Ways that you save money that you wouldn't tell your neighbors

[greenskeeper]

heat with firewood.....oh wait.....I guess the 8 cords of split and stacked wood kinda gives it away

[annibe11e]

Things I don't tell people:

I try to stretch the cat litter until shopping day, which sometimes means a pretty nasty kitty box for a few days. It's not fair to the cats, but I hate to make a special/early trip to the store.

My first Christmas shopping stop for gifts is the dollar store.

I buy bathing suits and bras at the thrift store.

I stopped shampooing my hair. I use conditioner or water only and I only "wash" it once a week or so. It's called co-washing and its pretty awesome. I just don't talk about it cause it sounds weird.

Other things I do are:

Water down juice/drink mixes
Water down fabric softener
Pour said watered down fabric softener into a rag and use it as a dryer sheet
Make my own Febreze and just refill the bottle
Make fake hamburger out of black beans and oats
Mix refried beans in with my taco meat. My kids don't know and think that's the normal consistency of taco meat. I also serve refried beans on the side like nothing happened.
Skimp on laundry detergent
Use baking soda as a facial scrub
Use sugar as a body scrub
Use witch hazel as facial toner
I buy dishes, utensils, small appliances, furniture and bedding at the thrift store.
My microwave is so old, it has a dial instead of buttons. Our motto for microwave cooking is "add 30 seconds to what the directions say"

I'm actually more embarrassed about the non-frugal things I do:

I use a $25 face cream (that's a lot of money in my budget)
I use $15 mascara (same as above)
I spend $5.64 on mochas at the coffee shop even though I have an espresso machine at home.
If I found the perfect pair of boots, I would buy them regardless of their price and my financial situation.

[bjl584]

As I was washing out zipper lock bags this morning, it occurred to me that I probably wouldn't go bragging about that.

I do that too!

[dawnwes]

I don't talk to my neighbors all that often, but when I hear them talking I do realize how differently we live than they do.

No cable TV
No contract expensive cell plans
No car payments
Don't even use dryer sheets!
live on an actual budget
No 2nd homes in the mountains or at the beach
No rec vehicles or boats

[neatdesign]

The only thing I can think of is on occasion if I am the only one home I may urinate in the toilet more than once before flushing.

I do this, too. I'm single and my dog doesn't care, so it's not a problem. I don't tell people that I do it because, frankly, it's no one else's business (no pun intended).

Related trivia: Ken Livingstone, former mayor of London, not only follows this practice but in 2005 began famously and actively encouraging other Londoners to do it, too.

[josetann]

I would not tell anyone that I pee in the shower. Because, obviously, I don't do that.

On a more serious note, I don't know that there's anything really off-limits. I don't go around advertising certain things, but if it came up I'd have no problem admitting to not using a dryer (dry outside or inside on a drying rack), washing out ziploc bags, heck even reusing water bottles (which is hard to hide, seeing as that's what I send with the kids' lunches).

[4theluvofgold]

I do the same with wifi, they left it unsecured and I know their plan cause they were bragging about the quanity of gigs and they're gamers.

Using diluted Dawn for shampoo and body wash would be mine.

[4theluvofgold]

Oh I always check the trash cans at dairy queen for the kids meal bags. Many times they don't take the red coupon for free icecream off.

[debtfreeme]

I realized today that I forgot to say that I have three wool balls in my dryer to separate things that are drying. They are the size of soft balls and help to keep things separated and fluffy shortening drying time significantly.