The Dollar Stretcher Tips 06.14.07

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Unplugged!

I recently tried the experiment of unplugging all appliances that were not being used, including cell phone chargers, and saved $15 on my electric bill in one month.
Ilsa G.

Leftovers

Instead of saving leftovers in Rubbermaid or Corning containers, scoop them into zip top bags and store in one of the drawers of your refrigerator. They take up so much less room, and the family gets used to looking in that one spot instead of moving things around on the shelves. Things seldom get "lost" because they've been pushed to the back, and you can see exactly what's available. Use a permanent marker and label with date and contents.
Barb C.

Free Gym Membership

Are you bored watching your child at swim class or other lessons at the rec center? Use that time to exercise for free! Our local rec center allows parents and/or siblings to swim or use the gym facilities free while their children are attending class. We cannot use the entire pool, but can still use most of it. We can also use it between lessons since the siblings do not have lessons at the same time. They do not publicize this and it is not applicable for every class, but a quick phone call can confirm if your center will allow it or not. For the price of two children in swim lessons, my entire family of five can get a workout. I am still close enough to watch my children in class, and I am modeling healthy behavior.
Susanne M. in Wheat Ridge, CO

Desktop Solution

I recently uncovered an old desk my parents had in storage that I could use. However, the top was all scratched and chipped. I bought a dry erase board panel, cut it to the size of the desk top using a veneer saw blade in my saw, glued it on with liquid nails, and painted the desk. Voila! I now have a smooth desk top that is a snap to clean. When working at the desk, I don't have to look for paper to write on. And my daughter loves to draw on it. I spent less than $20 and have a "brand new" desk that everyone loves to use. Also, by putting magnets on the back of my leftover dry erase board, I now have a place on my refrigerator for notes.
BF

CD Clean

I needed to clean some of my music CDs and a DVD (which didn't work when I first received it) and so I carefully used an optical lens cleaner sheet (like you get from Sam's in the eyeglass section). These sheets are less than $6 for 180 (large ones) compared to $7 or so for about 20 in an electronics store. I had to unfold the section that I wanted to use and gently wipe off the disk in the right direction (from the center to the outside). Now, the DVD works and the CDs are clean. This is quite inexpensive, and I figured that it was worth a try since the lens cleaner was safe for my glasses.
Cynthia S.

Not One, But Five

I never make one cup of tea. With two bags and a teapot, I get five big mugs of tea. If we don't finish the hot tea, we put it in the refrigerator for tomorrow's iced tea. Also, I get tea from the local "deals only" store for about a dollar a box or in bulk at the health food store. One heaping tablespoon of bulk tea per pot is a thrifty alternative to bagged tea.
Beth H.

Take the Savings and Run

When I use coupons, I ask the checker to let me pay the full pre-coupon amount and give me the value of the coupons in cash. Last year, I accumulated over $2300, which I have set aside for emergencies and special family gifts. And, of course, I never buy anything I wouldn't also buy without a coupon.
Nancy in Santee

Family Auction

We are planning a family gathering/pig roast during Labor Day. We did this annually for several years. One thing that we did to help with the cost of the pig was have everyone bring a used item to auction off. We had everything from children's toys (never over 50 cents) to small household appliances. After a few years, some people got donations from their employers of gift certificates for various restaurants. After the first time, everyone looked forward to the "auction," especially the kids.
Sue L.

Remembering Grandma

Last year my mother-in-law died suddenly. We didn't know if she had any insurance and we didn't have the cash to pay the $7000 to $9000 the funeral home told us it would cost to bury her. She already owned a plot. My brother-in-law contacted a funeral home here about cremation. The cremation and related services was about $1200. We did the memorial service/funeral ourselves.

We printed flyers with the information about her on them. We created the memorial book and customized it with the things she loved, so it really reflected her. We printed the RESERVED signs for the pews at the church. We asked a couple of friends who came to the service if they would help with ushering people in and out. My son made a CD of music for the before and after music. We found many pictures of her from different times in her life and created a lovely display at the front of the church. One of her passions was her Red Hat group, so we prepared a display of her hats and things that she had collected around that.

I think some people in the small town may have been a bit taken aback, but I though it was a lovely Red Hat funeral and befitted her. My son commented that he felt a great deal of closure from the whole process. Our family came together and worked together to create a time of fond memories in what was a truly stressful time. We know that it was unconventional, but that adds a little more to the whole experience. We stepped out of tradition and created some new family traditions. In the process, we probably saved at least $5000!
Penny H.