Dollar Stretcher ideas on buying baking supplies, getting the best price on a new car, making homemade skin and face cream and more.
Breaking the Ice
I learned the hard way that there is a difference in the ice melt you use. I used the wrong kind and my (new) sidewalk has a lot of divots. Read the packages carefully and ask a salesperson for help in choosing.
S.
Spooky, But Frugal
My husband and I recently moved into a new home. Unfortunately, an elderly couple who did not take care of the yard previously owned the home. When the snow melted and we were finally able to begin pulling weeds and planting grass, we discovered that there were several areas in our yard where the dirt had receded, leaving large, uneven slopes across our yard. We looked into purchasing dirt to fill in the areas, but the cost was too high. One of our friends told us to call a local cemetery. The cemetery that we called had hundreds of yards of dirt available for free, and they even loaded it into the truck for us!
Sarah
Depression Era Wisdom
When food started getting more pricey, I talked to my Mother, Grandmother and Mother-in-law about how they handled the food crisis during the Depression and WWII. Their choices of food for the weekly menu depended solely on what they could afford and what they could get. Spending a lot just wasn't an option. I received a lot of good recipes and good hints from them, but the one that stuck out the most besides gardening was to have one big meal a week, usually Sunday after church. During the rest of the week, they served simpler dishes that were healthy, yet filling.
ALM
Coffee Stretcher
To make my coffee go the extra mile, I make one pot of coffee, but I don't empty the grounds! For the second pot (the next day), I use only about half as much ground coffee as normal. For the third pot, I put still a little less. You kind of have to experiment with this to get the flavor just right, but it saves money in the long run. Plus, I save a little bit on coffee filters, too.
Rebecca
Free Lunch Bags
We all know that packing a lunch is always a more affordable and healthier alternative than getting take-out. However, the plastics and packing can get pricey, so I found an inexpensive way to package lunches. I found that making sandwiches to fit into the little economy bags was a struggle. So instead, I re-use the baggies that the deli luncheon meat comes in. They are large enough to accommodate even a large sandwich, they seal nicely to keep the luncheon sandwich fresh, and I also feel that I am doing my part to reuse, reduce and recycle! Green for the environment and save a little green for us as well!
Connie
Baking Supplies
If you only bake now and then, don't make the mistake of buying the smallest bags of flour or sugar. You'll be paying top price per ounce. Instead, look for bargain prices. Pay the lowest price per unit available and package the surplus in tightly closed containers. Clean tins with covers or big lidded jars will do for sugar. Flour can be bagged and frozen if you have room for it.
Janet
New Car Buying
If you have AAA, give them a call when you know exactly what type of vehicle you're looking for (make, model, color, etc). Upon giving them the membership number, they will tell you which dealer in your area participates with their service and you can get the exact car you're interested in for a specific dollar amount (percentage) over dealer invoice. This is great for those of us who don't like the "haggling" aspect of car shopping. Or, if you don't mind the haggling, you can use that price to negotiate with other dealers to see if they're willing to beat it!
Maria
Face and Skin Creams
The best face cream is made inexpensively by combining petroleum jelly with several capsules of Vitamin E, drained and mixed into the jelly. Use an old cold cream or petroleum jelly jar. Add about five drained capsules to a small size jar and mix with a finger. It's messy to make, so keep paper towel nearby and wipe down container when done. Every night coat your face, hands, elbows, legs, and heels with a thin coat of this mixture. Your skin will be smooth and soft in the morning. There's no more cracking of lips and fingers from water or cold winter weather.
Carrol
Testing New Shoes
I worked in shoe retail until about three years ago, and we weren't supposed to return shoes if they had any kind of wear on the sole of the shoes. Often people would try to return shoes that they had worn only once and decided they were uncomfortable, only to be surprised and disappointed at the policy.
I began recommending to customers that if they thought there was the slightest chance they might want to return the shoe, they should only wear the shoes inside, preferably on carpet, until they had decided the shoe was comfy. That gave them the chance to wear a pair of shoes all day to see if they still liked them after five hours. I never had trouble with returns if a person had worn them inside.
Joy
Junior Money Management
As we were having lunch, our teenage kids talked about their plans to save up their babysitting money for iPods. DH looked at me and said, "Giving them an allowance was the best decision we ever made." In retrospect, it was a wonderful decision. We started the kids on allowances when they were about five years old, which prevented grocery store whining.
As the years went on, the kids learned how to spend their money wisely. Yes, they've made mistakes along the way, but they've been low-risk mistakes. For example, my youngest, trying to be cool, spent her whole month's allowance on one t-shirt. With no extra money for candy, movies or toys, that was a rough month for her. Lately, though, she's become more money savvy.
It's better for the kids to learn about money and practice managing money before they have the real responsibility of making ends meet until payday. And it sure cuts down on the whining and begging!
Jora
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