What are your best frugal living tips?

When you get the habit of spending it's hard to stop.It's an addiction like any other. But with a little practice and help you can kick it. I used to be like you when came to spending more than I could afford(that's everybody). One of my spending habits was fast-food, I kicked the habit by learning to cook. Because of it I'm now saving money and eating more healthier.

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There are many good ways mentioned here to save money and live a little less expensive. I would suggest that you take a thermos of coffee from home so that you do not have to buy any and that would save some money. I also would suggest that you do not eat out much but that it would be better to plan meals according to the items that are on sale and use coupons when you can. Also, watch for free entertainment and plan your trips to cut down gas expenses.

I try to save money by cooking at home. I rarely buy resturant food. I also work from my home, I do my own nails, and hair. Sometimes I will wash items by hand and let them dry on their own since it is so hot. I try to spend as less as I possibly can really.

I don´t know where you live, but if the climate is not too humid, you can lower down as much as possible your AC. I don´t have AC or central heating but I live in a mild climate and use shorts and T shirts at home and very warm clothes in winter. Electricity bills amount to a lot more money than groceries most of the time. I cook from scratch, but don´t spend all the time in the kitchen. If coffee is a real need (which I can fully understand), start buying a brand you like less and using less coffee in your cup. That´s how I did it with sugar and salt. Taste buds get acustomed to that and probably part of your need is the company of the warm cup. Home roasted chicken (just salt and a bit of butter and to the oven) make wonderful quick meals. hot or cold. I hope this helps.

My best tip is really to make a list of things you need before you go out anywhere. Think of this extremely carefully. There is a fine line of things you want and things you need. So this is something that should be looked at and analyzed in an extremely careful manner so you don't find yourself overspending a lot of unneeded things. The occasional treat is more than fine but don't go overboard with it. Also don't go to the store when hungry. Another good tip is to walk when there is a place nearby and it is feasible, instead of driving. Fuel expenses can be one of the most horrific things to eat away at our budgets all of the time. Therefore, if we can cut it down here and there, we are going to be a lot better for it. Those are a few tips, hopefully that helps save some dollars. It can be a balancing act and take a lot of time sometimes to figure it out.

Can you make yourself another togo mug of coffee? In a travel mug. We've found the Contigo travel mugs are really good at keeping things hot. Eating out is so easy that it adds up really fast. We try to give ourself a few days each month (now that we're out of debt) where we can go out to lunch, so if we don't pack a lunch, that uses up one of our days. That way we can enjoy a lunch out guilt free but we limit it.

You could always buy one of those travel mugs and bring your second cup of coffee with you instead of buying a second one every day. I always pack my husband's lunch for the following day as I am cleaning up dinner the night before. A lot of the times what ever is left over after dinner becomes his lunch. I put in a bag for him and put it in the fridge and he just grabs it before he leaves. I have also started hanging all of my clothes instead of using the dryer, or might use the dryer just for a few minutes then take the stuff out and hang it.

There are two things that have meant a lot for me as savings go. First, I DO NOT leave a room with the lights on ot the TV on. I use electric light to see but not to have the house as a Christmas tree. I use more clthes in Winter and less heat and I wear shorts and T shirts in Summer and save on cooling devices. As for food, cooking from scratch is healthier and a lot cheaper. I use a lot my pressure cooker for my legumes. I buy them dry, oak them, cook them in the pressure cooker (no more than 10 minutes) and place in the freezer part of it if I won´t use it all at once.

Hello!I did that,outside the hotel dining to reduce,since this year,I only have the one with the restaurant meal,almost all in the home have dinner,so little money ,and eat well. Also, count the extra bank CARDS and remove. Happy every day!

One thing that pulls down our budget is food. I always would spend unnecessarily on foods. So now, i make it a point to eat heavily during lunchtime at the office. That way, i don't get hungry in the afternoon and don't have to eat snacks. I save a lot doing that. I would also bring some left-over from our dinner the night before , so i will not have to buy lunch at the office anymore. I also don't go to the mall if i don't have anything necessary to buy. That way, i can avoid impulsive buying and expense.

hi Julie, best frugal ideas from here is checking the supermarket flyers for bargains and plan the meals around them. This makes us save quite a lot of money. We dont always keep the meal plass we make and cook a spontaneous meal here and thee but we make sure everything gets used up. We also check the fridge, freezer and pantry before grocery shopping so we wont end up with too much of what we already do have. Plus I check the fridge every Sunday for stuff thats expiring in the week ahead of us so we know what has to go first. Its only a little bit of effort but I am amazed at how much we save with this simple method. Also no coffee to go for me, but I wait till I am at the office where the coffee is cheaper than on the way.

I have recently been educated on how much leaving the lights on actually costs me. I was unaware (especially down lights) I received my power bill and was horrified so I now I try and make sure I use as little power as I possible can. Also make up batches of meals (as you do) in advance and freeze them. I almost never buy my own lunch. I do enjoy bought coffee as home made is never as good. I am still working out how I can make this situation better. I have cut back to one bought coffee a week and have been tryng other brands of store bought. Good Luck with your cutting back. I know how hard it can be