Comments on: Simple Frugality By The Hourly Rate

By: Printable Grocery Coupon Guru

Printable Grocery Coupon Guru — Thu, 31 Jan 2008 15:51:17 +0000

Hi Trent, great information. As Johanna stated Mambo Sprouts has savings on natural and organic foods. They ship in the mail if you are in region (I happen to be) and send out biweekly savings via email. Frugality during these times is essential to maintaining a comfortable lifestyle. All these comments are great have been more than helpful

By: geoff

geoff — Sun, 16 Dec 2007 02:36:21 +0000

At my costco zip lock bags are about 1.5 cents. That would bring the hourly rate to $7.5 which less far less worth it.

By: DivaJean

DivaJean — Tue, 11 Dec 2007 15:30:02 +0000

I just don’t understand why so many ziplock bags are needed. I prefer to pack lunches in plastic containers- a one time purchase meant to be washed and reused–rather than trying to articifically extend the use of something meant to be disposable. That being said- we do use SOME ziplock bags for toddler snacks in the diaper bag (but again- we could just as easily use an empty margarine container with a lid!)and for packing on hubby’s 3x/year trips to CHicago for church business.

By: Kimberly

Kimberly — Mon, 03 Dec 2007 20:32:52 +0000

I have spent part of my career in the pharmaceutical industry working specifically in the package design and development field. You need to be very careful about which plastic products you wash and reuse. Some of them will break down with exposure to detergents. For example, the International Bottled Water Association has recommended that disposable drinking water bottles be used only once. In a preliminary University of Idaho study, it was observed that repeated washing accelerated the breakdown of polyethylene therephthalate (PETE), potentially releasing chemicals into the fluid stored in the bottle.

Based on this type of finding, you should NOT wash PETE storage bags (such as Ziploc brand) for reuse with food items. It’s far better to buy Ziploc’s reusable containers. They last longer, too.

By: Sandy

Sandy — Mon, 03 Dec 2007 15:13:59 +0000

As for the environmental perspective, I guess my thought is that people don’t use them only for those kinds of non-food items, but also a child whose mom packs lunch, and the child may have 3-4 seperate plastic baggies, every day, which go directly in the trash after lunch. That’s some 600-800 per school year, per child. Sorry…that’s way beyond my environmental guilt issue. I have 2 children, and that would just be an innapropriate lesson for me to teach them. Children learn from their parents that throwing things away is much easier and convenient. And it does go somewhere…my daughter brought home a recycling paper that had the environmental impact of throwing things away…plastic baggies will be arounf for upwards of 500 years. I guess I prefer to teach my children that 1) we are responsible for what trash we, as individuals, generate, and 2) that if times do get tight financially for them in their future, they will have the mental skill set to think outside the box in ways to save some money.
I remember that as a college student I was quick to use paper towels for all messes and then just toss it…it takes no thought, and I had never been shown another way. My roommate, who was working her way through college and watching every penny, handed me a rag, and said something to the effect “Those paper towels cost us money, this rag is free to use! Use the rag next time!!!” So, she had an effect on me that she will never know, and helped me to rethink single use of ANYTHING.

By: Audi

Audi — Mon, 03 Dec 2007 11:55:17 +0000

I’d like to present some arguments from single-use Ziploc users like myself, since the comments here seem clustered towards the other point of view. I think that washing ziploc bags is cheap rather than frugal, even if washing them would pay a rate of $120 per hour. Here are my reasons why:

(1) I think the main reason washing Ziploc bags is considered cheap by people like me is because, in our minds, what you pay for when you buy a box of Ziploc bags is their disposable convenience. While we may realize that each bag is not materially worth the $0.02 or $0.20 in one use, we purchase them for situations when the time and effort saved by disposing the bag would be worth more. Since there are better non-disposable ways to store food, such as with reusable containers, washing Ziploc bags to reuse them misses the point.

(2) Washing Ziploc bags is not convenient. While $120 is higher than my pay rate at work, I greatly prefer what I do at work to washing plastic bags. For 2 cents, I’m simply not willing to keep track of a “dirty, soiled” object for seconds, minutes, or hours, depending, bring it to a sink, wash it, and then have it dry in rather premium counter/dish-rack/freezer space. $120 to wash 600 baggies? No thanks, if the job needs to be done I would rather hire Ziploc for the pristine bags, which is exactly what I do when I buy a new box.

(3) There is a psychological cost to washing Ziploc bags, even if it becomes a routine in your household. One more thing cluttering your mind, one more thing you need to do before you are ‘free’. Even if it doesn’t take long to wash a baggie, how valuable is the lightness of being associated with just being able to throw it away? Taking into account the psychological expense, $120 for an hour of washing all at once is much less expensive than keeping track of your Ziploc baggies over years and years. (In an argument for flippantly not conserving Ziploc baggies for “lightness of being”, I mainly consider those 2 cent sandwich bags. The sturdier gallon-size 20-cent bags, I think, are used more judiciously even by a wasteful Ziploc single-user since 20 cents is almost a quarter..)

