CHEAPbits

Free Stationery

2009-03-20T11:38:00.000-07:00

I've always loved labels, good ones, anyway. They are like pieces of art that are as accessible as your grocery store. I've even NOT used certain cans, just because it's the last one with that label, and I can't bear to part with it (certain olives come to mind).

Not too long ago, a friend sent a note to me on the back of a wrapper for a Klondike bar. Not only is it pretty and strange, it has a personal quality that is missing from regular paper, like an additional dimension, an insight. After all, this wrapper was recently around something that was likely consumed by the note writer.

Imagine re-reading a note years from now, written on the back of a label that was designed for that time. It sets the note in a period. It makes me wish I'd considered writing notes on the backs of labels sooner. I can only imagine all the "Hi-C" notes that would be out there now.

(This post was suggested by a friend who regularly engaged in the saving of trees by reusing the backs of V-8 labels for typewriter paper, back when the labels wrapped around large tin cans.)

Grow free/cheap plants

2009-03-18T19:56:00.000-07:00

Its been a while since the last "almost daily" post, so I thought I would make it a good one. Free plants for your garden. Well, free seeds, anyway. Here are some sources:
1. Heirloom Seeds- You may have to buy the first of your heirloom seeds, but after that, you can save the seeds and plant them year after year.
2. Seeds From Produce It won't work for all fruits and vegetables, but you can grow from the seeds in produce. If you get it from the local farmer's market, you have a better chance of sprouting something that can grow locally. We accidentally grew a great volunteer crop of cantaloupe this way, and used up some sprouted potatoes. Hybrids will not produce a fruit like the parent, though.
3. Seeds from Bulk Food After we learned that the amaranth that we have (bought) seeds for will not yield as much as others, I was a bit frustrated. All I wanted was to sprout some amaranth like the kind we bought in bulk from our local health food store. Then I read an article that said much of the bulk seed from health food stores can be sprouted. (Coriander, for one. And the seeds are cheap this way.) So I took the bulk amaranth, and tested the viability of the seed (put some in a half-folded, damp paper towel to see if they would sprout) They did. I am going to plant those and see how they grow.
4. Trade Seeds Most packs have more seed than you can plant, or have room for. So sharing seeds is a common practice. If you have a gardening buddy, share there, or go online and find a seed swapping place.
5. Get Cuttings/Divide Plants My friend Steve has a sage plant that is huge and beautiful, but according to him, needs a haircut, as it takes up too much space. He has an aloe plant that has desperately outgrown its pot. He has mint running wild, and Jerusalem artichokes volunteering everywhere. All this means that I am going to have some sage, aloe and mint (I already planted the Jerusalem artichokes last year.)
6. Plant Perennials. They say perennials are hard to grow from seed. I dunno, I am giving it a shot for the first time this year. If I am successful, that will be the last time I have to do it, because perennials come up year after year.

Really Use Oven

2009-03-13T09:41:00.000-07:00

If you are cooking something in the oven, try to think of ALL the things you can cook at once, then save some of that stuff as leftovers.

We always put a few potatoes in when we cook, then save them in the fridge for later use. They fry up quickly for breakfast, or are a handy, last minute ingredient. The energy it takes to reheat is so much less than the energy it would have taken to cook them from scratch.

I read somewhere you can put a clean rock in the oven while cooking other stuff, and leave it while the oven cools. Later, take it out, put it in a clean sock, and you have a warm rock for your toes. I've been meaning to try that one, but now that the weather is getting ready to be wonderful, it's hard to think about it.

TV Free

2009-03-08T07:58:00.000-07:00

Here's how it happened: the cable company was running that “if you steal cable, you are the worst person in the world” commercials and, having just paid another cable bill, I was doubly insulted. This happened to coincide with “National Turn Off Your TV Week” so that's what we did.

It was painful, but after I got out of the habit of watching, something weird happened when I turned it back on... it seemed noisy and empty.

I knew that unrewarding feeling would disappear, and I would eventually be lulled back into a tv stupor, so instead, I called the cable company and cut the cord. Yep.

At first, it was amazingly difficult. I felt lonely. Undirected. The house seemed too quiet. But oh, how nice to have an extra 50 bucks a month. That's 600 a year. Since we had poor reception without the cable, we quit watching local tv too.

Saving the amount we were spending on cable was a big incentive to make the switch. But by doing this, we actually ended up saving even more. Without our daily exposure to television commercials, we no longer have a list of things we should get, and are getting by with what we have just fine.

By the way, we haven't completely disconnected... we can watch shows online. There are some commercials, but not so many, and at the moment, many of those are for causes rather than stuff, so I am good with that. So we still watch, just not nearly as much.

Pantyhose Tip #15 stuffing

2009-03-06T21:21:00.000-08:00

Cut loops of pantyhose material for a project that requires stuffing, like a doll, a pillow, etc. They are springy, full of holes, and give loft to these things. Plus, they are easy to clean and dry quickly.

