I can hang clothes outside to dry almost all year round. There's nothing like the smell of warm, sun-dried fabrics. No additives can compare.

I have certain clothing that I hang to dry. Usually delicates, or fabrics that shrink and can’t be put in the dryer (years ago I made the mistake of putting a pure wool skirt in the dryer, and it was a disaster). The rest goes in the dryer.

I hand-wash and throw a towel on the radiator and put the wrung out clothes on that - totally dry in a couple of hours.

Ah, the Sam Vimes Boot Theory

Better shoes are also way more comfortable that cheap shoes. Last longer too. You just have to know your brands to know which ones are worth the investment—-not to mention that investment clothing shopping means you never go for trendy styles. Stick with the classics, and you’ll never have to replace them.

The boot theory is real. I recently found out that my insurance would buy me a pair of diabetic shoes with multiple inserts every year. With my 20% co-insurance, I got a $200 pair of shoes for $40. I have not worn such good shoes in decades, and it makes a difference in quality-life for me.

Read an article not long ago that said it's really important to always buy shoes new and to always pay over $100 for them, AND to replace them every 6 months? Must be nice to be rich AND deluded.

Generally the shoe thing is true, but I’m still pǐssed about a $200 pair of boots I got 10 years ago as a Christmas/birthday gift that fell apart while I was walking, 2 months later. Like, the sole separated from the upper part.

This was a thing??

It was a big thing. After studying the chemistry involved, however, I decided that buying a fragrance-free detergent from a reliable source got my laundry cleaner with less effort than making my own.

In summer it is illegal to wash ones car at home where I live, it uses far more water than the wash tunnel .

Same here, at least in Syracuse, NY, USA.

OMG. I've never gone to a Magicuts and came out looking good. Last time, one of my coworkers said it looked like I cut my hair, myself. I would have done a better job. I don't go to salons often, but I'd rather spend $65 at Chatters.

I cut my own hair.