genuinegirly

Thanks, smoore and Baraka_Guru for suggesting this thread!

Here we start our new repository of all things about getting by in this world with very few expenses. If you find any great tips, pass them along. If you have any tried and true ways of getting by on the cheap, share!

I'm going to post links to applicable threads. I'm also going to babble with random advice on coupon clipping, reducing energy and water expenses, and other penny-pinching tips. As long as people take interest in this thread, I'll do my best to add to it.

Cheap Foods thread from Tilted Cooking:
Beans, rice, and other cheap healthy foods

Websites for stuff swapping:
http://www.freecycle.org/
http://sfbay.craigslist.org/

Philosophies/ways of life that are condusive to cheap living:
Simple living: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Simple_living
Green lifestyle and Sustainable lifestyle (be careful, these have been yuppified)
probably many, many others.

My family's lifestyle has been a mix of bargain hunting, coupon clipping, community living, hand-me-downs, freecycle, lentils, beans, rice, potatoes, and low personal needs.

Coupon clipping:

Read this only if you like commercialized goodies like Chips Ahoy cookies or French's Mustard.

Where are your closest grocery shopping locations? Find out their policies on double coupons, and multiple coupons for each item. Sometimes it's advertised, sometimes you just have to learn by trial and error.

Figure out where they publish their weekly ads. You might need to check local newspapers. You can usually pick up the discarded coupon sections of Sunday newspapers, possibly from a coffee shop.

There should be two ads released by each major grocery chain each week. Usually a small two-color ad on Tuesday or Wednesday, and a full-color ad on Sunday. Sometimes these get mailed to you. Sometimes they're available in the store. They're often available online. Find them.

Also, grab that stack of manufacturer's coupons from the Sunday paper each week.

Go through and clip the coupons for everything your family will eat. You will notice that often the coupons overlap. If they don't overlap now, they will often overlap sometime before the manufacturer coupons expire. This is not always the case, but trust me, it happens more often than you think possible.

Figure out when your local grocer likes to highly discount their stock before discarding it. My local Safeway, for instance, has insane random unpublished sales on things like bread and cereal every Sunday.

General Inexpensive Food Basics

Learn to love the basics. Have them on hand. Learn to cook with them. Purchase them in bulk from cheap ethnic stores, dollar stores, or places like Costco or Smart & Final.

Rice (Long-grain white, brown, wild, whatever)
Lentils (green, red, or tan)
Beans (dry and/or cans)
Chickpeas (these often go on sale with beans)
Quinoa (if it's cheap or available in your area)
Tofu (can usually find 50cent boxes from Asian food stores like 99 Ranch)
Salt
Flour
Yeast

Start a Garden
If you live somewhere with a tiny bit of sun, start a vegetable garden.
Let me explain how easy this is:

Go to the grocery store. Purchase green onions. Cut off the white part. Place these nubs you wouldn't use in cooking, in soil. Water them. They will grow.

Purchase two whole potatoes, of whatever varities you like best. Leave them in partial sun on your counter until they start sprouting, then plant them in your garden. Within a couple of months, you'll have 5-10 new potatoes from each one you planted. When the tops of your potato plants start to wither, dig up the ground around them, you'll find several new potatoes. Save aside one or two to start the process again.

Don't have dirt? Gather coffee grounds. Have a friend at a local cafe? Ask for theirs. Coffee grounds work as a superior sort of soil, with excellent drainage and a delicious fragrance every time you water. Yes, even your French Vanilla grounds will work fine. Have soil? Ammend them with your grounds. Your plants will be healthier. Especially if you're container gardening - good drainage is key.

Ready to be daring and expand beyond potatoes and green onions? Seeds can be purchased at dollar stores or wal-mart. Germination instructions are on the package.

Good stuff that is easy to grow from seed:
Romaine Lettuce
Green Leaf Lettuce
Broccoli
Swiss Chard

Have you ever bought a delicious tomato or pepper? Come on, everyone has. When dicing them for salads, save aside the seeds. Dry them in a windowsill on a paper towel, then save them for next year or plant them in season. This doesn't work (hardly ever) for pitted fruits like peaches, nectarines, or plums. Also rarely works well for apples. They're plenty viable, there's just so much breeding that goes into fruit trees, you'll rarely come across something that matches yummy standards. Occasionally you'll get something nice, though. If you want to bother growing a tree for 12 years before learning if it'll produce decent fruit, feel free to experiment!

