These Insider Tips Can Help You Save Money and Live a Greener Lifestyle

You can save money and save the environment by using common everyday household products to clean your house, treat medical conditions, clean your car, condition your hair, and so many other amazing things! Here are a few tips I've used myself or learned about from various family members, friends, or colleagues.

1. Keeping a can of Pam cooking spray in your cupboard can save you time and money. Pam cooking spray does more than just coat pans and keep food from sticking! After painting your fingernails, you can help the polish dry faster by spraying some Pam cooking spray on them. Pam cooking spray is also good for greasing a stuck bicycle chain. It will also remove paint and grease from your hands.

2. You don't buy expensive hair conditioners or shampoos to have great hair! Save money by using products you probably already have at home. Just pour a can of Budweiser beer or brewed Lipton tea over your hair, or massage in some Cool Whip or Mayonnaise, and you're hair will be silky smooth. Vinegar can help control a dandruff problem.

3. Mayonnaise will kill head lice, so you can save money and not expose yourself to the toxic chemicals in store bought remedies.

4. If you take a bite of something that's a bit too hot and you burn your tongue, just take some sugar and dip your tongue in it. Instant relief!

5. Meat tenderizer can be a very effective pain reliever for a bee sting, and since you probably have meat tenderizer in your home you don't have to spend money on something from the pharmacy.

6. Do you ever waste money by tossing out bread a few days after you buy it because it's gone stale too quickly? To be sure you're getting the freshest loaf of bread, look at the color of the twist tie! Did you know that bread is delivered fresh to grocery stores five days a week? Monday, Tuesday, Thursday, Friday and Saturday. Each day has a different color twist tie. The colors go alphabetically by color Blue - Green - Red - White - Yellow. But there is no nationwide standard and each breadmaker uses it's own color coding system. So contact the manufacturer of your favorite bread and ask them which color-coded tag system they use.

7. Preparation H isn't just for the hiney! Just dab some under your eyes and it will reduce puffiness. It can also be used to keep those chigger bites from itching. Save money by making one product meet multiple needs.

8. Do you still have a Slinky toy? If so you can use it as a CD holder and you don't have to toss out your old slinky or buy CD holders.

9. A jar of peanut butter can do more than just make a tasty sandwich! Peanut butter will remove ink from the face of a doll, will remove scratches from the surface of CD's, and will remove those sticky price labels from glassware.

10. Don't buy expensive face peels, just grab some Elmer's glue and paint it on your face. After it dries just peel it off and the dead skin and blackheads will peel off with the glue!

11. Crazy glue or chap stick can ease the pain of a paper cut.

12. If you spend too much time in the sun and don't use enough sunscreen and get a sunburn, then put a large jar of Nestea in some bath water and soak to take some of the heat out of your burnt skin.

13. Minor burns can be treated with Crest or Colgate toothpaste. Colgate toothpaste can also remove stains from clothing and remove crayon marks off your walls. This is another example of using products you already have on hand to solve a need without having to buy multiple single use products. Toothpaste is also less toxic than most stain removers.

14. WD-40 is another handy item to keep around. It can help ease arthritis pain and eases the pain from insect stings.

15. Do you have stinky feet? Soak them in Jello! What about athlete's foot? Rub your feet with cornstarch. Do you have fungus on your toenails or fingernails? Get out the Vicks vapor rub. Using products you already have around the house can save you a lot of money.

16. Coca-cola will remove grease stains from the concrete in your garage or driveway. Just pour it on and let it sit overnight, then rinse.

17. Kool aid is very inexpensive and has so many different uses besides just being a refreshing drink! You can use Kool aid to clean the pipes in your dishwasher by putting it in the place where you would normally put detergent, then just run a cycle. Kool aid will also clean a toilet! But if you want to have fun with Kool aid then just pick your favorite color of Kook aid and mix it with some yogurt and let your kids use it as finger paint. They have fun and it won't hurt them if they eat it. Kool aid can also make an expensive solution for tie-dye projects. Just mix up a batch and soak your garments in the Kool aid for a few minutes and you're done!

18. Morton salt will remove wine stains by absorbing the wine if you get to the stain quickly before it sets in. Using the salt you already have in your cupboard will save money by not having to buy costly and toxic carpet cleaning products.

19. Karo syrup can remove grass stains from clothing. Just rub the syrup on the stain and let it sit for a while before you toss the garment in the washing machine. Karo syrup is much less toxic than store bought stain removers.

20. Listerine mouth wash can clean dirty grout in your kitchen or bathroom and is much less toxic than the other harsh chemicals most people use to clean their grout.

Disclaimer: I do not guarantee that any of these remedies will work for you because I haven't actually tried all of them myself. This is merely a compilation of tips handed down to me from my aunts, grannies, mom, friends, and other folks who like to save money and use "home remedies".