*When you boil potatoes, always save
the water. Use it in soups and stews, or cool it and use it to fertilize your
house plants.
*Empty plastic liners from cereal
boxes make good freezer bags or wax paper. Use for lunch bags also.
*Save plastic mesh bags to hold
small items you want to run through the dishwasher, use to scrub dishes, or
place items in to drip dry.
*Save the packaging from convenience
food and make your own. Fill TV dinner trays with your own leftovers; jello and
pudding cups with similar food, etc.
*Use old TV dinner trays to reheat
food in the microwave.
*Cut off the tops of empty plastic
milk cartons to use as funnels.
*Pour old baking soda from the
refrigerator down your drain to freshen.
*Use pantyhose to hang onions and
potatoes in your pantry. Store in leg section, with knots in between vegetables.
Hang from the ceiling.
Gardening
*Roses love crushed egg shells. They
help keep snails out of the garden. *Save money growing your own food. Get a
jump on the gardening seasons by starting your plants indoors in potting soil
placed in empty egg cartons.
*Use old garden hoses to drip
irrigate your garden. Cut holes along the length of the hose, and lay along
plants.
*Be creative when it comes to
containers. Some possibilities:
-Egg cartons; use to start plants.
-Old shoes, cute for ornamentals.
-Plastic milk and ice cream
containers; cut to size and add drainage holes, or use to transport soil, rocks,
or water. Cut tiny holes and place by plants for drip irrigation.
-Cracked mugs and bowls; use on the
bottom of containers for good drainage.
- Cardboard boxes; use on a
temporary basis for short-lived plants.
-Old tires; stacked them up, and
filled with straw to grow potatoes.
Cleaning
*Use old newspapers for cleaning
glass and windows.
*Use old dryer sheets to dust. Place
them on the bottom of garbage cans and other areas of the house to eliminate
odors.
*Cut up old, worn clothes for
cleaning rags. Use old socks for washrags. Place them over your hand for easy
dusting.
*Cut the top off empty milk jugs,
and use to store bathroom cleaning accessories. Use to hold your toilet brush
cleaner, and then just discard when dirty.
Storage
*If you can, buy your ice cream in
big 2 gallon buckets. They can be used for all kinds of storage, from food to
toys, as well as sand buckets for children.
*Use empty soda bottles to store
water. You can also use them to water house plants when you are away. Cut small
holes in the bottom, fill with water, and set inside the plant pots to slowly
drip.
*Cut off the top of empty plastic
milk containers to desired height to make storage containers to fit in drawers.
*Use ice cube trays for storage of
small items.
*Use baby food jars to store small
items. Screw the lid to the top of a shelf to save space.
*Use film canisters to store small
items (like sewing notions) and small amounts of paint.
*Use empty luggage to store
blankets, seasonal clothes, or gift items purchased in advance during sales.
*If you have items in storage areas
with empty space, fill them with smaller items, and label them. Try to group
things in a logical manner. Keep a master list on your computer.
*Store extra blankets in pillow
shams that you can set on sofas and beds.
*Decorate large oatmeal containers
and other similar empty containers with contact paper, pictures, etc., and use
for storage of smaller items.
*Save empty plastic eggs that come
out of bubble gum type machines: They can be used like plastic Easter eggs at
Easter or to store small pieces of jewelry and keep earrings together.
*Use old shower curtains to cover
wood stored outside.
Linens & Sewing
*Make potholders out of old ironing
board covers.
*Make kitchen towels or table
runners out of soiled tablecloths and towels. Make drapes out of tablecloths.
*Cut off the unworn part of old
sheets to make pillowcases.
*Store sets of buttons on diaper
pins, or keep organized in egg cartons. Take of the lids and stack to save room.
*Use scraps of fabric to make
quilts.
Home Office and Computer
*Make your own postcards from heavy
junk mail. Use the lighter pieces for notes.
*Use both sides of printer paper,
whether it is to run through the printer again, or other purposes.
*Use unwanted CD's as coasters, hang
as shiny decorations for festive occasions, or use them to decorate the wall in
your computer room.
*Decorate empty tin cans, and fill
with pencils, pens, markers, scissors, etc. and place in each room as needed.
*Before you discard plastic gloves,
make large rubber bands by cutting the top at 1/2 inch intervals.
Decorating
*Use the tabs on aluminum cans to
hang pictures. Just tack them to the back of the frame, or glue on with a hot
glue gun.
*Use worn out sewing machine needles
to hang pictures.
*Use the plastic bags you get at the
grocery store to stuff your drapery toppers. Keep extra plastic bags stored in
another plastic bag.
*Use plastic bags for trash. Great
for wet items.
*Use colorful toy building blocks as
handles on children's dressers.
*Use old shower curtains as drop
cloths when you paint.
Gifts
*Save old Christmas paper and shred
for use in gift bags.
*Make postcards, gift tags, or
ornaments out of Christmas Cards.
*Save leftover wallpaper to wrap
presents.
