Frugal Faves

**IndigoMom** · 06-05-2009, 10:22 PM

What are some of your favorite things about being frugal?
I love the creativity of it - and the creativity it brings out in my children. Like when DD had to have those chop sticks for your hair...She wanted to wear 2 different colors.
She went to a store that specalizes in "Teen Accessory Fashion" type stuff - found the 2 colors she wanted, sold in two different packages - of course for $6 per set. So...she walked into the Dollar Store at that same mall and bought a package of arts & craft painted dowels the same size the chop sticks were. Brought them home, sharpened them a little with her pencil sharpener and voila - she has 10 pairs of chopsticks for her hair in a vast array of any color she could dream of - plus a set of 10 pair to give to her BFF. All for a dollar.

It's also forced me to stretch out of my comfort zone as well. Gardening, baking from scratch, sewing, crochet - I find myself getting more daring in all those areas, and more creative as well.
My mindset has changed from what can I get/have to more of what can I do.
That sums it up for me, how about you?

**GeeZee** · 06-05-2009, 10:40 PM

One area I like being frugal in is baking my own bread - now wait, not from scratch. I mean buying the pack of frozen bead dough and raising them, then baking them! They taste good and are very frugal!

**Sassyclass** · 06-05-2009, 10:45 PM

It fits my lifestyle and personality. I'm a homebody country girl and I am not in the least a materialistic person. I'm happy in Goodwill blue jeans and a t-shirt, maybe some flip flops. There is something very rewarding about stretching that dollar, or making something from scratch for the first time. I love the unselfishness of being frugal. It's not about what I want but what my family, friends, and even a stranger needs and how can I help.

Cat

**pollypurebred39** · 06-05-2009, 11:30 PM

I love the thrill I get finding the perfect bargin, be it a yard sale find or something on a clearance rack.

**hollyhill** · 06-06-2009, 12:14 AM

It is who I am.... I was brought up frugally....and hope I am teaching my children too. I learned at an early age that we all have a choice on how to spend or not spend a dollar. So when I was young I was more likely to be found backpacking in south America and traveling by dugout (yes it was thrilling and inexpensive)...where as friends preferred to spend their money in a night club.

I also LOVE to garden..... and always have. And I love a bargain (preferrably almost free).... who doesn't...

**frugalfranny** · 06-06-2009, 01:26 AM

I was raised that way and thank god as I was a single parent at a young age so I got to practice it young. Have never changed the practice.

I too like the creativity of it and see something and think know how can I make that cheaper. Or save money on some things for a splurge on others. Then the splurge seems to give me almost like a double satisfaction.

It is just 'normal' for me.......my way of life.

**Bellaboo** · 06-06-2009, 12:20 PM

For me it's the thrill of the hunt. I love finding good deals on things and getting the most for my dollar. My DH used to think I was nuts but now he's completely on board...apart from him wanting to crank the AC. He's very good at finding deals sometimes he's even better at it then I am. Who would have thought!

**peanut** · 06-06-2009, 12:49 PM

It's a way to channel my spontaneity and creativity. It gives me direction and focus for those character traits. And in the process encourages growth and development of character and new skills and abilities. I love it!

**Incognito** · 06-06-2009, 01:07 PM

I am frugal...therefore, I am...

Frugality--I wouldn't have survived without it; and it's caused me to develop my creative skills, and to appreciate all that God provides. It has defined my purpose as much as my identity.

I don't feel poorer for it; I feel richer for it.

Being frugal is work; but the work is an enriching experience, whether it's cooking, sewing, gardening, picking berries, couponing, money-management, etc. It's the real hands-on activity of realizing and working to meet my own needs, rather than just quick-purchasing for instant gratification.

**Gibs** · 06-07-2009, 12:25 PM

I love the thrill of combing a coupon with a good sale and getting something for free or near free. I love how I can find new ways to use things. How I shop at home for things before going to a store to look for it. I also love how I can find a great sale at a yard sale or thrift store. My daughter needed a new bike, a friend posted on her facebook one for sale belonging to her daughter, it was a year old, she paid over 100 dollars for it new and I purchased it from her for 25 dollars for my dd. My Son also needed a new bike, last night I posted on my facebook if anyone had a second hand bike for sale that would fit Riley I was looking for one to purchase. Our aunt and uncle had purchased one at walmart last year on clearance for their grandson for 40 dollars....brand new...it was too big, so they were going to give it to him this year for his birthday, it was still to big so they went and bought him one in his size, so they are selling us the bike for 30 dollars, this is a BRAND NEW never before used bike.

