We've been tearing full size paper towels into quarters whenever we need to clean up something. Works well for us.
Another tip is to re-use butter tubs, sour cream containers and plastic take out bins as food storage. Those rectangular chinese food take-out containers are great for packing a lunch in.
Even if you serve white bread, it is a step up from having a sugar-laden dessert. Maybe soppin' means dessert can be skipped often. But 100% whole wheat bread, while it makes a delish Turkey lettuce and mayo sandwich, is pretty strong flavored for soppin'. I think so and I'll bet many kids would think so, too. If you don't bake your own breads, I suggest a multi-grain or oatmeal bread to get a better bread into your kids, without turning them off with the strong dark stuff. Some companies even have breads called "Kids Choice" which look close to white bread but have extra nutrition. Yum for soppin' that juice/sauce/gravy!
I think we all needed this advice now that many holiday gatherings are still going strong but the money is not. It is important to find ways to keep family and friends together and even if you are working on a budget, it's no reason to not still celebrate the good things in life! Great job, Deb!
I buy an 8 pack of my favorite towels (Bounty Basic) when on sale and those 8 last me about a year. I use cloth rags for lots of things, but still grab paper for absorbancy. But sometimes if you are just dabbing up some orange juice or other not-icky thing, I rinse out the paper towel. That's why I like Bounty Basic--holds together. I drape the used towel somewhere-usually over the faucet-to air dry and THAT"S the towel I use for the cat barf, etc. :-D
I have my electronics on power strips that I switch off completely. ANYTHING with a remote control is always partially 'on' you know. But not the brain of my computer. Learned my lesson there, with a dead battery inside. (My expert brother replaced it for $5.) However, I don't pull the plug on other things, like the toaster, etc. when not in use. Is there some elec. loss with items like that?
I know powder laundry detergents are harder to find these days, but if you can get a small box (it will last ages) I find it is great as a bathroom scrubber. Tough soap skum that vinegar or baking soda can't quite defeat is long gone after a scrubbing with the detergent.
There is a wooden drying rack nearly perpetually in my (yes) dining room, now that it is winter. (I am an old woman. I no longer give a darn what people think!) My dryer only gets used occasionally on 'no heat-fluff' to suck the cat hair out of a few things. Of course, I have outside lines in summer.
Satellite TV is long gone and I am happy with just antenna TV. I TURN IT OFF more now.
Took a $6 surcharge off my phone bill for long distance. If you guys have cell AND a land line, see what you can pare off in services on them that you don't need on both.
I have made a weekly menu out before grocery shopping, for my entire adult life. Poke through the freezer and fridge and cupboards and incorporate leftovers or extras into your menu plans and only buy what you need to fill out a week. Then put aside the extra dollars that week and you have some spare cash to buy in bulk when you see a heck of a sale on something.
I better quit. This frugality thing can get obsessive with me!
My wife is in hospitality and she receives free wrapping paper that looks like fabrics (so that she specs them). She uses this every year... A few other ways to save during the holidays:
Restaurant.com is a great site. When...you can actually get on and order discounted coupons for the dining establishments. Every one wins. The site, the restaurants, you, and the advertisers.
The problem arises when..."you can actually get on and take advantage of what they are ofering you."
Forget their 70% off promo's. Worse yet the 80% off promo's...ultimate forget about getting on their website and ordering their 80% off coupon plus $25.00 gift certificate for $2.00.
Not if you want to wait an eternity and get lucky that you can get restaurant names in your area AND then print certicates for them!
I've called them before and they know they have a problem. The excuse is always the same..."When we offer these promotions we have very very high traffic volume."
Yet they do nothing and you can't get to take advantage of their "offer."
Sooooo, are these offers even valid? I wonder if their advertisers and restaurants are aware of this ongoing problem.
How sad that people laugh when you bring a Tupperware bowl filled with left overs to work! Seems to me these people do not understand the value of a dollar until they need one! Well maybe you can clean out your Tupperware put it on your desk with a sign that says "Donations Excepted" MMMM.
