How to be frugal and family isn't ?

**Panndy1** · 03-23-2005, 04:14 PM

In reading some of the posts on here I am far from being frugal. I do try to save and be a little bit frugal anyway. I was just wondering what you do if your dh or other family members are not cooperative? My dh is the sweetest and the best. But I do have complaints about how he does things sometimes. I have told him about it and he still does it. Like for example throwing away the last of the cereal in the box cause there is not enough to eat. I say put that in the bowl and just add to it from another box. Or similar with rolls of toliet paper. Just a couple of examples. I wanted to find out if anyone else had problems like this or are your families frugal and do what you want. Thanks.

**pip** · 03-23-2005, 04:45 PM

Well, my husband isn't exactly frugal either. He gets upset with me sometimes when I am just being myself, frugal.

I don't know how I could really change him, but I just try to be as frugal as I can by myself. For example, I do the grocery shopping. It's amazing how much money you can save when you shop for groceries. I don't take him with and I try very hard not to take the kids with. WAY too much money spent while they're there! I've been grocery shopping at Aldis, and as much of the food is used in my meals, they don't really know the difference. (Actually, they've been quite open minded about trying the products there. )When my husband gets bent out of shape because I show him the slightly used paper towels saved for wiping up the floors, etc, and insists that he use about a half a roll of paper towel for the same thing (it's a "quality of life" thing, you know.

), I've decided it's not really worth a fight. I just keep going and once in a while remind him about how respectful I am of the money he brings into the house, and don't waste it like many other people he knows or works with. He listens then.

**slowtypinwoman** · 03-23-2005, 05:21 PM

If you continue to be frugal, over time it will be easier for them to follow suit. My husband is FAR from frugal. He is, however adjusting to new things, like store brand products. I even had him saving the last in the deoderant so I could melt it down to make a new one with all the leftovers in the plastic part that you can't use.

Just keep on truckin' and they will eventuaslly start to see things as normal, instead of frugal.

**thrifty gal** · 03-23-2005, 06:29 PM

My dh used to be very unfrugal. And, still is to some degree, although I'm glad to say he is much better. What I did, and still do when he needs a kick in the butt, is I let him make decisions. For instance, when we are running low on cash, and it's only Monday, but he wants to eat out-I "let" (for lack of a better word, in other words, I don't nag at him about it) him. Should we? No, but what happens is he starts to see come Wednesday or Thursday how bad "just" $10 hurt us on Monday. How that $10 could have bought that extra gas he now thinks he may need.

Good luck!

**PrairieRose** · 03-23-2005, 07:08 PM

My dh didn't want to be frugal either....

He was actually raised by a very frugal mother. But when we got married it's like he thought "I don't have to do that anymore". He always wanted new and the best and NOW. BUT, since I've started to seriously work on our debt free plan and showed him the progress after we were into a little ways, he's been much more open minded about it. He finally gets that we don't have to be deprived or feel that way over the little splurges that we used to take for granted (and put on our credit cards *gasp!*). That we are doing this for our future. He's not completely on board with all of my ideas yet but he's coming along and has come a long way baby. Just hang in there and remember you don't have to tell him *everything* that you're doing to save you a few cents here and there.

**forestdale** · 03-24-2005, 01:22 AM

Peggy, I think one of the most difficult things to do is to try to change someone else's behaviour. If you do the grocery shopping and you withdrawn the same amount of cash for the groceries each week, try to shop using home brands and look for the loss leaders. I did this and I cut my grocery bill in half over a period of about 6 months. Don't tell anyone about the saved cash. Put it in a container that no one else knows about and when you have enough to buy something you and hubby want, whip out the cash and say you saved it by being frugal with the groceries. It may be contageous and he might start to look at other areas to save.

Good luck.

**Mommy2five** · 03-24-2005, 01:28 AM

I TRY to do my best and Hubby is a CC addict!

I have a plan for his touche though. I just got a new CC with a dirt low rate for the first 6 months (not bad after either) and I am gonna do balance transfers and then do a little magic trick with his CC's

**graci42** · 03-24-2005, 08:49 AM

Ahhhhh....the disappearing CC trick...

I like!

**Michele Annette** · 03-24-2005, 01:18 PM

I have to say that it was ME who had to become more frugal.

**Panndy1** · 03-27-2005, 01:47 AM

Thanks ladies so much for all your input and ideas. I am sorry that I didn't get on here till now to read this and reply. Like I said I am far from being frugal like the rest of you. I have learned alot from being in this group. The 2 things that I mentioned were just some things that bugged me. I grew up with my mom and my grandmother both being very frugal. My mom grew up in the depression time. I think alot of older generation from that time still practice being frugal cause that is what they are use to.
I guess the thing is for me to just do what I can and not make an issue out of it.

A couple of questions. I have seen Aldis and loss leaders in other posts. What are those? I am assuming that Aldis is some type of grocerty store. Whatever it is is we don't have it here.

Thanks again everyone.

**bamamomto4** · 03-29-2005, 12:24 AM

Peggy--Yes Aldi's is a grocery store. We don't have them here either but some of the ladies get very good deals there.

Let me try and explain A loss leader.... its usually an item or two priced below cost to bring you in to shop,in hopes that you'll spend more money.

We're always happy to answer any questions you have. We all started somewhere and eager to help others

**bamamomto4** · 03-29-2005, 12:36 AM

I forgot to answer the question

I still have to work with my hubby and kids. Steve does use all the cereal lol I can give him a A for that.He'll add (for example) corn flakes to a bowl and then maybe rice krispies to get a full bowl. Now,truth be told,I dont eat a lot of cereal and I sure wouldn't mix it up,but he's good at this so I dont have to

He doesn't use all the deodorant.I've gotten cans out of the garbage to check and if I hear some left,I put the can BACK in his cabinet.When he asks,I just let him know there's a least a few more sprays....same with shampoo....He use to never turn the bottle over. It got to where he was telling me to stay out of the garbage

He's learning though....I see his shampoo bottle turned upside down in the shower and he shakes the deodorant can to where you can't hear anything...THENS throws it away

The kids are the same. They waste and it gripes me to no end! Katie is prob the worst. Last week she wanted dry cereal .She ate a few handfulls and threw the rest away. I thought my blood was gonna boil over LOL I had to tell her not to just throw it away.Ask to see if Jackson(he will eat anything and as long as you let him lol) wanted it or set the bowl on the counter and maybe she'd want it later.

Just keep trying....they'll eventaully come around

**Panndy1** · 03-29-2005, 04:58 AM

Thanks Tammy. My dh has mixed a couple of cereals together before. I wouldn't want to do that either. Yes guess we just have to keep trying. I hate seeing food or whatever being wasted.

**Mommy2five** · 03-29-2005, 08:14 AM

I have lots of little ones and they have bigger eyes than stomaches too. I love the little lidded bowls at walmart for like 20 for $9. If they don't finish thier snack the top goes on and it goes on the counter or in the fridge and they don't get anything else until that's done