Frugality Tip #6
I got away from these tips during the move process but wanted to share some more of my favorite frugality tips.
Frugality Tip #6: Do Away with Disposables
I’ve never quite gotten the whole disposable thing, its a bit like saying our money is disposable. When we buy disposables, we’re just throwing money in the trash, in my opinion. Find ways to replace disposables with reusables.
- Paper Towels - I personally hate paper towels, I don’t find them all that absorbent anyway. I use cloth rags cut from old towels and clothing for rags. I keep a small bin of clean rags underneath every sink in the house and in the garage. I also keep a bin in the garage for dirty rags. The rags in the house just go into the laundry basket when I’m done with them. I clean with rags and use rags for cleaning up spills, etc. Once you switch you won’t likely go back.
- Paper Plates – I understand this in the sense of a large gathering perhaps, but for every day use, no. Use real plates and utensils, you’ll find it makes dinner nicer and cleaning up isn’t all that much harder.
- Plastic Bags – Pack lunches in reusable containers instead of those little baggies. The reusable containers also keep sandwiches and other items from getting squished in accidents and in most cases prevent leakage. I understand that sometimes plastic bags and other plastic containers come into our lives in various ways – wash them out and reuse them.
- Diapers - I’m not a parent and so avoid giving parenting advice, however; I have seen the price of disposable diapers and I’m astounded by them. I understand the convenience factor of disposable diapers when traveling, etc., but I can see the cost savings in using cloth diapers at home. I’ve also noticed in a few babies I know that cloth diapers seem to be much gentler on the skin, though I could be wrong, so don’t quote me.
- Feminine Hygiene – Use cloth pads and things like the Keeper and Diva Cup instead of disposable pads and tampons. Honestly, once you switch I’m sure you’ll find you like it better. It takes a little different mind set, but once you get in the swing of it, its no big deal at all.
- Bottled Water – Some store brands of bottled water aren’t all that expensive, but really, unless you live in a place where the tap water is unsafe, your tap water should be just fine and much less expensive. If you do happen to live with undrinkable tap / well water – look into filters before buying the bottled variety - in the long run they are much cheaper. Find a reusable water bottle to keep with you instead of those little plastic bottles.
- Tissues - Many of us have turned into complete germophobes in part to successful marketing campaigns, however; I urge you to use hankies instead of boxes of tissues for blowing your nose, sneezing, cleaning your classes, etc. You’ll save money and I’m willing to bet won’t be any unhealthier because of it.
I’ve mentioned this before and if you’re ready, I know Toilet rags are becoming popular – I’m just not there yet. Toilet paper is one disposable item, I’m going to keep using for a little while longer. I may have missed a few things and encourage you put your thoughts and ideas on disposables in the comments.
The added benefit to doing away with disposables is that the amount of trash created by your household will decrease. It’s a little “green living” bonus for the frugal among us.
To see other frugality tips and posts, be sure to check out my frugality category on the sidebar.
I was a disposable diaper mom. If I were to have a baby at this point in my life, I’d definitely be using cloth diapers. I didn’t have the patience or desire to learn about cloth diapering at the time, even with my mother-in-law’s urgings.
My husband asks for paper towels from time to time and I buy the recycled paper ones. I’m still working on the feminine products.
We’ve been using cloth napkins for several years and I’m about to introduce hankies to my family soon. I’ve started using them myself. They are so much softer on my nose. I’m also keeping my toilet paper for a while longer.
Great suggestions. I wasn’t a huge fan of the Diva cup though so it sits unused in a drawer at my parents place. It’s one of my major downfalls. That and I still can’t decide what to use to cover bowls of soup in the microwave-although I reuse the same paper towel for many microwave usages. I also need to try switching to hankies, and I’m with you, TP is one I can’t face giving up yet.
This really inspires me to further reduce our family’s waste. Thanks for the good ideas.
Very good ideas. We are slowing incorporating more and more small steps into our daily lives to reduce waste and live more simply. I enjoy your blog, thanks for sharing.
we are a 50/50 tp/cloth wipe household. i’m working to convert the others! i can’t stand tp any more. it’s too rough! i wash the wipes with the dipes. i also have a super washer that i got at lehmans and it works well washing little loads which is what i’ll do when i no longer wash diapers (soon i hope).
I came across a close-out of “flush-away” feminine pads. They were wonderful while they lasted. Bio-degradable, safe for septic tanks…and, I have used a toilet rag when the absence of tp in the house presented itself! I absolutely agree with you on all the others. Although, our friends give us super-strange looks when they find we don’t have paper towels or even-horrors!-a microwave.
One disposable thing we got rid of was sponges. Now I knit small cloths to wash the dishes with and use them until they fall apart. When dirty, I throw them into the wash.
Great list!
One disposable thing we got rid of was sponges. Now I knit small cloths to wash the dishes with and use them until they fall apart. When dirty, I throw them into the wash.
Great list!
One disposable thing we got rid of was sponges. Now I knit small cloths to wash the dishes with and use them until they fall apart. When dirty, I throw them into the wash.
Great list!
One disposable thing we got rid of was sponges. Now I knit small cloths to wash the dishes with and use them until they fall apart. When dirty, I throw them into the wash.
Great list!
[...] in a Field of Tansey said her house is a 50/50 house of toilet paper and cloth wipe household in the comments of this post over at Two Frog [...]
[...] in a Field of Tansey said her house is a 50/50 house of toilet paper and cloth wipe household in the comments of this post over at Two Frog [...]
[...] in a Field of Tansey said her house is a 50/50 house of toilet paper and cloth wipe household in the comments of this post over at Two Frog [...]
[...] in a Field of Tansey said her house is a 50/50 house of toilet paper and cloth wipe household in the comments of this post over at Two Frog [...]
I should probably point out, Howling Hill (funny calling you that when I know your “real” name)… that a person can wash sponges; my mother’s been doing it for as long as I can remember… just throw them in the washing machine (if you have a washing machine?). I think she’s stopped doing rags though (when I was a kid they were a regular part of life).
I’m not a woman, but my wife tried Diva… it kept tipping over and she stopped. Good idea though if a person can make it work for them.
I should probably point out, Howling Hill (funny calling you that when I know your “real” name)… that a person can wash sponges; my mother’s been doing it for as long as I can remember… just throw them in the washing machine (if you have a washing machine?). I think she’s stopped doing rags though (when I was a kid they were a regular part of life).
I’m not a woman, but my wife tried Diva… it kept tipping over and she stopped. Good idea though if a person can make it work for them.
I should probably point out, Howling Hill (funny calling you that when I know your “real” name)… that a person can wash sponges; my mother’s been doing it for as long as I can remember… just throw them in the washing machine (if you have a washing machine?). I think she’s stopped doing rags though (when I was a kid they were a regular part of life).
I’m not a woman, but my wife tried Diva… it kept tipping over and she stopped. Good idea though if a person can make it work for them.
I should probably point out, Howling Hill (funny calling you that when I know your “real” name)… that a person can wash sponges; my mother’s been doing it for as long as I can remember… just throw them in the washing machine (if you have a washing machine?). I think she’s stopped doing rags though (when I was a kid they were a regular part of life).
I’m not a woman, but my wife tried Diva… it kept tipping over and she stopped. Good idea though if a person can make it work for them.