#1 - Getting to know you through frugality

[homesteadmamma]

I've started a new thing over at www.homesteadgarden.com/forums on "getting to know you through the garden". It's been so much fun and so interesting, I thought I would try it here. It's always fun getting to know you. Here goes:

1. On a level of 1 - 10, one being the lowest, where would you put yourself when it comes to frugality?

2. If you seen a penny on the ground, would you pick it up and put it in your pocket with other change or save it and put it in your penny jar, adding to your penny challenge?

3. Is your wallet black or another colour?

4. Do you have a change jar?

5. How many coupons would you use in one week, give or take a few?

6. Which is your favorite frugal book?

7. Have you taught your kids anything about frugality?

8. Would you travel 5 - 10 miles to save a couple dollars or purchase the same item at regular price at a store closer to you?

9. Do you know what loss leaders are?

10. Which do you prefer - no name or store bought brands?

[MirandaK]

1. On a level of 1 - 10, one being the lowest, where would you put yourself when it comes to frugality? 7.5

2. If you seen a penny on the ground, would you pick it up and put it in your pocket with other change or save it and put it in your penny jar, adding to your penny challenge? put it in my penny jar

3. Is your wallet black or another colour? Green!

4. Do you have a change jar? I have a green plastic piggy bank that was $1.00 at old navy People always laugh when they see that DH and I have an actual piggy bank but we like it

5. How many coupons would you use in one week, give or take a few? 10-20 if we are grocery shopping that week

6. Which is your favorite frugal book? I'm reading TWG right now and it's very inspiring

7. Have you taught your kids anything about frugality? I don't have any children, and my cats don't seem to care about frugality at all!

8. Would you travel 5 - 10 miles to save a couple dollars or purchase the same item at regular price at a store closer to you? I would travel to the sale store if there were other items there I needed.

9. Do you know what loss leaders are? sure do, thanks to you ladies here at the forum!

10. Which do you prefer - no name or store bought brands? whatever is cheapest!!!!

[Mom23boys]

1. On a level of 1 - 10, one being the lowest, where would you put yourself when it comes to frugality? 7

2. If you seen a penny on the ground, would you pick it up and put it in your pocket with other change or save it and put it in your penny jar, adding to your penny challenge? I would pick it up and toss it in my change jar.

3. Is your wallet black or another colour? brown

4. Do you have a change jar? yes!

5. How many coupons would you use in one week, give or take a few? at least 25

6. Which is your favorite frugal book? Tightwad Gazette

7. Have you taught your kids anything about frugality? Ihope so!

8. Would you travel 5 - 10 miles to save a couple dollars or purchase the same item at regular price at a store closer to you? I have to travel that far every time I shop because we have no stores in our little rural town. We have to travel to another town to shop.

9. Do you know what loss leaders are? Yes! AND I LOVE THEM!!

10. Which do you prefer - no name or store bought brands? I prefer name brand, but will quickly purchase store brand if I can save money, except on ketchup, tea bags, and a few other things I am picky about.

[santoria]

1. On a level of 1 - 10, one being the lowest, where would you put yourself when it comes to frugality? about a 7 I think

2. If you seen a penny on the ground, would you pick it up and put it in your pocket with other change or save it and put it in your penny jar, adding to your penny challenge? I would put it in my pocket but then dump all the change into the jar at the end of the day

3. Is your wallet black or another colour? ITS RED

4. Do you have a change jar?I have a canadian change jar, an american change (it is worth more ), and penny jar

5. How many coupons would you use in one week, give or take a few? 15-20

6. Which is your favorite frugal book? I don't have a favorite actually

7. Have you taught your kids anything about frugality?trying to, but a 5 year old and an almost 3 year old are challenging to teach

8. Would you travel 5 - 10 miles to save a couple dollars or purchase the same item at regular price at a store closer to you? if I can get all my shopping done at the store that has cheaper stuff I will, but if thats the only item that will have savings I won't

9. Do you know what loss leaders are?I think so....

10. Which do you prefer - no name or store bought brands?NO NAME! but if the brand name is on sale for cheaper I will get that. there is no difference really

[Emerald_Mommy]

1. On a level of 1 - 10, one being the lowest, where would you put yourself when it comes to frugality? 8

2. If you seen a penny on the ground, would you pick it up and put it in your pocket with other change or save it and put it in your penny jar, adding to your penny challenge? Put it in my penny jar

3. Is your wallet black or another colour? Burgundy (includes calendar, planner, etc.)

4. Do you have a change jar? I have several

5. How many coupons would you use in one week, give or take a few? Maybe 3-5, not big into coupons, generally speaking

6. Which is your favorite frugal book? Financial Peace by Dave Ramsey

7. Have you taught your kids anything about frugality? Yes! Isabel is already starting to understand several important concepts about money, frugality, etc.

