Saving money can feel kinda weird, but I’m learning that if it works, then who cares how weird it is? I’m sharing six totally offbeat, yet shockingly effective, habits I swear by.
I Collect Shower Water
Every time you’re standing around waiting for the shower to warm up you’re letting perfectly good water slip away.
I keep a bucket in the tub and repurpose the water to do all sorts of things, like water my plants and cleaning tasks, like washing floors, windows, or even the shower itself. Having this water also reminds me to clean more and water my plants, so it’s a simple habit that is as bizarre and beneficial as it sounds.
I Time When I Use My Appliances
TOU (Time-Of-Use) pricing is a real thing; it means you’re spending more to use things like dishwashers and washers during the day because that’s when electricity is in higher demand. I’m lucky since I have machines with delay-start features. But even if you don’t, you can set reminders on your phone or just avoid using these costly appliances before 9 PM.
I Keep My Condiment Packets
I stash away the condiment packets I get from takeout for a rainy day. This is one of the easiest weird frugal habits I’ve started. And since I’ve made a serious effort, I’m surprised how impressive my condiment drawer has become. People joke about it, but it’s free soy sauce, free ketchup, or free hot sauce; in what world would you want to just throw that away?
I Cut Sponges in Half
You don’t need the entire sponge to get a good clean. I cut them in half now, instantly doubling my stash. It’s a minor saving at first glance. But considering how often I buy sponges, it’s nothing to sneeze at, either.
Also, while it’s not necessarily frugal, this makes it more likely to replace your sponges when you need to. And even though it means spending more money, rotating through sponges more often is much more hygienic, so it’s still a win.
I Reuse Gift Bags and Wrapping Paper
Gift wrap is expensive and literally gets shredded in seconds. Instead, I save every usable gift bag and bow I get. I store bags and gently used paper in a closet for birthdays, holidays, whatever. It’s awesome because I have zero spending on gift wrap. It’s arguably the most low-effort, high-payoff habit on this whole list.
I Save Cold Shower Water for Toilet Flushing
Remember the first tip? There’s another (more involved) way I’ll sometimes use my excess shower water: toilet flushing. This water is called “greywater,” and you can keep it in a separate tank or container when it’s time to use it for flushing.
The stored greywater goes directly into the toilet, saving you from needing to use fresh potable water just to flush your toilet. Yes, this takes much more effort than saving gift wrap. But in terms of frugality and sustainability? It doesn’t get any better than this.
