You can snag ketchup packets from restaurants to trim expenses and, as my partner and I do, split napkins in half so they last twice as long. But that’s amateur hour compared with the outrageous tactics some hardcore savers employ. I’ve rounded up a few standout examples — though you may not want to replicate them yourself.
Well, perhaps you could try some of them. I might give a few a shot; I once used cardboard boxes for a bed frame and still use address labels to lift lint off clothing. Then again, you might pause before emulating the woman who went searching in the toilet to save money (more on her shortly) . . .
1. Dumpster Diving for Flowers . . . at Cemeteries
When Bankrate.com asked readers how they cut corners, some answers were extreme. For instance, Ann from Iowa scavenges at cemeteries for artificial flowers and various decorations she can reuse in craft projects, saving her a bundle.
2. Eating Less
Dina, another Bankrate.com respondent, admitted, “In an attempt to save money, the craziest thing I did was stop buying groceries and drastically reduce how much I ate, often skipping food all day and not eating until late at night!” That’s a step I wouldn’t take.
On the other hand, I would try these 28 smart tips to cut grocery bills.
3. Peeing in a Bottle
Showering at the gym is a fairly normal money-saver for Victoria Hunt. What grabbed the Huffington Post’s attention was her appearance on TLC’s Extreme Cheapskates, where she demonstrated peeing into a bottle and pouring it onto her compost pile to reduce toilet flushes. Make sure the container is large enough before attempting it.
4. Saving Butter Wrappers
On Stretcher.com, Rachel says she keeps the greasy papers from butter sticks in her freezer. She wipes them over frying pans while cooking to avoid using oil. That’s frugal ingenuity — it even makes me wonder if I could cut open plastic oil bottles to scrape out the remaining drops.
5. Sharing Clothing
Rachel also mentions, “. . . my husband and I manage to share most of a wardrobe.” Why not? With some Scottish roots in my family, perhaps I could get away with wearing my partner’s skirts as makeshift kilts.
6. Using Someone Else’s Bathroom
I also came across a story about a woman who sends her kids into Walmart and other stores when they need a restroom, to avoid using toilet paper and water at home. But why go that far? I’m thinking there must be a discreet spot in the backyard that will do the trick.
7. Reusing Popcorn and Drink Containers
Reusing containers for free refills on soda or popcorn at the theater sounds thrifty and eco-friendly, right? But would you dig containers out of the trash to snag those freebies?
That’s precisely what Roy Haynes does when he takes his wife to the movies, according to reports. I’ve considered stashing my own popcorn bag for a refill at the next showing, but Roy might be taking his thriftiness a touch too far.
8. Reusing Dental Floss
I could probably devote this entire piece to Roy Haynes — some of his methods are certainly inventive. In an interview with Yahoo Shine, he said, “Some people think outside the box. I tend to live outside the box.” But this habit may stretch it: he hangs used dental floss to dry so he can use it again.
I’m not tempted; my germ concerns trump my penny-pinching. I don’t even like reusing my toothbrush day-to-day (though frugality wins on some fronts).
9. Treasure Hunting in the Toilet
When Dave Ramsey asked his Facebook followers for their money-saving tales, some responses were astonishing. Literally — one guy entered a Whopper-eating contest because it was free and saved him from buying a meal that day.
Katy slices open toothpaste tubes to squeeze out the final bit. Julie runs a crockpot full of water on high in winter instead of turning on the house heater.
Those were relatively tame… ready for the extremes?
Becky swallowed a crown and claims the dentist told her the replacement would cost $500 or they could wait for it to pass, sterilize it and reattach it for free. She opted to wait.
Yep, and given a $500 bill, well . . . I might do the same (seriously — it’s $500!).
