My mom gave me a tip many years ago. When buying bath towels do not buy the big and thick ones. The regular size will fit more in the wash load and will dry faster.
While you can't wrap it around your whole body, I have found I really love to dry off with cotton receiving baby blankets. They are soft, very absorbent, and they don't pill up. I hang them up and they dry quickly. They also make excellent dish towels. Often I can find them reasonably priced at thrift stores.
Its true. I have just regular ole towels and have no issue washing and drying. My daughter's washer went out and she had to do laundry here but has big THICK towels and it took more loads and longer drying.
I have been opening my dishwasher door not only to conserve energy but also to speed up drying, super hot dishes dry faster. Allowing me to empty and put away dishes quicker. I mentioned this to a friend and she laughed. Well I was in Lowe’s not long ago and noticed they now have a dishwasher by Bosch that the door automatically pops open when the rinse cycle is complete. Not crazy after all. 😉
I hate pulling out wet dishes after running high heat so definitely going to try this. It happens allot bc I often need to open before it’s done anyway (or my kids do) so thinking I’ll just turn the heat off and pop it open
For those first time gardeners, don't forget to save seeds from your favorite heirloom tomatoes. Simply scoop out the seeds, spread thinly in a paper towel until dried, store in small storage bags or envelopes, be sure to label. Saves from buying seeds yearly. Cheers!
My former next door neighbors never cooked using their oven or stove top after the man lost his job. He turned the backyard into a garden and used their grill for everything they ate. Even after he returned to work when Covid restrictions were retracted. It really helped them with their food costs and electricity with 3 kids
You are so right about the small changes making a difference. Dozens of them, grouped together, helped to get me out of debt! I turn my heat OFF before going to bed. My pipes are well insulated so I don't have to worry about them freezing. I pile on the blankets and stay plenty warm all night - for free!
The last couple of months I've been shutting my hot water heater off at the breaker. It's electric so I don't have to worry about a pilot light so this wouldn't necessarily work for gas. I've learned that it only takes about 15-30 minutes to heat it enough to take a shower and about every 2-3 days I run the dishwasher so I leave it on for about 30 minutes to get it hot enough to run the dishwasher and shower.
Hi guys i'm from the Uk 🏴🇬🇧❤️ Single mamma, I never use fabric softener for towels, dry outside not always possible with Uk weather so drying racks and i'll use my dehumidifier, buy cheaper brands in the food shop, Laundry and cooking meals for the freezer late evening for cheaper bills, no car costs, Xmas coming soon 🎅 looking for half price sales, black friday I follow the want and need rules for presents no unnecessary spending, Wrap gifts in recyclable brown wrapping paper and tape, we use stamps, string to make look pretty, buy half price biscuits and chocolates, sweets after Halloween, always use my points card when doing the food shop we have the club card here for Tescos store, points add up to £ which I save for the xmas food shop x
Hiya, I live in Belgium. Yellow stickers are really a godsend. Just freeze and eat it later. I do try to cook as much as I can from scratch. And I start buying Xmas gifts (or birthday gifts) on sale.
These videos are absolutely amazing. And I love how you include your viewers in your videos and everybody's working together as one big frugal family learning from each other.
After 25 years, our stove/oven finally bit the dust. Many new stoves have an Air Fryer built-in. I always wanted an Air Fryer but never wanted yet another small appliance on the counter. Problem solved with the new stove and it's Made in the USA. Cheers.
Putting a hot water bottle into the freezer with water. Once frozen use it to cool the body when putting 😎 it behind your back. I did it recently and it lasted 5 hrs. Blessings Maria 😊
Well, my grandparents immigrated here from Sweden back in the early 1920’s. They both worked very hard and were extremely frugal. This is nothing new. 🤷🏼♀️
@@lizadivine3785 My parents were frugal and didn’t have to be, so they used that extra frugality to be able to take all of us on trips to Europe and Asia 😃 And the wealthiest of people are actually quite frugal just look into Warren Buffet 😉
@@cjhoward409 that’s true but my parents weren’t constantly obsessing over the economy. They stimulated it. They owned a business. Anyone who is worried about our economic future is already poor. And we are being FORCED to pay those who are giving future generations DEBT with their idiotic out of control spending.
I recently installed the heat on demand water heater....my monthly utility bill plummeted from $250.00 monthly to $65.00....incredible!!! I live in Florida....I love your show...keep up the good work.
One of my best money saving tips is using the washer and dryer after 9pm and before 10am. Makes a significant difference in my bill.I also unplug all of my chargers when not in use, and I unplug my microwave and other small appliances when we go away.
Same. Those unused small appliances draw power even when not in use. But I also rarely use my dryer. I hang everything outside. Our denim lasts much longer too not getting beat up in the dryer.
When doing my laundry, each time the washer runs through the cycle I reset the washer to spin and spin out more water before putting the load in the dryer. Then the load will dry faster.
Lower electricity by cleaning dryer vents,lint trap very well. Also,run vinegar through the washer to remove rust,limescale,etc. Same with a coffee pot.run vinegar through it once a week.more,depending on how much coffee you use.it will work. To clean drains,baking soda,vinegar,boiling water.cheaper than draino ,or liquid plumber,and non caustic
I wouldn't do it either. I save money in many other ways, I'm willing to spend a bit more for a HOT shower. Maybe according to Hope, it's not truly a luxury since it loosens up my shoulders. That helps me to be able to tackle my work better for the day. Although I still need the coffee that I might have been able to skip if I had a cold shower. It's still worth it to me.
Overly warm showers aggravates skin conditions like psoriasis and eczema and strips your skin of natural oils . I take tepid showers. So just warm enough to not cause goosebumps. I also only do a full bath once a week. Which saves heat and water.
I save water by getting wet, turning the shower off, soaping up, turning back on to rinse. Also, in and out in 5 minutes. I have a watcher. My dog puts his head in to watch. I've told him it's creepy. So better to go fast.
Thank you for your tips!! I reorganized my daily living tasks so I was able to complete them outside the high peak, high cost period which was 4pm to 9pm. So now I start cooking dinner at 3pm and finish before 4pm. Another example is the new household rule is that laundry has to be done before 4pm or after 9 pm. The lowest charge is between 12 am to 6am. So a load of laundry might be thrown in at 5am and coffee is brewed at 5:50am. I have challenged myself to keep busy with other tasks besides eating dinner during the high cost period such as going for a walk, washing the car, watering the front and back yard and cleaning the house so the television stays off. The drop in the electric bill was immediate!
Lucky you for having a power company that encourages low peak incentives. Unfortunately my city doesn’t do that. Don’t know why. They are always asking the public to use less power during peak hours. Shame on you CPS in San Antonio, Texas. I’m calling you out.
Got a laundry tip that I read in The Tightwad Gazette a quarter century ago but never tried out until recently. Put a dry towel in your dryer with the wet clothes and they'll dry faster. I finally tried it last weekend and this weekend and it does work. The clothes dry at least 5 minutes sooner, which doesn't sound like a lot, but it's 5 minutes of gas and electric that I don't have to pay for with each load.
When I did use the dishwasher, I would turn it off when the dry cycle started, open the door just slightly, let the steam escape and the heat fill the room. In the dry Colorado climate you can steam your face...getting the dishes done and getting a facial at the same time. ~Debby
I used to work on charter boats in the Caribbean. Rice with lunch? water boils, add rice, water boils again, turn off and set timer 15 minutes. Lived in an RV (by frugal choice) for a year or so. Used my collapsible huge clothesline I used outside at the home I used to own IN THE RV to dry. A/C dried things almost as fast as a dryer! And a word about the kitchen if you eat chicken of any sort that has bones: save all the bones in a quart or gallon bag in the freezer. Save remnants of onions and other aromatics. Load in crock pot for an additional six servings of chicken soup or broth. Vegetarians should do this too with anything you're going to toss. Put it in the crock pot and make broth and THEN toss the rest in the compost pile.
