A penny saved…

With every generation, children see stuff, nifty and new things that will make them cool.  Commercials and websites show them all the things they are supposed to want and the sheer quantity of messages makes it impossible to not oblige.

I know that the Nintendo Wii is the hot gift of the last few years.  My nephew got one for Christmas.  Not from my husand and I however - we got him a book explaining how to draw cartoons along with some art supplies.  My husband spent some time with him, showing him how to draw, creating perspective and shading.

He loved it.  Everything he drew was presented for appreciated and it was amazing how proud he was of his efforts.  After 3 hours spent happily drawing, he said that it was much more fun than his Nintendo Wii.  This was a very surprising, non-scripted kid moment.

Our niece, also the recipient of many fine and fancy gifts loved the simple My Little Pony bed tent we found for her.  I thought back to when I was the same age and it was exactly what I would have loved.  Even now, 6 months later, that little tent is still her favourite gift.

I’m not trying to make social commentary about what parents should do.  With my niece and nephew, their parents bought them what they thought they would love.  I’ve just learned that what kids want most is time well spent with people they love who love them.  Nintendo Wii’s are fun but ultimately just another thing to get outdated and sit around.

In that way, kids can fit nicely in a frugal lifestyle. Instead of working longer hours to buy extra luxuries for your kids, come home early.  Talk with them, listen to them, play with them –ultimately, that is the best thing you can give them.  Your time rather than your money.  I know that many parents buy into the latest toys and gadgets because they want the best for their kids.

What if you are what is best for your kids?

As the seasons change and the days get longer, I get that urge to socialize. Long summer nights are perfect for conversations with friends, old and new. Family BBQs, pool parties, baseball or soccer games - the options are endless. Always in the back of my head is how I can entertain within the confines of my budget.

Creativity is necessary to make things frugal, beautiful and fun. My inner Martha Stewart desires events to look pretty but not constipated. I know that this is a common refrain, but planning is essential to having things be fun AND frugal.

I have a family BBQ coming up with 5 kids and 6 adults attending. In order to make sure I have great food and enough of it, I’ve already started to plan.

• Food Planning: My menu is already in place and I have an idea of quantities. The kids who we’ll be entertaining are pretty picky so burgers are a must. Grilled chicken breasts, strawberry spinach salad, roasted potatoes, baked beans, fresh bread, caprese salad and hazelnut meringue cake with raspberries complete the list. I wanted something that would be easy to prepare ahead of time so day-of I can have a good time.

  With the menu in place, I have 4 weeks to scan flyers for sales on needed items and get the best possible prices. First score - a box of good quality frozen hamburgers on sale for 40% off. Settling on a menu in advance gives you the opportunity of having the food you want on sale.

• Busy Hands: Again, because some of my guests will want to sit and chat and others will want to run and play, I want to be prepared. I have a couple of inexpensive balls the kids can kick around, along with an old croquet set I got through Freecycle. I’ve learned through experience that no matter how much technology kids are exposed to, the low-tech stuff can be a big hit.

  For the adults, I want to make sure I have enough space and chairs so everyone can stand or sit comfortable. If you need some extra chairs, consider borrowing or Freecycle before buying.

• Temperance Sister: I don’t buy or serve a lot of booze. For a lot of parties, I have none at all. That being said, I always have a good variety of beverages from homemade lemonade, iced tea, juice, soda, pop, punch and milk. Because it’s a BBQ, there will be beer.

  At the same time, alcohol costs a lot and I can’t afford to host an open bar. I do plan on giving my guests the best I can afford and making sure that they enjoy whatever beverage is in front of them

• Thrifty decorating: I love thrift stores for many things and home decorating tops the list. I’ve found some great flamingo glasses that scream BBQ -among other things- for $1. For those kitchy or vintage serving pieces that I love, thrift makes everything possible.
• Whatcha Gonna Do: Not really a frugal thing but I’ve learned to not sweat what happens on the day itself. Things may screw up but everyone usually manages to have a good time. Relax and enjoy!

Don’t let your budget stop you from entertaining. Work with what you have and it’s easier to make being frugal part of your life long-term.

My dream home is a little bit of a nightmare currently. I bought a fixer-upper in the truest sense of the term - and am only half way through the fixing up part of it. Now the challenge is to complete as many things as I can, all the while on a pretty much non-existent budget. One of my goals is to pay off my debt load so borrowing to improve my house is really a last option.

I’ve been doing bits and pieces, using paid trades for the work that I really can’t do myself (electrical, plumbing). Demolition has become my specialty but my husband is fond of saying that I’m better at tearing things apart than putting them back together.

My new projects are going to include a flagstone patio, a small pond, a gardening shed and completing interior drywall. In my true frugal fashion, I’ve already found 3 boxes of patio bricks, 3 bags of gravel and 50 square feet of flagstone. A neighbor of a friend has a pond form that he’s not using and is willing to give to me and I have a pile of 2 X 4 ’s, metal sheeting, salvage 3/4″ plywood and windows that will very soon become a shed.

