re-engineer your brain and your wallet will follow

Living Frugally (post I made to an online group in response to a topic)

Jump to the Tips for Re-engineering your Wallet

I'm not selling you anything, although this looks like an ad. I'm just a girl in TN who wants to live simply.

I really wish more people would do this! Especially the people I know who are 'barely making it', they tell me that... but then they refuse to not live like the Joneses. I've learned a lot of this from my husband, as he grew up in a family with lots of kids and few resources. The first year we were married we barely made ends meet - then we started doing this. Now, we have enough in the bank to make a downpayment on our own house and land.

I grew up in a poor family too, but we always made ends meet.
Now, my siblings think my husband and I 'live like monks.'
but, we have most of the things we want!

You don't have to live like a monk all the time.
But you have to know what you want out of life
and not just 'go with the flow' because everyone else does.

If you try to keep up with the Jonses' for keeping-up's sake
that is how big companies get all your $$ and you are stuck holding things you don't want, don't need, and a big stack of bills you can't pay.

The Tricks
Re-Engineer your Brain and your Wallet will follow

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• Don't run out everywhere the moment you need something small. With gas prices like they are, make all your shopping on one day a week, bring a list and stick to it. Plan for the week ahead, so you don't run out of anything important. It can be done. This was a hard thing for me to do! This one thing alone has saved us more $$$ than any of these others put together.


• If you can make something (chair, dishrag, rug etc.) for much less than you can buy it - do it. Unless you have absolutely no time to spend making something, it is worth it and will probably be a better product than what you can buy in a store.


• We wear clothes and shoes until they wear out - unlike my siblings who throw something away the moment it is 'not in perfect condition' or even worse, 'not in style.' We buy used if we can, but do not deprive ourselves of a set of dress clothes or good fitting shoes. We don't buy clothes just because they are 'on sale' or 'in style.' That is what the big $$ companies want you to think is 'required' because they want your $$ too!


• First off - cook your own food when you can. You'll know what is in it, and not be paying gas and lots of $$ for fast food. We also 'streeetcch' food by adding cheaper things to it, like rice or pasta to expensive vegetable stirfry, or making cheap baking powder biscuits to add more bulk to a meal. Understand your nutrition with this - a good cook can make lots of healthy meals with very little. Remember olive oil is a good fat and know which foods create 'complete proteins.'


• We also soak dry beans on Friday or Saturday night to cook in the oven (during the cold hours of morning or late at night is best, heats up the house in winter or doesn't heat it up during the noon hour in the summer). A married couple can live on 30-50 dollars a week for groceries (meatless) if they do this (that is even with a few special items thrown in for each person, like my favourite jam and his favourite fruit). Garden as well (with cheap farm bureau seeds, not designer ones) - it brings your costs down even lower.


• Use up your leftovers or learn to cook exact portion sizes. Keep an eye on expiration dates (when you buy too) so food you buy is not wasted. Forgo the dinner you planned tonight if there is something else that won't keep as long and needs to be used first.


• All the old clothes that we do finally throw out either become rags or can be sewn into something else. I learned to sew quilts, toys and rugs from my grandmother.


• We drink tea (hot and iced), coffee and WATER instead of wasting our money on large packs of soda. I see so many carts at the supermarket with very little food in them, but several large packs of sugary soft drinks. This wastes money, adds empty calories and think about your dental bills too! We buy packaged snacks very rarely.


• Don't skimp on dental or necessary health care when you can afford it. Small things turn into big things. Keep yourself healthy and you will be able to work more efficiently, and work harder for the things you want to do for yourself.


• This one will be hard for a few people to accept - but it has also saved us a lot. Consider every item you have or buy as either useful, having sentimental value, or as clutter. I won't throw out the ceramic knick-knacks my grandmother gave me - but I won't pick up more at a garage sale just because they are 25 cents. Live simpler, and you will have less to clean, organize, worry about getting broken, or pack if you have to move. If you really want something (like a skein of yarn, or a new book) the money will be there and less will be wasted on things that 'just came up.'


• Pay bills on time to reduce late fees. Plan a budget and know what needs to be paid - the important things. Don't be the person that loses their phone, electricity, rented apartment etc.. when they miss one paycheck, or even two! What is more important, the shoes on sale, or your rent? Paying bills on time improves your credit rating - but don't give into all those credit cards either. MOST PEOPLE DON'T NEED CREDIT CARDS! Put your saved money in the bank where you can't get it at every whim! Set aside some regular portion of your paychecks as 'savings.' Keep an emergency fund as part of your regular expenses. Even if you can only save 5.00 per paycheck, that still is something - and don't touch it until you really need something!


• And last but not least - if you can get somewhere (safely) by walking or riding a bike instead of driving (ex. the post office, the library maybe? maybe just a friend's house?) - do it. You'll be healthier and save gas money at the same time. Some people have health problems to keep them from walking too far (like my father), but take shorter trips to the mailbox, the back corner of the backyard, etc.. at least to keep yourself active.