And the Thrifty Bird Settled on a Branch and Sang "Cheap! Cheap!"

The June issue of Consumer Reports (consumerreports.org) has a list of ways to save money. Since it was culled from "staff and reader tips" ... no thanks possible...

* When you fly, take your own sandwich on the plane, do security with an empty water bottle and fill it up after you've made it to your gate.

* Instead of throwing out the plastic cover from the dry cleaners, knot up the hangar hole and use it for a trash can liner.

* Skip going to the "Live!" big-name concert and buy the concert DVD instead for about $20 rather than paying through the nose to actually be there (with the guy behind you singing along and the people in front all standing up.)

*Clothes that are labeled "dry clean recommended" can be (carefully) machine washed. But never wash something tagged "dry clean only."

* If you don't want to cook, go get takeout. There's no table service so no tip necessary and you can resist getting dessert, too. And eat only half of whatever you get and save the rest for lunch the next day.

But this is going too far -- flatten the toilet paper roll a little. It won't spin around as much and waste paper!