25 Frugal Things I Do, 4 Spendthrift Confessions

Good for you! The purpose of scrimping is to be able to spend the money on something you really love. For instance, when I make sure to use my own bank's ATM (while out on other errands) I remind myself that the fees I'm not paying will add up to the price of a nice bottle of New Year's bubbly. My Dad used to say that nothing is so stupid as living poor so you can die rich.

Another clothing repair tip - fabric glue.

great ideas! my mum always says, "save where you can to spend where you can't" - a similar sentiment to balancing your frugal/spendthrift habits. i love the acknowledgement that you can have both and still come out on top. frugality isn't about making yourself miserable (thankyou for thhe reminder...!)

I can relate to the disorganization point! I frequent the local library, but from time to time I miss a due date!

Still, I'd rather pay late fees to a good cause than to a private company :)

I have made several lifestyle changes this past year that actually have improved my life while at the same time helped us spend less.

1. I shop at Goodwill for furniture, clothes, things to "upcycle" into something cool. I refinish furniture from GW for the house.

In the "White Vinegar is a wonderful thing" category:

2. I use white vinegar as fabric softener in the washer, and to avoid static in the dryer I keep another batch of pure white vinegar in a spray bottle and I hit each load w/3-4 sprays before I turn the dryer on. No dryer sheet needed.

3. I use basic ammonia in our Spot Bot carpet cleaner, mixed with water, instead of expensive carpet cleaning formulas. Works like a charm.

4. I cut my dish sponges in half to double their usage time, I store them in a dish filled with white vinegar between uses to keep it from getting stinky, makes it last much longer.

5. Did you know soaking your foot in white vinegar will cure a toenail fungus? You have to do it for awhile, but it really works!

And back to thrift-shopping:

6. Whenever I need something I check Craigslist and scour the local Goodwills if at all possible, before starting a search with Google.

Don't pay late fees on videos. Use NetFlix, under $20.00 a month for unlimited DVD's, keep as long as you want and no late fees.
Also I only shop at online stores who have free shipping most items are cheaper than in regular stores.

At least you've figured out how to do what you love (eating out) for a little less.... each drink you avoid buying adds up to one more night out! I think it's so important that we figure out what we really want to spend money on, rather than frittering it away on things we don't care about.

I also cut my own hair--but I'm not sure it's something I should brag about. I walk almost everywhere--work is close enough to walk to--so I use my car maybe once a week. Saves money, energy and it's good for you! I also pretty much buy everything on sale. I can't stand paying full price--especially on clothes.

As an ex-waitress, I am really shocked at the no beverage comment. I am even more shocked at the "I bring my own beverage" reply in the comments. Hello-if you cannot afford a soft drink at a restaurant, then you cannot afford to eat out.
Eating out is a luxury, and it means that you are able to support another's income-the server. By sitting at her/his table you are agreeing to the American custom of paying an 18 percent tip on the total of the bill for good service. (Bad service-BTW- is acknowledged by leaving a penny face down on the table, and you should stop and speak with a manager on the way out).
If you are too cheap to add a 1.50 Coke onto the bill, I shudder to think of what you are tipping the poor server!
There is a big difference in being cheap and being wise with your money. If you cannot afford to eat out, then don't.

It's fine to order water to drink when you go out to eat, of course, but I disagree strongly with the idea of bringing your own beverage. In some places, bringing outside food/drinks into a restaurant is considered a health code violation. Please don't put a restaurant in that position.

Great tips and suggestions!

In our house, before we buy anything, we'll always look about to see if we have anything that would do the job.

Some of our creative discoveries have been...

curtain rods made from copper pipe--left-over from a plumbing repair (also PVC);

broken wine glasses became planters in the garden or window box (the broken stems were firmly pushed into the ground, cups planted with herbs);

sprouted onions and ginger root transform into fresh chives for use in salads, soups and other recipes (you can use the broken wine glasses as bulb vases -- as mentioned above);

Discarded garments became fabric ribbons and gift bags. These are used in lieu of paper for holiday gift-giving (washed and pressed beforehand) and used from year-to-year.

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The cultural shift that seems to be occurring is lovely to behold and quite freeing. Frugality is fun! It also holds the (sometimes hidden) power to inspire creativity, knowledge and appreciation for what we have.

Thanks so much for the great topic and for all the inspiring ideas that have been shared!

Warmly,
Tracey McBride

Bringing your own drinks to restaurants is rude! We had "customers" who would come into the coffee house to study or read at one of our tables. They bought nothing and brought their own drinks. Did they think we were a public library?

Consider using Libraray Elf http://www.libraryelf.com/ to avoid those late fees.
This little tool will email you when books are close to being overdue.
Thankfully my library has a courtesy email reminder about your books. Its saved me a lot -- especially on those videos/dvd's my son checks out at the library!