The Frugal Lifestyle

[Linus]

You're cheap, huh? Ol' miser? Don't spend a dime for anything, not even air? Or, perhaps you're the other side of things and want to learn how to do it? I joined, earlier this year, a frugal website. The reality is that with the recent economy I realized that a) was living beyond my own means and b) had "stuff" (see YouTube of George Carlin on "Stuff") that really didn't need to have.

[ame="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MvgN5gCuLac"]YouTube- George Carlin Talks About "Stuff"[/ame]

So for those who want ideas on how to be frugal; have ideas to be frugal; want support to be frugal; etc. this would be the place to hang around.

A few sites to help:

Retail Me Not: a great place to find coupons for online sites

ThunderFAP (Freebies Archive Page): free "stuff"! (samples)

[Arwen]

Such an intriguing topic. I am a hoarder trying to reform. I have stripped down on the books but still have enough to fill two 6' bookshelves.

I have some great recipes to help a frightened budget (which is what my aunt titled them when she gave them to my mother in 1960-63).

[Andrew, Jr.]

I have retired because of health reasons. It has really affected/effected what I spend my money on. Coupons are a must do each week. I use several websites like Coupon Bug, and another one, plus I trade things with others (veggies, etc.).

With the economy down the toilet, I think it has influenced everyone. I am not sure of what is going to happen in the future. It has made me think long and hard about what I spend my money on.

[Diva]

I have never been a frugal person, but in the last couple of years, have been on a journey to purge unnecessary stuff from my life. It feels good to get rid of clutter.....I'm not done yet!

Also, since it's just me in my home, I have no reason to heat this whole house, so I have a space heater that is easy to move. If it gets really cold at night, I throw an extra quilt on the bed....

[Novelafemme]

I am a single mom to two girls who enjoy eating my paycheck the moment it hits the bank.

Arwen, I would love it if you shared your frightened budget recipies with me! LOVE that new phrase

I am an avid thrifter and am trying to get out of the habit of making morning coffee stops on my way to drop off the girls at school and getting my hiney to work.

Isn't it terribly difficult breaking those old comfy habits?!?!

Looking forward to reading more tips to help keep our heads afloat during these economically challenging times.

[Bit]

oh, is this my place?

Couple days ago I emptied a bag of flour into the canister; a bag of sugar into its canister; a box of smashed tato flakes into its canister, but I couldn't bring myself to throw the packages away.

Last night I got frustrated because I have too many magazines and nowhere to put them. Gotta be something I can do about that!

*this is a job for SuperBit! ta-daaa!*

So I spent an hour getting messy in the only way I like to get messy: I ripped those bags into palm-sized pieces, cut the box into a magazine caddy shape, and papier mached the bags onto the box with white glue, plain side out.

It would cost me anywhere from $2.50 to $4.00 plus the busfare both ways to go buy a cardboard magazine caddy----and then I would have to throw away the otherwise perfectly usable paper bags and box after all, because my recycler won't take them.

Yanno why I didn't mind gettin messy? I got to peel the glue off my fingers when it dried. That's so cool, lol.

[Gemme]

I'm doing the 'less binging, more purging' thing too. It's freeing when I see the actual space that one, two, ten boxes took up that is now free and empty.

While I prefer to get some money back on the things I was stupid enough to buy (too many clothes....crafts....books....wedding gowns (don't ask....unless you are in the market, of course )...and general STUFF), I understand that it's a different time and most people can't afford to buy the same stuff I did before, no matter the condition. So, I'm doing what I can to purge through CL and a local consignment shop. It's very slow-going but I hope some of my nicer things will sell with the holidays coming up.

Coupons.com and other coupon sites help tremendously with food purchases. I'm cooking more at home versus picking stuff up on the fly. It's the perfect season to make stews, chilis, casseroles and other larger dishes that will span several meals. Leftovers rock!

I am a VERY good hunter/gatherer. When I have space, I will stock up months worth of food and household supplies. It's just my nature, so I have to fight myself every time I step into a store.

Do I need this? Really? REALLY REALLY? Okay then. But only ONE...or something like that.

[Diva]

Bit, what a great idea with the magazine bin! I have let most of my magazine subscriptions go. Someone gave me Everyday Foods (Martha) and to support a school group, I ordered Gourmet. I can't throw those away.

I have learned to buy the store brand on most things. There are some brands I cannot however, because while the store brand of applesauce is just as good, the store brand of maple/brown sugar oatmeal is not. Sometimes a store brand is not a savings at all....and sometimes, the difference in price blows my mind....and I realize I've just been paying for their brand name!

I have found that I simply do my grocery shopping on a full stomach and have a defined list of what I need. I do less impulse shopping that way.

Also, I have found no shame in buying my groceries at Wal~Mart rather than Central Market. When I drive, I try to run all my errands in one big trip, rather than a bunch of small ones.

This is a wonderful thread..... <3

~Diva

[Lady Jewel]

There is a website called zinio.com...magazines can be read online for free or nominal feel. So its a frugal and green way of reading your favorite magazines. Also, they have a lot of LGBTQ mags too.

Wasrmly,
Jewel

Originally Posted by Diva

Bit, what a great idea with the magazine bin! I have let most of my magazine subscriptions go. Someone gave me Everyday Foods (Martha) and to support a school group, I ordered Gourmet. I can't throw those away.

