Cheap (ahem, frugal) people unite!! - Page 3

Sweetpea · 01-17-2011, 01:53 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by DixieGal

Saving money on heating is always a good idea, but for Tim and me, our comfort is more important. We prefer to turn off the heat at night so that the air we breathe at night is cold, but sleep under a blazing hot electric blanket. Heavenly.

And the heating is turned off during the coldest part of the night, so our bill is lower.

Heating is turned on about 5 or 6 hours a day (not counting the weekend). It will heat up till it's 19 degrees in the kitchen at 6 in the morning, at 6:30 it will turn off again. And then it will heat till 19.5 in the afternoon (16:30) and turn off again at 20:00. Why having the heater on when you're not at home or in a room that doesn't even have a heater unit?

Quote:

Originally Posted by lilac_jive

I'd love to turn the heat off at night, but it's really cold here. Tonight it's supposed to be 8 degrees Farenheit! I do use a heating pad when it gets too cold though

Quote:

Originally Posted by nohmi2

I was talked into getting an electric blanket ( I had visions of Nohmi Fricasse a la Turnover) and now love it. I put it on high for an hour before going to sleep, switch off, go bye-byes and it's lovely.

I was thinking about that, after that cold spell we had in december (temperatures dropped below freezing in the bedroom) and we couldn't get the bed warm. But then I looked the average lifespan of a woolen duvet. Which is between 5 and 10 years. And ours is about 9. So, I think we'll be going for a new duvet by next winter. We bought a nice quilt for now...

GeoffC · 01-17-2011, 06:15 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by lilac_jive

I'd love to turn the heat off at night, but it's really cold here. Tonight it's supposed to be 8 degrees Farenheit! I do use a heating pad when it gets too cold though

We always turn off our heating at night, except that is when the outside temperature gets below minus 10C or it's very windy. There's enough heat under our duvet

and enough on top with the cats....

darknessangel · 01-17-2011, 07:59 AM

I don't call it being frugal but being "effective". Mm... for starters, yeah, bike good idea. Easy to park, fast in a small city and wonderful during summer. The only sucky time is during the thawing of snow, but I guess it's the same for cars.

Also I have just breakfast stuff at home, I take breakfast at home and then lunch at the cafeteria at work and no dinner (good sport diet) so I have less to buy at the supermarket and don't have to cook in the afternoon after the gym. Aaaand... dunno....

vivaldirules · 01-17-2011, 08:54 AM

In many ways, we are far from frugal including eating out a lot. But one way I'd say we are frugal is in never borrowing. We haven't taken out a loan since 1995, we paid off our mortgage years early, and when we are short we make decisions on what to do without. We've lived with threadbare (I mean to the substrate) carpet and damaged walls for years while we put our kids through college. It's a matter of priority and a desire to never incur debt again. We're hoping to finally make the house repairs later this year.

lilac_jive · 01-17-2011, 10:34 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by vivaldirules

In many ways, we are far from frugal including eating out a lot. But one way I'd say we are frugal is in never borrowing. We haven't taken out a loan since 1995, we paid off our mortgage years early, and when we are short we make decisions on what to do without. We've lived with threadbare (I mean to the substrate) carpet and damaged walls for years while we put our kids through college. It's a matter of priority and a desire to never incur debt again. We're hoping to finally make the house repairs later this year.

Do those repairs yourself! Carpeting isn't too difficult. When I was a kid we had a rental property that got really beat up and we had to fix - we ripped the carpets out and my mom paid me a penny (or a nickel) for every nail I pulled out. I had so much fun!

I have considered paying off my mortgage early, but I really have no idea where things are going in the next few years. I'd rather put that extra cash in savings right now. The only other debt I have is a car loan (being paid off at the end of the summer).

beppe · 01-22-2011, 02:09 AM

No debts, but a young one that will keep needing education when my income production will shrink with retirement.

To save on future medical bills (truly that was the last thought if ever ...), I stopped smoking and drinking and changed eating habits. That results in huge savings (smoke and booze) and huge increase of spending for fresh high quality food.

Instead of canned or frozen beans I use dry stuff that is much cheaper to buy, but I have to cook it and store it in the freezer and make efforts to imagine that it tastes better ...

Oh yes. I make my own carbonated water. I do not have to transport those huge clusters of plastic bottles.

Drink more tea and less coffee. There is saving there also. In the office I brew my own instead of feeding coins in the vending machine. I use roiboos mostly (loose leafs that are much cheaper than paper bags as a matter of facts, maybe better tasting also).

