What are your TOP TEN frugal tips?

[schellie69]

plan bi weekly menu's (use meats on sale) buy most things i normally buy with coupons,
I use net flix for renting movies,
run all errands at one time if kids want to go somewhere they ride their bikes or walk if they want a ride they need to wait until i have a list of errands to run and in the area they want to go
Keep a list of things I need and when running errands go to the store that has the items at lost price or are on sale, usally wait until weds or sunday until adds come out
shop garage sales for cloths and household items that i need
use half of laundry deterengent and fabric softner, I use my dryer but it has a sensor on it so stops when clothes are dry and do all laundry at once, i do laundry 3 days a week so usally have at least 4 loads at that time hang sheets and blankets out side.
wash dishes by hand only use dishwaser when we have a lot of dishes and do not use dryer on dishwasher hand dry. keep heater at 65 use extra blankets,
use floresent light bulbs on main floor replacing floresent bulbs in rest of house a little at a time doing rooms used most first
shop target's mark downs they have great prices and when i can use both target coupon and a manfuctures coupon and its marked down I can get the product for almost nothing,
when i had to replace major appliance looked for the ones with the best enegry efficance,
sign up for free samples (takes time but it is worth it)
started coin jar
making master mixes (chocalote and baking mixes)
check bills every few months and see if i can cut anything out
watch for new offers on cell phone plan change it when i can get a lower rate just cut another $10.00 off my plan
I do keep a few hamburger helpers on hand I have some serious health problems so need meals that others can fix in a hurry if I can't cook. but only buy them when they are on sale also plan some easy meals on bi weekly menu for those nights when things are crazy also have 2 leftover nights, these nights everyone gets to have what they want from the leftovers in the fidge kids like this one.
My mom used to work for tony's pizza service so she can get a case of pizza's and she usally gives me few to keep on hand for kids lunchs (when out of school) or nights when I can't cook.
buy marked down fabric for what ever project i am working on

[canadian gardener]

Good tips Pam!

One thing I forgot to add in my answer a page back is

Let your fingers do the walking (or driving). Use the phone to see if the hardware store has that part, or if the dept store will find the waffle iron and have it waiting for you at the till.

Saves time and money. Specially if you are a one car family as we are.

Dh and I were doing the payday shopping this Saturday, and we were thinking about the preplanned circle route we always do.

It saves gas, we cherry pick the good deals, and it all gets done in one trip which also saves gas.

Pam also mentioned she preplans the route with the car, to get all the errands done.

It comes down to using your head, and thinking ahead!

[Jeanna]

Pam, I understand having a hamburger helper and such on hand--just not in large amounts. I too have health issues and there are days when I can't stand and do alot of cooking. I have tried to do more crockpot cooking to get away from this.

[staceyy]

Here are mine:

1) Become an expert, this takes time and maybe some money but saves a lot of time and money in the end. I invested in the Supermarket Shoppers System which I think cost me about $90 at the time. It came with a video showing how people get several hundred dollars worth of groceries for something like $5.00. Of course I've never duplicated that feat or even come close but I have mastered couponing to a great extent and regularly save large percentages on my grocery bill. I spend half of what I used to on food and tolietries. I also subscribe to Refund Cents magazine which helps me to coupon and refund..

I also subscribed to a newsletter in the past called Freebie Coupon Corner. This newsletter taught how to get free groceries and products by contacting manufacturers by letter, phone and email to request coupons. The coupons received were oftentimes free item coupons. I believe the editor stated if you sent out 100 postcards to the manufactures you would get something like $400 worth of groceries mostly free. I followed the instructions and found her information to be true.

I received a free grant to attend culinary school for a year and took advantage of this which helped me to cook gourmet quality food from scratch. I specialize in pastries and my family gets beautiful desserts and pastries better than anything they can get in a store or most bakeries.

I worked the holiday season in a department store gift wrap department which gave me the skills to wrap beautiful gifts for others and to have beautifully wrapped gifts around my tree at Christmas time. I also took a continuing education class in gift basket design and I've learned to make my own beautiful gift baskets and greeting cards.I am now skilled to the point that when I give a gift even if handmade it is comparable to anything you would buy in a high end store. I can give very frugal gifts where the perceived value is much greater than what it actually is due to my design and wrapping skills.

Years ago I worked part-time in an expensive furniture store and learned a lot about quality furniture and design and received a good discount on my own purchases and got first dibs on what was in stock.

