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If you have other hobbies than your work, food, and sleep, you might have stopped to think about how to save money for things that bring you joy. Or maybe sometimes, you would like to get yourself a more expensive but quality product that will serve you better and longer. Well, for some people, frugal living is the answer.

Though frugal living can have a negative connotation, it does have its perks. To save money does not mean exchanging everything that you consume for a cheaper version of it. Most of the time, frugal living contributes to more sustainable living, like buying better quality clothes at thrift stores instead of fast fashion. Or, planning your meals instead of eating out every day, which also benefits your health. However, in some cases, you literally cannot afford something and have to improvise with what you already have.

So today, Pandas, we have selected some tips from the subreddit r/Frugal that might help you save an extra buck or just reevaluate what is actually important for you so that you can spend your income more wisely.

More info: frugalrules.com

#1

I Love The Library Most Because It Saves Money

I Love The Library Most Because It Saves Money

_Phantom_Queen Report

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trollingergirl
Community Member
1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

In some libraries, you can also have some good quiet time for yourself, or read a book with your child, all in peace. Some libraries even have board games or other games. Ours even has two computers to do homework or research and such, if you cannot do this at home.

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    #2

    We Have Sent The Same Card For Nearly 20 Years

    We Have Sent The Same Card For Nearly 20 Years

    GandalfslargeChurro Report

    #3

    4 Months Ago, I Planted Some Sprouted Potatoes In A Small Pot On My Balcony. Here's My First Harvest!

    4 Months Ago, I Planted Some Sprouted Potatoes In A Small Pot On My Balcony. Here's My First Harvest!

    aeline136 Report

    To learn more about frugal living, we’ve reached out to frugalrules.com, a blog started by John Schmoll, which later evolved into an online community that covers topics such as attacking debt, investing, frugality, financial products and tools, financial literacy, and much more.

    “I had $50,000 in credit card and student loan debt when I graduated from college. At the brink of bankruptcy, I was forced to look for ways to cut back and save so I could apply money to my debt. That continued when I got married, and we still live frugally today,” John said.

    After John managed to pay off his loan, he was inspired to help others manage their expenses more wisely.

    #4

    We Live In Northern Canada, Land Of Runaway Food Prices. Some Of Our Harvest Saved For Winter. What Started As A Hobby Has Become A Necessity

    We Live In Northern Canada, Land Of Runaway Food Prices. Some Of Our Harvest Saved For Winter. What Started As A Hobby Has Become A Necessity

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    #5

    I’m An Avid Reader And Have Saved Over $8k Using The Library This Year

    I’m An Avid Reader And Have Saved Over $8k Using The Library This Year

    More_Ice_8092 Report

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    trollingergirl
    Community Member
    1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    And isn`t it wonderful to read books and enjoy them, books that you would never have been able to afford? Like really grand books about architecture, or art (you know, the so called coffee table books?) Or to binge read, say, 2-3 books over the holiday or the weekend, just for the sheer fun of it? Or the luxury of bringing back a book, after having read just a few pages and realizing you don`t like it, without having the feeling to read it out of a sense of duty.

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    #6

    Ex Wife Was Gonna Throw This Out So I Refinished It. Happy With The Results

    Ex Wife Was Gonna Throw This Out So I Refinished It. Happy With The Results

    Technical_Corgi6561 Report

    Since not everyone is well acquainted with frugal living, people still have misconceptions about it being cheap or that you clip coupons all day. “Many people hear frugality, and they think you reuse dental floss or paper towels and that you can't do anything fun. That's not the case, especially with the former. We explain that we do fun things, but that we're purposeful with our spending to allow for us to do those things and not give us frugality,” shared John.

    John continued explaining how they balance saving money and living a fulfilling life: “We focus on what's important to us and what areas we're fine cutting back on to find a balance. We encourage readers to not view frugality as an all or nothing approach, but to identify those things they want to save on so they can spend on things that matter to them."

    #7

    The Perks Of Having A Connection To A Local Egg Farm. They Sell Eggs Commercially, But The Biggest Ones Don’t Fit In Their Cartons And They Sell Me A Dozen Of Them For $2! Most Are Double Yolkers

    The Perks Of Having A Connection To A Local Egg Farm. They Sell Eggs Commercially, But The Biggest Ones Don’t Fit In Their Cartons And They Sell Me A Dozen Of Them For $2! Most Are Double Yolkers

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    #8

    Found These Pretty Plates And Mugs Sitting By The Trash Collection Area!

