Readers share more of their clever ways to save money:

Grocery routine. My husband and I always shop for groceries with the sale flier and our box of coupons. We rarely purchase items that aren't on sale or don't have a coupon for a discount. After each shopping trip, I collect the register tapes and clip them together. At the end of each month, I add up how much I saved with coupons and sales, which is listed on every receipt.

Then I write a check for that amount and deposit it into our savings account. By writing a check once a month, you can really see the savings you earn from grocery sales and coupons. If you just put the savings from each trip in your pocket, it gets wasted on unnecessary things.

— Elaine K., e-mail

Checking cushion. In my checkbook, instead of deducting or adding the exact amount of each transaction, I round up or round down. If a transaction was a debt of $13.06, I deduct $14. Because I use my checking account so much, this adds up quickly. I have managed to save hundreds of dollars this way. I keep a periodic running total of the actual amount in a separate area of my register. I now have about a $350 cushion in my checking account .

— Jannaya, e-mail

Spray mist. I have dry skin, so I use a lot of lotion. In an effort to save money, I tried switching to baby oil. I love it, but I do not love the mess and the waste that it makes when it comes out of the bottle too fast. One day, I decided

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to pour the baby oil into an empty spray bottle. It works really well to spray only a fine mist. It doesn't make a mess anymore, and I don't use too much.

— Heather S., California

Hair spray clog. If you have a hair spray nozzle that is sticky with gunk, remove it and soak it in a dish of rubbing alcohol overnight. Rinse it with water and replace it. The nozzle will work like new!

— Kim, California

Special sparkle. I use car wax on a soft white rag to polish my silver and gold jewelry. It does an amazing job of removing all the black oxidation and dirt that clouds jewelry. The wax easily wipes off, leaving jewelry sparkling and clean.

— Lisa L., Oregon

Whitening wisdom. To whiten my teeth, I pour a capful of peroxide under my tongue and dip my toothbrush in baking soda. I brush for about a minute, and then I brush again with regular toothpaste. (Be careful not to swallow while you brush, as peroxide is poisonous if ingested, and be sure to rinse with water.) I do this at least every two weeks. The baking soda and peroxide help keep my teeth clean and bright white.

— Rita, e-mail

Drain diligence. Instead of pouring toxic chemicals down your shower or sink drain when it starts to run slowly, grab a short-handled plunger. Fill the sink or tub with cold water, and plunge like crazy. The drain will open up like magic.

— Jan C., Michigan

Write to mary@everydaycheapskate.com.