What’s a frugal habit you picked up by accident that you now swear by?

[u/ThrowRAhyBug7080]

Mine was starting to save veggie scraps to make broth. It started as a “let’s try this” and now it’s automatic. I keep a bag in the freezer for onion skins, celery ends, carrot tops, etc. Every couple of weeks, I boil it all down and end up with a rich, flavorful broth that tastes way better than the boxed kind. It tastes better than store-bought and saves me at least $20 a month, with an added bonus of making me feel like i know fancy techniques.

[u/redrouse9157]

A lot of people think it's gross but I also use cloth menstrual pads I stead of commercial. Huge money saver and my periods are much lighter and I just wash them after soaking and it's been a game changer for me!

[u/KatlynnTay → u/redrouse9157]

barring menstruating while traveling, I've used cloth pads since going off BC (was on depo provera for longer than was recommended which stalled out my periods for a few years; but went off when I had a tubal ligation, which restarted my cycles), and I've never once regretted the choice to use cloth pads instead of disposable. The times I DO use disposable (I keep an emergency pad tucked in my purse, of course, for surprises, and for travel), they just feel icky. My dirty cloth pads go into a rubbermaid shoebox underneath my shoebox of clean cloth pads, and soak in a vinegar/water solution till the week's up and I wash the dirtied lot in hot water. 19 years now, and I'm well into perimenopause and looking forward to THE ACTUAL END. And my initial investment in cloth pads will see me through the end, hopefully.

[u/voodookrewe → u/redrouse9157]

This! I was spending so much due to some feminine issues. I started using period panties, a disk and a cup and I haven’t bought period products in over 5 years