Many, many years ago, there was a stationary engineer in the plant where I worked that made  tea everyday at work. Everyday he would dunk a tea bag into a cup of hot water exactly three times, then put the bag away. He used the same bag  every day for one week. The next week he would splurge and start using a new tea bag.

This man didn't even need to work because some years before, he sold hundreds of acres of land to the state of Maryland and to developers. Part of the Baltimore beltway, the Motor Vehicles Administration (in Glen Burnie),  several shopping centers and possibly other buildings were then built on the land.

A tea bag per week. That may be a record level of cheapskatedness. 

Allan J  

I used a paper towel from one of the rolls they use in the bathroom.  The cleaning lady just gives me the rolls when they get down to a certain size and we have lots of rolls hanging around.  I rip a bit off and stuff it into the mr. coffee maker and it works fine. :)  I was going to bring in some filters but, hey, why bother.

Well done fellow cheapskatonian! Your post reminded me of an  HVAC filter I bought several years ago. It is reusable. You cut it to fit your intake air grill and just take it out to clean it. No more buying/transporting/storing and throwing away paper or fiberglass filters anymore.

Maggie, Maggie, Maggie!

Well, at least you weren't putting already-used sheets in the coffee maker.

On the other hand, how do you know the last person to use that roll hadn't grabbed the last towel on your roll as he tore off the sheet he needed?

Hey, maybe he had sneezed in his hand and just wanted to wipe the .........

Enjoy your coffee!

:>)

Allan J

This is an amazing string of posts.  Here is a way to save a buck with some downside.  There are permanent coffee filters.  Use it, wash it and reuse it.  Simple.  Cost maybe $5 or $10 at a discount store.  Downside ...have been told coffee grounds over time will clog drain pipes.   I use a new, clean paper filter each time I make a pot of coffee.

Picked up a pack of filters today. 

 Wow I got ten brew cycles or more out of that baby!  Quality tapered off a tad.....

 Is pretty sad isnt it?  Im cheap but not that cheap!

Yes, I would imagine prolonged grinds down the drain could pose a problem...hmm!

My mother re-uses her paper towels....DOH!

Thanks for all replies.

Brian

 

This tightwad spirit, I am impressed.  Now this idea is not for me, but its good to know if I just ran out of filters.  I am not so sure it is really cheaper, actually.  It takes some water to wash off the old one I assume.  Or at least water to wash down the grounds.  If so, it is not worth the penny saved. 

I would add that simply making my own coffee is already a reasonably thrifty activity.  So I use good coffee, and splurge on a fresh filter every time.   

Alex...:

I would add that simply making my own coffee is already a reasonably thrifty activity.  So I use good coffee, and splurge on a fresh filter every time.   

 Aye

One of my former clients was a real Billionaire. RIch.  He used to:

Go to costco on weekends and stand in line to buy toilet paper and paper towels by the 36 pack.

Walk around the house turning off all the lights his wife and kids left on.

Leave a lit flashlight out at the driveway as a beacon for guests rather than turning on the lights.

Examine ALL of his bills scrupulously for accuracy. He came after me once for three dollars on a thirty thousand dollar invoice.  

This is very impressive, as is Allan's tea story.

This has to be one of the funniest threads I've ever come across. It should be in a category of its own. Thanks for the smiles and laughs.