Go Back   EcoModder Forum > Off-Topic > The Lounge
Register Now
 Register Now
 


Reply  Post New Thread
 
Submit Tools LinkBack Thread Tools
Old 08-23-2011, 01:04 AM   #1 (permalink)
Muscle Car Modder
 
Floordford's Avatar
 
Join Date: May 2011
Location: Nashville
Posts: 117

QuikSilver - '00 Ford Mustang GT
90 day: 24.7 mpg (US)
Thanks: 4
Thanked 7 Times in 6 Posts
Frugality in the other areas of your life

I had wondered if the majority of those here were also penny pincers in other areas of their life. Or if you guys recycled. Or were just conservative all around.

Myself, I try to recycle. Not spend unwisely. I try to keep a tidy apartment. I don't wash my car as much as I probably should because I feel bad letting go of that $5. Im not a penny pincher but i definitely try to spend wisely. I do as much work on my car as possible. I used to work at a Ford dealership so my skills are not weak by any means. Over all, I can stand to live life with a little less than others. And im okay with not over extending myself to get rich.

__________________
2000 Mustang GT
273hp/ 309ft.lbs.
Cd 0.36 Im working on it
  Reply With Quote
Alt Today
Popular topics

Other popular topics in this forum...

   
Old 08-23-2011, 07:14 AM   #2 (permalink)
Master EcoModder
 
Join Date: Jul 2008
Location: Tallmadge, OH
Posts: 313
Thanks: 6
Thanked 26 Times in 21 Posts
I use water from the dehumidifier to water plants or flush the toilet
  Reply With Quote
Old 08-23-2011, 08:33 AM   #3 (permalink)
Administrator
 
Daox's Avatar
 
Join Date: Dec 2007
Location: Germantown, WI
Posts: 11,203

CM400E - '81 Honda CM400E
90 day: 51.49 mpg (US)

Daox's Grey Prius - '04 Toyota Prius
Team Toyota
90 day: 49.53 mpg (US)

Daox's Insight - '00 Honda Insight
90 day: 64.33 mpg (US)

Swarthy - '14 Mitsubishi Mirage DE
Mitsubishi
90 day: 56.69 mpg (US)

Daox's Volt - '13 Chevrolet Volt
Thanks: 2,501
Thanked 2,585 Times in 1,553 Posts
I don't really ecomod for frugality's sake. There are much better reasons to do it IMO. Plus, I find it to be more fun and challenging versus modifying for power. I do extend this mentality to the other parts of my life. I think we Americans are wasteful to the point it disgusts me.

That being said, all of the mods I have done to the Paseo have way more than paid for themselves. The Prius is coming up on paying for its mods too and that includes a PHEV kit that has barely been used that was not cheap.
__________________
Current project: A better alternator delete
  Reply With Quote
Old 08-23-2011, 03:42 PM   #4 (permalink)
Master EcoModder
 
Join Date: Sep 2009
Posts: 5,927
Thanks: 877
Thanked 2,024 Times in 1,304 Posts
Disciplined AC and heat use, passive solar incorporated into the house in design and geographic location. Full width front porch that blocks direct sunlight in summer while allowing significant solar heating in winter. Garage semi submerged for warmer temps in winter and cooler in summer.

Recycled close to 200 salvage vehicles, with the vast majority being fuel efficient. Have been driving fuel efficient cars since I bought a new 84 CRX 1.5 in late 1983. Averaged 44 MPG in that car for 50 k miles.

Working on prototyping my patented hydraulic in wheel drive.

regards
Mech
  Reply With Quote
Old 08-23-2011, 03:54 PM   #5 (permalink)
(:
 
Frank Lee's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jan 2008
Location: up north
Posts: 12,762

Blue - '93 Ford Tempo
Last 3: 27.29 mpg (US)

F150 - '94 Ford F150 XLT 4x4
90 day: 18.5 mpg (US)

Sport Coupe - '92 Ford Tempo GL
Last 3: 69.62 mpg (US)

ShWing! - '82 honda gold wing Interstate
90 day: 33.65 mpg (US)

Moon Unit - '98 Mercury Sable LX Wagon
90 day: 21.24 mpg (US)
Thanks: 1,585
Thanked 3,555 Times in 2,218 Posts
Frugal is good; living beneath my means has lead to having plenty!
__________________


  Reply With Quote
The Following User Says Thank You to Frank Lee For This Useful Post:
Diesel_Dave (08-28-2011)
Old 08-23-2011, 07:37 PM   #6 (permalink)
...beats walking...
 
