2. Make own laundry soap, dishwashing detergent, floor cleaner, etc
3. Grow a few things
4. Compost - use soil in garden
5. Rain barrel - use water for garden
6. Get brown bags from Publix instead of plastic and use to put trash in
7. Build fence
8. Insulate, insulate!
9. Unplug at night electronics- they still suck up energy- put on a power strip
10. Switch ALL light bulbs to CFL
11. Free energy Audit from Teco
12. Weather proof windows - caulk and weatherstrip
13. Save a flush
14. Keep temperatures at 68 in winter and 78 in summer
15. Get property taxes assessed- make sure home listed right
16. Reuse all I can
17. Make own bread- need bread machine
18. Reverse ceiling fans in winter
19. Turn off lights in rooms you are not using
20. Use heavy insulated drapes to save on heating and air conditioning.
21. Switch to a prepaid cell phone if you normally use less than the max of your free minutes on a contract plan
22. Get off the retail grid. shop thrift, freecycle, craigslist, estate auctions, and yardsales for gently used items
23. Learn to do your own vehicle oil changes and routine maintenance
24. Service your car frequently to keep in in good shape...practice proactive car care, not reactionary care
25. Drive more slowly and evenly, it saves a lot of gas
26.Use coupons
27. Use community resources for fun and recreation
28. Use the library for books, music and movies
29. Drink water, not soda
30. Cook from scratch with basic ingredients - limit eating out
31. Take care of your health and teeth. Floss your teeth daily. Get regular check ups and dental cleanings. It will save on medical bills in the future
32. Get in shape, eat well...saves on medical bills and lost wages due to illness
33. Buy a car that will last 10+ years with very little maintenance
34. Cut your own hair-
35. Replace disposable with cloth: napkins, diapers, wipes, paper towels, etc
36. Energy star appliances
37. Clean and reuse ziploc bags
38. Use basic cleaning supplies, like a cotton string mop, a sponge, a scrub brush and a bucket. Use a slightly damp rag to dust, or reuse your dryer sheets as a dust cloth. Avoid cleaning supplies that require expensive replacements in exchange for convenience. Try microfiber cleaning cloths
39. Food storage: Use plastic storage containers with tops rather than plastic wrap or foil. Buy glass bakeware with matching plastic lids
40. Eat leftovers before you cook another meal. Make soups or stews out of small portions or unused(overage) food in the refrigerator that would otherwise be forgotten and thrown away. You can mix many different things together for soup...it will still taste good with a little seasoning
41. Don't buy prepared snack foods
42. Instead of memo pads- used junk mail
43. Shop discount stores for beauty products
44. Cut shower times down - kids bathe together
45. Carpool 1x per week
46. Yard Sale- Sell things we don't need - declutter
47. Run dishwasher at night - or when completely full
48. Reevaluate car insurance- get higher deductibles
49. Pay down debt
50. Rain barrel for lawn
51, Recycle - saves on save in your trash can
52. Foaming Hand Soap - put approximately 1-inch in the bottom of the old pump, fill the rest with water, gently mix, and voila
53. To clean 'almost' everything and eliminate odors-
-White wine vinegar & water (50/50 mixture) in a plastic spray bottle really cleans and eliminates odors on ALL surfaces
(floors, appliances, sinks/tubs, toilets, countertops,car interiors (hard surfaces), etc.
-If you need a "gritty" cleaner (to scrub a really dirty surface, buy 'BON AMI'. It's made from natural rock so it's environmentally friendly,
doesn't scratch and it's cheap - found at most grocery stores.
54. HomemadeFloor Cleaners
1 cup white vinegar
1 gallon warm water
Mix in your cleaning bucket and use this to clean vinyl type floors.
55. Commet Type Scrub Powders
You can use baking soda! Sprinkle on sinks, counters or anywhere you need to get rid of build up or stains. Dampen slightly and scrub with a soft cloth to prevent scratching.
56. Sign up for savings programs with your grocery store
57. Automate or pay your bills online to save on stamps, envelopes and checks
58. Take advantage of your money back credit and debit cards. This is only good if you know you can pay off your balance every month, otherwise you waste your savings on finance charges.
59. Learn a little sewing to make repairs to clothing
60. Have a yardsale, or rent a table at the flea market, or at the next church bazaar. This is a good way to re-coup some of the money you spent on your items.
61. When you landscape or garden use plants which do not need extra watering. Use extra mulch to keep plants moist and keep away weeds.
62. There is free mulch out there- just search google in your area. Some in Pinellas
63. Get free trees and shrubs by joining the National Arbor Foundation for $15.00 a year
64. Store your cleaners in reusable airtight containers. Do not reuse bottles from commerical cleaners. Instead purchase empty spray bottles or recycle milk jugs. Be sure to label each container with the ingredients and purpose.
