Frugal Living Advice
Advice About Saving Money and Living With Less
How do we learn to live frugally?
Frugal living advice begins with learningto know how much money you have coming in and exactly how much money you need to cover your monthly bills. You can begin to make better decisions about
how your money is spent.
You also need to know where you stand with debt repayment, savings goals, and investments—a key step to taking charge of your money and making it work for you and for others.
Frugal living advice includes making smarter spending decisions.
- It's taking the money that you have and s-t-r-e-t-c-h-i-n-g it as far as it will go.
- It's learning how to get the best deal on everything that you buy—shopping thrift stores, yard sales, clearance racks and barter boards until you find what you need at a price that you can afford.
- It includes using coupons and rebates in combination with sales to get the very best price on your groceries and other household items.
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It's also knowing when not to shop--holding off on a purchase that doesn’t fit into your budget, or realizing the item is simply a "want" and not a "need."
Download 66 Ways to Save Money.
By sowing frugality we reap liberty, a golden harvest. ~Agesilaus
Frugal living requires creativity. It's about finding ways to make do with what you have, and learning how to do more with less.
It's about recognizing opportunities to reuse, repurpose and create.
Frugal living includes advice about better money management, bargain shopping and creativity, but what does all of that add up to? Can these three things really result in a better life? Absolutely.
Frugal living unlocks a world of possibilities:
- Paying off all of your debts
- Funding your child’s education
- Freedom from stress about money
- The ability to share with others
Frugal living is about determining what is really importnt in life, and finding a way to make it happen.
A couple of dollars saved here, and a few dollars invested there doesn’t translate into a life of deprivation; it translates into possibilities.
We are not to judge thrift solely by the test of saving or spending. If one spends what he should prudently save, that certainly is to be deplored. But if one saves what he should prudently spend, that is not necessarily to be commended. A wise balance between the two is the desired end. ~Owen Young
Saving for a Major Family Purchase
It always seems like the money goes out just as fast as it comes into the bank account, sometimes faster. So what do you do when the family wants to get something a little outside the normal budget? With some adjustments to the budget, careful spending, creative ideas and time, it is possible to save up the money to get those extra things the family wants.
One way to save toward a special purchase is to rework your budget. There are a lot of tools that can help with budgeting. One favorite of mine is called
Budget Map.
Look for things that you can give up, even if for just a short period of time to put toward the purchase. Keep track of all the small purchases that don't need to be made, like fast food. If you put that money aside in a separate account, it will add up quicker than you might think.
Start a loose change jar. Anytime someone buys something with cash, put the change in the jar. When the jar is full, roll the coins and add that to your savings for your goal. It's amazing how quickly coins add up. If people give up some of their splurges, such as a candy bar, can of pop or other small items, adding that amount to the jar each week will also help the saving go faster.
Another good idea for saving toward the purchase is to set up a special bank account just for the funds for special things. Set aside a little each week toward it. Sometimes you can set up an account similar to a Christmas club that can't be withdrawn from until a certain date, so that helps enforce savings.
Open a savings account in under five minutes with no fees, no minimums and FDIC insurance
Another idea is to go to the store where you want to purchase the item and occasionally get a gift card. Many times the gift cards have no expiration date, and some can have funds added to it. Simply take the card with you each time you go shopping, and have them add a little extra to the card. Before you know it, you have enough to pick up the item. Just be sure to check the store's policy concerning gift cards.
Some stores still offer a layaway plan. This is a great way to take advantage of special sales. You can purchase it at the lower price, paying it off a little at time. Having a deadline forces you to get your payments in, instead of using the money for other things.
If you find yourself short of your goal, despite your best efforts, it might be time to have a garage sale. By everyone pitching in by donating some things they no longer want or need, everyone can help earn the money. This way it is a family project. Even the youngest child can pick a few toys they've outgrown to add to the sale to help.
Frugal Living Advice From Others
Self Sufficient Farm Living
There is nothing like the feeling of self
sufficient living. Why pay the high prices of
today's economy when you can make or build it
yourself
Some Links to Help You Get Started!
Frugal Living Advice About Money and Budgeting
Freecycle
Buy/Sell Community
Craig's List
The Dollar Stretcher
Cannot people realize how large an income is thrift? ~Cicero
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