October 3, 2015 Waste Not, Want Not

October 3, 2015– Waste Not, Want Not

New in the Area

Goodwill is having sports jerseys on sale—good deals on Cubs gear and football jerseys (not just Bears—lots of other teams, too)!

Dutch Maid in Glenview, IL (1122 Waukegan Rd) is a great place to get your clothes cleaned and pressed, which can make them last longer (and eliminate the need to buy more shirts sooner). Wednesday and Saturday -- $.85 a shirt

Toys R Us does price matching, just in time for holiday shopping. Show them where you’ve seen a better deal (a sale paper or on your phone) and ask at the customer service desk if they will match the price.

Ross Dress for Less is a great place to get brand-name clothing and goods for less money. Right now they have fall home décor and winter coats that are coming into season.

Tried and True Tips

Save $$ by making meals that stretch. For example, one roasted chicken can feed a family of four for several meals if you are creative with leftovers. Soups and sandwiches for days! Food scraps from previous meals make excellent chilis and soups, especially as the weather cools down.

Biking if you are able to saves money on gas, car maintenance, and is better for the environment and your health. Bikes can be found cheap on craigslist and yard sales, too, so keep an eye out if you’re considering making a switch.

Always be sure to freeze food that is able to be frozen if you think you won’t be able to finish it before the expiration date. Bread, for example, can always be frozen. This also helps with buying in bulk—if you can’t finish it on time, freeze it!

Use reusable things instead of disposable things when you can. Cut up old tshirts (leggings work too) for rags to use instead of paper towels—they’re absorbent, cheap, and easily washed. Keep a nice looking basket in the kitchen to use for rags, then throw them in the wash when you need to.

Driving an old car means saving on your license plates. 20+ year old cars are sometimes eligible for vintage license plates, so check and see if that’s a way you can save if you have a car that might qualify.

Remember that often, you can save money by applying your time to something. The more time you’re willing and able to spend fixing, planning, DIY-ing, etc., the less money you need to spend on replacing and paying for convenience.

And of course, always ask yourself before you buy things—can I live without this? Is there something I already have that I can modify to fit my needs? Have I really worn out the one I have?

Finally, learn to enjoy living with less. Like it. Don’t think of everything you do as a chore. Think of it as a challenge. Test your fortitude! Don’t think of comfort and convenience alone as the ultimate goal. Live like your ancestors. Humans have withstood conditions far worse than having to wash cloth napkins. You can do it! Take pride in your frugal lifestyle, make it a hobby, and have fun with it.

Follow the wisdom of generations past—

Use it up
Wear it out
Make it do
Or do without!