It's just a Penny

I also have learned to cut down on things I seem to use more of. With the increase in prices you have to cut down somewhere. I send for all kinds of free samples even if it is something I don't use. I then find someone to use the stuff that I don't.

My Mother does the same thing. here is something I do that saves on liquid fabric softener. I get a small bowl with a lid and pour about a cup of downey in it. Dilute it with water and put a washrag in it. When I am ready to dry a load of clothes I squeeze out the washrag and put it in the dryer with my clothes. It saves on downy and oh your clothes smell sooooooooo fresh.
Enjoy
Jan

I rinse out all of my plastic Ziploc bags and hang them out to dry and reuse them again, Any yogurt or Ensure container I use for storage, & all small/medium sized items of clothing I wash in the tub and hang dry in my backyard or inside my house(usually in the winter).

Hey, all those pennies add up.

In our house we use grocery store plastic bags in our diaper pail, and produce bags for diaper disposal on the road (they're the perfect size! - and the ones they sell in stores are $4 for 25 sacks, which is just crazy for something that is meant to be thrown away).

I save yogurt containers for painting. And we use the rubber bands from asparagus or broccoli for makeshift vice grips.

We also use binder clips ($1.19 for a box of 25!) in every way imaginable - to keep the cords of the blinds out of kids' reach, as chip-bag clips, as mini vice grips when cutting/tracing paper, to name a few. When we had an aquarium we used them for siphoning water in/out of the tank (they're the perfect size for threading airline tubing through the handles).

As for those pennies, we toss them into a jug and cash it in once a year - last year our take was $86.

Never say "it's just a penny!"

That's not odd at all. I do the same thing with paper towels and I'm famous for saving plastic food containers.

This is an idea I learned from my husband, and I have to say, it is a pretty decent idea, and you do not really feel the deprivation, but boy do you benefit for it. Whenever we buy something, we only use bills. Then we take all the change we accumulate and put it into a jar. Once or twice a year we cash it in and do something special together. It is too easy for us to forget to plan something special together (excuses: too busy, etc. etc.) and definitely too easy to forget to save money to have that special date night. Now we get both. We can put the money into rolls together and plan our outing.

But, as far as saving money by reusing items, etc., we generally do not reuse many items, but we do try to be a bit environmentally friendly. We also try to buy non-name brand items when we can, because often they are cheaper and just as good.

I don't buy zip lock bags but I do like them. My daughter in law frequently brings salad or other contributions to Sunday dinner in zip lock bags. I always wash and save the bags. I also wash the plastic containers and lids from frosting (bought on sale). The lids fit tightly and they're great for storing small amounts of left overs in the freezer

I use coupons religiously. I figured out the "cycles" of when things I often buy go on sale, and I match the coupons to the sales, and stock up on items when I can get them cheap or free. I also rebate as much as possible. It really adds up after a while. I sign up for free samples, and email companies and ask for coupons for their products. Many have sent me coupons for free items.

Heidi's idea will acculate more money than you would believe. Great article Linda.

Hey, I like some of these ideas! I may have to try them.
Since becoming a SAHM, I've become more obsessed with stretching our money. I also coupon and rebate a lot, sign up for samples, and save our change.
I used to go through a lot of paper plates. Now I try not to use them at all. I've even been known to split up a paper towel or napkin when the kids don't need a huge one. I only wash full loads of laundry, and have started hanging things out to dry this summer.
All of those pennies add up!

Jennifer is on to something, line drying your clothes saves a ton of money!
I cook from Scratch 95% of the time and we RARELY eat out. My kids get al their clothes on clearance or from thrift stores. If there comes a day when they want to whine about how they don;t have cool clothes like so-and-so my response will be..GET A JOB! Amazing how having to spend your own hard earned money makes you appreciate the value of those dollars.
My husband was raised on the saying "Use it up, wear it out, make it do, or do without" by thrifty yankee parents.
We try to stick to that, and repair items or buy replacement parts for things whenever possible instead of just pitchng it out and buying a brand new one.

I reuse containers also, margarine one's etc...great for leftovers or to keep on hand for partys, so people can take stuff home and don't have to worry about getting the containers back.

i use my empty big plastic coffee creamer containers to store dry cat food, dog food, rice...even make up some with home made bath salts...stores everything very nice..

instead of buying paper towels, we use washcloths, picked up at the dollar store for cheap,we use them as napkins,etc....we bought one's in dark colors to use for napkins etc, and we have white wash cloths we use for our face etc...that way we can tell which washcloth is for what purpose..when they get too ripped up we use them as rags for cleaning, i have'nt bought paper towels in years..

we have a change jar also, and save up all our loose change, when the container gets full,i deposit that money in the bank..

i reuse the plastic grocery bags for garbage, put one in bathroom garbage can, use them in the kitchen to toss chicken bones etc in, as i hate to toss out big garbage bags that are'nt even full...so that i can throw out the smelly stuff each night before i go to bed..

also use the grocery bags for poopie bags to pick up my dogs poop.

I have a paper shredder so i use that to shred magazines, junk mail...i use the shredded paper as packing material for my items i sell on ebay.

I reuse the dryer sheets,i use them as a stuffing when i make sock monkeys,surgery dolls,quilts to donate to hospitals for sick children..

my torn up jeans, shirts etc i cut them into squares, and save them, use them to make home made baby quilts or cute stuffed toys, for the top of the jeans, i cut and sew across to make cute purses, give as presents or give away..i have also use my blue jean material in the past to re upolster my bar stools in my kitchen, they look very cute!!

I collect my cooking grease in containers, let the fat cool, skim off the top which is the fat, and the rest which is the drippings, i save them in small containers, use them as a gravy for my dogs food...also store extra in freezer to use as a stock soup base...and can also use the drippings for a nice gravy

The tip about the laundry is great I gotta remember that

My mom does the ziplock bag thing

you all have such great tips