Simple Living | Simply Saving

No-Waste Holiday Ideas

Here’s some great ideas to help you reduce the amount of waste you generate during the holiday season. By implementing some of these ideas, you can also reduce holiday costs.

Gift wrapping:
Trying to avoid the “gift wrap trap?” Here are some great ideas for gift wrapping alternatives.

Scarves, handkerchiefs or bandannas.
Old posters and maps.
Pages from a child’s coloring book taped together (especially nice for relatives who would enjoy the artwork).
Old sheet music.
Newspapers (foreign newspapers are great).
Last year’s holiday paper (press with warm iron if wrinkled).
Wallpaper scraps.
Home-sewn cloth bags.
Fabric scraps.
Pictures or advertisements from magazines and catalogs.
Sunday comic pages.
A present in a present (for example, a hat in a matching scarf, jewelry in a wooden box, cookies in a reusable tin or cookie jar, barbecue grill utensils or picnic supplies in a tablecloth, kitchen gifts in towels or all-purpose cloths).
A plain box decorated with leftover glitter, paint, markers, etc.
A cake pan, basket or a wooden box.
Reusable decorative bags.
A “Hollywood box:” individually wrap or decorate the top and bottom of a box with a separate lid. Encourage the recipient to reuse the box.
Purchase wrapping paper made from recycled paper.

Tree ornaments/decorating:
Here are a few ideas for adding a special touch to holiday decorations.

* Baby’s shoe Memorabilia, such as a child’s first shoe or grandma’s hankie scented with perfume.
* An old full skirt as a tree skirt.
* Old jewelry (restring old necklaces, hang earrings or bracelets).
* Items collected on vacation.
* Small stuffed animals and toys.
* Cookie cutters.
* Miniature toy cars.
* Dressed-up doll as a tree-topper.
* Holiday card ornaments: cut up; glue felt fabric scraps on back; tie with yarn scraps.
* Edible cookie ornaments: use gingerbread or sugar cookie dough; poke a hole at the tip using a drinking straw; decorate and bake; thread a ribbon through hole; tie ribbon in a large loop and hang on bough of tree.
* Small pictures from old magazines or holiday cards: cut out; glue onto old plastic lid; decorate with beads, buttons or jewelry; punch a hole and hang with string or yarn.
* Popcorn and cranberry strings (can be eaten by animals after the holidays). Buttons
* Reusable glass icicles instead of disposable tinsel (keeps tree clean for mulching).
* Buttons knotted on a sturdy length of string.
* Spices from the kitchen instead of commercially prepared and packaged products or aerosols (for example, create pomander balls by placing whole cloves in oranges or lemons to create decorations that look and smell great).
* Gingerbread people and reindeer from leftover brown paper grocery bags (place on windows and walls for decoration.)
* Tin can luminary (punch holes into empty metal can; place candle inside.)

*** Look for more ideas in a later post ***

Tags: green living, Living Mindfully, make it yourself, make your own, Money Saving Tips, reduce reuse recycle, save money, saving money, simple living, simplify the holidays, tips, ways to save money

Simplify Christmas

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I’ve been trying to find ways to simplify my life for a few years now and the holidays are no exception. Sometimes the craziness of it really gets to me. I recently picked up Unplug the Christmas Machine: How To Have The Christmas You’ve Always Wanted for $1.50 in a local used book store. Here’s an interview with the authors. You can buy used copies of the book through amazon by clicking the image below.

What’s the first step parents should take to simplify the holidays?

Jo: Decide what’s important to you. We’ve done hundreds of workshops, and it’s remarkable how the same scenario happens over and over again. We ask people to close their eyes and imagine a Christmas that would give them great pleasure. When they open their eyes, there is a profound silence. Everyone shares what they imagined, and it’s so similar from person to person: to be with your family, to be with your children, in a joyful way. To have no stress. To carry out the traditions that have meaning to you and your family. To connect to something that’s bigger than yourself. Oh, and of course, there’s snow! There’s a fire in the fireplace.

