The Frugal Lifestyle

Medusa · 10-03-2010, 11:55 AM

I did an experiment a while back to see how much cash I was spending eating at work.

Coffee from Starbucks and a breakfast snack at work = $7 per day
Lunch at work = $5.50 per day
Afternoon juice, Diet Coke (when I was still drinking them), or bottled water from the vending machine at work = $1 a day.

That was 13.50 PER DAY or almost $70 a WEEK!

Holy crap did I ever give myself a nice raise by bringing all of my food and drinks from home!

City - Jack takes her lunch every day for work and it *also* drives her crazy when I wash out Ziploc bags and reuse them so we compromised and I bought a couple of those plastic sandwich-shaped boxes to put her sandwiches in instead of using Ziplocs. We just wash them out and rotate and it has saved about $5 a month on buying new bags

citybutch · 10-03-2010, 12:05 PM

AND that is $3,640 PER YEAR!!!

We have those sandwich boxes too... I tend to bring meals as opposed to sandwiches, so I use tupperware.... It is actually my beautiful bride who uses those sandwich bags... I don't know why she doesn't use the boxes! LOL...

I have to admit that I sometimes surreptitiously throw them out when she would keep them and continue to wash them out... I just have too...

We recycle all of our recyclables (city pick up) and use paperbags to collect them through the week... A couple weeks ago I actually saw my wife empty the paperbag into the blue recycling bin... she was recycling the paper bag for re-use... I have to admit it was a good idea when you take into consideration all the paperbags that places like Trader Joe's hands out on a daily basis...

Quote:

Originally Posted by Medusa

I did an experiment a while back to see how much cash I was spending eating at work.

Coffee from Starbucks and a breakfast snack at work = $7 per day
Lunch at work = $5.50 per day
Afternoon juice, Diet Coke (when I was still drinking them), or bottled water from the vending machine at work = $1 a day.

That was 13.50 PER DAY or almost $70 a WEEK!

Holy crap did I ever give myself a nice raise by bringing all of my food and drinks from home!

City - Jack takes her lunch every day for work and it *also* drives her crazy when I wash out Ziploc bags and reuse them so we compromised and I bought a couple of those plastic sandwich-shaped boxes to put her sandwiches in instead of using Ziplocs. We just wash them out and rotate and it has saved about $5 a month on buying new bags

Bit · 10-03-2010, 08:37 PM

I save every food bag that "zips" shut, especially tortilla and shredded cheese bags *awww come on, you don't think I was making my own tortillas when it was 103 out day after day? My window a/c was already struggling, yanno?* and reuse them when I scoop the litterboxes. Food bags are meant to keep odors inside; this means I can toss the zipped bag into my kitchen trash and not have to take anything out to big trash can immediately. No more using a clean bag for the scooping, and no more tossing the big kitchen bag before it's full!

Also, nothing holds used litter supplies like a big dog or cat food bag--they can't be recycled for anything else, they're waterproof, and they're big enough to hold everything when you clean out a litterbox. They don't seal but that's okay--I use them on trash pick-up day and they're the last thing in the kitchen trash bag before I throw the whole caboodle in the big can and wheel it to the curb.

diamondrose · 10-06-2010, 05:40 AM

I thought to mention that a great way for walmart shoppers to save money is to bring the current sale ads from other grocery stores along. Walmart price matches an exact item advertised in another store ad if it is cheaper than the walmart price.( At least they do it here where I live.. Worth checking out)

rlin · 10-06-2010, 11:08 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by diamondrose

I thought to mention that a great way for walmart shoppers to save money is to bring the current sale ads from other grocery stores along. Walmart price matches an exact item advertised in another store ad if it is cheaper than the walmart price.( At least they do it here where I live.. Worth checking out)

years ago... when they first opened in my town... they kept all the ad papers at the registers... dont know if they still do it...
i try really hard to stay outta the place... unfortunately there are those times in the wee hours of the morning when you just gotta have something like a surge protector or a hammer...
so... i do stumble in sometimes still... just usually not for something that may be in a sales paper...

Andrea · 06-29-2011, 08:17 PM

Have to brag about my frugal honey. He purchased discounted tri-tip steaks for $6. Using an ear of corn, one broccoli head, brown jasmine rice and hot oil, he produced three different dinners for a total of approximately $7 for six meals.

I heart my frugal honey.

