the house behind

I like to follow other frugal content providers. I not only get great ideas but I am happy to find that I am not the only one who embraces a frugal lifestyle.

Only, am I?

Some of the content I see is really extreme, even for frankly frugal me. I mean, sure make nearly all your meals at home to save money but refusing to buy toilet paper? Seems pretty extreme because isn’t the whole idea of being frugal is that you save money, become financially solvent and are able to spend money on things you actually need?

Just my opinion. I think vintage shopping is great, vital for the environment after all but celebrating clothes you wear that are literally rags with holes is not frugal, that’s extreme.

So, my Ten Frugal Commandments for living a frugal life:

1. Thou shalt embrace saving money in all ways that isn’t going overboard. You NEED toilet paper but you don’t need expensive, designer fussy bottled water. You NEED clothing that works for your lifestyle, but you also need to repair, mend and reuse what you already have so it doesn’t all look raggedy.
2. Thou shalt embrace your strengths. For me, clearly, the kitchen is where I shine. I can take leftovers and make them sing. I can turn old eggshells into a powdery fertilizer perfect for the garden. I bake, can, shop the specials. Managing the kitchen is my superpower. Find yours.
3. They can only say no (no-eth?). In preparation for retiring, I called all my vendors (cell, cable, etc.) and boldly asked for a better deal explaining I was about to retire and needed to downsize my monthly run rate. I got a better deal in every single situation and lowered my cable bill by fully a third, my cell by half. It never hurts to ask.
4. Thou shalt figure out ways to have NO Spend Money days than not. Take your homemade lunch to the park, get creative with leftovers, reuse what you have. Find free concerts, new ways to enjoy yourself. I just discovered that a local museum I’ve been dying to visit allows locals to attend for free. FREE! All I need do is show them proof of local residency in the form of a driver’s license or similar ID. Who knew? I’m thrilled to be able to visit this gem any time and all for free.
5. Thou shalt covet thy neighbor’s and friends and family’s …stuff. By this I mean, borrow the big stuff, don’t rent or buy major things like a chain saw that you only need to use once a year or that bush whacker that you only need seasonally. Bring homemade goodies as thanks for friends who lend you stuff and return everything promptly and with thanks. We have friends who have a trailer and the husband is always willing to hitch up his trailer to help transport a large piece of furniture or a tree bought at the local garden center that won’t fit in the car. And goes without saying that you should reciprocate.
6. Thou shalt do without…in moderation. I recently ran out of my usual coffee pods, and a replacement shipment was not due to arrive for another few days because my subscription (which saves me a lot of money) is timed. I simply made do with stove brewed coffee for a few days. Despite really needing my morning brew, I survived just fine.
7. Thou shalt resolve to be creative. Shop thrift stores, flea markets, garage sales. Find new uses for old things. Keep your framed art even if you are tired of it. Rotate it on/off the walls every few years for a fresh look. A can of spray paint can work wonders on a tired, old bench or decorative piece. I bought a hand mixer years ago for $3 at a thrift store that it still going strong to this day. Best deal ever.
8. Though shalt shop the seasons and specials with utter devotion. Watch for holiday sales. Around Easter, I always pick up extra butter and eggs because they are on sale. The butter I buy usually for $5 was $5 for two so I stocked up. Same for eggs, they were literally less than half the price I normally pay. Before Memorial weekend and the 4th of July, I hit the meat department for deals because it is BBQ season. Stay in touch with the timing of major sporting events even if you don’t like sports. Before the Super Bowl or the World Series, you can often find a wide variety of snacks and party treats on sale that I would normally not buy at full price but will consider doing so at half price.
9. Tend thy garden. Even if you only have room for a couple of pots of herbs blooming in a sunny windowsill or a tomato plant on your sixth story balcony, you are still saving money. I am ramping up my garden output this summer because the escalating price of gas is going to increase the cost of food. I see it coming and I’m on it. I also now live in an area where while seafood is plentiful fresh produce can be pricy. I am particularly sensitive to the cost of produce because I used to live in California where produce was relatively cheap. No longer, I have had to get creative and increase my gardening efforts, Luckily, I have plenty of backyard where I garden.
10. Thou shalt sweat the small stuff. Hang that last towel that didn’t get fully dry in the dryer instead of running the dryer again. Use the water from cooking to water your plants. Save vegetable scraps to make stock. These actions, while small, all add up.