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This Internet Group Is Dedicated To Saving Money, Here Are 28 Of The Best “Frugal Wins”
Interview
While “living large” has its perks, in this day and age, finding clever ways to save here and there carries a good feeling that can’t really be replicated. But being frugal is more than just pinching pennies, it’s also a way to limit one’s impact on the environment and save a little at the same time.
We’ve gathered some of the best “frugal wins” shared by people online. We also got in touch with Keren Charles Duclosel, a thrift shopping expert. So get comfortable as you scroll through, prepare to take some notes, upvote the best posts and be sure to comment your own thoughts and experiences below.
This post may include affiliate links.
#1
As a former Sears appliance technician, I take phenomenal care of my appliances and I’ll never have to buy brand new. Here’s why...
I worked for Sears appliance repair and have troubleshot most appliances around the house. I cannot count how many times I have heard customers complain about buying a pair of brand new washing machine/dryer sets and wishing they had their old set back. Not only this, but I’ve picked up the tricks to making appliances last. After having worked on the newer ones vs older, used appliances, this is what I’ve learned:
DON’T USE TOO MUCH SOAP!! People make this mistake all the time. Especially with washing your clothes, brands will sell you a detergent with the cap that has measurements on it. Never use these measurements. Even the lowest measurement is too much. If you are washing a normal sized load of laundry, all you need is 1 tablespoon of detergent. Yes, you read that correctly. Towels/blankets can use maybe 2 tablespoons. The reason for this is because most marketed detergents will have a little sticker on it that says “HE”. This means it is high efficiency, or in other words really really really really concentrated soap. 1 tablespoon of HE detergent is equal to about 1/4-1/2 cup of soap. If you were to add 1/2 cup of HE soap, it creates an over abundant amount of suds for your washer. Too many suds can cause balance displacement and mess up your suspension. If you have a washer that senses the moisture content of the clothes, the extra suds can cause your washer to work overtime to get rid of them. This causes the motor/shaft to wear out faster. The extra oil in the suds can also trickle down easier into the shaft and cause rust. Lastly, too much detergent will cause more mildew build up between the tub and basket of the washer.
That being said, never ever ever buy Tide Pods. They are expensive and will wreck your washer/dishwasher. Too much detergent.
Never use dryer sheets. They will coat your lint trap with wax and ultimately cause house fires. Also, get your dryer cleaned often! Lint doesn’t always stick to the lint trap. It can escape and get into the heating element, causing it to light up into flames. Open up the dryer and vacuum out the lint, or use a wet rag to wipe it up.
The salesman is quick to sell you on all the new gadgets, functions, and color of the appliance. DO NOT LISTEN TO HIM/HER! Say you are on the market for a washer/dryer. The big boy sets will have any function you want. It’ll have crazy settings specifically for bedding, towels, whites, delicates, self cleaning. Looks awesome... but in fact this is pointless. If you go this route, you’ll end up buying a brand new washer with 20 settings that you NEVER touch. Most people only use the Normal and Heavy setting on their washer, and trust me these 2 settings will wash your clothes just fine. Same with a dryer: most people only use sensing dry or timed dry. There is almost no practical use for any of the other settings when they do the exact same function as your most normal setting.
The newer appliances combine plastic and metal moving parts, which cause the need for more repairs. The older appliances are made mostly of metal and last forever if you take care of them. I find that older people hang on to their appliances for longer and it always seems to have gone in their favor. I have worked on their 20+ year old washers and dryers they’ve had since the 90s, and in my experience they wash/dry better than any new appliance on the market. Plus, over the duration of their life, they have had little to no repair needed on them. If you can get your hands on an old washer/dryer, I highly recommend it!
Older appliances still have replacement parts on the market, and they are cheap. You can buy mostly anything you need to repair the machine with the exception of cosmetics (the outer shell, sometimes handles, main display and buttons).
Take care of your appliance. Once a month you should be running a cleaner in your washer/
Shayne Randlett 1 year ago
I dated a speed queen for a couple of months. Bloody nightmare. (I have no idea how Tide pods would have effected her, but surely it would have been preferable to speed)
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Mammie 1 year ago
True. I could kick myself for getting rid of my ancient stand up freezer. It wasn't pretty but was probably fixable. Today's stuff is not made to last at all. I bought a new toaster a few, actually several, years back. Within a few months it messed up. My husband (mechanic for 30 yrs) took it apart, it had a computer board in it! A friggin toaster! He threw it in the trash and got the old one back out. Still works.
Featherytoad 1 year ago
Yes, it confirmed my skepticism about pods. If you have a small load, those pods look like way too much detergent. I'm not even sure about medium loads if that would be too much. I still have one that came with my washer. I think I'll just throw it out.
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Regina Holt 1 year ago
Yup, I have a decades old clothes dryer, and the only "problem" was that one time the belt came off. A friend an I replaced the belt, and that was it. It does not have a lot of different settings, but that's fine with me. It dries my clothes just fine without all the settings of today's appliances.
Robert Beveridge 1 year ago
Used appliance stores are AMAZING. At my last place I got a W&D set for $199. Manufactured in the eighties (that stuff really does last forever). The fridge our landlord had there when we moved in never worked correctly, and when it crapped out, we figured they'd give us another one just as bad. Back to the used appliance store... ninety-nine bucks. Ran like a pro for four years (probably still is, but we moved). And while we never needed it, they tossed in a 30-day warranty on everything in case their inspection had missed something. Best. Businesses. Ever.
TheAmericanAmerican 1 year ago
That's a really long critique of capitalism, but it still checks out 👍
tuzdayschild 1 year ago
I'm still using a Whirlpool dishwasher that my parent bought "used" around 1977. It still works and cleans wonderfully.
RELATED:
#2
Frugal tip for bedding.
Today, when I stopped at the dry cleaners, I asked if they sell or donate items that never get picked up. I was interested in a king size down comforter. They had 2, both looked in brand new shape. I picked the heavier weight one and paid $48 (the price of the cleaning) I saved approximately $200. They also sell some clothing, sleeping bags & curtains/drapes that aren’t claimed.
Jeevesssssss 1 year ago
That's a really good tip - thanks! I have a king size bed - came with the house - which is amazing, but LORD is bedding expensive!
Gabrielle 1 year ago
That's why I get my bedding at op shops, they are much cheaper than brand new bedding.
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AngelWingsYT 1 year ago
Please be careful of this!!! (I speak outta some lvl of experience) items like this can carry bedbugs the OG owner was likely trying to get rid of (dry cleaning will NOT do the trick so even if "washed" they can still survive) im VERY weary of buying secondhand clothing/bedding/even furnature for this reason due to their durability.
AngelWingsYT 1 year ago
Rather pay the $200 for packaged bedding that $1000+ on heat treating a house with a chance of that working. (My dad had gotten infested so bad that didnt work n he had to gut his room including carpeting. Spent nearly a year on an air mattress n haivng to special treat all clothing. No joke those f*ckers are WORSE than roaches)
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Karri Berkowitz 1 year ago
Storage unit place in my town has an office/shop in front. Things from units ppl stopped paying on they sell for dirt cheap b/c they haven't forgotten that they got them for free **looking at you Goodwill**
Julie Hock 1 year ago
That’s clever. I don’t bother to have my down comforter dry cleaned(a doona, in Australia) as dry cleaning is phenomenally expensive, so it’s washed and hung out on the clothes line in the sun and wind. I only do this once every few years.
#3
Thrifting souvenirs.
Hi all, just a quick frugal tip. If you're one of the lucky folks who gets to go on a trip somewhere, you can save a lot of money by visiting a thrift store in that location to find great souvenirs. For example, when I was in Alaska for work, I stopped by a thrift store and found a nice Northern Lights sweatshirt and an Alaska Brewing Co. t-shirt. What could have been an $80+ purchase in a souvenir shop ended up being a $12 purchase. Someone complimented the sweatshirt today (three years later) and I realized I never actually shared this tip with you guys!
Jeevesssssss 1 year ago
My friends hired an RV and took a trip across the US (we're British). They brought me back a small comb in an orange leather case with a caricature of Trump saying "We shall overcomb!" (Which was meant as a gag gift, and was hilarious) - and this AMAZING shirt they found in a thrift store. It's Star Wars, and it's like one of the posters for A New Hope, but everyone's been replaced by cats. (I'm a SW junkie - the original stuff, not the new stuff, and my cat is my next of kin lol.)
ElfVibratorGlitter 1 year ago
I have a T-shirt with a cat in a trump toupee that also says, " We shall overcomb!"
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Don't listen to me 1 year ago
In the absence of thrift shops on your holiday buy fridge magnets for everybody. They are cheap & cheerful & display the country/city you visited.
Jenny Mason 1 year ago
My son brought us back some fridge magnets from the British Museum last year. We've now decided that on every trip friends and family take they must bring back at least one magnet that is relevant to the country or museum/gallery.
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Stephanie Did It 1 year ago
In HEB, our wonderful Texas grocery chain, there are usually several shelves of souvenir items near the front of the larger stores. They include glassware like mugs, shot glasses, etc and many of the smaller keychain/token items that many visitors take home as gifts but not at touristy prices.
Awkward lady 1 year ago
I always look in supermarkets abroad for souvenirs, and especially for local speciality food and drinks. The prices are usually good. Also recommend fridge magnets!
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Cindy Brick 9 months ago
Don't forget grocery stores, too. Wonderful souvenirs, and not too expensive, either.
Huddo's sister 1 year ago
I usually only find souvenirs from other places in local shops, because people bring them home from abroad and then donate them after a few years.
Kaedyn Walsh 1 year ago
I don't know why but that 2nd sentence made me feel so .... sad. "if you're one of the lucky folks who gets to go on a trip somewhere...." Every single person should be able to travel anywhere in the world to see it. Everyone. No matter their finances.
Sahitya Madhavan 1 year ago
Completely agree.. I went thrift shopping in The Netherlands and I love everything I found there.
Bored Panda got in touch with Keren Charles Duclosel, a thrift shopping expert based out of Atlanta, Georgia to learn more about the benefits of thrift shopping and to learn some tips for folks who are new to it. First, we wanted to hear most people get wrong about thrifting.
