For the last few weeks I have been composing this post. I am too exhausted to do anything else in the way of writing, so this is it.
*dumpster diving, more in past and a little now
*using rags from clothing for cleaning cloths instead of paper towels
*use diapers bought in 1975 to dust
*use net produce bags tied in knot for a scrubby
*look through coupons in paper or online
*study all store ads several times
*try to match coupons with sales
*use straw broom instead of plastic
*use cotton mop to clean the floor
*use old-fashioned dust mop
*vinegar and water in spray bottle for car windows
*Shoe Goo for holes in shoes
*take shoes to cobbler for other repairs
*use table salt to scrub stuck spots in sink
*use dilute Clorox and broom for dingy, stained concrete
*sell excess belongings from kitchen
*put sock tops on canning jars to prevent dings
*use canvas bags at grocery store
*order free generic checks from bank
*use free pens from businesses
*use 34-yr-old vacuum that was expensive but worth it--Royal cannister
*do not smoke
*do not drink
*cook from scratch mostly
*use old toothbrushes for cleaning tool for dishes, bathroom, kitchen, car
*trade yard labor for use of my mower
*spray a very dilute Dawn solution to kill fruit flies
*trade school supply for loaf of bread at bread store
*use fund-raiser car washes to get car washed
*pick up pennies and occasionally a larger coin
*keep tires inflated
Good tips! Thank you. I am amazed that you still have diapers from 1975. I do not remember buying pens either.
ReplyDeleteT'Pol,
DeleteI actually have some from 1968! Those are very fragile and should be retired. Since they are 100% cotton, I could compost them.
I had over five dozen diapers that I bought in 1975. I put them away and just got one out to use for dusting or whatever. I still have lots. I used a few of them to make diapers for Cabbage Patch dolls.
I was born in 1967 and at that time there were no disposable diapers in this country. My sister was born in 1974 and disposable diapers just became available. However, they were not very user friendly. Mom tried a pack and went back to cloth diapers on sis too. I remember her diapers being boiled in a "cauldron" since she did not want to throw the icky stuff in the wash machine. Fun times...
DeleteI used washable ones for all three children. With the last child, I used disposables when we went out. I would never use disposables all the time. I rinsed all the icky stuff off in the commode before I put it in the washing machine. Definitely fun times.
DeleteMy cloth nappies lasted through my two sons who both toilet trained at three and I realised they wouldn't last until my daughters were three so I bought new ones and of course the girls toilet trained at exactly two years old so I didn't even open the new pack. It won't be so long before my daughters might use them for their kids!
ReplyDeleteI use a lot of your frugal methods but I could add some!
by the way, I have had to give back my borrowed lap top so I read your blog on my phone but it's hard to comment so I might be quiet for a bit
Deletekylie,
DeleteMy son was three, too. And both daughters were two and out of diapers. Will your daughters wash diapers? Mine did not, just too much trouble. My daughter said she could not deal with the poop on diapers, like I loved doing it for mine. No, I washed out diapers because I had to, not because it was a thrill.
Now, women have govt help in getting diapers. The reasoning is they cannot afford or do not have a washer and dryer for whatever reason, so they cannot wash diapers. Oh, yes you can!
Okay, see you later.
I don't know what my daughters will do. For the sake of the environment I hope they use cloth but disposable is so easy....
DeleteI have to say, I see charities asking for disposables for people and I think why can't they wash cloth like I did, that would be a one time expense. I wouldn't want a baby to suffer though and I suspect there would be a lot of sore and dirty bottoms if we refused to supply diapers
Cloth diapers were the greatest!! Remember the Tidy Didy diaper service trucks? I could never afford that, but washing diapers was just part of the deal in those days. They made the greatest cleaning and dusting rags, too. Now, everything is microfiber. Can we still get cotton diapers? The disposables should be outlawed as they are polluting the planet worse than anything. People nowadays are just plain lazy.
ReplyDeleteTewshooz,
DeleteI remember there was a diaper service, but not the name. I sure could not afford them. I don't know, but I liked and have the square cotton birdseye diapers. It will take a thousand years for diapers to disappear in landfill...what I read. The govt helps people be lazy by buying diapers for low income people. They are not expected to take responsibility for their babies. I would feel better if the govt bought women a washing machine.
Many older apartments aren't plumbed or wired for washer installation.
DeleteI'm not aware of a government assistance program that provides diapers. There is a national diaper bank organization/movement, made up of local diaper banks, but those are all private charities (see http://nationaldiaperbanknetwork.org). Perhaps that's what you're thinking of?
I don't know. But, I do know if anyone calls 211, the person will be directed to who can help. I only give out this number and have never had reason to use it. Thanks.
DeleteWhen I had my first child, we could not afford a washing machine....we went to the laundromat. It was cheap in those days, too. My mother had one of those Maytag wringer washing machines and a scrub board when I was a kid. Guess we were low income people and didn't know it.
ReplyDelete