I was sick again yesterday morning. To console myself, I made a cup of cocoa. As I was preparing to add the required three tablespoons of chocolate powder, it occurred to me that maybe I could get by with two tablespoons. I’d be saving calories and money at the same time!
The cocoa wasn’t quite as good as usual, but it was good enough. And by dropping to two tablespoons instead of three, I saved 33% (or about 29 cents).
Now obviously saving a few pennies on an occasional cup of cocoa isn’t going to make me a rich man, but this principle can be applied to other aspects of my life. That’s what thrift is all about: learning money-saving skills that can be transferred from one situation to another. When we use enough of these skills in enough places, the savings can be substantial.
One way to save money is to use less of things.
How much dishwasher detergent do you use, for example? I used to fill the soap containers to the rim. Sure, the dishes got clean, but do you know what? They get just as clean now that I fill them only halfway. (And I sometimes wonder if I could use even less detergent.)
There are many ways we can cut back on the things we use. Some of these are systemic changes: you might, for example, decide to eat less meat in order to reduce your grocery bill, or to drive less to save on fuel and maintenance.
Here are a few specific examples of how cutting back from the norm can save you money:
- Toothpaste. How much toothpaste do you really need? The instructions on Kris’ current tube say that she should “apply at least a 1-inch strip of the product onto a soft bristled brush”. Instead, she uses the pea-sized amount that once was the standard.
- Shampoo. Lather, rinse, repeat? The instructions on many packages are written from the manufacturer’s perspective, not the consumer’s. Use the directions as guidelines. Judge for yourself just how much shampoo (or anything else) works for you.
- Juice and drink mixes. Juice and beverage mixes can be made more dilute and still quench your thirst. Again, this saves calories as well as pennies. Made according to the directions, some drink mixes are too sweet for adult tastes anyway. Try increasing the volume of water by 50%.
- Pet food. If I were to feed my cats as much as the package suggested, they would look like enormous tribbles. Instead, I give them as much as they’ll eat in a day. It took a while to find that amount, but we have it now, and that’s what they get.
- Engine oil. The 3,000-mile oil change is a myth propagated by quick-lube places to get you in their doors more often. Most vehicles can go much farther between service appointments. This isn’t one you should experiment with, though. Failure to change your oil frequently enough can ruin your engine. Check your owners manual for the recommended interval. (It’s unlikely to be just 3,000 miles!)
- Shopping. Earlier this month, I shared how America’s Cheapest Family saves more by shopping less. By grocery shopping just once a month, they make better use of their money. Kris and I aren’t ready to make that leap, but we’re earnestly trying to limit ourselves to one trip every two weeks. (With a quick supplemental trip for milk and produce.) So far, so good.
- Water. When we first bought a house, I watered our lawn often. I paid to have a green lawn. Now, however, I’m happy to let the grass go dormant. I don’t water the lawn at all during the summer. The grass “dies” in July and August, but becomes green again when the rains return in September.
A friend of mine once worked for a large consumer-goods conglomerate. Recently he confided, “Some companies mess with cap and lid sizes as a way to increase consumption. Want a bottle of laundry detergent to run out faster? Then increase the cap size slightly. Many people use a capful per load.” Manufacturers want us to use more than we need.
In many cases, it’s possible to use less of something and still get satisfactory results. Cutting back can save you money, but finding the right amount can take a little trial and error. Don’t let it fluster you.
You might, for example, cut back too far on dishwasher detergent and find one load doesn’t get completely clean. That’s okay. Next time, use a little more. The key is to cut back until you notice a difference. (Or, more precisely, until the difference crosses your “irritation threshold”.)
Have you been able to reduce the amount or frequency with which you use certain products? What sorts of things have you cut back on?
Photo by Joel Telling.
This article is about Basics, Frugality, Hints and Tips
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Just to chime in on the pet food issue, I would recommend a brand called Wellness. It’s widely available (around here anyways), not TOO much more expensive then “lesser” foods and in my experience very good for a cat.
It’s a high protein, zero carb food. Our cat was diagnosed diabetic about a year ago and we control it with food alone, no insulin.
Whatever food you feed your cats should be as low in carbs as possible, they don’t process them well. Foods with wheat and rice in it are to be AVOIDED. Many of your theoretically high end foods are FULL of carbs, even advertising their presence as part of a “balanced” diet for you cat. That’s nonsense though, cat’s generally don’t eat carbs they eat meat and that’s what they should be fed.