    Found These Pretty Plates And Mugs Sitting By The Trash Collection Area!

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    #9

    One Year Ago Today I Made This Cremation Casket When My Dad Passed Shortly After Being Diagnosed With Cancer. The Cheapest Cremation Box Shown To Us Was $850cad, I Made This For $120. Don't Let Funeral Homes Hit You When You're Grieving

    One Year Ago Today I Made This Cremation Casket When My Dad Passed Shortly After Being Diagnosed With Cancer. The Cheapest Cremation Box Shown To Us Was $850cad, I Made This For $120. Don't Let Funeral Homes Hit You When You're Grieving

    -Yacht_club- Report

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    Sammy boy
    Community Member
    1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    That is one reason why I didn't finish my degree in funeral services. I'm not a sales person.

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    Inflation is a major concern for people who prioritize frugal living as it can significantly impact their ability to save money and stick to a budget. Kayla shared that this is the most popular topic among their readers and they are curious about how to deal with it. “We speak with readers all the time looking to deal with rising costs. Finding ways to cut down on entertainment costs is also popular. We get many of our ideas from speaking with readers or following the news,” wrote John.

    The rising costs of basic necessities like food, housing, and healthcare can make it difficult for individuals and families to make ends meet, particularly those with fixed incomes or limited financial resources. In addition to inflation, entertainment costs are also a key area of focus for frugal living enthusiasts, who are always on the lookout for affordable and creative ways to have fun and enjoy leisure time without breaking the bank. By staying informed about the latest trends and strategies in frugal living, readers can stay one step ahead of rising costs and stay on track toward their financial goals.

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    #10

    Mom Always Said “Don’t Waste Your Money On Stupid Books!” So Here’s My Collection Of Fully Thrifted/Donated Stupid Books

    Mom Always Said “Don’t Waste Your Money On Stupid Books!” So Here’s My Collection Of Fully Thrifted/Donated Stupid Books

    SanguineStars Report

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    trollingergirl
    Community Member
    1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    There are lots of frugal book lovers out there! I do this too, in our village (Germany) we have a weatherproof closet outdoors, where you can take books for free. You can also donate books. Volunteers exchange the assortment weekly and make sure that there are not too many or too few books in the cupboard. It is always worthwhile to stop by, sometimes you can find antiquarian books. Wonderful!

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    #11

    Can't Afford A Home Or Yard For My Kid, So I Built One With A Pool And A Sandbox On Our Tiny Patio

    Can't Afford A Home Or Yard For My Kid, So I Built One With A Pool And A Sandbox On Our Tiny Patio

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    #12

    I Needed Something To Hold My Shampoo/Conditioner Bars, So I Made This With Chopsticks Leftovers

    I Needed Something To Hold My Shampoo/Conditioner Bars, So I Made This With Chopsticks Leftovers

    dorkass-loser Report

    The frugal living movement has undergone significant evolution over the years, with an increasing emphasis on mindful consumption and reducing consumerism. John shared her thoughts on the future of this movement in the coming years: “We see it moving more towards living a purposeful lifestyle. Frugality is often mistaken for being miserly or spending on nothing. That's not the case. We hope to encourage readers to see you can have balance and that frugal living gives freedom, not total restriction."

    #13

    We Get Our Kids To Design Labels For Home Made Preserves To Give Away As Gifts At Christmas

    We Get Our Kids To Design Labels For Home Made Preserves To Give Away As Gifts At Christmas

    spiraloutkeepgoing42 Report

    #14

    My Lesson For Today: Check Prices Carefully! We Found These In The Regular Meat Section Today And The Price Was Honored!

