Discover the wisdom in avoiding the top of the line of most products in the intellectual playground at 500ways.com/avoid-the-top ( #topOfTheLine, #fancy, #wealthy, #expensive, #brand, #brandName, #exquisite, #fashionable, #fashion, #frugal, #frugality, #sensible)

I never could have retired at fifty, had I not always driven compact cars and purchased all my "teacher clothes" at Goodwill. Cheapness pays. 1995. #cheap #beingcheap #thrifty #beingthrifty #thriftiness #thrift #parsimonous #parsimony #moneymanagement #frugal #frugality #beingfrugal #teacher

Indeed, in the US 5.5" x 8.5" zines can go letter rate; 6x9 bumps up to large envelope. #frugality

Tri's World: Personal Finance and Money Management #investing #stocks #frugality
youtu.be/iiv059FEKXI

How do You Budget? I Want to Track it All. - Mini Thoughts I’m opening up the books and looking at every single dollar. From the "scary" $93k annual total to the actual $47k it costs to keep our household running, here is the raw breakdown of my 2026 budget, the hidden subscriptions I found, and how I'm tracking my emergency fund.

App minimalist? Zero-based? Share your system or biggest recent cut—I’m all ears and happy to learn from yours.

Read the full breakdown (with real categories and why I’m simplifying): mini-thoughts.com/ho...

#PersonalFinance #Budgeting #FinancialIndependence #Frugality #minithoughts
4/4

A picture I took of the pages I opened when grabbing the book. Alt Text created by Gemini; A close-up, top-down view of an open book titled "The Daodejing of Laozi," translated by Philip J. Ivanhoe. The pages shown are Chapter 67, which discusses the "three treasures" (loving-kindness, frugality, and humility), and Chapter 68, about the "virtue of noncontention." In the background, a bookshelf holds various titles including "Lord of the Flies" and "25 Eeuwen Westerse Filosofie."

A picture I took of the cover of the book “The Daodejing of Laozi” Alt Text created by Gemini: The front cover of the book "The Daodejing of Laozi," featuring translation and commentary by Philip J. Ivanhoe. The cover has a tan, textured background with a traditional Chinese ink wash painting of a mountain landscape and small red seal stamps in the corner. A hand is holding the bottom left corner of the book.

As I’m cleaning & ordering my bookcases sometimes a book opens at a random page and I read it.

This one made me pause and ponder on the situation our global society is in 🥺 #FoodForThought

#ThreeTreasures #Loving-kindness, #Frugality #Humility #Philosophy #Daodejing #Laozi #SustainableLeadership

5lbs of mushrooms for 5.60! Marker down milk, a chicken carcass from the freezer turned into stock, and I’m making a huge batch of cream of mushroom soup. #cooking #frugality #wastenot

The Stacks - Ready Player One
(The Fringes of Society)

I live on the very fringes of society.
And increasingly so as the years have progressed.

It has been the making of me.

#Hardship #Conditioning #Austerity
#Frugality #Renunciation #Spirituality

readyplayerone.fandom.com/wiki/Stacks

{"Think":null,"Content":"Controlling expenses is the true path to freedom. \n“Financial freedom comes from controlling expenses.” \n#budget #frugality"}

🛒 Try this Smart Spending Habit word search! Find words that promote budgeting and uncover a hidden inspiring tip to manage expenses smartly. Save more. Search Amazon for 'Grace Hartford Positive' for the full collection. #WordSearch #Puzzles #Frugality #Finance

Find the full collection of positivity & gratitude-themed puzzle books on Amazon. Visit: https://smile.ws/pw26 

#Positivity #PuzzleFun #KindnessMatters #WordSearch #Gratitude #Wellness #Inspiration

The Stacks - Ready Player One
(The Fringes of Society)

I live on the very fringes of society.
And increasingly so as the years have progressed.

It has been the making of me.

