Dont Throw That Good Sheet Away!
By CatsandDogs
@CatsandDogs (13963)
United States
June 22, 2009 5:36pm CST
That's right! If the top sheet is in decent shape but the fitted sheet is ratty, throw the fitted sheet away (or tear it into little pieces and use as rags) and get a new one! Stores now sell each parts separately so we don't have to buy the full set anymore! It doesn't matter what size, twin, double, queen or king, you can match up the printed top sheet with a solid color fitted sheet and no one will be none the wiser!! lol I've done that a few times with my queen sheets which go into our guest bedroom and it works like a charm! I bought a white fitted sheet to go with a very bright and colorful top sheet that I had and it matched very nicely! Now on another set I had these odd colors but pretty however the fitted sheet was so worn out so I took the sheet to the store to match it with a fitted sheet and lo and behold! I have another set again and it's so much cheaper than having to buy a whole set! I'll be doing it with my king bed too when the time comes. Why not?! If it saves money then heck yeah! I'll do it!!
Do you do this to save money? When living frugally, one has to come up with some good ideas to make that dollar stretch as far as it can go and this idea does work for me so I thought I'd pass it on!
Happy frugal living at it's best!! 
lol
lol12 people like this
16 responses
@jazzymadeit (11)
• United States
22 Jun 09
Well I have done the same but not necessarily for the same reason. I love changing up the pattern of my room but still like to stick to the same colors( my room is teal black and white. I recently bought a new solid teal bedroom set because my old one was a bit worn and then bought 2 different top sheets in different black and white prints. I then bought solid black and solid white pillowcases from walmart. Its way cheaper and now I can switch it up a bit every once in a while without changing every single little piece in my room. I am a college student so have a very tight budget but still love a change of look here and there. Buying new accessories is always way cheaper than buying a new outfit.
6 people like this
@thyst07 (2079)
• United States
22 Jun 09
You can also sometimes get a good lone sheet at a thrift store. That's where I usually go if I need to replace just one sheet, because they often have mismatched sheets that people have donated. I've found some nice sheet sets at my local thrift store, too. Beats the heck out of paying $30-$60 on a pair of new sheets!
5 people like this
@CatsandDogs (13963)
• United States
23 Jun 09
That's a neat way to decorate your room jazzy. I've never thought about doing it that way and well, I like it!
thyst07 - I wouldn't pay $30 - $60 for a set of sheets!! Oh my gosh!! That's way too much. I go to the Dollar General and get sheets for $20.!
thyst07 - I wouldn't pay $30 - $60 for a set of sheets!! Oh my gosh!! That's way too much. I go to the Dollar General and get sheets for $20.!2 people like this
@jazzymadeit (11)
• United States
23 Jun 09
Yeah I get so much use out of my sheets and stuff like that I wouldn't spend 60 bucks either for sheet sets! I got a whole bedroom set thats the comforter bed sham,fitted sheet, flat sheet, 2 pillow shams, and a decorative throw all for less than 60 bucks from Walmart! You cant beat that.
3 people like this
@ANTIQUELADY (36440)
• United States
22 Jun 09
I have done the same thing, Cat. i'm an expert when it comes to living frugally. I GUESS IF I got a million dollors i'd still do the same thing. I have done it so long & been out on my own for so long i wouldn't know how to live differently. 'AIN'T SO BAD',
.
.@CatsandDogs (13963)
• United States
23 Jun 09
I would too Jo, I would too. In fact, hubby got his inheritance, we've saved it and are kind of still living and spending like we've been doing. I'll always live frugally because I've been in the "poor house for way too long and too many times" so now we have something to cushion us if anything were to happen. Not bragging about that either, just the plain ole truth.
3 people like this
@GardenGerty (157555)
• United States
23 Jun 09
Yes, I have done this. I have also bought extra pillowcases when the old ones look bad or if I use additional pillows on the bed. One step further, and you will probably like this: When my daughter got married, I did the decor and the food for the reception at the church. I combined layers of solid table cloths with florals and prints that were made from old sheets I got at the thrift shops. The mixes of prints and pastels, round and square was very attractive. I had some banquet style white cloths for the serving tables as well.
3 people like this
@CatsandDogs (13963)
• United States
23 Jun 09
That sounds oh so pretty GG!! Wow.... you have a great mind for crafts just like my two grandmothers. I wish I had that. I can make something that I've seen and looked at really good but to come up with idea's, that's not my specialty. My wedding was frugal too. Hubby and I spent about a $1,000. which included my dress and his dress blues. I bought the flowers and my grandmother made my bouquet while I made the corsages for the guys and flowers for the girls. My best friend's mother made my cake as a wedding gift and exactly how I wanted it. It was gorgeous! It went on just like that, everything worked out which kept the cost down. A good friend of mine made these gorgeous flowers that seed was put in and all they had to do was flick them and the seed would come flying out! lol It was beautiful in every way but with help from my "helpers" lol....
