What are your normal frugal things

[Mabuisakura]

What do you guys do a normal basis that is frugal?

[Ima saver]

Well, I always keep the hot water heater off all day and have been doing that for 30 years. I only turn it on to shower or run the dish washer.

[LuxLiving]

Fluorescent bulbs and lights off & curtains open whenever it's feasible.

Errands kept to a minimum and done in a circuitous route.

Stay out of stores/malls.

Shop with a list.

Compare constantly my needs vs. my wants.

Give my money a job to do - each dollar is assigned to work FOR ME in some capacity thru budget/spending plan.

Eat at home as much as possible.

Pack lunches for my peoples.

Be mindful of the old adage, use it up, make do, or do without.

Buy 'it' cheaper, make it last longer and/or use it less.

Another helpful adage - reduce, reuse, recycle.

Love on my family rather than spend on them.

Wash laundry in cold water on the smallest shortest cycle (less water, less electricity). Use 1/8 cup of laundry detergent.

5 minute shower. Yes, with a timer. It's shorter than you think.

Don't debt.

Cash only. If we use the CC, it is IMMEDIATELY written down as an expense in the checkbook and paid within the month resulting in zero interest charges. If it can't come out of the balance already in the checking account, we don't buy it. PERIOD.

I don't compare my lifestyle too often to other people - I don't know their circumstances, finances or debt levels.

[PrincessPerky]

All of it, seriously I don't do to much that is a total waste, it would be a much shorter list to state the non frugal than frugal..

Mainly though I look at most things as.....nonoptions. I don't automatically think of using many convenience items....and for stuff my first thought on most things is 'you want me to pay WHAT!'

I automatically reach for somthing washable. Be it cleaning storing whatever.

I automatically think 'what do I need to pack' (food wise) when leaving my house...not that I never fail to pack enough, just that I usually have tried at least. (goes for work, trips, vacations, and/or just a trip to the store.)

We EC Link to more info

I never thought an item was ruined when it got a hole..patch it, wear it under or over another, or just keep it for in the house.

Open curtains east side of house in the AM (close in the pm as the sun leaves, and it never really gets to the west side .)

Got my mother to make insulating curtains for my room and soon for my daughters room...I can't see the point in spending all most as much money if I am not going to get a finaincail gain out of it..curtains are just not a top priority in looks, but they are in insulation...

Ditto the ' look at need vs want' from Lux.

Shop less, the less you are in a store the less you will spend.

Realize what is wortht the cost and what isn't (hot longer shower worth it, name brand feminine product, worth it, name brand jeans..nope)

[Ima saver]

I keep the heat set at 60 usually!!

[puppypal]

Fluorescent bulbs = gettn' there as budget allows buying some every week. I already have fluorescents long type in kitchen laudry room and garage and outside veranda.

Heat down to 50 at 6 am and up to 68 at 5 pm heavy curtians.....blankets etc..

Keep my luxury of taking my kid to school buy grocery shopping in town and doing my running around while i am there.

eat in out of a bag........HUBBY takes leftovers.....No to go coffee etc......

I window shop at malls. reason being is because I stay up to date on the name brand well made clothing and keep a record of it when I go to the 2nd hand store. I didn't do this for quite some time then saw good quality clothing with brand names I haven't heard of so now I shop but do not buy about once every 3 months at malls to keep up to date.

Ask myself is this a need or a want. Simplify as much as possible Shope around get into trying and waiting to find it used or on sale at the best place...

Only eat out for special occasions or when we buy dollar burgers and add too

Make doggie treats!

do not waste. I also re-use.....Got to love them walmart sakes. Since basic trash bags have went sky high I love them bags.... save bread bags and yes I have even washed zip-locks LOL

Only buy toliet paper. Only other paper product I buy is coffee filters maybe and going to buy the wash out version soon. No paper towels or napkins or throw away plates forks knifes etc.

Only wash a full load and NEVER use HOT use warm only when real dirty and try to use cold mostly

My pantry
My freezer
OM Goodness!
NEVER buy groceries on a whim!
Meals costing over ten bucks do not happen at my home period!
I could go on for days here.................

No chips no cookies no junk food. We bake make and son has braces so out goes the chips. I do splurge on chocolate chips to add zip to my baking. Only processed food is cake mix because I catch them on sale for 3 for 1.00 and flour etc costs more!