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I agree with the “less is more” strategy in general. 2 tips I have are:
1)My hair is getting dryer as I get older. I wash my hair every other day instead of every day. In the summer, or when I work out, I use baby shampoo from the dollar store. It’s cheap and it works just fine, without stripping moisture or dye from my hair.
2)I buy the detergent tabs with the rinse-aid beads embedded for my dishwasher. They may have extra plastic packaging, but they work perfectly for me. They have “portion control” built in, they don’t clump up from humidity, and they work excellently to clean the dishes. I buy the big box at BJ’s club and use a BJ’s coupon plus a manufacturer’s coupon to get maximum savings and that box lasts me over one year.
DeeBee
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We just turned down our heat to hold at 55 degrees fahrenheit. We live in Wisconsin. It’s hard to get used to right now, but I went to my favorite thrift shop today and bought a very thick wool sweater for $1 to wear around the house. I might add, we have a wood stove in the living room that we’ve been using once per night. We are experimenting with the combination to see if we can find our most efficient point.
I just cut my laundry detergent use in half. It’s Ecos (?) brand and the extra price has turned out to be worth it…the bottle has greatly outlasted our regular brand and the clothes look fine.
I’m hoping to get a small squeeze bottle for my daughter’s shampoo. The bottle I just bought her has a huge opening.
This summer when I started my exercise routine, I started watching food proportions, specifically milk. My husband gets mad about this one, but the glass he uses for supper will hold two servings, so I started putting less in it. My daughter gets about 4oz. because that’s what she can finish.
And lastly, a major reduction…my husband asked for a transfer closer to home last year and it was finally granted in February ’08. He was driving 80+ miles per day, and now it’s maybe 10. It didn’t rack up any brownie points for him, but he’s not looking for a promotion so the hundreds we’re saving per month is worth it, not to mention the new-found time at home.
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EscapeVelocity – True, it takes some up-front cash to purchase a washer, but you may want to do a cost analysis of laundromat vs. home cleaning.
I have a high efficiency washer I got for $700. I’m guessing my detergent, energy and water costs for a load are about $0.50. So at 5 loads a week, I’ve broken even in less than 2 years. Not to mention you can get excellent “regular” washers for maybe $100.
If it’s not an option for you, like your apartment doesn’t have room, then that’s another story.
Another idea for using less hand soap, you can wrap a rubber band around the pump so that it doesn’t go down all the way, using less.
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i’m from Wisconsin, as well, and i keep it at 55 when i’m at work/asleep, and 60 when i’m home. the heat from cooking/computer/TV helps keep it a little warmer. if i get cold this winter, i’ll just play wii fit.
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JD,
I find your articles on ‘frugality’ to be leaning further and further to the extreme, self-deprivation side of the spectrum.
While we’re watering down our juice and letting our lawns go brown, why not stop wearing shoes and wrap bags around our feet instead?
Life is in the details. Forcing yourself to be frugal by skimping on everyday basics (like the writer who reuses her coffee grounds) leads to a lack of enjoyment in the little things of life. Like a good cup of coffee compared to an over-extracted basket of coffee mush – the difference is an enjoyable drink, or a bitter cup of flavored water that you fill with milk and sugar then choke down because you need a caffeine fix.
I think you’re on the right track with the things that make sense – like your comments on engine oil. However you seem to be going overboard with pinching pennies that might only add up to a few dollars over an entire year.
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I don’t think the point is to follow all the advice and tips given here. Different things are important to different people. If you’re a coffee connoisseur, then of course you’re going to feel a loss of enjoyment by re-using coffee grounds. If I’m slugging back my 3rd pot of java for the morning to sustain my coffee buzz, then it’s not going to reduce my quality of life to re-use those coffee grounds. The point is to eliminate wastage of things that you don’t need, use or appreciate. And those things are going to vary for each person.
Personally, I’ll water down that juice. I just can’t tell hardly any difference, so it’s eliminating wastage for me, not reducing quality of life. I draw the line at cheap toilet paper. I can’t use the cheap single-ply “John Wayne” TP without feeling a MAJOR reduction in quality of life. The money saved is not worth it to me. It may be to other people, though.
The point is, eliminate overusage in areas that lead to wastefulness. My frugality viewpoint is this: what can I eliminate from my budget without reducing quality of life? That’s the real challenge…above and beyond just cutting pennies for the sake of saving money.
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re #144 LaBella Donna
Thank you for your reply to Rick. I was trying to talk myself out of one when I read yours.
