Frugal Tips for Saving Money

By: Gentry Ellis
Submitted: 2007-01-17 16:16:08
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• Invest in a programmable thermostat for your heater. You can set it to cool the house down after you go to sleep and come on again an hour before you wake up. You can also set it for a cooler temperature during the day, wear sweaters or fleece around the house.
• You can buy plastic window guards at a home improvement store that you install to your windows using your blow dryer. They will keep drafts out in the coldest months.
• Purchase coupons and gift cards through Ebay. If you know that you are going to be spending a large amount at a store (for example a home improvement store), you can often purchase a gift card or coupon off Ebay for less than the actual value. For example, if you buy a $500 gift card or $460, etc. You will often find restaurant coupons as well and this can lessen the cost of going out to eat.
• Check at some of your favorite stores and see if you can be added to their mailing lists and receive coupons. While I am not a huge fan of grocery store coupons because they are often for foods I would not normally buy, I do use coupons for goods and services.
• Buy meat, poultry, and dairy when it is on sale and freeze.
• Cook whole foods from scratch whenever possible. Eating out should be a rare treat, not a frequent occurrence. Consider doubling a recipe and freezing the second portion for later use. Its not only frugal but will save you time. Many casseroles, soups, stews, or baked pasta dishes freeze very well.
• Begin learning prices of items you frequently purchase and shop several stores to see who has the best deal. You could end up saving quite a bit by purchasing a few items at one store and a few others at another.
• Pack your lunch and take it. You’ll save a lot. If you normally purchase items out of the vending machine such as soda or candy, you can get it much cheaper at the grocery store and just bring in the daily amount you’d consume.
• Make your own baby food, breast feed, and potty train as soon as a child is ready.
• Stock up on non-parishable items when they are on sale or you go to the discount store. Keep a full stocked pantry with broths, canned tomatoes, dried spices, and other items you will use a lot. This will help eliminate unneeded trips to the supermarket where you will be tempted to purchase more than what you need.
• Check out books, CDs, DVDs, videos, and magazines from the library instead of buying them.
• Buy clothing (especially children’s clothing) off season on sales.
• Experiment with garage sale, consignment shops, or flea market shopping.
• It’s easy, less expensive, and better for the environment to make your own cleaning products. See our article on household cleaning.
• Read books on money management, debt repayment, savings, lending, banking, leasing, and investing. Local libraries have a wonderful assortment of these type of books. If the idea of reading them bores you, leave them by the toilet. Chances are you’ll end up reading some. Become an educated consumer, the more you know the more you will benefit. Don’t be afraid to question experts, credit companies, mortgage brokers, and sales representatives.
• Shut off lights, and electronics when not in use.
• Consider dropping your ground line and only using a cell phone. Consider dropping your cable package or at least downsizing it. Once its gone, you won’t miss it that much. Shop around for good deals for internet service, its becoming more competitive.
• Get to know free or low cost activities available within your community. Look online, pick up community and recreation brochures at the library, network with other parents. You will often be amazed at the huge array of family friendly free entertainment within your area.
• Have a meatless meal at least once per week
• Carpool whenever possible.
• Most banks and credit unions offer free online bill pay. Use this service. It will save you money as you won’t go through as many stamps and checks.
• Grow a garden from seed.
• Learn how to sew. Many fabric stores offer classes or even better enlist a friend or family member who knows this skill. You can make your own curtains, throw pillows, clothes for a fraction of the cost you typically pay retail.
• Keep a change jar, when it’s full, deposit it in savings.
• Have your kids keep a piggy bank and open a savings account for them.

Gentry is a stay at home mom, with a passion for writing. For more articles on easy living, visit http://www.genstyleliving.com.

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