Hi there…. my first post on this Forum.
I am quite new to the “frugal lifestyle” and find myself feeling pretty darn good about myself!
In the course of 2 months, I have saved several thousand dollars by the following:
1. Reviewing and downsizing my car and home insurance to more standard levels (saved about $1500 per year now!)
2. Gave up smoking (as of Valentine’s Day!) in one year’s time, I will have saved about $3000
3. Will be selling my expensive sports car (I also have a daily-driver, a Toyota) and pay off my mortgage with that money.
4. Will save $2000 a year on garaging the sports car.
5. Dropped down my monthly cable bill by $100 – going from the platinum package ($120) to the basic cable rate ($15)as I watch more DVD’s than regular TV anyway!
6. I do not rent DVD’s at all…. I usually borrow them from my local library (about 2 blocks from my house) and those that I KNOW I will watch often, are those that I buy – on sale only.
7. I take the commuter train into work each day, rather than driving. Saves gas, mileage, and a lot of stress. My employer subsidizes a portion of the monthly train ticket/pass.
8. I dropped my fast DSL internet connection to a slower version of the same DSL – I same more than 50% and barely notice any real difference in speed.
9. I now brew my own coffee each morning and bring to work in a thermos. I save a LOT of money doing this – instead of going to a coffee shop which charges $3 for a small capuccino.
OK, those are the main highlights…. Considering just how short a time I have been thinking about being more frugal and saving myself a lot of stress, I am completely shocked at how much I have saved – both in immediate terms as well as over the course of a year. I have not really “lost” anything at all, and have gained so much more….
I am very grateful for this site and all of you who have shared some wonderful tips and ideas. Thanks!