Showing posts with label Frugal Living Tips. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Frugal Living Tips. Show all posts

Friday, September 15, 2023

Frugal Living Tips - 100 ways to Save Money and a Few Money Making Ideas


I last updated my list of ways we save money a few years ago. It's essential to take inventory of cost-cutting measures and re-access them every few years or even yearly if there are frequent changes in our lives. 


So here is a brain dump of everything we do to save money and make a little:


  1. Limit household lighting to overhead lighting or small task lights.
  2. Use a microwave or crockpot instead of a stove or oven.
  3. Hand wash dishes in dishpans.
  4. Use cheap paper plates. It's probably not super frugal, but it saves time and water.
  5. Eat simple whole foods.
  6. Limit snacks to whole foods.
  7. Grow vegetables and plant fruit trees and berry bushes.
  8. Live petless. This was a difficult decision after we lost our kitty to old age.
  9. Painted floors and polished concrete for ease of maintenance and long-term savings.
  10. Paint the walls a dark color to hide stains and marks.
  11. Use simple washable cleaning items that don't require expensive replacements.
  12. Turn off shower while lathering and scrubbing the body.
  13. Use thin beach towels instead of bath towels. They dry faster and last longer.
  14. Wash in cold water and use half the recommended amount of detergent.
  15. Drink tap water.
  16. Make your own coffee.
  17. Bag lunches.
  18. Buy food in bulk and freeze portions.
  19. Use a floor freezer to store bulk foods.
  20. When using power strips, turn them off when not in use, or find ones without the standby light.
  21. Periodically check your water bill to avoid missing leaks.
  22. Visit the thrift stores, flea markets, and yard/church sales for clothing and other needs. Do this often to build up a wardrobe and stockpile of necessities.
  23. Keep up with home maintenance to avoid costly repairs and energy inefficiencies.
  24. Ditch the dryer and hang clothes on racks to dry.
  25. Learn to repair and DIY.
  26. Avoid subscriptions.
  27. Use the Facebook Events button to find free events.
  28. Use the library for books and media.
  29. Use YouTube and free social media for entertainment.
  30. Save gas and mileage on vehicles with tipless grocery delivery services.
  31. Rent a car when traveling long distances to save mileage on your vehicle.
  32. Travel off-season.
  33. Make use of savings portals when shopping for cash back.
  34. If you're responsible and pay off your balance every month, take advantage of cash-back credit cards.
  35. Exercise at home with free YouTube videos.
  36. Save money by taking CLEP for freshman-level college classes.
  37. Go to a junior college and then transfer to a four-year university if you plan to earn an undergraduate degree.
  38. Work remote jobs to save on transportation and vehicle costs.
  39. Learn to cut your own hair.
  40. Get regular checkups and be your own advocate. Use Google and ask pointed questions of your physician.
  41. Find a teaching college for medical needs like dental or massage.
  42. Donate plasma for cash.
  43. Enroll in paid medical studies.
  44. Take vacations to destinations with free attractions and inexpensive transportation and /or walkable.
  45. Sell stuff online.
  46. Craft and upcycle items and sell them.
  47. Take a free personal finance course online.
  48. Auto-invest with index funds with low fees.
  49. Find high-yield savings accounts online.
  50. Consider treasury bills that have high returns atm.
  51. Take advantage of free courses offered online at places like Coursera.
  52. Teach English online.
  53. Drought-proof your lawn and garden with native perennials.
  54. Controversial, but I do use Temu for dollar store-type items because they are less expensive and offer free shipping.
  55. Podcasts for frugal living, finance, and personal wealth. Clark Howard is a good one.
  56. Check your medical billing for illegal out-of-network "Surprise medical bills."
  57. Use discount online prescription eyeglasses sites for frames and lenses.
  58. Watch for free items offered at fast food stores. Taco Bell just had an offer of free tacos with no purchase necessary.
  59. Buy loss leaders at grocery stores.
  60. Give up alcohol and soda.
  61. Buy a bullet blender for healthy smoothie snacks.
  62. We have yet to do this, but...downsize and move somewhere that has a lower cost of living.
  63. Look for employment closer to home to save on your commute.
  64. Look to lower your taxes by adding to retirement funds and HSA. Take advantage of tax-free college funds.
  65. Stick to simple Google Chrome books and Android phones.
  66. Consider an extended family home/multi-generational where everyone pitches in and shares living expenses.
  67. Avoid going out to eat, and consider just dessert or an appetizer when you do.
  68. Cook from scratch.
  69. Buy vehicles that will last a long time, like Hondas.
  70. Use a budget app like YNAB
  71. Buy T-bills for the extra interest.
  72. High-yield savings account.
  73. Shop around for lower home and auto rates every few years.
  74. Eat smaller portions.
  75. Use receipt apps for free gift cards.
  76. Use half the recommended detergent and cleaning products.
  77. Go camping instead of renting a hotel.
  78. 50/30/20 rule - needs/wants/savings
  79. Buy store brands
  80. Simplify and minimize your wardrobe with mix-and-match basics in darker colors(hide stains).
  81. Clean your drains regularly so you don't have to call a plumber.
  82. Drive more slowly for better gas mileage and less wear on the brakes.
  83. Clean your own car
  84. Plan your route for errands to save on gas.
  85. Walk to the grocery store.
  86. Find employment closer to home.
  87. Look for free classes online to boost your skills
  88. Use an HSA for health expenses.
  89. Avoid debt.
  90. Dividend stock investing.
  91. Use Hoopla and Kanopy for free movies and shows with your library card.
  92. Use discounts where you can, such as senior, military, veteran, student, etc.
  93. Price check vegetables at ethnic markets. Sometimes, they have better deals than the supermarket. 
  94. Ask for old vegetables free at local health stores. Sometimes, they are still good for soup. I use them for compost if they are too old. 
  95. Check out Reddit frugal living and recipe ideas. Search Google with Reddit and topic for better results
  96. Try Poe app for AI help on a variety of topics.
  97. Work somewhere that allows free meals.
  98. Look for re-training for in-demand jobs via your city or state/federally funded programs. Some are free or greatly reduced. They also help with job placement. Young people can try Job Corp age 16-24.
  99. Volunteer with a food pantry in exchange for food.
  100. Buy even tickets directly from the event to avoid commission fees.


