Ultimate Listing of Thrifty Tips

Being frugal, as a lifestyle takes work and dedication.

For this reason we need to all be on the lookout for thrifty ways to save money.

While this site is filled with ways to save money, here is a great list to get your started with going the thrifty route, not just the spend less route.

Thrifty Health and Beauty Tips

We spend a fortune on our health and on beauty products these days.  You can really cut your cost on these items and services by knowing a few techniques.

Aspirin Scrub For Softer Skin

Instead of getting expensive facials, buy some inexpensive uncoated aspirin. Most aspirin has a little coating on it, but that’s okay. Simply wet one aspirin with some warm water while gently scratching off the coating with your fingernail.

Once it gets mushy, rub in between your two hands and apply it gently to your freshly washed face. Rub gently for about 15 seconds then rinse and pat dry. Your face will be the smoothest it has ever been!  Aspiring is made of salicylic acid, a common ingredient in facial scrubs and chap stick.

Use Oatmeal for Bug Bites

Kids and bugs don’t always mix well. Put cooked oatmeal right on the bite marks. If the marks are really bad then put clear plastic wrap on top of the oatmeal, try to keep it there for 5 to 10 minutes. Then just rinse off with water, no soap. Works on just a rash too. And if the kid or baby eats some, it won’t hurt.

Multipurpose Bath Products

Did you know that you can multipurpose many bath and body products? For instance, you can purchase scented bubble bath at the dollar store and use that for hand soap. It’s not only cheaper than hand soap but, also comes in many more scent choices.

Landers makes huge bottles that come in fruity scents, and Dollar Tree is now selling aromatherapy scented shower gels which can also be used.

Bargain Hairstyling at Adult Education Classes

Honestly, I am pretty scared of this one because my blonde hair with double crown is really difficult for people to cut.  However, if you have easy hair or want to get your hair colored, you can really save money by going to people that are in the process of getting their cosmetology license.

The students are all supervised to prevent disaster and the prices are dirt cheap (mostly to cover cost of supplies).

Affordable Dental Work

Is there a university medical center near you?  Dental students are nearing their degree in dentistry and are very carefully supervised by a teaching dentist with advanced degrees.  Just like cosmetology schools, most of your cost is going to be supplies.

Use Cheap Coffee For Hand Scrubber

Keep a crock of cheap coffee by the sink and use it to dip some out to scrub your hands after cutting onions and garlic. It really works to eliminate the odors!

Thrifty Tips for Gardening

I hate working in my yard and I hate spending the amount of money it takes to maintain a yard.  Use this section of the list to cut your costs on gardening and yard maintenance.

Egg Carton Seed Starter

A frugal way to start those seeds is to save your paper (not styrofoam) egg cartons! Just add potting soil to each cup, plant the seed, and water. When ready to plant, tear each cup apart, and plant in the garden!

Easy Grow Potatoes In Boxes

Want to grow potatoes? Lacking the gumption to dig them up? Here’s the answer: Boxes. Pick a spot in your yard where you’d like to improve the soil a bit and set out your boxes (at least the size of a 5 gallon bucket).

Fill the boxes with dirt and plant your potatoes, remember to water and weed. When it comes time, either break, tear, or dump the dirt from the boxes and pick up your potatoes.

Use Flour To Keep Pests Off Roses

Don’t like all those chemical dusting to put on flowers to keep the bugs away? Use plain flour instead. Just dust it on roses and etc., and it works well to rid plants of bugs. Flour makes it almost impossible for the insects to breath. Happy Gardening!

Ask Your Cafe For Used Coffee Grounds

Many cafes will give out quantities of used coffee grounds for your garden for free! Our local Borders does this and it is wonderful for the garden, esp. acid loving plants like azalea, lilac, hydrangea, etc. 🙂 All you have to do is ask!

Using Newspaper Under Mulch

Mulching is a pain, so if you’re going to put all that work into making your beds look nice, why not make it LAST longer? Putting several layers of newspaper down BEFORE laying a layer of mulch helps to keep the weeds out for at least one whole season! The newspaper is porous, so water and nutrients can still pass through and reach the plants, but it blocks the light so that weeds can’t germinate. As an added bonus, earthworms LOVE to eat newspaper, and will slowly “compost” it to enrich your soil.

Use Soda In Your Flower Arrangements

To make fresh cut flowers last longer, use 1/2 water and 1/2 soda, such as Sprite or any clear color soda. Your flowers will last for weeks and weeks and they will remain beautiful.

Thrifty Tips for Gifts

The best way to shop for gifts is to purchase when you find a deal, not just before you need them.  Here are a couple tips for specific situations.

A Mother’s Day Memory Box

This is a great gift for the new mom or grandma or to start a new tradition.A Mother’s Day Box is a wooden box that will store all the Mother’s Day cards, pictures, dried flowers, etc., every year from the child (ren). Include a small journal for the mom/grandmother to put her special thoughts into.