Jean: What’s most striking is that, in the fantasy, gifts would not be in the celebration! Or if there were gifts, they would be simple, lovingly chosen, or handmade. Nobody fantasized about going to the mall.

Okay, we know what people want, but that’s not what they actually get, is it? Gifts may be a low priority in the fantasy, but if you’ve got kids, it seems like Christmas can become solely about gifts. How can parents change this emphasis?

Jo: One year, Jean and I counted up the amount of money you’d spend to buy all the gifts advertised in one hour of Saturday-morning cartoons. It was more than $400 dollars’ worth of goods — paraded in front of a child with all the seductiveness that Madison Avenue can muster. So the first thing we advise is, with little kids, show them what a commercial is. It’s hard to decipher sometimes when the toy advertised is the same character they just saw in the show. Watch with them and have them cry out “commercial!” every time one comes on. With older kids, talk through what the messages are all about, and how advertisers want you to think all your happiness is tied up in having that toy, but that lots of toys aren’t as great as they say. What you’re trying to do is channel all that excitement about Christmas gifts toward excitement about the rest of Christmas, like holiday activities and traditions.

That sounds good. But do kids really care as much about activities and traditions as their Christmas-gift list?

Jean: I think parents are afraid they aren’t going to do right by their kids. They want their kids to have happy memories, to be delighted and thrilled. Parents need to be reassured that they can provide this for their children in all sorts of ways, not just with gifts. You’d be surprised how simple a kid’s idea of tradition is. One of the moms we spoke to asked her four-year-old what he remembered most about the previous Christmas. “The Santa on a string,” he said. She had no idea what he was talking about until she realized there was a simple Santa ornament that had hung on the tree last year, at her son’s eye level. That ornament meant nothing to her, but to him, it meant Christmas.

Are you saying that traditions can actually substitute for gifts? Or that, by adding activities and traditions, parents can cut down on the gifts?

Jean: I think a lot of parents who want to simplify Christmas go about it the wrong way. They try to take away the gifts, the commercialism, without making sure they have already put in place those things that are important. You don’t want a feeling of absence, but a feeling of shifting the emphasis.

Jo: Also, remember that gift obsession is just a phase in a child’s life, especially kids ages eight to 12, especially in boys. Accept that this is your kid at this point in time, living in a commercialized world. You’re not to blame, he’s not to blame. Sit down with him and say, “I see you’ve made this long list of things you’d like. In our family, we only give X number of presents, so let’s figure out which ones you really want.” Then, in the coming years, gradually cut down on the gifts as you build up the activities and traditions.

How do you make that shift toward more activities and traditions?

Jo: One of the best ways is to make a Christmas calendar. As a family, write down the commitments you have already. Then see where the voids are and decide if and how you’d like to fill those voids. Everyone should have a say. You may plan days to do nothing. Reframe things you view as chores — like picking out a tree — and turn them into traditions. How? Allow time for the activity. Don’t just make it one of several tasks to check off your list. Do the activity with spirit and have a good time. In my family, we’ve turned getting a wreath into a tradition. We set aside an afternoon, go into the woods and gather boughs, and enjoy being outdoors with each other, in the moment.

Jean: One family we spoke with decides what they’d all like to do in December. They choose a date to pick a tree and draw a picture of a tree on the space in the calendar, or draw an airplane on the day when the grandparents will arrive. Another family designates each day as something special: from Kids Choose the Menu Day to Hear a Story as Many Times as You Want Day.

Although the calendar is meant to help avoid overscheduling and missing out on what they really want from the season, it leads to a discussion about moms going overboard. Let me quote from your book: “Busy women feel pressured to put on a year-end extravaganza and are given the hidden message that their families’ happiness depends on their nonstop performance.” What’s the source of all that pressure?

Jean: It’s partly because today’s women were often raised by mothers who didn’t work outside the home, and so the domestic arts were important to their identity. Women carry this legacy that the family celebration rests on their shoulders. And, of course, the media puts pressure on women too. I mean, look at the holiday issues of most women’s magazines, full of crafts and foods and decorating, all promising us the magical Christmas we can give our families if only we work hard enough. One of the moms we mention in the book said she used to feel like a bad mother unless she made something from the magazines every Christmas.

