Review (and a Contest!): “10,001 Ways to Live Large on a Small Budget” by the Writers at Wisebread

Gennyfer says on May 18th, 2009 at 10:22 am

I plan menus for my 9 person family around what meats are on sale that week. I find this saves the most money at the grocery store for us.

Robert in SF says on May 18th, 2009 at 10:33 am

I would say take a Navy shower (i.e., turn off the water while working the lather in your hair or soaping your body…you can take all the time you want to massage your scalp or enjoy a luxuriously moisturizing or exfoliating scrub without any stress of worrying about wasting hot water.

Also, use the online version of your local library to reserve books and movies to read/watch. It’s cheaper than buying used ones or renting!

Jolanda says on May 18th, 2009 at 10:43 am

I never go shopping without a grocery list and I’ve trained myself not to buy anything that isn’t on my list. It chopped my spending in half!

Leigh says on May 18th, 2009 at 10:46 am

I have taken advantage of the poor economy and stretched budgets by focusing on time with my children. We do more things together and it is more entertaining.

Kelly says on May 18th, 2009 at 11:09 am

I maniacally comparison shop to make sure I found the best price. Very easy to do online! I also see what I can get used rather than purchase new.

Katy says on May 18th, 2009 at 11:13 am

My biggest weakness in terms of shopping is books. So, I try to buy used when I can, I always shop the remainder sections at the chain bookstores, and I pick up what I can at our local library’s annual sale.

Jim Marchese says on May 18th, 2009 at 11:13 am

Crock Pot cooking! It allows you to get creative with ingredients you probably already have (or are cheap to get)and enables you to easily make a bunch of portions which you can then freeze for later. Best part – you set it in the morning and have a hot meal waiting for you after work!

DivaLion says on May 18th, 2009 at 11:16 am

I’m addicted to gorgeous shoes, and nothing makes me feel more high-life than wearing a fantastic pair of power heels. (such a girl, I know…)

But living on a nonprofit salary means knowing where to go for quality shoes on the cheap. Hands down, Ross Stores are my favorite haunts, but I also love the clearance racks at DSW, the Nordstrom Rack outlet stores, and eBay. I get gorgeous (and comfortable!! even with 4″ heels!) shoes by reliable designers and I never pay more than $30– usually more like $15.

Bonus: DSW has a points program. It takes a while to earn enough to get anything free, but hey– as long as I’m shopping there anyway, I might as well rack up points towards freebies!

Chris says on May 18th, 2009 at 11:26 am

I usually live a fairly frugal life, but I do like the occasional splurge in order to not feel deprived. Here’s a few things I do:

- free wine tastings at the local wine store- avoids the waste of buying wine that isn’t good

- high-end consignment stores, I’ve gotten Ann Taylor garments in beautiful shape for $10.

- local car excursions with hiking shoes or bicycles along. Feels like an adventure, doesn’t cost anything but gas.

- free outdoor concerts in the summer

- dinner at local restaurants during the week. Some places have a bar menu or reduced prices earlier in the week. I get a meal out at a discount.

- picnics. There’s just something about eating food outside in a scenic place. I keep a picnic basket stocked, and another minimal set of gear in my car trunk.

- the public library. I’m happy when I see a stack of unread books by my reading table.

- hobbies which provide useful things- I knit and make custom socks for gifts for example.

Josiah Garber says on May 18th, 2009 at 12:03 pm

Eat less meat.

My wife and I cook with meat only 2 or 3 times a week and this makes a huge difference in our grocery bill.

Learn about how to create complete proteins in your meals and you will find yourself not even missing meat.

We enjoy rice and beans, lentils, eggs and many other things which taste great but are much more inexpensive than meat.

Alexander` says on May 18th, 2009 at 1:08 pm

Here’s one for those city folks like myself that don’t own a car but often rent during vacations. Purchase “non-owners” car insurance, or in other words, car insurance for those who don’t own a car. It is typically cheaper than the normal car insurance that many of our friends, whom we still love despite their car ownership :), must buy. And it is certainly cheaper than buying the insurance through the car rental agencies.

SavingDiva says on May 18th, 2009 at 1:42 pm

As a graduate student with a small stipend, I’ve been making the most of my small income by taking advantage of free events through the university. There are so many different clubs and discussion panels.

I’ve also joined three different groups that will 1) help with my career after I graduate, 2) provide free foods with meetings, 3) look fantastic on my resume, and 4) provide a free/inexpensive social interaction with other graduate students.

Maggie says on May 18th, 2009 at 2:22 pm

I try to combine food and fun – so I do a lot of fishing (bluegill practically impale themselves on my hook, and they’re delicious little fish)

I forage in the state game lands for grapes and berries that I freeze. This is more of a treat than subsistance, but it’s good nonetheless.

Last fall I found a grove of Pawpaw trees and did a little happy dance.

(Pawpaws are North America’s most northern tropical fruit – they taste like bananas and custard and something else delicious)

Touch base with your County or State game agency – there are often classes taught on wild foods that are local to your area.

I’ll be buying a lamb direct from a farmer next week, and friends are going halvsies with me.

I know how to butcher and will show them, they’ll help me with the messy bits, and we’ll all get fresh healthy meat as well as keeping our money in the community.

Anne says on May 18th, 2009 at 2:51 pm

I pay bills online and save the postage.

