I have decided to really cut back on spending as a way to save for Christmas. So, What's the Best Frugal Tip That You Have Ever Learned?

Laura

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Well, #1 of course, is using coupons! And # 2 would be looking for reduced meats at the grocery store. I never pay full price for steaks, pork, stew meat, etc., and usually get it for pennies on the dollar. It might sound gross to some, but we have never had a problem. The other night, we had $13 worth of steak for less than $3.

It's boring, but I just learned that when I really needed to be frugal to just cut back as much as possible on things that aren't necessities. So, I had the most basic cable at $12.60/month (still do, actually), I didn't buy clothes because I could get by on what I already had. Didn't eat out, didn't go to the movies, got books and movies from the library. Bought fruit and veggies in season. Didn't go on vacation. Really, just basic food, rent, utilities and not a whole lot more. Having basic cable was my "splurge." For fun, I'd go to the beach or hiking with friends or just hang out at a friend's house.

When my son was still in daycare and money was reeeeally tight, I made up my mind that we would eat off whatever was in the house for one month, going to the store only once per week for perishables like milk and bread. I saved so much money that month, and used up so much stuff, that we did it for another month! Now I do it every so often just to use up all the stuff I have stockpiled in the freezer. It forces you to be a bit creative and make do with what you have.

Always live within your means. If you can' t pay for it don't put it on a credit card. Put money into savings first and pretend it doesn't exsist. Also the hardest lesson-Even if its on a great sale or you have a great coupon, if you don't really need it don't get it.

For me, giving back is part of the key. Donating stockpile items to the food bank. Also, volunteering my time for a non-profit organization that is not related to my family/children keeps me out of the stores on days that I am not working. It makes for a good balance.

My family was very incredibly (poor) frugal growing up but I did learn from my parents to always pay it forward no matter how low your circumstances may become... help others.

Don't try to keep up with "the Joneses". Usually, once you dig into the Jones's financial picture, you see that they can't even really keep up with themselves.

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Doing the right thing isn't always the same as doing the easy thing.

Always pay yourself first has been a great tip for us. We have money that comes out automatically from DH's check that goes into saving sand more that goes into 401K and stock. We've never had that money and we don't miss it since we have never *seen* it. We know it's there if we need it though (but that's not our plan).

Do I NEED it or do I WANT it? In a nutshell, it's that that simple. Do I NEED that huge cell phone bill with texting and internet or could I use the basic service at half the cost (or no service at all)? Do I NEED that pimped out cable bill or could I cut it down or out entirely? Do I NEED to buy that outfit (or whatever) just because it's 50% and so cute?

Don't pay interest/fees on everyday stuff: Don't pay an ATM to get your money. Pay off your credit card each month (or don't buy what you are putting on it), etc. With the credit card, it requires you to pay attention to your spending. We put everything we can o a credit card (we get rewards like Amazon gift certificates and cash back). We pay it off every month. Christmas and birthdays are pretty much free to us because we use our rewards to pay for it. I also use the Amazon ones to help pay the grocery bill with their grocery stuff (paper towels, toilet paper and other stuff in bulk...saves me gas from driving an hour to Costco).

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Proud to say I haven't shopped at a Wal-Mart since Sept 2003

We also charge everything and pay it off each month. We have an airlines reward card and take a lot of vacations with free airfare.

I reuse ziploc bags - but NOT ones that have had food in them. If the girls bring home something from school (paper, patches, trinkets) in a ziploc bag, I save it in a separate pile. Then, say they have to take money to school or something non-food, they reuse those bags in that pile.

I also save my ziplocs from traveling and reuse them for shampoos or small liquid bottles.

I also save paper that has one side used and reuse it in the computer printer for unimportant things - ie: directions somewhere, or information that doesn't need to be on a "pretty" new piece.

I also save all the girls partially used spiral notebooks at the end of school and use them for grocery lists and notes.

We try to use all our leftovers from dinner for lunches or re-incorporate them into the next nights meal. Occassionally when we have a lot, we'll just have leftovers for dinner and use them up.

Plan your menu around what's on sale each week at the grocery store - and buy an extra for the freezer while it's on sale.

Use coupons as much as you can.

Lisa

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"It's not having what you want,
It's wanting what you've got"

As far as non-grocery, keep a list of things that you think that you *need* and then go shopping once a week.

I usually cross off half of my list before I even walk in the store. I guess we don't *need* those things as much as I thought we did!

Great advice AIA. I used to wish we had stuff like DHs business partner. Now I know that they only have that stuff because they have refinanced the crap out of their house. Now they owe WAY more then they can afford and can no longer make their house payments. They will lose everything they have.

