How Broke Are You Now?

[Jaydaan]

Here are a few basic ideas.....
* Use cornstarch instead of buying expensive baby powder.
* Tear dryer sheets in half (works just as well as using a whole sheet).
* Hang clothes to dry instead of using the dryer. If you can't have a clothes line in your backyard or live in an apartment or condo, hand clothes in the showers and on wooden drying racks.
* Run errands all at once (one errand after another) instead of sreading the trips out over several days. You'll use less gasoline and it's less wear and tear on your vehicle.
* Borrow books, movies, and music from the library instead of purchasing.
* Add 1 cup of vinegar to the final rinse cycle to get all remaining detergent out of your clothes.
* Turn junk mail into scrap paper.
* Reuse grocery bags as trash can bags.
* Shop at thrift stores, garage sales, and consignment stores.
* Don't subscribe to magazines - read them at the library instead.
* Buy holiday gifts when you see them on clearance throughout the year.
* Buy items after season for best prices.
* Make your own laundry detergent.
* Use a lip brush to get remaining lipstick out of a tube before throwing away.
* Do home haircuts, if possible.
* Reuse bows from presents.
* Use leftover bits of wrapping paper to wrap small presents or for decoupage projects.
* Make your own finger paints, play dough, face paint, bubbles, etc.
* Use vinegar for cleaning mirrors and windows and wipe clean with newspaper (leaves them streak free).
* Save Christmas cards you receive and use the front's as the next year's Christmas postcards OR make gift tags for the next year from the fronts.
* Save Christmas wrapping paper and shred to use in gift bags.
* Save empty glass jars with lids for mix recipe gifts or for storing things like screws, nails, etc.
* Use milk jugs and juice bottles in the freezer. Just fill them with water and stick them in the freezer - they will help fill space in the freezer (a full freezer runs more efficiently), help keep items cold in case of a power outage, and provide a source of drinking water if necessary (just let them thaw).
* Reuse coffee grinds by sprinkling them in your flower beds.
* Keep water heater set to 120 degrees.
* Turn off lights when not in use - also TV's, radios, etc.
* Unplug appliances when not in use - microwaves, toaster ovens, toasters, coffee makers, etc. (There is still an electrical current being run to them even though not in use).
* Don't let your bath water go down the drain! Use it for watering plants and flowers.
* Collect water from your a/c condensation drain for watering plants and flowers.
* Use cardboard toilet paper tubes for storing appliance cords.
* Use milk jug and juice bottle caps for paint palettes.
* Reuse tissue paper from gifts - just iron all the wrinkles out and it looks good as new. Reuse gift bags too.
* Use the linings from cereal boxes as a substitute for waxed paper.
* Sew buttons on with dental floss for extra strength.
* Place candles in the refrigerator or freezer before burning - will help them to last longer.
* Take showers instead of baths - you'll use less water.
* To save even more when taking a shower, turn on the water, get wet, turn the water off and soap up and shampoo your hair, turn the water back on and rinse.
* Rain water can also be collected for watering plants.
* Use ceiling fans and keep your a/c set to the highest comfortable setting.
* Run your dishwasher at night when rates are lower.
* Wash and dry laundry in consecutive loads all in a day. By doing this you don't give the dryer a chance to cool down and it doesn't require as much energy to heat up again for each load that needs to be dried.
* Use countertop appliances for cooking as much as possible instead of the oven. Crockpots, toaster ovens, countertop roaster ovens, etc. are cheaper to operate than the oven.
*make a weekly menu, and follow through with it, this saves the last min ideas being more expensie as well as keeps you on track for the week.

* I buy 2 litres of milk, pour 1 litre of it into an empty 2 litre milk jug. I then make up 2 litres of skim milk powder and add to full cream milk in the containers. You can't taste much difference, it lowers the fat content and saves me money!!

* I buy large cuts of meat when they are on special, then I use the remaining in several different planned meals. For example, from an extra large chicken I get a roast dinner, a chicken pie and maybe chicked fried rice.... 3 nights of meals.

* I use my own made up bread mix in the bread maker, this also forms the basis for pizza dough. Saves you heaps!!!