8. Would you travel 5 - 10 miles to save a couple dollars or purchase the same item at regular price at a store closer to you? Depends

9. Do you know what loss leaders are? Yes!

10. Which do you prefer - no name or store bought brands? Varies, but I'd say I generally buy generic.

[mom2matty]

1. On a level of 1 - 10, one being the lowest, where would you put yourself when it comes to frugality? To be honest I am probably a 5.....in some areas I am really frugal but in others I am not as good as I should be!

2. If you seen a penny on the ground, would you pick it up and put it in your pocket with other change or save it and put it in your penny jar, adding to your penny challenge? I would pick it up and add it to the change jar when I got home!

3. Is your wallet black or another colour? It is black!

4. Do you have a change jar? Yes!!!

5. How many coupons would you use in one week, give or take a few? Some weeks none other weeks 25 plus!

6. Which is your favorite frugal book? The Complete Tightwad Gazette by Amy D.

7. Have you taught your kids anything about frugality? Yes, both are very aware of how we manage money and why we do the things we do.

8. Would you travel 5 - 10 miles to save a couple dollars or purchase the same item at regular price at a store closer to you? If it were just a couple of dollars probably not but it would really depend!!

9. Do you know what loss leaders are? Yes!

10. Which do you prefer - no name or store bought brands? It depends on what I am buying. There are certain things I won't buy store brand, only name brand and then there are other things where I do buy store brand....it pretty much all evens out for me!

[miss_thrifty]

I've started a new thing over at www.homesteadgarden.com/forums on "getting to know you through the garden". It's been so much fun and so interesting, I thought I would try it here. It's always fun getting to know you. Here goes:

1. On a level of 1 - 10, one being the lowest, where would you put yourself when it comes to frugality? 7

2. If you seen a penny on the ground, would you pick it up and put it in your pocket with other change or save it and put it in your penny jar, adding to your penny challenge? pick it up, put in penny jar( we use old sugar bowl)

3. Is your wallet black or another colour? black
4. Do you have a change jar? yes one for small change and one for pennies

5. How many coupons would you use in one week, give or take a few? not many beacuse here n PEi, its for most stuff i dont need except tide ones

6. Which is your favorite frugal book? TWG

7. Have you taught your kids anything about frugality? Oh yes, they look at the yard sales for the cheapest and even ask if they get it sometimes lower or ask me if i can

8. Would you travel 5 - 10 miles to save a couple dollars or purchase the same item at regular price at a store closer to you? no, unless im doing christmas shopping in a bigger town

9. Do you know what loss leaders are? yes

10. Which do you prefer - no name or store bought brands? no name mostly except for ketchup, i only use heinz
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[baxjul]

1. On a level of 1 - 10, one being the lowest, where would you put yourself when it comes to frugality? 8

2. If you seen a penny on the ground, would you pick it up and put it in your pocket with other change or save it and put it in your penny jar, adding to your penny challenge? Definitely put it in the penny jar!

3. Is your wallet black or another colour? Bright pink with flowers.

4. Do you have a change jar? Several

5. How many coupons would you use in one week, give or take a few? Roughly around 5-6.

6. Which is your favorite frugal book? Frugal living for Dummies and Tightwad Gazette.

7. Have you taught your kids anything about frugality? Yes.

8. Would you travel 5 - 10 miles to save a couple dollars or purchase the same item at regular price at a store closer to you? No, I would make do, or do without!

9. Do you know what loss leaders are? Yes.

10. Which do you prefer - no name or store bought brands? I use mostly store brands, except for coffee and coffee creamer!

[Valerie in WA]

1. On a level of 1 - 10, one being the lowest, where would you put yourself when it comes to frugality? Seven.

2. If you seen a penny on the ground, would you pick it up and put it in your pocket with other change or save it and put it in your penny jar, adding to your penny challenge? I've had the joy of watching my children find pennies, so if I see a penny, I leave it for a child to find - even if my kids are at home. I do pick up any larger coins and they go into my change jar.

