The cheapest thing you have ever done.... come on now, admit it.

[Lsbcal]

I'm guilty of reusing the table napkins. If it's stained a little, I can always fold it over once but once is my limit, well generally. Then when it's gross it goes into our supply area for use in art painting cleanup or to take care of kitchen spills. Saves trees though. Oh, and I buy em at Costco.

 

[d]

Wow! I understand that everyone did this "in the old days." That "collar-turning" was a service offered by the tailor.

good on you!

collars and cuffs! most laundries would do it as well as tailors. back then it was very common, as was a trip to the cobbler ...

 

[CuppaJoe]

...there was a park-and-ride lot about half way between me and the airport that advertises a free shuttle bus. Voila, my plan was born....

2Cor521

This is my kind of cheap. I go to hobby shows at airport hotels and find the cheapest way to get to the airport, short of asking for a ride. Then take the hotel's airport shuttle. I also tip $1 and notice that many people do not; I wonder if tipping indicates that I am not registered at the hotel; but anyway the driver doesn't care.

Cuppa

 

[toofrugalformycat]

Reuse coffee filters. Depending on the type, if you dump the grounds in the garbage and rinse the filter, it's good for another day or two.
I didn't bother until I restarted using a Chemex coffeemaker and its expensive filters. Life is too short for bad coffee.

 

[ChrisC]

Some of you appear to be prime candidates for using both sides of the toilet paper.

 

[Khan]

Some of you appear to be prime candidates for using both sides of the toilet paper.

You don't?

 

[Lsbcal]

Reuse coffee filters. Depending on the type, if you dump the grounds in the garbage and rinse the filter, it's good for another day or two.
I didn't bother until I restarted using a Chemex coffeemaker and its expensive filters. Life is too short for bad coffee.

Have you tried the gold plated filters? You can just clean them and reuse. Has worked well for me for some years.

 

[CuppaJoe]

Reuse coffee filters. Depending on the type, if you dump the grounds in the garbage and rinse the filter, it's good for another day or two.
I didn't bother until I restarted using a Chemex coffeemaker and its expensive filters. Life is too short for bad coffee.

Here's a little know fact of coffee shop life. I've never done this but they save the (huge) filters and grounds and give them away. I've heard that some people claim they want them for their plants, is that true?

 

[Khan]

Here's a little know fact of coffee shop life. I've never done this but they save the (huge) filters and grounds and give them away. I've heard that some people claim they want them for their plants, is that true?

That's one thing I actually miss from work: I would bring home the office coffee grounds to layer into the compost. Or they can be applied directly to the garden (worms love them).

 

[StJohnsWood]

I spent 1993-1997 on the road for business. I collected hotel soaps each week. I ran out in 2006. Nine years of soap.

The thing was that I would open one Monday night that would last until Thursday when I left. They would give me two more each day It just became a game with me.

 

[roger r]

Back in one of our drought periods, my washer was close to the back door. I run the washer outlet hose into a 5 gallon bucket and dumped the wash and rinse waters out on the lawn. Those phosphates make great fertilizer, but watch out for the bleach!

 

[Khan]

Back in one of our drought periods, my washer was close to the back door. I run the washer outlet hose into a 5 gallon bucket and dumped the wash and rinse waters out on the lawn. Those phosphates make great fertilizer, but watch out for the bleach!

My parents did this for more than 30 years in Alabama and the lawn and garden looked just fine.

My washer is in the basement, so I just spend the summer hauling buckets of rinse water to the gardens.

 

[tuixiu]

In Vegas do recon of where cocktail waitress is heading, scramble around corner to that row of slots, play one quarter... order and enjoy free bottle of beer minus small tip. Repeat.

 

[W2R]

My parents did this for more than 30 years in Alabama and the lawn and garden looked just fine.

My washer is in the basement, so I just spend the summer hauling buckets of rinse water to the gardens.

It makes my knees hurt just to read about it! Hauling buckets of water up from a basement is not something I would do, myself, when I could just use a hose instead. I never use more than the minimum water bill allows, since there is only one of me (and around here plants grow like crazy so I never fertilize any of them).

I am just in awe of the things other forum members do to save money. I don't really do these things to that extent. I just don't shop as much or buy as many things as most people that I know, and I take care of the things that I have so that they don't need to be replaced very frequently.

In Vegas do recon of where cocktail waitress is heading, scramble around corner to that row of slots, play one quarter... order and enjoy free bottle of beer minus small tip. Repeat.

I don't like beer, and soft drinks don't really float my boat either except occasionally with meals. When I go to the local casinos (just a couple of times a year), I put a $20 in the slot machine. Almost ALWAYS it will grow to maybe $23 or so in the first 10 pulls or so (giving me an earnings of maybe $3). That's when I quit and leave - - within the first five minutes. I forego the "entertainment value" of playing longer, in order to actually make a little dough. So far, knowing when to quit has done well for me. The last time, I made about $100 this way though usually it's just $2-$3 or so.

