Thrifty Tips from the Pros
Cheapskate, frugal, thrifty: They all refer to someone who likes to save money, reuse and recycle things, and get something for almost nothing. Some people take this to extremes, while others just want to save a few dollars or cut costs when their income is reduced. There are many ways to live a thrifty lifestyle.
Other People Are Reading
-
Live Simply
-
When you choose to live simpler, you let go of clutter, downsize your home or apartment, and live on less money with fewer material items. A simpler lifestyle requires less money and less living space. Some people are forced to choose this type of lifestyle because their job or financial situation changes. Others want to live more conscientiously, leaving less of a footprint on the environment. Some people--- vegetarians, for example---even change their eating habits so they no longer spend money on certain foods. Whatever your reasons for living more simply, you'll save money doing so.
Travel Cheaply
-
There are many ways to save money on your next vacation. Jeff Yeager, author of "The Cheapskate Next Door" and "The Ultimate Cheapskate's Road Map to True Riches," suggests packing light to avoid extra baggage check-in fees as well as using public transportation and biking or hiking to a destination to save money. Shop around to get the lowest prices on airline tickets, hotels and attractions. Peruse company websites and join travel clubs to earn points and frequent visit bonuses. Rather than spending a small fortune at trendy restaurants and pricey theme parks, buy your food at local grocery stores and eat in your hotel room. Many hotels offer suites with kitchens: they cost a little more up front, but you make up for the cost with the money you save by eating in.
-
Shop Wisely
-
The first rule of smart food shopping is to make a list from a weekly menu and stick to it. Write down what you plan to cook for dinner every night each week, and create your shopping list from your list of meals. This system keeps you from buying impulse and unnecessary items.
Clothes shopping offers many ways to save as well. Consider buying your family's clothes at thrift stores, consignment shops and garage sales. You'll typically pay pennies on the dollar for decent pieces of clothing. Just make sure you inspect clothing for rips, stains and other imperfections since these sales are almost always final. Shop end-of-season clearance sales to stock up on items for the following year (but only for family members whose clothing sizes won't change drastically in the meantime). Search online auctions and online trading, bartering and selling sites to find clothing on the cheap.
-
References
Resources
- Photo Credit Sale Sign image by TekinT from Fotolia.com
Comments
-
I buy probably 98% of my clothes at thrift stores. Any time I see a defect, and it's something I can fix or hide, I ask for a discount and usually get it.
