ECON Frugal Tips for Sept. '10

[Usually Curious]

Sometimes we can get tips by finding out what people did in the old days. Here's some info. from mum.org

What did women do about menstruation in the past?

http://www.mum.org/pastgerm.htm

Mrs.Cw

I agree completely. I do find the cloth dipes and cloth menstrual pads of today pretty leak-free and easy compared w/the past. For example, the cloth dipes/plastic pants my 20yodd wore pale in comparison to the cloth all-in-one cloth dipes my little boys wear now. They are as easy and convenient to use as disposables.

 

[Orion Commander]

Old sheets make wonderful and large enough hankis and cotten slips. We never use a towel for cast iron but put it on the stove after draining most of the dish water off it.

 

[Deena in GA]

Old sheets make wonderful and large enough hankis and cotten slips. We never use a towel for cast iron but put it on the stove after draining most of the dish water off it.

I never thought of making hankies or slips from sheets. What a great idea! I have fussed to friends about not being able to find cotton slips in the stores anymore, and even bought some material to make one. I have a whole selection of sheets I can use for this. Thanks!

Be Well, it sounds like we can probably learn a lot from you. Hope you will continue to share ideas! I so appreciate everyone's input on this thread! Lots of great ideas!

I found a list of links to 52 different sites that talk of being frugal today at: http://www.moolanomy.com/326/50-frugal-tips-ideas-and-resources/

 

[FREEBIRD]

Deena---Thanks for the links! That'll keep me busy for a while.

Be Well---Sun cleaner is great! I buy two or three tubs at a time at Family Dollar.

 

[Usually Curious]

These would be easy to make:

http://www.squishytushy.com/mama-stuff-c-166/stackable-3-in-1-mama-pad-p-815

 

[nomifyle]

Old sheets make wonderful and large enough hankis and cotten slips. We never use a towel for cast iron but put it on the stove after draining most of the dish water off it.

Sheets are wonderful for hankys, we never used kleenex when I was growing up and we rarely used it when my sons were growing up and we still rarely use it. I did buy a few boxes last year when the piggy flu was going around, but the boxes are still unopened, we were blessed that we never got the flu. DH is a nut about hand sanitizer.

I'm very sparing with paper towels, I put used ones (that are still relatively clean) in a bag and when I need to wipe something up off the floor I go to that bag. Paper bags are great for putting fried food on, but I rarely fry anything.

Judy

 

[lectrickitty]

I use old sheets to make little pouches with draw strings for holding things. I have one for yarn and crochet needles, another one for knitting needles, one to carry jerky when I travel, one for pens & pencils. I made one about 1/2 the size of a pillow case to use as a laundry bag when traveling and another one to carry small car toys for the grandkids. I have one I put odds and ends dishes/silverware in and keep for camping. The grandkids use them to pack fruit in for when they go "hiking" down to the pond and around the pastures. I have several small ones that I put snacks and little toys in, then hang on the door knobs as surprises for the grandkids on the days they come to visit.

Those little "knap sacks" are great for putting just about anything in & it's easy to hang them on a nail in out of the way spots. I use the string from feed sacks for the drawstrings so I don't have to buy string.

I save empty water bottles to store milk in. A gallon will go bad before I can use it up, so I freeze water bottles of milk. Take one out every 2 or 3 days to thaw. When it thaws, shake it and it's as good as the day it was collected. This gives me extra milk to use during the dry weeks, until another doe comes fresh.

Empty soap jugs make great "water cans" for watering plants, animals, etc. They can also be cut into "scoops" to keep in feed barrels.

An empty soap jug that has not been rinsed out, can be taken camping. When filled with water, they have just enough soap left to make them good single washups of hands, dishes, even washing out an article of clothing.

 

[Be Well]

I will check out your link, Deena.

I have much to learn - everyone has good ideas!

I have thought of this one but didn't do it yet.

Cut the legs of old jeans that aren't useful any more for wearing and make bags - just a rectangle with some kind of handle, no need for a casing and draw string, or maybe make a flap that comes over and a button or similar fastening.

They'd be rough and tough. DH already wants some for "industrial" purposes.

