Frugal living tips

[superiorgirl]

It seems like all of the talk on the tube and radio is about how rotten the economy is and what terrible shape we are in. My (thrifted) magazines have articles about ways to save money. The other side of it is about going green. My parents lived through the depression and as a result are frugal. I grew up doing things like using the wrapper from the butter to grease baking pans, rinsing and reusing plastic bags, standing bottles on their ends to let the last remaining product drain down and be used.

When I read/hear tips on how to save money, I find that most often they have always been standard operating procedure for us. It makes it very difficult to cut costs when you live economically to begin with!!!

So, I am wondering if anyone here has some suggestions that might be unique?? Dig deep!!

[Jay2TheRescue]

It seems like all of the talk on the tube and radio is about how rotten the economy is and what terrible shape we are in. My (thrifted) magazines have articles about ways to save money. The other side of it is about going green. My parents lived through the depression and as a result are frugal. I grew up doing things like using the wrapper from the butter to grease baking pans, rinsing and reusing plastic bags, standing bottles on their ends to let the last remaining product drain down and be used.

When I read/hear tips on how to save money, I find that most often they have always been standard operating procedure for us. It makes it very difficult to cut costs when you live economically to begin with!!!

So, I am wondering if anyone here has some suggestions that might be unique?? Dig deep!!

Grandma used to tear her dryer sheets in half, and use them several times.

[SecondhandSophisticate]

superiorgirl, I ponder this question also. DH and I very rarely eat out, monitor our gas comsumption, shop at thrift stores. DH has been brown-bagging it to work for over 30 years.  What's left for us would be to: 1. Disconnect cable; 2. Stop the newspaper. We don't smoke or drink and his gym membership is $10 a month. I think we may cut out the film club membership, that's 18 bucks a month and we barely have access to anything we really want to see. We joined only because we live in Podunk and the movies that play/get sent here are all for the 18-34 male crowd which have never and will never appeal to me. This week, except for gas for my car, I have spent only 2.50. Today I am having lunch with a friend whom I have not seen in two years, so I will spend money going out to lunch, first time I've been out to lunch with a friend since September.  

We also spent money when we went with friends from this board to Rennigers. We plan our expenses and plan for the stuff we can't plan for, lol.  

I am sure I could stop getting my hair trimmed every 8 weeks (I already stopped coloring it and went back to my natural color a year ago, which I really like, BTW) But sometimes I have to think about quality of life as well. Being frugal doesn't mean living a mean life. It means being wise with your money. Or as a man wrote in my local paper recently:  "It is human to nature to always ask God for what you don't have, rather than thanking God for what you do have." I prefer the latter.

Ciao and Good vibes
SeSo

[valleythriftshopper]

I know alot of people don't like Ebay & I can see why (I just dealt with a real jerk a few weeks ago that left me a retalitory neg fb).  However by selling some items that I find & either don't have use for or don't have the space to keep, the stuff I do keep ends up being free, since the items I sell cover their cost plus a little extra for more shopping.  You could just sell occcasional things to cover the cost of the stuff you keep.

Also I am loving Freecycle, although I have only been able to snag a few items so far.  Yesterday I picked up three full boxes of fabric remnants from someone who lived just a few minutes away with some really nice vintage decorator fabrics.  I am going to check some craft books out of the library to figure out what I can do with it.

Speaking of the library, it is a great FREE resource.  You can get your magazines, movies & music there (you can check out CD's & burn them on your computer so you have your own copy).  Netflix has a basic membership for $5.00/month if you want to see new releases.  Also check their calenders (many libraries have websites now) for special programs.  I took a beading class, knitting class, & embroidery class at local libraries (I did not become very good at any of these things though).  They also have guest lecturers & show films you may not see at your local theater. 

Lastly check the local happenings/entertainment section of your newspaper often.  Around here there are many free or low cost activities both family orientated or for adults. 

I could go on for days about how to do/get free stuff.  I am a super shopoholic, but more than the stuff I bring home I love getting the bargains.

[Jay2TheRescue]

I know alot of people don't like Ebay & I can see why (I just dealt with a real jerk a few weeks ago that left me a retalitory neg fb).  However by selling some items that I find & either don't have use for or don't have the space to keep, the stuff I do keep ends up being free, since the items I sell cover their cost plus a little extra for more shopping.  You could just sell occcasional things to cover the cost of the stuff you keep.

