5 Ways to Keep Clean and Save Money

Share

When looking for ways to reduce your budget and save money, the first things to cut are the luxury items like entertainment and other non-necessities. There are also ways to save money on the “must haves” in your budget.

Good hygiene is a definite must have, not only for social reasons but also for general health and well being. Even though soap and toothpaste can’t be eliminated from your budget, there are simple ways to save money and still stay clean and healthy.

Reduce Water Consumption

It’s easy to get some relief on your water bill (and help the planet) just by using less water. Anyone can do it.

Turn the water off. The faucet doesn’t need to run while you’re brushing your teeth. In the shower, turn off the water while you’re lathering and only turn it on to rinse. I turn it off while I shave my legs and just use a cup of warm water to rinse off the razor.

Install a low flow shower head. The average shower head uses 2.2 gallons of water per minute. Low flow shower heads and faucets reduce the amount of water used, saving money on water and the energy to heat it.

Don’t Take Baths. As luxurious and relaxing as they can be, opt for a shower whenever you can. The average bathtub holds 24 gallons of water. That can add up very quickly.

Shower With a Buddy. Showering with your significant other isn’t only fun, it saves water as well. One person can lather while the other person rinses and cut the time the shower runs in half. (And if things get a little frisky, make sure to turn the water off.)

(Check out 25 Ways to Save Water in the Home and Yard.)

Free Samples

You know those free samples I post every week. A lot of them are shampoo, conditioner, toothpaste, etc. Each of those samples can last anywhere from a couple days to over a week, depending on their size. Though you probably can’t collect enough to last you the entire year, you’re saving money by using those freebies.

If you travel a lot and stay at hotels, feel free to take along with you the little soaps and shampoos they offer there, especially if you’ve used part of them. Housekeeping is going to throw them away anyway, so you might as well take them with you.

Play the Drugstore Game

I haven’t paid for toothpaste at all this year and that’s because I play the drugstore game. By matching coupons with sales and cash back opportunities, I stock up on toothpaste when I can get it for free. I’m no expert when it comes to saving at the drugstore, so I recommend reading Money Saving Mom’s post on the drugstore game.

Use Less Product

My boyfriend has short hair (less than an inch). He fills almost his entire palm with shampoo. My hair is thick and below my shoulders, but I only use a dollop of shampoo a little bigger than a quarter, which is enough to get my hair clean. One of us is probably using way more shampoo than we need to.

I recommend reducing the amount of product you use, whether it be shampoo or toothpaste (or even other household products like laundry detergent) and experimenting to find what’s the smallest amount you can use to get the job done. A pea sized blob of toothpaste works as well as an inch long strip and will help your tube of paste last at least twice as long.

Make use of what you paid for. Make sure you squeeze every last drop out of that tube and fill your shampoo bottle up with a little bit of water to get the last bits of soap.

Try Baking Soda Instead of Toothpaste or Shampoo

A box of baking soda costs under 50 cents, and that white powder is amazing. Besides being used in recipes and to clean around the house, it can also be a replacement for toothpaste and shampoo.

I’ve never tried it, but other bloggers have dared to try it as a toothpaste and shampoo alternative. Or you can just try no shampoo at all.

These are just a few tips for how you can save money while staying clean. What ways do you save money in your daily hygiene routine?


One Comment

Add a Comment

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.