Here's a few gems I found:
*Use microwave instead of stove and oven as much as possible. Mmm, nothing like microwaved roast at the end of a long day. You can use it to scrub the dish you nuked it in after no one eats it!
*Minimize the number of times you open and close refrigerator door. Damn, there goes my "free time activity" while the kids are napping.
*Put a 5 gallon bucket in the bottom of the shower. Use the water to fill the back of the toilet or water plants outside. "Hey Honey? Don't forget to water the plants with the leftover dirty butt water!"
*Turn the water off in a shower while you are soaping up, lathering hair and shaving. Seriously? You go first.
*Shower with another person in the family. This could get awkward if you have guests.
*Fast regularly. Otherwise known as "starve to death".
*Buying two-ply toilet paper and pulling the sheets apart. This one just made me laugh.
There is a difference between being "frugal" and being "bat shit crazy". I'm all for saving money and simplifying, but...wow....
OK, so here's what you can't find when you're looking for budgeting and money saving tips: Information for people with no money. And by no money I mean there's enough to pay your bills and buy food. "Pay yourself first" isn't a good tip if you can barely pay your bills. Neither is "insulate your water heater and windows" (costs money, no money, hellloooo) or "buy energy saving appliances" (yeah, let me get right on that.)
Where's the reality? Those aren't money saving tips for your everyday family. Those are for people who want to save enough money to take two vacations this year instead of one, unlike me, who is taking none. (Except for the ones I take in my head, of course.)
So, even though you didn't ask for it, here it is, folks. Lindsay's guide to living a frugal and simple life.
Don't buy shit you don't need.
Ok, my lovely blogger friends, lay it on me. What's the most creative way you've found to save money?
My grandfather has done t last tip but for napkins for YEARS. We've always thought he was crazy, lol.
ReplyDeleteI'd give you some serious ideas but I'm laughing too hard.... between the suggestions and your commentary... Love it!!!
ReplyDeleteOK... Seriously though... simple things : turn the termostat down to the minimum you need (we found our lowest number for heat to be 64... if we are going to be gone all day then 61). Hang towels and linens to dry outside (we hang ours under the patio and the breeze dries them pretty well.)
the quirkier things we do: my Mom collects cans and bottles from friends that don't recycle them... The boys and I take them to town and get the deposit back (adds up and usually gives me a couple extra dollars).
Coupons and double coupons when I can.
I buy Oatmeal in bulk and grind about half of it into flour and add it to our regular flour... makes it better for us and heartier...
I think the "bucket in the shower" thing is meant to collect the cold water while you're waiting on the water to warm up. We did it when there was a major drought going on.
ReplyDeleteCoupons are always what helped me save a ton. Fed my hubby and myself on $50 a week for a few years (until we moved overseas). There are some great deals out there if you can spend the time finding them.