I started reading about frugal living about 9 years ago. My main reason was to save us money for my husband and I who were living on our own for the first time. Now we just bought our first house (2 months ago) so I'm trying to learn even more about frugal living. Here are some things that I do to save money.
There are so many ways to save, you just have to start looking and see what is good for you. There are things I plan to do to save in the future like putting up a clothes line in our yard and planting my first food garden (I hope, I am not a green thumb here). I will learn new ways to help us save more money now that we have our own place. During the years, these ideas have saved us money and I hope this helps someone else!
Tonya from Illinois
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Do you really get paid and get free stuff from surveys? I know some people say they never got anything and I didn't know they paid you cash. Good luck on your frugal life.
Hello, so nice you are using such great ideas. I have another for you:
Instead of fabric softener or sheets, use plain old foil from your kitchen ! :_) Just place a square in the dryer. When the foil gets really balled up, toss it and start again. No static cling!
Use a 1/2 cup of vinegar in rinse cycle too.
Also, hang clothes when you can. I only dry small things and hang the rest outside or on the backs of chairs.
Keep Up the good work!
Great ideas! Thanks for sharing!!
Those are some really great ideas! I have tried some of them but I'll have to try the others.
I'm not sure if I would want to put foil in with some clothes. Couldn't it snag some delicate fabrics?
Thanks for all the great tips.....Michelle
Ok, here's how ya live frugal. I shop garage sales and always hit the thrift stores I know where all are virtually across Ohio. We day trip a lot, ok now don't laugh. I also curb shop called nighttime garage saling by my daughter. I have an old 1800s farmhouse and have so many antiques I found on the lawn. Some I have to do a little work. Some I paint and distress but I have furnished all my rooms this way and, believe you me, I have friends who live in nice new homes and I have nicer stuff than them. I almost never go into the other stores but Walmart, I do love cheap and practical.
I make my garden lanterns from mason jars and votives and decorative glass beads from the dollar store. Way cheaper and nicer than ones in store.
Just learn as ya go along. No wrong way and if it is cheap or free, ya don't mind spending a lil extra. Old chandeliers can be made to look like really nice wrought iron ones with primer and stain. Have fun and learn as ya go along
Hi There,
This is in response to the responder who asked if you really get paid for online surveys... I have never chosen to receive money, but I have chosen prizes, things I can use or barter. The last thing I got in the mail was a rubbermaid container (a 9"x13" rectangular one, perfect for taking a salad to a party) with an insulated carrying case. For free, I'll take it! I can't spend a whole lot of time online (I've got 6 year old twins and a toddler...not a lot of time available!) but when I do sit down, I make a list of the things I have to do...find freebies, take surveys, answer email, barter stuff...so that I am sure to use my time online wisely, and so I get all the things done that I'd like to accomplish. But, yes, there are reputable online survey companies. Don't get fooled into giving them any personal info. You probably have to give your address, name and email address when you register, but other than that...they don't need anything else...they do ask for demographic info, so they know what surveys to send you...and I don't have time to answer all the surveys I get. I'm the main shopper (grocery, household goods) in our home, I'm a 30 year old female with children and I'm a stay at home parent with a professional husband....with that demographic info...I've hit the survey gold mine. They don't have to know that I am disgusted by the conspicuous consumption of our society and that I'm not buying anything anyone's selling...but again... they don't know that and my survey answers pay just as much as anyone elses! Good stuff.
Crunchy Mama....you hit it right with the surveys! I also take classes online, so I combine all my survey/email/school duties in one or two times a day (usually nap/quiet time and after bed!) I fit the same demo, and I know the casserole kit you mean, I am saving up for the gas grill ;)
There is also another one that has a pasta press - the same brand/model I drooled over in a kitchen store I worked at! We try to cut down, but my DH loves it homemade (His great grandmother was from Italy!) I agree with your view on it, and I pick store brand or other 95 % of the time....I won't even get into my Wal-mart rant!!!
There are things out there that are hazardous to the environment to recycle, and they have to be properly disposed of in any area. Try researching before you say "everything".
Can anyone give specific reputable sites to do surveys from?
Thanks!
prizerebel.com is good
I think you could make a foil square into a round one. Just cut it into a circle and turn in the outside so it won't snag. Worth a try on studry things anyway. I'm going to try it on blue jeans and work clothes.
I like your frugal tips and put a lot of them to use myself. Another frugal tip I use is to air dry our clothes. I have a couple of over-the-door clothes hangers and I put an extra shower rod over my tub (I'm very short).
I put clothes on plastic hangers and hang them on these rods to save using the dryer. My husband balked at first, but realized his undershirts did not feel stiff after he put them on. I don't air dry dress shirts. It's too hard to iron out the wrinkles. But tee shirts, nightwear and underwear do just fine being air dried. Sometimes I dry things for 10 minutes and take them out immediately to save drying until fully dried.
Another thing is we use cloth napkins instead of paper and I have a container of inexpensive white washcloths we use instead of paper towels to wipe up in the kitchen.
I also hang a terrycloth dishtowel over the oven door handle for us to dry our hands on. I change it every day. There are only two of us, so this seems to work fine and I can't believe how much we save on paper towels and napkins over a year's time.
Google homemade laundry detergent. I bet you'll like it, it's way cheaper than anything you can buy. Especially is you use your leftover soap slivers instead of buying fels naptha soap. It doesn't foam at all, but don't let that fool you. It cleans really well.
I've been doing this for years and I love the stuff. You can use it in front loaders as well as top loaders. It's low suds but does a wonderful job. I also put vinegar into the rinse container. I don't use any softeners except Vinegar. I've saved so much money this way! I also use vinegar in the rinse section of my dishwasher. It really makes my dishes sparkle and it keeps the dishwasher clean. I've done this for at least 6 years with no problems. I hope this helps someone save a bit of money.
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