When going out to eat at a restaurant, bring your own tupperware type container in a canvas bag. If you have food left over that you'd like to take home you can then use your own container. This is both frugal and helps Mother Earth with less styrofoam use.

If many of you focused on making more money, you wouldn't have to live like you are in a third world country. I can't picture anyone that makes their own deodorant and waters down their shampoo is focusing on bettering their career. I am all for recycling, conserving and getting the best deal possible, but many of these ideas are so weird and extreme that it is hard to picture a person who lives like this as being a normal person that you would want to spend time with.

Just a few other things to add..and not to join in on the polite bickering but i work, have two kids and make good money. I just dont like to waste..

instead of buying the dust cloth swiffer pads-  I use used fabric softener sheets, they work better than the swiffer pad and usually stick well to the velcro.

I also reuse sandwich bags and save all food leftovers for the animals or Leftover Friday. The unwanted portions of your vegetables and egg shells are great for the garden. I do not skimp on toilet paper or toothpaste but I do hang the clothes out whenever the weather is nice to ease up on the electrical bill. As far as gas is concerned, if you use what you have wisely and make it stretch to get your moneys worth out if it, you make far less trips to wolly world for the unnecessary stuff.

I am far from "Green" but get simple enjoyment from doing a little part and not being wasteful.

want to be real frugle,plant a small area with peppers,tomatoes,onions..ect .iI save hundreds of dollars freezing them.HAVE NOT BOUGHT VEGS, FROM GROCERY IN 10 YRS.

I hypermile all my cars and they actually last longer, because I am not so hard on them.  I get at least 20% over posted highway mileages, and my brakes last longer because I don't use them as much because I plan ahead and don't tailgate.  I drive at or above the speed limit too, and I don't make a single modification to my cars to improve mileage (like removing mirrors, etc.).  It's all about being aware of my surroundings, paying attention,  and seeing what is going to happen before it happens.  It doesn't take me any more time, and it isn't difficult - but it is not for the road-rage junkie (they get terrible gas mileage).

There is nothing wrong with being frugal - I grew up in an agrarian background, and you learned how to be resourceful and take care of yourself.  My grandparents grew up during the depression, and I saw them use the last bit of everything.  Even in their retirement years, when they were some of the wealthiest people in town (multi-millionaires), my grandma would still take the last slivers of soap bars and put them in a rinsed-out avon container with some water to make liquid hand soap for the kitchen.  

I will cut lotion bottles in half to get the last bit out of them.  I rinse out shampoo bottles to get the last bit out of them, or even better, slightly dilute the shampoo with water - it lathers faster and better, and you don't use as much.  I won't buy something if I can make or refit something else to work.  This does not mean I am poor - far from it.  We are such a consumer society, and that just doesn't fit me.  Since I live suburban rural, less trash means less work for me (and time is money!), and less cost for trash pickup.

Dear WD, Some of us went to school and had great jobs too, and are  now un-employed due to no fault of our own wondering if we'll survive.  I've done everything right.  Being un-employed (and I've always been frugal, as how much 'stuff' does a person need anyway?)  makes one realize just how bourgeois life can be, in a throw away society.  I'm glad you're doing well.  Hold onto your keester, and budget you finances well.  Might see you in the projects next.   PS Send me your pizza boxes...

Amy, I don't live like I'm in a third world country. What does living in a "first" world country look like anyway? Seems like a judgement call and showing some of our "first" world ignorance of how life really is. As far as focusing on making more money... what's that got to do with chosing not to be wasteful?

I also am a frugal person - have had to be most of my life because of growing up in a family that wasn't wealthy by any means, the having a husband that gambled his paycheck away almost every month and with three kids to raise, feed, clothe, etc., it was necessary that I find ways to save/stretch everything each month to make it last.  I always buy fabric when it is on sale, especially when it is a closeout sale of 2 yards for the price of one, even though I might not need all I purchase at the time I can always save it for later, or use for craft projects. I was washing zip-lock baggies and reusing them before it became the "thing to do" - but I usually wait and wash them when I am washing dishes to I use soapy water that I would be creating anyway.  When my kids were small I would put both boys in the tub together so I used only one tub full of water to bathe them, and I saved the tiny pieces of soap and put them in a gal. milk jug filled with water and used the soapy water to clean with rather than buying cleaners in the store.  My kids are all grown now, I got rid of the gambler years ago so I had total control over every penny I made rather than my paycheck being "stolen" essentially because my ex. would withdraw all the funds from the bank the day after I made a deposit, leaving nothing to live on until the next paycheck - I did finally learn to cash my check and HIDE the money so I could at least feed the kids!  I bought clothes for them from thrift stores, but made most of their clothes myself with fabric I purchased on sale.

Today I am still very frugal. I am retired, on limited income, have many medical bills that Medicare doesn't always cover in full, plus medicines to buy.  But even with saving every where I can daily I still sometimes am down to my last dollar at the end of the month.  I have found a wonderful group on-line called FreeCycle.org that people can join "for free" and the idea for the group is to "recycle, reduce, reuse" items they no longer want, so they post these in a message as an OFFER, but, members can also REQUEST specific items they need in case someone has that item and is willing to give it to the requestor. FreeCycle has groups all across the US and a specific location can be found by going to the main site at www.freecycle.org.  I have been a member for several years and have not only "given" items to people in need, but have also "received" many items from others.  One of the rules of the group is the item must be "clean, usable, working (if it is motorized/electronic) and FREE - no selling of anything is allowed on this site.  It is much better than Craigslist or eBay, especially since everything is FREE.  Check it out, find a group in your area and watch the messages that are posted for a few days to see what type items people offer or request and if you feel it isn't for you then you can always be removed as a member.

I keep track of how much laundry detergent I am using by writing the date I first used the detergent right on the container.  It's fun (to ME) to see how long I can make it last.  With our family of 5, the large container lasts us, at most, 3.5 months and I do a LOT of wash!  I learned that with my high efficiency washing machine, I can cut down on almost half of the detergent that I used to use with my normal machine.

i just read all posts and there are so many great ideas here.  i love to sew but am not that good...but i am making fabric bags to wrap items in.  i have 6 or 7 Christmas ones so far and plan to add to that each year as i come across excess fabric.  they are wonderful, look beautiful under the tree and can be reused for many years to come!!!