Living Frugally

Creating a Frugal Living Budget:

FrugalLiving.About.com provides detailed directions for creating a frugal living budget including a budget form and other downloadable budget worksheets.

Spending Smart:

TheThriftShopper.com is a one-stop web destination for all your thrift shopping needs, including national charity resale, secondhand, vintage, and consignment stores. They even offer a mobile version.

Reuse, Repurpose, and Create:

Checkout this Facebook page (with 348,000 likes) dedicated to inspiring others about the “Repurposed, Recycled, Reused, Reclaimed, Restored” way of life.

Reuse-Repurpose is a Pinterest page featuring an assortment of “Reuse-Repurpose” ideas.

Extreme Couponing:

LivingRichWithCoupons is an extreme couponing website providing consumers with guidance on how to become a strategic shopper and “couponer,” and saving anywhere from 50 – 90 percent on their grocery bills.

Tune in to TLC to see “Extreme Couponing,” a television show where everyday people save hundreds of dollars thanks to discount coupons. The show also has a website with additional helpful resources, and a Facebook page.

Living Frugally Groceries & Recipes:

LivingonaDime.com provides fresh inspiration to get out of debt as well as lots of great recipes to help you cut your grocery budget.

SimplyFrugalLiving.com provides a free “Homemade Simple Menu Planner.”

Fun2bFrugal.com is a great website offering tons of tips for frugal living.

When you think about living frugally do thoughts of sacrifice and deprivation come to mind? If so, then it’s time to change your mindset and embrace the fact that frugal living is less about depriving yourself of things and more about living smarter so you can afford the life you want to live.

The Internet is full of websites dedicated to advice on frugal living and several are listed within this blog. For starters, let’s look at some key elements of a frugal life.

Money Management: Begin by creating a frugal living budget and discerning needs from wants. Once you’ve determined your must haves (your needs) such as household expenses, monthly bills, debt repayment, savings goals, investments, etc., you can then determine if you have the extra cash, or not, to spend on the things you want.

Spend Smartly: Look for great deals and learn ways to make your money go as far as it will go. For instance, stop at thrift stores, consignment stores, and yard sales. Start clipping coupons or better yet, sign up with several of the popular coupon websites or download their apps. Rebates can also help to stretch your dollar. Avoid impulse shopping and take advantage of sales.

Be Creative: Learn ways to reuse, re-purpose, and create. Also consider bartering for services or goods.

Declutter Your Home: Take some time and get organized in your home. Clutter adds unwanted stress to your life. Cleaning out closets can be liberating and can bring in some cash if you sell items at a garage sale, on CraigsList, etc.

Again, just because you live a frugal lifestyle does not mean you have to go without. Change your frugal living mindset from one of deprivation to one of smarter spending. The possibilities are endless. The sidebar includes some helpful websites that can assist you in that process. Teach your children about living frugally and model that behavior by practicing what you preach. Need guidance? FamilyMint.com provides children with the knowledge and training of financial literacy in a fun and educational way.

Photo Source: www.quickenloans.com