Frugal Tips: How to Make Your Money Go Farther
August 11, 2009
This is the post about frugality I promised you, by my friend Sherri of Serene Journey. 
I am in awe of what Lisis, Jeff, and Hunter are doing. I am really very happy and excited for them, and a little scared, but I truly believe this will be an amazing experience for them–an experience that will create lasting memories and fabulous stories for years to come.
When Lisis asked me for some simple tips on living frugally, I jumped at the chance for two reasons: First, I love the concept of frugality and the simplicity that comes with being frugal. Second, I’m thrilled to be able to contribute to their amazing, epic journey. Here are my top five frugal tips for living on less.
Making Your Money Go Farther
1. Reduce non-essentials. This will vary from person to person as what is essential to one may not be to another. Lisis has given up her favorite coffee creamer and I would consider this a non-essential (well done by the way!). Consider living without:
- cell phones
- cable TV or satellite
- magazine subscriptions
- eating out at restaurants
- going to movie theatres
- pop and junk food
- going out for coffee
- buying souvenirs
- brand name anything
2. Get physical. I know Lisis HATES exercise, but you can really save a lot of money on fuel, car insurance, maintenance, and repairs by leaving the car at home as often as possible. Get some activity while spending less by walking, roller blading, or riding a bike to your next destination. If getting there requires transportation, consider public transport or car-pooling.
3. Live off the grid. I love this idea. I initially read about this on fivecentnickle.com. It’s a great idea for reducing costs around using electricity. For one day each week (or as often as you like), live off the grid. Turn the power in your home off at the breakers, with the obvious exceptions of fridges and freezers. I love this idea not only because it reduces cost, but it’s good for the environment and allows you to get out and spend time reconnecting with family and having fun.
4. Avoid pre-packaged or fast food. Nowadays we pay for convenience, plain and simple. Anyone who buys a fast-food cheeseburger likely isn’t doing it because it tastes better than what they can make at home. They do it because it’s quicker and easier but it’s also more expensive. Making meals from scratch is one of my frugal faves. Food tastes better when you make it from scratch and you can alter any recipe to suit your tastes. My all time favorite recipe site is allrecipes.com. Take tacos for example, surely you have to buy the package of taco seasoning to add to the ground beef? Nope! There’s a recipe for that and it tastes amazing! Whatever you want to make check allrecipes first it’s bound to be there.
5. Plan your meals. This goes hand in hand with point 4. Meal planning isn’t rocket science but it can save you a lot of time and a lot of money. Planning meals makes shopping a lot quicker, reduces (if not eliminates) impulse purchases and gets rid of the age old question “what’s for dinner?”
Other Frugal Tips to Get You Thinking
- use cloth napkins not paper
- line dry clothing
- drink water… lots of water
- use coupons and take advantage of sales for items you use anyway
- use kitchen towels to clean up messes instead of paper towels
- pack lunches, snacks and drinks for day trips out
- make coffee at home and take it in a travel mug
- dig deep into your pantry and freezer and use up what you have…all of it
- reconsider buying physical gifts for people and opt for creating experiences instead
- downsize your home and/or car - easier said than done I realize but definitely worth looking into
- if you truly need to buy “stuff” buy as much as you can second hand
- get a friend to cut your hair or do it yourself
- use only cash not credit credit cards when making any purchase
- buy in bulk, cook in bulk and freeze meals
- grow your own fruits and vegetables and can or freeze the excess
- make your own cleaning solutions using vinegar, baking soda or lemon juice
- downgrade your Internet package from uber-fast to fast
Frugality to me is not the same as being cheap. For me being frugal is being smart and purposeful with my spending. I choose to spend money on on things that matter to me and that add value. Keeping in mind that there is a difference between a need and a want, is crucial to smarter spending. I’m always looking for frugal tips and ways to reduce waste so please share in the comments if you have more to add, I’d love to hear them!
Lisis, Jeff, and Hunter, I hope this helps a bit and you’re able to take away a thing or two that may just stretch your savings a little bit further. I wish you the best of luck and much happiness on your journey. You’re quite the inspirational family!
Photo courtesy of: Steve Wampler
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Posted in Life, choices, family, simplicity
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This is a great article. I have found I don’t miss TV or going to the the movies. I have to have a cell phone but you need to be smart about signing the contract. My brother in-law just signed a contract because the company was offering a free notebook.
IT’S never free which we pointed out to him.
You have offered a generous list here that everyone can utilize.
BunnygotBlog´s last blog ..I Kicked This Guy In The Bots
Oops…forgot to say great post! Looking forward to your next one.
