What are your best frugal living tips? (Weekly Topic Inspiration)

1. 83

   Simone Smithposted 12 years ago

   What are your best frugal living tips? (Weekly Topic Inspiration)
   
   These days, every dollar counts. What are your cool money-saving tricks? Share them as part of this week’s Weekly Topic Inspiration theme! Stop by our forum thread for search-friendly title ideas and community support: http://hubpages.com/forum/topic/92904
   
   

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2. 37

   ChristinSposted 12 years ago

   you must be reading my mind I was just thinking of doing some articles tying into this theme this morning!

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3. 71

   lburmasterposted 12 years ago

   Research. Each week clipping coupons. Also get the normal brand, like Kroger products. They are cheaper and mostly the same stuff. Or you can do what they try in Romania when I visited, grow your own garden. (However, I have no green thumb at all.) Eat canned food, it lasts longer and more chances to use it. Pack a baked potato for work, only $1. Just think cheap. McDonald's might be horrible for you, but I can eat there for $3. Try eating at Sam's Club. A pretzal and large soda for only $1.75. Think outside of the box.
   One good tip is going to Chick-Fil-A and getting the calendar's every December. One calender cost $5 or $6 and the savings inside are worth $15. So for every one you buy, you get ten dollars worth of free food.

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4. 83

   sholland10posted 12 years ago

   Raising a family is expensive.   If you know where to look, there are several ways to save money and stretch a dollar.  Here is one mom's suggestions for getting the most out of her money. read more

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5. 85

   Robie Benveposted 12 years ago

   Tips on how to save and leave happy on a tight budget - based on my personal experience. Understanding needs vs. wants. read more

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6. 66

   marek504posted 12 years ago

   I moved to a pay as you go cell phone plan.  My wife and I have saved about $60/ month, and I actually wrote a hub about it. I'm pretty frugal when it comes to my cell phone, so I don't need a data plan, just need to stay in communication.

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7. 86

   stephhicks68posted 12 years ago

   Frugal living is easier when it comes to driving with these fuel saving tips.  Save gas and keep more money each month. read more

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8. 69

   Alastar Packerposted 12 years ago

   Always make the most out of left-overs. If you eat meat buy the large packs and divide them up into smaller portions and freeze them. Do your errands on the way home from work to save on gas so you don't have to make extra trips out. Keep recreation and entertainment expenses down, and try to avoid retail therapy when your feeling down!

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9. 68

   thriftykashposted 12 years ago

   When shopping online, always search for promotions and coupon codes before completing your purchase, you could be saving a big chunk of change on something you were going to buy anyways...."google is your friend"

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10. 76

    elle64posted 12 years ago

    Take out what you are allowed to spend that week. Plan your meals, do not throw out leftovers. Bring your lunch to work (most people do in Scandinavia).Do not buy take away coffee. Buy second hand clothes. These tips are quite easy to follow- and your finances will get better.

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11. 81

    Tricia Wardposted 12 years ago

    Everyone can save money some way. If you want to take control of your finances then there are some practical tips for helping you budget.
    With plastic cards its all too easy to just spend without taking
    notice of individual costs. Here is some tips to take control. read more

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12. 60

    Lindy's Worldposted 12 years ago

    How you can create a small garden inside and save money. read more

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13. 62

    Sinea Piesposted 12 years ago

    We are cooking smaller quantities for dinner. I used to plan on leftovers, and they did get used. Lately, we are home less and the food was going to waste. Now I  prepare just enough for one meal and that's it.

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14. 88

    JSParkerposted 12 years ago

    Write down every single penny that you spend.  I have an Excel spreadsheet, and I try to enter everything I buy.  For example, I have one line item each month for "groceries", another for "eating out".  I have one for "books and magazines" (I mostly go the the library) and one for "parking fees", and so on.  Then, every month I go through my receipts and credit card statements and enter any expenditure that I missed.  It's like keeping a food journal: if you write it down, you will spend (eat) less!  It works!

