Cheap (ahem, frugal) people unite!!

[SameOldStory]

I'm not really frugal, I just don't buy food that's not on sale. And when I come home I put it in large boxes after I write the month & year of purchase on the can/box.

Perhaps I'm just lazy. The end result is that when I want something I always have it on hand.

Fresh vegetables are about the only exception. But then too, if the price is too high I just cook something else.


On hard items like washer-dryers we start looking before we need them so there's no sudden need to pay full price. With cars we buy pretty much what we like. But it'll be last years model, say a new 2010 model bought in 2011.

With computers it's always a no-name computer. Parts are replaced when better parts are cheap enough. My motherboard, bought a year ago, can use a CPU that cost $1000 then. Next year it may only be one or two hundred dollars, and I'll have a very noticeable bump in speed. After that perhaps a new video card. The end effect is like a new computer one part at a time, and each new part will make it faster.

[Fbone]

I almost forgot. Evidently, I am one of the few who comparison shops for their paperback books.

[ProfCrash]

Originally Posted by Fbone

I do like these "steamable" frozen vegetables. I've never eaten so much cauliflower in my life. Pricey for what you get. But so convenient.

Cutting coupons like never before. Especially when the store doubles them.

They have been on sale a lot recently so I have been able to pick them up at about $2 a box. I like having them with my lunch because it greatly increases the amount of veggies I get in a day.

[pholy]

Originally Posted by wvcherrybomb

Wow! Four minute showers is pretty impressive. I spend closer to 40 minutes in the shower. Now I feel like a water hog.

It occurred to me, while I was showering, that 40 minutes is OK if you only shower every ten days...

[Sweetpea]

Originally Posted by ProfCrash

I try and buy my lunches on sale, I use the frozen lunches and a think of frozen veggies. My lunch normally works out to about $4.50 a day.

$4.50 for a lunch... Especially considering the price difference between the US and here, that's a lot! A whole loaf or bread is €2.50, there are, what 25 slices?, in a loaf. I bring two slices to work, and maybe about €0.10 worth of spread. So, that's €0.30 for a lunch... (around $0.40). Tea is free at work.

Originally Posted by phenomshel

We probably are pretty frugal, but I've never really thought about it until I started reading this thread. Short showers, don't leave the water running while we brush our teeth, lots of cooking to have leftovers, keep the thermostat low during the day and lower at night (we only raise it to get the bathroom warm enough to shower). Room for improvement, of course... we still eat fast food about once a week, and I don't walk to the store as much as I could (and should).

So are we. But not necessarily because we must, but rather because we don't see the need to live lavishly. So, whenever we do spend, we always think it a great treat.

Originally Posted by SameOldStory

On hard items like washer-dryers we start looking before we need them so there's no sudden need to pay full price. With cars we buy pretty much what we like. But it'll be last years model, say a new 2010 model bought in 2011.

We think a dryer is a waste of money. We have enough space to hang everything out, inside the house (and in summer, we have a very nice line outside). And our new TV was last year's top-of-the-line.

Originally Posted by SameOldStory

With computers it's always a no-name computer. Parts are replaced when better parts are cheap enough. My motherboard, bought a year ago, can use a CPU that cost $1000 then. Next year it may only be one or two hundred dollars, and I'll have a very noticeable bump in speed. After that perhaps a new video card. The end effect is like a new computer one part at a time, and each new part will make it faster.

That's what we usually do. Though, I'm afraid we'll have to do a major renovation this time. Processor and motherboard connections have changed...

[ProfCrash]

I used to go out for lunch every day. that cost around $10 so $4.50 is a nice savings. And I like to get in a lean protein and at least two servings of veggies with my lunch. I have never been a big fan of sandwiches. (shrugs)

My tea costs a lot upfront but when I make a cup or two, in some cases three, it works out to $0.25 a cup. It tastes better then the bagged stuff and is better for me because I get more anti-oxidants, minerals, and vitamins from the loose leaf then the bags.

I guess one persons frugal is expensive for another person.

[beppe]

I have lunch at the restaurant, he makes me a big salad with lattuce or cicory, tomatoes, slices of raw onions, walnuts and beans enough. No seasoning, not even salt. I might nibble half a roll of bread. around 5 euros. I do not know exactly as I have lunch with Wife and she eats differently (she gets also sparkling water and a small pitcher of red, with her pasta or rice usually, she has meat only if they have grilled sausages, but she is not on a particular diet, she smokes also, she is in excellent shape being a federal instructor of taichi: she grabs flying flies without looking. To her and with her present I always say the truth and the truth only). I pay.

Dryer is a blessing. Linen and towels are much softer and last longer.
Dishwasher is my best friend.

I just changed PC and got rid of all the work rejects I had at home in favor of a new 27" iMac.

Cars have been requested to last for 3 more years. Mechanic thinks that they agree.

Yesterday I did trim my facial hairs, that had gone a bit out of control. I worked for about half an hour with the machine. The result was appreciated. Now I can touch it every 2 or 3 days.

[beppe]

Originally Posted by ProfCrash

They have been on sale a lot recently so I have been able to pick them up at about $2 a box. I like having them with my lunch because it greatly increases the amount of veggies I get in a day.

My main source of veggies in this season is fresh greens (spinaches, chards, rapini, cicories and the likes) that I steam in the MW (I have an intelligent one) in big batches. Fresh cabbages of every sort I can find. Also steamed. Than I can finish them with a stir and fry approach and audacious seasonings. Cauliflowers and romanesco's I can have them raw, with a little mayo to keep company to my wife while she drinks her Bitter Campary with stuffed olives, pieces of focaccia and chips. In those cases I have a fake Bloody Mary. But I make faces to tease her.

