Here I am heating my apartment with my gas stovetop, purely because the gas isn't individually metered so is included in our rent. It got me thinking, I wonder what the tightest thing ozbargain users do on a regular basis.
What are your worst tight-arse habits?
How about if they have half-price special
And that's exactly when you buy them. When they go back up, go back to making it yourself.
BTW, we don't always stick to our own "rules". Who could! But a saving some of the time is still a saving.
I am a Terminator shopper
When something is on special - they ask me how many I want
I say GIVE ME ALL
My children despair
Recently we went overseas for two weeks, and my daughter's friends stayed in the house to look after it. They cleaned out my Nuclear Bunker (pantry) of everything that was outdated. I no longer talk to any of them.
Not to mention a lot of packet mix stuff tastes like junk anyhow.
Well at the risk of sticking to the topic,
another thing than that has made a difference
to the household budget is learning to make
things without using packets.
That's it… you reminded me of another I was going to mention - use that spreadsheet/shopping list I mentioned (on previous page I think), look at each thing you buy - and think, "Can I find online, how to make this myself?)
Do u have an example of how this spreadsheet would work ie by writing down the price each time would this be Ina new column or replacing old column if cheaper?
Sorry for not being clear. I only do it in a spreadsheet because I'm familiar with Excel. It's really just a table. No formulae. Well, not yet anyway… And by that I mean - we had intended to move to a rural area. So we wanted to know how much of each thing we buy, so we could buy in bulk and cut down the number of trips we'd have to make.
I'm a spreadsheet addict. I have a record of every cent in and out of our home since 7/12/06, and I've recorded (most of) our groceries purchased since 19/2/10. I initially started doing it because I was a bit thick - and thought a bank would require that kind of detail (from someone on Centrelink benefits) to get a home loan! By the time I realised it wasn't necessary, it had become a habit - so I just continued doing it.
So the table has prices listed for most things we buy. For example, a tick goes in the "BUY" column, and a "4" in the Aldi column, in the "Powdered Skim Milk" row. (I originally meant for the 4 to go in the BUY column. And the the Aldi/Coles/WW column was just for price changes.) But my wife does it the first way. Later she puts a line through the 4, meaning that item is now in the trolley. When we're done, a quick scan down a column shows if anything in that supermarket was missed.
And of course with fruit & veg, she has a blank box under each supermarket column to list each store's price. e.g. The tomatoes row might have:
Tomatoes….. Aldi $2.99 - Coles $2.49 - GG $1.50 - WW $3.99
So we buy them from the green grocer.
You wouldn't think so, but prices of things - other than fruit & veg - rarely change. When they do, we either note it on the printout. Or, I enter it into the spreadsheet later, when I enter the groceries we bought. So the price is correct ready for next time.
It probably seems anal to everyone else. But it comes in handy. Such as when products go up in price by a couple of $, like the powdered milk did. We know from habit, how many we buy each week. So we can work out how many we should buy in bulk - given a use-by date - to hopefully give their price roller coaster a miss.
It mainly helps to see when a price changes - or when an item is unavailable, where the next cheapest place to buy it is - or if they change the package size, we can still work out which shop is cheaper per kg/L on the spot.
BTW. Recently my wife started using a pencil and rubs it out, so we don't have to reprint it every single week/fortnight. So I think SHE wins the biggest cheapskate award.
I hope that answered your question.
you could use your phone or tablet to do the excel spreadsheet? even cheaper seeing the cost of an eraser and pencil is removed ;) Of course factor in the cost of charging for using it on that trip.
Am I the only one thinking that instead of wasting hours doing all this stuff you'd be better working those hours. I'm guessing it takes you at least 10 hours per week to do all your tightarse stuff. Even at the minimum wage of $15.51 ph, you'd easily eclipse the weekly savings on your groceries. Heck, you may even be able to afford to buy truss tomatoes!
This sounds more like an obsession…
umm Why are you on ozbargain?
Never experienced the pang of not being able to see the ozB homepage?
Feel the frustration when your loved ones bought something but could have gotten it cheaper if they were looking at ozbargain?
Ever vent your anger on people for getting ripped off?
I know I have, ozbargainitis resides in my very blood ;) And I'm never getting it cured!
Here here brother
I think its a case of taking what works for you from this topic.
Not all the suggestions will suit every lifestyle, but thats to be expected.
Re the spreadsheet tracking its not something I would do, but once you have it set up its probably a lot easier than we suspect.