I am thinking of creating a quilt using pantyhose as the batting, but since I have never made a quilt before, this is one of those projects that will probably remain hypothetical. On the other hand, I have some mighty flat pillows that could use a boost...

Fill Your Freezer

2009-03-03T09:46:00.000-08:00

Fill your refrigerator too. The space in between the items loses cold fastest, and has to be rechilled more often, according to my research.

If you don't have much stuff in there, you can fill containers with water, or use wadded up newspaper. Or so the suggestions go.

I think I would be embarrassed if someone opened my fridge and saw newspaper, but I guess some jugs of water would be alright. In this cold weather, I could actually let them chill on the porch, then set them in. Maybe I will.

Don't Preheat

2009-03-02T07:41:00.000-08:00

For some things, like breads and pizza, you have to preheat the oven so it cooks the outside with a crispy crust, without baking the softer insides to. But for other stuff, you can put whatever you are cooking right away, and let the cooking begin. No need to preheat the oven.

When your dish is almost finished, turn the oven off and let the dish finish cooking using the heat of the oven. If you leave the door closed, the heat will remain inside for a surprisingly long time.

Save Hot Water with Low Flow Showerhead

2009-03-01T10:08:00.000-08:00

This tip is one we stumbled on by accident. We lived in an apartment with TERRIBLE water pressure. A small stream would eventually turn into a dribble, and we'd put the seasonal call in to our landlady. She'd send a plumber over every couple of months to temporarily fix it. Awful.

So we found this low-flow shower head for about 10 bucks. Ahhh, the joy of real water pressure. Like holding your thumb over the garden hose, this baby shoots water out in a stream strong enough to really rinse. It even has a "hold" button, for hard-core water savings. You can pause the water while you lather, then start it up again without having to reconfigure the hot/cold ratio.

I wish I could say I use that button, but I am not that much of a conservationist of water. In fact, one of my big vices is the long shower. Now, however, I can take the occasional long shower with less guilt, knowing I am wasting much less water.

Cut Your Grocery Bill in Half!

2009-02-28T09:00:00.001-08:00

How? By using everything you buy before it goes bad! Apparently, on average, we waste a shocking 40-50 percent of the food we buy. That means we have to replace that food (and likely, we will only use half of that as well). The energy to grow it, to ship it, to store it... it’s all for nothing, not to mention all that cash you shelled out at the check out. All of the food we throw out contributes significantly to the rise in methane gas as well.

Rather than let this waste continue, consider making an effort to plan meals using what you have, taking inventory of what may not last too much longer and using it up. One blogger set up a challenge to her readers to waste less food for a month. I suspect those who took her up on it ended up with a change of lifestyle that helped them significantly at the grocery store. Another one is writing a book about wasted food, and has a blog dedicated to this subject.

We no longer toss stuff out saying “Well, it will make good compost” and instead, find ourselves muttering “If we put these radishes in water, do you think they'll revive?” If they do, that’s 1.25 right there, buddy.

Garden Start Plant Containers

2009-02-27T08:37:00.001-08:00

Containers that were used for other things make great planters. How do I know? Because my obsession with zero waste plus huge garden= alternative planters!

For instance, a group of about 50 people meets twice a week (for four hours!) During the break, everyone is invited to have refreshments, lemonade and tea and coffee are the drinks, served in styrofoam cups! Since I've done my best to eliminate styrofoam from my world, and seeing it piled in the trash like that made me panic... that is just crazy waste!

So the cups became planters. Here is a picture from someone doing the same thing (although I am not sure if these were upcycled or not.) It isn't just cups that make great seedling pots, though. We folded the bottoms of toilet paper rolls, cut open plastic soda bottles, used yogurt containers, made pots from newspaper and sturdy old coffee bags... so many options! Using the plastic salad clamshells to sprout early lettuce and have early salads seems particularly brilliant to me (see details here).

We've been saving eggshells, carefully cracked on one side, just for the novelty of planting using eggshells. I will post a picture when that project is underway.

Human Hair in the Garden

2009-02-22T08:47:00.001-08:00

Ewww. I know. But lookie here, this is about hair in your garden. Animals smell your scent in your hair, and they tend to steer clear, handy if you are trying to deter certain creatures from your tender transplants. So after you clean your hairbrush, use it by:
1. Composting. It will compost just fine, although it may not have quite the deterring power if your compost is open and yummy to foraging squirrels.
2. Stuff it in a section of pantyhose and make a garden "sachet". Tie it to your fence or on your tomato cage. (Wow, that tip is so good, I should have kept it for another pantyhose tip. Ah well.)

Window Curtain Insulation

2009-02-21T09:19:00.001-08:00

For the longest time, I didn't think about window coverings as functional. Oh, sure, they keep prying eyes from seeing what's going on inside, and they can make a room look more finished, but until recently, I didn't use them for temperature control. When I was cold or hot, I just bumped the thermostat. But no more!

