Use What You Have!
It may seem obvious, but here’s a frugal tip that I sometimes forget: use what you have before you buy more! This goes for food, cleaning supplies, clothes, and just about any other consumable you can think of.
Food
Challenge yourself to eat out of your pantry, refrigerator and freezer for a week, and see what you can come up with. Take a good look and see what’s really lurking in your kitchen. You might be surprised at just how much food you have already. This might take some creativity, but think of it as a game. And when you avoid a trip to the market for a week, you win! If you need help thinking up ideas for the random things you find, try doing a search online. For example, right now I have lentils and tomato sauce in my pantry. Going to Google (www.google.com) and searching for “lentils tomato sauce recipe” yields pages and pages of links to recipes that use lentils and tomato sauce.
Cleaning Supplies
Before you buy the latest cleaner that you see on TV or while waling down the aisles of target, use what you have first. Most of us have plenty of cleaning products at home that we’ve bought thinking they’re going to be the latest, greatest thing for getting our homes clean. The thing is, you have to actually use them for them to work. So don’t buy more products when you still have bottles and bottles of cleaners sitting in the cupboard.
Clothing
It may not seem as fun as the thrill of buying a new pair of shoes or some new jeans, but try to get the life out of what you already have in your closet and dresser before going out to buy something new. My closet isn’t overflowing, so where do I struggle with this? My daughter. I am a sucker for all those cute little girl clothes and accessories. So if you’re reading this and thinking, “But I love buying new clothes!” I’m right there with you. This is where I am currently challenging myself, actually. I sat and looked hard at her closet last night, and again this morning, and I tried to count how many dresses she has. I couldn’t without physically moving each dress along the closet rod, she has so many. So does she need anything new? Not at all. And my task is to hold off on new purchases until there is a need.
Remember, the next time you’re thinking about buying something new, ask yourself if you already have it at home. If you don’t know, go look. If you do, then ask yourself why you want to buy it. If it isn’t because you sincerely need it, then try to figure out the real reason for the purchase. Good luck!
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Jennifer Thompson owns and manages DivaTribe, a web site for smart, creative, courageous women. DivaTribe features free journals, message boards, articles, book reviews and more to help women reach their full potential.
Save at Secondhand Stores
By Sandy Shields
One of my favorite ways to save money is to shop at secondhand stores. I always seem to find a new treasure! Plus by shopping resale I can pay only a fraction of normal retail prices. I recently visited a new thrift store that opened near my home. I brought home 14 “like new” articles of clothing, and I only spent $48.00! What a great feeling!
You can do it too!
Did you know that there are many thrift and consignment shops now on the internet? Visit this page to see some of my favorite online resale shops. Thrift stores and consignment shops each have their own advantages and disadvantages, but I use both to find the best deals.
Thrift Stores
— Advantages —
• Profits go to charities such as Salvation Army, Goodwill, City Rescue Missions, and Parents Anonymous.
• Unbelievably Low prices!
• It is possible to find new merchandise.
• Carry clothing for men, women, and children; plus books, appliances, furniture, linens, and toys.
• Regularly offer sales and discounts.
• Those who donate can receive a tax deduction for the amount donated.
• Name brands at very low prices.
• Large selection of merchandise.
— Disadvantages —
• Generally there is no customer service.
• Sales are final, with a limited (if any) return policy.
• Most of the merchandise sold is used.
• Stores are sometimes dusty, dingy, and poorly organized.
• Stores only have what is available. No various sizes or styles.
• Stores typically only have one of a particular item.
• Customer must check clothing for stains and defects.
• Customer must try clothes on before leaving the store.
• Customer must test electrical items.
• Customer must have plenty of time to browse.
Here is a very helpful guide by the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission:
Hazardous Products Being Sold in Thrift Stores
Consignment Shops
— Advantages —
• Allow customers to sell items.
• Most shops are well organized.
• Regularly offer sales and discounts.
• Usually provide customer service.
• Quality is better than thrift stores.
— Disadvantages —
• Higher prices than thrift stores. Profits are split between the store owner and the consignor. Typically a 60-40 split, with the higher percentage going to the store owner.
• Customer must watch for damaged or defective merchandise, but not as often as thrift stores.
• Customer must keep track of own sales if selling merchandise.
• No funds to charities.
• No tax deduction.
The most important thing about resale shopping is that you have plenty of time to browse and that you are flexible. Patience is required, as you may or may not find what you are looking for. But if you have time to browse what’s available, you will likely bring home a great deal!
To find out more about resale stores, visit these links:
The Resale Guide
The National Association of Resale & Thrift Shops
Listing of Resale Shops Online
Sandy is a freelance writer and webmaster of TheFrugalShopper.com. She enjoys living the frugal life, saving money, and helping others to do the same. Subscribe to her newsletter to receive more money-saving ideas and frugal tips. Reprint permission granted with this footer included. Copyright © TheFrugalShopper.com 1999-2003.
10 Tips to Help You Save More Money
1. Deliberately reduce your grocery bill by ten dollars. Write a check for it and mail it in to your savings account.
2. Designate one day each week as a *spend-no-money* day. Can you carry iced tea from home with you? Tuck away three dollars for every pitcher of tea you make at home!
