Saving Money: a Frugal Lifestyle
March 9th, 2009
Nicholas Tan asked:
The word “frugality” has left a more negative connotation for most people than simply being a saver, a cheapskate or tightwad. There is a thin line difference to saving and too much frugality to the point of being awkward and ridiculous. This is where the negative connotation comes from.
But if you are guided with the right principles and reasons in deciding to live a frugal life, you would never go wrong.
If you have decided to live frugally, no need to be worried of insults. Keep your head up high. And keep your focus through these tips.
1. Eating Out - Having gimmicks with friends on a Friday night is fine if you do it once in a while. But this can be expensive if you add them up at the end of the month.
2. Clothing - Naturally, if you are the kind of person who adores signature and designer clothes, do not expect that there will be something left of your take home pay. Instead of being trendy, wear clothes that can easily be matched with your other clothes.
3. Own Home - If you are planning to move out and find a place to settle, do not be overwhelmed by the excitement, instead be practical. As a start, buy a smaller house or try other ways like rent-to-own, do-it-yourself arrangements, and owner financing.
4. Buying Your Own Car - Shy away from sports cars or SUVs. Just stick to your purpose of buying a car which is to transport you anywhere you need to go. Check out also program cars like a new car warranty. Maybe this is not just the best time to replace your car with a new one.
5. Shopping for Groceries - As much as possible do not go with items that are branded. Choose non-brands and try looking for items on the highest or lowest shelves for best prices. Grab the opportunity and shop during sales or use coupons.
6. Family Out - There are inexpensive ways to bond with your family and be entertained like going to libraries, local parks, malling, picnics, visit friends and local church.
7. Buying School Supplies - Stock school supplies at home and do not buy anything fancy.
8. Be contented with what you have and try to live within what you earn.
9. Plan your Child’s College Education - Teach them the ways to be independent and self-supporting by encouraging them to apply for scholarships and “on campus jobs”.
10. Be Aware of your Financial Limitations
11. Anticipate your Failures by Planning - Have always a budget plan so you would avoid impulsive buying.
Create a video blog
Filed under frugal living | Comment (0)The word “frugality” has left a more negative connotation for most people than simply being a saver, a cheapskate or tightwad. There is a thin line difference to saving and too much frugality to the point of being awkward and ridiculous. This is where the negative connotation comes from.
But if you are guided with the right principles and reasons in deciding to live a frugal life, you would never go wrong.
If you have decided to live frugally, no need to be worried of insults. Keep your head up high. And keep your focus through these tips.
1. Eating Out - Having gimmicks with friends on a Friday night is fine if you do it once in a while. But this can be expensive if you add them up at the end of the month.
2. Clothing - Naturally, if you are the kind of person who adores signature and designer clothes, do not expect that there will be something left of your take home pay. Instead of being trendy, wear clothes that can easily be matched with your other clothes.
3. Own Home - If you are planning to move out and find a place to settle, do not be overwhelmed by the excitement, instead be practical. As a start, buy a smaller house or try other ways like rent-to-own, do-it-yourself arrangements, and owner financing.
4. Buying Your Own Car - Shy away from sports cars or SUVs. Just stick to your purpose of buying a car which is to transport you anywhere you need to go. Check out also program cars like a new car warranty. Maybe this is not just the best time to replace your car with a new one.
5. Shopping for Groceries - As much as possible do not go with items that are branded. Choose non-brands and try looking for items on the highest or lowest shelves for best prices. Grab the opportunity and shop during sales or use coupons.
6. Family Out - There are inexpensive ways to bond with your family and be entertained like going to libraries, local parks, malling, picnics, visit friends and local church.
7. Buying School Supplies - Stock school supplies at home and do not buy anything fancy.
8. Be contented with what you have and try to live within what you earn.
9. Plan your Child’s College Education - Teach them the ways to be independent and self-supporting by encouraging them to apply for scholarships and “on campus jobs”.