(4) Ziploc bags aren’t designed well for washing. It is hard to clean out the corners, which leak over time, and unless you are really diligent, there is an oily residue left behind. My grandma washes Ziploc bags and taking something from a filmy, streaked Ziploc bag as I’ve observed her do is indeed icky!

And to be clear that I am a somewhat sensible person even from more conservative points of view, I will end by saying that I agree Ziploc bags are environmentally irresponsible and rather expensive so-called ‘disposable’ items. This is why I mainly use Ziploc bags to store non-food stuffs (like Christmas ornaments or toiletries) or foods I need to pack over and over again but which I don’t feel requires washing or keeping track of between uses (such as pretzels for the car or onions in the vegetable compartment of the fridge.) But I also use Ziploc bags disposably for convenience whenever it is convenient which is the end of my two cents..

By: Penny

Penny — Sun, 02 Dec 2007 17:30:16 +0000

I don’t buy zip lock bags I use pyrex because of all the information about the chemicals in the plastics. Love your blogs and “The Simple Dollar” Good work Trent.

By: Henry Bemis

Henry Bemis — Sun, 02 Dec 2007 16:17:25 +0000

Delicious Hot Chocolate Recipe
-Heat a cup of milk to a boil (microwave a minute, stove time, a few seconds)
-Pour milk in a mug and add a couple of squares of left over or gourmet chocolate
-stir vigorously
-Delicious hot chocolate everytime

By: Marcy

Marcy — Sun, 02 Dec 2007 04:52:39 +0000

Great article Trent! One of the best I’ve read in a while. I can’t say that washing out baggies is an orriginal idea, as evidenced by these posts, and it’s a practice that I’ve witnessed as a kid (and do myself at times). There are a lot of negative attitudes regarding ‘frugalism’. It’s threatening to people for some reason and they’l do anything they can to attack you because they are so miserable. But I enjoy your work and have saved some $ from your ideas Trent so thanks for sharing your ideas with us! Nevermind the s***heads that are miserable. I’m always looking for ways to use and re-use anything, even things I got for free. I’ve got all kinds of ghetto tupperware (the coolwhip containers, etc.) and I even use newspaper as weatherstripping. Fold it up and stuff it in the cracks in your windows, doors, etc. It’s free and works. You can even tape it down but that will cost a few cents. Sometimes I dry out paper towels. For instance, if I dry a dish with a paper towel and dry it out, I can use it to clean the bathroom mirror, then toss it. Those produce bags fit some of my trash cans perfectly and sometimes an extra bag or 2 winds up in my cart…free trash bags. I also take advantage of the offerings in my community. Food pantries, clothing banks that are like goodwill but free. Most of my clothes and furniture/housewares were free and people thing I’m well off when they look at my home and how I dress. Well I guess I’m rich in spirit. Frugality is what you make it. You can wash out your ziplock bags and groan about it or be happy that your saving a few cents that add up over time.

By: Lloyd

Lloyd — Sat, 01 Dec 2007 19:53:34 +0000

Actually, your equivalent hourly pay is greater. Typically when you work money is withheld for taxes and benefits. In my case, after withholding for federal and state income tax, social security and medicare, group term life insurance, and medical insurance, my net pay is about 2/3 of my gross pay. If I’m saving $18/hour, I’m actually “earning” $27/hour (or a little less, since the non-payment to social security eventually reduces my social security benefit).

By: Sandy

Sandy — Sat, 01 Dec 2007 15:06:11 +0000

For those of you waiting for Trent’s hot cocoa mix, and can’t wait another minute…Amy D has a great recipe in her Tightwad Gazette book…along with a cost analysis to boot!

By: leslie

leslie — Sat, 01 Dec 2007 04:37:20 +0000

Wow! Great article and comments! A friend sent me a link to your site.
1. Ziploc bags–We love’em and reuse any non-icky ones (like from meat), but what I do to cut down on the ick factor is that after washing them I shake off excess water over the sink, flatten them and place them in the freezer to “dry”; I love this because I don’t have them hanging around the kitchen while drying; when I need one I just grab it out of the freezer and shake off the frozen crystals.
2. A link to My Favorite Hot Cocoa Mix which was tweaked to “perfection” (for our family) by my daughter:
http://heart4home.net/giajhotcocoamix.htm
We love this mix, but sometimes only the real stuff will do with real milk and chocolate.
3. Sewing – My Grandma grew up in the depression. She taught me “a stitch in time saves nine; if you will check your clothing/shoes and do little repairs as needed your clothes will last longer. Some of my favorite ways to extend the life of my clothing is to use the little zippered net bags (cost about $1. each) for sweaters/knits/delicates, then hang or dry these things flat; polish/clean your shoes weekly; wash like items — not your jeans and white socks together; use mild laundry soap; I only use the dryer for about 10 minutes for my dress clothes, then hang to dry–saves $$ and your clothes last longer.