Saturday, September 02, 2023

Free Tacos

Use code 04TACOTUESDAY on Taco Bell app for free taco on 9/5/23. No purchase necessary. 

Monday, June 19, 2017

Saving Money: Cost Cutting Endeavors

Mid-year cost saving ideas:

- Review all your billing statements for mistakes or reoccurring payments that should have been canceled.

- Think about cutting back on subscriptions. Look for free or less expensive options.

- Go through closets and home for things to sell online.

- Consider replacing, consolidating, or going without kitchen appliances to save electricity.

- Warmer weather in the Northern hemisphere means line drying is quick in the sun.

- Shop online through discounters to take advantage of savings. Ex: Ebates. For instance, Dollar General often has online coupons and clicking through discount sites can earn you money back.

- Consider small A/C units instead of central air. Zone cool only where needed behind closed doors.

- With careful control of water, hand washing dishes can be less expensive.

- Consider turning down the water heater and taking luke warm showers in warmer weather. Turn it up an hour before you plan to use it for washing dishes or clothing.

- Reduce your daily calories and eat simple nutritious meals. Three meals(small amount of protein, a carb, and veggies)and three 150 calories or fewer snacks per day. Good ideas here, but research online.

- Yard sales are in full swing - look for clothing and other basic necessities. Think ahead and stock up.

- Use Groupons and Airbnb for family vacations and travel off-season. We got discounted attraction tickets for our vacation destination using Groupons. There is a student discount currently running for a limited time. Consider renting a car through an online discounter to save wear and tear on your vehicle and airfare. Sometimes rates are less expensive from the airport agencies.

- For students, spend the summer CLEPing classes, most are Freshman level tests. Many free online study resources and the test is only $85. If you want to avoid a transfer fee later, add the college where you want the scores sent. We were able to do this even though the student was enrolled as a part-time student with one class. Check with the college first, though.

- Plant edibles in your yard or window. Sprouts are the easiest to grow. I keep adding fruit trees and berry bushes every year to my backyard. Cucumbers are fairly easy in a big planter or sunny bed section of the yard. Pumpkin grows every year where I discard the Halloween pumpkins. A lot of stuff grows where I kitchen compost freely among the garden beds. Easy surprise gardening.

-  I've thought about this, but I grow too attached to my fish. You could grow your own edible fish in stock tanks with an aquaponics garden.

