How CHEAP are you?

johnlatv

i wipe down paper plates so i can use them again.

Actual paper, or styrofoam or plastic "paper" plates?

all of them

elenathegreat

i wipe down paper plates so i can use them again.

Actual paper, or styrofoam or plastic "paper" plates?

all of them

LOL my mom puts the "good" plastic utensils in the dishwasher. In her defense, they really do look like flatware, until you pick them up.

momof8munchkins

We have 8 kids- being frugal is way of life.. But I am not cheap- quality is important- junk, even if it free is still junk ..but anyway here is my list
We grow a huge garden , preserve as much as possible
I make my own almond meal and milk/ cocout milk - for cooking
we own a dryer but most of the time we use the clothesline
I make our own laundry detergent- the liquid version.. makes 10 gallons for about $2
we get the majority of our clothes at thrift stores and yard sales- but we don't dress in rags!
we've never owned a new car.
most of our funiture has been given to us- and yet we have pretty decent things.
I make most everything from scratch including sauces and condiments- that's not really to save money but out of necessity.
we don't pay for home phone service.
we don't have cable - we use netflix- instant browse only and have a digital converter box- but we rarely watch it
in the warmer months we cook on the girll using wood if we have it or the crockpot to keep the house cool- we have air conditioning but only turn it on when it gets miserable- window fans work wonders.
I use paper towels instead of baby wipes
a make a bottle of dish soap last 4 times as long by pouring a 1/4 into an empty bottle and filling it up the rest of the way with water- same with hand soap
old worn out clothing and linens become cleaning rags
I save bacon grease in a coffee can and store in the fridge for cooking
I use the bones from meat to make broth and use it for soups, stews, gravy , potatoes
I buy quite a few everyday items at Dollar tree- toothbrushes, hairbrushes..etc.
that is all I can think of at the moment I am sure there are more.. side note- though my husband and I are frugal- he a lot more than me.. we still use things like paper plates on a regular basis to make our life easier - more about convenience.. we are a homeschooling family- that means 7 kids home- eating 3 meals a day- everyday-- which also means tons and tons of dishes.
oh and by the way- if you get the better quality "scott-like" toilet paper you will use less.. :flowerforyou:

FitLink

when I worked in customer service, if a lost item didn't get claimed in 3 months, it was fair game.

If it's declared fair game, then that's different. He went in and lied because he was too cheap to go buy one.

Agreed. It's as much (or more) the lie as the taking it. If they declare it fair game, you haven't lied to obtain something not yours.

elenathegreat

Thrift Stores!! Love 'em!!

1shauna1

I agree my butt is worth the cushy Charmin (but I always buy it on sale and stock up). I try to buy everything I can on sale. However, I know I shouldn't but I have an issue with Thrift stores....and I would never buy shoes from there (ew other people's sweat....). Sorry, JMHO!

FitLink

Consignment shops and store brands ALWAYS, I buy all my shoes from thrift stores, and now that I am having to buy cloths to fit (thank God for MFP), I stop at a thrift store once a week, and even think about hiding the 'good' stuff till the color of the tag goes on half price. I look for Christmas and birthday presents all year round, and buy 2 items from second hand stores for every 1 full price item I select for gifts. I am way more cheap on myself than on my loved ones. I spend more money on my doggie than myself, have to break that habit.

I'll buy second hand for myself. I never buy second hand gifts. A gift is intended to say "you matter to me." Anyone I'd give a gift to means more to me than money does.

lickmybaconcakes

well I'm a student so if it's not dirt cheap then it's too expensive.

TheFitHooker

I'm not cheap I like to spend money, I do look for sales but if I really want something I don't care the price. My husband though, he is cheap haha. When we use to eat McDonalds he would bring cheese from home to put on his burger haha.

FitLink

We have 8 kids- being frugal is way of life.. But I am not cheap- quality is important- junk, even if it free is still junk ..but anyway here is my list

Gotta disagree with ya there. Free, even if poor quality, is still more economical, since you still have the money to buy better quality to replace later if/when needed. Or you can replace with more free ones. Either way, free is most economical.

We grow a huge garden , preserve as much as possible

That's not cheap. You get better quality this way.

I make my own almond meal and milk/ cocout milk - for cooking

I know how you make meal. I thought only coconuts could make coconut milk.

we own a dryer but most of the time we use the clothesline
I make our own laundry detergent- the liquid version.. makes 10 gallons for about $2

how much labor is involved in making laundry detergent? I find that store bought things are often cheaper if you consider your labor as worth anything al all.

we get the majority of our clothes at thrift stores and yard sales- but we don't dress in rags!

Good way to save!

we've never owned a new car.

Me neither. To me a car is a way from point A to point B. If it runs, is safe and reliable, it meets my needs.

most of our funiture has been given to us- and yet we have pretty decent things.

