Download Instead of a Timeline – Frugality Experts` Tips Adapted from The

Instead of a Timeline – Frugality Experts’ Tips
Adapted from The Huffington Post
30 Fast Tips for a More Frugal Life, originally appeared on GOBankingRates.com
1- Find Ways to Re-Purpose
Why chuck your stuff when you can re-purpose it and get more use out of it?
2- Always Get at Least Three Bids
Jean Chatzky said that when it comes to getting a service, it’s best to shop around.
3. Buy Used to Get High Quality at a Low Price
Kristin Wong said that it can seem like to get high quality you have to pay high prices –
but think again. “One way that I found to cut costs and still get quality is to buy used,”
Wong said.
4. Repair Instead of Replace
Just because you have a wardrobe item that is worn out doesn’t mean it’s destined for the
trash, said Aisha Taylor. When Taylor wore through the soles of a favorite pair of shoes,
she decided to repair them rather than replace them. She sent her shoes to the cobbler and
they came back good as new.
5. Add Up Your Loose Change
Ellie Hirsch said that her family’s favorite way to save is to pool their change together in a
simple plastic bag. “While it just looks like change, it can actually be a lot of money,”
Hirsch said. The last time she and her kids cashed in their change collection, it added up to
$100.
6. Pay with Cash
“To help prevent going over your budget, especially when shopping at a mall or store, use
cash,” said Daniel Fayette in his one-minute money tip. “Having to actually take money out
of your wallet or purse helps remind you how much you’re really spending instead of just
seeing a number in a bank account go down,” Fayette said. “You can even set a cash limit
on your spending by only carrying the max amount of cash you want to spend for the trip.”
7. Get Free Admission at Museums and Zoos
Susan Kessler finds free ways to have fun. At the Los Angeles County Museum of Art near
her, “It costs $15 for admission,” she said. “However, not if you come on the second
Tuesday of every month” – then patrons get free admission to the museum.
8. Use Half the Amount of Toiletries
Annie Logue said she has a simple trick “to save 50 percent on toiletries for the rest of your
life.” She said her suggestion is to use half as much toothpaste, shampoo and half of just
about everything else. Often commercials or box directions will suggest an amount, but
Logue said she has found she can often get away with using less to make her toiletries last
longer. “
9. Find Coupons and Deals Online
“Before shopping for anything, I always check Slickdeals online or through the mobile app
for coupons and deals,” said Amy Chang. “I use coupon codes to get additional savings
even when things aren’t on sale.”
10. Spend Less on College Textbooks
According to Carole Fleck, college students spend an average $1,200 a year on textbooks.
With a little work, college students can cut that figure in half. Fleck gave these five tips to
follow:
 “Rent them through your college or through online booksellers like Campus Book
Rentals and Check.
 “Buy or rent eBooks through Amazon and other sellers.
 “Buy used books.
 “Ask if your school offers a buyback program.
 “Ask your professor whether a previous and cheaper version of the textbook would
be okay to use.”
11. Skip the Gym Membership and Exercise for Free
Alyssa Windell said that she has a favorite way to exercise for free: “I like to call it
‘frunning,’ because it’s frugal, it’s fun, and you’re running!” Sure there’s a multi-billiondollar fitness industry out there, but you don’t have to buy into it. You can stay fit with a
simple workout like running. “So ditch those expensive gym memberships, get outside, do
some fun work, get that work in, enjoy the sun,” Windell said.
12. Shop with a List
“Food is such a big part of any budget,” said. Alan Slagowski. That’s why it’s crucial to
“shop for food with a list and stick to it.” “People who shop with a list and buy little else
spend much less money than those who decide what to buy when they get to the store,” he
said. Other easy ways to trim your food budget include bringing a lunch to work so you eat
out less often.
13. Have a Meal Plan
A grocery list helps you buy less, but Keri Houchin said making a meal plan is her key to
using the food she buys to make sure it doesn’t go to waste.
14. Buy Staples When They’re Half Price
“How would you like to have your pantry, fridge and freezer filled with half-priced
groceries?” asked Teri Gault. The trick, she said, is a savings strategy she calls
“investing.” Keep an eye on those grocery and pantry staples that you always go through,
especially the higher-priced items. “Whenever it’s on sale, instead of buying just one,
‘invest’ in two, four, or more.”
15. Split a Meal When Eating Out
“If you’re worried about this not being enough food, you can always add extra sides at a
lower price,” said Stephanie Bills.
16. Spend Less On a Night at the Movies
It doesn’t have to cost a lot to catch the latest blockbuster. You can save money at the
movies when you follow these tips from Lorrin Forester:
 “Buy tickets at Costco or any wholesaler.
