Living Frugally

Saving money is something that I hear about all the time these days! With the way the economy is right now saving money is becoming a more talked about topic. I am always looking for ways to be a good steward of my money and save on necessary goods whenever I can. I subscribe to a practical and creative magazine for women called  all you and  I came across a few interesting tips on ways to save money in last month's issue that I  wanted to share with you. Try them out and see what you think. 

On Beauty:

*Use Epsom salts as a body scrub instead of more pricey exfoliating body washes. Mix and handful into your soap or face wash to slough off dead skin. ( I tried this and it worked well)

* Use baby powder instead of dry shampoo. Rub it into your roots and brush through your hair. If this doesn't work for you,  I have also found that many hair product companies are making dry shampoo (such as TRESemme) and they cost considerably less than salon quality styling products.

*Use conditioner  as shaving cream. It not only makes for a smooth shave but also moisturizes as you shave. I have tried this as well and loved the results.

Around the House:

*Use baking soda to deodorize carpets, clean your bathroom sink and tub and to freshen laundry (1/4 in the rinse cycle).

* White vinegar can also be used to clean. Use a 50-50 water & vinegar solution to clean windows and mirrors. You can also add a 1/2 cup to your laundry rinse cycle to brighten whites.

Groceries:

*Prepare a meatless meal 1 or 2 nights a week. Make creative dishes using rice, beans and veggies.

*Use coupons whenever possible. You can find coupons online (couponmom.com, coupons.com, smartsource.com), in magazines and the Sunday newspaper. I have found that if you go to the product website you can often find coupons there as well. Coupons used simultaneously with sale items save you even more. Be careful not to buy items you don't need or wouldn't normally buy just because you have a coupon though. Coupons save you the most money when you use them on items you would buy anyway.

Here are a few things I do to help me save money too:

*Follow a budget. This is crucial for me. I have a monthly budget that keeps me organized financially and helps me to see where my money is going. This keeps me from overspending.

*I also make a menu for the week by choosing some recipes to make for dinners. I make a grocery list according to my menu which keeps me from buying many random items that won't make a meal.

* I use cash as much as possible for groceries, gasoline, and spending allowance. Using cash instead of debit allows you to see how much you are spending as it disappears so you choose carefully how you spend that money.

Lastly...

* If I go out to lunch or dinner with a friend, I try to find a buy one get one free coupon or some kind of coupon for the restaurant we choose. A coupon book like an Entertainment book is great for this.

These are just a few of many ways to save money. I would love to hear from you. Please share with us the things you do to save money...we can learn so much from each other!

~Written by Julie