How do you remain frugal? Offer advice here

Lately I've been being super frugal in an attempt to actually save money. Here's what I've been doing:

• Car pooling
• Completely stopped dining out
• Leave my debit card home
• Bring lunch to work. Split my meal into two so I am full longer
• Buying soap in bulk
• Not purchasing any items other than those for survival
• Fixed the rubber soles/side on my shoes with glue
• Using grocery bags for garbage
• Stopped driving for the sake of driving. Only going to where I need to be, if I don't need to be somewhere I stay home

Add to my list!!! How frugal are you and what do you do that helps you save a buck?

Coupons. LOTS of them. Shop only on sales.

Get married. lol!!!

Pay with cash. I spend less when I am forced to actually hand over the money rather than pay with invisible money on my card.

Grow some self control and be able to tell yourself no. That goes into the "buy only survival things" category, but it really applies to everything. Did you really need those Debby cakes? Stuff like that. Buying off brand works wonders as well, instead of buying Borden milk get Great Value. Don't buy artisan anything, the cheaper the better.


It also helps to think rationally when buying too. If it comes down to you paying more for a larger weight of something? Divide the price by the weight. The lowest number is actually the best buy. You get more for your money. ;)


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grow a garden, it saves a lot of money especially when you start from seeds

The way you drive can make a huge difference on your gas. COAST as much as possible. I don't mean cruise control, I mean letting off the gas on the way to red lights and easing up to speeds.

Save grocery bags for trash bags. Turn off AC when your not home. That may not apply to you but its big here in AZ.

- Grow a garden: tomatoes, eggplants, lettuce, and peppers are super easy to grow in most locations. If you can't grow them outside, lots of things can still be grown in your window.
- We let the poultry free range the back yard instead of mowing it - less food costs for the birds, and free fertilizer, means more free eggs, and less eating out!
- Not mowing the backyard also means lots and lots of free dandelions/catsears. Did you know they make great salad, tea, coffee replacement (roots), and the flowers are DELICIOUS with a sprinkle of salt, oregano, and coated in flour, then fried in olive oil for a quick, free, easy snack. Make sure they have not been sprayed with pesticides or animals :)
- Take some time getting to know different spices/flavors.. you can do quite a bit with beans and rice, that don't have to be bland/boring.
- Walk the dog instead of a gym membership
- Trade services for goods (e.g. I'll mow your lawn if you drive me to X)
- Make your own coffee every morning... spend a couple dollars on a bag or tub of coffee/creamer to last 2-3 weeks ... OR spend $2-$4 on each coffee in the morning?
- Similar to the above, buy the drink packet mixtures to add to bottles of water... they are only a couple dollars for several bottles worth of flavored drink.
- If you have the time and space, raise your own rodents for your herps.
- The above suggestion on driving is definitely a good one. I get a couple extra miles per gallon when I drive, compared to when my boyfriend drives ;)
- Also great suggestion with the AC/Heater - in the winter, get used to blankets, in the summer, open the windows, and adjust your blinds according to the time of day.
- Be kind and helpful to those you interact with regularly. Go out of your way to lend a hand, and it will come back to you. I'm not saying run yourself ragged with kindness.. but when you are helpful to others, others want to help you too, or at the very least, will think of you first when they decide to get rid of an awesome bookshelf or couch :)

Having a membership to Sam's Club or Costco can be a big savings, too. It's the only way to fly in terms of buying breakfast cereal, for example, and if the Sam's or Costco near you has a gas station, it's worth the yearly cost of membership just in gas savings. (I find that the Sam's near me is usually 8 cents/gallon or better cheaper than the nearby gas stations, and that adds up surprisingly fast, presuming you're not driving significantly out of your way to get there.)

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Originally Posted by Spookitie

The way you drive can make a huge difference on your gas. COAST as much as possible. I don't mean cruise control, I mean letting off the gas on the way to red lights and easing up to speeds.

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This can be huge. The difference between cruising at 70 vs cruising at 60 can be several miles per gallon, depending on your car. Also, regarding coasting, if you're driving anything built reasonably recently with a manual transmission, the engine control computer will actually shut off the fuel injectors while coasting (in gear, foot completely off the gas, the car's momentum keeps the engine turning rather than the engine moving the car), meaning that whatever distance you travel while coasting is actually free, at least in terms of gas.

Cash Diet.

