Freebies from Craigslist - Armoire

A piece of furniture like this is versatile and can be used to store anything from a television to clothing.  You might need two or more people to move it and likely that is why the owner is willing to get rid of it for no cost.

Living frugally means accepting other people's discarded furniture.  You may have to work for it.  This is the cheapest way to live and there is an unlimited supply of goods, if you aren't picky.

Video: Consider Doing a Fiscal Fast for One Week

Interested in saving money?  Want to make your life more efficient?  Jeff Yeager, the ultimate cheapskate has some tips on how to start a fiscal fast.  Use up food from the cupboard, avoid spending money on entertainment, conserve fuel by carpooling, and change other habits.

It's amazing how much food is wasted every year, as it spoils and has to be thrown away. Many food banks will take food that is past the sell by date and distribute it, but why not use it up yourself.  Food banks will distribute some canned goods ten years after the sell-by date.  So, it is definitely safe to eat canned goods many years after the date printed on the can.  (Instead, give cash to the food bank and they can use that more efficiently than old canned goods.)  

Don't know how to combine some ingredients from your cupboard?  Try a Google search with the items and the word recipe.  It may turn up no results, but you could also find some very imaginative food combinations.

Watch "Ultimate Cheapskate: Fiscal Fast" on YouTube

Another Freebie from Craigslist - Soccer Clock

The author of the post says that the clock runs fine and just needs batteries.  If you frequently check sites like Craigslist, you might stumble across something that would make a great gift for a child or friend.

Living frugally is about doing things that others might find odd.  Free is the cheapest price.

Just Say No to Credit Card Checks

The credit card companies have figured you out.  They know that you can increase your balance and bring them more fees with a simple piece of paper.  It's called a balance transfer check.  Read the fine print and you'll discover that these checks come with transfer fees, usually around 3.0%.  It's just enough to generate a nice fee, but not enough to scare you away.  The real money maker is from debts that are too large to pay off before the end of the term.  And then of course, if you miss a payment, the original contract will be voided and you'll get stuck with a normal APR closer to 20%.  If you use the credit card for normal purchases, you'll end up building a high interest balance on top of the large balance you are paying down.

Just say no to these checks.  Resist temptation and destroy them as soon as they arrive.  If you simply throw them out, some thief could get a copy, endorse it and make it out to cash.  So, make sure it is clear that they cannot be used.

Here's a great video about credit card balance transfers.

Video: The Debt Snowball: Erik and Lalani's Story

The Debt Snowball: Erik and Lalani's Story by thatjustinguy After the economic downturn, Erik and Lalani found themselves spending more than they earned. They knew they had to make a change in the way they handled their money. Now, three years later, Erik and Lalani have paid off most of their debts and have a sense of hope and peace about their finances.

Snowballing your debt may not the most logical choice, but many would argue that it is the best choice.  Logic would tell you to pay off the highest interest rate loans first. However, in practice many people find it is easier to pay off the smallest balance first.  The administrative burden of carrying the debt, watching it, and remembering to pay on time is eliminated more quickly by paying off the smallest balance first.  This also begins to free up your cash flow more quickly with the smaller balance loans.

Craiglist Freebie - Simple Coffee Table

The post author wrote that they would leave this free coffee table on the street. It is solid wood, some marks but overall it is in good shape.

Being solid wood, any marks or scratches can easily be sanded out. The wood can be refinished. Other people's junk is your treasure if you live frugally. Needless to say, this is also the greenest way to live.

Video: Dave Ramsey, "Debt Snowball" Money Makeover - 3/10

Dave Ramsey, "Debt Snowball" Money Makeover - 3/10 by 100huntley Dave Ramsey's book, The Total Money Makeover Workbook, will motivate you to immediate action so you can: * Design a surefire plan for paying off all debt * Set up an emergency fund * Prepare for college funding * Maximize your retirement investing...and lots more! Truth To Go: Dave Ramsey Author / Radio Host The Lampo Group, 1749 Mallory Lane, Suite 100, Brentwood, TN, 37027 www.daveramsey.com Book: The Total Money Makeover

Live frugally by saving interest charges on debt.  Pay it off using the snowball approach.