That's really great, if you have someone to give you stuff. I have a vanishingly small family spread all over.

I make most everything from scratch including sauces and condiments- that's not really to save money but out of necessity.

Same as laundry detergent--is it cost effective to make condiments when labor is considered? What kind of necessity if not saving money?

we don't pay for home phone service.

Me neither. Google Voice is free and can be easily forwarded to my cell phone when I'm not home. It allows me to combine cell and VIOP voice mail in one box which I can access online. MUCH better than a lind line.

we don't have cable - we use netflix- instant browse only and have a digital converter box- but we rarely watch it

I do this and use Amazon to rent movies on demand, saving the gas I'd use driving the 30 miles to the nearest Redbox.

in the warmer months we cook on the girll using wood if we have it or the crockpot to keep the house cool- we have air conditioning but only turn it on when it gets miserable- window fans work wonders.

I use paper towels instead of baby wipes

I don't have a baby, but I use baby wipes for a few things myself. A paper towel wouldn't work for these things, as it's dry. Wetting a paper towel doesn't make it a baby wipe.

a make a bottle of dish soap last 4 times as long by pouring a 1/4 into an empty bottle and filling it up the rest of the way with water- same with hand soap

This doesn't actually make it last longer. It takes X amount of soap to do the job. If you water it down 1:3, it takes four times as much of the resulting mixture.

old worn out clothing and linens become cleaning rags

I

I save bacon grease in a coffee can and store in the fridge for cooking
I use the bones from meat to make broth and use it for soups, stews, gravy , potatoes

I'm sure this is practical for you, with 10 people. I'm one person and it's not practical for me.

I buy quite a few everyday items at Dollar tree- toothbrushes, hairbrushes..etc.

I assumed everybody did.

that is all I can think of at the moment I am sure there are more.. side note- though my husband and I are frugal- he a lot more than me.. we still use things like paper plates on a regular basis to make our life easier - more about convenience.. we are a homeschooling family- that means 7 kids home- eating 3 meals a day- everyday-- which also means tons and tons of dishes.
oh and by the way- if you get the better quality "scott-like" toilet paper you will use less.. :flowerforyou:

We all have priorities. I'd spend the time I saved not making laundry soap and condiments to wash dishes, but that's just me. I like good quality toilet paper too. I find, because you need SO much less, Charmin is even more economical than Scott. Plus it feels better. My mom used to buy Scott. My dad said it was like wiping with notebook paper.

ninerbuff

Anyone here collect ketchup packets to use as their source of ketchup in the fridge....................I do.:laugh:


A.C.E. Certified Personal and Group Fitness Trainer
IDEA Fitness member
Kickboxing Certified Instructor
Been in fitness for 28+ years and have studied kinesiology and nutrition

Farfourah

ninerbuff

when I worked in customer service, if a lost item didn't get claimed in 3 months, it was fair game.

If it's declared fair game, then that's different. He went in and lied because he was too cheap to go buy one.

Yeah, it was a spur of the moment thing and I didn't really have the money at the time to buy one. Not one of my best moments in life, but oh well we all have our faults.

A.C.E. Certified Personal and Group Fitness Trainer
IDEA Fitness member
Kickboxing Certified Instructor
Been in fitness for 28+ years and have studied kinesiology and nutrition

Jaidee1979

I'm a thrift store shopper, I feel thats pretty cheap

I love thrift store shopping! Sometimes you can find really great deals.

ThePunkHippie

Anyone here collect ketchup packets to use as their source of ketchup in the fridge....................I do.:laugh:


A.C.E. Certified Personal and Group Fitness Trainer
IDEA Fitness member
Kickboxing Certified Instructor
Been in fitness for 28+ years and have studied kinesiology and nutrition

Let me guess, you take them from fast food places by the handful.
a) it would be cheaper to buy the ketchup than to go out for fast food
b) people like you are the reason that McDonalds & other places make you pay for condiments (or just don't give out packets anymore)

momof8munchkins

We have 8 kids- being frugal is way of life.. But I am not cheap- quality is important- junk, even if it free is still junk ..but anyway here is my list

Gotta disagree with ya there. Free, even if poor quality, is still more economical, since you still have the money to buy better quality to replace later if/when needed. Or you can replace with more free ones. Either way, free is most economical.

We grow a huge garden , preserve as much as possible

That's not cheap. You get better quality this way.

I make my own almond meal and milk/ cocout milk - for cooking

I know how you make meal. I thought only coconuts could make coconut milk.

we own a dryer but most of the time we use the clothesline
I make our own laundry detergent- the liquid version.. makes 10 gallons for about $2

how much labor is involved in making laundry detergent? I find that store bought things are often cheaper if you consider your labor as worth anything al all.

we get the majority of our clothes at thrift stores and yard sales- but we don't dress in rags!

