How are you frugal?

[fordmommy]

My DH and I call ourselves "Professional Rumage Salers" and "Recyclers". We love rumage sales and Goodwill and Thrift stores. There's lots of great stuff you can find.

And try to use our car instead of our truck when possible for better gas mileage. We try to make the least trips to town as possible.

We pack lunches. And have chickens. And have a garden. And get veggies from others free. I can veggies and fruits. And also freeze them and leftovers. We shop at Aldi which if you don't have one, it's a discount grocery store. I shop for things on sale. I try not to buy full price products.

We winterized the house to safe on heating costs. We bought a pellet stove instead of having our wood fireplace. It would suck the heat right out the chimney and was super ineffecient.

We use energy effecient bulbs. Try use use the least amount of electricity as possible. Turning things off and unplugging what we don't use often. We shut the computer OFF with the power strip every time we're done.

We don't eat out often. As a matter of fact it was Costumer Apprieciation week at our local movie theater this week and movies were free. I took my boys to see Ice Age 3 last night and Transformers 2 tonight. We haven't gone to the theater in years.

I buy things from the dollar store.

I find ways to safe a buck any where I can.

 

[Dragonfly Ranch]

I rarely eat lunch out - may be 4 times a year. Always make enough dinner for lunch the next day. If I make to much and would have to eat leftovers for more than 2 days then freeze and eat another day.

Keep the tips coming this great information/ideas for everyone.

 

[DianeB]

Being happy and making the most of what you have goes a longway. There is abook by Jeff Yeager The Ultimate Cheapskate's Roadmap to True Riches that is priceless (especially if you check it out from the library). He tells you in a humorous - though sometimes off color

- way to save money.

His motto is to love what you have and be happy on living on less. He also incorporates how this can help the environment, rebuild communties and enrich our lives. Also, a penny saved is a penny you don't have to earn back. You knowwhat? He's right! It is a great book and his advice is very easy to incorporate into anyone's life.

I love it!

DB

 

[hollymh]

Thrift stores, garage sales, and I refuse to buy anything that is not on sale. I have been avoiding eating out, we have been driving less, reusing stuff, saving money every paycheck opposed to spending it; I'm a penny pincher on everything.

 

[KDbeads]

Thrift stores for everything but underwear and socks. Haven't paid more than $5 for a pair of jeans in almost 15 years.
Sale bins at the grocery store, meat and bread mainly. (you know, sill fresh, reduced for quick sale?)
Dumpster diving for lumber, furniture, etc. Sorry, not too proud to dumpster dive! How do you think I got my solid oak custom made china cabinet? Or my nice wool couch?
I pick up any coin I see. ANY COIN.
I'll buy broken feed bags that are taped up and reduced in price for the dogs and cats, haven't seen that for the birds yet.
I also repair jewelry for $$ and goods exchange. Takes me an hour to clean, oil, and reknot a pearl necklace and I usually get $60 for silk thread or $40 for Silkon thread. Have 2 pearl necklaces here for repair this week along with a beaded watch band, a beaded belt and a kinked silver chain. Should be enough from that to buy groceries for the month

We don't pass up an offer of free lunch either.

We did this even when I was working and our income was worthy of the 2 engineers that live here.


ETA..... we reuse ALL plastic containers until they fall apart. Half my freezer is packed with sour cream containers filled with my CRF dog's food for the next 2 weeks.

 

[Sunny Side Up]

Go to http://www.FreeCycle.org and find the group nearest you. If there isn't one close by consider moderating a new group for your neighborhood. It's an online bulletin board where you can post notices about items you have to offer, make requests of items you wish to receive, and browse others' requests & offers to see if there are things you wish to give away or receive for yourself. The only stipulation is that the items must be legal to own and all transactions must be FREE.

 

[Beekissed]

My list is too long....it would take days!

In addition to what I already do, I do myself the favor of participating in a great forum called SufficientSelf.com, a link you will find at the bottom of each page here.

Those folks can pinch a penny so tight that Ol' Abe screams!

Over there, if you do a search about money saving ideas, you will find some of the most innovative ideas ever.

There are folks who make their own TP, feminine napkins, etc. There is even one lady who uses her own breast milk for family recipes, disinfecting wounds, making cheese, etc.

Like I said, if there is a way to save money, these folks have thought of it.....but that doesn't mean we wouldn't like to steal your ideas also!

 

[chixie]

I only buy clothes and other stuff on clearance or on sale at least 50% off... we don't go to the movies we rent red box(if its a movie I reallty want for my collection I will go buy it from hollywood movie rentals - previously viewed) .. I only go to town once a week... try to get everything done in that day... car pool with my sister on that day... hubby takes his lunch to work instead of eating out unless he is working out of town then his work pays for that... my mother in law buys groc in bulk and gives half to us...never buy new furniture... garage sales(get great deals)

 

[kuntrygirl]

Coupons
Raise chickens for eggs and sell eggs
Limit time in shower (water bill is no more than $20.00 a month)
Freeze ALL leftovers and eat them later
Sign up for all Freebies at different websites (i get deodorant, washing powder, food, cat food, lotion, toothpaste, toothbrushes, medication (tylenol, etc.) t-shirts, towels, calendars, socks, underwear, pens, paper, soap, combs, brushes, diapers for friends, (you name it I get it)
Sign up for Freecycle groups on yahoo
Recycle everything
Hang dry clothes
Buy clothes from thrift shops (good deals are there) or clearance rack
Barter with others
Limit trips to town
CAREFULLY read receipts after making purchases. Stores are notorious for overcharging customers and hope that we don't catch the it. Have found many overcharges on receipts.
Will eat cereal and milk as a meal (I LOVE cereal and milk)
Ask feed store for busted bags of feed. They give it away. (nothing wrong with the feed at all)

 

[Dragonfly Ranch]

We are not big cell phone users - so went for the "pay as you go" plan. Free phone to sign up and only $15.00 every 90 days for minutes. Minutes not used roll over. For us its perfect.

Sandee