3. Bring lunch to work one day this week. Simply cook a bit extra for dinner the night before to take with you.
4. Buy quality greeting cards in bulk. At fifty cents or less per card, you save each time you use one. (Plus, it can help keep you out of the stores!) If you can’t find anything local in bulk that you like, check out Current, Inc., currentcatalog.com (phone: 877-665-4458) They are good quality with lots of variety.
5. Challenge yourself to eating out only if you can spend less than five dollars (choose what your limit will be.)
6. Ask for cash back when using coupons — and tuck away your savings.
7. Replace a dry-cleanable item you wear regularly with an item that requires no special care. (This includes leathers, too.) Ask your family and friends to avoid gifting you with dry-cleanable items.
8. Downsize by slowly eliminating items you’ve kept in storage units that cost you money. Aim for eliminating the unit altogether within a month or two.
9. Replace a name-brand item with a generic, including medication, if possible.
10. Look up one phone number or web address to cancel a magazine, newspaper, book club if you have no time to keep up with the reading. Don’t forget about auto shipments, like vitamins, which you may no longer want.
Regardless of which day you choose — or which tips you use — be sure to actually tuck away all money you save. That way, the money sponge in your checkbook won’t absorb it.
Now… How much can you accomplish by choosing just *one* day on which to focus?
Have some fun with this!
How to Grow Your Very Own Money Tree
©2004-2005 Darlene Arechederra
Okay. So money doesn’t really grow on trees. Unless you plant your own Mighty Money Tree, that is!
Imagine that only a few moments ago you planted a young sapling in your back yard. You gave it just enough water to ensure a good start. Not too much, not too little. You even propped it up with a stake. You’ll continue to nurture it, feed it, water it.
And with each passing year, your tender young sapling will grow stronger. Taller. Healthy. As it ages, your tree can better defend itself from natural predators. Even harsh weather.
Growing your savings account is similar to growing your new sapling. Given lots of tender care, your savings account will become your Mighty Money Tree. Use the following tips to ensure a great start. So, grab your shovel and let’s get planting!
Prop Up Your New Savings Account
To build an account you can enjoy for a lifetime, prop it up with nutrients to help it grow.
a) Feed your account with bonuses. Deposit money saved through cancelled subscriptions. Don’t forget those unexpected windfalls, either.
How about money owed and paid back to you? Be sure to include these amounts, even if they’re small. Small is great — and very do-able.
b) Nurture your savings weekly with money saved from using coupons.
Do you buy items on sale? Take that money you saved and use it to grow your account. Tuck small amounts into an envelope. Deposit weekly.
c) Shower your fund with birthday, anniversary or holiday gifts of money. Refunds, too! This is money you normally wouldn’t have had (or already spent.)
Remember, out of sight, out of mind!
Fiercely Protect From Natural Enemies
Just as you might spray your tree to ward off insects or disease, you must protect your fledgling savings account. It’s precious — and a result of your patience.
a) Avoid spending too much time with others who make it seem *natural* to go through money. They may not give it much thought because spending is a comfortable habit for them.
But you actually have a plan. And you have the big picture of how and when you’ll spend. You will decide the where and why of spending your money. Make your spending thoughtful.
b) Pace yourself as you spend your weekly allotment of money. If you run on $35 per week (for example), that gives you five dollars per day.
Stay just under that five, and you’ll always be a few dollars ahead. You’ll also be less tempted to tap your savings.
c) Practice *tough love* with chronic spenders who repeatedly borrow your money. Give yourself permission to state firmly that borrowing your money is *not* an option. Remove the stakes that prop up others’ spending.
Say yes to protecting and taking care of your money. It will be there to support you, your family, and your true needs.
Promote and Maintain Healthy Growth
Small amounts add up big time, so keep money coming into your account on a regular basis. Keep it growing!
a) Remember *why* you set up your account. Know your balance at all times. Keep your eye on the bigger picture.
Will it help you pay for a gently used car, eliminating future car payments year after year? Is it your *freedom from working for others* fund?
b) Begin with one great strategy, and use it to create a steady stream of money to feed your account. Will it be a direct deposit through payroll?
Will you fund it by using only dollar bills, and setting aside all change at the end of each day? If so, scoop up your change and deposit weekly.
c) Each month, find a new, creative way to put more money in your account. Then find another method and repeat for a month. Keep the top three or four methods which seem to work best for you. Toss the rest, because you want methods that work for you consistently.
Need a starting point? Why not begin with spending ten dollars less at the store each week? Tuck your ten bucks into your savings account. It’s simple, and it won’t leave you feeling deprived.
Lastly, feel the wonder of knowing that your money tree will continue to grow. Like a faithful friend, it will remain at your side. Your champion in good times, a comfort in the rough patches of life.
It has the power to draw your dream out of the darkness and into the light. How long have you had that private, special dream? Only you can know.
Now, what would *you* do with your own Mighty Money Tree? Plant one today! Prop it up. Protect it. Watch it grow.
Author and ezine editor Darlene Arechederra inspires busy women to put the fun back into saving their money. Her complimentary newsletter serves up heaps of motivation with a unique, down-home style of writing.
Join her today at Rat Race Remedies
Frugal Books by Darlene Arechederra
Savvy Saving – Imagine Saving Money Without Scrimping, Depriving Yourself or Drowning in Coupons!
