Feeding Time at the Zoo » Money saving tips

It seems like every time I go grocery shopping, prices have gone up again. I realize that this is largely because of the higher fuel prices. Fuel prices affect everything. However, there are still some tried and true ways to save some money on everyday items without sacrificing quality of life.

*Use the plastic liners from cereal boxes in place of waxed paper when rolling out dough or cooling cookies. It’s washable and reusable, too.
*The stiff, plastic netting from onion bags works great for scrubbing pots and pans. Just gather it up with a bit of thread or string to make a rosette for easy handling.
*Plastic coffee canisters do well for use as canisters for flour, sugar, and other dry ingredients. You can also use them for short term freezing of soups and stews. Add a piece of plastic wrap to the top before putting the lid on to ensure a good seal.
*Drink coffee? Save on this expensive grocery item by making your afternoon or evening coffee by adding a scoop to the grounds already used. You still get acceptable coffee but you’ve saved a lot on the amount used for a pot full.
*Use applesauce in cake mix instead of cooking oil. Save money and calories!
*Put bay leaves in your flour, cornmeal, rice, and other grain based products to prevent bugs in them.
*Use baking soda and bleach in your dishwasher. Just put the baking soda into the detergent cups, pour bleach in to fill the cups, and run the dishwasher. Dishes get sparkling clean and are sanitized without expensive detergents.
*As often as possible, use cold water to wash clothes. This saves energy and it causes less wear and fading on the clothes.
*Hang clothes to dry as much as possible. I hang all my own clothes and only dry towels, work uniforms, and a few other things in the dryer. The dryer wears clothes out much faster than hanging them up to dry.

I’m sure you can think of other ways to save during these difficult economic times. Share them here!