Bathroom Savvy: How to Save Dough in the Loo

Thursday, 17 March 2011 07:47 Written by  Savvy Girl  

Keeping your eye on bathroom product spending, like dieting, is all about portion control.  Take, for example, application instructions for shampoos, conditioners and face lotions and potions.  While some products (Herbal Essences for example) have taken poetic license with portion usage lingo, such as "lather me in and soak all you like," more straightforward guidelines include wee portion vocab words like "pea" "nickel" "dime" and "quarter" as squirt-size recommendations.

If you find yourself using dollops of product that more closely resemble a melon ball than a pea, it's time to reign in the portions and cut back on needless toiletry expenditure.  Figure out what is the least amount of product you need to get the job done effectively and stick to it, rather than let your money run literally down the drain.  Here are some of our favorite savvy ways to save big on bathroom products.

How to Save Money on Bathroom Products and Toiletries

  • Be a folder, not a wadder.  Studies show toilet paper folders use less than wadders as the concentration of paper is greater in a folded pattern and you tend to use less.
  • Brush teeth with baking soda twice a week.  Not only will your teeth be whiter, you'll save on toothpaste.
  • Never buy toiletries in the grocery store, where markup is significantly higher than a drugstore or wholesale joint.
  • While you're at it, check drugstore circulars for deals and stock up when the getting is good.  Some offer regular BOGO deals and while we wouldn't buy bulk to the extent that we waste products because they've gone bad or we're sick of the scent, you can still save big on a well-timed BOGO.
  • Don't spend on expensive body washes and gels and opt instead for scented bar-soap.  You'll also be saving on packaging waste, which earns you extra savvy brownie points.
  • Don't be so loyal that you pass up good sales.  Who cares if you're using "Cinna-mint" this month rather than your usual "Winto-mint"?
  • Wrap a rubber band around the nozzle of your soap dispenser to monitor portions.  Typically a half pump is more than enough soap to wash up.  Same goes for thick lotions.
  • Use empty hand soap pumps as shampoo and conditioner dispensers.  It's a great way to keep usage even between the two products and prevents over-use.
  • Try shampooing every other day and condition every other shampoo.  Your hair needs the natural oils from your scalp for moisture

Photo: Axel Tregoning via Flickr

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