What are some ways to be frugal? I'm looking for good ideas to spend less.?

Question

For all the thrifty folks out there, what things do you do buy (or not buy!), and what ideas have worked well for you?

Answer 1

Your problem is very common. We can all fritter away money without realizing it, but most of us could easily cut our cash consumption by half in just one week.

You just have to do things like make your own sandwiches instead of eating in restaurants and ride a bike to work instead of taking the tube. This way you can save money everywhere. There are lots of free pleasures we forget because we're so busy spending money, like parks and museums and the simple joy of a country walk. You should begin by itemizing every single purchase in a single normal spending day and plot it on a graph. This should be done straightaway, before items can be forgotten. You should be honest and not suddenly curtail or alter your spending pattern. Anyway the very act of noting down purchases should have a curtailing effect. You should act as naturally as possible.

If you have a coffee habit you should make it at home and take it into the office in a flask, and if you like eating snacks you should buy cheap cakes from the supermarket.
When you make a real effort, particularly in the early stages, you should reward yourself.
But you should never scrimp on staples like bread and milk.
You should aim to cut your expenditure by half in the first week.
With a bit of application, anyone can gain control of their finances.

Answer 2

Its not an easy thing to do but it pays off TREMENDOUSLY. Buy 3 or 4 Sunday papers. Clip all the coupons of things that you like... or might like to try and also pull the store circulars. A lot of times stores will put things on sale that are in the coupon circular that week. A lot of supermarkets have double coupons if you use there store card ex: .50 off now becomes 1.00. Combine that with on sale items and you will save so much money its unbelieveable. And sometimes... some stores have triple coupons. When I was really low on money I did this to survive. I could get $150 worth of groceries for under 30 bucks. Be smart and only buy things you can at least get 50% off the price on the shelf. Good luck

Answer 3

1) Work out a budget so that you can live within your means
Understand what your weekly budget is
At the start of the week, change it all to pound coins or euros
Spend your allowance weekly in cash - carry no cards - you should carry perhaps a £20 note for emergencies, but no other cash

2) Wait 2 weeks before buying any purchase over £20

3) Force yourself to try supermarket own brands and note the difference in prices. Try at least one or two new ones per shop

4) Don't go to places where you are tempted to spend money

5) Make sandwiches

6) Stay away from coffee bars - these are like having a permanent hole in your purse/wallet

Answer 4

One thing, I don't buy it unless it is on sale. Then sometimes I stock up. I try to only shop once every week. If I am traveling to a big city, then I shop around, looking at prices. At night the thermostat goes down to 65. I use an extra blanket. I only use lights in the room i am in. I walk where I can.

Answer 5

I don't HAVE to but I do look in Thrift and Good will stores. A lot of it is real junk, but let me tell you, rich people give away their clothes too, and I have have some amazing clothes that I bought for literally under 2 dollars a piece. But you have to look. I also like to fix things up, ie;paint, reupholster etc. I've also started bringing my coffee in the car from home instead of driving through Dunkins.