What frugal thing do you do that makes you an "extreme cheapskate"?

Partly used paper towels hang around all day til they're used up, or tossed in after dinner clean up. Rarely are they not completely used. We use paper towels to mop up all oils/fats off dishes, pots etc. before they go in the dishwasher as oils/fats are really hard on septic systems, and we have one.

We don't have a garbage disposal, also because of the septic system. We compost organic veggie stuff and coffee grounds, but non-organic and meat wastes go into empty, rinsed milk cartons (1/2 gallon size) and are stapled shut when full and taken to the dump.

We bake bread fall to spring, but buy bread in the summer. We bake bread every Christmas Eve and give that to the neighbors, cheaper than any cookies, and after 25+ years, a tradition.

My clothes come from thrift shops, DH buys at outlet stores, he's too big to find more than 1 piece or so every once in a blue moon...

Our bed has interesting vintage wool blankets on it. Most were bought at community sales and had holes. When felted, they're fine!

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Originally Posted by NewGig

We use paper towels to mop up all oils/fats off dishes, pots etc. before they go in the dishwasher as oils/fats are really hard on septic systems, and we have one.

We don't have a garbage disposal, also because of the septic system. We compost organic veggie stuff and coffee grounds, but non-organic and meat wastes go into empty, rinsed milk cartons (1/2 gallon size) and are stapled shut when full and taken to the dump.
Our bed has interesting vintage wool blankets on it. Most were bought at community sales and had holes. When felted, they're fine!

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Oils and fats are hard on sewer systems as well as septic. I used to be the only one to clean certain items at the restaurant, because grease ended up in the trash, not the drains.

For quite a few years, WWII wool army blankets were used on the bed, in between the falling apart quilts I inherited. (the good ones went to my siblings) Good and warm, but I think I am allergic to wool or something, because it always made me itch.

This house has a non working garbage disposal. I debate about replacing it or yanking it. (never had one)

I've mentioned this before in one of the food threads, but I take all the little bits of leftovers from the fridge and throw them all into the crockpot and make "everything soup". I will add broth or a few other ingredients to round it out. It has always turned out well and is different every time.

Same here with grease and septic.

I save my paper grocery fliers and smaller brown paper bags to wrap garbage or absorb grease, etc.. This helps to save on paper towels.

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Originally Posted by Tybee

Catherine, we have always reused aluminum foil and the other day I wanted a piece of aluminum foil to make a pond for my granddaughter's animal habitat she created. I asked for foil and dil brought out the box and I said "do you have any used" and she said, "oh yeah, I did save a piece" and we both laughed. It was a nice moment of "hereditary frugality." It's nice to see the kids doing what we have always done.

We also do a combo thing with the clotheline and drier. Drier is finicky and sometimes it doesn't spin correctly and you have to hang them because they are absolutely sodden. Was just saying yesterday maybe we ought to hang a laundry line in the barn. We got into a discussion of freezing clothes on the line (freeze dried laundry!) because we went to pick up a puppy on an Amish farm and it was below zero and their clothes were hanging outside and frozen. So does it thaw out dry? If so, sign me up.

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Wait, what?? Did you say "PUPPY?"

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Originally Posted by rosarugosa

Wait, what?? Did you say "PUPPY?"

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Yeah, Tybee--did you say puppy?? Do tell!

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Originally Posted by rosarugosa

Wait, what?? Did you say "PUPPY?"

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Oh, Rosa, this was years and years ago, and that beloved puppy has been gone for about four years--she is the one who came through to the medium. An astonishing experience.

I wish we could get another terrier puppy, believe me.

Wow--"puppy" and "medium" in the same anecdote! Catnip! :)

Tybee, I've "freeze-dried" clothes in the past - no dryer, small house.... in my experience, they are drier when they thaw, so less in-house drying time needed. If they freeze really hard, though, they can actually break. I've had this happen. (I also broke off some of my hair when it was really long, too....)

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Originally Posted by early morning

Tybee, I've "freeze-dried" clothes in the past - no dryer, small house.... in my experience, they are drier when they thaw, so less in-house drying time needed. If they freeze really hard, though, they can actually break. I've had this happen. (I also broke off some of my hair when it was really long, too....)

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Wow--they broke!!!

Oh well, I thought we had a new puppy among us. :)