There is a definitely a $ value for time that needs to be taken into account, but you never know that $20 saved on a grocery shop may make the difference in some households.
Its not always the case that people are able to go and get the work.
Oh and when I am figuring out time vs saving I calculate it on my post tax hourly rate.
For example lunch might cost $10 and lets say I pay 20% tax on my wage.
I actually need to earn $12.50 to pay for that lunch.
(Hope that makes sense!)
Yeah mate I understand, I was just making a point
I understand your POV but that person might enjoy collating all the results or getting the "excitement" of finding the bargains.
It might not also be workable hours, OP might be doing it infront of the TV or something.
Magnate made a great point though - and I must admit I missed the gist of his comment :(
It also means I stop buying things that fluctuate worse than the Drachma
For example, I know fine that Coles can afford to sell Tim Tams for $1.99
Since I don't crave them, they're an indulgence, I refuse to pay more than that for them
If they are $3.29, I laugh at all the Tim Tams that remain homeless
Then I buy 10 packets when they are at the correct price to reward the supermarket for their good behaviour (don't think their computer doesnt notice this!) and feed them to foreign couch-surfers (instant cheap-skates) who stay at our place
oh and i forgot to mention, realfamily man might already be earning quite a lot of money, that working a few hours part time might be taxed to a level it's of no major benefit.
Reminds me of that coupon tv show where mums spend over 60 hrs a week collecting coupons. They don't pay tax on the collecting, so they do save a bit more money than working a minimum wage job
oh and i forgot to mention, realfamily man might
already be earning quite a lot of money, that
working a few hours part time might be taxed
to a level it's of no major benefit.
Sadly, unable. But we have built up savings, so we lose quite a bit from Centrelink because of it.
Fair enough. I used to think that way too. But we've found it takes up more time (and petrol) going to the shop every 2-3 days for milk and bread. Not to mention you never come back with just - milk & bread.
As mentioned, bread = 20 seconds to put ingredients in the bread machine. Milk powder = a minute to mix with tap water. It takes at least 20 minutes round trip to WW. At the start you do miss the "break" of buying take away sometimes. But we eat so well now what with everything homemade - that when we DO buy a pizza, KFC, Chinese, etc. we're usually either disappointed with the taste - or, sick as a brown dog on snailbait from all the chemicals.
In fact, our savings are WHY we can buy other things whenever we like. We recently attended two weddings and spent about $350 on each couple. I think we're hooked on being frugal because WE now rule our money - whereas our money used to rule us. We know other people on Centrelink who drink/smoke/gamble/Pizza Hut/KFC their money away… then run to the Salvos begging for money to pay bills. We never have to. I wish we didn't have to rely on Centrelink - but as long we do - I'm going to make sure I show my gratitude for that system and be responsible with what we're given.
You and your bride are doing the most important, beneficial thing for Australians. You write well, therefore I assume you are intelligent. I doubt you produced kids with a moron. I doubt your kids are disruptive in class. I bet they rarely do not have their work done. No one does their best 100% of the time, but I bet your kids do a reasonable job at school on a consistent basis.
Therefore, it would be a good idea for you and your bride to have more kids. The value of an Australian born (this coming from some who immigrated here) child with a reasonable intelligence who also have a reasonable work ethic, can not be underestimated.
Please produce more kids with your wife and continue on your path.
It is people like you who deserve the Australian of the year award. We need more aussie kids.
I really admire your organization skills as well as your ability to articulate everything that your family is doing to save money. I've picked up quite a lot of good tips from your posts. Thanks RFM.
You're welcome. I went a bit further with the personal details than intended, but oh well.
Stalker alert!
Save seeds, grow your own herbs from seed.
I've managed to save seeds from fresh chillies and capsicums and have them grow into producing plants.
Buying fresh herbs from the greengrocers is not very cost effective - often you just use a sprig here and a sprig there, and they are $1-$2 per bunch, of which you use very little of. so it's better to have a living plant in the garden that you can snip bits off when you need them. Rosemary and sage are tough and don't die down. The annuals and bi-annuals like basil and parsley (flat leaf and curly) need a little more work to re-sow and replace so that you have a constant supply.
Is it possible to grow parsley on a pot? I bought a $2 small pot and it did not even last a month (not because I ate it!)
black thumb. yes it is possible to grow fantastic herbs in a pot. Some of mine grow, some don't. Bigger pot = bigger chance of life.
