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Gogirlanime's Water-Saving Tips

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  • Gogirlanime's Water-Saving Tips

    Here are some things that I do to save on water (even though I don't have to pay for water yet)

    1. Take your shower at your gym. I pay only $20 a month for my gym membership and that comes with showers! The average 10 minute shower costs $2 and if you shower everyday that is $60 you save $40 a month showering everyday at the gym (that is if you go everyday). Even if you pay $40 a month for a gym membership. Heck, even if you don't want to workout you can shower everyday cheaper using a gym shower. Another great reason to get back into shape! Yearly savings $480

    2. Urinate in the shower (this might be gross to some, I don't care, my dad never cared, so I guess he passed that on to me) (at home of course haha) while getting wet. The average toilet flush costs $0.13 so you'll save $3.90 everyday doing this if you shower everyday but if you do the gym trick you won't have to.

    3. Turn off your sink while brushing your teeth this is obvious and don't brush your teeth in the shower, very wasteful. The average person uses 2 gallons (same as a toilet flush) of water keeping the sink running while brushing their teeth. What I do, I sync up using the toilet and brushing my teeth. When I have to use the bathroom in the morning or night I first turn on the water a bit to wet my brush, brush my teeth and spit out in the toilet so I don't have to use the sink to wash it down. I then use the toilet for... you know, other reasons and flush away both. Or brush your teeth at the gym! You can save $3.90 a month brushing your teeth at the gym or work which adds up to $72 a year

    4. Use your workplace's toilet, sink, and water supply as often as you can. I'm not saying hold in your pee till you get to work, that's not healthy. But like your mother always nagged you "do you have to go before we leave" try to go before you leave work and you might save yourself a $0.13 flush at home, doing this everyday adds up to $3.90 a month. Then, take a gigantic 1 gallon water bottle to fill up to drink at home or to cook with and that saves you another $1.95 a month. Drink most of your water and poo and pee as much as possible at work. Yearly savings if you do both $72

    5. Don't take baths ever or rarely for obvious reasons, a lot of water is used. The average bath costs $4.55 ouch!

    6. Sponge bathe at home. When you're not using the gym to shower use a gallon of water (that you got from work) and sponge bathe with that which = a free "shower"

    7. Sort of "plan" on when you're going to use the restroom. Most know that you have to pee about 40 minutes after your morning coffee so eat breakfast and then go grocery shopping or do chores you need to do outside of home. This saves another daily flush. This adds up to $3.90 every month or $72 a year

    Doing this annual savings: $696!!!
    Doing this monthly savings: $56!

  • #2
    Is this the reincarnation of toocheap?
    Brian

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    • #3
      I pay about $30 a month for water, total. Pretty hard to save $56 a month when I'm only spending $30...

      Comment


      • #4
        Originally posted by bjl584 View Post
        Is this the reincarnation of toocheap?
        Is that a website? Can I see I'm trying to save money

        Comment


        • #5
          Originally posted by gogirlanime View Post
          Is that a website?
          No. toocheap is a legend

          Best. Advice. Ever.



          About the thread - like BuckyBadger, I too pay $32/month flat rate for water. Doesn't go up or down no matter how much/little I use. Wouldn't save me a dime to pee in the shower.


          As gross as it is, people seem to keep thinking about peeing in the shower to save money - so I wonder...

          Have you ever considered using the toilet water to shower? Just use a sponge, wring it out and flush when you're done!

          Comment


          • #6
            Originally posted by gogirlanime View Post
            Is that a website? Can I see I'm trying to save money
            No, not a website. Just an inside joke that the regulars will understand.

            My water bill is always the same within a few dollars, so all the peeing in the shower in the world won't help me. Water is one of the cheapest utilities. You would be better served to focus on saving on electric and heating costs than on water costs.
            Brian

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            • #7
              Originally posted by gogirlanime View Post
              Doing this monthly savings: $56!
              I'm with the others. Water is cheap. Our monthly bill runs about $42. We are billed in 1,000s of gallons used so unless we cut usage increased usage by hundreds of gallons, our bill won't change.