My cats adopted me at various times when I was flush. Family illness and state spending freezes have reduced my household income to half over the last year (with more cuts expected in this current climate) so all seven of us have to do with less.
However, that means: all the family has to do with less…not that the budget has to do with less family.
There are those who say pets can’t be family and whereas my cats are feline companions and not “my babies”, part of our mutual living agreement was that I’d provide food and they’d provide loving companionship. I don’t go back on my word to any creature; they have certainly kept theirs. As long as I eat, they do too.
That’s one of those lines between frugal and cheap that no one decides for me, but myself. So Rick can keep his derision. Obviously, the man has no use for pets and is simply incapable of understanding the situation.
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I’ve liked some of the posts on this site, but I have to admit I found this one to be a little bit silly. I’ll admit I’ve only gone through a few of the comments. I’ll have to agree Conrad. Nitpicking about things like shampoo, even if you’re reducing your amount by 50% isn’t going to make any difference. And like Hank says, saving yourself a half a cent by chewing half a piece of gum may not only be a reduction in quality of life, but you may inadvertently end up chewing more gum because you never got your “fix.”
A lot of these tips may be appropriate for giving people the right attitudes about waste, and for that I’m not discouraging anyone from doing this. (I do a lot of it already.) But do it for that reason and for the simple life, don’t think that this is somehow going to give you more savings.
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Thanks, everyone, for your feedback on this post. I understand that many of you find some of the examples silly, and I see your point.
It’s important, though, to realize these are just *examples*. Maybe they’re poor ones. My intention is to encourage readers to think about ways they can use less of things (or to use them less often). This is a very real strategy for saving money.
This post isn’t about saving 29 cents on a mug of cocoa — it’s about adopting a new attitude about the things we use. My examples may have been poor, but I don’t believe this concept is.
Also, I’d like to note that while some people really dislike posts like this, other people love them. I can’t please everyone. I think my best strategy is to spend a little more time crafting these articles so that the examples carry a little more weight, or so that I communicate my idea more effectively.
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@Jimmy
I would hardly call choosing not to waste one of the world’s most precious resource on a lawn (something you can’t eat)analogous to “stop wearing shoes and wrap bags around our feet instead”. I have reused coffee ground with no appreciable difference between the coffee without reused grounds and the one with reused grounds. If you have not tried it, you are not really able to comment on it. Furthermore, if you don’t appreciate an article in this vein, why bother to read it? Considering that there are 157 comments thus far, most of them that are sharing of tips, I would venture say, beyond a few, a large portion of J.D.’s audience is appreciative of the tips. I know I am.
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Not only is “lather, rinse, repeat” generally wasteful, it’s not good for your hair!
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I was told by a friend who repairs appliances that you should only use about a tablespoon of dishwasher detergent for normal to heavy load. For the washing machine he said the first line is good for a large normal soiled load and about half that for a smaller load. The rules stay the same for the front loaders, but you should use the detergent that is labeled for front loader wash machine use. Most front loaders have a sensor in them also that will shut the wash cycle down if there are too many suds being created in the wash cycle.
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I am using Craig’s List to do barters. I got hair care in exchange for my decluttering someone’s home. It’s fantastic! I am saving hundreds of dollars!!
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I linked over from Rocks in My Dryer (http://rocksinmydryer.typepad.com/shannon/) and have enjoyed reading the posts this morning. My husband and I are on a 7-step plan to eliminate debt and build wealth. In the process, we are examining the way we spend, and what we can do without. I am also conscious of cutting back on how much we consume in the form of non-recyclable items.
We save by using:
Programmable thermostats – we are finally using them, and have done well at 7-12 degrees lower so far! Can’t wait to compare the gas bill to the same time last year!
Reusable bento-style lunch boxes for the kids and diluted juice. Prepackaged snacks/juice are so expensive and the packages are never recyclable.
We only dine out once or twice a week. We spend a bit more on our water bill now that we eat at home (we handwash our pots and pans – about $10 every 2 months – but dishwash everything else). But save $100s in the end. My husband works from home, so I’m the only one driving on a daily basis to get the kids to and from preschool.
I’m working on the switch to ‘scratch’ recipes – our daughter has some food allergies, so we have extra incentive here.
We always wash in cold – except for underwear (in hot).
We buy the majority of our kids’ clothing secondhand (adult options aren’t great around here).
I like the idea of the bin with a measuring spoon for powdered detergent. I have my fave that gets everything – everything – clean, but will try to see if less works just as well. I was also excited to see the recipe for foam soap.