10. Be Aware of your Financial Limitations
11. Anticipate your Failures by Planning - Have always a budget plan so you would avoid impulsive buying.
Create a video blog
Tagged with: Designer Clothes • Frugality • Local Church
Frugality - Three Quick Lessons
March 9th, 2009
Steve Gillman asked:
What is frugality? The dictionary definition of frugal: “Practicing or marked by economy, as in the expenditure of money or the use of material resources.” People think of it as simply being “cheap,” in the fashion of Ebeneezer Scrooge. I see it as the practice of getting the most for one’s money, without giving up anything important.
It may surprise people to know that I buy the cheapest t-shirts and yet pay to have someone mow the lawn. But the shirt does the same job as the expensive ones, and my time is worth more to me than what I pay for mowing. That’s getting the most for my money, and I sacrifice nothing for this kind of frugality. Of course, I get a good deal on the lawn work too. Here are three ways to spend less and still get what you want.
1. Look For Free Things
I once got free dental x-rays from the dental hygienist program at a local college. Other dental schools will x-ray your mouth for free or at a reduced charge, if you have the patience to sit there while the instructor coaches the student through the process. You then get your x-rays to take to the dentist, saving you the cost of that part of the visit anyhow.
One of the prettiest campgrounds my wife and I have stayed at was Williams Landing, on Lake Talquin in Florida - and it was free for up to ten days. There are free campgrounds scattered across the country. Woodall’s campground directory lists most of the campgrounds in the country, including ones which don’t charge.
I got my tires rotated for free a couple years ago. I don’t recall the name of the chain of tire shops, but this is their normal policy. It is amazing how many things you can get for free if you keep your eyes open.
2. Take Advantage Of Promotions
We regularly use coupons for restaurants in our small town. Several of them have “Buy a meal, get the second one for half off” deals in the paper every week. We eat at these places anyhow, so it is a true savings when we use a coupon to save $5.
Speaking of coupons, if any of the stores in your area double them, here is how you take advantage of it: Suppose you have a 50-cent coupon for dish detergent. If the store is doubling it, you’ll get a dollar off. Now, if you buy the 38-ounce size at $2.19, it will cost $1.19, or 3.1 cents per ounce. But if you buy the 18-ounce size at $1.19, it will cost you 19 cents, or a bit over a penny per ounce - a third of the cost. Buy small sizes when coupons are doubled.
Look for any other promotions you can take advantage of. If your favorite shampoo goes on sale, buy enough for the next six months. Stocking up on non-perishables during sales can cut the cost of your household supplies dramatically.
3. Find Alternatives
Often there are cheaper options that can replace what you think you need. Certainly this is true in the case of generic prescription drugs and store-brand foods. But even in area where you think you have no alternatives, look again. Let’s use car insurance as an example.
You might have found the cheapest company to buy your insurance from, and so you think that is the best you can do. However, the various companies are not the only alternatives you have. You could still lower the premiums by raising the deductible, for example. After all, if you really can’t afford the first $500 of an accident, maybe you should rearrange your financial life rather than pay for expensive ways to avoid the responsibility of setting aside a bit of money. If you pay cash for an older car, you can also decline collision coverage.
Frugality can mean being an opportunist too. This is especially true when looking for alternatives. For example, it almost certainly isn’t true that only one specific place will suit you for a vacation, so why not look at the offers and plane fares for several destinations you would enjoy? Then pick the cheapest one. You may spend half as much, have twice the fun (who knows?) and have money left over for other important goals.
Again, frugality isn’t about self-sacrifice and miserable “cheapness.” It is about spending less, and when you do that, you can have even more of what you truly need and want. Every piece of used furniture we buy, which looks the same as a new piece but costs half as much, means we get the same comfort at home and money left over for another day of travel (you pick what’s important to you).
