Penny Pinching Extreme: Wacky Ways to Save Money
There Are Always More Ways to Save
Dumpster Diving
Before you break out the antibacterial hand gel just at the thought of dumpster diving, you might want to check out some dumpster diving websites. Dumpster diving isn't just a money saving activity - for some people, it's an ecological duty and a way of life. Freegan.info is a community site mostly devoted to dumpster diving. You can find safety tips, recipes, and top dumpster diving locations on the website.
You might consider this a wacky way to save money, but if you are pinching your pennies you shouldn't rule it out. You'd be astounded at what you can find - from unworn clothing to furniture to perfectly safe-to-eat food. All for FREE!
Off-Road Dining
Most drivers hate hitting a wild animal. Not only do we worry about damage to our vehicles, we feel guilty for needlessly killing an innocent animal. Well, depending upon where you live, that fresh road-kill may not be as unwelcome as you think. In Alaska, the Fish and Wildlife Protection Troopers have a charity program that accepts road-kill and redistributes the harvested meat to needy families.
Some states have laws governing who owns road-kill. In some cases, "first rights" go to the driver that hit the unfortunate animal. In other states, the state assumes ownership of any wildlife killed on roadways. Your best bet for finding out if road-kill is both legal to obtain or safe to eat is to call your state's game warden and ask.
Cut Back on...Bathing?
If you need to stretch your dollar any way you can, one area you can save on is bathing and personal care. Not only is it good for your wallet, it's also better for the environment. You'll use less water and less soap or shampoo that can be environmental hazards.
I know that the idea of bathing less is almost as bad as the idea of eating road-kill for some of you. But for others, using a washcloth and a sink full of soapy water to bathe instead of a 10 minute shower to start the day is a viable, money-saving option.
When every penny matters, sometimes extreme measures are all you have left. If you need more help pinching your pennies, give one of these ideas a shot.
Sources:
Columbia Daily Tribune, Alaska Using Roadkill to Feed State's Needy , Jan. 6, 2002
Published by Sophie Stillwell
Sophie is a full-time freelance writer available for your many project needs. Contact her or visit her website for more information! View profile
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5 Comments
Post a CommentHey good people have "dump picked" for years. In rural areas people "used to" sit their used furniture or appliances out for the next person to come along, but then came regulations..the attendant is now in charge and might be willing to sell it to you.
Crap! I think I've been out frugaled. I'm a die hard cheap-o, but these penny-pinching strategies are too extreme for me.
This is a good twist on the subject of frugality. I can't imagine bathing less often though!
Sophie
Good article on penny pinching extremes. I would rather know road-kill went to feed a family then to have to view it daily alongside the road. Same goes for dumpster diving. The people that do this are saving our landfills. And sponge baths are great for saving on electric and on water. Thanks for putting these ideas out there.
To me, being thrifty means using resources wisely. Some money-saving strategies simply do not make sense (or cents) and I think it has become a mental disorder for many people.