I have learned to buy the store brand on most things. There are some brands I cannot however, because while the store brand of applesauce is just as good, the store brand of maple/brown sugar oatmeal is not. Sometimes a store brand is not a savings at all....and sometimes, the difference in price blows my mind....and I realize I've just been paying for their brand name!

I have found that I simply do my grocery shopping on a full stomach and have a defined list of what I need. I do less impulse shopping that way.

Also, I have found no shame in buying my groceries at Wal~Mart rather than Central Market. When I drive, I try to run all my errands in one big trip, rather than a bunch of small ones.

This is a wonderful thread..... <3

~Diva

[pajama]

Originally Posted by Diva

Bit, what a great idea with the magazine bin! I have let most of my magazine subscriptions go. Someone gave me Everyday Foods (Martha) and to support a school group, I ordered Gourmet. I can't throw those away.

I have learned to buy the store brand on most things. There are some brands I cannot however, because while the store brand of applesauce is just as good, the store brand of maple/brown sugar oatmeal is not. Sometimes a store brand is not a savings at all....and sometimes, the difference in price blows my mind....and I realize I've just been paying for their brand name!

I have found that I simply do my grocery shopping on a full stomach and have a defined list of what I need. I do less impulse shopping that way.

Also, I have found no shame in buying my groceries at Wal~Mart rather than Central Market. When I drive, I try to run all my errands in one big trip, rather than a bunch of small ones.

This is a wonderful thread..... <3

~Diva

Yep, much as I hate it, I no longer shop Publix, opting for Wal-Mart Great Value Brand. The difference in my food budget (with a 14y/o boy in the house) has been phenomenal! And you're right Diva, some things I haven't been able to tell any difference.

I also try to cook once or twice a week, big meals, grilling the meats whenever possible, and put together homemade "tv dinners" and freeze them. That way I have good food for work, the boy has quick, good meals, and I can share them with Mom when she doesn't feel like cooking. Plus cooking it all at once means the stove/cooling/heating energy is reduced slightly.

Great idea Bit for the boxes.

My roommate is moving out the first of the year and that's when I really plan to start purging. It'll be the first time in seven years we haven't shared a home.

A

[kittygrrl]

frugal shopping-
1. check the ads make meals around specials
2. check cupboards so you don't overbuy
3. make a detailed list
4. clip coupons
5. have a snack before you go-going hungry is not good!
6. take a calculator
7. take cash, it resonates more then plastic
8. stock up on things you use a lot, if it's on sale

[homoe]

I'm not really a going out to "lunch" person nor am I a "coffee drinker" so no big wasted monies there! I often do wonder tho if it's cheaper to eat home if you're only by yourself! There is more than monetary cost! There is also the time you need to go to the store, time spent picking out items in the store, and last, clean up time! ESPECIALLY if the meal is a disaster!
I know people try and be helpful suggesting cooking a big pot of chili and then freezing the rest, but once I have one or two bowls of chili, I don't want to see it for another 12 mos, so by then... HELLO can you say freezer burn...not exactly saving money that way!

[imperfect_cupcake]

Second hand bread machine. Super cheap, well worth it. I can make the bread (can't eat wheat, rye or barley) for way less. $5 or more a loaf in the stores. Costs me abut $2 to make.

I make and freeze dinners and lunches. And broth. I can't eat normal broth cubes so I throw all my veg ends into a bag in the freezer, and make veg broth one every 6 weeks. I buy pork bones from a great store that sells them for only 1.90 a kilo (2.2 pounds) and they are pretty meaty so I make bone broth every other month. I save all bread ends or lone dry slices in a bag in the freezer for stuffing or coating. I always save any bones, bacon fat or pork skin in the freezer.

I know where I can buy a huge 2 kilo bag of white fish for $10 - it's not the whitefish people choose, because they don't recognize the name of the fish, so they won't eat it. The fishing boats sell them cheap.

I shop at the Vietnamese vegetable stands, the food is way cheaper.
I make my own espresso in a stove top espresso maker that cost $15 at a garage sale. They sell them in our hard wear store for $35. So not that expensive to start with. I make it into americanos and put in travel mug on the train to school.

I walk the extra stops to make the zone fare cheaper for the train.

I buy bulk brown rice, bulk oatmeal, bulk coffee creamer, bulk sugar etc... Anything dried I buy bulk.

I swing past the veg store on the extra bit of walking on the way home from school to see what the "on its way out" veg and fruit rack have on it. If it's fruit I can eat, it will be a bag for $1. I'll freeze it and use it in yogurt or crumble or oatmeal or make fruit bread. If it's veg it's a $1 for a bag and I'll freeze it to use in stews or soups.

I use the veg, the meaty bone broth, veg broth to make a stew and use the bacon fat in dumplings.

If I'm really short at the end of the month, I'll use the bacon fat in making dense pancakes for dinner.

Ps, I freeze the bacon fat in ice cube trays. I let it cool, then scoop it in. That way it's easy to access without unfreezing the whole thing. I also get bacon fat off my two close friends and neighbours - they don't use it and I can't afford bacon very often.

[cinnamongrrl]

That's an awesome idea with the Bacon fat. I don't eat pork, but my dog likes a biscuit that I make him with bacon fat. I need to find a bacon eater and steal their fat...