photo by reconstructionist Frugal living can be a lot of fun. It’s empowering and can bring happiness to your life. It often becomes a game you can play as you challenge yourself to waste less and save more money. Fellow frugalista, Sue H. in Michigan, shares: “I love to sit in the backyard with my [...]
photo by Mike Licht If you clip coupons, you’ll want to organize them. You want to find the coupons you need quickly so you don’t miss out on any money-saving opportunities. Creating the best system depends largely on how many coupons you clip and use. For some people, a paper clip will suffice, and for [...]
photo by René Ehrhardt Finding money to save for an emergency can be a challenge. But even if you work with a tight budget, you can start out by saving even a mere $10 a month. Something is better than nothing. Once you see your savings start to accumulate, you’ll be motivated to look for [...]
photo by purpleslog You’ve probably made a financial mistake or two. Some money mistakes are fairly common. Most people learn from them and make changes for the better. Consistent decisions (both large and small) can have a big impact on your financial future. If you’re starting out, you’ll be ahead of the game if you [...]
photo by kudumomo There are various levels of frugality. For some people, it’s as simple as switching from paper to cloth or reducing plastic use. Others consider themselves frugal if they create an organized meal plan and stop eating out or shop secondhand. Each person decides comfortable ways to reduce waste and save money. Income [...]
photo by jsf539 You save money by being frugal. You prioritize and pare down or eliminate your wasteful spending ways. But even in a recession, there are items that are well worth the money. Whether you’re frugal or not, you don’t want to make a cheap, low-quality purchase and then have to replace it or [...]
photo by squirrel cottage Frugality is about choices. Frequent small expenditures can leave you wondering where your money has gone. Ever backtrack your purchases and discover you didn’t lose that $20 after all? Tracking your spending will pinpoint your money leaks, and wise consistent choices will help improve your savings, too. It’s as simple as [...]
photo by Brian Carlock Frugal living includes many strategies for saving money. Sure, it’s penny-pinching, but it adds up to a considerable amount annually. There are a lot of tips and tricks that you can use that others might not. They’re not over the top, extreme or bizarre. They’re simple choices you can make that [...]
photo by barkdog Frugal living is fun. When practicing frugality, you’ll have stories to tell that are especially funny to fellow frugalitarians. These stories are validation that money-saving strategies can be applied to your life seamlessly. If you have a funny frugal story, share it with me. Here are a few that have been shared. [...]
photo by DeclanTM An Internet connection is frugal. When given the choice between cable television and an Internet connection, frugalitarians choose being online hands down. They’ll give up their landline phone, dryer, dishwasher, going to the movies and eating out, but don’t mess with their computer — and who can blame them when it pays [...]
photo by sa_ku_ra Frugality should be peaceful. But there are times when frugal living might cause you to be unhappy or stressed. It’s usually when you take on too much or when you try strategies that work well for some families but are a bad match for yours. You have to sort out what works [...]
photo by boboroshi Frugality isn’t cheap living or voluntary poverty. Whether you’re frugal by choice or necessity, you make the most of your hard-earned money and waste less, too. When you strip away the excess in your life, you discover a sense of truth and authenticity. Your identity is less involved. It can be an [...]
photo by Kevinee Pay a membership fee, buy in bulk, and save a ton of money. Not so fast, fellow frugalitarian. Warehouse clubs aren’t always the tightwad utopia they seem to be. I let my membership expire, and I don’t plan on renewing it, mostly because of my distance from the closest store. OK, I [...]
photo by Shane Pope Eating out can be a large expense. While it’s easy to rely on it as a quick solution, it’s often not the best choice. It’s easier said than done to have meals prepared in the freezer for emergencies. Slow cookers work well if you know ahead of time that your schedule [...]
photo by cottagetocastlechic I have to stay out of craft, fabric and quilt stores. I can walk in needing one item and be tempted by dozens of others. I have considerable restraint and can talk myself down, but not everyone can. Have you ever overspent on quilting material? You get home, maybe still on a [...]
D ear Sara: I want to make a large batch of pizza dough and freeze it for later. Would I fully bake the dough, then freeze it? Or would I just flash freeze the dough? — S.C., Ohio Dear S.C.: You can freeze homemade pizza. You can freeze it cooked or uncooked. If it’s uncooked, [...]
photo by merelymel13 Organizing your storage containers can be a pain. If you don’t have a system for the lids, mealtime can become one additional frustration of the day. You can invest in storage containers with interlocking lids or simply designate a shoebox or drawer to hold them all. Nesting helps if you have round [...]
