Archive for cheerful frugality
Cheerful Frugality In The Lean Times
This week I listened to a conversation between 2 friends.
“Beans and rice are great, but we can’t eat bean tacos every night!”
“If you’ve already cut cable, make everything from scratch, and use cloth diapers, what else is left to cut?”
These are hard questions, not asked in jest. What can you do when you need to spend even [...]
Cheerful Frugality and Outdated Technology
If you need a cheap TV, boy, have I got a deal for you…
Frequent thrift shoppers have probably noticed shelves full of analog televisions donated in the last few months. You can’t watch programming without a converter box, but that’s a functional, frugal solution to anyone who needs a TV for movies or cable.
Likewise, we recently resurrected [...]
Cheerful Frugality Splashes
Several of our pool buddies have dropped their YMCA memberships. Thanks, economic downturn!
We’d still love to meet our friends in a cool environment. Here are some of the free or cheap water play ideas I’ve been brainstorming:
Backyard pools: We keep an inflatable kiddie pool for easy play. I’m amazed at how relatively cheap the DIY above-ground pools have [...]
Cheerful Frugality Buys Used Cars
Ten years ago, my husband vowed that he’d never make a car payment again. True to his word, we’ve driven a series of used cars bought with cash–some better than others.
Our 17-year-old Volvo wagon is getting creaky, so we’ve been on the hunt for its replacement. I am reminded again that finding the RIGHT used [...]
Cheerful Frugality Sorts Shoes
I’m definitely a minimalist when it comes to shoes, but 5 people x the minimum 3 pairs adds up fast.
Today I’m digging out those yard sale sandals to see which fits whom. Here’s my frugal formula for shoes:
1 pair for house/garden/water (Mary Jane crocs or Tevas)
1 pair for walking (canvas or athletic shoes)
1 pair for nicer [...]
Cheerful Frugality Invests Long Term
Tell me if this is a tightwad problem for you, too:
Even though I know a new practice will save me money long-term, I resist because the initial investment seems so high.
I balked at the groceries for Once A Month Cooking (even though the final bill–and the results–were a success).
I hesitate to write a check for pool [...]
Cheerful Frugality Goes Once A Month
This Saturday a friend and I will tackle our first ever Once A Month cook-a-thon, with 6 month babies on our hips. Are we crazy?
Just maybe.
Since Jessie works full-time, I volunteered to grocery shop. And then I saw the list.
48 pork chops? What have I gotten myself into?
I haven’t shopped like a normal person in [...]
Cheerful Frugality Spray Paints
In our discussion about making old things feel new again, we received this question:
Can you share a few tips here for choosing the right brand/type of spray paint? Is the really cheap stuff worth using, or will I wind up wishing I had spent the money for a better brand?
In my grandmother’s day, no spring [...]
Cheerful Frugality Budgets For Better, For Worse
My brother emailed to ask if I had an extra Dave Ramsey book lying around. Yes!!!
(Incidentally, I didn’t–and I haven’t seen one at a thrift store in ages. Sign of the times?)
I’m so happy that he and his wife will be working a budget together as they begin their marriage. Here are a few things [...]
Cheerful Frugality Yard Sales
In my neck of the woods, 3 constants cheer me through spring:
daffodils, dogwoods, and redbuds in bloom
the great celebration of Easter
followed shortly thereafter by yard sale season
I’ve already deviled the leftover eggs, and now I’m organizing my family’s yard sale envelope. If I’m lucky, I’ll be able to purchase most of our needed household goods, gifts, and [...]
Cheerful Frugality Makes The Old Feel New
I can’t believe how much better my worn brown furniture looks in a freshly-painted yellow room.
That got me thinking: what other frugal fixes help the old seem new again? What helps you stay content when you feel like starting over at Target?
Here are a few of my favorite ways to improve what I already have:
Spray paint: white, black, or [...]
Cheerful Frugality Refinances
If your family owns a home, you’re either:
happy that you just refinanced at historic low rates
in the middle of refinancing at historic low rates
worried that you can’t take refinance due to closing costs and/or appraisals.
snug and unconcerned in your paid-for home.
Though I’d love that last option, we’re in the middle of a refinance. I am [...]
Cheerful Frugality Explores Extremes
As frugality bumps into mainstream media, I’m hearing more backlash from both sides. Basic magazine tips are laughable to serious tightwads; meanwhile, new money savers recoil at the thought of day-old bread.
How should frugal writers approach the situation? Do you feel, as I do, that you might be missing the mark?
When it comes to sharing what’s too frugal (or not [...]
Cheerful Frugality Cooks Up Fun
It’s easy to enjoy frugality when you can also make it fun. Food is a great place to start.
Here are some quick, easy, & cheap ways to add fun to your frugal table:
Do cool things with fruit! This can be as simple as slicing strawberries into hearts, making sunshine eggs with pineapple rays, or letting the [...]
Cheerful Frugality Thinks Twice
Truth be told, I’m not always happy about spending less. But I always manage to wrap my mind around it in the end.
Here are the tools I use to stretch my frugal thinking:
Frugality as game:
Am I going to let the store beat my budget?
Frugality as creative pursuit:
Can I use my imagination to recycle or reuse?
Frugality as education:
What [...]
