frugalness!
07-20-2011, 08:48 AM
#1
Super Member
Thread Starter
Join Date: Jun 2010
Location: Raleigh,NC
Posts: 1,962
ok folks, money is tight, and not able to get much with what I have.
so I thought I'd start a frugal type thing here.
what do you to be frugal? I just returned the cable box, so no more cable, BUT can watch shows online, I did keep road runner..turbo, that is only 39.95 a month for a year.
what about food?
our favorite past time ..fabric buying
clothes.
well you got my meaning, share some of your ideas.
so I thought I'd start a frugal type thing here.
what do you to be frugal? I just returned the cable box, so no more cable, BUT can watch shows online, I did keep road runner..turbo, that is only 39.95 a month for a year.
what about food?
our favorite past time ..fabric buying
clothes.
well you got my meaning, share some of your ideas.
07-20-2011, 08:52 AM
#2
Super Member
Join Date: Jul 2010
Location: Northern California
Posts: 1,317
Pack your own lunch, get rid of land phone line if you use a cell phone, shop at thrift stores and yard sales, stay home more and cook - as opposed to eating out, rent movies instead of going to theater.
07-20-2011, 09:02 AM
#4
Super Member
Join Date: Jun 2009
Location: East Coast
Posts: 2,221
Food: Read up on extreme couponing.
Also, whenever you buy anything, check the receipt to be sure it's correct. Some groceries will give you the item for free if they overrang it. (Some won't, but at least they'll give back the amount the overcharged.)
Shop the sales, check the unit price before deciding which size to buy (sometimes the "large economy size" actually costs more per ounce or whatever than the smaller size), shop in the mornings for meat, as yesterday's meat is often discounted first thing next day but may sell out by afternoon.
Switch over to the fluorescent lightbulbs.
Drive within the speed limit as it uses less gas. Keep your gas tank full and your oil changed for more efficient car engine function.
Swap and barter where you can.
Try starting a garden, even if it's just some tomatoes in a pot.
Call the utility companies to ask what kinds of budget plans they offer.
Also, whenever you buy anything, check the receipt to be sure it's correct. Some groceries will give you the item for free if they overrang it. (Some won't, but at least they'll give back the amount the overcharged.)
Shop the sales, check the unit price before deciding which size to buy (sometimes the "large economy size" actually costs more per ounce or whatever than the smaller size), shop in the mornings for meat, as yesterday's meat is often discounted first thing next day but may sell out by afternoon.
Switch over to the fluorescent lightbulbs.
Drive within the speed limit as it uses less gas. Keep your gas tank full and your oil changed for more efficient car engine function.
Swap and barter where you can.
Try starting a garden, even if it's just some tomatoes in a pot.
Call the utility companies to ask what kinds of budget plans they offer.
07-20-2011, 09:02 AM
#5
Power Poster
Join Date: Mar 2011
Location: western NY formerly MN, FL, NC, SC
Posts: 51,433
with the price of gas and my car's poor mileage, i only shop once a week. if i want to shop in another section of town, i wait until i have at least 3 reasons to travel in that direction. i eat what is on sale, even though i may be drooling for a juicy steak. i keep the curtains closed against the sun and open the windows when i wake up [usually pre-dawn] for nature's air conditioning. i only run the washer when i have a full load. i gave up the movie channels which decreased my bill by half. i saved the throw-away printer cover sheets for the DGKs to color on. when i remodeled the kitchen, i used the old cabinets to put extra storage space in my office and sewing room. when i want to eat out, i go to the local buffet and arrive early enough for the senior discount :)
07-20-2011, 09:04 AM
#7
Super Member
Join Date: Jun 2011
Location: *where the sun almost always shines*
Posts: 9,323
no cable, no internet...my neighbor and i share wifi, food, bare minimum, no extras or junk, use a filter on faucet for drinking water. fabric, use from stash as much as possible. trade with friends if possible. use coupons if i have them. and drive as little as possible to save gas. love reading. borrow from my neighbors and they borrow from me to keep from having to drive to the library. i'm pretty much at bare minimum. oh, and i share a cell phone plan to keep costs down. i really can't cut to much more, but if i did, wifi would go. my kids don't live in FL so my cell is a necessity. i was cut from my job a couple of months ago. predominitely job search via the internet to save on gas.
07-20-2011, 09:17 AM
#8
Super Member
Join Date: Sep 2010
Location: Destin, Fl
Posts: 1,878
Originally Posted by Judith1005
no cable, no internet...my neighbor and i share wifi, food, bare minimum, no extras or junk, use a filter on faucet for drinking water. fabric, use from stash as much as possible. trade with friends if possible. use coupons if i have them. and drive as little as possible to save gas. love reading. borrow from my neighbors and they borrow from me to keep from having to drive to the library. i'm pretty much at bare minimum. oh, and i share a cell phone plan to keep costs down. i really can't cut to much more, but if i did, wifi would go. my kids don't live in FL so my cell is a necessity. i was cut from my job a couple of months ago. predominitely job search via the internet to save on gas.
and Indeed.com
You probably do, but wanted to mention them just in case.
07-20-2011, 09:19 AM
#9
Senior Member
Join Date: Oct 2010
Location: Born in NYC, but living in CT
Posts: 761
I clump all my errans together so I can go into town just once every two weeks. Keep my tank fulled since gas prices change here just about everyday. I planted a graden and share with my neighbor, will be canning this fall. Decided to not buy any more fabric until next year only 6 months left until the new year (have plently to keep me and you busy.) Turn off lights, heat with wood. window fans vs air condition. Pay bills on line vs placing a stamps, Keep a tight budget no extras since I only work during winter and summer there is no pay. I keep office box's for each one of my family members and shop for christmas everytime I go out and see something on sale that I know they would like or need and place it in their box.
07-20-2011, 09:46 AM
#10
Super Member
Join Date: Apr 2010
Posts: 2,909
Originally Posted by NancyG
Pack your own lunch, get rid of land phone line if you use a cell phone, shop at thrift stores and yard sales, stay home more and cook - as opposed to eating out, rent movies instead of going to theater.