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15. 82

    Chin chinposted 12 years ago

    New married couples should talk about budgeting early in their marriage relationship. This hub talks about simple budgeting tips for newly wed couples to help avert poor money management, debt, marriage conflicts and even divorce. read more

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16. 72

    Shanna11posted 12 years ago

    Learn how to be responsible with your money and even graduate debt free! Find out other ways to earn money besides getting a job, and learn tips and tricks to being financially stable in college. read more

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17. 84

    Healthy Pursuitsposted 12 years ago

    Save money - by taking small steps. If you are persistent, you will be able to save more money each week with easy changes. read more

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18. 63

    rclinton5280posted 12 years ago

    This is a hub on ways to save money. It is written by a frugal father and has a lot of down to earth advice on saving your hard earned cash. read more

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19. 86

    stephhicks68posted 12 years ago

    You don't have to sacrifice fun as a family when you are sticking to a budget.  Consider these easy frugal living tips that lead to significant monthly savings and minimal complaining by your children and spouse. read more

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20. 71

    davenmidtownposted 12 years ago

    I enjoy growing my own food to not only save money but to also control the quality of the food that I eat. Gardening is great for me and also for the environment.

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21. 50

    Nickfilipowposted 12 years ago

    Simply put, "do it yourself."  It seems like most of what we pay for in life is for convenience.  Paying too much for food, start an indoor, backyard, or community garden.  Paying too much for entertainment, get rid of the cable bill and go outside, or start some hobby/project that makes you happy.  I could go on and on with this list, but the point is you are usually in charge of how expensive you live, and if you want to change it there is usually an easy way.  On the other hand, there will also be things that you enjoy enough to that you'll be more than willing to pay to do them. So, the main thing to figure out, is how valuable are these things to you.

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22. 85

    bookerboyposted 12 years ago

    Most supermarkets have low price sections for perishable food that is about 1/4 the normal price or less because the the sell by date is in the next day or two...
    
    If youre flexible enough in your eating then you can avail of low price food this way...
    
    Change from snacking on high price sugary (poisonous) sweets to things like carrots and humus...much cheaper, and nicer and will mean less visits to the dentist and doctor because of your newly enhanced health!!

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23. 61

    Evylyn Roseposted 12 years ago

    Budgeting seems like a scary thought to many. Classes and templates for those new to budgeting can be daunting at the very least. However, starting out is so simple that we have little to dread. read more

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24. 59

    kikibird03posted 12 years ago

    I learned to re-examine all the bills I thought were set in stone, and to my surprise a few years ago, they were not!  For example, I took a look at the phone bill which I always mindlessly just paid, and found a fee for some kind of "voice mail" for $19.99 a month - but I never had voice mail!  Doing some investigating, I found that my minor aged daughter, upon filling in some kind of information form online had to supply our phone number, and ever so obscure was an agreement to this voice mail service which had nothing at all to do with what she was filling out!  Outraged, I called the phone company and found we had been paying that fee for 15 months!  Nearly $300 in these charges!
    
    I told them my daughter was both underage and not authorized to make changes to our phone service, and at first they told me I'd have to contact the company billing us and get them to credit it.  No way, I told the phone company that they were responsible as well because they let this fraudulent parasitic company tap our phone bill like this and I wanted a supervisor.  Finally I got it resolved and got the money back in the form of a credit on the phone bill in about 4 weeks. I did go ahead and call the company that tagged us with this bill and really gave them a piece of my mind, too! 
    
    I examined our utility bill.  We had been on a budget agreement that was over inflated based on a prior year when gas service was extremely high, and they did not adjust it back down to the current prices.  We were paying $450 a month on the budget plan all year long, and when I looked at the bill we had a huge difference between the billed amount and actual usage.  I got off of the budget plan, and did not have to pay a utility bill for several months because so much money had in essence been pre-paid!  The bill for actual usage ranged from $150 - $230 a month! 
    
    Automobile insurance was next on the chopping block!  You would be amazed how much other companies want your business when you pick up the phone, call around, and get quotes.  The end result there was $150 less a month.
    
    Those efforts reeled in nearly $390 - $470 extra dollars a month that we were just paying without question!  So I highly advise anyone looking to wring out some savings to examine their phone bill, utility bill, and insurance coverage for starters!

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25. 60

    FloraBreenRobisonposted 12 years ago

    I had to laugh when I saw this weeks WTI because this has always been an important topic for me as my family has never made a lot of money and now I'm in the position of living month to month . I won't always be there, but I am now. Although I never considered myself to be paying too much for Cable tv for how much I watch it, once everything switched to digital the service kept shutting down, and I feel that I will need to sacrifice my TCM as when it comes to digital extras, this is the only one I watch.
    