Join Date: Jul 2009
Location: .
Posts: 6,190
Thanks: 179
Thanked 1,525 Times in 1,126 Posts
...I'm constantly monitoring our electrical power usage: hourly readings and 6-hour intervals. So far, our "summer A/C" scaling looks to be roughly:

• 00:00-06:00 = 10%
• 06:00-12:00 = 20%
• 12:00-18:00 = 40%
• 18:00-24:00 = 30%

...or, 30% in mornings and 70% in afternoons...which makes sense when you consider that our summer solar "heating" begins at about 06:00 and doesn't wane (drop below 100ºF) until after 18:00-19:00.
  Reply With Quote
Old 08-25-2011, 08:26 PM   #7 (permalink)
Master EcoModder
 
larrybuck's Avatar
 
Join Date: Apr 2011
Location: sw Washington (state), a little north of Vancouver
Posts: 1,142
Thanks: 295
Thanked 111 Times in 82 Posts
Being frugal all around, just makes good sense! The game is always on: how many days can I go w/o having to go to a store to buy anything?
  Reply With Quote
Old 08-26-2011, 02:01 AM   #8 (permalink)
Pishtaco
 
SentraSE-R's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jun 2009
Location: Bay Area, California
Posts: 1,485

Mean Green Toaster Machine - '06 Scion xB
Team Toyota
90 day: 48.92 mpg (US)
Thanks: 56
Thanked 286 Times in 181 Posts
I, too, find frugality a virtue. I paid off my home mortgage in 9 years.
__________________
Darrell

Boycotting Exxon since 1989, BP since 2010
Have you ever noticed that anybody driving slower than you is an idiot, and anyone going faster than you is a maniac? George Carlin
Mean Green Toaster Machine
49.5 mpg avg over 53,000 miles. 176% of '08 EPA
Best flat drive 94.5 mpg for 10.1 mi
Longest tank 1033 km (642 mi) on 10.56 gal = 60.8 mpg

Last edited by SentraSE-R; 08-26-2011 at 11:17 AM..
  Reply With Quote
Old 08-26-2011, 11:10 PM   #9 (permalink)
sid
EcoModding Apprentice
 
Join Date: Apr 2010
Location: Florida
Posts: 202

grayranger - '10 Ford Ranger XL 2 door supercab
90 day: 30.43 mpg (US)
Thanks: 27
Thanked 48 Times in 28 Posts
I paid off my mortgage in less than six years. 25 years later, I still think it was the best financial move in my life.

My experience is that if I want something, if I am patient it will frequently fall in my lap for either free or next to nothing. Impatience is what cost me money.

A problem is that it sometimes takes a couple of years before that "want" falls in my lap. Sometimes, you just can't wait that long.
__________________
2010 Ford Ranger, extra cab, 2.3 liter
http://www.stonemarmot.com

Band's latest song/music video "I Sing Along"
  Reply With Quote
The Following 2 Users Say Thank You to sid For This Useful Post:
Frank Lee (08-26-2011), JonNC (08-26-2011)
Old 08-26-2011, 11:21 PM   #10 (permalink)
Aero Apprentice
 
swede's Avatar
 
Join Date: Aug 2009
Location: Winnipeg, Canada
Posts: 59
Thanks: 4
Thanked 6 Times in 4 Posts
Wow, you guys make me feel like a spend-easy fella.

Mine is; I replaced the shingles on my house this year, and used a lighter color shingle rather than the black that was on the house to minimize heat load in the summer. That, and while I reshingled (yes, I did it my self, house and garage) I installed roof vents to reduce the amount of hot air trapped in the attic, thus lowering the heat load on the house yet again.

Small things, but noticeable differences..........

Swede

__________________
1994 electricfly EV conversion 36V/450A/60km/h
1997 Suzuki Sprint hatch (parts car?)
1998 Geo Metro sedan 1.3L auto (the wifes)
2009 GMC Sierra 27us/mpg best yet (still workin on it)
  Reply With Quote
Reply  Post New Thread


Thread Tools




Powered by vBulletin® Version 3.8.11
Copyright ©2000 - 2024, vBulletin Solutions Inc.
Content Relevant URLs by vBSEO 3.5.2
All content copyright EcoModder.com