WED 1/19 QUESTION ~ Are you "over the top?"

[❤ mollymouser ❤]

Is there any aspect to Smart Spending, Frugal Living, etc. where you (or your family/friends) would say that you are "over the top?" Not certifiably nuts or obsessive, but just more extreme than the norm?

[❤ mollymouser ❤]

For me, it's my quest to keep our power bills at a reasonable level ... so we don't use our heater or air conditioner as much as, well, anyone else I know. And most of my friends think this is "over the top" ... even down to my choice in the summer to (gasp) dry clothes on a clothesline or inside the house vs. putting them in the clothesdryer.

And my choice to handwash dishes when we have a dishwasher? HERESY!

[tiredboomer]

That's a tough question. There are several things I do (or don't do) to save money that many of my friends think is "over the top", but most of you would find quite normal. Probably the one they find most objectionable is washing plastic bags.

[Waffle]

Maybe my "lipstick habit". Years ago I would throw the lipstick away when it got to that flat level, but it always bothered me. Now, I get every last bit of lipstick out by using an eyeshadow brush. I only use that tube at home when I'm putting on makeup - when I'm out I use a newer tube that hasn't gotten to that flat stage yet.

Does that qualify as over the top?

[dancinmama]

I'm a part of the GROCERY CHALLENGE gang so I use A LOT of coupons. I think most people would say that "normal" usage is when you get your coupons on Sunday, clip the ones that are for brands that you use, and toss the rest.

I get several sets of coupon inserts every week. I rarely clip any until right before I will actually use them and I often use several of the same coupon.

This is not "over the top" for those of us on the GROCERY CHALLENGE thread, but is definitely not considered "normal" either.

[bobbysgirl]

I do the same as Dancinmama. Among lots of other things. It certainly keeps me out of trouble. I'm not sure if I'm over the top. I feel 'normal'.

[dragon2008]

None of friends budget, so tracking every penny I spend and my obsession with multiple ING saving accounts puts me out of the norm. But I really love my budget...!

[❤ mollymouser ❤]

Well, for some people, bringing their lunch from home is "over the top!"

[honeybunny66]

OK - help me out because I don't understand. Why are you washing plastic bags?

[rubyslippers]

I echo what Dancinmama and Bobbysgirl said. I try to use coupons for just about everything. I also wash out Ziplock bags and sometimes foil, if it isn't too gunky or ripped. And I have a gizmoo that you put on the end of a tube of toothpaste to get every last bit.

[tiredboomer]

Jan 19, 2011 19:23:03 GMT -5 @honeybunny66 said:

OK - help me out because I don't understand. Why are you washing plastic bags?

To save money, of course! I don't wash all bags. None that have had meat in them, for example. But, I was all of my ziplock bags that have had less messy things in them. Some of them I get 4 or 5 uses out of before they finally fall apart. It's also good for the environment to recycle them as much as possible.

[motherto2]

The only time I think someone thought I was "over the top" was last year when I vowed to only spend $40/week on groceries. It was just DS and me, but many times he got mad because we didn't really have any junk food in the house. And I try not to eat out at work, but sometimes you just can't get out of it. We go out once a month for the birthdays for that month. I'm kind of bummed because I have to go out on Monday ($10 no matter what you get, esp. after tip) for January birthday (only one this year) and $3 towards that. Then we are going on one day travel on Wednesday, so that's another $10. There goes my miscellaneous "fun money" for the week. I only budget $25/week, which sounds like a lot, but it sure goes fast.

[westerngal]

I don't know if this is really "over the top" but I do try to squeeze every last drop out of things like toothpaste, shampoo, things like that. We have a lot of food storage so I don't grocery shop as often, I know people who run to the store everyday to get something for dinner.

[patchwork150]

I track every penny I spend to my best ability in spreadsheets. I save almost every penny to my best ability (not QUITE there yet lol, sometimes I look at my spreadsheet and go 'should've skipped lunch that day, that would be $x more saved lol'). I do not wash my ziplock bags- but they are only used for meat in my house (buy big cheap meat packages, separate them into smaller portions and freeze in the bag) I use plastic containers for everything else. I save all the plastic containers possible (had sliced ham in it, Chinese takeout, cool whip, whatever) and use for leftover storage. I turn in all the bottles I can for the deposit back, I save all change. I use the bank of america cash back rewards on internet purchases when I need to make them, shop sales when I need something, and get cash back rewards on my CC without paying interest or carrying a balance. I grocery shop every two weeks (with a list!) and refuse to make stops in between unless it is absolutely necessary. I also use every drop of everything- shampoo, conditioner, lotion, toothpaste, tomato sauce, etc. I will not use a new bottle of anything till the old one is empty.