JLundholm says on May 18th, 2009 at 3:15 pm

Live debt free. With an exception of three months during a cross country move, in 28 years of marriage we have never carried consumer debt from one month to another. Instead of charging, we did without unitl we saved, and many times found that in the proces of saving we decided to do without permanently. When you charge you pay two times or more for your purchases.

Liz says on May 18th, 2009 at 3:17 pm

Once a quarter I call my phone co., cable co. and cell phone co. and have a rep go over my bill with me and find out if there is any way for me to save money. Sometimes I discover a special promo is available, other times I may discover that I am paying for something that I do not want or need. There have been instances where I have saved as much as $50 a month for several months.

Canad-Ian says on May 18th, 2009 at 3:57 pm

Many of the foods that I used to buy, I’ve now starting making from scratch such as tofu, yogurt, seitan. Given less and less time to cook, this is especially useful with foods that you can make in large quantities. Plus, you have complete control over what goes in the food you eat.

Prayerthegate says on May 18th, 2009 at 4:17 pm

There are numerous ways to pinch pennies, and certainly some great comments here already. I find my attitude about the current circumstances helps most. I often affirm to myself that “there is more than enough” of whatever I need (food, money, time, skill). Then I am grateful that this is true. The book looks interesting. Thanks for sharing info about it.

M Moore says on May 18th, 2009 at 4:18 pm

I try to attend local free events, like movies in the square and outdoor concerts.

Jorge says on May 18th, 2009 at 5:05 pm

My familly of 5 likes to watch movies, so to make it cheaper, I subscribe to an online service and we definitely need to go to the movie theater we go when price is half, early during the week days. Still filling the entertaining bit but cheaper.

Chana says on May 18th, 2009 at 5:36 pm

I skim the recycling bin for other people’s discarded magazines instead of buying my own. Watch tv and movies online on hulu so I don’t need cable. I get books and other media from the library.

Karen says on May 18th, 2009 at 5:58 pm

I bought a indoor clothing hanger for my clothes to air dry on after being washed, and I started eating oatmeal in the morning instead of packaged cereals. Cheaper, and more healthy! I also utilize Freecycle if I am looking for an item before I go out and purchase it. This has saved me money in the past too!

Maggie says on May 18th, 2009 at 6:47 pm

As a librarian, I can’t say enough good things about your local public library. In addition to having books (if they don’t have the one you want, ask – and they might be able to borrow it from another library!), libraries:

- have reference librarians whose JOB is to help you find the information you need
- have audiobooks, movies (sometimes), comic books, magazines, and other interesting non-book material that you can borrow
- classes! libraries are the place to go if you need help looking for a job, improving skills, etc., and many of these are free
- events (especially for kids): whether it’s the summer reading program (usually with some kind of incentive for completion), or just a weekly storytime, there’s usually something fun going on for the little ones in your life.

TheRevMom says on May 18th, 2009 at 6:59 pm

1. Make menus for a month at a time according to what’s on sale the first week. Cook on the first weekend of the month and cook all the ingredients for the next month of menus. Package and freeze. Dinner is always eaten @ home and prepared in minutes.

2. All computers, electronics with “instant starts” and chargers are on appliance strength timers so they are only on when they are most used and always off when I’m at work. Reduces electric bill significantly.

zensue says on May 18th, 2009 at 7:05 pm

I do dog and housesitting for a couple who have a vacation condo in Tahoe. I get to use the condo in return for taking care of their place while they’re away. The weeks/weekends they’re not there are mine to enjoy. It always feels as though I’ve been on some fantastic vacation, and it only costs the price of gas…

daidai says on May 18th, 2009 at 7:12 pm

Well, let me be little funny:

live with credit card: spend whatever you like eat drink and be merry!!!
Live your life: do not forget to die before your bill comes up!

-
bloggerdai@gmail.com

Carol says on May 18th, 2009 at 7:17 pm

I have gone back to the days of an allowance. Every payday I give myself a certain amount of cash (fun money for lunching out, coffee, etc.). Once it is gone I have to wait until the next payday to spend any money outside my household budget. I have to pick and chose wisely how i will spend my allowanceand am finding I spend less lunching out with coworkers if I can only do it once a paycheck!

I volunteer at local events. Usually volunteers get in for free so I get to help my community and attend fun local events for free.

Peggy Dolane says on May 18th, 2009 at 7:25 pm

Staying away from stores and shopping with a list when you must is the biggest money saver. Most people have no idea how much money they spend on those “little” impulse buys that really add up over time.

Laura says on May 18th, 2009 at 7:30 pm

I live big in my furnishings – I take inspiration from high-end retail stores and build/upholster/fix up cheap furniture that looks just as amazing. It takes skill, I’ll admit, but I think moreso it takes a little research, planning, and dedication. Very few of my projects are things I’ve ever done before, and most of them turn out surprisingly well. For the ones that are terrible, I can laugh at, because they were cheap, and for the ones I like, I get compliment after compliment on the clever ideas and the great work.

Bob says on May 18th, 2009 at 8:05 pm

I lost my job and my ex kicked me out so I save money and live on a very tiny budget by sleeping in my car, showering at a library/community center for $12 for 25 visits and do my laundry at a laundromat. For food.., I buy my food at a Supermarket Discount store that offers the same types of foods as the big chains at about 1/3 the price. I use the internet at the library or a local coffee shop where I get free coffee refills all day aftyer just buying the first cup. Friends invite me to parties so that takes care of entertainment. For TV, I park outside the local coffee shop and I can use the internet even when the coffee shops closed so I watch Hulu and any other TV from around the world there, without having to pay for electricity. I use rechargeable batteries for my shaver and other electronic toys so I don’t have to keep buying batteries. I stay clean, I eat well enough but I still can’t find a job so I read and write – working on the next great American novel, lol.

