Frugality Hall Of Fame

[audreyh1]

Well, I do remember the co-worker who would gleefully pull over and then run out into the street to pick up a square of St. Augustine grass some landscaping truck and dropped in transit.

Went to his house once. He proudly displayed his patchwork lawn of retrieved grass squares.

That's about the only thing I remember about him......

Audrey

 

[Sarah in SC]

I think you should use this as your signature.

Confusing, yet funny. Sure thing!

Remembered another one: friend of my parents would only fill up the gas tank halfway, as the weight of the gas would reduce his mileage. Irritated my dad to no end when they went on long trips together.

 

[toofrugalformycat]

Spouse and I have cut each other's hair for almost 30 years. We don't get invited to many social events, though. I'd like to think it's the weird hair and not something even more embarrassing.

 

[Getting short]

"Hey, we learned habits like that (and other disgusting practices) going through a Northern California drought in the 1980s. If you went over your minimal water allowance the local utility hammered you with extravagant-use rates.

Once you've learned a frugal habit, if it doesn't involve a lot of time & effort to maintain, then it's hard to let go of it."

Speaking of the Nor Cal drought and disgusting practices, the saying that I remember, and still live by, is:

If it's yellow, it's mellow.
If it's brown, flush it down.

 

[Twinkle Toes]

I'd say probably not on that. One, if they have any teenaged kids, there's a non-zero chance the RIAA could end up pestering you about any file-sharing they might do. Two, your agreement with your ISP may not allow connection sharing or reselling. Three, if they were "miffed" that you prevented them from stealing from you, they can F off

... and when they hack into your bank and brokerage accounts how will you feel?

Anyone "borrow" wifi?

I have some new neighbors and they rang my bell recently and asked if I would mind sharing the key to my wifi. They can see the signal but were mildly miffed that it was encrypted.



They paid cash for a 300K house and then did another 100K of upgrades - I guess this is how they saved up for those purchases?

DH and I travel in a RV with sat. We like to camp in remote areas and are frequently asked by fellow campers for access to our wifi. We don't share. I'd like a really good response (funny, but polite) to give them. I like the "laugh and ask if they want an extension cord, too" but if they are bold enough to ask for the wifi, they would probably take the extension cord, too

 

[Sarah in SC]

Depending on what they look like, tell them you are gov't agents and can't compromise national security for them to get a free signal!

 

[Khan]

"Hey, we learned habits like that (and other disgusting practices) going through a Northern California drought in the 1980s. If you went over your minimal water allowance the local utility hammered you with extravagant-use rates.

Once you've learned a frugal habit, if it doesn't involve a lot of time & effort to maintain, then it's hard to let go of it."

Speaking of the Nor Cal drought and disgusting practices, the saying that I remember, and still live by, is:

If it's yellow, it's mellow.
If it's brown, flush it down.

Absolutely.

And now that I'm not working, I don't shower every day.

Also save laundry rinse water for plants.

I grew up in houses with wells and septic tanks, and I retain the habits acquired.

 

[TromboneAl]

Confusing, yet funny. Sure thing!

I'm obviously a bad influence. It works well together with Khan's signature.

 

[RunningBum]

Spouse and I have cut each other's hair for almost 30 years. We don't get invited to many social events, though. I'd like to think it's the weird hair and not something even more embarrassing.

Does anyone cut their own hair? I've been thinking about buying a trimmer and doing that. Nowadays I just have them put a #4 attachment on and they buzz it through my hair, or what I have left. Hardly seems worth the cost and time, especially if I have to wait. My hair is very fine and I don't have much on top so it seems like it'd be pretty easy to do myself. The only part I don't like doing is the back of my neck but I already have to do that between trims anyway.

 

[MooreBonds]

Confusing, yet funny. Sure thing!

Remembered another one: friend of my parents would only fill up the gas tank halfway, as the weight of the gas would reduce his mileage. Irritated my dad to no end when they went on long trips together.

While I'm not motivated enough to do the calculus to actually check....I'm willing to bet that the extra gas taken to exit the highway and pull into the gas station, turn off/on the car, and accelerate back onto the highway could have easily more than offset the 'savings' by reducing the car's weight. Also, with a lower car weight, you have lower momentum.

 

[RunningBum]

Barber sheers with a #6 attachment. Just buzz the whole head myself and vacuum up the mess. Walmart jeans and tee's. [DW and DD's have accepted my disregard for fashion and compensate accordingly]

Sorry, I missed that, I searched for "hair" and only got the hit on the couple that did each others.

 

[TromboneAl]

DW cuts my hair, but she doesn't enjoy doing it. I'm keeping my eye open for a Robocut or Flowbee at garage sales.

 

[RunningBum]

Anyone "borrow" wifi?

I have some new neighbors and they rang my bell recently and asked if I would mind sharing the key to my wifi. They can see the signal but were mildly miffed that it was encrypted.

They paid cash for a 300K house and then did another 100K of upgrades - I guess this is how they saved up for those purchases?

