ForumGarden

Below, I offer the official definition of the word, "cheap" for those who do not "go there".:wah: For the rest of us, let us have a discussion of the art of cheapness, how it has effected our lives, and good cheap finds.  

Cheap

/tʃip/ Show Spelled Pronunciation [cheep] Show IPA adjective, -er, -est, adverb, noun

Use cheap in a Sentence

–adjective 1. costing very little; relatively low in price; inexpensive: a cheap dress.

2. costing little labor or trouble: Words are cheap.

3. charging low prices: a very cheap store.

4. of little account; of small value; mean; shoddy: cheap conduct; cheap workmanship.

5. embarrassed; sheepish: He felt cheap about his mistake.

6. obtainable at a low rate of interest: when money is cheap.

7. of decreased value or purchasing power, as currency depreciated due to inflation.

8. stingy; miserly: He's too cheap to buy his own brother a cup of coffee.

–adverb 9. at a low price; at small cost: He is willing to sell cheap.

—Idioms10. cheap at twice the price, exceedingly inexpensive: I found this old chair for eight dollars—it would be cheap at twice the price.

11. on the cheap, Informal. inexpensively; economically: She enjoys traveling on the cheap.



--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Origin:

bef. 900; ME cheep (short for phrases, as good cheep cheap, lit., good bargain), OE cēap bargain, market, trade; c. G Kauf, ON kaup; all < L caupō innkeeper, tradesman; see chapman

Related forms:

cheapish, adjective

cheap⋅ish⋅ly, adverb

cheaply, adverb

cheapness, noun



Synonyms:

1, 4. Cheap, inexpensive agree in their suggestion of low cost. Cheap now usually suggests shoddiness, inferiority, showy imitation, complete unworthiness, and the like: a cheap kind of fur. Inexpensive emphasizes lowness of price (although more expensive than cheap) and suggests that the value is fully equal to the cost: an inexpensive dress. It is often used as an evasion for the more specific cheap. 4. paltry, low, poor, inferior, base.



Antonyms:

1. costly, dear, expensive. 8. generous, charitable.

Dictionary.com Unabridged

Based on the Random House Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2009.

Cite This Source |Link To cheap

Explore the Visual Thesaurus »Related Words for : cheap

inexpensive, brassy, flash, flashy, garish

View more related words »





adj. cheap·er, cheap·est



Relatively low in cost; inexpensive or comparatively inexpensive.

Charging low prices: a cheap restaurant.

Obtainable at a low rate of interest. Used especially of money.

Devalued, as in buying power: cheap dollars.

Obtainable at a low rate of interest. Used especially of money.

Devalued, as in buying power: cheap dollars.

Achieved with little effort: a cheap victory; cheap laughs.

Of or considered of small value: in wartime, when life was cheap.

Of poor quality; inferior: a cheap toy.

Worthy of no respect; vulgar or contemptible: a cheap gangster.

Stingy; miserly.

adv. cheaper, cheapest

Inexpensively: got the new car cheap.

[From Middle English (god) chep, (good) price, purchase, bargain, from Old English cēap, trade, from Latin caupō, shopkeeper.]

cheap'ly adv., cheap'ness n.

The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fourth Edition

Origin & History

cheap

O.E. ceap (n.) "a purchase," from ceapian (v.) "trade," probably early Gmc. borrowing from L. caupo (gen. cauponis) "petty tradesman, huckster." Adj. sense of "that may be bought at small cost" first attested 1509, from god chep "favorable bargain," translation of Fr. a bon marche, a sense represented in O.E. by undeor. Sense of "lightly esteemed, common" is from 1591. Expression on the cheap is first attested 1888.



The American Heritage® Dictionary of Idioms by Christine Ammer.

Copyright © 1997. Published by Houghton Mifflin.

The Official "I Feel So Cheap" Thread



With time its something you learn to live with.

Yes..............you do, Nomie. :wah:



Do kids still have fun playing with those cheap plastic toys?

Yes, for the five minutes they last.

Attached files

Advise is Cheap.

YouTube - How to Look Rich and Live Cheap

http://usat.gannett.a.mms.mavenapps.net ... errer=staf

http://www.cbs.com/thunder/player/tv/in ... YpYZT9q8Fx

http://usat.gannett.a.mms.mavenapps.net ... errer=staf

Yuch!...................Cheap Beer and Beer Holder.

Attached files

Nomad;1224032 wrote: The Official "I Feel So Cheap" Thread



With time its something you learn to live with.


I have .:-3

And let us not forget the repulsive "cheap shot."