Create a video blog
Filed under frugal living | Comment (0)What is frugality? The dictionary definition of frugal: “Practicing or marked by economy, as in the expenditure of money or the use of material resources.” People think of it as simply being “cheap,” in the fashion of Ebeneezer Scrooge. I see it as the practice of getting the most for one’s money, without giving up anything important.
It may surprise people to know that I buy the cheapest t-shirts and yet pay to have someone mow the lawn. But the shirt does the same job as the expensive ones, and my time is worth more to me than what I pay for mowing. That’s getting the most for my money, and I sacrifice nothing for this kind of frugality. Of course, I get a good deal on the lawn work too. Here are three ways to spend less and still get what you want.
1. Look For Free Things
I once got free dental x-rays from the dental hygienist program at a local college. Other dental schools will x-ray your mouth for free or at a reduced charge, if you have the patience to sit there while the instructor coaches the student through the process. You then get your x-rays to take to the dentist, saving you the cost of that part of the visit anyhow.
One of the prettiest campgrounds my wife and I have stayed at was Williams Landing, on Lake Talquin in Florida - and it was free for up to ten days. There are free campgrounds scattered across the country. Woodall’s campground directory lists most of the campgrounds in the country, including ones which don’t charge.
I got my tires rotated for free a couple years ago. I don’t recall the name of the chain of tire shops, but this is their normal policy. It is amazing how many things you can get for free if you keep your eyes open.
2. Take Advantage Of Promotions
We regularly use coupons for restaurants in our small town. Several of them have “Buy a meal, get the second one for half off” deals in the paper every week. We eat at these places anyhow, so it is a true savings when we use a coupon to save $5.
Speaking of coupons, if any of the stores in your area double them, here is how you take advantage of it: Suppose you have a 50-cent coupon for dish detergent. If the store is doubling it, you’ll get a dollar off. Now, if you buy the 38-ounce size at $2.19, it will cost $1.19, or 3.1 cents per ounce. But if you buy the 18-ounce size at $1.19, it will cost you 19 cents, or a bit over a penny per ounce - a third of the cost. Buy small sizes when coupons are doubled.
Look for any other promotions you can take advantage of. If your favorite shampoo goes on sale, buy enough for the next six months. Stocking up on non-perishables during sales can cut the cost of your household supplies dramatically.
3. Find Alternatives
Often there are cheaper options that can replace what you think you need. Certainly this is true in the case of generic prescription drugs and store-brand foods. But even in area where you think you have no alternatives, look again. Let’s use car insurance as an example.
You might have found the cheapest company to buy your insurance from, and so you think that is the best you can do. However, the various companies are not the only alternatives you have. You could still lower the premiums by raising the deductible, for example. After all, if you really can’t afford the first $500 of an accident, maybe you should rearrange your financial life rather than pay for expensive ways to avoid the responsibility of setting aside a bit of money. If you pay cash for an older car, you can also decline collision coverage.
Frugality can mean being an opportunist too. This is especially true when looking for alternatives. For example, it almost certainly isn’t true that only one specific place will suit you for a vacation, so why not look at the offers and plane fares for several destinations you would enjoy? Then pick the cheapest one. You may spend half as much, have twice the fun (who knows?) and have money left over for other important goals.
Again, frugality isn’t about self-sacrifice and miserable “cheapness.” It is about spending less, and when you do that, you can have even more of what you truly need and want. Every piece of used furniture we buy, which looks the same as a new piece but costs half as much, means we get the same comfort at home and money left over for another day of travel (you pick what’s important to you).
Create a video blog
Tagged with: Campground Directory • Frugality • Tire Shops
Now US Citizen Tend Towards Frugality
March 9th, 2009
Amrendra Kr. Singh asked:
Whenever it comes to expenses, the US citizens have always topped the list. They have always followed the philosophy of getting or consuming most of their earnings without thinking for anything or savings. Moreover, making bigger expenses through credit cards and even having a mortgage for lavish villa can be seen as the common fashion here. Making all these at least enough to signify for having the biggest economy of the world and if people have such expense trends then why not. These are the people who can easily boast of having the best and most productive economy. Further more the huge consumptions trend gives raise many economic activities for the entire world.