When our traditional 55 gallon water heater flooded the laundry room (ruining the appliances) we replaced it with a tankless/on demand water heater. We immediately noticed a $10.00 savings on our natural gas bill. This month, we also saved nearly $50.00 in electricity because we invested in new water saving energy efficient appliances. :)
If you have an electric water heater, invest in a timer that is 7 day/24 hr. The 7 day allows for a different weekend schedule. With the 24 hr time you can schedule 2 period of more with the hot water turned off. Sleeping 10pm-6am and if house is empty during the day 8am-4/5pm. This should save about 67% of your hot water cost daily M-F. Saturday/Sunday will vary.
@@UndertheMedian we also have a propane tankless hot water heater.. It really lowered our electric bill.. We have had it for 5 years with no repairs.. Had it cleaned.. Our electric bill is $146 budget plan with $84 budget for propane.. I recently got a statement from Dominion that in our area we are using less electricity than others but want to reduce it more… Love all of your suggestions.. I use wool balls in the dryer.. Use Dawn and always water it down-usually 50-50… Still plenty of soap.. Shampoo, liquid hand soap, liquid bath soap I add water.. Use white vinegar a lot to clean.. Use Dawn on clothes stains..
@@carolecoffman4276 , I was just reading something yesterday about using Dawn to pre-treat stains on clothing. Makes sense since it's really designed to break up grease and dirt.
You have forever changed my nosy crock pot peeping. I knew it was not a good idea, but I was forever peeping at my soup or beans. Note. My money saver is I cook in the crock pot in the basement in the Summer and save on electricity on air conditioning on main floor.
Thank you for all the tips! I backed down my water heater to 120 from 190 😧. I replaced our outside flood lights with a solar light! I went around the house to unplug everything I wasn’t using. All my bulbs are now LED. I wash only on cold water. Turned off the heat dry setting on my dishwasher. I will be doing some more hacks to be frugal soon! I also signed up to get your checklist in my email! Thank you so much!
one tip on the dish detergent, use a pump bottle like you would for hand soap, fill it with the dish soap and keep the large bottle under the sink. stretches the dish soap out a long way :)
In preparation for our 50th anniversary trip in October, I looked for small amounts of extra money in our budget to add to the anniversary account that I had set up. We were pleasantly surprised how small amounts of coins added up to many dollars. When you made the statement in this video about how small changes do add up, I was cheering you on because small changes do add up and make it possible to save for extras in your life. Thanks!
@@UndertheMedian We are going to Eureka Springs, AR to start with and then moving on to other sites in other northern states {if they are open to Texans.}
I keep my dehumidifier by the washer and dump in the water to use on the clothes. Years ago, there was a wonderful newsletter and book series called The Tightwad Gazette. The suggestions were amazingly helpful (and some pretty out there. lol.) The freezer soup idea saved me one time when we had zero money, and I had two kids to feed. In high school I had to make a solar cooker and it was pretty easy to do. Works well if you have hot or sunny days.
When leaving for vacation I go to the electrical main panel and turn off the breakers for stove,washer,dryer,dishwasher, microwave,and bedroom areas, TV and stereo surge protector and unused lamps are unplugged also during vacation time.
Get the foam pumps for hand washing. You can refill them with about an inch of any dish liquid and water. Soap your hands thoroughly before you even turn your water on.
I use a hay box/thermal cooker. My electric slow cooker is sulking on top of the freezer collecting dust! Now I know a hay box really works if I have to cook any other way I feel resentful about all the money and fuel I am using. I can even make my favourite macaroni cheese in it!!😁 Its quite nice looking and I keep it in the bedroom. It looks like a small blanket box.
I have done three simple savings tips for my life and I realize now I am saving approximately 500 dollars a year. The oven is a hard one for me. I am going to try not using the oven to just cook one food item. This is my next small goal! You are right small changes makes big resultes! Gina in lights
I make my own biscuits, cornbread and usually have two items at a time when I use the oven. In hot weather I use my toaster oven. I save 10$ per month on lower cell phone plan.
I saw an interview by a woman who used a power strip in every room for lamps, chargers, etc. Before she left the house each day she unplugged the chargers and saw electricity savings.
An awesome invention is the wonder bag designed in Durban South Africa 🇿🇦 it isulates a pot of food after its brought to a boil and cooks for 5 hours without using any electricity whatsoever.
Yes, they're brilliant, and buying one supports women's charities too. I grew up with a home made one of two wooden boxes inside each other with hay packed in-between. It did the same thing, but didn't look as nice.
Hi Hope and Larry. I absolutely love your videos ! I'm currently binge watching many of your playlists with notebook and pencil in hand ! Here's a tip I haven't seen anyone suggest yet. I stretch my store bought dish soap. I use an empty foaming handsoap bottle. Fill it 2/3 - 3/4 with water, then add the store bought dish soap. Don't shake it but turn the bottle, repeatedly to mix. I buy the 90 ounce bottles of Ajax dish soap from Walmart for $4.57 each. That one bottle has lasted me and my husband up to a year ! It's just the two of us, but it lasts my son and his family (7 members total), about 5 - 6 months. Thanks for sharing all of your tips and hints with us !
Add a tablespoon or two of isopropyl alcohol to the water/liquid soap mix and you’ll get foam like store bought. I do this to make my own refills for my dawn power wash.
I use my All American Sun oven often. When I lived in Southern California, it quickly reached 350-375, but when I moved to Idaho, it only gets up to 325-350, but does so even in the snow. I just leave it out to cook a little longer. It’s awesome. I’m glad I bought it years ago because they are a lot pricier now, but still worth every penny.
Omg I need one cuz I saw it and I was like yeah if I would have known more about solar I would have gone with solar instead of gas stove. Im a bit 🦥 slower than most I'll admit.
I actually use home-made citrus vinegar where your fabric softener compartment in your washer is....it sanitizes and softens your laundry--I also use those woolen dryer balls you talked about...it's awesome! Love the video! :) Very helpful! Dawn @ Rich & Dawn in MN :)
@@dewaynelyle5991Citrus vinegar I make with water, sugar and orange and/or lemon peels, let ferment, then strain-use vinegar to clean surfaces and then I use it as fabric softener.
I live in South Tx, where we had 57 days of triple digits this past summer. I purchased blackout curtains, place them on all southeast to northwest windows, used portable fans in the kitchen, dining area, night stand and raised my ac temp by 2-3 degrees. My Electricity bill went down 19%. Now I want to get those power surges with individual on/off switch. I add Pinesol to my smelly dirty laundry and add a bit less of my laundry detergent. Now I also want to try make my own detergent, your subscriber who made laundry detergent super low is my new mentor. Thank you for all the tips.
Tried cooking the pasta as suggested by bringing it to the boil then turning off the cooker and leaving it for 20 minutes and it will cook on its own. It works perfectly.
I especially liked this video. Hope, your zest for life is contagious. And Larry is your perfect counterpart. You remind me so much of me and my husband and things we did during the Seventies as newlyweds to save money during the gas crunch and recession. Shutting curtains to save on AC was done even way back in 1960 (or maybe a few years earlier) when my family first got AC. And doors. We kids would run in and out the back door and Mom would yell, “Shut the door!”
I'm looking forward to the wattage/electric calculations for instant pot, etc! I use vinegar in my softener dispenser for towels and water down Downy 1/2 water in the bottle so anyone using it uses half. I got really nice 100% wool sweaters at the thrift store and took them apart and unraveled them to recycle the yarn. All the tiny pieces I couldn't use to crochet with I used to make dryer balls. I got one Virgin lambs wool sweater for under $4. So much yarn and several dryer balls from one sweater. Also if there are blankets at the thrift made out of nice yarn, I recycle it as well.
