Lots of recycling and frugal tips

by Sue
(Valparaiso, Indiana)

The most frugal thing I do is recycle my bathwater. I can get one toilet flush, and one med-size load of laundry done after one bath!

I also make everything; sew my own clothes, knit my own sweaters, socks, purses, hats, etc., can my own food, cook everything from scratch, garden. I keep the furnace on 65 daytime, and 60 at bedtime. It is most satisfying to have ridiculously low utility bills--just put on another layer of clothes.

I never use my clothes dryer to dry clothes--I just put the things that matter if they're wrinkled in the dryer for a few minutes, to relax the fabric, then everything gets hung out side--or on a line in the basement during the winter.

I never waste water while I'm waiting for it to get warm, instead I save it for the coffeemaker, or to cook with. I save rain water in 50 gallon barrels and can't begin to tell you how many uses I have found for it!

I will not pay for cable tv until they take away all the commercials--yeah, like that's gunna happen! On a side note I would like to add that I believe a great percentage of America's weight problem stems from food commercials! How can anyone not think about food when we are perpetually bombarded with tasty-looking visuals!

Living frugally gives me satisfaction. I have no house payment, no car payment, low property taxes, no credit card debt, and I am healthier than most people 20 or 30 years younger than I am. I am glad I was brought up by a frugal (German,depression-era)mother. It comes naturally to me to ask, "do you need it? or do you just want it?"

I am not on the internet, but the library where I live provides free use, pretty awesome! Happy saving!