Frugal Living Tips Submitted by You

[brian]

Frugal Living Tips Submitted by You

Below are frugal living tips submitted by you, as part of the Site Newsletter Contest held in February 2006. The winner of the contest was randomly selected and announced.

Here are some of the frugal living tips submitted by visitors. (Not all of the tips are posted.) These tips have not been verified or tested. Follow any of these tips are at your own risk.


1. Getting Rid of Ink Stain with Hair Spray
To get rid of ink stains on shirts, tablecloths, spray a little hairspray on it before washing. - MariAngel


2. Waiting for a Bargain on Bestselling Books
Don't buy bestselling books, either paperback or hardcover, at full price. Wait until the book has been out for a month or two, then check local thrift stores, Amazon used books, or eBay. - Lisa


3. The Miracles of Microfiber Cloth
For carpet stains I have found a miracle! It is called a microfiber cloth. These cloths are the ones sold for tasks ranging from dusting furniture and household items, to cleaning cars. The white ones without dye or even the ecru ones can be used to clean up spills, hairball stains from cats, tracked in stuff, etc. The good news is that no harsh chemicals are required; you dip the microfiber cloth in clean tap water and then rub it on the spot. Presto, no more stain, and all you need to do is wash your miracle cloth. Now that's frugal! - Vevo


4. Wine Stain Remover with Hydrogen Peroxide and Dawn Dishwashing Liquid
You can get a wine stain out of clothes by mixing two parts of hydrogen peroxide and one part Dawn dishwashing liquid, swish it around with a sponge, squeeze out the excess, and simply rub the solution on the stain. When it dries, it'll be gone. - Melody


5. Reusing Freezer and Storage Bags
When I have only stored vegetables or bread (not meat) in freezer or storage bags, I rinse them out, and put them in the drainer to dry and reuse them. I buy the more expensive Hefty bags originally, using sales and double coupons, because their quality is so much better, allowing them to be reused several times before the plastic one-zip does not work anymore. - Bob & Charlotte


6. Used Dryer Sheets as Stainless Steel Polishers
After using your dryer sheets, put some in your bathrooms and kitchen. They are excellent polishers of stainless steel faucets and such. You do not need any other cleaners - just make sure that the surface of the faucets are dry. - Lynn


7. Comparing Store Flyers to Plan Your Shopping
If I know I will need groceries over the weekend, I wait and check the next week's flyers on Friday, so I can choose whether the current or the new flyer has better deals overall. - "Custom Copy"


8. Baking Soda and Vinegar as Drain Cleaners
Forget expensive clogged drain cleaners. Instead, pour baking soda into a clogged drain, and then pour clear vinegar into it. The mixture will bubble and fizz. Sometimes, you may have to do it a few times but this has always worked for me. Doing this once monthly should keep your drain free of clogs. - Cathy


9. Organic Way to Clean Microwave with Lemon Juice
Here is a completely organic way to clean your microwave, and it works like a charm to get rid of stains, odor and grease without chemicals. Pour approximately 1/4 cup of Realemon juice, undiluted into a small glass dish. Microwave juice for 30 seconds or so, just until juice begins to boil (Time will depend on wattage of your microwave, so keep an eye on it the first time or so.) Let it sit in the microwave for a couple of minutes so the lemon steam coats the inside of the oven. Remove container and wipe down the lemony residue from inside with paper towels. This will rid your microwave of grease, splatters, odor and stains without chemicals and leave it sparkly clean! - Jennifer


10. Jelly Jars as “Piggy” Banks (Coin Jars)
Save jelly jars. Cut open the tops and put in coins to save extra money. - Saulondra


11. Making Frozen Juice Goes Further
Make your can of frozen juice goes further by adding one extra can of water. The more diluted juice tastes just as good. - Chiz


12. Reducing Bitterness in Ice with Baking Soda in Freezer
Don’t keep garlic bread too long in the freezer or else your ice will be bitter. To reduce bitterness, keep a box of baking soda in your freezer to absorb the garlic bread odor. - Kelly


