Peppermint Oil to the RescueI found myself using my peppermint oil 4 times this holiday season.
Refreshing Wipes and Keeping Them MoistWet wipes are just as great for personal adult use as they are for babies. I buy them initially in a container, and then refill the container with the refill packets.
You May Be Eligible for Food StampsApply for food stamps in your state. I thought I wouldn't get them, but surprise, I was eligible. There is no disgrace in getting help when you need it. Be brave and just go apply.
Extended Use for PensFor ink pens that won't write; place the pens upside down in a cup of hot water until the water cools off. Wipe dry and use.
Freeze Canned BiscuitsI found out just today that you can freeze the biscuits-in-a-can! Find a sale, stock up, and throw them in the freezer. You can either let the can thaw out, pop it open and then bake the biscuits or (frozen cans will NOT pop) pry the frozen biscuits out of the can and bake them.
Use Tall Laundry Hampers as Trash CansTall laundry hampers are about half the price of kitchen size trash cans. You can get them for as little as $5 at Deals!, Family Dollar, and Dollar General and they hold a kitchen size trash bag nicely.
Reuse Unpostmarked StampsPostage stamps that have not been marked with the date due to machinery error can be reused. Pay attention to the mail you get and start cutting off the stamps you can reuse.
Turn Boxes Inside Out for ShippingThe holidays are upon us, and you will no doubt want to send things to loved ones through the mail. Some of the best boxes to ship in are illegal to use: bleach, alcohol, paint, etc. So, here is how to use them if you need them.
Pay Attention to the Price TagsNormally do you purchase your home air filter as needed or in bulk? At Home Depot, if you stop and look at the second set of numbers - it only makes sense to buy in bulk!
I'm a coffee drinker so when I go to Starbucks, it's often to get a drip coffee. I ordered this one day and the man behind me in line turned to his wife and said, "See, you can just order coffee." Black coffee drinkers definitely save money at Starbucks but there are some strategies that can make your Lattes and Frappuccinos less expensive too.
Save on Eating OutWith rising food costs, every bit of savings when it comes to eating out is a win. A great tip for shaving off a few dollars on your next meal in (or out) is combining the savings from purchasing a discounted gift card from one of the gift card reseller sites and bundling the savings from that with a promo code/coupon. To avoid having to hunt for an active code, take advantage of browser extensions such as Honey which you'll need to download or the built in version on the Microsoft Edge browser. Using a discounted gift card with a promo code is a great way to save, especially if you have large orders.
Giving Household Items Within Your CommunityI am active in my local Buy Nothing group, where members gift furniture, clothing and other useful items to people in their local area. It is run on a Facebook page for my neighborhood, an area is a mile or so wide, bounded by the major streets. There are several different Buy Nothing neighborhoods in my city. This allows the members to be sure they are giving and receiving to their own neighbors, making pickups easy and bringing local communities together.
Check Warranty If TV Is Not WorkingWe were gifted this TV and so when the TV started experiencing some issues (ex: not turning on properly, the display would go be blank/black) we just unplugged and set it aside. While cleaning out the garage and planning to recycle this, I decided to check the manufactures date. (You can locate the manufactures date on the back of your tv by the serial number). The date was October 2020 and most TV manufactures last 1 year so I decided to reach out to the company, which was Philips.
Take Toilet Paper From Hotel RoomMy frugal tip is always take the toilet paper and kleenex with you from your room when you check out of your hotel when traveling. You paid for those. They are figured into your price you paid for the room. You never know when you may need it,for example the next rest area or a little ones runny nose.
Save Fast Food ReceiptsNormally when we occasionally stop by a fast food restaurant we used to discard or leave behind our receipts but now I keep mine in my car. If I end up stopping by some other day, I will first check the receipts and see if they offer a buy one get one item (often a sandwich!) at the bottom of the receipt for sharing about my visit online. I will THEN go online and answer their questions then get the code to use that receipt for a BOGO immediately afterward!