    I recently wrote a hub on this.

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26. 0

    susanm23bposted 12 years ago

    I always use coupons, buy in bulk and buy things I use when they are on sale.  Because of this I always have a lot on my pantry shelves and seldom have to by my favorites when they ARE NOT on sale.

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27. 59

    Leanna McCarthyposted 12 years ago

    I wrote a hub on that! Vintage ideas for saving money.
    
    http://leannamccarthy.hubpages.com/hub/ … -the-Cheap

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28. 89

    Victoria Lynnposted 12 years ago

    I learned money-saving tips from growing up. Mom taught me how to live frugally, and I have incorporated many of these tips into my own life. Frugal living tips for single mothers or single parents. read more

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29. 61

    phionposted 12 years ago

    A few easy ones are to take shorter showers, turn your hot water heater down a little, close vents and doors in rooms not used, don’t set your thermostat below 71 in summer, and 65 in winter, turn off lights, set central air to appropriate levels when you will be gone, and cook at home as much a possible.

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30. 56

    Vinvincposted 12 years ago

    Try to keep aside 100$ on a monthly basis.You might not realise the value of it initially but at the end of the year it would definitely add value.

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31. 93

    ktrappposted 12 years ago

    Movie tickets can be expensive for families. These money saving tips for movie tickets and movie rentals are easy and fun to try. read more

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32. 76

    alissarobertsposted 12 years ago

    Tips and advice on how to start living frugally using coupons. Learn the basics of couponing and how to start saving money on your grocery bill. read more

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33. 60

    YvetteParkerposted 12 years ago

    Ways to save Money:
    (1) Unplug all electronics when not being used; including countertop kitchen appliances and the washing machine if the outlet is readily available within reach
    (2) Pack a lunch instead of eating out
    (3) Remove features from your land line that you do not use. Most people use mobile phones as their primary mode of contact, so check to see if you are paying for features on the land line like voice mail, caller id, call forwarding, etc. that you are not using.
    (4) Carpool
    (5) Use store brands rather than name brands for frequently used household items
    (6) If you don't watch tv a lot; get rid of the satellite or cable - or downgrade to basic cable only
    (7) Set thermostat below 68 in winter and above 78 in summer.
    These are all things that I do to save money and they work.

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34. 77

    MickeySrposted 12 years ago

    Growing up I had very little of the normal things my friends had (toys, clothes, etc) and most of our married life my wife and I lived very meagerly paycheck to paycheck. My wife learned, by necessity, how to spend a little and get by . . . she... read more

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35. 73

    algarveviewposted 12 years ago

    Some living tips for this time of crisis. This article shows you very easy ways to save some money just changing a bit your habits. read more

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36. 75

    cashmereposted 12 years ago

    Tips on Frugal Living and Having Fun. Make your money stretch and have family fun as well. Use these five frugal family fun activities as a guide. read more

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37. 71

    More Than Wordsposted 12 years ago

    When you bring the fresh vegetables home wash all well.  Cut off what you don't want and throw them in your juicer.  Cut up the rest of the vegetables for your salad.  Take the pulp from the juicer and put it in your crock pot.  Cover the pulp with water and slow cook all day, all night.  Strain pulp and grind in Magic Bullet.  Use pulp  for dip, baby food, mix into your broth or  mix in your dogs food.   
    
    Take the juice from juicer and pour in ice trays for quick access when making smoothies or shakes.  You can juice limp baby spinach and freeze for the same purpose.  Nothing gets tossed.  Everything is used for one thing or another.  You can add cut up salad greens to your homemade broth, put salad stuff in separate dishes for quick healthy dining.  Freeze bananas that are too ripe to eat and uses a few pieces for your shake.  Blueberries work well juiced down and turned into ice cubes.  How easy is it to grab your spinach, mixed vegetable ice cubes and adding to your shake ingredients.   
    
    Never throw out scrap vegetables.  If they start looking funky in your salad throw in your continual simmering soup.

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38. 61

    MojoDawgposted 12 years ago

    using your cell with a minimum plans, don't bundle anything on mobile or home plans of any thing, We don't have a home phone, many people pay for this and don't even use it. that is all fluff and just makes the carrier a ton of quid.
    