As side decoration I use zucchini, tomatoes and zucchini that are still around although more expensive.

I also use a variety of roots: carrots, celery roots, beets and plenty of onions. Not much fruit: just a banana for breakfast.

[DixieGal]

Originally Posted by Sweetpea

$4.50 for a lunch... Especially considering the price difference between the US and here, that's a lot! A whole loaf or bread is €2.50, there are, what 25 slices?, in a loaf. I bring two slices to work, and maybe about €0.10 worth of spread. So, that's €0.30 for a lunch... (around $0.40). Tea is free at work.

I never took lunch very seriously either. I could happily go down to the cafeteria, get a couple slices of bread and a little thing of PB and J, and have lunch for 45 cents at my desk with friends. Or I could meet Tim for lunch and spend $20. Dinner was always where the $$$$ went, not breakfast or lunch.

So are we. But not necessarily because we must, but rather because we don't see the need to live lavishly. So, whenever we do spend, we always think it a great treat.

Us too. We have a good bit leftover every month, which we squirrel away to spend on a couple of expensive vacations each year. Travel is our treat. My mom taught us to live below our means in order to have money left over at the end of each pay period. It is so freeing to not have credit card bills or mortgage bills. Much more satisfying than an expensive car or home that we really can not afford.

We think a dryer is a waste of money. We have enough space to hang everything out, inside the house (and in summer, we have a very nice line outside). And our new TV was last year's top-of-the-line.

d...

Yep, when we do buy things, we try to get the best.

And I don't want to live in a world without electric clothes dryers. But that's just me.

For us, payroll deduction for saving were terrific. We always took the amount of raises and increased the deduction by that amount, so we never even missed the extra money. It is untouchable as long as you remain with the job. And when I had to retire due to blindness last year, it was a nice big monthly check for life.

However, I seriously doubt that voluntarily living simply is the norm. On vacation in swimming pools, the topic of finances ALWAYS comes up between us and strangers. They complain about how expensive travel is, and we shrug that it is what it is. Eventually they tell us how hard it is hitting their credit cards. The concept of living within their means seems unbelievable to them. It's like they consider living above their means via high credit limits to be a sustainable lifestyle.

[ProfCrash]

Payroll deductions are great. We both maximize our 401 K's. Hubby has a profit sharing plan and we are using a medical plan with a health 401 K. It's not called that but it is a great description. We can put in a certain amount each year for medical expenses. What we don't use is invested and rolls over. If we ever need a major procedure we have money set aside. If we don't, it turns into a 401 K at age 70.

We pay off our credit cards each month. We use a programmable thermostat so the house is at 68 in the winter when we are home and 64 when we are out and sleeping.

[SeaBookGuy]

Anyone else compulsive about checking the unit pricing on store shelves? I was out buying batteries today, and did the math to discover that the per-battery cost was roughly the same for most offerings ... until I found a buy-one-get-one-free hidden away on the bottom shelf that ended up less than half the cost of the others.

[ProfCrash]

Originally Posted by SeaBookGuy

Anyone else compulsive about checking the unit pricing on store shelves? I was out buying batteries today, and did the math to discover that the per-battery cost was roughly the same for most offerings ... until I found a buy-one-get-one-free hidden away on the bottom shelf that ended up less than half the cost of the others.

I always check that.

[Sweetpea]

Originally Posted by DixieGal

However, I seriously doubt that voluntarily living simply is the norm. On vacation in swimming pools, the topic of finances ALWAYS comes up between us and strangers. They complain about how expensive travel is, and we shrug that it is what it is. Eventually they tell us how hard it is hitting their credit cards. The concept of living within their means seems unbelievable to them. It's like they consider living above their means via high credit limits to be a sustainable lifestyle.

True that... Somehow we always have that little extra for those nice purchases. And when people, who earn the same as we do, and who pay the same mortgages (as I explained, having a mortgage here is much better than having your own home without one!), continually complain that they don't have the money to do those extra things, I always wonder what they do spend it on... Our car will be 10 years old this year, the other 20 (though, the younger one is overtaking the older one with total millage ) And while I'd love to replace it with that gorgeous Auris Hybrid, I won't take a loan for it. But we did go flat out on the kitchen. I wouldn't give an inch on that one! But I never spend money on too expensive clothing "because others expect me to". And our camping trips we love to keep simple (we did a 5-star holiday on our honeymoon and really felt out of sorts)

I guess it's a matter of priority. Some people seem to think what other people think is more important than being able to afford everything you want...

[CazMar]

I have a "solar powered" clothes dryer - I hang the clothes in the shed, it's 42C outside and about 45C in the shed. Clothes are dried in about 1 hour!
I am also a compulsive "price per unit" checker in supermarkets and buy seasonable vegetables to get the best price. Buying fruit and veg from the market is much cheaper than the supermarket and there are often super specials with slightly marked fruit which the supermarkets won't sell. Fresh food is usually cheaper and much more nutritious than packaged and processed products. But we always eat high quality food, I won't buy cheap instant coffee, would rather buy and grind my own, buy our meat from a quality supplier and often use local boutique manufacturers. We are lucky to live in a place where good food is available all year round.

[bjones6416]

It is very unusual in this part of the U.S. to not use an electric clothes dryer, even if you have to go to the laundromat to do it. I'm sure this will be shocking to some of you, but in lots of communities here you are not even ALLOWED to have clotheslines outside. (For the record, I am quite offended by that rule.) Those are usually the same communities that have rules about what color you're allowed to paint your house.