Finding the Frugal in your living....

Things You Could Pay Less For:

Misc:

1. If it's non-perishable, on sale, and you will use it, stock up!
2. It's probably cheaper at the dollar store.
3. Buy used. A used CD sounds as good as a new one.
4. Yard sales can yield great deals, especially the ones in wealthy areas.
5. Layaway still isn't a bad idea if you can't pay for it all now.
6. Postage. Use Media Mail instead of Priority Mail for printed material and CD's when the package weighs more than a pound and it doesn't have to be delivered quickly. Using ZIP+4 can speed up Media Mail for no extra charge. If the package weighs less than a pound, first class mail is normally very close to the cost of media mail, so just use first class mail.
7. Postage. Pay bills online and save a stamp. You'll also have documentation that it was paid on time.
8. Paper towels. Use dishtowels. They're reusable.
9. Dishtowels. Use shop towels.
10. Shop towels. Use old clothes rags.
11. Dry-cleaning. Try Dryel.
12. Reuse freezer bags if they're not yucky.
13. Services. Trade services with a neighbor
14. If the library doesn't have your favorite magazine, and you itemize on your taxes, donate a subscription to them and take a tax deduction.
15. Internet. Try
    • NetZero and Juno are still free for 10hrs per month each
    • All2EZ.net, for $4.95/month.
16. Library. If your library doesn’t have what you need, ask to see if it can be ordered from a different library.
17. High schools can be a source of free labor for all sorts of things if they have any trade classes like welding, construction, agriculture, cosmetology, woodworking, etc. Check it out.
18. Make your own cleaning solutions. This often works better, as some companies have skimped on the "active" ingredients in cleaners.
    • Window cleaner: 1 part nonsudsy ammonia, 1 part rubbnig alcohol and 4 parts water. Or substitute white vinegar for nonsudsy ammonia.
    • All-purpose cleaner: add anywhere from 1 tablespoon to 1/4 cup liquid laundry detergent (depending on how strong you want the cleaner to be) to 2 cups water. Add 1/2 cup rubbing alcohol to make this evaporate faster.

Auto:

1. Fixing your car is cheaper than financing a new one. Don't kid yourself.
2. Buy a good used car. What you save will easily cover repairs.
3. Always have a used car inspected by a certified mechanic before you buy it.
4. Buy cars that are in the last 2-3 years of production. Generally, the bugs in the model are worked out and the buyers are tired of them.
5. Avoid popular models - you will pay more.
6. Car rentals are $20-30 per day and can be cheaper than keeping an extra car.
7. Car rentals can be more economical on long trips over a short period of time. i.e., it can be cheaper to rent a car to drive 1000 miles over a long weekend than to use your own vehicle.
8. Leasing - it is usually not a good deal.
9. Public transportation can be cheaper, but not always.
10. Walking and biking are cheaper than driving on short distances, and you'll get some exercise.
11. Buy the lowest grade gasoline for your car, unless the car’s owner’s manual specifically says that you must use higher octane gasoline.
12. If you have an old junker, your local high school transportation department can use it to learn on and may fix it up for you for free.
13. Buy the tools (including a service manual) and learn to do your own preventive maintenance on your car. Make sure you do all the things that the manufacturer recommends and learn to spot leaks, weak belts, etc while you are down there.
14. Keep your car properly maintained and regularly check tires for proper inflation to save gas.
15. Anticipate stops and avoid jackrabbit starts to save gas.

Beauty and Clothes:

1. As men's fashions rarely change, buy in bulk when you find a bargain.
2. Try thrift stores, it's kinda fun. They are a great source for designer women's clothing ... and men's shoes. Some of the women's clothing has not been worn.
3. Yard sales are a great source of kids' clothes.
4. Learn how to mend.
5. Look for REAL outlet stores - that is where the real bargains reside!
6. Running shoes. Last year's style could save you 50%.
7. Check out cosmetology schools for cheaper haircuts. For men and boys, buy a good pair of clippers (~ $25) and cut their hair yourself.

Debt:

1. If you have credit card debt and good credit, ask your credit card company to lower your interest rate.
2. Consider using low interest or 0% balance transfer offers to credit cards with low balances. Be aware of when the offer ends and be prepared for the change in interest rate, either by having it mostly paid off or having another card to transfer it to. Note that each new card you open can lower your credit score, so balance your need for a new card with that.
3. If you have consumer debt, make the minimum payments on everything but the highest rate debt. Pay all you can on that until you get it paid off and then go to the next.

