[nwfrugalista]

WOW, y'all are amazing! I got so many ideas

My list isn't as ambitious as most of yours, but--

1. Not running the AC (since Thurs am)--normally in the South running AC is pretty much life or death by mid-July, but I keep it at 82. Since it's only the mid-80s this weekend through Tuesday, I've shut it off and just kept the windows shades down and used the ceiling fan I also don't run it most overnights.

2. Wash my hair only every third day (I was VERY grossed out when I first heard this but my hairdresser insisted since I have dry hair that gets very brittle due to overwashing/heat damage). But since I committed to it, my hair is soft and shiny--it's the nicest it's ever been! Plus, I am saving on using less water for showering, less shampoo/conditioner, and less electricity running the hair dryer

3. Ate at home today.

4. Also once a month we do a totally FREE weekend (we stay home, watch movies from FREE rental codes, make our own pizza, play board games, go to neighborhood park, etc.) It helps me keep the dining out/entertainment budget in line

[mnkid]

[quote=nwfrugalista;4061108]..... Wash my hair only every third day (I was VERY grossed out when I first heard this but my hairdresser insisted since I have dry hair that gets very brittle due to overwashing/heat damage). But since I committed to it, my hair is soft and shiny--it's the nicest it's ever been! Plus, I am saving on using less water for showering, less shampoo/conditioner, and less electricity running the hair dryer [quote]

Back 20 years ago my aunt told me she washes her hair once a week. She had waist length hair at the time. I thought that was pretty gross too when she told me, but she says, does my hair look greasy or dirty? No, it didn't. It looked a lot less dry and brittle than my own shoulder length hair. You can't just jump right into this, I had to go from every morning to every OTHER morning, after a few months push it out another day. I max out at 4 days, never could make it a week between washings.

[conniel18848]

About the only frugal thing for me was pick up more coke while its on sale.
But i wont outway the ER fee for my husband who wouldnt go to the DRS. days ago.
So a $30.00 office call is now surely over $3,000.00 With our deductible and 20%. GRRRR.

[j4jac]

Wow, I am not very frugal but I did these things today:
- reused a Ziploc Baggie
-Recycled this past weeks dinner of spaghetti for lunch today
-Reused my own bath towel and hung to dry
-used my personal camel back bottle with filtered water and ice instead of using bottled water.
-Wearing the same shorts I wore yesterday that saves adding to the laundry pile one more day.

[junewonder]

Originally Posted by nwfrugalista

WOW, y'all are amazing! I got so many ideas

My list isn't as ambitious as most of yours, but--

1. Not running the AC (since Thurs am)--normally in the South running AC is pretty much life or death by mid-July, but I keep it at 82. Since it's only the mid-80s this weekend through Tuesday, I've shut it off and just kept the windows shades down and used the ceiling fan I also don't run it most overnights.

2. Wash my hair only every third day (I was VERY grossed out when I first heard this but my hairdresser insisted since I have dry hair that gets very brittle due to overwashing/heat damage). But since I committed to it, my hair is soft and shiny--it's the nicest it's ever been! Plus, I am saving on using less water for showering, less shampoo/conditioner, and less electricity running the hair dryer 3. Ate at home today.

4. Also once a month we do a totally FREE weekend (we stay home, watch movies from FREE rental codes, make our own pizza, play board games, go to neighborhood park, etc.) It helps me keep the dining out/entertainment budget in line

I wash my hair twice(sometimes thrice if I am travelling) a week and only use coconut oil as a preconditioner(for an hour or so). I use no other stuff on my hair(except for a mild shampoo) and stay away from any heat treatment. It keeps my hair long, shiny, soft and silky and my scalp clean without dandruff. Also saves me money.

[Jakejake]

I'm still at the ecovillage here. Breakfast is free with the room but my other meals arewith my daughter's food co_op. There are about 20 people in it. They take turns cooking for the whole group, so most days they don't have to cook at all, they don't each need to havme a kitchen for each household, they just use the one at the common house.

[nwfrugalista]

Back 20 years ago my aunt told me she washes her hair once a week. She had waist length hair at the time. I thought that was pretty gross too when she told me, but she says, does my hair look greasy or dirty? No, it didn't. It looked a lot less dry and brittle than my own shoulder length hair. You can't just jump right into this, I had to go from every morning to every OTHER morning, after a few months push it out another day. I max out at 4 days, never could make it a week between washings.[/quote]

When I went to college, my freshman house was a girls' dorm that was built in the sixties, they even had the shower heads lowered to 'shoulder height' since the girls didn't want to wet their hair after getting their bouffants set (I guess on the days they did wash it they had to crouch down really low, LOL!!) I agree it is hard to imagine stretching to a week between washings!

