Saving money can often mean cutting corners and making sacrifices, but some people take it to a whole new level with their bizarre cost-cutting measures.
Recently, people shared their stories about the weirdest things they’ve seen others do to save money. From extreme couponing to dumpster diving, here are the weirdest money-saving tactics that go way beyond regular frugal living tips!
1. Eating Only Expired Food
One person shared that they knew someone who would only eat expired food in order to save money. They would wait until a grocery store put a bunch of food on clearance because it was past its expiration date and then buy it all up to eat throughout the week. While this might seem like a good way to save money, it’s also potentially dangerous. Eating expired food can lead to food poisoning and other health problems.
2. Reusing Paper Towels
Another person shared that their friend’s mother would wash and reuse paper towels in order to save money. She would hang them up to dry and then use them again the next time she needed to clean something up. While this might seem like a creative way to save money, it’s also pretty gross. Paper towels are meant to be disposable, and reusing them can spread germs and bacteria.
3. Using Cloth Toilet Paper
Yes, you read that right. One person shared that their cousin would use cloth toilet paper in order to save money on toilet paper. They would use old pieces of cloth, wash them, and then use them again. While this might seem like a cost-effective measure, it’s also pretty unsanitary. Toilet paper is designed to be used once and then disposed of, and using cloth instead can spread germs and bacteria.
4. Dumpster Diving
Many people are familiar with the concept of dumpster diving, which involves digging through dumpsters and trash cans in order to find discarded items that can be used or sold. One person shared that their neighbor would go dumpster diving every week to find food, clothing, and other items that they could use. While this might seem like a good way to save money, it’s also potentially dangerous. Digging through the trash can expose you to germs, bacteria, and other hazards.
5. Extreme Couponing
Another person shared that their friend was an extreme couponer who would spend hours clipping coupons and searching for deals in order to save money. They would often buy items they didn’t need just because they had a coupon for them, and their house was overflowing with stockpiles of food and household items. While this might seem like a smart way to save money, it can also be incredibly time-consuming and wasteful.
6. Avoiding Toilet Flushing
One person shared that they knew someone who would not flush the toilet after urinating to save money on water bills. They would wait until the end of the day to flush the toilet when it was necessary. While this might seem like a money-saving strategy, it is unhygienic and can result in a foul-smelling bathroom.
7. Using Plastic Utensils Multiple Times
One person shared that they knew someone who would wash plastic utensils and reuse them instead of buying new ones. While this might seem like an eco-friendly approach, it is not practical since plastic utensils are not durable, and they can break or wear out after a few uses.
8. Wearing Clothes Until They Fall Apart
Another person shared that their friend’s dad would wear clothes until they were unwearable, even if it meant wearing a shirt with holes or pants that were ripped. While this might seem like a money-saving tactic, it is not practical since it can damage one’s image and reputation.
9. Sharing Bathwater
One person shared that they knew a family that would share bathwater to save money on water bills. The parents would bathe first, followed by the children in order of their age. While this might seem like an effective way to save money, it is unhygienic and can result in the spread of germs and bacteria.
10. Reusing Tea Bags
Finally, one person shared that they knew someone who would reuse tea bags multiple times to save money. They would steep the tea bag once and then reuse it two or three times before discarding it. While this might seem like a practical way to save money, it can result in a less flavorful tea, and the tea bag loses its effectiveness after the first steep.
This article was produced and syndicated by A Dime Saved.
Source: Reddit.