Did you realize that dandilions are edible and make a delicious tangy addition to a salad? Don't hesitate to pull them from your yard (assuming you don't use pesticides). The larger and leafier they are, the better they taste.

Entertainment

Don't bother with cable. Set yourself up with a healthy internet connection and depend on websites like hulu. The lack of advertisements alone is enticing to me.http://www.hulu.com/

Save up your money for the occasional theatre production or show or whatever you really love. Something special every three months is overkill for me. Attend free concerts in the park, get together with friends who have a film collection. Pick up that rusty musical instrument, or start up that (cheap) hobby you've been putting off learning.

Water-Saving Techniques

Time yourself in the shower. Take a 5 minute shower, or less. Use anti-perperant/deodorant. Skip a shower every now and again if you're confident you don't smell funky.

Wash your clothes only when they're really dirty. I mean, covered in muck, smelly, or otherwise just don't seem clean to you. Everyone has their own standard of clean. I don't pay for water in my apartment, so I handwash my clothes and line dry them on our little garden balcony. We occasionally take a load of towels and bedding over to a friend's place to wash. Tt prefers to machine-wash his stuff, quicker at getting his man-smell out. Find what works for you and develop a rhythm. Hand-washing becomes no big deal, honest.

*Some might consider the following poor hygeine. Sorry if it bothers anyone, but this is how I was raised*

If you have children, pull water for a bath once a week, and never more often. Fill the tub only half-way. Bathe your cleanest child first. Drain the tub only after all of the kids have bathed. Any other time of the week? Wipe them down thoroughly with a simple moist cloth, treat dry skin with lotion, and call it good. If their hair gets greasy fast, and you don't like braiding it, or finding other ways to mask the natural oils that are beneficialfor the health of their hair, then go ahead and wash their hair more often. Do this by filling a small sink with water halfway, moistening their hair, rubbing in shampoo, rinsing in the half-filled sink, let out the water, run clean water through briefly if necessary, repeat with conditioner. Brush/comb hair while conditioner is in their hair, rinse. Learn to work with hair without the use of a hair dryer, (unless it's freezing weather).

Building a friend/community base of like-minded saving inviduals is a valuable key to success. These can come in the form of relatives who have children just a few years older than yours, or friends who are interested in embarking on this great adventure of ultra-thrift frugal living. It can be frustrating to be thrifty when everyone you interact with is focused on material culture.

In the Store
Make a list of items that you're going to purchase before you step into any store. Do not deviate from this list unless necessary.

If you see something you really love, ask yourself if you're willing to give up two personal items to bring it into your home. (this does not apply to food)

Go through toys and clothing often and pass them on to a frugal friend, or to your local charity like Goodwill or Salvation Army. Someone else will appreciate items that are in good, useable condition. The more space you free up, the more room you'll have to accept offers of exciting new-to-you (used) toys/clothes from others.

Transportation
If you're planning where you're going to live with your family - Find a place within walking distance of a grocery store, a community park, and an elementary school. Try to have only one car/van for your family. Bicycles are handy in a pinch. Learn how to walk. Don't be afraid to walk a total of two miles a day to meet your transportation needs. I do this, it's healthy and energizing to start your day off with a half-mile walk to campus or to a grocery store. Though, remember children's little legs will need plenty of stops.

__________________
"violence is no more or less real than non-violence. " roachboy

Shauk

The number 1 thing I find to be the source of monetary drain for me, seems to be "Entertainment"

If you must go out, look for cheap/free alternatives, instead of going to the 25-30$ show, or the club with the 10$ cover charge, head to the 10$ show or the club with no cover charge.

if you drink, alcohol on the outside is expensive, if you feel the need to get a lil sloppy and don't wanna pay 10$ a drink to do so (hey thats a 40$ minumum) then head to a liquor store in advance, for 40$ you should get enough to last you multiple trips to the clubs (aka. the pre-funk)

dont date.

