Welcome to DU! The truly grassroots left-of-center political community where regular people, not algorithms, drive the discussions and set the standards. Join the community: Create a free account Support DU (and get rid of ads!): Become a Star Member Latest Breaking News Editorials & Other Articles General Discussion The DU Lounge All Forums Issue Forums Culture Forums Alliance Forums Region Forums Support Forums Help & Search

NeoGreen

(4,033 posts)
Mon Oct 8, 2018, 12:16 PM Oct 2018

The Ultimate Frugal Living Guide: 18 Tips for Extreme Penny-Pinching

https://www.lifehack.org/articles/money/the-ultimate-frugal-living-guide-18-tips-for-extreme-penny-pinching.html


The Ultimate Frugal Living Guide: 18 Tips for Extreme Penny-Pinching
Catherine Alford

When it comes to spending less and saving more, there are many ways to get financially fit, but some are much easier to accomplish than others. We’ve put together the ultimate frugal guide for people who are excited about saving money and really want to do whatever it takes to whip their finances into shape. Check it out below.

1. Dry your clothes on a line.
I know, I know. There’s this thing called a dryer that someone invented. Lucky us! However, you can save around $100 a year or more if you hang your clothes up to dry on a line. If you don’t have a yard, you can hang them up in your apartment too.

2. Wash dishes by hand using one sink-full of water.
Some people say washing dishes by hand costs just as much as running the dish washer, but if you use just a minimal amount of water, you’d be surprised at how much you save.

3. Make your own laundry detergent.
Did you know that you can actually make your own laundry detergent? It’s really awesome because you can see exactly what goes into it, which creates a healthier environment in your home.

(snip)

16. Shop at thrift stores.
You can buy all your clothes and furniture from a thrift store. I always say that it’s amazing what people will give away! You can definitely find designer duds if you look hard enough. Also, be sure to go on 50% off days if your local store has them!

17. Clean with vinegar.
Vinegar can be used to clean just about anything. You don’t have to spend any more money on expensive products. All you need is an old rag and a vinegar/water mix to make your house sparkle.

18. Unplug everything when you leave the house.
Our very last tip is to unplug all electronic devices when you leave the house. Although it might take up some time and only save you a few dollars, this is a must for those of you who want to live the ultimate frugal living.

Of course, these aren’t the only ways that you can save money and live better, so please share your tips with us in the comment section below!
5 replies = new reply since forum marked as read
Highlight: NoneDon't highlight anything 5 newestHighlight 5 most recent replies
The Ultimate Frugal Living Guide: 18 Tips for Extreme Penny-Pinching (Original Post) NeoGreen Oct 2018 OP
I love this! violetpastille Oct 2018 #1
Stop Drinking????? zipplewrath Oct 2018 #2
Stop drinking Turbineguy Oct 2018 #3
With new high efficiency dishwashers it's now more economical than hand washing Thekaspervote Oct 2018 #4
some are useful dembotoz Oct 2018 #5

violetpastille

(1,483 posts)
1. I love this!
Mon Oct 8, 2018, 12:35 PM
Oct 2018

I think the clothesline saves more than $100 dollars a year, because it saves clothes. And that's a huge line item.

The first thing we did was stop going out to eat. Ever. This was fairly easy for us, because the restaurants here suck, and they are all of that PNW Suburban Brewery/Pizza type bland Lumberjacky type food.

The second was to stop drinking. That was a huge savings!

The third was to stop driving.

The fourth was to stop eating red meat almost ever.

So really we are just easing back into a way that our grandparents lived and what was considered for them, normal.

Turbineguy

(38,287 posts)
3. Stop drinking
Mon Oct 8, 2018, 01:14 PM
Oct 2018

might be a good idea to save money. I'm a European raised in a town where at one point they had 7000 inhabitants and 700 breweries.

I've compromised by drinking cheaper wine. Going out for food is expensive too and a lot of it is a poor value. Better to go to a nice dinner a few times a year.

 

dembotoz

(16,922 posts)
5. some are useful
Wed Oct 10, 2018, 10:14 AM
Oct 2018

eat out less, cut back or eliminate cable

and i am doing what i can with the others already
nice reminder.
smartphone and internet needed for work

on detergent i have gone to pods...found i always overdid the detergent per usage and a bag of pods last way longer than regular detergent ever did

Latest Discussions»Support Forums»Frugal and Energy Efficient Living»The Ultimate Frugal Livin...