Save Money by Not Flushing the Toilet?
March 11, 2009
Do you try and save money by flushing less often? I was visiting with a former co-worker yesterday about our pregnant wives, both due here in a few months, and he told me about a little argument they were having.
He’s feeling quite strapped for cash with all the baby expenses they’ve had and will have once the little one arrives. So he’s looking for any way he can to save money and he came up with an idea that’s gotten him into a lot of trouble.
Here’s the background. As all women who’ve been pregnant know, the farther along you get in the pregnancy, the more frequently you have to use the bathroom. His wife is now getting up sometimes as many as 8–9 times in the middle of the night to go to the bathroom and he thought they could save some money on their water bill by asking her to wait until the morning to flush, instead of on each trip.
His request didn’t go over so well and now they’re arguing about how often she should flush the toilet. She’s so mad at him that she’s actually flushing the toilet even more often now just to get under his skin : ) I told him he should have never brought something like that up with a pregnant women but he still thinks it’s a good idea. What do you think?
I am so grossed out! I should have never read this post, but this like a bad accident, you have to look! eeewww….
This is an age old question easily resolved via the following adage:
“If it’s yellow, let it mellow; if it’s brown, flush it down!”
Hah, this reminds me of a similar debate I have with my wife now and then. I claim I don’t flush in the middle of the night because I don’t want to wake her up. I really want to save a flush though. Think about it; what a waste. We take things like this for granted in the US, where 5% of the global population consumers 25% of the world’s energy…and clean water at a horrid pace. Most other countries in the world have toilets that autoflush after multiple uses only, or they just go in a hole or whatever.
Anyone freaking out over this needs to have some perspective.
In Defense of “Filling the Bowl:!
This reminds me of my “Frugal vs. Cheap” Comparisons post; I knew someone who actually took their clothes to someone else’s house while they were gone to do laundry there to save money. Now, that’s cheap!
While I don’t think that it’s necessarily a bad idea overall, perhaps trying to institute this new rule while your wife is going around feeling like the Goodyear blimp isn’t the best idea. For the next couple of months, let the woman flush if it makes her happy!
Yes the world should subscribe to the “If it’s yellow let it mellow” rule. But buddy, pick your battles more wisley.
I’ve been practicing this for years…no need to waste on a #1. Notably, this practice went over a lot better when I was living with 3 male college roommates than when I moved in with my fiancé. (she’s gotten used to it though).
Easy compromise… take an old milk jug, fill it with water, and put it in the back of the toilet. Less water will get used with each flush. And a domestic squabble is solved
Using something to displace water in the tank (a soda bottle filled with water, a brick, etc) will reduce the amount of water used per flush. Also, he might want to look at the actual numbers. I think when he sees how much he is charged for water the extra flushes may not add up to much.
That not a good idea to save the money. I think use the water tank is better. Save the water in the tank especially in rainy day. It better.
I agree with Everyday Finance — Let it Mellow! I can only imagine how much water would be saved if they cut out 8 flushes per night. That would really add up over the year. I’ve been subscribing to that philosophy ever since we, here in Georgia, have been in a draught for over a year now. Water is a resource, and CLEAN water is a priviledge. I don’t see the point in wasting it on waste. I think this is definitely an easy way to cut costs.
House w/ seven boys (and Mom). Cost of urinals in bathrooms turned out not to be economical but the “only when necessary” flush rule is a great thing. There are new toilets out (I’ve read) that let you choose a “lighter” flush as appropriate.
Especially during the night – no problem. But yes, it was poor judgement to broach the subject during pregnancy (cut the poor woman some slack!).
BTW – like so many other practical things that used to gross people out (”buy something that someone else has already used? Ewww), when the green people or Hollywood types endorse it — it will actually become fashionable.
Brad Pitt? Sean Penn? Just watch
He may not be saving as much money as he thinks. In most places in the US water costs about 0.1 to 0.2 cents per gallon. A typical toilet will use 2-4 gallons per flush. So we’re talking 0.2 to 0.8 cents per flush. Worst case of 8 flushes a night at 4 gallons per flush and 0.2 cent cost per gallon he’s looking at maybe saving around $6-7 bucks a month.
Is $6-7 bucks a month for the few remaining months of the pregnancy that big of a deal? Is it worth the fight with the wife?
He could also save some water by simply putting a brick in the toilet tank.
Personally I think saving the water is important but people have to understand that not flushing every time simply won’t be accepted by everyone.
