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A humidifier placed next to an empty toothpaste tube.
Cheapism/Dorin Puha/Suchada Tansirimas/istockphoto

If you’ve ever been in a financial rut, struggling to make ends meet, then you’ll likely be unfortunately intimate with the anxiety and overriding despair that can follow you around until you regain some financial stability. During those tough times, you can find yourself with unprecedented levels of petty-inspired creativity to save yourself the extra money.

It’s honestly kind of impressive what the brain can figure out when it comes to absolutely having to save money. Maybe these Redditors’ petty stunts designed to save themselves extra money will leave you feeling better and/or inspired about any of your own frugal petty stunts that you’ve successfully pulled off to save money. 

Reusing Old Clothing As Dish Rags.

A young woman cleaning up the kitchen countertop.
PeopleImages/istockphoto

This makes complete sense. Instead of simply tossing out an old and beat up shirt that serves you no more, you could just as easily convert it into a useful, albeit not entirely aesthetically pleasing dish towel. Dish towels from certain brands simply aren’t worth the upfront costs anyways. 

Redditor u/KeyTrouble writes, “When I’m done with shirts or clothing they get turned into slippers, kitchen rags, napkins, etc. Edit. I also repair clothing very cutely and often. My favorite it sewing up holes and embroidering a flower on top. Nobody notices and when they do it’s only to tell me how cute the flowers are.”

Cut Open An “Empty” Toothpaste Tube.

A tube of toothpaste on a white background.
FabioFilzi/istockphoto

This one is a golden money-saving lifehack, to be sure. Redditor u/agitpropgremlin writes, “Recently cut open a travel size toothpaste tube to see how much extra was left after I couldn’t squeeze it anymore, and there was enough for six whole days (12 brushings). I now cut open all my tubes/bottles when they’re empty.”

Related: 8 Genius Ways To Get the Most Out of Your Toiletries, According to Redditors

Use The Dehumidifier To Generate Infinite Amounts Of Water For The Plants.

A dehumidifier placed next to a plant by the window.
onurdongel/istockphoto

This is pretty ingenious. Redditor u/p38-lightning writes, “We run a dehumidifier in the basement and we haul the water upstairs for the houseplants rather than use tap water.” Apparently it might actually end up being even better for the plants as it is. 

Related: How to Grow Plants and Vegetables From Kitchen Scraps

Cutting Up Mesh Onion Bags To Use To Scrub The Dishes.

A mesh bag filled with onions.
DevidDO/istockphoto

As we’ve been saying from the get-go, the impressive levels of ingenuity that can ensue when someone is hard-pressed to drum up the necessary financial resources to invest in store-bought cleaning products is something else. Really, it’s art. 

In this case, Redditor u/5bi5 writes, “I cut up mesh onion bags to use to scrub dishes. When I do need a scrubby pad I cut them into 1 inch squares to make them last as long as possible (cuz I don’t want to reuse anything caked in food/grease). My husband doesn’t know where the paper towels are so he can’t waste them.” They’re winning the game. Absolutely. 

Related: 31 Ways to Spring Clean With Everyday Household Items

Washed And Reused Old Ziploc Bags.

A few ziploc bags filled with nuts.
CatLane/istockphoto

While this might initially not sound like the most sanitary approach to storing various items in Ziploc bags, if you’re truly thoroughly washing those Ziploc bags as you’ll need to, then not only are you going to cut down the costs otherwise associated with buying more Ziploc bags, but you’re helping the environment out just a bit in the process. 

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Meet the Writer

Matt has spent the last 8 or so odd years as both a writer and editor in Seattle and Brooklyn, where he is now based. He loves escaping the tirelessly fast pace of the “Mad Apple” that is NYC by taking walks and runs through parks where he’s able to catch up on the latest tea about society from the city’s ever chatty, always hungry, occasionally rabid, pigeons. When he’s not taking his urban nature strolls, or dutifully combing the deepest rabbit holes of the internet to find the content that’s worth sinking your mind’s teeth into, he’s likely holed up at a dark-lit dive bar with a book and/or some friends, or just easily he could be on the hunt for the next addition to his steadily growing plant family.