They could be nice purses with some decoration for added "purty".

 

[Deena in GA]

We bought a bunch of boxes of crackers when they were on sale bogo and we had coupons. Unfortunately, they went out of date and started getting soft before we'd eaten them all (just a few sleeves left). I used them in squash casserole, though, and they were fine. You can also add them to meatloaf to stretch it.

The produce market marks their bananas down to $.19/lb when they start getting brown spots. I buy them and stick them in the freezer, pulling them out when I want to make banana nut bread. Yum!

 

[Loon]

You can "recrisp" stale crackers by putting them on a paper towel in the microwave for about 30-40 seconds.

You can also put them on a cookie sheet in the oven at 250 for about ten or fifteen minutes. Keep checking them.

Both methods will take the excess moisture out of the crackers by drying them out. THe moisture is what causes them to lose their snap and go soft.

 

[Vicki]

For the women...I was reminded of an old tip I used to do all the time yesterday when I got a run in my hose. If you have two pair of hose that each have a run in one leg, cut off the leg with the run and use both pair at the same time. An added benefit is that it acts as almost a girdle, lol.

LOL Deena! That cracked me up! lol Thanks, I needed that giggle this morning!

I was going through the junk my kids seem to leave with me when they get their own places and I found my youngest son left four soft guitar cases that he must have abandoned or his juvy friends left and forgot about. I thought about it a minute and yep, they are now becoming bug out bags. They have more room in them then napsaks and heck, I could put a rifle in each one if I wanted too. lol

I like the idea of braided rugs. I have SO MUCH material. Aye!

Vicki

 

[Deena in GA]

What a great idea for using those guitar cases! That's one of the hallmarks of being a frugal person - finding different uses for things and thinking outside the box. Congratulations!

My youngest son is on a traveling soccer team, so each weekend we're out of town at either lunch or supper time. We're trying to find cheap places to eat and today's stop was at Cracker Barrel. Don't know if there's anyone who doesn't know this, but just in case you don't, all ages can eat kid's meals at Cracker Barrel - and the price includes your drink and, of course, the biscuits and cornbread. The three of us ate there today for $13. Of course, it would be cheaper to take our lunch and there will be times we do that. We do take snacks with us to munch on the way there.

 

[Deena in GA]

I should have posted this earlier, but didn't think of it. Joann Fabric's has netting and tulle on sale today only for 60% off (that makes the netting only $.51 a yard). And for any homeschool moms or teachers, you can get a discount card for 15% off things, even when they're on sale. I take netting, cut it in strips about an inch and a half wide, tie the ends together and crochet them into scrubbies. Just chain 3 stitches, form them into a circle and start single crocheting around, adding stitches as needed to make a bigger and bigger round. When it's as big as you want it, single crochet around the entire round. At the end of that, start decreasing as needed (I do 1 decrease every three stitches for the first few rounds, then more often as needed) until coming to a close. Break off and weave in your ends. These make wonderful scrubbies for washing dishes, scrubbing sinks or tubs, etc. My latest customer says they are wonderful exfoliators too (just don't use on your face).

 

[Chair Warmer]

I take netting, cut it in strips about an inch and a half wide, tie the ends together and crochet them into scrubbies.

You can also scrunch up old tin foil, or use the netting from onion bags, I just tie a piece of the bag netting into a big knot.

Mrs.Cw

 

[Old Gray Mare]

The end of canning season.

It's almost over. There are two cases of peaches and one more of concord grapes headed for the canning jars tomorrow. There may be enough tomatoes and peppers left for one more batch of salsa. Next come apples and the end of garden pickles. Then I can plant a small winter garden and put the rest of it to bed until spring.

Right now the local produce stands are packed with winter squash. They have beautiful butter nut and other winter squash for about $1.00 or $2.00 each. Yeah not a pound but each! There is already a pallet in the basement covered with winter squash; turkey neck, spaghetti and butter nuts. The warty red and blue Hubbard's, Turks turbans and Halloween pumpkins are just starting to show up on the stands.