- Remembering to buy and use discounted gift cards.

- Buy school books at Ebay.

- Do you own nails and hair. YouTube lessons. I use Sally's Beauty for supplies for my hair. Some of the  longest lasting nail polish, oddly enough is $1.00 Wet N Wild. I've gone back to this and now the polish lasts a week, or two weeks with some minor touch-ups and a top clear coat.

Image source.

Wednesday, February 08, 2017

Low Tech Planted Fresh Water Fish Tanks

I started two low tech planted fish tanks three years ago, and they are still doing very well. The key is adequate lighting and a light fish load. If you want a heavily planted tank, you won't get much growth without a strong light source. If you happen to have a sunny window, direct sunlight for at least 6 hours a day is a good substitute. Most people will need a secondary or primary light source.

I started with a 75-gallon tank, and a LED light bar made for aquarium plants, full-color spectrum, Edge and Marineland, but this one is less expensive. Marineland light bar prices have increased over the years. There are timers on some light bars and programmable light levels, including a blue moonlight one for the evening.

A planted tank is simple to maintain as the plants give off oxygen for the fish, so a bubbler may not be needed. A filtration system is not necessary because the fish waste is used by the plants. Partial water changes are needed every other week for optimal water quality, although it may be okay with less. I've read that established tanks can go for as long as two months between changes. I killed off some fish this way, so I'll never wait that long again to change out the water. For both my tanks, I drain and fill a five-gallon bucket.

The first thing I did was research the Walstad Method.

I purchased ordinary garden soil, the heavier, the better. I used simple top soil. If you buy soil that has a lot of peat moss or mulch, it will float to the surface. Adding 100% red clay(crafters clay) is helpful for holding down the soil, and the plants use the high iron content. I topped my soil off with some sand for aesthetics and to hold down the soil.

Inexpensive plants can be found online on Facebook groups or eBay.

A few easy low light plant choices from the Walstad link:


I didn't like the floating plants because they multiplied and blocked out light, limiting the undergrowth.

After you plant, wait for a month, testing the water quality before adding any fish.

Add fish that don't make a lot of waste. I would avoid any type of goldfish. The system is self-filtering to a point. The plants are not a high power filtration system, it's a balance that you find slowly. At first, you may have smaller plants and some algae issues. Wait for plant growth which will crowd out the algae. A heavily planted tank will outcompete algae for nutrients. Once the plants grow in heavily, you get a nice balance and adequate oxygen for fish.

Fish to avoid:


  • Plecos that grow large and dig. These are sold small, but some get over 11 inches.
  • Goldfish because of heavy waste and limited swimming area.
  • Any fish that like wide open spaces
  • Silver dollar fish which eat plants like salad
  • Any large fish


Shrimp do very well in planted tanks because of the many places to hide.

Fish and others that have done well in my tanks:


  • Golden, tiger, and cherry barbs
  • Angelfish
  • Cory catfish
  • Ghost, cherry, and bamboo shrimp
  • Apple snails
  • Clams


Mistake fish:

I added a pleco that has grown to 11 inches. It has dug up my tank a few times, and I had to add a filter with a circulation pump hose to the 75-gallon tank because of excessive waste. I am committed to keeping him/her until she passes, so adjustments were made. They like water movement, so the circulation hose keeps it happy.

I added an algae eater to my 50-gallon tank, and it got rather large as well. I didn't need it when the tank established itself, but I'm committed to keeping this fish as well.

If you want to add a little movement to keep a bio-scum(organic decay) from forming on top, add an underwater circulation fan. I added one to the smaller tank when the bamboo shrimp were alive. They liked to sit on a piece of wood and grasp the food flowing through the pump.

To aid in the growth of plants, add a little Flourish Excel.

If you get a case of the snails, add a little aquarium salt. Snails love planted tanks and tend to multiply quickly.

Excuse the mess. Both tanks need "weeding" and the glass cleaned. My pleco made a mess in the larger tank, tunneling under the soil in the back.

The first tank was purchased on sale years ago and the larger tank was found for $10.00 at a yard sale.

An instructional to a very basic planted tank on the cheap.