YouTube - Sidney Crosby Cheap Shot

A cute "cheep cheep" cartoon............



YouTube - Mac & Katie Kissoon - Chirpy Chirpy Cheep Cheep

times like these, I shop for bargains and sales only.

fuzzywuzzy;1224112 wrote: I have .:-3


This virtue is best known as "thrifty" or "frugal'.

Do you have any advice for this young lady?

"He Is Cheap

Ask FreeloveMD | June 22, 2008

I really like him but I think he is really cheap! A guy I’ve been dating for several months asked me to go away with him for the weekend. I was very excited because I like him a lot and thought this was a big step in our relationship going forward. But when he asked me to pay my own way on everything we did I couldn’t help but feel cheap and used in some way. I didn’t know how to tell him. I thought his feelings for me were more. He does other things that I really like. He spends time with me and my son (but never pays for my son). He fixes things around my flat. And buys me small gifts now and then. But he is so cheap and I don’t like that he’s cheap with me. I asked several friends who instead of giving me an answer compared him to their husbands saying “my husband would never have asked me to pay. That didn’t make me feel any better. What do I do? I have strong feelings for him and I think he is oblivious to the damage done. Do I tell him that his “cheapness is coming between us. How do I tell him that in certain situations a gentleman pays."

Can you also advise this friend of a ( AFTR clears her throat) cheap person?

"A group of us have a friend who is incredibly cheap. She will re-box an item from her own house to use as a gift, has brought left-over food to get-togethers (which is very insulting to us), and once she even wanted a large group of us to split up an extra $3 so it was not given to a waiter who "already had his 15%." The problem is not economic...her and her husband are doing okay. Being with her socially has become an nightmare and just about everyone has had it with her behavior. This is a delicate subject. Any advice on how to let her know how we feel without hurting her feelings."

This will be our secret, ladies.........................

I found this tidbit on the net.



"A Cheap Gift for Him

My husband, Joe, is my best friend so it doesn't even take a holiday for me to look for a cheap gift for him. The internet is quickly becoming my favorite place to find a cheap gift idea for a man. When I was at the hospital with our son, Jubal, I overheard a man talking about this great present he was putting together for his dad. He had gone on ebay and entered the name of the aircraft carrier his dad was stationed on in WW2. He found an arial photo of this ship taken by one of the airplanes and bought it for a few dollars. After having the photo enlarged and framed, he ordered a cap and had the carrier's ID numbers printed on it. This guy should be given the championship title for Cheap Gift Man. I love his idea!

So here you will find new items, presents from ebay, and even garage sale specials. I look for anything that would appeal to a guy. It is harder for me to find a cheap gift for guys than for the girls I know, but I’ve done the work and collected these great ideas for a cheap gift for a man:



•Find a magazine on a favorite topic or interest. Purchase one copy to wrap and then send in the subscription card for a year’s worth of giving.



•Here's a quick and easy cheap gift for a man who lives far away: Look online for a nostalgic and/or humorous CD, cassette, or album from a favorite artist.



•For a cheap gift for guys who live alone¦or one who has a messy garage in need of organizing, buy a set of Rubbermaid storage dishes or small bins. Fill each one with a different kind of candy or snack for him to use up before he gets to work.



•Check out what concerts or events are coming in the near future and buy him a ticket to see one of his favorite artists or speakers.



•Find him an unusual hat¦the hat he wears in his dreams! Ebay is a great place to look for a cowboy hat, fedora, beret. Joe has a Greek fisherman’s hat we bought on ebay that he wore all winter.



•Is there a man on your list you don't know very well? Here is a cheap gift for him: Buy him a fancy corkscrew and a bottle of wine or sparkling juice.



•Almost any guy who doesn’t have one would like a portable CD player that will plug into the cassette deck in his vehicle.



•Ask his friends and family about what his very favorite toys were growing up. Locate the same on ebay. Best toys are action figures, cars, games, etc.



•Do you know a man who likes to keep up on the weather? Here’s a cheap gift for him: buy an outdoor thermometer.



•If the guy you know likes to learn, here is a cheap gift for him: Sign him up for a class he would enjoy taking such as cooking, finances, language, music, etc. Many high schools have adult enrichment classes year round.



•Buy an old tin sign at an antique store, flea market or on ebay. At one point Joe's dream house looked kind of like the inside of Cracker Barrel restaurant so we were always looking for cool old signs.



•Fill a wheelbarrow with work gloves, new garden hose, garden tools, watering can, etc. If you want to wrap it, use a tarp.