Tips to Pay Down a Mortgage

Paying off a mortgage seems like a daunting task, but every journey of a thousand miles begins with a simple step.  Start your journey by making payments on time, every time. Never bite off more than you can chew, and this may be very possible.

Before rushing to pay off your mortgage, make sure there are no early payment penalties built into your contract.  Most conventional mortgages through Fannie Mae, Freddie Mac, and the FHA don't have penalties like this. If you arranged some type of private financing, however, it's possible you might have a pre-payment penalty. In that case, you should consider putting the extra "payment" into a sinking fund or money market, to be used in the future.

Pay off your mortgage by sending in more than the required payments each month. Sell some things online and put that money towards your mortgage to pay it off a little bit faster.  If you can provide even a little bit extra in each monthly mortgage payment it will go to principal, and help to pay down your mortgage that little bit quicker.

Need help finding a way to make that extra payment.  Look at your budget. Do you eat out often? The average family eats out 4-5 times a week. Figuring the average size of a family being 3.5 and the average meal costing $8.00 that's around $400 every single month. For a family with a mortgage that needs to be paid off $400 a month will go a long ways. The family might now be happy. You might crave those meals... but when the mortgage is paid it's all going to be worth it. If it's difficult cut down eating out by half for starters and go from there. Simple life choices can make profound financial impacts.

You can pay off your mortgage faster by setting aside any raises, merit pay, or bonuses you receive.  Some people use their tax return as extra payment and on a month with an extra pay period, they make an extra mortgage payment.  Put this extra money into the "mortgage fund" and pay the mortgage down.

Find ways to save money by not buying new things. Use the money saved to make extra mortgage payments. You may have friends who would rather have their fingernails plucked out with pliers than live frugally, and that's completely fine. As long as they give you a call when they are taking stuff to the dump, you should be fine with their lifestyle choice. Don't let things go to waste. Live frugally, save money, and become debt free.

6 Frugal Breakfast Foods

A recently distributed survey got a variety of interesting answers from anonymous users. Here are some great tips on eating a cheap breakfast.

Frugal Breakfast Food #1 - Eat Pancakes

"Pancakes and waffles make very cheap breakfasts. You can mix up the flavors by using instant muffin mixes instead of pancake mix."

A box of pancake mix can easily feed several people at least one hefty meal.  You can also make your own pancake mix with this simple recipe.

Old Fashioned Pancake Recipe INGREDIENTS: 1 1/2 cups all-purpose flour 3 1/2 teaspoons baking powder 1 teaspoon salt 1 tablespoon white sugar 1 1/4 cups milk 1 egg 3 tablespoons oil 1 teaspoon vanilla (optional) DIRECTIONS: 1. In a large bowl, sift together the dry ingredients. Make a well in the center and pour in the milk, egg and oil.  Mix the ingredients until they are smooth. 2. Heat your pan to medium heat.  You can even preheat your pan. It's important that the heat be medium and consistent.  If it is too hot the cakes will burn and be raw on the inside.  Pour batter on the pan, wait for the batter to bubble up and the bubbles to become firm before flipping. What is the cost of this recipe? The flour costs about 18 cents, the milk will cost about 23 cents, and the egg will cost about 10 cents.  Add up the remaining ingredients and the total cost will easily come in at about 20 cents.  So, you have a meal that will end up costing about 71 cents and has 8 servings.  So, the cost per serving is 9 cents.

Frugal Breakfast Food #2 - Eat Oatmeal

"Per ounce, oatmeal is the cheapest breakfast going.  Don't buy the flavored packets; buy plain oats, store brand, and cook in a slow cooker or on the microwave.  Add your own cinnamon, butter, brown sugar, or bananas!"

Another person wrote,

"Bulk instant oatmeal can be bought from many discount grocery stores. Mix with a little sugar, and some nutmeg or raisins, for a frugal but tasty breakfast."