For me Sopping bread is a huge part of my culture. We always used it for meals Dad had seven children to feed! We always ate bread wit spaghetti and there's NOTHING like a good old piece of sopping bread to get up the rest of the sauce! Hit the spot too! We didn't grow up fat from eating bread either!!s Sopping bread is also good with beef stew!!!! MMMMMMM
This is an interesting article, but a bit too specific for me... If you are like me, then you may perfer something a bit simpler to understand and interpret. Try this article (and then come right back to www.wisebread.com:
One way to reduce paper towel costs is by buying your paper products like paper towels, napkins, and paper cups from the dollar store. You should be able to see great deals in the coming days as dollar stores liquidate grocery stores' holiday themed paper products. Who cares if the napkins or paper plates are red or green or if the paper towels have snowmen printed on the edges.
Breaking the paper towel HABIT is hard. But it is a habit. With little ones in the house it is going to be more difficult. So start with just one thing - instead of paper towels to wipe up spills use a sponge or cloth. Rinse well, let air dry, change daily.
For wiping little faces and hands a thin washcloth or square of old t-shirt works very well. Again, rinse well, air dry, change daily.
Run thru the washer to get really clean and for sponges, the top shelf of dishwasher.
Another easy way to save is to use less shampoo, conditioner, toothpaste, etc. Especially with toothpaste - if you put it on your brush like in the ads, you'll waste 3/4 of it. Shampoo and conditioner - put a dime sized amount in your palm, rub palms together then apply to hair. And, only one application is necessary unless you've dunked your head in a bowl of oil.
It's all those baby steps that add up to the giant steps that will pay off big time.
Great article. I'm totally with you on the paring down of decorations and choosing a signature cocktail or two to keep the bar costs down. The serving data was super helpful too. Thanks again!
You know, this might not work for everyone, but we found once we had a stocked supply at every place we needed them, then it became convenient enough to integrate the cloth version. We still have them for icky jobs, but the usage is way less.
Looks like similar tools like this website: Amazon Discount Finder, also allows you search products by discount range from 10% off to 90% off. And you also can explore the category by percentage off.
This is a good idea and one we haven't tried yet! Next trip to the store we'll grab the papertowels with the various sized perforations and see if we can make a difference that way. Thanks!
I totally agree. Small things can really add up. If you save a buck here and there it may look insignificant but it does add up!
That is also the reason why i feel more comfortable buying 1 expensive item then buying a dozen cheap items. The small and cheap items can be really expensive in total and is much harder to control these spendings.
I think we can just reduce a lot of waste if we stopped with the disposable everything like disposable wipes or one-use items.
What's wrong with reusing?
Oh and no more water bottles, PLEASE! I even feel guilty getting a Starbucks treat if I don't have my mug with me. I am trying to make a conscious effort not to create more unnecessary waste.
In response to Debbie Dragon - a very simple way to reduce paper towel use is to purchase the paper towels that come in the 1/3 sheet sizes. We do this and go through towels much slower. Needing a full size paper towel is is rarer then you think. Here are some other great money saving ideas from my father in-law:
My mom has been saving jam jars for years, of various brands. Although they've never been used as baby bottles, many are in use for everything from storage to drinking cups. None have ever broken just from dropping on the floor (being thrown is another matter-- don't ask how I know...) She has some that have been through the dishwasher countless times in the 10+ years she's had them, and look and function like new. (How many plastic baby bottles can say that?)
All your ideas are great... I already do all of them... others: bake your own bread, stop buying boxed cereals and make oatmeal instead, bundle up and turn the heat down, use more vegetable in your meals and less meats, cook with more beans, lentils, barley and so on, buy in bulk, can your own food... oh, there are more, but I'm sleepy!
A book that I am highly recommending The Worst Kind of Lies, about insurance scams and investments, by John Patrick Lamont was absolutely my favorite. I chose to use the "reviews" page link because the reviews are much more better written on the website then I could write!
After reading his book, I have become less accepting of corporate corruption and realize how much everyone's lives are affected by greedy and irresponsible corporate executives who believe they are above the law.
is a tough one. I've been trying to use less paper towels for awhile now, and not having much luck with it. I think paper towels go hand and hand with little kids - everything from juice spills to peanut butter smeared faces can be quickly and sanitarily cleaned with wet paper towels. Maybe 2009 will be the year I finally cut back!
We've been tearing full size paper towels into quarters whenever we need to clean up something. Works well for us.
Another tip is to re-use butter tubs, sour cream containers and plastic take out bins as food storage. Those rectangular chinese food take-out containers are great for packing a lunch in.
