Calling all frugalites! :)

[Mynyel]

Alright. I am knuckling down. I am creating a whole new budget. I want to work as few hours as I need to in order to keep things current.

 

For some reason I am drawing a complete blank with what is *needed* vs. wanted. I know I *need* toilet paper but what other items are really needed? For instance do I *need* Magic Erasers? Probably now but boy do they make cleaning easier.

 

I already make my own laundry detergent, use baking soda and vinegar for shampoo.conditioner, vinegar instead of multi-purpose cleaner. What else is there? What else do I buy that is actually needed?

 

I think I am just going to go through my cupboards and write things down but ladies any other ideas? Think simple, think cheap (but good).

 

Let the lists begin!

[Laura Corin]

For cleaning I use: an all-purpose cleaner for all surfaces; toilet cleaner; mould remover. I buy paper towel but don't use it much - I use washable cloths for most things.

 

ETA: I forgot glass cleaner and scale remover (used rarely). So I use all-purpose cleaner, glass cleaner and toilet cleaner every week; mould remover and limescale remover rarely. I use Ecover products, which I buy in bulk every six months.

 

Laura

[ballardlm]

Are you looking for ideas on cleaning supplies? I buy vinegar, baking soda, and dawn. I can clean my whole house with those 3 ingredients and a good set of microfiber cloths. I also keep magic erasers and a pumice stone on hand but I only use them when I have to and they aren't essential.

[ballardlm]

Are you looking for ideas on cleaning supplies? I buy vinegar, baking soda, and dawn. I can clean my whole house with those 3 ingredients and a good set of microfiber cloths. I also keep magic erasers and a pumice stone on hand but I only use them when I have to and they aren't essential.

[LaxMom]

Well, here's the thing... You don't actually need toilet paper. Some families use cloth.

 

So, what I would say is: look at each area - cleaning, personal care, pantry, etc - and look for ways you can improve on what you're doing. Most things probably don't need a MR. Clean Eraser, right? Most things could probably do with a good cleaning with a microfiber towel and vinegar/water or maybe soap and water. That makes that MCE purchase an annual thing, instead of a weekly or monthly thing. And so on...

 

*I am not judging you for using TP. I am simply saying where one draws the line is personal.

[Mynyel]

Well, here's the thing... You don't actually need toilet paper. Some families use cloth.

 

So, what I would say is: look at each area - cleaning, personal care, pantry, etc - and look for ways you can improve on what you're doing. Most things probably don't need a MR. Clean Eraser, right? Most things could probably do with a good cleaning with a microfiber towel and vinegar/water or maybe soap and water. That makes that MCE purchase an annual thing, instead of a weekly or monthly thing. And so on...

 

*I am not judging you for using TP. I am simply saying where one draws the line is personal.

 

 

 

*nod* True some do use cloth for TP but me? No... ewww. No. Just... no. I don't want to have to worry about that. I'll deal with paying for TP. :)

 

@ballardlm Cleaning ideas are always awesome. I am looking for better ways but also things that are needed on a monthly basis. Things I can put in a list and add an estimated value to.

 

Maybe I am just over thinking this.

 

Wouldn't be the first time.

[LucyStoner]

There are knock off magic erasers at the dollar store in twin packs. My husband likes to have them around, but they last forever.

 

I mostly clean with vinegar, water and baking soda. Dish soap and TTO to add in to water and vinegar squirt bottles.

[fraidycat]

If you don't do this already, it would probably be easier to track your spending for a few months, then decide what you can live without.

[LaxMom]

No, I totally get that. I'm just saying deciding where the opportunities and limitations for change are is very individual.

 

I think you may be overthinking it a little, but I also think that it's easier to chane your mindset incrementally than just start slashing. Fraidycat's right. Better to start by knowing where you are now. Then, start being conscious of always thinking about how you can improve, and looking for more frugal ways to do what you do.

[Mynyel]

There are knock off magic erasers at the dollar store in twin packs. My husband likes to have them around, but they last forever.

 

I mostly clean with vinegar, water and baking soda. Dish soap and TTO to add in to water and vinegar squirt bottles.

 

 

Umm :bored: What is TTO? :)

[hillfarm]

I think each person needs to determine how to incorporate the "work smart, not hard" mindset into their frugality. On the surface, Magic Erasers seem to be a luxury to me - I don't use them. However, if they enable you to save a great deal by shortening your cleaning time so you can sew clothes for your dc, then they can be part of a frugal lifestyle. It makes me think of the Chutes and Ladders game, we all have our own chutes or shortcuts that improve our lifestyles. But they are not universal. What works for me, in a family of 3, in a rural farmhouse probably won't work as well for someone in a more urban environment with a large family.

