25 Ways to Save Money, Use Coffee Filters, Frugal Living

August 3, 2010, updated August 27, 2014

From August of 2010, until today (August 27, 2014) I have continued to substitute coffee filters for paper towels, envelopes, protective layers, and toilet tissue. One of the things that makes me feel good about sharing space on this planet, is understanding that my words have helped people to save money and hopefully the environment.

There have been many times in four years when I have been someplace, usually work, where they have run out of paper towels, and I have had the opportunity to say, "hey, let's try a coffee filter." The responses ran from immediately accepting, to very unsure of what they were being told. If they comment about how good it worked, or whatever, I'll say, "oh, well I wrote an article on Twenty-Five ways to save money by using coffee filters, it's on HubPages." Really, there are big doubts as to how many ran home, and pulled this article up or not, but I have converts.

Twenty-five uses for coffee filters, living on the cheap; frugal living has saved me hundreds of dollars over the past several years.As a person who desires to be more Earth conscience, and wants to reduce my carbon footprint, I can say that these tips are ideas I have used, and coffee filters have saved the day.

Not only as a writer, but as a consumer, I heartily recommend the twenty-five uses included below.

For newlyweds, retirees, transients and students who want to, or must live within tighter budgets,, and are looking for thrifty tips without engaging nosy family members, this article is packed with good and easy ways to save money, while helping the environment. This should help stretch your pennies a bit farther.

You will amaze yourself with all of the things you can do with a package of coffee filters.

Coffee filters come in all sizes, shapes and types. There are store brands, off-brands, and name brand coffee filters. For a few dollars U.S. you can get fifty name brand filters, A typical store brand will outfit you with about two hundred filters for under five bucks.

Another bonus for the environment, is finding old packaged filters at yard sales. Many machines die right after purchasing filters, and they don't always work in another machine. By re-using the old filters, it keeps them out of the landfills.

Cheaper still.

Out of paper towels? Use 1 or a few coffee filters in place of paper towels.

1. Fried food - (Homemade Taquito Recipe) - place one to three filters on the plate to absorb grease.
2. Tea bags - place loose tea in the center, fold like a diaper, staple or clip closed. Use a yank of plain dental floss to create a string for your "bag"
3. Coffee bags - See Tea bags; repeat step two, except with coffee
4. Parts pouch - 1 or 2 filters, to save fish hooks, and other small tackle
5. Spills - Just one coffee filter can sop up a small to medium spill.

1. Fold in half, write any notes, and save your place in a book
2. Keep a small stack of coffee filters next to the phone, for messages
3. Place diamonds, or other precious jewels as a temporary storage, in a hurry.
4. Use vinegar, plus 1 or 2 coffee filters, to clean the countertops
5. White vinegar, and a coffee filter, will make your windows, or mirrors shine.

1. Toilet Paper - Use one or two natural, chlorine free, or organic coffee filters, and crumple them several times. It is probably best not to not flush the filters, and if you are camping (dispose of properly).
2. Shoe Liners - Put a drop or two of your favorite essential oil, cut filter in half, You can sprinkle some corn powder on the filters too for extra comfort
3. In an emergency, a coffee filter is an excellent place to store small chains, links, or jewels that have fallen from a setting
4. Six filters deep can be used for a pot holder (test before picking up the heavy pan), reuse for cleaning up spills.
5. Four filters can be used for emergency panties liner. Use the natural, organic, chlorine free. Crumple filters several times until they are soft. This is a temporary fix. (Be careful they do not cause irritation).

1. Use a large filter, to line the bottom of the cat food bowl (Do not leave in bowl unattended. remove when cat is done.)
2. Natural, and organic coffee filters to line the bottom of the refrigerator crisper, or veggie drawer for freshness. Change frequently.
3. If you are moving, or storing glassware, put in between bowls and cups.
4. Use a crumpled filter to take the extra lotion off your hands.
5. Use a large filter, rubber band large filter, with a small 'well' into the top of the cup. Place leaf tea in 'well', slowly, and carefully pour hot water, to use as a tea diffuser

1. When finding small fossils or shells, a coffee filter is a good item to use to mark and store items until they can be put on display.

2. Patting corn startch on coffee filters, and then patting under arm pits, when away from a bathroom or civilization, can be made ahead of time and stored in an air tight container.

3. When making crafts, such as the affordable and unique Christmas stockings, use strips, and small balls of coffee filters as stuffing to add dimension to your crafts.

4. Pack coffee filters in your emergency roadside kit. They take up less room than towels, and are heartier.

5. Use as a dust cloth.

All of these uses for Coffee filters were born of hard times, or when I had run out of something, this is mainly for fun, but as they say, "desperate times call for desperate measures".

Before using the coffee filter for an odd use, please make sure you are being safe, use common sense.