Anyone else have any good deals lately?

Andrea

Miss Scarlett · 11-06-2011, 03:07 PM

i make my own foaming hand soap refill...it's much nicer and less expensive than the refills sold in stores. Plus it's a good way to use that frustrating little bit of body wash that never seems to want to come out of the bottle when you are in the shower. All you need is a foaming hand soap dispenser, body wash and warm water.

i add about an equal amount of warm water and gently shake until well mixed then just pour it into the dispenser.

If you use foaming dish liquid, you can do the same thing with regular dish liquid and water.

Mopsie · 05-12-2013, 11:07 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Bit

I save every food bag that "zips" shut, especially tortilla and shredded cheese bags *awww come on, you don't think I was making my own tortillas when it was 103 out day after day? My window a/c was already struggling, yanno?* and reuse them when I scoop the litterboxes. Food bags are meant to keep odors inside; this means I can toss the zipped bag into my kitchen trash and not have to take anything out to big trash can immediately. No more using a clean bag for the scooping, and no more tossing the big kitchen bag before it's full!

Also, nothing holds used litter supplies like a big dog or cat food bag--they can't be recycled for anything else, they're waterproof, and they're big enough to hold everything when you clean out a litterbox. They don't seal but that's okay--I use them on trash pick-up day and they're the last thing in the kitchen trash bag before I throw the whole caboodle in the big can and wheel it to the curb.

What good ideas! *taking notes* I am definitely doing this!

Mopsie · 05-12-2013, 11:09 AM

Hollylane - Thanks for the post I'm going to try that website!

cricket26 · 03-22-2014, 01:13 PM

1 Container of Name Brand Fabric Softener
4 Inexpensive sponges, cut in half

Pour entire container of softener into a 5 gallon bucket. Fill empty softener container with water twice. (2 parts water to 1 part softener) Add sponges to softener/water mixture. When ready to use wring out extra mixture from one sponge and add to the dryer as you would a dryer sheet.

deathbypoem · 09-16-2015, 02:15 PM

Bumping this thread b/c it just needs to be bumped!
Frugal is my middle name and recently decided to do my own laundry detergent.
Which registers aprox 18 for all the ingredients and
lasts a little over 3 months. Sometimes, 4 months.

Also,

Check out this site!!

Couponclipinista on the web and also FB!

I'll be back with more mindblowing secrets in this frugal dept.

10-03-2010, 11:55 AM	#1
Medusa Mentally Delicious How Do You Identify?: Queer High Femme, thank you very much Preferred Pronoun?: Mme. Relationship Status: Married to JD. Join Date: Oct 2009 Location: Atlanta Posts: 10,446 My Photo Gallery Thanks: 5,995 Thanked 42,686 Times in 7,831 Posts Rep Power: 10000025	I did an experiment a while back to see how much cash I was spending eating at work. Coffee from Starbucks and a breakfast snack at work = $7 per day Lunch at work = $5.50 per day Afternoon juice, Diet Coke (when I was still drinking them), or bottled water from the vending machine at work = $1 a day. That was 13.50 PER DAY or almost $70 a WEEK! Holy crap did I ever give myself a nice raise by bringing all of my food and drinks from home! City - Jack takes her lunch every day for work and it also drives her crazy when I wash out Ziploc bags and reuse them so we compromised and I bought a couple of those plastic sandwich-shaped boxes to put her sandwiches in instead of using Ziplocs. We just wash them out and rotate and it has saved about $5 a month on buying new bags __________________ . . . Buy ButchFemmePlanet Merch Here: https://teespring.com/stores/butchfemmeplanetcom-merch

10-03-2010, 08:37 PM	#3
Bit Senior Member How Do You Identify?: Stonefemme Relationship Status: married to Gryph Join Date: Nov 2009 Location: Wichita, KS Posts: 2,177 My Photo Gallery Thanks: 1,126 Thanked 3,770 Times in 1,264 Posts Rep Power: 10778870	Hope I don't gross anyone out... litterbox maintenance I save every food bag that "zips" shut, especially tortilla and shredded cheese bags awww come on, you don't think I was making my own tortillas when it was 103 out day after day? My window a/c was already struggling, yanno? and reuse them when I scoop the litterboxes. Food bags are meant to keep odors inside; this means I can toss the zipped bag into my kitchen trash and not have to take anything out to big trash can immediately. No more using a clean bag for the scooping, and no more tossing the big kitchen bag before it's full! Also, nothing holds used litter supplies like a big dog or cat food bag--they can't be recycled for anything else, they're waterproof, and they're big enough to hold everything when you clean out a litterbox. They don't seal but that's okay--I use them on trash pick-up day and they're the last thing in the kitchen trash bag before I throw the whole caboodle in the big can and wheel it to the curb.

