Taking Frugality to a Whole New Level

Since we are a single income family, out of necessity, I've taken stretching a penny to a whole new level. Some websites on saving money have given me some wonderful tips. Others....not so much. For example, waiting until the Gap is having a 30% off sale IS NOT being frugal! I've heard it once said that if you take care of the pennies, the dollars take care of themselves. Too true my friend too true. So for all of you out there that need to learn how to watch your pennies, I'm going to give you some of my tips.

1. Seriously avoid restaurants and coffee shops. You've likely heard this a thousand times over $20 a week on coffee and lunches times 52 weeks is $1040! You could go on a cruise once a year instead. If your coworker or friend insists, pack two lunches - one for them and one for you. You'd still be WAAAAY ahead financially.

2. Learn to cut hair. Yes you CAN do it!!! A guy's hair cut is not that hard. Youtube is a great (FREE) teacher. Practice on your young son's head before tackling your hubby's h$ead if it'll make you feel better. Money saved? $20/month

3. Recognize the amount of clothing you have vs. what you really need. If you were packing for a week away, what would you bring? Other then specialty items - snowsuits etc, whatever you would pack in that suitcase is really all you need. There has to be a change in outlook for true saving to begin.

4. $1.00 for a cake mix is tooooo much! You still have to add the egg and oil and those are the expensive ingredients. The flour, sugar and baking soda is worth all of approx $0.15 and you're only saving yourself 5 minutes. Rethink the value all premades.

5. Oddly enough decluttering is great for saving money. The less you have the less you seem to need. Mess begets mess, stuff begets more stuff. The only way to true financial freedom is to learn that YOU DON'T NEED IT. ("it" being whatever you are drawn to that doesn't actually keep you alive.

6. If you drink wine, make it yourself. If you go in with a friend or two and split up the batches you each make at a u-brew store, it's a blast and save an incredible amount of money.

7. Spending some money saves you a lot of money sometimes. Regularly,get the car tuned up, your teeth checked, furnace filters changed, buy proper running shoes. The problems that will arise from not maintaining the things you own will cost you more in the long run.

8. Don't rent movies. You'd be amazed at what you get at the library. And except for school curriculum or bible studies, I only buy books from yardsales if they are under 50 cents each. How often do you really reread a book? Think library, library, library.

9. Believe it or not, all your son needs in the way of toys is a bike, a ball, and some blocks. Oh and the occasional big cardboard box. Our society is choking itself on a mirade of toys! Stop the madness and watch your child's imagination soar.

10. Scale back on birthday parties. My son came home from a party not that long ago with a loot bag easily worth $20! Too bad I know that the family is swimming in debt. For a loot bag I bake huge cookes suckers and wrap them in cello. If we make a craft during the party, that's part of the loot bag. I also refuse to try and keep up with the Jones in the gift department too cuz the Jones are in debt and I refuse to follow them there.


I have started to try and teach my children the art of money smarts. I don't allow them to impulse buy period and I don't let them buy junk from the dollar store. $1 for junk is $1 wasted.

I'd love for you to comment with your own helpful tips. Let's all get out of the money spending madness together.

Book Review for October

"Your Money, God's Way" by Amie Streamer was not at all what I was expecting. I was expecting a How To book on finances. Instead I was pleasantly surprised to find a How Come book on finances. Amie Streamer explores the 7 most common myths that keep people (in particular christians) broke. I have no doubt in my mind that should Amie Streamer and I ever meet we would become instant BFFs because I love her hammer on your thick skull approach. Why are you broke? Cuz you were dumb BUT God is gracious and you can get out of this mess even though it will be hard. By the end of "Your Money, God's Way" I felt very ready to re-estabish a realistic budget and quite enpowered. The last chapters do give a bit of How To so that you aren't left hanging. Good Read!!



Disclosure of Material Connection: I received this book free from Thomas Nelson Publishers as part of their BookSneeze.com book review bloggers program. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255 : “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.”

Mind Your Own Mortgage

I read "Mind Your Own Mortgage" by Robert J. Bernabe and now I'm scared half to death. I always assumed the mortgage broker had my best interest in mind and since I don't have half a clue when it comes to money I happily was led around. How much money have I lost? I hate to even think about it. This book has made me rethink everything and I can promise you this - life from here on out will be different in terms of my mortgage. The only downfall with this book is that it is american and I live in Canada so I'm going to have to do more research to see if all that Mr Bernabe taught applies. Either way this book was definitely worth my time. I thought I'd be plodding along half asleep reading a book on mortgages but it was very readable. In fact I couldn't put it down. Highly recommended.

Disclosure of Material Connection: I received this book free from Thomas Nelson Publishers as part of their BookSneeze.com book review bloggers program. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255 : “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.”