Your Lesser Known Tips

[BCHGRL]

Re: Your Lesser Known Tips

I also use the replacement method for buying clothes. At this point, I feel I have a wardrobe sufficient to support my career. If I see something I want, I consider whether or not what I currently have has to be replaced. I can't just buy a pair of black shoes because they are cute, I can only buy a pair when the old pair has worn out.

This also helps with clutter because I have to get rid of one item for each item that I purchase.

One other tip is that I have ramen noodles once a week instead of my normal meals. It reminds me of college and that I once lived on a very, very small portion my current salary.

[contrary1]

Re: Your Lesser Known Tips

probably should go in the food catagory..........but I just did this last night so it's fresh on my mind here in lesser known........

When making spaghetti sauce, (meatless), crumble a couple slices of brown bread into the sauce. Makes everyone think it's meat. No kidding! Soaks up sauce too if it is a little too runny.

[Ima saver]

Re: Your Lesser Known Tips

When buying meat you intend to freeze slip into one of the free produce bags at the grocery store. Then when you get home put it into one of those freezer zippered bags. When you take the meat out to thaw, you can just use the zippered bag again without having to wash or worry about bacteria.

[Fern]

Re: Your Lesser Known Tips

Here's one: we keep a bucket in our shower to catch the water as we wait for it to heat up. The we use that water for our plants. We catch quite a bit of water and feel good knowing it's going in our garden and not into the sewer.

First, how do you collect the water from the shower? Next, I've been told that using soapy water to water plants with is not good for the plants.

[Fern]

Re: Your Lesser Known Tips

Oh, disregard earlier message. didn't read it very well!

[Ima saver]

Re: Your Lesser Known Tips

If you are out of glue and only need a small amount, use clear nail polish instead.

[nanamom]

Re: Your Lesser Known Tips

My FIL used a lightbulb for a darning egg. Sometimes you can find them at estate sales. I haven't looked but ebay comes to mind also.

[Ima saver]

Re: Your Lesser Known Tips

Don't buy your checks from the bank. You can save about 50% ordering elsewhere.

[seaar2000]

Re: Your Lesser Known Tips

When buying meat you intend to freeze slip into one of the free produce bags at the grocery store. Then when you get home put it into one of those freezer zippered bags. When you take the meat out to thaw, you can just use the zippered bag again without having to wash or worry about bacteria.

What a great idea! I hate spending money on freezer bags and than having to toss them away. Talk about throwing money out the window!

[Ima saver]

Re: Your Lesser Known Tips

Love hot cereal, but hate the cleanup mess? coat the pot with nonstick cooking spray first. Clean up will be a breeze.

[khorovetsyelena]

Re: Your Lesser Known Tips

I get up early on Sunday Morning and head to our local Farmer's Market - it's so much cheaper than buying fruit and vegetables at thesupermarket. And the fruits and vegatables are so much fresher. They last longer than the stuff at the supermarket too. They last the week so I am set with all my cooking. It's also great fun to wander around all the stalls.

I do that too, except I go sunday at about 2 pm because it closes around 3 and its open only fri-sun, so at the end of the day its even cheaper than in the morning.

[Ima saver]

Re: Your Lesser Known Tips

ketchup flows out of a new bottle more easily if you push a soda straw to the bottom of the bottle. This allows air to get in and break the vaccum.

[mom-from-missouri]

Re: Your Lesser Known Tips

I buy all my kids socks the same white socks--don't have to worry about mates getting lost and having odd socks left over.

I buy my ketchup in the large instutional sized cans for only $3.27, and refill my own containers. One great ketchup container is empty dish soap bottles. Provinding you rinse it well (using vinegar gets rid of the soap) Fill halfway and you can freeze. I go thru one 1 can about every 12 months.

Rewash my baggies, and try to use rubbermade type of containers for lunches when I can.

I cut off the end of my full vacume cleaner bags, empty, and fold the end over, staple, duct tape and reuse. One bag may last me 4-6 months, and I usually find MONEY or something of value or a game piece...every time I open it to dump it out.

[PrincessPerky]

Re: Your Lesser Known Tips

Ditto on the socks! Dss are grey toed, DDs are pink, so easy to sort to a drawer!

[Ima saver]

Re: Your Lesser Known Tips

When you pay off your credit card, keeping making that payment, but to yourself instead. Put it into your savings.