Things I don't pay for

[vsjhoc]

Originally Posted by retire@50

Printer paper from work. I collect the discarded paper that's only printed on one side and bring it home and print on the other side.

I do this also. Just gotta make sure to shred anything that has "company confidential" info printed on it.

vsjhoc

[Thrifty Ray]

Originally Posted by Albies5

no offense but i find some of this stuff so ridiculous. I know im not in any of your shoes but using washclothes as tissues and stealing soap and toilet paper from places.... like i said im not in your shoes and i dont know what yoru finances are but it seems so petty to me. i mean getting a jug of refill soap is so cheap and it lasts forever and you can alwasy find deals for cheap toilet paper at target- 5 bucks for 24 rolls- and its sanitary. also the idea of having snotty washclothes and washing them- the truth is you prob spend more on laundry soap, water and energy costs then buying abox of tissues for a few cents.

I also do not agree with taking things from businesses so that you do not have to buy them for your home.

As far as washing rags so you dont buy paper towels..I say to each his own. There are enviornmental reasons in addition to cost reasons for not buying paper products for these uses. If it works for you, go for it!

[vsjhoc]

Originally Posted by Thrifty Ray

I also do not agree with taking things from businesses so that you do not have to buy them for your home.

I think if you're taking large quantities of paper clips, pens, etc., from the office, then technically you're stealing. Taking home used paper that I would otherwise throw in the trash is what we call "recycling." And for the record, I use it in the computer printer, not as a substitute for toilet paper!!


vsjhoc

[Thrifty Ray]

Originally Posted by vsjhoc

I think if you're taking large quantities of paper clips, pens, etc., from the office, then technically you're stealing. Taking home used paper that I would otherwise throw in the trash is what we call "recycling." And for the record, I use it in the computer printer, not as a substitute for toilet paper!!


vsjhoc

LOL! I am glad to hear that....I dont know how efficient computer paper would work on the hiney....not to mention potentially painful....(paper cuts) LOL

I certainly have nothing against anyone recycling anything....
My concern is when someone takes things that cost the business money SOLELY for the purpose of not having to buy it themselves.... (napkins, extra packets of sauce or jelly, etc.) These things arent free, and end up costing consumers in the long run.

[Thrifty Ray]

also...my opinion was not based on ones employer as the 'business'...
but rather a random merchant...

In other words...I walk in, (maybe buy something, maybe not) load up and walk out...just so I dont have to buy it myself. IMO- Bad, bad, bad.

However, I wouldnt recommend taking from an employer either...kinda biting the hand that feeds you...

all that said, again....if youre just recycling stuff that would have been tossed and your boss is ok with it...IMO take away till your hearts desire!!!

[cashqueen]

At work, everytime we print something out of a certain program an extra page prints out at the end to say who printed it. when I first started working there I commented on what a waste it was and can we suppress that function. I was told no. So I started saving that page. I had quite a nice little stack when my boss asked me what it was. I said it's such a waste of paper, I'm going to bring it home and use it in my printer or let my ds draw on it. Pretty soon I had several people start bringing me stacks. It really added up! They said they never realized how much paper was being wasted. I have so much paper right now it will be years (if ever, we don't print much) before I need to get paper.

[lrjohnson]

Ray:

Ditto ditto ditto. I am uncomfortable with some of the ways people have chosen to be thrifty; I just don't consider stocking up on a merchant's ketchup packets an option. It's stealing to me, and I absolutely hate stealing being justified or rationalized by someone trying to be frugal... Grrr.

On other "minor" savings, well, I have bought one roll of paper towels in five years-for camping, and it's still half used. I like cloth napkins and dish cloths and it works for me. I know it won't pay for retirement, but I choose my combo of big and small savings to find what I can save the most with at the same time that I stay a happy gal.

[BCHGRL]

My mother-in-law gets used patio furniture for free. She finds stuff out by the curb and takes it home. If she didn't tell me what she got for free, I wouldn't have known.

[The Budget Man]

Originally Posted by BCHGRL

My mother-in-law gets used patio furniture for free. She finds stuff out by the curb and takes it home. If she didn't tell me what she got for free, I wouldn't have known.

Our oldest son has a house furnished from the side of the street. He's good with his hands and does the furniture up. Most people walking into the place wouldn't even know that the furniture was mostly freebies.

Enjoy Your Money
The Budget Man


www.PersonalityBudgeting.com
when you need a budget to work

[meenah]

my employer provides free coffee and also fresh fruit so i get free breakfast. my apartment complex has a shelf in the laundryroom where people place items they want to give away for free. i get stuff there free all the time. i got a free box of pop-its at this firework stand yesterday, "free gift, no purchase nessasary"

[Ima saver]

I love the freebies on here. I just got a big bottle of dishwasher gel for free, today!

