A penny saved…

Like with everything frugal, sometimes grooming seems too expensive to fit in the budget.  At the same time, looking sharp can help you in your business as well as personal life.  Think back to the last time you had a hair cut…how good did it make you feel?

If you’re anything like me, a good haircut gives a million dollar thrill. 

I love the pampered feeling of the haircut itself and that I feel so much better afterwards.  If I wasn’t trying to embrace frugality, I’d say that a great cut is worth whatever price necessary.  As it stands though, I have to say that there are ways of getting a great cut while still following your frugal budget.

So here’s some things I’ve tried with great success -I regularly get positive compliments on my hair (cut and colour): 

1. Barter.  Love it more than I can say.  If you have a friend or former stylist who can give a great cut/colour  (pay attention to the italics), barter gives you the opportunity to have an amazing treatment as long as you have the goods or skills you can trade.
2. NoFrills Mall Cut.  I used to go for salon cuts that averaged about $50 a cut.  While I’ve always been a slacker and don’t go every 4-6 weeks, my new budget doesn’t allow for that level of indulgence.  Once I was able to abandon my prejudice about MagicCuts, I’ve found that for $11, I can get a great haircut.  If I want to splurge and have my hair washed and styled in addition to the cut, the price tag weighs in under $18.
3. Hair Dressing Schools.  While the quality of cuts can vary with whatever student you get, I’ve found that they are usually fairly good.  The only thing to remember is that student hair stylists take a lot longer to cut than seasoned pros.  Budget more time than you normally would and keep some extra patience in your pocket.
4. Pick Them Scissors Up.  Not for the faint of heart.  I have cut my hair myself a few times and trim it regularly to keep it looking neat.  There was one time I pulled a Sinead and shaved my hair off completely - for frugality and daily maintenance, it was the perfect cut.

If you do decide to test out your hair dressing skills, remember that hair                   grows back.

While part of me longs for the days when someone would give me a hand massage while waiting for colour to take, I also realize that part of being frugal is accepting that my priorities have changed.   The massage would still be nice though!

If there’s one thing I’ve learned so far with my efforts to save money and cut spending it’s…

Frugality is centred on spending time rather than money.

At the end of the day, anyone interested in the frugal or simple lifestyle needs to make sure they have enough time set aside to make it happen. Successful frugality involves a lot of planning in addition to a fair amount of hands-on work.

If you’re used to the ‘have it now’ lifestyle and don’t want to change, the frugal life may not be for you.

I’ve spent a lot more time researching than I used to. I also need more time to logistically figure things out in a way that will use the least amount of money. In the process, I’ve learned that there are many ways to accomplish the same thing but sometimes there is a learning curve.

Money can make things happen faster and sometimes easier than frguality allows. On the other hand, frugal living tests your resolve, problem solving skills and patience in a way that cash never does.

I’m not saying that money makes life easier - though sometimes it really feels that way! When you’re operating on a limited budget by choice or necessity, there are often additional challenges to make things happen at all. Who can you barter or trade with, where can you borrow from, how to reciprocate- these questions and more will need to be answered.

Part of me misses the instant gratification that cash in hand brings. On the other hand, being frugal has helped be to develop amazing relationships, further my patience and have a sense of accomplishment like no other. I’ve had to lessen my desires for perfection and learn to be open to doing things differently.

But I’m a better person for it.

I feel like I’m a member of a support group if I stand up and say…

“Hello everyone. My name’s Lucy and I buy mostly used clothes.”

Really, the only thing I’m trying to recover from is debt. Buying used, if I buy smart, is a big part of my recovery. While there are some items I couldn’t be paid to take (used underwear tops that list), secondhand clothing is a great way to augment your warddrobe while minimizing budget strain.

From vintage clothing sales to thrift stores, there are many options out there for those who want to look current but keep more moolah in their wallets. Let’s face it: clothing and accessories can add up quickly. The questions of whether to buy or not to buy new depends on your budget and money allocations. But most people want to look nice, whatever their personal definition of that entails.

Whether you’re buying used or new, a budget is still in order. It’s easy to think when dealing with used clothing that you can buy twice as much. Also, just because something is relatively inexpensive doesn’t mean you shouldn’t still consider it’s practicality and appeal. Something you won’t wear is a waste of money whether it’s $3 or $23.

Figure out what’s hanging in your closet, what you want more of and what you need to weed out. Go looking with a list but be flexible; if you see the pink raincoat of your dreams and you can afford it, don’t get too caught up in your list.

When I first started buying used clothing, I allowed price to rule over practicality. In that I mean that I bought a huge quantity of clothing that appealed aesthetically but practically I never or rarely wore. After a few years of donating things back to the stores I bought from without wearing them, I was ready for a change. I’ve learned that while part of me loves vibrant colours, it’s easiest to mix and match a wardrobe where I have majority neutrals with a few bright accessories. Makes me less blinding to the eyes too, natch.

In terms of items to think of avoiding, it becomes a personal issue. I wouldn’t buy anything intimate like panties, socks, shoes and swimsuits but I’ve been shopping where I’ve seen people loading up and loving these items (shudder). I just think that there are some hygeine issues with some items but there are those who are a little more lax with their standards. It’s a crazy world kids!

Save your pennies for new undies and socks and the shoes of your dreams. A black tee shirt is better bought used.

Right?

If you’re short on dough or just flexing your innovation muscles, bartering could become your new best friend.  The act of bartering is fueled by balanced exchanges between people.  These can be for services, goods or a mix of both and can be as conventional or kooky as your heart desires.  With bartering, the only limits are in your mind-it’s a great exercise to think outside the box.

