Guest guest Posted March 6, 2005 Report Share Posted March 6, 2005 as posted on another group... recycling tips for ::: HOUSEHOLD + KITCHEN + SHOPPING + SEWING HOUSEHOLD *I know they say not to do it, but I've been known to empty my vacuum bags and reuse them. *Re-route your washing machine hoses so that your water drains outside for use in watering your landscaping. *Never dry clothes completely in the dryer. Take them out while they are still damp and let them hang dry. With 100 percent cotton, don't put them in the dryer. Hang dry and they will have less wrinkles. *Install a Furnace temperature regulator, and turn the heat down 10 degrees while you are sleeping. *Turn your Water Heater down to 120 Degrees. If you know when you will be using your hot water (showers, dishes, laundry, etc.) put an appliance timer on your hot water heater. *Check the lighting in your home. Lower the wattage when possible. *To keep your drains running smoothly- in addition to any chemicals you might put into them, fill up the basin with hot water periodically, and then let it run down all at once. The pressure from all the water will help clear the drain. KITCHEN *Never throw away a plastic tray. Use them to store leftovers in the freezer, gift giving, and to carry food to social events. *Save small plastic containers for children's drinks. Glass breaks and can be dangerous. *East less meat. Not only is it less expensive, it is more healthy. SHOPPING *Always do your grocery shopping alone. Keep the husband and kids home. You will spend less money. *Don't trust the scanners at check-out counters. They make mistakes. *When possible, know the price of what you are buying, and watch it scan. *Many stores have the policy to match their competitor's prices. If you see something in the newspaper that you want, but don't want to travel to that particular store to get it, cut out the advertisement and take it to your local store. *Shop the thrift stores with regularity. Know which ones have the best prices. Be on the lookout for candles (for emergencies), dishes, wallpaper remnants (for wrapping paper), patterns, yarn, sewing supplies, wool pants for winter outings, classic clothing, and other versatile items. *When buying a non food item, always look in the back to see if you can find the identical item marked at a lower price. Often when prices increase, it doesn't apply to the items already marked. *When buying food, look for the expiration date and buy the newest item. *Join a discount warehouse. If you don't qualify to join, buy one share of their stock. Be sure and hold the stock certificate yourself. If a brokerage holds it for you, they will charge you for that service. *If you must buy name brands- consider setting up an extensive filing system for coupons and rebates. Organize cardboard boxes and save not only the UPC code, but the rest of the packaging. You never know what part of the packaging they are going to ask for. Be sure and not create a fire hazard. *When you buy a car, pick one that combines low price, low gas mileage, lower insurance premiums, and low maintenance and repair costs. Your will save thousands of dollars over the lifetime of the car. *If you are buying from a dealer, check out a half dozen of them, and be sure and let them know you are looking around. When you leave the first time, they won't expect you to come back. When you do come back, they will think they have a sale. They will not offer you the best deal until you start to walk away again. *When you need new tires for your car, try and find some that are marked as blemished. They are considerably cheaper. They are just as safe as new ones, and usually carry the same warranty. *Pump your own gas. Use the lowest octane your car manual recommends. *Keep your engine tuned and your tired inflated for the best mileage. *Find a good mechanic for your car before you are in a crisis situation. Find someone who you can trust. Take a recommendation from a friend and see how long they have been in business in your community. Check their certification, and ask how they will communicate with you about repair costs and options. *When it comes to your auto insurance, shop around. Call the State Insurance Department for a list of comparison prices charged by different companies. *Keep your deductibles as high as you feel comfortable with. If you have an old car, you may not want Collision coverage- just Liability. *Be sure and take advantage of Homeowner Insurance Discounts for alarm systems, fire extinquishers, non-smokers, good driving records, good grades for students, and carrying multi-line insurance with the same company. SEWING *Use leftover candle stumps as pincushions. Needles slide into fabric smoother. *When your child's pullover sweaters becomes to tight to wear, turn them into a cardigan by cutting them straight down the front and binding the front edges with an attractive trim. *Keep your fabric remnants. Even if you can't think of a use for them now, new projects will come along. You may end up using them in a quilting project or perhaps making a doll. They may become a collar or a piece of bias trim. *Use leftover denim from cutoff jeans to make garden gloves. Simply trace around your fingers for the pattern "First they ignore you, then they laugh at you, then they fight you, then you win."-- Mahatma Gandhi Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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