Even if you serve white bread, it is a step up from having a sugar-laden dessert. Maybe soppin' means dessert can be skipped often. But 100% whole wheat bread, while it makes a delish Turkey lettuce and mayo sandwich, is pretty strong flavored for soppin'. I think so and I'll bet many kids would think so, too. If you don't bake your own breads, I suggest a multi-grain or oatmeal bread to get a better bread into your kids, without turning them off with the strong dark stuff. Some companies even have breads called "Kids Choice" which look close to white bread but have extra nutrition. Yum for soppin' that juice/sauce/gravy!
I think we all needed this advice now that many holiday gatherings are still going strong but the money is not. It is important to find ways to keep family and friends together and even if you are working on a budget, it's no reason to not still celebrate the good things in life! Great job, Deb!
I buy an 8 pack of my favorite towels (Bounty Basic) when on sale and those 8 last me about a year. I use cloth rags for lots of things, but still grab paper for absorbancy. But sometimes if you are just dabbing up some orange juice or other not-icky thing, I rinse out the paper towel. That's why I like Bounty Basic--holds together. I drape the used towel somewhere-usually over the faucet-to air dry and THAT"S the towel I use for the cat barf, etc. :-D
I have my electronics on power strips that I switch off completely. ANYTHING with a remote control is always partially 'on' you know. But not the brain of my computer. Learned my lesson there, with a dead battery inside. (My expert brother replaced it for $5.) However, I don't pull the plug on other things, like the toaster, etc. when not in use. Is there some elec. loss with items like that?
I know powder laundry detergents are harder to find these days, but if you can get a small box (it will last ages) I find it is great as a bathroom scrubber. Tough soap skum that vinegar or baking soda can't quite defeat is long gone after a scrubbing with the detergent.
There is a wooden drying rack nearly perpetually in my (yes) dining room, now that it is winter. (I am an old woman. I no longer give a darn what people think!) My dryer only gets used occasionally on 'no heat-fluff' to suck the cat hair out of a few things. Of course, I have outside lines in summer.
Satellite TV is long gone and I am happy with just antenna TV. I TURN IT OFF more now.
Took a $6 surcharge off my phone bill for long distance. If you guys have cell AND a land line, see what you can pare off in services on them that you don't need on both.
I have made a weekly menu out before grocery shopping, for my entire adult life. Poke through the freezer and fridge and cupboards and incorporate leftovers or extras into your menu plans and only buy what you need to fill out a week. Then put aside the extra dollars that week and you have some spare cash to buy in bulk when you see a heck of a sale on something.
I better quit. This frugality thing can get obsessive with me!
My wife is in hospitality and she receives free wrapping paper that looks like fabrics (so that she specs them). She uses this every year... A few other ways to save during the holidays:
http://www.onemillionbucks.net/2008/12/frugal-father-in-law-christmas.html
Then come right back to www.wisebread.com!!!
Restaurant.com is a great site. When...you can actually get on and order discounted coupons for the dining establishments. Every one wins. The site, the restaurants, you, and the advertisers.
The problem arises when..."you can actually get on and take advantage of what they are ofering you."
Forget their 70% off promo's. Worse yet the 80% off promo's...ultimate forget about getting on their website and ordering their 80% off coupon plus $25.00 gift certificate for $2.00.
Not if you want to wait an eternity and get lucky that you can get restaurant names in your area AND then print certicates for them!
I've called them before and they know they have a problem. The excuse is always the same..."When we offer these promotions we have very very high traffic volume."
Yet they do nothing and you can't get to take advantage of their "offer."
Sooooo, are these offers even valid? I wonder if their advertisers and restaurants are aware of this ongoing problem.
How sad that people laugh when you bring a Tupperware bowl filled with left overs to work! Seems to me these people do not understand the value of a dollar until they need one! Well maybe you can clean out your Tupperware put it on your desk with a sign that says "Donations Excepted" MMMM.
For me Sopping bread is a huge part of my culture. We always used it for meals Dad had seven children to feed! We always ate bread wit spaghetti and there's NOTHING like a good old piece of sopping bread to get up the rest of the sauce! Hit the spot too! We didn't grow up fat from eating bread either!!s Sopping bread is also good with beef stew!!!! MMMMMMM
This is an interesting article, but a bit too specific for me... If you are like me, then you may perfer something a bit simpler to understand and interpret. Try this article (and then come right back to www.wisebread.com:
http://www.onemillionbucks.net/search/label/Taxes
Thanks
Great article. I am guilty of the toilet paper. I try to use as little as possible but sometimes when I grab more than I need, I just think oh well.
