Dollar Stretcher Tips courtesy of TheDollarStretcher.com.
Email your time or money saving tip to [email protected].
Veggie Wash
When washing fruits and veggies, white vinegar comes in handy. Fill a
bowl with cold water and a few tablespoons of vinegar. Put the fruit in
to soak a few minutes and wipe dry. I was amazed how much junk came off
on the towel I used compared to the soap and water method, which I used
to use. And there is no vinegar taste left on the fruit.
BO
Let Your Fingers Do the Vacationing
Here's another tip for saving money when visiting attractions. Check
the phone book in your hotel room. Most have coupon sections now, and
you may find savings on museum fees, local restaurant prices, etc.
Also, call local supermarkets and ask if they are selling discount tickets to amusement parks, etc.
Mary W.
At the Ready
I leave a backpack in my car with a complete change of clothes for all three of my girls. (Don't forget socks and underwear!)
Even though they are way past the diaper stage, they are not past the "falling in a creek at a park stage" or the "spilling a milk shake down their shirt stage" on the way to visit out of town friends. I also keep pain relievers, indigestion medicine, Band-Aids, a plastic silverware set, bug spray, pens, and hair ties for them.
It
is something that does not take up a lot of room but has been a real
life saver in many situations. In the summer, I also keep a swimsuit in
the bag.
Mandy I.
Juice Box Geysers
We don't buy drinking boxes often, so when we do, it is very
disappointing when one of the kids squeezes it and wastes half the
contents. We solved this problem by replacing the attached straw with a
longer "regular" straw. No more spills, messes or waste.
Kathy R.
Ready for Bills
I found a great way to make sure I always have plenty of money to pay
the bills when they come. I opened another checking account. At my
bank, this is free. My only cost is the checks, which I would be using
anyway if I only had one account.
I add up what my bills usually are each month (there are only two that vary in amount from month to month) and then divide by four (usually four paydays in a month). For me, my bills add up to $1700 a month, so I take $425 out of my regular checking and put it into my bills account. Then, when my bills come in the mail, I always have plenty of money to pay them!
Also,
since there is four "extra" paydays a year (meaning five in one month
instead of four), I end up with an extra $1700 at the end of the year!
What could be better than that? I never have late bills, and I have
nearly two thousand dollars to put toward vacation, retirement, or
whatever every year!
Sarah in TX
Soap Savings
For those who prefer liquid soap, I have a suggestion. The ingredients
in liquid hand soap are essentially the same as those in liquid bath
soaps, and it's a better value for the money (especially when the bath
soap is purchased from a dollar store). Substitute the liquid bath soap
in your hand soap dispensers. Not only do you save money, but also you
have a greater choice of fragrances.
Also, many
liquid bath soaps are so thick that your dispenser will pump out more
soap than you really need. These can be mixed with water in 1:1, 1:2,
or even greater ratios for more- than-adequate cleansing. This also
holds true for regular liquid hand soaps, so if you have a favorite
type that you're partial to, you can make that brand last longer by
diluting with water.
Donna L.
Border Patrol
I always shop the perimeter of a supermarket before I go into the
center. I find lots of bargains in the "perishable" departments. I also
find the most bargains on the day the sales end. By bargains, I mean
marked down items that usually need to be cooked, frozen or eaten
within 24 hours of purchase.
Mary L.
One Mom's Junk
I'm a part of a weekly Young Moms' Bible Study. Every now and then, we have a "Junk Swap." We get together and bring everything that we would normally put in a yardsale or donate to charity. We set our things out on tables and then we look through each other's junk. We take things that we think we could use, and then after we're done, we take all the things that are left and give them to Goodwill or some other charity.
Since we are mostly mothers of young children, there are always lots of children's clothes that others can use, as well as kitchen things, household objects, linens, toys and books.
And Goodwill gets a big donation that they might otherwise not have gotten. I may never have an occasion to "de-junk" if I didn't have the deadline of the "junk swap" event. It's always fun to see what other people bring, and it's free! It feels so good to be rid of "junk" that was cluttering up my house and could be useful to someone else.
This
idea could apply to any group (church, neighborhood, playgroup, etc.)
as long as the group is not too big and as long as you have someone
with a big van or truck who can take the "leftovers" to Goodwill when
you're done.
Betsy in Tennessee
Remember That Purchase...
I work downtown and pass by the same stores often. I picked up a handy
tip when shopping with a friend. She bought a few simple necklaces and
earrings that were on sale to give as gifts to friends and family. A
few days later, we stopped back into the same store and the same
jewelry was greatly marked down from the original sale price. She had
the receipt with her and asked that the store honor the marked down
price. They did, and she ended up getting all the pieces for less than
what she paid for one originally.
Since then, I
have gotten into the habit of carrying my receipts with me for several
days and checking back with the store a few days after a large purchase
to see if the merchandise has been marked down further. This works
great as long as you don't make unplanned purchases when you visit the
store for the second time!
Jodi in Boston
CD Repair
I have found a way to fix scratched or scuffed CDs. I use Brasso, the
brass polish. Put it on the CD and wipe outwards from center to edge
with a soft cloth. After a couple of rounds, the disk will be like new.
Also, toothpaste and Pledge furniture polish, used in the same way,
work just as well.
This works for CDs, DVDs, and Playstation/PS2 videogames and costs a lot less than one of those expensive repair kits. Just make sure that you have all of the polish off of the CD before you put it into the player!
Lisa S.
Electricity Saver
If you own your home, we have found that purchasing an electric heater
timer from your local home improvement store will save loads of money
and will pay for itself very quickly. It is installed between the water
heater and the electrical connection. It's very easy to do. It can be
set for certain hours to come on and go off by itself. Great savings!
Dena
Clothes Protection
To save your clothes, always wear a full apron (barbecue style) when
working in the kitchen. I have saved many of my clothes from serious
stains by doing this.
Terry in Alberta
Do you have a good idea for saving time and money? Send it by email to [email protected]. Your idea could help thousands of readers!