    My Lesson For Today: Check Prices Carefully! We Found These In The Regular Meat Section Today And The Price Was Honored!

    moonshot214 Report

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    #15

    I Recently Had A Very Large Tree Collapse In My Back Yard. Rather Than Paying The Arborist Several Hundred Dollars For Stump Removal, I Turned It Into What Is Now A Very Fertile Vegetable Garden

    I Recently Had A Very Large Tree Collapse In My Back Yard. Rather Than Paying The Arborist Several Hundred Dollars For Stump Removal, I Turned It Into What Is Now A Very Fertile Vegetable Garden

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    #16

    Replaced Luggage Wheels For 13 Bucks

    Replaced Luggage Wheels For 13 Bucks

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    #17

    $8 Worth Of Food At My Local Discount Grocery Yesterday (Pennsylvania, USA)

    $8 Worth Of Food At My Local Discount Grocery Yesterday (Pennsylvania, USA)

    bugzrcool Report

    #19

    This Redditor Turned Their Old Jeans Into Pot Holders. I Think They Look Great

    This Redditor Turned Their Old Jeans Into Pot Holders. I Think They Look Great

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    #20

    I Had So Much Fun Making These Cartoon Gift Wrapping! Inspired By The Borderlands Videogame

    I Had So Much Fun Making These Cartoon Gift Wrapping! Inspired By The Borderlands Videogame

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    #21

    Needed A Flat Dryer Rack But Don’t Have Room For One So I Repurposed These Tension Curtain Rods That Were Headed For A Garage Sale Otherwise. It’s Not Much But I Love It

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    Melalias Report

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    Tiny Fox
    Community Member
    1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    Fantastic use of wasted space! I ran a couple of those over my bathtub to get more indoor hanging space (above head height).

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    #22

    New Skill Unlocked! I've Been Learning How To Sew And Altered The Neckline Of This $3 Shirt I Thrifted

    New Skill Unlocked! I've Been Learning How To Sew And Altered The Neckline Of This $3 Shirt I Thrifted

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    #23

    Low Effort, Try A Food Processor Or Butcher Knife, But Cute, Frugal, Earth-Friendly Fall Confetti

    Low Effort, Try A Food Processor Or Butcher Knife, But Cute, Frugal, Earth-Friendly Fall Confetti

    Frank_Jesus Report

    #24

    Bought 30 Pounds Of Bananas For Super Cheap

    Bought 30 Pounds Of Bananas For Super Cheap

    bethany_katherine Report

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    trollingergirl
    Community Member
    1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    This is wonderful. Bananas are healthy (for most people) and make you satisfyingly full. They contain: Minerals such as potassium and magnesium, Trace elements. Vitamins, especially vitamin B6 and vitamin C. Carbohydrates (in the form of starch), which are converted into sugar during ripening. ... Dietary fiber such as cellulose, lignin and pectin. Also, you can always use a banana for scale :-)

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    #25

    Picked Up This Moldy, Broken Vanity For $25 And Only Bought New Knobs And Feet. Now I Have A Piece Of Solid Wood Furniture

    Picked Up This Moldy, Broken Vanity For $25 And Only Bought New Knobs And Feet. Now I Have A Piece Of Solid Wood Furniture

    BitterYetHopeful Report

    #26

    Cutting Open The Makeuptube To Use It All. Had About 10 Days Worth Left

    Cutting Open The Makeuptube To Use It All. Had About 10 Days Worth Left

    Skipping_Shadow Report

    #27

    Made Professional Looking Candles From Babybel Wax, And Old Tuna Cans

    Made Professional Looking Candles From Babybel Wax, And Old Tuna Cans

    deathwishdave Report

    #28

    13 “Empty” Lotion Bottles Clam-Shelled Produced 36oz That Would Normally Be Tossed. I Can’t Be The Only One Out There, Right?

    13 “Empty” Lotion Bottles Clam-Shelled Produced 36oz That Would Normally Be Tossed. I Can’t Be The Only One Out There, Right?

    ArmyVetRN Report

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    Verena
    Community Member
    1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    I store mine upside down. The little bit left can be easily reached after unscrewing the top - so no need to cut them open.

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    #29

    My Freebie Fire Pit! Made From Bricks I Got On Fb Marketplace

    My Freebie Fire Pit! Made From Bricks I Got On Fb Marketplace

    dobsco Report

    #30

    Made My Own Swiffer Pads With My Brothers Old Sweat Pants

    Made My Own Swiffer Pads With My Brothers Old Sweat Pants

    UnderproofedBaguette Report

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    Susan Robinson
    Community Member
    1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    I am currently using old underwear that doesn’t fit and socks with holes to dust and bring down cobwebs. I was just going to throw them out anyway, but now they have a purpose. I also use old dryer sheets for the same things.

