It's not a big tissue if you stop, flop and roll

National Radio's Afternoons with Jim Mora had a very humorous segment about toilet rolls. The question asked was: "How to do you hang your toilet roll - with the paper hanging to the front or the back?"
The programme was flooded with responses, proof that toilet rolls are much more interesting than local political takeovers and violent rebellion in distant lands.
It seems the toilet roll issue essentially came down to two things. Those wanting convenience went for paper hanging to the front while those who wanted frugality had their paper hanging to the back.
The frugality fraternity reasoned that if the toilet paper was too convenient people would use more.
Apparently the tissue issue does cause friction within some families.
We thought we would start this week's money-saving tips from our readers with a focus on bathroom savings.
"B" from Huntly saves money on toilet rolls by squashing them to make them flop, rather than roll. It reduces how much is used.
Janice from Oamaru: I buy basic handwash, and dilute it 50/50. Just as good. Mouthwash can also be diluted 50/50, too.
Frugalite from Hamilton: A good and economical laundry powder recipe is one bar sunlight soap (grated) and 1kg washing soda. Grind it all up in a blender or food processor. Use one tablespoon to each average load.
Rebecca from Brooklyn: After facing yet another pile of wet towels to wash and dry, I sat down and did a radical rethink of the situation. I remembered two things that have now made my towel washing and drying a breeze. My family were drying their hands on a bath-size towel. I remembered my mother used roller towels when I was a child, so I cut three spa pool-size towels lengthwise and joined the ends in a loop. I bought a hook-type towel hanger from Bunnings and we now have a hand towel that lasts several washes by rotating it round the hanger.
Jenny from Porirua: My husband built a clothes line on a pulley system which holds three loads of clothes. We have an extension on our house with an undercover space behind which also gets the breeze. I hang my washing out at night and retrieve it in the morning.
I have a dryer but very rarely use it.
Allie from Nelson: Keep a few used tea bags in the fridge. Makes a great moist compress for puffy eyes in the morning.
Frank and Muriel Newman are the authors of Living Off the Smell of an Oily Rag in NZ. Readers can submit their oily rag tips on-line at www.oilyrag.co.nz.