Your Best Cost Cutting Trick??

[melskids]

We do this too, but sometimes I wonder if I'm really saving anything. I've never worked out the cost of laundering them...soap, hot water, electricity etc. Has anyone done the math?

yeah, you know....i would love to know the actually cost difference of alot of things....such as hanging clothes out to dry instead of using the dryer, (obviously hanging them is free, but the cost of our time) handwashing dishes instead of a dishwasher, and burning wood instead of using a furnace. this is the one i'm most curious about....sure, we cut down and split all our own wood, but it takes ALL summer to do it, and like i said, our TIME is worth something.

[Mrs.Ky]

For my family and daycare I pre make my list for the store so I dont over buy, I just joined SAMS and cancelled my BJS membership got my buisness Sams membership for 25 bucks for the year it was 35 but got a free 10 gift card, I try to keep lights off during the day, wash as much clothes as I can in 1 load to save on water, I shop at sams and aldis for all my food, shop at sams, and dollar tree for my cleaning supplies, my kids ride the bus instead of me driving them so I dont waste gas, Im all about saving money .

[momatheart]

I order paper towels and toilet paper from a janitorial supply place. I get 4000 paper towels for fourteen dollars (the dispenser was 23), and a 96 roll case of tp for 38 bucks. Huge savings. And they deliver for free.

I love this idea for my home use. I would love to have one in my bathroom I do NOT like company using my hand towel when in the bathroom. I know there are decrative paper towel deals you can buy to put in your bathroom for company. But to save money I like this idea of the janitorial supply place.

Now to find find storage in this small house for all this product, hummmm

[dEHmom]

i installed a clothes line last year, in the summer, i wash all our comforters and hang them on the line to dry, and rotate the loads, so that the bigger stuff gets hung on line, all little stuff waits until there is enough to run the dryer (socks, undies, etc).

i always thought my dad was crazy, but now I understand...

he smushes everything that goes into garbage so it doesnt' take up as much space (1 bag a week instead of 2 or 3), and freezes in a bread bag the food scraps (so garbage doesn't stink through the week or have to go out earlier).

he would cook all the big things at once, sometimes 2 or 3 meals at a time (roast, roasted tatos, hams, etc) and then we'd eat this for the week, or he'd portion out and freeze so we'd have homemade microwave dinners.
I always asked why he did that, and his answer "save money. you're using all that energy to run warm up the oven" so he'd cook a roast, and a ham and everything in the same day, do all the baking, so that he wasn't turning the oven on everyday.
Also, he would turn the heat off if during the winter, and allow the oven to heat the house on those days where he was baking, or if company was over since doors would be opening and closing, and peoples body heat would sufficiently warm the house.

He never ran the dishwasher in the summer (it was an older portable) because it would heat the house up, causing the air conditioner to work harder.

He would also always fill his kettle ahead of time, so it would be at room temp so it didn't take as long to boil (saving energy). He never used hot water to fill pots or kettles, always cold (saving energy again).

he's an anal man, but everything has a reason, and it makes sense now.
he's also the type of man to fold up all of his plastic baggies, and twist the handles around to keep them folded in tiny little 2 inch squares, so they didn't waste space.

i could keep going, but it's already too long

[melskids]

i installed a clothes line last year, in the summer, i wash all our comforters and hang them on the line to dry, and rotate the loads, so that the bigger stuff gets hung on line, all little stuff waits until there is enough to run the dryer (socks, undies, etc).

i always thought my dad was crazy, but now I understand...

he smushes everything that goes into garbage so it doesnt' take up as much space (1 bag a week instead of 2 or 3), and freezes in a bread bag the food scraps (so garbage doesn't stink through the week or have to go out earlier).

he would cook all the big things at once, sometimes 2 or 3 meals at a time (roast, roasted tatos, hams, etc) and then we'd eat this for the week, or he'd portion out and freeze so we'd have homemade microwave dinners.
I always asked why he did that, and his answer "save money. you're using all that energy to run warm up the oven" so he'd cook a roast, and a ham and everything in the same day, do all the baking, so that he wasn't turning the oven on everyday.
Also, he would turn the heat off if during the winter, and allow the oven to heat the house on those days where he was baking, or if company was over since doors would be opening and closing, and peoples body heat would sufficiently warm the house.

He never ran the dishwasher in the summer (it was an older portable) because it would heat the house up, causing the air conditioner to work harder.

He would also always fill his kettle ahead of time, so it would be at room temp so it didn't take as long to boil (saving energy). He never used hot water to fill pots or kettles, always cold (saving energy again).

he's an anal man, but everything has a reason, and it makes sense now.
he's also the type of man to fold up all of his plastic baggies, and twist the handles around to keep them folded in tiny little 2 inch squares, so they didn't waste space.

i could keep going, but it's already too long

my FIL duct tapes the soles back on to his shoes.

my grandmother used to use maxi pads in her shoes for cushion instead of buying Dr. Sholl's.

ahh....the good ol' days, back when people made due or did without

[Cat Herder]

http://www.bettymills.com , My favorite place

I buy my cleaning supplies, snacks, paper products, freezer/bake wear and art/classroom supplies in bulk.

I cook in bulk and freeze casseroles, veggies, and breads in daycare portions in advance. My work days are a stress free breeze.

I also have a bit of a oriental trading company addiction....

I love to use their closeout/discount (pennies on the dollar) party supplies to decorate the playroom whenever I get the seasonal blues. My DCkiddos don't know the calendar yet. ::

Nothing like a luau when it is dark, cold and dreary or snowflakes, snow cones, and play igloos in mid august when it is too hot to go outside.

[lil angels]

I love all the ideas ladies keep them coming. I am also a freak about keeping the lights down or off when they are not really needed. Even my 4yr old is good about it. I try to only dry my clothes about half way then hang them up. I love my sam's membership. I am big on getting my sunday paper and looking through the adds and shopping off of what is on sale that week and when it is really good I will go back a couple time if need be and really stock up on the items then I won't have to purchase them for along time either. I also buy value certificates online for local things like going out to eat and getting my hair cut you can often pay $10 for a certificate that will be worth $20 for a
resturant that we would go to any why. Or gas certificates for $14 that are worth $20 gotta love getting $6 off a tank of gas everytime you fill up. I also will buy meat very bulk and save a lot per pound by getting it at 100 pds for like 1.79 per pound for very lean meats love that. Any way hope this gives some good ideas have a good day.

[dEHmom]

yesterday i noticed the frozen chicken breast 4 kg box was on sale for 25 bucks regular 36 bucks. so i picked up one (i didnt' really have much money with me) and as i was in check out, i told her to ring in 2 and i'll grab another one. just couldn't beat the price. normally for about 6-8 chicken breasts its 22 bucks fresh. i know i like this frozen one (if you thaw it out first before bbq'ing, it's not all water). and the box has about 25-30 breasts.
I also sometimes shop the clearance produce section. and when i can afford to, i buy in bulk. my freezer is full otherwise i would go today and pick up 2 more cases of chicken breasts