•If you have no time to shop for a cheap gift idea for a man, buy a gift certificate from one of these places: go-cart track, hobby shop, toy store (YES!), pet store, auto parts supply, plant nursery, etc. If he is really thrifty, get him a cheap man gift certificate from a used bookstore, junkyard, thrift store, buy-sell-trade shop, etc."

Is dirt really cheap?

Attached files

Time for some cheap jokes..........................:wah:

Attached files

along-for-the-ride;1224080 wrote: Beer Holder.


Oh! What a *lovely* girl! I think I'm in love.

Bill Sikes;1224664 wrote: Oh! What a *lovely* girl! I think I'm in love.


She may be a cheap date.

A brief homage to cheapskates:

"Call them what you will — tightwads, cheapskates, penny pinchers — they’re hot again. Back when more was more, and the Dow was dizzying, skinflints were as endangered as the expense account is today. Now, in an economy where excess is the new tacky, frugal fannies everywhere are having their day."

Attached files

She buys her make-up and jewelry at the 5 &10 cent store. She fixes her own hair. She buys her clothes at the Goodwill store. And she bums cigarettes off of other people. So?

Attached files

along-for-the-ride;1225332 wrote: A brief homage to cheapskates:

"Call them what you will — tightwads, cheapskates, penny pinchers — they’re hot again. Back when more was more, and the Dow was dizzying, skinflints were as endangered as the expense account is today. Now, in an economy where excess is the new tacky, frugal fannies everywhere are having their day."


can you see me on roller skates now?:yh_rotfl:yh_rotfl

along-for-the-ride;1225335 wrote: She buys her make-up and jewelry at the 5 &10 cent store. She fixes her own hair. She buys her clothes at the Goodwill store. And she bums cigarettes off of other people. So?


She looks ike a young maggie thatcher:yh_rotfl:yh_rotfl

My favorite wrist-watch is one I purchased 3 years ago for $5. I have put a new battery in it a couple times...$2 each time. The face was scratched, so I googled a way to remove the scratches. With spray furniture polish and a cloth, the scratches were gone. I am cheap at times, and proud of it. :wah:



'Fess up and share with us a story of your cheapness.

kazalala;1225759 wrote: She looks ike a young maggie thatcher:yh_rotfl:yh_rotfl


Young Maggie Thatcher was hot.....................!!! :wah: And cheap.

My daughter's MIL uses her tea bag twice before she throws it away.

She doesn't mind telling everyone about it either :-3

I do wear cheap perfume.

YouTube - windsong

My favorite fragrance.

If you're gonna be cheap............be careful out there:

Worst dollar-store purchases

Posted Sep 29 2009, 12:48 PM by Karen Datko Rating: Filed under: savings, Karen Datko, consumer guide, bargain, save money

We're all for dollar stores. They can provide savings, many people agree. At last count, 55% of about 423,000 people who have participated in an MSN Money online poll said they sometimes shop at dollar stores, and 36% said they frequently do. (Another 3% chose "I'd never set foot in one.")

But there are some products "rutgerskevin" of The Red Stapler Chronicles recommends you avoid, via his post called "The 10 dumbest things to buy at a dollar store." First on his list are home pregnancy tests.

Find on Bing: Dollar stores thriving in recession

Pregnancy test from the dollar store? That's a product you'd want to spend more on for a result you can trust. "I almost bought this just to see what it looked like, but the girlfriend vetoed this idea in disgust," Kevin said.

That gets to a point about dollar-store shopping. Some items, like gift wrap and shampoo, are perfectly fine as well as a bargain. But others are not. Dollar store batteries are often the carbon-zinc kind and will wear out quicker. Electrical cords and similar products may not be adequately tested for safety. Also, the MSN Money slide show "Dollar-store deals and duds" says, "Jewelry and vinyl lunchboxes have been recalled from dollar stores as dangerous sources of lead."

Other samples from Kevin's recommendations of dollar-store products to avoid:

Pens. He bought co-workers 10-packs of dollar-store pens, which didn't work or quickly broke. One leaked on a co-worker's shirt. "I was mortified!!" Kevin wrote (in mock horror).

Vitamins. They could be sugar pills, Kevin wrote. MSN Money said, "Several years ago, Consumer Reports found that half of the dollar-store brands it studied contained less of the vitamins than the labels indicated and didn't dissolve properly when ingested." Contrary to what you might expect, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration does not tightly control these products.

Any kind of paste, including toothpaste and treatments for rashes. MSN Money added: "In 2007, the Food and Drug Administration warned consumers that many brands of toothpaste found at dollar stores carried diethylene glycol, a poisonous chemical found in antifreeze."