Another issue with someone using your wi-fi is if they start downloading child porn or doing something else illegal. It'll get traced back to your internet connection. That's why I encrpyt mine.

Plus, I don't want my connection slowed down if they are downloading a lot of music, movies, or porn.

 

[limpid lizard]

For many years I ran a #2 attachment around my face and head about once a week. It eliminated shaving and trips to the barber shop.

 

[mja]

I'll echo the frugal haircut. I haven't paid for a haircut in over 15 years. #1 or #2 for the goatee, and no guard (but the lever is flipped to the longest setting) for the rest of the head. I do that about every other week; the "off" week I equalize the facial hair length (which also means I don't shave).

Which leads to less shampoo usage. I'd estimate my yearly expenditure for hair-care at about $5, which includes about $3 toward the purchase of a new trimmer every 7 years or so, and $2 for a bottle of shampoo.

 

[audreyh1]

DW cuts my hair, but she doesn't enjoy doing it. I'm keeping my eye open for a Robocut or Flowbee at garage sales.

I cut my husband's hair once. I did an OK job, but it was so stressful that I really didn't want to do it again! We were motivated not by frugality, but rather by the logistics of the RV/perpetual traveler lifestyle.

Plus, since my husband "invested" in a >$100 pair of haircutting shears it wasn't a very frugal step either. Only the best for him!!!!

Audrey

 

[W2R]

Does anyone cut their own hair? I've been thinking about buying a trimmer and doing that. Nowadays I just have them put a #4 attachment on and they buzz it through my hair, or what I have left. Hardly seems worth the cost and time, especially if I have to wait. My hair is very fine and I don't have much on top so it seems like it'd be pretty easy to do myself. The only part I don't like doing is the back of my neck but I already have to do that between trims anyway.

I cut my own hair for many years, with just scissors and also clips to hold the rest out of the way while I cut. It helps that my hair is wavy, so it doesn't have to be absolutely even since the waves will hide small irregularities.

I started going to Supercuts about four years ago, mostly to look better for work. After ER, I will probably cut my own hair again, or stop cutting it at all.

 

[Moemg]

I will clip coupons .I will go out of my way for a sale but no way am I not going every six weeks to the beauty salon .

 

[Janet H]

Does anyone cut their own hair? I've been thinking about buying a trimmer and doing that.

How about one of these? Flowbee

 

[Sue J]

Here's one for y'all.

In the morning, when I take my hot shower, I plug the drain. Throughout the day, the heat from the water helps heat my house. At night, I go unplug the drain and let the cold water drain out. This probably costs me 10 seconds a day and saves me maybe 10 cents a year.

The surprising thing is that my 7 year old son suggested the idea independently.

2Cor521

My thinking is that the time, effort and cleaning products involved in removing the soap scum ring and hair left by the used shower water sitting all day easily offsets your 10 cents a year.

But big praise for your 7 year old son for thinking of a way to conserve.

 

[shootnstar]

This summer while with some friends - wives and husbands, my buddy Bob says to me, ya know what we use for mosquito repellant ? - no i respond - He says, we tear dryer sheets in half and rub em on our skin.. at which point the beer I was drinking blasted out of my nose (sorry to be so graphic), but I knew the crowd on this site would appreciate this story..ah the uses of dryer sheets.

 

[Twinkle Toes]

Started cutting DH's hair shortly after we were married...I guess we were being frugal, he got laid off and money was tight. Could well afford haircuts later but he liked the way I cut his hair. So, here I am 40 years later, still cutting his hair. Bet we saved a lot of money over the years. Yep, it qualifies for frugal!

 

[Kate16]

I've been cutting hubby's hair for 7 or 8 years. We bought a little kit that came with an instruction video for about $40. I run the #2 over his head and then use the shears with no guard for the neck area. Saves about $10-12 bucks every 3 or 4 weeks.

 

[calmloki]

The gal has cut my hair for the last 27 years or so. I talked to a local barber and found out who he sent his scissors to to be sharpened, did the same, and it made a huge difference in the ease of cutting. She's an artistic type and does a fine job - and i enjoy it. I cut her hair, but it is simple: she dunks her head while bathing, i comb her hair straight back and cut a straight line an inch or so above the ends. Sometimes she makes minor modifications to adjust the fall afterwards. She also does her own "weaves" (oddly enough, that is what putting different coloured strips in the hair to mimic sunstreaking is called). Does a better job of it than any of the four or more places she has gone with my sister. I guess art is art.

 

[Gail]

I've been cutting hubby's hair for 7 or 8 years. We bought a little kit that came with an instruction video for about $40. I run the #2 over his head and then use the shears with no guard for the neck area. Saves about $10-12 bucks every 3 or 4 weeks.

My hubby got his head cut at # 2 about three months ago. Now he needs a cut every three weeks! We've decided to get a kit so that I can do it. Would you mind sharing the brand name of the kit you have?