Paper towels, paper napkins, toilet paper, Kleenex, plastic baggies, aluminum foil, plastic wrap – how do we avoid using these convenient items? With today’s lifestyle, it seems nearly impossible, doesn’t it? I know…I feel the same way. To be honest, I don’t know how people get along without using them.  I have read in other frugal blogs how families have stopped the use of paper towels. To be honest, I just can’t give them up. How in the world do you drain BACON without using paper towels? Priorities people, priorities.

When you think about it, spending cash on disposable items is equivalent to just tossing your dollars in the trash. Money is not a disposable item…at least not in my household. You ask, “What’s the remedy, Cheapo?” The only suggestions I can make…is to use less and NEVER, EVER pay full price.

**Nevermind the awful blue wallpaper...it's up next to go**

Here are a few ideas on how we do it:

• Plastic Baggies - aka: Landfill Nightmare. Use them for an hour and toss them aside? No way. I wash and reuse as many as possible. If a baggie has only been used to hold “dry” items, it always gets rewashed. Wet, greasy items? It gets *gulp* thrown away. I try to make a conscious effort to put “wet” foods in reusable, plastic containers in order to avoid feeding the landfill. Using them for lunch box sandwiches? Trying making a reusable sandwich wrap…you could easily make fabric “baggies” too. Here’s how I made mine - Wrap Instructions. For the fellow tree huggers, wax paper bags are a good substitute as well. When you do have to buy them, keep in mind that there are always coordinating Sunday paper coupons.
• Toilet paper- Um…yeah. Well, the least you can do is ALWAYS use a coupon. I’ve also heard…if you squeeze the roll before putting in on a holder, children are less likely to pull off more than they need (because it doesn’t “roll” as easily.) Does it work? I dunno.
• Paper napkins- According to my son…who needs napkins when you have jeans to wipe your hands on? *insert eye roll here* This is an easy one…use cloth napkins. You can even find bulk fabric that you like and make your own. Easy peasy.
• Paper towels- I luvs me my paper towels. Though…I do cut back on their usage. ALWAYS have a hand towel by the sink in which to dry your hands. It’s all too easy to grab for a paper towel, especially if it’s within reach. I’ve now moved my paper towel holder to the other side of the kitchen where they can more easily be used for cooking…not chronic hand washing and drying. What about for cleaning windows? I still use them. I’ve heard of people using coffee filters or newspaper, and I suppose it works. For now, that’s not for me (but will let you know if I try it which probably isn’t going to be anytime soon.) Again, coupons are ALWAYS available.
• Kleenex – Sorry…there is no way around this…an old man hanky is out of the question. All I can say is Kleenex coupons, Puffs coupons, Scott coupons.
• Aluminum Foil/Plastic wrap: Again, use coupons and try and use less. I rarely EVER replace these items. I know it’s easy to just get out the plastic wrap and paste it over your leftovers to stick them in the fridge. Take the time to put things in reusable, washable containers. These two items are quite expensive (for what they are.) Save yourself some money and waste by using them appropriately.

Have you own ideas on these money-suck products? Leave a comment and share with us!

More Frugal Friday

Hey Northern Indiana friends…Is NIPSCO your gas and electric provider?

Are you aware of their Appliance Recycling Program?

“Start making strides to save the environment and your wallet with NIPSCO’s Appliance Recycling Program. Let us recycle your old, working fridge or freezer, free of charge, and receive $35 as a thank you. By recycling your old appliance, you can save nearly $100 a year on your energy bill. Small steps make a big difference.”