06-29-2011, 08:17 PM	#6
Andrea Senior Member How Do You Identify?: Mature Femme Preferred Pronoun?: Her/She Relationship Status: I heart Rene Join Date: Dec 2009 Location: California Posts: 3,755 My Photo Gallery Thanks: 15,427 Thanked 14,925 Times in 3,022 Posts Rep Power: 21474849	Have to brag about my frugal honey. He purchased discounted tri-tip steaks for $6. Using an ear of corn, one broccoli head, brown jasmine rice and hot oil, he produced three different dinners for a total of approximately $7 for six meals. I heart my frugal honey. Anyone else have any good deals lately? Andrea __________________ I am very spoiled! What we think about and thank about, we bring about! Today I will treat my body with love and respect.

03-22-2014, 01:13 PM	#10
cricket26 Senior Member How Do You Identify?: femme Preferred Pronoun?: she/her Relationship Status: must be love on the brain Join Date: Oct 2012 Location: Texas Posts: 1,598 My Photo Gallery Thanks: 979 Thanked 4,258 Times in 1,311 Posts Rep Power: 21474850	recyleable dryer sheets 1 Container of Name Brand Fabric Softener 4 Inexpensive sponges, cut in half Pour entire container of softener into a 5 gallon bucket. Fill empty softener container with water twice. (2 parts water to 1 part softener) Add sponges to softener/water mixture. When ready to use wring out extra mixture from one sponge and add to the dryer as you would a dryer sheet.

09-16-2015, 02:15 PM	#11
deathbypoem Senior Member How Do You Identify?: Poetically versed to breathe only truth and bleed certainty Preferred Pronoun?: Kane Relationship Status: Married to Chefnaction Join Date: Nov 2009 Location: Finally, home Posts: 1,987 My Photo Gallery Thanks: 5,900 Thanked 4,733 Times in 1,583 Posts Rep Power: 21474853	Bumping this thread b/c it just needs to be bumped! Frugal is my middle name and recently decided to do my own laundry detergent. Which registers aprox 18 for all the ingredients and lasts a little over 3 months. Sometimes, 4 months. Also, Check out this site!! Couponclipinista on the web and also FB! I'll be back with more mindblowing secrets in this frugal dept. __________________ I need your grace To remind me To find my own

10-06-2010, 05:40 AM	#4
diamondrose Member How Do You Identify?: . Join Date: Apr 2010 Location: . Posts: 1,384 My Photo Gallery Thanks: 2 Thanked 2,895 Times in 923 Posts Rep Power: 13536274	I thought to mention that a great way for walmart shoppers to save money is to bring the current sale ads from other grocery stores along. Walmart price matches an exact item advertised in another store ad if it is cheaper than the walmart price.( At least they do it here where I live.. Worth checking out)

11-06-2011, 03:07 PM	#7
Miss Scarlett Infamous Member How Do You Identify?: Femme Relationship Status: . Join Date: Feb 2010 Location: . Posts: 5,530 My Photo Gallery Thanks: 4,478 Thanked 12,947 Times in 3,419 Posts Rep Power: 21474857	i make my own foaming hand soap refill...it's much nicer and less expensive than the refills sold in stores. Plus it's a good way to use that frustrating little bit of body wash that never seems to want to come out of the bottle when you are in the shower. All you need is a foaming hand soap dispenser, body wash and warm water. i add about an equal amount of warm water and gently shake until well mixed then just pour it into the dispenser. If you use foaming dish liquid, you can do the same thing with regular dish liquid and water.

05-12-2013, 11:09 AM	#9
Mopsie Senior Member How Do You Identify?: Femme Preferred Pronoun?: Female ones Relationship Status: Single Join Date: Mar 2013 Location: Shenandoah Valley Virginia Posts: 4,769 My Photo Gallery Thanks: 36,246 Thanked 8,552 Times in 1,856 Posts Rep Power: 21474853	Hollylane - Thanks for the post I'm going to try that website!