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Old 09-03-2020, 05:15 AM   #181
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When I was little, my mom saved bacon grease to make French fries. They were the best French fries you can imagine. She stopped making them, unfortunately, after Dad had a heart attack, and was found to have high cholesterol.

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I use the bacon grease to cook the sunny side up eggs.
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Old 09-03-2020, 06:32 AM   #182
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Avoid pre-processed food, cook from raw whenever possible.
Fast food, save unused packets.
Android phone with no cell plan, use WiFi for access. Use flip phone for phone.
Stopped using aluminum foil for cooking sheets or wrapping food.
Use glass cups and dishes, metal utensils, no disposables!
Use store free plastic bags for garbage. Throw out daily.
Boil water and Brita filter it a few times instead of bottled water.
Use regular soap, never buy shampoo. Stopped using bar soaps, wasteful and messy.
Library for movies. OTA for TV. Capture device for DVR.
Refurbs for computers.
Starbucks - never.
Use pool bleach instead of Clorox, same chemical but more concentrated, and its cheaper.
Stopped using paper, everything is scanned or digital.
Cut own hair.
Walk to store instead of drive. Good exercise and saves on gas. Don't drive unless you need to.
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Old 09-03-2020, 08:03 AM   #183
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Originally Posted by jim584672 View Post
Avoid pre-processed food, cook from raw whenever possible.
Fast food, save unused packets.
Android phone with no cell plan, use WiFi for access. Use flip phone for phone.
Stopped using aluminum foil for cooking sheets or wrapping food.
Use glass cups and dishes, metal utensils, no disposables!
Use store free plastic bags for garbage. Throw out daily.
Boil water and Brita filter it a few times instead of bottled water.
Use regular soap, never buy shampoo. Stopped using bar soaps, wasteful and messy.
Library for movies. OTA for TV. Capture device for DVR.
Refurbs for computers.
Starbucks - never.
Use pool bleach instead of Clorox, same chemical but more concentrated, and its cheaper.
Stopped using paper, everything is scanned or digital.
Cut own hair.
Walk to store instead of drive. Good exercise and saves on gas. Don't drive unless you need to.


I think we have a winner! [emoji322][emoji322]
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Old 09-03-2020, 08:05 AM   #184
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Ways we are frugal:

-Rarely eat out but when we do we eat well
-Conserve energy and water
-Leverage buying in bulk
-Family plans wherever cheapest
-Doing our own repairs
-Limiting alcohol
-Think 24 hours before a large purchase
-Budgeting before large purchases
-Comparison shopping
-Creating our own, Borrowing things or renting in lieu of buying
-Bundle up errands to save time and money
-Reduce our monthly subscription costs as much as possible

I'm sure there are a few others. We usually don't buy name brand, but it just depends on what is a better value.
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Old 09-03-2020, 08:30 AM   #185
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-Think 24 hours before a large purchase
This is a biggie for me. Especially cars and stuff like that. Have to sleep on it. And yet the dealers always try that "what can I do to get you in this car Today?" stuff and I look at them like they have 2 heads.
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Old 09-03-2020, 08:58 AM   #186
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This is a biggie for me. Especially cars and stuff like that. Have to sleep on it. And yet the dealers always try that "what can I do to get you in this car Today?" stuff and I look at them like they have 2 heads.
And then the options, clear coats, protective wraps, corrosion protection, upgraded tires and rims, extended warranties...

The last vehicle I bought I called them and said $500 deposit, be there Friday to pickup, we are coming from 6 hours away so have it ready. They did have it ready, but spent at least the next 5 hours mulling around the shop sending various "pitchmen" our way. At some point I just busted out my work laptop and started working...they asked what I was doing and I said I gotta work guys, someone around here does...let's move this truck chop chop.

EDIT to add we had already in writing confirmed the purchase price, so it should have literally been no haggle...but but..
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Old 09-03-2020, 09:11 AM   #187
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I think we have a winner! [emoji322][emoji322]
Not unless he stopped shaving too!
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Old 09-03-2020, 09:59 AM   #188
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Not unless he stopped shaving too!
I shave every day and it costs probably two cents. Just a $3 cake of shave soap every 6 months or so and a new badger brush every 5 years (the ones I like are about $60).
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Old 09-03-2020, 10:31 AM   #189
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I shave every day and it costs probably two cents. Just a $3 cake of shave soap every 6 months or so and a new badger brush every 5 years (the ones I like are about $60).