Tampons. Considering the risk of toxic shock syndrome, we'd have to agree. You want to be absolutely confident about the materials they're made from.

Perishable food. Kevin found a box of fruit bars that was dated 2002. Maybe still safe to eat. "However, all signs pointed to this product being on various stores' shelves for seven years," Kevin observed.

Kevin's bonus tip: "If they spell the name of the product incorrectly, I would not put it in your mouth. Just some words to live by."

"Cheap" is a loaded word. I like stuff to be "good value". The cost in itself is not the most vital factor. Some consumer goods are practically identical, but one's got a designer label and the other hasn't (Check out sneakers for example - Consumer Advisory Bodies have done tests and found the variations in price do not echo variations in efficacy. And they're probably all made in the same sweat shops anyway). Generic brands in supermarkets are sometimes exactly the same as the non generic stuff, and sometimes vastly different. A great example is toilet paper. Here you really do get what you pay for.

On clothes prices. If you're young and thin and gorgeous you can wear pretty much anything and look fantastic. If you're older, thicker, more lived in looking, a bit of designer tailoring can make a lot of difference. A couple of good items might be a better investment.

Being careful and canny with money, isn't "cheap" in my book. It's being aware that it doesnt grow on trees and you might be glad of a bit of savings for that rainy day.



Anyone for champagne. It's Bolly. No question of quibbling here...

Here's a website to get cheap Halloween decorations:

Cheap Halloween Decorations

Or.........

You can just buy alot of black and orange paper and go crazy.:wah:

Cute Cheap or Free Christmas Ornaments You Can Make Yourself



Velvet Ribbon

Take ordinary objects and turn them into customized Christmas tree decorations, like these ideas from your Guide to Interior Decorating.

•Colored Glass Balls

Embellish standard colored holiday balls with a variety of special touches. For example, spray ornaments with glitter paints or frosty coatings, glue on glitter or craft store jewels, attach braids or ribbons, or use stickers, craft paints, or ribbons to add personality.

•Snowflake Tree

Remember the folded paper snowflakes you made in elementary school? Revisit the past and create these simple, yet sweet, decorations with your kids. Make them large, medium, and small, and then iron flat. Leave them pristine white or embellish with clear or silver glitter. On your tree, add some cotton batting to the branches for a snowy effect.

•Glittered

Use paint brushes to paint glue onto the ornament in a pattern or the letters of a name, then sprinkle with ultra-fine glitter. Let dry completely before using. Or, dot glue onto an ornament with a round pencil eraser and add glitter for a dotted look.

•Romantic Tree

Do you have a collection of grandma’s doilies or lace hankies sitting unused in a box somewhere? Dig them out and make little sachet-style ornaments. Simply fill the centers with a handful of batting and tie up gently with little satin ribbons that can loop over tree branches. Next, look in the bargain bin at the fabric store for bolts of lace edging that might be used as a tree garland or tied around packages. Finally, underscore the romantic theme with craft store wooden hearts that can be painted red and attached to the tree with velvet ribbon bows.

•Anyone for Tea Tree

Get out an unused silver or china tea set and attach the cups to their saucers using dabs of tacky wax or white floral clay. A ribbon or a wire through the teacup handle will allow you to hang the cups on a Christmas tree. Next, nestle and hang silver creamers or sugar bowls, tongs, spoons, or even teapots into sturdy branches. Finish up by hanging pretty tea bags still in their colorful wrappers.

•Peppermint Candy Tree

Warehouse stores make it easy (and cheap) to buy candy in bulk. Create a peppermint tree extravaganza using candy canes as ornaments and gluing together the cellophane wrappers (end-to-end) of wrapped peppermint balls for a unique garland. Flat wooden shapes can also be used as a backing for hot-glued candy decorations such as red hots, peppermint sticks, or mint disks. Keep these longer by spraying them with a clear sealer so humidity won’t affect the candy.

•Origami

Fold origami shapes for your tree and hang with loops of thin gold cording. Choose paper colors and shapes in a theme, or go wild and make each one unique. Or, try making larger and smaller versions of the same fold for a harmonious overall look.

•Toy Trees

Tiny toys look wonderful on a Christmas tree. Mix them up using an assortment of toys from your own kids, from garage sales, or thrift stores. For a collected look, go with one theme such as dolls, bears, or trucks. Wire heavier items to the sturdiest branches, then hang lightweight items by colorful ribbons or raffia loops. Not enough to cover the tree? Fill in with plain glass balls, garlands, or bows. This is also a fun idea for a small tree in a child's room.