 

[aworkingrachel]

Cheapest thing I've done??

Dumpster dive for a coupon (buy one burger get one free).

I think that wins!


Men may want to avert their eyes on mine:

During that time of month, I use reusable natural sponges.
These are sold for 15 to 20 dollars on feminist and green websites, but I bought mine at Walgreen's for a dollar.

 

[youbet]

You're right, I should have averted my eyes!

 

[aworkingrachel]

I warned you!

 

[freebird5825]

In Vegas do recon of where cocktail waitress is heading, scramble around corner to that row of slots, play one quarter... order and enjoy free bottle of beer minus small tip. Repeat.

LMAO. i love it! i've been to vegas a few times in my life and always thought tipping $1 for a free drink was the way to go to get extra attention from the servers. it does work cuz nobody else tips. they remember where you are!

i may get to tailgate on a business trip to vegas in august with DH-to-be. you KNOW i'm gonna try this. thanks for the tip.

 

[MooreBonds]

LMAO. i love it! i've been to vegas a few times in my life and always thought tipping $1 for a free drink was the way to go to get extra attention from the servers. it does work cuz nobody else tips. they remember where you are!

i may get to tailgate on a business trip to vegas in august with DH-to-be. you KNOW i'm gonna try this. thanks for the tip.

Make sure you try a few different casinos. In my 1st time in Vegas in June 06, I noticed a distinct difference in the quality of cocktails for the Luxor vs the Bellagio (obviously, the more upscale the hotel, the more upscale the cocktails). So you might want head to the closest 'luxury' casino to try a few freebies there.

 

[freebird5825]

Make sure you try a few different casinos. In my 1st time in Vegas in June 06, I noticed a distinct difference in the quality of cocktails for the Luxor vs the Bellagio (obviously, the more upscale the hotel, the more upscale the cocktails). So you might want head to the closest 'luxury' casino to try a few freebies there.

Luxor being the more or less upscale? i went to both last time i was there. i think Bellagio was more upscale? the engineer geek in me just loved the fountains/laser show. precision timing and fabulous.

 

[MooreBonds]

Luxor being the more or less upscale? i went to both last time i was there. i think Bellagio was more upscale? the engineer geek in me just loved the fountains/laser show. precision timing and fabulous.

I considered the Bellagio to be more upscale (just purely from the feel I get from looking at the place...not to mention that virtually every website I look at indicates substantially higher prices for rooms there, as well). That, and the strawberry daquiri seemed to be the real thing....the version at the Luxor - while respectable for being free - wasn't anything near the version from the Bellagio.

But, don't take my word for it. In the pursuit of fairness, one would surely need a wide sampling pool from a variety of drinks to figure out which casino is truly better. (where's the drunk emoticon when you need it?

 

[tuixiu]

I'm just a beer guy so most of the larger casinos are the same... one bottle of beer. It's when you head to the smaller casinos that the beer is suddenly much less options and arrives watered down in a dixie cup instead of a bottle. Bleh.

When playing blackjack or something the drinks come pretty fast so no need for above cheapo technique, but when you're just making your way up the strip people watching etc. it's great to not have to wait until the lady comes to your row of slots to get a drink. They all have a pattern they run through so zip ahead of their current route and you're good for a freebie within 5 minutes every time.

Also - if you did blackjack take the time to memorize basic strategy, it'll make their odds advantage so low you can usually sit at a table for a very long enjoying yourself on your budget. Go to a site like this:
BlackjackInfo.com: Blackjack Rules, Basic Strategy, Card Counting, and Tournament Advice
You can learn what to play and they've got a trainer to practice a little.

Then you can be one of those jerks who sneers at people who do the wrong thing.

 

[tuixiu]

and back on topic:

I've left work to come home and meet someone to sell a used grill for $20 that I put up on craigslist. There is no way my time from work was worth that $20, especially when you consider the time posting that ad and playing email tag.

and from above:

That sponge thing is freakin bizarre, I've never heard of that. Wow.

 

[Martha]

Men may want to avert their eyes on mine:

During that time of month, I use reusable natural sponges.
These are sold for 15 to 20 dollars on feminist and green websites, but I bought mine at Walgreen's for a dollar.

I am glad I am all done with that business!

About 20-25 years ago our local Woolworths went out of business and had a huge sale. I worked only a couple of buildings down so I would periodically go in to see what the markdowns were. They finally marked down the feminine hygiene products by about 75%. I bought an entire cart full of tampons, all that remained in the store. The low price outweighed the feeling of embarrassment.

 

[Anne]

I set my alarm for 6:00 this morning to do laundry. (I usually sleep in on the weekend.)

My condo building has coin laundry in the basement. 50 cents for a wash or dry. But one of the dryers runs even if you don't put coins in. This is the worst-kept secret in the building, so of course people will use that dryer first if it's available. I woke up early to make sure I had first dibs.