When it comes to saving money, sometimes the simplest ideas prove the most successful. Perhaps this is why my grandparents have relied on the “Use Half, Save Double” savings plan for as long as they have. It really is as simple as it sounds: dryer sheets are ripped in half to be used one half at a time, super-sized restaurant meals are packaged up and brought home, dish soap is pared down to a portion of the recommended amount, you get the idea…
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While I found my grandparents’ frugal antics slightly odd as a kid, I realized just how useful it was once I started college and had to make due on the money my part-time job supplied. I started cutting down just like Grandma and Grandpa and, like magic, watched my monthly spending decrease drastically.
In my experience, the easiest ways to implement this plan is to cut down in these five areas:
Eating out: Take half of your meal home and not only will you have lunch tomorrow, you’ll also avoid that stuffed, can’t-move-too-full feeling. (Note: My willpower to do this goes out the window if it’s Mexican food — I refuse to quit before I’ve eaten the whole burrito!)
Toothpaste, hairspray, shampoo: Lather, rinse, repeat? Don’t bother! A little goes a long way — try it once and you’ll see, I promise!
Laundry detergent: Unless your clothes are especially dirty, consider cutting the amount of soap you use in half. You can also augment it with a 1/2 cup of vinegar.
Energy: This is the hardest for me, since I’m ever so slightly afraid of the dark, but it is so worth it. Cut your showers in half, rely on more natural light, and throw on a sweater instead of turning the heat up a notch. These little changes will yield big results on your next round of bills!
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What do you think? Sound to extreme or would you consider cutting your consumption in half?
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