Friday, September 30, 2016

`Staving Off the Impulse to Eat Out at Restaurants

We never buy meat at the meat counter because I steer myself over to prepackaged sale meats, but the other day I happened to glance at the specialty meat area and noticed that they have marinated and seasoned steaks. The price was less than a restaurant, and it was relatively convenient. I think we'll be saving quite a bit now. Tonight we popped over to the store and had a steak meal after a short baking session with a dollar seasoned frozen vegetable pack. Finally, I found another solution that's workable for us. This was fast and easy.

The next time we have the impulse to eat out, I'll set a nice table with candles, music, and wine. Going old school again.

Tuesday, September 13, 2016

Weekly Savings and Deals: One Fail and Two Wins

Dollar General Online Fail:

Through Ebates: 4% off(get later) and $5.00 off and free shipping.

Description: Maxwell House Coffee 
Quantity: 3 @ 5.02
Description: Bausch & Lomb Multi-Purpose 4 ounce(for trips)
Quantity: 3 @ 3.97

Description: Clorox Disinfecting Wipes Citrus 35 count (for pets)
Quantity: 6 @ 1.83

Description: Comet Cleaner Orig w/Bleach 
Quantity: 6 @ 0.91

Description: Stationery Tissue Paper White(15 sheets)
Quantity: 10 @ 0.46

Description: DG Health Ibuprofen soft gel 40
Quantity: 1 @ 4.43
Sub-Total: $52.40
Shipping: $0.00
Sales Tax: $2.35
--------------------------
Order Total: $54.75
Minus my Ebates rebate of $2.60
$52.15
 
The only good deals that I got was the coffee and the Comet. The other deals could be found for the same or slightly less elsewhere. I needed a smaller size of contact lens solution for travel, so I ended up paying more per ounce for the smaller size. Around $4.00 is probably about right for 4 ounces at a discount store. A 12-ounce bottle can be found for about $8.00. The wipes ended up being .05 cents per count, a little more than Amazon with Subscribe and Save at 15%,  or Sam's Club which  prices them at .04 cents a count. The tissue is about the same per sheet at the Dollar Tree. The Ibuprofen is less expensive in pill form and in bottles of 75 to 100, but I don't think I'd use that before it expires, so I'd end up paying more after throwing half of it out. The gel form is easier on the stomach.

You think you're getting a real deal until you look at the numbers closely. I ended up paying a little over $2.00 more for the Clorox wipes. The ibuprofen gelcaps are 10 for $1.00 at the Dolar Tree, so I lost around .30 cents.

I saved a trip to two stores, so that's something. Big Lots sometimes has powder cleanser for less than a dollar. I think I've seen Old Dutch cleanser there for .75 cents or less, but that was a few years ago. I should take a trip there again to see the prices. I had stopped going because the prices were no longer competitive. It's over 6 miles away, another reason I don't go often.

Discounted Gift Card Sucess:

A much better deal was had after I visited Gift Card Granny where I saved $86.00 purchasing discounted gift cards to places where I shop for food and medicine, and restaurants that we frequent as a treat once every few months. Gift Card Granny compares savings across a good number of card discounters. Two of the card discounters are under Swagbucks, so you can get an additional discount by clicking through a Swagbucks link.


Search and Earn Sucess:

Earned a $5.00 gift card from regular searches via Swagbucks when I added them as a browser extension. Today I watched a few videos for Swagbucks points and signed up for something free, and I'm half way to another gift card! Easy.

Clip art source here.


Sunday, September 11, 2016

Inexpensive Travel Lodging

Airbnb provides a reliable marketplace for people to advertise their short-term, or sometimes long-term,  home or room rentals. Airbnb maintains certain standards and funds are exchanged through them.  I've seen camping places with just a tent advertised as well. You can sign up to rent your extra space and/or use Airbnb to find places to stay. 

We've been using Airbnb for the last three trips, and so far they have been pleasant frugal experiences. The first time we used Airbnb was for a trip to Philadelphia. We found a private room and bath in the art museum district within walking distance of the Philadelphia Museum of Art, Franklin Institute, Museum of Natural History, Fairmount Park, and the Eastern State Penitentiary Museum. The room was only $65 a night which was a great rate for the area.

The second Airbnb rental was a short trip to West Virginia  where we stayed in a newly remodeled vintage camp house for $35 a night. It was within walking distance of a river park and the old logging town of Cass where they have steam engine trains that travel up the mountain.