*Save empty glass jars for gifts and
storage.
Household
*I know they say not to do it, but
I've been known to empty my vacuum bags and reuse them.
*Re-route your washing machine hoses
so that your water drains outside for use in watering your landscaping.
*Never dry clothes completely in the
dryer. Take them out while they are still damp and let them hang dry. With 100
percent cotton, don't put them in the dryer. Hang dry and they will have less
wrinkles.
*Install a Furnace temperature
regulator, and turn the heat down 10 degrees while you are sleeping.
*Turn your Water Heater down to 120
Degrees. If you know when you will be using your hot water (showers, dishes,
laundry, etc.) put an appliance timer on your hot water heater.
*Check the lighting in your home.
Lower the wattage when possible.
*To keep your drains running
smoothly- in addition to any chemicals you might put into them, fill up the
basin with hot water periodically, and then let it run down all at once. The
pressure from all the water will help clear the drain.
In the Kitchen
*Never throw away a plastic tray.
Use them to store leftovers in the freezer, gift giving, and to carry food to
social events.
*Save small plastic containers for
children's drinks. Glass breaks and can be dangerous.
*East less meat. Not only is it less
expensive, it is more healthy.
Shopping
*Always do your grocery shopping
alone. Keep the husband and kids home. You will spend less money.
*Don't trust the scanners at
check-out counters. They make mistakes.
*When possible, know the price of
what you are buying, and watch it scan.
*Many stores have the policy to
match their competitor's prices. If you see something in the newspaper that you
want, but don't want to travel to that particular store to get it, cut out the
advertisement and take it to your local store.
*Shop the thrift stores with
regularity. Know which ones have the best prices. Be on the lookout for candles
(for emergencies), dishes, wallpaper remnants (for wrapping paper), patterns,
yarn, sewing supplies, wool pants for winter outings, classic clothing, and
other versatile items.
*When buying a non food item, always
look in the back to see if you can find the identical item marked at a lower
price. Often when prices increase, it doesn't apply to the items already marked.
*When buying food, look for the
expiration date and buy the newest item.
*Join a discount warehouse. If you
don't qualify to join, buy one share of their stock. Be sure and hold the stock
certificate yourself. If a brokerage holds it for you, they will charge you for
that service.
*If you must buy name brands-
consider setting up an extensive filing system for coupons and rebates.
Organize cardboard boxes and save
not only the UPC code, but the rest of the packaging. You never know what part
of the packaging they are going to ask for. Be sure and not create a fire
hazard.
*When you buy a car, pick one that
combines low price, low gas mileage, lower insurance premiums, and low
maintenance and repair costs. Your will save thousands of dollars over the
lifetime of the car.
*If you are buying from a dealer,
check out a half dozen of them, and be sure and let them know you are looking
around. When you leave the first time, they won't expect you to come back. When
you do come back, they will think they have a sale. They will not offer you the
best deal until you start to walk away again.
*When you need new tires for your
car, try and find some that are marked as blemished. They are considerably
cheaper. They are just as safe as new ones, and usually carry the same warranty.
*Pump your own gas. Use the lowest
octane your car manual recommends.
*Keep your engine tuned and your
tired inflated for the best mileage.
*Find a good mechanic for your car
before you are in a crisis situation. Find someone who you can trust. Take a
recommendation from a friend and see how long they have been in business in your
community. Check their certification, and ask how they will communicate with you
about repair costs and options.
*When it comes to your auto
insurance, shop around. Call the State Insurance Department for a list of
comparison prices charged by different companies.
*Keep your deductibles as high as
you feel comfortable with. If you have an old car, you may not want Collision
coverage- just Liability.
*Be sure and take advantage of
Homeowner Insurance Discounts for alarm systems, fire extinguishers,
non-smokers, good driving records, good grades for students, and carrying
multi-line insurance with the same company.
Sewing
*Use leftover candle stumps as
pincushions. Needles slide into fabric smoother.
*When your child's pullover sweaters
becomes to tight to wear, turn them into a cardigan by cutting them straight
down the front and binding the front edges with an attractive trim.
*Keep your fabric remnants. Even if
you can't think of a use for them now, new projects will come along. You may end
up using them in a quilting project or perhaps making a doll. They may become a
collar or a piece of bias trim.
*Use leftover denim from cutoff
jeans to make garden gloves. Simply trace around your fingers for the pattern.
Beauty
*Take advantage of Beauty Schools.
They are always looking for people to practice on. They usually do a good job,
as they are watched carefully by their supervisors.
*Save money on make-up by letting
your cosmetics do double-duty. Mascara can be used to line eyes with a small
eyeliner brush. Depending on your coloring, it may also be used to line your
eyebrows. Or use earth tone eye shadow. Lipstick can be used as blush.
*A tube of lipstick should last for
6 months. Buy it where you can take it back if you don't like the color.
*Use baby powder underneath your
make-up if your skin is greasy.
*Make your own facial powder by
combining mashed inexpensive compact powder with twice as much baby powder.