Save Money on SoapWhen a cake of soap wears down to a small piece, don't throw it away. Lather up the new cake of soap and the small piece of soap and while they are wet, press the two together. Set aside to dry overnight. The small piece will adhere to the large piece and it does not get wasted. After a few uses, your piggyback soap is barely noticeable.
Walk Safely on Slippery AreasWhen dealing with ice or any type of slippery areas, just remember rubber bands. Take some rubber bands and place them around your shoes from the toes to the heels. Just make sure they're snug but not cutting off circulation. When you walk, the rubber bands will give you extra traction on any surface. I personally keep some wide rubber bands around when ice forms on my driveway or sidewalk.
Enter Contests to Win PrizesI enter many contests and sometimes I win, like today. You probably will not get rich, but you will get little treats that stretch your budget and feel pampered.
Get Last Bit of ToothpasteI use Biotene toothpaste and it is not cheap. When it gets down to where it's hard to squeeze out of the tube, I cut the end of the tube off. This makes the toothpaste, that is left in the tube, easy to dip out and enables me to get every smidget of tooth paste out of the tube. To keep it fresh, I fold the open end over and put a clamp on it. By doing this, I can get 10-12 more brushings out of the tube of toothpaste.
Save That LotionRather than throw out a lotion bottle that still has plenty of lotion, but won't pump, here is a simple way to save the bottom lotion. Simply cut the bottle and pump tube in half. Place the top half over the bottom half and pump away! :)
Free Return Address Labels and Packing FillAn easy, cheap, and frugal way to save money is to cut your name and address out of junk mail then shred the junk mail to use as packing material when shipping. Cutting your name and address out of medicine bottles labels is another way to save money and reduce paper consumption for return address labels.
Fire TV App as RemoteFor some reason our Amazon fire stick remote stopped working. I changed the batteries several times and tried troubleshooting before thinking of purchasing a remote replacement. Guess what? A remote replacement is almost the same price as purchasing a new Amazon fire stick with remote.
Triple A Batteries to Save the DayHave you ever needed AA batteries but only have AAA on hand, don't worry. AAA will save the day, you can use them when your device requires double A. Simply fill in the gap with foil on the contact the positive terminal. So if you're ever in the store and forgot which one to get, go for the AAA.
Slip-proof Your Lap DeskI bought a lap desk the other day. It was in sorry shape, so I got it for $1.00. I came home, re-snapped the bean bag in one place, and cleaned it. It worked great until my plate almost slipped off!
Reselling Thrift Store FindsA few local thrift stores have special "senior" Tuesdays when they offer an additional 30% off store-wide to those of us "better than 50ish". I take advantage of the discount and if I find something which I can use, I am already in advantageous status with the percentage off and the resale vs. retail price.
Using Dollar Tree Plastic ContainersI spent some of today repotting plants. Not wanting to use my good saucers for drip catchers, I looked around for something a bit deeper. I found a Dollar Tree sandwich/food keeper box and cut it in half.
Free Printing at the LibraryNot all libraries have this perk, but mine does. I can use their computer and print 50 cents worth every day. Black and white is 10 cents per page and color is 25 cents. When I need to make a copy of something, I take a picture with my cell phone and email it to myself. I then print it out from their computer. If I used their copy machine, it would be 25 cents per page.
Homemade LED Vanity MirrorSkip paying $30 and up buying a light-up vanity mirror and make your own from the dollar store! You can get a decent sized mirror and LED lights for a buck each. Just affix the lights and turn them on for use. I love this for things like precise eyebrow tweezing. You really catch all the details!
Save Dead BatteriesWhen a battery is supposedly not working anymore or running low for a particular gadget, do not toss it out! It can actually be useful for a different gadget or as a spare.
Save Lotion with Rubber BandYou can save the amount of lotion and soaps you dispense from pump-style bottles by wrapping a big rubber band around their necks. When you go to pump, it dispenses a much smaller amount, making it easier for you to control how much comes out. My family members and I are always calling to each other to take the extra dispensed lotion off our hands. Now we just band it up instead!