They had some sort of pet week at school and we don't do pets in this house. I arranged with my daughter's step mum (who I get along with very well - why the hell would you not get along with someone who has such an influence on your kid(s) life?) to bring the step mum's dog to school, along with step mum.
I wish I could have been there. My ex husband told me about it so it is third or fouth hand). Aside from other parts that would have been hilarious, some of the kids asked my lil one about other pets that she had at home. She reeled off a litany of pets that we had had at my house, until they died. Made the step mum look like a saint. Not one death mentioned at their house.
After reading your cooking post… You didn't….
COOK THEM
… did you? ;-p
Is it possible to grow parsley on a pot?
Yes it is! I have grown both curly and italian parsley in pots. If you eat them too quickly, have more than 1 plant. I find curly parsley grows faster and is tougher, needs less water than the italian variety. For Italian parsley, I need at least 3-4 plants (you can grow multiple plants in one bigger pot) to keep up with the rate I'm using them at.
Edit: The herbs you buy in small pots will need to be repotted into a bigger pot once they are bigger, you can tell when the pot is too small - the soil dries up quickly and the plant looks sad. Re-pot with good potting mix and you should be fine. If the plant that you bought was already full size, and was sold to you in a small pot, it definitely needs a bigger pot immediately. It's actually better to buy them slightly smaller (the plant, not the pot) so that the lifespan is a big longer and it doesnt' go do seed. They grow very quickly anyway.
Can you regrow the italian parsley indefinitely without the seeds? How to do that? Also, do you know how much water they need? Any tips in finding a bargain potting mix? :P
Can you regrow the italian parsley indefinitely without the seeds?
They are like an annual so they generally go to seed and then die down, so the plants aren't meant to live forever. A packet of seeds (about $1 from Bunnings) can be used to re-sow. I usually end up with so many plants grown from seed that I give away quite a lot as gifts.
Bargain potting mix
Bunnings has lots of brands for potting mix, and they are generally ok (from memory the price from high to low is Yates > Hortico > Richgro. Have not tried Richgro but Hortico is fine). The cheapest thing to do is actually buy a reasonable quality general purpose potting mix (as opposed to 'premium' potting mix in a brand) and add fertiliser as per your requirements. I grow all sorts of things so I just tweak things myself (adding home-made compost, suitable slow release fertilisers for the type of plant). However, if your needs are very specific (e.g. herbs and herbs only), you can look for potting mix that already has nutrients suitable for that (since that may end up being cheaper than separate potting mix + fertilisers).
Is it possible to grow parsley on a pot? I bought a $2 small pot and it did not even last a month (not because I ate it!)
It needs to be a fairly deep pot for parsley.
Save all power cords from old devices, laptops, routers, printers anything. If a product has a faulty power cord just dig through the box of goodies until you find something that fits and has the right voltage output
and same applies to USB cords. With portable hard drives, the cords are usually the first to break
Here's the thing. How the hell does one learn how to replace them?????? I hear it used to be part of the formal education in OZ, but I have onlt been here 15 years and am scared shirtless to do any electrical work.
I think Davo1111 is talking about cords/cables that plug into devices and not replacing faulty ones by rewiring a replacement.
only referring to the ones that can be replaced (i.e. have plugs on either end), not something that needs to be soldered in
This! I save every cord in a box fir possible reuse. Its amazing how many times you need something like that and its right there
OKay, but how do you know voltage etc?
Anyway. I would rather know how to do wiring cofidently. The sparkys and regultors keep this as some hidden and mysterious secret.
Every 'power pack' has an output voltage written on it Eg 12V 1.0A
Every electrical product has an input voltage written on it.
If they match and have the same polarity (99.9% have the same polarity) you can use that plug for that device.
The modem im using right now was given to me as it didn't have a power plug. Rummaged through my box, volia found a chord, free working modem :D
EDIT:
Make sure both the Voltage (V) and the Amps match (A or mA) mA stands for milliamps. 0.5A=500mA
Sometimes u can get away with a slight difference but I wouldn't advise it EG 12V 1.0A with a 12V 1.2A plug 0.2 of an Amp shouldn't do any harm but depends on the product.
Thanks. I'll look at this tomorrow, I have never noticed anything on a power cord however. I will get my middle aged magnifying glass out.
It's ok to use a power pack of higher current capacity than the device requires. I.e. 12V 1.2A power pack is ok for a device requiring 12V 1.0A. Not the reverse if the difference is more than a little.
depending on the device, it might just take the straight voltage from the power point.
