I’ve reused stamps. catwalker / Shutterstock.com
This is a post by staff writer Yazmin Cruz.
After reading about the radical things a personal finance blogger does to save money on Three Thrifty Guys, I had to share my own list. I’ve already shared the things I simply won’t do to save money, but now I’m running the risk of being called a cheap-o by sharing the crazy things I do (or have done) to save a few cents. Hey, it adds up!
I’ve done five of the seven things the Three Thrifty Guys post lists. Check out both lists and let me know how many you are guilty of doing in the comments.
- I save butter wrappers. Once I’ve used up all the butter, I keep the wrappers in the fridge. They come in handy when I need to grease a casserole dish.
- I reuse teabags. I love drinking an expensive ($10 a container) organic coconut chai so I allow myself the splurge, but I steep the bag three times before composting.
- I save aluminum foil to rewrap items. I also recycle it to get a couple cents back.
- I pick up pennies. Any type of money does the trick, really, but I love shiny pennies.
- I save seeds from homegrown plants instead of buying seeds for next season.
- I do my own waxing. It beats paying for someone to hurt you and sharing your wax with strangers. Yuck!
- I skip the shampoo. By shampoo-ing less often I save lots of money. This does not mean I do not shower — I do. According to LearnVest, you can save $45 to $200 by skipping a wash. Here are my tips to save money on shampoo.
- I still use my student ID card. I graduated last year from school, but this hasn’t stopped me from showing my ID to get a discount at the movie theaters and restaurants. I’m still considered a student if I’m taking an online class, right?
- I shop in the kids section. The biggest size still fits me and the clothes are less expensive than what’s found in the women’s section.
- I walk behind everyone in my household turning off lights. I’ve been told it’s annoying, but haven’t heard a complain when we receive the bill.
- I use reusable feminine products. TMI, I know. But you, too, could be saving money during that time of the month!
- I’ve reused stamps. I peeled them off letters I received and added glue to stick them back on. I did check with a post office employee beforehand. He gave me the OK.
What crazy things do you do to save money? I’m dying to know!
Here’s another post that caught my attention this week…
Wise Bread shares the new graduate’s guide to affordable fun! Are you young and broke?
Welcome to Bargain Babe! I’m Mara, and I’m so glad you’re here. I am an obsessive bargain hunter and penny pincher, and I am determined to live a full life without EVER paying full price.
These are great – I hear you about the walking behind everyone in household shutting off lights! 😉
I’m sorry, but reusing stamps is stealing. I hope you get caught now.
@WWII Kid Please don’t comment with different names to create drama — it’s fine if you disagree with me. I was able to tell the comment from ImJuniperNow was also your comment. It’s been deleted.
Great list – except 8 and 12. They are both unethical, and 12 I think is illegal.
@Amanda I asked an employee at the post office about reusing two stamps and he said it was fine as long as there was no postmark. He saw me glue the stamps on and didn’t stop me. I’m not passing on the blame, but at the time I was not aware it was illegal to reuse stamps. Nowadays I rarely send out snail mail (who does?) and if I do, I stick with FOREVER stamps.
As for my college ID, it doesn’t have an expiration date. Plus, I’m still considered a student if I take a course, no?
I save the Sunday comic sections, trim the edges and use them as gift wrapping paper for birthdays, Christmas, anniversaries, graduations and even weddings. In the beginning, I got giggles, looks and finger pointing. But those that know me, don’t do it anymore. In fact, my gifts always stand out from everyone else that I find it unnecessary to include a card because everyone knows it’s from me. And no one has complained about what’s beneath the paper. The kids in my life know I always show up with the fun gift and they typically save opening up mine for last.
@The Unethical Man I also do this. I agree, the comics do personalize the gifts.
Yes. it is illegal to reuse stamps.. and I also find it unethical to use your student ID when you are not longer a student.
from USPS
July 2005
WARNING!
Once a postage stamp has been used, it is a federal crime to:
1. Remove, attempt to remove, or assist to remove cancellation marks from postage.
2. Reuse a stamp whether cancelled or not.
If you have questions concerning the reuse of postage, please contact your local Postal Inspector.
Title 18, U.S. Code, Sections 471 and 1720
Poster 5 July 2005
PSN 7690-03-000-9182
@CateS Thanks for the info. Glad I didn’t make it a habit. Though, recently I’ve seen many at the post office peel the stamps. Guess the bad economy has something to do with it? Nowadays, I’m just there to pick up my mail from my box.
I guess your Mother never told you that, just because everybody else is doing it, that doesn’t make it right.
disagree with #8–unless you’re taking a class this semester, it’s lying…
@Yazmin ~ ImJuniperMan’s comment was still there unless he sent more than one.
@The Unethical Man ~ Not including a card also saves money, but perhaps that was implied.
@Yazmin ~ I don’t understand how using comics for wrapping paper personalizes gifts any more than wrapping paper does. I am not objecting to doing this but just don’t see the difference.
@Diane The person has commented several times with different names egging himself on. Like I’ve mentioned to you in the past, we can tell who is commenting and will delete comments that are blatantly uncalled for.
As for the comics, if you find out what comic the person likes and use it to wrap it shows you took extra time thinking about what to give them.
@Diane… I guess it’s unique because most kids don’t read newspapers..
You shouldnt use your student ID for things if your not enrolled in classes, if to many people do this kind of thing it will ruin the discounts for the actual students if the companies decide its too much, you already got them while you were a student. How would you like to hear while you were still in school that they are ending the discounts because too many graduates are using them? Its not only unethical its unfair to those who are students now.
@Yazmin ~ As to The Unethical Man, I think you misunderstood me. You said his comment had been deleted, but it hadn’t and hasn’t–unless he wrote more than one comment. Anyway, one remains.
As to comics as wrapping paper, I was coming from my way of thinking. I share a comic strip or cartoon with someone when the joke or punchline or whatever pertains to that person, me, or the human condition. I wasn’t thinking of someone’s preferred strips as you were.
Finally, while I’m here: I happened to check back to this post to re-read what CateS wrote. Then I saw the subsequent comments since my original postings. As you know, we readers can no longer register to be notified of follow-ups. Is that one of the changes BB hinted at (I hope)?
@ Cate ~ That’s true; however, many do read the comics. 🙂 I had thought that The Unethical Man and Yazmin were saying to use any comic strip for wrapping, which is why I didn’t understand the personalization which Yazmin since has explained.
@Diane The comment was not from The Unethical Man. The comment is from WWII Kid/ImJuniperNow and it was made in the morning.
As for the changes, you’ll have to wait and see…
@Logan Please refer to my response to Amanda. I’ve already clarified the matter.
@Yazmin ~ Oops! I meant WWII Kid/ImJuniperNow! Sorry.
@Yazmin ~ Saw your post after just submitting mine on the “double poster.” Point is: Both his posts were there whereas you said one had been deleted.
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