How to save money

With gas prices about $4 a gallon, and the housing market in the toliet, who wouldn’t want to save money? I’ve always been frugal, but have taken this attitude to new heights. Here’s how:

1) Use cloth rags, and cloth dishtowels instead of paper napkins and towels.

2) Use reusable sanitary napkins. You can order them online. Search by “reusable sanitary napkins.” This is not as gross as you might think. You just soak the sanitary napkins in a bucket with laundry detergent when you are done with them, and then dump the entire bucket’s contents into the wash every few days.  The products do cost a lot initially, but you get that cost back over several months when you use the products over and over.

3) Use reusable bags for grocery shopping, library trips, and anytime you go outside, and need to carry your stuff.  You can find these online too at http://www.reusablebags.com .

4) Go to the library. You can get free books, videos and books on tape for FREE! Just don’t forget to return them on time!

5) Go to the library again for theri free children and adult programs. Watch a puppet show. Learn how to use a computer. Listen to a story. Do a craft.

6) Trip link! This means not taking twenty million little trips a day. Plan ahead, and see how you can travel more efficiently by combining all your errands. For example, go to the grocery store for bread on the way to the craft store for yarn. Caution: When taking a small child, take something for the child to do, and limit the trip to three places. Also take snacks.

7) Make your own granola for breakfast. You can find recipies online.

Go online when you need something. Sometimes you can get stuff for free by going to freecycle (go to Yahoo Groups), or craigslist. Also, sometimes when you buy online, you save money. Do the research, and see what works for you.

9) Cut the fat. Go through your house, and see what you really don’t need. Is it just taking up space? Get rid of it, and don’t get something to replace it. Less stuff means less stuff to clean, resulting in less cleaning materials to buy, meaning more cash in your pocket.

10) Check out thrift shops. They’ve come a long way! We got a very nice sofa at a thrift shop for $30, and it’s lasted us for three years and counting. We’ve also gotten pants, swimming suits, children’s clothing, and toys at thrift shops, and have always been very satisified. The prices can’t be beat too! Just examine what you’re buying for defects, and you’re on your way!

These tips are just the tip of the iceberg for saving money. Basically, you simpify and try to find a cheaper, easier way of doing things. For example, how about making your own coffee instead of going to Starbucks, or even giving up coffee altogether?

There are also many frugal web sites that you can explore. Just search by “frugal” on http://www.google.com, or search by “frugal” in Yahoo Groups (http://www.yahoo.com). There also used to be a leading expert in frugality, the Frugal Zealot, but I think she may have retired. She may still have a web site though, so you could search by “frugal zealot,” and see what comes up.

Thank you for visiting, and don’t forget to visit my web site at http://www.idontmatch.etsy.com for all your young children’s and women’s clothing needs! You will be spending money, but you will also be benefiting the local battered women’s shelter, because a portion of every sale goes to the shelter. Also, you will be purchasing quality items that will last a very long time (months to years).

Thank you again for visiting, and have a great day!

Tags: baby's clothing, cheap, children's clothing, frugal, idontmatch, inexpensive, money, more cash in your pocket, penny pincher, penny pinching, quality items, reusable, save money, thrift, thrift shops, thrifty, women's clothing