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Now THAT's Cheap

Many years ago, when my kids were young and I was broke, I attended a luncheon hosted by a government preschool program in which one of my children was enrolled. There was a guest speaker whose message was about saving money. I do not remember what he said, but I will never forget what he did.

He took what appeared to be an empty tube of toothpaste and showed it to the group. He picked up a pair of scissors and, cutting off the end opposite the cap and then again along the length of the tube, revealed enough toothpaste for at least another 5-6 uses.

Wow. You’d have to be a real cheapskate to do something like that, wouldn’t you?  I beg to differ. Consider some of the things manufacturers have done to cut corners in THEIR favor.

Ever noticed that the bottom of your plastic peanut butter jar isn’t flat? Well, it used to be. Producers found a way to cut just a little from every container they put to market. You can bet the price didn’t change. And the holes in the top of the cleanser? Those used to be a lot smaller. You still shake the same, but you use more than you probably need to get the job done.

In every container of toothpaste, moisturizer, lotion, shampoo, you name it, I shake, turn upside down, cut into, whatever I must do to get every bit. It adds up. Call me cheap, but I’m not leaving anything on the table. 

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