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    #31

    Neighbor Threw This Awesome Chair To The Curb. One Screw Fixed The Tilt Problem!

    Neighbor Threw This Awesome Chair To The Curb. One Screw Fixed The Tilt Problem!

    38DDs_Please Report

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    Megan Curl
    Community Member
    1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    May I call attention to the empty liquor bottle collection? As a homemade vanilla enthusiast, bravo!

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    #32

    Social Media Is Full Of Elaborate, Costly Van Life Builds. Anyone In A Van May Be Frugal, But I'm Too Frugal To Build Mine Like That, Focusing On The Functionality Of It Rather Than The Looks... You Know What? It's Basic, But It's Been Perfectly Awesome For Six Years Now. Frugality For The Win!

    Social Media Is Full Of Elaborate, Costly Van Life Builds. Anyone In A Van May Be Frugal, But I'm Too Frugal To Build Mine Like That, Focusing On The Functionality Of It Rather Than The Looks... You Know What? It's Basic, But It's Been Perfectly Awesome For Six Years Now. Frugality For The Win!

    thestinger8 Report

    #33

    U-Pick Farms Are A Great Way To Get Very Inexpensive Produce! 22lbs For $22 And We'll Make Enough Jam For A Couple Years

    U-Pick Farms Are A Great Way To Get Very Inexpensive Produce! 22lbs For $22 And We'll Make Enough Jam For A Couple Years

    dsuff Report

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    PandaGoPanda
    Community Member
    1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    Home-made jam is lovely, and you can use all sorts of fruit, but you can buy jam almost as cheaply as you can make it by the time you've bought sugar, pectin, utilities, even if you already have the jars.

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    #34

    Put Your Green Onions On Your Windowsill To Keep Them From Going Bad And To Grow An Unending Supply

    Put Your Green Onions On Your Windowsill To Keep Them From Going Bad And To Grow An Unending Supply

    MikeOKurias Report

    #35

    Using Pen Springs To Reduce Wear On Your Especially Fragile Power Cables! (Darn You Apple)

    Using Pen Springs To Reduce Wear On Your Especially Fragile Power Cables! (Darn You Apple)

    DANGEROUS_DAIRY Report

    #36

    My Dryer Has Been Doing Laundry Flawlessly Since It Was Made In 1976

    My Dryer Has Been Doing Laundry Flawlessly Since It Was Made In 1976

    Justinschmustin Report

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    Roginald
    Community Member
    1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    I don't think most people are going out and buying new dryers just for fun. I'm happy for you, but you clearly got lucky.

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    #37

    $30 Total Thanks To The “Too Good To Go” App. Plenty Of Baked Goods For The Whole Family And The Rest Will Be Frozen

    $30 Total Thanks To The “Too Good To Go” App. Plenty Of Baked Goods For The Whole Family And The Rest Will Be Frozen

    XpensivPasta Report

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    Fabian Bernard
    Community Member
    1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    The only app I'm using. We often get a stack of good cheeses and charcuterie for a few euros

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    #38

    I Broke My Broom Killing A Wasp. A Couple Of Zip Ties + Some Tape, And It's Been Fine For 3 Years

    I Broke My Broom Killing A Wasp. A Couple Of Zip Ties + Some Tape, And It's Been Fine For 3 Years

    quirked Report

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    #39

    Rip Kirkland Foodservice Foil. We Had A Good 7 Year Run

    Rip Kirkland Foodservice Foil. We Had A Good 7 Year Run

    shakeyjake Report

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    Mama Penguin
    Community Member
    1 year ago (edited) DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    It lasts a really long time. Mine is more than 2 years old and I still have so much left on the roll.

