In my quest to succeed in my personal effort to spend less, I have been diligently researching tips and tricks for fun, frugal living. Here are a few I have come across in my studies:
1. Look for used first–need a new coffee table like I did? Find it on Craigslist. It’s a great resource for finding cheap, quality pieces that can be used as-is or re-purposed with a quick coat of pain or new yard of fabric. Freecycle.org is also a great way of finding free items in your neighborhood. And don’t forget the tried-and-true garage, yard, and estate sales and thrift stores. Just use common sense when going to a stranger’s house to pick up your newly found treasures. Tell people where you’re going and give them all the contact info you have. Safety first!
2. Eat out less–I have been brown-bagging it for a few years now and I find it saves tons of money, not to mention the calories you can save! Sure, it takes a few minutes in the kitchen the night before, but if you grill a bunch of chicken or burgers on Sunday night it’s easy to grab a grilled chicken breast and heat it up the next day for a quick and tasty lunch!
3. Create a list–write down all the things you’re lusting after instead of buying them on impulse. Tuck the list away and after a couple of weeks, revisit it. If you still lust after those items as much as you did when you wrote them down, pick the one you love most and buy it. Maybe it will be on sale by then, but even if it’s not you’ll feel less buyer’s remorse after having waited and giving it good thought before buying and you’ll save money by reducing all of those online (or in-store, for that matter) impulse buys!
4. Use the library–need to find a new chick lit novel to keep you occupied on your lunch breaks? Go to the local library! Not only will you find free reads, you can also check out DVDs and magazines! All it takes (usually) is a quick sign-up form.
5. Unclutter–need some extra cash for that one must-have item on your list (see above)? Go through your closets, drawers, cabinets, nooks and crannies and make a pile of all the things you don’t use, want or need anymore. Not only are you purging your life of unneeded clutter, but you can also earn extra moola by selling it on Craigslist or in a garage/yard sale.
Hungry for more tips? Me too! Don’t worry, I will post more tips as I find them. Have great tips of your own? Post a comment and share your knowledge!
All very good tips. I’m all for #4 in particular; so much of what I waste money on is on impulse. If I just wait even a day or two, usually my desire will pass and I’ll be on to something else altogether!