10 Tips for Winning at Being Frugal

"Got my mind on my money and my money on my mind." - Youngbloodz

Yup, I just quoted old school rap lyrics. That's how we roll around here. Anyway...my last post was a long winded essay on why budgeting is worth your time. I thought since we've been at it for over half a year now, I'd share with you some of our best tips for being frugal and making your money work for you. The art of telling every penny where to go (in my pocket of course..."find a penny, pick it up, then all day you'll have good luck" and an extra penny!).

1. Generic brand food actually tastes the same on the majority of products. Try it, you'll be surprised and save a bunch of money on your grocery bill. I avoid generic tuna, am picky about hotdogs, prefer real maple syrup (or at least some large % mix) and have a couple of brand name cereals I really like (because I make a serious midday meal out of cereal...I need it to stick to my bones longer...and I'm picky). That said, we buy pretty much everything else generic. In fact, we are lucky to live near a store that sells SOOO many products in bulk bins, we save a ton of money shopping there and just store in our own containers.

2. Math is your friend. When you are shopping always compare price per unit of measurement. You are looking for the best ratio of most unit of measurement for lowest price. Some stores post this on the labels on the shelves. If they don't, do a rough estimate in your head. Does math hurt? Use a calculator (your phone probably has one).

3. Sell anything you can part with and you really don't need. When you start evaluating things, how often you use them, if you use them, if you are tired of them, if they are valuable, if you can easily replace them etc. you will start to realize you can live without a lot of the stuff you've been dragging around for years. My husband and I are constantly selling stuff. It is really satisfying to get a little money for something that is no longer useful to you and taking up space. Especially in a small apartment with no storage. Have a yard sale, list in the online classifieds. Post it on your facebook. Easy! We just made $150 at a yard sale this weekend and still have lots of stuff left to sell. Use this money to pay off debt! Good way to get the snowball rolling.

4. Cook! Making meals at home will save you so much money. It's also healthier and a good way to have some family time without everyone realizing that's what's going on :) . We go out to eat maybe once or twice a month. It comes out of our regular food budget and means that we get to buy that much less in groceries if we eat out. Also, bringing your own food for lunch is a huge way to save money! Leftovers reheat really well, cut down on waste, and are an easy way to have a healthy, filling lunch.

5. Look for free entertainment. We save so much on entertainment by looking for things that are going on for free. Our local art museum offers a free admission night once a week. Many museums do; check out their websites. Summer is a great time for free music and outside festivals. We have been going to as many of these as possible. We also try to get out and just enjoy the small things more too. An outing to feed the ducks? Sitting outside at the local coffee shop people watching?

6. Volunteer. You may be surprised that volunteering will actually save you money. It is entertaining, it is social, it feels good. And in some instances, if you volunteer for an event, for example a music festival, you can get free admission. My husband and I volunteered for the local folk festival. I will be doing site cleanup and he will be bartending and we will save $100 on the event!

7. Follow your budget. Don't cheat yourself. Once you have spent your valuable time, energy and brain cells on planning a budget, stick to it. This seems obvious, but it can be harder than it sounds. Don't forget to budget in some blow money for yourself. It helps. We each get $25 a month to spend on anything we want, no questions asked. My husband has a hard time limiting himself on this, but I feel like I am doing really well and sometimes have extra money left at the end of the month to roll into the next month.

8. Use envelopes with cash to manage things like food, entertainment, gas and your blow funds. We have noticed a huge difference in the months we used the envelope/cash system vs. the months we used debit. We let $1000 walk away one month using debit because we told ourselves "oh we're fine, there is plenty in the bank account." Sure there is plenty in the bank account, but on our digital budget spreadsheet, that money is actually being saved for things like the dentist, medicine and gifts. In a sense, we were stealing from our own savings. Sad.

9. Talk about money! Many people we know with money problems and debt hate money. They are angry about it, they don't want to talk about it. Once you allow yourself to get past that, and openly talk about it with your partner, your family, your friends, whomever. It is a lot easier to feel in control of your money, your expenses, your debt and your savings. Yes, we still argue about money, but I will say our conversations are much more productive and we are mostly on the same page.