Also I am loving Freecycle, although I have only been able to snag a few items so far.  Yesterday I picked up three full boxes of fabric remnants from someone who lived just a few minutes away with some really nice vintage decorator fabrics.  I am going to check some craft books out of the library to figure out what I can do with it.

Speaking of the library, it is a great FREE resource.  You can get your magazines, movies & music there (you can check out CD's & burn them on your computer so you have your own copy).  Netflix has a basic membership for $5.00/month if you want to see new releases.  Also check their calenders (many libraries have websites now) for special programs.  I took a beading class, knitting class, & embroidery class at local libraries (I did not become very good at any of these things though).  They also have guest lecturers & show films you may not see at your local theater. 

Lastly check the local happenings/entertainment section of your newspaper often.  Around here there are many free or low cost activities both family orientated or for adults. 

I could go on for days about how to do/get free stuff.  I am a super shopoholic, but more than the stuff I bring home I love getting the bargains.

I know when I was in college I used to check out 50's B grade flying saucer films each week.  They even had all the "must see" classics like The day the Earth stood still, War of the Worlds, and Forbidden Planet.  They also had the ones that were so bad they were good like Earth vs. the Flying Saucers and Plan 9 from Outer Space.

-Jay

[valleythriftshopper]

One of the local cable access channels plays really bad 50's & 60's movies on Saturday nights.  Most of them are really bizarre ones that I have never heard of except Night of the Living Dead.  There was a funny one about giant leaches.  They are on pretty late so I don't see them too often, but definitely good for a laugh!

[ChrisMiss]

Except for housing don't go in debt.  Don't use credit cards unless you pay it off each month.  You'll save lots of money not paying those interest charges.  Another big one that many won't agree with is to not buy a new car.  Once you've driven it off the lot you've lost a lot of money to depreciation.  Buy a good used vehicle and keep it in shape.  Before buying take the vehicle you're looking at to a mechanic for an inspection.  An inspection can help you determine if something major is going to fail and how much it would cost if it did fail.  You can then use that information to get a lower price on the vehicle if you still must have it or you may decide to continue looking for a better one.  Also if you're not mechanical a course on how to maintain a vehicle can save you a lot of money over time.       

[alexandra]

Even though I thrift almost all of our clothes, I repair and maintain them until they can't be worn anymore -- then I usually cut them into rags for cleaning or craft projects!  If a turtleneck gets a stain that won't come out, it becomes an under layer.  Same for tees and polos.

Though this isn't thrift-store oriented, today I hit the Big Red Dot Retailer at lunch today to pick up stuff for birthdays and Christmas.  None of it was less than 75% off -- some of it 90%. I'll probably blog about that on Tuesday...

Sticking close to home helps a lot too!  Saves on gas, food, entertainment.

Thriftily,
Alexandra
www.livingwithoutmoney.blogspot.com

[Thrift Shop Romantic]

I buy gifts well in advance for people, when I see something I know they would like, but at a good price. It means I'm never scrambling for the people I gift yearly, and it ends up being less expensive overall.

[Jay2TheRescue]

Except for housing don't go in debt.  Don't use credit cards unless you pay it off each month.  You'll save lots of money not paying those interest charges.  Another big one that many won't agree with is to not buy a new car.  Once you've driven it off the lot you've lost a lot of money to depreciation.  Buy a good used vehicle and keep it in shape.  Before buying take the vehicle you're looking at to a mechanic for an inspection.  An inspection can help you determine if something major is going to fail and how much it would cost if it did fail.  You can then use that information to get a lower price on the vehicle if you still must have it or you may decide to continue looking for a better one.  Also if you're not mechanical a course on how to maintain a vehicle can save you a lot of money over time.       

I'm 36 and I've never owned a brand new car or truck.  I only went into a dealer once to buy a new vehicle, and I ended up taking a used model.  I was going to buy a leftover 2005 model at year end discounts + $1,500 rebate + 0% financing.  I figured I could buy a new truck with a/c and cruise for about $14,000.  I ended up falling in love with a 98 GMC Sierra K1500 extended cab that was just taken in on trade.  It had everything but leather seats and the CD changer for $13,000.  New that's a $40,000 truck.  I could not resist.  New truck, or one with everything on it and a full size back seat for $1,000 less.  I just took it in for the 150,000 mile service about 2 months ago and the dealer said it still runs like new.  I am very particular about my maintenance, and I always use synthetic oil.

