Dollar

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Green Tea

I’m a big fan of green tea. Not only is it an enjoyable drink, but it also helps boost my metabolism. I have a cup during my afternoon break and also before bed!

Celeste

Greasy Dishes?

Whenever I have a load of dishes from a particularly greasy meal, I add some baking soda to the detergent. It helps to absorb the grease and makes the dish soap work better. Since I started adding the baking soda, I rarely have to run anything a second time.

Donnette

College Cash

My son will be a senior in college this year. At the beginning of each semester, he lets it be known that he has a car and is willing to be the “designated driver.” Sometimes he’ll go to a concert or just wait for a call to pick up students at a local bar. He doesn’t make a lot, but he does make as much as he would with a more structured job.

Barb

Removing Stains from Clothes

The best way to clean clothes and save money on all those pre-treatments is with baking soda and vinegar. Add 1/2 cup baking soda to your detergent in the wash cycle or use detergent that already has baking soda in it. Then add 3/4 cup vinegar in the rinse. It gets the colors brighter and the whites whiter, and I rarely have to use any pre-treatments.

Sharon P.

DIY Filters

If you want good gas mileage, you need to replace your car’s air filter regularly. You can pay to have it done, but it’s a simple do-it-yourself project. Anyone can do it (usually without any tools). Filters aren’t expensive. They are about $15 at an auto parts store. They’ll help you choose the right one. Replacing it takes less than 10 minutes. It’s easy!

Nora

No Need to Replace It

If your showerhead, kitchen faucet, or kitchen sprayer is clogged with deposits, you don’t need to replace it. Just take a baggie, fill it with white vinegar, and secure it so that the showerhead, faucet, or sprayer is soaking in the vinegar. Make sure it’s covered completely. Let it sit overnight and the vinegar will dissolve the crude that’s blocking the water flow.

Shirlee

Saving With Water

Water is a key ingredient to my financial survival. Shifting from Starbucks and soda to water saves me a couple of dollars every day. When I go to a restaurant, I order water to drink, saving me another couple of dollars. I drink a big glass of water before most meals, which causes me to eat less so I don’t need Jenny Craig or Weight Watchers! And, drinking so much water is healthy for me. I don’t know how much I’m saving in medical bills, but I’m glad to save that, too!

Gloria

For Mom

My Mom lives alone and doesn’t like to cook for herself. I have a family that doesn’t like to eat leftovers. I put the two things together and solved both. I package any leftovers we have as a complete meal on a disposable plate. I give a portion of the meat, potato/pasta, and veggie. I place it in a gallon freezer bag and put it in my freezer. When I visit Mom (at least once a week), I bring over these frozen meals. Each night for dinner, she can pull one out of her freezer and pop it into the microwave. In just a few minutes, she has a healthy, balanced meal to eat with no pots or pans to wash! She’s happy, and my family is happy, too!

Leanne

A Little Treat

I’m a competitive person. To help me stick to my budget, I turned it into a game. I begin each month with a spending plan. At the end of the month, I compare my actual expenses to my plan. For every $10 below my plan, I allow myself $1 for something that I want but didn’t budget for in my spending plan. For instance, I was $110 under my budget last month. I used the $11 to treat myself to pie and coffee at a local restaurant. I know it’s not big, but it helps to keep me in the game throughout the month.

Annabell

Skylight Shade

We love the skylight in our family room, but in the summer, it lets in a lot of heat. We checked on a cover, but they were extremely expensive. Therefore, I decided to make my own. I bought UV solar screening from Home Depot and two tension rods. After cutting the screening to a little larger than the skylight, I sewed pockets on either side of the screen. Then we inserted the tension rods into each pocket. The tension rods hold it in place, but make it easy to remove. So far, it’s made a big difference this summer.

Adrienne

The ‘Wake Up Call’

My elderly mom lives by herself. I worry about her. We talk almost every night, but I don’t have time to call each morning to make sure she’s okay. We found a solution. She never wanted a cell phone, but I got her one anyway. I taught her to send me a text each morning when she gets up. It only takes a second, and I can go to work knowing that she’s fine. An added advantage is that if she ever falls or feels faint, I’m a speed dial away.

Dorrie

Last Christmas

Last Christmas, I promised that we’d do it different this year. Coming from a big family, presents can get out of hand. We stopped buying for adults, but even covering the kids is too much. This year, I’m going to approach everyone now about each of us donating an amount to a favorite charity. Our kids have enough stuff already, and knowing that we all contributed to a needy cause could help them appreciate how good they’ve got it.

Blake