9/24/24: Dollar Stretcher Tips

A Barter Believer

I believe in the good old-fashioned barter system. I can trade a product or service of mine for another. In fact, I found a family member a gig fixing a laptop computer this week. He got paid, and I received some much-needed computer repairs as a referral.
RMH

Related: Barter Your Way to Some of Life's Luxuries

Stretching Meat Meals

My husband and I are seniors and found creative ways to stretch our food budget. My husband is a deer hunter, and while he still enjoys hunting, it's becoming more labor-intensive. This year, two of our sons sent us Omaha Steaks gift packages. We quickly discovered that the quality was great, and cutting, wrapping, labeling and freezing the food was much less work.

While the packages show thick, juicy steaks, we prefer thinner slices of steak cooked thoroughly. We also don't eat as much as we used to. My husband decided to slice one thick steak into two thin portions. It was perfect for us. When it came to the burgers, they were 6 oz. each. We thawed them out and made two smaller burgers. Again, it was plenty for us. So, four Filet Mignon steaks went from two meals to four.

One can also apply this "less is more" strategy to most of the meats you buy in-store. We also buy large, thick chicken breasts and slice them thinner as well.
Toni B.

Related: 13 Savvy Ways To Save Money on Meat and Poultry

A Cheap Source of Houseplants

I check what I call "the sick plant rack" at the local home improvement stores every time we go in and have gotten great deals on houseplants as well as perennial landscape plants from these racks. Often the plants are half price just because there is a single brown leaf on the plant.
Janey

Related: 12 Frugal Landscape Tips for Filling Out Your Yard With Plants

Reasons To Open Junk Mail

I sometimes get junk mail or other mail I have no interest in. Oftentimes, there is a completely 'clean' side to a page they send, which I use to make my grocery list or sometimes cut in fourths to make note paper. I do the same with 'clean' sheets that come with bills or other mailings. If there is an envelope they include, it can be used in several ways — cut off the corners for bookmarks kids can decorate, use to store any tiny items, or carefully fully open them, cut off the 'sticky' flap and side flaps and cut in half for note paper. Patterns, recipes, etc., could also be stored in them — simply label them when you use them.

Once in a while, I'll find they send 'freebies.' I recently got a free sample of tea, magnets (which kids can decorate with their own designs and glue on), free recipe cards, address labels, etc. It makes sense to open junk mail. You never know what freebie may be included!
Helen

DIY Flavored Rice

This is to add to Becky's good ideas for using rice.

We eat rice regularly, as we do potatoes, just because we like it. Flavored rice sold at the store is expensive, but adding one teaspoon of bouillon powder for each cup of uncooked rice and each cup of water, along with seasonings of your choice (I like Italian herbs & a little tarragon), plus about two tablespoons of butter for four cups (of cooked) rice makes the rice flavorful and non-sticky. Add everything to the pot, stir well, and simmer for 15–20 minutes.

I don't like bland white rice, but I've been known to cherish leftover rice for a small dinner meal, and it's a bonus if I have some leftover gravy to pour on top of it. Bon appetit!
Jeannine

A Tasty Way To Use Up Leftover Rice

For years, we ate rice every day, as my husband grew up eating it every day.

Leftover rice is absolutely the best served stir-fried! We always made the first batch the 15-minute stove top method, using extra long grain white rice (later used Basmati once it became widely available in the US). Leftover rice saves best in a tightly sealed container, of course. You can make future meals from that batch by scooping the rice out into a hot pan (no wok required) into which you've added a tsp. to Tbp. of oil. If you want, dice some onion and garlic to serve 'as is.' If you want to add other veggies, chop them up, add a bit more oil (not too much) — just enough to keep the rice from sticking — and add whatever fresh or leftover veggies and meat you have. Chop to 1/2–1 inch pieces. Sprinkle some finely grated cheese on top right before serving.

You can do this with brown rice, too.
JD in St. Louis

Related: 11 Foods You’ll Find in a Frugal Pantry

Avoiding Financial Entanglements

I think about what I'm committing myself to before I buy anything. For instance, if I buy or lease a new car, I may be committing to payments. I'll also have to maintain and insure it. The same thing is true for many items. For instance, I love my deck, but it does commit me to coating it to prevent rot. My color printer requires ink cartridges. I think of all these things before I make any major purchases. Usually, I'll still buy whatever it is, but at least I know what I've set myself up for in the long run.
Scott

Related: 10 Hidden Costs People Fail To Consider