Frugal For Life

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Woman’s Day has a list of 17 ways to spend less and I thought I would pull out a few with my own idea.
Only buy what you can carry - This idea is great for cutting down on impulse buying for the quick shopping trip.
Even Better: Write down what you are going to need to buy, include the items you aren’t sure about as well (junk food) and also take a calculator so that you stay within a set amount you have set for yourself. Want to make it more challenging, set a time limit for yourself…of 45 minutes or less.
Find a shopping buddy - They point out that this can be helpful for cutting down waste when you bulk shop, provided you both have similar tastes.
Even Better: Since this is very hard to find someone with similar tastes, maybe finding someone like yourself who doesn’t want to overspend like yourself. Essentially, an angel on your shoulder to help you with getting the best deal or questioning you when you go off list by asking, “Do you really need this?”
Satisfy that shopping urge for less - Instead of a mall, hit thrift shops, a flea market or yard sales
Even Better: Find out when they have sale days or what the tag colors mean to get the best deal. If you are a senior, find out how much of a discount you can receive.
Use credit cards the right way - They suggest using them to send your kids to college, using a 529 credit card, you can get 2% of what you spend put in a 529 investment fund
Even Better: Depending on if you feel college payment is the duty of the parent or the child. Be fully aware of what grants and scholarships are available to your student when they start high school.
Climb down the debt ladder - Wipe out your credit card debt one card at a time, starting with the lowest balance.
Even Better: Pay off the debt from the highest interest rate and save yourself even more money. Or in the case of my friend, Suzy, pay the lowest balance/highest interest rate first.
Make your sock drawer an ATM - Take out the money is cash for what you need for the month.
Even Better: Make most or all of your budget in cash, no credit cards, no checks. Figuring out what you have coming in and what necessities are going out helps you evaluate what money you have to save for a rainy day and what you have for fun.
Get the best tax advice - Get tax advice so you don’t overpay on your taxes.
Even Better: There are many online resources that not only give you ideas for deductions, but whole blogs dedicated to taxes. Not only that, but I check the IRS website for free software when I do my own taxes.
Refinance your car loan - Dropping the interest rate amount can save you hundreds or thousands in interest.
Even Better: Before you buy a car, check around for the lowest interest loan you can get. While you are making your car last 10-15 years, take that time to save money for a new car and pay it in full when you need to buy a new one.
Take a look at your big money magnets - Evaluate what is important to you and cut back where needed.
Even Better: If you haven’t been to the gym in a year- cancel the membership, have too many clothes you don’t wear- sell them, get magazines that you don’t have time to read - call up and stop the subscription (sometimes you get money back for un-used months). Keep only what you value and use.
Put a photo of your dream in your wallet - Having a goal can be easier than tracking your spending.
Even Better: Don’t just dream about it. Plan for it. Determine how much it will take to attain that goal, then divide across the months that you think it will take to save for it. ($2500 trip/15 months of savings = 167 dollars a month). Once you figure it out, start cutting back or finding ways to get more money into that goal.
Live within your means - This sums it up.
If you spend more than you make, you are always working to catch up and no one thinks that is fun. If you spend less than you make, you end up saving yourself time for the future to do the things that you enjoy.

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