Vie Lewis says on May 18th, 2009 at 8:21 pm

Having been just laid off, ( and seeing it coming) I have no credit cards, only a small car payment almost paid off. I rent movies no cable, I do have internet for most of my entertainment. I use the the internet to find the best deals, free stuff, ( lots still out there) use the library now,cook stews, etc and freeze for later . Combine my driving to save item and gas. Thing is I have always done these things so I don’t feel like I am giving up anything.

TJ says on May 18th, 2009 at 8:35 pm

Combining coupons with sales works best for me. It takes time, and planning and a lot of waiting, but for example, this weekend I had to replace pretty much all my bras. No small expense, and it had been too long, really.

Combining a buy 1, get one 1/2 off sale with a coupon my boyfriend found on the internet, I bought $275 worth of undergarments for $145.

The expense still stung, but it certainly wasn’t a luxury, and saving over $100 is nothing to sneeze at.

Sorry I talked about my underwear.

Joanne Daudier says on May 18th, 2009 at 9:04 pm

Save money from those expensive and unnecessary haircuts from expensive, high end salons! I’m telling you, I get my hair cut from a Vietnamese haircut place for $12 and no one can tell the difference. I know people that get haircuts for like around $80 and their hair don’t look any better than mine. What a total waste of money!

Ibrahim | ZenCollegeLife.com says on May 18th, 2009 at 9:24 pm

One thing that is fun and cheap is getting back to nature. A walk in the park, a bike ride, or even a camping trip. All of these are generally cheaper than the things we do in the city.

sandy177 says on May 18th, 2009 at 9:50 pm

cook all that we buy at once so that it doesn’t go bad.
freeze the food and have a freezer fun of ready to eat meal options for a week.

Colin Wright says on May 18th, 2009 at 10:51 pm

Gallery openings are a top-notch (and usually free) activity that combines free wine with (generally) intelligent and creative people. Oh, did I mention there’s art, too? These events are an excellent place to hobknob, meet new people, get some free refreshments and enjoy the aesthetic entertainment.

Sweet Em says on May 18th, 2009 at 11:32 pm

The National Park Service Adams National Historic Site in Quincy, MA is a full afternoon tour/trolley ride for $5.00. Very interesting! And better yet they validate so parking in the garage is free. Don’t miss the church where John Adams and J. Q. Adams are buried.

Luis says on May 18th, 2009 at 11:49 pm

For the summer, everyone knows how hot it can get. To keep cool anywhere i just wet my shirt with cold water. then I wring it out. if I’m going to go out I keep it wetter so that it can last longer. Its best to use a dark cotton shirt rather that a white one to prevent transparency. Not that many people notice for all it does is make your shirt look darker and no one really touches my shirt when I go out. A well wringed out shirt can last two hours. Wet shorts and socks also help for extreme cases.

Anelly says on May 19th, 2009 at 2:32 am

I just can’t manage. I try hard to live frugal but i can’t keep on the scheduler. But at least when i’m going to shopping i can control myself in buying things that i don’t need and i focus on the list made home. This is a great performance.

Arthur says on May 19th, 2009 at 4:19 am

Keep your car’s tank half full and never fill it full (of course, while driving within boundaries of the city). This will eventually reduce the average amount of gas your car consumes, because even 10 extra gallons has its affect on this average. This will save you a few extra bucks, while still living well.

Debbi says on May 19th, 2009 at 7:10 am

I belong to an online reward program called MyPoints. If I used all the features, I’m sure I could earn more points. As it is, all I really do is click on a few links every other day or so (the links come in e-mails). I’ve used my points to purchase gift cards to restaurants, which I’ve given as gifts, and to get cards at Lowe’s home improvement store for myself.

Another little thing I do is add more water to the coffeemaker after I’ve poured a cup or two of coffee in the morning. Those “used” grounds are still good to go!

cs says on May 19th, 2009 at 7:25 am

Sports and entertainment:

I used to go to expensive gyms, but being in doors as well as the costs bothered me. So now i take runs in the park or outdoors anywhere. For the cost of only a pair of runners every other year.

I really enjoy going out to bars and clubs to dance, socialize and meet people.
I took up salsa years ago. For the coast of 1 night out on the town i now have a weekly 1,5 hour of dancing with al sorts of sociable people. Better yet, as there’s a shortage of men, i get to do a lot of extra classes during the week (when i feel like it and my schedule permits). Best out of this deal is the great friends i’ve made tru salsa over the past years.

For holidays, i used to be the type that wanted to go far and long. If it wasn’t totally exotic i didn’t bother. Nowaydays i find a long bikeride even more rewarding then a planeflight. My next holiday is hopefully (still working on convincing my girlfriend) a two week biketrip and camping through the outdoors, starting right at my frontdoor. I feel i’m way more conscious of everymoment when i’m physically transporting myself(biking or hiking) , and thus enjoying it much more as well as saving a whole lot cash!

timgray says on May 19th, 2009 at 9:40 am

Living large on the cheap is easy. But many people wont do it because they fear the “stigma” or are afraid of doing it. I refuse to buy ANYTHING new unless it’s an incredible deal. Everything else is used.

