[mom-from-missouri]

Here are my top ones. Be nice if everyone could list different ones that are not already listed to help share ideas.

#1. Line dry clothes-saves on electric and also if the AC is on, it doesnt have to work as hard.
#2. Keep heat at 69 when home, 65 when gone. AC is off when gone and at 75 if its truly needed.
#3 run thd dishwasher only when full, and stop it before it heat drys
#4 do most shopping at aldi's and use coupons at other stores only if that will bring the item price down to below aldi's price
#5 handwash my truck with a bucket in the driveway insted of spending $7 at the carwash
#6 garden. what I can't garden I try to get at the farmers market. If i buy by the bushel at the farmers market, i can freeze or can it
#7 barter when i can. I have watched our dentist kids in exchange for our insurance copay. he doesnt pay a sitter, i dont pay a copay.
#8 work part time for the park and rec--this fall i will teach a class 1 night a week for 90 minutes. I get a small wage, but also get free use of the park facalities for myself and my family--which means we get to use the indoor pool free all winter
#9 mow my own lawn
#10 bake in bulk-i send baked cupcakes and such in my kids lunches. i bake several dozen at a time. at the end of winter, beginning of spring, i do as many as i can so i can freeze and not have to heat up the oven again when it gets hot out
#11 i wash my baggies, and use the sandwich and lunch keepers from the dollar store. i made it thru the entire school year with only 1 box of baggies since i recycled and washed
#12 save all sacks-even petfood sacks can be reused for trash. my trash company makes us use the big bags for pickup, but to keep down on the smell in the house, i always use walmart sacks-when they are full i tye them shut and put in the big bag till it is stuffed to full too hold more.
#13 i dropped my dish to just the locall chanells only-bill is now $10.99 a month and i get the local weather. before i dropped it, it was $31 a month.
#14 i sew as much of our clothing as i can and shop consignment stores and ebay. I can even get my daughters school uniforms off ebay as low as .99 cents vs a new one at $60.
#15 buy our shoes when payless has their sales-buy one and get the second pair for 1 cent or half off.
#16 use handme downs, and what my kids outgrow goes backon ebay or to the consignment store. A few times I have bought and item used, used it more, and resold it for more than i paid for it.
#17 i always get my vehicles used and pay cash. secret is to keep them well maintained. also, i always use the same sales lady at the same dealer. she treats me right, tells me if she gets in a new model of what i have, and also sends me lots of coupons for free oil changes on my birthday!
#18. made insulated curtains-regular curtain on the outside, but the backside is a $1 vinyl-felt tablecloth from the dollar store. it stops drafts during the winter and heat during the summer.
#19 i replaced the windows on the north side of my house last fall. This past winter was cold, and i had the cheapest heat bills i have ever had--i already got my money back out of the new windows.
#20 get free firewood from the army corp when they clear land and doze the trees-same with the state dept of conservation. if you cut it and haul it off, you can have it free.
#21 get our books and movies at the library instead of renting or buying
#22 order as much as i can online thru mypoints, so i get money back. often i get free shipping this way.
#23 use vinegar for everything-from cleaning to first aid. much cheaper and healthier
#24 buy all the white socks for my kids the same-that way they are easier to match and you don't loose a pair because 1 got lost or ripped up
#25 take classes to learn how to do it yourself. many hardware stores give the classes free
#26 i buy stuff in the larger instutional size cans, then freeze it in smaller jars that i reuse. i do this with applesauce, corn, greenbeans, peaches, and more.