Frugal is a Way of Life

What I do now:

Home...

• Live with parents.
• Use supermarket circulars.
• Pick up change.
  When your jar fills up, take a friend to the bank with you...the free change sorter at Commerce makes for a fun trip. Especially if you win a prize for guesstimating within $1.99 of your total.
• At-home manicures / pedicures.

Work...

• A safe car with good gas mileage.
• Group errands.
  e.g. going to the supermarket, library, or bank that's on the route home after work
• Bring lunch to work.
• Direct deposit paycheck.
• Contribute to 401(k).
• Automatic Savings Plans.

Other...

• Use public library.
• Pay credit cards in full each month.
• Use cash rebate credit card.
  Only a good deal for those who don't carry balances! But I hear the 5% cash rebate days with Citi Dividend Platinum are over even though I haven't received any notices...I'm eyeing the Citi Professional now, but I'm still holding out "in case." (PTF)
• Pay bills online.
  I made $5 signing up for online credit card statements...however, read the caveat in a later post! (PTF)
• One "spending" ATM visit per month.
• My shopping system. (PTF)
• Buy clothes in basic colors.
• Use digital camera.
• "Family Plan" cell phone.

What I should do:

• Drive less.
• Remember to use coupons.
• Learn to sew.
• Try haggling. Really.

What I should do more:

• Eat in.
• Explore Salvation Army.
• Invite friends to volunteer with me.
  We'd save $ together, get to spend time together, and worthy causes benefit - it's a win-win-win situation! (e.g. NY Cares)

There's no feeling more empowering than knowing that you are in control of your money...so I'm working on it!