But if you go to this extraordinary effort, what kind of mom and wife does your family get at Christmas? They get someone who’s distracted and pressured. Think about that from a child’s point of view. Now, women may go overboard, you say in your book, but men often do much less. What’s that about?

Jean: What we found out in our workshops was this: Women assume the way to make Christmas better for their husbands is not to ask them too much, not to involve them too much. That has the effect of making men feel alienated. Because they have no stake in Christmas, they have no enthusiasm for it.

Jo: There’s resentment on both sides. The men are saying, “This is not my Christmas” and “My wife is out of control.” The women were saying, “How come you aren’t helping with my Christmas? And how come you don’t have any Christmas spirit?”

Jean: One of the most dramatic moments in the workshop is when we ask women, “Do you know what traditions are important to your husband?” We ask, for example, if they know if in his boyhood he opened his gifts on Christmas morning or Christmas Eve. Everyone sheepishly looks at each other. All of a sudden, most women realize they don’t know anything about how their husband celebrated Christmas as a child, or what’s important to him about the holiday.

So how do you create family holiday traditions that take into account what everyone wants?

Jean: You ask! We’ve mentioned finding out about your husband’s childhood traditions. Ask your kids what they remember most about Christmas or Hanukkah in years past. It may surprise you. Often it’s something small.

Jo: For instance, I bet my mother never knew that one of the most important things to me as a kid was that we had a fruitcake recipe from a neighbor, and Mom would let me and my little sister cook this all by ourselves. We’d always do this in an aluminum pan, mush everything, and eat the gumdrops. Well, my mom died not too long ago, and when we requested things from the estate, my sister requested the aluminum dish, and I requested the recipe box. Who would have thought one of the most indelible memories would have been cooking a fruitcake? My sister and I still get together and bake that cake — even though we don’t really like it!

And we can’t overlook how financially stretched many parents feel at this time of year. How do you address this?

Jo: Parents need to come up with a family plan and decide what gets priority. Is it decorating the house? Having parties? Buying gifts? Problems arise when there’s no communication, when you haven’t agreed on something that represents both of you. Plus, people forget the incidental costs. When you make a budget, remember wrapping paper and the fact that you want to steam-clean the carpet before relatives arrive. Be comprehensive and figure out what areas you feel comfortable cutting back on.

Jean: I remember one woman in our workshop who confessed that she took to hiding the Visa bill in January and February and only told her husband about it in March or April, when she could no longer put off the inevitable. There are also women who say their husbands have no idea what it costs to entertain. “He wonders why our grocery bill was so high in December, but we [hosted] three family dinners,” said one. If you don’t share your memories and do some planning based on your values, then the commercial celebration will come in and fill the void. And the commercial celebration has the ulterior motive of getting you to spend.

What’s your closing advice for getting one’s family excited about holiday traditions and preparation?

Jo: Involve the kids, because that’s what they really want, and it’s these times and not the gifts that will stick in their minds. What works best, it seems, is to point them toward what they naturally gravitate to. Don’t force them to do what they don’t like. More kids like helping with baking more than shopping, for instance. Also, relax your standards. If you decide to make baking cookies a tradition, for instance, know that the kids will mess up the kitchen and get flour all over themselves, and that’s okay. If you must do Martha Stewart stuff and make it picture-perfect, do it late at night, by yourself!

Jean: It’s not so much what you do, but more that these are special things you don’t do the rest of the year. The point is that they happen at a comfortable rhythm that a child can look forward to, and that you as parents bring your whole selves to it because you aren’t distracted by being overburdened and spending too much money.

Jo: One tradition that felt right in my own family was to take donations to the Salvation Army. My son saw firsthand that charity was something we did at Christmastime. It was palpable. He helped bring the bags in, which makes a much bigger impact than watching us write a check and stuff it in an envelope.

