This week: Frugal Finesse

About the time we make ends meet, somebody moves the ends -- making it difficult to have anything left for ourselves at the end of the month. What are your best, most elegant or inventive tips for living more frugally?

Read what others said.

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fuzzyeng: My mother sends me this newsletter called Cheapskate Monthly -- with all sorts of tips/articles on how to save money. Included are things like saving money on going out, food, shopping habits, etc. It's a good way to learn how to save money. Pick a copy up and save your pennies for a rainy day. I'll post the address next time on how to get a copy.

doncolin: Living frugally just isn't living. Spend it when you have it. Don't when you don't. That works for me.

Cindy_W: Throughout the month, buy only items which are on sale -- and don't binge on inexpensive, unnecessary items. Keep track of how much money you've saved through sale items and passed-up goodies and at the end of the month, take this money and splurge on something you've been wanting. It's a great way to reward yourself for being good and to pinch a few pennies.

johncar: I keep a record of my expenses on a daily basis. This was hard to do at first, but it showed me really how I was spending my money. After a few months I began to make new decisions about what to spend money on. Now it's easy to save because I find I no longer have constant needs to spend money. All it took was a little willingness on my part to know my own habits and to change them.
EDITOR'S NOTE: Tripod's Budget Calculator is a fast and fun little gizmo that will help you figure out how to make exactly this sort of change in your spending habits. Check it out!

PhoenixElaine: I think of living frugally as also living sustainably. I always look at things before I throw them out: can I reuse it in some way? I also bring lunch instead of buying out -- the container I use day after day, and the meal, generally some casserole I fixed on the weekend, relaxing, is far more delicious and inexpensive than what I can buy. And I save vegatable bits and ends to make a delicious vegetarian soup stock -- which is far cheaper than the preservative-laden mixes for sale.

I amuse myself with crafts and growing things: instead of sitting in front of a movie, I create pysanski, make wreaths decorated with the dried seeds and leaves I find as I walk around town, and collect seeds from flowers to grow in the spring. I make old clothes into fun potholders, vests, and placemats....

I also try to reject the impulse to acquire, acquire, acquire. For "social shopping" with friends I go to thrift stores or nice vegatable markets like Reading Terminal here in Philly. And for my software needs, I run linux, enjoying the benefits of "free software," hoping eventually I'll be able to contribute something back.

But when it comes time to buy something significant, quality and technological sophistication are worth paying for.

scsilico: Invest in re-usable items such as metal coffee filters and cloth kitchen towels. Dont go out to eat unless it is a special occasion. Look for free fairs, shows, events and other entertainment. Buy in bulk when items are on sale and at least try the generic brands once -- many are very good. If you are really in debt, contact CCCS for help.

crisicruz: I agree with doncolin; in addition, whenever you go on a date, try splitting the expenses -- both will learn to spend only within their "alloted" budget ...just be practical.

SATISHKRIS: I was a person whose urge to aquire things was so strong that I used to sometimes take loans to aquire them (in India, people really only started using credit cards a year back or so). My first victory over this urge was in curbing my temptation to have credit cards. Slowly I have learned to control myself and curb this urge a great deal and save a substantial amount in my account. What I really found out was that it doesn't make much of a difference in your life to acquire things all the time when you can as well do without them.