I have a permanent 3 days beard so that I save on shaving cream, gels or foams, blades and after shave stuff. I keep it trimmed with an electric thing. The same that my wife uses to cut my hair. Huge saving there. A smart blondinette in the train showed me how to shape it so that my looks keep up (It is my only asset in life: if I had to rely on just real capabilities I would be still stuck at the start line). For free. Are you sure? Yeah. Train friendships are really nice, wholesome and cheap forms of entertainment and social grooming. Like MR in its own slightly maniacal way.

SameOldStory · 01-23-2011, 10:19 AM

"To save on future medical bills (truly that was the last thought if ever ...), I stopped smoking and drinking and changed eating habits."

Surely not red wine?

I no longer drink, but every day I have a very small glass (about 2.5oz/74ml) of red wine. The benefits of red wine are too much to ignore.

nohmi2 · 01-23-2011, 04:22 PM

I have a permanent 3 days beard so that I save on shaving cream, gels or foams, blades and after shave stuff. I keep it trimmed with an electric thing. The same that my wife uses to cut my hair. Huge saving there. A smart blondinette in the train showed me how to shape it so that my looks keep up (It is my only asset in life: if I had to rely on just real capabilities I would be still stuck at the start line). For free. Are you sure? Yeah. Train friendships are really nice, wholesome and cheap forms of entertainment and social grooming. Like MR in its own slightly maniacal way.[/QUOTE]

My reasons for stopping going to hairdressers was somewhat different. Ladies tell me if you can relate to this. You find the perfect hairdresser who cuts hair beautifully, she is a good colourist, and she has learned to simply let you read when she is working. This can go on for a few years, then one day you learn that she has decided to go hiking up the Hindu Kush or where ever; you then have to start the whole sorry business of finding another 'perfect' hairdresser.

I wear mine long, and in a chignon, and my hubby cuts a couple of inches off every few months. Problem solved.

We also both have a glass of red wine every evening.

We don't smoke, seldom eat out as I am wary of kitchens which I cannot see.

All in all it's worked out very well.

Cheers

desertblues · 01-23-2011, 04:46 PM

Well; about the three-day-beard; I wouldn't want my partner to save on shaving, as I don't like these raspy chins.

As for the hairdresser: I try to go a week later then I would go normally...that's 8x yearly for the hairdresser in stead of 10.
I wait for the sales when buying clothes; yesterday I bought a fine long red woolen, really elegant, wintercoat with 60 % discount.

lilac_jive · 01-23-2011, 05:05 PM

My local paper has a column called "On The Cheap," and the tip today was to save the sesame seeds from bread and such that's fallen into the bag and use them later in cooking, since buying a jar is expensive.

Cool tip!

GA Russell · 01-23-2011, 05:18 PM

I'm a traditional wetshaver. I use a brush and shaving soap, with a safety razor and double edge blades. You can read all about it at http://www.shavemyface.com/forum/

Most American men consider shaving to be a chore, but traditional wetshavers consider it one of the highlights of their day!

In addition, it's much less expensive than using cartridge blades and "canned goo". A 40 cent blade lasts a week, and a $12 jar of my favorite soap lasts 5 months.

SameOldStory · 01-23-2011, 08:38 PM

I used one of these for about a year (or a little bit more).

One side of the cover is a sharpening stone, the other a leather strop. The handle moves the blade back and forth over each side, in turn.

Wiki - Rolls Razor . .Google - Images

The handle and blade stores on the inside.

There's a nick in the blade but that causes no problems, I used it like that for over a year.

The last time I tested it (about 10years ago) it dry shaved hair off my forearm with ease. I still have it, somewhere.

wvcherrybomb · 01-23-2011, 11:02 PM

Thankfully we have no mortgage. We paid cash for this property with the proceeds from the sale of our West Virginia home.

We are still driving a '93 Jeep to avoid a car payment and higher insurance. When we go on road trips up north we rent a car to keep miles off of it. It runs great and hopefully will hang on a few more years.

We NEVER eat out unless my parents invite us out somewhere and treat us. I refuse to pay for expensive food since you just eat it and then it's gone with nothing to show for it. Cheap food at home does the same thing.

In WV we grew/hunted/caught most of our own food. So are our efforts here in FL to grow anything have been unsuccessful.

Our recreation is camping at state parks and the beach or taking advantage of hugely discounted cruises. All the food is included so cruises are much more thriftly than people realize.

Last, but not least, I use points sites to get free Amazon cards to pay for ebooks and other things we need. I have earned hundreds of dollars on them, even buying my lighted Kindle cover with earned cards. Links are in my sig.