How do you start bartering?  If you’re shy about money, it’s time to get over it.  You need to be about to speak up if you’re going to barter.  Another key point is to not bargain; with a barter, all services should be honoured and respected.   If you want to trade, trade.  If you don’t think the barter is equal, pass.  You won’t win or influence bartering friends by devaluing what they have to offer.

If your curiosity is piqued and you want to test drive the barter system, start by getting an idea of what you have to offer.  List concrete skills and abilities and be realistic about how talented you are.  Also, itemize small and large objects you own that you’d be willing to part with in exchange for something needed.   Successful bartering involves some degree of flexible and patience so you may have to wait a little while before finding a solid bartering match.

Clearly identify what you need and what you are offering.  Follow through!  In the bartering world, your word is your bond, so if you don’t want bad karma to haunt you forever, live up to your promises. Value the exchange and make sure that your other bartering partner is satisfied.

All it takes to test the barter waters is asking someone else if they want to trade.  If not, it’s not a big deal.  There are many, many people who live and love the barter system.  If you want to, you’ll find them.   Just ask!

As soon as the snow starts thawing and the air smells sort of wormy, I know that spring is around the corner and my fingers start to itch to garden. For those who aren’t into getting dirt under your nails, this obsession would seem foreign, even strange. But the tree-hugging freaks that love getting intimate with Mother Nature’s soil know that once you get the gardening bug, it’s like malaria - it’s with you for life!

While gardening doesn’t make you sick - on the contrary, it’s a great way to stay in shape (regardless of how round the shape is) - the prices at garden centres and hardware stores are enough to test any budget or frugal resolve. If you want to stay strong and keep spending minimal, how can you still indulge your whims? Like all frugalities, you just have to plan and work with the fiscal timing…

1. Hold True! The first rule of frugal gardening is to realize not to buy when you want to. In the spring, prices are at a premium. If you can hold off and wait until mid-summer (mid July) or later, prices can drop drastically. I bought trees that were 75% off the original price.

   Two caveats with this: make sure the stock is still alive and forget garden specialty stores (they know that you can plant almost year round).

2. Sprout Your Own! Seeds are a cheap and fairly easy way to get new plant stock. There isn’t the instant gratification you get with buying a 3 year old perennial but remember, you have to pay extra for that. Seed exchanges can be a great way of using what you have and trading for what you need. Dollar stores can also be a good supply of decent and economical seeds.

   Use old coffee cups, recycled plant pots, old bags, egg containers to start the seeds in …basically anything that will drain excess water and hold soil. Label your seedlings to remember what you have and be prepared to plant on as soon as they have their first true leaves. Like all babies, they’ll need a little TLC but will soon take care of themselves.

3. Share and Share Alike. Plant exchanges are an amazing way of getting more garden diversity and remembering that plants belong to everyone. Simply divide up some of your perennials and seedlings and ask around with friends, neighbours and co-workers to see who wants to share.
4. Ask The Man! Many companies have by-products from their business that make excellent garden products and are often available for a song. A local chocolate factory sells organic cocoa mulch for 25% of what garden centres would charge. Many coffee stores will give buckets of grounds away for nothing - they would pay to dispose of it otherwise. Don’t be shy and see what you can get for (next to) nothing!

I’ve done all these things and more. Each spring, I mow my fall leaves and bag them to use later for leaf mulch. I rake up pine needles to add to my compost. Above all, I have to constantly restrain myself from spending money on plants that I want now! Atleast I’m aware of how weak my resolve can be when I look at something beautiful that I covet.

Onwards frugal gardeners! While penny pinching can be less fun sometimes, it definitely is a test of ingenuity.

That is the question, whether you live in the city or country. Many people, with the exception of those lucky telecommuters, have to go beyond their home to work and that’s when moolah factors in. Is it better to take a closer job for less dough or drive further for more. Certainly, environmental and personal factors would suggest anything closer is better but it’s hard to pass up a higher paycheque.

Many, many people who live in the country would say that driving is the only option. Car-pooling, hitchhiking, biking or even walking are some other options, all with pluses and minuses. In the city, aside from driving, cabbing, public transport, biking and walking are all possibilities. I’ve lived in both rural and city homes and have found that no matter how you get to where you need to go, there is a cost involved.

Right now, I’m living in the ‘burbs and working downtown so a commute is involved. I walk and use public tranport and sometimes the time I spend doing both annoys me. At the same time, it’s half the cost of driving. Plus you get to witness weird smells and human drama firsthand. It’s not like you can’t have that with a car but when the odours and mindfreaks are yours, they are somehow less interesting. Go figure.

My grandfather was fond of saying (over and over again) “I have to save my pennies.” It was his standard response to any major purchase and while it wasn’t quite literal, he used simple savings plans to enjoy a good standard of living all his life. While I knew him, I have to confess that I didn’t get it. Pennies seemed so insignificant to me, I didn’t see what difference they could make.

Recently, after a few years of rollercoaster earnings -up then way down- I have to say that I understand now what my Grandad was trying to tell me. A penny saved is a penny earned and savings start with any contribution, be it a cent or a 100 dollars.

I spent –no pun intended- many years waiting until I had a couple of hundred extra dollars a month to start saving. Needless to say, that savings plan never materialized. I started a simple plan taking a small amount directly from each pay-cheque and had my first $500 in savings before I knew it. I know what I have isn’t a big deal to a lot of people, but for someone without any savings, it’s a major achievement

I wish I had understood earlier that with money, it is easy to over-complicate things. Thinking of change starting with just a penny is how your whole money world can transform.

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It’s my journey navigating finanacial pitfalls and moving towards prosperity. Learn from my many money mistakes to create a secure future for yourself!