Jean: I’m going to tell you a secret about our book. Yes, we’re talking about Christmas and how to make it feel right for your family. But what we are really talking about is: Who are you? What are your values? Talking about Christmas is an entree to talking about all these profound issues. Our approach gives people a way to wrestle with these issues and hopefully come to terms with them.

Tags: Living Mindfully, simple living, simple living books, simplify the holidays

50 Tips for Frugal Living

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A great post by Leo Babauta from Zen Habits.

Confession time: I’m a cheapskate. Some would say frugal, which sounds much more positive, but in reality I can be a real cheapskate.

I am fairly frugal (though not always), but sometimes I take it too far: I have T-shirts with holes in them, I never buy new clothes, we’re shopping for a new couch because our current one has holes in it, and I ran my current pair of running shoes until the soles fell off.

However, I have gradually learned to be frugal in many ways that I would recommend to others. I don’t think you should have holes in your couch, and you should definitely replace your running shoes more often than I do, but there are many ways to cut back on spending and live a more frugal lifestyle.

Why live frugally? First, because it allows you to spend less than you earn, and use the difference to pay off debt, save or invest. Or all three. Second, because the less you spend, the less you need to earn. And that means you can choose to work less, or work more but retire early. Or take mini retirements. You have more options with a frugal lifestyle.

I know what I’m going to hear in the comments, because it’s been done repeatedly with my other frugal articles: I have no life. This is boring. I might as well live in a box. You have to enjoy life sometimes.

All of which you might believe, but I believe I do have a life. A great one. One where I spend time with my family, where I have conversations and read and get outside and do things that are fun and exercise and focus on what’s important and spend my free time the way I want. This is a good life.

So, if you’d like some tips on frugal living, here are just a few, from a cheapskate. I should note that I do most, but not all, of these tips.