              That said, I am certainly not against water conservation. It is a finite resource that shouldn't be wasted and I already do some things you mentioned like not run the water while brushing teeth and I don't think any of us has taken a bath since my daughter was old enough to shower (she's 16 now). We also don't water our lawn, something you didn't mention but is a far bigger waste than the things you did mention. Drives me crazy when I see the sprinklers going all around the neighborhood, even more so when it is raining at the time.
              Steve

              * Despite the high cost of living, it remains very popular.
              * Why should I pay for my daughter's education when she already knows everything?
              * There are no shortcuts to anywhere worth going.

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              • #8
                Originally posted by disneysteve View Post
                I'm with the others. Water is cheap. Our monthly bill runs about $42. We are billed in 1,000s of gallons used so unless we cut usage increased usage by hundreds of gallons, our bill won't change.

                That said, I am certainly not against water conservation. It is a finite resource that shouldn't be wasted and I already do some things you mentioned like not run the water while brushing teeth and I don't think any of us has taken a bath since my daughter was old enough to shower (she's 16 now). We also don't water our lawn, something you didn't mention but is a far bigger waste than the things you did mention. Drives me crazy when I see the sprinklers going all around the neighborhood, even more so when it is raining at the time.
                Good points, Steve. We also try to be responsible with our water use, although just from a conservation standpoint, not a money saving standpoint. We don't leave the water running when brushing our teeth. I take infrequent baths (for emotional reasons, not cleanliness reasons!).

                But we do this for the environment, not for our wallets.

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                • #9
                  Well it looks like I am naive about water use since I don't have to pay for it yet. Thank you to those who educated me on this and I was hurt by those who talked down to me.

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                  • #10
                    Originally posted by gogirlanime View Post
                    Well it looks like I am naive about water use since I don't have to pay for it yet.
                    You listed some very specific savings figures despite the fact that you don't pay for water service. I'm curious. How did you arrive at those numbers? Obviously, they aren't accurate since you're projected savings of $56/month is more than many of us pay in total for our water service. Did those numbers come from some website?
                    Steve

                    * Despite the high cost of living, it remains very popular.
                    * Why should I pay for my daughter's education when she already knows everything?
                    * There are no shortcuts to anywhere worth going.

                    Comment


                    • #11
                      Originally posted by gogirlanime View Post
                      I was hurt by those who talked down to me.
                      I wouldn't take anything personally. Often people come here with questions or with ideas only to be torn to shreads, but it usually isn't personal. People here genuinely want to help and to educate in most cases.
                      Brian

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                      • #12
                        I don't take the down talk personally but it doesn't make it feel any better, it's just not necessary to talk down to someone who is obviously learning and a beginner, you were there once weren't you and someone helped you so pass on the love

                        I got those numbers through a google search. I had no idea you can get a fixed rate of $30 per month, where do you get a water bill that low? I googled things like "average cost for one toilet flush" things like that.

                        Well, maybe my methods don't save money but I'm sure some of these methods are saving on water which might become very precious in 10-15 years it is our duty to begin to preserve it more for the future.

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                        • #13
                          Originally posted by gogirlanime View Post
                          I got those numbers through a google search. I had no idea you can get a fixed rate of $30 per month, where do you get a water bill that low? I googled things like "average cost for one toilet flush" things like that.

                          Well, maybe my methods don't save money but I'm sure some of these methods are saving on water which might become very precious in 10-15 years it is our duty to begin to preserve it more for the future.
                          I agree about the conservation, as I said above.

                          As for water rates, I live in NJ. We don't have a fixed rate but the rate is billed in thousands of gallons so you have to increase into the next thousand or decrease into the lower thousand in order for your rate to change. So anywhere between 4,000 and 4,999 gallons per month will be the same price, for example. That's a pretty broad range so a few toilet flushes or a couple less showers probably won't make a difference financially.
                          Steve

                          * Despite the high cost of living, it remains very popular.
                          * Why should I pay for my daughter's education when she already knows everything?
                          * There are no shortcuts to anywhere worth going.

                          Comment


                          • #14
                            I find taking water from work basically to be stealing.
                            When I owned my small business, I once fired an employee who stole water from the outside hydrant on a daily base, even after being talked to about it (5 gallons at a time) and also took my toilet paper.

                            I not only fired him, but also fired a police report. I now see (MO public records are on line) that he has a record for petty theft now and NUMEROUS businesses.

                            Who do you think pays for your stolen water??? What if everyone did that. Why draw the line there?? How about taking products and fuel and whatever else you can get?

                            That is frugal crossing the line. Too cheap and dishonest.

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