Frugal: before and after!

[Shell]

Do you ever think back to your pre-frugal days? Do you think about how you threw your money around and bought millions of things on a whim never thinking about tomorrow, your bills or putting away money for a rainy day? Or even worse charging everything and not thinking how you would pay for it when the bills came in?

What were you like in your pre-frugal days and how have you changed?

[pita1213]

right now the big one i can think of is using store brands instead of name brands and comparing prices.
i used to never use a store brand. now i will buy a small package of something i haven't tried yet to see if it is as good as the name brand. if i like it, i'll switch to the store brand. if it's not, then i on'y have a small package to use up.

[Chea]

I used to fling what little money I did have on useless things and then wonder why I was always broke before my next payday. A crdit card was of course, free money. My life could have been much easier if I had the same mindframe I do now. Oh well...like they say with age comes sense.

[babymav]

God I used to think back to those days and wonder what I did What was I thinking! I wasted so much money!!
But Not now exspecially with three kids

Before my frugal days I would pretty much throw money out the window! Now I use coupons all the time and I will shop for the best price. I will wait till the item goes on sale, use a coupon and buy in bulk of the same item. I never buy on impulse (like I used to) and I put research in advance to what I am going to buy before I buy. I used to leave the lights on all the time, now they are off as much as possible. I used to eat out about 3 times a week now I plan my meals in advance. I used to charge everything. I haven't charged an item on a credit card in over 5 years I do feel proud for that one the most!! The list is long on how I have changed my frugal ways!!
Boy my pre-frugal days if I could do over

[ThriftyWife]

I think I am more careful now to be sure that whatever I buy is quality made, and I always try to get the best price I can! Many times that means ~not~ buying, but waiting for the right product at the right price. For me, its all about self-control.

[HOMEDEPOTDIVA]

OH WOW!!!
I use to be MS. BOUNCE-EM-CHECK!
I would never write down my checks I had written out and boy did I waste money in fees!!! Talk about throwing money away!! YIKES!
NOW I know to the penny what's in my account and what checks were written! I have a debit card but choose to write checks where I can. The check writing process makes me think- Do I really want to have to write a check for that? Do I really need that? -- So if I can't justify writing the check - then I put back the item.
I also have put my family on a budget- something I would have never thought of in my past.
We shop thrift stores-antique stores- for clothing/ household items and furniture to refinish.
We also use coupons and buy store brands.
I have started making my own gifts and wrapping paper and cards using rubber stamps.
Life is so much more enjoyable now!!!

[Early Bird]

Eating out -- yes; I did that. Never planned menus.

[frugal4me]

I used to buy a lot of 'things' to replace feelings of sadness and loneliness. When I got diagnosed with Major Depression, all that changed. Meds gave me a new outlook on life.

I used to go to a lot of candlelite, tupperware, home interior, etc parties and buy things that I did not need out of guilt. I can now say no to the invite.

I never got into buying a lot of throw away products. And now with all the new products, I am glad I don't fall into that trap of 'making my life easier'. ie: swiffer, lysol disposable brush, etc.

Used to go out to dinner a lot. Now we go out two or three times a month and have noticed we pick nicer places that we enjoy going to and eat good food instead of the old taco bell, mcd's, etc.

Also the credit card debt has dramatically decreased based on being able to wait on purchases that are not immediate needs. It is amazing what power the mind has when things are put into perspective.

[AmyMCGS]

I was really bad about running into WalMart or somewhere for one or two things and coming out with a cartfull. Impulse purchases-- anything from new products to miracle skin creams to (especially) craft supplies-- were always in my cart. I rarely used a coupon for anything. I didn't have any credit card or debt problems, but I never had any extra money saved, either.

Now, I rarely shop without a coupons for most of the stuff in my cart. I reign in my impulse purchases (still hard for me!) and limit myself to a couple a month, not a couple per store! I'm also very careful now about checking out exactly what I have at home, whether it's food or craft supplies, before I buy more.

[guest2]

Add me to the impulse shopping, eating out and credit card "free money" thinking. That was the old me and one that got us into financial trouble that we are still trying to dig out of.

Now we have cut up all but the gas credit card, are paying off the other cards (3 done already! :yipee and I am learning to not try to "soothe" myself by spending. Eating out is now a treat and if the boys want to go at other times, they have to use their own money to do so. They have been great about trying to treat hubby and I to those $1 Whoppers!

Walmart can be a dangerous place for me because there are so many "good deals". I'm learning to go in with my list, get what I need and avoid certain areas of the store that tend to make me let my guard down.

I've always done well in the grocery budget department and providing good meals for our family. I do need to get back to a menu during the busy times though because it really did help me keep on track.

[Jerseygirl]

I was young and single and so much fun--that's how I was!!!!!
I drove a brand new convertible, lived in great little bungalow at the beach, thought nothing of going to the mall, blowing $200 on a new outfit then another $100 dancing and partying the night away. I cooked 1 night per week, even the food came from gourmet shops. My caterer knew my voice on the phone and where I hid the key outside my house (so I could plan an impromptu cocktail or dinner party from work and he would have it set up when I got home). I would hop on a plane to south Florida on a few hours notice to party for a weekend (hotel Fountainbleu in Miami was a regular destination) with my girlfriends. After about 4 years of this and working 2 jobs to support it, I was found myself nearly $10,000 in cc debt, in a relationship with dh and wanting to buy a house. That was the turning point. But I did have a great time while the trip lasted !! ----Kellie

[Shell]

Jerseygirl you sound like you had a lot of fun.

[Mom23boys]

I wasn't too much into impulse buying, but DH was. We have had every debt you can imagine. One day I think I woke up and realized we were living beyond our means. I hated living paycheck to paycheck and then wondering if that was going to be enough.

Now, we only have 2 credit cards, but 1 that we charge on and only if we know we can pay off the balance at the end of the month. I use coupons and stockpile when I can get really great buys. I comparison shop at all the stores. We eat at home more than eating out now. The slowcooker is my friend. I pay more to our debt than required each month to pay off the debt quicker! No more wondering what bills I can and can't pay each month. We are actually happier than we were before. We can actually afford to take vacations because we save for them every year. It is all in the planning and budgeting. I am proud to be frugal!!

[PrairieRose]

"Good deals" have gotten me into a lot of trouble in the past. We actually caught on to the notion of living beyond our means years ago....but when you've strapped yourself so tightly it takes a while to make progress at first. I've now learned to do without a lot of things that I would have bought without a 2nd thought in those earlier days. It is such an amazing feeling to control yourself and watch the bottom line grow that when we actually saw that happening we were able to run with it.

[graci42]

I used to fling what little money I did have on useless things and then wonder why I was always broke before my next payday. A crdit card was of course, free money. My life could have been much easier if I had the same mindframe I do now. Oh well...like they say with age comes sense.

THAT would be me!