The colognes and perfumes I really like are unfortunately increasingly expensive so it’s disappointing to find out they’ve spoiled sitting there in their pretty bottles. Those beautiful dresser trays are their worst enemy. Heat and light destroy scents, making them smell rancid.

I have finished every bottle all the way to the end by just changing where I store my perfume. I put all the bottles in an beautiful opaque container (like a large canister) and keep that on my dresser. The important thing is that sunlight and heat are kept to a minimum.
Nancy in Santee

With three teenage daughters, we have a lot of shampoos, conditioners, etc. I hang a plastic shoe bag over the back of the bathroom door and use the pouches for hairspray, conditioners, etc. Keeps the bathroom organized!
Helen G.
 

Some friends introduced me to the idea of having a baby sitting club. We currently have three couples in our group. We each take a turn watching all of the kids and then we get to go out for two weeks. Since none of us have money to pay babysitters, this works great. Before we started, one of my friends said that she hadn’t been out on a date with her husband in more than a year.
Cassandra B.

If you love those packets of oatmeal, you can make your own. Measure 1/4 cup quick oats, approximately 15 raisins or other dried fruit, brown sugar, sugar or Splenda, non-fat dried milk and nuts into a 12- to 16-ounce container. Seal until ready to use. To fix, add hot water. You’ll want to keep and reuse the container.
Kathryn

I covered my 12′ by 18′ dining room floor with ceramic tile done in a mosaic pattern for just the cost of adhesive and grout. I went to a place that sold ceramic tile and asked what they did with tiles that were broken. The manager told me they were thrown into a dumpster behind the store and that I was welcome to them.

I hauled home a pickup load of tiles (porcelain, granite, marble, etc.) and some were not even broken. However, there wasn’t enough of any particular type to do a whole floor. I separated the tiles into piles of “light” (cream or white) and “dark.” After determining how much I had of each, I began to draw off a pattern on the bare concrete floor with a T-square and a chalk line. It took my two teenaged sons and I about two days to adhere the tiles to the concrete, and it took us longer to grout the tiles. I get a lot of compliments on my unique floor and it was almost free!
Miss Paula in Texas

I have an easy way to create a Christmas fund. I take two of our monthly bills (such as electricity and phone) and figure out the average payment for the previous twelve months. Then I multiply that figure times 12 to find out how much I pay in a typical year. Then I divided that number by 11 and make that amount my payment for January through November. When December comes, I use the extra money for gifts or a weekend trip. It has made December and our January such a relaxing and fun time while only taking a small bite out of our monthly budget.
Lynn in Sterling, VA

When you’re planning a trip, go to your library first and check out a recent issue guidebook to the area where you will be traveling. Take the guidebook along with you and treat it carefully. You will have access to all the sites, as well as restaurants and shopping in the area, without the expense of purchasing a new edition.
Marion D.

The canned air you purchase to clean computer keyboards and other accessories is so expensive and doesn’t seem to last very long. I use my hair dryer! It works great blowing out dust and particles that get under your keyboard.
Patsy H. in Farmerville, LA

Sometimes checking out stores in a different town or county saves you a lot of money. By traveling 20 extra miles from one county to another, I generally save 20% on groceries, cleaners, clothing, etc. In a higher income area, retailers know that they can charge top dollar while the lower income areas will have much lower prices on the same goods.
Cindy

One of the best health care money-saving tips is prevention! The best prevention tool? That’s easy. It’s exercise! It doesn’t take much. 30 minutes a day (and it can be broken down to three 10-minute sessions) is a great start and is recommended for health maintenance.

Some of the benefits of exercise include controlling weight, boosting your immune system (which will help you fight off colds and flu easier), sleeping better at night, and having more energy. Start slow and build up to more (both time and intensity). It takes three weeks or so to make or break a habit, but you can do it!
CJ
WIC Nutritionist

I always run my cars until they are close to dead and I have had no problems getting 250,000 from a car.

How do I decide when to a car is “dead?” Here are my considerations.

1. When the car becomes unsafe to drive and isn’t easily fixable.

2. When the car becomes unreliable. If I can’t drive it and know I will get somewhere, it needs to go.

3. When the cost of the repairs is more than 75% of the cost of buying the same car in running condition. For example, if I need a new tranny in my 1990 Taurus, which costs $1500, and I can buy a used ‘90 Taurus in better condition than the one I have (once it is fixed) for $2,000, I wouldn’t fix it but would look to replace it.
Polagaya in Monroe, WA

Gary Foreman
The Dollar Stretcher
gary@stretcher.com