-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Cheap can be fun!

More suggestions for this Holiday Season:

----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

39 Frugal Tips for Saving Money at Christmas

by Michelle Jones

There are a gazillion ways to save money which is one of the reasons why I love my job so much¦ the information we share with you each year here at Better Budgeting is overflowing. And the holidays is certainly one of those times when we need to implement as many money-saving tips as we can; so that we can spend less and enjoy the true meaning of Christmas! More...



I’ve listed 39 simple ways to save money during the Christmas holidays below, you may have tried some of them already but hopefully there will be a few more ideas you can add to your frugal holiday traditions.

Christmas Cards:

1. If it's not in your budget to send Christmas cards this year it's okay, your friends and family will understand. If you do want to send them but need to scale down consider sending cards to the people you would like to get in touch with the most.

2. Send postcards or letters, instead of Christmas cards.

3. You can even cut your old Christmas cards from last year in half, and send the pretty side as a postcard. I did this many years and it works great, plus you’re being ‘earth friendly’ by keeping new cards out of the garbage dumps.

4. If you send postcards, whether purchased or homemade, remember they require less postage than a regular card!

5. Christmas cards always go on sale in December, and the longer you wait the better!

6. If you purchase inexpensive cards at a discount store be sure to look at them carefully. Some actually look cheap, while others are much prettier. If you’re going to buy Christmas cards they might as well look nice!

7. For friends and family that live out of state or out of the country make a brief phone call and your loved ones would probably much rather hear your voice than receive a card in the mail.

Wrapping Paper:

8. Use pretty magazine pages to wrap small gifts.

9. The comic section of your newspaper also makes nice wrapping paper. (I once saved them up for a few months before Christmas and had enough to make a gift out of a relative’s favorite comic strip. They loved it!)

10. Use your children’s artwork, or create your own on plain paper¦ the large reams of packing paper are great for this, contact anyone who’s in the process of moving!

11. Save used wrapping paper all through the year, just roll them back onto the paper tube and place a small piece of scotch tape on the edge to hold in place. These really work great for small gifts where the previously folded lines won’t even show. If the paper is the wrong theme, you could just turn it over and decorate the plain side yourself.

12. No need to buy expensive ribbons and bows to decorate your packages, if you hunt around you can find the cheap stuff that will be just as pretty!

13. Make your own gift tags by cutting a small piece of matching wrapping paper and folding it in half. Our family has been doing this for decades. Write the “To and From on the inside of the paper and tape it to the wrapped present. This is also great for scraps of paper that are too small to wrap a gift, but too large to toss away.

14. Cut up old Christmas cards make wonderful gift tags too!

15. If you sew, you could also use scrap material to wrap gifts.

16. Or inexpensive tissue paper that you’ve saved from other gifts throughout the year. Then decorate the wrapped gift with little smiley faces, Christmas trees, or even just the words “Merry Christmas! You could even add some glitter if you have some on hand.

Decorations:

17. Don’t decorate, that is always an option! Or decorate with nature! (See more below.)

18. Don’t decorate with expensive things!!!

19. The stores have incredible sales every year for decorations, buy close to the holiday or even better, after the holiday! You could fill your house with beautiful holiday decorations every year (if you wanted to), for a small fraction of what they originally cost!

20. Save your children’s (or grandchildren’s) holiday crafts and artwork from school each year, after a few years you’ll have a houseful of free and beautiful decorations! And the joy your child will feel seeing his/her artwork proudly displayed year after year is priceless.

21. Have a warm and cozy Christmas the old-fashioned way. Pop some popcorn and string it up all over the house!

22. Add some cranberries to your popcorn string for a touch of color, very pretty.

23. Decorate your house by bringing the outside in, using pinecones and acorns. Sprinkle with a few drops of pine scented oil if you have it on hand, I know a lot of you just might!

24. Invest in a good quality artificial tree after Christmas - when they go on CLEARANCE SALE! Buy good quality because they will last many more years.

25. And don’t try to get all your tree ornaments in one year (this one is especially true for young people just starting out), it took your parents years to collect what they have¦ and each ornament is more special because of it.

Food:

26. Many grocery stores are offering great deals during the holidays, some are even giving away food, or cash! Read the paper every week for your local deals, or if you don’t subscribe to the newspaper, pick up the free ad flyers at the store and take it home so you’ll have time to look it over really good before shopping. (You can also read many of your sale flyers online at our GrocerySavingTips.com site and print free coupons each week!)

