12 Bizarre Money-Saving Tips That Will Leave You Scratching Your Head

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In economically challenging times, everyone seeks ways to cut costs and be more frugal.

However, some money-saving suggestions take thriftiness to irrational extremes that hardly seem worth the hassle and deprivation.

Here are 12 far-fetched penny-pinching tips that will likely leave you scratching your head.

#1. Reheating Yesterday’s Leftover Coffee

Some have suggested microwaving morning coffee dregs to reheat as a new cup of coffee the next day.

While this may shave a few cents off your daily caffeine spend, it results in unappealing, lukewarm, stale coffee.

The tiny savings barely justify suffering through a cup of unsavory reheated liquid.

Drinking subpar coffee seems like unnecessary self-imposed misery to pinch pennies.

A fresh hot cup of joe costs pocket change but brings great morning enjoyment.

Unless you are utterly destitute, find an extra quarter or two in your budget for a daily brew that tastes good.

Great coffee is affordable; bad coffee helps no one.

#2. Line Drying Clothes Indoors to Avoid the Dryer

Air drying clothing on indoor clotheslines instead of using the dryer is another tip to save energy costs.

However, this works poorly if it’s damp and cold inside.

You’ll shiver for days, waiting for items to air dry slowly.

Any minor savings mean nothing if the clothes never fully dry.

Sometimes, it makes sense to utilize outdoor drying when possible.

But insisting on line drying inside even when unsuitable conditions shows questionable logic.

Methodically hanging wet laundry throughout your house to avoid the dryer seems absurd when it renders clothes wrinkled and stuck at “damp.”

Consider the weather rather than following this rule when it makes no sense.

#3. Butter Only the Crusts of Your Toast

Here’s one you may not have considered – only buttering the outer rim of your toast slices, leaving the middle naked and dry.

Yes, you use a bit less butter, but is that tiny saved pat worth eating toast with cold, flavorless insides? It seems a needless sacrifice.

While conserving where possible is smart, depriving yourself of life’s small joys backfires.

There are reasonable ways to cut costs that don’t require resorting to sad butterless middle toast.

Look for savings in larger budget items before going to extremes like rationing spreads.

Sometimes, spending pennies more for toast you’ll enjoy makes more sense.

Everything is in moderation.

#4. Reusing Tea Bags Repeatedly Until They Unravel

Some have suggested brewing the same tea bag continuously for weeks or months by drying and reusing it repeatedly.

This seems unnecessarily extreme, resulting in bitter, watery tea after the first couple of steepings.

Sure, grab a second use when able, but this tea bag marathon creates an unpalatable cuppa not worth the tiny savings.

Curbing expenses is wise, but be reasonable.

Reusing household items to extremes rarely saves substantial money once frustration and wasted time come into play.

Brew your favorite tea bags twice when possible, then surrender them to the compost bin gracefully.

Splurge on a package of quality tea to enjoy rather than prolonging a sad, shriveled bag ad infinitum in pursuit of every last penny.

#5. Reusing Bath Water for Other Purposes

Here’s a money-saving tip that may make you queasy – capturing used bath water to repurpose for drinking, cooking, watering plants, etc.

While this could save a few cents on the water bill, it seems unhygienic and impractical.

Unless surviving desperate poverty, this tip can be happily ignored.

Of course, efficient water use is intelligent, but sanitation and health shouldn’t suffer.

Invest in water-saving showerheads or take shorter showers.

Reuse water from cooking pasta on plants.

But let your bathwater go down the drain without regret.

Drinking your old dirty bath water crosses a line from savvy sustainability into hazardous money grabbing.

Some thrift tactics require passing on.

#6. Using Cold Water Instead of Toilet Paper

Take the money-saving obsession even further by replacing toilet paper with blasts of cold water to clean up after using the bathroom.

You will conserve some tissue but likely be left with discomfort, skin irritation, and other unpleasantness that hardly seems worth the savings.

Sometimes, extreme thrift reaches the point where the trade-off stops making sense for those not in abject poverty.

While toilet paper rolls can be pricy, this is one area where a small indulgence dramatically improves the quality of life.

Use good sense – forgo fancy quilted brands if needed, but don’t eliminate this household essential.

Do not jeopardize health and hygiene solely to pinch pennies.

Everything in moderation.

#7. Doing Jumping Jacks to Avoid Using Heat

What better way to save on utilities than refusing to turn on the heat?

Just bounce around doing jumping jacks all day to stay warm! Of course, this would be absurd.

No amount of flailing about offsets reasonable insulation and energy use during cold seasons.

Avoid living in Arctic conditions to save a few dollars.

Sometimes, well-intended environmental tips go overboard into impractical territory.

Conserve energy intelligently through improved efficiency, caulking, updated appliances, thermostat adjustments, etc.

But don’t take it to illogical extremes.

Shivering under blankets in a frigid home trying to exist on calisthenics makes little sense.

Be responsible, not fanatical. Balance conservation with comfort.

#8. Unplugging Devices to Avoid Phantom Loads

Some suggest unplugging electronics altogether when not in use to avoid phantom energy loads.

You may conserve a tiny amount of electricity, but constantly plugging and unplugging creates unnecessary wear on devices.

The meager savings would take years to accumulate.

This seems like an inefficient use of time.

Rather than neurotically micromanaging by constantly plugging and unplugging cords, curb passive power draw through smart power strips and similar means.

Ensure chargers and appliances are truly off when not needed.

But don’t become obsessive – the pennies saved are negligible compared to more significant energy uses like heating and laundry.

Focus on substantial savings that enhance efficiency without becoming a slave to plugging and unplugging.

#9. Reusing Ziploc Bags

Plastic baggies offer incredible convenience for packing snacks and sandwiches while on the go.

While intended to be used once, some people try to pinch pennies by reusing these bags.

The issue here is each bag costs less than $0.10, so how much money are you saving by washing them?

I’d argue you are wasting your precious time trying to save a few pennies.

#10. Reusing Old Cooking Oil Indefinitely

Some suggest carefully straining and saving old used cooking oil for endless reuse.

However, the small amount conserved is overshadowed by the unhealthy toxins released when oil is reheated repeatedly.

The savings hardly justify consuming rancid oil.

While prudence has its place, health should not suffer in its pursuit.

Straining and reusing oil a couple of times makes sense.

But don’t push far beyond its safe usefulness in the name of hoarding every last drop.

Invest in a test kit to know when your oil has degraded too far.

Your well-being is priceless – don’t jeopardize it to collect a few greasy pennies by eating toxic oil.

Moderation and safety above all.

#11. Washing Dishes in Cold Water

Washing dishes in cold water to avoid heating costs is an oft-suggested but illogical money saver.

Cold water minimally removes grease, so dishes require much more scrubbing.

Any minor hot water savings are quickly erased by extended labor and inferior cleaning results.

Of course, wise conservation has its place, but sacrifices still must be reasonable.

Use your hot water heater efficiently by planning tasks requiring hot water back-to-back.

Scrape rather than pre-rinsing dishes when possible.

But unless you are facing utter poverty, spare yourself the torture of trying to clean greasy plates in icy cold water solely to save a few pennies.

A basic standard of living includes brief comforts like hot water for tasks like dishwashing.

#12. Washing Plastic Silverware

Plastic silverware is made for single use only.

However, more and more people are choosing to wash these utensils and reusing.

However, with plastic silverware being so cheap, is reusing it even worth it?

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This thread inspired this article.