Now, to the truth, my friends. I am cheap. Yes, I admit it. “A penny saved is a penny earned,” according to Benjamin Franklin, although he didn’t actually say that, but I like to think he did.
Personally, I like, “Watch the pennies and the dollars will take care of themselves.”
Even though I have more money now than I ever did, I watch the pennies. I buy things marked BOGO, so I have twin packages of bacon, two boxes of Cheerios, two boxes of Cheezit crackers, two cartons of yoghurt. The way I figure it’s like getting one box at half price but that’s just my creative accounting.
One day I was looking at a stack of paper napkins on my counter top. That’s when I decided to use my cloth napkins instead and throw them into the wash to use again. Lots of money saved there. Wonder what I can do about the paper towels?
I seriously thought about concocting my own cleaning products out of vinegar, baking soda, and peroxide, but decided to stock up at the nearest dollar store on cheap cleaning products. But maybe that could be reconsidered in the future.
And of course I haunt the op shops, the second hand stores, which has been partially successful.
A cult has developed with people buying junk, refinishing it and furnishing their homes, with dazzling results.
Unfortunately I haven’t been so lucky. I found some useful kitchen utensils, placemats, and a crock pot. Plus a bonanza of picture frames. An absolute pethora of various size frames for next to nothing. Like $2.00 or even $1.50. There are framed pics of my two grandchildren all over the house.
Do you folks throw things away? I try not to. I try to reuse things. Recently a brass lamp broke. It was’t a big deal because it was an ugly lamp I picked up for $6.00 at a yard sale. But I took it apart, saved the bulb after checking to make sure it worked. Then, looking at the pleated shade, I took it off, turned it upside down, put some plastic greenery in it, and placed it beside my end table in the living room. It looks great.
My girlfriend has a great idea. When she gives a birthday card or get well card to someoone, she doesn’t sign it so it can be passed on. I havent’t done that yet because mostly I avoid buying cards, if posssible and phone the friend instead. More personal. And way cheaper. Have you seen the price of cards lately?
Recently I ordered a dress from some unknown company on the internet. It came and is ugly. Very ugly. It looks like a huge black hefty garbage bag made out of linen, with two holes for arms and one hole for the head. Now this was a $20.00 dress, and I can afford to throw it away, and never order from that site again, but wait.
Can I restyle it? With little pleats in the front? Maybe some flashy buttons added to the neckling. In fact, I have a black and white print scarf that could be incoporated someow. Some tucks on the side? I’m not throwing that baby out yet!!
The bottom line is: Take care of the pennies and the dollars will take care of themselves.
So, my friends, what suggestions do you have to help me me save some more pennies? And what will I do with the dollars? I don’t know yet.