What are your frugal and sustainable tips and tricks?

[fuzzi]

I bought a little short handled shovel at a thrift store a couple of years ago. I figured I could use it for a snow shovel, and it was only $2!

Today I found a perfect use for it, getting the dregs of soiled litter out of a metal wheelbarrow. It worked great and didn't scratch the paint.

 

[gtaus]

I bought a little short handled shovel at a thrift store a couple of years ago. I figured I could use it for a snow shovel, and it was only $2!

Today I found a perfect use for it, getting the dregs of soiled litter out of a metal wheelbarrow. It worked great and didn't scratch the paint.
View attachment 3902115

Nice pickup on that $2.00 shovel. I love checking out our Thrift Store for treasure like that.

 

[gtaus]

Tool Case Repair - zip ties and a bolt

I have an old plastic tool case that has a number of wrenches and sockets in the kit. That kit is about 36 years old, but I still have almost all the original tools. It's my go to portable kit for most of my DIY jobs around the house. The tools are not the greatest quality, but they almost always seem to be good enough to get my job done. It's been a good collection of tools for me, and I like how they are organized in the case. I can see if anything is missing and make sure I pick it up and put it back in place before I finish the job.

Over the years, the plastic hinge on the back of the case ripped and separated, and the front clasps to close the case tight broke off as well. For the past many years, I just had to carry two halves of the tools and try not to drop the cases and send everything flying.

Until today... I fixed the case with a couple of zip ties as hinges in the back of the case and used a bolt and washer to hold together the handle and keep everything closed tight.

Here is a (blurry) picture of the case opened...

I think you can make out the holes I drilled for the zip tie hinges in the middle and the hole I drilled through the handle for the bolt and nut to hold it together.

Here is a picture of the case closed...

You can see how I used a simple bolt and nut on the handle to keep the case closed tight, and the zip ties in the back that are the new hinges. I clipped the tails off the zip ties once I was happy that everything worked.

It might not be a big deal to others, but having the case so that it can close and hold everything securely as I move it around for my jobs is a real connivence for me. This kit is the one I use for about 70%, or more, of my jobs around the house.

That zip tie and bolt repair probably cost me about 10 cents in total. I am not a big fan of those plastic cases because they freeze and crack where I live. Also, over time, the plastic just gets brittle and fails. No doubt, my zip tie hinges are better than the original plastic. And I am sure that bolt will last longer than the old plastic clasps that broke off. I will probably get another 20 years out of that repair!

 

[gtaus]

Full refund on my purchase, plus I got to keep the item!

A few days ago, I mentioned that I had ordered a mower trailer hitch from Amazon...

When the package arrived, parts were falling out of the box. I found everything except for one lock nut. Not a really big deal, but I tried to contact Amazon to send me the missing lock nut because I did not have one that size/type.

Unfortunately, Amazon's chatbot just wants you to return the entire order and ship you out another one. To me, that does not make any sense. So, I persisted until I got to chat with a live rep, explained that I was only missing a lock nut which I could buy at a local hardware store, and they gave me a $5.00 credit on my account for the trouble. I was more than happy.

I also followed up directly with the seller, explaining that the small parts bags had ripped open, and that both the inner and outer cardboard shipping boxes were ripped, and parts were falling out. I suggested that they rethink the way they package that item. I did not want to return the item because it was missing a lock nut, but I could see other shipments with many more parts missing from damage in shipping.

I did not ask for anything - I was happy with the $5.00 credit from Amazon - but the seller must have appreciated my feedback on their shipping boxes and damage. They credited my entire purchase price and I got to keep the hitch! I got notice of the full credit yesterday.

Anyways, I was in town today and got the missing lock nut at a hardware store for 50 cents! You bet I was willing to pay that 50 cents for the lock nut after I received $35.00 in refunds on the order!

It's been a while since I got a good deal like that. I guess it pays to persist on Amazon until you actually get a live person on the chat. I know I saved them a lot of money in shipping back and forth for a reorder. But I was really surprised that the seller refunded the entire amount of my order based on my direct feedback to them on the shipping damage. Again, none of that would have happened if I had not gone beyond the auto chatbot options. Maybe there is a lesson somewhere?

 

[Sally PB]

Again, none of that would have happened if I had not gone beyond the auto chatbot options. Maybe there is a lesson somewhere?

Chatbots can't solve the "slightly different, but very simple" problems. We still have a use for real people.

And, Customer Service for the win!

 

[igorsMistress]

Tool Case Repair - zip ties and a bolt

I have an old plastic tool case that has a number of wrenches and sockets in the kit. That kit is about 36 years old, but I still have almost all the original tools. It's my go to portable kit for most of my DIY jobs around the house. The tools are not the greatest quality, but they almost always seem to be good enough to get my job done. It's been a good collection of tools for me, and I like how they are organized in the case. I can see if anything is missing and make sure I pick it up and put it back in place before I finish the job.

Over the years, the plastic hinge on the back of the case ripped and separated, and the front clasps to close the case tight broke off as well. For the past many years, I just had to carry two halves of the tools and try not to drop the cases and send everything flying.

Until today... I fixed the case with a couple of zip ties as hinges in the back of the case and used a bolt and washer to hold together the handle and keep everything closed tight.

Here is a (blurry) picture of the case opened...

View attachment 3906026

I think you can make out the holes I drilled for the zip tie hinges in the middle and the hole I drilled through the handle for the bolt and nut to hold it together.

