Stretching the Grocery Budget: Aluminum Foil to the Max

[thewheatguy]

@Anvilshock - I find that it waists more time to be argumentative over minuscule points than it does to wash aluminum foil.

[Anvilshock]

Trying to use inherently single-use products multiple times instead of using proper reusable items - Only in America.

[thewheatguy]

@Anvilshock ~ Question: What other proper reusable item takes the place of aluminum foil? I'm curious. Perhaps I've not thought of what that would be before (which I can't seem to think of it now, so that's stating the obvious.) Please tell me what is an actually intended reuse item that can be used exactly like aluminum foil?

I love to learn new things! Please do share!

[Anvilshock]

@thewheatguy That is such an American way to think. "I want to change for the better, but God forbid I don't want to change my ways of doing it." Please don't feed that stereotype. The point is not to replace al foil but to change style of cooking and householding so that you don't have to resort to using in the first place. I don't know for what purposes you use al' foil. I rarely use it myself so I won't know where to start to give you pointers.

[thewheatguy]

@Anvilshock - This is changing the 'ways of doing it' for some people.

About all I use al. foil for is to cover casserole dishes or line the bottom of the oven when/if something leaks. So why not wash and reuse it rather than lazily toss it. Save $ and land fill space.

I admit to being taken aback by your assumption of a stereotype. ALL PEOPLE tend to lean toward their comfort zones initially.

[Anvilshock]

@thewheatguy "We can't solve problems by using the same kind of thinking we used when we created them." (Einstein) - But if it is within your comfort zone to complicate your life with patchwork solutions rather than eliminating the need for those patchworks altogether, who am I to argue.

You seem to use al foil quite rarely already. That's nice, but sadly your video didn't underline that the best moneysaver is not reusing throwaways but to use less and fewer of them in the first place.

[thewheatguy]

@Anvilshock - you wrote: "......the best moneysaver is not reusing throwaways but to use less and fewer of them in the first place."

Best point! Well stated. I agree.

[Octomundunchkin]

Wow, I'm a fairly frugal person but I never imagined washing the foil to reuse it. Seems like the most obvious thing to me now. Thanks so much for this tip! :)

[thewheatguy]

@Octomundunchkin ~ There's little guilt once I finally feel like tossing it this way.... If I use it several times, and then use it for something raw or super sticky....then it's done the work multiple time.

Glad to spark your brain with something new!

Best Blessings!

Donna

[edithisel]

I USED TO JUDGE MY MOM FOR DOING THIS , BUT NOW THAT I HAVE A FAMILY OF MY OWN...I SEE MYSELF DOING THIS SOMETIMES....GREAT TIPS! THANK YOU

[thewheatguy]

@edithisel - I know what you mean!

It used to seem weird to me watching my grandmother do some things, but now I do so many things she did....She was a new wife right at the beginning of the Great Depression and many stretching skills she carried on and I got to benefit from them. Didn't know it at the time, but Grammy infuenced me for THIS time....

Thanks for the comment and kind encouragement!

Best Blessings!

Donna

[lisalovesthekillers]

its weird how americans call it aluminum, its al u min um!

[thewheatguy]

@lisalovesthekillers - A friend from South Africa and a friend from Australia say it that way.... phoneticly it would sound like .... al-yoo-mee-num. I love it!

[evegpt]

I buy one of those large aluminum foil boxes of squares from Sams. I get both sizes, one is a perfect fit for the small 8 inch square pans and the other is the perfect size to cover the 9 by 13 size pans. I wash these and reuse them all the time. I can't remember the last time I bought them. It has been at least a couple of years and still going strong.

[thewheatguy]

Oh NICE!

Pre-cut and no 'ripping' - great idea! Easy to keep organized too, I bet!

Thanks for the info!

Best Blessings!

Donna

[eclark721]

You are my hero! :-) You have great tips...I just made a budget for me and my new hubby. Do you think it's possible to only spend $150 on food per month for the two of us? That's my goal!

[thewheatguy]

Well, thank you for being so kind and encouraging!

I do believe you can do it!!! Just some tips:

1) grow what you can

2) shop by the sales only and compair prices

3) eat basic foods (they are always cheaper than boxed stuff in the long run)

4) know that some months may be higher and others lower (average can still be $150).

5) Mostly - PLAN PLAN PLAN - so nothing goes to waist.

Yep - you can do it!!

Best Blessings!

Donna

[FrugalAli]

I love this idea. For some unknown reason, despite my frugality, I never really thought about reusing my aluminum foil. Thanks for the tip.

[thewheatguy]

Thank you for the encouraging words!

It was like a light bulb to me one day that not everyone knows or does what I do...so why not share! Hubby always tells me that my mind works a little different anyway so others might be interested (o: - I'm pretty sure that was a compliment...

Best Blessings!

Donna

[thekycoffeebean]

If you save your foil and don`t cook with it you'll get tares,Duct Tape works to mend them.Hold up to water pretty good.Washes easily,a roll maybe $1.00/$1.50.Now you foil will be like that Bunnie,GOING GOING GOING GOING,well I hope better

[thewheatguy]

Are you serious?

I had not thougtht of that before!

[OhItsJustMe2]

Also, im sure the tiny amount of hot water used to wash it didnt break the budget :)

[AnnieNM06]

you could use cold water. IMO it'll clean just as well

[OhItsJustMe2]

Sure does. On some types of foods.

[OhItsJustMe2]

Today I spent over $8 for a 200sq ft(66.67yrds x 12")roll of reynolds wrap. I will not be buying another roll, at least not at that price! I will just have to learn to do without it. With that said, I appreciate this video! It will help me stretch the roll that I so foolishly bought. I have reused aluminum foil before, but have always trashed it if it got dirty or torn. I will remember to simply wash and save to use on smaller items if it does gets torn. Thanks again for posting this video!

[thewheatguy]

I know it's amazingly expensive! Thus my labor of 'love' to stretch it out (o: If you have a zip lock baggie (one that has been washed too much or with holes) the foil folds up nice and neat inside for storage)!

Thanks for the kind words!

[bunkermunk]

Have you factored in the cost of hot water vs the cost of the piece of aluminum?

[thewheatguy]

Well, it can't be too much because the sink is already full for things like the large items that I have to wash by hand and plastic freezer bags that I am reusing. So it's already there to be used anyway.