I make my own cleaning products. No paper towels or sponges- I use dishtowels. Powder detergent, no dryer sheets or fabric softeners. I splurged on a steam mop instead of buying Swiffers. I saved the microfiber newborn inserts from my son's cloth diapers (he never used them, just the regular inserts) and use them for dusting cloths.
Most of my thriftiness is home related. I made nearly all our window treatments. I made all the decorative throw pillows for the family room and living room, and I used the stuffing from old bedroom pillows to fill them. Three endtables and a buffet were picked up from the curb. And after we bought a new kitchen table, I sawed the legs off of the old one to turn it into a coffee table for our living room.
Clean with vinegar Cook as much from scratch as possible Meal plan based on what is on sale Buy in bulk when there is a really good deal on something we use often Eat at least one, but usually more than one meatless dinner a week No dryer sheets, most laundry is done in cold water Entertain the kids by heading to local parks and such...lots of picnics and playgrounds
I cook my own chickpeas from dried in the crockpot instead of buying canned. I save tens of cents each month. It's off the chain.
Haha! Was this tongue in cheek or real?
We meal plan and shop around to get the best prices, but I feel like I need to turn in my MM card as the idea of making my own laundry detergent never occurred to me.
I take the envelope insert sent with my bills and use them to write grocery lists. I never buy paper that way since I pay all of our bills online anyway.
Post by megalicious on Oct 1, 2012 17:50:25 GMT -5
-I rarely go clothes shopping, and when I do, I start at the cheapest stores and work my way up until I find what I need. I shop the clearance rack first, often buying ahead for next year. -Nearly all of DD's clothes/toys come from the consignment shop. All her gear came off CL. -I drive a little further and battle the crowds at the cheap grocery stores. I save over $100/mo with this. -NEVER get manis/pedis/massages, hair cuts for me are 2-3x/yr. -Use all of my flex spending, even if I have to be annoying about getting the Rx for Tylenol and diaper rash cream every time -We don't have any TV service, only Netflix. -Both drive hybrids and always use my gas points; gas is cheapest in the town where I work so I always get it there rather than around home--it's usually a 10-15cent/gal difference. -I try to always bring my lunch, I bring coffee from home now that I have a Keurig (it's the only homemade coffee I've ever liked).
Weaknesses: Going out to eat on the weekends, not meal planning, not couponing, flying rather than driving for vacations.
Or, at the very least, a reasonable person when it comes to money.
But this? I cannot post anything and not be laughed out of here.
The cost-benefit analysis in my head tells me that making my own [insert anything here] is not a savings or worth my time.
I feel the same way, especially your last paragraph. Even the few frugal things I do, really aren't at their core. I drive an old car, but know that a new luxury car is on the horizon. I meal plan, but don't consider sales or clip coupons before shopping.
Other than that, all I've got is that I try to keep my "everyday wine" purchases to under $15 a bottle. :/
We make our own laundry detergent Stopped buying paper towels and I use reusable towels I made my own all purpose cleaning solution and I think it works better than the store bought ones Made my own Shout color catcher sheets Meal plan Freezer meals for lots of lunches and dinners Make our own coffee Go to the 99 cent only store for canned goods
I try to make sure I balance convienenve with frugality. I work hard at my career so that I can afford some time savers. I usually only go the frugal route when I feel the quality is better. I make chicken broth from scratch always. I cook dried beans rather than canned. I clean practically everything with either bleach or vinegar. I trim my own bangs. Do my own manicures, eyebrows etc. (but I pay for professional color). I mend holes in my husbands shirts.
I try not to buy clothes that need to be dry cleaned. I always wait for sales I skip mani/pedis but more out of laziness that frugality I skip being trendy/fashionable because 1) I would need lessons and 2) it saves a lot of money. 3) I do not need to be for my job I find that buying some prepared foods saves me much more $$$$ than making everything from scratch
On this level nothing...on a larger scale I do things like buy fixer uppers. I do not have the time, patience nor desire to do 99% of the things mentioned. I need big payoffs
I use fabric dye to freshen up clothes, particularly blacks because of how they fade. Not RIT, that stuff sucks. Fiber reactive dye is permanent and the colors are vibrant. I've dyed tons of H's pants, some of my tops and jeans, all of our towels when I changed bathroom colors and the duvet on our bed that I'm sitting on right now.
Not nearly enough. I get all my books from the library, I try to take advantage of free concerts/ cultural events, take my kid to different playgrounds instead of places with admission costs, by clothes on clearance and with coupons.
H and I usually cut our dog's hair ourself unless it gets really bad, and we take her to the self serve doggie wash that costs 12 dollars vs. paying lots of $$$ to have her groomed (we did that once, but just bc it was so out of control)
I use coupons whenever possible and buy whats on sale
Take lunch to school, H can usually eat lunch for free at work if he eats what the kids are having (otherwise he brings his own stuff)
We rarely see movies at a theater anymore- we watch movies on netflix or get a redbox. When we do see movies in theaters, we dont get snacks at the snack bar, or if we do, we will just get one large drink to share.
We try to eat at home during the week and only have 2 meals out on the weekend.
Not as impressive as some MMers, but we are getting a lot better.
also, when i was frugal and had to be, it was MUCH cheaper to go to big lots or the 99 cent store for cleaning supplies (yes, including vinegar, but vinegar doesn't do it for me for everything) that were concentrated and water them down/use sparingly.
use the library alot do mani , pedi, brows myself cut my own, and my whole family's hair buy all kids clothing discounted ebay, craigslist pack mine and kids' lunches