I've studied interior design on my own throughout the years by studying various design magazines and lately HGTV television and thus have a beautifully designed home. I've learned a lot of frugal tips and recover my furniture, re-arrange things for a new look etc.I've perfected the Design On A Dime theory.

I'm sorry for taking up so much space on only one tip when I'm supposed to be giving ten tips. But I'll continue to post the other nine probably one by one as I think of them. Please look for them in the near future.

Stacey

P.S. If anyone has any other suggestions on how to become an expert in the areas of frugality please post them. Thanks.

[ironmaiden]

Hmmmm...

Buy my kids clothes off-season. I just get the next size up.

Let people know that I accept hand-me-downs.

Keep a "what's for dinner list" a long list of things that I could make for dinner divided into two columns quickies and actual cooking. Stuff that's in the house already and with asterisks next to things that would need thawing.

Try not to go shopping with the kids. They always ask for something as well as want a snack while we are out.

Hang out at the playground afterschool.

I don't buy videos for the kids. We get them from the library. Not only do I not have to pay $15 or $20 a pop for something they will be bored of in a week, but I don't have to store all this stuff.

Shop ahead for kiddie birthday presents. I got some good deals at a discount store and bought a bunch for all the various birthdays we get invited to.

Bought a bucket of 500 lego bricks instead of kits with only specialty parts. These are sadly hard to find these days. Even the Lego store didn't have them.

Rotate toys. When the buckets of toys come rotating out from the cellar, the kids are delighted to see them. It's like they are new all over again.

Teach my kids imagination games. And teach them to enjoy legos, blocks, dolls etc. Not a toy that you get bored of in a month because you know what it already does. My son likes transformers, but after he's figured it out, he's done with it.

[homesteadmamma]

1. pay cash for everything. If you don't have cash, don't buy it until you do.

2. never pay full price for anything.

3. make sure your need is not a want. There is a huge difference.

4. never purchase a new vehicle. It depreciates a huge amount the min. you take it out of the parking lot. We learnt our lesson the hard way.

5. purchase top of the line appliances and furniture. It pays to buy the best because in the long run, they last a whole lot longer and for the appliances are a whole lot more energy efficient.

6. don't purchase something just because it's on sale or you have a coupon for it. If you don't use it, it ends up not being frugal at all.

7. don't spend money trying to influence your friends.

8. Always remember to walk away from a deal you might think is good. If after 24 hours you still feel it is the best deal possible, then go back.

9. Ask for a discount if paying cash. Most places will give you a discount because that way their cash is instant and they don't have to pay any fees.

10. Give away what you have!!!! Hoarding everything is not a frugal life, it's a miser's life.

[canadian gardener]

I have another, don't lease a vehicle. I watched friends of ours who did and it eroded their finances horribly.

[SHOPGIRL]

CJ, I love this tip!

"10. Give away what you have!!!! Hoarding everything is not a frugal life, it's a miser's life."

Sometimes it is soo hard to let go of stuff...especially when I spent my hard earned money on it. Purging clutter, excess stuff is one of my goals to leading the simple life.

[Lori Biever-Launder]

Make sure to group your errnads. That way, you use less gas than running all over the place.

If you must have cars, take GOOD care of them. My car is a 1997 Intrepid that looks better than cars that are five or more years newer than iit. DH is a mechanic by trade, so my cars ALWYAS run properly.

Make sure at least one of your cars is paid off. DH's car is about half paid for, but mine is all OURS.

If you have animals DO NOT feed them super cheap food. You wil pay for it later in higher vet bills! You will also feed less of a higher quality food.

I buy a LOT of loss leaders. Iusually cook what is on sale. If chicken is on sale for .59/lb, we have a baked chicken one night and then add the rest of the meat to rice and beans the next. Occasionally, I will buy nice steaks, but we make them go as far as possible. I also look at it this way: expensive steaks are still waaaay cheaper BBQed at home over going out to dinner!

Maintain your cars properly. Do not let the oil changes go too long, rotate your tires regularly and have the 30K, 60K, etc. services done ont ime. These can save BIG bills and even bigger headaches down the line. Also, get the very best mechanic you can afford. An ASE certified mechanic is the way to go.

Keep your kids from turning into picky eaters. My two will eat almost anything! I am NOT a short order cook so I make ONE thing for dinner.If they don't like it, too bad. Funny--they don't complain and eat it every night!