I love winter squash. They are cheap this time of year and easy to prepare. They don't have to be canned, just set off the ground and kept in the dark of our cool basement waiting to be turned into soup, casserole, pie, bread, curry or maybe roasted vegetables.

 

[Deena in GA]

Thanks for the tip on crisping crackers! I tried it yesterday and it worked great on the saltines.

OGM, I'll have to watch for winter squash. It's finally cooling down enough here to plant some lettuce. I need to clear out one of the raised beds and get some planted.

For years I've been making the dry type of laundry detergent using 1 bar of Fels Naptha (grated), one box of Borax and one box of washing soda and it worked fine, but not great when it came to my husband's sweat soaked work clothes in summer. A friend was sharing her recipe with me when it dawned on me that hers simply had a bigger ratio of Fels Naptha to the other ingredients, so I started adding an extra bar of the soap and now it works great.

 

[Amazed]

When I buy the guys in the family socks, I buy the white mid calf ones all the same. They can be used summer and winter. I've found this has saved money and time. When the sock fairy steals a sock, it's not even noticed. And there's no searching for the matching sock when I do laundry.

 

[Vicki]

For years I've been making the dry type of laundry detergent using 1 bar of Fels Naptha (grated), one box of Borax and one box of washing soda and it worked fine, but not great when it came to my husband's sweat soaked work clothes in summer. A friend was sharing her recipe with me when it dawned on me that hers simply had a bigger ratio of Fels Naptha to the other ingredients, so I started adding an extra bar of the soap and now it works great.

Yesterday I had run out of cascade for my dishwasher and I figured I'd run to the store today to buy some but I noticed alittle glob of soap still in one of the trays when I loaded it. I thought about it a second and decided to run it anyway like a prewash. I also decided to try something and I went and got alittle borax from the laundry room to throw in the dishwasher. I did the load and checked it to see how they looked. They looked shinier and cleaner than when I use the cascade. I couldn't believe it! I didn't even fill the trays either, they were probably half full or less. Amazing when that happens! Now I need to compare the price of Borax to the Cascade figuring half as much borax or less does the job of the cascade.

Vicki

 

[Deena in GA]

Vicki, that's wonderful! I've been trying to figure out what to use in the dishwasher once I finally run out of the dishwasher pellets that I got for a little bit of nothing a couple of years ago (super buy). I did try a combination of salt and baking soda a few years ago and it worked pretty good, but I was concerned about the salt after a while.

 

[Vicki]

Vicki, that's wonderful! I've been trying to figure out what to use in the dishwasher once I finally run out of the dishwasher pellets that I got for a little bit of nothing a couple of years ago (super buy). I did try a combination of salt and baking soda a few years ago and it worked pretty good, but I was concerned about the salt after a while.

Did a search Deena and found quite a few recommending borax and baking soda 2 to 1... say 2 cups boarax to 1 cup baking soda only using 1 or 2 teaspoons and using white vinegar in the rinse depenser. Sounds good to me!

Also wanted to say I've been steadily placing boxed dry ingredients of cake mixes, pancake mixes, etc into glass jars and taping the labeling to the jars. It has made me become much more aware of what I have on hand and it saves the dry goods from getting buggy. I put bay leaves in the jars too. I also like the way it looks in my cubboards. Easier to stay on top of what I need and don't need.

Vicki

 

[Chair Warmer]

I used to put vinegar in the dishwasher to use as a rinse aid, which left them pretty spotless and was a lot cheaper. I think the vinegar ate out the draining gasket though because it quit pumping water out after doing that for about year or two and I read vinegar eats rubber. (Possibly a what NOT to do frugal tip? lol)

Sometimes I still use a teaspoon of vinegar in the rinse water when washing by hand, helps keep the suds and spots down and I hope sanitizes them a little more.

Another idea for what to do with extra cloth, you can use strips for waxing. I've seen online recipes for making your own sugar wax but haven't tried it yet.

Mrs.Cw

 

[FREEBIRD]

I guarantee vinegar will dissolve rubber over time. Voice of experience.

 

[Deena in GA]

Now that's very interesting about the vinegar and rubber. So should we not be using vinegar in the (clothes) washing machine either? I've seen lots of ideas about using it in that and I don't know if there are rubber seals or hoses or whatever.