13. Mandarin Orange Boxes as Storage Boxes for Christmas Ornaments
Mandarin orange boxes are ideal for storing Christmas garlands and ornaments. I wrap the ornaments in used wrapping paper and use the boxes for storage. - Ineke


14. New Use for Old Boxes Baking Soda
When you replace the package of baking soda in the fridge (for eliminating odours), use the old one to clean sinks. Baking soda is a soft scrubbing cleanser. - Ineke


15. Save Scratched CDs and DVDs with Toothpaste
To save scratched CDs and DVDs, rub dry (not watery) toothpaste over the scratched area and then gently wipe with a clean cloth. - Jane


16. Choosing Half-Sheet Paper Towels over Regular, Full-Sized Paper Towels
Buy paper towels that come in half sheets. It is amazing how many jobs only need a half sheet, and how long a roll of paper towel can last! - s s


17. Remove Garlic Smell on Your Hands with Lemon or Lemon Juice
To remove the smell of garlic from your hands after chopping, rub your hands with a fresh lemon or store bought lemon juice. - Marsha


18. Frugal Living Tip: Using Holiday Chocolate for Recipes and Decorations
After different holidays (e.g., Easter and Valentines Day), when the chocolate is marked down, purchase it and store it in the fridge or freezer. The chocolate can be used for recipe that calls for chocolate bits and chips. You can do the same with other candy for recipes and decorating. - Dinah


19. Quick Changing the Letter Sizes on Your Computer Screen
To change the size of the letters on your computer, when having trouble reading it, just hold the Control (Ctrl) button down on the keyboard and move the scroll wheel of your mouse back and forth until you find the perfect size. - Salpalshorses


20. Save Money on Magazines by Swapping Among Friends
I really enjoy reading all kinds of magazines. To save the expense of buying them all at retail prices, I swap magazines with my friends; that way we each buy only one per month. For the magazines that I like to cut tips and advice from, I get a subscription so that I’m not cutting up the magazines that we swap. - Dick & Jacki


21. Simple Pre-Wash Laundry Stain Remover
Mix equal parts of baking soda, water, and peroxide, and apply the mixture to stubborn stains on your clothes. It will fizz for few minutes then wash the clothes as usual. - Endymion


22. Use The Freecycle Network to Give and Get Items from Others
Use your local Freecycle group to get items you need and give to others items that you no longer need. I have found this a very valuable resource for keeping items out of the landfill and giving them a new life. Go to http://www.freecycle.org to find a group near you. - PJ

Note: To find out more about The Freecycle Network, read an interview with Jeanette, the moderator of Milton, Ontario chapter of The Freecycle Network in “Beyond Recycling: Getting and Giving Stuff with Others in The Freecycle Network.”


23. Keep Potatoes from Budding with an Apple
To keep potatoes from budding, place an apple in the bag with the potatoes. - Laura


24. Leftover Wine Ice Cubes for Cooking
Don’t throw out all that leftover wine. Freeze into ice cubes for future use in casseroles and sauces. - Laura


25. Peeled Potato to Soak Excess Salt in Cooking
Don’t throw that meal away, if you accidentally over-salt a dish while it’s still cooking. Drop in a peeled potato and it will absorb the excess salt for an instant "fix-me-up." - Laura


26. Prolong Vegetable Storage with Tin Foil
My tip is really, really simple but it has saved me a lot of money over the last few years. I buy carrots in bulk, in 5 and 10 lb bags, and do the same for other veggies when they are cheap, cheap, cheap. But I used to find it difficult to use up all the veggies before they went bad. And boy, do I hate throwing anything away! Now, I wrap my extra carrots, celery, broccoli, etc. in tin foil and they keep about three times as long as they would otherwise. I have not thrown any veggies away for about a year now. Of course, I carefully unwrap and reuse the tin foil over and over again. - Wendy