1. Go with one car. Many families have two or more cars. Besides your house, your car is probably your most expensive item. If you can do with one, you should. My wife and I both work, and we have six kids, and yet we have learned to manage with one car.
2. Go with a smaller house. Just because you can afford a larger house, doesn’t mean you should live in one. Live in as small a house as you can and still be comfortable. I don’t mean you should live in a one-room apartment with a family of four … you know what I mean. You can save thousands a year with a smaller house. Many times, if you get rid of a lot of clutter, you don’t need a large house.
3. Go with a smaller car. Again, you can save thousands by going with a smaller car. A car instead of an SUV, for example, is a big savings. Be comfortable, but don’t overdo it. You’ll save a lot on gas this way too.
4. Rent rather than own. This will probably spark a huge debate, as it always does. The thing is, just don’t assume that buying is the better investment. If you calculate the interest you pay on a mortgage, the cost of insurance and maintenance, buying is often much more costly than renting … and if you rent, save money, and then invest the difference, you can actually end up well ahead in the long run. Now, it’s not a given, so do a comparison, factoring in all expenses.
5. Look for used first. If you need something — I mean really need it, not just want it — see if someone you know has one that they don’t use or need anymore. Send out an email to family or friends, or just ask around. You might be surprised. I was about to buy a printer, and then found out my mom just bought a laser printer and didn’t need her old inkjet … saving me close to 100 smackeroos. If no one you know owns one, try freecycle.org or craigslist.org. Then look to buy used, at garage sales or thrift shops. You can find a bargain if you look around.
6. Eat out less. One of the biggest expenses in our daily lives is eating out — the average person spends well over $2,000 a year on eating out. Restaurants are expensive, including fast-food (not to mention the health hazards). It’s much cheaper to cook your own food. Our family creates a weekly menu, then we buy the groceries, and cook dinner (and lunch) each evening. Lately I’ve even been prepping it in the morning, so it’s a snap when we get home.
7. Eat out frugally. If you do eat out, check out these money-saving tips.
8. Brown bag it to work. Instead of eating out for lunch, bring your lunch.
9. Strive for a minimalist wardrobe. This tip won’t be for everybody, but I try for a minimalist wardrobe. I generally wear jeans or casual pants, a T-shirt or Polo-type shirt, and sandals or shoes. Plain, solid colors are my favorite. Everything goes with everything else, and I don’t have too many clothes. This saves me the stress of picking out an outfit, and I don’t need as many clothes.
10. Stop online impulse buys. This was a problem for me before I canceled my credit card. I used to buy online a couple of times a week. Now I buy maybe once every couple of months, using PayPal or someone else’s credit card. I’m not saying you have to go to this extreme, but realize that online buying can be way too easy (you don’t even have to go to a store) and therefore, we make too many impulse buys. Buy online if you really need something and it’ll save you money, but beware the impulse buy.
11. Don’t shop. Don’t go to the mall or other shopping area or department store to look around and shop. Go to a store if you know what you need, and then get out. Many times people go shopping, with a vague idea of what they want, and get caught up buying much more. Or they go just for fun, as a form of entertainment. That ends up costing a lot. It can really add up. Instead, stay away from shopping areas and find other ways to have fun.
12. Use a 30-day list. To curb impulse buys, create a 30-day list. When you want to buy something, other than a true necessity (medicine or food, for example), put it on this list, with the date you added it to the list. And make it a rule that you can’t buy anything for at least 30 days after you put it on the list. And stick to it. You’ll find that you buy a lot less with this system.
13. Cut out cable. I’ve talked about how I cut out cable before. It saves me money every month (in my area, about $60, or more than $700 a year), and also forces me to do things like read and have conversations and go outside. Win win.
14. Use the library. Instead of buying books, check them out. The library often also has a great selection of DVDs (depending on your area), saving you even more. Now who needs cable?
15. Find free entertainment. Find cheap ways to have fun. Entertainment often ends up costing a lot of money, if you go to the movies, buy concessions, or go out at night, go to the bar, etc. The average person spends about $1,800 a year on entertainment (not including eating out). Now, I’m not saying you shouldn’t have fun … but there are cheaper ways to do it.
16. Frugal exercise. Exercise is important, but it doesn’t have to cost a lot of money. Here are some tips.
17. Stay healthy. Easier said than done, I know, but staying healthy can save you tons of money on doctor’s visits, hospital bills, and medicine over the long run. An ounce of prevention, and all that. Eat healthily, and exercise. Simple and effective.
18. Commute by bike. Even if you own a car, commuting by bike will save you gas, and get you in shape at the same time. I highly recommend it.