Our south side windows let in a lot of heat (just ask the cat, who will follow the sunbeam from the front room to the back bedroom for his afternoon catnaps). Even on a cold day like today, with the sun shining, these windows are letting in tons of heat. The north side of the house is constantly cold, but by adding thick coverings to the glass, we have cut the cold coming inside significantly. At nights and on cold, overcast days, we close all the window coverings. The heater comes on less often now. In the summer, it's the reverse... we keep the south blinds down.

This isn't anything new. I remember an old friend who took down the heavy winter curtains and put up the airy summer curtains every year. Now I finally understand why.

Pantyhose Tip #14 Chigger Free Gardening

2009-02-20T19:51:00.000-08:00

I was thinking back to last summer. Our back yard was so nice... except for the chiggers. I thought the little red spiders I saw on the deck were chiggers (apparently, though, they are just mites. I was wrong. There, I said it.)

Anyway, on an unrelated site, I read that hunters sometimes wear pantyhose under their pants to keep chiggers and ticks off. Aside from the really great visual of hunters putting on pantyhose, I think this idea could be just the thing this summer during chigger weather. And I will definitely wear them if I go walking at Wilson's Creek... that place is full of ticks. I still have scars.

Pantyhose Tip#13 Non-stick Rolling Pin

2009-02-17T08:59:00.000-08:00

The other day, I was on a cooking website, and I found this tip. In the spirit of full disclosure, I haven't yet used my rolling pin. I mean ever. So this means I have also not yet tested this tip. But here it is:

Take a section of pantyhose leg. Slide your rolling pin inside, and tie off the ends. This will prevent dough from sticking. Apparently.

Looks like I've got some baking to do.

Flush less water down the drain

2009-02-15T21:32:00.001-08:00

Older toilets (made before 1998) use a lot of unnecessary water. We have an older toilet, and eventually, we will replace it. Until then, though, we've cut our water usage by putting plastic bottles filled with water in the tank. Some people used bricks in the past, but they will decompose and eventually cause plumbing problems.

The plastic bottles in our tank once held 64 oz. of juice, but now they hold 64 oz. of water. They are rectangular and fit perfectly inside the tank. (Be sure to clear all the moving parts, or the bottle will hinder the flush.) Since we have two in our tank, we are saving a gallon of water with every flush.

Some companies sell bags of water that hang inside your tank, which works the same way as the bottle, only they are mounted to the side. Using old plastic bottles works fine for us, and it's free. If you fill them with bathwater, you aren't even wasting water to do it. Or fill it with tap water and use it as emergency back up.

Solar Powered Clothes Dryer

2009-02-10T08:12:00.001-08:00

There’s an apocryphal story about a guy who made it rich in the seventies by advertising “solar-powered clothes dryers” which were, of course, nothing more than outdoor clothes lines.

Clothes lines have been around a long time. They can be as simple as a line between two trees, or as complicated as a permanent structure dedicated to line drying. I just saw a beautiful, modern design line, with a minimal tree shape cut out as the two end s. It’s pricey, but if I didn't have one already, I’d be tempted to make this one.

Clothes that are line dried last longer as well (drying clothes in a dryer is really kind of rough on the fabric, all that heat and tumbling) And of course, the energy to dry them is free.

According to California Energy Commission, “A dryer is typically the second-biggest electricity-using appliance after the refrigerator, costing about $85 to operate annually.”

In the winter, drying clothes inside can help put moisture back into the air. Collapsible clothes lines can be set up in the bathtub. If the clothes are not dripping, you can drape them over moisture resistant surfaces (I like to imagine that my ficus tree loves being decorated with damp socks and underwear).

Our outdoor line is on our back deck, and I intend to give it a cover so it will double as a patio umbrella.

Pantyhose tip #12 Potty-train Plants

2009-02-07T13:25:00.000-08:00

Before potting a plant, use a section of pantyhose to cover the small holes in the bottom of the pot to keep the soil from leaking out when you water or move your plants. The water will still flow out, but the soil will stay in the pot.

(I've almost used up all of my old pantyhose these past few weeks!)

Pantyhose tip #11 Bath Tea Bag

2009-02-06T13:54:00.000-08:00

Once, I got a very fancy bath gift. It was a gallon of dried herbs and rose hips and orange peels. It came with a special bath tea ball, that looked just like a regular tea ball only MUCH bigger. It smelled sooo good, only I could never get the tea ball to seal completely. That meant little bits of herbs would float into the bath and stick to me when I got out. Yuck.

To get around that, I replaced the tea ball with a section of pantyhose. Make your own tea bag by using ingredients like oatmeal (soften skin) lavender (calming) peppermint (invigorating) or any number of other herbs for their scent or effect. Use old herbal teas (past their 'drink by' date) like chamomile and mint. Use it to corral your epsom salts, so you don't have to feel that grainyness as you bathe.

Put your tea bag in your bath as it fills, or just let it float around and steep. If you've attached a tie to the bag, you can attach it to the faucet and let the water filter through it, then let it float around with you in your bath.