Oatmeal really is economical. A 42-ounce container would cost you about $3 in any grocery store. If you want to add flavor consider honey, nuts, apple, Cinnamon, and even plain sugar.  Cost per serving is about 10 to 12 cents for a half cup of dry oatmeal.

Frugal Breakfast Food #3 - Buy Old Bread

"For a cheap breakfast, find a bakery that sells the prior days produce at a discount, even the bread is a little hard, you can always toast it."

Homemade bread is likely to be heartier and healthier than a simple loaf of store-bought white bread.  However, if you aren't crafty enough to bake your own bread, buy the good stuff day-old and heat it up.  You can use bread to make french toast too, which is a rich and protein filled breakfast.


Frugal Breakfast Food #4 - Eggs, Potatoes and Bacon

"Breakfast is not only the most important meal of the day, it's the cheapest. Eggs, potatoes, and bacon can be used to make up a plethora of hearty meals on a budget. Eggs are also an affordable protein."

Costing about ten cents for a 70 calorie serving, eggs are truly affordable protein. A simple omelett also takes minutes to prepare.  A frittata takes a little more effort, but is just as rewarding.  A simple Apple Cheddar frittata has about four ingredients, an apple, cheddar cheese, eggs, and butter, all very economical.

Frugal Breakfast Food #5 - Generic Cereal and Use Coupons

"Off-brand cereal is a good way to go."

Another person added,

"Breakfast can be one of the most economical meals of the day. Coupons for cereal can often be located in the Sunday newspaper. Many stores now have the option to load coupons onto their rewards cards or by logging in using a cell phone number."

Even if you buy cereal full price it is economical.  A box of Cheerios can be purchased for about $3.50 (18 oz) and it contains 18 servings.  This puts the cost per serving at about 20 cents.  Add in coupons and sale prices and you can usually cut the price in half.

Frugal Breakfast Food #6 - Fruit

"Bananas are cheap, and fulfill one's need to start the day with some fruit."

A banana is a simple and healthy breakfast consisting of about 100 calories. It comes in it's own biodegradable wrapper.  Most importantly, it costs about 50 cents per pound.  Add granola bar or some other small item and you have a decent breakfast.

Video: Cutting Up Those Credit Cards

Cutting Up Those Credit Cards by CBS During these tough financial times, many Americans are feeling the weight of the credit crunch and look to using only cash for their purchases. Randall Pinkston reports.

Cut up those credit cards and save on interest charges.  Live frugally so that you can live well.

Craigslist Freebie - Dewalt Cordless Drill

The author of this post says that the drill is only a few years old and is in pretty good shape.  However, the batteries don't seem to hold a charge.  Sounds like he needs to take a trip to the battery store rather than giving away his drill for free.  Something like this is great for the non-professional home do-it-yourselfer.  Why buy a brand new drill that you will never use when you can get one that functions perfectly fine?

Using other people's give-aways will save you lots of money.

Another Craigslist Freebie - Wooden Desk

This wooden desk is ready to be picked up, already sitting outside.  The final price is free (or the cost of gas).  Some people might think the desk looks dated, but I would call it retro.  You can't beat the price, free!

This might end up being a regular thing here. People seem to be constantly giving things away on Craigslist.  That's not very frugal of them.

More Craigslist Freebies - Washer and Dryer

The author of this post says that they are in working condition. You just need to come pick them up. So, one wonders why someone would give up a perfectly good washer and dryer set. That's not very frugal.

Chances are that at least one of these two items could permanently break as soon as you get them home.  It's likely that one of the appliances is slightly broken or worn out. However, when that happens, you only need to worry about replacing the defective unit.  The remaining item will continue working.

If you own a rental property, something like this is a great find because it will allow you to save lots of money. You could even set these two in your garage or shed, waiting for the time they will be needed.

7 Tips for Successful Budgeting

The following 7 tips were provided through an anonymous survey.  They have been edited for content and grammar.

Budgeting Tip #1 - Involve Your Family and Loved Ones

"Face the world with confidence. Let your loved ones love you more.  Plan your money."

This tips hits on a very powerful and important aspect to life changes.  Involve your family and friends in the budgeting process. Budgeting is really about changing your habits.


