How do you stretch your money?

[LuxLiving]

Like many of you I wash in cold water, using the smallest load setting possible for each load. I also just use 1/8 a cup of laundry soap, which really stretches it out.

When I'm out of the cheap 1) liquid laundry detergent from the dollar store, and also out of 2)powdered laundry detergent, I will just shave some off a bar of 3)Fels Naptha, which saves me an unnecessary trip to town.

I then put laundry soap on my handy SHOPPING LIST posted on the frig. That shopping list has saved me lots of dollars thru the years from not having to back track to pick stuff up that slipped my mind. What? I sometimes forget to write Laundry Soap on the list! Hence the three strikes and I'm out effort here. If I was out of all three? ehhhh, I'd use dish soap rather than make an extra trip to town. No dish soap? Surely there would be some brand of bar soap in the cabinet that I could also shave down to get me through to my next SCHEDULED shopping trip.

I think being willing to try to be somewhat inventive, or being resourceful or creative can save a lot of money over time. Necessity is the mother of invention is a good saying to keep in mind if you want to be super frugal. Don't just keep buying the big Tide bottle because Mom always did. Why do you use what you use? What's it cost you to use it? Is there a cheaper alternative? or just an alternative that's on hand that might save your bacon for the moment?

If it was just me, I'd only buy the powder detergent, but Hubster likes to use the liquid. Measuring it out helps save! I also dilute these liquid bottles by 2/3. Meaning I have another bottle on hand. I buy two at a time. I empty out a third of each bottle into an empty. Then all three are filled to the top with water and shaken each time they are used.

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Tennis shoes. I have a new this year pair for going out in, last year's pair for wear around the house, and the year before pair for painting, yard work, boondocking, cow-pasturing, etc. This year's pair is always bought at Payless when they've got their BOGO going on, where I buy this year's dress shoes as well.

[snafu]

If you have an item that needs pre-treating so the stain doesn't set...I found shampoo to be effective. We keep a couple of those sm. hotel size shampoo bottles on the shelf in the closet. I've also used shampoo that I didn't like for hair as liquid laundry soap. It did a great job in the laundry and at least I didn't have to throw it out!

[alexis]

to streth my budget. i don't buy small amount of food for the whole week. instead of eating to fast food. i'd rather cook my own food and if i am going out or everyday in the office, instead of buying foods I see to it that i have sandwich on my bag . I do the same with my kids.

[DRILLINDK]

Bought some hair clippers and my brother cuts my hair.

[alexis]

Bought some hair clippers and my brother cuts my hair.

and is that fine with you?

[DRILLINDK]

and is that fine with you?

LOL, at first it wasn't. There was little learning curve.

Another way to save some $$$ is to rent movies from your local library. Mine has a great selection of "newer" movies and classics.

[LuxLiving]

I decrease the size of my WANT list.

Putting them on a real list actually helps - if you put it there and walk away - being prepared to go back and check the list after a set period of time. After a while, you look back at the list and it's full of things you don't remember wanting at all and seem silly to you now.

Over time you realize a lot of what you want is just more flotsam to have to take care of or dispose of later - often at a cost of either time or money or both and you start reducing your spending on mere Wants, and rev up the real Desires list, but only after checking that all the Needs are taken care of first.

[Ima saver]

Well said, Lux!

[GinerD]

I use baking soda and vinegar to clean everything.
I use the free wifi in public places around town rather than have internet service at home.
I buy much of my clothing at thrift stores.
I also buy books in good condition at thrift stores and sell them to the local bookstore that has a "buyback" service.

[LivingAlmostLarge]

Started stockpiling diapers and wipes. I think I got a ton of diapers for dirt cheap.

[LuxLiving]

Add oatmeal to hamburger to stretch it to feed my crowd.

If I find a deal on something in the shelf-stable genre I generally buy at least two, and often times many, many more. Cooking from a well-stocked pantry has saved me MANY last minute trips to the store where assuredly I would've spent more $$ on things besides just the one thing I went after. Today was an example - I was intending to make rice, and searched high and low and couldn't find any There is LOTS of it here ?somewhere? (maybe the basement and it's too cold to go down there today), so I just used some of the plentiforous store of pasta that is here as well. Meal was just as tasty. After lunch I found the rice - hiding in the back of the cupboard. But most folks who don't have full pantries might have made a grocery store run or even given up the idea of cooking and headed out for a take-out meal.

[tracie00]

MONEY MANAGEMENT -See and feel money in your hands

I have learned to avoid eating out ..that really saves a lot.I have learned to maintain a good financial control unaffected by marketing appeals.

[rob62521]

If I find a deal on something in the shelf-stable genre I generally buy at least two, and often times many, many more. Cooking from a well-stocked pantry has saved me MANY last minute trips to the store where assuredly I would've spent more $$ on things besides just the one thing I went after. .

Amen, Lux! I scored 5 pounds of flour yesterday for 84 cents because the corner had ripped and been taped. And when I buy a specialized item for a recipe, I try to find other recipes that can use it as well so it doesn't go to waste. I can't imagine not having something in the pantry unless one is too poor and that's another story.

[msi56]

I like to give plants and herbs that I have transplanted from my garden into a pot as birthday or house warming presents.

[Mike75]

I save electricity by turning off unnecessary lights in house, limiting the use of electrical appliance like electric tooth brush, dishwasher and microwave ovens etc.