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My inner cheapskate
Most of the time I'm not really what I'd consider a cheap person. I don't mind spending a little more for quality and I'm not convinced that keeping all of my money locked up is going to insure a better old age more than having a really good time now while I can.
That being said, I do have moments of real cheapness, and one of those moments was brought to my attention this weekend. I am a huge shampoo and conditioner cheapskate. When either my shampoo or conditioner bottle starts getting low I will milk it for at least another week by adding water to the bottle every couple of days and shaking the contents really hard. I will keep doing this until there nothing remotely resembling a bubble coming out of the bottle. Then, and only then, will I replace the bottle with a new one. And it's not as though we're talking about high-falutin' hair products here. This is Trader Joe's $2.49 shampoo and conditioner. Plus, I do it all of the time, even when there's another brand new bottle mere feet away. I have no idea why this is the area where I've decided to be the high priestess of cheap living, but apparently this is where I draw my line. How about you? What completely irrelevant thing are you cheap about? 11 comments from 8 users
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posted by
LoriMorales
on Sep 11, 2007 at 10:57 PM
My daughter is over 40 years old, so I used cloth diapers because that was what was available. Because she had a sensitivity to soap, I washed the diapers, then boiled them on the stove in one big 'ole pot and then re-rinsed. It was really a lot of work but she never had a diaper rash. When she was about 2, disposable diapers came onto the market. Now those were wierd - and not very useful. I used them once on a camping trip but never, ever again. Because of the cotton in these cloth diapers, how ever many were left after potty training was complete, they made wonderful dusters because lint was not left behind. Great for washing windows and mirrors. I've seriously considered buying more simply for cleaning purposes. posted by
madkow2747
on Sep 11, 2007 at 10:44 PM
Wow, Lori, what great ideas with the soap slivers!And awsmom8, that's exactly what I do for his food too :) I just haven't put much effort into it because he's still young yet for very much food. He only eats banana, avocado, and sweet potatoes. I don't think I could get away with the cloth diapers though. I thought about it for a while but my husband and I travel so much I'd probably never use them. And I don't think my hubby would let me use them anyway- he thinks it's weird. Out of curiosity though, did you have any problems with rashes using the reusable covers? It seems like they wouldn't breathe well. posted by
LoriMorales
on Sep 11, 2007 at 08:55 PM
How did I forget about the bar soap when it gets down to just a sliver: First use: use to outline cloth you are sewing from a pattern. Second use: soften several slivers with water and mush together and you have another bar of soap. Third: put a hole through the middle and hang from your trees and the deer will not chew on the bark come winter. You people are great - I feel so much better about my pecular, money saving habits. posted by
madkow2747
on Sep 11, 2007 at 08:21 PM
I do the same with toothpaste. But I refill my soap bottles before they get near empty, so I never think about watering it down. I'm ridiculously cheap with make-up sponges though. I use them three times and then sometimes I wash them and reuse them. It's a dollar for a 100-pack. I have a very hard time throwing away good glass jars and bottles. I figure I can use them for storing baby food when my son is older. I make all of his food by myself; I figure it's safer than the store-bought stuff. My husband laughs at me for keeping all sorts of things I think might be useful one day.
posted by
countygirl
on Sep 11, 2007 at 07:24 PM
Ha ha! These are great. I do the toothpaste thing too. Normally though it's because my shelf life for my toothpaste is shameful thanks to my two year old. :) I'm normally trying to get the rest out of the tube after he's squeezed the life out of it into my tub or sink or any other place he thinks would be fun. I also do the dish soap thing and the laundry soap one. One I do that I haven't heard yet is I get every inch of my face wash and moisturizer and lotion. Oh, and who hasn't put a little milk or water in their ranch bottle to get the very last drop. Yea, it's that important! lol
posted by
eekitsaspider
on Sep 11, 2007 at 07:24 PM
I don't do this but my Mom does... Whenever she goes to fast food places and they give her condiments like ketchup she saves them and adds it to the bottles. She even saves every napkin she gets too... I think it is kinda neat in a way!!! posted by
GregL
on Sep 11, 2007 at 06:57 PM
Yeah the toothpaste thing is kinda funny. I can usually get another week out of a tube after my wife is 'finished' with it! I don't consider myself 'cheap', I just don't like waste! Cheap: "miserly, stingy, parsimonious, tightfisted, niggardly (settle down now, it's a real word!), chintzy, frugal, penny-pinching, cheeseparing" I like to take stuff apart before throwing it away to save whatever parts I can. I've got a garage full of screws, nuts, bolts, power adapters, wire, connectors, and all sorts of other things! I just hate to throw stuff away! Crazy, I know! posted by
weebles
on Sep 11, 2007 at 04:53 PM
Holy moley --- I think we may be related! I completely forgot about the toothpaste thing until you brought it up, but I do that too. I like to lay it on the vanity and slide the handle of my toothbrush over it to get out every last drop.And , yes, I'm the same way with dish soap and dishwasher detergent. And I bought a special hand soap dispenser that lets you use a little bit of soap and a bunch of water that makes it last and last and last. I feel so close to you all... posted by
jewels
on Sep 11, 2007 at 04:38 PM
lori~hahahahaha you made me laugh
posted by
LoriMorales
on Sep 11, 2007 at 04:04 PM
It actually gives me great pride to add water to the last of the shampoo and conditioner ... this is true also for laundry detergent and fabric softener, dish washing liquid, and cleaning products like pine-sol. I wash out used zip lock baggies and reuse aluminum foil. When water glasses are left on the table still containing water, I use it to water indoor plants. And then I'll spend $75.00 on a T-shirt that looks great or buy another paid of sandals (I have about 30 pair already). I pay no attention to the cost of fresh fruit or vegetables, just buy what I want. I'll serve company crab legs (that's on sale at $9.99 lb) that adds up to about $15.00 per person. I'll spend $50.00 for a good bottle of wine (occasionally). My spending habits make no sense to me or my husband, who will just kinda shake his head when he sees me cutting up used paper for use in making grocery lists. I mean, the other side is completely BLANK. Sometimes you just gotta feel like you're making an effort. I think my mother is watching from the grave and in my cheepest moments - she is proud.
posted by
LuvMyKatz
on Sep 11, 2007 at 03:37 PM
HeHeHe...my Husband gets so mad when I start to water down my 99c V05 so do't feel bad I'm the same way I will blow a big bucks on some thing I truly want but when it comes to stuff like shampoo I'm a cheepscate I also squeeze the heck out of the toothpaste tube it looks as if I ran over it with the car by the end.
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