65.Recycle mailers and reuse packing boxes. Buy inexpensive packing tape at Dollar General or Family Dollar
66. Sell your used books on Amazon or half.com
67. Make your own coffee in the morning
68. If you work outside the home, bring your own lunch from home
69. Periodically transfer your presciptions among pharmacies using those $20.00 gift certificates for transfers. They appear in the paper or in the store circulars every so often. Ebay often has multiple coupon auctions for prescription transfers
70. Instead of throwing your aluminum into your recycling bin for the city to pick up, collect it and take it into a recycling center for cash. They also take aluminum pots and pans, not just cans.
71. Check with your mortgage company and enroll in a biweekly mortgage payment program(check fees), or do it yourself(free, no fees). Paying half your monthly mortgage every two weeks will pay off your mortgage in less time, and save you interest. Article and mortgage savings calculator
72. Change air filters monthly
Cut down on food, eating out, budget things
http://www.frugalvillage.com/forums/forumdisplay.php?f=5
http://www.thefrugallife.com/
Stop buying paper towels and use washable towels. Turn old clothes into rags. Use the last bit of liquid soap, shampoo, conditioner, etc. by adding a bit of water and shaking. Ditto with food items like ketchup, mustard, BBQ sauce etc. Recycle junk mail and envelopes into note paper. Use both sides of paper to print on. Use newspaper in place of paper towels for dirty jobs, great for cleaning windows and chrome. Cook once, eat twice. Make extra biscuits for breakfast and have them for dinner too. Plan local trips. If you need to go to the store, make the trip count and do all your errands on the same day. Eliminate the need to run to the store for just a gallon of milk. You will nearly always buy something else you don't really need. Rinse and reuse everything – milk cartons, tin cans, plastic utensils from the fast food place, foam plates, Styrofoam cups, tin foil, bread bags and the list goes on and on. Use plastic bags from the store for garbage bags. This one item saves quite a bit of pocket change since garbage bags are getting more expensive. Turn off lights and line dry clothes whenever possible. Air dry the dishes in your dishwasher.
http://www.frugalvillage.com/
http://www.thefrugallife.com/
- Use baking soda as a scrub similar to Comet or Bon Ami. Works on many things from pots to the bathtub to counter tops to the sink.
- Pour baking soda down a slow running drain and follow with a good dose of vinegar. The foaming action helps clear the drain.
- Vinegar is great for windows and any kind of glass.
- Vinegar cleans lime deposits from shower heads and coffee pots.
- I use plain old Joy dish soap to mop my floors and follow with a mild vinegar rinse for really clean floors
PLAN MEALS
-Empty plastic liners from cereal boxes make good freezer bags or wax paper. Use for lunch bags also.
-Pour old baking soda from the refrigerator down your drain to freshen.
-Save money growing your own food. Get a jump on the gardening seasons by starting your plants indoors in potting soil placed in empty egg cartons.
-Use old dryer sheets to dust. Place them on the bottom of garbage cans and other areas of the house to eliminate odors.
-Use baby food jars to store small items. Screw the lid to the top of a shelf to save space.
-Make sure all your appliances are running smoothly by cleaning the filters regularly
-Drink more water.
-Cell phone redut
-baking soda and water- paste like- grout cleaner
-old containers for planters
http://www.gardeningblog.net/
http://www.costco.com/Browse/
https://secure.heritage.org/
http://www.doityourself.com/
http://www.compostguide.com/
http://www.frugalvillage.com/
http://www.treehugger.com/
To remove lime deposits from a showerhead, pour vinegar into a plastic bag and tie the bag to the showerhead, so it is submerged. Wait an hour, and you should be good to go.
http://beingfrugal.net/2008/
To unclog a drain, pour a cup of baking soda in the drain and follow with a cup of vinegar. Wait an hour and follow with boiling water. I even unclogged a garbage disposal with this method once. Or you could do what my friend's plumber husband says. Pour bleach down your drains every week. That will keep them unclogged, too.
http://imnotcheapimfrugal.
http://beingfrugal.net/2008/
Spray plastic-ware with nonstick cooking spray before pouring
in tomato-based sauces and you won't be stuck trying to clean off those stains!
http://www.budget101.com/
Raise your insurance deductibles.
http://www.doityourself.com/
http://www.acehardware.com/sm-
http://dsireusa.org/library/
http://dsireusa.org/library/
http://www.ehow.com/how_
http://www.hooverfence.com/
http://www.askthebuilder.com/
http://www.baysoundings.com/
