photo by Nick Bramhall
It’s time for a frugal year in review. Financial gurus always encourage you to pay yourself first. This is important. All of the debt-reducing, money-saving strategies and ways to increase your income won’t mean much if you don’t take care of yourself first. When you reflect upon the past year, what’s the most frugal thing you learned?
Here are a few frugal-living highlights to keep in mind.
MOOD …

photo by LizMarie
The new year gives a fresh start for frugality. It’s the perfect time to start planning, organizing, learning and challenging yourself. Some frugal strategies are harder than others. Master one tough area, and slowly add easier methods throughout the year to avoid burning out. But which strategies tend to be the hardest?
Here are a few.
TRACKING SPENDING: You need to know what you’re spending to pinpoint where you …

photo by ktylerconk
You don’t have to sacrifice happiness if you’re frugal. Small pick-me-ups or indulgences can help you maintain your frugality without completely blowing your budget. You simply need to redefine luxuries. If you think about it, there are plenty of enjoyable low-cost splurges. Some can be impulsive, and others can be worked into your budget. But don’t buy what you can’t afford. It’s the little joys in life that …

photo by ms. tea
Think back to when you were a child. You might remember your parents doing a frugal thing or two. Not that there haven’t always been savers and spenders, but times have changed. There are so many new ways to get us to part with our money. Living a frugal lifestyle isn’t about going back to a simpler time. Sure, some old-school common sense comes into play, but …