Budgeting Tip #2 - Create Wiggle Room

"When creating a budget, it's important to give yourself some wiggle room to have fun with. If you start to feel that your budget is too imposing, you'll be tempted to break it in a spectacular way. Instead, leave yourself a few dollars here and there to spend on treats."

Some people call this play money or pocket money.  An important part of this plan is to try and keep this money as cash.   This will keep you from making the mistake of blowing out your budget on discretionary purchases.

Wiggle room also applies to variable costs like utilities.  If you budget for electricity costs in January the same way you budget for October, you'll be disappointed.  It costs a lot more to heat and cool your home at the height of winter and summer.


Budgeting Tip #3 - Use Budgeting Software

"Mint.com is my favorite budgeting tool. You can put all of your accounts in one place, set goals and alerts. Mint makes it easy to keep up with where every dollar goes."

This website is a product offered by Intuit, the maker of Quickbooks software.  So, you should be reasonably assured that your information is safe with them.  The site automatically links up with major banks, credit card companies, and brokerages to aggregate your financial data.  It will produce lots of nice charts and alerts, but also gives you an automated budget process.

Download their smartphone app to your phone and you will have a financial dashboard to give you a visual representation for your budget.  This is very helpful to keep you on track.


Budgeting Tip #4 - Write Things Down

"Writing things down on paper and making a budget is a very helpful practice. Zero based budgeting is the way to go, for example "spend" all your money on paper, and see what you have left you'll be very surprised how much money is given to nonsense in our lives."

Putting your zero-based budget on paper is also useful when communicating with your family. You can provide them with updates on progress and a visual aid to show where budget problems occur. Otherwise, you might come across as a cranky person raving about something intangible.

Budgeting Tip #5 - Eliminate Credit Card Spending

"When it comes to credit cards, be honest with yourself: if you don't have the self-control to manage a credit card, it's best just to lock it away somewhere safe and forget about it. Or a better option might be to cut it up, so you remove the temptation to use it altogether!"

You may have seen or heard of someone that freezes their credit card in a block of ice.  This way, if they have an emergency, they only need to wait a few hours to be able to pay for it.  This might not be ideal for an emergency room visit, but if you keep a minimum of $1,000 in an emergency fund, you should be okay with a debit card, or using an ATM to pull cash out.

Extremely dedicated people will cut up their credit cards to remove any temptation of using them.   The facts show that most people do not pay off their cards timely and therefore they are sending profits to the credit card company in the form of interest payments every time they use their cards.


Budgeting Tip #6 - Save Receipts

"Save every receipt for at least 3-6 months in order to eliminate or re-evaluate purchases."

Saving receipts is very important for a lot of reasons.  If you buy a defective product, you want to return it.  If you have a home office, you may be able to deduct office improvements from your taxes.  Sometimes, we may just want to compare the amount charged on our credit or debit cards to the amount on the receipt.


Budgeting Tip #7 - Budget For Unexpected Costs

"I budget for every expense I have all year and then cut it down into monthly chunks.  Example my car repairs are usually 1400 a year, so I put 150.00 into my repair fund every month."

Driving an older vehicle is much cheaper than one that is practically new because you will have a smaller car payment. However, the maintenance costs can be a lot higher.  A typical transmission replacement could cost $3,000.  Windshields could cost $300 to replace.   You won't need to repair these items every year, but you shouldn't be completely surprised when they are needed.

Other big expenses could be related to your home. You might need to repaint the exterior or replace your roof. These expenses happen after many years of wear and tear, but they can be budgeted for.


If you have a budgeting tip to share, feel free to leave a comment.

Video: Extreme Frugality: Meet the Carters - Gourmet Magazine

Extreme Frugality: Meet the Carters - Gourmet Magazine by Gourmetajuan You've read W. Hodding Carters Extreme Frugality series; now get to know the author and his family in this video. Find out what they like and dislike about their new frugal lifestyle, and learn the authors grand ambitions for the family's garden. http://www.gourmet.com/search/query?keyword=extreme%20frugality

Sustainability and frugality go hand in hand.  This family tries to make enough to live and consume as little as they need.  That's being green.