#Hardship #Conditioning #Austerity
#Frugality #Renunciation #Spirituality

readyplayerone.fandom.com/wiki/Stacks

People share the frugal habits they learned from relatives who lived through the Great Depression The Great Depression was one of the darkest economic times in the United States. Americans resorted to new levels of frugality out of necessity and survival. People went to great lengths to save, preserve, and reuse things. The generations that lived through the Great Depression were the Greatest Generation (born 1901 to 1927) and the Silent Generation (born 1928 to 1945), and their children and grandchildren gleaned many lessons in frugal living. In a discussion among Boomers and Gen Xers on Reddit, they shared stories about frugality and frugal habits they learned from their relatives who survived the Great Depression. From clothing to food and more, these are some of the most interesting ways they made it through. - YouTubewww.youtube.com "My grandmother kept all the clothes. They wore it, then cut it up into quilts or made rugs out it. Cut the buttons off. She had jars of buttons. All sorted by color. Once, I poured the potato water down the drain after boiling them. I thought she was going to have a heart attack. She saved that for soups, gravy, or put it on her body as lotion after a bath." - Key_Investigator1318 "My grandmother worked in a boarding house for room and board while my grandad was on a rail gang painting train overpasses for the WPA. My grandma was taught to waste nothing, so she learned to can fruits and veg and salt cure meat. She also learned how to make cakes and pies from practically nothing. She had a lifelong habit of hoarding washed-out food containers- literally had a tower of margarine tubs- and newspapers. She used them for stuffing cushions, filling cracks in the wall (with wallpaper paste- like papier-mâché) and even make some Christmas decor out of old comics. Probably my most fond and direct memory/lesson is staying with them for the week or weekend- my mom was a travel agent who traveled often on "fam trips"- and she left me with the grandparents) were the cheap snacks they made on Saturday nights for games of cards and watching the late movie on a local TV channel: popcorn, slices of apple, and a snack I came to know as 'depression s'mores-' saltines, peanut butter and half marshmallows made into sandwiches and baked in an oven. Delicious." - AnalogAficionado "My grandmother also never wasted anything. If the collar on a shirt got worn, she would unstitch it, reverse it and sew it up again." - evaniesk "My mom was a great cook & baker. I asked her once why she worked so hard to get every last bit of batter, etc. 'Because you never know when you'll wish you had that bite.' My dad's mom made wonderful homemade bread. As kids he and his 6 siblings would eat fresh bread with milk and a little sugar as a special treat." - Single-Accountant306 Worried mother and children during the Great Depression era. Photo by Dorthea Lange via Library of Congress "Turning off the lights when you left a room. 'Kill the lights' my dad would say." - Notch99 "Recycle, reuse, how to make an awesome meal from leftovers. We used to call it 'Fridge Stew' and 'A Never Have Again meal'. Only because you will never have the exact same ingredients." - FOAD1951 "My parents were teens/20s during the depression and learned to never waste anything. Ever. Shoes worn out? Cut out cardboard and put it in your shoes like inner soles. Just don’t prop your feet up. Cold at night? Put newspaper between your sheets and blankets to keep the warmth in. Apple peels? Make jelly. Leftover potatoes? Make soup. Any vegetable leftover? Make soup." - tigerowltattoo "My mother saved all the plastic bread bags and the twist ties. Also saved all paper bags from the grocery store. Used them to wrap our school books." - Tb182kaci - YouTubewww.youtube.com "Sweet Jesus where do I start? Frugality and self sufficiency were the major themes. But they both were teenagers during the depression, both raised by single mothers in larger families. I was surprised we could throw away used toilet paper. I'm not a hoarder but I hate throwing things out. Just this morning my wife made me get rid of two pair of shoes. They were both less than 20 years old. I remember being taught to never live on credit, save and pay cash. I also remember my dad saying in the 70s that there were exceptions when interest rates were going over 15%. I bought my first house on a 17% mortgage and that was a VA loan. Still a good deal...It was rough being raised by two children of the depression. But they made me the man I am today and I wouldn't change a thing." - Tasty_Impress3016 "The tradition of an orange in the toe of your Christmas stocking. Sometimes it was all they could afford and it was treasured. The tradition continues in our family along with the story of why. Homemade bread because it was cheaper than day old store bread for school sandwiches. Winter coats as Christmas gifts." - MontanaPurpleMtns _"Always_ maintaining good credit because when you were dead broke you could at least pay for groceries on credit. That meant contacting your creditors before the payment was due if you didn’t have enough to pay the bill in full and explaining you acknowledge the debt, but hope that x dollars will be enough for now, until the weather makes work possible again. Also when you have money, don’t waste it. Put some by for the future. I’m old, and have followed this my whole life. At 74, my credit score is above 800." - MontanaPurpleMtns "Hairdressers were for the wealthy. Get a friend to give you a perm/trim. Rags were better than rollers for curling your hair. (They are!!!! Soooo much more comfortable to sleep on.). Basically a clump of wet hair was wound around a small strip of fabric, the fabric ends were tied together and you slept on it all night so your hair could look nice for church on Sunday. Shoes that fit well were worth the money. (Too many hand me downs as a child caused foot problems.)" - MontanaPurpleMtns "Keeping used fat in a jar in the fridge." Stardustquarks "There was zero snack food in the house because money was not to be wasted on things like pop and chips that had no positive nutritional value. We did have cookies and other desserts - just always home made." - OaksInSnow