“Common misconceptions about thrifting include that thrift stores sell junk and/or dirty items. Thrifting is for poor people or those of low incomes. Thrifting takes too much time and effort,” she shared as examples of what might end up keeping people away.
#4
I lost twice Went out to dinner. Daughter wanted a fountain drink. I latched onto the "learning opportunity" and explained that a fountain drink costs about $0.25: $0.15 for sugar/flavor, $0.07 for the cup, $0.02 for the lid, and $0.01 for the straw. They charge $2.50 for the drink. Wife piles on and says "we'll stop at the store on the way home and get a 2-liter bottle of the same drink. Well after the Walmart trip (whcih threw in some gummi worms, cookies, etc) rang up to $25.49, my daughter said as we left, "you should have saved $23 and just bought me the drink I wanted." True.
Panda 1 year ago
Isn't this also true for the food at the restaurant ? Why deter someone from having a drink at the restaurant? The OP seems stingy to me.
Roman Hans 1 year ago
I agree. With this argument they can never eat pizza.
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Achiel Meirsman 1 year ago
Just buy your kid the drink. If it’s not every day, don’t do the whole ‘lessons to learn’ thing on a fountain drink. You don’t raise a ‘conscious adult’ but someone who will feel bad about every purchase. Teach financial intelligence but have a limit.
Camber Hollywood 1 year ago
The markup is irrelevant. What matters is what price you can buy something. Skip the drama.
Troy Parr 1 year ago
In my local Tesco [probably all Tescos really] you can buy an Oasis fruit drink size 500ml for £1.75 or the larger 1.5 litre bottle for just £1.50. That 86% of the price for 3 times as much drink. Clearly the higher price for the smaller bottle is because people buy that one as part of a lunchtime "meal deal". Consisting of choice of sandwich, bottle of drink, and packet of crisps (or "chips" to you Americans) for just £3.40. So what looks like a good deal price is offset by the mark-up on the drink.
Cathy Jo Baker 1 year ago
Wasn't the whole point of the soda to have it with dinner? After dinner seems a bit late. OTOH, I hate to pay $2.50+ for a beverage I probably won't even finish so I just get water.
#5
The Manufacturers are on to us…
I am trying to be more frugal and the discussions and tips here have been very helpful.
One frugal behavior I’ve practiced for decades is to get every drop of shampoo, conditioner, etc. before opening the new one. I don’t mind using conditioner with a little water in it in order to get every bit out of the bottle. Recently I’ve noticed that my shampoo, conditioner, shaving cream, etc. have lids that don’t screw off. It’s not that they’re hard to unscrew - it’s that they’re not made with threads to unscrew them. They won’t come off without cutting the bottle. The bottle says it contains 20 ounces. I don’t want to buy 20 ounces of product and only be able to use 18 ounces.
Anyway, I think they’re on to us.
Pittsburgh rare 1 year ago
Jokes on them. I cut the bottle and put whatever is left in a different container.
lwolf1952 1 year ago
Me too. I am one for consolidating things into smaller containers when the big ones haven't a lot left. Especially cutting open lotion bottles, there's so much left that would go to waste!
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catastrophegirl 1 year ago
put water in a sink or container, squeeze the air out of the bottle and then invert it into the water and release.
Verena 1 year ago (edited)
Put the grip of a teaspoon under the cap. Easy to pop off. No necessity to cut the bottle. You can fill the bottle with water through the tiny nozzle, too. Fill a cup with water, squeeze the bottle, put the nozzle under water and release pressure on the bottle. Bottle will suck up the water while expanding. Or squeeze/unsqueeze it under the running tap when showering or under water when taking a bath.
WickedSwicket 1 year ago
Use a syringe to squirt in the water into the bottle. Without the needle of course.
sturmwesen 1 year ago
easier: squeeze and unsqueeze it under the tap while the water hits the opening. The bottle slurps in enough water to wash out the rests
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OneHappyPuppy 1 year ago
Fill it with water from the hole where the shampoo/conditioner comes out, shake it up and voila
Candy Sheppard 1 year ago
$5 shampoo bar lasts almost a year and the right one doesn’t need conditioner
Heather Talma 1 year ago
Cut open, scrape out with rubber spatula into next bottle. Or do what my mom does and prop the old bottle on top of the new one for a day so it slowly drips out.
#6
12 years ago my grocery store had a sale in my deodorant, $1 a piece.
I bought every single one. 12 years later, I'm on my last one. It's been a ride /s
Sportsgal 1 year ago
I did this in a hair salon that had clearance shampoo. It was expensive brand for thinning hair. Usually about $30-40 a bottle. I bought about 10 large bottles. I have short hair. They lasted for about 10 years. 🙂
Heather Talma 1 year ago
A friend of mine gave me a bulk-size bottle of shampoo she didn't want in August of 2020. It's almost out as of now.
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Ashlie Williams 1 year ago
A bit selfish really. I'm sure others would have appreciated the bargain.
R Dennis 1 year ago
I will never understand the "all for me" mentality...
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Jovita A 1 year ago
I was gonna say same thing... You can be frugal, but using expired product on your skin is not for me... I do love buying deodorant on sale, but usually it's 1-2 years supply...
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Kobe (she) 1 year ago
I stopped doing that. For multiple reasons. First; it is not that it will be the only bargain you'll ever encounter. Trust God or the universe or good luck or whatever on that. Secondly, the quality does not get better over time. And last; it costs me space. So, I will take a few in advance -yet not all. In this case, 6 max. ( I need more than 1 a year) and leave the rest for other people to enjoy the bargain.
Ephemera Image 1 year ago
I use a salt stone. Going on eight years now, lol. And no artificial scents.
Tom Hardeveld 1 year ago
had that with a going-out-of-business sale, 90% off. Bought all the shampoo I could, still using it today 8 years later
NoNicknamePanda 1 year ago
I bought a case of deodorant soap at a case-lot sale at the military commissary 22 years ago. With ust the two of us, we still have six bars left.
Naturally, we also wanted to hear what tips she would give folks who have never thrifted, but would like to try. “My favorite tip for a newbie is to go thrifting often because the inventory changes frequently. So going often increases your chances to find items you are looking for. Always inspect items carefully. Look for quality brands to get the best bang for your buck. Lastly, buy items that you love and will use immediately.”
#7
My spouse and I bought a house recently that had been empty and unsold for about 6 months. It was actually in pretty good shape, but the previous owner had left one of those blue cleaner cakes in the guest toilet tank. Well, six months of dripping into the bowl left grey-blue streaks and a dark ring in the toilet that could not be washed out. We thought our only hope was to replace the toilet. Fortunately, my spouse is pretty handy, but we have been busy with other things so hadn't been able to tackle that project yet. Then someone on Reddit (not sure if it was this sub or not) suggested that a pumice stone will remove old stains on porcelain. I wasn't thrilled to take a stone to my porcelain, but we were replacing it anyway, so why not give it a try? In 15 minutes I had every stain gone, and no scratches. $3.50 pumice stone from Home Depot vs $200 new toilet. Needless to say, spouse is thrilled! To use an old phrase, "Thank you, kind Redditor!"
Tabitha 1 year ago
Pumice is harder than the stains but softer than the porcelain, so it will scrub off the stains but not scratch the porcelain.
Zoe's Mom 1 year ago
Do the same for your kitchen sink. Works really well. I found this trick from YouTube.
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Anna Drever 1 year ago
We’re lucky in that we can go to some beaches near us and get pumice. I take advantage when I can.
Mya Lugar 1 year ago
Anybody know what can be done (besides replace toilet) with the long brown smear at the bottom of my toilet bowl which I have decided is corrosion through the porcelain to the iron that the toilet is made of. Yes, I have scrubbed it many times, but I think it is a result of my having put my cat's poop in it one night and forgetting to flush it until the next morning. Cat poop is VERY acidic. The toilet is embarrassing to let someone use, of course. TSP doesn't touch it. I have always put the cat poop down the toilet daily. Are all toilets made of iron?
sharonljeffords@gmail.com 1 year ago
I have pumice stones I picked up in Mexico on the beach years ago still use them.
Celtic Pirate Queen 1 year ago (edited)
Well, since it's usually sold near the bathroom cleaning products ... Works on kitchen sinks as well.
Kerry Carolan 1 year ago
Depends on why the house was empty, but also on the climate
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#8
Being frugal has me literally in tears.
My local grocery store had 3 lb bags of yellow onions on sale for one dollar. I bought three bags and put them through the food processor and flash froze them in "pucks" using my ice cream scoop. Yes my house reeks of onion and I don't know if my eyes will recover (kidding) but I've got two gallons of pre chopped onions in the freezer for cooking!
Regina Holt 1 year ago
This sounds like a great idea, but I don't have a food processor, so I just cut them up as I need them.
Tyranamar Seuss 1 year ago
This would waste too much freezer space for me. I'll just buy the 1 onion when I need it. I'm wild like that!
Nonplussed Puss 1 year ago
"If the rule you followed brought you to this, of what use was the rule?"
Willem Andries Oosterhof 1 year ago
Never reveal your location. I'd like to avoid you. (I hate onions....)
Cindy Brick 9 months ago
WArning -- learned this the hard way. Too many bags of chopped onion can affect other items in the freezer, including multiple bags of frozen peaches. (sigh)
Candy Sheppard 1 year ago
Canning is a great way to save food and leftovers but you have to research it yourself
Kay Christensen 1 year ago
I did this recently with a 10-pound bag of russet potatoes a neighbor gave me after I'd just bought a bag. 1 peeled and diced them then boiled til done, cooled them completely and divided the potatoes among quart freezer bags and froze. A thawed bag made a great shortcut to mashed or scalloped potatoes!
Kraneia The Dancing Dryad 1 year ago
Used to work at BK. The onions are cut fresh at the store, but the rings they put on your whopper have to be within a certain size. So what do they do with the middles? My coworker took them home to feed her chickens, and I would sometimes take them home and freeze them. They used to just throw them out otherwise. For a while when BK sold hotdogs, the extra onion bits were chopped up and put on the hotdogs.