Motorcycle? used. Cost me 1/3rd the price of new and you cant tell it’s used.

Car? Used. Same as above.

Tv? used.. I got a Panasonic 42″ plasma for $450.00 on craigslist. it looks new.

Used, Used, Used. My daughter can buy 5X the used clothes at plato’s closet, an upscale teen used clothing store. and The torn and worn out jeans there look exactly like the new $80.00 a pair ones at Abercrombie!

Peter says on May 19th, 2009 at 10:09 am

This advice applies to people who are vulnerable to impulse shopping: Neutralise your spare money!

Spare money is a terrible thing to have. It burns holes in your pockets, and sticks to all the shiny toys that cross your path. So … let’s say you get a raise at work … what to do with this spare money?

Sit down and write down a list of things you might like to do if you had more money: save for a rainy day, pay off a debt sooner, improve your wardrobe, travel, entertainments … whatever is on your mind. Then look at how much extra money you’re getting, and make some hard choices. Now the money is no longer spare!

Ginny says on May 19th, 2009 at 12:27 pm

We take advantage of free events. The library always has free programs for kids, teens & even adults. The park is free & we have a free beach by us. We bring our own food, so we save money that way. While going out, running errands, I keep a cooler in the car so the kids don’t beg to stop for expansive drinks & snacks.

Taking advantage of memberships like the zoo, museums, etc saves money. If you insist on movies, go to the matinee & don’t buy the concessions. There are a lot of fun things you can do for very cheap!

GenKreton says on May 19th, 2009 at 12:34 pm

Cycling everywhere and living without a car is the easiest way to live frugally. I spend maybe $30-40 a month on public transportation costs besides my bike and get everywhere. Besides not having a car payment, buying gas, and paying for maintenance and repairs, one also buys less stuff when they need to get it home under their own power. Grocery shopping with only your backpack? You bet you won’t buy what you don’t want to eat. Plus, there is no greener way to live.

Dorothea says on May 19th, 2009 at 2:44 pm

If you have a decent display and internet: skip the TV.
You will save by not needing a TV screen, separate DVD player, and by not paying a licensing fee. (the licensing varies by country though)
You will not only save money, but also time, by only watching the shows you care about.

Karen says on May 19th, 2009 at 3:28 pm

Use frequent-eater cards at the restaurants you go to often. Sign up for restaurant newsletters – they usually send free coupons for birthdays, anniversaries, and weekly specials. And the website, restaurant.com has certificates you can buy.

Suddentwist says on May 19th, 2009 at 4:38 pm

Cut out cable. The picture received from using a digital converter box is excellent.

sushil says on May 19th, 2009 at 6:00 pm

I HAVE RECENTLY STOPPED VIEWING TV, AND I FIND THAT IT’S NOT JUST SAVING ME A FEW BUCKS, IT HAS IMPROVED MY LIFE A LOT. TV VIEWING IS OFTEN THOUGHT TO BE A ‘RECREATIONAL’ ACTIVITY BUT IT SELDOM ‘RECREATES’ ANYTHING WORTHWHILE. IT JUST KILLS OUR PRECIOUS TIME, MARS FAMILY AND SOCIAL RELATIONS, INSTIL DISCONTENTMENT AND STRIFE AMONG THE YOUNGER GENERATION WITH IT’S LEWD UNREAL CONTENTS.

Esther says on May 19th, 2009 at 8:14 pm

First of all, I take public transportation exclusively (choose not to drive or own car). I get chic clothes, jewelry, etc. @ thrift & consignment shops; I search online for free shipping/coupon codes–and get money back by using discount shopping portals like ebates.com when I buy online. For haircuts, I go to a discount hair salon chain and get facials & massages at a local Elizabeth Grady aesthetics school.

Freecycle.org is an absolutely WONDERFUL resource that I use regularly–I’ve given away and received so many things through it!

All credit card charges are viewed as a loan for one month only–I never pay interest. I use the library for free museum passes, wifi access, cds, etc.
In short, I enjoy being more resourceful and living well on modest means.

Steph says on May 19th, 2009 at 8:22 pm

I have a self-sustaining hobby: I love to make jewelry, and I sell the finished product in order to afford materials to make more.

Esther says on May 19th, 2009 at 8:39 pm

These are some of the things I do to save money and live well on a budget:
see plays for free by volunteering to usher;
use freecycle.org- a wonderful resource to give away and receive free stuff;
use public transportation exclusively (choose not to own a car/drive);
use the library for museum passes, wifi access, cds, books, etc;
use beauty school for discount facials, massages, hair coloring by advanced students;
use online free shipping/coupon codes and discount shopping portals like ebates.com for online purchases;
buy vintage clothes, jewelry at thrift & consignment shops.
In short, I enjoy being resourceful/saving money and living very well on modest means.

Aliza G says on May 19th, 2009 at 10:45 pm

My daughter and I get our books from our library. Movies too. We have alist that we keep of the movies & books we want and reserve them online. In my house, that’s a HUGE savings!

Sas says on May 20th, 2009 at 12:25 am

Buy yourself a pair of hair clippers. Most of them come with a range of attachments and you can use them for hair cuts and trimming facial hair. This’ll save you heaps of money on hair cuts and cut down the costs on razor blades as they last longer if you trim your beard before shaving.

