How to Reuse Toilet Paper & Paper Towel Tubes

These tubes can also come from items such as wrapping paper, food wrap, etc. They can be reused for many things. I will share some ideas with you, and then you can share some with all of us in the comments.

• Feed electronics cords through them to clean up areas behind desks and entertainment centers.
• Store holiday lights in them.
• Cut them to size and use them to create napkin rings for holidays and other occasions.
• Make ‘firecrackers’ out of them to give as gifts.

Shannon

How to Reuse Bread Bags

Bread bags can be reused for a few things. I certainly wouldn’t throw them out before reusing them as many times as possible. Here are some ideas:

• Put them on childrens’ feet, over their socks and before putting on their shoes/boots on rainy days or to play outside in the winter.
• Dispose of cat litter in them.
• Use in the freezer to gather small items.
• Send food items home with people.

Can you think of more uses? Please share!

Shannon

How to Reuse Glass Jars

Be they canning jars, or jars purchased that contain foods, they can be reused in numerous ways. This will help you to both save money and reduce trash that enters the landfills. Both good reasons to save the jars that you can reuse.

Now, I am not giving pack-rats a reason to keep more stuff here. These items will need to be used. Do not keep more than you can use.

Here are some ideas to get you started.

Baby food/small  fruit jars:

• Nuts and bolts; washers.
• Screws and nails.
• Sequins
• Beads
• Jewelry
• Pins
• Needles

Quart size jars:

• Homemade sauces.
• Trail mixes.
• Soup mixes.
• Cereal
• Homemade granola.

Gallon size jars:

• Flour
• Yarns
• Sugar
• Toys

What ideas can you come up with? Please share.

Shannon

 

Dear Frugal Diary,

I was thinking about heating options again the other day. Some day, I would like to have a wood stove.

I decided against a pellet stove, because I want to be able to burn other items as well, such as paper and whatever else is possible and won’t put toxins out into the air.

Woodstoves will be able to handle it, the old ones anyway. I can refurbish one for use if necessary.

So…that is a goal that I have when I move out of the trailer.

We have begun winter prep early. Winter is coming on early here, so we started banking the trailer, reskirted some areas, and had a broken window replaced. Soon, we will be putting plastic on a few necessary windows soon.

This will all save us some money throughout the winter.

Shannon

Rebates

I do not do rebates. I remember beginning the rebate process many times an not finishing. Here is what I learned:

• I get bored with it easily.
• I am a packrat, so all of those UPC’s and whatnot just sort of hang around for months…or a year.
• They also take up much needed space.
• I never mail them in.

Rebating is not for me. However, rebating is a great way for others to save money. We would like to here about your rebating successes. Please share.

Shannon

Using Coupons

I sometimes use coupons, but not always. I cut out many more than I use. Why?

• It is usually cheaper to purchase a store/generic brand.
• Store/generic brands are generally just brand names with less decorative packaging.
• Ex: If your store sells Hood milk, then the store brand milk is likely Hood.

Here are some tips:

• Do not be brand loyal.
• By discounted items that need to be used right off. Use a coupon if you have one for extra savings.
• Stock up when butter is sold for .33 a package, etc.Use a coupon if you have one for extra savings.
• Buy in bulk when it will really save you money. Use a coupon if you have one for extra savings.

What tips do you have? Please share.

Shannon

Dear Frugal Diary,

I wrote an article yesterday that completely upset some man named ‘Steve’. The article started off innocent as could be, as a way to be sure that children did not gorge themselves on their Halloween candy in a short period of time, which is not good for them.

‘Steve’ accused me of:

• Being sick
• Being twisted
• Stealing candy from children

Obviously, these accusations are untrue. The children get all of their candy, only in a healthier manner – spread out throughout the winter.

The method also saves mom money on other holiday candy, because the candy is spread out.

You can read the article at the link below. Please leave a comment there and let me know what you think:

• What a single mom can do when her children bring home too much Halloween candy

  *****

Now onto food. We have $214.00 for food for the month. This is for two of us. One who takes lunches to school. We may have an extra $20.00 a month for food when all is said and done.

We visited the food cupboard a couple of months ago, once. We are fine with food, and it should last until the 14th when we will be paid again.

• I am eating less than what I should.
• We do not get the required amount of fruits and veggies, and certainly not many fresh ones.
• We try to use whole grain products, but we still have to eat a lot of white processed stuff.

By all rights, I should be losing weight. I am not. The problem? Carbs do not agree with my body, but they are the foods that I can afford. And they wonder why people are so overweight.

Shannon

Frugal Lifestyles

On page 44 of The Tightwad Gazette, Amy discusses her frugal lifestyle. The article has great tips for fixing up a house that should have otherwise been burnt to the ground. The people the article focuses on did a lot of work to make the ramshackle building livable, and they did a great job. How did they do this?

Mostly by scavenging. Getting what they could free or very cheaply.

I have incorporated these measures over the last 7 years while fixing up my home:

• Free windows from my moms old trailer.
• Purchasing materials and having my stepfather do the work for free.
• Shopping sales.
• My mom and stepdad redid Skye’s bedroom because she helped them to take care of my grandmother.
• My stepfather built in-wall shelving and drawers for Zowie because she would help with my grandmother at times as well.
• Purchasing items at discount stores.

And for my yard:

• Leaving the Lily’s the previous owners had planted, and transplanting some elsewhere on the lot.
• Transplanting violets.
• Free seeds in the mail.
• Free bulbs from a neighbor whom I helped.
• Free planters from numerous sources, as well as some purchased cheaply at yard sales.
• The lawn mower and wheel barrow were my grandfathers.
• Waiting to purchase seedlings until they are clearance priced.

What have you done to save money on home improvements?

Shannon

Three Ways to Save and Sharing

On page 42 of The Complete Tightwad Gazette, Amy discusses the three ways in which she saves money: Buying items cheaper, making those items last longer and using those items less.

I would like to add to this list:

• Barter
• Accept kindness

Bartering is self-explanatory. Accepting kindness is key. People like to feel as though they are helping. Why not let them? At some point, you will be able to return a kindness so there is no reason to feel bad about accepting anything.

• My aunt always gave me her children’s hand-me-downs. Once my children were done with these items, I passed them along to my sister whose daughters are younger than mine.
• My friend cuts my hair for free. We invited her on a trip to Salem with us.
• My friends and family give me all of their used candle holders, as well as their candle ends. Just before Thanksgiving, my daughter and I are making candles from the ends and using the holders. We will give these recycled candles to friends and family as gifts. They loved the idea so much last year, that they want to keep it going.

Here are some articles dealing with frugalness and the recession that I would like to share with you:

• Single mom families helping others
• What a single mom can do when her children bring home too much Halloween candy
• Favorite parenting and single mom books
• Favorite books for children
• Single moms: Grand opening of Keeping the Single Mom Home
• Great autumn themed projects for single moms and their children
• Tips for National Coupon Month
• Single moms 101: Can I still save money on school supplies for my children?
• Bangor, Maine back-to-school: Shopping for local school supplies
• Family park day
• Single moms 101: How can I save money on food?
• Single moms 101: How can I save money on clothing for my family?
• Single moms are affected by the recession: What can they do?
• Single moms can live frugal lives

Hope you all have a nice day.

Shannon

Pumpkin Puree Instead of Pumpkin in a Can

In Amy’s book The Complete Tightwad Gazette, she discusses on page 30 how to save money on pumpkin for recipes. Puree can be made by boiling or baking the pumpkin slices. The process is very easy.

This pumpkin can be used in place of canned pumpkin in any recipe. So, if you grow your own pumpkins you will save a lot of money.

Shannon