#9
A $20 pen is a much more impressive gift than a $20 t-shirt
If your budget for a gift is low, instead of buying something on that average price, buy something that is usually a lot cheaper. The quality will probably be superior and the receiver would almost certainly never have bought it for himself or herself.
It doesn’t necessarily have to be the pen vs t-shirt example.
A $20 whisk is better than a $20 kitchen knife. A $10 pencil case is better than a $10 backpack A $5 chocolate is better than a bunch of cheap chocolate that adds up to $5.
Jeevesssssss 1 year ago
Know your recipient. I'd rather have something cheap, unless it's something I've specifically requested for a specific reason. Why? Because I am really poor at looking after things and it upsets me to lose or damage something nicer. Cheap and cheerful and replaceable makes me happy! And I honestly don't have the palate to discriminate when it comes to higher quality food/booze. It's a waste of your money and I will be thrilled to tears with a bar of Cadbury's Dairy Milk as big as a newborn instead.
beccabootie 1 year ago
My cousin is a chocoholic. Her favorite chocolate is Dove! How nice to get her Dove bars in quantity instead of fancy named chocolates that are only affordable in small amounts.
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shankShaw deReemer 1 year ago
Someone gave me a Pampered Chef chopper that I love about 20 years ago. It's worn and has a little crack in one part but it's still works just as well. It's one you get to pound so it comes in handy on days I'm frustrated. One of the best gifts I ever received! The best gift I ever gave was to my dad. He was a big soup eater and liked to eat the soup out of a handled mixing bowl. His was very worn, so I bought him a new one with a rubber bottom to keep it from sliding around. I included some cans of his favorite soups--Split Pea, Bean and Bacon (both yuck). He talked about that gift for years until he passed. My mom said she'd give it back to me once she goes on to see him again. I'll treasure it forever. I sure miss that man.
Alger G. Nava 1 year ago
I did the buy-a-nice-motorcycle instead of a cheap car for the same price. 😎
Regina Holt 1 year ago
And with the chocolate, the cheap stuff is awful.Once you learn what "real" chocolate tastes like, it is hard to settle for the cheap stuff.
Tyranamar Seuss 1 year ago
I prefer cheap chocolate. So does my dad. Real chocolate is too bitter. But I realize we're like 1% of the population.
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Lastly, we asked her to share some examples of great finds she came across while thrifting. “My favorite finds are my collection of LV purses that I have thrifted from Goodwill. Christian Louboutin heels from Salvation Army and David Yurman Earrings and Bracelet from Unclaimed Baggage.”
#10
I stopped buying paper towels. My life went on. It’s been about 6 months since I’ve bought paper towels. The honest truth is I’m a paper towel addict. If they’re in the house I use them up so fast. Like one roll every two days. I was feeling pretty broke so stopped buying them for a few weeks and now I’m never going back. I have about 15-20 dishcloths / thicker cleaning towels that I use and wash all together every few days, sometimes with other towels and clothes. I use sponges for cleaning more. Good for the environment and my wallet.
Brenda 1 year ago
I always take my old towels & cut them into about 10x10 squares. Keep a rag box in the bottom of the linen closet, under the bathroom sink & under the kitchen sink. They get used for everything from spills to cleaning, as drop cloths for crafting, painting, doing nails, etc. I wash them once or twice a week, and bleach them every month or so. When they are getting super torn up, they go to the garage to be used out there. I still have towel rags from when my kids were tiny, over 20 years ago.
Fenchurch 1 year ago (edited)
I'm 49 and my mum still has some of my old cloth nappies (the flat kind you used with pins) as cleaning cloths. I also did cloth nappies with my now 18 year old and tho we passed on our shaped cloth nappies, I still have some of his sicky baby cloths that are still going strong as cleaning cloths.
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Anna Boes 1 year ago
I don't get it, I use two sheets a day to clean up behind my cats - they balance on the rim of the litter box, and it's the funiest thing in the world, as long as they don't miss - so what do you all do with those paper towels?! 😆
Tyranamar Seuss 1 year ago
Everything! Polish the sink. Wipe up spills. Clean the bathroom mirror. Scrunchie your wet hair with product in it for nice curls. Everything!
Load More Replies... Ephemera Image 1 year ago
I use washcloths, I bought a bunch and wthrow them in the wash with the other clothes, haven't bought paper towels in years.
Sue User 1 year ago
Make sure to mark them so you know cleaning washclothes from body washcloths.
Load More Replies... Otto Katz 1 year ago
Haven't bought paper towels or napkins in 20 years. Old dishtowels, linen napkins. Saved so much money, I can't even imagine.
catastrophegirl 1 year ago
paper towels for cat puke. inexpensive white utility bar towels for everything else.
Fenchurch 1 year ago (edited)
This. except we switched to blue paper towels, lasts forever, strong and less shoddy than kitchen roll. Two sheets will do the cat sick with no soggy yuck on my hands
Load More Replies... Verena 1 year ago
Sponges are amongst the dirtiest things in your household and vety difficult to clean thoroughly.
Fenchurch 1 year ago
Sponges (unless ex sea creatures) are just more plastic. Use cloths, easy to wash and will biodegrade when they are too grotty.
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Taylor's Ferry 1 year ago
I don't like the feel of paper towels; and I can wash and reuse wash cloths.
SirWriteALot 1 year ago
I use both ... cloth for most of it but sometimes you want to scoop something up and just chuck it, without having to wash the icky stuff out of a towel.
#11
Feel like I just discovered a cheat code.
Why did nobody tell me there are butchers/meat markets that are actually way cheaper than the grocery!?!? Here I was thinking it was all for bougie gentrifying upper middle class moms to get their 16/lb Blonde d’Acquitaine flank but nope!
There’s cheap butchers with tons of rotating items on sale, and you can buy in bulk!!! .85/lb chicken wings? Whole NY strip loin for 6.80/lb? Pork ribs for 1.60/lb? Sirloin tip for 4/lb? HELLO, WHERE HAVE YOU BEEN ALL MY LIFE
My meat devouring butt is in tears. Im just celebrating that I can now actually afford plenty of meat and freeze it for later. Plus I have access to plenty of offal and other cuts I ate growing up (liver, skin, cheek, head, shank, sweetbreads, tongue, turkey necks, tripe, fatback, hocks, neck roasts). This is life changing to me, literally. Thats my rant thank you.
Cassie 1 year ago
All the butchers in my area are in the wealthier parts of town and have outrageous prices on sorry-looking cuts and promote themselves mostly as fresh seafood shops. We had an absolutely fantastic butcher in our Publix grocery store who always had the most beautiful and delicious cuts of meat at reasonable prices. One day, Publix decided not to have an in-house butcher any more. There is nothing in a fifty mile radius of us that even comes close. My husband wrote to Publix appealing their choice. He asked the manager of the local store about it and he was kind of a jerk about it. We couldn't go back to pre-packaged grocery store cuts after that. We just haven't eaten beef at all since then.
Verena 1 year ago
Local farmers, treating their animals well during their lifetime, have slaughter days announced. Small slaughter house in the region, with own decent stables. So animals are not hurried through the process, not on cold, days long packed transports with dirt and no water, food and rest, and not scared, beaten or yelled at. Fresh meat on the slaughter day, rest goes into the freezer in the farmer's shop. Decently priced, excellent quality.
Michael Largey 1 year ago
We get meat at an Amish grocery store. Great cuts at great prices. Worth the drive.
Load More Replies... Castles 1 year ago
Unfortunately the butchers where I live are far too expensive. I’ve just stopped going to them now and have to buy from the supermarket
AngelWingsYT 1 year ago
Theres a meat market roughly 1hr from me that my fam n i use. Can buy bulk of most meats. Its a tad pricey at first look but compair say 1 bulk buy or bacon vs once a week buy package bacon and it comes out cheaper. 1 trip will last us 1 year (this is buying bulk bacon (30lbs) , chicken legs/thighs/and breasts (10-30lbs), pork steaks, (20lbs) ground beef,(20lbs) Costs a few $100 for it all and again lasts a full year with some stuff left over. This place is super popular and you can also buy stoage bags n foil wrap to split up your buys as well as some frozen items, deli section, and canned goods (stuff to go with your meats). Our meat freezer is packed now :) ppl there do great service
StrangeOne 1 year ago
I know a butcher shop a bit a ways in my area. I, too, thought it was a luxury thing. Maybe I'll check it out.
Jeevesssssss 1 year ago
I'm so jealous! There are a couple of butchers in my area but they're split between the sort where the meat comes with a label with the name of the animal and a corresponding price tag (not quite, but you get my gist) and Halal butchers which I don't know a lot about but are also very spendy - considering Halal meat is available here (UK, high Muslim population area) in supermarkets very cheaply I'm guessing this is where you go if you're Muslim and want free-range chicken etc. Funny, I'd never thought about that before, but it makes perfect sense to me now!
Kerry Carolan 1 year ago
In my area, butchers tend to be more expensive (although I us d to live in Brooklyn and there was a fantastic and cheap halal butcher around the block) BUT if you don't mind weird stuff, it's the cheapest and best meat around. I unexpectedly had to feed twice as many people for Easter as planned for. I went into the oldest butcher shop in Manhattan (so, you know, $$$) and threw myself.on their mercy on good Friday. There was nary a scrap of lamb left in any grocery store. The butcher was willing to sell me the offcuts from legs she had to deliver to prepaid customers that weekend, at a steep discount. As she packed it up, and importantly, after she weighed it, she chuckled whole hunks of lamb fat into the package from the lamb she had been butchering all day. Then, the coup de Grace. She asked me if I was down for something REALLY weird, which is how I ended up with a homemade lamb head cheese on my easter table, alongside a fabulous roulade the racks I had already planned on serving
kath morgan 1 year ago
Unfortunately supermarkets have put most local butchers out of business. You’re lucky if you have one.
