- I wash my dishes by hand using cold water and no soap. It works perfectly. I have not had a stomach ache in many years. My home has an electric dishwasher. I’ve lived here 27 years, and I have not used the automatic dishwasher even once. If the aforesaid treatment does not get a plate or cup or … clean enough, then I get a paper napkin + Zud + water, and it soon is sparkling clean.
- A microwave oven has several switches. One of the switches keeps the oven from coming on unless the door is closed. Over time, those mechanical switches wear out. I had to replace one of those switches. It cost me less than $20. I saved $$ by fixing it myself. I now leave my microwave oven’s door open between uses. Doing so prolongs the door switch’s life. If you close the door after each use, then the next time you use it you must open the door, insert the food, close the door, open the door to remove the food, and then close the door. That sequence has the door’s switch open and close a total of 4 times (open it; close it; open it; close it). If you leave the door open (but almost closed) between uses, the switch opens and closes only 2 times for each use (insert the food; close the door; then open the door to remove the food; then leave the door open). So I leave the door open between uses. The door’s switch should last twice as long as it does if you close the door after each use. I also keep the microwave oven’s cooking chamber clean!
- My car’s 5-speed standard transmission enables me to reduce my car’s speed by down-shifting the transmission to a lower gear. That way of slowing the car’s speed does not use the car’s brakes. So I start looking at the next traffic light long before I get to it. If the light is red, then I decrease my car’s speed by (1) taking my foot off of the gas pedal and (2) down-shifting to a lower gear. I can bring my car almost to a complete stop simply by down-shifting into lower gears. The result often is that I do not use my brakes at all when I approach a stop light. My brakes will last far longer than those on cars that go flying past me until they get near the light and then apply their brakes to slow their car. Never again will I have a car with an automatic transmission!
- I keep my car garaged at night thereby keeping it away from vandals and the elements (rain, hail, etc.).
- I change my car’s oil myself.
- I care for my home’s yard myself. That includes cutting and fertilizing the grass, and controlling weeds and insects.
- I have a desktop computer and a laptop. On both of them, I run the Linux operating system (OS) and related software. The high quality OS and related software are FREE. In my opinion, the LibreOffice software suite is excellent. I love it, and it and the OS cost me nothing! I run the Ubuntu operating system on both of my computers. As Linus Torvalds (Linux’s creator) says, “Software is like sex. It’s better when it’s free.”
- I never have smoked a cigarette, and it has been at least 20 years since I drank a beverage containing alcohol. I prefer straight orange juice. Cigarettes and alcohol cost $$; so my attitude toward them saves me $$, and it’s good for my health, which also saves me $$. Since I was a young child, I have had a bitter hatred of cigarette smoke.
- Since 1966, I have owned only 2 cars. That’s an average of 28 years per car. Just think of the $$ I’ve saved by taking care of each car and driving safely. The car I drive daily now has not one ding in the body. The reason is simple. When most folks go to the store, they try to get as near to the store's front door as they can get; so other cars are right next to them. Result: Those cars ding your car when they open the door to get in and out of their car. Then those folks go home and walk aroung the neighrhood for exercise. Unlike them, I park my car far from other cars, and I get my exercise by walking to and from the store. Result: I get plenty of exercsise, and my car does not get dinged because no other car is parked next to me. See how smart I am!!
- For more than 27 years, I have each year bought a refill to my desk calendar. The refill now costs more than $8.00. This year I decided to print a 2023 calendar from the internet. I printed it this morning (12-19-2022) on both sides of 8 inch by 11.5 inch paper. So all it cost me was the cost of 6 sheets of paper + the toner to print the calendar. And to get the calendar, I did not have to leave home. The calendar I printed today will work perfectly, and I saved at least $8.00!