2 people like this
@tjburcham (690)
• United States
25 Jun 09
It's been years since I had bought sheets. I usually had hand me downs from the family. I need to throw blankets and sheets out. If I had a sewing maching I might get creative and make some pillows or stuffed toys or even grocery bags with all the rags that I would have. From torn up worn out material I have. Thinking about it I have only one actual set of bedding, that I bought new.
2 people like this
@CatsandDogs (13963)
• United States
25 Jun 09
Why not sew them by hand? Or what about a friend to do it for you once you cut it out the way you want it? I'm sure you know someone with a sewing machine, some where, right? lol About new sheets, if you live in the states, go to a Dollar General store and buy sheets there because they are soooo much cheaper than the regular stores are. We have a kind sized bed and sheets for it costs only $20. so you can only imagine how cheap the other sizes are!! lol
1 person likes this
@peedielyn (1207)
• United States
23 Jun 09
GREAT IDEA, CATSANDDOGS! I never thought of the changing out the fitted for something else. We were just talking about this last week. The bottom sheet was looking rather old and I said that we needed a new set, blah, blah blah. I usually take old sheets and sew them into quilts, or stand covers (like placemats only for your furniture) and then some.
As far as old stuff for frugality, I just cleaned out all the drawers and found the other half of the socks that we had thrown away because they had no mates. I got a lightbulb. Take those socks that have no mates and dust the furniture with them. I have done this before but being as busy as I have been lately, it just slipped my mind. I gave a couple to my girls for the chalk board, and then I spray them with endust and let them polish the floors with them. They have fun, my housework gets done and my "missing" socks now have a purpose....No more wasting paper towels either!
2 people like this
@CatsandDogs (13963)
• United States
24 Jun 09
I'm glad you liked the idea!! Cool!! Makes me feel good that I helped a fellow friend!! lol Did you see my post about socks without it's mate? What I do with mine is save it to match with another sock that loses it's mate due to holes or lost somewhere in cyberspace. Don't you wonder where the mates to these socks go? I know I do!! lol But yeah, dusting is a really good use for them. My mom just learned that a few years ago and told me about it which I do do when I can't find a mate to it.
2 people like this
@candy2306 (576)
• India
23 Jun 09
Hi, I never throw my sheets. I usually make into rugs or hand-towel in the kitchen. Not only that, I make small bag like pouches for storing sake. After reading your post, I too interested to try your way.
2 people like this
@CatsandDogs (13963)
• United States
24 Jun 09
What you do is good! At least the sheet isn't being thrown away when it's still usable in some way. But yeah, you could save it and continue to use it as a sheet if you got a new fitted sheet to go with it. It will save you on some money that you won't have to spend on the whole package of new sheets.
1 person likes this
@lingli_78 (12822)
• Australia
23 Jun 09
thanks for the tips... with recession time like this, we can definitely use some tips to live frugally so that our $ can stretch further like you say... i had been trying to live frugally whenever i can to save some money... and it works wonderfully for me... i had been able to do it for sometimes now and i am really happy with it... any tips that can help me to save money is really appreciated... take care and have a nice day...
1 person likes this
@CatsandDogs (13963)
• United States
24 Jun 09
Awwwww thanks lingli!! I'm really glad to be of help!! We're all in this damned recession together so we need to help each other with ideas to make that dollar stretch as far as it can go. I'll pass along more as I think of them. Did you see the one about socks?
1 person likes this
@danishcanadian (28953)
• Canada
23 Jun 09
That is a good idea, as long as the colours go together. I hadn't thought of that idea before, but it's a good one. I tend to use different shades of the same colour that i buy at IKEA. I don't buy a lot of prints, mostly plain stuff. however, that mix and match is a great idea.
2 people like this
@CatsandDogs (13963)
• United States
23 Jun 09
Glad that I posted it! lol Even with solids you could get a solid white flat sheet and it'll match because white goes with everything. Look at response #1, I like their idea of mix matching solid colors to match their room. It sparked a new idea for me! lol Isn't it cool how we learn from one another? lol Call me nutty!
lol Even with solids you could get a solid white flat sheet and it'll match because white goes with everything. Look at response #1, I like their idea of mix matching solid colors to match their room. It sparked a new idea for me! lol Isn't it cool how we learn from one another? lol Call me nutty! 2 people like this
@happythoughts (4109)
• United States
25 Jun 09
We save all our old material for rags. My Hubby likes to work on cars and those old sheets are wonderful when he paints things. It makes a nice barrier to keep the over spray from painting other things.
We try to buy solid sheets so that they are easier to match when we have to but really we are not to picky, if they dont match, oh well. We only see the comforter anyway.