However, it is the economic cycle which has left none of the economy from the whole world. The current impact of the economic slowdown in US simply clears the fact that even after having the best economy you can not predict any thing for longer time. The current soaring prices of petroleum, over debts condition with the people and plunging real estate market is some main factors for the present economic situation in the country. Since, everything has gone up there and prices are touching the sky, the entire phenomena have also affected the lives of people.
Complete contrary to have an expensive lifestyle, now people are more inclined towards the frugality. A recent survey conducted by a leading consumer company discloses the fact that now an average us citizen has cut their day to day expenses up to 40- 50 per cent. Moreover, the people who used to rely more on credit cards for their expenses and huge mortgages for their green life now are keeping themselves far distant from these and liking to have a more limited options with them.
According to study conducted previously the average credit liability per citizen in the US have reach to $16500 even excluding the liability on mortgages. But now the scene is somewhat different. The rising inflation and slowing economy has led to a great change in peoples’ spending habit and moreover many people are seeing it as a natural obstruction to their highly expensive attitude.
Caffeinated Content
Filed under frugal living | Comment (0)Whenever it comes to expenses, the US citizens have always topped the list. They have always followed the philosophy of getting or consuming most of their earnings without thinking for anything or savings. Moreover, making bigger expenses through credit cards and even having a mortgage for lavish villa can be seen as the common fashion here. Making all these at least enough to signify for having the biggest economy of the world and if people have such expense trends then why not. These are the people who can easily boast of having the best and most productive economy. Further more the huge consumptions trend gives raise many economic activities for the entire world.
However, it is the economic cycle which has left none of the economy from the whole world. The current impact of the economic slowdown in US simply clears the fact that even after having the best economy you can not predict any thing for longer time. The current soaring prices of petroleum, over debts condition with the people and plunging real estate market is some main factors for the present economic situation in the country. Since, everything has gone up there and prices are touching the sky, the entire phenomena have also affected the lives of people.
Complete contrary to have an expensive lifestyle, now people are more inclined towards the frugality. A recent survey conducted by a leading consumer company discloses the fact that now an average us citizen has cut their day to day expenses up to 40- 50 per cent. Moreover, the people who used to rely more on credit cards for their expenses and huge mortgages for their green life now are keeping themselves far distant from these and liking to have a more limited options with them.
According to study conducted previously the average credit liability per citizen in the US have reach to $16500 even excluding the liability on mortgages. But now the scene is somewhat different. The rising inflation and slowing economy has led to a great change in peoples’ spending habit and moreover many people are seeing it as a natural obstruction to their highly expensive attitude.
Caffeinated Content
Tagged with: Earnings • Economic Situation • Frugality
Learn To Appreciate The Value Of Frugality With Smart Bargains Coupons
March 8th, 2009
Adrianne Sedgwick asked:
The next time somebody calls you stingy, smile and thank that person. You should actually take that statement as a compliment. You should be happy that you are the way you are. You see, it is usually (if not always) the frugal ones who make it to the top (financially speaking). And being prudent with your finances requires a certain kind of discipline that not everybody is endowed with.
The Unwitting Victims
Did you know that there are people who have lots of money streaming in but are as good as broke for no less than ninety percent of the time? And this is definitely not a good situation to be in. It’s almost like a prison. And you can even consider the whole phenomenon as an addition to the long list of rather odd psychological disorders. And yeah, people in this situation are a bunch of unwitting victims.
And you know what’s worse? Most people just would never understand them. The whole thing is just incomprehensible to the ordinary mind. People would think, “Why don’t you just stop? Spend less and start managing your resources?” But then again, this is easier said than done.