Also, wasting gas is a big one. Sometimes I just go for a drive for no apparent reason.
One way to reduce paper towel costs is by buying your paper products like paper towels, napkins, and paper cups from the dollar store. You should be able to see great deals in the coming days as dollar stores liquidate grocery stores' holiday themed paper products. Who cares if the napkins or paper plates are red or green or if the paper towels have snowmen printed on the edges.
Breaking the paper towel HABIT is hard. But it is a habit. With little ones in the house it is going to be more difficult. So start with just one thing - instead of paper towels to wipe up spills use a sponge or cloth. Rinse well, let air dry, change daily.
For wiping little faces and hands a thin washcloth or square of old t-shirt works very well. Again, rinse well, air dry, change daily.
Run thru the washer to get really clean and for sponges, the top shelf of dishwasher.
Another easy way to save is to use less shampoo, conditioner, toothpaste, etc. Especially with toothpaste - if you put it on your brush like in the ads, you'll waste 3/4 of it. Shampoo and conditioner - put a dime sized amount in your palm, rub palms together then apply to hair. And, only one application is necessary unless you've dunked your head in a bowl of oil.
It's all those baby steps that add up to the giant steps that will pay off big time.
Great article. I'm totally with you on the paring down of decorations and choosing a signature cocktail or two to keep the bar costs down. The serving data was super helpful too. Thanks again!
You know, this might not work for everyone, but we found once we had a stocked supply at every place we needed them, then it became convenient enough to integrate the cloth version. We still have them for icky jobs, but the usage is way less.
Looks like similar tools like this website: Amazon Discount Finder, also allows you search products by discount range from 10% off to 90% off. And you also can explore the category by percentage off.
This is a good idea and one we haven't tried yet! Next trip to the store we'll grab the papertowels with the various sized perforations and see if we can make a difference that way. Thanks!
I totally agree. Small things can really add up. If you save a buck here and there it may look insignificant but it does add up!
That is also the reason why i feel more comfortable buying 1 expensive item then buying a dozen cheap items. The small and cheap items can be really expensive in total and is much harder to control these spendings.
Especially the one about cooking in bulk.
I think we can just reduce a lot of waste if we stopped with the disposable everything like disposable wipes or one-use items.
What's wrong with reusing?
Oh and no more water bottles, PLEASE! I even feel guilty getting a Starbucks treat if I don't have my mug with me. I am trying to make a conscious effort not to create more unnecessary waste.
Fabulously Broke in the City
Just a girl trying to find a balance between being a Shopaholic and a Saver...
In response to Debbie Dragon - a very simple way to reduce paper towel use is to purchase the paper towels that come in the 1/3 sheet sizes. We do this and go through towels much slower. Needing a full size paper towel is is rarer then you think. Here are some other great money saving ideas from my father in-law:
http://www.onemillionbucks.net/search/label/The%20Frugal%20Father%20In%2...
Thanks -
-PB
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My mom has been saving jam jars for years, of various brands. Although they've never been used as baby bottles, many are in use for everything from storage to drinking cups. None have ever broken just from dropping on the floor (being thrown is another matter-- don't ask how I know...) She has some that have been through the dishwasher countless times in the 10+ years she's had them, and look and function like new. (How many plastic baby bottles can say that?)
Thank you for sharing your helpful tips in investing
, I will apply the tips that you've said. Thanks again!
All your ideas are great... I already do all of them... others: bake your own bread, stop buying boxed cereals and make oatmeal instead, bundle up and turn the heat down, use more vegetable in your meals and less meats, cook with more beans, lentils, barley and so on, buy in bulk, can your own food... oh, there are more, but I'm sleepy!
A book that I am highly recommending The Worst Kind of Lies, about insurance scams and investments, by John Patrick Lamont was absolutely my favorite. I chose to use the "reviews" page link because the reviews are much more better written on the website then I could write!
After reading his book, I have become less accepting of corporate corruption and realize how much everyone's lives are affected by greedy and irresponsible corporate executives who believe they are above the law.
is a tough one. I've been trying to use less paper towels for awhile now, and not having much luck with it. I think paper towels go hand and hand with little kids - everything from juice spills to peanut butter smeared faces can be quickly and sanitarily cleaned with wet paper towels. Maybe 2009 will be the year I finally cut back!