Will be back to read more – bookmarking you now.
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Jimmy,
“a bitter cup of flavored water that you fill with milk and sugar then choke down because you need a caffeine fix”.
Wrong on every level. The coffee is not bitter, I don’t choke it down, and I don’t use milk or sugar. Maybe I should have made clear in my post that there is NO difference in quality.
Perhaps you might try it before passing such harsh judgment.
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I just don’t spend.
I have a set amount of disposable income (I don’t make a lot of money, it’s $70-80/week) for a two week period (I use the envelope system) and even though I have the money, I don’t feel the need to spend it all. More often than not, money I do not spend goes into my savings account.
I have all these crazy internal rules that work for me. I don’t accumulate stuff, I replace stuff. I borrow rather than buy. If I have to buy, I try for used before new. I buy a beer at the store not a bar. I entertain friends at home rather than at a restaurant. It’s more fun and we can be loud and curse and nobody will kick us out. I watch my weight so I don’t have to buy new clothes all the time. If an item wears out or breaks I try to find another use for it.
It’s easy for me. Living like this pushes me to be creative which is something I enjoy but it’s not for everyone. Now I know if you have kids, they are constantly asking for food, shelter and clothing so it’s harder. But once people begin to shift their thinking from accumulating to replacing or repurposing, the savings begin.
For me it’s all about perspective. Sure we still live in a life filled with stress and unrest but for the most part we have it pretty good. I could go on with a rant about the excesses of our lives but instead I’m gonna let Shorpy tell you. http://www.shorpy.com/node/1. I see the body of a child, but the face of a broken down man.
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Staying out of the malls has significantly saved me money. Not only am I not tempted to buy. But, not looking at. all. keeps me more content with my own stuff that I already own. I am not so aware of subtle trends in fashion and am more content with my closet. I came to realize that I haven’t said, “I have nothing to wear” in a long time!
I have been shopping on Etsy for gifts and there are amazing things there for a song!
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We use baking soda for toothpaste, but put a few fresh mint leaves from the garden into it’s container for a minty flavor. We water down shampoo with half water and use a pump dispenser so the kids don’t p-o-u-r out too much. When I used dishwasher and laundry soap I had a pump dispenser for that as well. Amazing how a little pump device can save you a lot of $$!
I’ve been experimenting with making my own dishwasher detergent to avoid the nasty chemicals many of my children are sensitive to. We no longer use laundry detergent all all, having begun an experiment with magnets.
Instead of adding water to juice, we add juice to water. We don’t drink juice for nutrition, we eat whole fruits and veggies instead. But after a whole day of plain tap water, a little flavor is welcome, so I’ll make a big pitcher of ice water and add just enough juice to flavor the water. Cheaper, healthier and a little flavor boost.
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My biggest frugal tip: MAKE FRIENDS WITH YOUR LOCAL MERCHANTS and try your best (within limits) to be a loyal customer.
Re the laundry tips: I used to need those but being a city dweller now I send all my laundry out. Thing is, 10 years ago I started using a local laundry run by a family. The owner and father made pick-ups and deliveries and we became friendly. Over the years, he’s had to raise his wash and fold prices but has continued to charge us our original 1998 price/pound because we’ve been such loyal customers. Although he used to be more expensive than the laundromat, now he is about $2/load cheaper AND I get my wash picked up, folded and brought back. (oh, yeah, still 1998 dry cleaning prices, too.)
Re the discussion between JD and Angelo (around ##149-150) and Conrad’s wanted emphasis on larger or “real” cost savings items, although I understand what he is saying, and realize it pertains to a large group of people…personally, it cannot help me now.
I do not own, nor plan to own a house. I do not own, nor plan to own a car (in the near future). I do not have nor plan to have (and getting to the age that I am not likely to have), nor do I want to have, kids.
What does help me are the discussions about small leaks in the system which could be draining resources from other parts of the budget. I need to pick up pennies on the sidewalk even when they’re tails. I really appreciate the info on cat food (no kids, just cats–yeah I’m going for the stereotype) from LaBellaDonna, Mr. E and Frantic Woman (and JD for bringing it up) and am gonna try the Wellness brand and am going to look at protein based–because that will help a significant part of my budget and I did not know these things.
As JD keeps emphasizing: have enough round robin discussions along the full spectrum of personal finance and the mantra of THINK ABOUT what you spend, whatever that may be on, and make decisions as wisely as possible rather than blindly or following the herd. I think he’s doing an excellent job of opening discussion for the needs of more people even if not exactly pleasing all of them.
