"This Is A HUGE Cost Saver": People Are Sharing How They Save Money On Things Like Food, Baby Products, And Cleaning Supplies, And I'm Here For It
Everything is more expensive these days, so I'm even more interested in frugal tips and hacks than usual. So, when u/stuffitupyourbum asked the people of r/Frugal to share the DIYs, swaps, and hacks they use to save money on household products, I was instantly hooked (and I really need to try some of these). Here are some of the top comments:
1."I live alone, so food waste can be a problem. I use powdered milk, so I’m not pouring spoiled milk down the drain all the time, and I freeze eggs as well. Just crack them open, beat lightly, pour into the individual wells of a muffin tin, and cover with cling wrap or tin foil. When frozen, you can store them in freezer bags or whatever you prefer. It’s easy to grab what I need and thaw for use, but this can also be done in a more bulk fashion if you prefer."
2."Dry shampoo. Plain arrowroot powder will do the trick, add some cocoa if you have dark hair or clay (fuller's earth) for body if that's your thing."
"This DIY dry shampoo is a HUGE cost saver. You can also use the arrowroot powder, baking soda, and coconut oil to make your own deodorant."
"This deodorant works really well! The recipe I use is 5 tablespoons coconut oil, 1/2 cup each arrowroot, and baking soda, plus 20 drops of essential oil."
3."I use sodium percarbonate as a substitute for OxiClean for laundry and for washing machine cleaner (it's the main active ingredient and less expensive on its own). I use citric acid crystal as a substitute for dishwasher cleaner (again, main ingredient)."
4."Granola is so easy to make, and low-sugar prepared granola is so expensive! Toast oats in a large pot, stir frequently, add dried fruit, nuts, spices, sweetener, and fat, spread on parchment paper-lined pan, and bake."
5."Vegetable stock. Keep your veggie scraps, and boil them up."
"Conversely, chicken bone broth! Save the bones from bone-in and rotisserie chickens, and put them in water in the crockpot for two days or so till they get crumbly. I cook my rice with bone broth for added flavor and nutrition!"
6."I haven't purchased paper kitchen products for over a decade. I just use rags and linen napkins. I also use reusable vacuum cleaner bags."
7."Blackberry jam. We live surrounded by wild berries, so every August, we harvest enough berries for a full year of jam. It’s all my boys ever want!"
8."I use hydrogen peroxide, vinegar, and Dawn for most of my cleaning. Hydrogen peroxide is great for bathroom use, especially pee stains/smells. The enzymatic cleaners often have it as their active ingredient, and I’ve seen lab tests (with chicken juice) show it works just as well if not better than bleach."
9."Ditch the pre-made mixes (pancake, cake, muffin, etc.), and either make it on the spot, or if you use it enough, pre-make your own mix, and store it."
10."I’m not sure if this counts, but learning to sew a tiny bit in order to make reusable cotton pads/makeup removers. I used an unworn pair of sweats, cut it into squares, sewed along the edges, and it’s worked great so far for skincare and makeup removal."
11."For my kids, I use cloth diapers and wipes, and cornstarch instead of baby powder."
12."I no longer buy popsicles and instead use popsicle molds. You just then fill it with juice, iced tea, or some other drink, and then you’ll have popsicles with flavors different than what you can buy at the store."
"Nutella and milk for fudgecicles."
13."I make my own bar soaps. Lye is cheap, and we get the oils in bulk from Costco. The equipment costs a little bit at first. Over time, it's the most affordable way to have quality soap."
14."I simmer cloves, cinnamon, and orange peels on the stove instead of buying air fresheners."
15."Menstrual cup and period underwear instead of pads and tampons."
16."I made my own Swiffer pads from a $1 flannel sheet from a thrift store. I just cut them a little bigger than needed to fit to allow for fraying (too lazy to sew the edges)."
17."Baking soda and Dawn dish soap for stubborn stains. I like to dye my hair fun colors, and the only thing that really gets out the dye from the tub is this combo. Also works for getting dye off your ears and hands."
18."I make my own fruit and veggie wash from unscented liquid castile soap diluted in a lot of water and put in a squeeze bottle. The pre-made ones, aside from being stupidly expensive, always seem to have some citrus added to them which is horrible for my skin."
19."Hummus! The ingredients are cheap, and I make a big batch on Sunday for the week. I love that I can make it as garlicky as I want, and I’ve been learning how to make the beans smoother (I add a pinch of baking soda before cooking, and let my Instant Pot natural release for a while before opening). Store bought doesn’t compare!"