*Remember to discard your makeup
every 6 months for safety reasons. It is hard to do, but easier if you don't
have as much of it.
*Don't waste your money on expensive
facial creams. Many a woman gets by with a plain jar of cold cream.
*If you wear contact lenses, shop
around. The prices differ dramatically for the same lenses. Check out mail order
companies.
*Consider wearing glasses. They are
cheaper.
Decorating
*Old fashioned Doilies in good
condition make great artwork, Frame them on a colorful mat board, and hang them
on your wall.
*Surround yourself with the things
you love. Things that have sentimental value are of far more worth than any art
objects.
*Anything looks good in a frame and
mat board. Display your children's art work.
*Make collections of rocks, shells
and other things you can collect together or on trips.
*When you buy your furniture, try to
buy items that can be used in several rooms. Certain tables, chairs, lamps, etc.
will never be wasted if you can move them around.
*Be eclectic. Things like plates
don't have to match. Put interesting colors and textures together, and enjoy the
variety.
Money
*Find a bank where you don't have to
pay account fees.
*If you must use your credit card,
keep a running total of everything you've charged during the month. Subtract
each purchase from your misc. money in your budget. That way you will always
know if you are on budget or charging more than you can pay off when the bill
comes.
*If you can't afford a 15 year
mortgage, try and at least pay a little extra to the principal each month. Extra
principal paid at the beginning of a mortgage will save thousands of dollars in
interest as well as knock several years off the loan.
*If you are shopping for a mortgage,
or refinancing your home, look for the lowest rate with the smallest amount of
points and closing costs.
Traveling
*Purchase your tickets in advance,
and always come home on a Sunday.
*Watch out for airfare wars and be
flexible in order to take advantage of them.
*If you use a travel agent, always
double check the rate. Call the airlines and ask them what the lowest fare is to
your destination.
*Do not let your undeveloped film go
through the new x-ray machines. It will ruin it.
*Compare the cost of traveling by
air with renting an RV. The money you save on motels and meals may make it worth
renting an RV if you have the time.
*If you have the time, also check
the cost of traveling by train.
*If you need to rent a car at your
destination, call around. There is a big difference in rates with different
companies.
*Avoid buying duplicate insurance
coverage for your rental car. Check your personal auto insurance policy before
you leave home, or call your agent to see what is covered. You may also have
some benefits from a credit card.
Energy
*Lower your thermostat temperature a
couple of degrees and wear sweaters around your house. For every degree you
lower your thermostat, you save 2-3 percent on your energy bill.
*When you use your dishwasher, stop
it before the drying cycle, and open the door to air dry your dishes.
*Make sure all your appliances are
running smoothly by cleaning the filters regularly.
*Unless you are baking, put your
food in your oven when you first turn it on.
*Close your drapes at night to help
cold air from getting in.
*Open your drapes wide when the sun
is shining to warm your room.
*Keep your windows shut as tightly
as possible. Locking them will make the seal tighter.
*Close doors to rooms that don’t
need to be heated, like closets, storage rooms, etc. Close the heating vent in
unused rooms.
*Turn you lights off when you leave
a room. It is cheaper to turn them on and off than leave them on, and the bulbs
last longer.
*Use the lowest wattage possible and
still have adequate light.
Water
*Take showers instead of baths. You
will save money on your water bill as well as your energy bill.
*Use less hot water. Washing your
hands can use 2 gallons of hot water a week.
*Get in and out of the shower
quickly. A five minute shower takes about 20 gallons.
*Always run your dishwasher with a
full load. The dishwasher uses around 12 gallons each load.
*Run full loads in the washing
machine, and use cold water when possible.
*Run your drainage hoses from your
washing machine outside, and catch the water to use for washing your car and
watering your plants.
*Stop water leaks immediately. A
sink dripping one drop of water per second wastes 60 gallons of water if you let
it go a week.
Misc
*Use empty plastic milk jugs, filled
with water, in the freezer to fill dead air space.
*Save and Recycle plastic
peanuts.Use them at the bottom of planting containers instead of rocks or gravel
for water drainage.
*Use old diaper pins to hold socks
together when washing.
*Save the plastic bags that come
with your newspaper for packing items for trips and camping.
*Buy Term Life Insurance. It's just
as much protection, but cheaper.
*Never buy your checks from your
bank. Their prices are outrageous. Purchase them through the mail. Take
advantage of first time customer prices from several companies.
*Avoid using calling cards. Check
the rate. It can be MUCH higher.
*If you must use these cards, hang
up and return the call immediately.
*Both Long Distance Carriers and
Credit Cards will usually lower their rates if you tell them you are leaving.
*Avoid buying stamps. Use automatic
withdrawal from your checking account, bill pay, or drop-off centers for local
bills if convenient.
*Send your mail to friends and
family by e-mail..
*Buy your prescription drugs through
a discount mail order company.
*Ask your doctor and/or pharmacist
if there is a generic brand for your medication.