Living Frugally - How to Get What You Want and Need for Less

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When using coupons, try to combine them with sales. Check out your weekly supermarket circular that comes in the mail, or go to your grocery store's website to see what's on special. Stock up when things are on sale and you can use a coupon on top of that. Many stores also double coupons, so if you have a .40 coupon, you'll get .80 off.

Use your store loyalty card. Not only will it give you automatic savings, but some stores will start to send you coupons in the mail that are for things you regularly purchase. My favorite grocery store also sends coupons for a few dollars of a purchase from the meat or produce department sometimes.

Give The Grocery Game a shot, too! They have a 4 week trial for $1 that's worth it to see what kind of great deals you can find at your store. It's a terrific service and I highly recommend it. If you need more coupons to do some serious stockpiling, check out The Coupon Master.


For fresh foods in season, check out your local farmers markets. You can find some of the best, locally grown produce at farmers markets at great prices.

Though some may not think it frugal, for some families, grocery delivery services can be a life-saver. If you're going to splurge for delivery, why not save too?




A fantastic way to save on food is through Angel Food Ministries. They have sites at churches all across the country. Anyone can take advantage of the program - there are no income guidelines or qualifying. Angel Food is there for EVERYONE. Check out their website and find a location near you. For just $30 you can get a great amount of food, and they have special boxes you can purchase in addition.

1-800-Contacts has GREAT deals!


You will love the Apple Store Special Deals


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1. Clip Coupons Carefully - Coupons are terrific, but only if they truly save you money. Don't buy a product you don't need just because you have a coupon. Sometimes a different brand is less even with the coupon savings. However, sometimes when you add coupons on top of store sales, you can get fantastic deals.

2. Try Store Brands - Be willing to try anything once. Many times, the less expensive store brands are no different than the more expensive name brands.

3. Shop at Thrift Stores - Let someone else pay full price. You might be surprised at what you find in the aisles at your local Goodwill, Savers or other thrift store. Everything from clothing to appliances and household items are available for far less than purchasing new at department stores. I've found designer clothing for less than $10, great brand kitchenware for ridiculously low prices. Think about it - once you bring something home from Nordstroms, it's no longer new anyway. Grab it at the thrift store, wash it, and you're good to go!

4. Watch the Thermostat - In the winter, keep it a few degrees lower than normal. Put on a sweater. In the summer, only use the air conditioning when you really need it. Keep it a few degrees warmer than normal. Install a programmable thermostat that will regulate temperatures for when you aren't at home and return it to a comfortable temperature when you are at home.

5. Plant a Garden - Find out what grows well in your climate that you would enjoy eating and grow it! There are numerous resources online for even the most novice of gardeners.

6. Wash Clothes with Cold Water - A lot of energy is used to heat water for washing. Use cold. It works!

7. Condense Errands - Try to get all of your driving done at one time and organize your trips to drive the fewest miles. Get all your shopping done at once so you don't have to run to the store every couple of days. A gallon of gas saved here and there adds up to a LOT these days!

8. Comparison Shop Online - The internet has a wealth of information on shopping. Find where to get the best price on the things you need and want.

9. Use the Library - Don't fill your shelves with books you'll read once or a movie you might watch a couple times. Get it at the library first. They have books, magazines, movies and more. FREE. If you decide then that you can't live without owning it after trying it, purchase it.

10. Learn to Like Leftovers - Really. I can't tell you how many times I hear. "I just don't like it" or "my husband won't eat leftovers." All I can say to this is - get over it. It's criminal how much food is wasted daily in this country. Leftovers rock.

How would you like to earn some extra cash by answering brief surveys online, or participating in focus groups. Marketers pay to find out the opinions of consumers like you. So how do you find them?

First of all, do not pay for a list of survey companies. The information is out these for the taking - for free.

Links to legitimate survey companies - check back, more will be added soon! I will only list companies from which I have received actual payment.

Survey Savvy
Opinion Outpost
Global Test Market
TestSpin
My Survey
Lightspeed

One of my favorite frugal activities is shopping at thrift stores and other types of re-sale shops. If you're looking for upscale items, or just something that works, you can probably find it used. You'd be amazed at what you can pick up at your local Goodwill Store, ARC or Savers shops.

Savers has different color tags on sale each day, sometimes half off and some items marked at .99! Special sale days make everything half off. Half off already low prices equals great savings for you and your family, and knowing that your purchase helps fund non-profit organizations makes you feel even better about shopping there! This year I got all my kids school clothes for a total of $94. That's for two kids and I got TONS of great clothes!

When resale shopping, understand that it sometimes takes sifting through the junk to find your treasure. It can be well worth it. Fill your wardrobe with the brand names you're craving, but let someone else pay full price first.