27. Compare prices! I like to buy whatever’s on sale at one store, then a few days later when we need more milk anyways, I go to a different store and get their best deals. It’s a great money-saver!

28. Store brands are great when making casseroles and side dishes¦ no one will even notice!

29. Cook your turkey in a large Reynolds cooking bag and you won’t need to buy an expensive Butterball, any brand of Turkey should turn out great!

30. Stock up while everything’s on sale, just an extra can or box here and there¦ not a storage closet full! If you end up with too many bargain buys, share them with your local food bank!

31. Visit the GrocerySavingTips.com Web site for hundreds of free tips on saving money at the grocery store, with or without coupons!

Entertainment:

32. It’s wonderful to take your family to the movie theater during the Christmas holiday break, but this could also be a good time to catch up on the videos that have come out for rental during the holiday season.

33. Another great and frugal way to entertain the family through the holidays is to take a drive around your town, or another town nearby to see their Christmas lights. It’s a family tradition of ours to do this during Christmas week and we look forward to it every year!

34. Get out the board games, the kids will love spending time with you. If you don’t have many to choose from, maybe you can borrow a new game from a friend or neighbor. You never know, they might have a closet full they never even use and would be delighted to share them with you!

35. Playing cards is always fun too, even when the kids are little you can play Go Fish¦ we’re making memories here folks!

36. Sing, sing, sing! Many churches and groups even have caroling get-togethers in December, what fun!

37. Sit around a warm fire, or cozy up in the living room with blankets and Hot Cocoa. Tell family stories¦ or have everyone take turns saying how they have been blessed throughout the year, like we do at Thanksgiving. Being thankful shouldn’t end in November, keep the spirit going!

38. Have a family gathering to decorate the tree, wrap gifts, or bake cookies. )

39. Check out a Christmas book from the library and read it together as a family. Or, decide on a story and have everyone contribute a chapter to create a new Christmas book... maybe even one about your own family! )



Wishing You And Your Family

A Very BLESSED Christmas!!!

Here are some frugal (CHEAP) ways you can stay warm in a drafty old house.

•Let in some light. Open blinds on south-facing windows during the day to let in the sun. Close them in the evening to add a bit more insulation. This provides just enough mid-day warmth that we don’t need the heater.

•Use rugs on bare floors. We have hardwood floors above a poorly-insulated basement. These floors are cold in the morning and the late afternoon. An area rug does a fine job of keeping my feet warmer.

•Block drafts. This is best done with weather-stripping or other forms of insulation, but even a blanket in front of a door helps. Because our house is so old, nothing is level. This makes it difficult to install weather stripping. The bottom of our mudroom door, for example, has a one-inch gap on one end but is flush with the floor near the hinge. By laying a blanket in front of the door, we can mitigate some of the heat loss.

•Use space heaters. According to Michael Bluejay’s energy guide, this is the single best way to save money on electricity. As I learned from my tests with the Kill-a-Watt, a portable radiator-type oil heater uses a lot of power, but not nearly as much as a furnace. We have a couple of these heaters. They take a while to get warm, but once they’re going, the can heat a small space cheaply.

•Bundle up. I love cold-weather clothes: long underwear, sweaters, hats, scarves, gloves. Some days we simply bundle up and turn down the heat. It’s cozy. And don’t forget: house slippers go a long way to keeping you warm!

•Install a programmable thermostat. My sister-in-law just received her first big heating bill at her new home. “It was $100!” she said. (She had been leaving her thermostat at 68-degrees around the clock.) Her heating bill was more than she had budgeted, and made it easy to justify the cost of a new programmable thermostat. They’re easy to install and an excellent way to cut your heating costs. We set ours for 54 at night and when we’re gone during the day. (Reader Adam G. reviewed his programmable thermostat last August.)

•Use an electric blanket. There’s no need to heat the entire house when you’re asleep. There’s no need to even heat the bedroom. An electric blanket is cheaper and cozier. (A blanket with dual-controls is best.)

•Change the furnace filter. A dirty filter forces the furnace to work harder, decreasing its efficiency, increasing heating costs. We change the furnace filter at the start of the season, and once every month or two thereafter.

•Close unused rooms. Do not heat them. This winter, we closed off our guest room and shut the heater vent. That room is now separate from the rest of the house. It stays cold, but there’s no reason to keep it warm.

These steps can reduce your heating costs immediately.

great tips as I live in an older home, back then no insulation was put in them.



most of those tips I already do.

I keep towels shoved right up at the doors also.



my huge problem is the walls bring in cold drafts in all the rooms as they all face the brick of the house.

wish I could afford $3,000.00 to have professionals fully insulate.