Bottle Your Own Water

2009-02-05T20:54:00.000-08:00

Why bottle it? It's convenient, good for you, and you will then be less likely to shell out $1.50 for water if you've got your own bottle.

Why glass? It is better than plastic and it's easy to find a super-cool bottle to reuse. We use glass bottles with stoppers built in (see picture) but you could use any glass bottle with a resealable top, screw top, etc. I wouldn't use cork, because I think I'd knock it off in my bag.

Bottled water is such a scam. Oh, it’s handy, but it is often nothing more than tap water, sometimes much worse than tap water. They may add minerals. Big deal, they're draining the local aquifir. Bottled water generates so much waste, both in the shipping from someplace else, and the disposal of the plastics (80% end up in landfills). Every ton of PET produced equals 3 tons of carbon dioxide.

And don’t even get me started on the plastics! Did you know the plastics they’ve been using can leach into the water? Even those outdoorsy bottles can be not so nice. Plastic is non-renewable, made from oil, etc.

That plastic bottle gets shipped here from someplace else. Huge amounts of water are pulled out of that local community and shipped here, using resources, dropping their water table, getting us used to paying for water... it makes no sense.

Bottling your own water reduces the waste and contaminants. If you like, filter it first. We do. In some countries, this might be a necessary step, but in ours, it really isn't (unless you are on a well, in which case, you will want to filter that stuff). We're just persnickety like that.

Make Pet Toys

2009-02-01T19:06:00.000-08:00

Topher, our cat, prefers the home made toys. At first, we felt bad not spending money on him. He is, after all, our little baby. I mean, just look at that face!

But as it turns out, his favorite toys are made from other things. Here is the list, as well as how they were made:

Tin Foil Ball- Tin foil, made into a ping-pong sized ball. Compress it with a spoon for a shiny finish.
Milk Ring Danger Mouth- The ring off a container of milk. It has plastic teeth, making MRDM a challenging opponent.
Cat Fishin‘ Game- a cluster of strips for the “lure” (I made ours from a plastic bag, but I am going to change it to paper, since he sometimes catches it and I don't want him to eat plastic) fastened to a guitar string for the “line”, fastened to a stick for the “pole”. It's crazy good times.
Catnip Dim Sum*- the toe of an old athletic sock, stuffed with homegrown, organic catnip and stitched up to look like a delicious dumpling.

Topher also really likes the glue stick, but I need that, so we don't count it as one of his toys. Make something for your pet, just be sure it's sturdy enough to take their rough play without falling apart, and that it has no small parts that might accidentally be swallowed. And don't use anything dangerous, of course. Click here are some ideas for homemade dog toys.

*to my dismay, Topher actually prefers a ratty, well-loved, store bought toy to Dim Sum. It's an eggplant filled with catnip that cannot possibly be as good as the catnip I grew, yet, he loves it so much it is often soggy with love spit.

Pantyhose Tip #10 Wrapping Paper Holder

2009-01-31T17:10:00.000-08:00

My wrapping paper always ends up ratty on the ends, but in my search for ALL the useful things you can make from old pantyhose (see Pantyhose tip #1) I found this tip, and am going to give it a try.

Put the tubes of wrapping paper in the legs of an old pair of pantyhose. Hang over a closet rod. No more torn paper.

I imagine you don't have to hang it to get the same paper-saving results, but it would be a handy way to get them out of the way, I guess.

Houseplant Starts, Your Free Air Cleaners

2009-01-30T05:29:00.000-08:00

Some plants are so easy to propagate, it’s ridiculous. You just take a piece of the plant, stick it in water and before long, roots! When I trim my pothos, I can’t bear to throw out the trimmings. Instead I sprout them. The spider plants are even simpler, since they send out babies all by themselves.

Not only are propagated plants cheap/free, these houseplants plants clean the nasties out of your indoor air. New countertops, synthetic rugs, plastic shower curtains, paint... all possible sources of VOCs that reduce indoor air quality (benzene, formaldehyde, trichloroethylene, all carcinogenic). But these babies suck it all in and clean it up, giving you sweet oxygen in return, some better than others (check link above for the best ones).

If you need a start, come by and I'll hook you up. Before long, you will be making more, they grow like crazy. They are the sourdough bread start of the plant world.

Pantyhose Tip #9 Find Small Things

2009-01-29T07:35:00.000-08:00

Lost something small, like an earring, a sewing needle, maybe a bead? Try this:

Stretch a section of wrecked panty hose over the nozzle of your vacuum cleaner, then vacuum around the area where you think you lost the thing... jewelry comes to mind, but it can be any small, hard to see thing. The vacuum will suck up the stuff around without sucking it into the bag.

Test your Olive Oil

2009-01-28T11:06:00.000-08:00

I hate being ripped off. And it isn't like olive oil is cheap, but given the choices in oils, for my own reasons I prefer olive oil to corn or canola... too bad corn or canola oil is probably what I have in my cupboard!