10. Shop thrift shops and yard sales. This is a frugal, budget conscience person's best friend. In many instances "gently used will do". We buy as much as we can second hand right now. Of course we'd love to buy new, but on our just above poverty line income, we can't afford new on most things. I find name brand, designer clothing all the time. Watch for holes/snags/stains/general wear and tear but otherwise you can often win at thrift shops for clothes. We also buy a lot of kitchen items at thrift shops - dishes mostly. Pots and pans we buy new because the non-stick stuff does wear out. It is amazing what soap and water can do. Facebook has lots of local buy/sell groups. Search for your town name & buy/sell/yard sale/garage sale etc. Also shop online classifieds like craigslist. Plug your nose, dive in and you will be surprised and impressed at the treasures you will find. I have found Coach, Bottega Veneta and Gucci among other brands at thrift shops. Treasures people and more pennies in your pocket!   

Have some more tips not mentioned here? We would love to hear them. Please share in the comments! 

Veggies & Herbs You Can Regrow from Discarded Bits

This is really interesting. I am currently *dealing* with a 10 lb bag of beets I can't keep up with that has started to grow neon green leaves with magenta veins. I put a couple in pots and have been watering them to see what happens. This article hit my facebook feed this morning during my 30 min allotted facebook binge on a variety of edibles you can regrow from the scraps.

Today's walk happened after dinner. Used it to do some errands. Walked to my favorite place, the Bulk Barn; best place for frugal gourmands. They have bulk spices, hard to find flour like chickpea flour and amaranth, and bulk basics like honey & sugar. Full moon tonight.

I think I will make a single post and keep updating it with my daily walk picture as otherwise I will be drowning this blog in silly walk pictures.

Double Moon

My 20 Minute Walk & Photography Challenge

Fact: I am fat for myself. I could gain to trim my waistline a bit. It bothers me. It hangs over my pants (the handful of pairs that still fit) and I am out of breath and aching and blue much of the time.

Fact: I need to exercise. I eat relatively healthy food, my downfall is baked goods and candy. I am working on cutting out the candy and have nearly succeeded. The baked goods are not going as well but I am working on modifying my recipes to include as many whole and ancient grains as possible. Made my usual chocolate chip cookie recipe but substituted 1/2 wheat flour. Tasted the same. Success!

Solution? I think I have a solution I hope to stick with. A 20 minute daily walk. I am thinking an afternoon walk, during the 3:00 pm hour or so when I hit my lull.

Problem: I consistently quit exercise "routines" before I even establish them. My neighborhood is boring and ugly, built in the 1970's next to a shopping mall (you've seen it, there's one near your mall). I don't want to drive anywhere as it is then a waste of time and gas and an easy excuse to lose the motivation. Also, I am fond of the mantra "start where you are" and wish to take this literally.

As I mentioned in my last post, I polled my facebook friends and was offered a realistic solution: "Have a goal to take one interesting photo during your walk - since your neighborhood is not inspiring in the macro, look for micro things to make a good photo as you walk: an oddly shaped branch, closeup of peeling paint or a brick wall, a weird chimney, whatever."

This is something I can do and would enjoy doing. It adds a creative and artistic element to my exercise and may even inspire me to create something new. A jewelry project inspiration?

Why am I stuck on 20 minutes? Well during one of my 30 minute scheduled, daily facebook binges, I found this article about what 20 minutes of walking can do for your brain. That's enough motivation for me.

The challenge: 20 minutes of walking anywhere, everyday. Must produce one photo of something interesting. Post the photo here because, well, I can. And it will keep me accountable. You are invited and encouraged to participate.

Today's walk: I went straight out my front door. Climbed a small hill. Here is my picture:

Confined Space; you have been warned. 

RECIPE SHARING TIME: Blueberry Pudding Cake

I mentioned in my last post that I have a surplus of wild blueberries. In an effort to find new ways to use them I posted a petition on facebook (you should do the same when you are looking for new recipes) for blueberry recipe ideas. How's this for the most roundabout provenance of a recipe...my college friend Sarah, who now lives in Italy, found this recipe in the Boston Globe, submitted by a gal living in Florida, who has had this recipe for years. It's THAT good! It came to me looking like this: a cell phone photo of the newspaper article. Below you will find a typed up version of it. You can substitute Partridge Berries (aka Lingonberries) or other similar small, soft, tart shrub berries if cooking for people like Nan that HATE blueberries (they are "fast" on her stomach).