We have nothing but owe very little.

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Calling a illegal alien an "undocumented immigrant" is like calling a drug dealer an "unlicensed pharmacist."

Lists! Grocery lists, errands that need to be done etc. I only use the car 1 time per week for all the running. I think bein armed with a plan when shopping makes all the difference
No soda at the checkout. That seems really simple, but do you know how fast that adds up?
Special night. I clean out the fridge/freezer every 2 weeks on a Sat night. I make up a bunch of finger foods using the leftovers, pop in a movie and Voila! special night! The kids love it.
Laundry, too many things are thrown in the laundry when they are not dirty. If you wear a pair of jeans for three hours they are not dirty unless you have pooped your pants.
When buying new things I ask myself, how long do I need to work to pay for it. It really puts in in perspective.

my depression era Great Aunt once gave me very similar advice, "Always ask yourself the question,
Do I need it?
Can I do without it"
Can i use something else to do the same thing?"

This is great advoce, as it will keep you from buying "fad" appliances, like a smores maker, and help you to think about stuff you have that will fill the purpose you need (I have to go to a special event, and I have nothing to wear....lets look again though the closet for a long black skirt and white blouse to dress up with some jewelry I already have"...
that kind of thing...It's helped me avoid spending money unnecessarily .

I do scores of frugal things every day, like the baggie thing, making my own freeze pops, etc, but that it the number one best tip ever

Be mindful, grateful, and share!

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The political system is broke and it's a joke.

Never ever ever ever use a credit card again. When I was single before being married you get a job, everything is wonderful, you open up all charge plates and before you know it , you are charging all over, until one day, you are so in debt. Credit cards are a bad thing. I certainly learned my lesson. For today I simply love coupons would never ever ever not use them, always shop clearence, I love garage sales and I love the goodwill store. I also price match the items on sale to use with coupons, and of course having a store that triples 75 cents I know I know I cannot stand it, yes I can , that helps alot. Finally I cut out starbucks everyday, there was a point where I was drinking hot chocolate everyday. Literally saved about 140/00 a month alone on starbucks. Peace to all. Catherine

I don't go to any store unless I need something from there. And then I go in, get it, and get out. Instead of going to the mall, I walk with the dogs. I ignore the Target posts (it hurts ) because I really don't need another XXX.

I hate waste so my little frugal tip is this: Always use a rubber spatula when you cook to get every last bit of batter, cookie dough, sauce... whatever out of the bowl or pot. When I scrape the cookie dough bowl, I always get at least one more cookie and that's always a good thing!

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Cecilia

"We must love them both--those whose opinions we share and those whose opinions we reject. For both have labored in the search for truth, and both have helped us in the finding of it."
Saint Thomas Aquinas

I've never had a car payment/loan.

I've paid cash for every car I've had.

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I'm the kind of woman when my feet hit the floor in each morning, the devil says "Oh crap, she's up."

I whole-heartedly disagree. I pay it off each month, and always have. If you can resist spending more than you can pay each month, it's a free loan. I always put everything I can on my credit card. I earn interest for a month on the money that will pay off the credit card. In addition, I get rewards for using the card, so I can get some free stuff too.

I completely agree -we charge everything. If they take a Visa, we charge it! BUT, we pay it off every month and have for almost 15 years.

Lisa

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"It's not having what you want,
It's wanting what you've got"

Credit is FAB...if used correctly. I wouldn't get all the free stuff I do without my credit card rewards. They pay ME to use their card since I never pay interest

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Proud to say I haven't shopped at a Wal-Mart since Sept 2003

NEVER PAY FULL PRICE!!!
If I see something I really want I try to find it cheaper!

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Always be a first rate version of your self instead of a second rate version of someone else.[SIGPIC][/SIGPIC]
What the country needs is dirtier fingernails and cleaner minds.

We use the card for everything, as well, but I am aware that there are studies showing that those paying with cards tend to spend 10 - 15% more than those who pay with cash or check. I do think that's true. If I only had $5 with me and we went through a drive-thru (something we rarely do, anyway, but...) we'd ask, "What can we get for $5?" and probably order ice cream cones and water. With the card, it's easy for me to get a coffee, too.... and then when the kids ask if they can pleeeease have a Coke.... before I know it we've spent $12!

Throw brand loyalty out the window, unless there is a medical reason for it.

Once you get over brand loyalty you're free to use coupons a lot more and take advantage of many more great deals. Give any and every brand a whirl, as long as you get a good deal on it. Figure out what ones do/don't work for you. For some things, any old brand will do.

