How to be a Happy Cheapskate

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By Lilfix
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There are a lot of ways, in our daily lives, that we can be cheapskates and still be happy.

Being a cheapskate doesn't mean you have to do without, it just means you get the most out what you got and/or get.

Here are some tips that will make you a happy cheapskate.

Difficulty: Moderately Easy

Instructions

Step 1

An Automobile Cheapskate is someone who doesn't buy their gas at a gas station that is close to an interstate exit. These gas stations are for the traveler who don't know their way around and don't want to get lost looking for somewhere cheaper to get their gas. If you go just a couple miles down the road, you might just find a 5 - 15 cent difference in the price.

Also, when filling up, don't purchase the Unleaded Premium gas...I know a lot of people think this is better gas and they will get more mileage between fill ups, but this isn't so...unless your car specifically says to use the premiums, using the regular unleaded will run just fine in your car and will save you 10 - 12 cents a gallon.

Keyless remotes are great, but when the battery dies, the cost of the replacement battery can make you fill like you've been robbed. Don't go to your dealership to get a new battery, they can charge you almost $50.00 to replace it. Take the keyless remote apart(most come apart by loosening a screw) and take that battery to your local Walmart, etc. and buy a battery that matches (someone in automotive should be able to help you)...buying a battery this way, can cost under $3.00...now that is being a smart cheapskate.
Step 2

How about being a cheapskate when it comes to your computers, copiers, etc. You might be shocked at the money you can save.

There is a little known secret when it comes to copier toner and ink cartridges. When you get low on toner and/or ink, take the toner/ink cartridge out and give it a good shake, then put it back in your copier, etc. Toner and ink settle in the container, so giving it a good shake will 'unsettle' it and give you more toner/ink to use before buying more.

Set your computer's font to print at gray instead of black. (Unless this is something for work, etc.) When you print out a shopping list, recipes, etc. having gray print instead of black won't matter. You can still see it, but you will be saving a lot of ink.
Step 3

A clothing cheapskate will know how to save money and still be fashionable.

Do you need new hangers? Don't buy them...ask department stores if they have any extras they can give you. Most places don't keep the hangers that they take off your clothing when you buy the item, they toss them in a trash can to be picked up and tosses out. You might be able to get hangers in all sizes for everyone in your home for free.

Do you have a zipper that is hard to zip or worse yet, keeps falling down? Don't throw out those pants just yet...try this...a little candle wax rubbed over the zipper (inside and out) will help that tough zipper zip up with ease. And for a zipper that keeps falling down...zip it up and spray with hair spray. The hair spray will 'hold' the zipper in place. Depending on how many times you zip up and down during the day, you may have to repeat the hair spray trick. Inexpensive hairspray cost $1.00 - $2.00...new pants...cost a lot more...
Step 4

A kitchen cheapskate won't starve using these tips...

Did you know if you run bacon under cold water before frying it, it won't shrink up as much...giving you more for your money.

A little sugar can help your cheese last a lot longer. Put about 1 teaspoon of sugar in the bottom of a ziploc plastic baggie. After opening up your cheese, keep it in the packaging it was purchased in, but store it in this sugared ziploc bag. Make sure the ziploc is sealed up tight. You will find your cheese will last a lot longer before it starts to mold up.

Buying the cheaper cuts of meat doesn't mean you have to eat tough...soak the cheaper cuts in a coca cola marinade for several hours. The best part is, you can use a store brand coke if you want and it still works. The coke breaks down the meat, tenderizing it and giving it a nice flavor at the same time.
Step 5

Some cheapskate tips for the laundry will keep your family in clean clothes and your piggy bank a little fuller.

Cheap shampoo is great for getting rid of stains, like ring around the collar. Just skirt a little on the collar and wait a couple hours to launder. Use the cheap shampoo as a pre-treatment to all your laundry stains. It will remove the stain as well as those expensive stain removers.

To make your dryer sheets last longer, cut them in half. Now you have twice as many and you still get the benefit of the dryer sheet.