But 50 pounds of surgar at once. What a major savings
Buy bulk on non-parishables and buy several can goods and
Store brand----lost leaders------Do not buy not on sale......
Worst case is doing without a week and it will be on sale.
COOK COOK COOK


Well I am sure I haven't said enoguh research research use the calculator and math......Enoguh

[PRICEPLUS]

I always line dry my clothes to cut down on dryer usage!

[Ima saver]

Use the store's advantage cards to take advantage of anything that is on sale.

[mom-from-missouri]

Combine trips to town to save fuel.

cook from stratch

do our baking from scratch, UNLESS i can find the frozen loaves of bread for 6/2.59

keep heat at 60-63 at night

keep heat at 66 or 67 during the day if I am home, if not home, it goes back down to 60-63 (depends on the wind chill)

line dry clothes or use folding clothing rack

buy groceries once a month at aldi's-no inbetween trips except for milk

i have a large pantry downstairs-i keep it rotated and can take advantage of sales

only use coupons with a sale if it comes out cheaper than the generic

use the low energy cf bulbs

use ceiling fans both summer and winter

keep beds made-(water bed-keeps the heat in!)

let sunshine in during the winter

only wash full loads of clothes

only wash full loads of dishes

we dont use a lot of paper products-i keep a mess bucket and a rag for spills and cleanups

use cloth napkins

wash laundry in cold water

i only use 1/2 cap of laundry soap instead of the recommended full cap-they still get clean

garden and can

make my own jellies & jams from our orchard and grapes

chickens for eggs

i don't use a lot of commercial cleaners-i do use a lot of vinegar & baking soda--sometimes commet

reuse my vacume bags (cut off, empty out, roll back up staple and duct tape) find a lot of change and buttons that way...

often burn firewood

pay my bills on time to avoid late fees

pay and use my visa check card as much as possible to earn rebates-it still comes out of my checking account and has no finance fees

keep closet doors closed-i don't want to waste heat heating up those rooms!

we pack our own lunches

few dinners out

i buy flour, potatoes, sugar, salt and spices in bulk

take advantage of farmers markets during season

watch auction bills. I probably have $300 worth of canning jars that came from auctions for a quarter a box

freeze leftovers and date them then remember to USE them.

i keep a list on my refrig in the kitchen telling what foods are in the pantry refrig and freezers so that they don't get forgotten about and wasted

we eat a lot of potatoes, rice and beans. they are cheaper and good for you.

crockpot meals on hetic days. That way, I know it is hot and ready at home and i wont stop and buy a quick food or go thru a drive thru

keep lights off (basically following my kids around!!)

keep computor and tv off when not in use

we spend about 1 night a week at the library-usually when DH is working. keeps the heat down lower at home since we are not there, and is free entertainment for the kids.

higher deductable on our vehicles

burn & recycle our trash saving $18 a month to not have a trash man

take advantage of freebies--from calendars at the banks to free pencils that businesses give out

keep snack items in my vehicle (usually its cookies or popcorn) and a container of pre sweetened drink mix in my vehicle. If we do have to eat out, we hit the mcdonalds $1 menu, it cost us $4 to get something for the girls and myself. we each get a free ice water and then i add a couple spoonfuls of the drink mix to it.

rewash my baggies (yes, i am one of those people!!) I also wipe off and reuse foil

i try to use rubbermade lunch containers that are washable when possible

save my soap slivers-i either put them in a pump container with hot water, or in a mesh baggie or washcloth baggie to be used till gone

frequent the $1 shops when possible--a real good source of hats and mittens for my kids

shop consignment stores

sew for new clothing and also to mend

try to do my baking and ironing on days when it is super cold outside

dress according to the weather. putting on 2 pairs of socks or wearing slippers makes a huge difference in our house

staying organized and clean. Why go buy something again because you couldn't find it when you had it all along? as my kids outgrow cothing, i box them up and label them so that we can find them when needed.

resell or donate what we don't need-saves on clutter, and if it is useful, let someone else use it!