Cheers!
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What I need and want changes over time, so it makes sense to experiment with what I need to satisfy.
Makeup, clothing, food, contact lenses (I wear my glasses more often), types of gifts, haircuts, eating out, how frequently I wash clothes, towels and sheets have been reconsidered this year as I have been finding ways to live within our means.
Gift giving is on my mind. I have been asking people more about what they like and need. It’s changing.
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I noticed on previous poster said he/she intended to cut back on energy consumption by running a window a/c in the bedroom instead of using a central a/c. This might or might not be a money saver. Window air conditioners are notoriously inefficient. Be sure to crunch some numbers before adopting this plan.
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On the topic of Laundry Detergent, the amount needed is dependant on the amount of hardness in the water supply. The hardness in the water binds to soap turning it into “soap curd” making it unavailable to do any cleaning. You need enough detergent to overcome the amount of hardness in the water. Laundry detergent manufacturers don’t tell you this at all – they want everyone to use the same amount which is enough for the worst water conditions. This also keeps their profits high.
Many people can cut way back to a very small amount. If you are using soft water, you only need about a tablespoon or two for an entire load. Any more than that will leave soap residue on your clothes that will not fully rinse out, especially with the fancy new “high efficency” models.
The same holds true for dishwashers. On soft water, use only a tablespoon of detergent, no more. Excess detergent may etch glassware.
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For many years my wife has mixed frozen orange juice with one extra can of water. She also uses about 2/3 cup of sugar in powdered drinks. The recommended amounts make it too sweet.
@FrugalEngineer : Check the phosphate level of your dishwasher soap. That is what also leads to etching of the glassware. We have used only a couple of brands because they are under a certain phosphate level. Can’t remember what the exact number is right now. Sorry.
GBB
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J.D. Have you thought about buying extra milk & juice on your planned trips to the market and simply freezing it?
This method would allow you to take advantage of specials and deal. It would also save you the extra trips to the supermarket and keep you away from the temptation of buying non-essentials as you meander to the far back of your local food store.
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I know I am chiming in late here. It has taken me two days just to read comments (lack of time).
RE: having children. Personally I think having children is one of the best ways to save money. When my husband and I married I had one child already. We would go to movies, out to eat, buy name brand clothes, wasted more money than we made. As our family grew we saw we couldn’t do this or that. Now we only go out to the movies maybe once a year, maybe. We buy our clothes used usually. We have had the same vehicle for almost 8 years. Our whole family does not fit into it but that is another blessing in disguise. Having more children has made me learn to stretch the budget as tight as I can. But that is just the monetary side of it. The joy that our children have brought us is beyond money and savings. We don’t do sports, we home school, limit toys and treats so our children don’t drain us financially as some children might. They give us more power, more love and make us want to make the world a better place for their future. I have learned more from being the mother of my children than I ever could have from working a outside job or my college education.
Now I am not saying for everyone to run out and have children. That is between you and your spouse. I just think that sometimes people only see the money sign when speaking of children and I just wanted to share my perspective.
By the way I have a husband, 6 children, a dog and a bird and we live off of $50,000 a year on average. We still have student loans and credit cards that we are trying to pay of (still) but we make it and have a joyful life to boot! As my husband said the other day, having children (and pets) when you are going through tough times sometimes puts you at a advantage. The simple joys in life are worth far more than we ever imagined.
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I’m also getting in on this a little late. I’ve always used less than the recommended amount of laundry detergent, and my clothes always look and smell fine. My mom cuts dryer sheets in half, which I think is a great idea. (I know a lot of people don’t use dryer sheets at all, but my mom and I HATE static cling). I also try to use the shortest cycle on both the dishwasher and washing machine. My husband and I have a little battle about that because he thinks the pre-wash on the dishwasher really makes a difference. So we fight to see who starts the dishwasher.
One thing I save a ton of money on is not wearing makeup. I stopped wearing it in high school because I kept getting stys from my eye makeup. I haven’t worn it in about 8 years (except a little bit when I’m at an event where there will be professional pictures taken). I wear a moisturizer with sunscreen and chapstick every day and that’s it. Not only do I save money by not buying makeup, but I also don’t have to buy special make-up removing cleansers. I also can get ready very quickly in the mornings and travel very light. I know that some women can’t part with their make-up, but you should really give it a try.