This last trip was to New York City. We usually stay at clean bargain hotel in the Chinatown area of Manhattan, but they were booked, so I found an inexpensive tiny apartment in the Lower East Side. It was a comparatively good deal at $150 a night. I would have liked to have found a lower rate, but there was nothing for a family of four (other than hostels) that I could find in Manhattan in September for less. This place was very basic and while clean, a little run down on the inside. Still, the location was excellent for inexpensive food and fun. We were able to walk as far as the Hudson River and up to Greenwich. We ate at all the places marked with one $ on Yelp.com. Our rental car was only $17 a day through Kayak.com! If you use it to travel to New York City from your home and back, you can drop it off and pick it up at the airport and hire a shuttle to get to your rental. I found a shuttle online.

We plan to use Airbnb for future trips as long as the price is right. 

Read the reviews carefully at Airbnb and check the pictures. Ask questions of the host before you book a place. I'd also check the area on Google to make sure it is well situated and safe. Some places have minimal contact with the host, and others have more interaction and extra services.

Check it out here. If you sign up with my link, you get $35 off your first rental. I also get some travel credit. This is not an affiliate link. Anyone who signs up can refer friends for travel credit.

Monday, August 15, 2016

CLEP Progress and Homeschool

Oldest is still working on his CLEPs. We decided to work through Time for Writing to give him some review. It seems he has forgotten a lot of what he learned through Rod & Staff English, which was excellent for language mechanics, but weak on writing papers.

He's working through Khan Academy in preparation for his math CLEP.

Starbuck now pays for four years of college through ASU, so I am strongly encouraging him to apply there in the near future. He is still learning to drive, and will be going to a driving school to push him ahead toward a license.

For job experience, he is working as a volunteer with a cat rescue once a week. He's registered with Care.com as a pet sitter, but he needs a license to get to regular assignments. There hasn't been a lot of short-term offers.

For career exploration, he signed up for a free accounting class online, and seems to like it! I think he's found something he might pursue. Computer science may still be an option as well, but he seems more suited for accounting.

My youngest continues to use Time for Learning and Brain Pop for homeschool.

For learning adventures, we've been using Airbnb for inexpensive places to stay. So far it has been a good experience staying at people's homes. None have been shared arrangements, so we had the places completely to ourselves. Our next trip is to NYC where we will be staying near Chinatown(inexpensive food) in a small apartment. Good deal and much nicer than staying at a cheaper bedbug hotel.

Friday, January 22, 2016

Make Some Cash: Online Consignment Store

I haven't tried Swap.com yet, but I heard that they accept consignments through the mail with prepaid shipping. Might be a great way to easily turn your gently used clothing into some cash.
Quick guide to selling.

They are taking spring and summer clothing until May. If I try this, I'll report back with my experience. I might have some items that didn't fit my daughter stored away.

Thursday, January 21, 2016

100 Ways to Save Money

I've exhausted all these options! Life is still expensive, but these ideas help. See here.

Random rant:

What's with all the hidden medical costs even when paying through the nose for insurance?! Such a ripoff.

Wednesday, December 30, 2015

Children's Books Pre-K Through Eighth Grade .49 Cents Shipped

This looks interesting! Supposedly .49 cents a book shipped. I haven't tried them, but it looked like a good deal for children's contemporary best sellers. See here. I'd love to visit this place. The store in located in a North Carolina.

Friday, December 04, 2015

Christmas Home Tours 2015

These are fun to watch at YouTube. I jump off suggested videos in the margins for more.

Merry Christmas and Happy Holidays

We are keeping it simple this year, staying home and enjoying the mild weather. I haven't gotten as much crafting done this year, but I've been enjoying all the ideas over at Pinterest and Etsy.

A favorite at Etsy. Totally do-able.

Tuesday, November 24, 2015

DIY Gift Wrap Caddy

We make a lot of our own rustic-modern-industrial furniture, and everything has wheels on it for easy cleaning.

This is a great idea for organizing, storing, and accessing all your wrapping accessories. See here for tutorial.

Tip: save money on wheels by using the ones off an inexpensive moving caddy.

Friday, November 06, 2015

Decent Savings Site: Hip2Save

Just got two great online deals via Hip2Save on kitty litter and a plugin charger. I downloaded their app onto my Kindle, so very helpful for not missing savings at Target and Amazon, among others.

Highly recommended.