This Week’s Readers’ Tips

by Dollar Stretcher Reader Contributors

Each week we publish a new batch of money-saving tips from our frugal readers that can help you stretch your dollars and live better for less.

Often-Forgotten Home Maintainance Tasks

Don’t forget those items that, if not maintained, will have a shorter life and be more costly. Have you checked your washer hoses for bulges, cleaned your dryer vent and drained your hot water heater to prevent sediment build-up? How about having a professional clean and check your air conditioner? Also, when was the last time you had your furnace cleaned and checked?

You don’t have to do them all at once. Instead, spread them out over the whole year. The time you take to complete these essential tasks will result in big savings down the road.
TF

The How-Long-Does-It-Last Book

While many folks have price books and inventory lists to keep track of items they buy and keep on hand, I have decided to start a how long does it last book! I have been a stockpiler for years, but I now realize I need to figure out how long it takes to use something up. So I took a notebook I got free from an event and divided it up into three sections—Food Stuffs, Personal Care and Cleaning Products. I will keep track of items I use for the next six months to see how long it takes to use something up. This way, I won’t keep buying something I have plenty of on the shelf and can plan when I need to buy more!
Mary

Cleaning Garage Floor and Driveway Stains

When I was a kid, my father pulled the engine on his Volkswagen Bug in my Grandmother’s garage. He made a huge oil/whatever stain on the floor, which Nanny tried to clean with all sorts of compounds. She finally used Pepsi and a scrub brush. That’s right, the soda. It got the stuff off when nothing else would. She swore by it after that. And it’s non-toxic, inexpensive and readily available.
Linda B.

A Simple Hand Softener

I have used this recipe since I moved out of my parent’s house and started washing dishes several times a day. Combine two parts oil with one part salt and one part sugar (I use tablespoon measures for single use). Spread on hands and leave for 5 minutes, then rinse in lukewarm (NOT hot) water. It really works!
Ita

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No More Pricey Deodorant

I have not bought deodorant in over 30 years and do not have body odor! My substitute for deodorant is simple baking soda, which I dust under my arms after my shower. A small box of baking soda should last for many months. I keep mine in a pretty wide-mouthed jar on my bathroom windowsill.

While this tip won’t save you huge amounts of money, I also like using baking soda because the product requires minimal packaging (just a simple cardboard box), so no hard plastics or metals are going into landfills. Also, baking soda has no unpronounceable (and questionable) chemicals that could end up in your body.
Nancy

A Little Time, A Little Luxury

We are not eating out too much due to my husband’s unemployment. Sometimes, however, we just need a break. On weekends, we dig out the slow cooker and the bread maker. I may make a beef stew with red wine and some French bread. I start it in the morning, and by the time dinner comes around, my meal is ready. It almost feels like eating out since we did not spend the afternoon cooking. It is an easy way to feel a little luxury!
Camille

One-Cup-of-Coffee Savings

I enjoy good quality coffee. Being a frugal shopper, I have always shopped for the best prices and studied the weekly circulars for sales. One day, I realized that I was always forcing myself to finish an extra cup, not wanting to waste it, although some days I would save it to be reheated later. It dawned on me that I only need one mug a day and not two. It seemed so obvious that I should brew just what I need and not more. Waste not, want not? A little goes a long way.

I now apply this to everything. Quality, not quantity.
Gertrude

Cheap Spray-On Wrinkle Remover

I know many clothes don’t wrinkle with all of the synthetic materials that are now used, but I do occasionally have a need for wrinkle remover. Instead of paying for store-bought stuff, I just mix isopropyl (rubbing) alcohol 50/50 with water and spray a fine mist over wrinkled clothes. There is no smell left behind unless you add a scent. It works best with cottons, not synthetics. And it’s perfect for t-shirts! I have even used it on washable silk, though I would strongly recommend testing a hidden spot, of course!
Elizabeth

Do you have a money or time-saving tip you’d like to share? Just email your tip to andrea@thedollarstretcher.com.