11 old-timey frugal living habits younger generations need to revive ASAP Today's adults often lament the economic turmoil of the 21st century, from the Great Recession of 2008 to the financial upheaval of the COVID-19 pandemic of the early 2020s to very real struggles with unaffordable housing and education. A lot has transpired to drive up the cost of everyday living without a corresponding rise in wages. With a major upheaval of the U.S. government unfolding in early 2025, uncertainty was even more solidified as the theme of the day. When financial instability hits, it's time to take measures to mitigate it however we can, and thankfully, we can learn a thing or two from our elders who lived through the money struggles of two world wars and the Great Depression. Frugality was a way of life for our grandparents and great-grandparents, and though times have changed—a lot—many of those wise ways to save money still stand. And the good news is that many of them are good for the environment and our health as well as our wallet, so Here are some of the easiest, best frugal living habits we can take from previous generations: Cooking at home is almost always cheaper than eating out, and often significantly so.Photo credit: Canva ## Cook from scratch Even with the cost of groceries being higher than they were, it's almost always significantly cheaper to eat at home than it is to eat out. Learning to cook is a useful and enjoyable (for many) hobby that can also save you money, as long as you're not trying to cook something overly fancy. Cooking doesn't have to be complicated, and it's never been easier to find simple recipes. There are even sites that will come up with a menu and recipes for you based on what you already have in your pantry. Stock up on basic ingredients, keep it simple, and find some favorite meals that you can whip up quickly and easily. ## Less meat, more beans Meat is pricey—especially good quality meat—and with animal-borne diseases becoming more of a concern, animal products in general are getting more expensive. Perhaps now would be a good time to transition to more of a plant-based lifestyle, making more use of cheaper protein sources like beans. Canned beans are generally quite affordable, but dried beans are even cheaper if you don't mind taking the time to soak and cook them. If you have an Instant Pot, it's super easy to batch cook dry beans, which you can then store cooked in the freezer for quick reheating. Bulk spices often cost a fraction of what they cost in jars.Photo credit: Canva ## Buy herbs and spices in bulk Spices in jars are stupidly expensive sometimes, and you might assume that's just what they cost. But if you've never shopped in the bulk spice section at a store—even at an expensive health food store—you might be surprised by how much cheaper it is. Leafy herbs like oregano, thyme, basil, and sage weigh almost nothing, so even if they cost $20/lb, a jar's worth is often pennies to the dollar cheaper than buying them already packaged. (Just beware heavier spices, as sometimes those can be just as expensive as jarred. Definitely worth comparing, though.) ## Borrow and barter When times are tough, getting by becomes a community effort, but there's no reason we have to wait for an actual economic depression to help one another out or scratch one another's backs. We all have things that sit around not being used much of the time that others might like to borrow, from tools to books. Trading services can be an excellent way to save money in a win-win way. Growing your own food can save you money.Photo credit: Canva ## Grow a garden During the pandemic, many people started growing WWII-style "victory gardens" simply because they could, but gardening can be a great way to save on produce and herbs. If you can start early in the spring and grow from seed, even better. Though learning to keep a garden thriving can be a little trickier than it looks, the savings can be impressive. For instance, one tomato plant can harvest 10 to 20 pounds of tomatoes, so even if you spend $5 on a starter plant, you can save a ton compared to produce section prices at the store. No yard? Gardening in containers works, too. ## Clean with vinegar and baking soda It may seem like a small thing, but lots of small things like cleaning products add up. Buying vinegar in bulk and diluting it 50/50 with water makes a great basic cleaner, and baking soda in bulk can help you scour surfaces as well. Vinegar smell doesn't last long, but you can always add a little essential oil to the mix to add some scent. You might need a stronger disinfectant for certain cleaning jobs, but for a basic cleanser, vinegar gets the job done. Biking is free.Photo credit: Canva ## Drive less Americans love to drive and many of us do it far more often than we need to, spending more on gas than necessary. And even though gas prices have come down most places, it still isn't cheap. Combining trips or making a once a week "errand day" can help us cut down on driving. So can carpooling or biking or walking more. ## Buy used Thrift store shopping can save a ton of money, especially if you shop around to various thrift shops to find the ones that actually have good stuff at low prices. Clothes especially can be a much better deal used than new, and no one will ever know the difference. Furniture is also a fraction of the cost used vs. new, and often older furniture is better quality anyway. Check Facebook Marketplace, Craigslist and other online markets for used items before running to the store or buying something new online. Public libraries are treasure troves of free items to borrow.Photo credit: Canva ## Utilize your public library Public libraries are treasure troves of free stuff, and not enough people take full advantage of them. Not only can you get books, but many libraries have huge collections of movies or other entertainment. Some have art collections you can check out, others have tools and household items you can borrow. There are also free book clubs, lectures, classes and other activities that can add to your social calendar without spending anything. ## Make do with what you have This might sound like a no-brainer, but many of us have gotten into the habit of buying whatever we think we need simply because it's convenient. Amazon has created some habitual buying habits that we might want to rethink if we're trying to save money. Do you really need a new jacket or is the one you have still perfectly usable? Is there still some life left in that pair of shoes? Even holding off on buying things for a month or two and making do with what you have can help you save money and see that you don't need as much as you might think. Lots of small savings can add up, so don't assume that a few cents or a dollar here and there don't matter. Once you get into these habits, you may even find that frugal living to be a preferred way of life, regardless of your financial situation. It certainly can't hurt to try it. _This article originally appeared in March._