Rose says on May 20th, 2009 at 1:37 am

Open source (free) software, really very good these days; open office, filezilla, blender, peazip,scribus,inkscape, GIMP.

McDonalds large coffee with 6 creams is $1.85. Not many Starbucks lattes for me.

Morning theater movies are half price.

Buy used: dehydrator for 3 bucks (run 50$ new) Bought 08 caddy on Jan 2nd 09. Smells new.

Electronics: scour websites that feature sales/clearance/reburbished items. Slickdeals.net, deal hacks, bens bargains.
Got a 500 gig external hard drive for 37$.

Long distance relationships: google’s chat with web cam; better than phone.

Peanut butter and jelly sandwiches are yummy and travel well.

Reuse: Tipnut.com has great tips for making gift bows from plastic garbage bags, old athletic socks are reusable swiffer mop covers, accidentally dried wool sweaters (felted) make good “ugly” doll:, stuff with dryer lint. Fun stuff!

Clearance bins/shelves at Target, office depot, Micheal’s, DSW shoe’s back room.
On line coupons if you know you are going.

Oh yeah. Beans and rice, in bulk, from scratch. Healthy too.

Michelle Shepherd says on May 20th, 2009 at 9:09 am

The very best way to live within your means is to know what those means are. Create a budget, spending plan, what ever you choose to call it. Do this in conjunction with your family, agree on it as a contract, and use cash! Great FREE forms are available at http://www.daveramsey.com and his plan is pretty awesome, too. Focus on the big stuff before you start “saving lint and only shopping on triple coupon day”

Luigi says on May 20th, 2009 at 6:22 pm

When I get the urge to buy something I know I don’t need, I sit on the urge for a while. If it’s still there months later and I better understand the reasons, I’ll buy it. Otherwise, I easily do without.

This applies to my decluttering vision as well

wasie says on May 20th, 2009 at 7:35 pm

Constantly be engaged in the work you are passionate about.. This will in turn create energy in your life- allowing nothing to hold you back from excelling and prospering in your career. With the Internet be today, there is no reason why one shouldn’t constantly be informed an up to date with information that is relevant to their career. Last but not least, in life, one doesn’t get what they deserve, but what they negotiate. And to negotiate successfuly, one is responsible to obtain all information surrounding the situation before hand.

redcatbiker says on May 21st, 2009 at 5:04 am

I do not eat ANY processed food: the kind you can get from the “regular” supermarket, neither the kind that you can get from the “health food” store. Processed food is over-priced for the amount of nutrition that it gives you, if it supplies one’s body with adequate nutrion at all. Consequently, I cook all of the food I eat, and I eat nutrient-dense food (check out The Weston A. Price Foundation for more information about nutrient-dense food). Also, I eat only when I am hungry–thus, I have discovered that I do not need, or want, to eat three meals per day, which is a good thing, because studies have shown that people who live to be very old (90-plus) have eaten fewer calories, than others who don’t live as long, throughout their lives.

MajorDad1984 says on May 21st, 2009 at 6:36 pm

With today’s latest and greatest web-delivered video…I’m toying with the idea of cutting my cable television service to the bone…and watching “re-runs” of first run shows via network websites or other delivery means like hulu.com.

Why pay for stuff you’re not watching?

Dale says on May 21st, 2009 at 8:57 pm

After some research, I have found an all organic discount grocery store. They buy from other stores in the area just before expiration and sell at a reduced rate. I grocery shop more often now to eat as fresh as possible. Its a trade off but i can eat healthy on a dime.

Shahar Shlomi says on May 21st, 2009 at 11:47 pm

1. Avoid animal products. Vegan meal are much better for your planet, pals, and pocketbook.
2. Buy used. Find it on eBay – or Craigslist. Consistently bid aggressively, and eventually you’ll find that bargain.

Pankaj says on May 22nd, 2009 at 12:40 am

Pretty good motivation to comment,

1. I do some savings by turning off the gadgets when not required – like mobile and laptop chargers, lamps, etc.

2. Reducing un-necessary phone calls – this is one of my best tips – use tv instead of gossiping on outgoing calls, you save quite a deal.

3. Speak less – listen more : This is helpful in my work and a way in saving money too.

enm says on May 22nd, 2009 at 10:51 pm

I make sure to eat a full meal before leaving the house. i get less tempted to eat out because i won’t get hungry. but i still keep some cheap snacks in the car for emergency hungeriness like some tastey bagels. healthier and cheaper than eating outside the house.

Jean says on May 22nd, 2009 at 11:48 pm

I have a chest freezer and a vacuum sealer… I often buy a large quantity of raw food for a the cheaper bulk price, prepare it all ahead of time (such as turning a crate of basil into pesto, or cooking a jumbo size package of meat), then seal and freeze the food in meal sized portions. This enables me to feed my family of 4 without resorting to expensive restaurant food or “boughten” frozen meals, yet is convenient for days when I’m too busy to cook.

We also have made fixing things our hobby… for instance, I fixed our videocamera and digital camera by swapping out parts from other broken cameras of the same model.

Jean says on May 23rd, 2009 at 12:08 am

Ditto on the commenter who mentioned crockpot cooking. If you don’t have a crockpot, make yourself a solar cooker out of cardboard boxes, tin foil, some white glue, and black paint. Saves yourself the cost of buying the crockpot AND the electricity! Just do a search “solar cookers” for instructions and recipes.