[frugalfarmwife]

My top 10 are:

Gardening and freezing veggies
raising our own beef (I know not many can do this )
hanging laundry
hand washing dishes
washing only full loads and in cold water
shopping at aldis
combining all errands one day a week
do barn chores during daylight hours!
clothes shopping at thrift stores

and the biggie is

paying bills/banking online! I've saved well over $30.00 in postage this year doing this and now no late fees, pay the bill the day it comes in!

KJ

[graci42]

"You get the picture, when faced with the "Don't Buy" list it reminds me of what I have and that more of the same would be just plain greed........"Karen

I think that's an awesome plan! Thanks
Graci

[graci42]

Christmas shop (if you must) at Dollar General. Only buy a few gifts that will be remembered-- A good book, perfume.

If you have time, make a gift. It will be treasured.

Remember to give memories not clutter!

Graci

[peanut]

Great thread! My ten:

1) Menu plan

2) Pantry Principle

3) Collect frugal recipes off boards like this!

4) Think of ways to reuse things before putting them in the recycle bin or garbage bin.

5) Make everything from scratch that you can, IF it works out cheaper. I've sewn an anorak only to find a better cheaper one on sale in the store.

6) Use your library. Ours has many forms of entertainment, not only to take out, but to attend. Make use of their programming. And don't forget ILL. I go to the library every so often to read the current magazines. That saves me money on subscriptions.

7) Use discount gas stations and plan your errands in a loop. Walk whenever you can. IOW, be careful of your vehicle use.

8) If you use a credit card, pay off the full balance every month.

9) Analyze why you're spending money. Are you really getting value for your dollar? Can you get more enjoyment by spending your money another way, or by saving it? Is there a better way to get what you want?

10) Go shopping with a list and a plan. Be prepared. Don't buy more than is on the list. Don't grocery shop hungry. Preferrably don't go with kids, dh or friends. They'll want me to spend more money than I planned.

Jean

[Rachel Barratt]

Great tips. Last Tuesday I had my hair washed, restyled and blow dried for #2 at the local Technical College. It took longer than it would at a salon but I still got a good cut for #2. # should be pound sterling. Pound sign doesn't work.

[profnot]

1. I cruise the dollar store once a month. Never know what I'll find. Reading glasses, batteries, unscented baby shampoo for bathroom soap pump dispenser, more. I also cruise Grocery Outlet once a month. Cheese and frozen potstickers are favorites.

2. I use tofu as a healthier and cheaper protein alternative.

3. I buy spices from the bulk bins at the health food or spice/tea shop. Fresher, stronger, and vastly cheaper. I make my own Chai tea spice mix.

4. I keep several boxes and cans of great soup in the pantry. I pour cream soups over cubed tofu & heat in the microwave.

5. I love my Voip telephone service. I am on the phone lots because I work from home. My combined cell and land bills used to be $225+ a month. Now it totals $80 for cell, Voip voice, and Voip fax combined. I chucked the land phone lines and only use Voip and cell now. Because I get free US and Canada long distance calls with Voip, I was able to cut my cell phone rate plan cost in half (I used to make all my long distance calls on the cell phone.) I use Voip.net

6. I'm in the fashion industry, so I must have good haircuts. I have a $13 / $35 haircut system. My hair is wavy and tricky to cut. I get every fourth cut from an excellent European-trained stylist who only charges me $30 for a shampoo and cut, no blow dry. The other three cuts are at the local beauty school for $10 each. I tell the girls to match the previous cut, taking 1.5" off every hair. The fourth expensive cut corrects cumulative minor problems. The extra dollars go for tips. I color my own hair for $8 a month.

7. I sew my own silk pants. Pull-on, elastic waist style. I get raw silk cheap from www.DharmaTrading.com in the natural color. I dye the fabric in the washing machine with Rit before sewing. I mix packettes for gorgeous colors. Each pair of silk pants winds up costing me around $18. Raw silk is very durable and looks great for both business and evenings out.

8. My at-home clothes are almost rags! I get second hand and wear them to pieces. Mostly sweats and tees.

9. I adore my art museum memberships. For around $120 a year, I get free admission to three great museums. This includes special events and lectures. Great entertainment for $10 a month.

10. I refill my own toner for my hard-working laser printer. Toner from www.TonerKits.com Cartridges from www.TonerRefillKits.com