Discover the wisdom in avoiding the top of the line of most products in the intellectual playground at 500ways.com/avoid-the-top ( #topOfTheLine, #fancy, #wealthy, #expensive, #brand, #brandName, #exquisite, #fashionable, #fashion, #frugal, #frugality, #sensible)

Frugal people share their best money-saving tips that worked for them in 2025 Saving money in 2025 was no easy feat. With rising home and grocery prices, everyday life became increasingly expensive. But frugal people made it work. They used their savvy, money-saving skills to cut heating costs, grocery bills, and more. In a discussion on Reddit, frugal people shared how they managed to save boatloads of money in 2025. These are 23 of the most effective ways they saved money. - YouTube www.youtube.com "Mine was just bringing my own food to work. I didn't think it would matter that much, but not buying lunch out every day saved way more than I expected." - salamagogo "Meal planning prioritizing what I have in my fridge that will go bad in the next few days. My food waste is way down once I started doing this." - danedori "It's a great year for savin money. I completely stopped ordering takeout and drive-thru. Air fryer and rice cooker for the win! Brought all my own lunches. Best bonus, lost some weight, and brought down my blood pressure a couple digits." - garlicnaughts "Biggest change that will pay dividends (eventually) that I made was upping my mortgage repayments. About 2 years in at what started as a 30-year, I am now on pace to be done in another 15. If I can shave off a couple more in the coming years and just be done in 15 years all in, would be pretty happy. Gonna save me hundreds of thousands in interest over the life of the loan." - dinkygoat "Track my spending daily and aim for 13-18 no spend days a month. I'm ending this year with 60% No spend days and added over $1k/month to savings." - justanother1014 "I also have a list in my reminders app for upcoming bills. It's kept me home so much this month to see that I have $500 in car repairs next week so no, I don't need to go out shopping right now." - justanother1014 "Also: not logging into Amazon 😄 those little purchases really add up!" - Rowland_rowboat "I mix black beans in with my ground beef. I use this in almost any recipe with ground beef, but mostly Mexican food which my family loves. It's wayyy cheaper and healthier. And you still get the taste of meat. You could do pinto beans or white beans as well. Also, my investment in an instant pot was great because in other beans (cheap!) and can have them ready to go in an hour." - Liza_Jane_ - YouTube www.youtube.com "Finally got a bidet this year. Shortly after, I switched to bidet cloths. I don't even think about toilet paper anymore, though I keep a couple rolls on hand for guests. Wish I'd done it sooner." - after_tomorrow "I signed up for a few store delivery services, two with half price specials, and a subsidized ride share program for seniors, which allowed us to go to one car. We save more money not having the second car vs. paying for the other services. Walmart+ ships free and does free return pickup, plus includes a free streaming channel, so that has been an especially nice time and money saver." - bob49877 "I bought more produce saver containers and washable silicone food storage bags so we use very few Ziploc kind of bags anymore." - bob49877 "I've started making baked potatoes from Sam's in the crockpot, just put on high for 4 hours, keeping extra in the fridge for reheating for meals for a few days. Ten pound bag, two days worth of calories, for only $3.77." - bob49877 "I switched to loose teas I use with metal tea strainers to save money and avoid plastics from regular tea bags." - bob49877 "I put as many electronic devices as feasible on power strips and reduced the electric bill by $25 a month." - bob49877 "I bought a used Kindle and ended up spending $0 on books this year thanks to Libby." - agoraphobiai "Surprisingly, it was getting one of those budget tracking apps. I didn't think it would do much but it really shifted my mentality when I saw that I was spending 200+ on eating out everyday, and much more on entertainment than I thought." - Exotic_Caregiver_179 - YouTube www.youtube.com "Don't accumulate clutter- a huge time and money saver. No storage lockers lingering away, no stacks of boxes in the basement. Yard sale that stuff or give it away." - Due-Kale3412 "Also- Smartphone coupons. I worked at a big corporate retail store and noticed how popular these are with younger shoppers. If a coupon is offered, use it. Some stores are all about it (Menard's, Kohl's) others won't mention them but a verifiable coupon will be honored." - Due-Kale3412 "Selling on fb marketplace. It's slow, it can be frustrating but you just keep stuff going and it can be nice." - emeraldead "Last week of every month we do an eat down of the pantry/freezer. I will only buy absolute essentials (fresh milk, fruit) that week and get creative with everything else. It's basically cut our grocery costs by 20%." - playhookie "Shopping at Aldi really helped my grocery budget. My budget is 250.00 every two weeks and ordering online at Kroger, it kept creeping up steadily and not leaving any room for produce or forgotten items. Now I can get a full cart of groceries at Aldi for 100-150.00 and just get my specialty items from Kroger. My fridge and pantry are definitely fuller now. We really trimmed the grocery bill this year doing this. It really helped." - LeighofMar, Rowland_rowboat "Going out for special dates only, more expensive, less often, much more memorable, and much less average eating out." - SoggyBottomTorrija "Making soup. Soup is pretty cheap and easy to make. I usually cook a pot each week. This week's was broccoli cheddar soup. The week before that was chicken noodle and the week before that was butternut squash soup. It's something we really enjoy and it helps save us money. Having soup in the fridge means we always have something to eat. Especially when we don't feel like cooking. So we may have it for lunch or supper or even breakfast if we don't feel like making something else." - Euphoric_War_2195