Again, frugality is about using time instead of money. While I do work full time, I can make the time because this is important to me. It’s not about increasing property value as it is honoring a space I love dearly. While I will definitely complain for the next few weeks, if you ask me at the end if it was worth it, I’ll definitely say yes.

Just a reminder to everyone who wants to be more frugal…speak up! Tell people your plans, tell them what you need and be open to where materials come from. If you’re talking about what you need, you limit people from helping you. And there’s nothing wrong with taking help from others; just pay it forward where you can!

Working in a large city, I know how quickly eating out adds up. When I first started working, I loved the novelty of instant food with zero effort and sometimes every one of my meals was purchased.

I realized that what I liked best was having meals that tasted fresh. I wanted something tasty and healthy that seemed made just for me. Did I mention that I hate leftovers?

It’s taken me a while to realize that it is possible for me to create simple and quick meals that I enjoy. In the process, my wallet seems to be bursting at the seams. Cutting down on prepared and restaurant food isn’t just healthier, it’s far cheaper.

I tend to be the dinner time chef of the family, though since I’ve been working later my husband has started to pick up the slack. I try to always cook far more for dinner than we’ll eat. Leftovers, previously the bane of my existence, go straight in the freezer.

I realized that what I hated about leftovers is that they usually sit in the fridge for a couple of days before being eaten; by then, any freshness has long since disappeared. Freezing them immediately makes me feel like I have something new.

With two or three portions frozen at a time, my husband and I have the chance to have something new for lunch each day. For days where I want something different, I have containers of homemade soup frozen along with pre-cooked portions of meet or veet frozen for salads.

I know that when I start getting lazy with my lunches - and lowering the quality level - is connected to when I want to start eating out regularly again. Just like I’m trying to be committed to a frugal lifestyle, providing myself with healthy food is another priority. Brown bagging gives me the best of both worlds.

For some, television is an essential, no ifs ands or buts.  I’m not sure I am one of those people.  I’ve enjoyed long periods of time (4 years) without any sort of television reception and am none the worse for it.  In fact, I also feel like I become catatonic when I am around a television blaring in the background.  I hate the way they’ve become a focal point in decorating and that some people can’t spend a minute without it being on. I also know that I start to spend far too much time in front of the television for my own good.  One hour quickly becomes three and before I know it, my whole evening has evaporated into reruns.Recently, our satellite company upped the monthly fee again.  And that’s why satellite television didn’t make the frugal budget.  There are some things I miss, some shows that I thought were really well done but I’d rather spend the time and money elsewhere.    Where I live, the package I was paying for was about $70 a month.  That money will now be used to offset food costs and allow for a few more luxuries than we used to enjoy.  I feel great that I was able to eliminate TV from the equation but high speed internet - that’s another story altogether! 

If there’s one thing I’ve become aware of, it’s how wasteful I’ve been in the past.  I know how much consumerism is entrenched in our daily lives but it is only when I think back through my purchases that I realize how many times I’ve bought the same thing. 

Alarm clocks - atleast 5 that I can remember.  If I had stuck with my 9th birthday clock radio, I could have saved hundreds of dollars- it still worked.  I just wanted something new. 

It’s not just the money.  I had to work at a job I didn’t like in order to buy something I didn’t really need.  What else could I have done with that time?  Whenever I see something that I’d like to buy, I try to see whether it is something that I think will appeal to me long-term.  I’m tired of wasting resources, time or money.  I’m not arguing against other people’s rights spend their money anyway they see fit.  That kind of life is impossible for me to buy into anymore.

Whenever I see a beautiful little purse -and for me, many purses are very tempting- I have to ask myself whether it is worth the cost.  How long will I love the purse for and is the money better invested in my small farm?  

One purse may give me pleasure for a few months (before I get tired of it) but strawberry plants if carefully tended can fruit forever - and I do love fresh strawberries.  I have such a strong understanding of what I want to achieve in my present - I know need to know whether that purse will contribute to my big goals.

I’d be lying if I said that I’d never fall in love with a beautiful bag, drop a chunk of change and take it home with me.  I just know that I want to buy the best possible quality I can and make it a very occassional indulgence. 

 Otherwise, the things that are most important for me to have, including life in the country will always remain a day away.

I’ve been driving the same car for 11 years and 300,000 km now.  And even though I’ve been advised to sell by friends and family alike, I keep asking why.Whether you keep an older car or sell for something newer, I think that your frugal principles have to dovetail with your automotive priorities.  If having a vehicle that is new and flashy is crucial, my current car wouldn’t fit the bill.  Reliability is my number one concern so while my car has a few kilometers on it, it is still very dependable.   And even though every few years I do have some larger repairs, I have complete trust that every time I turn the key, my car will take me from A to B.  And it has.I still feel that new car lust for something shiny and different.  That I’ve spent over 10 years with one car is surprising enough for a commitment-phobe like me.  And there are new models with new features that make my car look a little more rusty and dirty – and old.When I measure the cost of a new car, not only in terms of purchase price but interest, an increase in insurance, and the extra hours I’d have to work to make it a reality, my desire evapourates.  They still are pretty but I want other things more.