-Pay for stuff in cash
-Barter for stuff. Im not sure if youre a tradesman or something but advertise any service you can do on things like craigslist.
-Buy stuff in bulk. Shop at stores like Sams Club, Costco, Super Walmart, BJ's. And get the members cards for all these stores which are free. My mom has been a member at Rite Aid for a few years so now she gets like a 30% discount when she shops there.
-Use coupons. Set aside a few hours every week to cut coupons that youve collected throughout the week. Also try and use the coupons in conjunction with sales. Its been like a few years since weve actually had to buy stuff like toothpaste since we usually get it for free.
-Dont buy all name brand stuff. There isnt a huge difference in taste btwn Heinz Ketchup and generic brand.
-Grow a garden if you can. Vegetables are really expensive at the store and if you grow your owm youll save a ton of
Money.
-Sell your gas guzzler for a fuel efficient car. Im currently trying to do this now. (Anyone wanna buy a nice blazer lol? jkjk, but no really....) haha
-Sell stuff around your house that you dont need or use any more. This doesnt save you money but can make you some extra money. Anything thats just sitting there that isnt making you money can go. Like: old instruments, atvs, boats, guns, motorcycles, any electronics, sports memorbilia etc.
- If you have 2 vehicles sell one. You dont need an extra one.
-Premake your own meals if you find yourself short on time usually. If you have premade meals then youll be less likely to order take out or go out to eat.

And most importantly dont get a girlfriend and dont have kids. Thats the fastest way to drain your wallet! Hahaha

You're funny- no spouse, no kids... I love mine to death, wouldn't trade them for anything. There are things that money can't buy!

Seriously though, plan a grocery list ahead. Stick to your list. Cook and freeze ground beef mixed with sausage and onion and vacuum seal, pre- cook taco meat, vacuum seal, and freeze. Helps with week night dinners, and the "I don't feel like cooking after a long day at work", or wasting gas and money going to store for a fast dinner. We have a garden with veggies and berry plants, which we use like crazy. Better for you and way cheaper. I also will trade garden items with friends in the summer- ie I grew this but not that, they grew this, but not that so we trade. I can tomatoes, and pickles in the summer, so we have good stuff all year. I also make alot of homemade jam in the summer. Cheaper, better, plus I know what's in it. My daughter loves pb&j. We have chickens, so fresh eggs. Again, I know what's in them since I feed them lots of veggie table scraps, . We have been known to walk to the store from time to time, to save gas. Coupons are a great idea, but I don't sit and go through all of them. (Sucks up too much time). I will get gas after I grocery shop, so I can get my Safeway fuel discount. I do buy off brand name stuff for some stuff. There are a few things that I have to have brand name. Best foods mayo, tillamook cheese, and md toilet paper. The dollar store has tons of things, too. Oh, and breed my own snake food! Cuts down on gas for trips to get rodents. Again, I know what they are eating...lol.

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Originally Posted by DrDooLittle

You're funny- no spouse, no kids... I love mine to death, wouldn't trade them for anything. There are things that money can't buy!

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All of my friends with gf's only complain about them 99% of the time. In a fun/loving way of course, but still complaining nonetheless haha. They really dont have anything that i dont have (or cant get when i want to haha). Except for a relationship. But you can have friendships almost equal to that which dont cost you nearly as much lol.:gj:

And kids... Oh god dont even get me started on them... :rofl:

(As my virtual bp.net e-mommy im sure youll still disagree though haha)

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Originally Posted by Mike41793

All of my friends with gf's only complain about them 99% of the time. In a fun/loving way of course, but still complaining nonetheless haha. They really dont have anything that i dont have (or cant get when i want to haha). Except for a relationship. But you can have friendships almost equal to that which dont cost you nearly as much lol.:gj:

And kids... Oh god dont even get me started on them... :rofl:

(As my virtual bp.net e-mommy im sure youll still disagree though haha)

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Lol! ^^ Yes, and no. My daughter is my greatest accomplishment, and I am very proud of her, and love her more than anything. But kids aren't for everyone. And they are very expensive.

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Originally Posted by DrDooLittle

And they are very expensive.

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Check. Mate. ;)

Well from a girls point of view

- I pluck my own eyebrows instead of getting them done at a salon every month at $25-$35
- Paint my own toes instead of the french pedicure I use to get all the time!
- I trim my own hair as well!! Hair cuts are expensive! I still go once or twice a year for a big cute but I do all the little trims at home now
- We make our own favorite coffee from starbucks instead of buying one cup every am! Even with buying their beans and whip cream its still way cheaper!!
- We try to trade for those new balls we have to have instead of outright purchasing!
- We use Redbox now instead of buying ALL the new movies!

Red box is awesome!

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Whats redbox?
Like netflix?

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Originally Posted by Mike41793

There isnt a huge difference in taste btwn Heinz Ketchup and generic brand.

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Yes there is...it's immediately noticeable...looks different, smells different, tastes different. After working 17 years in kitchens, cooking for 13, ketchup is one thing I would never skimp on.