Take a wooden box 12x8x8 in size, with a hinged top, On the lid write “MOTHER’S DAY MEMORIES” (or “GRANDMA’S MEMORIES”) then the child’s name. If possible, save room on lid for the child’s hand prints or you can put them on the front side of box. Have the child decorate the box anyway he/she would like. On the inside, place a small journal or diary so mom can write what they did that day, thoughts, etc. Every year mom can add the cards, pics, etc she received. Everything is kept in one place and it is nice enough to keep out on the coffee table.

Buy Vacation Gifts At Regular Stores

When traveling, on vacation etc, Don’t buy from the gift shop. Check out department stores, dollar stores, Walgreens etc. One can find a large variety of small gift items with the name of the location at very good prices. Just takes a little looking.

Household Thrifty Tips

This is, by far, the largest section of the list.  There are simply tons of ways to save money around your house and with everyday habits.

Preventing Rust Rings

To stop rust rings from metal containers in bath or kitchen like hair spray, cleansers, etc., coat the bottom with old nail polish.

Clean Your Blow Dryer When It Stops Working

When your blow dryer suddenly stops working, clean the lint out of the vents on all sides with an old dry toothbrush. Lint that doesn’t come out can be picked out with tweezers. Vacuum the vents with the hose part of your vacuum cleaner.

Your blow dryer should start right back up and will last for several more months. Care and cleaning of the vents will make your blow dryer last a lot longer and you won’t have to replace it as often saving you money and a trip to the store!

Clean Your Area Rugs at The Car Wash

Take your area rugs to the car wash to get them super clean! Put them in the back of a truck and let the scrubbing do the rest. It’s amazing to see the dirt run out off the rug! Then roll them up and load them onto the back of a truck. At home lay the rugs out to dry on the grass or on a sturdy fence.

Lemonade Koolade For Cleaning Dishwasher

Use one packet of Lemonade Kool Aide (and it can be this flavor only) Place in dishwasher soap cup and run dishwasher. Leaves your dishwasher sparkling clean and fresh.

Use Shaving Cream for a Shiny Stainless Sink

Spray some men’s shaving foam into your stainless steel sink and spread it around with your hand. Let it set for about 5 minutes and then wipe it up with newspaper. Your sink will be shiny as new.

Homemade Stain Spray

Make your own stain-fighting spray for the laundry! Put 1/2 a spray bottle full of Tide laundry detergent (Tide is awesome at fighting stains). Then, put a little bit of Dawn dishwashing liquid and fill the rest with water. Shake it up, and there you have it – your very own stain-fighting spray!

Use Plastic Grocery Bags for Packing Material

Another good use for all those grocery plastic bags is to use them as packing material! When you send a gift, or when you make a move to a new home, these bags are great for wrapping glassware and other breakables!

Dilute Fabric Softener For Twice As Much

Save one empty fabric softener container and buy a new one the same size. Pour 1/2 the contents into the empty bottle and fill both bottles to the top with water. Use a 1/2 capful in each load and it lasts me for more than a month.

Note: Most fabric softeners these days are “ultra brands” or very thick and loaded with perfumes and work just the same when diluted.

How to Save a Scratched CD/DVD

Spray the entire surface down with Pledge. Wait about 10 – 15 seconds. Wipe of Pledge until the product is completely dry. Something in Pledge smooths over the imperfections making the DVD/CD playable again.

Cleaning and Polishing Leather with Banana Peels

Stop buying leather/shoe polish. To clean, buff or moisturize leather/pleather/vinyl or any shiny outerwear use a banana peel. Simply rub the inside of a banana peel over the item to be cleaned and buff with a soft cloth.

Add Baking Soda to Dish Water

Place a tablespoon of baking soda in your dish water when washing dishes by hand.It helps take off hard water stains and makes your soap last longer.

Freeze Leftover Coke for Ice

Instead of throwing away the last bit of flat Coke, pour it into ice cube trays and freeze it.  Next time you drink your favorite sugary beverage, you can use the coke cubes instead of ice.  No more wasted coke and no more watered down drink.

Use Fabric Softener Solution As Febreeze

If you’re looking for a really cheap, but effective alternative to Febreeze, try this: Fill a spray bottle with 1/4 parts fabric softener to 3/4 parts water. Works just the same.

Use Vinegar On Windshield Wipers

To extend the life of your car’s windshield wipers, wipe the blade with a rag that was soaked in white vinegar. This softens and refreshes the wiper blade. A cheap and effective treatment.

Maintain Your Boots In Brand New Condition

Cut off the legs from panty hose.  Use plastic bags you get at the grocery store and stuff them to the size of your boot/shoe. You can also use newspaper. This will help your boots by standing up straight in your closet and looking new. Goodbye to those wrinkled boots.

