I thought that once a week or so , I will try to remember to post a thread to put on our favorite tightwad tips. This is one of those areas that everyone tells me they like to read about and study up on! And many people tell me it is one of their favorites on the forum. So please post some of your tips here.

Mine will be to keep a shopping list. Whenever I run out of something or think of something I need, I jot it down on a notebook I keep on my desk. This way on Friday when I shop I can get everything I need in one trip and not have to make extra shopping trips.

I also make sure to ask the kids and my husband if there is anything special they will be needing in the next week. I don't like to run back and forth to the store, so this saves time, money and wear and tear on the vehicle. It all adds up!

-- Melissa (me@home.net), January 09, 2002

Answers

Mine is to keep a compost or chicken bucket under your sink to save scraps and plate scrapings. You will benefit either from your garden having wonderful compost or your chickens needing less other feed. I just use a small (about 1 and 1/2 gallon) plastic bucket. I run it through the dishwasher every couple days. Some people cover them, I don't. I take it out to the chickens every night after supper. They love to see me coming.

-- Jenny (auntjenny6@aol.com), January 09, 2002.

I do that too, Jenny--but I do have to keep it covered because we get alot of fruit flies, flies and wasps (even indoors) here in the south. I use a coffee can and lid (love to recycle!!)

Here's my tightwad/time saving tip that I was thinking of putting in the Frugal Auto/garage tips thread that I was going to start that people could add to:

When you have a rain that stops for the day--leave your car out and take advantage of a thoroughly wet car. Bring a bucket of warm soapy water and rags out to the car and wash it! Takes minutes, God has already saved you the time and money for rinsing it first, Wipe off (wax if you have time) and Voila! You've saved 10-50 bucks to have your car washed for you.

Melissa: I also try to group my errands--today was a totally errand day and I still couldn't make it to the feed store!

-- Ann Markson (tngreenacres@hotmail.com), January 09, 2002.

Ann, if it's rainy season I'll add to your car wash tip. After you've gotten it clean one day and it gets wet the next take a chamois out and just wipe it down. You'll eliminate the water spots from the rain that way.

-- Gary in Indiana (gk6854@aol.com), January 09, 2002.

I garage sale a lot in the summer months---I look for bottles that I can put herbal vinegar in----usually 25 cents in my limit unless it is a really nice one--- Then I watch /for when they put their good vinegar on sale--- I have an herb garden every summer-- so at almost all times I have vinegar that I'm in the process of makeing---in the summer with freah herbs--in the winter with dryed herbs--- I start it in fruit jars---when I'm ready to strain it---I use coffee filters I buy on sale---then put it in my garage sale fancy bottles then I use these for our selves---instead of buying-- I use them for hostess gifts---birthday gifts--any time I need a gift- --I also buy baskets at garage sales ---I line the basket with a scrap of fabric or one of those nice kitchen towels you can find for a dollar--- Then I use the baskets to put an assortment if I need a bigger gift--- -I also use my herbs for herbal teas---bath assortments--etc-etc-- I always have gifts on hand----that are home made-- And I print out cute little labels off the net that say "hand made with love by"--- everyone seems to like them---or else they fake it!!! Sometimes if I know the person is not really great at useing herbal things I print out serving suggestions or recipes off the net for them also!!

-- Sonda (sgbruce@birch.net), January 09, 2002.

I try to save the cold water when waiting for the hot. I let it run in a pitcher then use it for the animals or to put in our Big Berky water filter. Pennies add up.

-- Cindy (SE. IN) (atilrthehony@hotmail.com), January 10, 2002.

All our left over vegetables from meals go into a large plastic tub in the freezer labeled: L-O vegetables for soup. When soup day comes, I add broth, tomatoes and this container of layered left=over vegatables, along with barley or small pasta. Easy! Label all your freezer containers with a piece a masking tape and write on it with a sharpie or marker.

-- connie in nm (karrelandconnie@msn.com), January 10, 2002.

Jo, I am sorry that it seems like I took your answer. I saw on another thread you said basically the same thing I did. I don't remember if I read it and just forgot, or if I missed it. Sorry!

-- Melissa (me@home.net), January 10, 2002.

When we are going to town ( we live 6 miles out ) we always make a list of where we are going and whatw we are going to get and then we do like a circle from home to stores in sequence,then home. Saves gas,saves time,and since we have a list,saves forgetting something or backtracking. My wife has done it so long that she now doesnt do anything,by itself,she does two or three related or close by things together. Don ( in North Texas )

-- Don (twosloans@texoma.net), January 10, 2002.

I only color of socks I own are navy blue or white. I keep a small pincushion in my sock drawer that holds a couple of needles threaded with navy or white thread. If I put on a pair of socks that has a hole in them I can mend them on the spot. That decreases my temptation to take the easy way out by tossing them and buying a new pair.

-- Sherri C (CeltiaSkye@aol.com), January 10, 2002.

Hello Melissa,

I rely heavily on self teaching to save me money. If there is a project that needs to be done, I evaluate the situation and teach myself by reading books on the subject to understand the parts that I have no experience at. When I attempt the project, I have the book on hand to help me through it.

It is a wonderful satisfaction that one receives from doing all his or her own work. This satisfaction is deserved and should not be given away to another tradesman. Why should I pay a person to receive this satisfaction when I can enjoy it myself?

Not only do I dervive satisfaction and gain valuable knowledge but, I also save myself a whole lot of money to boot!

Sincerely,

Ernest

-- http://communities.msn.com/livingoffthelandintheozarks (espresso42@hotmail.com), January 10, 2002.

Ernest, sounds like us when we built our own fireplace. Me with a book in one hand and Cale with a trowel in his. It is fun to do your own work and it doesn't smoke either! While we had a lot of experience with other building projects, this was one area we just weren't sure about, but I am so glad we did it on our own.

-- Melissa (me@home.net), January 10, 2002.

We (mostly Judy) shop on the internet all the time. When something is needed Judy will start to research it on the net, comparing everything. When the item is found it is usually a cost efficient purchase. State sales tax is usually not charged. U.P.S. brings it right to the door. We pay with a debit card. This is a card that takes the money directly from our checking account (says Master-Card on the card itself), and the bank does not charge for that transaction.

So that is a pretty good money saver for us.

Usually priced 3 to 5% less than Wal-Mart.

No tax

No bank charge.

No running around in the car to find things, this saves a lot of time as well as the gas.

-- Ed Copp (OH) (edcopp@yahoo.com), January 11, 2002.

Melissa,it's ok if we both say the same things,you worded yours different. It takes 10 times hearing something before we really remember things. We may have saved someone a trip to town. LOL

-- Jo (farmerjo@kvalley.com), January 11, 2002.

We charge everything we can so as to take advantage of the cash rebate. Others we know do the air miles thing. We pay it off every month so no interest. Of course we ask for cash discounts, but most places (chain stores, for instance) won't give you one, so you might as well charge. Also, depending on where you live, many utilities are allowing you to charge payments, so again, air miles or cash, take your pick. Saves stamps, too.

Debit cards are another story, we feel they were deliberately created to make it easy for people to bounce checks when they forget to write in their purchases with one. So we don't use ours.

-- GT (nospam@nospam.com), January 11, 2002.