 

[Chair Warmer]

Now that's very interesting about the vinegar and rubber. So should we not be using vinegar in the (clothes) washing machine either? I've seen lots of ideas about using it in that and I don't know if there are rubber seals or hoses or whatever.

I started using vinegar in the washing machine about 10 years ago and haven't had a problem with it. I use it from anywhere between a few times a week to once every few weeks.

Mrs.Cw

 

[txgalatheart]

Try h2o2 instead of vinegar

I'm new and have been haunting TB2K for a year or so now. I have learn many great things from everyone here.
Hope you can use this hint: Instead of using vinegar in your dishwasher try some hydrogen peroxide about 3 to 4 ounces you will find your dishes come out clean. Also is you use a 16 ounce bottle with no dishes in the dishwasher it will wash out all the buildup form the food/grease left on plates and the residue left from commercial dishwashing soaps.

 

[Chair Warmer]

txgalatheart

I hadn't heard of using peroxide that way but that's a really great tip that solves the melting rubber problem. Thanks Txgal and a great big welcome to the board!!!

Mrs.Cw

 

[bev]

Braided or crocheted rugs - what great ideas! I can't believe I didn't think of crocheting them, because I have done that with old t-shirts before. In fact, that reminds me (and I may have mentioned it before and don't remember), one of my friends made the cutest crazy quilt by cutting up old t-shirts, featuring whatever picture or saying was on the t-shirt, and sewing them together, then backing. It was a great use of clothing that would have been thrown away otherwise because of stains or tears.

DD played soccer all through school and she had dozens of t-shirts. She cut up all those t-shirts and pieced them together to make a quilt. She still uses it, and the t-shirts bring back nice memories for her. Also, they made a very warm quilt!

 

[bev]

Two websites that I'm using to save money on groceries -

www.e-mealz.com - Gives you actual meal plans for the week and a shopping list for your choice of grocery store using that store's sales for the week, and also your choice of diet - regular, low-fat, low-carb, vegetarian, etc. Love using new, easy recipes. $5.00/month.

www.thegrocerygame.com - You pick what stores you want to shop - grocery stores, and drug stores. (I'm finding some great deals at CVS and Walgreens.) Sales/trends are tracked and the lists show all the deals for that week, AND what coupon(s) to use, how to use them to save the most money, and the percentage of savings. Site also has message boards that are very helpful. $10/3 months for one list/store; $5 extra for each additional list/store. Also tons of coupons on the website. Watch the two videos on the home page for overview.

Even being a newbie (less than one month), I'm seeing amazing savings. The fact that I have a meal plan saves money all by itself. My favorite grocery store offers seniors a 5% discount every Tuesday, AND they double coupons up to 50 cents (doubles to $1.00), so DH and I go shopping every Tuesday evening.

This week, we went to Kroger, Food Lion and CVS. I don't have the receipts in front of me right now, so I'll estimate - I spent about $10.00 at CVS (for a bottle of multivitamins) and got $10.00 in "extra-care bucks" printed out at the register - I can use those on anything in the store!

At Food Lion, I spent about $20, and my receipt showed I saved about $25.

At Kroger, I spent a little over $70, and saved over $40.

These include sale prices, senior discount and coupons (doubled at Kroger).

The Grocery Game offers a month free trial too.

I think I'll continue using both of these for about 6 months, and then calculate what I've spent and what I've saved.

It really feels like a "game" and DH and I are having fun shopping!

 

[herbgarden]

There is a website called stlouismommy.com that is free and she will send you an e-mail daily with stores and coupon match up.Target,Walmart.Walgreens,CVS,Shop and Save,Schnucks and Dierbergs.I can't remember all the store match ups now, Plus,links to where to print off the coupons that match the sales. Even for those of us who don't live in St. Louis can get the coupons and free offers from chain stores in our areas and states.

 

[Be Well]

IMO diluted vinegar won't harm rubber, maybe straight over time? I use vinegar in laundry often, at most 3/4 c or less usually. No problem. I use it diluted for all purpose cleaning as well.