Thoroughly Describe Items You Are Selling OnlineI have sold a lot of items on the Letgo app. These items were cluttering up my house, attic and garage. Over the last 18 months, I have made almost $6000, getting rid of unwanted items.
Saving on Lotion (Hubby Style)I went into the bathroom looking for hand lotion a few minutes ago. DH and I use baby lotion and shampoo so we don't dry up and blow away. We had a bottle of baby lotion close to the bottom which I had turned upside down. I discovered DH had cut a 'door' in the side of the bottle so we could reach in for those few remaining drops. Now that ain't thrifty, that is stingy!
Boxer Shorts for SleepingWe're all familiar with the cotton, loose and baggy boxer shorts that men wear. I never thought about them much until recently and now I love them. They're my new sleeping shorts.
Use Mineral Oil to Salvage ObjectsWhat do these items have in common? They had 'issues' and ended up at the thrift store. The percolator had a stuck lever that regulates the strength of the coffee, the cactus necklace had a huge knot in it, and the starfish necklace had the jump ring that closes it stuck in the open position.
Save Scrap Paper for NotesClipping coupons can save money but, at the same time, it sometimes wastes paper. I only print out coupons that I will definitely use and sometimes that's just 1 coupon or 2 so, I'm left with a good amount of paper left!
New Shelf from Decorated BoxesI recently began selling things on my local auction sites. It's fun and gets rid of the clutter. So I had these shelf units in my store room. I wanted one to go up just a bit so I used two decorated boxes as support.
Make an Impromptu ClipboardWhen you have a dollar tree cutting board that is no longer good for food, don't toss or recycle it. Turn it into a clip board! With the 3/$1.00 mini legal pads, two binder clips and the cutting board, you can make something to do a shopping list, To Do list, or even a Honey Do list!
Choose Alkaline BatteriesI have found that heavy duty carbide batteries do not stack up compared to the alkaline batteries. The alkaline batteries cost more but will give far more service. The heavy duty batteries won't give as bright of light as the alkaline ones. It is worth paying more for the alkaline batteries by far. Longer lasting is less cost of usage.
Free Items from BusinessesVisit businesses and banks for free items. They offer advertising items to promote or gain new customers. No need to buy pens, calendars, coffee mugs any more. Businesses benefit from distributing their promotional items to prospective customers.
Test Batteries with a MultimeterI was able to get a free digital multimeter with a coupon at Harbor Freight store. With the instrument, I can check batteries for voltage. You don't have to wonder anymore if a battery is good. I was throwing away batteries and they may have been still usable. Also I can check small flat batteries used in car remote controls and wrist watches.
Shortening a Chain NecklaceYou can now wear the same necklace short or long. Pinch the chain behind your neck to the correct length. Put a safety pin through both sides near the pinch and fasten.
Curb Finds When Families MoveKeep an eye out when you see a "For Sale" sign. There is a good chance there will be plenty of usable items at the curb that the owners will not be taking with them. I found a very dirty Cozy Coupe and child-sized picnic table. I used blue Dawn, Barkeepers Friend, a scrub brush and a Magic Eraser to clean these up beautifully.
Unplug Electrical Devices When Not in UseMany electrical devices draw electricity even when they are turned off, which adds to your bill. A lot of them have displays or lights. To make sure you are not using any electricity, unplug them. The pictures show the thermometer displays on the window fan even if it is turned off.
Refreshing Dried Liquid PaperI have tested and tried this in our office and it works fine. Just add a few drops of hand sanitizer to your useless dried up bottle of liquid paper and shake it up very good. Wala, it works better than it did when it was new.
Map to Forage FruitIf you're looking for a public fruit, veggie or nut tree you want to pick from in your city, there is a map that will help you find them. It's called FallingFruit.org and it lists several trees all across the globe. Foraging locations are displayed with little red dots.
Paper Clips to Keep Seat Belt in LineI am short. So, I have to have my seat up pretty far. My van is old so the little "button" that held the two seat belts together is gone. I wondered if two of the large paperclips would work so I went down this morning and, voila!
