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Re: Re: What are some of your frugal tips?

#21203
imported_Tobster
Participant

    A lot of money can be saved through investing in the right improvements. Finding the air leaks and sealing them as well as adding insulation cuts heating and cooling costs. Installing 1.6g toilets and low flow shower heads and faucet aerators pay for themselves in a short period of time. The payback on these improvements is significant, especially if you have an older home.

    Negotiate with friends. You know, “Hey Jim, if you’ll do the body work on my car I’ll install your new kitchen.”

    Here’s one of my favorites. If you’ll only use it a couple of times, rent or borrow it. Do you really need to buy that $200 tiler for a one time job?

    Get free mulch from your township if available.

    Lowes and Home Depot often have clearance items as well as “oops” paint at great prices. Ask yourself if you really need it though before you buy. When I knew I’d be remodeling our bathroom, I purchased piece by piece at discount and stored them until we had everything we needed.

    Buy generic. I rarely see a coupon for a name brand that saves me more than a generic product.

    Cheap shampoo works just as well as the fancy stuff.

    Make your own wrapping paper at Christmas. Brown postal paper, decorated with painted shapes made out of old sponges and tied with twine or rafia are special. The recipient knows that love went into that gift!

    I don’t have a second freezer. I can’t see it paying for itself, even for my family of 5.

    If you have a convection oven, use it for all its worth! Mine can do 6 lasangas at a time (but then I’d need that extra freezer…can’t win!)Great for holiday cookies!!!

    Why pay for gym membership? Grab a friend and go speedwalking.

    Buying your furniture unfinished and doing the work yourself saves a bundle. So is refinishing an older, serviceable piece.

    Dump the SUV and save on gas! A friend from San Francisco once asked why any Californian would need 4 wheel drive. Unless you were in the sticks or on a mountain, I’d tend to think he is right.

    Consider your next home to be under 2000 sq ft. The savings are too numerous to mention.

    Vow to never again pay late fees again.

    Sorry, I get carried away. I’ve used all of my own suggestions and have saved thousands in just the last 3 years.