I think you're totally right about 'easing' into it too---I did the same thing, started by pushing out to every other day, it took me a few months to get used to that, then I started going for every third day. It is a lot easier to pull that off in the winter when it's cooler, I've backslid a little this summer, especially on beach/pool days.

One other side benefit during the school year is how much TIME I save in the mornings getting ready before getting the kids off to school. On non-washing days I can get showered/dressed/ready in 35-40 minutes, yay!

[VitaLuna]

For those that are washing their hair less frequently, how do you keep it from looking greasy? I was mine every other day, but it starts looking icky if I go any longer than that (I keep it pulled back in a pony because of work). Any suggestions?

[conniel18848]

I wash mine every other day but could go a week. mine is dry no mater what conditioners i use.
Today i went to RA and bought $46.58 useing stacked qs -and ups along with the raincheck for tylenol precise they let me use the $5.00 expired qs since they finally got it in. oop was .42 and i got $10.00 in ups back.
Recycled my meatloaf along with some ground beef for spagetti sauce for diner.
Combined my husbands DRS vist with the trip for paper work for insurance comp he wont be working a few weeks. Returned the forms to his work place and did my shopping and moms meds pick up all in one round trip to save gas. Its a 25 mile round trip to town.
Burned paper trash to save on trash bill reused the trash bag it was just papers so not stinky.
Fed the pet birds leftover corn from last night and gave them .50 cheerioes for a treat the Mcaws also got free fruit & nut bars. and the pets will eat spagetti with me tonight instead of thier pet foods they are rebelling tired of canned food. Printed off qs for ge meds advair & albuterol saves $25.00 on our insurance copay. Set the air conditioner up a little its 90 here both have copd so air is necessity. And had the dr write scripts for 90 day generics what i could saves another $30.00 per month.

[eweston1227]

Ok, so my whole life we've only used boneless skinless chicken breasts for cooking (even growing up); but there's a great deal on split chicken breasts this week at Kroger so I finally gave it a shot and skinned and de-boned my own chicken breasts this weekend. I was SHOCKED at how easy it was!

[junewonder]

Originally Posted by VitaLuna

For those that are washing their hair less frequently, how do you keep it from looking greasy? I was mine every other day, but it starts looking icky if I go any longer than that (I keep it pulled back in a pony because of work). Any suggestions?

I have normal hair and it dries up if I wash it more than twice a week. But if you have an oily scalp(and hair), its better to wash it at least every other day, to prevent the oil(and dust) from clogging your pores. Might lead to scalp problems, esp. during summer.

[andrea044027]

A question for those who don't wash their hair every day: do you still wet your hair every day and blow it dry? Or do u use a cap in the shower to keep it dry on the days u don't wash it? Just wondering.....
Thanks

[polydoly13]

Yes it's hard to get used to but washing your hair less is better for a few reasons. You'll get the oily look in the beginning, but when your hair gets used to it, it should get less and less oily. Every hairdresser I've talked to swears it's easier to hold a style when it's dirty. It's a whole lot healthier to wash it less. I don't have a hair cap I just put it in a bun/ponytail thing and the edges get a little wet. My mom uses a hair cap. I got her some nice terry cloth lined ones on ebay a few years ago. I think I've heard you can put a little powder (maybe baby powder or corn starch) in your scalp to absorb the oil. I'm sure you can find something on the net.

[sugarloaf10]

Here are some frugal things I have done the past few days:

-I also only wash my hair 2x a week. Took a few months for it to adjust, but now its so much healthier. Saves on water and shampoo/conditioner.
-Hung laundry out to dry on the clothesline. I JUST got my line up as this is our new house, and I am LOVING it!
-Last night's dinner was hamburgers (made from marked down manager's special meat, only $2.22lb), corn on the cob and potatoes on the charcoal grill to prevent heating up the kitchen.
-Just finished up my new pricebook for my 3 most frequented stores.
-Going grocery shopping at Aldi this afternoon to save money.
-Combining trips to save gas- also going to visit Target and a Meijer while out by Aldi.
-Cleaned my kitchen with homemade cleaner
-We have our A/C on, but just recently raised it to 75 degrees instead of the standard 73. This is a big improvement for us since we used to have it at 68 in our old apartment!
-Clipped and organized a bunch a coupons

Oh and we do have a vegetable garden but had to stop harvesting about a month ago due to our new adopted outdoor cat using it as her litterbox. I'm pregnant so can't really mess with it and don't want to take a chance with the produce. We do have plans for restoring the soil come fall and winter though, and we're going to build a fence of sorts to keep the cat out next yr.

