Just curious who else is living super frugal

[Annie84]

We shop at a thrift store as much as possible for clothing and toys, and anything else they have we may need. We've cut down showing our dogs to only the closest few shows to us, especially once you consider gas to get there, hotels, food, entry fees, we spend over $500 just for a show weekend for the dogs, so this year we're only making it to 2, maybe 3 shows. We try to take all our trips into town and make them minimal, running all errands in one trip, when possible, luckily, though, we only live about 5 miles out of town, but it adds up. We only have one vehicle, but I'm a SAHM, with the exception of going to drill (I am in the MN Army National Guard) and I also groom 1 day a week for a bit more of income. We do much of our grocery shopping at SuperTarget, because when I use my Target card, we get 5% off the total purchase (then I just go online and pay it when I get home) We also use a lot of coupons. The first Sunday paper of the month has the most, also coupons.com is absolutely awesome. I make most our meals from scratch, and make enough to have left-overs, because some things are just cheaper to make in bulk. We rarely eat out, date night typically consists of going to a park or going for a long walk together.

Also, as far as care for our dogs go, we use Ivomec for HW preventative, and DE for flea, tick, worm preventative, have not had an issue with any of those since we've started with DE. We feed Taste of the Wild High Prairie, but we buy it at a local pet store that has a rebate program for how much we spend. We make our treats ourself. We also give all vaccines, except rabies, on our own. Rabies is the only vaccine that legally has to be given by a vet.

I'm also always looking for tips to save more money.

 

[Carols Clucks]

I did buy a new car a few years back. I also just paid it off a year early. I watched for internet specials and found a grand reopening sale after a dealer remodel. They had the 2nd pick car I wanted, in the color............and $4k off because it was a stick and not an Auto in the heart of Los Angeles-they had two that they were advertising as loaded for their teaser cars. I made the deal on line, drove down, signed the paperwork and was back on the road headed out of town in half an hour. They tried really hard to get me to try the auto (for $6k more) I did not even test drive it, just bought it and left town. (Nissan Xterra)

If you do need new, check around!

 

[HeatherLynn]

Its awesome all the ideas everyone has come up with for saving. I especially love how it was referred to by some as a lifestyle. I feel very alone among those I know for this type of lifestyle. The fact I won't take advantage of a great deal for disneyland because I won't put it on a card has my family shaking their head. My husband and kids understand but no one else does. My father I think is appalled that I was wearing a shirt from goodwill. I'm sorry but if I find a perfectly lovely, name brand, looks brand new shirt and I can buy it for $2 why would I not buy and wear it. Is it more lovely if I have paid $40 for it?

Nothing to be ashamed of in the dumpster diving either. I now have 4 HUGE brooder cages in new shape that were just set on the side of the road. i assume they were for a rabbit or something but they are working perfect for my duckies and they were free. Seriously you cannot be free.

 

[kuntrygirl]

I try my best to live a very super duper frugal life. I enjoy shopping at thrift stores, goodwill, etc. Nothing wrong with it. I enjoy clipping coupons and looking for awesome deals. I read Craigslist on a daily basis for items that I may need that are being given away for FREE. I belong to our local Free-cycle group and I get a lot of things as well as give things away. I have a garden, so I grow my own veggies. In the event there is a HUGE sale on canned veggies ($0.20 per can), I will usually splurge and get about 50 cans or so and stock up.

Some of my animals (extra roos, extra rams and rabbits) provide meat in my freezer. At the grocery store, there is a discount aisle that sells a lot of great food items that are NOT expired. I can easily find the cartons of sugar free powdered drinks (Crystal Light, etc) with 8 packs for $0.25 per container. I stock up and get about 3 or 4. My favorite 3 grocery stores have a weekly circular that is emailed to me every Wednesday, so I know what's on sale and I purchase whatever I need. I also have coupons that can be used with the on-sale items for an even greater discount.

I love drinking hot and cold tea, so I may use a single tea bag about 3 times before I throw it away. When I do find lemons on sale (or barter for lemons), I also use them more than once . After squeezing the first batch of fresh lemonade, I let the used lemons soak in water and I get a 2nd round of lemonade. I get as much use out of things as possible. The last cup of tea is just as delicious as the first cup of tea. I usually find a box of 100 tea bags for $0.50. That lasts a VERY long time.

Our local bread store gives away free bread (first come first serve). Although the bread is expired (1 day old - go figure) they have to give it away. And the bread is still good. They also give away rolls, biscuits and sweet treats.

I make my own condiments (mayo, ketchup, salad dressing, etc.). I barter with friends and family. I may give someone a couple dozen eggs and in return I may get powdered milk, cheese, noodles. It's whatever I need at the moment, I barter. Someone may need some rabbit or chicken poop and we barter for whatever I need. I have received a lot of chicken coops/brooders, cages, chicken waterers and feeders for FREE from Craigslist. I have received free recycled lumber to build a lot of my chickens coops and houses. I get old FREE towels and turn them in to cleaning rags.

I don't buy paper towels. I use hand towels instead. Paper towels are too expensive. When I buy clothes and it's not too often, I will purchase summer clothes in the winter and purchase winter clothes in the summer. When a lot of the stores are trying to get rid of clothes between seasons, that is when I puchase clothes. I bought 4 VERY nice zip up winter sweaters in different colors for only $3.00 from a store in the MALL a few weeks ago. In the winter, I buy brand new summer and spring clothes and I usually spend $1.00 - $3.00 on any piece of clothing.