I am continually working on improvement. I'm not willing to do things that take a lot of time & space like the more extreme forms of couponing, stockpiling, etc.

Most of these things may be normal for you, but not in my world. I'm a 23 year old- been married for 5 years this Saturday- and am working and in college.

[dogmom]

I coupon, but not to an extreme. When I first started, DH kind of thought I was nuts, until he saw the savings by doing this. I am not sure if this is over the top, but I cut paper towel in half to extend the life of the roll. I do use rags and microfiber towels most of the time, but for most uses, using a full sheet of paper towel is wasteful.

[Tiny]

Probably the tempurature I keep the house. I not home that much so I don't see any reason to heat/cool it to a "comfortable for other people" temp. When I am home I may not bump up the heat - because if I'm doing chores or moving around the house I'm not chilled. If it's summer I don't mind getting alittle warm while doing chores - I'm gonna shower up afterwards anyway...

I do try to remember to make it warmer/cooler when I'm having guests. I've had unexpected company and kind of forgotten to bump the temp and had "chilled" or "overly warm" guests. I've gotten better and adjusting.

FWIW: the cats don't seem to care what temp the house is - they have heated cat beds during the colder months (the temp varies across the house but it's usually 60 or highet) and I've seen them sleeping/baking in a sun puddle during the summer so I don't think the 78-80 degree "non sunny spot" in house temp in the summer is killing them.

[alphayankee]

I've been using the same roll of paper towels since last summer. I get really twitchy when people visit and start ripping through them like there's an endless supply. I'd still be using the roll from a year ago, but FIL lived with us for several months last year, and I had to train him. Instead of PT, I use wash cloths. It hasn't increased the number of loads of laundry I do. I still do two loads of towels every two weeks. I feel like I am doing my part in saving my budget and keeping PT out of landfills.

[❤ mollymouser ❤]

My wonderful DH can use a roll of paper towels in a day. OK, maybe 2 days. Seriously, I think they are his favoritest thing in the whole wide world. I just smile ... and stock up on sales .... and silently wonder HOW he manages to go through so many so fast?

[Tiny]

I don't mind the cost of Paper Towels - nothing beats a Paper Towel or two or three for cleaning up Cat Heave. Ok, that was gross... sorry...

They wouldn't give us a Barf smiley if they didn't expect us to use it .... would they?

[kadee]

A lot of people think I'm over the top or...antique cause I won't use the internet to do lots of things.
I do NO bill paying or banking on line! The less I put out there the less anyone else can see/get into! I also rarely use a cell phone. I carry one but find NO reason to be attached to anyone 24/7! They are great for emergencies or if you have forgotten something, but I'm not going to go around with one glued to my ear! I don't text at all, not because I can't but I see NO reason to do that. If I need to get ahold of someone that badly I'll just call them! Which reminds me...was in a medical waiting room the other day...a couple were there too (in their late 30's/early 40's) and were texting back/forth to each other instead of just talking! If what you have to say is that secret go outside & chat...but text each other when you are sitting next to each other? Really looked kind of dumb! If you want to talk dirty to each other....save it for home! ;D

[Artemis Windsong]

I love the super market close out basket. I just used a gift bag I got for next to nothing. OP say I have a bag lady desire for bargains. So what? Why spend the hard earned $ when there is reduced cost.

I agree with K66 on the cell phones. In a group I mentioned long distance phone calls were a seldom used luxury. I get pressed with there are family plans. NO. I am not buying nor participating in the family plan as I've seen it go wrong too many times, and I'm not going into it.

Like my late Mom used to tell me, keep it to yourself.

[Waffle]

This is going OT from the original question, but most people I know don't even know that I own a cell phone. that includes my boss. I have no desire to be available 24/7.

I broke down and started paying my bills online about a year ago. It's helped me tremendously. I used to pay tons of late fees, just because I would forget to pay the bills. Now, I've got my credit card payments set up online with automatic monthly payments and I ocassionally even through in an extra payment. Very easy to do when you've got it set up online. Even though I've got a long way to go, I'm making real progress on paying down my debt.