Things we don't need to buy

[arcadian]

at the supermarket today i saw this fancy cleaning product. it is basically a thick paper towel drenched in bleach. they had some neat name for it but clearly they are charging a lot for something you can easily make at home.

then i started thinking about all the stuff around my house i don't need to buy. my mom never bought paper towels. she just used washcloths and old cloths she buys at the salvation army. i never buy garbage bags--why buy when every store gives you free bags when you go shopping?

what are some things that you've learned to mcgyver out of buying?

[kav122]

Originally Posted by arcadian

what are some things that you've learned to mcgyver out of buying?

I try to find some way to reuse pretty much anything. If you have a sewing machine, you can "mcgyver" many more things I, too, make cloths for dusting, mopping, etc out of old socks with many holes or that don't have a mate. I can't believe I am admitting this, but I wash my ziploc bags, my aluminum foil and my seran wrap and reuse it. I would never think about throwing out a sour cream container or whatnot. Those type containers keep me from ever having to buy tupperware. And old milkjugs make great pots for my starter plants for the garden. And all food scraps go into the compost so we don't have to buy mulch ever. I try to think about everything before I throw it away and try to think of another use. Even old squeeze-bottle mustard containers make fun bath toys for my son.

I think the thing that keeps me from spending the most, though, is just not going to the stores. Gosh, I could walk into Target not needing ANYTHING and walk out with a hundred dollars worth of stuff I CONVINCED myself that I had to have. I write things down when I think of them, and bring that list with me and shop off the list. If I see something that I REALLY think I need, I won't buy it then, I will wait a day or two or the next time I go shopping and then if I STILL want it, then I will get it.

[Pinoy Smart Blogger]

Thanks kav122. That post made me laugh. I do use old socks and the ones that don't have a pair but I've never reused foil wrappers

What I usually do is reuse are glass gatorade bottles as drinking glasses. I live in an apartment with a guy co-worker and it doesn't seem bother him if I use it.

[lucille]

All of those swiffer type products just seem like a way to keep you wasting money and throwing things away. I found a dust mop that has a microfiber cloth center. It does a good job picking up the small stuff and goes in the washing machine. It cost less than the swiffer mop and doesn't require I buy expensive refills of something every couple of weeks.

There are so many things that exist to generate repeat sales. Another one is those Olay (and other brands) disposable face cloths. They are a glorifed paper towel or baby wipe soaked in soap.

[Will]

Originally Posted by Pinoy Smart Blogger

What I usually do is reuse are glass gatorade bottles as drinking glasses.

My mom used to tell me NOT to reuse plastic bottles because they cause cancer. I didn't know that was an urban legend until recently.

Originally Posted by lucille

Another one is those Olay (and other brands) disposable face cloths. They are a glorifed paper towel or baby wipe soaked in soap.

Oil of Olay soaps leave this icky creamy coating on your skin. I hate that coating so I scrub a lot harder to get rid of it. In the end my skin becomes drier than before due to the extra washing. It is a vicious cycle.

[Emily]

Toys from the dollar store. Yes, it's a dollar. It's also going to break in the car on the way home from the store.

Baby wipes. Washcloth, anyone?

[hollyvangogh]

Fabric softener! My mother always taught me it'll make your towels less absorbant. Besides, vinegar works just as well. Vinegar is like a gift from God...it'll clean just about everything. And it's cheaper than those toxic chemical cleaners anyway.

[frozemud]

I've found that I don't need shaving gel/foam. I just soap up real well in the shower and shave away. Plus, many razors now come with a little gel lubri-strip which helps even more.

[Tennessee Riddle]

Microwave popcorn. Either fix it on the stove or in a paper bag in the microwave. It's about a penny a serving. My favorite popcorn is now fixed on the stove with enough canola oil to coat the pan, a tablespoon of salt, and a couple of packs of splenda. It's not as sweet as kettle corn and its really yummy. Not so frugal, but I poured a little butter, brown sugar, and ameretto over some the other day.

[markmiller75]

One thing people do not need to buy is liquid plumber. When my toilet get plugged I just pour in some laundy detergent to unplug the toilet and Voila!!!
It really works.