This is the most expensive canola oil on the planet! It SAYS 100% extra virgin olive oil, and has no other ingredients listed, yet I know it is not extra virgin olive oil. How? I did the refrigerator test. Olive oil hardens, canola and corn oil do not. Apparently there is big money to be made in fake olive oil. Add a little green coloring, maybe a slight flavor, and there you have it.

Apparently, Italy was exporting more olive oil than they make. So someone figured something was up. ABC did some tests to discover the fake oil. NPR did a report. I am just flat out mad about it. Maybe I should have known. I bought mine at the Devil's own “Sam's Club”. Oops.

The NPR guy says if it’s less than 10 bucks a half litre, it’s probably fake. I hate using price for my pre-buy test, though.

Pickled Eggs

2009-01-27T11:34:00.000-08:00

I just enjoyed a homemade pickled egg. They are an acquired taste, so I am told, but if you love you some pickled eggs, mmm boy, try making them yourself.

First, peel a hard-boiled egg. Next, put it in a jar of pickle juice, after you've eaten all the pickles. It can be hot pickles, pickled peppers, mustard pickles... even pickled beet juice. Wait a day to a week, depending how pickly you like your eggs. Then eat. They are chewier than straight-up hard boiled eggs. And easier than pickling eggs from scratch.

Look, I've never gotten sick from this, and I've done it lots of time. This is a much-tested recipe. I haven't tried it with sauerkraut juice yet, but that's because I never have enough juice left, however, some friends gave us a can of sauerkraut juice, and I feel obliged and challenged to create something from it for our next get-together.

Dried Orange Peel for Firestarters

2009-01-25T10:57:00.001-08:00

Dried orange peel can be used as a firestarter in your fireplace. Save your peel and let it dry out, then burn it in the fireplace. It's so much nicer than paper... smokes less, pops more. What fun!

We did this for the first time last night, and oh, what a show! It burned and sputtered for a long time, and it was amazing to watch. I suppose the oils in the orange act as fuel. It was well worth the effort. In fact, I plan to save ALL of my orange peel from now on, just so I can do this.

Cheap Greens

2009-01-23T09:02:00.000-08:00

Maybe you've eaten sprouts before. “They're alright, I suppose” is what you thought. Well, it's what I thought, anyway, until I sprouted my own. Really. I've always had the store bought kind or the salad bar kind, and I am telling you, those are all slightly funky. The difference is huge.

When you sprout these yourself, not only do you control freshness and eliminate the need for any additives, you also get a much wider variety. Of course, you can sprout straight alfalfa, but for some excitement, you can add other things too. You can sprout broccoli (way more nutrients, apparently, than regular broccoli). You can sprout radish, for a hint of peppery goodness, without that overpowering radish harshness. Or onion sprouts. Or bigger bean sprouts. You can make a mix of sprouts for a new taste, oh the possibilities!

We got a mix from the local health food store, alfalfa, radish, clover (weird, eh?) and fenugreek. It's a 16 ounce bag for just under 5 bucks. There are two tablespoons in an ounce, so that is 16 things of sprouts. And each container of sprouts is 2 times bigger than the store type, because I am using one of those extra large plastic containers from the Thai restaurant (about 6 inches tall) so these work out to be about 15 cents a pack. It's almost done now and I am munching it, even though it is a day or two away from being done. Yum.

This was ridiculously easy to do. 2 tbs of seeds in a container with 4 tbs. of water. Soak overnight. Add water in the morning. Like magic, they sprout. Then rinse twice a day until they are far enough along to be yummy. Or a week, which is apparently the official amount of time. Then store in your refrigerator. Here are the step-by-step directions. Someplace on that site is a video, too.

Homemade Toothpaste

2009-01-22T11:46:00.000-08:00

We started making our own toothpaste because we didn't like the ingredients in regular toothpaste. Some of that stuff is scary! But as it turns out, it is also cheaper. Here is our recipe:

baking soda
hydrogen peroxide
flavor (optional. We've used peppermint extract and anise extract. I think cinnamon is next.)
Dr. Bronner's (optional)

Here is the how-to video that got us started. Basically, it's a paste of two parts baking soda, one part hydrogen peroxide, add in flavor.

We make ours fresh every morning, but I am thinking of making a small amount of paste. I like a drop or two of Dr. Bronners (hippie soap) because I like a little foam. We are also growing stevia just so I can add the ground, dried leaves to make it a little bit sweet. Stevia is a very sweet herb that does not cause cavities. Or so I've read. As for fluoride, well... it's in the rinse water whether we like it or not.

Old Envelopes for Saving Seeds

2009-01-20T13:49:00.000-08:00

Save seeds from your garden in reused envelopes. To do this, you are going to have to open that junk mail (something I used to just toss away).

Cut the junk mail in half. Pull out the insides, and recycle or reuse them. Now you have two empty seed-packet sized envelopes. Put seeds in each, fold top down, tape closed. Write the name of the seed on the back, along with the date of storage and any other information you might want to know about it at planting time.