Good way to save!

we've never owned a new car.

Me neither. To me a car is a way from point A to point B. If it runs, is safe and reliable, it meets my needs.

most of our funiture has been given to us- and yet we have pretty decent things.

That's really great, if you have someone to give you stuff. I have a vanishingly small family spread all over.

I make most everything from scratch including sauces and condiments- that's not really to save money but out of necessity.

Same as laundry detergent--is it cost effective to make condiments when labor is considered? What kind of necessity if not saving money?

we don't pay for home phone service.

Me neither. Google Voice is free and can be easily forwarded to my cell phone when I'm not home. It allows me to combine cell and VIOP voice mail in one box which I can access online. MUCH better than a lind line.

we don't have cable - we use netflix- instant browse only and have a digital converter box- but we rarely watch it

I do this and use Amazon to rent movies on demand, saving the gas I'd use driving the 30 miles to the nearest Redbox.

in the warmer months we cook on the girll using wood if we have it or the crockpot to keep the house cool- we have air conditioning but only turn it on when it gets miserable- window fans work wonders.

I use paper towels instead of baby wipes

I don't have a baby, but I use baby wipes for a few things myself. A paper towel wouldn't work for these things, as it's dry. Wetting a paper towel doesn't make it a baby wipe.

a make a bottle of dish soap last 4 times as long by pouring a 1/4 into an empty bottle and filling it up the rest of the way with water- same with hand soap

This doesn't actually make it last longer. It takes X amount of soap to do the job. If you water it down 1:3, it takes four times as much of the resulting mixture.

old worn out clothing and linens become cleaning rags

I

I save bacon grease in a coffee can and store in the fridge for cooking
I use the bones from meat to make broth and use it for soups, stews, gravy , potatoes

I'm sure this is practical for you, with 10 people. I'm one person and it's not practical for me.

I buy quite a few everyday items at Dollar tree- toothbrushes, hairbrushes..etc.

I assumed everybody did.

that is all I can think of at the moment I am sure there are more.. side note- though my husband and I are frugal- he a lot more than me.. we still use things like paper plates on a regular basis to make our life easier - more about convenience.. we are a homeschooling family- that means 7 kids home- eating 3 meals a day- everyday-- which also means tons and tons of dishes.
oh and by the way- if you get the better quality "scott-like" toilet paper you will use less.. :flowerforyou:

We all have priorities. I'd spend the time I saved not making laundry soap and condiments to wash dishes, but that's just me. I like good quality toilet paper too. I find, because you need SO much less, Charmin is even more economical than Scott. Plus it feels better. My mom used to buy Scott. My dad said it was like wiping with notebook paper.

not sure why my post caught your attention but I 'll answer some of what you asked- homemade condiments are a must for us because me and mine have a lot food allergies- we cannot eat a lot commerical brands.. and they take only minutes to make, they are healthier and more economical... the laundry detergent takes a half an hour to make and last us about 8 months- that is worth my time.. I don't know if you have any idea how many dishes 10 people can use eating 3 meals a day- 7 days a week.. just to give an idea- we run our dishwasher at least 2 times a day- so yeah I will use paper plates when I can because we have other things we need to do in a day besides spending all of it in the kitchen like cleaning, doing laundry , school work , yard work, playing outside living our lives,,etc etc.. coconut milk- I make this by soaking coconut powder in boiling water then straining the pulp.. then I use the pulp to make macaroons or dried coconut for homemade grain -free granola. . and I respectfully disagree on the junk part if something is worn out , broken down, torn up, rusted, stained etc then I don't want it.. even if it is given to me because I don't want some elses junk.. but that's just me.

macpatti

Let me guess, you take them from fast food places by the handful.
a) it would be cheaper to buy the ketchup than to go out for fast food
b) people like you are the reason that McDonalds & other places make you pay for condiments (or just don't give out packets anymore)

I think you've got him figured out!

macpatti

Yeah, it was a spur of the moment thing and I didn't really have the money at the time to buy one. Not one of my best moments in life, but oh well we all have our faults.

Sure we do. It just sounded like you were bragging about this "fault" of yours.

ninerbuff

Anyone here collect ketchup packets to use as their source of ketchup in the fridge....................I do.:laugh:


A.C.E. Certified Personal and Group Fitness Trainer
IDEA Fitness member
Kickboxing Certified Instructor
Been in fitness for 28+ years and have studied kinesiology and nutrition

Let me guess, you take them from fast food places by the handful.
a) it would be cheaper to buy the ketchup than to go out for fast food
b) people like you are the reason that McDonalds & other places make you pay for condiments (or just don't give out packets anymore)

Not the handful, I just use a couple of packets and keep the rest they give me. I eat fast food at least once a week. And no it's not people like me that are the cause of the problem (since their are very few that admit to it). Have you thought that when condiments get handed out that lots of it gets thrown away? Ever see unused condiments on a tray in a fast food restaurant? Unless you have proof that that's the cause, then it's just your speculation.

