Free salt

Bags of pretzels, potato chips and other salty snacks usually have salt in the bottom of the bag... you're getting it. Don't throw it out. Save it in a special container and use it on popcorn, in coating mixes for meat or anywhere a slightly flavored salt would taste good.

I call it "free" because it's something most people throw out without thinking about it.

More on freezer bags

If you buy chicken breasts in those heavy duty plastic bags, save them. Wash them out and dry, then package things to be frozen in bread sacks or other lightweight free bags, then put them inside the heavy bag that held chicken. Your food will be safe from any possible contamination (washing the bag well with soap and water should remove contamination anyway), and you'll have the benefit of a very good quality freezer bag.

Pickles

If you save the liquid from pickles, whether home canned or bought, you can reuse it at least twice. Pickle cucumbers or other vegetables in it by heating it to just boiling, then pouring it over prepared vegetables in a jar or bowl with a lid. Put it in the refrigerator immediately and in about two weeks, you'll have pickled vegetables ready to enjoy.

Squash blossoms

If you have a garden, you're probably sick of summer squash by now. Eat the blossoms instead. Pick them either at their peak or a little spent. Simply saute them in a little butter, or get fancy and stuff them with cheese and bake. They're very good and they're free. (If you've been supplied with zucchini by a neighboring gardener, ask for the blossoms!)

Free closet deodorizer

Spread a batch of used coffee grounds to dry on a cookie sheet, then put them in a panty hose leg. Tie the top and put in the closet to absorb odors.

Saving on hot water

When you wash your hands, chances are that the water doesn't have a chance to get really warm before you're through. Since you're essentially washing in cold water anyway, don't even turn on the hot water. Traditional water heaters come on every time the temperature drops, and if the water in the pipes is cool, hot water replaces that awhile before it reaches the faucet, lowering the temperature and kicking on the water heater.

Forget the Bisquick

Why would you buy something when you can make it cheaper with very little trouble? Here's a self rising crust that's great for cobblers. For meat pies, just omit the sugar!

1 cup flour
1/2 cup sugar
2 teaspoons baking powder
1 TB oil
Enough milk to make a thick but pourable batter.

Mix it all up and dump it in a baking dish, put the fruit in on top (two cans worth) and bake about an hour at around 400 degrees.

Soap is soap

If you bought shampoo and didn't like it, don't throw it out. Use it to clean the bathtub or mop the floor, wash painted woodwork or launder delicate items.

Wild food

Gathering and using wild food can make a difference in your food bill. (Not everyone agrees - see the comments here: Beat the High Cost of Food: Eat From the Wild), but just for instance, a can of spinach isn't cheap... and wild spinach (lambsquarter) is free for the taking in many areas.

More on the subject: Wild in the City.

Save a Penny, Make a Penny

Along with saving those pennies, you can make a few toward gift cards from places like Amazon, Target and Starbucks. You just sign up with My Search Bonus and do your internet searches through them. To be honest, there are a few times when I go to Google when I can't find what I want otherwise, but "My Search Bonus" runs a pretty good search engine. If you search the internet now and then, why not make a few pennies from it?

Newspaper dripping pads

It's been a little hectic around here, and I'm slow getting things posted, so I apologize.

Here's your extremely frugal tip for the day. :)

Use a pad of newspaper near a doorway in wet weather to put boots and wet shoes on. When it gets too soggy, throw it away.

Emptying cans

When you empty a tomato sauce (or other sauce) can, turn it upside down over a small container to drain completely. Keep adding to it, keeping it frozen between times, and you'll soon have a "free" can of tomato sauce!

Save a little more gas

Although gas prices have started to drop a little, it still makes sense to save where we can. If you're driving with the air conditioner on, turn it off a few blocks before you will park the car. Leave the fan on and cool air will continue to blow. The car will stay cool for several minutes and you'll have saved a little more gas by not running the AC.

Corn dogs

So they're not the best nutrition available... kids and adults still like and eat them! You can make them a lot cheaper than you can buy them.

1/2 cup cornmeal
1/2 cup flour
1 tsp salt
3/4 cup milk
1 beaten egg
1 TBS oil
8 - 10 weiners

Combine dry ingredients, then add rest of ingredients and mix well. Put weiners on skewers or popsicle sticks, coat with flour, then dip into batter and fry in hot oil. Drain and serve or freeze for later.