Love all your tips! We live in home HOA, no clothes line allowed. We hang our clothes on a rack in garage. My daughter used cotton, heavy bed pads & they dry in our 83 degree garage. I get crock pot liners from pan savers. They have a strong elastic band & truly helps my crock cleaning. We run washer after 10 P.M. We unplug everything not in use. Unfortunately, Fla. does a " average of all homes!!! Block out curtains work great. Daughters room gets so much sun. NOT ROOM DARKENING!!! BLOCKOUT!
I have used the washballs. They do work. It was good for 1000 washes. You recharge them in the sunlight. They work fine. I would sometimes add Nellies laundry soda to it for extra cleaning.
@@reneejohnson5787 I guess I didn't put that too clearly. It sounds like a great idea. Seems like it would bash your clothes around in the washer which is similar to how all humans kind of traditionally cleaned clothing. I'd like to try them! Sorry I wasn't clear. :-)
@@nitanice I see what you're saying now. The little beads inside are made up of trace minerals, that's my understanding. The reason for the sunshine is that it sort of sterilizes them if you will. I think people are looking for more environmentally conscious products.
I grew up with my grandfather and step grandmother. She would cut old towels that had holes in them and cut them into squares. Then she would sew 2 together on 3 sides and fill them with small bits of soap that otherwise would have been thrown away then sew up the open end. We each had our own personal washcloths with soap already built in. I imagine today you could sew up the open end with velcro and continue to reuse and even empty the soap out to wash them.
I have had my pots 15 years. They looked terrible on the bottom. I used Bar keepers friend. Let the paste sit for 15min and use steel wool. Dunk in hot water and scrub. Repeat weekly until you can see an improvement. Save your pots still good.
I found Bar Keepers Friend when I moved to WV to take care of my Dad. He was a huge fan. That stuff is magical - it cleans everything! So far I have only found it in store at Home Depot, but I'm sure it is on Amazon as well.
Another great set of advice! You are spot on guys and thank you very much. I would throw into tips… collect rain water and use it for example for flushing toilet or general washing. Cuts water bill by half. And of course… make your own bread. In England bread is around £2 for a loaf. Bread mix is £0.40p and you can make 2, 2lb loafs. Great video. Keep up the good job. ❤️
Hi I love your show and so much Free help. Dawn dish liquid. Is great at killing fleas. My daughter and I volunteer in cat rescue. All must have a dawn bath upon arrival at our home. One of our cats got into oily poison. She had 3Dawn baths asap like an hour. She lived and is fine 12 years later
Such a good list. I heard news that in 90 days things will be harder on every household and it has been presently, or in our past(this is the last week of March ‘22)
I use soap nuts with a few drops of tea tree or lavender oil then hang dry. After they are done you compost them. Zero waste! Sometimes for really yukky things I add a tiny bit of soaker powder but that's pretty cheap at Coles. The small bags are about $16 here in Australia so a bit dear
My tip is to wash your clothes LESS FREQUENTLY. I think in USA, many people wear something 1 x and throw it in the dirty laundry. Of course, undies get a fresh pair every day. Other than that, I suggest doing sniff/sight test. Does it look dirty? Is it stained? Does it smell? If not, hang it up to wear again. That's what I do in my house. I have stinky teen boys, so often with hoodies. THey aren't dirty, but can smell funky. I will turn things inside out and put outside for the fresh breeze to air it out. Then they can wear again.
Yep. I work at a computer. I don't really get my clothes very dirty. Why wash? I generally wear my clothes -- excluding undies -- two days or more depending on my activity. If it's not dirty, why wash it?
It you read the directions on the back of the laundry bottle, it tells you to fill to A or B that's on the inside of the cap, its about 2 to 3 tablespoons (depending on how dirty). I'm 60 & just learned this.
On the COLD SHOWER comment.... Just yesterday I saw a video by Dr. Eric Berg called “What happens after 14 days of cold showers”. The benefits (which include losing weight) are insane! So I just found another benefit to cold showers! Thank you guys...y’all are amazing!
We planted hops rhizomes at the front of our house we’re the sun is the strongest and we have a poorly insulated window. It grows from ground level in early spring to over the roof before it gets hot out. Keeps our indoor temp low during the summer then we cut it back in fall so that strong morning sun heats our house all winter
Wow, absolutely fantastic video. Your work keeps getting better and better. Just when you think I've heard it all, you teach us something new. These viewer suggestions are awesome!
I have a good one for y'all. When making hard boiled eggs clean them and then put them in pasta and cook them that way. The shopping bags cut in stripes and wind them then make a crochet scraper for dishes.
I use to design heating ventilation and air systems. High efficiency air filters come in washable, reusable versions. You can keep them clean once a month if you buy washable filters without buying more and it will save you a lot of money and make your entire heating and cooling use less energy.
If I remember correctly you and Larry have SaladMaster cookware. They actually show how you can cook using the stacked method with those pans. High price but the pans are worth every penny. We love ours and everything comes clean easily . Because like you we cook without oil (also vegan or whole food plant based) our dishes could really could be cleaned with almost no detergent and just hot water. Great videos thank you Karen
I use the method you mentioned to hard boil eggs. I may not save much money, but I save my pans. I always forget the eggs and burn the pan. I enjoy your videos .
My dryer conked out a yr ago....as an old school Gen X'er hunni im not brand new to hang drying clothes. My late grandmothers and my boomer mothers dried by clothes line. But i dont do that.....i just get hangers, hang the clothes and towels in a closet and leave the door open letting them air dry. If any need ironing, i iron them. I love this way better. Sheets i drape one at a time on ironing board to air dry. Im so not buying another dryer right now. Nopes.😌
Pumice is great for scrubbing pot's and pan's does a brilliant job on burnt pot's and pan's when walking beaches or lakes pick pumice up they come in all sizes. Have some in the bathroom for your feet to scrub dirt or dry skin off, pumice looks nice in a bathroom maybe in a wooden bowl .Love your video's thank you 😄❣️
A way to do dishes by hand and save dish soap and hot water is to put a little water and a little soap in a cereal bowl or whatever, then wash the dishes with a brush or cloth. After all are washed, rinse quickly and you have saved yourself some money.
Use baking soda to wash or even a reduced amount of laundry detergent and add Odo-Ban as a disinfectant. It comes in a large concentrated jug and add as directions indicate for level of disinfectant desired (or use amount proven to your requirements). My wash smells and wears beautifully.
Just in the laundry section and had to comment on the washer balls. My husband does HVAC ( crawls under houses and in attics) and there's no way I could get his clothes clean without hot water and soap. The lady said her son's basketball uniform got cleaned, well that's sweat not grim! Anyway, love your channel and thankful for the great info!
We bought a large pack of cotton cloths from Costco auto aisle and use them for cleaning and as napkins. They aren't "cute" but they were inexpensive and clean easy.
My house runs entirely on solar panels throughout the day but at night we need to use mains power from the grid. So we make sure we charge our toothbrushes, phones, ipads, wash our clothes during the day, never ever at night. Ironing, cooking vacuuming etc is also done only during daylight. Our hot water is gas so we installed an instantaneous system rather than the old one that heated water constantly. A few pennies here, a few more pennies there, it all adds up over a year.
How I save on my electricity bill during hot weather is to turn the AC thermostat up a degree and run a small fan in the room where I am spending time.
I sewed my own black out curtains from Walmart clearance fabric only $1/yard. I face the black fabric towards the sun in the winter to heat the house, and I made it double layer so I face the white side towards the sun in the summer to reflect the heat away. Both summer and winter the double layer adds insulation to keep the wanted temperature. If you sew your black out curtains out of old towels from goodwill it will also act as a sound barrier since towels are better sound barriers than foam.
