This Week’s Readers’ Tips

Each week we publish a new batch of money-saving tips from our frugal readers that can help you stretch your dollars and live better for less.

by Dollar Stretcher Reader Contributors

A Simple Solution for Too-Tight Leather Shoes

Are your leather shoes too tight or did the leather stiffen up after you walked through that puddle? Rubbing alcohol will help!

Take a clean cloth and soak it in rubbing alcohol. Apply to the leather in any particularly tight spot (like toes or heels). Make sure the leather gets well soaked. You may need to apply the alcohol inside the shoes as well. Then squeeze those shoes on your feet and take a walk around. The heat from your feet will force the stiff leather to relax and mold to the contours of your feet, giving you just enough extra space to make that pair of shoes fit just fine.

Be advised that this does not work well with suede, and you will most likely need to polish your newly stretched shoes before going out on the town.
Stephen

Easy, Inexpensive Thanksgiving Table Decor

Here’s an easy way to decorate your holiday table. Find a few fallen leaves. Mist them with some diluted Elmer’s glue. When dry, spray them gold or silver. It only takes a few minutes and costs almost nothing for a neat table display!
Ellie

Sign Up for Savings!

Subscribe to get money-saving tips just like these by email that can help you stretch and grow your dollars.

Twice each week, you'll receive tips that can help you free up and keep more of your hard-earned money, even on the tightest of budgets.

We respect your privacy. We hate spam. Unsubscribe at any time.

An Affordable Wedding Shower Gift Idea

This wedding shower gift requires a little forethought, but it is always the hit of the shower. Shop the clearance aisle after each holiday and pick up holiday-specific kitchen towels, placemats, or whatever catches your eye for the happy couple’s holiday tables, usually at up to 70% savings! The bride loves pulling out set after set of linens for Christmas, Easter, Valentine’s Day, Thanksgiving, Fourth of July, etc.

It’s a fun and unique start to their home traditions! If you get in the habit of doing this, you’ll be prepared year-round with a wedding gift.
Rebecca

Repurposing Leftover Veggies

For years, I would throw out a few tablespoons of leftover vegetables from our meals. One day several years back, when I was shopping, I saw that my local grocery was selling soup/stew vegetables in the freezer section and realized I could keep a ziplock bag in my freezer of all the leftover boiled potatoes, corn, green beans, peas, etc.). Just unzip and add to your bag. When you feel like making soup, stew or even a casserole, you have your ingredients all together and ready to add. Don’t worry about any butter or seasonings you may have added to those veggies. It adds additional flavor to your recipe.

Waste not, want not!
Sue

An Inexpensive Under Eye Brightener Recommendation

I’m a 54-year-old woman and also struggle with dark circles and stretched skin under my eyes. I found an effective and inexpensive product on Amazon that has really helped me.

It’s called the Catrice Under Eye Brightener. It’s currently $6 at Amazon. There is sometimes a 10% off coupon. It really works well for me. I dab it on using my fingers but you could also use a sponge.
Shari

Living Single, Buying Bulk

Even though I’m single, I always buy in bulk and freeze in smaller portions. I also always wash and reuse resealable freezer bags unless used to store meat products. However, I found a way to save even more on the bags.

Whenever I purchase pepperoni or bacon (or whatever) at the warehouse store, I package the smaller amounts I like to thaw in a resealable sandwich bag (much less expensive) and then place a batch of these little bags into one big resealable bag in the freezer. The big bag (which I can reuse) provides freezer storage protection and I’ve noticed no compromise in quality. This also works for other items like herbs, cheese, etc.
ASM

The Holiday “Exchange” Party

Last November, I attended an “exchange” party with a large group of ladies. We all brought things that didn’t fit or no longer wanted, such as books, clothing, jewelry, shoes, housewares, kids’ toys, etc. We each brought a potluck dish. We ate, talked, enjoyed the company, and then “shopped.”

I now am the proud owner of a beautiful new bathrobe and a brand new Coach purse, plus I picked up some small holiday gifts I didn’t have to buy.

Everyone went home full and happy with their new things. The leftover items went to charity.
AJ

Saving With Food Ration-Era Recipes

If you can find cookbooks from the World War Years or The Great Depression, they contain excellent ways to stretch your grocery budget. The cookbook that I have from 1945 lists ways to stretch meat and sugar rations. It helps me save money every time I use it.
Elizabeth

Do you have a money or time-saving tip you’d like to share? Just email your tip to andrea@thedollarstretcher.com.