yeah, there, I said it. Dating is expensive, girls want a guy who can be "secure" financially, which means pay for their food, or instead of buying 1 ticket to the movies or to the show, you're buying 2. all of a sudden your entertainment expenses just went up to double.

dating is a fools game anyway, if a girl likes you, she'll like you for what you are, not what you spend on her.

embrace your cheaper hobbies, find cost effective solutions. as an example, My old way of "DJ'ing" involved buying vinyl, which equated 10$ per 1-2 songs (in most cases you bought it for ONE song)

I dropped a couple hundred dollars on a "virtual vinyl" set up (about the equivalent of 25 records) on ebay and now my songs cost me 85 cents or so.

skip going out once in a while, it's ok to stay home and do something productive, clean your room, do some exercise, go for a walk, ride a bike. You don't HAVE to be entertained every weekend, you dont HAVE to see a movie, you don't HAVE to go to a concert. Just maybe find some friends who want to have a more subdued gathering. Maybe just some cheap video games/rented movies as an alternative.

genuinegirly

Awesome, Shauk! Thanks for contributing some super handy advice when it comes to entertainment!

__________________
"violence is no more or less real than non-violence. " roachboy

Cynthetiq

I got onto a mailing list of free tickets and shows here in NYC. Last night we saw The Devil and Tom Walker as an off off off broadway show. It was a delightful show.

When going out to dinner, think about what you are ordering. Maybe even split the dish with your spouse/date. Spend that money on desert instead and also share it.

When travelling, find places that have efficincies. This can allow you to make your own breakfasts and lunches. The money you save, you can go out to have a nice dinner for the whole trip, or have smaller modest ones.

Ask the waitstaff what is good to sample. Tell them you are on a fixed budget for the day. They may be able to tell you about ala carte items that aren't listed on the menu and you can sample the best of their menu without all the extra fanfare.

Watch TV shows that help you find cheap eats and things to do. In NYC we have a show called $9.99 which shows all kinds of things you can do in the NYC area for the whole day that cost no more than $9.99 watch it here.

Read the newspapers and magazines. Time Out covers many cities. Gotham-ist and other -ists covers many cities online. Village Voice, LA Weekly, etc.

NYC is a little too easy, there are books and magazines that help you plan outings. In the summer there are free movies all over the place in many of the parks. There's Shakespeare in the Park (Central Park), Shakespeare in the Park(ing Lot.)

Skogafoss and I eat out often. We know places in NYC where you can eat dinner for around or less than $4.00 per person. The food is good, fast, and usually enough for a second round meal. Sometimes it's cheaper for us to eat out than it is to cook at home. Go figure.

You need to learn how to cook. When going out to dinner, we only get things that we can't cook at home. If we can cook it at home, I'll make it instead. I can't tell you how ridiculous I feel paying $5.95 for Mee Krob knowing I can make it for $1 at home. Or Chicken Massaman Curry, $9.95???? Howabout home cooked for $5 and it feed 4.

When having a get together with friends, make it potluck. This helps distribute the funds and workload. It also gives other people the opportunity to contribute if they can't cook, they can bring silverware or cups, or even offer to do the dishes afterwards.

__________________
I don't care if you are black, white, purple, green, Chinese, Japanese, Korean, hippie, cop, bum, admin, user, English, Irish, French, Catholic, Protestant, Jewish, Buddhist, Muslim, Indian, cowboy, tall, short, fat, skinny, emo, punk, mod, rocker, straight, gay, lesbian, jock, nerd, geek, Democrat, Republican, Independent, either you're an asshole or you're not.

genuinegirly

Wow, neat info. about food, Cyn!
And the thought of getting all of that culture for free.

__________________
"violence is no more or less real than non-violence. " roachboy

Starshine

I'm going to Germany in June for two weeks, does anyone have any tips for being frugal in foreign countries? I've never been outside of the States!

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I fly like paper, get high like planes

Baraka_Guru

"Be industrious and frugal, and you will be rich." —Benjamin Franklin

A great start to a very useful thread.

I want to discuss debt in my initial post. This is mainly because I am currently in a very frustrating position. Many of my financial dealings are conducted with the use of debt. For example, I have outstanding student loans, I carry credit card debt month-to-month, and I use overdraft monthly.