Video: Forever Frugal

Forever Frugal by nhptvadmin We catch up with the one and only "frugal zealot," Tightwad Gazette author Amy Dacyzyn. Her message is that frugality works, both in good times and bad. She shares both practical and philosophical advice on how to save money, reduce living expenses and stay happy practicing frugality.

From New Hampshire public television, we meet Amy who buys things from a yard sale or picks things from the trash.  She published a newsletter in the 1990s called the Tightwad Gazette.  There are an infinite number of ways to live richly and well.  Saving money on small things adds up.  Little behaviors add up. Save $10 a week and that's $500 a year.

Video: Money Saving Tips from 'The Frugal Girl' - CBN.com

Money Saving Tips from 'The Frugal Girl' - CBN.com by CBNonline Kristen Cross says she's been frugal all her life and through her blog, "The Frugal Girl," she teaches others how to live on less... The Christian Broadcasting Network CBN http://www.cbn.com

Enjoy being frugal and sharing your money-saving ways, just like the Frugal Girl, if you have the time.  The Frugal Girl got interested in reducing her food waste.  She also bakes her own food, a great way to save money.

Video: Feed 6 People for $50 A Week

Feed 6 People for $50. Week! by familyfrugalfun Feed your family of 6people for $50.00 per week. www.FamilyFrugalFun.com

Here are some tips and tricks to saving money on food.  Buy things when they are on sale.  Stack your coupons.  Stack a store coupon on top of a manufacturer's coupon.

Video: Being Frugal: The Original Sustainability? - Chris Farrell

Being Frugal: The Original Sustainability? - Chris Farrell by ForaTv Complete video at: http://fora.tv/2010/01/21/Chris_Farrell_The_New_Frugality "Frugality is the opposite of being a cheapskate," says Chris Farrell, author of The New Frugality. Farrell asserts that conscientious spending is actually linked to a sustainable, green lifestyle. ----- According to Federal Reserve Chairman Ben Bernanke, The Great Recession may technically be over. But what's clear is that, no matter what the GDP may be, people are hurting financially. In The New Frugality, Chris Farrell, personal finance expert for American Public Media's "Marketplace Money" and contributing economics editor for BusinessWeek, presents a new paradigm for surviving the greatest economic crisis in a generation. The embrace of what Farrell calls the New Frugality signals that half a century of people spending with abandon and borrowing as much as possible is done. Profligacy is out. Frugality is in. Also, The Great Recession comes at a time of another great crisis related to our over consumption: global climate change. This convergence of crises creates opportunities and new ways to be frugal. In everyday money decisions, it turns out that being frugal and being green are synonymous. Farrell suggests we should focus not only on what's affordable in the short term, but also on what's sustainable in the long term. If you're thinking about getting rid of your car and buying a bike to save money, there's no reason you should buy a two-wheeled clunker from Craigslist that needs a trip to the bike shop every other day. As Farrell demonstrates, there's a difference between being frugal and being cheap. We'll still need places to live (do we buy or rent?), to save for college, and every now and then go into a little debt. How we make these choices will be as important as the choices themselves. The New Frugality offers smart, sustainable, and ultimately more fulfilling ways to approach our personal finances and get more out of spending less. - Berkeley Arts and Letters

Things come and go in cycles. Perhaps this generation has learned the lessons of the greatest generation, but with their own bit of style and meaning.  Being frugal can be cool.  Being frugal is green.

Video: Mom Feeds Family On $4 Dollars a Week

Mom Feeds Family On $4 Dollars a Week by greatkeysavings Kathy Spencer of Massachusetts, shares cost cutting tips on how to shop for free. She feeds her family of six on $4 dollars a month. Please visit http://www.greatkeysavings.com for more info on "How to shop for free."

Use multiples of coupons, double coupons, and store rewards to get food for free.  Combine manufacturers coupons with store coupons to get bonus savings.  This originally aired on ABC News.

