quote:

Originally posted by ARman:
I take my trash to work and put it in the dumpster. I have for years. I save $30.00-$60.00 a month.

ARman

Ummm...that’s called stealing.

After changing my oil, I set the containers on their narrow, cap side. After a day or so, pre the accumulated oil into a collection oil container.

Use accumulated oil for an oil change when enough oil has be collected.

Return empty water bottles for the .05 deposit.

Burn documents in 55 gallon drum to save on shredding cost.

Damn...I am just not worthy...

I cut my own hair and do my own home and auto repairs except heavy plumbing (requiring a blow torch). Oh and I reload.

quote:

Originally posted by MNSIG:

quote:

Originally posted by ARman:
I take my trash to work and put it in the dumpster. I have for years. I save $30.00-$60.00 a month.

ARman

Ummm...that’s called stealing.

I know a guy who will wait until he clocks in to take his morning dump. He says he wants to be paid while doing his morning routine. I fire people like that.

I haven't bought paper towels in years.
I use "flour sack towels", which I can get in packs of two dozen for about a buck each. Wash and reuse, they get better the more you use them.

quote:

Originally posted by MNSIG:

quote:

Originally posted by ARman:
I take my trash to work and put it in the dumpster. I have for years. I save $30.00-$60.00 a month.

ARman

Ummm...that’s called stealing.

Oh come on now... This is one of those 'Tragedy of the Commons' type situations. No one cares if you use the garbage service they pay for, unless others are adding so much refuse that it impairs the paying party from disposing of their trash.

I don't know how many coworkers ARman has, but if all of them started taking advantage of their employer's dumpster, then that might put it past its capacity.

^^^^^^

If a ratty pickup cruised your neighborhood every week and topped off everyone’s cans on garbage day, would you be praising their frugality or calling the cops?

quote:

Originally posted by iron chef:

quote:

Originally posted by MNSIG:

quote:

Originally posted by ARman:
I take my trash to work and put it in the dumpster. I have for years. I save $30.00-$60.00 a month.

ARman

Ummm...that’s called stealing.

Oh come on now... This is one of those 'Tragedy of the Commons' type situations. No one cares if you use the garbage service they pay for, unless others are adding so much refuse that it impairs the paying party from disposing of their trash.

I don't know how many coworkers ARman has, but if all of them started taking advantage of their employer's dumpster, then that might put it past its capacity.

While volume might be a concern, the real issue with depositing into a company owned dumpster is the possible environmental requirements that govern proper disposal of potentially hazardous waste. Example: Silly as it may seem, at my former employer, spray paint cans are required to be punctured and drained before disposal.

No telling what violation someone is dropping into that dumpster.

Environmental and volume concerns and all other rationalizations are secondary.

It's theft of services, plain and simple.

It's wrong.

Non-reusable zip lock bags and the bags from getting fruits and vegetables in the grocery store become kitty litter bags.

quote:

No telling what violation someone is dropping into that dumpster.

A business whose services I used had a dumpster. No "outsiders" dropped stuff in it during business hours, and the dumpster was padlocked at night.

---

The dumpsters that are provided for tenant's use at Our Little Airport were located in the parking area on the entrance road. They might be empty at 5:00 pm, but would mysteriously fill up overnight. They were relocated to a dead-end taxiway on the interior of the airport where they could not be seen from the more accessible areas. No more problem with local area folks dropping their trash off at the airport.

---

When we had the roof replaced at our house, the roofing company had a dumpster placed in our driveway the day before they were going to tear the old roof off. People in the area saw the dumpster and it was half filled before the first shingle went in. If I had caught anybody in the act it would probably have been the last time they did anything like that.

If you take your trash to work and wonder why you are still single, well....

quote:

Originally posted by Nismo:
I keep a roll of paper towel at my desk and reuse sheets of it.
I eat and drink at my desk so I would place a sheet under the plate or cup to keep the desk clean from crumbs and drips. If the sheet is still clean, I would fold it up in a rectangle and put away to be used at another time.

I guess eliminating the use of paper towel all together makes better sense, but oh well.

We eat out a lot. Doesn't save anything, but I like it. My wife must be a clean eater because she only takes a single paper napkin. I'm a slob and do my best to extract a whole bunch of them from the dispenser. Target volume is maybe 10 or so. It disgusts her, but when she spills something, she makes ready use of the little pile I've commandeered. Then its time to go. Should I be wasteful or thrifty? Right, I take the unused ones along to the car.

Her little car has a shelf above the glove compartment. I place the extra towels there. We have no Kleenex's in the car. I have little or no pride left and just use an Arby's napkin. Grandkids come along (we have a language barrier) and ask for a "tissue". No problem, they get a napkin, we don't carry along "tissues", I'd have to buy them. The wife is adapted to my miserly ways. Grandkids hopefully will also adopt some cheapness.

quote:

Originally posted by f2:
and spend a quarter for high velocity spray.

Y'all can live cheaply out in the desert. 'Round here, where water is everywhere (too much in fact) the old quarter car wash takes 3 and now 4 quarters for a few seconds of pressure. The damn things now take credit cards, too. That'll never happen from me.

quote:

Originally posted by pbslinger:
I don't do this, and don't know if it is just a joke, I call this a hobo meal. Maybe from earlier really lean times. Order hot tea at a restaurant, Use ketchup to make tomato soup in the hot water. Make lemonade in your water glass with the lemon. Save the tea bag for later.

I first heard that from some family friends who lived up in Wapakoneta, OH. Its where Neil Armstrong grew up. That version of the story had the ancient lawyer coming into the restaurant each day. They got a new manager and he was trying to make a profit. The manager had the wait staff cut off the free water. The old man kind of wimpered and told the lady "I wish you wouldn't do that, it'll cost me a bundle each year." Then after lunch he went back to his office and fired the new manager. Turns out he owned the restaurant and every other building on the block. He got rich by being "thrifty", aka cheap. Gotta ask my mother if there was more to the story.

quote:

Originally posted by TRIO:

When I shop for food, I go to the cheapest stores first. Such as Aldi and Grocery Outlet, buying as much as I can find. Then, I buy things I couldn't find at the more pricey markets. Save a ton that way.

No, you just spend it on gasoline and car expenses, driving between stores.

quote:

Originally posted by rburg:

quote:

Originally posted by pbslinger:
I don't do this, and don't know if it is just a joke, I call this a hobo meal. Maybe from earlier really lean times. Order hot tea at a restaurant, Use ketchup to make tomato soup in the hot water. Make lemonade in your water glass with the lemon. Save the tea bag for later.

I first heard that from some family friends who lived up in Wapakoneta, OH. Its where Neil Armstrong grew up. That version of the story had the ancient lawyer coming into the restaurant each day. They got a new manager and he was trying to make a profit. The manager had the wait staff cut off the free water. The old man kind of wimpered and told the lady "I wish you wouldn't do that, it'll cost me a bundle each year." Then after lunch he went back to his office and fired the new manager. Turns out he owned the restaurant and every other building on the block. He got rich by being "thrifty", aka cheap. Gotta ask my mother if there was more to the story.

It's bullshit. There are about 20 calories in a tablespoon of ketchup. An entire table size bottle has 23 servings, and you obviously aren't going to use it all. You'd starve to death pretty quickly if you relied on that for a food source.