Wonderful video. Packed with great money saving tips...I like the pressure cooker better than the slow cooker. It cooks faster, saves more energy and retains more nutrients. Looking forward to next week's video.
I use a wooden spoon to prevent boil overs. Works for me. We live in an RV and rarely stay where winter is cold. Maybe jacket weather. For sleeping we don’t heat our rig, but we use a mattress heater and sleep under a comforter. Washing your hands : it’s the friction from the soap and washing that cleans your hands not the temperature of the water
I was recently watching a show called Wartime Farm. In fact, they didn't use a crockpot, but had a similar system. They would bring food to a boil on the stove and then would put in in an insulated box. About 6 hours later it would be cooked (using hardly any electricity).
I use heavy bottom stainless steel cookware because they use less electricity, and you can actually turn the burner off 2/3 the way through and leave the lid on it will finish cooking your food the rest of the way.
Baking soda: $8.97/12 lb bag at Home Depot. Also, we keep our thermostat at 67° in the winter. We just add extra blankets, if necessary. We put plastic over the windows.
A few of the frugal ways I save on Energy Cost is by rereading my 6th grade Science Book. The Sixth Grade is when Science went from demonstrations of the Physical World (growing a bean seed in a paper towel lined Jar) to understanding the Principles working together (Bean in the Jar-moisture, sunlight, temperature, air/wind, nutrients, stages of development). With my particular house's energy requirements, I start on the outside first...Which way is the prevailing winds, rain, snow & sun? If, I can't build or choose my house to fit the Northern Hemisphere Principles of length on the East-West axis and reduced/increase Climate impact on the North-South axis then it's thinking time of what can I do environmentally to impact the Weather, Wind & Sun for optimal Conservation of Energy. My old house was 145yo, 3-Story Colonial with a Cupola and 10 French doors on the 1st floor with a three sided porch. On the North (prevailing wind) side at 30'-50' interval rows we planted a variety of Evergreen Trees & Bushes, so in the Winter they blocked the cold winds and in the Summer we would spray the Evergreens with water in the morning then they would transpire cold air (Nature's Air Conditioning Mystery) in the heat of the day as the prevailing winds blow across the wet needles toward the open French Doors of the house. Because of the cupola drawing heat from the lower floors up (chimney effect) & out of the house it created a cool air Draft throughout the house. On super hot days the Porch helped to keeping the 1st floor the coolest and it was porch time with the lemonade, books & puzzles during the day in the Summer. Also, during the Summer, we would let the children sleep on the porch in hammocks or in the second floor Sunporch with the cool evening breezes. On the Southwestern side were Deciduous Trees that blocked the high Sun of Summer and in the winter the Low Sun would (working with the Sun's seasonal arches). Modern Houses need porches, larger overhangs/awnings to block the Sun coming into windows, Cupolas/Roof Ridge Vents and better size appropriate & placements of windows. By building closets on outside walls of houses, we added extra insulating space (eg: Tapestries on Castle Walls) between us and the cold winter winds. Daytime activity rooms should be on the Sunny sides of the house to minimize electricity for lighting. In dark hallways & areas Sun Tubes with the Solar pads can offer lighting options. The Creator created all things to work together, it's up to us to figure it out and implement all the tools given us.
So much common sense! Great legacy for your children to pass on. I watched a YT video about an architect in Spain or Portugal incorporating overhangs and water features and a swimming pool on the outside of the house to cool the house as well as keep water near the home in case of fire 🔥. So much thought went into using the principles of sunlight to light the house and cool the house. The home uses very little electricity, so only a few solar panels are needed for evening lighting and the pumps for the water features and pool.
A full freezer runs less than a half empty one, so i save milk jugs and pop bottles, fill them with water and freeze them as i empty things from my freezer if i am not filling it back up with food quickly.
Larry- I drink a lot of coffee too and I sleep like a baby!! I attribute my ability to years of working the night shift as a nurse. I can fall asleep anywhere if I want to in a matter of minutes 😂😂
My mom gave me a tip many years ago. When buying bath towels do not buy the big and thick ones. The regular size will fit more in the wash load and will dry faster.
While you can't wrap it around your whole body, I have found I really love to dry off with cotton receiving baby blankets. They are soft, very absorbent, and they don't pill up. I hang them up and they dry quickly. They also make excellent dish towels. Often I can find them reasonably priced at thrift stores.
@@halfheartedhomestead1909 great idea
Its true. I have just regular ole towels and have no issue washing and drying. My daughter's washer went out and she had to do laundry here but has big THICK towels and it took more loads and longer drying.
@@melindaroop1346 every bit of saving helps these days.
Glad you noticed the difference.
@@halfheartedhomestead1909 I wrap myself in a bath robe after shower instead towel
I have been opening my dishwasher door not only to conserve energy but also to speed up drying, super hot dishes dry faster. Allowing me to empty and put away dishes quicker. I mentioned this to a friend and she laughed. Well I was in Lowe’s not long ago and noticed they now have a dishwasher by Bosch that the door automatically pops open when the rinse cycle is complete. Not crazy after all. 😉
Yes I always do this. Good job
I had that dishwasher at my old house. I miss it!
I handwash now. The way i do ut i save a tin of water.
I hate pulling out wet dishes after running high heat so definitely going to try this. It happens allot bc I often need to open before it’s done anyway (or my kids do) so thinking I’ll just turn the heat off and pop it open
That is the way to do it actually. Also reduces water stains.
Haha! I didn’t miss that pun, Larry! “I give her a lot of credit on that one.”
You're paying attention, Jamila! LOL!
😂😂😂
For those first time gardeners, don't forget to save seeds from your favorite heirloom tomatoes. Simply scoop out the seeds, spread thinly in a paper towel until dried, store in small storage bags or envelopes, be sure to label.
Saves from buying seeds yearly.
Cheers!
We also save seeds from our biggest pumpkins, squash, and zucchini.
My former next door neighbors never cooked using their oven or stove top after the man lost his job. He turned the backyard into a garden and used their grill for everything they ate. Even after he returned to work when Covid restrictions were retracted. It really helped them with their food costs and electricity with 3 kids
Wow!!
You are so right about the small changes making a difference. Dozens of them, grouped together, helped to get me out of debt! I turn my heat OFF before going to bed. My pipes are well insulated so I don't have to worry about them freezing. I pile on the blankets and stay plenty warm all night - for free!
The last couple of months I've been shutting my hot water heater off at the breaker. It's electric so I don't have to worry about a pilot light so this wouldn't necessarily work for gas. I've learned that it only takes about 15-30 minutes to heat it enough to take a shower and about every 2-3 days I run the dishwasher so I leave it on for about 30 minutes to get it hot enough to run the dishwasher and shower.
I think you would really like the book atomic habits
Wear a winter cap too it will keep your heat in
Hi guys i'm from the Uk 🏴🇬🇧❤️ Single mamma, I never use fabric softener for towels, dry outside not always possible with Uk weather so drying racks and i'll use my dehumidifier, buy cheaper brands in the food shop, Laundry and cooking meals for the freezer late evening for cheaper bills, no car costs, Xmas coming soon 🎅 looking for half price sales, black friday I follow the want and need rules for presents no unnecessary spending, Wrap gifts in recyclable brown wrapping paper and tape, we use stamps, string to make look pretty, buy half price biscuits and chocolates, sweets after Halloween, always use my points card when doing the food shop we have the club card here for Tescos store, points add up to £ which I save for the xmas food shop x
Hiya, I live in Belgium. Yellow stickers are really a godsend. Just freeze and eat it later. I do try to cook as much as I can from scratch. And I start buying Xmas gifts (or birthday gifts) on sale.
@dawniequeen the yellow stickers are fab x I always grab them then cook with them that night and freeze ☺️
@@lindadugardein5584 Hi Linda, yep it makes a huge difference buying things all year in the sales x Saves so much
These videos are absolutely amazing. And I love how you include your viewers in your videos and everybody's working together as one big frugal family learning from each other.