 

I agree with the others, that it takes being mindful of each thing we do. Asking if that activity can be streamlined or done more cost effectively. It also helps me to look at entire systems rather than isolated activities, such as laundry or clothing storage.

I get frustrated with many highly recommended frugality books. So many of the so-called revelations are either things that I have been doing for ages or are things that don't pertain to our lifestyle at all. Cut out Starbuck's? Sure. Not too hard for us - the nearest one is probably 75 miles away.

 

I am finding that in order to improve, I need to have a personal filter through which I run everything. What would happen if I didn't have this and never would again? How would that consequence affect my life? The lives of my family? Is there a long term down side of never having this again? Could a less expensive substitute work instead? Would it work to use this only seasonally or every 10th wash or whatever? Most of the things I've "filtered out" we have not missed at all. A few we decided we'd rather not live without.

 

So as far as the cloths vs toilet paper, we use tp. I use a decent quality, lower cost brand. Therefore I don't have to worry about disinfecting cloths, the time and expense of washing a special load separate from our other clothing, disinfecting the washer, having indoor pets attempt to get into the pail of cloths soaking, explaining the procedure to guests (or explaining to my family why guests get paper and they don't). So for me, the tp works out to be more frugal - in terms of time and money.

[Luckymama]

TTO= tea tree oil, I think

[dontknow]

I've been tracking our finance life for the last 19 years almost to the penney. You don't mention if you have a trackable budget currently. If you do - great! If you don't a free spreadsheet program included in OpenOffice (if you don't have excel) can work wonders. Don't forget a budget needs to be flexible to work over time.

 

Also if you really want to get serious - look to Quicken. Information is very powerful and after a few months of working with it, you'd already have the answer to your question. I can tell you at any second what I've paid for almost any category in our life and to whom. Though I haven't keep all 19 years, I do have the most recent 5 years.

 

Once the "system" is set up, it can take as little as 15 - 20 minutes a week to maintain or as much as you want once you begin to see what's possible. I can reconcile about 8 fairly active accounts in about 5 minutes.

 

Just a thought - take it or leave it. For me, I could never be without.

[LucyStoner]

 

Umm :bored: What is TTO? :)

 

 

Tea Tree Oil.

[Guest]

If you don't do this already, it would probably be easier to track your spending for a few months, then decide what you can live without.

 

 

:iagree: YES, do this. I keep a spiral notebook and categorize my spending from my receipts. I'm the most strangely anal categorizer you've ever heard of, but it works. It makes it plain to me what I bought that was essential and what was not essential. Eggs: essential. Cookies: Not. Sometimes it's even situational; swinging by a fast food place to pick something up could be worth it if I intended on it earlier and knew it fit best into my plans but it may not be worth it if I was just being lazy and didn't want to come home and make a lunch.

[Mynyel]

I've been tracking our finance life for the last 19 years almost to the penney. You don't mention if you have a trackable budget currently. If you do - great! If you don't a free spreadsheet program included in OpenOffice (if you don't have excel) can work wonders. Don't forget a budget needs to be flexible to work over time.

 

Also if you really want to get serious - look to Quicken. Information is very powerful and after a few months of working with it, you'd already have the answer to your question. I can tell you at any second what I've paid for almost any category in our life and to whom. Though I haven't keep all 19 years, I do have the most recent 5 years.

 

Once the "system" is set up, it can take as little as 15 - 20 minutes a week to maintain or as much as you want once you begin to see what's possible. I can reconcile about 8 fairly active accounts in about 5 minutes.

 

Just a thought - take it or leave it. For me, I could never be without.

 

 

:iagree: YES, do this. I keep a spiral notebook and categorize my spending from my receipts. I'm the most strangely anal categorizer you've ever heard of, but it works. It makes it plain to me what I bought that was essential and what was not essential. Eggs: essential. Cookies: Not. Sometimes it's even situational; swinging by a fast food place to pick something up could be worth it if I intended on it earlier and knew it fit best into my plans but it may not be worth it if I was just being lazy and didn't want to come home and make a lunch.

 

 

I do have YNAB. The only problem is I am lazy about entering in things. I can't stand having to do it. I guess I will have to.

 

I wish I could just scan in my receipts and categorize them by line item. That would work wonders for me! Like you do Quill but just on the computer. Hmm... can you tell me how you do it Quill? I must say I am intrigued.

[LaxMom]

I have no personal knowledge of this app (or its online version) but there are programs out there where you can scan and categorize, down to line items, from a receipt.

http://iphone.appstorm.net/reviews/business-finance/organize-all-your-receipts-with-lemon/

 

[Mynyel]

I have no personal knowledge of this app (or its online version) but there are programs out there where you can scan and categorize, down to line items, from a receipt.

http://iphone.appsto...pts-with-lemon/

 

Bah.. I don't have an iPhone and this won't work with the old Android phone I have. Bugger.