@ BunnygotBlog – Funny thing about the TV, it helps you decide what to do with your time. You don’t need to think about how you’re going to fill the next 3, 4, 10 hours it’s all planned out for you. Once it’s off and break the habit it’s amazing at how little you actually miss it and how much more time you have to do things that really matter. Good point about the notebook not being free…anything rarely is
Sherri (Serene Journey)´s last blog ..The Ultimate Nonconformists
Hi Sherri!
Really awesome post, I loved reading this.
What you said all makes perfect sense. Cutting down to the bare essentials.
All we really need to survive is food, water and a roof above our heads. Anything above that is luxury (except what you need for your business, eg internet if you are online marketing).
Hot water is a big energy consumption, consider getting solar powered geysers or switching them off during the day and on at night with cheaper power (off peak).
Living frugally allows you to save money for later when you need it:)
Going to stop by your blog and read some other posts!
Until we meet again
Diggy – Upgradereality.com´s last blog ..14 fabulous date ideas
What a useful tip list. I am amazed at the amount of things i can do{which you mentioned above}which are not that difficult and can save a lot.
My own little simple tip is to visit the grocery store alone and not with the family. It saves you on buying the unnecessary stuff..sauces chocolates icecreams dips etc….the wants so to say…and i end up shopping much faster that way as well.
My fav tip from this article is: consider living without-brand name anything. Just super! I have got to tell my brother this tip..he is a sucker for branded everything..and then keeps complaining where his money went… me and my husband have gotten over the brand phobia long back thank god!.
Zeenat{Positive Provocations}´s last blog ..Looking Inward To Find Your True Self.
@Diggy – Glad you liked it! Anything above and beyond the necessities *are* luxuries and it’s difficult to keep that in mind at times. I like your idea about solar powered hot water. I don’t know much about it but I would assume the initial investment would be rather steep but savings in the long run would be well worth it.
@Zeenat – That’s a great tip about shopping without the family. We still shop as a family but our sons are still really young so they aren’t at the “we neeeeeeeed it!” stage just yet. I’ll certainly keep it in mind as they get older though and well done for kicking the brand name habit. There are a lot of products out there without the brand that are just as good but cost a whole lot less.
Sherri (Serene Journey)´s last blog ..The Ultimate Nonconformists
[...] Follow us on Twitter. Today at Quest For Balance, Lisis has published an article of mine titled: Frugal Tips: How To Make Your Money Go Further. Whether you’re embarking on an epic journey like Lisis and her family or are just looking [...]
These are great tips by Sheri. Due to technological advancement which supposedly makes our lives easier, is ironically, making our lives harder because of additional expenses. I especially recommend Sheri’s tip about coupons; they really save me a lot of money and there are actually a lot of good deals.
What I do to stretch my income is to make a list of the things I need so that I would not be tempted to buy other stuff on impulse. I stick to my list and it does saves me money.
Excellent article, Sherri.
We have been living simly for years now and we just love it. Your sentence about the difference between a need and a want is so true. So many people think they need material items but they really do not. Happiness does not come from owning things, it is a by-product of just being.
Nadia – Happy Lotus´s last blog ..Make It Happen – Sunday Song for August 9, 2009
Wow Sherri. You have my mind spinning this morning. There are so many great tips here. I think I’ll print this out and share it with Mr. Man and see if we can’t start living frugally. I always think about it, but I believe now is the time for some action behind my thoughts. Thank you for this eye-opening post.
Jill´s last blog ..Sometimes taking the easy way is best
@Nadia – Thanks Nadia I’m glad you liked it. There is a lot to be said for keeping things simple. I find with complexity comes unhappiness. Trying to be happy by acquiring things is an unquenchable thirst, you’ll be happy for a bit but will need more and more and more. You’re never satisfied. Learning to be content with what you have and where you are right now is the key.
@Jill – You’re quite welcome! I hope it helps in getting you on the frugal path. Like Nadia said life is simpler, not to mention less expensive when you aren’t consumed with acquiring more, bigger, better, faster etc…I’d be interested to hear how it goes for you and your family.
Sherri (Serene Journey)´s last blog ..How To Make Your Money Go Further
Great list….I’ve been living more and more simply, and it’s not only frugal but it takes a lot of clutter away from life. Thanks!
Kaushik´s last blog ..Do you feel lighter, more compassionate, more joyful, more natural, more playful?
Great list! I been trying to start living frugal to save a lot more money but your list gave me more ideas…thanks!
@Beth – You’re quite right all these things that are supposed to be making our lives easier are in some respects making them more difficult. Sometimes I need to stop and ask myself a) do I need this? b) is it *really* going to make my life that much easier? Usually the answers are no on both accounts.
