Soap is soap

If you bought shampoo and didn't like it, don't throw it out. Use it to clean the bathtub or mop the floor, wash painted woodwork or launder delicate items.

Wild food

Gathering and using wild food can make a difference in your food bill. (Not everyone agrees - see the comments here: Beat the High Cost of Food: Eat From the Wild), but just for instance, a can of spinach isn't cheap... and wild spinach (lambsquarter) is free for the taking in many areas.

More on the subject: Wild in the City.

Save a Penny, Make a Penny

Along with saving those pennies, you can make a few toward gift cards from places like Amazon, Target and Starbucks. You just sign up with My Search Bonus and do your internet searches through them. To be honest, there are a few times when I go to Google when I can't find what I want otherwise, but "My Search Bonus" runs a pretty good search engine. If you search the internet now and then, why not make a few pennies from it?

Edited: I have been hearing bad things about this program. I haven't tried to cash out yet, so I don't know first hand, but reports say that they are not paying, or that they're paying after long periods of time. Spend time with it at your own risk, and I apologize for leading you into something that apparently isn't working.

Newspaper dripping pads

It's been a little hectic around here, and I'm slow getting things posted, so I apologize.

Here's your extremely frugal tip for the day. :)

Use a pad of newspaper near a doorway in wet weather to put boots and wet shoes on. When it gets too soggy, throw it away.

Emptying cans

When you empty a tomato sauce (or other sauce) can, turn it upside down over a small container to drain completely. Keep adding to it, keeping it frozen between times, and you'll soon have a "free" can of tomato sauce!

Save a little more gas

Although gas prices have started to drop a little, it still makes sense to save where we can. If you're driving with the air conditioner on, turn it off a few blocks before you will park the car. Leave the fan on and cool air will continue to blow. The car will stay cool for several minutes and you'll have saved a little more gas by not running the AC.

Corn dogs

So they're not the best nutrition available... kids and adults still like and eat them! You can make them a lot cheaper than you can buy them.

1/2 cup cornmeal
1/2 cup flour
1 tsp salt
3/4 cup milk
1 beaten egg
1 TBS oil
8 - 10 weiners

Combine dry ingredients, then add rest of ingredients and mix well. Put weiners on skewers or popsicle sticks, coat with flour, then dip into batter and fry in hot oil. Drain and serve or freeze for later.

Free defrosting trick

If you have a refrigerator or freezer that isn't frost free and you need to defrost, pack your frozen food tightly in a box that's been lined with newspaper and put a thick layer of newspaper over it. It will stay frozen solid for several hours.