If you can't stand the thought of not reading the junk mail first, get into the habit of opening your mail on the short end. Shake the envelope contents down to one side, and cut or tear off the other. Pull out the junk mail, read it, then proceed by cutting the envelope in half to make two packets (or, if you don't mind the size, don't cut it, just use it as one big pack). The other piece will have to be sealed on both ends, though.

Paint tray clean up

2009-01-19T13:13:00.000-08:00

So you forgot your reusable grocery sacks at home, and ended up with some of these. Now what to do?

Cover your paint tray with one of these before pouring on the paint. After you've finished, you can remove the cover for fast clean up. Be sure to let the paint dry on the bag before tossing, so it will not leach into the landfill.

Use a plastic bag to cover your paint tray (or roller) to keep it fresh, if you plan to paint the next day. This way, you wont have to rinse off all your stuff.

Toilet Paper Roll Plant Starter

2009-01-18T08:34:00.000-08:00

Save the cardboard tube in the center of your toilet paper for starting seeds for your garden.
Bend one of the ends in, to make a base. (If you want to get super neat about it, set the tube up and use a brush handle to push the ends from the other side as well.) Fill with soil, put your seeds in, water. When it is time to transplant these, open the bottom and place directly into the ground, no need to remove the cardboard, it will decompose.

If the plant you are growing is attractive to slugs, use paper towel tubes instead. Cut these in half (for a longer tube) follow the directions, but instead of filling the tube, leave a space on top. This will create a dry collar that the slugs will not want to climb.

You have to start saving these tubes early, if you want to use them for your garden, because you will need one per seedling.

Safety Razor

2009-01-17T12:16:00.000-08:00

You know those iconic, flat razor blades? The kind that make you think of suicide and punk rock and a different era? Turns out they are great for shaving.

Really. I've always suspected that the multiple blade thing was just marketing. Maybe because after the two blade system came out (with the illustrated cartoon of a very thick hair being pulled out and a second blade cutting it) it seemed odd. Or maybe because the follow up Saturday Night Live “Triple Blade” commercial, mocking the idea made me suspect that it wasn't all good.
In any case, now that they're up to 5 blades, they can charge 5 times for each one. (This came out in The Onion a couple of years before the 5 blade razor was actually released. Can't WAIT for the 7 blade, oh just imagine how close that shave will be!)

Since I like sharp blades, but go through them like candy,(apparently blessed with steel wool hairs) the cost really added up. So I did some research and found an old razor on eBay. They were made to last back then, so if you find an old one, just clean it up and it will probably be good to go.

You can also still buy them new, you just have to order them from another country, since they are widely available, just not in the U.S. (Hmmm, suspicious, no?)

On the bottom of the handle, there is a knob that unscrews and two panels open to gracefully hold the single blade. Mine opens like two butterfly wings. Some have a top that comes off, and you insert the blade, reinsert the top and twist the bottom. Some are even adjustable, but that is too fancy for my shaving needs.

Blades for this thing are super cheap, but they are not all alike. Some rust, some are not as sharp. After some research, I found a stainless steel brand with a good sharpness ranking, and bought a case (Wilkinson). I think it works out to about 25 cents a blade. They last longer than the twin and triple blades I was using, are easier to clean, and you can flip them over to extend their use even more.

I read an article about “wet shaving” and these razors are apparently making a comeback. Men are discovering badger bristle brushes, scented shaving soaps and these lovely safety razors, and turning shaving into a whole experience. Maybe I'll give that a shot. Sounds fun. Here is a lovely article with more details about the whys and hows called “How To Shave Like Your Grandpa”.

Oh, and how could I forget the brilliant, step-by-step video for building up a good lather for shaving. I stumbled upon this whole series of safety razor shaving tips posted by Mantic59. Very helpful and inspiring.

Pantyhose Tip #8 (Store Onions)

2009-01-16T09:44:00.000-08:00

Cut the leg off an old pair of pantyhose, and push an onion into it. Tie it off, then push another onion, tie that one off, add another onion... Soon you will have an onion chain, which you can then store in a cool, dark, dry area. Cut the chain from the bottom to use onions as needed.

What is so great about an onion chain? Well, if you've ever had a bag of onions go bad because one was going bad, so all the others went bad, you know the power of onion badness. It spreads, and it's gross. One bad onion CAN spoil the whole bunch, girl. Onions need air circulation and dry, dark conditions to keep well, apparently.

Last year, we grew no onions. This year, though, we are planning to grow lots of onions, enough to get us through the whole year, just like in the olden days (like 30 years ago or so). We are going to need to store them, and this is how we plan to do it. Now, if we can just keep our basement dry so it meets the requirements, we'll be set.

Bubble wrap window insulation

2009-01-15T09:25:00.000-08:00

Did you get a lot of things in the mail over the holidays? Did it come wrapped in bubble wrap?