Thank you. The concept of family is definitely what we are hoping to encourage on the channel.
After 25 years, our stove/oven finally bit the dust. Many new stoves have an Air Fryer built-in. I always wanted an Air Fryer but never wanted yet another small appliance on the counter. Problem solved with the new stove and it's Made in the USA. Cheers.
I just use the air fryer. It seems the oven would use more electricity since it's bigger.
Putting a hot water bottle into the freezer with water. Once frozen use it to cool the body when putting 😎 it behind your back. I did it recently and it lasted 5 hrs. Blessings Maria 😊
Good one -better than frozen peas
I really appreciate your channel but as an American whose father fought for this country it breaks my heart that we even have to think like this.
Well, my grandparents immigrated here from Sweden back in the early 1920’s. They both worked very hard and were extremely frugal. This is nothing new. 🤷🏼♀️
@@cjhoward409 my parents weren’t frugal they didn’t have to be. They worked hard and did very well.
@@lizadivine3785
My parents were frugal and didn’t have to be, so they used that extra frugality to be able to take all of us on trips to Europe and Asia 😃
And the wealthiest of people are actually quite frugal just look into Warren Buffet 😉
@@cjhoward409 that’s true but my parents weren’t constantly obsessing over the economy. They stimulated it. They owned a business. Anyone who is worried about our economic future is already poor. And we are being FORCED to pay those who are giving future generations DEBT with their idiotic out of control spending.
I believe that we should have been thinking this way all along.
I dilute all shampoos, all detergents, all cream rinses so I’m getting 3 x as much or maybe more
Lots of great information! Reminds me of some of the ideas from Amy Dacyczyn's "Tightwad Gazette" from the 1990s.
I recently installed the heat on demand water heater....my monthly utility bill plummeted from $250.00 monthly to $65.00....incredible!!! I live in Florida....I love your show...keep up the good work.
One great quality real wool blanket can help keep you warm anytime
One of my best money saving tips is using the washer and dryer after 9pm and before 10am. Makes a significant difference in my bill.I also unplug all of my chargers when not in use, and I unplug my microwave and other small appliances when we go away.
Same. Those unused small appliances draw power even when not in use. But I also rarely use my dryer. I hang everything outside. Our denim lasts much longer too not getting beat up in the dryer.
Me too. I live in Arkansas and when it gets REALLY HOT out, I get up early and get all of the washing and drying done before it heats up outside.
When doing my laundry, each time the washer runs through the cycle I reset the washer to spin and spin out more water before putting the load in the dryer. Then the load will dry faster.
Lower electricity by cleaning dryer vents,lint trap very well.
Also,run vinegar through the washer to remove rust,limescale,etc.
Same with a coffee pot.run vinegar through it once a week.more,depending on how much coffee you use.it will work.
To clean drains,baking soda,vinegar,boiling water.cheaper than draino ,or liquid plumber,and non caustic
How much vinegar to how much water in the washing machine?
My husband is obsessed with cold showers 🤣 I’m not on board yet but I commend him for helping us save on electricity and coffee
LOL! Way to go! I commend him as well.
I wouldn't do it either. I save money in many other ways, I'm willing to spend a bit more for a HOT shower.
Maybe according to Hope, it's not truly a luxury since it loosens up my shoulders. That helps me to be able to tackle my work better for the day.
Although I still need the coffee that I might have been able to skip if I had a cold shower. It's still worth it to me.
blanca-- look up Wim Hof! He actually shows how breathing right and cold showers can improve your health. Who knew?
Overly warm showers aggravates skin conditions like psoriasis and eczema and strips your skin of natural oils . I take tepid showers. So just warm enough to not cause goosebumps. I also only do a full bath once a week. Which saves heat and water.
I save water by getting wet, turning the shower off, soaping up, turning back on to rinse. Also, in and out in 5 minutes. I have a watcher. My dog puts his head in to watch. I've told him it's creepy. So better to go fast.
Thank you for your tips!!
I reorganized my daily living tasks so I was able to complete them outside the high peak, high cost period which was 4pm to 9pm. So now I start cooking dinner at 3pm and finish before 4pm. Another example is the new household rule is that laundry has to be done before 4pm or after 9 pm. The lowest charge is between 12 am to 6am. So a load of laundry might be thrown in at 5am and coffee is brewed at 5:50am. I have challenged myself to keep busy with other tasks besides eating dinner during the high cost period such as going for a walk, washing the car, watering the front and back yard and cleaning the house so the television stays off. The drop in the electric bill was immediate!
Lucky you for having a power company that encourages low peak incentives. Unfortunately my city doesn’t do that. Don’t know why. They are always asking the public to use less power during peak hours. Shame on you CPS in San Antonio, Texas. I’m calling you out.
Dawn dish soap and water is all I use for spills and stains on my carpet and couches. It works great on any fabric really.
Got a laundry tip that I read in The Tightwad Gazette a quarter century ago but never tried out until recently. Put a dry towel in your dryer with the wet clothes and they'll dry faster. I finally tried it last weekend and this weekend and it does work. The clothes dry at least 5 minutes sooner, which doesn't sound like a lot, but it's 5 minutes of gas and electric that I don't have to pay for with each load.
The towel doesn't put towel lint onto the clothes?
@@kellykersten8828 No.
When I did use the dishwasher, I would turn it off when the dry cycle started, open the door just slightly, let the steam escape and the heat fill the room. In the dry Colorado climate you can steam your face...getting the dishes done and getting a facial at the same time.
~Debby
I used to work on charter boats in the Caribbean. Rice with lunch? water boils, add rice, water boils again, turn off and set timer 15 minutes. Lived in an RV (by frugal choice) for a year or so. Used my collapsible huge clothesline I used outside at the home I used to own IN THE RV to dry. A/C dried things almost as fast as a dryer! And a word about the kitchen if you eat chicken of any sort that has bones: save all the bones in a quart or gallon bag in the freezer. Save remnants of onions and other aromatics. Load in crock pot for an additional six servings of chicken soup or broth. Vegetarians should do this too with anything you're going to toss. Put it in the crock pot and make broth and THEN toss the rest in the compost pile.
When our traditional 55 gallon water heater flooded the laundry room (ruining the appliances) we replaced it with a tankless/on demand water heater. We immediately noticed a $10.00 savings on our natural gas bill. This month, we also saved nearly $50.00 in electricity because we invested in new water saving energy efficient appliances. :)
Wow! That's quite a difference in your monthly bills. Thanks for sharing.
If you have an electric water heater, invest in a timer that is 7 day/24 hr. The 7 day allows for a different weekend schedule. With the 24 hr time you can schedule 2 period of more with the hot water turned off. Sleeping 10pm-6am and if house is empty during the day 8am-4/5pm. This should save about 67% of your hot water cost daily M-F. Saturday/Sunday will vary.
@@UndertheMedian we also have a propane tankless hot water heater.. It really lowered our electric bill.. We have had it for 5 years with no repairs.. Had it cleaned.. Our electric bill is $146 budget plan with $84 budget for propane.. I recently got a statement from Dominion that in our area we are using less electricity than others but want to reduce it more… Love all of your suggestions.. I use wool balls in the dryer.. Use Dawn and always water it down-usually 50-50… Still plenty of soap.. Shampoo, liquid hand soap, liquid bath soap I add water.. Use white vinegar a lot to clean.. Use Dawn on clothes stains..
@@carolecoffman4276 , I was just reading something yesterday about using Dawn to pre-treat stains on clothing. Makes sense since it's really designed to break up grease and dirt.
You have forever changed my nosy crock pot peeping. I knew it was not a good idea, but I was forever peeping at my soup or beans. Note. My money saver is I cook in the crock pot in the basement in the Summer and save on electricity on air conditioning on main floor.
