I get a rush from living frugally. No joke, I actually enjoy it. I get excited when I have managed to cut our grocery bill down and still make delicious meals, or when I find a really good bargain while shopping, or better yet, I've managed to get something for free.
When I was in college, I took an accounting class that made me absolutely giddy. When I sat down with that huge spreadsheet, a bunch of numbers, and a calculator, I knew what my challenge was. I needed to make everything balance. Maybe it was a feeling of control when those numbers worked out, but the end result gave me such satisfaction.
I get that way when I pull out my calculator, my budget, my grocery list, and my meal plan. There's a sense of power when it all works out, AND we aren't living on mr. noodles and kraft dinner to make it work.
I have collected many books, and many websites to learn different tips along the way to save money. I want to share with you some of the deals I've gotten, and some of the tips I've learned along the way.
-I found a perfectly 'retro' treadmill for $40 on kijiji.ca. I was initially suspicious of the ad, wondering how a treadmill could be so cheap, but after the sellers let me try it out at their house, I was sold. It doesn't have all the bells and whistles you would find on a newer one, but it gets the job done, ie: makes me run and burn calories.
-I don't remember the last time I paid full price for clothing. And I actually rarely buy second-hand. I actually have found the sale-racks and end of season clothing to often be cheaper than what you would pay at value village.
-We buy diapers in bulk at Costco and are able to save that way. (of course we all know cloth diapers would be cheaper, but I questioned my ability to keep up with cloth!). We pay a fee for our Costco membership, but we have saved much more in return. The only thing I would say is, do your research. Some things in bulk are not cheaper than buying them at the grocery store.
-A lot of cities have a freecycle yahoo group. This is a site where we people post stuff they are getting rid of for no price at all, all you have to do is pick it up. I got a really great cookbook I was looking for this way.
-Just wait sometimes. About a month ago I went searching for a cookbook I really, really wanted. After seeing the 30 dollar price tag, I felt I couldn't justify buying it "just because" so I left the store disappointed. However, the other day I stopped in to check if the price had gone down, and it was $13.95!!! Less than half the price i would have paid for if I just HAD to have it at that moment a month ago.
-Filler foods. There are foods that are healthy that you can add to a meal to stretch it farther. We use a lot of rice noodles in this house. Pasta works too. I also add dried beans. Most of us don't eat enough beans in our diet, and they are super healthy for you!
-We have purchased few baby items brand new. Actually, we have purchased few baby items. Alyssa is spoiled beyond belief with clothes and toys everywhere! We have bought a handful of these. Most people around you like to buy your baby things, so before you run out to get what you need for that baby, if you can wait, wait until you pass a birthday, baby shower, or Christmas, than take inventory! Of course, there are a few exceptions that I think you should buy new for baby, for example, car seats to make sure they are up to safety standards.
So, these are a few things that have saved us big bucks in the long run. And I often look around my house telling myself we need to get rid of some stuff because we just have too much. We don't suffer in any way. Like I said in my last post, we are very blessed.
When I was in college, I took an accounting class that made me absolutely giddy. When I sat down with that huge spreadsheet, a bunch of numbers, and a calculator, I knew what my challenge was. I needed to make everything balance. Maybe it was a feeling of control when those numbers worked out, but the end result gave me such satisfaction.
I get that way when I pull out my calculator, my budget, my grocery list, and my meal plan. There's a sense of power when it all works out, AND we aren't living on mr. noodles and kraft dinner to make it work.
I have collected many books, and many websites to learn different tips along the way to save money. I want to share with you some of the deals I've gotten, and some of the tips I've learned along the way.
-I found a perfectly 'retro' treadmill for $40 on kijiji.ca. I was initially suspicious of the ad, wondering how a treadmill could be so cheap, but after the sellers let me try it out at their house, I was sold. It doesn't have all the bells and whistles you would find on a newer one, but it gets the job done, ie: makes me run and burn calories.
-I don't remember the last time I paid full price for clothing. And I actually rarely buy second-hand. I actually have found the sale-racks and end of season clothing to often be cheaper than what you would pay at value village.
-We buy diapers in bulk at Costco and are able to save that way. (of course we all know cloth diapers would be cheaper, but I questioned my ability to keep up with cloth!). We pay a fee for our Costco membership, but we have saved much more in return. The only thing I would say is, do your research. Some things in bulk are not cheaper than buying them at the grocery store.
-A lot of cities have a freecycle yahoo group. This is a site where we people post stuff they are getting rid of for no price at all, all you have to do is pick it up. I got a really great cookbook I was looking for this way.
-Just wait sometimes. About a month ago I went searching for a cookbook I really, really wanted. After seeing the 30 dollar price tag, I felt I couldn't justify buying it "just because" so I left the store disappointed. However, the other day I stopped in to check if the price had gone down, and it was $13.95!!! Less than half the price i would have paid for if I just HAD to have it at that moment a month ago.
-Filler foods. There are foods that are healthy that you can add to a meal to stretch it farther. We use a lot of rice noodles in this house. Pasta works too. I also add dried beans. Most of us don't eat enough beans in our diet, and they are super healthy for you!
-We have purchased few baby items brand new. Actually, we have purchased few baby items. Alyssa is spoiled beyond belief with clothes and toys everywhere! We have bought a handful of these. Most people around you like to buy your baby things, so before you run out to get what you need for that baby, if you can wait, wait until you pass a birthday, baby shower, or Christmas, than take inventory! Of course, there are a few exceptions that I think you should buy new for baby, for example, car seats to make sure they are up to safety standards.
So, these are a few things that have saved us big bucks in the long run. And I often look around my house telling myself we need to get rid of some stuff because we just have too much. We don't suffer in any way. Like I said in my last post, we are very blessed.
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