Cents and sense: ‘Kuripot’ tips for a better life

Don’t laugh now, but it pays to be kuripot (tight-fisted with money). Being aware of where your money goes and knowing how to cut down on unnecessary expenses will mean more savings for you and spare cash when you need it. You ought to be judicious about how you spend your money, especially with all the tempting products being enticingly advertised these days.

Another way to save is to be sensible with the way you consume personal and home products. The secret is to avoid wastage of any kind: Use just the right amount of detergent, cosmetic or whatever that will do the job properly without unused leftovers or waste. Aside from saving your precious pesos, you will be doing Mother Earth a big favor. You will actually minimize the chemical pollution that is plaguing the earth today.

Here are some sensible tips for a better and richer life:

• Toothbrush and toothpaste. Brush twice: Try this and see how wonderfully it works. Brush first with a pea-sized toothpaste on your toothbrush. Rinse and brush again with an even smaller sized toothpaste. On the second brushing, you’ll notice how the toothpaste, no matter how little, will burst into luxurious cleaning bubbles. You save on toothpaste this way. Get a plastic clip and clasp the length of your toothbrush to keep its shape while it dries. You will get longer service from your toothbrush this way. Avoid keeping your toothbrush in closed plastic cases (the ones they come packaged in) which have no ventilation and encourage bacteria buildup. Use a dental floss before brushing to get rid of embedded dirt and food particles in teeth, minimizing the chances of tooth decay.

• Shampoo and hair conditioner. Using the same toothpaste-saving idea above, shampoo once with just the right amount and then shampoo a second time with even a lesser amount. You’ll notice how the second shampooing will burst into more luxurious bubbles. It’s a good idea to dilute your shampoo before use to minimize chemical buildup on your hair and scalp. For a neat brushed-up look, use hair conditioner and leave on hair.

And guess what? You may use hair conditioner as a shaving cream. Works like magic! Rinse well after shaving.

• Bath soap. Cut your bath or beauty soap bar in two before using. It’s more economical this way. Don’t throw those small remnants of bath soaps away! Of course, it is impractical to handle those small pieces so what you do is to collect them into a pouch made from old hosiery (ladies’ stockings). When they are a bunch, tie the open end of the pouch and shape the soap remnants into a ball. The water will go easily through the hosiery and so will the cleansing soap bubbles! That may be good for two or more showers!

• Dishwashing fluid. Always dilute your dishwashing fluid and get more mileage from your bottle. Before washing your dishes, scrape them clean to cut the grease and oil with clean toilet paper. This makes them easier to clean and rinse.

• Laundry detergent. Use just the right amount of detergent for your clothes. This makes rinsing easier because you will need less rinsing water. You will be earth-friendly and save on your water bills! Detergent chemicals pollute our rivers and seas, contaminating water and killing sea life. If you drip-dry clothes, guide and stretch them to the desired shape so when they dry, they are not heavily wrinkled. This makes ironing a breeze plus you save on your electricity, too.

• Toilet tricks. Save on your water consumption by adjusting the capacity of your water closet tank to the minimum level at which it can effectively flush. Always close the lid of your toilet seat to prevent contamination by airborne germs in the vaporized water that escapes the bowl after you flush. In public toilets, use a piece of Kleenex or toilet paper when you touch the flusher and doorknobs. You can imagine the germs and microbes in there.

• Shoes and socks. Wipe your shoes with slightly moist cotton cloth after every use. This will prevent dirt buildup and keep your shoes looking new for a long time. Keep your shoes in shoe stretchers to keep their form. It is better to wear socks or stockings. These absorb the perspiration from your feet, preventing it from seeping full force to your shoes, thus minimizing undesirable shoe odor. Get a shoe horn to gently guide your feet in your shoes, as well as keep the shape of the shoe heel.

• Cleaner tiles. Mix one part household chlorine bleach (chlorox) with two parts water. Put in a sprayer, shake before using, and spray on tiles. This will kill mildew and eliminate black spots on bathroom tiles and floors.

• Deodorants. Spray deodorants are better because there is no skin contact, thus minimizing the chance of contamination with sweat and skin germs. Spray close enough so wastage is prevented. Roll-ons are fine, but make sure not to share your personal roll-on with anyone. Use just a thin application so as not to soil delicate fabrics that you wear.

• A word about bargains. Oftentimes, we end up purchasing stuff that we don’t really need. We buy them because they are on sale. Nudge and wake yourself up when confronted with a tempting sale. Ask, “Can I live without it?” If you can, don’t buy it.

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For your comments on this article and inquiry about the author’s exclusive life-enhancing seminars for HR, corporate, and private groups, e-mail DeroSeminar@yahoo.com or text 0905-3130990.