Free defrosting trick

If you have a refrigerator or freezer that isn't frost free and you need to defrost, pack your frozen food tightly in a box that's been lined with newspaper and put a thick layer of newspaper over it. It will stay frozen solid for several hours.

Clean drip pans

Drip pans on your stove looking nasty? If they're really bad, dissolve a quarter cup of baking soda in a half gallon of water in a pan. Put the drip pans in the solution and boil for 3 or 4 minutes. Leave them in it until it's cool, then scrub with additional baking soda if needed.

Bleach water

If you use liquid bleach, rinse the jug when it's "empty" with a couple of tablespoons of water. Put it in an empty dish soap bottle with a squirt top and label it, then use it to remove stains on counter tops or anywhere you need it.

Meatloaf: Ultimately frugal

You've probably heard of freezing bits of leftover vegetables and meat until you have enough for soup. Use the same method to stretch meatloaf. Mince or puree vegetables, also add grains like leftover rice, barley or quinoa. Cooked cereals like oats, corn meal mush or wheat can be added, too. A tablespoonful now and then adds up. Don't waste it.

More Uses for Plastic Bags

Use bread sacks or those plastic bags that newspapers come in as disposable gloves for tasks that don't need fine finger use. They're great for nasty stuff. Just turn them inside out to take them off when you're done and drop them in the trash.

Free laundry basket

Substitute a cardboard box, lined with newspaper, or better, line it with plastic bags. You can cut hand holds from the sides. Sturdy cardboard boxes will last as long or longer than many plastic laundry baskets.

More juice for the money

You can usually add a half can more of water (or even a whole one) when you make juice from frozen concentrate without losing flavor. Even whole juice can be stretched with a little water - about a cup or more to a quart for most.

Steel wool pads

Don't buy those steel wool soap pads. Buy plain steel wool pads (available in any hardware department) for a fraction of the cost and use your own dish detergent - just one drop. You don't have to use a whole pad at a time, either. Tear off a piece only as large as you need and when you're through with it, put it in a plastic bag in the freezer to keep it from rusting. Just one pad will last a long time like this.

Use it all

Always use all of everything. Turn bottles upside down and drain to get the last bit from them. Tear open sugar and flour sacks to get it all; squeeze or cut open tubes of anything to use it all before buying more. You bought it to use, not throw away.

Water savings

If you have access to the outdoors, you can cut your water bill by using rain water. In lieu of rain barrels, use any container you have and put it wherever the rain comes off the roof the heaviest, under a downspout or inside corner. Use it to water plants, inside and out, wash the car, etc.

Keep cool

• Run cold water over your inside wrists.
  
• Set a bowl of ice or cold water in front of a moving fan.
  
• Use a wet washcloth on your forehead. Move it often to help release heat.
  
• Put your feet in a basin of cool (not cold) water.
  
• Avoid caffeine, alcohol and stress.
  

Cheap facial moisturerizer

Olive oil is the best; better than most special facial moisturizers. Smooth it on over freshly washed skin and pat off any excess after a minute. Use twice a day - morning and night.

Oven and grease cleanup

Put a half inch or so of ammonia in a shallow nonmetal container and leave it in a cold oven overnight. Fumes from ammonia is what does the job, so if you have grungy pots and pans, put them in there, too. The whole mess will clean up with soap and water and just a little elbow grease in the morning.

Cheaper popcorn

Popped on top of the stove, popcorn is a lot cheaper than microwave servings. Learn how to do it if you don't know, then grind regular salt in a coffee or pepper mill to use on it. Keep the "old maids" (kernels that don't pop) to feed to the birds (separate them out before salting or flavoring the popcorn) or mill them into corn meal.

Cheaper than canned salmon

Make a fish loaf or patties from canned jack mackerel or tuna instead of more expensive salmon.

Free rope

When you cut up old clothes for rags (you do, don't you??), cut alongside the seams and keep a few on hand for lightweight rope. Depending on the material and type of seam, these can be sturdier than you might think. Tie them together for a longer rope.