My Tips on Frugality!

I've decided to start getting serious about saving money.  Don't think I'm a total idiot, because this is sounding new.  I wanted to before but it was hard to save without steady cash flow.  Now that I have steady cash flow, even though it's low, it's steady and enough to save if I'm smart.  I've started budgeting with Dave Ramsey, and here are some helpful hints of my own!

1.  ONLY DRINK WATER.  It simplifies your life and is a lot healthier.  I even bring a mug to work and tea bags- that's how cheap I am.  Cutting back on coffee, coke, vitamin zero, monsters... heck of a savings.

2.  HANG CLOTHES UP TO DRY.  Savings and it feels nice and old fashioned hanging them out to dry on a clothes line.

3.  RIDE YOUR BICYCLE.  I find that my bicycle trips are even faster than taking the bus!

4.  BE CREATIVE WITH YOUR PANTRY.  We all have items that are hid and need to be brought to the front and center.  Create something interesting with what you have and make it an adventure to use up what is already there before buying more.  (EXTRA HELPFUL HINT: Go to Trader Joe's and stock up on spices.  It will enhance every meal to use and have fun with them.  Example: my turmeric pasta with chicken and slivered fresh Indian corn dish last night!)

5.  LISTEN TO THE RADIO, MUSIC, and NETFLIX (on occasion).  You can cancel anytime, so treat yourself every couple months.  It doesn't have to be monthly.  Better yet, find somebody that you can bum off of if you're lucky!

6.  LOOK FOR EXTRA WORK.

7.  LOOK FOR THINGS TO SELL THAT YOU DON'T USE!

8.  CALL YOUR BILL COMPANIES.  I have learned that if you ask (kindly) for a discount, they will usually give you one especially if you are level headed and kind.  It definitely pays to be nice.

9.   KEEP TRACK MONTHLY OF YOUR BILLS.

10. TREAT YOURSELF WITH THINGS LIKE a walk in the park, a swim after work, a conversation with a friend, a long bath... NOT MATERIAL THINGS!

11.  FINALLY, QUIT THE DAMN, BORING, PRETENTIOUS GYM.  It sucked anyway! Now that you're bicycling to and from work, bicycling around town, and swimming when you get a chance, you're probably losing more weight than when you were going to the gym in a rush and hurry. 

12.  WHEN OUT OF PAPER TOWELS OR TIRED OF USING THEM, use real towels or coffee paper brews.  They are super cheap and work great for cleaning things up.  :) I use them a lot especially now that I'm not drinking coffee to save money!

LIFE IS PRECIOUS.  AVOID TARGET.  AVOID IMPULSES.   MAKE CARDS.  MAKE LISTS. 
STOP SPENDING AND START SMILING!