Education:

1. HS sophomores and juniors can generally take summer classes at universities, sometimes for free. It gives you a head start when you get to the university.
2. In some states, your high school senior can attend the local public university at the local school district's expense. The local school district may not advertise this.
3. Take your kids' senior portraits yourself if you have a decent camera and know how to use it. Ask a friend or family member who is into photography to do it if you can't.
4. Help your kid make his own graduation announcements.
5. Scholarships - often there for the asking.
6. You are paying the professor's salary. Make sure that you have access to him or her.
7. Check to see if your employer will pay some of the cost for you to take college classes related to your work.
8. Check around for public schools that offer online-only programs. You won't pay the extra fees like parking and student activities that you would if you attended classes on campus, plus you won't have to buy gas to drive back and forth. Some schools even charge in-state tuition rates to all students, so don't limit your search to schools in your state. Be wary of private, for-profit schools, though -- you'll pay a lot more, and many of them aren't accredited.

Entertainment:

1. Cultural events at colleges and universities are cheap.
2. Use the city parks - you are paying for them.
3. HS and small college sports are GREAT deals
4. Go to the matinee instead of the night movies.
5. Wait to see movies until they are out on DVD.
6. Check out the minor league games.
7. Most major university sporting events are FREE or very cheap (except for college football and basketball).
8. If you go to a movie rental place that guarantees the movie is in stock, check ALL the movies to see if any aren't in. If it's not, you can get a rain check for it. You may not be willing to spend money to rent it, but what if it's free?
9. See if there's a dollar theatre in your area.

Kids:

1. Breastfeed if possible
2. Use cloth diapers. They've come a long way--no folding or pins required! The more kids you're planning to have, the more money you can save.
3. You don't need commercial wipes. Use washcloths or cloth wipes with warm water--throw in wash with your cloth diapers.
4. Make your own baby food. Your baby will get more variety and you're more likely to find things he likes. He might be more likely to try it if he sees you grind the same thing you're eating.
5. You don't need a changing table, a swing, fancy stroller, or a themed nursery.
6. Instead of paying fees for them to participate in city league sports, form your own weekend games with other parents and kids.

Food and Groceries:

1. Generic won't kill you. Many grocery stores guarantee their brands; if you aren't satisfied, they'll exchange it for the name brand for free.
2. Cook from scratch.
3. Eliminate convenience food. You can make gallons of soup for the cost of a couple of cans.
4. Shop the megastores and the local stores for the best deals. Selections and prices vary from place to place and time to time. Compare prices to see if the coupons and other gimmicks really are the best deals for things you need.
5. Freeze and can fresh vegetables when they are in season.
6. Gardening is cheaper - and good exercise. If you have extra fruits, vegetables, and nuts, you can sell them or give them away to friends and neighbors.
7. Shop farmers' markets at the end of the day when they are ready to go home.
8. Use reusable water bottles filled with tap water instead of buying water.
9. Premium beer. Is it that much better?
10. Cat litter. The cat won't care. Check out the feed store for bulk prices.
11. Dinner. If you're desperate to go out, eat dinner at home, then go out and do some window shopping or have dessert.
12. Does your favorite pizza parlor have a special deal say on maybe a Monday or Tuesday?
13. Don’t ever pay the menu price for a pizza; there are tons of coupons out there and many places will even honor their competitors coupons.
14. Instead of eating dinner out, order takeout from the lunch menu of your favorite restaurant. The portion sizes are usually slightly smaller, but less expensive. By ordering takeout, you can also save on drinks and the tip.
15. Lunch: Brown bag it.
16. Buy meat in bulk and freeze it in smaller packages.
17. Less tender cuts of meat are cheaper, can be cooked longer and have more flavor.
18. Buy soda at the store, not from the machine at work.
19. Always look at price per ounce/pound when comparing items.
20. Real dishes keep you from having to buy paper plates.
21. Make a shopping list prior to going into the grocery store. Don't impulse buy! Don't shop for food while hungry.
22. Look at the grocery store ads in the Sunday paper or online. If the stores are not too far from you, shop at more than one taking full advantage of the sales at each store.
23. Angel Food Ministries sells pre-determined boxes of food at low prices. Though the group is a religious charity, you don't have to be a member of any church to participate, and they don't try to convert you. You pay what it costs them for the food, so there is no income requirement. Food must be paid for in advance and picked up on a specific date.