Here is a picture of the case closed...

View attachment 3906027

You can see how I used a simple bolt and nut on the handle to keep the case closed tight, and the zip ties in the back that are the new hinges. I clipped the tails off the zip ties once I was happy that everything worked.

It might not be a big deal to others, but having the case so that it can close and hold everything securely as I move it around for my jobs is a real connivence for me. This kit is the one I use for about 70%, or more, of my jobs around the house.

That zip tie and bolt repair probably cost me about 10 cents in total. I am not a big fan of those plastic cases because they freeze and crack where I live. Also, over time, the plastic just gets brittle and fails. No doubt, my zip tie hinges are better than the original plastic. And I am sure that bolt will last longer than the old plastic clasps that broke off. I will probably get another 20 years out of that repair!

You remind me so much of my husband. Nice job, you can’t really tell you did a thing.

 

[gtaus]

... Nice job, you can’t really tell you did a thing [on the case repair].

Thank you. Maybe that's the mark of success to a repair - it's hardly noticed!

More importantly, I restored the original function of that carrying case for those tools and only had to spend about 10 cents on the repair. Seems like the older I get, the less I just want to throw stuff out and get something new. I sometimes wish I had that same outlook when I was much younger, I probably could have saved a lot of money over those years, but I'm comfortable now with my change of attitude.

Recently I watched a YouTube video on straightening out a bent mower deck. The guy said take out the heavy mallet and pound on that thing. It's already broke. You can't do any more damage.

Thinking about that, lots of things I have/had were ready for the trash bin, so might as well try to fix it if I can. This was actually the second plastic case I "fixed" using zip ties as new hinges.

I have been fixing more and more stuff with zip ties. Zip ties are cheap and useful for many things I never thought of before. They have saved me lots of money, time, and energy lately. I love them.

 

[igorsMistress]

Thank you. Maybe that's the mark of success to a repair - it's hardly noticed!

More importantly, I restored the original function of that carrying case for those tools and only had to spend about 10 cents on the repair. Seems like the older I get, the less I just want to throw stuff out and get something new. I sometimes wish I had that same outlook when I was much younger, I probably could have saved a lot of money over those years, but I'm comfortable now with my change of attitude.

Recently I watched a YouTube video on straightening out a bent mower deck. The guy said take out the heavy mallet and pound on that thing. It's already broke. You can't do any more damage.

Thinking about that, lots of things I have/had were ready for the trash bin, so might as well try to fix it if I can. This was actually the second plastic case I "fixed" using zip ties as new hinges.

I have been fixing more and more stuff with zip ties. Zip ties are cheap and useful for many things I never thought of before. They have saved me lots of money, time, and energy lately. I love them.

Zip ties are definitely awesome, I have my own stash.

 

[fuzzi]

Tool Case Repair - zip ties and a bolt

I have an old plastic tool case that has a number of wrenches and sockets in the kit. That kit is about 36 years old, but I still have almost all the original tools. It's my go to portable kit for most of my DIY jobs around the house. The tools are not the greatest quality, but they almost always seem to be good enough to get my job done. It's been a good collection of tools for me, and I like how they are organized in the case. I can see if anything is missing and make sure I pick it up and put it back in place before I finish the job.

Over the years, the plastic hinge on the back of the case ripped and separated, and the front clasps to close the case tight broke off as well. For the past many years, I just had to carry two halves of the tools and try not to drop the cases and send everything flying.

Until today... I fixed the case with a couple of zip ties as hinges in the back of the case and used a bolt and washer to hold together the handle and keep everything closed tight.

Here is a (blurry) picture of the case opened...

View attachment 3906026

I think you can make out the holes I drilled for the zip tie hinges in the middle and the hole I drilled through the handle for the bolt and nut to hold it together.

Here is a picture of the case closed...

View attachment 3906027

You can see how I used a simple bolt and nut on the handle to keep the case closed tight, and the zip ties in the back that are the new hinges. I clipped the tails off the zip ties once I was happy that everything worked.

It might not be a big deal to others, but having the case so that it can close and hold everything securely as I move it around for my jobs is a real connivence for me. This kit is the one I use for about 70%, or more, of my jobs around the house.

That zip tie and bolt repair probably cost me about 10 cents in total. I am not a big fan of those plastic cases because they freeze and crack where I live. Also, over time, the plastic just gets brittle and fails. No doubt, my zip tie hinges are better than the original plastic. And I am sure that bolt will last longer than the old plastic clasps that broke off. I will probably get another 20 years out of that repair!

How about using a wingnut instead of a nut?

 

[gtaus]

How about using a wingnut instead of a nut?

A wingnut would be better, I agree, but I just used what I had. The nut is on only finger tight, so not a big deal. But a wingnut would be better. Maybe I'll pick one up at the store next time I go to town.

Frugal Tip - Buy Assortment Kits on Sale

Speaking of having to go into town if I want a wingnut, that reminds me of one strategy I have used to save money. I will buy kits of assorted nuts and bolts, screws, fuses, hose clamps, etc... when they go on sale and just store them away until needed. I figure it costs me about $5.00 in gas for a round trip into town. I have a number of those assorted kits with small parts, and they have saved me many last-minute trips into town. I don't have an assortment of wingnuts, but I did have an assortment of nuts and bolts and one of them fit on the case repair. The repair job got done without having to run into town for any parts. Now, whenever I take my next trip into town, I can pick up that wingnut with my other errands.