27. Saving Extra Restaurant Condiments and Napkins
My family eat a lot of fast food, so I often have extra condiments (e.g., sugar, cream, and ketchup) and napkins left over. I put the unused items into a jar and when the jar fills up, I open the packets and refill my different jars. The napkins are usually thin and cheap, so I use them to soak bacon grease, clean dirty ashtrays, and wipe up messy spills. By using the cheap napkins, I save my expensive paper towels for heavy-duty tasks. - Lynn


28. Steamy Shower for Loosening up Wrinkles on Business Clothes
If you usually go on business trips and constantly pack your suit in your suitcase, chances are, you would need to iron it right before a meeting. If an iron is not handy, you can hang you suit right inside the bathroom and turn on the hot shower. Let it stand for about an hour and you’ll be ready to go. The heat from the shower will actually loosen up the creases. - Vince


29. Catch Water before Getting Hot for Another Use
When waiting for hot water, instead of just letting the water go down the drain, I use a pitcher to catch the water and then dump it into my washing machine to use later. - Louise


30. Removing Tape from Windows after Painting
To help prevent the new paint from coming off with the painter’s tape, heat the tape with a hair dryer and then scrape it of with a razor blade. This is the easiest way to remove tape in my experience. - Jabri


31. Using Waxed Paper to Substitute Flour in Baking Cakes
Rather than use flour, when making a home made cake, try simply lining the cake pan with waxed paper. Your pan will remain clean and it makes the cake so simple to place on an attractive cake dish. Simply place the dish over your cooked cake and hold both the pan and dish. Then flip the cake over and remove the waxed paper. Let cool and it's ready to be frosted. Plus, there's no real mess to clean up now. Don't worry...the waxed paper will not burn. - dollarsamonth


32. Simple Things to Repulse Ants
Do you know that if you have problems with ants in the home, simple things can help! If you can find the entry of ants, just follow them. Then, draw a chalk line across the entry and they will not cross. Or, place a bay leaf and the ants will be repulsed. - Diane


33. Saving Time and Water When Brushing Teeth
I brush my teeth in the shower to save water and time. - Ginger


34. Rubber Scraper to Clean out Food without Wasting
When transferring food from one container to another (e.g., cake batter, ice cream, and leftover mashed potatoes), use a rubber scraper to clean out the bottom and edges so as not to waste any of the remaining food. - Donna


35. Try Using Half of Laundry Detergent and It Works as Well
Use half of laundry detergent that you usually use. It does just as good, and you can wash twice as much. - Sandra


36. Pre-Make and Freeze Casseroles to Save Time Making Meals
For busy people on the go wanting to save time making meals, make a couple of casseroles on the weekends & freeze them. Then take them out before work & they will be ready to pop in the oven when you get home! - Allison


37. Freezing Credit Cards Solid to Avoid Impulse Buying
I leave my credit cards at home frozen in the freezer. It saves me from impulse buying when I don't have the cash. Then I have to go home and defrost my cards before I can use them and it gives me time to think about if I really need whatever it is I want to get. - Sarah


38. Save Small Portion of Dinner for Tomorrow’s Mini-Meal Lunch
I always take out a small portion of dinner, before anyone starts to eat, and pack it in a re-usable plastic container. This 'mini-meal' is for my daughter’s lunch box the next day. It usually includes all 4 food groups, so it is a healthy lunch. And it saves me buying lunch meat-Yuck! The bonus is that there isn't any dinner left for me or my hubby to eat as seconds. Win Win!! - Lisa


39. Buy Cereal and Hard Taco Shells on Sale and Freeze Them
Freezing cereal and hard taco shells, keep them as fresh as when you first purchased them. They do not get soggy. So when the big coupons are available, such as $1.00 off Old El Paso Taco Shells, which are only $1.00 at our Wal-Mart, making them totally free or $1.00 off Yogurt Cheerio’s. Buy several boxes and put them in your chest freezer. They will last a long time. - Lucille


40. Reuse Cardboard Disposable Furnace Filters to Save Money
If you already try to save money by buying those cheapo carboard disposable furnace filters, you can save even more money. If you're careful, you can rinse the dust and gunk off of them with a garden hose, dry them out (in the sun, if available), and re-use them.

