 |
|
|
|
|
|
Useful Articles
Frugal Shopper's Favorite Frugal TipsThe Frugal Shopper's Favorite Frugal Tipsby Sandy Shields
The following are my favorite frugal tips that I use on a regular basis. I hope that they will help you as much as they have helped me and my family. ----------------------- • Keep a positive attitude. When you succeed at saving money you are helping yourself. Pat yourself on the back for meeting your goals. Remember that just because you have determined to live by a budget, does not mean that you are "cheap". • Be content with what you have. Remember that you have so much more than most people in this world. Do not view budgeting as doing without; but as being an intelligent consumer, and consistent manager of your money. • "Stretch" everything as much as you possibly can. For example, you can dilute these products with water, or cut them in half and they will work just as well: toothpaste, shampoo, hair conditioner, dish detergent, dishwasher soap, and laundry soap. • Drink lots of water. It is better for you, and much easier on your pocketbook. At home, the cheapest of course, is your tap water. However, if you do not like tap water or desire filtered water, you can still save money on bottled water by using these tips: Buy the store brand - do not pay extra for name brands. When your bottles are empty, look for the bottled water machines at your grocery store. In my area, I can fill a gallon for only .25 cents. Compare that to .75 cents (or more) per gallon that you are paying in the store. Stock up on small bottles when they are on sale, and reuse them for lunches. At work and when dining out, always order water. It is usually free. If you take a bag lunch, take along a bottle of water or a thermos. • Always stockpile sale items whenever your budget allows for it. This is a huge money saver, and my all-time favorite tip. Stockpiling means buying enough of the item while it is on sale to last you until the next sale. Spend as much of your budgeted money as you possibly can on sale items. "Loss Leaders" are the low-priced sale items that the grocery stores advertise to get you into their stores. They are hoping that as you stop by for the sale items, that you will do all of your shopping in their store. Don't. Get the sale items and leave. Shop around. Compare prices. No one store ever has the lowest prices on everything. • Never pay retail prices unless absolutely necessary. Use coupons, send for rebates, and shop the sales. If you use the previous tip, you will always have on hand the things you need. You will not have to make special trips to purchase items at full price. Don't be caught by surprise - plan ahead. You will feel more secure knowing that you have a full pantry as well. • Make it yourself. Make what you need instead of buying it. My favorite thing to make is Laundry Soap. Click here for my recipes. There are many things that I make instead of buying. One is Pickle Relish. Instead of paying $1.29 for a 10 oz. jar of pickle relish at the store, I buy the 46 oz. jar of whole pickles on sale for $1.50-$2.00. Then I chop the pickles in my blender or food processor. I save $3.00-$4.00 by doing this. I refuse to buy processed cheese slices. I buy store brand bricks of cheese on sale. The typical price is $1.20 for an 8 ounce brick. Then I process the cheese in the blender/food processor and add a little mayonnaise. This makes a great cheese spread that you can put on sandwiches, and it is much cheaper! • Shop the discounted bread stores. Did you know that most of the time the bread stores carry fresh breads? You can get baked goods for a much lower price. Most bread stores also offer promotions such as "frequent buyer cards". Our local bread store gives discount cards. For each $5.00 purchase, they will stamp the card one time. When your card has 7 stamps, you turn in the card and receive a free $5.00 credit. These bread stores also carry snacks, spices, and mixes. • Pay your debts Pay them off as soon as you possibly can, and do not charge anything else until they are paid for. You may want to cut up your credit cards, but be sure to leave yourself a low interest card so that you can take advantage of great deals online. You also may want to keep it for emergencies. However, when you buy online, make sure that you pay for your purchase as soon as the bill comes. If you let interest add up on your great deal, it is no longer a great deal. • Don't buy it unless you need it. Notice I said, NEED it - not WANT it. There is a big difference. Curb your desires, and learn to discipline your spending habits. Trust me, it can be done. • Before you buy something, ask yourself the following questions: Is this something I can live without? Do I already have something that I can use instead? Can I borrow it from a friend or family member? How long will I have to work to pay for this? Do I really need this, or do I only want it? • Always use the Five R's: Repair, Restore, Reduce, Reuse, Recycle - these alone will save you a bundle. ----------------------- If you will incorporate these tips into your daily life, you will save money - guaranteed.