Love your blog!
Leslie
http://heart4home.net

By: Allie

Allie — Fri, 30 Nov 2007 20:48:21 +0000

Amy D. has several books out. I do believe the ziploc bag article was in one of them. Probably just not the one Trent has.
Thanks Trent for looking to see if you had accidentally used her material. It’s so nice to know people are honest in this way.
P.S. Still waiting for the cocoa recipe!! :)

By: Nicole

Nicole — Fri, 30 Nov 2007 18:24:12 +0000

We reuse everything in our house – everything. We don’t use plastic bags at the grocery store. instead we use canvas or those large canvas insulated cooler bags you can get at Costco for 2/$10 sometimes. They last forever and keep everything nice and cold.

We live in an apartment and with two dogs that have to do their business on the sidewalk we actually have to make the rounds to the neighbors frequently to round up sacks for their walks. Newspaper bags, giant Bed Bath and Beyond, etc. We take them all.

By: Sandy

Sandy — Fri, 30 Nov 2007 14:54:55 +0000

I think that comparing Trent’s work to Amy’s doesn’t do any good. Nearly all of the ideas Trent writes about have been brought up in other books and households for generations. It’s just the presentation of these ideas is in a different way. With the internet, more people can get the same idea faster and then comment…that’s a new way of doing what she did 20 years ago before the internet. In fact, I’m sure that she would be writing a blog like this and it would be very successful were she to come out of hiding! (Amy…are you out there?)
Thanks everyone for all your great tightwad ideas!

By: BigRed

BigRed — Fri, 30 Nov 2007 14:20:51 +0000

YOu mentioned sewing on buttons–when I was in grad school, and as a young mom home with kids, I did simple alterations (hemming, buttons, zippers, etc.) for friends to make some extra dough (hubby was in grad school at that time, and we lived on less than $10K/year–not sure how we did it, but thank God for WIC!). Folks would gladly pay me $2 to sew on a button and $25 to hem a skirt–the dry cleaner charged $5 per button, and $50 for a hemming! I almost felt guilty getting this, but it was a good example of a win-win: my friends got quality repairs for half the cost, I got payment for services rendered. I hemmed a set of curtains for our landlord for $150–saved him a significant amount in professional services.

It is remarkable how a skill learned when you are 7 years old can carry through life! My grandma would have been proud :)

By: sunshine

sunshine — Fri, 30 Nov 2007 12:23:59 +0000

As another vote against the plagiarism idea: Amy D. could have got that idea from anywhere herself. Mary Hunt, I’m sure, would suggest something of the kind, as would other frugal gurus. Also, you’ll (generally speaking) notice that several of the commentors mentioned the process of rewashing plastic bags for “years.” I would imagine some of that started out before Amy D. wrote her newsletters and books. I know my Mom started it w/o having read the TG and so did my Depression-era adopted Aunt who still has those shower-cap looking wraps that Saran Wrap put out in, like, the 80s (or earlier, I haven’t been able to tell)!

By: vh

vh — Fri, 30 Nov 2007 05:15:11 +0000

Pyrex containers, eh? It’s been a while since any of those have been around the house, because…why? the plastic stuff kind of pushed them out.

(What marketing campaigns could’ve caused a thing like that?)

Now that commenters mention it, though, as soon as I’ve used the last few plastic bags a zillion times, I’m gonna buy a new set of Pyrex. So much nicer! And given the recent studies about how soft plastic emits some very, very scary chemicals, glass really DOES feel a lot safer than plastic around food, microwave or no microwave. Thanks, folks!

By: Nicole

Nicole — Fri, 30 Nov 2007 03:36:16 +0000

Shevy, So I agree with you that using an old shoulder pad as a cosmetic applicator is a little icky…but what’s so bad about washing and re-using a milk bag? The plastic on those things is much thicker (hance lasts longer) than ziplock baggies. My family has been using these bags for generations (okay, the technique, not the bags themselves) to store food in lunches and the freezer.

By: Shevy

Shevy — Fri, 30 Nov 2007 02:31:04 +0000

In a book etitled “Stop Working…Start Living” and subtitled “How I retired at the age of 36…without winning the lottery” Dianne Nahirny offers up a whole slew of ultra-frugal suggestions, some of which I found somewhat icky.

Examples: reusing foam shoulder pads after they went out of style by using them as cosmetic sponges or packaging wrap, buying liquid milk in bags that she washes out and uses in place of ziplock bags (she holds them closed with plastic tags from bread bags or rubber bands the mailman drops on her porch) and throwing styrofoam meat trays up in her attic as insulation or fitting them behind wall outlets instead of using foam gaskets.

While I find it inspiring that she retired (or semi-retired) at a young age, I’m bothered by these unsanitary sounding suggestions.

Her point however is well taken. By finding our own highly individual ways that each of us can be more frugal, we can free up money to devote to paying down debt or investing. Every dollar we save (by not spending them on disposable items) is worth much more than a dollar earned (exactly how much depends on your tax rate).

Would you turn down a big bonus at work or a raise? Of course not. Trent (and Dianne) are suggesting ways we can get the equivalent!