it's finally sunk in

**forestdale** · 05-27-2005, 10:32 PM

I was never a saver and I use to waste a lot of things.  I rarely regret anything I've done but I do regret wasting so much.

   But finally the frugal thing has sunk in with me.  I'm not manic about it but I now turn off a light whenever there is no one in the room and instead of leaving the radio or TV on I always turn it off as soon as I finish watching.  I turn them off at the appliance too, not just at the remote control, it makes a big difference.

I finally realised that it's the little things that add up to big things that make the real difference.  The big things rarely come around and as the little thigs are there everyday, they are our money savers.

I'm a changed person since I realised that. I'm flipping off switches and wrapping up things that I would once have thrown out and it's making a huge difference in my utility and water bills and in the amount I spend on groceries.

Are you a small saver too?

**Mojjo** · 05-27-2005, 10:34 PM

yup...baby steps are how I started and they are how I stay consistent. It's the little things that help in and out every month.

Especially with the leftovers for me.

**homesteadmamma** · 05-27-2005, 10:38 PM

Yup I started with baby steps too. I always say its the nickel and dimes that add up, whether its with frugality or getting into debt. Its also the nickel and dimes that add up when you have a change jar or an EF account.

Small savings quickly add up and I think most of us are living proof.

**Jasmine** · 05-27-2005, 11:09 PM

I started with baby steps too. I realized recently that they'd sunk in when I started automatically turning out the lights when I left the room. I forgot that my DH was not leaving the room though, and left him in the dark. lol Another lightbulb moment (no pun intended) was when I realized it doesn't take very much time to do the little frugal things. Going through sale ads and matching coupons takes maybe 1/2 hour a week but saves so much! Opening windows takes a few minutes longer than flipping the A/C. The electric bill is so much lower for a few minutes time.

**RuthNY** · 05-28-2005, 06:25 AM

I'm working on it. People think I'm really frugal since my divorce because I've lived on so little cash (I paid every dime I could on the debt I incurred and I paid it completely off last paycheck YEAH!) but I'm thinking there's a fine line between frugal and CHEAP and I've been as cheap as I can be.

I think cheap is when there isn't alot of quality of life because you refuse to spend a dime...that's where I've been and I intend to change that from next paycheck on.

I do think I've discovered about myself that I am a minimalist. I don't need alot around me. The things I bought after I left my X were few but they were quality. I only wanted to spend that money once...bedroom furniture, living room furniture etc. So I bought what I considered to be the best even though costly.

I have to work on finding my fine line and start enjoying but still not wasting either.

Sorry to have rambled so. I'm just doing so much thinking lately that my posts are seeming 'long winded'.

**PrairieRose** · 05-28-2005, 08:53 AM

Like you Rhonda I've wasted too much in my lifetime. I'm now much more conscious of every small thing. I'm not gonna say I don't still throw out spoiled bits of food but we make every effort to eat what we cook. I'm always working in the dark and Gripey comes and starts flipping on all the lights! He used to complain about it but now he just turns them on...without giving me the fits over it being so darned dark in here.

**Mom23boys** · 05-28-2005, 06:51 PM

Yes. I did it with baby steps as well.

Every little bit adds up. I try not to waste much.

**ScrapMama** · 05-28-2005, 06:57 PM

I most definately am and it is amazing what a big difference that it makes. I have been so happy with all the savings on electricity especially.

**Darlene** · 05-28-2005, 07:42 PM

Those little things do add up and mean so much. woohoo!

**Jerseygirl** · 05-28-2005, 08:02 PM

I know I get laughed at for my use of grocery bags for garbage and dish towels instead of paper, but I know how much it saves me--we still have paper towels and garbage bags in the house, but avoiding their use, even when just convenient has added up to about $80 per year savings, I've been doing it for over 5 years-without anyone but dh noticing, so figure I've saved about $400 on something so simple.