Anyhow, this year I changed jobs. I made a little more at my last job, but it was also 27 miles further from my home. Now, instead of driving 64 miles a day just for work, I drive 10. Been saving a good bit despite the lesser income.

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Originally Posted by RobNJ

Yes there is...it's immediately noticeable...looks different, smells different, tastes different. After working 17 years in kitchens, cooking for 13, ketchup is one thing I would never skimp on.

Anyhow, this year I changed jobs. I made a little more at my last job, but it was also 27 miles further from my home. Now, instead of driving 64 miles a day just for work, I drive 10. Been saving a good bit despite the lesser income.

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Not to me but my pallete is far from refined haha

Yup, Heinz is the only way to go. Redbox is a dvd rental company, that has machines at lots of grocery stores, and like walgreens. Movies are a $1.30. And after one or two rentals, lots of times they email you a discount code and you get 50 cents off, or free rental. Android phones even has an app, I can browse what movies are out, and reserve from my phone. Love it.

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Originally Posted by RobNJ

Yes there is...it's immediately noticeable...looks different, smells different, tastes different. After working 17 years in kitchens, cooking for 13, ketchup is one thing I would never skimp on.

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There is absolutely NOTHING that ketchup can do that salsa can't do better. That is all. :)

Use a Magic Jack for your phone. Compare $60 a year with $30 a month....no comparison. (if you have a laptop with wifi, you don't even actually need a cell phone, you can just take the magic jack along..though I realize most folks won't give up that addiction, lol).

Get rid of cable or satellite TV, and use Netflix and Hulu instead. You will miss virtually nothing, and pay a lot less. It takes some getting used to, but it's totally worth it.

Hot summer day? Close off unused rooms, bedrooms, etc. You can always open them up a couple of hours before bed time. Seal the vents in them, shut the doors, pull the shades--there's no sense wasting money cooling a room that isn't in use. Do the same thing in the winter, for heating.

Plan out all of your meals for the next week, and pick snacks. Make a shopping list based on that. Shop after eating--not while hungry. Stick to the list completely.

Predict your own shortcomings. Not going to make a dinner from scratch? Get cheap microwave dinners, they're less expensive than eating out. Eat before you leave home so you won't be tempted to 'grab a quick bite' at a fast food place. It's nice to say "I'll change", but really smart to anticipate not following through, and still ensure you won't overspend.

Buy used. Garage sales, thrift stores, flea markets, pawn shops, etc--all good places to find things you need for a fraction of the cost. Does it look awesome? Not always--but it gets the job done. When you can pick up a couch for 10 bucks as opposed to 200, how can you argue with that? Clothing, cook ware, furniture, etc can all be found 'gently used' for a tiny fraction of the cost it would be new. Garage sales are particularly awesome for this.

Join Freecycle. Give away your unused stuff that's 'too good to throw away but not good enough to sell'...and pick up the same from others, that you actually need.

Budget your luxuries. Choose what entertainments, desserts, snacks, and indulgences you will have, and buy them beforehand at a discount, rather than picking them up on impulse when you 'just need a treat'.

Look at prices--I mean, REALLY look at them. Just because it's on sale doesn't mean it's cheaper than the 'off brand'. There are cases where the quality difference matters, and others where it completely doesn't. (For the most part, peanut butter is peanut butter, right? And you don't need name brand paper towels).
Sometimes sale price will make 2 of a small quantity cost less than one of a larger quantity, for the same amount of a product. Get that. Sometimes it's the other way around--watch out for that.

ONLY buy items on your list, that you need, no matter WHAT is on sale. If you want to take full advantage of sales, check the local ads while you're making your shopping list. Extreme couponing is for people who do that all day, and devote their lives to it--it doesn't work if you try it casually.

Combine trips. Got to go to the post office, do the shopping, and pick up something across town? Hit it all in one trip, don't go out and come home several times.

Remember that your time is worth money--taking on a massively laborious task in order to save a couple of bucks might not actually be worth it. Consider it carefully.

I grew up with my mom as a single parent, who had to declare bankrupcy when I was only 5. I grew up frugal, and it drives my other half crazy sometimes, haha!

First thing is first: Have a goal for your savings. If you are just trying to 'save money', that 'saved money' can disappear. Set yourself a monthly goal to reach and you will most likely be able to stick to it. Are you going to put away $200 a month? $300 a month? Keep track of it. If you are saving invisible money (ei: Bank account), then you aren't actually accomplishing something that's physically there. You won't feel successful.