To save on the utility bills, I always turn off lights when I'm not in the room. I open the blinds to get sunlight, so I don't have to turn on any lights. I keep everything unplugged that is not used on a daily basis. I do not keep lamps, TVs in other rooms in the house, etc plugged up. The only thing that is remains plugged is the fridge and the freezer. All other applicances are unplugged until I am ready to use them (microwave, toaster, blender, etc.) My light bill is about $30.00 - $50.00 for a 4 bedroom/2 bath house. Water bill is about $20.00 and gas bill is about $15.00. I frequently use my George foreman grill to grill meat and veggies. Grill time is 5 - 7 minutes max, so my gas stove is not used a lot to cook.

There are so many things that I do to have a great frugal lifestyle. I love it!

My friends call me "El-cheapo". I tell them I'd rather be "El-cheapo" than "El-broke-o".

 

[ChickensAreSweet]

Quote:
This is so true. I put something on my shopping list and wait. And wait.

Then later, it turns out I changed my mind on this and that.

If I still really "need" it a month later, I do. Many things get deleted from the shopping list this way. Mostly I just find something around the house or garage that will work in it's place.

 

[ChikeeMomma]

Quote:
Some family think we are from another planet, too -- we'd like to pay our house off early (not even close, but it's a goal), never take out a car loan again (paid both off early), and just save money. Their goals seem to be spend, spend, spend! And, yet, most of them are miserable and don't enjoy life. I have found that I have come to enjoy being at home far more than I used to. They think we are crazy because we don't go out to eat twice a week or more (more like once a month or less for us). Another way I look at buying used items -- clothing, etc -- you are being green! My hubby's side of the family thinks we are insane because we are careful about the toys and plates, cups, baking dishes we have around. We stray from buying items made in China. Even produce, candy, and other food items that are made/produced in China are showing up in the grocery stores. I have found that alot of candy is showing up that's made in China, so I asked his mother (very nicely) to not buy candy made in China for the girls. She said okay and had no problem, but then I started hearing from others how she was talking about how crazy we are for being picky about what goes into our children's mouth!

My friend invited us (hubby and myself and a few other couples) out to dinner just as the gas prices spiked and at that time a gallon was going for $4.19. I would have love to have gone, but I cannot see spending that much on gas and then paying to go out to dinner. I laugh at myself because it has become a lifestyle. We could have afforded to go out, but it made me mad to spend that amount on gas! I told her and she was quite understanding and even said we should all be doing what your family is doing instead of just complaining about the price of things. I do not push my way on people -- I am very thankful my friends are understanding of our lifestyle.

 

[halo]

Quote:
You are good. Does it really make that much difference unplugging items? Do they draw current, like lamps and TVs, if they arent turned on?

 

[peeplessinNC]

Way back in the day when I was a young bride, I realized that I could save money if I just stayed home. Even if I planned to just go across town to visit my MIL, I would probably stop at the store to pick up something that was needed. If I just stayed home that day (and visited MIL later in the week) I would not be spending any money on anything. And back then, gas was only $1something a gallon. Now with gas approaching $4 a gallon, I'm back to staying home as much as is feasible. My job is only 2 miles from my home and there is a grocery store within sight of my office. My neighborhood gas station is just around the block from my house and the library is just a few blocks from me too. Now when I think I need some item from the store to make a certain recipe, I just remind myself that once I get to the store, I'll probably be buying more than the one item. And I just stay home and find a plan B!

I save my gas for going to work, driving 5 miles or so to see my parents, or occasional trips out of town to visit friends or my sons. And when the need for frugality arises, I just stay at home. I can always quilt/sew, cook, work in the yard, read a book, hang out on the computer or if all else fails, I could even clean house, but times are hard enough, for goodness sake!

 

[Hollywood Chickens]

as a family of 12 shopping once a month is not an option, but here is how we save.

Amazon is great for buying flour, cereal, coffee, candy, dried fruits, nuts, laundry soap, juice you name it, in bulk without gas prices and you get free shipping! we go to Restaurant depot (if you can get a card do it! the cheese and fish is super cheap) once every 3 weeks or so for other bulk food items such as cheese, fish, butter(freezes great), cleaners, napkins etc.

As for vegetables we go to the farmers market 3/4 of a mile away everyday and get to stuff that is going bad at a huge discount, once we got 30lbs of potatoes for $7 and once we got 100 limes for $10 (we made marmalade and use it is BBQ sauce) other time they have given us boxes of produce free because a few things on top looked ickey but everything else was fine.

Landsend.com has a Not Quite Perfect section for clothes and you can get dresses and tees for as little as $3.00! Sierratradingpost.com is seconds from many companies sold at 1/4 of the prices. Boys clothes are very hard to get used, so Walmart is great for them, when the T shirts go on sale they can be as low as $2.50! of course eBay is great for dishes, pots, pans, and other housewares.

Retailmenot.com is a great website were people post coupons so every time you purchase something check there for a coupon.

Make friends with the cashier, they always have a book of coupons and if you are very nice than they will give you some, also people leave theirs behind and the cashiers will give them to you if you are friendly.

 

[ChikeeMomma]

Halo - I've always heard that items still draw power when left plugged in. I'm not as good as Kuntrygirl at unplugging items. I do leave my TV, range, fridge (obviously), and microwave (mounted above range -- so a pain to unplug) plugged in all the time. Most other items are always unplugged after using them.