@Kaushik – I couldn’t agree with you more.
@Lou – Excellent! I’m glad you got some new ideas good luck on the transition to a more frugal life.
Sherri (Serene Journey)´s last blog ..Do You See What I See?
It’s amazing how much money we have saved out of choice by not going out to eat. We save it for special occasions. And that’s just what happens, “we’re making things special again.”
Tess The Bold Life´s last blog ..Do You Dare Be More Loving?
Great list! I do a lot of those things already but there is always room for improvement. Years ago, when my son was studying electricity in school, he was given an assignment – to go without electricity for an entire evening and report back. Well our whole family did it, really enjoyed it – baths by candlelight, cooking dinner in the fireplace – a great experience all around. Do you know he was THE ONLY kid in the class that did it? All those families missed out on a true family night!
suzen´s last blog ..Life Without Labels
@Tess – That’s lovely making eating out a treat and saving it for special occasions, kind of what it should be about. Well done on choosing a more frugal path when it comes to eating. It’s not always easy.
Sherri (Serene Journey)´s last blog ..Do You See What I See?
@ suzen – Wonderful! I love that. It’s amazing how much you can reconnect with your family when some of the modern conveniences are taken away (by going without electricity). Thanks for sharing that and well done for being the only family to participate.
Sherri (Serene Journey)´s last blog ..The Ultimate Nonconformists
Very useful tips, and I am doing most of them already.
I much prefer fresh foods to packaged, and I really enjoy eating lots of vegetables and less meat. I drink mostly lots of water or green tea, which helps to fill you up, and make you less hungry. It’s also much healthier.
The only problem I would have with turning off the power is that I rely on my laptop for work, which includes networking and freelance writing.
Tony´s last blog ..A New Forest Walk
Nice collection of tips. Thanks for posting.
Frugal living for me means not frugal at all. I rather call it authentic living.
I look at it this way, I don’t buy processed food that is unrecognizable, I am lucky enough to grow my own veggies now and they look and taste authentic.
I do not go on packaged holidays, I do my own exploring and again, it takes all the overkill out of it and leaves the real essence to be enjoyed.
We do have a wetback and solar panels for heating water and yes in winter we still need electricity for hot water, but that is okay. I cook on the wood fuelled heater, which keeps me warm at the same time and makes the room look beautiful with its glow.
The main thing is that I don’t need processing or packaging or labels to make things attractive that in their pureness are already attractive enough.
wilma ham´s last blog ..The unknown got to me; what is next with our Garden of Eden?
@ Tony – Thanks for your comment those are great suggestions! Healthy and frugal at the same time!
@ Tommy – Glad you liked it
@ Wilma Ham – Wow. I want to come by for dinner on a cool fall evening at your place it just sounds just lovely! We haven’t done packaged holidays either it is a lot more fun (for us anyway) to just get to a place and explore talk to the locals and be open to what happens. It’s awesome…much like what Lisis is doing with the family right now
Hi Sherri
Thanks a mil for the tips especially no 4.
I was the Queen of packaged food. I just didn’t know any better, I actually didn’t know how to cook from scratch, it was a skill that I had never learnt. I’d unsuccessfully try my hand at it and then revert back to the same old quick and easy meals. It wasn’t until I had my daughter that I decided to learn about food and my attitude changed. I now love eating fresh food and enjoy cooking meals that I know are healthy and taste great.
Love your take on the meaning of frugal; smart & purposeful spending. Brilliant!
Ann-Marie´s last blog ..The unknown got to me; what is next with our Garden of Eden?
@Ann-Marie – It’s tough to break out of the habit of buying food that’s ready-made, it’s just so convenient. I’m so happy for you that you’ve learned how to cook from scratch. I’m sure you’ve found it to be healthier, tastier and a lot more fun to prepare.
Sherri (Serene Journey)´s last blog ..Looking Starward
Well, that’s one interesting article. I loved the approach and I think the whole idea of frugality is something we should really implement at some point. But I won’t go too far on that. I’ll keep the “essential” and never get to the “diminishing” in the meaning of the word “frugal”. Sticking to essential is good, but taking too much out of your plate could be a little bit too much.
Dragos Roua´s last blog ..Assess – Decide – Do for Programming
[...] Frugal Tips: How to Make Your Money Go Farther [...]
Hi Sherri ,
I am an internet marketer and the way i spend money is very bad after reading your article , it is a nice post having ideas how to out of materialistic life schedule .
i will read your next articles for sure …
Mind blowing post!
There are two ways to have more money. One is to earn more and the other is to spend less. Simple. I know there is more to it than that, but those are the two fundementals.