Damned_Cat 1 year ago
Our area used to have a ton of independent butchers, small bakeries and roadside fruit/veggie stands. Sadly, they are all gone now. One tip though: If you have a Mexican/Latin market labeled "Carniceria", go in and see what they have. The one closest to my house has excellent cuts for a reasonable price including some wagyu steaks. They also do their best to accommodate special orders.
#12
I think I am frugal. My wife thinks I am a dork.
I always buy pump shampoo, conditioner, body soap etc. I find it last longer and is easier to control how much I use. I know I need exactly 2 pumps.
Well after the bottles are "empty" I put water in them. I just got 11 "extra" days out of my shampoo. I told my wife "Hey I got 11 days out of that shampoo!"
she says: "You counted?"
I said: "Yes! I got 9 days out of the bottle before that and 14 the bottle before that."
"I married a dork."
Mammie 1 year ago
I'm with ya. I used to buy separate body wash for me and my husband. Because of the scent. Crazy. Buy one clean scent 3 in one body wash/shampoo and be done with it. Dollar tree has great options. It's soap. It all does the same job. The body wash I used to buy for me is up to around$6 a bottle now. No way. And yes I add some water and get an extra day outta it too.
I_imagine_even_worse_w***s 1 year ago
I'd love to be able to use 3in1. I've tried even expensive ones and nope I can't get a brush or comb through my hair with the knots it's just feasible. I can't even use cheap conditioner unless I use half the bottle so works out more expensive. I hate washing my hair so much I've often thought of just taking a shaver to it!
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Remi (He/Him) 1 year ago
Refills: I used to buy hand soap in a pump bottle, but now I'm just keeping the last pump bottle and buy soap in 3 litre canisters and fill up the bottle as needed.
Don't listen to me 1 year ago
Absolutely. Do not need to keep buying the plastic bottles.
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CD King 1 year ago
If you like foaming hand soap all you have to do is buy a foaming hand soap once then refill the dispenser with half regular hand soap from the dollar store and half water ( shake well). The dispenser makes it foam. Plus reusing the dispenser saves the environment.
Mitchell 1 year ago
I decant my shampoo, conditioner, body wash, body oil into pump bottles. I rinse out the original bottle and add to the pump bottle so I get the max. TBH I don’t do this to be frugal, I just find pump bottles way more convenient in the shower than faffing around with caps. Another benefit is you stop brand addiction. I like my nameless, brand less bottles.
Andrew Keir 1 year ago
If "dork" = "someone who considers actual numbers before decisions" then I think we need more dorks ;-)
Strega Nonna 1 year ago
Even better . . . I buy a large bottle of shampoo and fill an empty hand soap bottle with some of it. It helps to pump out exactly the amount I need without waste. I do the same with dishwashing liquid.
#13
Snack hack. We raised 6 kids so saving money was key. When we would buy the big bag of munchie mix at Costco I would air pop some pop corn. I would mix it 50/50 with munchie mix. There was more than enough seasoning to cover the popcorn and it stretched the bag twice as far. No kid ever complained. We often could get bread at 25 cents a loaf. I would cut it into crouton size pieces and toss with a bit of oil/butter/margarine whatever I had and add a tiny bit of vanilla. Then toss with sugar and cinnamon and put in oven till crispy. It made a fun snack for lunches or after school Kitchen scissors were my friend. I would cut chicken breasts and sausages in half after cooking. The kids could have more but it saved waste as often they would take a whole item and not eat it all. We started this when friends came over. Their kids would take a big portion, not finish it and then it was wasted. I also cut French toast/pancakes/waffles into strips when they were leftovers. Kids loved them as a snack to dip with syrup or jam.
3 Otters 🦦 1 year ago
Get a cheap squirt bottle and put your syrup in it. Then just lightly Jackson Pollock the strips. Saves a lot of syrup. Well unless you use jam. Honey is already sold in squirt bottles.
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Brenda 1 year ago
I always sliced any meat. Found that people took less, and were more than satisfied, which usually meant getting 2 meals from it instead of one. I also found that having 3 sides instead of 2 meant less meat was eaten (my guys would eat 5 or 6oz if I let them), but everyone was full & got extra veggies.
SirWriteALot 1 year ago
I always serve portions on the small size. Our (ok, my) rule is: you don't have to finish the plate you are given, but you have to finish what you take/demand. There have been some discussions in the past but I think the point came across to not waste food or hog and deny another person something then not finish it.
Jacqui Dunn 1 year ago
My favourite aunt used to make snacks using bread with grated cheese on them, cut them into trips and then bake them till crisp. Lovely savoury treats. We loved them!
Huddo's sister 1 year ago
My mum used to do the same with pita bread/tortillas, especially if they were getting a little stale. My favourite was cheese and cayenne flavour.
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Aileen Grist 1 year ago
My dad used to regularly forget his sandwiches for work. My mum would dip them in egg and milk and fry them for our tea. Loved them, we were disappointed when he remembered them lol
Angel Stage 1 year ago
As an adult, I also love things cut into smaller pieces. I eat more sometimes that way. Which is not always a good thing I guess lol
Regina Holt 1 year ago
It's great that they make scissors specifically for cutting stuff like chicken.
3 Otters 🦦 1 year ago
Yes, great for days my arthritis is bad. And way easier to get the back out of the chicken. Now I have that for stock instead of waste
Load More Replies... #14
I really liked a $700 chair at a fancy furniture store, took a picture and did a Google image search. Found the same chair at Walmart for $200.
Not super frugal purchase, but saved $500 per chair.
Lsai Aeon 1 year ago
Or you bought a cheap a$$ chair that will fall apart on you in 2-3 years when that $700 chair might last 20 years. It's highly likely
Binky Melnik 1 year ago
Likely, but it’s quite possible they’re the same chair, too. I might risk it if I could examine them to compare. After all, stores don’t have factories to make everything. Lotsa the cheap stuff is the “better” stuff just with the store’s name on the label. I usta work at a pickle factory where we made condiments. We only turned out one type of EVERYTHING, then labeled it all for different distributors. Cheap or expensive, it was all the same stuff! (This is why I laugh when someone says he prefers this mustard over that one!)
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⨺⃝ ~Just-A-Black-Cat-Lover~ ⨺⃝ 1 year ago
That's good! Depending on the chair, it was probably overpriced.
Verena 1 year ago (edited)
Or the expensive one was a single designer piece, made by a local shop and lasting a lifetime, and the other came from China, made in bulk by poor people living in horrendous circumstances and meant to last a max of two years
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Miliukov Oleksandr 1 year ago
You should find another offer of this chair for $1200 and save $500 more
George D 1 year ago
This reminds me of a comparison between buying expensive work boots that last forever or the cheap ones that need replacing every two years. The article was about affordability and why poor people struggle, because they can't afford the expensive one but ultimately pay more because of the constant replacement costs.
Sue User 1 year ago
This came from a book. Sam Vimes Boots theory. The term was coined by English fantasy writer Sir Terry Pratchett in his 1993 Discworld novel Men at Arms
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Shark Lady 1 year ago
Depends on the type of chair. A single, dining chair then yes it's expensive. A fancy armchair recliner and it's much more reasonable.
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WickedLibra70 1 year ago
Like the episode of family guy when they went to a mattress store to check out mattresses and then ordered the one they liked from Amazon while they were still in the store
John Smith (he/him/xy/️) 1 year ago
You didn't save 500, you still spent 200. Is this girl maths or something?
NoNicknamePanda 1 year ago
I've found that almost every store will discount 5-10% if you ask. That doesn't sound like a big savings, but it adds up over the year. I'm no longer afraid to ask!
#15
So my husband and I love coffee, it's one of the things we choose to spend money on more than the average person probably would.
A little while ago our old espresso machine was showing signs it was probably nearing the end of its life, it was a relatively cheap one that had done well for a good few years. We decided to maybe have a bit of a splurge and ended up buying a pretty expensive automatic espresso machine, we did however get it for 50% off in the lead-up to EOFY sales so there was that at least.
After we got it, we didn't really think more about it and enjoyed our new purchase, until a couple of months down the line I realised we had basically stopped going out for coffee at all, something we used to do a fair bit. I had also started taking a latte in a thermos cup to work instead of buying one every day. The new machine just makes it so easy to make coffee.
So I did a quick bit of napkin math and a conservative estimate is that the machine will pay for itself in 6ish months. It's saving us about 45 dollars a week and that's not taking into account the fact that if I went into the coffee shop to get a coffee there was a high chance I'd buy a snack as well.
Cindy Brick 1 year ago
Next time, try a thrift shop in a high-income area...and you'll find that espresso machine for MUCH less! Speaking from experience here...
Zuzana Pokorná 1 year ago
Cold brew, prepared overnight in the fridge!!! When I was a very overwhelmed mom of three very young children, I did not even have 2 minutes to myself to prepare a coffee at home using our espresso machine, so I would often end up buying overpriced coffee in cafes while taking the kids to a playground. (It was quite an expense in the family budget, but I wouldn't have survived without it back then.) Once a friend suggested I prepare myself a nice big jug of cold brew coffee the night before, and carry it with me in a thermos all day long while I'm out with the kids. This was a lifesaver! The coffee takes just a few seconds to prepare (coarsely ground coffee+water) and then you let it sit overnight in a fridge. The coffee tastes delicious and you even don'r need an espresso machine, which was super handy when ours broke.
Paul Gerrard 1 year ago
Dont buy anything tgat uses pods. Its like a timeshare scam or inkjet printers
sturmwesen 1 year ago
Had the same happen to me in covid lockdown. Homeoffice-> 130€ espresso machine-> no more 6€ for a quatro shot latte macchiatto with all the bells n wistles-> saved money and actually lost weight in the beginning because I did not have the sirups
Orysha 1 year ago (edited)
My mother and I are coffee addicts. I used to buy quite expensive coffee makers. Unfortunately the fact they are now full of electronics makes them last less longer. After I killed two of them (one was a gift, I steel feel sorry about that) I asked my mother if she had any spare coffee maker I could borrow, she gave me an old one with no fancy stuff like programming and it feels like it would last forever.