I always yelled at my son for lifting the lid (& opening oven while it was on) because it just lets heat out and extends cooking time. 🤷🏻♀️
Thank you for all the tips! I backed down my water heater to 120 from 190 😧. I replaced our outside flood lights with a solar light! I went around the house to unplug everything I wasn’t using. All my bulbs are now LED. I wash only on cold water. Turned off the heat dry setting on my dishwasher. I will be doing some more hacks to be frugal soon! I also signed up to get your checklist in my email! Thank you so much!
one tip on the dish detergent, use a pump bottle like you would for hand soap, fill it with the dish soap and keep the large bottle under the sink. stretches the dish soap out a long way :)
This is genius! I always use WAY too much! Thank you!
I put a rubber band around the pump on hand soap. It prevents a full pump.
In preparation for our 50th anniversary trip in October, I looked for small amounts of extra money in our budget to add to the anniversary account that I had set up. We were pleasantly surprised how small amounts of coins added up to many dollars. When you made the statement in this video about how small changes do add up, I was cheering you on because small changes do add up and make it possible to save for extras in your life. Thanks!
Oh, I'm so excited for your trip, Katherine! Where are you going?
@@UndertheMedian We are going to Eureka Springs, AR to start with and then moving on to other sites in other northern states {if they are open to Texans.}
@@katherinerichardson1767 , that sounds like a lovely, relaxing trip. We hope you have a wonderful time!
I keep my dehumidifier by the washer and dump in the water to use on the clothes. Years ago, there was a wonderful newsletter and book series called The Tightwad Gazette. The suggestions were amazingly helpful (and some pretty out there. lol.) The freezer soup idea saved me one time when we had zero money, and I had two kids to feed. In high school I had to make a solar cooker and it was pretty easy to do. Works well if you have hot or sunny days.
When leaving for vacation I go to the electrical main panel and turn off the breakers for stove,washer,dryer,dishwasher, microwave,and bedroom areas, TV and stereo surge protector and unused lamps are unplugged also during vacation time.
Get the foam pumps for hand washing. You can refill them with about an inch of any dish liquid and water. Soap your hands thoroughly before you even turn your water on.
Yes, the wooden spoon across the pan works. I forget who told me this, and I was amazed at how well it works. No more mess on the stove to clean up.
Awesome to know. Maybe now I can stop cooking pasta by sound. LOL!
@@UndertheMedian believe me I was always doing the very same thing, especially when I was cooking potatoes. Let us viewers know how it worked for you.
I'm sooo trying this!!!
I have been doing this for years. It works!
I had it boil over on me when the wooden spoon across the pan. =(
I live in England and I have used the “steamer” method for cooking vegetables for years. Thank you for all your tips
I use a hay box/thermal cooker. My electric slow cooker is sulking on top of the freezer collecting dust! Now I know a hay box really works if I have to cook any other way I feel resentful about all the money and fuel I am using. I can even make my favourite macaroni cheese in it!!😁
Its quite nice looking and I keep it in the bedroom. It looks like a small blanket box.
I have done three simple savings tips for my life and I realize now I am saving approximately 500 dollars a year. The oven is a hard one for me. I am going to try not using the oven to just cook one food item. This is my next small goal! You are right small changes makes big resultes! Gina in lights
I make my own biscuits, cornbread and usually have two items at a time when I use the oven. In hot weather I use my toaster oven. I save 10$ per month on lower cell phone plan.
What about a hay box/thermal cooker?
Hands down, cutest couple on youtube. You two always leave a smile on my face!
I saw an interview by a woman who used a power strip in every room for lamps, chargers, etc. Before she left the house each day she unplugged the chargers and saw electricity savings.
An awesome invention is the wonder bag designed in Durban South Africa 🇿🇦 it isulates a pot of food after its brought to a boil and cooks for 5 hours without using any electricity whatsoever.
That’s amazing! Thanks for the tip!
Yes, they're brilliant, and buying one supports women's charities too. I grew up with a home made one of two wooden boxes inside each other with hay packed in-between. It did the same thing, but didn't look as nice.
There are also put systems for this, marketed as thermal cookers, and they're wonderful.
Hi Hope and Larry. I absolutely love your videos ! I'm currently binge watching many of your playlists with notebook and pencil in hand ! Here's a tip I haven't seen anyone suggest yet. I stretch my store bought dish soap. I use an empty foaming handsoap bottle. Fill it 2/3 - 3/4 with water, then add the store bought dish soap. Don't shake it but turn the bottle, repeatedly to mix. I buy the 90 ounce bottles of Ajax dish soap from Walmart for $4.57 each. That one bottle has lasted me and my husband up to a year ! It's just the two of us, but it lasts my son and his family (7 members total), about 5 - 6 months. Thanks for sharing all of your tips and hints with us !
YES!!!! I actually replied to someone's comment about using a foaming hand soap pump for dish soap.
Add a tablespoon or two of isopropyl alcohol to the water/liquid soap mix and you’ll get foam like store bought. I do this to make my own refills for my dawn power wash.
I use my All American Sun oven often. When I lived in Southern California, it quickly reached 350-375, but when I moved to Idaho, it only gets up to 325-350, but does so even in the snow. I just leave it out to cook a little longer. It’s awesome. I’m glad I bought it years ago because they are a lot pricier now, but still worth every penny.
People can also build their own solar cooker cheaply. Directions on TH-cam.
Omg I need one cuz I saw it and I was like yeah if I would have known more about solar I would have gone with solar instead of gas stove. Im a bit 🦥 slower than most I'll admit.
You can spray your crockpot with cooking oil spray and it’s not as hard to clean.
Wow, I am so surprised that that unplugging items would save that much
So am I.
@@sct4040 Let us know if you saw a savings!
I actually use home-made citrus vinegar where your fabric softener compartment in your washer is....it sanitizes and softens your laundry--I also use those woolen dryer balls you talked about...it's awesome! Love the video! :) Very helpful! Dawn @ Rich & Dawn in MN :)
Is the citrus an oil
@@dewaynelyle5991Citrus vinegar I make with water, sugar and orange and/or lemon peels, let ferment, then strain-use vinegar to clean surfaces and then I use it as fabric softener.
Vinegar in washer acts like fabric softener and is cheaper
I have been using vinegar as fs for about 2 years... works fantastic
Also, another plus: vinegar kills germs.
@@katherinerichardson1767 I do all my cleaning with vinegar!
It cleans your machine as well as stopping mould :)
I live in South Tx, where we had 57 days of triple digits this past summer. I purchased blackout curtains, place them on all southeast to northwest windows, used portable fans in the kitchen, dining area, night stand and raised my ac temp by 2-3 degrees. My Electricity bill went down 19%. Now I want to get those power surges with individual on/off switch. I add Pinesol to my smelly dirty laundry and add a bit less of my laundry detergent. Now I also want to try make my own detergent, your subscriber who made laundry detergent super low is my new mentor. Thank you for all the tips.
I have hard water. Homemade clothes detergent left horrible residue on my clothes and machine.
Tried cooking the pasta as suggested by bringing it to the boil then turning off the cooker and leaving it for 20 minutes and it will cook on its own. It works perfectly.
I use felsnaptha, soap ,borax, washing soda, makes the best laundry soap 10 to 12 gallons 😇🙏🏻
I especially liked this video. Hope, your zest for life is contagious. And Larry is your perfect counterpart. You remind me so much of me and my husband and things we did during the Seventies as newlyweds to save money during the gas crunch and recession. Shutting curtains to save on AC was done even way back in 1960 (or maybe a few years earlier) when my family first got AC. And doors. We kids would run in and out the back door and Mom would yell, “Shut the door!”
