Just curious who else is living super frugal

[rebbetzin]

Frugal score! We were at WalMart picking up a few things, so we wandered by the bakery and asked if they had any frosting buckets they'd like to get rid of. Yeehaw! Brought home 18 of 'em complete with lids...free!! . Since they're food grade, I've stashed my grain mixes for the chickens and rabbits in several of them...even full, I can move 'em around easily.

Oh what a blessing!!! Those buckets come in so handy for all sorts of things!

 

[rebbetzin]

We are living super fugal since Dec. 31, 2012.... not that long ago!
My husband is now "retired" (that sounds better than "unemployed!)
And we are living on his small pension while he is going to school to
become a Certified Paralegal.

He is finally after all these years eating leftovers, and even coming up
with recipes to use food that would normally be given to the chickens!
And he likes to cook too!

When we go out with friends, we "share" an entree or sandwich.
That helps keep the cost of eating out down.

Our plan is to live on the amount of his pension, and a small amount
from VRAP for the next year while he is in school.

Then, he hopes to get a job as a Paralegal, and we may be able
to save the "layoff package" he got from his 32 years with his last
job. Of which Uncle Sam took 40% of it off the top!!

 

[missnu01]

I've been broke for so long most everything we have is second or third hand...

 

[HeatherLynn]

I don't mind second hand at all. Actually I probably have nicer stuff because it is second hand. I was thinking about what I wore to church today. I was especially dressed up. Had these cute little brown heels and a pretty dress with a little sweater over it. It really looked nice. All of it was bought at goodwill and I paid 11 for the entire out. That just made me feel even better about it. Being frugal works. Being self sufficient works. It may not always be easy and sometimes its not voluntary but these are true skills.

 

[mickey328]

I'm with y'all; I don't remember the last time I bought an article of clothing new. As for other things...it depends on how badly I need the item and what kind of shape I can find it in the thrift stores. I think "frugal" doesn't always mean spending the least you can, I think it's spending wisely. Sometimes, "cheap" isn't actually cheaper in the long run. If, for instance, I need a light jacket for doing back yard chores...finding a used one that's $2 and has a couple stains or torn pocket but is still perfectly functional, is way more frugal than spending $20 on a new one to do the same job when it likely won't last a bit longer in the end.

At the opposite end...we are getting into meat rabbits and of course, needed cages. I looked on Craig's List for quite a while to see what we might be able to get for free or at reduced prices. I did quite a bit of research and since this is going to be a long term project, it made more sense to spend more $$ now to get exactly what we want. Most one the used ones I found were not significantly cheaper than the new ones I ordered and the quality wasn't the best either. So it seemed more "frugal" to spend the money on new cages that will last for years.

 

[loanwizard]

I don't mind second hand at all. Actually I probably have nicer stuff because it is second hand. I was thinking about what I wore to church today. I was especially dressed up. Had these cute little brown heels and a pretty dress with a little sweater over it. It really looked nice. All of it was bought at goodwill and I paid 11 for the entire out. That just made me feel even better about it. Being frugal works. Being self sufficient works. It may not always be easy and sometimes its not voluntary but these are true skills.

Shew!.... I hope you are a female lol!

My gf buys off these little facebook groups and resells. We went to dinner last night to a steakhouse. Wow! She looked at the prices and.... well thank goodness I made her sit to the inside of the booth!

 

[galanie]

I'm with y'all; I don't remember the last time I bought an article of clothing new.  As for other things...it depends on how badly I need the item and what kind of shape I can find it in the thrift stores.  I think "frugal" doesn't always mean spending the least you can, I think it's spending wisely.  Sometimes, "cheap" isn't actually cheaper in the long run.  If, for instance, I need a light jacket for doing back yard chores...finding a used one that's $2 and has a couple stains or torn pocket but is still perfectly functional, is way more frugal than spending $20 on a new one to do the same job when it likely won't last a bit longer in the end.

At the opposite end...we are getting into meat rabbits and of course, needed cages.  I looked on Craig's List for quite a while to see what we might be able to get for free or at reduced prices.  I did quite a bit of research and since this is going to be a long term project, it made more sense to spend more $$ now to get exactly what we want.  Most one the used ones I found were not significantly cheaper than the new ones I ordered and the quality wasn't the best either.  So it seemed more "frugal" to spend the money on new cages that will last for years.

I'm with you on cheap not being good in the long run. It also can work the other way. For me, the killer is shoes. I have a wide foot for a woman and it's super hard to find shoes that fit me right. So I'm a stickler for getting just exactly the right, comfortable fit. I spend money and get good quality shoes. But they last me 10+ years. Even my everyday around the house ones are 8 or more years old. So for me, getting cheap ones would be costly. In fit and in constant replacement cost.