My 2¢ = 10 gallons
Jim
Hmm.. I think I had an error in my math somewhere. Its probablly only about $2 savings a month:
8 flushes/day x 4 gallons/flush x $ 0.002 per gallon x 30 days a month
=8 x 4 x .002 x 30 = 1.92
= $1.92 / month savings
I am a woman and currently do not flush every time when it’s just yellow. There is a drought here in Calif so we also need to not waste water.
I think he should not try to battle with the mother of his child. Pregnancy hormones are not something to mess with. After the pregnancy he might try to bring it up if he is still concerned.
I fluctuate between ‘mellowing’ and not doing it….but I live alone and have two bathrooms so there is always a clean one for guests!!!!
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Don’t put a brick in your toilet. It’s hard on the plumbing, especially if the brick disintegrates completely and chunks are lodged in your plumbing.
Use a plastic water bottle. We all have them and they’re cheaper and more suitable for this purpose.
Well, he learned his lesson then. You never mess with mom.
However, the idea is sound, and I would suggest that you could even save by flushing ever other time, vs. every trip to the bathroom.
-Grant
Don’t spend it… Or better said, “Pay yourself first.” One popular way to do this is (if your employer can) to have a portion of the money from your check sent to a separate account if you have direct deposit, or to get 2 checks one to spend and one to save.
I use a 32oz pee-bottle for urine.
If it’s solid, I flush it.
[...] friend managed to get in an argument about how much to flush the toilet. I’m sure they’ll look back on this one day and laugh. (I hope [...]
Water bills are no laughing matter. We pay twice for our H2O usage: metered out of the tap, and billed the same amount for sewer. Having moved to a larger home, we saw our bills leap fourfold. I suggested the ‘why not save a flush’ technique in order to do two main things: save money on water, and save POTABLE water for the overall benefit of the planet. I don’t think it’s been mentioned, but does anyone else in N. America not think it is ridiculous to use drinking water to flush our waste? We save water, we save money, and we reduce the risk of plumbing issues in the future. Well worth the early squeamish factor in my book.
[...] friend managed to get in an argument about how much to flush the toilet. I’m sure they’ll look back on this one day and laugh. (I hope [...]
There are so many other places in your home where you should first be looking to save money. While my wife thinks that it would be ok to wait (if its only #1) I think its nasty. If you don’t want to flush, go build an outhouse in your backyard for yourself. Another thing you could do that is a bit more shall we say “modern” is to update your toilet. I just remodeled our hall bathroom and replaced our 40 year old 3.5 or 4 gpm toilet with a 1.25gpm high efficiency toilet. I paid less than $200 for it. Also make sure that you don’t have any leaky faucets. The good news is this; If you don’t want to spend $200 for a more efficient toilet the wood for an outhouse, a shovel and hammer and nails will cost a lot less than that. You’ll start seeing your savings almost immediately. I do think the silliest thing you did to be sure was mess with a pregnant woman about how many times she flushes the toilet. That would be last thing on your mind if you were carrying around an extra 15 or 20 pounds pushing on your organs (and most importantly your BLADDER) plus the incessant back pain for 9 months. And if you’re counting flushes now, what are you going to do when the diapers, daycare, schooling and college fees hit you across the mouth? Your private outhouse is sounding better by the minute. Good luck however you sort it out.
i think thats a bad idea to get into even though it “sounds” like a good idea. You get into that kind of a habit, you start going to public places and not flushing the toilet. I guess word is getting around on my college campus because i’ve entered the college library so many times and found toilets not flushed with #2 that i’ve totally lost count how many remain unflushed. And depending on how long its sat there, it usually then stinks up the whole bathroom that you want to throw up upon entering. And people are wondering where swine flu is coming from?? How much disease comes from a stagnant toilet that has sat for say three hours in a public place?? I’ve even seen a college professor do it. COME ON FLush the TOILET!!!! ITS NOT that HARD!!
i also agree with D a couple of posts up. If how many times you flush the toilet is your biggest problem mone-wise, you’re gonna have rude awaking in a few years!!
Build a sawdust toilet, compost heap, and grow your own food. stop pooping in drinking water and turn your excrement into fertilizer. then you really save.
This is hilarious. A conversation over 5 months has been spent on talking about a toilet and how many times you flush it. You will save money if you didn’t have the internet to have this conversation on…
Go outside and pee. Diluted urine is an excellent fertilizer; if applied straight, it makes a good (and organic) weedkiller. It jumpstarts the action in your compost heap. Why waste it?
I live alone, am unemployed and recently had a friend tell me she saved quite a bit. It was amazing to see my ten dollar water bill go to 20.00 a month now that I am home. Yes, I use the back bathroom and flush every third time. I know I am saving money.