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Old 01-13-2018, 08:47 AM   #121
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Originally Posted by FrugalMcDougal View Post
I used to run the thermostat at 58 in winter and 80 in summer. Now I run 64 and 78.
I live in a winter climate and get enough cold when I have to go out so there's no way I'm compromising on comfort when indoors.

The house is normally at 20 or 21C (68- 70F) in winter and 23 - 24C (73 - 75F) in summer.
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Old 01-13-2018, 09:05 AM   #122
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Originally Posted by Sunset View Post
My record was in shopping mall parking lot, and about 30 feet away I saw what looked like a $2 bill folded up. I changed direction and walked over to pick it up.
To my surprise it was a $50.00 bill.
No idea how long it has sat there or was blown along by the wind as people passed it by.
I had a stretch of a few months in 2008 when I was finding money everywhere, it seemed. I found several dollars on the sidewalk outside my apartment building. I found several dollars and an automated fare card on a PATH train (like a subway, for those of you unfamiliar). I saw an unused LIRR ticket being used as a bookmark in a book my dad had taken out of the library (it wasn't his). That ticket was worth about $8 toward my own future LIRR ticket purchase (I was still working at the time and used the LIRR frequently). Also on the LIRR, the conductor forgot to punch my ticket so I was able to use it again, saving me $9. That's about $30 in found money in a few months.
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Old 01-13-2018, 09:07 AM   #123
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It will cost almost 1000 on propane per month to keep my house at 68 all the time. So each bedroom got its own electric heater to keep warm at night.
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Old 01-13-2018, 09:37 AM   #124
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When it looks as though the toothpaste tube is empty, we snip off the bottom and get another 6 or so “ servings”. We also keep the downstairs at 65 and the upstairs bedrooms at 55. As we say, a buck is a buck...
We switched to this style of toothpaste

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B00UB775XC/

I store the container upside down (cap side down) and I can use up the entire contents of it without jumping through any hoops.
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Old 01-13-2018, 09:39 AM   #125
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Oh yeah, I always use up a bar of soap down to a sliver, then press that sliver into the next bar of soap.

You have to get the old sliver pretty small or it won't "stick" to the new bar.

It's an art form
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Old 01-13-2018, 01:52 PM   #126
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Oh yeah, I always use up a bar of soap down to a sliver, then press that sliver into the next bar of soap.

You have to get the old sliver pretty small or it won't "stick" to the new bar.

It's an art form
After living frugally for all of our lives, me and the wife have recently decided that we can now throw the micro thin soap slivers away. Since we are retired and living below our our conservative withdrawal rate, we have decided is our new single nod to "extravagance."
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Old 01-13-2018, 02:24 PM   #127
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I switched to liquid soap long ago. Soap bars tend to melt and what I scrape away from the soap holder when cleaning the tub is more than what I use on my body. Less work when cleaning the bathroom too.
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Old 01-13-2018, 02:47 PM   #128
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Soap? You people can afford SOAP!!
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Old 01-13-2018, 02:53 PM   #129
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Soap? You people can afford SOAP!!
Julian Assange, is that you?

Strange. I thought Nemo2 was a lot older, plus he was free to travel too.

http://www.nydailynews.com/news/worl...icle-1.3753234
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Old 01-13-2018, 03:01 PM   #130
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Julian Assange, is that you?

Strange. I thought Nemo2 was a lot older, plus he was free to travel too.

http://www.nydailynews.com/news/worl...icle-1.3753234
Yabbut...this way I don't have to worry about someone sitting next to me on a 'plane and contaminating me with flu bugs and other disease like ailments.
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Old 01-13-2018, 03:48 PM   #131
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Yabbut...this way I don't have to worry about someone sitting next to me on a 'plane and contaminating me with flu bugs and other disease like ailments.
Flying to Ecuador soon, are we?
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Old 01-13-2018, 04:06 PM   #132
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Like many, I hate paying mechanics and repair men. Usually I take 2-3 times as long but save a bundle. Every once in awhile Murphy bites me.

This week I was replacing the motor in the clothes dryer and pulled the palm of my right hand across sharp edge sheet metal. A trip to the ER and four stitches made this silly frugality a clear Fail.

The PA said the stitches should be removed in 10 days by my primary care doc. Humph, a $50 visit. He whispered that maybe nail clippers would do the trick. Heck yes! Then he asked if I wanted the hemostats from the stitch kit for my tool chest - now we're talking! Even wrapped it in a towel that I can use as a shop rag.

Dilly Dilly.
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Old 01-13-2018, 04:25 PM   #133
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I must be the queen of leftovers. I don't really like to cook, so I force myself to make a big pot of something--soup, chili, stew, etc--on Sundays, portion it out, and eat it all week for dinner. This week it is red beans and rice. Yum! I live alone so I can eat left overs to my heart's content.
I try very hard not to waste food. The only thing that is hard not to waste at times is salad--greens often go back before I can use them. Otherwise I'm quite frugal with food.
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Old 01-13-2018, 04:41 PM   #134
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DW and I usually save straws when we dine out and us them at home. But worse still, we often wash the straws and reuse them. How's that for frugal?
I'm impressed!
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Old 01-13-2018, 04:58 PM   #135
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No leftovers for me. Leftovers = dog food.
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Old 01-13-2018, 05:09 PM   #136
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No leftovers for me. Leftovers = dog food.
Most of our leftovers come from a local Mexican restaurant. Besides being too delicious for the dogs, their systems don't seem to like peppers, onions. Ours do.
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Old 01-14-2018, 06:23 AM   #137
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This morning my DH is using up a heel of bread that is almost too hard to cut, I offered up my chop saw. DH is making cheese toast in the micro, is proud that he does not need to pop the mess into the toaster first. Guess this is one reason we have been the millionaires next door for years.
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Old 01-14-2018, 06:42 AM   #138
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I try very hard not to waste food. The only thing that is hard not to waste at times is salad--greens often go back before I can use them.
The greens can go in the soup.
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Old 01-14-2018, 07:16 AM   #139
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My silliest frugal action is probably reusing teabags - I saw my parents do this regularly. While I rarely do it these days, I still feel funny throwing out a tea bag after using it for just a small amount of tea.

This one I did see growing up.
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Old 01-14-2018, 07:22 AM   #140
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I find golf balls on the course when walking my dog in the mornings and run them through the ball washer. Most are good as new. Old one's and off brands I hit into the practice range. Can't remember the last time I purchased a golf ball. Am I frugal or what?
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