[5wolfcubs]

We are much leaner on the spending now then we were before we moved to this high-priced area. However, dh is seriously considering going back to school full time. If he does, we will have no money (even if I work).

 

In January, before this going-back-to-school-idea came up, I put a piece of paper (used on one side, always use both sides!) on the fridge and started a "To Buy" list. There is lots crossed off but still on the list are the following:

 

Dishes. This is actually the first item and why I started the list! I was tired of eating off chipped, mismatched plates. Well, I'm still eating off of them and probably will be until they have all broken now!

 

Also still on the list is a winter robe for myself and long sleeved shirts for oldest dd. Almost spring now so, we won't be getting those!

 

And the two remaining items are The Two Towers extended version and a bread thermometer. And we won't be buying those either. We have the regular Two Towers and having made bread for years I know what the temperature of the water should be. My thermometer broke months ago and I guess I don't really need another one.

 

Now some things on the list that we've bought I'd consider needs now -- new drinking cup for ds (his cracked), windshield washer fluid (orange kind that de-ices, amazing stuff!), and a blender (I broke the old one). But in six months? We have other cups in the house, ds could have taken one of those has his. I could start the car sooner (might not be a savings) and scrape the ice longer. We could live without a blender, we did it for about two months.

 

Anyway, that is my list recommendation! A place to put anything you're considering (and need to remember) so you can both see what you need to get that isn't standard (stamps), so you can ponder those non-necessities (funnel), and so you can look back and think was it worth it (25# weights).

[MrsJewelsRae]

I thrift as much as I can, starting at the cheaper thrift stores, then working up to value village (which is the largest here and also most expensive) and then on to Once Upon A Child, then retail. I don't buy bedding, towels or stuffed furniture at thrift stores for fear of bedbugs. All our drinking glasses came from Goodwill, they were a nice set of 16 glasses in perfect shape for $2 for the set! They've held up 5 yrs so far, same deal with my fancy glasses. Dd was in desperate need for jeans but it's tough shopping locally because it's a small town, value village wants $10 for decent jeans (which is robbery considering they're USED!?), but I found her 3 pairs for a buck each at salvation army the other day- all really nice.

 

I also make my own laundry detergent, as well as dishwasher detergent- which works better than store brand anyways. I'd say the biggest help with budgeting for me is meal planning. I stock up when sales go on, cook almost everything I can from scratch, and check flyers first to see where the best deals are, and what can be price matched.

 

Growing and preserving a big garden also helps, if you've got even a little spare room.

 

When my kids were babies we did cloth diapers, cloth wipes, exclusive breastfeeding, and homemade baby food- it saved lots of $ but I also enjoyed it and felt it was best for their health.

 

I love pinterest for DIY ideas, menu planning, etc.

[Clarkd]

Grow a garden and freeze meals. Garage sales are cheaper than second hand stores but both are better than retail. We buy baby wascloths at garage sales (often new in the package) and use these for napkins. stop eating at fast food/restaurants. Do errands in a planned way to preserve gas.

[delaney]

 

Tea Tree Oil.

Can I ask what specifically oils are good for? I own a BUNCH of pine oil that I thought I could use to help scent counter spray. Have yet to make it work. I also have orange and lemon which I need a use for.

[delaney]

I have started a lowest price list. I keep track of the lowest prices I pay for certain things and then I know of a sale is truly a good sale or not. I also coupon and use a new app for my phone called ibbota. It has money you can earn from buying stuff by scanning the receipt and the barcode of what you bought. I ahve earned $15 in 2 months buying stuff on sale and with coupons.

[5wolfcubs]

I found a website in another thread on another topic that might inspire you: The Minimalists The link is to their 21 day journey. Very timely and encouraging for me!

[elegantlion]

I found a website in another thread on another topic that might inspire you: The Minimalists The link is to their 21 day journey. Very timely and encouraging for me!

 

 

You got me with this one, I'm in the mood to be minimal for a while. I spent all morning reading their blog. I want to be like the other guy and travel the world too. Perhaps if I worked and saved for a few years, we could do a senior trip with ds.

 

 

As to the frugal question, I like having one all purpose cleaner (currently 409), one bleach cleaner (something in a spray bottle), and glass cleaner. I use rags for most cleaning except when I really clean glass or windows, they get paper towels. I also pilfer supplies from my parents. I have a box of brillo pads and other misc cleaners they never use.

 

I'm currently prioritizing my entire household. I'm tired of having 12 of what might almost be the right thing, and none of what I really want. My parents think you need more of everything, I'm ready to have less. Cable got disconnected today and we upgraded to faster Internet with the savings. Paying to watch the Walking Dead is still cheaper than basic cable.