For example this doesn't have a power pack. It works with most desktop computers, kettle, tv etc etc.
These devices convert voltage. this for example has an output of 12v 8.33A. Just read the label, it's on there somewhere. It's a little trickier, but many times you buy the same brand, and the power pack is exactly the same. For example you can leave a power pack at work, and one at home, hence don't have to carry it two and from every day. Same applies to phone charges etc
there are power cords -which are just cables e.g. computer power cable, usb cable
and then there are power packs - which plug into mains voltage and have a "box" to reduce the voltage e.g. AC adapter. these are the ones which you have to be careful with output.
I save them all.
To stem the tide of mobile phone and other equipment adaptors, fortunately manufacturers agreed to adopt USB chargers. They all deliver 5V. This means that you can take just the highest capacity charger on holiday provided you don't mind charging one device at a time.
Geez guys. Please for gods sake make sure it is either AC (pictured a bit lik ~) or DC (straight line lik _ with a dashed line above it) before you plug it in.
It's fine to use a adapter with a higher rated current. But don't use one with a higher voltage or you'll get a hot device and likely a dead device before long.
We went overseas for 10 days recently to 4 countries
Before we left, we bought 2 power converters (Thai/Malaysian) that covered all the outlets we would encounter.
We also took a 6 outlet Aussie power board
One converter + 1 power board meant we could charge everything at once
Great idea. I hate having to make the choice of what you can do without.
Woah there! Stop think check!
Power packs are NOT ALWAYS the same voltage, polarity or current.
Check carefully before proceeding.
Plug an AC pack into a device expecting DC and its goodnight expensive electronic friend.
Check output Voltage
Check current capability - pack should handle more, never less.
Check AC or DC output!!!
Check polarity! Its usually shown as C and either + or - representing the outside or ring of the jack and . +/- representing the inside barrel or tip. Just because the plug fits does not mean polarity is correct.
Check or lose! :p
EDIT: just saw Magnate's similar comments above.
peel out any unmarked postage stamps and reuse them
use glue if necessary..
cut around the edge of the stamp, leave them in a glass of water. wait 20min, peels straight off.
when my brother was living in england he worked at a postal clothing store. they would get a lot of returns. he saved every unmarked stamp (soaking collected ones everynight). when he left England he posted a couple of boxes using reclaimed stamps. it was about 180GBP of stamps he used (about AUS$420 at the time).
While not condoning this practice, if you are going to do it, get a uv light of some sort. Not all of the inks can be seen with the eye.
I've reused a few uncancelled stamps in the old days but frankly I seldom use postage stamps anymore. And commercial mail tends to be bulk mailed or machine franked.
Beat me to it! I just peeled an unstamped stamp off yesterday, and it reminded me.
I thought I heard somewhere that Oz Post was going to start using different ink though - that only shows up under ultraviolet light. Can anyone confirm?
Oops… just noticed my "trophy wife's" (LOL) comment on OzPost ink as I was typing… So I guess it IS true after all. Now… where can I find an ultraviolet light source, that I don't have to pay for, to test one 60 cent stamp? (60 cents!? When did that happen!)
Further on the stamp thing…
Once I received a package, that the sender had stuck dozens of stamps on the box. For some reason, only THEN they closed the box by winding clear tape around it. The tape was so cheap that it wasn't very sticky. Also, the stamps were those glossy types that are more akin to stickers than paper.
The tape easily lifted from the stamps, leaving nearly every one intact. Additionally, OzPost's machine was unable to ink the stamps. (I had ink all over me - what a mess!)
I retrieved $12.70 (on the 10/1/08 according to my spreadsheet, LOL) - of usable stamps!
So… If you send stuff back & forth… Some ideas spring to mind that I won't mention, since I don't want to wind up cell-mates with a large hairy man nicknamed Bubba.
I am sure that merit line and similar shops have them for a couple of dollars. Not free.
There are ligt globes in the shops that you can put in a normal lamp and do it taht way.
I stop on the side of roads with my bonnet up, and get the kind people that stop to push it. I tell them my house is just around the corner, and my car has broken down.
…
my car is always working, and my house is never anywhere close by. Gotta save on petrol, however you can; that shit is expensive.
The other money-saving thing you can do is look for other people pushing broken-down cars, and jump in for a free ride.
If you are feeling generous, offer to steer for them.
So if you met, you'd both sit there looking at each other.
That's… kinda kinky, isn't it?