19. Carpool or ride the bus. OK, you don’t want to bike it. So find a friend or neighbor who works near you, and arrange a carpool. Or take public transportation. Simple advice, but something a lot of people ignore.
20. Walk. Often we drive to the corner store, or to a school that’s less than a mile away. Leave a few minutes early, walk, burn some calories, and save gas.
21. Sell your clutter. This is not so much saving money as making it, but the frugal, simplifying cheapskate, like myself, will want to declutter and make a few bucks doing it. Hold a garage sale or sell it on eBay. It’s amazing what some people will buy.
22. Frugal gifting. Gifts can cost a lot of money over the course of a year. Look for ways to do it cheaply. Make a gift, or give a consummable. My family enjoys getting and giving cookies, for example.
23. Quit smoking. Not the easiest way to save, I know. It’s hard. But I did it, and so have many, many others. Not only will you save on cigarettes (which are expensive over the long run), but also associated costs (I used to buy a soda or beer to go with my cigarettes) … and of course the huge, long-term medical costs. In less than 2 years of not smoking, I’ve saved well more than $3,000.
24. Alcohol in moderation. If you drink one beer or a few beers a day, that adds up to big money each month. Some drink even more than that. It’s expensive. If you can cut your drinking to the occasional party, and once in awhile with friends (not all the time), you’ll save tons.
25. Sweets in moderation. Desserts and sweet snacks give us lots of calories with no nutrition. And we pay a premium price for that, in dollars and in our deteriorating health. Cut back on sweets (don’t eliminate them entirely of course) to save money and cut calories.
26. Drink water. Often we drink lots of calories through sodas, coffee, alcohol, juices, tea, etc. And that costs a lot too. Drink water, save money, save calories. Here are some tips for forming the water habit.
27. Batch your errands. Instead of running an errand or two every day, batch them into one errand day, and plan your most efficient route, to save gas and time. Also do as much bill-paying online as possible, to eliminate some errands.
28. Stay home. Becoming a homebody might not sound like a lot of fun, but it really can be. I love staying home with my family. We can do all kinds of fun things at home. Or I can spend a day alone, if the family is at school, and really enjoy it. It’s quiet and peaceful, I can read or watch a good movie or respond to comments on my blog or write. Staying home can save tons, in eating out expenses, shopping expenses, gas, and incidentals.
29. Stop using credit cards. Credit cards are not evil. And before you flame me, once again, I realize that they can be used to good purpose. If that’s how you use them, then that’s good, skip this tip. For others, credit cards make buying too easy, and end up making them buy too much.Not only that, but if you don’t pay your bill in full each month, they will cost you a lot in interest. The average American with at least 1 credit card has more than $8,500 in credit card debt. Don’t make that mistake.
30. Cancel subscriptions. With the wealth of information and entertainment online, do you really need magazine subscriptions? With all the news online, do you really need a newspaper subscription? If you can get DVDs for free or cheap, do you really need a Netflix subscription? Don’t flame me if you think you do need any of these — I’m just asking you to consider whether they’re really essential — the answer might be yes. Also consider other subscriptions you might be paying for — I’m not saying you should cancel everything, but seriously consider whether they can be canceled without much loss of value.
31. Make your own. I won’t go into all the possibilities here, but many times we buy things when really, we could make them ourselves for much cheaper if we get a little creative. Now, this might take a little more time and effort, but it can be fun, especially if you make it a family project. We recently made our own (very simple) bookshelves with only a couple of pieces of lumber, instead of buying them. If you don’t know how to make something, search for it online. You’ll most likely find some instructions.
32. Do it yourself. Instead of hiring someone to do something, try doing it yourself. Sure, it takes some time and effort, but it’s satisfying, and of course cheaper. It’s also educational, if you don’t know how to do it — again, do an online search, read up on it, and give it a go. Frugality freaks are DIYers.
33. Stop paying interest. I mentioned the interest of credit cards, and auto loans, and mortgages. I consider them a waste of money. I’ve talked about how to live without credit before, and I recommend it for a frugal lifestyle. Consider any other accounts or loans where you pay interest, and see if you can eventually eliminate as much of these as possible.
34. Reduce convenience foods. Frozen foods, microwaveable stuff, junk food … anything that’s packaged and prepared for our convenience is not only more expensive than something you cook yourself, but also most likely less healthy. I’m not saying to eliminate these completely, but reduce consumption.
35. Travel frugally. I actually don’t travel (or haven’t for years), but if you do have to travel, some advance planning can save you money. Airfare is most expensive, usually, so look to buy your ticket in advance, and look for deals. Also consider train travel. Shop around for car rental rates, as they can vary greatly (or use public transportation). Look for cheaper accommodations, or stay with a friend or relative. Just a note: I do plan to travel, but not until I finally eliminate all of my debt.