I'm looking forward to the wattage/electric calculations for instant pot, etc! I use vinegar in my softener dispenser for towels and water down Downy 1/2 water in the bottle so anyone using it uses half. I got really nice 100% wool sweaters at the thrift store and took them apart and unraveled them to recycle the yarn. All the tiny pieces I couldn't use to crochet with I used to make dryer balls. I got one Virgin lambs wool sweater for under $4. So much yarn and several dryer balls from one sweater. Also if there are blankets at the thrift made out of nice yarn, I recycle it as well.
Great comment
Don't use fabric softener it's not good for us. Too many chemicals. Take care.
@MARTHA Crowder
Hi Martha ~
I'm with you on the yarn, but I have no idea how to make the dryer balls.
Might you share your pattern?
Thanks!
Love all your tips! We live in home HOA, no clothes line allowed. We hang our clothes on a rack in garage. My daughter used cotton, heavy bed pads & they dry in our 83 degree garage. I get crock pot liners from pan savers. They have a strong elastic band & truly helps my crock cleaning. We run washer after 10 P.M. We unplug everything not in use. Unfortunately, Fla. does a " average of all homes!!! Block out curtains work great. Daughters room gets so much sun. NOT ROOM DARKENING!!! BLOCKOUT!
I have used the washballs. They do work. It was good for 1000 washes. You recharge them in the sunlight. They work fine. I would sometimes add Nellies laundry soda to it for extra cleaning.
I'm going to have to look that up. Pretty sure much of the world just beats their clothes on a riverside rock.
@@nitanice ,
I'm not quite sure what you're hoping to achieve with your comment. They asked about the washer balls and I have some, so I was replying.
@@reneejohnson5787 I guess I didn't put that too clearly. It sounds like a great idea. Seems like it would bash your clothes around in the washer which is similar to how all humans kind of traditionally cleaned clothing. I'd like to try them! Sorry I wasn't clear. :-)
@@nitanice I see what you're saying now. The little beads inside are made up of trace minerals, that's my understanding. The reason for the sunshine is that it sort of sterilizes them if you will.
I think people are looking for more environmentally conscious products.
I use the water from my dehumidifier to water my plants in the summer
I grew up with my grandfather and step grandmother. She would cut old towels that had holes in them and cut them into squares. Then she would sew 2 together on 3 sides and fill them with small bits of soap that otherwise would have been thrown away then sew up the open end. We each had our own personal washcloths with soap already built in. I imagine today you could sew up the open end with velcro and continue to reuse and even empty the soap out to wash them.
I have had my pots 15 years. They looked terrible on the bottom. I used Bar keepers friend. Let the paste sit for 15min and use steel wool. Dunk in hot water and scrub. Repeat weekly until you can see an improvement. Save your pots still good.
I found Bar Keepers Friend when I moved to WV to take care of my Dad. He was a huge fan. That stuff is magical - it cleans everything! So far I have only found it in store at Home Depot, but I'm sure it is on Amazon as well.
I make a habit to change the a/c filer the same day I pay my power bill!
Another great set of advice! You are spot on guys and thank you very much.
I would throw into tips… collect rain water and use it for example for flushing toilet or general washing. Cuts water bill by half. And of course… make your own bread. In England bread is around £2 for a loaf. Bread mix is £0.40p and you can make 2, 2lb loafs.
Great video. Keep up the good job. ❤️
You might let some of your neighbours know. You could supply them for a price that is better than the supermarket.
I collect shower water. I place a bucket in the shower then use that water for flushing the toilet.
Hi I love your show and so much Free help. Dawn dish liquid. Is great at killing fleas. My daughter and I volunteer in cat rescue. All must have a dawn bath upon arrival at our home. One of our cats got into oily poison. She had 3Dawn baths asap like an hour. She lived and is fine 12 years later
Such a good list. I heard news that in 90 days things will be harder on every household and it has been presently, or in our past(this is the last week of March ‘22)
I use soap nuts with a few drops of tea tree or lavender oil then hang dry. After they are done you compost them. Zero waste! Sometimes for really yukky things I add a tiny bit of soaker powder but that's pretty cheap at Coles. The small bags are about $16 here in Australia so a bit dear
I’m going to try soap nuts. Thank you. I recall hearing about them years ago but have yet to try them.
My tip is to wash your clothes LESS FREQUENTLY. I think in USA, many people wear something 1 x and throw it in the dirty laundry. Of course, undies get a fresh pair every day. Other than that, I suggest doing sniff/sight test. Does it look dirty? Is it stained? Does it smell? If not, hang it up to wear again. That's what I do in my house. I have stinky teen boys, so often with hoodies. THey aren't dirty, but can smell funky. I will turn things inside out and put outside for the fresh breeze to air it out. Then they can wear again.
Agreed. We definitely wear items more than once before washing them.
Yep. I work at a computer. I don't really get my clothes very dirty. Why wash? I generally wear my clothes -- excluding undies -- two days or more depending on my activity. If it's not dirty, why wash it?
😊
It you read the directions on the back of the laundry bottle, it tells you to fill to A or B that's on the inside of the cap, its about 2 to 3 tablespoons (depending on how dirty). I'm 60 & just learned this.
On the COLD SHOWER comment....
Just yesterday I saw a video by Dr. Eric Berg called “What happens after 14 days of cold showers”. The benefits (which include losing weight) are insane! So I just found another benefit to cold showers! Thank you guys...y’all are amazing!
We planted hops rhizomes at the front of our house we’re the sun is the strongest and we have a poorly insulated window. It grows from ground level in early spring to over the roof before it gets hot out. Keeps our indoor temp low during the summer then we cut it back in fall so that strong morning sun heats our house all winter
Every one in the north knows about using a credit card to scrape frost off the windshield in the winter!
MK, I must have missed that memo somehow. In Illinois the real problem is when your doors freeze shut. That is SO frustrating.
OMG right?
boil a full kettle and use a flask to keep it warm all day.
Yes we use a hot water heater cover & it truly saves, also pipe wraps especially under house
Wow, absolutely fantastic video. Your work keeps getting better and better. Just when you think I've heard it all, you teach us something new. These viewer suggestions are awesome!
I regrow veggies , I cut and root the bottoms of Celery bunches, green onions etc and they grow quickly! free veggies!
I have a good one for y'all. When making hard boiled eggs clean them and then put them in pasta and cook them that way. The shopping bags cut in stripes and wind them then make a crochet scraper for dishes.
In the coldest months, I always go to sleep with my heater set at 58 or below. Under my blankets, I really am comfortable.
I use to design heating ventilation and air systems. High efficiency air filters come in washable, reusable versions. You can keep them clean once a month if you buy washable filters without buying more and it will save you a lot of money and make your entire heating and cooling use less energy.
Reusing is like free filters.
If I remember correctly you and Larry have SaladMaster cookware. They actually show how you can cook using the stacked method with those pans. High price but the pans are worth every penny. We love ours and everything comes clean easily . Because like you we cook without oil (also vegan or whole food plant based) our dishes could really could be cleaned with almost no detergent and just hot water. Great videos thank you Karen
You're right. We do have Saladmaster. You can stack because some of the pans have optional flat lids.
My mom bought the salad master cookware back in 1983, and she has never regretted it. It still looks perfect.
I never thought about it before, but could you use a lid upside down (I don't have flat lids) and then stack a smaller pot on top?
Hi Hope I've used the wash balls for over 14months now. Excellent and they clean really well. I save £120 per year. Give them a go xx
Great ideas! Wow, I need to read the comments more! I can't wait for next thrifty Thursday - even more cost breakdowns!!
I use the method you mentioned to hard boil eggs. I may not save much money, but I save my pans. I always forget the eggs and burn the pan. I enjoy your videos .