Terri says on May 23rd, 2009 at 1:26 am

To wear the best clothes at the best prices, go to nicer stores and shop the clearance racks. I’ve bought designer clothes for under $10 and recently purchased a pair of leather designer shoes for $17.

Dave says on May 24th, 2009 at 3:40 pm

Ride a bike instead of driving!

Susan says on May 24th, 2009 at 6:22 pm

We buy coffee on sale at 2.99 a tin instead of going to the coffee shop. When we do go out for coffee I ask for 6 creams on the side as well (and that covers the cream needed for coffee for the rest of the week!).

I also carpool with 2 other people so it cuts my driving down to 1/3 and saves a TONNE in gas!

Yvonne Finn says on May 25th, 2009 at 11:01 am

Hello All!
My most prized financial asset is my good credit, so I guard it fanatically.
Two tips:
Avoid raising CC limits, it just provides the temptation to say “charge it!”
Also, know your interest rate and fees.
Always make sure you know what the rate and annual fees are BEFORE you accept those credit cards.
Yvonne

Erin says on May 25th, 2009 at 11:05 am

I love my coupons, great thrills to go on smartcanucks.ca, get ideas of where the deals are, and pick up something for free or close to it. Put it this way I will never have to buy another pledge produce, heres hoping they don’t expire, haha.

gayle bellemare says on May 25th, 2009 at 11:12 am

Shop sales, use coupons, price match to condense shopping to only one or two stores. Plan menu around seasonal and or sale items. Buy reduced bakery and meat and freeze right away for future use. Stock up on all basics during sales to avoid ever having to pay full price.

Lisa says on May 25th, 2009 at 11:16 am

I use the public library for more than just books – ours has new movies, cds and even video games. All for free!

Antoinette says on May 25th, 2009 at 11:22 am

I sold my home and moved full-time into my vacation home. It’s great living at the beach; there is free entertainment every weekend during the summer.

Ann says on May 25th, 2009 at 11:26 am

Get out and enjoy the weather whatever it may be. Get a group of friends together for a softball game or soccer. Tobogganing; your never to old to have fun in the snow!

Maureen says on May 25th, 2009 at 12:17 pm

So many things…..go for a walk outdoors rather than a gym membership. Home cooked meals that are tasty, healthy and much more economical plus a fun activity rather than fast food or dining out. Get back to the basics!

Michelle Bradley says on May 25th, 2009 at 12:19 pm

We save up our shopping list for 10% day at our grocery store and use all our coupons on that day for items on sale. We saved $195 last month and the groceries lasted 3 weeks with one minor trip back for fresh veggies.

Kim says on May 25th, 2009 at 1:28 pm

I have 2 tips that I find helpful for us(they are kind related to the same thing) and that is our Large Chain tea latte & Iced Tea Lemonade drink addiction. These are the things we came up with to save us on spending so much money on these items:

1. We bought a coffee machine that has Chai Tea Lattes by using individual packets(I’m not sure if I can use name brands)

2. I have come up with my own recipe to make my own Iced Tea Lemonade that tastes very similar to the store bought one.

We do still do treat ourselves with the real thing sometimes.

Pamela Brint says on May 25th, 2009 at 2:17 pm

use coupons and watch for sale items. You can get items dirt cheap. Stock up, when the prices are low. It is nice to run out of shampoo and just grab it from a stockpile.

Kay says on May 25th, 2009 at 2:22 pm

love the library & as a member of a bookclub, if you give the names of the books ahead of time, they will provide any number of the same book which is great for all members of the BC.

Lorrie says on May 25th, 2009 at 2:25 pm

Going to the library to borrow DVD’s on yoga to view before I make the purchase so I know I’ll use it. Borrow a belly dancing DVD or magazines and books on garden design or home renovations. They even have current DVD’s you can borrow and I’ll request to borrow a particular title if it’s out and will receive a phonecall when it’s returned or if their are other’s before me I’m put on a list and will be called when it’s my turn to borrow. At $5 a rental once you’ve paid taxes and usually 2 rentals a weekend when you do rent just the DVD’s are a $10 saving never mind the books, magazine subscriptions that I don’t have to purchase, all the popular self help books you’ll probably never read again, currently released novels, etc. My library at least twice a year sells books, magazines, DVD’s, videos, etc to make room for their new purchases at a steal, anywear from 50 cents to a couple of dollars. Our local library’s website even has car repair information! Check out your local library and the website and save yourself some money!

Charlene Vidal says on May 25th, 2009 at 2:40 pm

I read my city newpaper online and it is free. You don’t get the entire paper, but you get the important stuff, like obituarties, jobs, current news, etc. Less paper to recycle and I save a few bucks a year not paying for a subcription.

herblady says on May 25th, 2009 at 2:58 pm

Since I am disabled, I spend all of my free time on the computer looking for freebies and entering sweepstakes. I have won thousands of prizes over the years and never have to buy presents for anyone. The things we can’t use or gift, we sell on ebay for extra cash. When we dine out, it’s usually from giftcards either won or earned using points programs. You can put as much or as little into doing this as your time permits but it’s great fun and very rewarding.