Sweetpea · 01-24-2011, 01:42 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by wvcherrybomb

Thankfully we have no mortgage. We paid cash for this property with the proceeds from the sale of our West Virginia home.

Not paying a mortgage here is very uneconomical... If you bought a home with your own money, you pay 60%(?) property tax. If you bought a home with borrowed money, you get money back...

But we did something un-frugal yesterday: we bought a new TV while the old one is still in perfect working order... But it's CRT and we moved some furniture around and now it just fit anymore.... We really need that flat tv instead of a TV that's at least 50cm thick...

Freeshadow · 01-24-2011, 01:47 AM

I built every desktop PC @home by myself and keep spare parts from older mashines as long as hardware compatibility remains.
I'm a wet shaver
I like to swap-trade (btw. is this a fitting expression?)
Is freebie hunting a valid hobby?

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01-17-2011, 07:59 AM	#33
darknessangel Addict Posts: 297 Karma: 1018140 Join Date: Feb 2009 Device: PRS-505, iPad	I don't call it being frugal but being "effective". Mm... for starters, yeah, bike good idea. Easy to park, fast in a small city and wonderful during summer. The only sucky time is during the thawing of snow, but I guess it's the same for cars. Also I have just breakfast stuff at home, I take breakfast at home and then lunch at the cafeteria at work and no dinner (good sport diet) so I have less to buy at the supermarket and don't have to cook in the afternoon after the gym. Aaaand... dunno....

01-17-2011, 08:54 AM	#34
vivaldirules When's Doughnut Day? Posts: 10,059 Karma: 13675475 Join Date: Jul 2007 Location: Houston, TX, US Device: Sony PRS-505, iPad	In many ways, we are far from frugal including eating out a lot. But one way I'd say we are frugal is in never borrowing. We haven't taken out a loan since 1995, we paid off our mortgage years early, and when we are short we make decisions on what to do without. We've lived with threadbare (I mean to the substrate) carpet and damaged walls for years while we put our kids through college. It's a matter of priority and a desire to never incur debt again. We're hoping to finally make the house repairs later this year.

01-22-2011, 02:09 AM	#36
beppe Grand Sorcerer Posts: 5,161 Karma: 81026524 Join Date: Feb 2010 Location: Italy Device: Kindle3, Ipod4, IPad2	No debts, but a young one that will keep needing education when my income production will shrink with retirement. To save on future medical bills (truly that was the last thought if ever ...), I stopped smoking and drinking and changed eating habits. That results in huge savings (smoke and booze) and huge increase of spending for fresh high quality food. Instead of canned or frozen beans I use dry stuff that is much cheaper to buy, but I have to cook it and store it in the freezer and make efforts to imagine that it tastes better ... Oh yes. I make my own carbonated water. I do not have to transport those huge clusters of plastic bottles. Drink more tea and less coffee. There is saving there also. In the office I brew my own instead of feeding coins in the vending machine. I use roiboos mostly (loose leafs that are much cheaper than paper bags as a matter of facts, maybe better tasting also). I have a permanent 3 days beard so that I save on shaving cream, gels or foams, blades and after shave stuff. I keep it trimmed with an electric thing. The same that my wife uses to cut my hair. Huge saving there. A smart blondinette in the train showed me how to shape it so that my looks keep up (It is my only asset in life: if I had to rely on just real capabilities I would be still stuck at the start line). For free. Are you sure? Yeah. Train friendships are really nice, wholesome and cheap forms of entertainment and social grooming. Like MR in its own slightly maniacal way.

01-23-2011, 10:19 AM	#37
SameOldStory My True Self Posts: 3,126 Karma: 66242098 Join Date: Apr 2010 Location: Trantor, Galactic Center Device: Galaxy Tab 2 7.0	"To save on future medical bills (truly that was the last thought if ever ...), I stopped smoking and drinking and changed eating habits." Surely not red wine? I no longer drink, but every day I have a very small glass (about 2.5oz/74ml) of red wine. The benefits of red wine are too much to ignore.