 “Go on cheap nights – usually once a week – these tickets are usually half price.
 “Buy concessions at the grocery store – even the dollar store has candy!
 “Avoid popcorn. If you must have it, get a small one. You don’t need a large bucket.
 “Wait for the show to begin before you eat or drink your concessions. This way you
will only need to buy small portions, which are cheaper.”
17. Use Free Refills to Save More
Ted Jenkin said that his favorite way to save at the movies is to bring a couple of Ziploc
bags with him. Then, “When you go into the movie theater, you’re going to order one large
popcorn,” Jenkin said. “And at all movie theaters, guess what they’ll let you do? They let
you refill the popcorn.” Knowing this means that instead of buying everyone their own
popcorn, you can simply buy one and get enough to share. “Take that large popcorn, fill
out the quart bags for the kids and yourself,” Jenkin said. “Go back and get a refill. You’ll
enjoy the movie, and you’ll cut your price in half.”
18. Use Less Energy
With her MoneyMinute video, Brittney Nielsen showed that saving money on electricity is
so easy even your kids can help. Her son knows how to save energy at home with small
actions, like line-drying clothes instead of using an electric dryer, closing the fridge when a
younger sibling leaves it open, turning off lights when they’re not in use and turning down
the thermostat.
19. Be Your Own Handyman
Elle Martinez said that when her family went from renting to owning a home, she faced
many home maintenance costs that she hadn’t encountered before. By being willing to do
some of the work on her own, she has helped keep her spending under control.
20. Learn to Do Something New
Michelle Jackson suggested looking everywhere in your life for opportunities to do-ityourself. “We have boxed ourselves into always having to purchase stuff because we don’t
know how to do anything anymore,” said Jackson. “So basically my tip is this: Learn how
to do things so that you can decide later if you want to purchase a good or service or make
it yourself.”
21. Make Your Own Cleaning Products
To spend less on household items, “I stopped buying a lot of those commercial cleaners and
started making my own,” said Amrita Singh.
22. Or Try Using Vinegar
Vinegar is cheap, especially when bought in bulk, and it has a variety of uses. Tracie Fobes’
favorite cleaner replacement is vinegar. “You can also use it to clean your windows and
your mirrors and your toilets,” Fobes said.
23. Cut Your Budget to the Bone for a Month
Joseph Hogue suggested giving yourself a money challenge for a month to cut
spending. “Instead of going to a restaurant, plan a picnic or a family cooking night,” said
Hogue. “Skip the expensive gym membership and go jogging with friends.”
24. Skip the Bottled Water
“We all know that we should be drinking more water, but the price of bottled water may be
an unnecessary expense,” said Money Saving Pro. “Ban the bottle. Save yourself some
money and start drinking from the tap instead.” Or opt for a filtered water pitcher.
25. Grow Your Own Food
Linsey Knerl’s saving trick is her four-acre home garden, which she tends with the help of
her husband. In just one day, she said, she can pick enough green beans to fill 50 cans.
26. Pay Less Interest
You probably already know about staying out of debt – that’s the best way to avoid the
added cost of interest. But if you already have debt, you can get a better interest rate by
consolidating debt or refinancing a loan.
27. Cut the Cable Cord
Peter Anderson’s money-saving tip is, “Just to get rid of your expensive cable TV package
and become a cord-cutter.”
28. Commute with Public Transportation
Sam Walker said that public transportation is cheaper than most car payments. He lists
these ways taking public transit can help you save more:
 “Avoiding traffic prevents you from wasting not only time, but also gas, which
means you save.
 “No more paying for gas. Less money spent on gas equals more money in your
wallet.
 “No maintenance costs of owning a car. No insurance costs.
 “Stop paying for parking and wasting gas driving around to find a parking space.”
29. Only Buy What You Need, When It’s On Sale
Bekah Jorgensen has some simple money rules her family follows to help them stay frugal.
Even her daughter, Natalie, knows what they are. When Bekah asked her daughter,
“Natalie, when we go to the store, how do we save money?” Natalie answered, “We only
buy things on sale,” and “We only buy things that we need.”
30. Teach Your Family About Money
“Do you have any financial vampires in your life that are sucking the savings out of your
money and your budget?” Brian Brandow asked.” I do – I have three to be exact: my kids.
It took me a while to figure out what to do with them. Education was the key.” When it
comes to being frugal, Brandow said it needs to be a family effort. “Having educated
children goes a long way to saving you money and better preparing them for their financial
futures,” he said.