TIPS FOR THE TRULY FRUGAL 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 at all. 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. (This was a "trick" my plumber taught me). RECYCLING Save and Recycle "Plastic Peanuts" (those Styrofoam pieces that come in packages sent in the mail). Use them at the bottom of planting containers instead of rocks or gravel for water drainage. Use the plastic bags you get at the grocery store to stuff your drapery toppers. Empty plastic liners from cereal boxes make good freezer bags or wax paper. Use old newspapers for cleaning glass and windows. 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. Save plastic mesh bags to hold small items you want to run through the dishwasher. 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. Make your own postcards from heavy junk mail. Use the lighter pieces for notes. Make potholders out of old ironing board covers. Make kitchen towels or table runners out of soiled tablecloths. Use colorful toy building blocks as handles on children's dressers. When you boil potatoes, always save the water. Use it in soups and stews, or cool it and use it to fertilize your houseplants. Ferns love it. Roses love crushed egg shells. The help keep snails out of the garden. KITCHEN Never throw away a plastic tray. Use them to store leftovers in the freezer, gift giving, as well as "plates" to carry food to social events (and not have to worry about bringing your plate home). Save small plastic containers (like the ones yogurt comes in) for drinks for small children. Glass should never be given to children, and adult plastic ones are often too big. 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 prices 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 the advertisement out 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 emergency preparedness, dishes, wallpaper remnants (for wrapping paper), patterns, yarn, sewing supplies, wool pants for winter outings, classic clothing, and anything else you are lucky enough to find. 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, you want to find the expiration date and buy the newest item. Join a discount warehouse. You can almost always join any of them by purchasing just one piece of stock. Be sure and get your stock. If a brokerage holds it for you, they will charge you fees! 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. This takes a lot of space- but if you are want to do it, and very organized, you can save a lot of money. Be sure and use an area for this that will not become 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". 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 "blemished" ones. 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 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. ------------------------------------ Follow the same procedure with your homeowner insurance. ------------------------------------ SEWING Use leftover candle stumps as pincushions. Needles slide into fabric smoother. When your child's pullover sweater becomes to tight to wear, turn it into a cardigan by cutting it 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 make a doll. They may become a collar or a piece of bias trim. If you have the room, keep them. Use leftover denim from cutoff jeans to make garden gloves. Simply trace around your fingers for the pattern. ------------------------------------ BEAUTY Do you have a Beauty School in your area? They are always looking for people to "practice on". They usually do a good job, as they are watched carefully by their supervisors. No tipping either! ------------------------------------ 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 eyeshadow. 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 and twice as much baby powder. Remember to discard your makeup every 6 months. It is hard to do, but for safety reasons you should do it. Wear less, and it's not so hard to do! 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. Consider wearing glasses. They are cheaper. ------------------------------------ DECORATING Old fashioned Doilies in good condition make great artwork, especially if they were made by someone in your family. 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. Don't worry about "matching" things. Be ecclectic! Things like plates don't have to match. Put interesting colors and textures together, and enjoy the variety. ------------------------------------------------- MANAGING YOUR MONEY Find a bank where you don't have to pay a service charge. There is a lot of competition out there- and you should be able to find one that will be free for you. If you can, have your paycheck put in via direct deposit. You will get some extra perks . ------------------------------------ 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 on it periodically. Extra principle 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 might be able to afford a 15 year loan, but are afraid to take the "financial risk", get a computer software program that tells you how much you need to pay each month in extra principle to pay it off in 15 years. There are shareware programs that do this on the Internet, as well as packaged programs in the computer stores. While you may not be able to make the extra payments each month, you might have 2 "extra paychecks" each year (if you are paid every other month), a tax refund, bonuses, or other ways to pay the money without it "hurting" so much. Shop for the lowest rate mortgage with the smallest amount of points. -------------------------------------------------- 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. Also 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. ----------------------------------- MISC 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. Current has a good selection. Their website is http://www.currentchecks.com. ------------------------------------ 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. Tell them who you are going to, and the rate you are getting. They will usually come down or claim to have a "new plan"! ------------------------------------ Avoid buying stamps. In my opinion, they are outrageously expensive. Send your mail to friends and family by e-mail when you can. Pay your bills by automatic withdrawal if possible. ------------------------------------ If your family has a lot of prescription bills, be sure that you are buying your medicine at a discounted rate. There are many insurance plans that can save you over 50 percent on each medication. A lot of the medication plans you do through the mail are very good. We were forced into an HMO (UGH) a few years ago, but before that we had a prescription plan that only cost about $10 for each prescription. Ask your pharmacist if there is a generic brand for your medication ------------------------------------ Make use of any "perks" that you get. My husband travels a lot with his employment. I have baskets full of little bottles of hair shampoo, soap, and hand lotion. (Judgment call!) ---------------------------------------------------------- HERE ARE SOME IDEAS TO SAVE MONEY ON WATER AND ENERGY, WHEN YOU CANNOT AFFORD TO MAKE ANY CHANGES TO YOUR HOME: ENERGY SAVINGS 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 them seal tighter. Close doors to rooms that don't need to be heated, like closets, storage rooms, etc. 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 SAVINGS 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.