[Guest]

I do have YNAB. The only problem is I am lazy about entering in things. I can't stand having to do it. I guess I will have to. I wish I could just scan in my receipts and categorize them by line item. That would work wonders for me! Like you do Quill but just on the computer. Hmm... can you tell me how you do it Quill? I must say I am intrigued.

 

I'm very low-tech. I've tried to use computer programs before, but it doesn't work for me. I like a paper notebook and a pen. I'm not lazy about entering things because keeping my categories under budget is a game for me. If I come home from a larger shopping trip, I spend probably about ten to fifteen minutes separating costs and writing them under the categories in my notebook. I do this because I want the categories to be precise. Walmart is a good example: I add up the categories separately whether they are food groceries, medications, pet supplies, clothing, kids items, household goods, etc. I may be a little lazier about tracking something like gas or a meal out because I know that whole receipt will go in that category. If I leave a grocery receipt for later, I can't identify some of the items.

 

At the end of the month, I total all expenses and all income. Hopefully, there is more income than expenses, kwim?

[Mynyel]

I'm very low-tech. I've tried to use computer programs before, but it doesn't work for me. I like a paper notebook and a pen. I'm not lazy about entering things because keeping my categories under budget is a game for me. If I come home from a larger shopping trip, I spend probably about ten to fifteen minutes separating costs and writing them under the categories in my notebook. I do this because I want the categories to be precise. Walmart is a good example: I add up the categories separately whether they are food groceries, medications, pet supplies, clothing, kids items, household goods, etc. I may be a little lazier about tracking something like gas or a meal out because I know that whole receipt will go in that category. If I leave a grocery receipt for later, I can't identify some of the items.

 

At the end of the month, I total all expenses and all income. Hopefully, there is more income than expenses, kwim?

 

So do you do a separate page for each category? I am trying to envision how to do this but all I see if accounting journals and cross-references :) I can over-complicate things :)

[readinmom]

I first read about needs versus wants when I read the Tightwad Gazette. A very common sense approach to needs versus wants. Although I could not match the lifestyle they created because we did not have a "goal" we were working towards, she does make some of things we think necessary for essential living seem extravagant. Our own needs versus wants came from scrutinizing our monthly spending and making some categories, deciding which items were not necessary to create a happy, frugal life. We stopped buying soda two years ago and the kids never asked about it. We are a milk and water family. We do buy flavor packets for the water for variety (crystal light) or flavor it with lemon slices, other cut fruit like strawberries, peaches.

[Guest]

 

So do you do a separate page for each category? I am trying to envision how to do this but all I see if accounting journals and cross-references :) I can over-complicate things :)

 

No, not a page per category. My current notebook is a 9 1/2" x 6" 100 sheet spiral bound notebook. So, when a new month is coming up, I'll leave a few blank pages and then write "March Expenses" at the top. My first page has "Food Groceries" on the top left, "Non-Food Groceries" on the top right. A little more than half-way down the page, I have "Restaurants/Eat Out" and "Household." I also have "Decorating" on this page right now because I'm not buying much for that category at this time. If I was doing a lot of decorating, I might go to another page with that category. The next two pages have more categories per page because they won't have a lot of items written there over a month. For ex., I have "Pets," "Kids (things like DVDs or toys)," "Activities," "College" on one page, because there might be only one to three things listed in a month, if that. Other categories I have within a month include "Gifts/Parties," "Charity/Church," "Auto Maintenance," "Hair/Personal," "Hobbies," "Books," "Entertainment," "Medical," "Clothing." I also have one page with bills like Electric, Phone, Insurance, Netflix, Oil, etc.

 

So, when I enter an expense, I usually write the date, what it was and the amount. Might say, "3-4 Panera 5.49" under the Eat Out category, for example. For groceries, I write which store. For non-food groceries, I try to explain what they were without listing each thing, so it might say, "Cleaning supplies" or "hair products." I keep a total going on larger categories like Food, because I want to know as I go along how well I'm doing for the month. So - I enter that day's total, but then I have a month's total next to it, circled.

 

Just past the Expenses, I have a Income page where I keep track of all income. I also list our different accounts and record any increases in interest income.

 

P.S. - You could join in with the Financial Accountability threads if you haven't yet. It keeps me motivated if I can chat with others and see what others are spending. I lost my way on recording for a while the end of last year, in part because I no longer knew what a good, frugal budget should look like for some categories (especially groceries). The thread on here gives me some company in my frugal lifestyle and it gives me a point of comparison on what others are realistically spending.

[KrissiK]

I, too, would suggest determining your expenses and making a budget, first. Then eliminate things you could do without and wouldn't really notice you cut. That would make it easier to stick to. Then, if you still need to, do a second or third tier of slashing until you get to where you want to be. Budgets, like diets are harder the more yu feel deprived.