 

[nok13]

i found this thread rather interesting; i live on kibbutz which is a sort of communal settlement/village; however, we are no longer agricultural. i work in out hotel. i dont receive a salary but a stipend , a three bedroom apartment, free hot water/water (which, here, means saving big time), subsidized electricity (depends on how many young children u have at home, if u suffer from illness, age, etc.; and thats that. people being what they are, if anyone remembers the book 'animal farm' some people are more equal than others" well same here; some folks here have outside income, or help from parents, etc. and some of us have parents overseas, never had savings due to life circumstances, and therefore have no money. literally.

so, i do spend a lot of my little money on the dogs, now the chickens... we have cable internet for free, but did buy a new computer; we have cable tv, and two cells phones but the phones are part of a kibbutz wide plan like a company plan so majority of my calls area free. unlike many families here, i only use what i find. every major holiday, a majority of people here, even if they dont have money, change their sofas, tables, shelves etc... so we go for 'shopping ' drives. people leave all their old stuff out on the road for any one who wants, so we often find amazing things. a brand new manager's computer desk chair; a set of pocketbooks (must have been presents that the girl didnt want), all sorts stuff. hubby is good with his hands for putting stuff together again so often folks throw out microwaves, teakettles, spiral heaters, he rewires and so we have re done several sound systems washing machines (these he sells cheap to other migrant workers since he is also and their employers dont provide washing machines etc).

im small so anytime any one gains weight, i inherit the clothing. i do buy shoes, and some clothing, cheap, cause i also like to change stuff. all our dishes are mix and match from other people trasshing their non-sets. the dogs beds come from old quilt blankets that are falling apart and people toss. however, we shop every week. no one here ever shops for more then that. things are sold small, not like int he states; tesco for me was mind blowing. people's salaries in this country are smaller and most cannot make ends meet towards the end of the month, therefore most people buy small amounts for less money. mostly everyone here, culturually, wont eat non fresh milk, egss, breads, veggies and fruits. but n general, people use smaller portions here then inthe states. pets get less 'state of the art' treatment, foods, toys etc...
the funny thing is, that now our duplex (four families) ahve all become second handers; its almost an obsession!! adn there is so much stuff laying around the kibbutz itself since the kibbutz also recycles everything from scrap metal to old wood, its a matter of finding a way tohaul it to the apartment and use it...
when i ws in the states, i was horrified by the amount of stuff people were throwing out: mys sister bought geraniums in a green house and threw away the old planters and soil (in teh recycler but still!)nstead of reusing the planters and renewing the plant soil for other plants that we re arranged.. here, anything and everything become planters from old toilets to buckets and olive oil containers.
even doing everything this way, most of us can never break even or make ends meet.

this is long... anyone that is really interested can google 'kibbutz; ours is stil very communal although every family lives privately in their own house/apartment, furniture, clothing etc. but when i first came here it wasnt that way. we had communal clothes for the kids, and communal clothes for pregnant women (too expensive to buy new all the time). now, we recycle and anyone who wants can take, so if your kid is studying judo, then u can look in the clothes storage area and find judo uniforms. for our purim holiday (like holloween sort of ) we have a complete storage room filled with potential constume supplies thta have been collected ove rthe years ; studying a musical instrument? there is a collection of thsoe also.
i guess this sit he equvalent , a bit, like an american cooperative, only here its also everything else ......

 

[rebbetzin]

Here in Tucson, AZ about 3 or 4 times a year the city does a what they call "Bulky/Brush Pick Up." Everyone sets things out on the curb they don't want anymore and before the Trash Trucks come... All of us "Recyclers" drive up and down the streets finding all kinds of neat stuff for FREE!! I built my chicken coop with many of my "finds" that year. It is soooooooo fun to go searching for things you just might have a use for someday!

 

[galanie]

I am familiar with the kibbutz idea. I am glad it is still working out. I always felt the problem with communal sharing of everything was that people wanted to be individuals and I see that your kibbutz has evolved so that you can, yet still share whatever you're able to. It must feel like an extended family! What a good way to live, even if money is so short.

I am in the states and shocked myself at what people throw away. Our neighborhood is very relaxed and loose and so when I have something to "share" that I no longer want, I just put it at the curb. No one is shocked or reports me for it. Usually things I put there are gone in less than 8 hours. Of course if something is in such bad shape that no one would be able to use it, I wait until heavy trash pickup day. Even then, people are driving by and "shopping." I do it myself.