-Plan your meals. I purchased various cook books and magazines over the years (Go to the local Library and ask them if they're clearing out books soon. Cook books have a high turn-over rate in most libraries and they usually give old ones away for free). This allows you to find new recipes and be able to plan out meals that you can freeze or do in advance. A weekly meal plan is KEY.

Story: One lady planned out a YEARS worth of meals. Yes, every day. She ended up saving thousands of dollars because she would plan how to use the leftovers of the night before. This allowed her to double-up on meals. Freeze meals. Use leftovers. Only buy what she needed so that no veggies or produce spoiled and had to be thrown out. Meats didn't freezer burn. She even planned her side dishes according to what produce was in season, because seasonal vegetables and fruits are cheaper when they're plentiful.

-Make a grocery list and do not impulse buy.
-Do not shop hungry
-Two for One sales on household items are great to stock up on (shampoo, soap, deoderant, tooth paste, etc)
-Shop at one store rather than numerous stores. Just because this store has cheap produce and this other store has cheap meat doesn't mean it's worth driving between the two stores. Try to stick to one store and get to know it. You can also usually sign up for a club card that saves you money.
-Bulk buy your dry goods and meat if you can. I bought $250 worth of meat at Costco a few months ago. I am still only halfway through it. I bagged it all into single or double portions and only use what I need.
-Freeze bread items you aren't using. Don't throw out half a loaf of bread if you don't use it fast enough. Freeze half right away.
-Drink water. It's the cheapest drink of all. If you do want to drink juice, buy frozen ones from concentrate, as they are usually on sale frequently.
-Need fast meals? Costco sells frozen pizzas in sets of 2 or 3 for cheap. Hot, fresh and affordable
-Turn off lights you aren't using. Turn off electronics you aren't using.
-Fix leaky faucets and check your toilets to make sure they aren't leaking either
-Ensure your house doesn't have any drafts around windows that could be costing you money
-Plastic grocery bags make great small garbage bags
-Basic cable. You can get Netflix to give you variety
-Clear up clutter around your house. The more your house is in 'chaos', the more chaotic you'll feel in your house. This doesn't directly cost you money, but you may feel like you want to more activities 'outside' of the house to get a break from it all.
-Minimize your hobbies. If you have numerous hobbies going on, try to settle on a few and stick with them
-And most importantly: Give yourself an allowance. Give yourself a small amount of money each month to just blow on whatever you want. Make it a fixed allowance, so like $50 a month or whatever you choose. Why do you do this? So you don't make yourself feel deprived. If you try to be frugal with everything, eventually you'll binge, you'll say: "Oh just this one time." Instead, allow that to happen, but on your own terms. Maybe watermelons are more expensive than you'd like, but you really really want one. Well, get one, and treat yourself.

It just takes getting used to. Once you start doing it every day, it gets more automatic.

My other half works a well paying job, so he never really had to worry about that before. When we moved out and he started coming shopping with me, he had no idea how expensive food could get and how quickly it added up. Soon he started being more conscious too. Instead of throwing something in the cart without thinking, he stops, reads the price and goes: "Well, this cereal is $6, but this one is only $4 and I like it just as much."

Your most expensive thing is going to be food. So plan that out, work on recipes for yourself, find some cheap ones online (allrecipes.com) and you can start from there.

I've been a money spender before, but I did all my best to control myself from buying expensive things. when you are on the mall and saw something nice, ask yourself "do I NEED this??". Always go buy the things that you needed than the ones you only want.

I do like the comment about planting seeds on your garden to save your money from buying ones from groceries.

I needed a passport for vet school so I started saving my change about 18mths ago. At the beginning of August I sent off for the passport paid for in full with my pocket change. $152!

We do the same as most every one else. I cook at home almost every night and we grocery shop at sams for bulk items we can freeze or non-perishables. We don't have the ability to garden so I have a couple container pots of tomatoes and peppers, we visit farmers markets for other fresh veggies. We feed the snakes rats we breed and buy the dog/cat food in bulk. I shop online for school books and other items I can get cheaper online. We don't have cable only internet for school and entertainment purposes and we were driving 10 and 13yr old paid off cars until one broke down for good and I had to get a newer one. It was so nice to have no car payments.

The first rule of being frugal:

MAKE A BUDGET!

Seriously. Make a budget and stick to it, and don't spend a penny on anything not in your budget. I give myself a set limit of "miscellaneous" to cover things that I don't take into account month to month.

Even if you stray from your budget, studies show that people who make 'em and make an honest effort to stick to it often cut their spending drastically.

Get rid of the contract cellphone plan. Cut the cable TV if that applies to you, huge savings. Filter your own water. Don't smoke if that applies. Didn't see those suggestions above, that's my 2 cents.