Get Every Last Drop out of Your BottlesI always store my bottles upside down, but a bit still remains. I hold the bottle by the bottom, and move it quickly in a circular motion. The centrifugal force allows all the remaining contents to drift to the bottom, enabling me to use it all.
Plastic Bottle SpeakerAre you bored and just want to chill out with music, but you lost your headset? Try cutting off the head of a plastic bottle. It should look like a funnel when you cut it. Place it upside down over your phone speaker and you'll enjoy louder music.
Shoes for Bracing a Door OpenI have a magnetic screen on the door and I like to open the sliding door for a nice cross breeze. Today I was trying to brace the door open and had a pair of shoes close and it hit me. Put one on the outside and one on the inside. Perfect solution and I didn't have to spend a dime!
Matching Glassware is UnnecessaryWhen I first married, everything had to be a complete set. I found it was impossible to keep up with drinking glasses, as they broke more frequently than I expected. I found that I could pick up glasses for as little as a dime at garage sales and thrift shops.
Minimize Car Air Conditioner to Save GasAs a mom, saving gas is very important. Here is one tip I can share when using your car's air conditioner. I'll make sure if the weather is good and if it is windy, I don't use the air conditioner. I will just open the window.
Pulling Tissues from a RollIf you don't have a tissue holder in your office or inside a car and want to avoid pulling it in a messy way. Actually it's very simple to do.
Save Discontinued Monopoly PiecesMonopoly has come up with new pieces for their game. The pieces they said goodbye to are the boot, the wheelbarrow and the thimble. I think these pieces are charming and remind me of simpler times. Who knows if they might be worth something one day. I am saving mine for sure;)
Recycle Your Own Bottles and CansI love taking bottles and cans to my local recycling center because it's good for the environment, I get some additional exercise, and I make extra pocket money. Some states have a bottle bill, allowing you to get 5 to 10 cents for every empty can or bottle you return. The place I take mine to do it by weight. Check out what I made on the receipt. This was for a few weeks of picking up at my house and at my studio.
Buy Seasonal Notepads for Use Throughout the YearI love these little favors that are teensy notepads that you see around Christmas-time, for a dollar. After Christmas is over, these notepads are on sale at my Dollar General for ten cents each. I always buy them when I see them.
Get the Most Wear from Your New BraI recently learned how to tell when it was time to retire your bra. Bras are made with three sets of clasps/hooks. When new, you should be using the first clasp making it the widest or loosest setting.
Dine Out During Happy Hour to Save MoneyYou can still have a nice time dining out but without breaking the bank. Go during Happy Hour where you can get half off appetizers, drinks and some select entrees!
Splitting a Paper Match for Two UsesThis tip has got to be the height of frugality. Perhaps it's gone beyond frugality and into the realm of pure stinginess. Simply divide the match by working a fingernail or other sharp object into the side center at bottom, and gently spread the two halves apart. Both pieces usually work well even though they seldom are of the same thickness.
Beautiful Crockery on a BudgetI made a mistake about 10 years ago, when I decided it was about time I had a full matching dinner service for entertaining. The children were grown so there was little chance of it getting damaged and I would be more likely to have people round for meals
Refer Customers for Free ServicesCheck with your local cable/dish service and internet service, as well as your newspaper. In my area, if you refer someone to them, and they mention your name, you get 1 month free service. Last year, I got 1 free month of the newspaper, 1 free month of TV and 1 free month of internet, for a total value of $108.
Use Less ToothpasteAll adverts for toothpaste show a large amount of toothpaste spread right along the length of the toothbrush. They do this so you will copy and use more of their product than you need to. Just a pea sized amount of toothpaste is all that is necessary to clean your teeth.
Using All the Lotion in a Pump BottleWhen you get down to that last spurt of lotion that pumps out, don't throw the container away. There is still a lot of good lotion left in the container. Using a case cutter, cut the bottom off and scoop the lotion out into a small container. Continue to use until it is all gone.