Hannah Taylor 1 year ago (edited)
I have a Keurig that I use often, but not always for the obvious reason. It produces hot water for tea, hot cocoa, oatmeal, and espresso. I figured out how to make my own lattés and mochas, using a $20 battery-operated frother. Also, it's more economical to purchase the large bottles of flavoring syrups; they blend easier and come in sugar-free flavors. You can create your own in-home coffee café for pennies on the dollar.
Bouche and Audi and Shyla, Oh My! 1 year ago
We're boring. Bouche and I both like our coffee black. So far, Audi has never shown interest in coffee, but I for real have to watch Bouche. She will try to get it.
Jeevesssssss 1 year ago
I used to have a Tassimo machine which I used 1-2 x a day, which I'd got as an alternative to getting coffee out. Which was a fairly big money saver. (I think the US equivalent is Keurig, it uses pods, very low hassle but lots of plastic waste and still expensive.) Then I swapped it out for a filter machine. I was making damn americanos anyway. I managed to get a really good one that makes 12 cups and has a cupcake-shaped filter so you don't get the burnt bits, and a timer so I get fresh-brewed in the morning, on sale - it paid for itself in 5 weeks. I have filter coffee with cocoa powder and some sweetener and vanilla and some cream very cheaply for a delicious mocha drink every morning. A coffee shop mocha costs over £4 (and has less cocoa and a load of sugar).
Kay Christensen 1 year ago
For me it's my 15 year old Osterizer blender. Nothing beats a homemade milkshake, smoothie or lassi with fresh fruits, syrups, ice cream, etc. A few months ago the gasket needed replacing. For about $10 online I got the entire bottom assembly including nice sharp blades. It's one of the best small appliances I've ever had.
#16
Homemade iced tea is better and CHEAPER than store bought.
I’m sure it’s been posted before but I haven’t seen it this year yet …. Make your own iced tea for pennies compared to store bought. You can make it as strong or as sweet as you like it. Don’t like black tea? Make iced green or mint tea. Sooo many variations and delicious! A 12 pack of name brand soda is going for 10-12$!!
Anna Boes 1 year ago
Anyone having a good recipe? I'm European, so there isn't a family recipe to go to, and I'm confused. 😆
R Dennis 1 year ago
I take a pitcher full of water, add about six PG Tips tea bags (tastes may vary), cover, and store in the refrigerator for 24-48 hours. The tea cold brews and there is less bitterness... use lemonade instead of water for Arnold Palmers.
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Candy Sheppard 1 year ago
Southern recipes are too sweet for me. Boil 8 teabags, pour the screaming hot tea over 3/4 cups of sugar, top off with water in a gallon pitcher. Never heard a bad thing about my recipe
Kay Christensen 1 year ago
I'm a Southerner and we consider sweet (iced) tea the house wine of the South! My recipe: Fill teakettle half full with COLD water (warm or hot will make the tea cloudy). Add one family-sized Luzianne (pteferred) or Lipton tea bag. Bring to boil over high heat then turn off heat and bring to room temperature. Discard tea bag and pour tea into pitcher. Add cold water to make one liter and stir in a half cup sugar til dissolved. Pour over ice and enjoy! Keep refrigerated.
UpupaEpops 1 year ago
So I'm really into tea but also I'm into not going broke. My go-to tea store started selling "cold brew tea". Obviously, it's more expensive. For those of you who are used to iced tea: is there a difference between cold brew granules and simply popping tea into cold water and letting it sit?
Kevin Hickey 1 year ago
I'm an Unsweetened Iced Tea addict and our iced tea maker has saved us literally thousands of dollars over the past few years. The only downside is that you have to fill the pitcher with ice so you need a fridge with an ice maker.
Taylor's Ferry 1 year ago
Electric kettle to boil water. I add 4-5 large black or red tea bags to 3.5 liter pitcher. (I use decaffeinated tea bags). Add boiling water to pitcher. I let it stew for an hour. Refrigerate. I add sugar to taste. And I do not care for ice. I prefer my tea at room temperature.
#17
If you have hulu, log in and click cancel. Instead of cancelling they will give you “deal” options like $2.99 for 6 months. I’m guessing same deal with other services.
Get a discount on streaming services like hulu.
SadieCat17 (she/her) 1 year ago
Be careful with these sorts of tips. There are plenty of fake videos that bait people into deleting social media accounts with promises of getting a free premium trial.
Trisec Tebeakesse 1 year ago
"Accidentally" deleting a social media account? Oooh, what a tragedy!
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Shark Lady 1 year ago
I only have one streaming platform at a time, watch what I like for a month or two and then swap to another one.
ElfVibratorGlitter 1 year ago
Same with Sirius/XM radio when I had it. I just moved from one promo offer to another.
Gracie Mae 1 year ago
I used to have BritBox & got one of those 'deals.' Started off paying something like $7.99/mo, deal brought it down to $4.92/mo for 3 mos. Great! after that, it went back to $7.99 for a couple of months, then up a dollar each month for 3-4 mos after that. When I noticed, I did a customer service chat online to find out wth was going on...ended up telling them to cancel it altogether & they said they'd refund me. Checked my account a couple days later and they had refunded me about 6 months worth of services!
#18
My wife likes to get spray tans and bikini waxes before vacations. To save money, I bought the equipment and now I do both for her. A few years ago, my wife came home from a Brazilian wax appointment and told me that she'd had a terrible experience. The wax was too hot, the technician (or whatever you call the waxer person) was grumpy, and a lot of hairs left behind. She said, "Honestly, I bet you could have done it better!" That gave me an idea. "You know, I bet you that I could." So, I read some articles online, found the right supplies, we watched a few training videos together, and, long story short, she has never been back to another waxing salon. It cost a couple hundred dollars for the right equipment and supplies to be able to perform each of these services, but neither was very hard to learn. It only took about 3 spray tans before I'd gotten really good at giving them. Brazilians were a bit more of a learning curve. I practiced waxing my own thighs for a couple of months before I attempted waxing her. I started with really small strips and the first few took forever, but now I can do one in about 25 minutes and she tells me that the results are better than any salon she ever went to. The key for both services was purchasing professional quality equipment and supplies. I did a ton of research and tried a few different products before settling on what we found to work best. The equipment paid for itself within 6 months. Now, each spray tan costs about $2.50 and a wax about $2-3. My wife loves that I do them for her. She doesn't have to get naked for a stranger and she gets waxed consistently enough that it's far less painful qnd can keep a nice tan all summer with the perfect amount of color every time. Do I enjoy providing her these services to her? Yes, I absolutely do. My wife is beautiful and I love taking care of her. However, I would not do them for her if it had not been her idea to have me learn to do them for her. Let me know if you have any questions. Edit: For those asking about supplies: I order waxing stuff from Honeycomb Wax Company and spray tan solution from MineTan. Both have starter kits available. The spray gun in the MineTan starter kit isn't great. We upgraded to a gently used Norvell m1000 a few months ago and it is much better. Rule of thumb with equipment and supplies: You get what you pay for. As you are not paying for someone to do the application, spend up and get nice quality product (ie, professional products, not stuff from the drug store).
Auntriarch 1 year ago
Mr Auntriarch used to wax my legs because it was easier for him to reach the backs than me. He's a good chap.
Hey! 1 year ago
I've heard of husband putting polish on their wife's toes. My husband, because I had a terrible accident, had to brush my teeth, changed my sanitary napkins, dress me up (he's way better at undressing, let me tell you) , shower me, put my cream on, etc. for a bit over 6 months. I love how this person takes care of his wife. She likes suntans; it's not our business how they spend their money.
Marina M. 1 year ago
My dad had colored my mom's hair for years, until she finally stopped (her natural hair now is the most amazing sparkling silver)! My grandfather used to give my grandmother full pedicures every two weeks. So sweet ❤
Load More Replies... Binky Melnik 1 year ago
I wish I could see his face when he figures out that hairs ripped out by the roots eventually stop growing back; the follicles die eventually. (I still have two fine hairs under one arm; no one can even see em, so I don’t bother with ‘em.) I can’t tell whether he’ll be happy or sad! (And what a TERRIFIC husband he is! I can’t believe his willingness and patience for all that rickety!)
SirWriteALot 1 year ago
Interesting .... what "professional" waxing equipment do you need ... xept for wax and papers?
Tyranamar Seuss 1 year ago
I'm assuming the vat that heats the wax, the spatula. And then for the spray tan a good sprayer, good spray liquid, and the backdrop to spray against. I can see a couple hundred bucks here.
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nancy 1 year ago
This is how I started doing my own gel nails. The cost of supplies was less than two salon visits. After my second manicure, i was an expert.
Tyranamar Seuss 1 year ago
I cannot do my R hand. My L hand is so bad at painting the R hand I've given up. I just have natural nails. I could probably do my toes. Although I've tried that too and they're still pretty messy. Let's face it, some of use have better fine motor skills than others.
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#19
Anyone still cutting hair at home?
So, I got into the habit of cutting my hair during covid, when all the barbershops were closed and stuck with it afterward. Not only does it save money, but it's very convenient to be able to have a quick cut first thing in the morning, or to touch up a cut in between things.
Anyone else still doing this? One other question I would have is experiences with hair clippers...I got a fairly cheap set to try out, but wasn't sure what a decent "upgrade" would be now that I know I'm sticking with it.
Robert Beveridge 1 year ago
I've been doing it since 1998. Cannot even fathom how much I've saved.
Grape Walls of Ire 1 year ago
Same! Well, 1999 for me. Let's see... $20 per haircut x 8 haircuts per year x 25 years = $4000. Roughly speaking.
Load More Replies... Angela C 1 year ago
I save money (and when I was a kid my parents saved money) because a hairdresser gave birth to me. Unless I wanted a drastic change because she didn't want to be blamed if I hated it. But for trims or only a few inches off she'd do it
Load More Replies... Jeevesssssss 1 year ago
Yeah! I have long hair that's fine/thin, and I wear it in two twists most of the time so it doesn't exactly take an expert to trim the ends. And I have a fringe, but I had to learn to trim that in between cuts years before covid hit anyway and honestly I do a better job than my hairdresser did.