01-23-2011, 04:22 PM	#38
nohmi2 Pensively observing. Posts: 1,758 Karma: 12675456 Join Date: Jun 2008 Device: Varied.	I have a permanent 3 days beard so that I save on shaving cream, gels or foams, blades and after shave stuff. I keep it trimmed with an electric thing. The same that my wife uses to cut my hair. Huge saving there. A smart blondinette in the train showed me how to shape it so that my looks keep up (It is my only asset in life: if I had to rely on just real capabilities I would be still stuck at the start line). For free. Are you sure? Yeah. Train friendships are really nice, wholesome and cheap forms of entertainment and social grooming. Like MR in its own slightly maniacal way.[/QUOTE] My reasons for stopping going to hairdressers was somewhat different. Ladies tell me if you can relate to this. You find the perfect hairdresser who cuts hair beautifully, she is a good colourist, and she has learned to simply let you read when she is working. This can go on for a few years, then one day you learn that she has decided to go hiking up the Hindu Kush or where ever; you then have to start the whole sorry business of finding another 'perfect' hairdresser. I wear mine long, and in a chignon, and my hubby cuts a couple of inches off every few months. Problem solved. We also both have a glass of red wine every evening. We don't smoke, seldom eat out as I am wary of kitchens which I cannot see. All in all it's worked out very well. Cheers

01-23-2011, 04:46 PM	#39
desertblues Home for the moment Posts: 5,127 Karma: 27718936 Join Date: Jan 2009 Location: travelling Device: various	Well; about the three-day-beard; I wouldn't want my partner to save on shaving, as I don't like these raspy chins. As for the hairdresser: I try to go a week later then I would go normally...that's 8x yearly for the hairdresser in stead of 10. I wait for the sales when buying clothes; yesterday I bought a fine long red woolen, really elegant, wintercoat with 60 % discount.

01-23-2011, 05:05 PM	#40
lilac_jive Grand Sorcerer Posts: 5,870 Karma: 27376 Join Date: Dec 2008 Location: Pennsylvania Device: PRS-505	My local paper has a column called "On The Cheap," and the tip today was to save the sesame seeds from bread and such that's fallen into the bag and use them later in cooking, since buying a jar is expensive. Cool tip!

01-23-2011, 05:18 PM	#41
GA Russell What a weekend! Posts: 7,695 Karma: 31487351 Join Date: Aug 2009 Location: Raleigh, NC Device: Paperwhite, Kindles 10 & 4 and jetBook Lite	I'm a traditional wetshaver. I use a brush and shaving soap, with a safety razor and double edge blades. You can read all about it at http://www.shavemyface.com/forum/ Most American men consider shaving to be a chore, but traditional wetshavers consider it one of the highlights of their day! In addition, it's much less expensive than using cartridge blades and "canned goo". A 40 cent blade lasts a week, and a $12 jar of my favorite soap lasts 5 months.

01-23-2011, 08:38 PM	#42
SameOldStory My True Self Posts: 3,126 Karma: 66242098 Join Date: Apr 2010 Location: Trantor, Galactic Center Device: Galaxy Tab 2 7.0	I used one of these for about a year (or a little bit more). One side of the cover is a sharpening stone, the other a leather strop. The handle moves the blade back and forth over each side, in turn. Wiki - Rolls Razor . .Google - Images The handle and blade stores on the inside. There's a nick in the blade but that causes no problems, I used it like that for over a year. The last time I tested it (about 10years ago) it dry shaved hair off my forearm with ease. I still have it, somewhere.

01-23-2011, 11:02 PM	#43
wvcherrybomb Sharp Shootin' Grandma Posts: 847 Karma: 1123940 Join Date: Nov 2010 Location: Sunny Florida Device: Kindle 3, Kindle Fire, Literati (has been adopted by my daughter)	Thankfully we have no mortgage. We paid cash for this property with the proceeds from the sale of our West Virginia home. We are still driving a '93 Jeep to avoid a car payment and higher insurance. When we go on road trips up north we rent a car to keep miles off of it. It runs great and hopefully will hang on a few more years. We NEVER eat out unless my parents invite us out somewhere and treat us. I refuse to pay for expensive food since you just eat it and then it's gone with nothing to show for it. Cheap food at home does the same thing. In WV we grew/hunted/caught most of our own food. So are our efforts here in FL to grow anything have been unsuccessful. Our recreation is camping at state parks and the beach or taking advantage of hugely discounted cruises. All the food is included so cruises are much more thriftly than people realize. Last, but not least, I use points sites to get free Amazon cards to pay for ebooks and other things we need. I have earned hundreds of dollars on them, even buying my lighted Kindle cover with earned cards. Links are in my sig.

01-24-2011, 01:47 AM	#45
Freeshadow temp. out of service Posts: 2,815 Karma: 24285242 Join Date: May 2010 Location: Duisburg (DE) Device: PB 623	I built every desktop PC @home by myself and keep spare parts from older mashines as long as hardware compatibility remains. I'm a wet shaver I like to swap-trade (btw. is this a fitting expression?) Is freebie hunting a valid hobby?