When "cheap" can be dangerous to your childs health:

Klobuchar wants to ban dangerous cadmium from toys made in China

By Derek Wallbank | Published Tue, Jan 12 2010 11:12 am

WASHINGTON, D.C. — Sen. Amy Klobuchar today demanded a hearing on the use of a metal "more dangerous than lead" in children's toys and jewelery manufactured in China.

A Klobuchar provision inserted in the Consumer Product Safety Improvement Act banned the use of lead in children's toys. Now, she says, some Chinese toy manufacturers are substituting cadmium for the banned lead — despite the replacement metal's toxicity if ingested.

"There’s no excuse — toxic jewelry and toys need to be off our shores and out of our stores,” Klobuchar said in a statement. “As a parent, I am outraged to hear that a metal more dangerous than lead could be found in children’s products. Given the safety interests at stake, we need to conduct a full investigation into unsafe products from China and stop this once and for all.”

Klobuchar sits on the Senate Commerce Committee, which has jurisdiction over such investigations. She also asked the Consumer Product Safety Commission to conduct its own investigation into the matter.

Klobuchar's letter to Senate Commerce Chairman Jay Rockefeller is below:

"I write to you today about recent news reports on the use of cadmium, a metal more dangerous than lead, in children’s toys. As you know, I drafted the bill — ultimately included in the Consumer Product Safety Improvement Act (CPSIA) — that set stringent standards on the amount of lead in children’s toys. This tough standard was designed to protect our kids and it was particularly important to me and the State of Minnesota since a Minneapolis four-year-old, Jarnell Brown, died in 2006 from swallowing a charm made almost entirely of lead.

"Since Congress passed the CPSIA in 2008, toy manufacturers have drastically limited their use of lead and the number of toy recalls based on lead has decreased substantially. At the same time, I am very concerned that some Chinese toy manufacturers are now substituting lead with cadmium, a known carcinogen, in toys and charms being sold throughout the United States. Although there are currently no cadmium restrictions on toys and jewelry, cadmium is a poison and if ingested, can hinder brain development and lead to other health problems in children. In short, this metal has no place in children’s toys.

"I know that you share my concern about keeping unsafe toys off our shores and out of our stores. Given the safety interests at stake, I urge the Committee to remain focused on unsafe products from China and to schedule a hearing on this issue. Thank you for your consideration and for your continued leadership on these issues."

More information:

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/34807662/ns ... parenting/

This is a secret between us:

Cheap Valentines Day Ideas

Ways To Say I Love You on Valentine's Day

By Bonny Albo, About.com Guide

It is very important on Valentine's Day to acknowledge your partner and honor your relationship. For those who aren't able or fond of spending lots of money on gifts however, try one (or all!) of these Valentine's Day ideas to say I love you.

1.Purchase some clear red balloons. Before blowing them up, place either wrapped candies, small gifts, and/or love poems inside each one, and then give them to your loved one as a bouquet.



2.Make a meal only out of heart-shaped items, foods that are red, or both. Try red velvet cake, valentini martini, fruit and cheese salad or a heart shaped angel food cake.



3.Knit a scarf.



4.Write a love letter to say I love you.



5.Create handmade coupons with gifts your partner can use anytime, such as a massage or a night out on the town with friends.



6.Does your partner ever ask you why you love them? Then create your own little booklet using dollar store items just for them entitled, "Why I Love You: # Reasons".



7.Make a mixed CD of all of your favorite songs, or create a compilation of love songs that remind you of your mate. Better yet, learn how to play one of these love songs on the guitar and serenade him or her on Valentine's Day.



8.Learn how to take erotic photos of each other with a digital camera.



9.Make your own fortune cookies to take along to a Chinese food restaurant for dinner, and use them to woo your date on Valentine's Day.



10.Grab some construction paper and cut out as many hearts as you like. On each one, share a story about your relationship that shows how much you care. Once finished, take the hearts and string them individually from the ceiling so it looks like your home is raining love.

along-for-the-ride;1288423 wrote: This is a secret between us:

Cheap Valentines Day Ideas

Ways To Say I Love You on Valentine's Day

By Bonny Albo, About.com Guide

It is very important on Valentine's Day to acknowledge your partner and honor your relationship. For those who aren't able or fond of spending lots of money on gifts however, try one (or all!) of these Valentine's Day ideas to say I love you.

1.Purchase some clear red balloons. Before blowing them up, place either wrapped candies, small gifts, and/or love poems inside each one, and then give them to your loved one as a bouquet.