Fortune Cookie Coaching V1 E2: Frugality Fortune Cookie Coaching · Episode

Fortune Cookie Coaching #podcast: #FRUGALITY #motivational #inspirational http://dlvr.it/TQ1m1M

Frugal people share the 20 money-saving habits they picked up by accident Frugal people are experts at saving money. They know how to spend less when shopping for groceries, making yummy (but filling) meals, and even on date night. Plus, they are masters of bargain shopping. But even the most thrifty people can stumble upon new and unexpected ways to save big bucks. In a discussion on Reddit, frugal people shared the most surprising ways they've been able to spend money that they learned unintentionally. These are 20 of their best money-saving habits that they came upon by accident. - YouTube www.youtube.com "Mine was starting to save veggie scraps to make broth. It started as a 'let’s try this' and now it’s automatic. I keep a bag in the freezer for onion skins, celery ends, carrot tops, etc. Every couple of weeks, I boil it all down and end up with a rich, flavorful broth that tastes way better than the boxed kind. It tastes better than store-bought and saves me at least $20 a month, with an added bonus of making me feel like i know fancy techniques." - ThrowRAhyBug7080 "Old jars become new containers. My husband drinks instant coffee. We buy multiples when it's on sale, and I now have matching glass jars with screw on lids. Lots of dried goods in those, and they are uniform." - ButterscotchBubbly13 "I swapped out cleaning with paper towels for a bag of rags I got at Costco to be more environmentally friendly. I put them in a plastic bag until I have enough to wash in the laundry. Now I only use paper towels if I’m doing stuff like patting chicken dry, so I’ve saved a lot of money buying them less frequently." - User Unknown "When I really WANT something: ANYTHING, I go to whatever website (am waiting for surgery and on crutches so...) and put whatever I want (everything) in 'the cart' but 99% of the time I don't end up actually buying it. Somehow just the sense of searching, finding, envisioning having it, and selecting it to go in 'the cart' satisfies something that makes me feel less - hmm, searching for words... - deprived? If the item (items) stay in the carts (IOW if they are not sold) then, when there is extra $, I may select one and it is such a huge affirmation of my POWER TO CHOSE. I also do this with groceries that I want, but know that I don't need (or should not have), and, as someone with a history of severe eating disorder, this also satisfies whatever in me needs to feel bigger than my circumstances. IOW I can have whatever I 'want' by just putting it in "the cart". Does that make sense to anyone else?" - Madame_Arcati "I open the dishwasher door instead of using the 'heat dry' option. I did it at first because I didn’t like the heat on hot days, but I’ve noticed that it dries the dishes faster, so now I do it every time and it saves me whole dollars every year probably." - dave493333 - YouTube www.youtube.com "Silly but I got instant coffee packets as part of an end of the year gift... turns out instant coffee is perfect for making iced coffee at home when the urge strikes! No need to chill anything beforehand! So now I always keep a tin and it lasts forever." - Fluidfondant916 "Installed a bidet and use a 1/4 of the toilet paper." - JBirdale77 "If I'm doing chicken, I'm doing 2. Then I have enough bones to be worth getting those saved vegetable bits out of the freezer to make a rich chicken stock in my largest pot. Plus the collagen is so good for me and my old knees. I started this because I found out my nearest grocery puts unsold rotisserie chickens in a cooler and sells them for half price the next day. Don't know if it was new or I'd just missed it because the rest of the things in the cooler are high end expensive deli products. Whatever the case there were 2 there the first time I noticed it and I decided to snag both. I went home and removed all the meat, then couldn't bring myself to toss the remaining carcasses without at least trying to make my own stock. Now I grab two at least once a month. I freeze any excess I can't use up in three days. I make all my soups, casseroles, and even chicken salads from this. The whole cooked rotisserie chickens are only $4.50 each this way so it often costs the same or less vs buying chicken I have to cook. Plus it has helped me be better about cooking instead of eating out so it has easily been saving me $30-50 a month." - RelativelyRidiculous "Cut magic erasers into strips before using. A