TRAVLERS REST, S.C. -- Have you ever known someone who goes to extremes just to save a penny? If not, you'll want to meet Brandy Long of Travelers Rest.

"I will go to some extremes to where someone may think, 'Wow, that's kind of weird,'" Long told News 4's Tim Waller.

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For example, the stay-at-home mom has come up with a way to save money on bananas in the grocery store.

"You pick up some bananas and whack off the ends of the banana (with a knife or box cutter). Ultimately it would save money because it's less per pound," Long said.

Long is even frugal with toilet paper. Flattening a roll with her hands, she demonstrates a kid-proven technique.

"Instead of having a nice round roll that will flow, you crinkle it, and when you put it on the roller, it's not going to project so much toilet paper when you roll it," she said.

The Queen of Penny-Pinching also washes and re-uses her baggies, instead of reaching for a new one each time.

When it comes to shampoo, Long says a dime-sized dab is all you need. And when shopping for a five-pound bag of potatoes in the grocery store, Long weighs each bag to see which is the heaviest.

"I've found them a pound more," Long said. "I'm going to find the one with the most."

Other tips include:

When making cakes or brownies, Long uses 1/3 less oil. She says it is cheaper and better for you.

She keeps plenty of snacks in her car because "kids always get hungry when you take them somewhere." (Long refuses to spend money on a vending machine.)

Instead of buying expensive Bioré strips (those sticky strips you put on your face to remove blackheads), Long uses Elmer's school glue instead. She claims it works just as well.

The benefit of Long's frugal lifestyle can be found in her pantry, which is overflowing with canned goods, jars of peanut butter, ketchup bottles and surplus groceries of all sorts.

Her extra freezer is also packed with meats, frozen vegetables, breadsticks and other freezer items that she purchased in bulk when the items went on sale.

But the real payoff for pinching pennies is Long's relative financial security.

"We live debt-free. I'm fairly young, and I'd say about eight years ago, we had our house paid for," Long said.

Long's two vehicles are also paid off. Plus, she has money in savings, including stocks, bond and IRAs.

"You have to scrutinize your lifestyle," Long said. "Do I need that cup of coffee every morning before I go to work, or can I make that at home? Saving money is contagious!"

Links:

The Tightwad Gazette: Brandi Long's favorite book: www.amazon.com/Complete-Tightwad

How to cut your grocery bills in half: www.smartspendingresources.com

Pay yourself first (from Oprah.com) oprah.com