By Sara StrongIn my last column, I talked about an award-winning frugal man who used the same meat all week to flavor his sandwich bread, actually eating the meat only at the end of the week. His story inspired me to ask readers to submit their tips for saving money. They weren’t asked for masterful pinching techniques, just some ways to save a buck here and there. I’m thankful that I got some replies to share. Here they are: o"This one is from the Luverne area. Ma was a cook in a local restaurant during the 1950s. There was a local gentleman, wealthy, who would purchase a cup of tea and toast. When he finished his lunch, he would ask for a napkin to wrap the used tea bag in. He said it was good for three or four more cups of tea."When this man finished his tea, he would pour all of the leftover cream that had been served with the tea and all of the sugar that he could get into the same cup and drink it.oHunt. If you do the butchering yourself, a winter’s supply of meat is just the price of a hunting license and some ammo. oShop for used items and go "junking."o"My uncle saved all his junk mail and cut it into pieces to use for scratch paper."That same man got a vasectomy after his first child proved to be an expensive addition to his budget.oDon’t let your teenage son drive — insurance for young males is outrageous!oRinse baggies and tin foil to reuse them, if they haven’t stored meat.oA reader’s aunt worked an entire week for a woman, weeding her garden. On Saturday she expected a large wage, but the lady presented her with a bouquet of cosmos flowers as payment. Years later the story was a family joke and for the garden worker’s 65th birthday, (you guessed it) she received a bouquet of cosmos flowers.oIf you work outside the home, bring your lunch to work every day. It saves at least $20 a week, and about $1,000 a year.o"My husband won’t let me buy liquid laundry detergent." He calculated the cost per load and powder is a much better buy.We’re still accepting cheap tips from readers, if anyone has more to share. Send them to the Star Herald at P.O. Box 837, Luverne, MN 56156. Or e-mail them to saraq@star-herald.com.
