| Frugal living shares tips and ideas that will hopefully | | | | Farmers' Markets and Farm Shops are great places to |
| help you run a more efficient household, and minimize | | | | visit for your cheap fruit and vegetables. You know |
| on unnecessary waste. My mum always used to say, | | | | that you will be getting quality produce at a fraction |
| "Waste not, want not", and I think with the way the | | | | of the cost and because its fresh it will last longer in |
| economy is going at the moment, this is as true | | | | your fridge if it is stored correctly. Farmers' Markets |
| today as it was in the past. Frugality is about | | | | are also places to ferret around for those little arts |
| changing your lifestyle, because if you do not change | | | | and crafts, jams and preserves that make cheap but |
| how you live, you will not save anything. We really | | | | attractive gifts for later on. |
| need to tighten our belts and save where we can. It | | | | Frugal Living regarding Eating Out & Take Outs |
| really is not that difficult, but you need to know the | | | | This brings me to another related issue, eating out. |
| difference between living frugally and being a | | | | It's fun to eat out, and we all love doing it, but how |
| 'cheapskate', and a miser. That is not what I want to | | | | much money are you throwing away? Going out to |
| propose, because at the end of the day we need to | | | | clubs, bars, restaurants and take-aways on a regular |
| enjoy life too. What we can do, however, is to be | | | | basis all costs money. Frugal living does not have |
| careful with resources and learn how not to waste. | | | | space for excessive eating out. You should limit these |
| We are a consumer driven society and puppets of | | | | outings to once a month. By doing this, not only will |
| the advertising corporations telling us what we should | | | | you save, but you will actually appreciate times you |
| be buying next. In order to be frugal one has to look | | | | do go out more, rather than taking them for granted. |
| at what one wants and what one needs, and to | | | | FRUGAL TIPS FOR THE HOUSE: |
| know the difference. In the end it becomes fun and | | | | Frugal Living and Cleaning your Kitchen with Vinegar |
| challenging to see how clever you are at frugal living | | | | So, I'm back to vinegar again, and before you think I |
| and creative in being able to save money. So here | | | | have a total fixation, I do not, but really it is a great |
| are some frugal tips for you: | | | | little substitute as a cheap cleaning product and a |
| FRUGAL TIPS FOR THE GARDEN: | | | | must-have if you want to be frugal because it has so |
| Frugal Living and making your Own Compost | | | | many good uses. Half a cup of vinegar added to your |
| The most obvious saving for gardeners and | | | | soapy dishwater will cut through the greasy pots and |
| homesteaders alike, is of course your household | | | | dishes, saving you on the amount of soap you would |
| waste from your egg shells, vegetable scraps, | | | | have needed. 2 teaspoons of vinegar added to your |
| newspaper and the like. Here is an ideal opportunity | | | | dishwashing cycle, instead of Rinse Aid and the like, |
| to be frugal make your own garden compost using | | | | will do the job just as well. Looking to clean those |
| what you have used in a recycling process that goes | | | | mirrors and windows in your house? Mix one half |
| back to nourishing nature using nature. You can make | | | | teaspoon of liquid soap, 3 tablespoons of vinegar and |
| compost in just 4 months with very little fuss at all. | | | | 2 cups of water. Keep in a spray container and start |
| If you are interested in this area, I have written an | | | | cleaning those windows! And by the way, you do not |
| article on this subject that is also with EzineArticles. | | | | need expensive cleaning cloths for cleaning windows |
| Frugal Living and Growing your Own | | | | and mirrors. Scrunch up some newspaper and use |
| Another frugal tip is growing your own plants from | | | | that, it gives a far better result. Finally if you have a |
| seeds, which is a lot of fun, and very much cheaper | | | | clogged drain, take a quarter of a cup of baking soda |
| than buying instant plants and vegetables for your | | | | and pour it into your drain. Follow that up with a half |
| garden. Growing these, especially herbs and cress in a | | | | cup of vinegar. Let it fizz and then follow through |
| decorative container can be a lovely cheap gift for | | | | with boiling water. It should do the trick. |
| friends and family. Growing sprouts is a great past | | | | FRUGAL TIPS FOR GIFTS: |
| time for children and as they have grown them, they | | | | Frugal Living: Card and Gifts |
| will be more eager to eat them in their salads and | | | | We all know how expensive Xmas time is and those |