My dryer conked out a yr ago....as an old school Gen X'er hunni im not brand new to hang drying clothes. My late grandmothers and my boomer mothers dried by clothes line. But i dont do that.....i just get hangers, hang the clothes and towels in a closet and leave the door open letting them air dry. If any need ironing, i iron them. I love this way better. Sheets i drape one at a time on ironing board to air dry. Im so not buying another dryer right now. Nopes.😌
Hello everyone from my Wisconsin Farm 👩🏻🌾
I have a home in chippewa falls 😀 You?
Hi from Oulu wisc (Iron River area).
Kim, it's always to awesome to see you in the live premiere chat.
@@UndertheMedian
Love y’all!
@@fourdayhomestead2839
South Central Wisconsin, Rock county.
Pumice is great for scrubbing pot's and pan's does a brilliant job on burnt pot's and pan's when walking beaches or lakes pick pumice up they come in all sizes. Have some in the bathroom for your feet to scrub dirt or dry skin off, pumice looks nice in a bathroom maybe in a wooden bowl .Love your video's thank you 😄❣️
A way to do dishes by hand and save dish soap and hot water is to put a little water and a little soap in a cereal bowl or whatever, then wash the dishes with a brush or cloth. After all are washed, rinse quickly and you have saved yourself some money.
Our cold water is pretty cold... but in winter I keep a large pot of water on our wood stove so we always have WARM Water on hand.
“I give her alot of credit for that one” Did I almost miss on that priceless moment! Yess Larry!!! 👏🏼
Use baking soda to wash or even a reduced amount of laundry detergent and add Odo-Ban as a disinfectant. It comes in a large concentrated jug and add as directions indicate for level of disinfectant desired (or use amount proven to your requirements). My wash smells and wears beautifully.
Just in the laundry section and had to comment on the washer balls. My husband does HVAC ( crawls under houses and in attics) and there's no way I could get his clothes clean without hot water and soap. The lady said her son's basketball uniform got cleaned, well that's sweat not grim! Anyway, love your channel and thankful for the great info!
We bought a large pack of cotton cloths from Costco auto aisle and use them for cleaning and as napkins. They aren't "cute" but they were inexpensive and clean easy.
My house runs entirely on solar panels throughout the day but at night we need to use mains power from the grid. So we make sure we charge our toothbrushes, phones, ipads, wash our clothes during the day, never ever at night. Ironing, cooking vacuuming etc is also done only during daylight. Our hot water is gas so we installed an instantaneous system rather than the old one that heated water constantly. A few pennies here, a few more pennies there, it all adds up over a year.
How I save on my electricity bill during hot weather is to turn the AC thermostat up a degree and run a small fan in the room where I am spending time.
I sewed my own black out curtains from Walmart clearance fabric only $1/yard. I face the black fabric towards the sun in the winter to heat the house, and I made it double layer so I face the white side towards the sun in the summer to reflect the heat away. Both summer and winter the double layer adds insulation to keep the wanted temperature. If you sew your black out curtains out of old towels from goodwill it will also act as a sound barrier since towels are better sound barriers than foam.
I also made my own curtain rods out of electrical conduit because its stronger, thicker, sturdier, and cheaper.
The curtains are easy to sew. You just sew them like a pillow case and buy metal rings with clips attached to put them on the rod.
Martha, that is awesome! What a practical tip.
Wonderful video. Packed with great money saving tips...I like the pressure cooker better than the slow cooker. It cooks faster, saves more energy and retains more nutrients. Looking forward to next week's video.
Nz$1.45 per day this month on my electric bill, thank you for your assistance.
I use a wooden spoon to prevent boil overs. Works for me. We live in an RV and rarely stay where winter is cold. Maybe jacket weather. For sleeping we don’t heat our rig, but we use a mattress heater and sleep under a comforter. Washing your hands : it’s the friction from the soap and washing that cleans your hands not the temperature of the water
I was recently watching a show called Wartime Farm. In fact, they didn't use a crockpot, but had a similar system. They would bring food to a boil on the stove and then would put in in an insulated box. About 6 hours later it would be cooked (using hardly any electricity).
I use heavy bottom stainless steel cookware because they use less electricity, and you can actually turn the burner off 2/3 the way through and leave the lid on it will finish cooking your food the rest of the way.
Baking soda: $8.97/12 lb bag at Home Depot.
Also, we keep our thermostat at 67° in the winter. We just add extra blankets, if necessary. We put plastic over the windows.
Thanks for the tip on where to find the large package of baking soda. I really appreciate you letting us know.
Never put my thermostat over 65 - used to keep it at 55 at night and 58 during day but granddaughter and her baby moved in with me so turned it up.
I’ve being on a budget plan with our electric company. It’s being great, I pay around the same amount all year around 😊
Amazing - literally tips for all lifestyles and from all over the world - bravo Hope and Larry! Sharing is caring and there is such value there.
A few of the frugal ways I save on Energy Cost is by rereading my 6th grade Science Book. The Sixth Grade is when Science went from demonstrations of the Physical World (growing a bean seed in a paper towel lined Jar) to understanding the Principles working together (Bean in the Jar-moisture, sunlight, temperature, air/wind, nutrients, stages of development).
With my particular house's energy requirements, I start on the outside first...Which way is the prevailing winds, rain, snow & sun? If, I can't build or choose my house to fit the Northern Hemisphere Principles of length on the East-West axis and reduced/increase Climate impact on the North-South axis then it's thinking time of what can I do environmentally to impact the Weather, Wind & Sun for optimal Conservation of Energy.
My old house was 145yo, 3-Story Colonial with a Cupola and 10 French doors on the 1st floor with a three sided porch.
On the North (prevailing wind) side at 30'-50' interval rows we planted a variety of Evergreen Trees & Bushes, so in the Winter they blocked the cold winds and in the Summer we would spray the Evergreens with water in the morning then they would transpire cold air (Nature's Air Conditioning Mystery) in the heat of the day as the prevailing winds blow across the wet needles toward the open French Doors of the house. Because of the cupola drawing heat from the lower floors up (chimney effect) & out of the house it created a cool air Draft throughout the house. On super hot days the Porch helped to keeping the 1st floor the coolest and it was porch time with the lemonade, books & puzzles during the day in the Summer. Also, during the Summer, we would let the children sleep on the porch in hammocks or in the second floor Sunporch with the cool evening breezes. On the Southwestern side were Deciduous Trees that blocked the high Sun of Summer and in the winter the Low Sun would (working with the Sun's seasonal arches).
Modern Houses need porches, larger overhangs/awnings to block the Sun coming into windows, Cupolas/Roof Ridge Vents and better size appropriate & placements of windows.
By building closets on outside walls of houses, we added extra insulating space (eg: Tapestries on Castle Walls) between us and the cold winter winds. Daytime activity rooms should be on the Sunny sides of the house to minimize electricity for lighting. In dark hallways & areas Sun Tubes with the Solar pads can offer lighting options.
The Creator created all things to work together, it's up to us to figure it out and implement all the tools given us.
So much common sense! Great legacy for your children to pass on.
I watched a YT video about an architect in Spain or Portugal incorporating overhangs and water features and a swimming pool on the outside of the house to cool the house as well as keep water near the home in case of fire 🔥. So much thought went into using the principles of sunlight to light the house and cool the house. The home uses very little electricity, so only a few solar panels are needed for evening lighting and the pumps for the water features and pool.
This is totally awesome info! I never thought about any of it.
I have been a cheapskate since childhood but didn't realize it yet. In July I turned 50...lol and still frugal.
I shut most breakers off (only leave main breaker & the breaker for deep freezer on for extended time away).
A full freezer runs less than a half empty one, so i save milk jugs and pop bottles, fill them with water and freeze them as i empty things from my freezer if i am not filling it back up with food quickly.
Larry- I drink a lot of coffee too and I sleep like a baby!! I attribute my ability to years of working the night shift as a nurse. I can fall asleep anywhere if I want to in a matter of minutes 😂😂