You can do this until they fall apart (usually three or four times)! (Believe it or not, it doesn't work as well with the expensive filters as it does with the cheap cardboard throwaways!) - Jack


41. Store Plastic Shopping Bags Neatly with Tissue Box
To neatly store plastic shopping bags for later use without having to buy one of those plastic holders that permanently attaches to something, put your bags in an empty tissue box. They can be pulled out one by one and the boxes will stack neatly. - Dick and Jacki


42. Transform Water Bottles into Moroccas
You can take old water bottles and fill them with buttons. They make great moroccas for kids. - Saulondra


43. Get an Added Percentage by Accepting Rebates in the Form of Gift Cards
Always take advantage of rebate offers that give an added percentage if you accept the rebate in the form of a gift card (Walgreens, for example, offers this option.) That means that if an item is free after rebate, you're actually making money. - Aegina1028


44. Draw a Chalk Line to Deter Ants
Do you have problems with ants? You will not believe this but if you find where they are coming in (just follow them) and draw a chalk line. Yes, a chalk line! They will not cross the line. - Dia5Sh

Thank you for your valuable, useful frugal living tips!

[kettlebelly]

for the books... insted of buying them, go to your local library. its free unless you forget to take it back.

[brian]

Originally Posted by kettlebelly

for the books... insted of buying them, go to your local library. its free unless you forget to take it back.

Hi,

Thank you for your contribution!

[maryjane72]

re: #17 removing garlic odors - rub your hands on something made of stainless steel while rinsing with warm water. i have a stainless steel sink but if you don't, any stainless utensil will do. (teaspoon, for example) something about the stainless steel neutralizes the garlic odors. I was amazed the first time i skeptically gave it a try & very happy because it's FREE! btw~ works on Onion odors too.

[linzipruitt]

A lot of these tips are really great! Thank you so much to everyone who contributed their time and knowledge. I personally appreciate it very much!!!

[brian]

Originally Posted by maryjane72

re: #17 removing garlic odors - rub your hands on something made of stainless steel while rinsing with warm water. i have a stainless steel sink but if you don't, any stainless utensil will do. (teaspoon, for example) something about the stainless steel neutralizes the garlic odors. I was amazed the first time i skeptically gave it a try & very happy because it's FREE! btw~ works on Onion odors too.

Originally Posted by linzipruitt

A lot of these tips are really great! Thank you so much to everyone who contributed their time and knowledge. I personally appreciate it very much!!!

Hi,

Thanks for these frugal, handy tips! I am going to try the stainless steel deodorizing tip tonight when I prepare my lunch tomorrow.

[maryjane72]

i started wondering about the stainless steel thing and thought i'd share what wiki says...

and i see it works on fish odors too! (learn something new everyday)
i found bars of stainless (shaped like soap) for sale avg. $10-$20 +shipping
i think i'll stick to my Tablespoon.

[lightson]

hi guys

as I have seen this stainless steel deodorizing before, it WORKS for me so ..
I have been doing it since last year and it is getting well now..


Charlene

[brian]

Originally Posted by lightson

hi guys

as I have seen this stainless steel deodorizing before, it WORKS for me so ..
I have been doing it since last year and it is getting well now..


Charlene

Hi Charlene,

Thanks for verifying that this frugal tip works! It works for me too!

[verifiedtrading]

Excellent tips for anyone who is interested in a serious investment in internet. Looking forward to more interesting tips from you.

[rhasta]

Thanks for the great tips . One important tip is don't buy anything you really won't need . That is the #1 source of expenditure cutting mostly .