I shave the badger myself - save 60 bucks.
I draw the line at gathering bee pollen though, knocking those little balls off the hind legs without getting stung is tricky.
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Old 09-03-2020, 10:56 AM   #190
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OK, here is one I actually do - resole hiking and running shoes if the uppers are still good.
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Old 09-03-2020, 11:16 AM   #191
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I shave every day and it costs probably two cents. Just a $3 cake of shave soap every 6 months or so and a new badger brush every 5 years (the ones I like are about $60).
You shave with a straight blade?

I saw some people talking about old safety razors, but I will stick with the Target double blade knock offs.
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Old 09-03-2020, 11:20 AM   #192
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You shave with a straight blade?

I saw some people talking about old safety razors, but I will stick with the Target double blade knock offs.
Yes, I use an old fashioned straight razor. (I actually have 7 of them and rotate). I sharpen them myself when needed.

ETA: Here's a photo of my razors. Most came from ebay. Two are from antique shops in Maine.
Attached Images
File Type: jpg razors.jpg (706.2 KB, 53 views)
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Old 09-03-2020, 12:17 PM   #193
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When my dad passed, we found some old, dull straight blade razors. I doubt he used them since the 40s. He was an electric guy.

I'm surprised nobody here is re-purposing sardine lids to be used as razor blades.
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Old 09-03-2020, 12:42 PM   #194
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Simple electric razor for me twice a week. Part of the retirement mode vs. every day shaving.
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Old 09-03-2020, 01:05 PM   #195
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I have done several of these in the past. I still use plastic grocery bags for cat litter and bathroom garbage cans.

I have seen how my daughter and son's families spend money. I am not saying that it is wrong, just different than how we normally spend money. They eat out and buy more high end stuff than we do. They are our heirs. I have decided that we need to enjoy our money more than we do. We have not used any of our retirement savings. We are fortunate that our pensions and social security are more than our expenses. I am waiting for the pandemic to be over and I am going to start spending more money on ourselves. It will be difficult, because I have always been more frugal, but I am going to try. It will not be hard for my DH at all.
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Old 09-03-2020, 01:09 PM   #196
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Originally Posted by Amethyst View Post
When I was little, my mom saved bacon grease to make French fries. They were the best French fries you can imagine. She stopped making them, unfortunately, after Dad had a heart attack, and was found to have high cholesterol.
Yeah, McDonalds used to have the best fries when they used to fry them using beef tallow.
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Old 09-03-2020, 02:52 PM   #197
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We regularly shop at Goodwill. Some of our friends are skeeved out about the prospect.
But, but, but, they have "one of a kind", personally exclusive name brand sometimes, one of a kind inventory.
Shops as such w/other similar repurposed, overstock, bankruptcy liquidation, closeouts, outdated inventory, etc. have been my favorite shopping locations since becoming self reliant.

I tee shirt for $45.00 on Nantucket, or for $1.00, 30% off on discount Tuesdays @ 0.70cents beats most other offerings imo.
Except one that fits you find on the Long key bridge @ 0.00.

I must be quiet.
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Old 09-03-2020, 04:24 PM   #198
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You know that water you let run down the drain while waiting for it to get hot when you take a shower or wash dishes? In the bathroom I'll collect it in a bucket and use it to flush the toilet once. :


Our bathroom is located the furthest away from the hot water heater in the garage, so it normally takes a long time for hot water to warm up the water pipes in the winter. But this house has a hot water recirculater, so that 10-15 minutes before running the shower, hot water runs through the pipes and back again, so that the water comes out of the shower hot within 5 seconds instead of 2 minutes. It’s quite a water saver.
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Old 09-03-2020, 10:50 PM   #199
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I eat my road kill, but I never swerve on purpose to get it.
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Old 09-04-2020, 08:15 AM   #200
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I eat my road kill, but I never swerve on purpose to get it.
Ha!
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