Sandy is a freelance writer and webmaster of TheFrugalShopper.com. She enjoys living the frugal life, saving money, and helping others to do the same. Subscribe to her newsletter to receive more money-saving ideas and frugal tips. Reprint permission granted with this footer included. Copyright © TheFrugalShopper.com 2001. Back to Top
All Natural Household Cleaning SolutionsAll Natural Household Cleaning Solutions
by Sandy Shields Save time and money by trying these simple household cleaners! Window Cleaner Mix 1 tablespoon of cornstarch with 1 quart warm water. Floor Cleaner Mix 1 cup vinegar with 2 gallons water. Glass Coffee Pot Cleaner Place crushed ice, salt and sliced lemons in pot and swirl till clean. Furniture polish Mix 1/4 cup vinegar with 3/4 cup oil (olive, vegetable, lemon). Brass, Copper, and Pewter Cleaner Mix equal parts salt and vinegar, then thicken with flour. General Cleaner Mix 4 tablespoons baking soda in 1 quart warm water, or use plain baking soda with a wet sponge. Disinfecting/Deodorizing Cleaner Mix 1/2 cup Borax in 1 gallon hot water. Mildew Remover Mix 3/4 cup chlorine bleach in 1 gallon of cold water. Telephone Cleaner Clean with rubbing alcohol. Eyeglass Cleaner Mix 8 ounces of ammonia with 32 ounces of rubbing alcohol. Daily Shower Cleaner 1 cup vinegar, 1/2 teaspoon liquid dishwashing soap, and 1/4 cup dishwasher rinse agent. Oven Cleaner Baking Soda and Vinegar. Drain Cleaner Add 1/2 cup baking soda, then pour one cup of vinegar down drain. Let sit for 20 minutes, then flush with water. Woodwork Cleaner Used cold tea for cleaning any kind of woodwork. Dusting Re-use dryer sheets for dusting instead of the new Pledge or Swiffer cloths. Toilet Bowl Cleaner Drop denture cleaning tablet into bowl and let sit. Carpet Deodorizer Sprinkle baking soda or cornstarch on carpet. Vacuum after 30 minutes. Aluminum Cleaner Mix 2 tablespoons cream of tartar with 1 quart hot water. Tub and Tile Cleaner Mix 1/4 cup baking soda with 1/2 cup white vinegar. Try some of these all natural solutions next time you clean. They are made with products that you probably have on hand, and they are safe to use. I hope that they work as well for you as they have for me!
Back to Top
Use a Price GuideUse a Price Book
Price Books: You have probably heard about them, or read about them in budgeting articles. But what exactly is a Price Book? A Price Book is a powerful tool used by smart shoppers to help them save money. It is a practical technique used to record prices of frequently purchased items. Consumers armed with a current Price Book will know if an advertised "special" is truly a bargain or not. Costly mistakes can be avoided, and much money can be saved by knowing how much to pay for items used most often. A Price Book is a personal item created by each individual shopper. There are various formats and suggestions one can follow, but the effectiveness of a Price Book is determined by the way it is prepared, and if it represents the typical purchases of the individual who created it. A Price Book can be simple or complex; there is no set way to manage one. A person should try a few different ways to determine which method is best for their personal use. Here are a few methods to choose from when starting a Price Book: Large notebook Small, pocket size notebook Spreadsheet Index cards Address book My personal preference is a small notebook that I can carry along with my coupons. I use a simple format. I list the products that I buy most often in alphabetical order, with the lowest price I have found next to each item. I have realized that with whatever method used, it is best to list or file alphabetically. I started my Price Book by carrying an 8x11 notebook with me to the store. Each item that I purchased was written at the top of a page in the notebook. I listed the price for that particular store, the date, and a few other brand comparisons. Then each time I shopped at another store, I would add the prices for that store. After visiting each store in my area, I was able to see which ones consistently had the lowest prices on the products I purchased. However, I also found that no one store had the lowest prices on everything. In order to buy at the lowest prices, I have to shop at several stores, and be willing to use many brand names. Unfortunately, I cannot save money by being brand loyal. Once I had been keeping my Price Book for several months, I knew the lowest price that I could pay for my regular purchases, and how to avoid paying over that amount. I see advertisements everyday claiming to offer the lowest prices on products for sale. Since I began investing my time and efforts into my own price book, I am no longer deceived by false advertising claims. Keeping a Price Book is one easy way consumers can be smart shoppers. Start your own Price Book today, and you too will see the patterns that the stores and manufacturers follow. But don't just start one; be sure to use it regularly once you have the prices listed. It is a practical tool to help you save. Happy Shopping!
Back to Top
Who is ... ?[This is the answer to the question.] Back to Top
What is ... ?[This is the answer to the question.] Back to Top
When is ... ?[This is the answer to the question.] Back to Top
Author information goes here.
|
|
|