That said I do have a few brand loyalties I refuse to give up: JIF, Kraft Mac&Cheese, Heinz ketchup and Dove deodorant(allergic to other kinds). But my list is tiny and represents a very small part of my total purchases at the store.

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Jesus SAVES by shopping smartly and using double coupons!

My kids ride the school bus to and from school whenever possible. My taxes already pay for it...no need to pay twice by using my gas to take them.

We also use left-overs for lunch the following day.

We cut our land-line and have gone eith cell only service. This works wonderfully for us...all of our family is out of town and have the same carrier...no minute charges because we all have the same carrier.

We reduce, reuse, recycle. I know this isn't always what comes to mind when thinking frugally...but it is saving some in your pocket book and saving the earth as well. We only have one.

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Think about helping out with cancer...
Join the Relay for Life

Wow - Parents have to pay for the school bus in our area.

Okay - I can't resist sharing my most favorite money saving tip - Don't invest with a con man, especially a religious one.

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Prayer is the burden of a sigh,
The falling of a tear,
The upward glancing of an eye
When none but God is near."

We recyle,it saves on trash bags

Pay extra on the principal portion of your mortgage each month. It can cut $1,000's off of your interest payments and years off of your mortgage.

I know that it doesn't sound like a way to cut back but it is a way to save money in the long run!

Wealthy people buy things that Appreciate (the asset has the potential to increase in value over time)
Poor people buy things that Depreciate (over several years as the value of the asset decreases)

Buy an OLD car, Buy a NEW house.
Credit is for EMERGENCIES not everyday living.


X

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Then Jesus said, "Come to me, all of you who are weary and carry heavy burdens, and I will give you rest." Matthew 11:28

I agree that it makes sense to buy an old car, but I think it makes sense to buy an old house too. A stately old house in an established neighborhood is worth more than a new McMansion in a new development.

Giggling at "McMansion" - I know what you're saying. I like older homes too, but don't live in one.

I think my dad's philosphy on that was hoping a newer home wouldn't have as many maintenance issues and a possiblility of getting in at an early stage with equity potential.
or maybe he was trying to teach me that driving a new car off the car lot (you know the depreciation that happens then UGH!) compared to the potential investment that a house can provide.
And the fact that back in his day people stayed in their houses longer (sometimes a whole lifetime).
He was advising Build from the ground up, Get what you want early, you'll settle in as you Grow your family and want to be there a while.

X

One thing I just thought of, I learned from Clark Howard, watch those things you get monthly bills for like cable, phone etc Decide if you really need them because they really add up. Look at the cost for what ever it is over a year and decide if its worth it. Even if you decide you need your land line still, do you really need any of those extras like call waiting or caller id. We completely cut off our cable and I miss it but when we added up all we were paying out over the year it just wasn't worth it. We got net flix and use hulu instead. I love Clark Howard and really have used a lot of his tips over the years. Maybe my best advice would be to watch or listen to his show or check out his website.

the kids in our school district have to pay to ride the bus also, and it isn't cheap--over $200 per school year per kid

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"Well-Behaved Women SELDOM make history."Laurel Thatcher Ulrich


"Yesterday is but a vision, and tomorrow is only a dream. But today well lived makes every yesterday a dream of happiness, and every tomorrow a dream of hope." Anonymous

"Your candle does not lose it's light by lighting another candle" Generosity

Have the courage to be yourself.

To cut cost at Christmas I do reward programs, my point, surveys etc.. usually make around 200.00+ a year from that. I also check at target in July and Jan for clearance toys. ( sometimes do the same at wal-mart ).

I don't drive anywhere I don't have too. Last few months can make it on 1 tank of gas for a month.

Snacks for kids at school. I buy the "off brands" and make a mix of it, Pretzels, cheese nips, chex, peanuts etc.. You will get a lot more than buying it already mixed.

I only wash clothes 2x a week now, Wed's and Sundays. Use to wash 3 to 4 times a week and was wasting tons of water , electric and washing powders ( 1/2 loads if there wasn't enough to make full loads).

I don't cook "Big" meals any more. I cook just what will be eaten that night ( maybe at times will have a few left overs, but no much any more ).

believe it or not, at times it IS cheaper to order off line Vs B&M shopping. I can usually find free shipping or cheap shipping by ordering XXX amount. So I shop that place when I know I need that amount to get free shipping.

Marked down meats ( is there any other kind these days ? LOL ).

Can't think of much more . will post if I do