[dianiagay]

made homemade strawberry jam

went to some yardsales and bought a like new cozy coupe car for $3 bucks...WOW

only run the dryer at night to keep the house from getting so hot during the days

got a free lunch at a gas station having a cook out for customer appreciation day. I love a hotdog, but they taste so much better when they are free! So did the BBQ chips

carpooled with mom to w-mart to save gas and keep each other in check from impulse buying

bathed the kids together

[momabrown3]

Went to buy the girls shoes today.Used (2) 10.00 off 25.00 purchase coupons at JCPennys.Got 90.00 worth of shoes for 60.00 plus tax.
pair 1 45.00 Converse high tops sale 39.99 minus 10.00 coupon=29.99
pair 2 45.00 Conserve high tops sale 39.99 minus 10.00 coupon=29.99


Hollister had there jeans 50% off.Got 104.00 worth of jeans(2 pairs) for 52.00 plus tax.

[momabrown3]

Gave away tomato's from the garden today.

[noellebrow]

Rice and Beans for dinner

[conniel18848]

I printed lots of new coupons for the 1st of the month new qs and resets.Went shopping 2 times since my old man was going into town both times saved my gas.
Then got 7 bengay at ra for .73 mis calculated so i need i more for the $10.00 up but i have more qs.
And did 4 orders at tops to use 16 doublers.
Found some great qs and q booklets at tops.
$1.00 off salsa or pickle spices get $1.00 off produce Spices are $1.19
$18.00 in qs in keebler booklets on the display
$1.00 off snackwells peelies
Tops has double $1.00 qs this week so im stocking up.

[amysbrew]

Things I did today to be frugal:

*I ate last nights dinner for lunch and dinner today
*Turned off the window air conditioners to give them a break
*Washed dishes by hand ( I do this everyday. I refuse to believe you save money on a dishwasher when you have to nearly wash them first before you can put them in a dishwasher)
*Re-used my bath towel
*Made sure all the lights/electricity of any kind were off in any room I was not in.

[Susuz]

We are on vacation, DH had to give a talk at a conference, so harder to be frugal. But, we brought our own bottled water and sodas, put in the fridge in the room. I brought an ice pack and refroze it in the freezer. Saved the plastic to go cup from lunch, now can fill it again with our own ice, drinks to carry. Brought my insulated mug, coffee is free in the room. Made our own iced coffee drinks.

When we went on the boat, took water, fruit and snacks from our fridge, brought our own snacks from coupon stuff. Crackers, peanut butter, granola bars...Brought our own cereal and ate in the room.

Drank water with every meal, or if ordered a beverage they will give you a full togo cup of your beverage. Didn't order dessert but used coupon for ice cream, ate in the room.
Took fruit and yogurt back with me after the breakfast buffet, ate it for lunch.

Oh, didn't have them change our sheets each day, and hung up my towels to use another day. I don't mind and it saves water. Used the beautiful grounds, pools, etc instead of going into town and paying for entertainment. They had campfire and s'mores night for free, other events for free every night, so did those instead of the ones you have to pay for.

For the drive back we will fill our little cooler, put our drinks in it for the car ride along with snacks. I try to not stop for gas AND snacks, gas alone is more expensive. Used a Walmart gift card for the .10 gallon savings. Got a redbox movie for the drive back for DD, used free code.

Hit the CVS (which we don't have at home), Coldwater creek sale with coupon, clearance at Bass Pro Shops for DH's wardrobe. Hit Walgreens for Back To School values and am looking for the Target!
Home tomorrow....

[400000coupons]

Took advantage of our Bloom Stores Super Doubles event. Got cheap lunch meat, free toiletpaper, free candy.

Made dinner myself (goulash and veggies) from the stockpile instead of indulging my whims for something I don't have.

[Supersaver03]

Today was my no spending day. I read about it on the all you website and I thought it was a wonderful idea. Each week I pick one day to not spend anything. Some weeks are harder than others. Today was pretty easy just had a relaxing day at home catching up on some tv.

[dianiagay]

sold some books I've finished reading

made 4 pints pickles from cucumbers a neighbor gave me

put tomatoes in crock pot to make homemade tomato sauce from the tomatoes a neighbor gave me

my sister brought over her trash to combine with mine so she doesn't have to pay for pick up

ordered water at lunch (paid for by the money I made off the books)

[lrw2706]

I made 5 gallons homemade liquid laundry soap.

Had leftovers or as I like to call it..recycling dinner