| sandwiches. And you do not always have to buy | | | | family birthdays can be a killer. Commercial cards are |
| seed from seed suppliers. The next time you have a | | | | exorbitant and at the end of the day will probably |
| great tasting tomatoes take one and dry it out and | | | | end up in the bin. Have you thought about making |
| save the seed. Save seeds from rock melons, | | | | your own? For a fraction of the price you can |
| papayas, green peppers etc. and plant them out | | | | download free software that allows you to create |
| when the season it right. As long as they are kept in | | | | your own card that can be personalized for the |
| an air-tight container after thoroughly being dried out, | | | | occasion. And will be far more meaningful. Secondly, if |
| they will be fine. | | | | you are good with your hands, create a card using |
| Growing your own therefore also refers to growing | | | | dried grasses and pressed flowers glued onto card. |
| your own vegetables. You can be totally | | | | Thirdly, if you like creating cross-stitch pictures, make |
| self-sufficient on an acre of ground. And if you live in | | | | a small sampler, paste it into a card border and write |
| an apartment, grow vegetables and herbs on your | | | | your message in your card. I have had several of |
| windowsill, or create a container garden. If you have | | | | these given to me, and have ended up framed and |
| a rooftop, create a container garden there. If you | | | | on display, rather than in the bin, where the |
| live in the UK owning an allotment of about 150 - 200 | | | | commercial card would have gone. |
| sqm is a way of life for many, and allotments are | | | | So if you have made the card, what about making a |
| cheap enough to secure from the council and the | | | | gift? You don't have to be artistic to do something |
| land will allow you to grow your vegetables, fruit and | | | | clever. Put a basket together of goodies and ring the |
| herbs on ground that you did not have before. By | | | | changes. You could create a basket of bubble soap, |
| growing your own, suddenly frugal living also | | | | candles, lotions and potions, or a themed basket for |
| becomes a healthier alternative lifestyle. You will eat | | | | an Italian or Mexican meal. If you are a good baker |
| better and get more exercise! | | | | and cook people appreciate homemade biscuits, jams |
| Frugal Living and Using Vinegar as a Herbicide, | | | | pickles, preserves and sweets because it tells people |
| Insecticide and Pesticide | | | | that you care. At Xmas time you can spend a little |
| What about a natural herbicide and pesticide, that | | | | more putting a couple of luxury food items in a |
| costs next to nothing? Do you have a rabbit | | | | basket, but still end up spending a lot less than you |
| problem, or too many slugs and snails eating your | | | | would have done. Cover the basket with cellophane |
| lettuce? Or are you being invaded by ants? Or | | | | and top it off with either raffia string or a bow. |
| perhaps you have grass growing in between those | | | | Those sorts of things you can find very cheaply at |
| pavers and your really don't want to use Roundup or | | | | those $2 shops. A final gift idea is to buy some |
| something similar. Well have you thought about using | | | | graphic paper and using your favourite family photos |
| vinegar? Using vinegar is a great frugal tip as you will | | | | make a personalized calendar for family members |
| be amazed just how many uses it has, and we all | | | | who perhaps don't see you as often as they should. |
| know how cheap it is, therefore a far cheaper | | | | You can put all the birthdays down and other special |
| method to use, and eco-friendly too. The full article is | | | | events for your calendar. |
| again with Ezine Articles on this subject. | | | | FRUGAL TIPS FOR BOOKWORMS: |
| FRUGAL TIPS FOR SHOPPING: | | | | Frugal Living and Using your Library |
| Frugal Living and Buying Bulk when you Can | | | | I have to confess that I love my books and tend to |
| Saving money starts in the kitchen and when you go | | | | spend more money than I should. However, I have |
| shopping. Buy bulk where you can, and make sure | | | | an excuse in that where I live there is no public |
| that when you get home you divide this bulk buying | | | | library. However, if you have access to a library and |
| into smaller packages and make sure that you have | | | | you love spending money on books, magazines and |
| proper storage. Buying bulk meat for example is | | | | CDs join your local library and visit it once a week to |
| great if you have a big chest deep-freeze. Buying a | | | | read your book and magazines without having to pay |
| whole lamb at your butchers and a hind-quarter may | | | | for them. If you have a lot of novels and books at |
| be expensive when you first buy it, but it will be a lot | | | | home that you have not read for a while, and |
