What are your frugal secrets?

**Shell** · 01-13-2003, 07:22 PM

All of us here are working to be more frugal and save more money. What do you think is your best frugal secrets that work for you?

Some of the best things I have done is pay myself first! I have money taken out of my account for the future each and every month. Now, I am working on my emergency account and credit cards.

My vacations are a lot more frugal. I have cut down on how much soap I use and cook a lot more from home. I find coming to frugalvillage also helps keep me in line.

What are your frugal secrets?

**mylittle4** · 01-13-2003, 08:57 PM

I seem to be doing a new frugal thing everyday. I use half as much laundry soap, cut my dryer sheets in half,I never turn down something offered to me for free. Like a bag of clothes I take it go through it,and pass it on to someone else.

**summercat** · 01-14-2003, 02:39 PM

Since I moved a few months ago I am recycling paper & cans more.
With the new washer/dryer processor I have I use VERY little laundry detergent.
I also keep things such as lights & tv off if I am not in the rooms.
I even have my refrigerator on energy saver.
When I leave & when I go to bed I turn down the heat real low.
Since I am alone I wash dishes every couple days or so since I hardly use any.
I use batteries in my radio insterad of the plugging it in.

**heavensent_7** · 01-14-2003, 02:55 PM

I'm fairly new at this site and frugal living but this week I got my TWG and have been very pleasantly surprised to find out I already do LOTS of things I always thought were normal LOL. Thank you Dad

(another story but one day when I remember I will post a pic of the shoes he re-heeled himself YEARS ago with Truck Tires!

LMAO!)

Anyway I have always bought nearly all of my things and the childrens things from charity shops and Car Boot sales and had MANY bargains!

I have NEVER had either a dishwasher or a clothes dryer.

LOL

So NOW - I'm desperately trying to cook more at home (I hate doing that and we used to eat out EVERY night!!!!)

I have cut down on buying magazines that are mostly adverts and I bought nearly every one on the rack every month!!!

I bought my kids sweets every day after school - now we do this once a week and put the money we would have spent in a jar for holiday spending money.

I do tend to comfort shop which I have been really careful about doing - I started to keep a log of everything I spend and since then I haven't done it, because I don't want to have to write in my book that I just wasted money comfort shopping LOL.

I MUST try to turn off lights and TV etc (I leave them on all over the house!)

And back to my book for some more ideas....................

**captclearance** · 01-14-2003, 03:29 PM

I look at things differently than a lot of my friends do...... I buy while it's on sale, I love loss leaders !!!!!!! I try to use less and reuse many things, I buy almost all of our clothes at thrift stores, resale shops, and mostly yard sales.... I try to make what I have last or repair it.......

**slowtypinwoman** · 01-18-2003, 11:29 AM

One of the best tips I can give is to do comp. ads at Wal*Mart. I usually save $15 on my meat this way. I shop once a month for groceries and fill in at the local mart. Store brands can usually beat the name brands even with a coupon. Cooking from scratch, while it can be boring , is a real money saver. Taking my lunch can easily save us $20 a week. Drinking Water as our main beverage, is not only healthier but cost effective!

**AmyBoz** · 01-19-2003, 07:51 AM

I don't think I really have any frugal secrets. I do bascially what we all do and feel great about it. I am always looking for new ways to be frugal and am willing to try just about anything once. Dh was helping me with the laundry yesterday and he saw me put in only 1/2 a capful of detergent and he was shocked because he said, "My hockey stuff isn't going to get clean!" When I told him that I've been using only 1/2 a capful of detergent in the washer and the dishwasher for 2 years, he laughed and said that he never noticed the difference. So, along with all the other frugal things he supports me with, I've got him with the detergent now, as well!

**graci42** · 01-19-2003, 11:04 AM

Lets seeeeeee.....

1. I use a price book
2. Love sale flyers--bulk buy when it's a great buy
3. Coast in neutral on hills...hehehe ty gran
4. turn off lights
5. limit TV time and Video games (kids--they don't need to be on the tv and sega all the time any way!)
6. Keep the thermostat at 65
7. Love thrift shops and yard sales!
8. Cook from scratch and freeze goodies like muffins for my kids lunches
9. pack lunches
Sheeeeeeeeeeeeeesh...didn't realize I was doing all of this!

Isn't it great how frugality just sneaks up on you?

Well...catcha later

**tabarn1** · 01-20-2003, 10:57 AM

Hang clothes to dry, use cloth napkins (made from free or near free fabric), use half detergent, soaps, etc., cook from scratch, rewash baggies, loss leaders and stock up during sales, when possible Goodwill or garage sale for things we need, keep heat low, cover windows in the winter. Enjoy life.

**paelthom** · 01-20-2003, 11:30 AM

Drastically reduced the "comfort shopping" and eating out, buy clothes at second hand stores, use 1/2 of recommended laundry detergent and fabric softener, try to make do with what I have before getting something new and coming here for new ideas. Learning how to do the crafts that were posted here saved me a lot during Christmas and everyone loved them.
paelthom

Mommyof2lildivas · 01-20-2003, 08:25 PM

We have cut down on eating out and are turning off our long distance and just using one of those 10-10-220 numbers to place calls when we do, that'll save $50 a month. We started our Christmas Club account at our bank to get a jump on next Christmas. We've cut out a lot of red meat and turned to more veggies to cut down on grocery bills. Now, I'm trying to get my 2 yr old pottytrained to save on pamper bills. We also keep our thermostat at 68 degrees and layer up on clothes to beat the cold weather.