Matching Thrift Store Necklace with BlouseThis necklace was plain when I found it at a thrift shop. After a few seconds with a fine tipped permanent marker pen, I had a perfect match for my green blouse.
Save with Coupons and Store RewardsEveryone likes to save money, especially since a large portion of our earnings go toward bills. There are many ways to cut back and ensure we have a little extra to live off of. Two methods I utilize include couponing and store reward programs.
Revamped Spice CarouselI found a very cool spice carousel for 50 cents at a thrift store. I had never seen one with the cavity in the middle for utensils. But, when I got it home, my spice jars wouldn't fit.
Raising Table LegsI recently got a very cheap (free) card table for eating on. I got two free chairs from my ex roommate but the table was only 7 inches higher than the chairs.
Small Spatula to Get Every Bit of LotionI recently found this little spatula that gets in almost any lotion bottle you can think of. Check the link if you want to buy it. This will get all of the lotion out of the bottle.
Jewelry SwapMy yoga studio set up a jewelry swap in November for costume jewelry. You put your contributions in a basket and can take out what you want. I got two very nice pairs of earrings and two bracelets.
Ways to Have ThriftyFunTake time to count your blessings.
Hug someone and warm a heart.
Remember to balance your checkbook. . .
Bring Food On OutingsYou know those days when you're hitting four different grocery stores for the best deals, dropping off dry-cleaning and making another donation to the local thrift shop. You're out for hours! You will inevitably get hungry, and why waste a bunch of money when you are trying so hard to save money and get the best deals everywhere you go?
Frugal Hand Soap RefillsI am always running out of liquid hand soap. And always forgetting to buy it. I was cleaning out my closet upstairs where I keep all my extra toiletries and found all these shower gels that always come in the gift packs I get as presents. I do not use shower gel.
Flip Caps for the Last Drop of LotionI suggest that you collect a random assortment of flip caps. Remove the pump, select a flip cap that fits and prop the bottle upside down to drain. There won't be 1/10th of an ounce wasted.
Bungee Cord SuspendersTired of having my pant legs dragging under my feet and not expecting my tummy to shrink anytime soon, I was desperately seeking to buy simple suspenders. I decided to try using a pack of bungee cords from the Dollar store.
Use Pantyliners for Underarm ShieldsYou can use these as underarm shields. The pantyliner can be cut to fit. They come in black and white.
Ditch Cable with a Digital AntennaA friend told me to go to Walmart and buy an RCA UHF/VHF/Digital Indoor Antenna antenna for about $10. Then run the program on your Digital TV to program channels.
Bulk Buy Used ClothingSome eBay sellers offer bulk secondhand items very cheaply. What I do is to choose the items I want to keep, and designate others to be offered to other family members, given to charity shops, or upcycled.
Use Hair Clip for Curtain DecorationsWhen I moved into my new place, the dark heavy curtains didn't afford much light, especially when my window faced the side of the shed. So, I took them down and put up a folded up lace tablecloth. It was perfect, except for the cat wanting to play with the center of it when he looked out.
Free Handwritten Art LettersThere is a site called "Snail Mail My Email". From November 10-16, they will allow you to type a letter to anyone you choose, turn it into a piece of art and mail it anywhere for free.
Getting All the Toothpaste out of the TubeWhen I can no longer get any more toothpaste out of the tube, I cut the tube into 2-3 inch sections and store them in a baggie. When I need toothpaste, I wet the brush and swipe some toothpaste from the cut sections.
Trade With Your Local FloristI had some house plants I had to get rid off so I took pictures of them to the local florist. They took some of the plants and gave me fresh cut flowers in exchange.
Dumpster Diving in College TownsIf you live near any university area and there are students from all over the country or foreign students, watch out when school is over. Some students throw away everything they own when they have to move back home. From dry or canned food stuff, dishes, to beds; you take your pick.
Zip Bags as Air PacketsYou know how some retailers use little plastic bags of air to cushion and protect the product during shipping? You can take an empty zip bag and fill that with air to do the same thing. I've used it lots of times when packing fragile items for moving.