This isn't because my spending is out of control; it is a result of coming out of a limited financial position, going to school longer than expected, living in a city with a high cost of living, and currently earning a lower-than-comfortable salary. What I want to discuss is the cost of interest expense and what it means for the frugal aspirant such as myself.

It is surprising how many don't realize the impact of carrying debt and its nagging compound interest expense. Compound interest in itself is a fascinating thing, but it is a financial ogre if it works against you. To me, if I remove the non-tangible benefits of why I acquired the debt in the first place, paying for interest is like cold hard cash turning to dust and being blown away by the wind. And this happens every month. This happens to a few hundred dollars of my hard-earned money every month! This, for the privilege of having something that I would not otherwise be able to afford. But what is the real cost? It's quite frightening, actually.

If you were to calculate the real cost of using debt to pay for things, you might be astounded, if not disgusted. What if I told you that that television you see at a great deal would cost you twice as much if you were to buy it on credit and pay the minimum payment each month? Well, that is exactly what happens. What if I also told you that the frugal minds who wait to make the same purchase with cash by tucking away a small amount each month instead will be able to afford twice as much TV as a result? That's right. By sidestepping poorly handled credit and paying with cash means you will effectively pay half as much as the minimum-payment debt handlers would. This means you can get a bigger TV at the same value, or, if you wish, a surround sound system as an add-on—for the same value.

By simply waiting to make that purchase, you can get more than those who can't wait. This is the very nature of compound interest and our desire for immediate gratification. It takes strong willpower, but the frugal mind will prevail if it is disciplined.

That said, what of my own position? Well, let me tell you, I'm in no position to be buying TVs, not even on credit. My current debt-management cost is too high—so high that I have virtually no disposable income. So what do I do? Well, I need to stop making reactive purchasing decisions. I need to stop paying for lunch and start making more money-saving decisions, and I need to start accelerating my debt repayments. I need to eliminate my credit card debt so I can stop maxing out my line of credit that I use to carry me over month to month. Meh, a tight spot, I know.

But things will start to change for me. I'm starting to get some extra income with freelance jobs. This money will be going directly to debt repayment. All of it. I won't look at it as "Hey, extra money! Let's get the things I've been wanting all this time!" No. It is for paying for things I've already bought and haven't paid for yet. Things that are costing me twice as much as they should...or more.

Interest expense is like turning hard-earned dollars into dust. But if you throw those dollars at the debt instead, then it will slow the process. One encouraging way to look at it is this: Making a payment on a debt that carries an 18% interest rate is kind of like buying an investment with an 18% return. The only difference is one is preventing a penalty, the other is soliciting a bonus. Either way, the real value is the same. Think it through.

__________________
"The great enemy of clear language is insincerity. [...] In our age there is no such thing as 'keeping out of politics.' All issues are political issues, and politics itself is a mass of lies, evasions, folly, hatred, and schizophrenia. When the general atmosphere is bad, language must suffer."

—"Politics and the English Language," George Orwell

"Humankind cannot bear very much reality."

—"Burnt Norton," Four Quartets, T. S. Eliot

Cynthetiq

Most hostels have hot plates from what I understand. I never have traveled via the hostel route.

Eat like a local. Find where the locals eat. If you see eateries in multiple languages/flags with photographs, that's a red flag that it's a tourist eatery. Some of the best pasta and tirimasu I have ever eaten was a local Italian wine and pasta restaurant in Salzburg. Didn't speak a lick of Italian or German, but we still we able to order a lovely dinner and a lovely wine.

Two secrets to finding good cheap food in just about any city in the world. Take note of where cabbies and police officers eat. They always seem to know where the cheapest and best food is located in town. If you see either cabbie or cop at a location it's a good bet that the food is good and the portions are fair. Also, don't be afraid to ask them. Don't ask them where they suggest to eat, ask them where THEY eat. Tell them you want to go where the locals go eat.

Shop like a local. Find where locals shop. People think it's expensive to live in some cities, and while that's true for the most part, many people learn where the cheapies are located.

Don't eat breakfast at the hotel where you are staying. Usually that's an additional cost charged to the room, "breakfast included". It is usually not something you want to eat anyways, something akin to the US Continental breakfast, more than likely the additional fee is not worth to food your getting usually some cold cuts, hard boiled eggs, breads and jams.