You have What it Takes and You Realize the Value of Smart Bargains Coupons
So yes, you are definitely lucky. You have just the right discipline to make it in life, to make good with your finances. And you know just how to take advantage of Smart Bargains coupons. Well, if you are not one of these lucky people, maybe it’s time you do something to turn things around. Start embarking on a journey towards a more financially stress-free life. The following tips should be helpful.
First, always list down everything that you do with your finances. You should put on record every dollar you spend. This way, you get a good picture of where your money is going. This way, you appreciate the value of every dollar (and practically every savings you make with your Smart Bargains coupons). You will realize that every seemingly insignificant expense could add up to tons of wasteful expenditures.
Make a Budget Plan and Maximize Your Savings with Smart Bargains Coupons
And as traditional advice would have it, make a budget plan and actually stick to it. If you are daunted by the tediousness of the task and if you absolutely hate details, go ahead and skip the first step (at least the ‘detailed’ part). You can actually make a budget plan without getting too detailed. The idea is to set boundaries for every type of expenditure you make. For example, you can allot a specified amount of money for your luxury needs without indicating that they are intended for five blouses and one pair of jeans.
And of course, you must be ready to scrounge the market for the best deals in town. Or better yet, go beyond the compounds of your own town and look for the best bargains overseas. You might be wondering how on earth is shopping overseas budget-friendly. No worries, you can do just this without leaving your doorstep.
How so? Through online shopping of course. The Internet is definitely a good place to find all the best bargain deals the market has to offer. And on top of your list are your favorite Smart Bargains coupons.
Caffeinated Content for WordPress
Filed under frugal living | Comment (0)The next time somebody calls you stingy, smile and thank that person. You should actually take that statement as a compliment. You should be happy that you are the way you are. You see, it is usually (if not always) the frugal ones who make it to the top (financially speaking). And being prudent with your finances requires a certain kind of discipline that not everybody is endowed with.
The Unwitting Victims
Did you know that there are people who have lots of money streaming in but are as good as broke for no less than ninety percent of the time? And this is definitely not a good situation to be in. It’s almost like a prison. And you can even consider the whole phenomenon as an addition to the long list of rather odd psychological disorders. And yeah, people in this situation are a bunch of unwitting victims.
And you know what’s worse? Most people just would never understand them. The whole thing is just incomprehensible to the ordinary mind. People would think, “Why don’t you just stop? Spend less and start managing your resources?” But then again, this is easier said than done.
You have What it Takes and You Realize the Value of Smart Bargains Coupons
So yes, you are definitely lucky. You have just the right discipline to make it in life, to make good with your finances. And you know just how to take advantage of Smart Bargains coupons. Well, if you are not one of these lucky people, maybe it’s time you do something to turn things around. Start embarking on a journey towards a more financially stress-free life. The following tips should be helpful.
First, always list down everything that you do with your finances. You should put on record every dollar you spend. This way, you get a good picture of where your money is going. This way, you appreciate the value of every dollar (and practically every savings you make with your Smart Bargains coupons). You will realize that every seemingly insignificant expense could add up to tons of wasteful expenditures.
Make a Budget Plan and Maximize Your Savings with Smart Bargains Coupons
And as traditional advice would have it, make a budget plan and actually stick to it. If you are daunted by the tediousness of the task and if you absolutely hate details, go ahead and skip the first step (at least the ‘detailed’ part). You can actually make a budget plan without getting too detailed. The idea is to set boundaries for every type of expenditure you make. For example, you can allot a specified amount of money for your luxury needs without indicating that they are intended for five blouses and one pair of jeans.
And of course, you must be ready to scrounge the market for the best deals in town. Or better yet, go beyond the compounds of your own town and look for the best bargains overseas. You might be wondering how on earth is shopping overseas budget-friendly. No worries, you can do just this without leaving your doorstep.
How so? Through online shopping of course. The Internet is definitely a good place to find all the best bargain deals the market has to offer. And on top of your list are your favorite Smart Bargains coupons.
Caffeinated Content for WordPress
Tagged with: Frugality • Ordinary Mind • Psychological Disorders