make our own when we can--such as shrimp sauce, sloppy joe sauce..... cheaper than buying it

trim hair & bangs myself

take advantage of the local beauty schools when its a hair cutting job beyond my skill

keep lightbulbs and shades clean--they let out more light than dirty ones

keep heat registers and vents clean

keep areas clean around freezer, refrig, lint traps, computers for proper air flow. Dust makes the motors work harder and uses more electric

keep the garage doors closed. helps keep house warmer in winter and cooler in summer

[shelbylovesmelby]

turn the heat down when dh isn't home

line dry as much as I can year round

I freeze or trade our garden produce

I use an oldfashioned lawn mower that doesn't need oil or gas, just people power

Turn off everything that's not in use as much as possible

Rummaging in the summer for kids clothes & other misc items as it's not only an adventure but can be quite a savings over shopping thrift stores

I track when the stores mark down kids clothes & such. As I have found new clothes for my kids for under $1 new & frankly you can't find that @ thrift stores even.

use left overs for lunch or freeze them for a lunch a few weeks later

grow my own tomatos, zucchini & whatnot in our garden

buy marked down items @ the grocery stores

Shop @ Aldi's & buy almost everything there & whatcha can't buy you get @ the regular store

shop only the clearence racks UNLESS you absolutly need the item soon

Buy Generic

I don't have any add on's on our land line

pre-paid phone

[PrincessPerky]

Originally Posted by mom-from-missouri

keep the garage doors closed. helps keep house warmer in winter and cooler in summer

See this is what I mean about most all frugal, it never occured to me not to keep a garage door closed.....

[mom-from-missouri]

Right now it is 17 degrees outside. My garage is unheated, but the doors are shut. The therm in there says its 33. So, my dining room and laundry room walls are against a room that is 33, as opposed to a wall that has 17 on the other side of it. Not to mention one of my daughters has a bedroom above the garage--it keeps her room much warmer also.
Saves on the heating big time. Esp since the garage doors face north.

[PrincessPerky]

My door is closed, and I love the fact that the car in it is much warmer while the outside is chilly, anc cooler in the summer, just never thought of how it helped, just did it.

[mom-from-missouri]

Probably also saving on wear on the wipers from lack of ice/snow on them, and on the paint & seats from the heat as well.

[gackle]

Cut my own hair. $20 clippers with guards and I save $12 every 3-4 weeks. Granted it's not as good as a barber, but pretty darn close.

As for the garage door, Dallas summers can get into the upper 90s and sometimes 100s. In the summer I leave the garage door cracked enough to let some heat out, but not enough to let somebody get in. Maybe the comments above about closing the door were referenced for winter. 17 degrees? I don't envy you!

I also cut my own hair....have not had it cut in 10 years....it helps to have a long style that you can just pull back. Also buy marked down groceries, turn lights off when not in room.

[Ima saver]

I keep my garage door closed in winter too. I also color my own hair and never go to beauty parlors.

[Fern]

Use pre-paid calling cards (at about .03 a minute)

Don't use a cell phone

Keep my hot water heater on a timer

Keep my thermostat on a timer

Try to consolidate driving trips

Color my own hair

Have never had a manicure/pedicure

Drive a Honda

Take advantage of freebies via tihs site, Wal-Mart and Walgreens free after rebate

Haven't paid for a haircut in 10 years

Keep the heat way down, about 63 or 64 when I'm home, 61 at night

Have only one room A/C, used sparingly, but use my 3 ceiling fans more in the summer

Try to make my own cards and wrapping paper

Occasionally buy clothes at thrift shop, and regularly go to discount supermarket

Sometimes walk to work in decent weather

Reuse plastic baggies, supermarket bags (or bring my canvas tote for groceries)

Used to stuff dryer lint in a crack in my attic stairwell as insulation until i realized it was flammable

Sometimes save a used tissue for a 2nd blow

Sometimes sweep the floor instead of using the vaccum

Usually grow at least a few veggies in the summer

All my lights use flourescent bulbs now

Don't leave lots of lights on unattended

[Ima saver]

I don't have a cell phone either and I use a calling card for in state long distance.

[crow67]

Take lunch to work as much as possible

Make sure lights are off when not around...(got the point to DD's when I made them pay me .25 everytime I turned the lights off in their rooms)

Wash dishes in dishwasher only with a full load and let air dry when done

Do laundry all in one day

Try to do all running when in town...hate extra trips (20 miles round trip)

Have frozen 2 lt bottles for summer to put in coolers