To schedule your free pickup, call 877.341.2190 to visit www.NIPSCO.com/SaveEnergy

Fine Print: You must be a NIPSCO residential electric customer. You must own the fridge or freezer and it must be 10-30 cubic feet. Appliance must be in working (cooling) order. Appliance must be plugged in the night prior to pickup. Your appliance will be picked up, at no charge, from the address listed on your billing account. The $35 reward will be mailed to you within four weeks after pickup of your fridge or freezer. Limit of 2 appliances per household per year. Program funding is limited. Participation

With regret, I am here to tell you, our bill has now gone UP by $27 per month. *tears up* I think I know why. With a hurt ankle last summer, I barely got to use my outdoor clothesline. It was just too much (I was lucky to get laundry up and down the stairs at all!) Then, by the end of the summer, SOMEhow *looks at children playing in yard* the clothesline got broken.

Relying on the dryer is the only reason I can think of for the bump in budget (unless the rates are just going up dramatically.)

So, guess where I headed – straight to Lowe’s.

About $55 later, I had myself a new clothesline and three packs of clothespins.
Since I have only used my dryer twice in the past month, I’m really hoping this will pay off come next year’s budget. For now, I can puke about paying the extra $27. Bleh.

If anything, anything at all, I feel good about using the gifts of nature to get by. Not to mention, the clothes smell great (especially sheets & blankets!)
Want to start using the power of wind?

Here are a few tips:

• Decide what clothesline would work best for you: an umbrella type (like I have) or a clothesline stretched from tree to tree
• Find some nice, strong clips. To be honest, the ones I have are wimpy. Whatever happened to the big, hefty ones? Remember clipping them to your lips and earlobes as a kid? Um..yeah…me neither.
• Keep your clips in a reusable bag that you can carry in and out with your laundry. If you leave the wooden ones on the line, they will start to weather and turn black. It is not favorable to have black clothespin marks on your white clothing. It’s just not.
• If the weather is nice, be sure to get the clothes out early in the morning. Jeans take a long time to dry…like…all day. If you try sneaking them out in the afternoon, you’ll only have to rehang…or use the dryer to finish them up. Defeats the purpose.
• Shake out your clothes before bringing them in. Sometimes little buggies like to catch a ride into the house. No hitchhikers allowed.
• Lastly, always remember – even if there is NO rain in the forecast…it will rain on your clothes…just for the mere fact that they are out there. Oh, this rule also applies to washing your car.

Peace. Love. Save Money. Save the Earth.

More Thrifty Thursday at My Coupon Teacher

FORTY YEARS.

April 22, 1970.

Around twenty million Americans participated in the “modern environmental movement” in which we so lovingly call Earth Day. It wasn’t all about flowers and peace and tree hugging. Earth Day was MORE than that. It was protesting and organizing and believing that the oil spills, power plant pollution and extinction of animals HAD to stop.

Serious stuff.

It still is very. serious. stuff.

And here we are. April 22, 2010. Happy Earth Day everyone.

How are you spending today? I don’t suggest protesting or causing destruction to prove a point. Hypocritical? Yes…and also, getting arrested on Earth Day would not be a line item I would like typed on my life’s resume. Instead, today should be used to bring awareness and INSPIRE other people to take small steps in making our world a better place to live, to survive, to thrive. Let’s teach our children, and each other, to celebrate Earth Day EVERY day…so in the future, we have an Earth to celebrate.

Reduce. Reuse. Recycle. Conserve. Cloth Bags. Less Packaging. Less Energy. Drive less. Walk more. Carbon Footprint. Plant a Tree.

We all talk a lot, don’t we? Talk. Talk. Talk. Blah. Blah. Blah.
It’s time for less talk and more action.
Don’t you think?

• If you are seaching for a catalog that is not in their database, be sure to make a request. Most of the popular ones are there; I have run into a few more “niche” specific ones that had to be mentioned.
• Once the subscription stops, and you order from that company again, they will start sending the catalogs again – so be sure to keep up on it.
• This is a free service to you but run by donations. You can donate if you wish, but isn’t required.
• When wanting to unsubscribe, be sure to enter the information just as it is on the catalog mailing label.

Now, go de-clutter!

More Tackle It Tuesday at 5 Minutes for Mom.