Even if you can get a room with a hot plate and fridge, that can save you some cash for breakfasts. Find the market and get some oatmeal, cereal and milk. Get some coldcuts and bread to make some sandwiches if you like.

Walk. Walk to where you want to go, pay attention to bus lines and cab stands. If you are staying at a nicer hotel there may be a concierge. Ask them for bus information. A simple bus ride can extend your walking range by quite a bit. Make sure you know when the LAST bus going back to your hotel is leaving the bus stop that you will be at. Nothing sucks more than thinking your taking the bus home, only to find out you missed the last one and now have to take a cab or have a very long walk home.

If you are a student. Use that student discount.

__________________
I don't care if you are black, white, purple, green, Chinese, Japanese, Korean, hippie, cop, bum, admin, user, English, Irish, French, Catholic, Protestant, Jewish, Buddhist, Muslim, Indian, cowboy, tall, short, fat, skinny, emo, punk, mod, rocker, straight, gay, lesbian, jock, nerd, geek, Democrat, Republican, Independent, either you're an asshole or you're not.

genuinegirly

Cyn has some excellent advice, once again!

Starshine -
If you have space in your luggage, pack a small knapsack with snacks, and oatmeal for breakfasts. Suppliment with local produce and cheese for lunch, enjoy dinner with your friends in the evenings. Oh, and while you're there, try those cheap local beers in plastic bottles. Tt loved those when we were in Germany.

What an honest account, Baraka_Guru. Thank you for taking time to contribute.
You've prompted me to add a little about educational expenses.

Don't be overcharged for your education
At age 23, in California (and I assume in other states as well) your parents' financial information is no longer necessary or applicable to your financial aid application. Keep this in mind as you're planning your education. I was handed thousands in grants, and was literally paid to complete the past two years of my undergraduate education, thanks to this system.

If you're interested in pursuing graduate studies, search for a school that offers teaching fellowships or other financial aid assistance. There are even reputible MBA programs that will pay your way through school, if you get in. Like this one

__________________
"violence is no more or less real than non-violence. " roachboy

Starshine

Thanks for all the great advice guys! I'm concerned about entertainment too, I mean I'll be with friends that know the area, but I really just don't have a clue as to how I go about figuring out how much money I should bring... this is also my first trip outside of the country and all by myself! I know only one person in Germany and he has to go to class for a couple days out of the week and I'm kinda nervous about venturing out on my own...

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I fly like paper, get high like planes

Cynthetiq

what german city will you be in?

__________________
I don't care if you are black, white, purple, green, Chinese, Japanese, Korean, hippie, cop, bum, admin, user, English, Irish, French, Catholic, Protestant, Jewish, Buddhist, Muslim, Indian, cowboy, tall, short, fat, skinny, emo, punk, mod, rocker, straight, gay, lesbian, jock, nerd, geek, Democrat, Republican, Independent, either you're an asshole or you're not.

ASU2003

I'll have to add to this list as I think of them, but I am doing pretty good living a sustainable and inexpensive lifestyle.

1. Go outdoors. There are national parks, state parks, beaches, bike trails, lakes, parks. They are free or can be pretty close to free. Bring your own food along, but always buy an ice cream cone after hanging out at the beach.

2. Get digital over-the-air TV. The government will even give you $40 towards the converter box. Most of the TV shows you watch are on broadcast TV. Setup a DVD fund for cable shows and either rent the season when it comes out on DVD or buy it. Some shows you can download on iTunes. I saved enough money to buy a HDTV this way.

3. Eat natural foods. Fruits and veggies. Drink regular (or reverse osmosis) water instead of sugar water or bottle water.

4. Make sure you have good air pressure in your car and bike tires. Bike if it is possible.

5. Go to the public library. They have books, DVDs & magazines.

6. Build your own stuff, do your own work. It takes time, and it isn't easy. I am trying to plant a 10'x10' garden and I haven't even finished painting the fence, and the weekend is over already. I have built a lot of my own furniture, and the stuff I do buy is real wood Amish stuff.

