One of the negative things that is sometimes associated with living a frugal lifestyle is the idea that frugally-minded people are also tightwads or stingy. That is, if you wash out your ziploc baggies, shop at thrift stores or lower your thermostat in the winter, then you must be a miserable person with no thought for others. Remember Ebenezer Scrooge? But I think that frugal people are in a unique position to be able to be far more generous than the average person. Frugal people have learned how to save money, stretch those dollars and finds ways to make something … Continue reading →

One way to stretch your budget on the household items that you use is to become a consumer tester. You’ll get free products and usually a small payment besides. When my oldest child was our only baby, I did some consumer testing for a couple of companies. Basically, I would receive unmarked products in the mail, test them out and then fill out a survey with my observations and comments. After the survey was submitted, I would receive a small check in the mail for my time. Plus I got to keep the products that I tested and put them … Continue reading →

We all have different reasons for trying to save money and live a frugal life. But too often, we focus on the deprivations of living frugally, such as not being able to eat out often, or living without cell phones and cable television. But this is the wrong attitude. Frugal living is a blessing in many ways. It fosters appreciation Just the other day, my family and I were at a local park and everyone was having a great time. I felt completely blessed to have this great free resource nearby. In the past, before living frugally, I wouldn’t have … Continue reading →

With the warm weather coming, you might be more conscious of getting your body in shape for a summer full of swimming and lighter clothing. joining a gym can be a great way to do this, but let’s face it, a gym won’t do anything for your finances. Here is how to get in shape or stay in shape while actually benefiting your bottom line. Substitute your feet Make it a challenge to substitute your feet for your car as often as possible. Take a walk or a bike ride to the store if that is feasible. Is the store … Continue reading →

Strike out and make some money at home without an investment. You have all seen the ads about making money at home in your spare time. At least 90 percent of these ads (if not all of them) can be scams that require you to pay for something up front or simply give you the instructions for placing your own make money at home ad and hope for gullible people just like you to give you money. This practice makes me so angry because the victims of it are usually frugal-minded moms who want to be able to stay home … Continue reading →