My son had 115.00 dollars given to him for graduating kindergarten on Thursday, so he is paying for the bike out of 30 dollars. He was going to purchase a new one at walmart which would have taken all his money, but he was kinda between minds about what to do because he knew all his money would be gone with one purchase. So by finding this deal he still has 85 dollars to get something else if he wants to.

I love having things stocked up, when I find a great deal i stock some what, and I find that is great being able to get something that I need without having to go to the store, all i have to do is go to the stock pile and get it.

I love how my bills are lower because I am learning to make them lower.

I have learned so much since becoming a member of Frugal village and I have all of you to thank for it. Thank you so much.

**strezzed** · 06-07-2009, 12:53 PM

I love the thrill of accomplishing our financial goals. Our mortgage was paid before I was 30. DH was laid off a year ago and still isn't working but we haven't gotten into debt because of it.
While most of this seems a huge mystery to most of our peers, living frugally was a simple concept to both DH and I, as we both grew up in low-income households. It's all about only spending money you have, not money you don't. It just feels great knowing we'll be okay through this rough time.

**Grainlady** · 06-07-2009, 06:21 PM

Thankfully, I'm a natural at being frugal, and study to improve all the time. So many people on this forum have been great inspirations and share really great information. In my genetic make-up, or personality type, is a deep conviction to make do with less, make what we have last longer, and to always be on the lookout for a good bargain.

Living well on less is a challenge, but with great rewards. Money just runs through most people's fingers and they have no idea of where it went. Now we have money to help others and help support worthy organizations that help so many people. Being able to live well with less, spending less than you make, giving of your bounty, is a great accomplishment in this day and age.

Being prepared is an important part of being frugal. If I have taco meat ready-to-heat in the freezer, lettuce in the crisper drawer and grated cheese, homemade tortillas or taco shells on hand, then we won't fall in the trap of "going out" for tacos where we spend 10X as much for the privilage of having someone else make them.

This goes for many other areas of our life, not just food. I put money away in our Christmas/Emergency fund all year long by saving my $1-bills, as well as buy bargains and make things for gifts all year long, therefore we are always prepared for the holidays and it's always paid for with cash. I already have most of the gifts made or purchased, so I won't be freaking out when Dec. gets here trying to fight crowds and purchasing gifts with money we don't have. We also have a $10-per person gift limit, so we are keeping our spending to a reasonable amount.

I like what everyone contributed about being creative. That's certainly a big PLUS for frugal folks. Yes, that clown costume for our daughter looked familiar, it was made with my old kitchen window curtains, but was sooooo adorable.

People thought I was nuts when I started buying grain and milling my own flour and making all our baked goods; but the rewards are not only how much money we've saved, but healthier foods for the family.

Living a simple life helps get rid of a lot of stress and the need for a lot of senseless "stuff". Because of good quality choices, our clothes never look out-of-date and most of them are thrift store finds. We take good care of our paid-for cars so they will last many years. "Elbow-grease" is usually very effective and inexpensive.

We don't have a need to "impress" others, nor embarrass ourselves by looking "poor" to prove our simple life. While our neighbor is in hock up to their eyebrows paying for "everything their hearts desire" and are one paycheck away from desperation, our retirement if funded and we have money set aside for "hard times".

**Siebrie** · 06-08-2009, 05:47 AM

I enjoy the creativity. For instance: I used to make birthday cards. Now that I don't have the time for that, I buy the 'Greetings from Brussels' cards to send to my friends in the Netherlands. They are only 45 cents, compared to 2.5 euros for the real cards. I would like to make the cards myself again, but that is not likely to happen soon. But then, my dd will be 1 soon, and able to hold a colouring pen, so guess whom I'll be making cards with next year?

And I like the peace of mind that comes with frugality. This month 'life' threw some extra bills and some bad financial news at us, but we can take it in our stride.