Frugal tips that *did* work for you?

[Abbybob]

I love reading about tips that didn't work for others, but I also like to learn about new tips that maybe I had never thought of.

Here's mine:

I read in a magazine or on a blog about saving the mesh bags that Cuties and onions come in, bundling them together (like with a rubber band) and using it as a scrubbie. I've been saving them for a while and today I made my cutie scrubbie and it works REALLY WELL!! My sink has never been cleaner!

Also- I add a tablespoon of warm water to the bottom of my body wash, shampoo, conditioner and dish soap bottles and give it a swish let it sit upside down over night and the next day POOF one more use!- it gets the last few drop out and then the containers are cleaned out and ready for the recycling bin!

What have you recently started to do that works for you?

[Doglover8180]

This is probably one that everyone has already thought of but - I save my bags from kroger, Target, etc... and use them to line all the trashcans in my home...saves money on bags but you do have to take the trash out more frequently.

[Abbybob]

I save mine too- I use them to wrap my frozen food in when I take my lunch from home (4 days/week)- that way I don't get condensation inside my lunch bag and I always have an extra bag with me if I need it.

[VivaciousJewelz]

Abbybob, I do the warm in the bodywash bottles, too. I do something similar with Hershey's chocolate sauce- when no more sauce comes out, I pour milk in, shake it, and get instant chocolate milk! I also use bags as trash can liners.

[Doglover8180]

Speaking of work - that made me think of another tip.... I bring a soft drink with me each day and keep some snacks in my desk... because inevitably I get the munchies at work and I refuse to pay $1.50 for a bag of chips or soft drink from the vending machine - so I make sure I have something in case I get hungry or thirsty so that I won't resort to overpriced vending machines.

[VivaciousJewelz]

Speaking of work - that made me think of another tip.... I bring a soft drink with me each day and keep some snacks in my desk... because inevitably I get the munchies at work and I refuse to pay $1.50 for a bag of chips or soft drink from the vending machine - so I make sure I have something in case I get hungry or thirsty so that I won't resort to overpriced vending machines.

That's a great idea! I do the same thing mostly, but sometimes I get cravings.

I thought of a couple more: Recently in our house, we've started adding blankets and sleeping in comfy pants and shirts so we can keep the heat down during the nighttime. I also reuse ziploc bags and I use fabric softener sheets at least twice before throwing them out.

[rebate_queen]

I don't know if this is along the same lines but a few years ago I started using rechargeable batteries in my camera. They keep a charge for a good while and it's so much better than changing the batteries all the time, especially since I am one to forget my camera and it can end up sitting for long periods of time with the batteries in it. I also have found that the rechargeable batteries work great for our Wii remotes!

[summermay]

I use a Ziploc containers ( luv these! ) to pack my sandwich instead of using a baggie.
I use a teabag more than once. two one time used ones will make another cup of tea.
I stick the almost gone small bar of bath-soap to the top of the new bar to use it up.

[justmama]

I put SOS/brillo pads in the freezer when they are wet, keeps them from rusting.
I throw my scrub brush in the dishwasher to clean it.
I save the bags that ceral comes in for emergency wax paper
I save toilet paper and paper towel rolls cut a slit in long ways, instant wrapping paper thingy to keep it from unrolling.
Keep larger margarine and other containers to store food scraps for chickens
throw orange/lemon/lime peelings in a pot w/ a little water and cloves, cinnamon and/or nutmeg, for a nice smell OR throw peelings down the garbage disposal for a quick smell nice smell
keep extra trash bags in the bottom of cans, so there's one there so no one has to walk to 2 feet to get a new one, since it never happens and i always go to throw things out and there is not a liner.
We reuse plastic bags for bathroom/bedroom cans

Lastly a random tip. When doing a mega event like kroger, use reusable canvas bags and add the items when you get to the required number tie the handles and start a new bag. Started doing this when i had to count over and over and over to make sure i had enough items.

[angeleyeza]

i reuse old baby wipe tubs to put things in have about 20 boxes neatly marked with marker and labeled:

BTFE
CLEF
reciets
AA batteries
AAbatteries
D batteries
C batteries
Screws
soda tabs
bread ties
birthday candles
toothpicks
ect

for the small things that seem to get lost LOL

also I reuse store bags to carry my lunch into work or save them up in a box for the yearly yardsale this way i dont have to scramble for bags..LOL

I reuse the TP rolls for DD3 to play with she likes to play with them LOL
DD6 likes to make crafts with them.

spag. sauce jars, other jars. (glass/plastic) wash. santize and save each year for canning or making cookies in a jar for christmas presents. This year DD6 saved them up and was able to save 20 plastic dole jars or her classmates to make cookie jars for ea of them. neatly labeled (thanks to me..LOL ever see a 1st grader handwriting? not neat LoL) she tied ribbon around them and wrapped them in wrapping paper.


we reuse gift boxes every year. I just reglue the ends that come apart.

i actually recycled the stuffing from our old couch because we got new. and was able to fix 10 dolls, 2-teddybears , and 2 throw pillows LOL i know sounds cheezy

i save all boxes from items i buy in boxes to use for chrstmas gifts every year. this way i dont have to buy boxes for gifts that are a certain size.

i recycle pizza boxes (clean ones) for kids memory boxes. all papers from that school year in one box marked for that school year. this way the kids have memories to look back on in the future and I dont have 1000000000 papers in the house..LOL