7. Know when to buy quality, nice, expensive stuff. There are times where it pays to buy good stuff. Just do the research. If you are going to use something for the next 10-20 years, make sure it is good. But save your money up before you buy it. This will make it look like you aren't cheap. Look in some of those high-class architecture magazines, the rooms aren't decked out with a ton of stuff, but you know what is in there looks expensive. If you can recreate the look without spending 10% what they paid, you are doing it right.

genuinegirly

Yes! Right on, ASU2003.

Doing the research is key - it's ideal for furniture, and it works great with fashion as well. I spend a couple of hours each season flipping through the fashion shows by the top designers. Training your eye to current and lasting trends helps you make better purchasing decisions, and helps you remain fashion savy when you're shopping thrift or sifting through second-hand freebies.

__________________
"violence is no more or less real than non-violence. " roachboy

Starshine

Lubeck, Germany

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I fly like paper, get high like planes

kurty[B]

Another note on Transportation.

Look into the Public Transportation opportunities in your area, and use them. I'm fortunate to have a free bus in my town, but now with gas prices even the Regional Bus would be cheaper than paying for the gas to drive (let alone the wear and tear on my vehicle). Combine this with loading a bike on the front of the bus, or being willing to walk 2-3 miles and my need to drive is greatly reduced.

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In the Absence of Information People Make Things Up.

Willravel

Awesome thread! I should have made one years ago, but I was trying to be efficient....

Live in a house but consumed by radical cooling bills each summer?
- Vent your attic! I build bigger vents on each side of my attic, which allowed a breeze to carry out the hot air that usually stagnates above every room in my house and I've seen a rather surprising savings in my electricity each summer. It only costed me a bit (less than $100) for some wood, nails and paint. If you really want to stick it to GE, add a solar panel connected to an attic fan. It's an investment, but it pays for itself very quickly and lasts for decades.
- Plant bamboo! If there is a wall of your house that gets a lot of sun but doesn't have large viewing windows, plant some bamboo. It grows very quickly and it can prevent a lot of that heat from reaching your walls. I planted a few years back, just as an experiment, and it grew about a foot a day. Be sure you've got airspace, depending on the type, it can get quite tall.
- Turn off lights and your computer! These not only consume energy, but also generate heat. Wait until the evening when you can.

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onesnowyowl

This is good advice, but one caveat: Make sure that bamboo is contained, otherwise it will grow, and grow, and grow. It will take over that part of your garden if it is not contained somehow. And don't forget to protect your neighbors from your bamboo if it's near a fenceline--it will spread under the fence.

__________________
If I am not better, at least I am different. --Jean-Jacques Rousseau

Willravel

Yes, bamboo is at least twice as aggressive as a prom date. I built a 1' deep wood border and I still trim it often.

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Cynthetiq

I thought the only fool proof method of containment was cement/plastic barrier that kept the root system 100% contained.

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I don't care if you are black, white, purple, green, Chinese, Japanese, Korean, hippie, cop, bum, admin, user, English, Irish, French, Catholic, Protestant, Jewish, Buddhist, Muslim, Indian, cowboy, tall, short, fat, skinny, emo, punk, mod, rocker, straight, gay, lesbian, jock, nerd, geek, Democrat, Republican, Independent, either you're an asshole or you're not.

Willravel

Mine are in what used to be a planter, so there's concrete like 4 feet down. They're basically contained, but I'll have to check in the next few months to be sure.

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jewels

Great thread, gg!

Off the top of my head:

Entertainment: Dollar theaters and Sunday morning shows for movies. Some theaters have an 11 a.m. or so show on Sunday mornings for half the price of a matinee show, usually about $2 or $3.
Fast Food: I know you family people do it once in a blue. Don't order meals. Order your sandwiches and then order an extra large fry to share. Bring your own water. We've been so conditioned to buy those meals but it's a helluva lot cheaper without those wasted fries and drinks.
Meal Planning: Don't do it until you've checked your supermarket circular to see what's on sale. If you have an inexpensive Sam's or Costco membership through the workplace, you can buy meat, poultry and veggies in quantity and save as well.
Hand-me-downs, thrift and consignment: I swallowed my pride years ago and am happy to accept gently used hand-me-downs for the girls. Great items can be found, some not even worn, from thrift and consignment shop