3. Is your wallet black or another colour? My wallet is built into my all-season purse, which is a tan/medium brown color.

4. Do you have a change jar? Absolutely! I never spend coins, but save them all.

5. How many coupons would you use in one week, give or take a few? Maybe one - store coupons for TP or bread. I mostly buy in bulk, or no-name brand, or unproccessed (like fresh fruit, not canned).

6. Which is your favorite frugal book? Hmmm...that's like asking Liz Taylor to name her favorite husband - there are so many! Currently, I'm reading How to Survive without a Salary by Charles Long. I took it work to read on my break and raised a few eyebrows.

7. Have you taught your kids anything about frugality? Oh, yes! They both get allowances and save money, donate money and spend wisely. We discuss everything they want to buy. If they ask for something costly, like an American Girl doll ($100), I don't say "we can't afford it." Instead I explain a bit about our priorities for spending and that we choose not to spend that much money on a doll, when perfectly good dolls only cost a few dollars.

8. Would you travel 5 - 10 miles to save a couple dollars or purchase the same item at regular price at a store closer to you? If I'm already headed that way or can combine it with another necessary errand, yes.

9. Do you know what loss leaders are? Yes.

10. Which do you prefer - no name or store bought brands? Which ever is cheapest this week.

[EmilyD]

1. On a level of 1 - 10, one being the lowest, where would you put yourself when it comes to frugality?
4, but I am getting back into it. Once the kids were gone I wanted to be able to be freer with my money ... oops

2. If you seen a penny on the ground, would you pick it up and put it in your pocket with other change or save it and put it in your penny jar, adding to your penny challenge?
I don't know, maybe pick it up since I have a penny jar now. In the "old" days I have been know to throw a penny on the ground rather then mess with it.

3. Is your wallet black or another colour?
Burgandy

4. Do you have a change jar?
I have a penny jar (monkey sippy cup), a dime and nickle jar (Lion sippy cup), and a large coin purse for my quarters (for the apt. laundry mat when we move), I also have a world globe bank and a pretty piggy bank with pink roses that are empty currently, but I am thinking about how to use them.

5. How many coupons would you use in one week, give or take a few?
maybe 5, I am not much on using most of the products they come in

6. Which is your favorite frugal book?
Financial Peace and Debt Proof Living, oh and an old book called It Only Hurts Between Paydays

7. Have you taught your kids anything about frugality?
My kids are grown, but yes they have told me how valuable the lessons were in our struggles in the early years .. I used to be a 9 1/2 on the scale

8. Would you travel 5 - 10 miles to save a couple dollars or purchase the same item at regular price at a store closer to you?
Right now, it is a 3 mile drive whereever I go. Next week we are moving to across the street from Walmart

9. Do you know what loss leaders are?
Yes

10. Which do you prefer - no name or store bought brands?
I also have some stuff I only use name brand .. Contadina tomato sauce for one, Stoeffer's frozen foods for me for another, Northern TP because I am allergic to all the others. Most of the time it doesn't matter.

[Blessed]

1. On a level of 1 - 10, one being the lowest, where would you put yourself when it comes to frugality? 8?

2. If you seen a penny on the ground, would you pick it up and put it in your pocket with other change or save it and put it in your penny jar, adding to your penny challenge? It would go in my pocket first, I empty my pockets into the change drawer (all the jars are full).

3. Is your wallet black or another colour? Black!

4. Do you have a change jar? Several.

5. How many coupons would you use in one week, give or take a few? It depends on the current sales and current coupons. We don't always shop every week. I use coupons for most everything though.

6. Which is your favorite frugal book? TWG

7. Have you taught your kids anything about frugality? Right now my 3 and 4 year olds and I are working wastefulness.

8. Would you travel 5 - 10 miles to save a couple dollars or purchase the same item at regular price at a store closer to you? That depends on a lot of things. First of all I look at how much it will cost me to save $x.xx, I also have to evaluate whether I REALLY need it or not.

9. Do you know what loss leaders are? Yes.

10. Which do you prefer - no name or store bought brands? Store brands are easier to get free, better than free, or dirt cheap with coupons. I bought generic baking soda the other day.......... There are too many variables.