Never Buy Kethcup, Mustard, Soy Sauce, or Mayo

Never buy these sauces again. I know this sounds a bit extreme, especially if you frequently serve fish sticks and chicken nuggets to a toddler.  You probably wipe a quarter cup of ketchup off of the floor every day.

Did you know that when you eat out at a fast food joint or local restaurant, you can actually walk home with numerous sauce packets?  Of course, you did.  You might not have thought much about it, but your office kitchen probably has loads of these packets lying around too. Most likely these sauces will simply be discarded. 

Some restaurants will literally allow you to take handfuls of packets.  This leads to stockpiles at work.  Some stingy places will keep their sauces behind the counter, but experience has shown that clerks are sometimes very generous with handing out packets. So, get yourself a jar, and fill it up with sauce packets for easy storage. Bring some home from work and enjoy your savings.

Video: Extreme Couponing Season 1 Episode 11

Extreme Couponing Season 1 Episode 11

Supersized savings on the 11th episode of Extreme Couponing.  This documentary style program aired on TLC originally.

Save Money on Wiper Blades

Tired of buying new wiper blades for your car every winter?  Clean them off frequently.  This is a quick and easy solution that's guaranteed to extend the life of your wipers.

When you drive, your windshield wipers accumulate dirt and road grime that coats the rubber blade, leading to smearing, streaks and annoying skipping. To combat that debris, use Windex, or even soapy water, and a paper towel to remove the worst of the grime. Spray the towel, wipe the blade, repeat with the other blade. You'll be shocked how much grime comes off, and love the money you save on replacing those windshield wipers.

Here's another tip.  If you have to replace one blade, try replacing only one.  The wipers may not match, but as long as they move unimpeded, there is no need to replace the blade that is undamaged.

How do you clean your wiper blades?

Video: Extreme Couponing Season 1 Episode 10

Extreme Couponing Season 1 Episode 10

This is the 10th episode of the popular couponing show on TLC. The people take couponing to another level.  

Closeout stickers are a jackpot.  Savings aren't guaranteed, but the drama is always guaranteed.

Denise's Gourmet Homemade Microwave Popcorn - $5 Dinners

Denise’s Gourmet Homemade Microwave Popcorn There are controversial chemicals in packaged microwave popcorn but our family loves to eat popcorn as a healthy snack, and I really enjoy the convenience of popping it in the microwave, so we simply make our own using brown paper lunch bags. It’s quick and easy to make and also costs a fraction of the price of the packaged variety. All you need are a few simple ingredients and some lunch bags. You’ll have a hot delicious treat in under three minutes that you can flavor any way you’d like, or keep it natural and just add salt. My personal favorite is Peppered Parmesan as shown here, but you could also toss your popcorn with ranch dressing mix (my kids really love this!), black sesame seeds and ginger, cinnamon and sugar, or curry powder. If you’re like me and have lots of extended family and friends on your gift list this Christmas, you might want to consider buying some pretty tins at the dollar store and giving the gift of gourmet flavored popcorn! Gourmet food tins can be a pricey gift when purchased from a retailer, but you can make your own for just a few dollars. Dress it up with a bow and your tasty gifts are sure to be appreciated. Note: There is a print link embedded within this post, please visit this post to print it. Peppered Parmesan Microwave Popcorn Yield – 8 servings Preparation Time – 3 minutes Cooking Time – 3 minutes Ingredients 1/2 cup popping corn 1 teaspoon corn or canola oil 1 brown lunch bag 2 tablespoons olive oil 1 teaspoon salt 1/2 teaspoon pepper 1/2 cup finely ground Parmesan cheese Directions Mix popping corn and corn oil then place in brown paper lunch bag and fold top over twice. Mix salt, pepper and Parmesan cheese in a bowl and set aside. Place bag in microwave and cook on high for 2 1/2 to 3 minutes, or until there is approximately two seconds between pops. Carefully open the bag as the bag and steam from the top will be hot. Drizzle two tablespoons of olive oil over the popcorn, close the bag and shake. Sprinkle the cheese mixture over the popcorn, close the bag and shake. :