Being Frugal

I have found that cooking from scratch is more affordable than buying things already made. I buy uncooked rice rather than the minute rice types, use real potaoes rather than boxed types. I make my own bread often. Also buying larger quantities of dry products such as flour, sugar, pastas, and keeping them fresh in a cannister type container also helps to save money. Pretty much everything is cheaper to make at home than it is to buy premade. I hope this helps !

Unplug any appliances that you don't need or finished using like television or radios. On stand-by, they still consume electricity. When taking baths, don't use bath tubs and instead, have a bucket and a dipper to save more water than showers. Wash clothes and dishes in bundles. Shop when you need to but, buy enough that would last until the next time you have to shop again. Find alternative use for items that you think that doesn't have use anymore before throwing them away. If you can sell old newpapers, plastic bottles and anything else that can be recycled, do so. Set aside extra change whenever you can so that you can. Helps out later on when you suddenly need some and those extra changes that you've been setting aside have grown into a big amount. Well, that's just what I could think of...

The first and best thing I did to help my debt was to consolidate all my credit cards and stop buying on credit. Go to a local non-profit group to have that done and you won't regret it. I save also by having jars labled "shampoo" & "conditioner". When the bottles of shampoo are almost empty, I drain them into the jars. that way if we ever run out...we have an emergency supply. I do that with laundry detergent too. I have worked really hard not to "impulse buy". I engaged the help of my 14 yr old daughter on that. If I "think" i want a pair of earrings or a top...she will go, "mom, do you really need that?" I stop and think and usually...i can live without it. I do the same to her. We do ok but it is really hard. We've kind of made it a hobby to see how little we can spend by keeping a notebook on our spending. We are both getting better as we go. good luck. I'm going to read thru the other responses now because I too am always looking for tips. this is a great topic!

I want to be more frugal myself and need to save more money as well but impossible when your man takes your money before you even get to spend any of it on yourself or put it in a different bank.

Well I'm definitely not the best person to probably ask because I am a shopaholic and am still having a problem trying to not spend! But I do have ways to save! I am a great bargain shopper. My friends and my boyfriend admire that much about me. I always buy things on sale only! That is the first important thing to learn. I'm not the best at coupon clipping, I usually forget to bring them with me even if I have clipped them. I look in the store circulars for the best sale items for the week. I especially do this with groceries since they are the most important must have items. I will only buy what I need when I need it and only if it's on sale. When it comes to things like toilet paper, paper towels, shampoo, deoderant, soap, etc. I buy them when I have the money and only again on sale. If you get in the habit of doing this you save alot of money. I hope this will help you a little. I know it has helped me.

I have the same problem as you do. And I'm no better than you about saving money. I've worked for almost 6 years and not much money in the bank lol. But i got inspired by your discussion and there are great ideas from the responses. Thanks. Let's hope we both have a very good beginning on the way of frugal living. Good luck!

well, i just try to save money by buying things that i only really NEED... not what i WANT... also, i reduce the frequency of eating outside and cook my own meals... i switch off all the electrical appliances when i'm not using them to save on electricity bills... i also buy food that are on specials and suits my menu to them... also, buying in bulks also help a lot... hope this helps... good luck... take care and have a nice day...

shopping at thrift stores and garage sales are a great way to be frugal. often you can find stuff that is still packaged at these places that people are wanting to get rid of. last summer, i bought the cutest package of snowman napkins (brand new) for 50 cents at a garage sale and put them in my moms stocking as she LOVES snowmen!

The trick to saving money is not to spend on non-essentials. Avoid getting into debt. This is key to being frugal. If you feel that getting money through indebtedness is the only way to get spending money then you will never get out of it. Debt is not the same as earnings so you need a mind shift and consider debt to be an added expense.

Well, I don't know what you do already, but , on groceries, shop for basic things such as potatoes, rice, pasta, vegetables, and get yourself some basic economic recipes. It's amazing how well and healthy you can eat for very cheap. The idea that fast, prepared food are the cheap way to go is not true. Using the things I mentioned above, bought in bulk, you can make good meals. I oftne have dinners where the ingredients only cost between $1 and $4.

well i would just say try not to spend what you dont need to.pay the bills that are neccesary for you to survive and try and cut back on the bills that are just for fun, you know like maybe your internet bill or your cable bill. thats what i did atleast until i was able to actually start back paying for them.

It's only right to be frugal nowadays because prices of all commodities are shooting up.I have some loans before but this year all of them were paid off so thank God I can start saving. I read in a book "The Secrets of Truly Rich" that before you pay off your bills you have to save at least 10-20% of your income regardless of how much your income is.On groceries, I only buy the basic commodities and try to avoid buying junk foods instead I buy fruits which are healthy and cheap here in our place.We also limit our trips to the malls and dinner at restaurants so we can also save on money and gasoline.