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    #40

    Just An Example Of Right Place Right Time These Normally Go For Around 9-10 Dollars A Pound In My Area But They Had Just Switched To New Packaging And The Marked The Old Label Down To 99 Cents At My Local Kroger

    Just An Example Of Right Place Right Time These Normally Go For Around 9-10 Dollars A Pound In My Area But They Had Just Switched To New Packaging And The Marked The Old Label Down To 99 Cents At My Local Kroger

    sometimes-its-edwind Report

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    RedPepper
    Community Member
    1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    Which means you ordinarily pay $1 for the actual food and $8-9 for the packaging

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    #41

    70 Lbs Of Potatoes I Grew From Seed Potatoes From A Garden Store And An Old Bag Of Russets From My Grandma’s Pantry. Total Cost: $10

    70 Lbs Of Potatoes I Grew From Seed Potatoes From A Garden Store And An Old Bag Of Russets From My Grandma’s Pantry. Total Cost: $10

    OKMountainMan Report

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    Agfox
    Community Member
    1 year ago (edited) DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    70lbs worth - for the oldies amongst us : ♪♫We did the Mash, we did the Monster Mash♫♪

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    #42

    Frugal Win: Extended The Life Of My Grubby Looking Converse With A Bottle Of Black Dye!

    Frugal Win: Extended The Life Of My Grubby Looking Converse With A Bottle Of Black Dye!

    DarrowtheHelldiver Report

    #43

    We Had A Good Run. 20 Years Of Service-Finally Used The Last Of It Today

    We Had A Good Run. 20 Years Of Service-Finally Used The Last Of It Today

    vikmomma Report

    #44

    I Don’t Know Who Needs To Hear This But Mason Jars Will Perfectly Preserve Your Berries For Several Weeks

    I Don’t Know Who Needs To Hear This But Mason Jars Will Perfectly Preserve Your Berries For Several Weeks

    ip_address_freely Report

    #45

    Maybe Most People Already Do This, But This Is For Those Who Don’t. Put Those Butter Wrappers To Good Use And Grease Your Baking Dishes With The Butter Left Stuck To The Wrapper. You Might Be Surprised How Little Can Go A Long Way

    Maybe Most People Already Do This, But This Is For Those Who Don’t. Put Those Butter Wrappers To Good Use And Grease Your Baking Dishes With The Butter Left Stuck To The Wrapper. You Might Be Surprised How Little Can Go A Long Way

    katydidkat Report

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    Rachel Parker
    Community Member
    1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    Those butter wrappers are grease-proof paper. You can literally use them to line your dish. Use buttery side in towards the cake. Then when it's cooked you just remove the cake which now isn't stuck and peel off the paper.

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    #46

    Don’t Forget Your Free Birthday Food!

    Don’t Forget Your Free Birthday Food!

    sxckmytitty Report

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    #47

    Don’t Throw Away Your “Empty” Lotion Bottles

    Don’t Throw Away Your “Empty” Lotion Bottles

    Ruler_of_Zamunda Report

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    Verena
    Community Member
    1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    Store them upside down. All of the lotion will collect itself at the nozzle while hygienically stored. Exchange the pump with a screw on cap. Mixing lotions and exposing them to air can turn them bad, plus the hassle with cutting the bottles.

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    #48

    Infant’s And Children’s Tylenol Are Both 160mg/5ml, But Infant’s Is Usually Almost Double The Cost. It’s Just Marketing And The Inclusion Of A Syringe. Save The Syringe Once And Then Buy Children’s

    Infant’s And Children’s Tylenol Are Both 160mg/5ml, But Infant’s Is Usually Almost Double The Cost. It’s Just Marketing And The Inclusion Of A Syringe. Save The Syringe Once And Then Buy Children’s

    NuminousMycroft Report

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    Lauren S
    Community Member
    1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    You can also get these syringes from the pharmacy for free (where I live anyways). And we still use syringes with my 6 YO because it’s no mess, easy to measure, and he doesn’t know any different.

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    #49

    Some Of The Sauces I’ve Hoarded For The Husband. He Has Any Kind Of Sauce He Could Possibly Want For Free

    Some Of The Sauces I’ve Hoarded For The Husband. He Has Any Kind Of Sauce He Could Possibly Want For Free

    IllustratorBig8972 Report

    #50

    Best Cat Litter Ever...you Choose: $18 (20lbs) vs. $7 (40 Lbs)

    Best Cat Litter Ever...you Choose: $18 (20lbs) vs. $7 (40 Lbs)

    Navi36 Report

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    Liz Clarke
    Community Member
    1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    Be careful, some of the fuel pellets have chemicals like fire accelerants added so they may not be pet safe

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    Note: this post originally had 70 images. It’s been shortened to the top 50 images based on user votes.