What frugal tricks will you loose

**Josephhgoins** · 03-30-2010, 05:03 PM

I kn owk there are some folks on here that were born frugal and live to be frugal. There are others that have had frugality or extreme frugality forced upon them.

I was born to a poor family. We grew a garden every year and ate off of it during the summer and canned everything we could to eat off of during the winter. We did this because we could not afford to purchase food from the grocery store. Our meats were limitied to pork for the most part. We would purchase a pig during the spring and feed him all summer long, we would butcher him in the late fall and have pork until next year that we kept in the freezer.

This past summer, thanks to me not being able to say no to family in need, I had to learn to live off of less. There were several tricks that I found not only here but at other sites and books as well. Some were awesome tricks that caused little discomfort while keeping money in the bank, some allowed me to have a comfort that at the time I could not have paid for and others were pains in the butt that I had no choice but to do.

I thought a post of some of us listing some of the frugal things that we have HAD to do, but will be quickly changing as soon as we financially can would be interesting.

The biggest pain for me was cutting out the nice resturants. I love cooking, but I really love going to top end resturants with a friend or loved one and having a nice long meal followed by an even better dessert. Don't get me wrong, I can cut out the fast food with no problem, although being single it is sometimes cheaper or as cheap for me to go through the drive through than cook.

There are some tricks that I learned or came back to that I will keep up. Like air drying my clothes and buying all food on sale with coupons.

What tricks are you going to drop? Which ones have you learned that you are going to hold on to forever?

**Mom2-3** · 03-30-2010, 05:30 PM

I don't do anything that I don't want to do. Everything I do now helps the budget and I enjoy it.

I may loosen the eating out budget or go on vacation twice a year. I'm saving for a FFEF and I have already thought of things I would like to stop doing or add. I haven't done anything yet except DH and I went out for a burger

**ilovechocolate** · 03-30-2010, 06:02 PM

I'm looking forward to being able to help my children more. They are wonderfully understanding but, as a mom, it hurts when I have to limit what I do for them out of necessity.

They are young adults, by the way, not little kids, so that probably accounts for them understanding what/why I do what I do.

**KeithBC** · 03-30-2010, 06:06 PM

I don't wish to be contrary, but I do not fit into either category. I was not born into frugality, nor was it thrust upon me out of necessity. I can't be the only person who chooses to be frugal because it is a responsible way to live. I don't intend to give up any of my frugal habits.

**Josephhgoins** · 03-30-2010, 06:29 PM

Originally Posted by KeithBC

I don't wish to be contrary, but I do not fit into either category. I was not born into frugality, nor was it thrust upon me out of necessity. I can't be the only person who chooses to be frugal because it is a responsible way to live. I don't intend to give up any of my frugal habits.

Thanks for showing me a different view point.

**JerryG** · 03-30-2010, 07:11 PM

Grew up in a shot gun shack - literally - you could see the outdoors from inside and not just thru the windows.

Moved onto a poor marriage where I'd come home and find the electric turned off and sign on the door for eviction. Struggled to go to school, keep gas in the car and food in the house.

Eventually got to the point of high paying career - power suits, cell (paid for by the company) Range Rover (paid for by the company), cleaning person once a week, (paid for by the company), eating out (paid for by the company).

I'm not where I used to be, but I won't lose my love for cooking, buying in season, making a dollar spread more than it should, looking for the best deals, actually checking Craigslist and Goodwill for what I need FIRST.

I do have to say in my defense of all the 'luxury' items I had in my life they were always paid for by the company I worked for and I just accepted it for the 80+ hours I worked each week. I do miss medical insurance a lot. When something needs attending to, I get on the phone and ask "How much" regardless of how much it's needed.

I also miss the once a week massages that were provided - I used to schedule them on Friday afternoon . . .Oh I REALLY miss those!

**Bachelor** · 03-30-2010, 07:16 PM

and it really did not work for me as I do not wish to buy a lot of highly processed foods. I do use coupons and I do watch them, but not to the same extent as others...

**NewLeaf** · 03-30-2010, 08:38 PM

I rarely buy any clothes for myself. If finances allowed I would love to have some new outfits, shoes and purses. I really scimp on myself. So I would love to be able to say "I need such and such" and be able to go right out and get it.

