Times are so tough-what are some basic or creative ways you have saved or cut back?

[Anonymous]

No Restaurant Week

[Anonymous]

Here's a oddball question for those who line dry: when I try this, my clothes or sheets/towels smell BAD. Like, BO. It's the same smell I smell on my kids (sons especially) when their hair has gotten hot playing in the sun. I'm not kidding - I really smell a dirty scent on my line dried clothes, but only when dried outside. On the shower rod, no problem. In the dryer, no problem.

Anyone else, or is it just me?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Here's a oddball question for those who line dry: when I try this, my clothes or sheets/towels smell BAD. Like, BO. It's the same smell I smell on my kids (sons especially) when their hair has gotten hot playing in the sun. I'm not kidding - I really smell a dirty scent on my line dried clothes, but only when dried outside. On the shower rod, no problem. In the dryer, no problem.

Anyone else, or is it just me?

Where outside are you hanging them to dry? Are there woods nearby, a stagnant stream, a sewer line?

[Anonymous]

I don't like the dried outdoors smell, either. I agree that it's the same as the smell in DD's hair when she's been playing outside. Not exactly BO, but not a nice, sanitized detergent smell, either. I know many people who prefer this smell, though!

[Anonymous]

Line dry stuff until it is slightly damp and then toss it in the dryer for softness. Dryer sheets are full of chemicals and I don't use them. Towels lose some absorption when you use dryer sheets because it coats the fabric.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Raise the AC a few degrees.

Take steps to make shopping a less important part of your life (if it is one), which includes throwing out catalogues and even not looking at them. If you don't need an item, it really isn't a bargain - even at a sale price).

No impulse purchasing.

No drinks outside the house - water in restaurants, and carry a water bottle.

I completely agree with the water in the restaurant! I am always surprised to see how much cheaper the bill is when we order water. My DH usually dosent stick to it, but I try to sneak in a bit of cuteness into it, by sharing a drink with him and I get water. It keeps our manners on our toes when we practice sharing with eachother AND its cheaper. I also agree with another PP about the Energy Efficient Light Bulbs. Our electric bill used to be $94 a month its now around $48-52/month-And it only took about 3 months to see the difference.
Saving money should be fun. We are always looking for new ways to save. We switch who goes grocery shopping every week-If I save more I get an "extra" treat in bed, If HE saves more I make him whatever flavor Cupcakes he wants to bring to work. [theyre really good! ] SO its a win win.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Stopped buying things like books - DD and I make an afternoon of going to the library for books every few weeks; some suburban libraries even have DVDs, though we're in the District so our selection is limited. Started bringing lunch from home which really saves $. We don't have cable tv (and managed to wean ourselves off tv pretty much altogether) and my husband called up Verizon and got us cheaper yet faster DSL service. Ebay is great for kid clothes, and now I'm trying it for things for me like shoes (many items are new or barely used). Started taking Metro again after a year of driving to work (it's hard with a 2-year old in tow, but the $3,000 we save on parking and gas will now go to DD's college fund which previously wasn't being funded at all, and I tell myself that the mile we walk each day to and from the Metro is good for our health / DD loves the "choo choo train"). I also try to wait before buying something to see if it's something we really need/want so impulse spending is way down - impulse buying has always been my weakness, so I avoid shopping unless necessary or I send my DH who will only buy what is on the list. We've also cut back on driving - consolidating trips and walking to our local grocery store instead of driving farther out which also keeps us from buying too much at once and throwing food away. It's not much, yet it all does add up.

I WISH!! I have been so against cable for a few years now. My DH isnt dropping it, he says that we need internet anyway so why not add the cable. I think its such a waste. Upwards of $1500/year for Tv? It makes my tummy turn. That could be a cruise for two to Belize. Yes. Belize Royal Caribbean Cruises, we went in March $500 pp from Ft Lauderdale. We Road Tripped to FL. Had a Blast. Mexico, Belize, Miami. Beautiful. Sorry OT.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Here's a oddball question for those who line dry: when I try this, my clothes or sheets/towels smell BAD. Like, BO. It's the same smell I smell on my kids (sons especially) when their hair has gotten hot playing in the sun. I'm not kidding - I really smell a dirty scent on my line dried clothes, but only when dried outside. On the shower rod, no problem. In the dryer, no problem.

Anyone else, or is it just me?

This actually might have to do with detergent residue in your clothes that the dryer sheets just cover up. We use Charlie's Soap - an all natural biodegradable clothing soap and have never had problems. I've heard similar complaints on cloth diaper chat sites and the general agreement is that the clothes/diapers aren't really getting clean.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Here's a oddball question for those who line dry: when I try this, my clothes or sheets/towels smell BAD. Like, BO. It's the same smell I smell on my kids (sons especially) when their hair has gotten hot playing in the sun. I'm not kidding - I really smell a dirty scent on my line dried clothes, but only when dried outside. On the shower rod, no problem. In the dryer, no problem.

Anyone else, or is it just me?

I used to live in S. Africa and it is normally VERY dry there. We line dry all of our clothes there and everything dries in about 1-2hrs, pretty much same as the dryer. However, it does not work on so well here and I know the smell. Sometimes things can get a bit of mildew because its so humid here. So, I just think the climate is often not so good for line drying.

[Anonymous]

I agree, the mid-Atlantic is too humid for outdoor drying. I did it all the time when we lived in California, but here, it takes ages, and stuff smells musty when it comes in. I sometimes hang clean damp towels on their racks after a half-cycle in the dryer, since the air-conditioning alleviates the humidity.

As for saving money, I unplug phone and computer chargers as much as I can. I don't always remember.

I've gotten really strict with myself about using up food before it goes bad. We'll be having a giant tomato salad this evening, since I overbought from the farmers market this weekend! (The next thing will be to stop going to the farmers market. Prices were insane.)

I've stopped checking the sale sites (overstock, amazon on Fridays) just for funsies. I used to peruse sites like that for entertainment, and of course I ended up buying things I didnt' really need.

Finally, I've completely stopped giving in to the lazy desire to drive to work. 10 minute walk + $1.35 metro fare + 10 extra minutes transit time = $12 saved PER DAY.

[Anonymous]

Well, I just sold all my old 80's and 90's gold jewelry a month ago and got a check for $350! It wasn't much either, some rings, a bracelet, a heavy gold chain necklace. I used an online service, but I saw in the paper there is a jeweler in Vienna that also buys gold. At $900 an ounce, there isn't a better time to clean out your jewelry box! I figure tulip rings from college will probably never come back in style, nor will disco necklaces, and my dented/broken earrings were going nowhere.