Shower Rings Can Be Used as a Gate Closure

It Pays to Keep Things – If you save your old metal shower curtain rings, you can use one as a lock for your yard gate. It keeps the gate closed and the kids and pets tucked safely inside.

Use Dryer Sheets Three Different Ways Each Time

To get the most out of your dryer sheets, use them in three ways before tossing them.  The first use is to put them in a closet and dresser drawers to give clothes a nice clean scent.  After
about a week or two use them in the dryer with a load of laundry.  After getting the sheet from the dryer, use it to dust with because it seems to catch dust better than regular dusting cloths.

Vinegar and water for cleaning mirrors and windows

Use newspapers and a solution of half vinegar half water.  It will get your windows amazingly clean.

Kill Roaches with Baking Soda

There are a TON of uses for baking soda.  One popular use is as a roach killer. Use a mixture of 1/2 baking soda, 1/2 salt, set out in a bowl as bait.  Clean up dead roaches.

Fix Scratches on Furniture

Make a liquid of instant coffee and warm water to cover the scratches on dark furniture. The darker the furniture, use more instant coffee. Rub on, let set a few minutes, dry, polish.

Carpet/Rug Stain Remover

Shaving cream is great to take stains out of rugs. Spray and scrub with a brush.

Melt Candles on a Coffee Cup Warmer

Extend the life of scented candles:  Instead of burning them (which uses oxygen, may generate soot, and could be a fire hazard), melt them in a heatproof jar atop an electric coffee cup warmer. The pleasant scent will waft through the air, and the candle will last almost forever.

Homemade Swiffer Wet Pads And Solution

Using a wet Swiffer mop can get expensive with the wet replacement towels that cost about $4.00 for a dozen. It adds up really fast! To combat that, use some old thin bath towels cut to size.

Dampen them with a cleaning solution of about 2 Tbsp. Murphy’s oil soap to 2 quarts water, place them on the mop as you would the Swiffer cloths, and clean laminate and tile floors. Cloths can be washed and reused over and over.

Make Liquid Non-Dairy Creamer from Powdered

Make liquid non-dairy coffee creamer from powdered creamer.  Buy the 16 oz. size store brand of powdered creamer, add one cup of hot water to one cup of dry creamer and shake. Then add one cup of cold water and shake it up again.

Store it in a plastic bottle in the fridge. It makes 24 oz of creamer each time, and you can get about 3 bottles per 16 oz. canister. This can be done with the flavored varieties of powdered creamer as well.

Crayons Fix Nicks in Colored Leather Shoes and Boots

Find a color crayon that matches your leather, heat the area with a blow dryer, and apply the crayon (the heat melts the wax into the leather. Finish by buffing with a soft cloth or soft paper towel.

Vinegar for Cleaning Paint Brushes

Vinegar wins again. It can work as a solvent on many types of paints and sealants.

Temporary Wall Decor

If you live in a rental place that doesn’t allow painting or ifyou just don’t want to paint, try materializing a wall. Pour some liquid clothing starch in a bucket and soak a sheet or material.

Squeeze it a little and smooth onto your wall. It will dry just like wallpaper. If you get tired of it, just use your fingernail to pick a corner and peel the fabric right off. Wash it and it will be soft again and not ruined. The wall will be just as it was before.

This last tip is a great one for college dorm rooms.  It allows a student to customize a room that looks exactly like all the other rooms on their hall.

99.9% Silver to Keep Milk and Water Fresh

The pioneers who traveled west would put silver coins in their water barrels to keep the water from spoiling. Back before there was refrigeration, people would put a silver coin in their milk jugs to keep the milk fresh longer.

These days we have no REAL silver coins in circulation. But you can buy “Silver Rounds” from any coin store. A “silver round” is one measured ounce of 99.9% silver. It’s cast to look something like a silver dollar. These days they cost under $20, but can be used repeatedly.

Real silver is a natural germ fighter. In tests, silver has kept milk fresh for 2 – 10 extra days. A Silver Round can also be put into water dispensers to keep not only the water fresh but also the spout clean.

Keep milk and water fresh the natural way, by putting a 99.9 % silver round in your storage containers.

Dull Scissors

Need to sharpen your scissors? Take a 12 inch-14 inch strip of Heavy-duty Aluminum foil and fold so that it has 8 layers. Now, just cut as many thin strips of foil as you can manage (25 is preferred).  Your scissors are now sharp! If using standard weight aluminum foil, just fold to 16 layers and proceed.

Removing Smells from Jars

This is an old 1940’s trick. To remove strong smells from jars, saucepans, etc., put in one or to teabags (no milk or sugar please!) then add an inch of hot water (to activate the bag and make the water deep brown) – not too hot if item is glass or it may crack.

