I’ve intended to begin featuring entries from the recent GRS video contest, but things keep getting in the way. Let’s change that! Starting today, I’ll use Saturdays to highlight some of my favorites, both winners and not-winners. To begin, here’s a tip that didn’t win a prize.
Austin from Foreigner’s Finances is teaching English in Japan. He says that one of his favorite ways to save money is to always carry a water bottle with him:
Austin’s tip seems simple on the surface, but so is a lot of smart spending. Here’s a quote:
Every time I’m out shopping for groceries, out with friends for the weekend, or out for the day around town, I bring a water bottle with me. When I’m thirsty, I fill it up in a water fountain or, if I have to, a bathroom sink. [This allows me to avoid] those little two- to five-dollar purchases that really add up when you’re thirsty and want a quick drink.
If you spent just five bucks a week on water and soda, you’d save $250 a year by using a water bottle instead.
This is actually something I started doing myself when we returned from Belize in early March. I decided I wanted to drink more water, so I paid $15 for a fancy one-liter SIGG bottle. (Yes, that’s a lot of money. I have no defense other than it’s a shiny blue, and I love it.) Since buying the bottle, I’ve put it to almost constant use. I no longer buy water or diet soda from the convenience store next to my office; I just fill up from the water fountain. Instead of using the plastic bottles at my gym, I take my own water. Simple, yes, but also cost effective.
You don’t have to spend $20 on a water bottle (unless you want to and can afford it). But think about carrying your water with you — it can save you money and improve your health.
Look for more video tips in the coming weeks!
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I SO agree with Mark @#5. Nothing is sillier than seeing people in cities desperately carting a water bottle bottle around everywhere as if they were about to die of thirst. This is trendaholic silliness-water bottle as accessory-nobody needs to be continually drinking as if they were hooked up to an IV. Besides…the consequence is that then you need to go the loo every 20 minutes and it gets very inconvenient in public places. Im sorry, but this is simply idiotic: catch me wasting money like this. I drink plenty of water, when Im thirsty, out of the tap.
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#49, @Karen:
“Water that isn’t sterile will always grow junk in it, given a day or so.”
How exactly are you defining “sterile”? I’ve left unboiled tap water out in glass jars, sometimes for over two weeks, and nothing has grown in it.
“those “reuseable” bottles are typically full of mold and bacteria.”
That’s not true – at least not if you restrict your bottle use to plain tap water. I have several plastic “Platypus” water bottles I use. Sometimes, I don’t wash and dry the empty ones – just put them away with the cap on and some residual water left inside. They’re perfectly fine the next time I bring them out (I do a quick rinse before refilling).
I suppose if you’re drinking questionable water bacteria can grow and mold can develop but for normal everyday tap water that should definitely not happen.
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@ #5 Mark
That’s not a very accurate analysis. Thirst is a sign of dehydration, and you should actually aim to never be thirsty. Preemptive measures can ensure your health and safety. Dehydration is not something to fool around with, I know this from personal experience.
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I hate to see people carrying plastic water bottles around. It’s bad for the environment and so expensive. I bought a Brita pitcher awhile ago and love it. I bought a plastic, reusable bottle and decorated the outside. I use it everyday!
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After years of experimenting, DH settled on Kleen Kanteens. Good seal, nice wide mouth, no stupid pull-up squirt top to suck from like a baby, unbreakable, unsquishable, dishwasher-safe, and small enough circumference to fit easily in the car cup-holder, in a handbag, or in a backback bottle pocket.
Regrettably, we still buy plastic-bottled water occasionally when we’re out and about. When you live in a desert, you do what you gotta do.
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I worked outside in Arizona one summer and would have DIED without my constant companion, a Polar bottle. That is a type of insulated water bottle that is used by a lot of bicyclists. I drank maybe 4 or 5 bottles everyday. If I had purchased bottled water at a $1/bottle that would have easily have been at least $5/day in water. Over 4 months I expect I saved over $300 by using the bottle.
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Konnichi wa, Austin -
I just returned from a 4 years stint in Japan. One consideration for you – Japanese drinking water doesn’t contain the same levels of fluorine that US drinking water contains. That’s not to imply that the drinking water is unsafe – as the Japanese have very acceptable drinking water quality levels in urban areas – but the addition of fluorine in US water systems help keep our teeth clean and healthy and prevents cavities.
Be sure to visit a dentist regularly while you’re there. And enjoy your time! Living in Japan as a foreigner is a truly wonderful experience.
Ja mata!
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I used to use Nalgene bottles back in my camping days, but I prefer to reuse ordinary water (or soda) bottles now. It draws less attention to me, the bottles are smaller and fit better in my backpack, and if I do lose one it’s no big deal. I usually use one for about a month and then recycle it. If you’re concerned about sterility (I’m not, especially since I put only water, no Crystal Light or anything in a water bottle), you can leave a bottle of water in the sun for a day and that kills any bacteria according to my Peace Corps volunteer friends. I’m not super concerned about leaching of plastics either, since I don’t get it hot or cold, but I know some people say that’s an issue.
And it’s free!
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To Mark, Maharani and the others critiquing those of us who carry around water bottles … what a silly thing to criticize! I live in Texas. It is HOT here. If you don’t have a water bottle close at hand, you’re probably going to waste $$ stopping at Sonic, end of story.
Geez, so judgmental.
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@57 Mike
Thanks for the heads up. I’m hopefully heading back to Chicago in August for a visit so I’ll probably try to fit in a dentist visit then.
I guess none of my students visit the dentist. My teacher asked a class and 3 out of 30 had been. They’re “scared”.
Crazy.
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The best water bottle I’ve found comes from the Thermos line – insulated, stainless steel, BPA-free, keeps ice for 24 hours if you fill it to the top. That, a filtered water pitcher, Stash powder green tea + lo-cal sweetener has saved me tons of money, boosted anti-oxidants, and reduced landfill waste.
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“simple on the surface” is an understatement! Great tip though; thanks for sharing!
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I just don’t see the need to risk it, just go get a stainless-steel bottle for that price. No BPA, no aluminum leaching, etc. I’ve had mine forever, it will probably last my lifetime.
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