Frugal tip of the day
#21
Originally Posted by QuiltnNan
Originally Posted by plainpat
So many things we can make that is much cheaper than store bought.I haven't bought scratch pads in yrs.Use the other side of junk mail & computer paper. Use shower caps (bought at dollar store or Sally's) as bowl covers.Cut softener sheets in 1/2.
Make your own tea/coffee,oatmeal.Buy generic cereals & mix to your taste.
I seldom do a wks grocery shopping as I stock up on the loss leaders,so only need a few things.Keep a bag in the freezer for left over veggies & make soup.
Make your own tea/coffee,oatmeal.Buy generic cereals & mix to your taste.
I seldom do a wks grocery shopping as I stock up on the loss leaders,so only need a few things.Keep a bag in the freezer for left over veggies & make soup.
#22
Junior Member
Join Date: Jan 2011
Posts: 231
I get several uses out of dryer sheets. I do not buy the name brand ones to begin with and just reuse a couple of times. by the third time may have to pop a couple of used ones in but they work. by then they are getting very see through like so the softner is used up. warm weather I line dry most items. our water is very soft so don't use much soap for dishes, clothes or to bathe. Our biggest problem is the well water. in this area it is heavy sulfer and tastes like rotten eggs even with filters. the filteration system we put in last year helps but now it is getting low so is more concentrated and stronger. if we leave it sit out overnight is drinkable otherwise have to buy water.
#23
Super Member
Join Date: Mar 2010
Location: Elmira, NY
Posts: 6,113
My mother always made her own soup, and she would keep a plastic container with a cover in the freezer to toss leftover veggies into to use.
I use bars of soap until it is just a sliver and then when the new bar is just a little past new, after a shower when both are dampened, I meld them together to use up the sliver. It's kind of fun if they are different colors.
When I brush my teeth, I use about 1/2 an inch of toothpaste. It's still more than enough, and doesn't waste the rest that would just go down the drain.
I use bars of soap until it is just a sliver and then when the new bar is just a little past new, after a shower when both are dampened, I meld them together to use up the sliver. It's kind of fun if they are different colors.
When I brush my teeth, I use about 1/2 an inch of toothpaste. It's still more than enough, and doesn't waste the rest that would just go down the drain.
#24
Originally Posted by raedar63
Let's hear your frugal tips, You know the more we save the more we can spend on fabric!
My tip
Fill a small spray bottle with your regular dish soap. 1-2 squirts will amaze you at how much suds it makes, I have not had to buy dishsoap in months! I used to go through a bottle every few weeks, I don't have a dishwasher .I am anxious to hear all of your tips :)
My tip
Fill a small spray bottle with your regular dish soap. 1-2 squirts will amaze you at how much suds it makes, I have not had to buy dishsoap in months! I used to go through a bottle every few weeks, I don't have a dishwasher .I am anxious to hear all of your tips :)
#25
Super Member
Join Date: Feb 2011
Location: In the country in Ohio
Posts: 4,394
Cheap Vodka I use it to Clean the bathroom, and the kitchen.
Spray bottle with
50/50 water vodka mix, add a couple of drops of essential oil and you are ready to clean.
I also use this when ironing.
I cut dryer sheets in half and I cut paper towels in half.
Spray bottle with
50/50 water vodka mix, add a couple of drops of essential oil and you are ready to clean.
I also use this when ironing.
I cut dryer sheets in half and I cut paper towels in half.
#26
I make my own starch....because I cannot afford to spend a ton on the best press...this is what I do
2oz of vodka (i used the cheap stuff)
2 cups of distilled water
and you can add a couple drops of lavandar or any other scent you want...
2oz of vodka (i used the cheap stuff)
2 cups of distilled water
and you can add a couple drops of lavandar or any other scent you want...
#27
Originally Posted by wanda lou
Cheap Vodka I use it to Clean the bathroom, and the kitchen.
Spray bottle with
50/50 water vodka mix, add a couple of drops of essential oil and you are ready to clean.
Spray bottle with
50/50 water vodka mix, add a couple of drops of essential oil and you are ready to clean.
my recipe is similar - Cheap Vodka, add a few ice cubes and twist of lemon, drink until you don't care whether the bathroom and kitchen are clean..... :wink:
#28
Super Member
Join Date: Apr 2011
Location: Bosque County, Texas
Posts: 2,709
This is saving in reverse. (Going about 100 MPH in reverse) I decided to make some blouses for my 9yr DGD and my serger is so old it hardly does anything. So while I had my expensive does everything embroidery Brother machine in the shop to get a thread jam unjammed I just "looked" at the new sergers. In order to make some new girl's blouses cheaper and better quality I spent $1600! However, never again in my old age will I have to thread a machine needle - which I can hardly see anyhow. Now how many blouses will I have to make to save any real money?
#29
Super Member
Join Date: Jul 2010
Location: A Hop from Heaven, a Skip from Sanity and a Jump from the Good Life....
Posts: 6,665
In a fine spray bottle I put downy liquid and dilute it with water- just enough that the water is light light light blue- spray the carpet to reduce static and freshens the room too..
Make my own starch
1 cup Sta-flo concentrated starch
1 cup water
1 cup frebreeze any scent
mix/shake with lid on, in a clean spaghetti jar and pour in an empty Best press starch bottle
when my Cello kitchen pad gets to yucky (embarrassing more like it) for dishes I use it to clean the bathrooms
I re-use my empty frebreeze sprayers for vinegar or bleach to use for cleaning..
Clear plastic containers that the fruit-strawberries, grapes and the like, salad, comes in are great for fabric scraps..