36. Cut the cell phone. This will not be a popular suggestion either. If you don’t like it, move on to the next one. It’s not for everybody. But think about this: 20 years ago, most people didn’t have cell phones. And miraculously, they survived. A cell phone is not a necessity. It’s a convenience. When people needed to make a call, 20 years ago, they either waited until they got to a destination (wait to make a phone call?! omg!), or pulled over and used a pay phone or a phone in a business establishment.
37. Cut your own hair. Again, this one isn’t for everybody. Personally, I use electric clippers to shave my head. It’s easy, it’s cheap, it’s minimalist, it’s care-free. I don’t worry about my hair getting messed up, or having to fix it in the morning. However, I’m not saying you should shave your head. Many people cut their own hair, in many simple but nice hairstyles, long or short. Saves money, and time.
38. Maintain stuff. This is a no-brainer, but we don’t often think about it: if you take care of what you have, it will last longer. You’ll then spend less on buying new stuff. When you buy something worth maintaining, take a few minutes to read the maintenance manual, and create a maintenance checklist that you can attach to the item. For important things like your car’s oil changes or tune-ups, put them in your calendar.
39. Save energy. There are little things we can do to lower our power bill. I don’t use a dryer or hot water heater, although those are a little extreme.
40. Save gas. With the rising price of gas (and no end in sight), fuel has become a major monthly expense for many people. Small things can add up to big savings.
41. Only buy bargain clothing (when you need clothes). OK, so you’re a cheapskate like me who only buys clothes when the old clothes have too many arm or leg holes. But now you need new clothing. I mean really need it. So instead of buying new, look for thrift shops with good clothes. Or buy new, but only buy the stuff that’s 50% off. Look for the bargains, and you’ll save a ton.
42. Telecommute. Telecommuting doesn’t necessarily give you your dream job, but it’s definitely a step in the right direction. But in addition to allowing you to work in your underwear (and who doesn’t have that dream?), telecommuting saves money on gas, on eating out (if you eat lunch at a restaurant), and on buying expensive work clothes (all you need to buy is underwear, right? And no, don’t buy used underwear).
43. Plan ahead. Sure, easy to say, hard to implement. But if you make it a habit to think ahead to things that are coming up in your life, you can save a lot of money. For example, if you think about where you’re going to get your meals when you go out to do errands, you can pack a lunch or dinner instead of eating out. If you pack a big container of iced water, you don’t need to buy expensive bottled water. If you know that a birthday is coming up, you can buy a gift on sale instead of spending more at the last minute.
44. Cook ahead. If you have one free day a week (or even a month), cook food in big batches and freeze in dinner-sized portions. I don’t do this all the time, but I have done it and it saves money (buying big can often save) as well as time. You have to plan it out a bit, coming up with a menu and shopping, cooking enough meals for a week or a month. But once you’re done, your meals each night (and for lunch if you like) are quick and easy. This saves you from eating out or eating convenience food when you’re hungry but too tired to cook.
45. Wash clothes less. Some people wear clothes and then wash them, but I’ve gotten into the habit of wearing my clothes more than once if they’re not really dirty. I use my nose as a test — I don’t want to wear clothes that smell, but most times the clothes are still perfectly clean. This saves on washing.
46. Sun-dry clothes. When my parents were young, everyone used a clothesline to dry clothes. Now dryers are ubiquitous, because they’re fast. But if you don’t wash a ton of clothes, it’s not that hard to take a few minutes to hang them up. You’ll save a lot in electricity, plus your clothes last longer.
47. Eat less meat. I’m not saying you have to become a vegetarian (although you could always give it a try), but once in awhile, eat meatless dishes. Pasta, vegetarian chili (see my recipe halfway down this article), vegetarian Indian or Thai dishes, falafels with hummus and pitas and tomatoes and lettuce … there are plenty of tasty dishes without meat. And as meat is expensive (well, the fresh kind is … Spam is cheap), you’ll save money on meatless dishes. Again, I’m assuming you cook with fresh meat, not canned.
48. Save on groceries. For my family of eight, groceries is a major expense. With some simple habits, we’ve been able to save a lot of money.
49. Frugal Christmas. Christmas is expensive, especially in America (if you live in an area that doesn’t celebrate Christmas with a huge amount of buying, or doesn’t celebrate it at all, skip this tip). People go on crazy shopping gorges. It’s insane. While it makes the retailers and manufacturers happy, it doesn’t make our bank accounts happy. Break out of the cycle and find cheaper ways to celebrate Christmas.
50. Eat a cheap breakfast.

Also, be sure to check out these posts:
Free Printable Coupons
Free Money Saving Tips
Coupons & Freebies

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Simply Saving

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