In that case you could add half inch of cold water first. Gently stir and then top up with cold water. Leave for a couple of hours – or overnight if the pan does not have a pale colour inside that might stain. Rinse well and the smell will be gone. Works for pickle smells, garlic etc.

Spray Wrinkle Releaser Recipe

Use this mixture to release wrinkles from most clothing:

• 1/3 cup white vinegar
• 1/3 cup water
• 1/3 cup liquid clothes softener (or just use a 1:3 ratio for your size container)

Mix well and pour into a spray bottle and when removing the wrinkled clothing from your dryer, hang the item and spray generously on all sides; not necessary to soak ’em though.  Shake the item well and in a few seconds the wrinkles disappear!  Much better than the name brand stuff and LOTS cheaper.

Use White Out for Tiny Painting Jobs

Need to do a small touch up job on something white but don’t have the white paint or don’t want to open that big can?  For a small, very small touch up job needing white, use White Out.  It works great.

Cleaning with Odor-free Oven Cleaner

Odor-free Oven Cleaner is especially great for cleaning dirty can openers and tops of kitchen waste cans. Spray the cutting blade of the can opener, let set overnight, and in the morning, rinse with hot water and a light scrubbing with an old toothbrush. Spray the top of the waste container and let set for an hour or two. The grime will ‘brown’ then rinse clean in the bath tub.

Mending Holes in Screens

To fix holes and tears in a screen door or window screen, mend it just like you would mend a piece of clothing. Stitch the hole shut using fine nylon thread or wire that matches the color of the screen.  If it is a large hole, you can cut a small patch to fit, stitching around where the screen is missing or replace the entire screen.

Vinegar to Remove Smelly Cooking Odors

After cooking fish, broccoli or anything with an odor, simply set a bowl of vinegar in the room overnight and the odor will be gone.

Acrylic Remover for Dried Paint on Leather Sofa

To remove old dried up paint from a leather sofa, try Acrylic Remover and Brush Cleaner.  Dab it on the old stains, and voila! The stains are gone and leather in perfect condition.

Use Bread To Clean Up Broken Glass

An easy way to pick up small pieces of broken glass without hurting yourself is to just scrunch up several pieces of any type of bread, then use this ball of bread to pick up the pieces ofglass, by pressing the bread into the glass.

Fun Stuff and Miscellaneous Thrifty Tips

Write “Magic” Messages On Eggs

Mix a solution of white vinegar and alum (8:1 ratio). Alum can be found in the spice section.  Using a small craft paintbrush, write your message(s) on the shells of eggs. Boil eggs to hard. The writing will appear on the whites of the eggs when they are shelled.

Donate Extra Cards To Schools

Have leftover holiday cards (Valentines, Christmas, birthday, etc.)?  Don’t throw them away, ask your local school if they want them.  They can use them in the lower grades to make great “cards” for mom and dad for future holidays and you’ll recycle too!

Avoid Buying Gas On Weekends Or Holidays

When buying gas, always make sure you purchase it a couple of days before the weekend, or before a major holiday.  Historically the cheapest prices on gasoline are on Wednesdays.  Also make sure you are using the Fuel Rewards Network whenever you can to reduce you purchase price.

Tips for Long Lasting Carpet

Do not run around the house barefooted or in our stocking feet, there is salt in your body and it comes out through the feet and will stain your carpet quicker.  This is a lost cause in my house with three little ones, but if you can regulate it, you can make your carpet last longer.

Also when you see a spot, clean it right away.  Letting it set in will shorten the life of the fibers and it makes it more difficult to clean.

Walmart Will “Price Match” On Just About Anything

If you live closer to Wal-Mart that other specialty stores then they will price match sales from any competitor.  This includes patterns used for sewing, groceries, and anything else that is a name brand product.

What To Look For At Garage Sales

Always look for items that are durable, can be resold easily, or can repurposed. This includes things like:

• Tools
• Vases
• Mismatched China
• Anything copper or silver

There are much more but these items are really easy to turn around and use in non-traditional ways, or resell at a higher price.

Make Yourself Climb Stairs For Exercise

Great way to get fit? Try putting something in the basement, or up stairs that you use daily. Sounds silly, but if you can get a cumulative of 30 minutes of stair climbing each week then you can really burn some calories.

Save On A YMCA Membership By Volunteering

We have friends that teach classes at our local YMCA and in exchange get a big discount on their membership.  Some YMCAs are so hard up for volunteers that they will offer free memberships to those that donate their time.

Keep Free Address Labels In Your Wallet

When charities send them, cut them into strips, cut off the artwork, and put some in your wallet.

They’re great for use on small forms such as raffle or door prize tickets, rebate forms, or anywhere else that a tiny name and address is required. They’ll also identify things you’re lending, such as dishes and utensils for a pot luck dinner, or craft equipment.