strip cleans almost as much as a whole sponge so you get exponential value." - ramblingamblinamblin "I'm a teacher. Over the summer, I go to estate sales to get school supplies for my classroom. Most people who shop at these sales are looking for art or antiques. The office supplies like paper, pens, pencils or art materials are super cheap. Also, I look for older staplers and pencil sharpeners. They are built to last, unlike modern plastic sh*t." - tiffy68 "I never buy books or magazines. I use the public library's free Libby app to check out and read books and magazines electronically. More convenient doing it from home with no car trips to the library." - 71stMB "Checking local buy nothing group and free section of craigslist religiously. Got paint, home goods, oils and vinegars, frozen foods, etc. Gave away clothing, extra comforters, plants, etc." - tessie33 - YouTube www.youtube.com "I have a couple. Growing herbs: Once I branched out with cooking, I couldn’t believe the price of those little clamshells of herbs. Thyme, rosemary, oregano, sage and chives grow year round here, and I grow cilantro, dill, and Basil seasonally. Basil and cilantro do not dehydrate well (flavor is way different) from what I’ve found. If I don’t have it, I buy cilantro fresh and I keep a jar of freeze dried basil (which is cheaper and lasts WAY longer than fresh). Garlic is my second. I’m anti-jarlic, and came across a ton of garlic for cheap once. I sliced it and dehydrated it because I had so much. It holds flavor well, you have slices readily available, if you need minced just crush a couple of the slices. I’ve found recently the little pre-peeled bags are cheaper than bulbs, but they go bad quickly. So I also have a bag of cloves in the freezer. Set them on the counter during prep and they thaw quickly." - JDuBLock "I bought the 10lb bag of oats from Costco for $10 last March. It’s now July and I just ran out. Majorly cheap breakfast." - Standard_Seaweed4134 "After using the oven in winter, I always crack it open to let the heat into the kitchen." - patchy_22 "Old t-shirts become rags." - Ok-Champion5065 "Eat before you leave the house and bring a water bottle with you." - NotAtThesePricesBaby "I make 3-4 PBJ sandwiches at a time and toss them in the freezer. Takes like 20-25 minutes to thaw. No more fast food on days I’m on the go." - RiotGrrrlNY "Fabric mâché. It's similar to papier mâché except with scrap fabric. It's stronger and it's good for certain types of repairs. The husband knows I repurpose cotton rags into cleaning cloths, but he doesn't know which types of cotton rags are ideal for cleaning. So when his cotton clothes wore out he had been putting them there and not always mentioning it. So in addition to an ample supply of rags we were getting a backlog. Then when it was time to repair a cat tree, I found out fabric mâché is a thing. The cat tree construction was really cheap (part of it was cardboard) and needed reinforcement. Removed the old worn-out fabric, built up the cardboard verticals with fabric mâché, and then measured and cut carpet remainders to cover over the repairs. The carpet remainders we got for free from the local Buy Nothing group. So instead of replacing a cat tree, repaired the old one for the cost of a little flour and salt and a few heavy duty staples, plus some worn-out clothes which would have gone into the trash. This became a thing as our other cat trees needed maintenance. Fabric mâché has saved us $250 just on this one purpose." - doublestitch "Changing my own oil. With YouTube videos it’s relatively straight forward even on never vehicles." - TookTheLongCut

Find the full collection of positivity & gratitude-themed puzzle books on Amazon. Visit: https://smile.ws/pw26 

#Positivity #PuzzleFun #KindnessMatters #WordSearch #Gratitude #Wellness #Inspiration

🛒 Try this Smart Spending Habit word search! Find words that promote budgeting and uncover a hidden inspiring tip to manage expenses smartly. Save more. Search Amazon for 'Grace Hartford Positive' for the full collection. #WordSearch #Puzzles #Frugality #Finance

some creative frugality... | The key to saving money outfitting or cruising really devolves to the simple act of asking the right questions, doing the math, and making an informed decision.

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some creative frugality…

The key to saving money outfitting or cruising really devolves to the simple act of asking the right questions, doing the math, and making an informed decision. Dead simple, right?

MORE www.volkscruiser.com/2025/12/some...