Alger G. Nava 1 year ago
Many years ago when I got married my wife bought hair clippers and thought that if she only cut my hair 2-3 times it would be paid off. 20+ years later, I've never gone back to a barber shop. BTW, still the same clippers.
Mimi M 1 year ago
I've been cutting my own hair for over a decade. I just take a small bunch, hold it out at a straight angle (think of rays coming out of the sun on all sides, top and bottom), and trim off the ends. Once done, I put that little bunch in a small stretchie (rubber band but soft) and go on to the next one. Once all pieces have been done, I take them all out, grab larger bunches and do them all together. Then I trim the bottom in a couple of bunches. Btw, I have a side part, so when doing my bangs, I just hold them straight down and trim ends and hold them up, but to the side, and trim ends. Comes out with a perfect side-sweep. My hair is shoulder length and curly, so it's long enough to grab the back pieces and do them - I do all of this looking in the bathroom mirror. And each little bit is done over the wastebasket, which I perch in the sink.
TheAmericanAmerican 1 year ago
I'll do one better: haven't cut my hair at all since the pandemic! Rocking the man-bun for almost 4 years now! 😁
StrangeOne 1 year ago (edited)
That is a cursed image. I've tried to cut my hair. I think I do better than the cuts I've had at cheap salons. But nowhere near as good as the senior hairstylists who know more about what works and what doesn't, and how something will look with my head structure and hair texture.
#20
Not owning a car is like a cheat code to building wealth.
Sooo many of my friends have $600+ car payments, depreciation, pay hundreds on insurance, gas, and parking. Then pay thousands when they get into an accident or have their catalytic converters stolen, or their car gets broken into. Over a thousand dollars per month just to get from point a to point b!
Meanwhile, my monthly bus pass is $75 and my bike (second hand only was $200) takes me places for free (with the occasional $10 maintenance at my local shop)!!!!
I can’t imagine owning a car in this environment
That extra money goes straight into my pockets!
Veronica Jean 1 year ago
...minus the 40% of the population that lives in rural areas without public transport or even safe methods of personal transport....but yeah.
Regina Holt 1 year ago
I see this particular frugal thing every so often. These people are lucky to live in an environment that has great public transportation, and safe places to bike. This pisses me off because this is not possible for so many folks. I cannot even walk along the main road my house is on. No shoulder, and plant growth only leaving a foot or less of room to walk. And there is no way I would bike along there, people drive faster than they should, it is damm curvy, seeing a bike ahead isn't easy. There is no public transit in so many places, and things are so far apart, even walking from your home to work or shopping is not feasible.
Board Pan, duh. 1 year ago
We don't have public transport here. And major highways make it impossible to commute with bicycles. Also : harsh winters.
Michael Largey 1 year ago
When your car payments are done, keep making them - to yourself. When it's time to replace that car, you may enough saved up to buy it for cash. My parents weren't rich, but they did this with both cars and houses.
Jeevesssssss 1 year ago
I'm a half hour walk from the town centre in an area well-supplied with excellent bus services (I can't walk that far, but I have a motorised wheelchair). 10min from a big Aldi. Because I'm disabled my bus pass is free. I can't drive anymore bc epilepsy, but where I used to live my car was a necessity. I absolutely couldn't afford one now.
#21
PSA: Bedbugs are insanely expensive to deal with and frankly traumatizing to live with. Here are some tips.
A few years ago my wife and I lived in an apartment that got bedbugs. A lot of this might seem excessive or crazy but trust me you don't want to chance this stuff.
Whenever you come home from someone's apartment or a hotel stay, immediately put all fabrics (clothes, luggage, sleeping bags) into the dryer. Even if you can't see any bugs, the eggs are too small to see and can live in fabrics for up to a year.
If you have an expensive mattress, get a bedbug liner. My wife and I had to throw out a 6 month old $1,200 mattress because we didn't spend $25 on a cover. It's really not worth trying to salvage the mattress once its infested, even if you kill all the live bugs you still need to worry about eggs.
Don't waste your money on "natural" products to kill bed bugs. We tried several and they were straight up ineffective. Rather than buying products that are safe for pets, just buy products that actually work and keep your pets away from the affected areas until you've cleaned up.
If you're going to buy furniture off craigslist (which I will no longer do) try to avoid apartments. No this isn't a stereotype against low income people, the problem is that it's basically impossible to clear a building of bedbugs unless the whole building is treated. Most apartment complexes will try to treat on a unit-by-unit basis which just doesn't work. In addition the risk of re-infestation is high because a lot of infestations start by people bringing bugs home from school or work. More people = higher probability of bedbugs.
Do not let your landlord try to bully you into keeping a security deposit if you are leaving a place that is infested with bedbugs. We had this happen since we didn't try and salvage their wall to wall carpet. They tried to charge us $500 plus our deposit to fix the carpet. Eventually it ended up in collections but after providing state mandated guidelines on dealing with bedbug infested apartments, they backed off, gave the deposit back, and it never ended up on our credit report.
Shark Lady 1 year ago
Glad it's not just me, I feel like something is crawling on my skin!
Load More Replies... Cassie 1 year ago
My husband came home from a janky hotel with signs of bed bugs he had to go to for a work trip and I wouldn't let him in the house. He had to undress in a big piled of diatomaceous earth on the back porch and all his clothes, backpack, shoes - everything - went into trash bags along with more diatomaceous earth. Those bags each spent at least a week in the deep freeze and then the contents went through the dryer on high heat for extended periods and then carefully examined before they were permitted anywhere near a soft surface. No way was I letting bed bugs in this house.
Tiffany Marie 1 year ago (edited)
I had bed bugs for 2 years once 15 years ago. I was sleeping in a bathtub and I'm allergic to the bites. Ever since then I'm on my toes about bed bugs everyday. I don't even go to the movies anymore. I get some sorta bite and I turn the bedroom upside down looking.
Stan Chung 1 year ago (edited)
Nightmare to deal with. Itching and stinging bites kept me awake. I got a pack of diatomaceous earth and powdered all around and on the mattress. It worked. The DE works by causing the bug to dehydrate and die. Safe for pets or humans as its non toxic.
Mimi M 1 year ago (edited)
Tempo Dust (1% Cyfluthrin) and a puffer. And remember to only puff out dusty air (actual product is in the reservoir on the bottom - just shake and then puff out the dusty air) on surfaces, baseboards, under bedding and under mattresses/cushions etc, the bugs avoid actual dust. It's non-toxic to pets, children and adults when used as directed (dusty air, leaving an almost imperceptible residue). Note, it will get rid of roach infestations as well - just use in bathrooms and kitchens, in corners, backs of cabinets, seams of counters, along baseboards.
Teresa Spanics 1 year ago
Thank you for the information! I also have had roaches in my apartment.
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Jahl 1 year ago (edited)
That happened to me. A roommate moved in and brought with him those horrible little minions of the devil. Nothing works except professional pest service. Even that's not 100% guaranteed. After leaving any hotel or motel or as you're about to leave put all your clothing in Black garbage bags, sit on it to get all the air out and tie it as tight as you can so there's no air getting in or out. Leave it for at least one to two days take it to a laundromat and wash it on the hottest possible and dry it on the hottest setting. Anything that's delicate take it to the dry cleaner. If you live in an area that's really hot you can also leave those garbage bags and direct sun for 24 hours to 48 hours and then wash and dry on hot setting
Teresa Spanics 1 year ago
I take Melatonin to help me sleep and I have found dying and dead bed bugs whenever the little beasties get into my apartment. I also have a container of food friendly aka pet friendly diatomaceous earth that I will also use.
#22
I never saved more money since I started going to church. I'm not religious at all but my wife is so I go to church with her on Sunday. I got to know some of the other church goers and it's crazy how much "free" stuff I have gotten. Need help moving? A carload of Christian teens and a moving truck shows up and loads all your s**t no problem. My roof was leaking? Turns out Jerry owns a roofing company. Gave me the materials at cost and a group of church guys put it up for me. My wife's diamond fell out of her wedding ring? Tom is a jeweler and fixed it for free. I could go on and on but I have never saved more money since I started going to church!
Jeevesssssss 1 year ago
As a wobbly Christian who's received literally lifechanging help from fellow church members myself - I apologise wholeheartedly if this only came across this way because of context, but it comes across that you see church as time in = savings out. I don't want to assume, but if you've not considered - have you thought about paying this goodwill forward? :-) It keeps the world turning - in a village, anyway.
Bouche and Audi and Shyla, Oh My! 1 year ago
I like your description of yourself as a wobbly Christian.
Load More Replies... Verena 1 year ago
This applies to a lot of places where different people meet on a regular basis. I am a volunteer ranger, our group shares lots of talents and occupations
Mimi M 1 year ago (edited)
From the post: 'Edit: Just want to say that I am very thankful to my community and I do what I can to pass it on!'
Jeevesssssss 1 year ago
Oh, good. I was hoping it just came across how it did bc of the context of answering the question!
Load More Replies... Mammie 1 year ago
I really expected to see a lot of hate here. Not for the "I get free stuff at church" , but for the " I go to church" part. I'm pleasantly surprised that you haven't been attacked yet.
Mabelbabel 1 year ago
Attacking someone for the 'I go to church' part would be ridiculous and unfair. Attacking someone for 'I go to church, and that makes me better than you, and if you don't go to MY church then that means you're going to go to Hell' would be entirely justified. Unfortunately, there are many vocal church goers who tend to go for the latter, rather than the former.
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Bonkers & Curious Panda 1 year ago
I'm an atheist and even I feel like this is taking advantage of people. I just hope OP is repaying them in kind :)
Sarah Jones 1 year ago (edited)
Not a person of faith myself but I sometimes wish I was because churches can be such great communities, especially for people on their own
Lil Miss Hobbit 1 year ago
Sounds like a healthy church. I'm so glad that they are giving the support you need.
