Frugal Not Foolish in the Bathroom
Frugal living teaches you to live within your means. It’s a quiet yet impressive way to achieve both dignity and freedom. On the other hand, living like a cheapskate is foolish. There are many ways to live frugally as opposed to being a miser. For instance, what would you do when it comes to buying toilet rolls for your bathroom?
- Buy it on sale and in bulk
- Take a moment to research which brands have the longest rolls and most strength
- Buy 4-ply and spend your day splitting it into 1-ply
- Abandon toilet paper altogether
Well, if you were frugal, options A and B look pretty good. However, if you happen to be Uncle Scrooge, then spending your time unpicking toilet paper doesn’t sound so crazy. At option D you better have some very high-minded environmental beliefs and a really good bidet! Different strokes for different folks, but for me, I like frugal, not foolish.
Here is how you can be frugal and save money in the bathroom by not being foolish when it comes to our everyday business.
Saving Money in The Bathroom
You don’t have to make huge sacrifices in the name of saving money, small adjustments will do such as:
- Switching to natural, degradable, and inexpensive cleaning alternatives. For example, a mixture of baking soda and vinegar works well to scrub the bathroom and shower floor.
- Using less. Can you cut back on the amount of shampoo and conditioner and still get the same results? Try and experiment. How much toilet cleaner gets the job done? How much toilet paper? You get the idea, think of everything consumable and see if you can just use less.
- Choose local store brands over popular ones while buying cotton balls, toilet paper, and soap, as they are usually cheaper.
- Buying non-perishable items in bulk or when there is a sale. For instance, stocking up on cleaning supplies and toilet paper that you often use and have an extended expiry date is a good idea.
- Choosing the best value product, such as the best value toilet paper. For this, you will first need to compare the cost with the number of square feet per package. Then, factor in the number of sheets. You are more likely to use fewer sheets if your toilet roll is a multi-ply rather than single-ply. Lastly, consider the cost per roll.
However, one thing to remember while buying in bulk is to calculate the cost per piece. You just need to compare the dimensions/quantity against the price. For example, buying a long roll of toilet paper will prove to be more economical and save you a few runs to the store. Nevertheless, buying supplies in bulk is not as easy as you think. Hence, the next obvious question!
Where to find Bathroom Supplies in Bulk or on Sale?
Right from soap, soap dispenser, cleaning supplies, toilet paper, to toilet seat covers, you need many things to maintain the hygiene of your bathroom. However, finding out where you can buy these items on sale or in bulk is daunting. The below list should help you with this.
- Walmart: With over hundreds of Walmart centers in just the City of North Carolina, you don’t have to go anywhere else. It is all available under one roof.
- Discount Stores: You can stock up to your heart’s content from discount stores. Some of the popular ones in North Carolina are Roses Express, Ollie’s Bargain Outlet, Salvage Discount Store, and more.
- Online: Shopping online is great, especially for those who do not want to waste time hopping from one store to another. It also throws you with many great deals and has your order delivered at your doorstep for free. Some of the reputed online retailers that deliver quality items anywhere in the U.S, including North Carolina. Also, check coupon websites for cleaning product coupons that come in handy.
Living frugally doesn’t end with just buying limited supplies or buying them in bulk. It also amounts to savings in terms of your water and power utilization.
Saving Water and Power in the Bathroom
We live in an era where water is scarce, and cities are running dry. Thus, being sparing in your water usage and cutting down on your energy utilization at home won’t hurt. Here are a few simple ways by which you can save water and power in your bathrooms.
- Replace conventional showerheads with low-flow outlets and reduce water outflow from 5 GPM to less than 2.5 GPM. Also, say NO to bathtubs and consider investing in a low-flow water efficient toilet.
- Besides fitting a low-flow showerhead, make sure your water heater is energy-efficient. It will further cut down your power usage by more than a half.
- Place a bucket to hold run-offs while you shower or wait for hot water and utilize it flush toilets, clean lawns/parking lots, and water plants.
- “Staying in the bathroom doesn’t make you any richer or any different from who you already are.” So, limit your bath and toilet times to as short and as quick as possible instead of trying hard to imitate Elvis Presley under a running shower. Moreover, spending lesser time in a hot shower will result in higher power savings.
- Turn off running taps while brushing, washing, rinsing, or shaving.
- Likewise, switch off the lights and exhausts when not in use. Also, remember to unplug electrical devices such as your trimmer or hair dryer when not in use. Another practice that is gaining popularity is the use of motion-sensors, especially if you or your family members often forget to turn off the power while leaving the bathroom.
- Check your plumbing regularly and fix water leaks.
- Replace old electrical fittings and light bulbs with energy-efficient lightings and LEDs to reduce your power usage by 80%.
- Clean radiator surfaces regularly to avoid restriction of heat flow due to dirt and grime.
There, that wasn’t so difficult, was it? With a few tweaks and a little moderation, you can save more than you can imagine.
