How to Save Money

[ILG]

Originally Posted by tamor

Shoot the cat!!!

That would make a much bigger mess.

[Theresa]

Originally Posted by ILG

Oh, BTW, I got the carpet shampoo free in a freebie box at a garage sale this summer!

FYI - powder TIDE works really well in carpet cleaners. We bought a Rug Doctor a couple of years ago and used TIDE once out of necessity - best the carpets ever looked.

And it smelled so good too LOL

[ILG]

Originally Posted by Theresa

FYI - powder TIDE works really well in carpet cleaners. We bought a Rug Doctor a couple of years ago and used TIDE once out of necessity - best the carpets ever looked.

And it smelled so good too LOL

Awesome! I wonder if other detergents would work. I have some dye free, perfume free stuff since we have allergies here.

[Theresa]

Originally Posted by ILG

Awesome! I wonder if other detergents would work. I have some dye free, perfume free stuff since we have allergies here.

wouldnt hurt to try it - just remember the sudsing factor. I think what we used was for a front loader which suds less....but you just have to use less regular stuff.

I've used liquid ALL and ERA in my portable cleaner...worked just fine.

I even used downy one time to freshen up the rugs LOL

[ILG]

Originally Posted by Theresa

wouldnt hurt to try it - just remember the sudsing factor. I think what we used was for a front loader which suds less....but you just have to use less regular stuff.

I've used liquid ALL and ERA in my portable cleaner...worked just fine.

I even used downy one time to freshen up the rugs LOL

How can I consider the sudsing factor? I remember that one time when I used something different in my dishwasher. It was a mess!!

[tamor]

Originally Posted by ILG

How can I consider the sudsing factor? I remember that one time when I used something different in my dishwasher. It was a mess!!

I did too! I waded through suds trying to clean that stuff up!!

[HappyTown]

Originally Posted by ILG

I thought a thread like this was needed to help people learn how to save money, if they are looking for a way to. I'm sure everyone has a few tips. I have always been an extreme penny pincher, I think I was born that way. When I was small, I used to cut coupons and preach to my mom to use them.

Anyway, I think many people who have also been stay-at-home moms have really learned how to pinch pennies. I stayed home and when you have more time than money, you learn a few tricks anyway...

Best advise I can give, is get out debt stay out! Been out for over 12 years now! It feel great not having to worry about losing homes, cars, etc. During hard times! Plus your life is your own, stress is gone.

[ILG]

The philospher Diogenes was eating bread and lentils for supper. He was seen by the philosopher Aristippus, who lived comfortably by flattering the king. Said Aristippus "If you would learn to be subservient to the king, you would not have to live on lentils". Said Diogenes "Learn to live on lentils and you will not have to be subservient to the king". The Song of the Bird by Anthony de Mello taken from the Tightwad Gazzette

[ILG]

I am very sad. I took a tightwad test from Tightwad Gazette and FAILED!

You have to get twelve or more to be a "true" tightwad, they said!

You have

1. A scrubber made from a mesh onion bag. NO (I use the homemade ones my grandmother makes from a similar material.)

2.A squirt bottle made of homemade window cleaner. YES

3. A new soap bar with a sliver adhered. YES

4. A bundle of old socks in the workshop to be used as a grease rag. NO (We use old T-shirts)

5. A pair of pantyhose minus the bad leg. NO (What in the world??)

6. A jug of vegetable broth in the refrigerator. NO (I make my own stock on the spot when I need it.)

7. A 20 quart box of powdered milk. YES

8. A roll of paper towels cut in half. YES (Just started this. It works great!)

9. Any overturned bottle in the process of draining the last bit out. NO (But I do do this with ketchup, etc.)

10. A pencil less than three inches long. NO (I am not this cheap. Besides, we got a whole bag of long ones free at a garage sale.)

11. A marked-down crushed box of cold cereal. Surprisingly NO (but often, yes)

12. Any item repaired with a twist-tie, paper clip or hanger. NO (That just seems cheesy to me.)

13. A shower curtain repaired with duct tape. NO (You will not find duct tape on a shower curtain in my house.)

14. An impressive stash of one of the following items: egg cartons, styrofoam meat trays, toilet paper tubes or frozen juice lids. YES (I take these to the food Co-op here in town.)

15. A screwdriver with a tip that has been reground several times. NO (My husband buys only Craftsman tools. Lifetime warranty with free replacements when they wear out!)

16. A started shopping list on the back of a utility bill envelope. NO (I get pads of cuter paper at garage sales for this!)

17. A stockpile of .44 per can tuna. YES (I stockpile everything.)

18. A started container of "refrigerator stew" in the freezer. NO (We use most leftovers. I might do this at some point. It might be a good idea if a person can use it up before freezer burn sets in.)

19. An indoor clothesline or wooden drying rack. NO (We do not have the space and I like my clothes soft and not crunchy.)

Am I getting SOFT???? Am I really not a true tightwad????

I said this to my husband and he put his hand gently on mine and looked into my eyes and said softly "You will always be a tightwad to me, hon", which made me feel much, much better.

[Sherri]

Well, I didn't do too well on the tightwad test, but I had a few.

I DID go to the grocery store this week (and Eddie came along). I warned him on the way that I had a bunch of coupons; he doesn't like to mess with taking time for all that. Anyway, when I checked out, my bill was originally $94+ and after the coupons, it was $66+. He was convinced at that point that coupons were a good deal and worth the hassle!

If I made a million dollars a year, I would still get coupons and use them. I love to feel like I'm winning!