-Jay

[foutchie]

That's the way to car shop, Jay!!!!   Sounds like you done good!

[Mattie]

My best frugal living tip is...SELL YOUR CAR!  You will save thousands of dollars a year.  You'll walk more, lose weight, be healthier, notice the sun and clouds and birds and trees, find loose change on the sidewalk, say hello to strangers, window-shop, and get muscles in your legs.  You'll save thousands of dollars.  You'll reduce your carbon footprint to a smudge.  You'll stop polluting, stop burning money on gas and oil, and stop forking over dollars for insurance.  You'll get over your fear of public transportation and discover that many people just like you take the bus or train - and it's okay.  You'll save thousands of dollars.  You'll feel no guilt whatsoever when you eat a doughnut at work, because you've burned off the calories in advance by walking there.  And did I mention you'll save thousands of dollars?

[valleythriftshopper]

My best frugal living tip is...SELL YOUR CAR!  You will save thousands of dollars a year.  You'll walk more, lose weight, be healthier, notice the sun and clouds and birds and trees, find loose change on the sidewalk, say hello to strangers, window-shop, and get muscles in your legs.  You'll save thousands of dollars.  You'll reduce your carbon footprint to a smudge.  You'll stop polluting, stop burning money on gas and oil, and stop forking over dollars for insurance.  You'll get over your fear of public transportation and discover that many people just like you take the bus or train - and it's okay.  You'll save thousands of dollars.  You'll feel no guilt whatsoever when you eat a doughnut at work, because you've burned off the calories in advance by walking there.  And did I mention you'll save thousands of dollars?

That is good advise is you are lucky enough to live in an area that had good public trans. & or you live close to shopping areas etc.  I live within walking distance from the downtown area in my town.  I should be leaving my car at home far more often than I do.  For a small town we have a nice variety of shops, restaurants, a movie theater & all the usual things (library, P.O. etc). 

When I lived in Amherst, MA they had a free public transportation system because most riders are UMass/Amherst or other college students & their student fees paid for the bus service.  The buses run every 15 minutes.  Of course I did not use the bus very often, but the few times I was without a car it was very handy.  I did know quite a few people who did not own cars though.

Most towns in the U.S. are spread out so people are dependant on their cars.  Also most people are not fortunate enough to have a good public transportation system.

One other tip that will save alot of money is eating vegetarian which is so much more economical that buying meat, although I do like having fish occasionally.  I am fortunate to have an awesome discount food retailer in town (an independant one not BJ's etc.). 

[Jay2TheRescue]

My best frugal living tip is...SELL YOUR CAR!  You will save thousands of dollars a year.  You'll walk more, lose weight, be healthier, notice the sun and clouds and birds and trees, find loose change on the sidewalk, say hello to strangers, window-shop, and get muscles in your legs.  You'll save thousands of dollars.  You'll reduce your carbon footprint to a smudge.  You'll stop polluting, stop burning money on gas and oil, and stop forking over dollars for insurance.  You'll get over your fear of public transportation and discover that many people just like you take the bus or train - and it's okay.  You'll save thousands of dollars.  You'll feel no guilt whatsoever when you eat a doughnut at work, because you've burned off the calories in advance by walking there.  And did I mention you'll save thousands of dollars?

I'm not fortunate enough to live in an area that has good public transport either.  Plus I frequently go to areas with absolutely no public transport.  Take my office.  The nearest bus stop is 5 blocks away and you have to cross a very busy highway with no crosswalk, and then walk along that highway with no sidewalk to get to it.  On top of that, the busses only run from 7am to 7pm and I have to be at work by 6:45.  I don't leave work until 8:15 at the earliest so again that's a no-go.  The nearest bus stop to my house is about a mile away.  Assuming the busses ran 24 hours/day I'd still have to get up early enough to walk a mile in the dark, freezing cold, ride the bus for 15 or 20 minutes, then walk almost a mile to my office, walking along and crossing the very busy highway in the dark. 

My life is worth more than any savings not having a car would gain me.  Not only that, but an extra 2 hours sleep each night to boot.  Its a no brainer.  I gotta have a car.

-Jay

[genuineimitation]

i gotta have a car too jay! i live in a tiny town - anything outside of the usual, and i have to go to the big city to get it. so, in order to be frugal about my gas consumption, i really weigh my options and try to put a bunch of errands into one large trip, rather than running into the city on a daily basis.

my frugal living tip: wash clothes with cold water.