#VolksCruiser #BoatBits #Frugality

People who live alone share their 45 favorite solo living money-saving hacks People often talk about the costs of having a family, which is fair, but on a per-person basis, living with other people is arguably much more cost-effective. The cost of things like rent and utilities are spread over multiple people, you can buy food in bulk without it going bad before you can use it, and more. Whether you're single or choose to live alone, it can be _expensive_. Finding ways to save money living alone can take some creative thinking, but there are easy ways to put some extra cash back in your wallet. So when someone posed the question on Reddit to fellow people who live alone: "What random cost-saving measures have you found that work well for those living alone?" single people and people living solo happily shared their money-saving hacks Here are 45 of the best ways to save money if you live alone: A full fridge uses less energy than a mostly empty one. Giphy ## Saving fridge energy "I'll start, to save money on energy I fill empty glass jars with water and store them in my fridge. It costs more to cool an empty fridge than a full one, and since I don't eat very much my fridge is often nearly empty. Not sure how much this has saved me, but now I have water if I ever were to need it!" Just_Throw_Away_67 "It took a little bit of up front investment, but I dumped my gigantic and ancient energy-hungry fridge a long time ago for a brand new one that is much smaller and also has a variable speed compressor for extra efficiency. The energy savings from that move alone probably paid for the fridge several times over by now." BrewCityChaserV2 A/C is expensive. Giphy ## Managing heat and A/C "Blackout curtains because I live in the South, so it’s _always_ hot. I also have privacy film that blocks some UV rays when I do want some light. Using a floor fan in my room (where I spend the majority of my time) with the door closed to keep it cooler. Close the air vents in my guest room since it’s primarily unused to cut down on AC costs. Cook large batches of food at one time so I’m not constantly using my stove/oven." eternally_feral "I keep my heating and cooling low. I can wear extra layers or less to get to a comfortable temp." Reasonable-Cold2161 "If you own your house: Ceiling fans in every room that have a ceiling light fixture in the center. I also changed almost all lights to LED. When the furnace was red-tagged, I replaced it and the AC. It was a budget buster but there was a federal government rebate. My bills are less and it’s much more efficient and quieter." GRIThere Cooking for one can be tricky. Giphy ## Saving on cooking "It’s a pain to heat the whole oven for a little food. I recommend an air fryer over a toaster oven though. They’re a bit faster (and you can still make toast)." MissDisplaced "I buy the family-size packs of meat, divide and freeze. I also still cook big meals like when my kids were teenagers, and divide them into portions and freeze. It's simply too hard to cook for one person. I make a weekly menu of the dishes I want to cook and then place my order for the grocery delivery. It does save money and since I cook a lot of casseroles, big pots of soups and stews, etc., and freeze in portions. I use my air fryer to warm the frozen dishes instead of the oven. It has almost become my hobby to have a variety of different meals through out the week without having to cook every day. Life is good 😊." No_Guava_90 Grocery shopping has to be strategic. Giphy ## Grocery shopping hacks "I read a tip to not bother doing a full 'grocery shop' trip if it doesn’t work for you/doesn’t make sense for you. Rather, if you find you’re throwing food away you couldn’t eat in time, try to do the method of going to the store of getting, say, just what you need for tonight and tomorrow’s meals, or whatever." citynomad1 "Grocery delivery. I end up spending 50% less compared to shopping in the store." Everydaylookwithin "This is why I do curbside pickup. I order through the app, see what deals and coupons they have, stick to my list and don’t end up impulse buying. An added bonus is I can pick up on my way home from work and not spend time waiting in the checkout line." zoebadwolf ## Avoiding single-use items "I try to avoid one-time use items. For example: bottled water, wipes, Swiffer dusters and mop heads, paper towels, etc, add up rather quickly. I use reusable mop pads, reusable duster heads and i always have a stainless steel water bottle with me so i don't have to buy water when I'm out." Rich_Group_8997 Leftovers are key to cost effective single person cooking. Giphy ## All of the above plus more… "I have a countertop dishwasher that I intentionally use only during off-peak hours. Luckily, this rental has a new refrigerator, and I run my air purifier on its 2 hour timer during those off hours (cat hair lol). Oh- I bought a Tushy bidet on sale- it pays for itself in the first year!" sk8rcruz "I always bring my own lunch to work. I also cut up fresh veggies, put them in ziploc bags, freeze them, and then steam them later in the microwave. You can also just put a whole bag of spinach in the freezer and then steam it in the microwave. Clean with a plastic spray bottle of vinegar and dish soap. Sprinkle baking soda on carpets and rugs before vacuuming." Unhappy-Jaguar-9362 "I have milk jugs with water in them in the fridge and freezer. I also buy in bulk. Usually the more you buy the cheaper per unit it is. I have a year supply of everything (joking) not quite but almost. I keep my air conditioner at a warmer temperature and use a fan to cool me all the way. I close blinds and curtains during the day. This cuts down on the heat in the room. Unfortunately it is dark in my apartment during the day , but this can make a difference of up to 10 degrees. This saves on cooling costs. Instead of buying single servings of food. I make a family size amount and put the leftovers in round dinner containers all ready to go for the next meal. These can also be frozen if you don't want the same thing a couple days in a row and put in the microwave for 6 or 7 minutes." Delightful_Helper "I turned up my AC and invested in a Dreo fan and another simple standing fan for my room and living room. It’s going to save me about 50 bucks this month I think. Also stocking up on beans and rice and frozen veggies and proteins. Keeps me from eating out of if I don’t want to cook. Also making more than I can realistically eat in 3 or 4 days and freezing the rest. Also utilizing holiday sales for big ticket items. I bought a mattress around Memorial Day and a washer this past week for Father’s Day sales at Lowe’s. The washer was actually $100 cheaper the day after I bought it so I went in and was refunded the difference." MindPerastalsis "I live in the southwest. It cracks me up to hear that people are fainting and falling ill in 100 degree heat. It's regularly hotter than hell here. I have two layers of reflectix in all my windows. And I have insulated curtains over that. Then I have two AC units. They are both window units but they are big enough individually to cool my tiny house. I sectioned off my house so that I only have to cool the room I am in. I built a solar water heater. I haven't eaten out in years. I repair everything if I can and have invested in lots of tools. I get up stupid early in the morning so I can sit outside in the coolest part of the day. I only shop for groceries once a month and I use the app so I don't impulse buy. I buy large cuts of meat, then I smoke it all and portion it up and freeze it. Makes daily cooking short and sweet I have leftovers from last night for lunch every day. I make my own coffee and bread I turn on my water heater, when it's cold outside, long enough to heat it up and then I shut it back off. I have it turned up a little bit more so it gets a little hotter, but I only run it for an hour or two every two days. I don't smoke cigarettes. I do vape but I go through like $20 worth of vape pods a month instead of pack after pack of expensive cigarettes. When I use the shopping apps I pay close attention to the cost per oz and get the cheapest I can. I own my vehicle outright. It's older but reliable. I don't have any debt other than my phone and power bill. I only subscribe to 3 streaming services because they are a bundle deal. I don't have cable and my Internet is the cheapest deal I can find. Results are still coming in but I estimate I have cut my power bill alone in half and that's the single most expensive thing I pay." AuntBarba _This article originally appeared in June._

