Dryer Lint Treasures: When Trying to Save Money Goes Way Overboard

I'm a frugal person. I admit it freely. I'm not ashamed of it, rather I'm proud of the fact that I save money here by not wasting it so I can get something I want there. I'm sure we all know of people that are frugal, that don't waste or throw away money. It's a great life.

Then there are tightwads...people who are just that, tight with their money. That's great too. Not wasting money or spending when not necessary is wonderful.

A frugal person manages the money they have, living within their means. Being frugal doesn't mean being cheap. I know of many frugal people who are well off financially because they manage their money well.

Tightwads can pinch something out of a penny that most of the world never knew existed. They know how to spot a bargain, cut corners, etc. Can't beat that!

Perhaps you can imagine what was going through my mind when I read something recently from someone asking a question about what to do with dryer lint. It seemed a reasonable question. I suppose that being the somewhat silly person I am, I naturally thought to myself, "Throw it away!"

Needless to say, that was the wrong answer to give to a tightwad, so (lucky for me) I didn't tell the person that. Reading on, I found people were giving this person all sorts of advice and ideas on what to do with this used dryer lint.

Okay, you know that dryer lint is the stuff on the dryer lint filter screen, right? The fuzz that comes off of the clothing as it dries? I keep (as I am sure most people do) a small trash can beside my dryer to host the collection of used dryer sheets and dryer lint. After reading all of the tips and ideas from people on what to do with this used dryer lint, I have determined that I have wasted a precious treasure. I'm not sure I can live down the horror of having disposed of this host of fuzz.

Have you ever stuffed a pillow with dryer lint? Even better, how about sewing decorative pillows to sell and make money, and stuff dryer lint fuzz into the middle of it to save money on the pillow filling? Wouldn't that be a blast to find after you bought the pillow? Ever made a bird nest from it? How about a spider web for the kids science project? How about put it in the bottom of a gift to make the person think they really have something more than they have, only to open it and discover dryer lint filling? Anyone ever used their fuzz for kitty litter? I think my favorite was the one I read about using dryer lint in baby's diaper to absorb you know what.... yeah, that's a bit icky.

Some of you might be asking this one.....if these people are such tightwads, why are they using a dryer to begin with? Why not a clothes line that doesn't use power and run up the electric bill? Well, that answer is simple, if you think about it. How would they have the dryer lint to keep and use for these wonderful dryer lint treasures if they saved money to begin with by using the clothes line?

http://www.frugalsimplicity.com