Reuse that bubble wrap (that hasn't been popped) for covering your windows. The insulating value comes from the small pockets of air in the bubbles. Cut the wrap to size and put over glass, over each pane.

I hear you can spray the clean glass with water, and attach the bubble wrap that way, so I will have to give it a try. Basement windows or windows that have no view are best, since the bubblewrap will obscure the view.

Pantyhose Tip #7 Big Giant Rubber Band

2009-01-14T20:10:00.000-08:00

Cut the waistband off the top of an old pair of pantyhose, and use it to keep the trash bag from slipping down into the trashcan.

If you're moving, you can bundle books together in easy-to-lift piles. Use two, one going horizontally across the books, one vertical. If you want to carry them by the crosshairs, you have to be sure they're in there tight, or the band will slip off while you carry them.

What else could you use a big, giant rubber band for? I dunno. Giant slingshot? Hang something big to a hook?

Pantyhose Tip #6 (under pants)

2009-01-13T15:33:00.000-08:00

Use old pantyhose to keep your legs warm under pants. This will accomplish several things: 1. Your legs will be warmer, not much, but a little. 2. No panty lines. 3. You won't have to give up that slightly itchy, uncomfortable feeling just because you're wearing pants. You know who I'm talkin' about, librarian friends. (Oh, do you suppose that rule will now be repealed?)

I am starting to run out of pantyhose stuff.

Add Water to Use It Up

2009-01-12T09:16:00.000-08:00

Get into the habit of adding water to your nearly empty jars of tomato sauce, soups, etc. to get the last bit out. This also helps with clean up if you are saving the container, as it will remove the otherwise stubborn bits that are hard to reach. (Here are some ideas for what to do with that last bit of spaghetti sauce, for example.)

You can add a bit of water to condiments as well. Part of the reason it's so hard to get out the last bit of ketchup from the container is it is thicker, since evaporation has taken place. Add water to put it back to the right consistency. If you add too much, use it as an ingredient in some recipe.

The last of the shampoo, conditioner, liquid laundry soap and dishwashing soap can be used by adding water. You'll be adding water to these in the process of using them anyway. This way, you can go just a little longer before you have to get a new bottle. I remember reading once that shampoo actually works better when diluted to 50% water.

Store Food in Glass

2009-01-11T12:43:00.000-08:00

Sure, you could recycle them, but why not use glass jars again and again? Instead of buying inferior plastic containers, use these free, durable jars. In fact, as you are shopping for groceries, keep an eye toward reusing the glass containers.

Glass does not leach into your stored food, the way plastic can. Did you know cans used for food are now lined by plastic as well?

Dried beans, grains, cereals, even herbs and spices can be stored in well-cleaned jars. It will keep them dry and safe from invading pests, and allow you to buy in bulk for greater savings.

Store your leftovers in glass. Although you can use glass containers for any leftovers, they work especially well for pourable foods (soup, gravy, sauces) or foods in separate pieces (green beans, corn) as these are easy to remove from the jar.

To cut down on frustration, clean and store the lids with the jars so you don't have to hunt them down later.

Pantyhose Tip #5 (sachet for drawers, closet)

2009-01-10T08:06:00.000-08:00

Make a sachet for your drawers from pieces of old pantyhose. If you cut off the foot, you can load herbs into that section, tie it off. But don't stop there, cut the next section, tie off one end, stuff herbs in, and tie it off. Continue until you have enough for all of your drawers.

We grew tons of great smelling herbs last year, so I was lucky enough to have lots to put into my sachet. Lavender, rosemary, mint, lemongrass... yum. I made one with lavender only for my pillow. You could use ribbon to make it pretty, or to create a tie to hang from your closet pole. Some herbs deter moths, I hear.

I also had some 'old' spices (over three years old) that I hated throwing out. Do not use powdered spices for this, of course, because it will sift right out and get all over everything. I'm going to try dried citrus peels next time, and maybe collect and dry some flowers that will hold their scent.

Cheap Vodka Drycleaning

2009-01-09T13:24:00.000-08:00

I read this tip from a stage costumer. She wrote that to keep costumes fresh, costumers spray the costumes with vodka, the cheaper the better. (We used the ironically named “Aristocrat” brand, $4.49 at Price Cutters)

“This shirt says ‘Dry Clean Only’. Which means it’s dirty.” Mitch Hedberg said it, but I always think it when I see my own pile of dirty dry cleaning. The worst, though, was my green suede jacket. I love that thing, but have been forbidden to wear it until it is dry cleaned. Yeah, that's gonna happen.

So I tried the vodka trick. I turned the jacket inside out, sprayed vodka in the pit regions and let it dry out. At first it smelled a little of alcohol, but that soon disappeared. Now I have my jacket back, and it smells like suede. Not booze. Not B.O. Just suede.

Pantyhose Tip #4 Grass Head Project

2009-01-08T08:33:00.001-08:00

(I am making a point of only posting stuff I actually do, or have tried. In this case, though, I am making an exception because I think if I had kids, this is something we'd make.)