[PrairieRose]

1. On a level of 1 - 10, one being the lowest, where would you put yourself when it comes to frugality?
~I'm a 7

2. If you seen a penny on the ground, would you pick it up and put it in your pocket with other change or save it and put it in your penny jar, adding to your penny challenge?
~Pick it up and add it to my change jar
3. Is your wallet black or another colour?
~It's a Brighton, brown, with the silver emblem (bought for $1 at a thrift store )
4. Do you have a change jar?
~yes
5. How many coupons would you use in one week, give or take a few?
~average 2
6. Which is your favorite frugal book?
~TWG
7. Have you taught your kids anything about frugality?
~yup
8. Would you travel 5 - 10 miles to save a couple dollars or purchase the same item at regular price at a store closer to you?
~depending on the item, if it were a good enough deal to stock up on or not. Most of the time no, unless I was gonna be driving by that store anyway.
9. Do you know what loss leaders are?
~you betcha
10. Which do you prefer - no name or store bought brands?
~I don't care on most things, whatever's the best value for the money.

[brainyblonde]

I answered the garden forum questions, too. I love reading these!

1. On a level of 1 - 10, one being the lowest, where would you put yourself when it comes to frugality? I think I'm about a 7.5. I'd like to be a 10.

2. If you seen a penny on the ground, would you pick it up and put it in your pocket with other change or save it and put it in your penny jar, adding to your penny challenge? Penny jar!

3. Is your wallet black or another colour? currently black

4. Do you have a change jar? Yes, and a separate penny jar

5. How many coupons would you use in one week, give or take a few? As many as I possibly can! I love shopping with coupons. I probably use 30-40/wk.

6. Which is your favorite frugal book?Complete Tightwad Gazette

7. Have you taught your kids anything about frugality?Yes. They love to shop yard sales. They will spend time researching and comparing prices before they make purchases. They will use store coupons/discounts.

8. Would you travel 5 - 10 miles to save a couple dollars or purchase the same item at regular price at a store closer to you? I seldom pay full price for anything. So, yes, I'd be willing to travel a short distance if my savings exceeds the cost of gas to get there.

9. Do you know what loss leaders are? YES! Love them!

10. Which do you prefer - no name or store bought brands? For many items, it doesn't matter - whatever is least expensive.
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[marei]

1. On a level of 1 - 10, one being the lowest, where would you put yourself when it comes to frugality? I am definitely a 10.

2. If you seen a penny on the ground, would you pick it up and put it in your pocket with other change or save it and put it in your penny jar, adding to your penny challenge? Put it in with my change and eventually to the jar.

3. Is your wallet black or another colour?Navy Blue.

4. Do you have a change jar?We have two.

5. How many coupons would you use in one week, give or take a few? Never use coupons.

6. Which is your favorite frugal book? TWG

7. Have you taught your kids anything about frugality? I did but they are both very well to do and aren't frugal at all.

8. Would you travel 5 - 10 miles to save a couple dollars or purchase the same item at regular price at a store closer to you? I have to go at least five miles just to shop.

9. Do you know what loss leaders are? I sure do and they are my favourite shopping habit - rarely buy anything that isn't a loss leader.

10. Which do you prefer - no name or store bought brands? Doesn't matter.

[sunshine]

1. On a level of 1 - 10, one being the lowest, where would you put yourself when it comes to frugality? Currently at about a 7-- I've been a 1, and I've been a 10. . .

2. If you seen a penny on the ground, would you pick it up and put it in your pocket with other change or save it and put it in your penny jar, adding to your penny challenge? All my pennies go in the change jar

3. Is your wallet black or another colour? Mine is beige

4. Do you have a change jar? yep

5. How many coupons would you use in one week, give or take a few? I use very few coupons, as I don't buy name brands much

6. Which is your favorite frugal book? Oh dear. . . I suppose it is "Living More with Less" by Doris Jansen Longacre.

7. Have you taught your kids anything about frugality? Yep-- and they do better than me most days.

8. Would you travel 5 - 10 miles to save a couple dollars or purchase the same item at regular price at a store closer to you? With gas prices as high as they are-- I'd probaby just purchase it closer to home.

9. Do you know what loss leaders are? Oh yeah-!

10. Which do you prefer - no name or store bought brands? Doesn't matter on most items. . whichever is least expensive.