[sarah4554]

Rubberbands: I get a slew of mail so my mailman usually wraps it in a rubberband for me. I wonder if he knows I now have hundreds.
Plastic Bags: Grocery store
Greeting Cards: I save all the greeting cards given to us an then make my own
Fax Machine: In the dump at my husbands work. He took it home and fixed it. It was just a loose wire.
Document Shedder: Again, easy fix, my husband found it in the trash
Clothes: I make my daughter sun dresses and church dresses from old clothes that I or other family members no longer use. I made her a real cute one recently...used elastic from an old pair of jogging pants, buttons from an old dress shirt of my husbands, and bias(around the hem) from an old crib sheet.
Personal Items: I sign up for every free sample under the sun
House Plants: Friends and I swap cuttings
Garden Plants: Swap with friends, or grow from seeds from the year before
Flowering Plants: Swap or grow from seed dried and saved from the year before.

[GoodBuyGirl]

Using coupons regularly get
soap
shampoo conditioner
toothpaste tooth brushes
Ketchup
Musturd
Chili
BBQ sauce
pickles
Muffin mix
eggs
cookie mix
tomatoes and sauce
soda
water
candy
Shaving cream and razors
Cleaning products
Lotion

Then there are other items I get free once in a while.
If you don't use coupons I suggest you start. Especially if you have stores that double.
Always have at least 2 of each coupon to take advantage of Buy one Get one Sales.

Originally Posted by Albies5

no offense but i find some of this stuff so ridiculous. I know im not in any of your shoes but using washclothes as tissues and stealing soap and toilet paper from places.... like i said im not in your shoes and i dont know what yoru finances are but it seems so petty to me. i mean getting a jug of refill soap is so cheap and it lasts forever and you can alwasy find deals for cheap toilet paper at target- 5 bucks for 24 rolls- and its sanitary. also the idea of having snotty washclothes and washing them- the truth is you prob spend more on laundry soap, water and energy costs then buying abox of tissues for a few cents.

I totally agree. I know that it is necessary for some people to be that frugal, but then others just want a good deal and live basically free. I'm not in that kind of situation that I can't afford toilet tissue or Kleenexes. Like Albies5 said you can get that stuff pretty cheap.

[Thrifty Ray]

cookbooks- I can find any recipe I want on the internet.
maps- again, internet
books- library
movies- library
haircuts- thanks to DD1 (no, she is not schooled in this, Im just not too picky)
frozen waffles, pizzas- make from scratch
vacuum bags- arent bagless vacs the greatest!
travel insurance- when you dont travel, you dont need it!
checks- debit card
dinner plates- DHs GM gave me her nice 80's style plates (blue and mauve) before she passed away. - dated, yes~ but free!
Plasic Containers isnt that what cool whip, margarine and sour creme comes in? Never toss them and always have plenty for whatever!

and much more...

[Thrifty Ray]

Originally Posted by Albies5

no offense but i find some of this stuff so ridiculous. I know im not in any of your shoes but using washclothes as tissues and stealing soap and toilet paper from places.... like i said im not in your shoes and i dont know what yoru finances are but it seems so petty to me. i mean getting a jug of refill soap is so cheap and it lasts forever and you can alwasy find deals for cheap toilet paper at target- 5 bucks for 24 rolls- and its sanitary. also the idea of having snotty washclothes and washing them- the truth is you prob spend more on laundry soap, water and energy costs then buying abox of tissues for a few cents.

Ahhh, to each his own I say. Ideas are in welcome abundance here...take the good a leave the rest...Just as ones mans trash is anothers treasure...frugal 'is in the eyes of the beholder'.

Enjoy your kleenex and paper towels and allow others' to enjoy not filling landfills with them. Its that simple.

Edited to add:As far as stealing anything...I totally agree. Ive said it before, and Ill say it again...IMO- it is NOT okay to steal things (obtained without permission or not bought or given to you) for your own financial gain. This ends up costing the rest of us.

[The Budget Man]

I spend too much time on the road BUT I always keep the soap and shampoo to take home. If the coffee satchels are any good I use them as I'm travelling.

With the cost of the travel every little saving helps.

Enjoy Your Money
The Budget Man

www.PersonalityBudgeting.com
The budget that works

I got a 25$ certificat to a mall from the school because I maintained a good 80% in my report card and for my attendance. I still have 10$ left in my card.

[funnyvalentine]

yikes, when did we start paying kids to go to school and get good grades?

Originally Posted by T_I_N_A20

I got a 25$ certificat to a mall from the school because I maintained a good 80% in my report card and for my attendance. I still have 10$ left in my card.

[lrjohnson]

Originally Posted by funnyvalentine

yikes, when did we start paying kids to go to school and get good grades?

I can authoritatively say that it was after 1988. Humph.