5/14/24: Dollar Stretcher Tips

A Grill and Money Saver

For those of you who still use charcoal grills, keep your grill in good shape even longer by placing your charcoal on old metal (tin) cookie sheets in the bottom of your grill instead of on the bottom of the grill itself. You can go to a thrift store or a yard sale and get these for a few dollars. Replace the cookie sheets as they "burn" out instead of the grill!

We've had our BBQ grill for over 15 years just by doing this one thing!
Tracy

Related: 7 Simple Ways To Save on Your Summer BBQs

A Cheap Way to Stock Up on Water for an Emergency

Every year, I save empty soda and milk bottles. I clean them and set them aside. If a hurricane threatens, I fill them up with drinking water. They say that you need about one gallon per day per person. That's a lot of water! Not only do I save money, but also time and frustration — driving from store to store to find water when a storm approaches isn't any fun!
Annette

Related: Basic Emergency Preparedness on a Budget

Buying a Service and Insurance-Friendly Car

Are you trying to decide which model/year of a used (or new) car to purchase? Check with your automotive insurance agent and your trusted mechanic before committing to buy. Some cars cost more to insure and/or service because of their size, brand name, theft history, etc. I know someone who purchased a luxury brand and ended up selling within two years because repair parts cost almost double, and the insurance was also much more expensive than a similar body-style car with all the options.
Joan

Related: Do You Know About These Auto Insurance Discounts?

Surprising Outdoor Cleaner

The other day, I was outside looking at the dirt and pollen (and yes, even algae) buildup on my white deck railings. I decided to try something that removes "stuck-on" food from my pans. I mixed just a tiny bit of liquid automatic dishwasher detergent in warm water and sprayed the deck railings. It didn't have to stay on there long before I could just wipe them clean. I then sprayed some resin chairs that had set out over the entire winter and the mixture broke through the grime on these as well. It worked better than any store-bought cleaner I had ever tried!
Sandra

Related: DIY Deck Clean-Up and Repair

Nix the Spice Mixes

I learned a lesson in frugality when I had difficulty finding the fajita seasoning mix I had used several times. I spent 10 minutes staring at the large rack of seasoning mixes and finally found two packets left, stuffed in a corner. I bought both. When I had used both, I thought, "Why should I spend all this time searching for mixes when surely I can make them?"

I got online, and within a few minutes, I had a recipe. Finding a recipe online took me less time than looking for a packet in the mix rack. I tried the mix, and it made great fajitas. I was sold.

Since then, I have found recipes for taco seasoning, spaghetti sauce, gravy, etc. If there is a mix you buy, chances are you will find a recipe for it online. If you are like me and have a good supply of spices, this really can pay off. You can whip up many mixes in bulk and store them so you don't have to mix them every time.
Sarah

Related: 7 Recipes for Inexpensive Homemade Seasoning Mixes

Cleaner Kitchen Compost Collection

I have a tip for mess- and stress-free kitchen compost collection.

Since brown paper bags are compostable, rather than having a big container collecting wet compostables, I just take a small (2-4 cup) plastic container, line it with a brown paper bag and collect compostable kitchen scraps there. Either once a day or when it's full (whichever comes first), I just empty the plastic container right into the compost box, bag and all. The plastic rarely gets wet because the paper barrier catches almost all of the mess: no more fruit drippings, potato peels or coffee grounds sticking to the container.

I keep my container in the kitchen sink instead of on the counter so I can easily rinse away spills. Best of all, I'm meeting the "brown waste" component of compost with the brown paper bags. To make the compost more worm-friendly, use a spade, trowel or garden claw to break up the paper bags every now and then.
Natalie

Related: How To Get Started Composting on the Cheap