What is frugal living?
A number of definitions come up when you Google the term:
Avoiding waste; The practice of acquiring good and services in a restrained manner; resourcefully using already owned economic goods and services; prudence in avoiding waste; thrift; A spraring use; sparingness.
As I am sure there are a number of reasons you are living or want to live a frugal life. Mine, is to get rid of this debt! What’s your reason?
Want to live a frugal life. Here are 10 ways to get started:
- Use the Library
Take a trip to the local library; you’ll find many of them are stocked with the latest books and DVDs. Still want to rent? Try Redbox – rentals are $1 a night. - Clip Coupons
Take the time to clip coupons and you could save up to 25% on your weekly grocery bill. Want to save more? Buy generic items and plan your menu around the sale ads. - Eat Out Less Often
Eating out is nice, but can be a big budget breaker. Cut back on the amount of times you go to eat out. When you do go out to eat, find ways to cut down on costs with these tips. Want to save more? Pack a lunch for work and carry snacks. - Group Errands
Reduce your gas bill by grouping your errands and driving only when you need to. For even more savings, try walking or biking when you don’t have to go far. - Make your Own Cleaners
Homemade Cleaners are nontoxic and work just as well as store bought cleaners at a fraction of the price. Stock up on these seven items and your house will be sparkling clean in no time. - Seek Free Entertainment
Many communities have a ton of free entertainment in the area. The chamber of commerce, your city’s community calendar, or your city’s weekly magazine is a great way to locate free outings; like to see bands play, free movie showings, lectures, bontanical garden tours, etc… - Wash in Cold
Cut your utility bill substantially by washing your laundy in cold water. Your clothes will come out clean and your water heater won’t have to work as hard. - Flip a Switch
Reduce your utility bills even further by turning off lights and other electronics when not in use. Go even further, unplug cords when not in use. - Buy Secondhand Goods
Befriend your local thrift store or garage sales; many times you can score named brand clothes or great furniture. The Salvation Army has a boutique section with some great wears. - Maintain stuff or Learn to do it yourself
Take care of what you have and it will last longer. Take time to read the maintenance manual and creat a maintenance checklist to keep on top of it; like your car’s oil change. Learn to fix things or do things yourself; like replace the fan belt, fix the washer, hem a pant line, or sew a button.
When you start living frugal, you discover creativity and planning are key elements in your life. You’ll also discover many other great ways to cut back costs. Do you have a frugal idea you’d like to share?
Great post! Very simple—- some of these frugal living lists go into far too much detail and they’re overwhelming. This list is perfect.
Thanks!
I’ve heard some people get really frugal.
It would be interesting hearing some of the extreme stories. But I chose to find balance in saving and living.
I have an extreme frugal – I’ve hear of people splitting the 2 ply tissue paper. 😉
(1) From WWII: “Use it up, wear it out, make it do or do without!” (2) Think outside the box, especially when it comes to ways to NOT spend money.
Thanks for the warm comment on my blog–it made me smile first thing this morning. 😉
I love the quotes you share on this blog; always perfect to fit the post. And I totally agree – thinking outside the box or creativity are essential when living frugal. Of course, that is determined by how frugal one wants to be. Tending to splitting the 2 ply TP – lol – is not on my agenda. 🙂
I am glad I could make you smile first thing this morning and I hope you keep smiling the remainder of the day.
The thought of people splitting 2-ply toilet paper makes me cringe, but I realized I do something similar. I noticed that when I blow my nose into a Kleenex, a lot of the paper gets wasted since only a small spot gets “used.” So I’ve been tearing my Kleenex in half and only use half at a time. (I don’t split the 2 ply.) If I later need another Kleenex, I just use the other unused half. Silly, huh?
But going back to your list, I think the most important feature of frugal living is to live within a budget. 😀
You don’t split the 2 ply TP but you split your Kleenex?!?! LOL. J/K. Although, I don’t practice splitting my Kleenex, I understand where you are coming from on this one. Are the smaller hand packs any better? Or are they the same size?
And to live within a budget means to keep tabs on it, at all times. If you don’t, some frivolous purchase will go under radar. I hope everyone keeps that budget this holiday season. I am heartedly on a mission to do just that this season – have a Debt Free Christmas. So, everyone is gettin’ lots of yummy baked goods this Christmas! But they need to supply their own milk or beverage of choice. 🙂
Since we’re talking about tissue…I am all about cutting out disposables. I use hankies instead of tissue (ok, so I will always use TP!) and cut up t-shirts and dishtowels intead of paper towels. I don’t use a straight razor to shave, but I have cut down on the disposable aspect by buying a reusable razor where only the blades need to be replaced. Although making such changes result in “only” a small savings each month, those savings add up!
I’m all for those practices. You’re right, maybe small savings but they add up to large amounts. I remember Fabulous Broke saying in a comment, “If anyone says: A penny is worthless – I tell them to give me a million pennies.”
It makes you think that every fortune or savings started with one small investment of a penny. Great practices! Keep it up! 🙂
(I don’t know about you, but I am thinking of collecting a pennies and depositing them in a jar. Hmmm…)