Create a science project/chia pet type craft. (I would have added a starburst, but alas, I could not.) It’s Mr. Grass Head.
Cut the leg off a pair of ruined pantyhose. Up by the toe, add a face. Then, put in some grass seeds. (I am not sure if alfalfa spouts or chia would work. Maybe!) Then, add some soil. Tie this off, and place in a small container of water, like an old baby jar or a yogurt cup. Add face, details to the front, and trim the hair as necessary.

Pantyhose Tip #3

2009-01-07T06:39:00.001-08:00

Back to pantyhose....

Cut off a leg from the pantyhose, and fill with soap that has become uncomfortably small for bath usage (bars of soap that have whittled down to thin slivers of soap). Tie off the end and use it inside or outside. The extra length of pantyhose can be used to tie to your garden faucet, making a quick wash up outside easy.

Oh, Christmas Tree

2009-01-06T08:07:00.001-08:00

Did you know that today, January 6, is the Epiphany (a celebration that goes back to Roman times)? The 12th day of Christmas (where apparently you have a whole gaggle of geese a laying, maids a milking, etc.)? Did you know this day is sometimes celebrated with presents? Are you burned out on presents?

Well, this CHEAPbit is not about presents, but rather, what to do with your Christmas Tree. What to do with it now that all the festivities are over. Seems a waste to just throw it out. Even if you do, the trash guy probably isn't going to help you out.

So here is a link to all of the things you can do with an old Christmas tree (remove strands of tinsel first) My favorite use is to put it where it can protect wildlife. If you put it near a birdfeeder, it will act as a quick shelter for them, to hide from predators. Some cities with lakes collect them to put in the river, where they act much the same way, only for fish instead of birds. Here are some recycling help options that are available here in Springfield.

Get Ready for the Holidays!

2009-01-05T04:47:00.000-08:00

I am breaking with the "everything pantyhose" project to bring you this: If you celebrate the holidays, load up on holiday gear now. I know everyone says this, shop after any major holiday for the best deals, but I don't think I realized how true this is until I was shopping yesterday. 75% off!

We've never been big holiday decorators, but even I succumbed to the deals. Some of this stuff is usable even after the holidays are over. It will continue to be marked down, though what's left will be picked over pretty well.

We bought a strand of white LED lights, which we will use on our back deck and under the stairs for year-round safety. I've wanted to try out LEDs, they are supposed to run on 1/10th the electricity, but they're still a bit pricey. Except now!

Pantyhose Tip #2

2009-01-04T10:49:00.000-08:00

Cut the pantyhose horizontally across the leg (see hair ties) and use these for staking up plants. The soft, yielding material won't damage the stems, especially if you tie using the loose, crazy-8 pattern. Combine two ties for a longer cord, if needed.

To combine two, overlap two loops on a flat surface. Simultaneously pull the lower loop through the upper loop on one end while pulling the upper loop through the lower on the other end. These will tighten into a knot as you pull. Hmm, that isn't as clear as it would be with illustrations.

Here is an illustration that is pretty close. Their loops have a long tail, but the method is the same.

Pantyhose Tip #1

2009-01-03T13:53:00.000-08:00

Old, ruined pantyhose are so incredibly useful... I almost regret not having to wear them anymore. Almost. Because there is so much to do with these, I am going to put a tip a day on here until I run out of ideas for pantyhose.

Take an ruined pair of pantyhose. Cut strips, 1/2 to an inch wide, across the leg, to make loops. Pull on the loops, and the cut ends will curl on themselves. Use these to tie your hair back. Bonus for black pantyhose, the black ties look great.

You can cut the elastic waistband to make a headband, too. It's not pretty, but it will keep the hair away while you wash your face.

Play Pretend with the Weather

2009-01-02T09:46:00.000-08:00

When heating your home in the winter (or cooling it in the summer) try to keep the temperature as close to the outside temperature as comfortably possible.

If you are doing the opposite (heating to 80, cooling to 65), you are already halfway there, you just have your seasons backward! So pretend the weather outside is opposite and enjoy your inside temperature. For example, in the winter, pretend it's summer outside, baking hot, and you are keeping your house pleasantly chilly. In the summer, pretend the weather outside is frightfully cold. Look at you, all warm and toasty in your house.

Turning the heat down at night or when you aren't at home is another way to save. Programmable thermostats are available and our local utility company has a rebate to make the switch even more attractive.

Water Your Plants with Bathwater

2009-01-01T18:57:00.000-08:00

Use your old bathwater to water houseplants, or non-food producing plants in your landscape.

You will need to use a soap that is safe for your plants. We like Dr. Bronners. Or, if you are taking a hot relaxing bath, add epsom salts, the plants love it.

Let your bathwater cool to room temperature. Ideally, let it sit for 24 hours, to allow the chlorine to evaporate out (plants don't like chlorine).