Or it's easier to call RACV and tell them you've run out of petrol. Cheapest 5 liters of petrol you'll ever get!
NRMA in NSW charge you for 10 liters when they arrive. LPG cars however, require towing. Free towing to servo! WINNING!
Only if your time isn't worth anything.
Charge my laptop at work instead of at home. So, when I need to use my laptop at home it's already fully charged :D
Oh, same goes for mobile phones and rechargeable batteries.
Print stuff at work on the big laser printer.
A couple of family member LOADS up on shampoo/conditioner when staying at hotels.
I've been doing this lately but not on purpose. I charge my phone enough in the morning to get me to work watching videos on my phone, then leave it plugged in for awhile at work downloading podcasts/app updates on one of our many WiFi networks.
I do this, clear them out on shampoo conditioner tea coffee, after all, i paid for it all. Find the shampoo conditioner body wash most useful for swimming pool visits, small n refillable usually, and I don't fret if I forget and left them behind.
Also on plane rides, I usually take one or two toothbrushes and combs. Great for overnight guests at our place who forget to bring them.
Yep, I do this too. Charge my tablet, phone, batteries and portable usb charger at work.
Alright RFM or anyone who cares to answer: I have the liquid/syrup left over from poaching pears, there's a lot of goodness still in there and I don't want to throw it out. What can I do with it? Can I re-use it again for poaching?
Have you eaten the pears yet? If not, reduce the liquid until it becomes very thick and sticky and use that as a sauce for the pears. It brings it into a whole new dimension.
Did you poach with red wine, white wine or water?
If you have eaten the pears, reduce the sauce. Cool. Taste. If it is yummy, you can bake some pecorino cheese in it and throw a couple of walnuts on top. This would be in place of a dessert or cheese plate.
Normally you would use honey for this type of dish, but a poaching reduction sounds like an improvement. Thanks for the idea.
Let me know if you want the betters and particulars of this dish.
Did you poach with red wine, white wine or water?
a vodka based liqueur with flavours similar to mulled wine.
Thanks for your ideas, I'll probably make a sauce for the pears. I'm also thinking I could pour it over vanilla icecream or something.
The cheese thing sounds too adventurous for me, but please try it and let me know how it goes :)
I generally poach mine in red wine, water, vanilla bean, sugar and cinnamon. It makes a spectacular visual presentation as the outside of the pears are dark and the inside is white.
I would not use my red poaching syrup for the cheese dish.
It is pear poaching season and I am happy. I have too much red wine and need to use it up.
I need to find a BF so I can cook more.
I've just started saving the cores from pears to make Pear Jelly. When i want to eat a pear, i core it then add the core to a ziplock bag in the freezer. It's going to be a bit of an experiement really.
It is un-possible to have too much red wine
I wonder if freezing destroys the pectin. You must eat a lot of pears….
I made a jam/dessert sauce out of a can of mixed berries two nights ago. It was magnificient. The colours and flavours were so vibrant. The one thing I could have done was sieve it to remove the pips. I just added the contents of the can to a saucepan, added some sugar and reduced it down. The can of Admiral mixed berries in syrup was bought from grocery run for a dollar or two.
How about I start saving up uninked stamps, mail them to you in junkmail reply paid envelope, and you can post me dishes using free bunnings boxes, and AP's tape and markers?
I'd use it in yoghurt made using a couple of tablespoons of plain as a starter. Pour it in once the yoghurt is made. Cut up a bit of fruit too. Usually we don't get to do anything with it though - because one of the kids has already claimed it.
Pears reminded me of apples - and another tip I found online somewhere… If you have some apples going off - turn them into applesauce, freeze, and use the same quantity in cake recipes in place of any oil. We don't have much waste in our house, so we've only tried it once - with a loaf of bread. It wasn't what I would call bad. But it wasn't as light and fluffy as it normally is. I bet it would be better in a cake recipe.
i have a few empty cups from Hungry Jacks in my car. Usually from when I buy 4 meals and have only 3 people at the time etc.
So when you buy a meal and a $2 burger you got an extra cup for drinks from the self serve machine. You can use a 600ml bottle as well. They don't care.
You occasionally see some old dude with a 2 liter bottle though.
Maybe the old dude is one of the OzB founders!
when I was younger and travelling I used to go to department store electronics/computer areas and use their internet for email.
Went mushrooming today - can't argue with free fungi!
If you are curious google slippery jack mushrooms
$40 a kilo although I am not sure why - they are OK but not awesome
You do know you could be unlucky and end up with being poisoned.Since quite a few types of mushrooms look close to identical.