Anetca says on May 25th, 2009 at 3:07 pm

I love to stock up on books at garage sales. My mom is in a nursing home so I take the excess books there and borrow a few if I am short – they have a bookshelf for residents

Lori says on May 25th, 2009 at 3:27 pm

I enter contests / sweepstakes to win prizes, & clip & use coupons. Watch movies when they come out on DVD or TV instead of going out to movie theater

Barbara says on May 25th, 2009 at 3:50 pm

I belong to a group called Freecycle, where you can give away stuff you no longer need, for free, and also receive other’s items free of charge.

Yvonne Kocins says on May 25th, 2009 at 4:16 pm

My husband loves to fish year round, thats cuts down alot on our meat budget.
I love a great bargin at those garage sales.
I shop at high end thirft shops.
I use coupons at the grocery store.
I love entering contests.

Cynthia says on May 25th, 2009 at 4:45 pm

I rent movies (for free) at the local library. I also love to check out second hand stores whenever I get the chance, sometimes you come across some great items!

Nancy says on May 25th, 2009 at 4:56 pm

I am always running short on funds so I have become very used to making changes in my spending and actually enjoy these changes more than my other pricier options.

I bring my lunch to work every day. I always know what I like and never have any disappointing meals -and I never feel sick from eating the wrong thing, unlike my coworkers who cannot move after their heavy expensive lunches.

I bring a thermos with coffee every day for my 3:00 caffeine fix. I brew starbucks at home, or better yet, trader joes Sumatra, only $5 a pound!

I ride my bike to work every day, except on cases of snow of rain, I can walk in 1/2 hour.

I’ve just recently found a local produce market and have been substituting veggies for chicken and fruit for cookies!

Ladyb says on May 25th, 2009 at 5:52 pm

I collect iCoke soda lids whenever I see them. I have gotten free movie passes with my points. Free movies are good!

bcteagirl says on May 25th, 2009 at 6:07 pm

I think one of the main reasons people don’t make more at home is that they run out of time to cook an entire new meal everynight! Or they get so sick of leftovers. I make three days worth of meat one day, the next day veg, the next day something carb.. That way I am only making one thing a week, we have leftovers, and the menu is constantly changing!

Gertrude Parke says on May 25th, 2009 at 6:13 pm

I buy myself “new” clothes at places like our local hospital axillary thrift store. Just today, I bought myself jeans, several dresses and shorts all for $15! The jeans and 2 dresses still had the original labels and the others look as if they may have been worn only once! My friends and family love seeing my great deals. I also donate to thrift shops so others can enjoy good finds as well.

Lisette says on May 25th, 2009 at 6:14 pm

Thank god some one wrote a good book about saving. I shop at thrift stores for cloths ,books,purses,and recently bought handles for the bathroom cubourds at a tiny fraction of the cost,and they are brand new!

cathy says on May 25th, 2009 at 6:27 pm

I use rewards cards and collect airmiles and get certificates to movies and gas at Shell. I also get points at Shoppers Drug Mart and combine the points for prescriptions and get free nmerchandise. I also buy items on sale.

Jen L. says on May 25th, 2009 at 6:29 pm

I read the flyers and collect coupons. When something I use is on sale, I use coupons if I have them, and stock up. After shopping this for way for awhile, I’ve really noticed how much less I spend on groceries. It takes some effort but it’s worth it to me.

Chris Clark says on May 25th, 2009 at 6:59 pm

This year I am growing a victory garden and canning seasonal items. Just yesterday I picked cherries from my co workers organically grown trees and canned cherries for later.

I attend auctions where I often purchase box lots for less than $5. I sell or give away items in the box lots not needed by my family.

I actively enter sweepstakes, instant win, and contest. The biggest win happened last year won a trip to Florida.

I plan menu around grocery fliers. Last week
my family of 5 ate for 2 days on less than twenty dollars.

Trish says on May 25th, 2009 at 7:32 pm

Learn to sew as a hobby. It’s great fun to create something from very little and if you like a patch-work look, you can reuse fabric from clothes bought at thrift shops and yard sales.

I not only sew clothes, but pillows, journal covers… all sorts of things.

Christina says on May 25th, 2009 at 8:16 pm

I definitely compare prices everywhere (TV ads, Sunday newspaper, coupons), go to rummage sales especially in the spring, summer and fall, but do allow myself some dinners out with the family (to makes us feel special and keep up moreale! Good for teaching social interaction, too!).

Julia says on May 25th, 2009 at 9:11 pm

One way we live frugally but well is by not having cable or satellite TV. That helps limit our television time, which limits our exposure to advertising! Also, I have a small artisan business on the side, and even though I have a tax ID and therefore can buy supplies for wholesale, I get with other local artisans and combine orders for supplies, which saves on delivery costs and ensures we meet minimum order requirements.

Katharine says on May 25th, 2009 at 10:22 pm

I always check the clearance section or sale section (in retail stores) automatically when entering. Window shopping and then waiting for items to go on sale saves lots of money.

Janet says on May 25th, 2009 at 10:58 pm

I plan my weekly menu from store & whats on sale and the best price. then i pull out my coupons & try to match up with the best sale price preferably.
Then I colle3ct store refund forms.I can’t forget about a penny saved is a penny earned

Wendy Evert says on May 25th, 2009 at 11:08 pm

Keep an eye on libraries and your city for free cultural events. I raised my children to enjoy the finest for free. They both also got free violin lessons in school. My son know plays guitar from that/

kathy says on May 26th, 2009 at 5:34 am

Visit local flea markets and farmers markets! You meet interesting people, can buy some cheap stuff for a thrill and get good (locally grown) ingredients for a nice meal! Plus, you’ll get to spend some time outdoors.

