Quit buying food

Interesting concept, right? Try it for a week or two weeks. Now, in the summertime, it's easier because you can forage and/or be the recipient of OPGs (other people's gardens). You might be able to barter for meat or eggs. Think hard about ways to get food without buying it (no stealing or begging!).

Old apples

Got apples going soft? Don't toss them or feed them to the wild life! Peel, core and put them in a pan to cook for applesauce. That's all you have to do. It's so simple and such a good way to save money. You save the apples and you save money by not buying apple sauce at the store. And, yes, old apples will make good apple sauce.

Take advantage of back to school sales

Even if you don't have children going back to school, back to school sales make it a great time to stock up on pens, pencils, notebooks and so on for personal use. Look for stocking stuffers, too, like nice pens, unique pencil sharpeners and small calculators on sale.

Take care of what you have.

A simple idea, right? How many of us polish our shoes, repair damaged clothing or rewire lamps? They're simple things for the most part and they can save a lot of money.

Water from your freezer

If you have a freezer that isn't frost free, now is a good time to defrost it. Save the water as the ice melts and put it in a bucket. It's clean and it's free. Water the garden, mop the floor, wash the car.

Use up scented candles

What to do with the leftover bits of scented candles? Get the most out of them by melting them in a small container, just like those small scented wax tarts. The scent will last through two or three heatings.

If you don't have a tart warmer, put the candle ends in a small pan inside a double boiler, or set it in a pan with a little water and heat.

Save that envelope

Make a mistake with the address on an envelope? Don't toss it. Steam the seams until they come apart (with a little help from you), then turn the envelope inside out following the fold marks exactly. Reglue the seams. Use a good glue stick or clear tape to close the envelope.