Stay cool tip #2: Evaporative cooling

Hot enough for you?

If that phrase has you ready to strangle the next person who says it, you might want to try some personal evaporative cooling. Evaporative coolers work best when the humidity is low, but this method helps even when it's high. You have to do it only when you're at home, to be polite.

Wet your clothes, wring them out and put them back on. That's it. You'll feel a lot cooler instantly and if you move around, that helps even more.

Try it. It works.

What not to buy

Paper towels, paper napkins, plastic wrap, dishcloths, potholders, minute rice, plastic wrap, tv dinners, canned soup... you get the idea. There are good substitutes or homemade versions that are cheaper and better.

Out of milk?

Any dairy or dairy like product can be used in baking. Non dairy coffee creamer, mixed with water (try one part creamer and 3 parts water), ice cream (thaw first and cut back on sugar), cream or half and half (add three times as much water as cream). Use potato water in bread instead of milk.

The Ultimate Cheap Shower

I can take a shower and wash my (long) hair in two gallons of water. It's a lot easier than it sounds. Fill two one gallon containers with warm water then stand in the tub or shower. Pour enough water over your head to wet your hair, put down the container, shampoo and pour enough water to rinse. You'll be thoroughly wet by this time, so lather up all over. Pour the remaining gallon or so over yourself to rinse and you're done.