SANDY says on May 26th, 2009 at 10:49 am

I buy all groceries on sale I never buy anything unlewss on sale, And I use coupons and search for free items online.It saves

SANDY says on May 26th, 2009 at 10:50 am

Use coupons on everything it saves.Search for freebeies it saves.

wonderyears88 says on May 26th, 2009 at 11:29 am

Mainly though, we try not to spend money on the big-ticket items. We wait until they come way down in price. For instance, I waited for a couple years for laptops to come down. After a year of searching, I found a nice compaq for $400. It’s been great and well worth the investment.

Lucy Cromas says on May 26th, 2009 at 11:33 am

I take my son to the library twice a week. It’s free and he loves tho read!

Cheri Oggy says on May 26th, 2009 at 4:33 pm

I belong to survey sites on the ‘net. I accumulate points and cash them in for various gift cards to be used for dining out, Amazon.com and lots of other things. The best part is that I have not spent a cent for these freebies.

Consumer Unit 5012 says on May 26th, 2009 at 6:29 pm

I own the condo apartment I live in. It costs less than half as much as renting.

Pay off extra of your mortgage every month. Owning less money is one of the best investments you can make.

Teresa Young says on May 26th, 2009 at 7:21 pm

I constantly remind my grandkids that my favorite word is FREE!
We got my grandson’s first bike out of someone’s ‘trash’ – all we had to do was add training wheels.
He wasn’t too thrilled that it was pink, though.

Audrey Lawrence says on May 27th, 2009 at 7:38 am

Very glad your book is re-inforcing what many frugal savers have been doing for ages! Cut where you can, so you can indulge where your needs or wants require.

In addition to all the great tips others have written here, it is really keeping your eyes open for opportunities. Do internet contesting (it’s free) and use the prizes as gifts or to trade on ebay, write book reviews for websites you like and get free books. Read newspapers (free at the library or coffee shops) for special free events going on where you live (especially those with free food) and enjoy doing this with friends. I’m in a bookclub where we have a great time chatting about the books, but we seek to read slightly older books so members can access them from the library or a used book store, saves on buying new books for everyone and we have discovered a lot of interesting gems that we didn’t have time to read when they first came out. Happy savings!

Bryan says on May 27th, 2009 at 11:35 am

Drink lots and lots of WATER! Not only is it healthy for you, and you are probably chronically dehydrated anyway, but you’ll be amazed how much less you eat and how much money you save.

Rita Sheppard says on May 27th, 2009 at 2:48 pm

I enter sweepstakes to get those little (and sometimes big) things to make my life sweeter. I’ve won many gift cards that I use to purchase groceries and to eat out in restaurants, movie tickets for evenings out, and tickets to some local festivals that we wouldn’t otherwise be able to attend. It’s wonderful to get free groceries and outings that someone else has paid for!

Patv says on May 27th, 2009 at 3:17 pm

I make my own wine at home, at a couple a bucks a bottle its an affordable luxury and the quality is comparable to store bought .
I also clip coupons, wait for goods to go on sale , you would be suprised at what wou can get for nothing or next to it .

Paula Ritchie says on May 27th, 2009 at 7:51 pm

I keep 2 for 1 coupon books in the car so if we are out and want to eat or do something we always have 2 for 1 coupons handy

Peter MD says on May 28th, 2009 at 7:52 am

BOOKS: A major culprit. Rent at the library. Return after read if possible. Buy used or reduced price. Sell after read if you don’t love’em. Borrow from friends. Always charge for lending books. Use the internet.

DON’T WORK OUT. It costs money. It’s a waste of time that could otherwise be used to make money. It hurts. And it burns energy, so you need more food to replace it. Do some manual labor or chores if you really need it, otherwise, just let it go.

DON’T BE FAT. Don’t kid yourself – if you’re fat, you eat too much. You’re not big boned, you don’t have a problem with metabolism, you’re big assed, okay? Just stop eating, and you’ll same money on food, and also look better.

MOOCH. If you have friends or family, always mooch on them. Be sure to complain plenty about your situation whenever possible to make sure you don’t lose sympathy. Dump your less generous friends/family. Be sure to suck up to softhearted suckers.

EAT ROADKILL/TRAP YOUR OWN. Even in the cities, there are pigeons and rats that taste delicious. Don’t fall for the hype, it’s first class meat. Just cook it thoroughly, and it’s fit to be served at a first class restaurant. Remember Elvis when he was living off squirrels? The world’s most handsome man. After cheeseburgers? Died on the toilet seat of constipation. Nuff said.

GO THROUGH BINS: Another stigmatized way to a better life. You wouldn’t believe what people throw away – all the food you can eat, furniture, clothes… Everything you need really, you just have to go out there and get it. If you’re queasy, wash your hands afterwards, or wear gloves.

Eric Van Aerde says on May 29th, 2009 at 2:20 am

If I need a quick shoe-shine, I use Armor-All Leather wipes on my shoes. Not military-grade shine, but enough to make a good impression if your shoes were dirtied up before you got where you needed to be.

S Weston says on July 5th, 2009 at 4:31 am

Everytime I received a £2 coins, I saved them in a jar. So far it has helped me pay my holiday in Edinburgh to watch the Military Tattoo in August.