Mushrooms are just something I think should be left to the experts.
On a side note, I have read that unless cooked, mushrooms provide no nutritional value.
They can be very poisonous and it can be very hard to tell which one is safe.
I guess Natt is just joking.
becareful, someone in canberra recently died eating poisonous mushrooms.
Hmmm
I'm listening and no I am not being sarcastic
That and saffron milk caps are the ones the mycologists seem to think are good for beginners
But please post the species names so I can check them
Honestly I think there is more lookalikes for field mushrooms
:)
At the end of fillng up petrol when the nozzle still remains in the hole, slightly lift the hose to get the remaining petrol out as paid for. is it worth the effort?
yes, because it also reduces the risk of a small spill of petrol on you paint - very damaging
Actually I am being serious about the mushrooms.
Saffron Milk caps and slippery jack mushrooms are sold in markets and some shops here in Tasmania.
And in Oberon you can pick up a brochure and these species and go picking in the State Forests
http://www.westernadvocate.com.au/blogs/local-fare/join-the-…
Anyway heres not the place to get into fungi forgaging as its important to be very concentious with your collecting
It can be extremely hard to tell lookalikes apart which is why I don't see myself ever trying to pick something with a deadly "relative".
I can't say I would ever invite anyone to dine with me either, my foraging = my responsibility
Whenever I refuel my car, I make sure I pay cash when the total rounds down (i.e. ends with 1, 2, 6, and 7 cents), or pay by card otherwise (if the total would round up paying by cash). Saves a cent or two a week for my student piggy bank.
If I don't have enough to pay it all by cash, I split part of it with card, and then the remaining on cash while making sure it still rounds down (e.g. $22.52 but only got $5 -> pay $20 on card, rest with cash ($2.50), save 2c)
always set the pump for the amount of petrol you want.
when it has finished pumping the set amount whilst holding the nozzle open, lift up the hose as there is still fual in the line.
Doesn't quite work when using 4c (or 8c) off vouchers all the time =p
Buy and sell new tech at small losses
Bought a $50 printer, ran the cartridge empty, sold it for $40 on gumtree (sans cartridge) then bought same printer again.
Currently in the process of selling my $199 soniq 32 inch TV…for $200
Just cos you buy off the internet, it doesn't make you smart.
LOL, I do the same thing with my Ski Gear. I buy ski clothes etc in the massive US end of season sales for a fraction of what they cost here, I wear them for a season and then sell them for 'almost' what I paid for them then I buy new stuff for next year! I always wear new gear and somebody else pays for my annual refresh!
How many $9 printers did you buy?
We bought some goat milk soap yesterday. $6.50 a pop. They reckon it lasts a lot longer than normal soap. But while having a shower, I thought of a way to make it last even longer.
Buy two, three, etc. bars of soap and rotate them for each person/shower. i.e. Person #1 has a shower. The water softens the soap, making it "dissolve" more quickly than if it were dry.
So when person #2 has their shower, they notice soap #1 is wet and soft. They know to use soap #2 instead.
By next day the bars have dried out and the process starts again. This means less soap wasted because you're always using a dry/hard bar of soap.
I have to agree with ca-la-la.. This is bordering on obsessiveness. Soap is already cheap.
Although it is the tightest thing you have ever done.. This would class as that
Well, someone in another thread referred back to this thread. So I added it back here because this is where most of the comments are, and people obviously remember the thread clearly to be referring back to it eight months on.
Soap may be "cheap" for those that don't have skin conditions. But one small bar of goat milk soap for $6.50 is not what many would call cheap.
Save 10 cents here. Save 20 cents there. If doing that on multiple items saves $5 a day, then that's over $1800 a year. Not many people would see $1800 on the ground, walk away, and just leave it for someone else to pick up. But we do just that in many ways through wastage.
BTW. It was just an idea.
Oh - and I realised what I suggested wouldn't work if you keep all the bars in the same soap holder. They would stay moist and soften, making more wastage. Probably need some stainless wire soap holders. They drain the most water so the soap dries out again.
Don't listen to that fool, baby.
I don't think there's a hard and fast answer in this area.
It really depends on how much time you have available, the skill/motivation of the cook.
And getting a stock of herbs/spices can be expensive in itself.
My main point was that others might find it useful to check the packets they use.
I have a few packets kicking around myself, but when making up bulk its much cheaper to use the base spices than to use them.