2.Make a meal only out of heart-shaped items, foods that are red, or both. Try red velvet cake, valentini martini, fruit and cheese salad or a heart shaped angel food cake.



3.Knit a scarf.



4.Write a love letter to say I love you.



5.Create handmade coupons with gifts your partner can use anytime, such as a massage or a night out on the town with friends.



6.Does your partner ever ask you why you love them? Then create your own little booklet using dollar store items just for them entitled, "Why I Love You: # Reasons".



7.Make a mixed CD of all of your favorite songs, or create a compilation of love songs that remind you of your mate. Better yet, learn how to play one of these love songs on the guitar and serenade him or her on Valentine's Day.



8.Learn how to take erotic photos of each other with a digital camera.



9.Make your own fortune cookies to take along to a Chinese food restaurant for dinner, and use them to woo your date on Valentine's Day.



10.Grab some construction paper and cut out as many hearts as you like. On each one, share a story about your relationship that shows how much you care. Once finished, take the hearts and string them individually from the ceiling so it looks like your home is raining love.




AAAAAAHHHHH ! You soppy date ! Bless ! :-6 :-4

So.............Valentines Day is tomorrow. Still stumped for ideas and low on funds so to speak. Just follow this link:

Love on a Budget - Valentine's Day: A Cheapskate's Gift Guide - TIME



☻♥♥♥♥♥♥♥☻

More advise on buying "second-hand":

20 Things You Should Never Buy Used - Yahoo! Shopping

along-for-the-ride;1315561 wrote: More advise on buying "second-hand":

20 Things You Should Never Buy Used - Yahoo! Shopping




21. Underwear.

hoppy;1315566 wrote: 21. Underwear.


:wah: I guess this was not put on this list because it's an obvious one. :wah:

Now that the weather is hot, I have found a link to some cheap ways to be cool :

http://www.dollarish.com/727127738/10-c ... your-home/



Would you try any of these tips?

Like...

2. Freeze your sheets. Place your sheets and pillowcases in the freezer a few hours before bedtime, and make your bed with them right before you get in. They might stay cold enough long enough for you to fall asleep in soothing, cool comfort.

I stiil refuse to freeze my sheets.:wah:

A fun summer can be had with these free/cheap ideas. :-6

Free Summer Activities:

Plan to incorporate a few free activities into your family's routine each week during the summer.

•Take a family walk

•Play tennis

•Go to the library

•Run through the sprinkler together

•Have a water fight using balloons, water guns, or spray bottles

•Participate in free crafts at your local Michael's craft store or Home Depot

•Paint each other's toenails

•Go hiking in the woods

•Have dinner outside at a nearby park

•Participate in a free summer movie or concert series

Cheap Summer Activities:

Plan to include one or two of these cheap summer activities into each week during the summer.

•Go out for ice cream

•Go bowling

•Rent a movie

•Participate in a local movie theatre's dollar summer movies for kids

•Get slushies

•Buy ice cream from the ice cream truck

•Go roller skating

•Buy day passes at a nearby pool

•Drive to a lake or the beach for the day

•Take a craft or art class together as a family

•Visit a beading shop and make necklaces

•Visit a paint-it-yourself pottery shop and paint mugs or plates

Talk is cheap. Words are plentiful. Deeds are precious.

-H Ross Perot



:D

thank God i'm not cheap

M.A.S;1326640 wrote: thank God i'm not cheap


Why do you say that?

Are you extravagant?



Can I borrow a dollar?



:D

Since it's "back to school" time in many places, and lunch preparation is involved, I thought I'd direct you to this website for cheap and healthy lunch ideas:

55 Healthy & Cheap School Lunch Ideas : Kitchen Table Medicine

I always pack my lunch, much better than cafeteria food.

So the Fall season is here again and you may be in the mood to decorate. I'm not sure I'll be able to find these items here in SE Georgia...but you might where you live.

More Cheap and Cheerful Autumn Decorations: Simple Decorating Projects Using Supplies Provided by Nature

Just in case you are searching for home-made Halloween costume ideas:

Homemade Halloween Costumes - easy and cheap!

Attached files

along-for-the-ride;1338029 wrote: Just in case you are searching for home-made Halloween costume ideas:

Homemade Halloween Costumes - easy and cheap!


Why not go cheap, its just for one night.......that one is so cute!:guitarist

I'm so cheap I cut and colour my own hair. That's fairly reasonable but add in that I always cut it right before I colour it so that the henna will last longer and I only prepare the precise amount that I need.