    Don't waste food in meals, teach your children not to waste
    
    Grow food in a garden, saves money and you get great fresh veggies, I especially like having fresh herbs handy for cooking
    
    make good lists and don't make extra trips to the market, this is a budget buster.
    
    save something every week no matter what
    
    buy fuel for a minimum period so you are not exhausting a large portion of your weekly budget on more than a weeks fuel
    
    use coupons and buy main dishes that will lower your average meal cost, buy a larger portion of meat on sale and ask the butcher to portion it for you.
    buy whole fryers instead of fryer parts, this is not cost effective (learn to cut it up)
    
    the more of everything you do yourself the more thrifty you will be able to live without sacrificing your quality of life.

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39. 80

    chspublishposted 12 years ago

    I agree with the hubber who says - write down every single penny spent. That way you can 'track' your money.
    Grow your own veg, fruit, keep hens, ducks, poultry - even in a small space. By not going to the store for these items you will make better use of your time, energy and ingredients.
    Bake your own items - bread, cakes, pies etc. Everything homemade tastes better, so therefore, i believe, your needs are more satisfied.
    Re-vamp old items into 'new' furniture, clothes, curtains, cushions. Get ideas from magazines, online.
    Discard the credit card - use a debit card, if needed. you will feel the 'pain' of the immediacy of that money spent.
    Buy as many items 'on sale' or 'reduced' as possible. Make a 'hobby' of it.
    Look for the discounted items.
    Ask for discount.
    Look for the 'free' items. Make a hobby of it.
    Swap unused items with friends, neighbors etc. for things you want. Make it a festive occasion.
    Live on less. Make a philosophy of it.

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40. 93

    GoodLadyposted 12 years ago

    How to identify 3 healthy, green vegetables growing wild in the countryside; nettles, wild asparagus and chicory. Recipes of how to pick and make them into delicious, frugal meals. read more

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41. 73

    algarveviewposted 12 years ago

    Some general advices for saving money at home in various ways. Basic tips that anyone can easily follow and inspiration for many more ideas that can help out in this time of crisis.
    http://algarveview.hubpages.com/hub/Fru … -of-crisis

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42. 70

    donnaisabellaposted 12 years ago

    Financial tips are handy for all of us but it is hard for most immigrants to know what is happening and to obtain information pertaining to basic economics. In this article, the most basic  elements of handling the basest finances are looked at in depth to help new immigrant families cope. read more

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43. 0

    Catzgendronposted 12 years ago

    I am in the process of moving and will be on my own for the first time in my life.  I am planning on keeping a budget, clipping coupons, going to a pay as you go type cell phone, buying store brand if it will be a savings, sometimes I find that name brand is only a few cents higher so it all depends, I will be reviewing the sale flyers for local grocery stores, cutting back if I need to, shutting lights off when I am not in a room and reading more instead of going out.

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44. 86

    randomcreativeposted 12 years ago

    Are you looking for ways to save money in your classroom? This article outlines twenty different ways for teachers to save on classroom materials supplies. There are lots of specific examples and resources. read more

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45. 65

    FabLiz86posted 12 years ago

    There are so many ways to save!  Using coupons, I can get many products for free or super cheap.  I fix old things before I throw them out.  I make things when I can't afford to buy them.  People give away free things on Freecycle.org.  The list goes on and on. 
    
    The best thing to do is think outside of the box. Get creative and use many of the suggestions given here as a starting point.

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46. 68

    Etherealenigmaposted 12 years ago

    I'm not the most frugal person around, but I have found some ways to save: http://etherealenigma.hubpages.com/hub/ … our-Home-1

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47. 76

    alissarobertsposted 12 years ago

    Find tips and advice on ways to have a great family vacation on a budget. Includes money saving tips to help cut the costs of food, lodging, and travel expenses. read more

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48. 68

    larcaustin46posted 12 years ago

    The key to frugality is mindfulness in this examination of changing lives one habit at a time. read more

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49. 70

    buckleupdorothyposted 12 years ago

    Feeling fancy but can't afford the nice restaurant? Want to pretend you're not broke? Here are some ways to really pull out all the stops - without pulling out your credit card. With the right spirit, you can live large on a tight budget. read more

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50. 62

    Ashantinaposted 12 years ago

    1. Buy used
    2. Turn the thermo down [even 1 degree helps]
    3. Sell what you no longer need
    4. Learn to sew/crochet/craft

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