A.C.E. Certified Personal and Group Fitness Trainer
IDEA Fitness member
Kickboxing Certified Instructor
Been in fitness for 28+ years and have studied kinesiology and nutrition

ninerbuff

Yeah, it was a spur of the moment thing and I didn't really have the money at the time to buy one. Not one of my best moments in life, but oh well we all have our faults.

Sure we do. It just sounded like you were bragging about this "fault" of yours.

Nope, just showing how cheap I am. I ain't no angel and don't claim to be. But I am cheap. You should let me take you out to lunch sometime and I'll show you how to get the best deal.:laugh: :laugh: :laugh:

A.C.E. Certified Personal and Group Fitness Trainer
IDEA Fitness member
Kickboxing Certified Instructor
Been in fitness for 28+ years and have studied kinesiology and nutrition

PapaverSomniferum

Craigslist and Freecycle

ThePunkHippie

Anyone here collect ketchup packets to use as their source of ketchup in the fridge....................I do.:laugh:


A.C.E. Certified Personal and Group Fitness Trainer
IDEA Fitness member
Kickboxing Certified Instructor
Been in fitness for 28+ years and have studied kinesiology and nutrition

Let me guess, you take them from fast food places by the handful.
a) it would be cheaper to buy the ketchup than to go out for fast food
b) people like you are the reason that McDonalds & other places make you pay for condiments (or just don't give out packets anymore)

Not the handful, I just use a couple of packets and keep the rest they give me. I eat fast food at least once a week. And no it's not people like me that are the cause of the problem (since their are very few that admit to it). Have you thought that when condiments get handed out that lots of it gets thrown away? Ever see unused condiments on a tray in a fast food restaurant? Unless you have proof that that's the cause, then it's just your speculation.

A.C.E. Certified Personal and Group Fitness Trainer
IDEA Fitness member
Kickboxing Certified Instructor
Been in fitness for 28+ years and have studied kinesiology and nutrition

Nope, as someone who's actually frugal (& not cheap), I don't make a habit of eating fast food & paying $7 for something I can make at home for under $2.

Saruman_w

I'm pretty cheap. I try my best to shop at dirt cheap places where you buy loads of crap for hardly anything at all. Such as Big Lots, Hudson's ( a salvage store in my area ) and I tend to hoard my money. I make big purchases pretty rarely.

macpatti

Nope, just showing how cheap I am. I ain't no angel and don't claim to be. But I am cheap. You should let me take you out to lunch sometime and I'll show you how to get the best deal.:laugh: :laugh: :laugh:

There's also a difference between being cheap and being broke. Neither one justifies lying and stealing, though.

sl1ngsh0t

I live well within my means. that's cheap enough.

sabified

I garden so I can freeze and can food to last until the next growing season. Also raise my own chickens for eggs and chicken to fill the deep freeze. That's about all I have. LOL

I don't consider it cheap when you're putting an equal or greater amount of work into it.

Labour costs!

I need to learn to be cheaper. I've never considered buying shoes from Goodwill, until I went to one in my bf's area... he lives in a better part of town and they get much better stuff there!!! All the trift stores in my area are filled with used n abused things

ninerbuff

Nope, as someone who's actually frugal (& not cheap), I don't make a habit of eating fast food & paying $7 for something I can make at home for under $2.

Guess you haven't heard of .50 cheeseburger days then. That's when I buy from there. And again, it's once a week not a daily regimen.

A.C.E. Certified Personal and Group Fitness Trainer
IDEA Fitness member
Kickboxing Certified Instructor
Been in fitness for 28+ years and have studied kinesiology and nutrition

ninerbuff

Nope, just showing how cheap I am. I ain't no angel and don't claim to be. But I am cheap. You should let me take you out to lunch sometime and I'll show you how to get the best deal.:laugh: :laugh: :laugh:

There's also a difference between being cheap and being broke. Neither one justifies lying and stealing, though.

Oh boy, good thing I ain't a boyscout then. Too bad I ain't perfect like you.:laugh:

A.C.E. Certified Personal and Group Fitness Trainer
IDEA Fitness member
Kickboxing Certified Instructor
Been in fitness for 28+ years and have studied kinesiology and nutrition

LorinaLynn

I am cheap, but I won't scrimp on toilet paper.

However, I've never spent more than $20 on a pair of jeans.

And I only rent from Redbox (which is right across the street) when I have a free rental code.

Snow__White

*i do laundry on off peak hours which are 7pm to 7am

*we buy our food in bulk

*i dont like using lights during the day,theres no point

*no cell phone