First off, I LOVE this site! When I told my son what I'm doing, he said I should write a book! :o) A year ago, I moved from an apartment to a house with a gas furnace and water heater. I got real frugal! (I live alone.) 
I take two showers a week, shutting water off while I soap/shampoo/condition, not purposely rinsing until all finished. I do NOT just let water run, even while washing dishes.
First I run about 1/2 a gallon of water into a gallon jar until it gets hot, then run just enough hot water into a pan with a little detergent, and rinse them with cold water. When I have very few dishes, I heat a small pan (used for warming up supper) while I eat; by the time I'm done, water is hot (stove is electric). I squirt in a little detergent, use a dish mop to wash the few dishes and rinse with cold water. With the gallon of water I run (as above), I pour it into the water distiller and distill it, or in the wintertime, I pour it into the humidifier. I could also pour it into the washer, now that I have one.
I look forward to getting my bills to see how I'm doing! I took an energy efficiency test and they said that I am using less than other houses in my area! DUH! :o) With my utility bill, I must not be using the minimum because every other month it says I don't even use any! And what I'm charged must be the minimum. The alternate months it's only a couple dollars more. It hasn't even changed this summer when I've been frugally watering my garden and flowers. That's another thing, I have sown wildflower seeds, looking forward to seeing how they multiply next year. There were some perennials growing here from before which I really enjoy.
I have no a/c, I use a fan. I do have lots of shade around my house. Years ago, we used to have a leaky bathroom faucet that just wasn't getting fixed so I propped a quart jar under it and caught the drips. Then when it was full, I poured it into the pan of water on top of the space heater to go into the air! :o) I also stack as many cans as I can inside of each other to take up less space in the recycling bin. That's fun! I just plain have fun doing what I can with what I have!
Oh yeah, I almost forgot! Last fall and winter, I kept the furnace at 58 degrees! I turned it up a little before I took a shower, but I'm done before it even shuts off, and I've got to go shut it down because it's getting too warm; and it's only maybe 62 degrees! I am so used to 58! I also wear two layers. I have an electric oil-filled heater under one end of my bird cage. I keep that end covered with a small wool blanket, and keep that at the proper temperature for parakeets, and they did fine. I have a cozy-hut in there for them but I don't think they ever did use it. My small dog likes to crawl under the covers with me! :o) My hamster burrows under her ample bedding. ;o)
My landlord had lowered the rent $100 a month so I could afford to live here, and he just loves how I am so frugal!
I shop at Dollar General for what I can get there, Fareway for what I can get there, HyVee for what I can't get the other two places, and at the Treasure Chest (resale shop) for treasures as I find them! The last Friday of the month is even 50% off! Can't miss that! ;o I get so many really nice books and games for myself and my grandkids there!
I've let my hair grow so no cuts, no perms, etc. Now I can tie it up, back, or put it up! ;o)
I was given an automatic washer and dryer, so I wash one load of clothes, sometimes two, a week and hang them out on the line. When it gets too cold, I read on here that you can tumble them for 10 minutes and then hang them up, which I will do as I did last winter, hang them on hangers on the shower rod, or on the clothes rack. The dryer will make them softer, I bet, and only 10 minutes in the dryer!
I have to have an earth phone for the internet so that bill is $16.19 a month and I use a phone card from the gas station, 204 minutes for $10.70, a little over 5 cents a minute. I'm going to check out some other tips I just got off of here to see if I can save some more! Even with what I have now, I just don't even think about it when I call my kids. But we do mostly email.
As for gas, I fill'er up when my check comes, then try to KEEP'er full! I hardly ever will go to do just one thing. Mondays are my most-on-the-road days. I accomplish 4 weekly tasks.
Oh, and another thing! I cut WAY down on postage stamps! I pay most bills by automatic debit, or online! Saves a lot!
I hardly ever wrap gifts! And I send e-cards to most except immediate family whom I buy special cards for. :o)
I'll probably think of more right after I send this off, but it's been fun! I love getting other ideas on here!
I'm cooking very simply for myself what Fifi, my dog, can also eat so I don't have to eat the same leftovers so long, and I don't have to buy dogfood that she won't eat anyhow! I've gotten some recipes for her treats that I'm having fun trying out on her, and my cat! :o) We have a lot of fun around here! They have lots of fun playing hide 'n seek, and Fifi chases Kitty around the figure 8 they can run in this house and get their exercise.
God bless all you frugal people out there! Mwah!
Ginny from Charles City
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