When your family is comprised of growing kids, clothing and shoe budgets can soon become astronomical. It’s a two-fold issue: children grow quickly and you need them to have clothes that fit properly; also, most parents want their kids to look cared for. Depending on the age and personality of the children involved, there might also be a desire to dress to their own idea of style.

So you have a budget and at least one child that is growing like a weed - what to do? Sometimes it’s a little easier to clothe a bigger family using that tool called hand-me-downs. The second of three girls, I had an equal number of new-to-me clothes mingling with my older sister’s things. I don’t remember being bothered at all by the fact that some of my things weren’t new. In fact, getting to wear things my older sister wore previously served to mark the passage of time. I knew I was getting older when I could finally wear the red velvet Christmas dress.

Even if you have only one little one, with a little ingenuity you can duplicate the benefits of a large family (without all the noise). Make connections with other parents at day-care, school, dance classes, league baseball, religious groups -you get the idea- and create a clothing exchange group. When establishing the group, be as clear as you can in regards to your child’s current size and build. If your little one is slender, creating an exchange with a younger but plumper child isn’t going to work. Likewise if you child is very tall, partnering with an older but shorter child will also be frustrating more than anything.

Try to budget allowing for a few new things - even if they’re only from a thrift store. Being able to pick out some favorite clothes should be a part of anyone’s wardrobe. To get the most mileage from the clothes your child currently has, try to find pieces that can be layered to adapt for more seasons or changes in weather. In order to maximize interchangeability of outfits, try to limit your child to a few dominant colours to allow you to mix and match more pieces.

I’ve made myself miserable about clothing for the sake of a few bucks. I bought clothing that I hated, that didn’t flatter my body at all and made me feel ugly every time I wore them. Spend a little more to make sure your kids feel proud of themselves and happy with their appearance. Looking good is not about beauty but is part of self-confidence. Don’t make my mistake at sacrificing self-confidence for a few bucks. Buy fewer pieces of clothes if it means your kid can have a few more items they love.

I know some parents might view second-hand clothing as being beneath their child but it’s never to early to learn the value of being thrifty. I think that there’s no time like the present to teach your child that a price-tag doesn’t indicate quality. For me, living frugal is about sacrificing small things to make room for the big things I really want; prioritization at its best.

Sometimes for me, frugal can mean conserving money but other times it can mean making things happen with no money. For those who are resourceful and frugal, there are a lot of great things that can be had for free.

I’m not just taking about dumpster-diving either (for those that are uninitiated in the scavenging arts, dumpster-diving focuses on dumpsters and their ‘garbage’ as a repository for new and useful things). Freecycle is a group hosted on Yahoo groups that joins together people giving away what they no longer need and asking for what they require. The best part? All free!

Freecycle is a great system whether you are giving or getting. If you have something to offer, you have people that are willing to pick up items from you and quickly. If you are seeking something, aside from the great price ($0), it is a mostly easy process. I’ve found that the majority of Freecyclers are pleasant and helpful in addition to having a great deal of respect for what’s being offered or taken.

My best Freecycle find - a nearly new dishwasher that works perfectly. The former owners were redoing their kitchen and the black dishwasher was the wrong colour. It was a wonderful gift. The only flaw was a small scratch on the front, which a black Sharpie took care of.

Likewise, when I had an extra laser all-in-one printer that was just taking up space, someone had come to pick it up less than an hour after I posted it. Occasionally, I’ve had a few issues with some no-shows, but that has been the exception rather than the rule.

There are also free lists on Craigslist and Kijiji as well as classifieds in local papers. The big difference I’ve found with Freecycling is that because spam is not allowed as part of the group, anything phony is weeded out quickly. Scammers are not tolerated so you can freecycle with confidence. To become a contributing part of this community or to read more about Freecycling in your area, visit their site.

Like many frugal Fanny’s, waste bothers me. And so when an old yoga mat was a little to grungy and beat up for regular use, I started to turn my mental cogs to find a few new ways to use it without wasting it.

And so, the New Cycle recycle list for Yoga Mats! Please wash down the mat well with a mild cleaner before reappropriating it for new uses. Clean is good.

I think that the non-slip surface is what makes yoga mats ideal for alternate purposes. If they work to hold your feet and hands in place, they can also do a great job keeping other things from moving. So far my old yoga mats have been successfully used as…

1. Pet Crate Liner: great for cats or dogs, the days of Fido and Felix slipping around on journeys is gone for good!
2. Knife Drawer Liner: here’s where cleaning them first is especially necessary. Love the mat in my knife as well as utensil drawer to keep everything in it’s place.
3. Trunk Liner: I used have a problem with everything tipping over and sliding every time I turned a corner. Not no more! As an added bonus, when I need to clean up the trunk, I can just pull out the mats and rinse them off.
4. Kneeling Mat: When I have long days outside planting bulbs or whatever, my kneeling mat of three rectangles of yoga mat (glued together) makes gardening more comfortable.
5. Cat Scratch Mat: I stuck some pieces of this to a wooden box and my cats love to scratch the heck out of it. Better than the couch!

I’ve found the mat almost more useful in its new forms than in its previous existence just as a yoga mat. Long live recycling!