Speaking of my husband's Nan, I brought her some of this dessert one week and she loved it so much she wanted a batch made for the Senior Center gathering. Felt good to have achieved a simple accomplishment and to have purpose in enriching other people's lives; this sensation is hard to come by right now. It was a hit and her friends begged her for my recipe!

I will give you the same tip that Sarah gave me, it's a lot like a science experiment; don't let the boiling water scare you, it works! The result is a delicate crispy top, moist cakey middle and syrupy fruit filled bottom. YUMMY! I made it for a potluck at my mom's church today! (and clearly I love it as can be noted by the excessive use of exclamation points...!)

















Blueberry Pudding-Cake (or Partridge Berry)
Makes one 8 inch square

CAKE
Butter (for the pan)
1 pint (2 cups) fresh blueberries (or Partridge berries)
2 tablespoons lemon juice (or orange juice)
2 tablespoons water
½ teaspoon ground cinnamon (or more to taste)
1 cup flour
1 teaspoon baking powder
¾ teaspoon salt
3 tablespoons butter, at room temperature
1/3 cup sugar
½ cup whole milk

1. Set the oven at 375 degrees F (about 190 C). Butter a deep 8-inch round or square baking dish (or another dish with a 2-quart capacity).
2. In the baking dish, combine the blueberries (or Partridge berries), lemon juice (or orange juice), water, and cinnamon. Shake the dish until the berries are well coated.
3. In a bowl, whisk the flour, baking powder, and salt until blended; set aside.
4. With an electric mixer, cream the butter and sugar. Add the flour mixture alternately with the milk, beginning and ending with flour.
5. Drop the batter evenly by spoonfuls over the berry mixture. With an off-set spatula or back of a spoon, spread the batter evenly over the berries.

TOPPING
¾ cup sugar
2 teaspoons cornstarch
Pinch of Salt
¾ cup boiling water

1. Set the water on stove to boil. In a bowl, whisk together sugar, cornstarch, and salt. Sprinkle this evenly over the batter.
2. Pour the boiling water over the entire surface. Do not stir.
3. Bake the pudding for 50 to 60 minutes or until the top is golden and crackly.
Serve with a big spoon in shallow bowls. Tastiest warm!

Biggest Concerns of the Moment

Some of my biggest concerns of the moment are income and entertainment. Ideally both go hand in hand. Life is too short to be miserable. I have always enjoyed hobbies that earn some income. I am a cellist and have gotten paid as a studio musician on CD's of bands such as Glint and The Milling Gowns, and as a wedding and event musician. I haven't gotten involved in the (surprisingly) thriving music scene on the rock yet as my cello just arrived a few weeks ago. I need to get back into practicing and meet some musicians.

GOAL: practice cello, meet musicians, play music.

I also am an avid artisan. I have dabbled in many forms of arts and crafts over the years (since as far as my memory goes back) and have always sought ways to make a meager income from my creative efforts. In the past several years I have focused my creativity on textile arts and jewelry making. I have a small business, YazBerry Fashion which supports itself and that is about it. Nice to have a hobby that breaks even. Right now since I am between postal codes, my handmade purses and vintage purses are for sale on Etsy, and my handmade jewelry is available on facebook and in a few local craft and gift shops on the rock.  I am slowly starting to meet other artisans and I would love to host skill share gatherings at my home or another venue. I would also like to be able to more than break even with my artistic talents.

GOAL: meet more artists, host skill shares, maybe even teach classes for small fee, get my jewelry into more shops around the rock. One artist I have met has a simple goal of having his work in 100 stores. If he sells just $20 of product per store per day that is $2000 in a day! A simple thought but it could produce amazing results!

I am constantly seeking internet based opportunities to make some income. I just stumbled across this music review website on craigslist today, slicethepie and it seems you can earn on average $0.16 per song review. I haven't tried withdrawing yet but the website seems legit and since I listen to music almost constantly, and LOVE to hunt down new music, I figure might as well get paid to do something I enjoy!

Two month update: I never put in enough time to see if this actually pays out. Conclusion: not worth my time right now. 

GOAL: continue seeking online opportunities to earn income. I would like to seek editing and writing gigs specifically. Have an opportunity for me? Any tips? Anything you do or can recommend? Let us know!