Home Décor, Landscaping, Furnishings and Appliances:

1. Make your own curtains.
2. Shop for second-hand home furnishings. A year-old couch costs 20% of a new one.
3. If you need a new appliance, check for scratch and dent stores. A few scratches can mean half-price.
4. Check your high school art department for leftover thingamabobs that kids made and forgot to pick up. It won't always look the best but it always adds "character" to an outside area.
5. Check if your high school has an agriculture dept. By developing a relationship with the ag teacher, sometimes you can get a "trade agreement" whereby you provide some plant clippings the students need and you can get plants/clippings of something you need.

Housing:

1. Buy the size of house you need, not the largest house that you can afford.
2. Learn how to fix your home.

Insurance:

1. Insurance and taxes are cheaper on older cars. Don't forget to drop collision and comprehensive once the car is worth too little to justify keeping these coverages.
2. Raise your insurance deductibles.
3. If you live with someone, ask the insurance company to give you the married discount.
4. Check to see if you can save money by buying your auto and homeowner's or renter's insurance from the same company.
5. Compare your auto insurance and homeowner’s insurance rates with a few other companies at least once a year.
6. If you drive less than 12,000 miles a year, see if you can get a special rate on your insurance.
7. Don't invest in insurance. Cash back policies like whole life and variable life are only advantageous for people with very high incomes, and if you are reading this list, chances are you aren't one of those people. Agents like to recommend them due to the high commissions they generate.

Medical:

1. Buy the store brand - often made by the same mfg.
2. Exercise causes long-term savings.
3. Question whether procedures are necessary. Have the doctor provide you with all results.
4. Talk with your doctor regarding your medications. Sometimes, it is cheaper to buy 50 mg tablets and split them into half than to buy 25 mg tablets.
5. Check the expiration dates of any over-the-counter medication you buy and choose the package with the latest expiration date.
6. If you are taking regular medication, and you don't have insurance, consider signing up for a discount card such as the one at http://www.rxdrugcard.com/ if you will save enough on your prescriptions to cover the fee.

Taxes:

1. Max your available retirement plans.
2. Take advantage of Flexible Spending Accounts and other opportunities to reduce taxes.
3. Adjust your tax withholding if you're getting large tax refunds and use the increased take home pay for savings and investing during the current year, rather than next.

Travel:

1. Join airline Frequent Flier Clubs for any airline that you use. However, always choose a lower fare over FF miles. Keep an eye out for other discounts that come along with frequent flier plans.
2. Always BYO drinks and food on the flights. You will save money over the airport food and know that you will have real food on the flight.
3. Avoid flying on Sunday nights, Monday mornings, and Thursday and Friday nights because those are popular travel days and those flights fill up first. You're more likely to find better deals on Saturdays, Tuesdays, and Wednesdays.
4. Don't take the rental car insurance if you are sure that your own auto insurance covers you.
5. Try Priceline.com for cheap hotel rooms if your plans will not change.
6. For Las Vegas and Reno, individual hotel websites usually have cheaper rooms.
7. For flights, check alternative dates, airports, and look at all of the travel websites
8. If travelling by car, pack drinks and meals in a cooler. Eat them in a park or rest areas if the weather is nice.
9. Sign up for the preferred guest list at the hotel chains & always make sure you have them give you credit, even when someone else is paying the bill (like your company) on business trips. Those points add up.
10. Use offsite airport parking. The rates are cheaper & the shuttle may pick up & drop off at the airport. Look into a lot's frequent customer and advance reservation incentives.
11. Schedule your rental car as soon as you know your travel plans. Check back again before you travel, in case rates have gone down. You can cancel most car rental reservations with no penalty at any time, so there's no cost to switch to another company with lower rates.

Utilities:

1. Wash full loads of dishes and clothes
2. Get a programmable thermostat. See also utility rebate item below.
3. Change the filter on your furnace regularly.
4. Turn down the heat and wear a sweater.
5. Get a clothes rack or clothesline to dry things like sweats.
6. Insulation is cheaper than heating an uninsulated house.
7. Use shades to keep room cool in summer, warmer in winter.
8. When the time comes to get a new washer, get a front loader - it saves water and energy. Front-loaders cause less wear on clothing, meaning your clothes will last longer. See also utility rebate item below.
9. The microwave uses less energy than the oven.
10. Cancel your long-distance service. Then ask your phone company to block toll calls from your line so you don't get hit with "Casual Customer" rates. Use a prepaid calling card instead. Program the access numbers into your phone's memory. Onesuite.com offers long-distance for 2.9 cents per minute with no monthly fee. If you really don’t want to use a calling card, abtolls.com will tell you some of the lower priced telephone companies for your calling habits.
11. Check with you local gas, electric, and water utilities before buying major appliances. They often offer rebates for buying efficient models. This also applies to replacement windows and additional insulation.