How to Live Frugally!!!

For those of you feeling the pinch of the times, here are some suggestions for living frugally! Even if you aren't feeling the pinch, we all could use a little extra money in our pockets!!! Hope these ideas help. If you think of more, please comment below!

Online:

• Go to your favorite stores website and join the mailing list! For instance, Gordmans sends coupons and Borders offers rewards.
• Before you make a purchase online, google the stores name and coupons. Often times you can save on shipping or get a percentage off.
• Dollarstretcher.com offers weekly tips as well as everyday cheapskate
• mint.com offers a budgeting website

Cooking:

• Find ways to spread out your grocery shopping by using what you HAVE. Try stretching the length between shopping outings to 4 or 6 weeks!
• Find recipes for meatless meals. Use more beans in your cooking! (we all could use a little more fiber in our diets :) )
• Shop the orange tags/red tags in your meat department. They are the 'use by' meats that are perfectly fine to be frozen as soon as you get home!
• Buy a deep freeze for your home to stock up on items. Remember to keep this freezer in your basement so it isn't running as much in the summer!
• Shop the perimeter of the store for the freshest/healthiest items
• Shop Aldis
• Make sure that if you have a regular store you go to and an item is cheaper somewhere else--make sure they pricematch!

Around the house:

• Make games for at home (ie: make the pizzas like they have at the Discovery Museum--cut some white felt for the crust-red for the sauce, shapes for pepperoni and cheese)
• Use netflix.com. It's super easy and the kids look forward to getting a new video and sending it back! You can use this for games as well!
• Hang clothes instead of drying them! Saves on shrinkage as well :)
• Call the repair depot in Normal. They have parts for the do-it-yourself folks! Or, if you are going to get something done, shoot me an email--we've had painters, repair guys, etc and I've shopped prices! I can give you great names!
• Use a pay as you go cell phone
• Complain if you get something that doesn't do what it says it will or if it breaks! Get your money out of something!
• Fill out surveys and earn $

Credit Cards:

• Just because you have a limit doesn't mean that should be your goal
• If you carry a high $ on a card, look for a card with a free balance transfer and 0% for a year to pay it off!
• Always try to pay it off when you receive your statement.
• Use cards that reward you somehow. Use marriot rewards or hilton rewards, disney rewards, etc!

Other:

• Feed picky eaters before you go out so you & your husband can enjoy your meal! Feed them dessert or french fries--something they will eat so you aren't wasting money by their not eating! (as soon as I type up a revised kids eat free list, i will send out as well!)
• Free 411 : 1-800-373-3411