We also use old sheets to make clothes out of. They make nice pajama pants.
@CatsandDogs (13963)
• United States
25 Jun 09
There you go! I couldn't have said it better!! Although I wish I could sew but I can't get my machine to work right so I've given up however, I do try to keep my good sheets to match up with a fitted sheet so to continue the life of the sheet since it's still good.
1 person likes this
@byfaithonly (10698)
• United States
23 Jun 09
I never thought of doing this but what a great idea to get an extra set out of the remaining top sheet. I've actually purchased the flat sheets and used them for curtains - a stitch across the top makes a pocket for the curtain rod and they gather nicely. I did blue in one room and green in my son's room (his choice). Much less expensive than buying curtains.
@CatsandDogs (13963)
• United States
23 Jun 09
Now that's a good idea too!! I like that one and will keep that one in mind as well. Have you read all the other comments? If you haven't, please do, it's right interesting! Thanks for posting your idea, it gives me ideas to pass along.... lol
2 people like this
@saundyl (9783)
• Canada
23 Jun 09
I've done this as well. Rather than using the old sheet for ALL rags i take the not raggy parts and make into a vareity of quilts or throw blankets. It definitly saves money on sheets and on fabric for quilting and rags.
Thats an awesome tip!
I've also gone and bought the top sheets for both quilting and for bedding for camping - that way no matter what size bed i have to use i have a bottom sheet and top sheet for my bed!
1 person likes this
@CatsandDogs (13963)
• United States
24 Jun 09
There you go! Quilting is another great idea, IF you know how to quilt!! I wish I did but I'm not much into sewing for I can't get a machine to work right no matter how many times I've tried. I finally ended up selling my machine but I do want to take some sewing classes to refresh my memory of the 6th grade when I took home ec which was a LONG TIME AGO!! Shhhhh!! No tellin!! LOL But yeah, that's a great ole idea!! And so are all the others!! Thanks for passing that on!
2 people like this
@saundyl (9783)
• Canada
28 Jun 09
I took home ec in grade 7 we made boxer shorts. I didnt take it again. When i went to university my grandma taught me how to quilt - i find it VERY different from sewing clothing. Lots of straight lines in the patterns i choose. I'm not good at doing curves.
@ladym33 (10979)
• United States
23 Jun 09
I have bought them seperately before, that is a great tip. I always shop the clearance sales for my sheets and pillow cases and things like that, nobody is really going to see them, so I don't really have to worry about what they look like, so I will buy the prettiest ones I can find on clearance and if they are really not all that pretty, who cares?
@CatsandDogs (13963)
• United States
24 Jun 09
LOL That's exactly how I feel!! LOL Pretty or not, who's going to see them but you? I shop at the Dollar General for my sheets for their prices are REALLY good! A kind set is only $20.! Sheesh, you can't beat that.... can you? lol
1 person likes this
@bunnybon7 (50973)
• Holiday, Florida
28 Jun 09
Also, you can sometimes find either top or bottom matches at a Goodwill or other second hand store that is in good shape, no tares, some barely worn. i've done this many times. you just have to look them over good to see if they are in good shape and make sure you wash them before using even if they look clean. in any case i've also found complete sets in good shape. i love shopping second hand.
2 people like this
@paula27661 (15811)
• Australia
23 Jun 09
Great idea Cats! I have quite a few top sheets in the cupboard that end up being used in the dog kennel, as paint sheets or end up in the trash. I never occurred to me to keep them and buy a new fitted sheet. Money is tight at the moment and hints like this are greatly appreciated. Thanks for the post!
2 people like this
@CatsandDogs (13963)
• United States
24 Jun 09
I'm glad to be of help!! Frugal times calls for frugal measures! We need to help each other make that darned dollar stretch as far as we can for we're all in this recession together so we need to pass our saving money secrets around! Right?
3 people like this
@SomeCowgirl (32191)
• United States
2 Jul 09
That sounds like a plan to me! lol! I don't see the problem with doing that. Sometimes it even gives the bed it's own style with a bit of matching of different bedding sets. They are so expensive now with some being $100.00 or around that. Wal Mart does have cheaper and very stylish bedding though, even so nothing beats just buying individuals sheets.
@jedopi (401)
• Canada
30 Jun 09
I like to use old sheets and even t-shirts not only as rags, but I crochet rag rugs out of them. I cut them into strips and then start crocheting. Of course when you used t-shirts you will have to use quite a few or very large ones to make a rug. I made a two tone star shaped rug made from two large t-shirts for my eldest daughter. She uses it as a mat beside her bed. My other daughter has a pink and yellow striped rectangle shaped rug with fringes beside her bed that I made out of other large t-shirts. It is a great way to use up material that some people would just toss in the garbage. Just because an object isn't any good for its original use anymore does not mean that it cannot be used as something else. It just takes a little imagination.