10 Frugal Life Hacks From Around the World Want to be more frugal? Consider adopting these money-saving strategies from other countries. These lifestyle changes could save you big-time.

10 Frugal Life Hacks From Around the World
#frugality #frugal
wealthup.com/global-fruga...

The Stacks - Ready Player One
(The Fringes of Society)

I live on the very fringes of society.
And increasingly so as the years have progressed.

It has been the making of me.

#Hardship #Conditioning #Austerity
#Frugality #Renunciation #Spirituality

readyplayerone.fandom.com/wiki/Stacks

Find the full collection of positivity & gratitude-themed puzzle books on Amazon. Visit: https://smile.ws/pw26 

#Positivity #PuzzleFun #KindnessMatters #WordSearch #Gratitude #Wellness #Inspiration

🛒 Try this Smart Spending Habit word search! Find words that promote budgeting and uncover a hidden inspiring tip to manage expenses smartly. Save more. Search Amazon for 'Grace Hartford Positive' for the full collection. #WordSearch #Puzzles #Frugality #Finance

Why Brett Brewer's Startup Would've Failed Without Frugality

#GGRClips #GreaterGoodRadio #ConnectLearnHealGrow #InspirationalInterviews #BrettBrewer #MySpace #StartupStory #Entrepreneurship #Frugality #StartupLife #BusinessLessons #SuccessMindset

[6/6] Pour lui, la transformation écologique suppose une mutation intérieure. La frugalité libère du temps, rééquilibre les sociétés et reconnecte les individus à leur environnement. Elle n’est pas un renoncement mais une réinvention de la prospérité humaine. #geography #sobriety #frugality

[5/6] Selon Navi Radjou, la croissance verte reste un mirage. Produire plus avec moins perpétue la logique extractive. L’économie régénérative qu’il défend s’inspire de la nature. Elle cherche à restaurer les écosystèmes tout en redéfinissant les besoins humains essentiels. #sobriety #frugality

[4/6] Il plaide pour une sobriété choisie, collective et territoriale. Au Brésil, les laboratoires du parc Guamá à Belem valorisent les plantes amazoniennes pour préserver les écosystèmes. L’économie frugale valorise la ressource locale plutôt que de l’exploiter. #geography #sobriety #frugality