I use spaghetti jars to:
~ hold/display buttons and smaller quilting items
~ store homemade humming bird sugar water in the fridge..
~ store craft items for my daughter to play with
~ use as a 'vase' after my lil one painted it - great out-of-my-hair-craft
~ store the freebies; salt packets, sugar packets, ketchup, mustard that come in the to-go bags
I put two good squirts of dish soap( less than an inch) in an empty bottle and dilute with water to wash dishes.
I keep shoe boxes handy to hold scraps until i have time to organize them and/or cut them down then put in their perspective places
i keep an empty milk/tea jug to water my plants with..
I use plastic 2 ltr soda bottles to water the garden- bought an attachment to screw on so while upside down will gradually water the garden..
mesh baggie for soap slivers....
use clothes pins on hangers to keep clothing from slipping off the hangers
use a multi pant hanger to hold and organize quilt tops and another one for assorted with strips
hang clothes outside to dry instead of using dryer
in the winter I have a bypass to allow the heat of the dryer to come in instead of venting out to warm up the area
turn orphan blocks into hot pads as gifts- and save batting scraps just for this purpose
use paper plates and paper napkins when its just me or me a my lil one- no dishes to be washed, no soap to be used, no running of the dishwasher, and more time for me to quilt!
cut the flat end of the tubes (toothpaste, face cleansers) to get up to five more uses..
swap fabrics with fellow members instead of buying new..
left over ice cubes put in potted plant to gradually water then as they melt
I use vinegar in the dishwasher instead of a rinse aide
buy in bulk and foodsaver (sucky-bag ) them
use crock pot instead of oven in the summer
use oven more in the winter
use fireplace in the winter
cook more for leftovers
I use gifted candles instead of turning all the lights on.. I keep the main light on and the glow gives off ample lighting thru out the rest of the area..
close doors and cut off vents to the unused rooms of the house- i made bean bags to cover the vents in those rooms..
made under the door bean bags to trap heat/ac in specific rooms that are connected to the foyer- plus each floor has its own heat/ac unit..
older window frames have bean bags on them too to reduce drafts..
re-use large ziplock baggies for 'garbage'
re-use the plastic containers that 'snap' shut like ziplocks for left overs and other various uses..
Make my own starch
1 cup Sta-flo concentrated starch
1 cup water
1 cup frebreeze any scent
mix/shake with lid on, in a clean spaghetti jar and pour in an empty Best press starch bottle
when my Cello kitchen pad gets to yucky (embarrassing more like it) for dishes I use it to clean the bathrooms
I re-use my empty frebreeze sprayers for vinegar or bleach to use for cleaning..
Clear plastic containers that the fruit-strawberries, grapes and the like, salad, comes in are great for fabric scraps..
I use spaghetti jars to:
~ hold/display buttons and smaller quilting items
~ store homemade humming bird sugar water in the fridge..
~ store craft items for my daughter to play with
~ use as a 'vase' after my lil one painted it - great out-of-my-hair-craft
~ store the freebies; salt packets, sugar packets, ketchup, mustard that come in the to-go bags
I put two good squirts of dish soap( less than an inch) in an empty bottle and dilute with water to wash dishes.
I keep shoe boxes handy to hold scraps until i have time to organize them and/or cut them down then put in their perspective places
i keep an empty milk/tea jug to water my plants with..
I use plastic 2 ltr soda bottles to water the garden- bought an attachment to screw on so while upside down will gradually water the garden..
mesh baggie for soap slivers....
use clothes pins on hangers to keep clothing from slipping off the hangers
use a multi pant hanger to hold and organize quilt tops and another one for assorted with strips
hang clothes outside to dry instead of using dryer
in the winter I have a bypass to allow the heat of the dryer to come in instead of venting out to warm up the area
turn orphan blocks into hot pads as gifts- and save batting scraps just for this purpose
use paper plates and paper napkins when its just me or me a my lil one- no dishes to be washed, no soap to be used, no running of the dishwasher, and more time for me to quilt!
cut the flat end of the tubes (toothpaste, face cleansers) to get up to five more uses..
swap fabrics with fellow members instead of buying new..
left over ice cubes put in potted plant to gradually water then as they melt
I use vinegar in the dishwasher instead of a rinse aide
buy in bulk and foodsaver (sucky-bag ) them
use crock pot instead of oven in the summer
use oven more in the winter
use fireplace in the winter
cook more for leftovers
I use gifted candles instead of turning all the lights on.. I keep the main light on and the glow gives off ample lighting thru out the rest of the area..
close doors and cut off vents to the unused rooms of the house- i made bean bags to cover the vents in those rooms..
made under the door bean bags to trap heat/ac in specific rooms that are connected to the foyer- plus each floor has its own heat/ac unit..
older window frames have bean bags on them too to reduce drafts..
re-use large ziplock baggies for 'garbage'
re-use the plastic containers that 'snap' shut like ziplocks for left overs and other various uses..
#30
Super Member
Join Date: Feb 2011
Location: DC metro area
Posts: 1,286
Originally Posted by plainpat
.Make your own tea/coffee,
:lol: When I first read this I was like, what do you mean make my own coffee and tea? It's takes a special climate to grow the beans/tea plants and then....ohhhh...make it at home and not buy it at Starbucks....that makes more since.
I've gone the stay flo starch method also, add water and frebreeze any scent. Those spray cans never expell the entire amount, about half way through the nozzle messes up, even though I pull it off and rinse it and other things
I shop the sales, don't go to as many stores as I used to. I would hit one store for the one thing on sale, and then wind up buying more on impuluse, hit the next store and pick up that sale item + more. Now I shop primarily at the large international market for produce, and Aldi's for just about everything else.
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