I started couponing and I love the results. It does take time and effort- but it keeps me sharp!

I find that there are alot of coupons for processed foods, but instead of buying those I use coupons for other things like:flour, oil, sugar, yeast, eggs,milk, yogurt, cheese, meat, frozen veggies and fruits and healthy drinks. Also, by using coupons on all household items like tp, cleaners, soap, health and beauty items and pet foods I end up saving enough to buy better fruits and vegies. I am able to buy cage free organic eggs now for less than regular eggs. It works for me.

**Debbie-cat** · 03-30-2010, 09:08 PM

Originally Posted by NewLeaf

I rarely buy any clothes for myself. If finances allowed I would love to have some new outfits, shoes and purses. I really scimp on myself. So I would love to be able to say "I need such and such" and be able to go right out and get it.

This is what I would change as well. I always buy secondhand and don't mind but once in a while it would be a treat to pick up something new....at a cheap store though and it would have to be on sale.

**ladykemma2** · 03-30-2010, 09:15 PM

after i recovered financially from the divorce, i turned on the super duper deeeeeeeluxe ATT Uverse cable, high speed internet, basic cell phone, and home phone.

i would turn it off if i had to.

i have always cooked from scratch.

on this website i learned from necessity to meal plan, shop with a list and a calculator, reduce phantom load, wash in cold and hang to dry, air conditioner on 78 in houston.

i have grown sloppy about using the dryer.

**Lady_V** · 03-30-2010, 10:19 PM

If I woke up with a bundle of cash at the foot of my bed...

I would still be me, still do the things I do... but I think I may just do it quicker than I am now -- and maybe be a little less financially paranoid.

We *have* the money for the things we WANT... I don't buy anything because I keep waiting for Murphy to swoop in and take it, yes, we have an BEF, and I even have my "been divorced 1 too many times" emergency fund... but Murphy has cousins.

On paper, I guess we are doing "fairly well", but it only takes one poke of the Murph-meister to get the ball rolling. We've gone from "ok" to "dear gods, how will we keep our daughter fed and the lights on" to "where we are now".

I see other people who were even "better-off" than us, and just as financially and frugally minded as me... but, now broke, and it scares the heck out of me...

I think it would take a rather large bag to make me comfortable with wiggle room.

**Elizabeth CM** · 03-31-2010, 10:05 AM

What a GREAT question!!

The stuff I DO miss are the dinners out for celebrations, buying GOOD clothes (esp. certain things that just NEED to be of a certain quality to look right), and the worry-free vacations. We love traveling as a family, and we know there's only so much time left (our son is 9) in this season of life to have these adventures as the 3 of us. It would be nice to put down the stress and enjoy them more - or, even, have more of them.

If I had the money, I think I would still do all the smart things - why waste it, even if you have it? But there would be some breathing room. And room to help others. That would be nice.

But no vacation, bra, or dinner at the bistro will ever be as good as security feels. I've learned in the last couple of years - especially with the help of the people here - that the more I'm frugal, the more freedom I have to get the things I really want in life. And I'm only just beginning to scratch that potential.

**ncarr** · 03-31-2010, 10:55 AM

hmmmm... I actually ENJOY most of my frugal habits. I guess I would travel more. Right now I am so focused on wiping out my student loans that I haven't splurged like that. I also REALLY want to start my master's degree but won't do that until my undergrad loans are paid off and I can pay CASH for it.... no more loans! (Greebo will be so proud lol)

**shoiji** · 03-31-2010, 11:42 AM

I would keep on using a spreadsheet to track my monthly budget. Knowing that the bills and food will be paid for is a lot of security for me. Also would keep on my frugal ways as far as cooking, using vinegar to clean with, matching coupons to sales, using rags instead of paper towels, etc.

What would I change. I would get a car. I had to get rid of my car when gas prices rose and just the maintenance and insurance alone was getting way out of control. Grant it I can get around with the bus and good friends but I know it would make things alot easier for me. But I do know I have so much more money now without the car. If I could swing it financially I would get a two bedroom apartment so I could have one room as a studio. A big want would be to travel around the world.

Right now though I do feel pretty content.