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Personally, I haven’t done too much to cut back. I buy a lot of things generic (most are just as good, not all though..), and eat out a lot less. While the eating in part doesn’t sound as enjoyable, I have found that cooking is actually quite fun, and good at impressing dates.
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@KimK
You do realize that water softener water is actually salt water? Salt is what makes the water “soft”. It is very unhealthy to drink on a regular basis.
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Dishwasher or by Hand?
You should know that most of the studies compare washers to “on-the-fly” handwashing, rather than soak-n-rinse washing.
Before there was running water, people washed dishes by hand with much less water – and it’s easy to do in the modern kitchen. Especially if you have a double sink.
One sink (or a plastic tub) is filled with soapy water. Dishes are placed in the water as they’re used.
At the end of the day, a full sink/tub of dishes is washed over the soapy sink. Due to soaking, most of the food residue has already dissolved, or comes off easily.
The second sink is filled with fresh water for the rinse. After dishes are done, pots and other bulky items can go in the soapy water (or you can use a larger tub – a busboy’s tub is ideal, and fits on most countertops).
This uses FAR LESS water than even the most efficient dishwasher. And far less hot water. Notice that the tap is not running during soak-n-rinse. This drastically reduces water consumption.
If you’re squeamish about re-using rinse water – most of the dishwashers filter and re-use their rinse water, too.
Because the dirty dishes are soaking in soap, there are no odors.
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Some things we do these days…
1. Wet my toothbrush and then turn off the water. Brush the teeth, then turn on the water to rinse. (Previously I had let the water run while I brushed. The sound or running was comforting, but wasteful.)
2. Be sure the dishes are moist, and the sponge is soaped. I hand wash, but only turn on the water to rinse. (Previously I had let the water run while I washed. The sound or running was comforting, but wasteful.) (I hand wash. Between my wife and I, there are few dishes, and if we waited to fill the dishwasher before we run it, we’d be eating out of the pot for many meals. I run the dishwasher once a year to make sure it still works.)
3. We do not buy plastic kitchen container liners. We bought a smaller size kitchen garbage can, and when we bring home the groceries they’re in plastic garbage bags. We use those bags as plastic kitchen container liners. (Now with the move to reduce/eliminate plastic bags, we’re starting to rethink our strategy.)
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I thought I was pretty frugal but I have some new ideas to try out and implement from my friends here. A lot of thanks everyone. May I suggest going vegetarian/vegan as an idea. I am vegan pretty much and my health has never been better. It’s not for everyone but the benefits can be substantial.
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I’ve tried to cut back on meat and cooking oil when I cook. For health and also to save money. Oh, and the detergent as well. Nice article.
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I’m not convinced about the dishwasher. Yes, it might use less water and soap but… energy?!
Read the comments @ Treehugger.
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One way to keep the yard from going dead is to plant it with clover as well as grass. You can’t use weed and feed, but before weed and feed was invented, the expensive lawn mixes had more clover seeds than grass seeds in them. Clover stays green, gives your grass all the nitrogen it needs so you don’t need fertilizer, and has some other benefits as well.
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I realize this post is months’ old now, but reading the comments I felt compelled to add a couple of useful tips:
for my dishwasher and my washing machine I mix up my own detergent: equal parts borax and washing soda. I use two tablespoons for the dishwasher, and 1/8 of a tiny little scoop for the washing machine. I used to use more in the washing machine (an energy-efficient front loader) out of sheer habit until the machine almost broke down one day. I cleaned the dispenser and drain pump and vowed to stick to the scientifically-deemed correct amount instead of my doubtful and illogical additions. This detergent costs pennies to make, takes about five minutes to make, and in the case of the dishwasher, lasts for months.
Also, I read a tip for mascara removal, and would like to add my two cents: I use jojoba oil on a cotton ball to moisturize my face and to remove eye makeup. Easy and cheap. The 12 ounce bottle I purchased over a year ago is still about half-full.
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I realize this is a very old post – I got here via Liz Weston’s article – and I haven’t read all the comments. But: If you really want to save 29 cents and however many calories on a cup of cocoa, why not use a smaller cup? Have a smaller amount of full-strength cocoa, rather than a larger amount of diluted cocoa.
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I read your item regarding changing your car’s oil at longer intervals than 3,000 miles. I made two cars last to 130,000 and 150,000 miles before junking them by keeping the oil change intervals at about 3,000 miles. Talk about getting the most bang for your buck. Cheaping on maintenance will cause you problems in the end by having to buy yet another car sooner. Be careful what you wish for and you might get it.
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