HIGH LIFE / A WEEKLY FORUM FOR HIGH SCHOOL STUDENTS : Cheap Thrills: Pinching Pennies for Fun and Profit

The Oakland Tribune, last year, asked readers to submit their favorite and even quirkiest money-saving habits and practices.

A Berkeley couple said that they save dental floss on a bathroom hook to be used another day and a Richmond man said he refreezes used ice cubes, backwash and all.

One person, unbelievable as it may seem, said, “I regulate my bodily functions so that I go to the bathroom during work hours. This saves on water, tissue and time. I can spend my hours at home doing something constructive, like cutting off expiration dates on coupons.”

Hot Topics wonders: “What’s your favorite or strangest money-saving habit or practice?”

“Whenever I go to fast-food restaurants, I bring the same cup. Then I make sure no one is looking when I go to get a drink.”

Dennis Shaffer, 16, junior, El Toro

“I stick the money in my running shorts and it gets so sweaty that people won’t take it.”

Tammie Keller, 17, senior, Marina

“Probably the longest time I’ve saved money was about one week, and that was just because I lost it and then found it again.”

Sheresa Nunez, 15, freshman, Saddleback

“I take all the change out of my pocket and put it into a coin bank. I also hide my bank card so I don’t withdraw any money from my account.”

Bill Sinn, 17, senior, Brea-Olinda

“Since I don’t have a car, I can’t spend any money.”

Vinh Tran, 17, senior, Woodbridge

“My friends and I bring our own food and drinks to the movies. We also stay and see more than one movie off one ticket.”

Stephanie Beltran, 15, sophomore, Santa Margarita

“I go shopping often because if you go shopping every weekend, you can get really good deals. I got a $36 shirt from the Gap for $6.95.”

Tia Malkin, 17, senior, El Toro

“I try not to eat out as much.”

Jerry Jen, 17, senior, Marina

“I save it in a big roll of ones, so it looks like I have more money.”

Mark Blake, 16, junior, Santa Margarita

“When I start to buy something, I always talk myself out of buying it. I walk around the store with it until I put it back.”

Kristie Siegele, 18, senior, Marina

“I give the money I get to my sister, so that I won’t spend it. But then I always end up getting it back from her because I hate not having money. Everything I see I want, so money doesn’t stick around very long.”

Thuy Tong, 17, senior, Saddleback

“I don’t cash my checks until the end of the month.”

Tina Carrillo, 17, senior, El Toro

“I have shelves high up on the walls. They are covered with dolls and books. Behind a couple of dolls, I hide a mug, and whenever I have a couple of extra dollars, I stash them in the mug. Whenever I need money, I can usually find some there. Sometimes I forget how much money there is in it, and it is a nice surprise to find more than I expected.”

Karen Ashton, 16, junior, Brea-Olinda

“I just don’t take any money with me, so then I won’t spend it.”

Karen Schwam, 17, senior, Woodbridge

“I take $20 from my paycheck and put it behind my mother’s picture.”

Paul Ambroze, 16, junior, Santa Margarita

“I’ll go home for lunch and I’ll try not to drive around a lot, so I don’t have to pay for gas.”

Paul Wrona, 17, senior, El Toro

“I ask my parents for cash.”

John Jones, 14, freshman, Marina

“I put money in a maroon, ceramic pig with my name on the side. I made it in third grade.”

Audrey Owen, 17, senior, Brea-Olinda

“I take all the change out of my pocket and throw it in a special jar. In a month, I’ll come up with about $20 or $25.”

Doug Barry, 17, senior, El Toro

Next Week’s Hot Topic:

In what non-sport areas should high school letters be awarded? Why?

Hot Topic responses gathered by Jooyoung Lee (Brea-Olinda), Dawn Stone (El Toro), Jenny Henderson (Marina), Nguyen-Hong Hoang (Saddleback), Suzanne Zamoyski (Santa Margarita) and Tomarra Wilds (Woodbridge).