Phone Service Wherever You Have Wi-FiIf you have internet service anywhere, then you also have phone service. Find the telephone receiver icon on the Gmail email home page. Hit that icon, then dial the number.
Make "New" Designer Towels and WashclothsWhen our bath towels get worn around the edges, usually the center portion is still nice and plush. I cut them in either 4 equal pieces for hand towels, or 6 pieces for wash cloths.
Saving on Magazine SubscriptionsOne of my splurges is subscriptions to several magazines. I only purchase subscriptions from discount sites, but it is vital to read the "fine print".
Watch For Green Money in Unexpected PlacesLook for green money, too. Look behind pictures in frames, between pages of old books, on the underside of drawers and shelves...
Buy Half Sheet Paper TowelsIf you are going to use paper towels the most obvious savings are to always buy the "select-a-size" where there are already perforations for a half a sheet.
Reuse Pill Blister Packages As Box CutterThese little pill packets made out of plastic squares are extra sharp. You can open packages with them, and they slice right through tape on packages.
Use Mechanical Pencil as StylusI saw my daughter using one of her empty mechanical pencils as a stylus on her DSI. I am sure it could be used on any electronic which has a touch screen.
Save Water Each Time You FlushTo save water, empty the back of your toilet and put a 2 litre bottle into the back filled with water. When you flush, it will use less water. I did this in the washer as well, it worked for smaller loads.
Bath Sprays For Stretching ShoesIf you have shoes that are uncomfortable, spray the uncomfortable area of the shoes inside and out with bath spray (also called body splash and body spray), then wear the shoes until they are dry. Repeat if needed.
U-Haul for Emergency Car RentalWe recently needed a rental car while our car was in the shop. I checked the online deals and they were all very high. I remembered that U-Haul advertises $29.95/day rentals. This does not include mileage, so be sure you will not be driving many miles.
Use Foam Packing Material as a Car Seat BackestMy husband has been having trouble with his lower back and trying out various pillows and so on to support his back in the car. Finally, he tried using a piece of foam packing material which has worked fine and cost nothing
Empty Vacuum Cleaner Bags and ReuseVacuum cleaner bags can get expensive and I found a great tip. When the bag is full, unfold and cut the top or bottom of the bag out, empty in another trash bin. Using a stapler fold and staple the bag back together and replace just like a new one.
Keep Refilling Pump Lotions to Get Every BitDo you ever wonder how much of a product, such as lotion, gets thrown away when you can no longer squeeze or pump any more out? I did.
Can Cooking on the Deadwood StoveSave your valuable cooking fuel for winter or emergencies. I saw Polish sausage marked down today to $1 each (from over $3.50) so got one and can cooked it with a pack of beef wieners with a few drops of Worcestershire sauce.
Reuse Return EnvelopesI pay many bills online. Instead of throwing away the window envelopes from bills, I cut out addresses or use labels to cover the window. I don't have to buy envelopes and I am not adding paper to the garbage.
Best Time of Year to Buy DeodorantThe best coupons I have found to buy deodorant are around Mother's Day and Father's Day. Usually with coupons and BOGO sales, you can easily stock up for the year and beyond.
Foaming Soap DispenserI have small children who usually use more soap than they need. I think that foaming soap dispensers help to reduce the soap consumption. I've found that the Bath and Body Works brand foaming handsoap dispensers work well for reuse.
Use Body Wash As Hand SoapMy husband likes to use "body wash" liquid soap. When he is finished with a bottle of it, I drain it overnight into a small pump bottle and use that for my hand soap by the sink in my bathroom.
Saving Money on Medical Alert JewelryAs a diabetic and a person severely allergic to Tetanus, I needed a medical ID bracelet or necklace. However, even the cheapest ones are upward of $39.95 plus shipping. Ouch!
Cut Lotion Bottle To Use AllWhen my hand and body lotion finishes, and I have pumped until I can't pump no more. I cut the body lotion container in half with a knife. I scoop out the lotion that left over, which is a lot.