#23
6 months into my " no buy year" and, I've never been better. How freeing it is for me, not to look for things to buy cheaper, but instead, skipping the buy all together. Not to wake up and look on Marketplace, in case there's an opportunity I wouldn't wanna miss. It's not like I was buying that much at all, but it was the void I was filling with the possibility of owning something new. Now my place just has the bare essentials, and I feel so silly that I wanted to have more than I needed! I don't "need" an airfryer, I want one. Now I understood that mindset or wanting, versus needing for real. Like, I need new winter boots this year cause, I've got none, mine were too damaged to keep. That's a real need to me. The airfryer? I can cook in my oven just fine. All I spend on is the food( with a budget), hygiene essentials, my rent( all charges are included) , the city bus, and my internet bill. That's it. I've got no more phone bill ( using Fongo for free), I don't buy clothes ( I've got plenty already), home decoration, I don't eat out ( I wasn't in the first place) and live on a 100$ a month grocery budget, eating plenty as a whole food plant based vegan. Meal prepping everything, it is the best thing I did for myself. It's insane how much I was spending on food because I was not prepping in advance, being influenced by recipes I would see on YouTube and buying more food when I already had plenty. I had all those triggers to spend, all because I felt like I had to. I'm even thinking of doing it longer, since I manage it so well and don't lack anything!!! I don't have a project with the money I'm saving, it's just there for any future emergencies, or my old days. I'm already 50 so... Anyway, anyone else doing a no buy year and completely fell in love with the experience?
Manic Mama 1 year ago
I notice you mentioned the air fryer more than once. From experience, I can say that using the air fryer instead of my oven halved my electricity bill - and that's with a house full of teenagers using it for snacks at all times of the day or night. It paid for itself in less than one quarter. Just my experience, but saved me a LOT of money.
Rick 1 year ago
Before I buy clothes, appliances, tools, funiture, cooking utensils, hobbies, etc I spend sometime thinking about how will it improve my life? What do I do with the old one if it is an upgrade replacement? What else could I use the money for? This has pretty much stopped my impulse buying.
Daya Meyer 1 year ago
I always think about whether we need or just want something. To buy thhings which just stand and lie around is silly. And if you really need something, look out for second hand items. Saves them from being thrown away and you can get it in a good condition for less money. And If it comes to Souvenirs from vacations, buy something with a useful function. A pen or a sweater with the destinations' name on it or a local delicacy.
Heather Talma 1 year ago
How exactly does one eat vegan on $100 a month and also be properly nourished.
hockeygorl 1 year ago
i agree with all the up to the air fryer my chicken-nugget-addicted self needs it for nuggies and fries so as soon as i move out im getting one
Bonkers & Curious Panda 1 year ago
I said I wouldn't buy anything that wasn't absolutely necessary this year but I have failed. It's mostly thrifted cool t-shirts that can cost from $8 to $13 but still, it's an extra expenditure I shouldn't be making since I'm so cash strapped :(
#24
Small frugal wins on road trip today. Today I had to drive about 8 hours from my new city to my hometown. Things are tight and I wanted to make the trip as frugally as possible! I needed gas so I filled up at a Shell in a rural area on my way—cheaper than in town and I got the 5 cents off a gallon by being a rewards member. I used Google maps to help navigate, but as I have a not-unlimited data package, I turn off the app when I know I’m cruising on the same road for awhile. I’d packed snacks and a cooler, plus water for me and my pup, so I didn’t spend money for refreshment on the road…but did help myself to a few ice cubes at another gas station bathroom break stop. Wanting a bottle of wine for a hostess gift, I stopped to buy it at a place right before the state line—some things like tobacco and alcohol are taxed more heavily/more expensive in some states than others! Finally, I was happy to use an old gift card I’d had forever at a restaurant in my hometown—this place has family-style Italian food, so giant portions, and I never felt like dining in while I lived here. But getting a giant fancy salad as a to-go order put my gift card to use & gave me a healthy dinner + leftovers after a day on the road. These little frugal wins feel great—though it goes without saying that saving $ on a road trip means driving defensively and (mostly, ha) following the speed limit. Tickets and accidents are so expensive! Happy trails everyone.
Susan Stead 1 year ago
I use Costco as my pit-stop on road trips. Affordable food & bottled drinks, clean bathrooms and I get a discount on the gas by using their credit card.
Kristal 1 year ago
I was just going to mention this! Costco Membership is worth the cost just for the gas discounts alone, my gosh. But as for road trip stops, it's not a quick stop since parking lots are usually full and long lines for gas but if you have that time to stop, worth it for the gas and cheap food (like pizza!)
Load More Replies... WickedSwicket 1 year ago (edited)
Where i live there are both tolled highways & the old back roads to get to different cities between states. The tolled highways cut the travelling time from something like 1hr to a couple of hours. They used to be single lanes going each way but the past 20 years or so has seen them being upgraded to dual lanes or more. Nobody uses them except those folks living in the small towns along these roads. So i use them whenever i travel interstates & travel at night when there's even lesser traffic. It's still is slightly longer but only by half hour or so depending on the destinations, but i save tonnes on toll charges. Additional tip on the Google maps - the destinations can be pre downloaded & saved into your phones, so u can save on the data charges. Also comes in handy when the coverage is bad.
Lesbitarian Lady 1 year ago
Maybe next time print out the directions at home before you leave. No data needed
Kathy O'Neill 1 year ago
Where do you get ice cubes in a gas station bathroom? Or is it somewhere at a stop - I still don't get where you actually get the ice cubes.
Be_ Heard 1 year ago
Thry probably grabbed a few inside at the drink machine after they used the restroom.
Load More Replies... #25
Ditching prime and Amazon was the greatest money saver.
Amazon is no longer cheap. It has become a convenience excuse. I use online Walmart, Kohls for better bargains. Also Aliexpress and Temu. I got a kids backpack from clearance aisle in Kohls which costed 11 bucks, same thing in Amazon is like 29. The clothing is Amazon is not even good fit. So long Amazon! I was addicted one time, now I’m done.
Veronica Jean 1 year ago
AliExpress and Temu is known for selling cheap junk with designs loosely stolen from actual craftsmen. They are clogging out planet with useless c**p in the name of making a dollar. Don't support them.
Pittsburgh rare 1 year ago
Temu is known as Timo (Spanish for scam) in Spain. Not only do they sell a lot of c**p, they don't even actually ship it. They launched a very aggressive marketing campaign when they started business here and people started falling for it. And soon enough it was public that a significant number people didn't even receive their orders or got something different to the catalogue.
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StrangeOne 1 year ago
There are some things I've found cheaper on amazon. There are some things I can find that I can't find elsewhere. But I wouldn't shop online for most things.
Pa Pa Panda 1 year ago
If I lived close to a metro area I would drop Amazon but living rural it saves me time and gas.
Gustav Gallifrey 1 year ago
Temu in Australia now has a $50 minimum spend. They won't let you submit your order unless it totals $50 or more. I e-mailed them, told them i think it's a stupid policy, but they don't care. And, no, the 'remove minimum amount' dodge doesn't work here any more, either.
Anony Mouse 1 year ago
Amazon doesn't even require prime for the free shipping. I never got prime, but for most orders (over $35 I think) I get free 2-day or 1-day shipping anyway.
Janine Hunt-Jackson 1 year ago
Tell us more! I've never heard of this; how does it work? I'm on SNAP & Medicaid.
Load More Replies... Paul Gerrard 1 year ago (edited)
Temu etc sell knock off rip offs. Buy a mountain bike for $40 and a keyring size bike turns up. Also many of these sites steal data
Candy Sheppard 1 year ago
Still, 97 coffee pods for $30 is cheaper than 12 pods for $15 at the grocery
#26
What’s the most penny pinching thing you do? For me I’d say its charging my devices at work (keyboard, mouse, airpods, battery pack and phone). I know I’m saving a negligible amount of money but it feels nice using someone else’s utilities.
Verena 1 year ago
At some companies, this is regareded as stealing energy if done excessively with multiple private appliances. Your mobile telephone is tolerated, but anything else, not.
Gustav Gallifrey 1 year ago
Had a manager who complained about people charging their phones, 'stealing electricity from the company'. An employee said to him, 'you know how much it costs to charge a phone? About $2.00 per year'. She handed him a $5 note, said 'that should cover it. Come and see me half way through the year after next'.
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Pa Pa Panda 1 year ago
Unless your talking about charging an EV car it's hardly worth the effort.
Angela C 1 year ago
How much does the average company steal from their employee though?
Load More Replies... Lesbitarian Lady 1 year ago
Shhh ! Some things are better left unsaid, especially on the Internet
Gracie Mae 1 year ago
mine is probably running my dryer at night when electric rates are lower (or hanging laundry on the line), or saving most of my veggie scraps & meat bones/carcasses to make my own broth--I use it a LOT in cooking. Even had a few relatives save their turkey remnants one year, lol
Gustav Gallifrey 1 year ago
Yes, i take it right off the roll, several squares at a time. And you wouldn't believe what i do with that valuable commodity!
Load More Replies... #27
Amazon Day is a marketing event, not a deal day. For those who are unaware, Amazon has been doing Prime Day, a day where they claim to have the most amount of deals for 2 years now. However, research, consumer sentiment, analysts are able to show that Prime Day is more about getting users to sign up for Prime and marketing the brand, than it is about providing deals to existing customers. I strongly recommend you use a historical price checker like CCC or Keepa to actually verify the prices are lower, as it is a common tactic to raise prices before a sale and then trick customers into feeling like they got a deal with a large % drop, like 50% off. Also keep in mind many sites will be pushing the event despite lackluster deals, because they want people to come to their site to see the aggregated 'deals' (getting ad revenue), and some of them will be linking to Amazon for that sweet affiliate money on anything you buy.
Ricardo Ferreira 1 year ago
We used to say here in Brazil on these 'events', "tudo pela metade do dobro!" = "Everything on sale by half of the double of its price!" Yeah, sounds better in Portuguese.
cerinamroth 1 year ago
A bit like saying "Half the calories so I can have twice as much!"
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Upstaged75 1 year ago
Any "big sale" is a scam. I recall there was a report about "sales" at Macy's and there were more sale days than there were non-sale days. Meaning if something is ALWAYS on sale it's not a good deal. Kohls does this too.