| cheaper for you in the long run. If your butcher is | | | | probably are not likely too either, find a |
| any good, not only will he cut it and pack it according | | | | book-exchange shop and either sell your books to |
| to the numbers of family members for portions, but | | | | them or exchange your books for others. |
| he will also label it for you too, so that you do not | | | | FRUGAL TIPS FOR GAMBLERS: |
| end up with 'mystery meat'. However, too much red | | | | Frugal Living and Weaning yourself off Gambling |
| is not good for you, so your meat meals should be | | | | More money is wasted in households on gambling |
| interchanged with fish, chicken and a meatless dish | | | | then any other thing. Gambling only leaves the |
| once a week. In that way, your meat will last longer | | | | bookies rich and the Casino bosses gloating. These |
| and your health will be better for it. | | | | are the only true winners. Yes, occasionally you may |
| Frugal Living and Cooking and Baking it Yourself | | | | get lucky, but how much have you spent to get |
| As a working mum myself, I know that it is a | | | | there? It is only a million-to-one chance that you will |
| struggle to find things to feed the family. But do a | | | | strike it big. As a gambler you would know that the |
| reality check the next time you shop. Are you buying | | | | odds are really too high. Take that money and rather |
| tv dinners and pre-cooked meals or do you make | | | | invest it in land and property which will always |
| your own from scratch? Do you buy packets of | | | | appreciate, especially between 5 - 10 years when |
| biscuits or do you make your own? Do you buy | | | | you should see your investment either double or |
| shredded vegetables and pre-made up salads? Buying | | | | triple in value over that time period. |
| convenience food like this, all comes with a price. If | | | | FRUGAL TIPS FOR FRUGAL LIVING: |
| you are serious about saving money, make your own | | | | Frugal Living and Learning to Budget |
| meals, biscuits and buy a cheap food processor to | | | | Learning to budget means that you have to live |
| slice and dice those onions etc. I am a lazy cook, and | | | | within your means, and that does not mean that |
| if you have a look at my recipes, you will find a lot | | | | when you have blown your budget for the month |
| of quick and easy recipes for all occasions that you | | | | you bring out the credit card. If you have a credit |
| will knock up in a jiffy. | | | | card, cut it up. You don't need it. Start with what you |
| And it not just the pre-prepared meals but what you | | | | earn and do the math. How much are you spending |
| are throwing in your trolley that you should be | | | | and where can your economize? You will always find |
| looking at. How many bags of crisps, fizzy drinks, | | | | ways of spending less if you are driven and |
| chocolates, sweets and other rubbish is going into the | | | | committed to do so. Yes, there is always the |
| trolley that will send any child who is borderline | | | | unexpected expenses, and that is where so many |
| ADD& H totally off into swinging from the light | | | | people fall foul, because they don't anticipate these. |
| bulbs and hanging from the fans. The diet that you | | | | They are so stretched financially every month, |
| have your children on affects them, and buy buying | | | | basically because they are living above their means, |
| loads of fruit and vegetables and staying away from | | | | that when an unexpected expense occurs, the only |
| foods packed with preservatives, tartrazine and | | | | way out is to bring out the credit card. This is a sure |
| other horrible beasties will not only be cheaper on the | | | | slide into financial hell. When you have your salary the |
| pocket, but you will notice a considerable | | | | ratio for spending it on housing should ideally be a |
| improvement in your children's behaviour if they do | | | | quarter, and definitely no more than a third. If you |
| suffer from ADD & H. So avoid impulsive | | | | are spending more than that, you are already way |
| shopping, buy only what you need, creating a list is | | | | over your head. Start modest and live comfortably. |
| good for this if you find you are undisciplined, and | | | | Life is stressful enough without having to worry |
| check and compare brand prices. Normally shop | | | | about finances as well. If you have read these frugal |
| fitters place the more expensive grocery brands at | | | | tips and take some on board, your finances should |
| eye-level. The cheaper brands are on the lower | | | | see a difference. Remember, if you are serious about |
| shelved. Look there first. | | | | frugal living, if you look after the pennies, the pounds |
| Frugal Living by visiting Farmers' Markets & Farm | | | | will take care of themselves. |
| Shops | | | | |