manxcat
Posts: 673
Joined: 10/3/2008
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My grandparents raised me until i was 10. They recycled even then; everything froem newpapers which my grandfather sold to a dealer, to string form the bakery boxes, which was used to tie up tomato plants. Then my brother and i moved inwith mom and her new husband. There was no repairing of things that got broken, they replaced everyting. I am happy to say that my life has been more like that of my grandparents, and i have been saving money for years.
Dollar stores and walmart are da bomb for savings. Dollar Tree is where things really are a dollar. Totally Awesome is a non-toxic all purpose cleaner, that really works. At Walmart you can get refills of liquid soap, in a half gallon size for about $4, last time i bought it, may have gone up since. If you want to go another route, i woud say shampoo, as it cuts grease in your hair, it does elsewhere as well. I do find that dawn is a better dishwashing liquid, and you need less - i use about 1/4 bottle of that as opposed to cheaper brands, so the cost evens out.
Turning your heat down, and wearing warmer clothes will keep your fuel and electric bill down. In this state, (SD) when you have foster kids, you have to keep the temp set no lower than 55 in the dayand 50 at night. Again, something my grandparents did, although i keep mine a bit higher, as it seems to run more at lower temps, negating savings on electric. In the summer, keep your air conditioner set at 85, and turn it on when it is still cool from the night. It will work less and say cooler longer. Also drink lots of water to keep hydrated, you will feel cooler. On that note, invest in a good water filter, and fill your own bottles to take along. There are still no controls on bottled water. Anyone can fill a fancy bottle with tap water or river water from anywhere and sell it at outrageous prices. You know it's a rip when Coca cola and Budweiser get in on the act. In recent years, they have both made as much if not more profit from water, than their other beverages.
I make my own flavored coffees. You can get a bottle of raspberry or other syrup - sugar free as well - for the price of one latte, and have at least a donzen for the same price. I also will buy 2 kinds of coffee, one cheap store and one very good brand, and mix them. There are a few less expensive brands that are just as good as some high dollar ones as well. Butternut brand, is certainly tastier than Folgers.
Genereics, generics, generics. It took me 4 years to convince my mother that the store brand of ibuprofin had the same exact chemical makeup as Tylenol. For less than half the price. This holds true for virtually all over the counter remedies. Check your prescriptions too. Those whose patents have expired, will be less expensive in the generic versions.
Learn to DIY. Get a basic set of tools. Again, at Dollar Tree you can get some cheap screwdrivers, etc, for a dollar. If you are not using them on a carpenters job, they last quite nicely.
Newspapers are also good for window cleaning and drying, and leave no streaks. Crumpled newspapers also work well for packing materials - much less than bubble wrap. If you are moving, go to your post office, most of them have piles of the colored newsprint ads, great for packing the kitchen.
Buy in bulk when food items are on sale. With butter at over $3 a pound, i stock up when it goes on sale for $1.89. Same with snacks and crackers. Shop around. Keep a list (in your head if you can) of what items are less expensive at one store, and which are less at others. Don't wait until you run out of something you use often, to replace it. Quite often you will run out at in inopportune time, and need somehting from a convenience store, and pay much higher prices.
Keep your car tuned up, and fluids and tires filled to the correct levels. Your car will run better and use less gas, as they are designed to run in those conditions. If your speedometer had a mark at 55 or 65 that is the optimum speed for least gas consumption as well. It is geared to perform best at that speed.
Food co-ops and pantries, and scratch and dent for canned good. They also have scratch and dent places for appliances. Sooner or later you will scratch that nice new fridge anyway, so get one already scratched and hang a magnet, with your lists. Or your kids/grandkids art.
Corn, beans and squash or pumpkins all work in the same area of garden. The corn provides shade and support for the squash and beans, respectively. They also provide/need different nutrients so are assisting each other in growing, rather than competing for the same ones. Rotate the location of your plants from year to year, finding out what is being used one year that can be replaced with something else the next. Grow your own herbs. Around here a half ounce package of herbs runs anywhere from $2.79 to over $4. By planting 2 or 3, even using them every day, you will still have enough to dry for winter. Actually you can plant or move them inside for winter, in pots. For that matter, you can propogate many house plants, and at the end of the summer, many garden centers will put very nice planters on sale. A pretty house plant makes a great gift, and having several around is soothing and helps replenish your oxygen.
Lastly, buy clothing on sale. Or at Goodwill, the Salvation Army, etc. I have very few items purchased at full price. I have gotten silk blouses and dresses for $1-$5, in perfect condition. Linen too. My 2 best deals were a leather coat for $10, that needed a pocket stitched, and finding $45 in the pocket of a pair of cords i was looking at. I also found the perfect bedroom lamp for $6.
Oops one more thing - yard sales. Need i say more?
manxcat
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Artists make lousy slaves. -Jodi Jenson
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