Lyone Fein 1 year ago
I thought everyone knew that this is just common practice for retailers in general?
Toothless Feline 1 year ago
I completely ignore Prime Days. Site traffic gets so high that it takes forever to navigate, much less check out. The few genuine deals are either hard to find or extremely time-limited. You’re better off browsing Amazon Outlet on a regular day (still check price history, though!).
Tyranamar Seuss 1 year ago
I don't do any of these "deals." I realized all this stuff was a scam when I worked a Macy's. Sale every other week. I realized that was our actual prices of things. So, I just go shop when I need things. But I don't buy anything that's not on "sale." Bc if it's not on sale"sale" you're actually just paying double price. Kohl's is like this.
#28
7 random things I do to be Frugal.
I live in wifi 99% of the time. Most cell phone plans are under $10 for 1GB of data. Tello starts at $5
Bunny Ears / Antenna provide over 20 channels of great content. ABC, NBC, Fox, CBS, and more for free.
The library is not your library of the 90s. From PS5 games to great movies. Check out weekly for tons of free entertainment.
Cash "Stings" more than swiping a card. If you want to stick to a budget, hand over cash on your impulse buys and feel that sting. Studies show, even on 0% interest cards, you spend 20% more when swiping. Save money buy feeling the money leave your hands.
When going to live events, football games/concert. Park and wait until the game starts. I have seen tickets drop from $150 to $8 multiple times by just missing the kickoff and then walking in. We have set in seats on a premier concert which started at $500 ticket, missed the opening act and got in for under $60. Big Ten College basketball games for under $4 ticket after fees.. People panic when selling 3rd party tickets after the event starts. Enjoy the main act and save up to 95%.
Designate a "no spend month" twice a eyar. February is a good place to start with fewer days. Use every single thing in your house to eat, look for coupons, eat rice and beans. Try to live like you've never lived 2 out of 12 months and it really helps.
Panera Sip Club. Sign ups usually give you 3 months free and next 3 at a discount when you sign up. If you live within a couple of miles, get large drinks without ice and take home. You can get Coffee, Iced Coffee, Tea, Iced Tea, Soda, Bubbly, etc. Go a couple times a day and have plenty of drinks to share without the ice or have multiple times. An Iced Coffee with my own ice, makes 5 cups of my own cups. Full price is $11.99/month. I have been a customer for a year and yet to have paid that much. Probably spent $3,000 in retail pricing.
Regina Holt 1 year ago
Antenna tv works great for me. I don't need a lot of channels. And I can hook it up to my laptop to see stuff on a bigger screen (only 32 inches, though, which I think is the smallest size TVs come in today)
ElfVibratorGlitter 1 year ago
Exactly. My laptop is hooked up to the television and then I use free streaming services.
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Xenia Harley 1 year ago
At least in the US, many places have online libraries now too! The online library got me through the pandemic! Saved a ton of money, since some have movies, stream shows, and have music available!
Mark Hastings 1 year ago
A local radio station has a yearly concert festival at a venue that is only 20 minutes from my house. About 5 years ago on the day of the festival, I looked on Craigslist and found someone selling the $150 tickets for "best offer". My grand daughter, her husband and I showed up about 3 hours after this 10 hour event started and bought the 3 tickets for $50. They included premium parking that costs $50 extra. Got to see Metallica, Judas Priest, Greta Van Fleet and more and saved hundreds. As a bonus, we were in no hurry to leave after the last band so we wondered the grounds till the place was basically empty. Found about $500 worth of t-shirts and other souvenirs that were left behind by the drunk concert goers. Sold most of that stuff on Ebay and made back the cost of the tickets.
Angela C 1 year ago
I must be in the minority because I find it easier to justify spending cash because "the money is already out of my account anyway"
Bex 1 year ago
Yep cash just evaporates while cards "are on my permanent record"!
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quentariel 1 year ago (edited)
Yikes, your phone data usage is expensive. We usually have those unlimited usage phone plans. I pay 29,90€ per month and got unlimited calls and texts as well as unlimited data use. I'm grateful for that because otherwise I couldn't afford it.
🩶🩷Marvin HoG🩷🩶 1 year ago
Damn, maybe I need to do the sips thing for our coffee and tea. We have a Bread Co a 3 minute drive from the house.
While exploring unique and budget-friendly food options, you might come across fascinating tidbits about the accidental discovery of some of our favorite foods. For instance, discovering how unexpected culinary mishaps resulted in popular snacks and drinks adds an intriguing layer to frugal living.
To delve deeper into these delicious origin stories, take a look at the surprising inventions born from mistakes and accidents. It adds an extra spice to your kitchen adventures and might even inspire some cost-effective, accidental creations of your own.
What do you think ?
Hannah Taylor 1 year ago
I live in a senior apartment complex. From time to time, some of the residents need utensils, cookware, or small appliances. When I first moved in, I thought I had downsized enough. But when someone mentioned that they needed a rice cooker, and I had one that I hadn't used in a few years. I purchased a roasting pan after Christmas. After Easter, I had no further use for it, so I passed it on to someone else. It's a lot more convenient than hauling a large honking cart full of donations to a thrift shop. They're clean and undamaged, suitable for use. Everyone benefits from passing along unused items.
Ephemera Image 1 year ago
My apartment complex had a table in the laundry room for donated items. There was a lot of good stuff there, especially from when people were moving - perfectly good small appliances, dishes, etc.
Load More Replies... tuzdayschild 1 year ago
This post is helping me to get into a spend less mind set. I buy too many random things online because getting a package delivered sets off endorphins. So I thank you posters for helping me on my journey to retrain my brain.
Red_panda 1 year ago
I think of purchases as hours worked instead of dollars paid. If I make $20 an hour, and a new pair of shoes costs $100, I will have to work 5 hours to buy them. Are those shoes worth 5 hours of work to me?
Cassie 1 year ago
Shoes can affect your health and need to be replaced. They shouldn't just be expensive, but expensive because they are durable and well-designed.
Load More Replies... Tams21 1 year ago
Disposable razor blades are another one. For the price of 10 premium replacement blades you can literally buy 100 of the old safety razor blades.
Shari Story 1 year ago
With the economy the way it is, I really appreciate this article. More, please!
Cassie 1 year ago
One of the most frugal things we ever did was get an aqueous ozone system for our washer. Aqueous ozone is used by the health and hospitality industries to wash bedding and other linens and render them safe for reuse by multiple people. It is a sanitizer, takes even the worst stink out of laundry (I started using it when my kids were teens and it seemed like nothing could get the teen funk out of their clothes but this did, plus I now have a geriatric cat who has some bladder leakage and it gets the strong cat urine smell out of her blankets), and it breaks down to environmentally friendly parts. Additionally, it is strongest when using cold water, so even more savings on electricity/gas. Clothes get stiff in the wash because of detergent buildup, so now my clothes are nice and soft out of the wash without additional products. I just have wool balls in my dryer. I haven't had to buy expensive laundry products in years.
Deborah B 1 year ago
I switched to the tigerino lavender 4 week silica crystal catlitter. I buy a six-bag box and get it delivered. I change it after 3 weeks, but that's still 24 weeks for £35, including delivery, less than £1.50 a week. Compared to what I was paying for the regular clumping stuff that had to be replaced weekly, it's such good value, and it really is more effective at controlling odors. I was paying £7-8 a week for more dust, more odor, and more work. It's a win.
Hannah Taylor 1 year ago
I live in a senior apartment complex. From time to time, some of the residents need utensils, cookware, or small appliances. When I first moved in, I thought I had downsized enough. But when someone mentioned that they needed a rice cooker, and I had one that I hadn't used in a few years. I purchased a roasting pan after Christmas. After Easter, I had no further use for it, so I passed it on to someone else. It's a lot more convenient than hauling a large honking cart full of donations to a thrift shop. They're clean and undamaged, suitable for use. Everyone benefits from passing along unused items.
Ephemera Image 1 year ago
My apartment complex had a table in the laundry room for donated items. There was a lot of good stuff there, especially from when people were moving - perfectly good small appliances, dishes, etc.
Load More Replies... tuzdayschild 1 year ago
This post is helping me to get into a spend less mind set. I buy too many random things online because getting a package delivered sets off endorphins. So I thank you posters for helping me on my journey to retrain my brain.
Red_panda 1 year ago
I think of purchases as hours worked instead of dollars paid. If I make $20 an hour, and a new pair of shoes costs $100, I will have to work 5 hours to buy them. Are those shoes worth 5 hours of work to me?
Cassie 1 year ago
Shoes can affect your health and need to be replaced. They shouldn't just be expensive, but expensive because they are durable and well-designed.
Load More Replies... Tams21 1 year ago
Disposable razor blades are another one. For the price of 10 premium replacement blades you can literally buy 100 of the old safety razor blades.
Shari Story 1 year ago
With the economy the way it is, I really appreciate this article. More, please!
Cassie 1 year ago
One of the most frugal things we ever did was get an aqueous ozone system for our washer. Aqueous ozone is used by the health and hospitality industries to wash bedding and other linens and render them safe for reuse by multiple people. It is a sanitizer, takes even the worst stink out of laundry (I started using it when my kids were teens and it seemed like nothing could get the teen funk out of their clothes but this did, plus I now have a geriatric cat who has some bladder leakage and it gets the strong cat urine smell out of her blankets), and it breaks down to environmentally friendly parts. Additionally, it is strongest when using cold water, so even more savings on electricity/gas. Clothes get stiff in the wash because of detergent buildup, so now my clothes are nice and soft out of the wash without additional products. I just have wool balls in my dryer. I haven't had to buy expensive laundry products in years.
Deborah B 1 year ago
I switched to the tigerino lavender 4 week silica crystal catlitter. I buy a six-bag box and get it delivered. I change it after 3 weeks, but that's still 24 weeks for £35, including delivery, less than £1.50 a week. Compared to what I was paying for the regular clumping stuff that had to be replaced weekly, it's such good value, and it really is more effective at controlling odors. I was paying £7-8 a week for more dust, more odor, and more work. It's a win.
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