View Full Version : My most frugal decision of 2010
What was your most frugal decision of 2010? Not necessarily your largest savings, but
the thing that was like - why didn't I start doing this sooner? I was just giving money away...
For me this was a tie...
Changing my checking account to a FREE checking account. Savings $ 8.00 a month.
I don't want to tell you how many YEARS and YEARS we paid this.
Second - cutting my own hair. Not only the fact the I save about $ 15.00 each cut, but I HATED waiting to get my hair cut at the mall. Then I HATE making small talk with the stylist. Maybe it started the day she asked my DAUGHTER if she was spending the day with her GRANDPA...>:(
Now I cut my hair on my schedule - over the kitchen sink. In a few minutes presto it is done. I feel so smug.
Gregg, this is a good thread topic. I will have to think on this for a while but look forward to the ideas of others.
Hands down, combining households with my dad. It's saved us thousands and thousands of dollars and has been a very positive experience overall.
Well, I bought water tanks in 2009 but never really got them hooked up because our gutters were shot. We spent a bunch of money, so I don't know that this is "frugal" exactly, but we now have a new totally worry free roof, lovely gutters, and full water tanks. It hasn't rained here for three months and I'm still watering the garden with rainwater! We also replaced our big living room window which was so old and decrepit that the panes were threatening to fall out. If we lived in this house long enough I think these would be upgrades that saved money even considering their purchase price, but the current utility savings and "environmental frugality" are greatly pleasing me right at this moment.
Hmm. Good one. It was a rough year for us in many ways... does the fact that the 18 year old moved out count? It was his idea! We miss him... and love the savings. Other than that - deciding to stay instead of sell, as it would have been expensive to move.
I think one of mine was to cook and bake as much as I can from scratch...healthy & hearty foods that are not expensive. We also bought more raw ingreds. for muesli and bread making. I'm also so proud of bulk buying of basic food items and freezing them. Like Stella, we are going to combine households with my MIL who will move in this spring. At gas being $3 and up, we have not been driving much beyond work and carefully arranged errands. Also letting go of my need to buy even goodwill clothes. I also have been hitting the re-use shed at the dump (landfill) carefully picking through things and bringing them spotlessly clean to the consignment shop. The shop owner really loves it when I give her a box. Also books picked up at the re-use shed and given to us by friends and family being sold online through alibris and amazon. Each $5 is celebrated!!
Hmmm, I'm having a hard time... Perhaps making an effort to buy and waste less food. Not easily quantifiable however.
A simple one was making my own garden potting mix. Better and less expensive than you can buy, ...and it's fun.
http://www.simplelivingforum.net/attachment.php?attachmentid=158&d=1294388504
OOoh, true. I'm finally at the point where I have enough good soil through composting and store boughts that I should never have to buy soil again. Living here in the land of dust and rock, I've probably spent close to $500 in soil.
Dharma Bum
1-15-11, 4:17pm
Continuing to live in our modest paid off house. Thought about movin' on up with the Jeffersons, but here we stay.
Not traveling anywhere last summer, and not going along on DH's annual conference trip, which was to a place I've always wanted to go.
flowerseverywhere
1-15-11, 4:37pm
gardening. Growing my own vegetable plants and making a root cellar and learning to preserve a bunch of organically grown food. This skill didn't save a bunch of money this year but every step towards self sufficiency reaps great rewards in our health and bank account.
paid off my car loan. I now have a car with 22,000 miles that is PAID FOR.......Happy!
I haven't seen big savings from the replacement windows yet - in part because cold air comes in from a drafty room and I had no luck with a contractor installing a door there - will try again later when I am up for a hassle again :( so I would have to say letting DS withdraw from school. Less gas, about the same for GED prep materials/test fee as for school supplies, no legal costs since he's away from the bad peer group that led to some minor troubles that landed him in court in the past, less gas for clothes shopping as he just orders things online and isn't so picky now about what he wears, and with less stress all around no longer a need for counseling and its copays.
my biggest frugal move was a literal one -- moving back to pittsburgh from new york last february. i moved in with my fiancee and we are getting along great, working together, and saving money. not to mention my rent in NYC was like 4x as much as his mortgage here. moving back enabled me to save almost all of my severance money, which i'm using to live now while i get my business started. wouldn't have been able to do that in new york...
For me it is probably trying to take the bus more. I still take a taxi home in the afternoons, because the bus would take 2+ hours and the subway options are really annoying and also involve either bus or taxi on both ends. But taking the bus in the morning costs .80 RMB ($0.12) whereas a taxi averages around $6.50. So that's a savings of around $32/week. I bought a long down coat over Christmas to give me more incentive to stick with the bus in the winter, when it is literally like climbing into a freezer (bus is not heated). I get a 20 minute walk to the bus stop every morning (adds to excercise and health goals) and listed to NPR podcasts on the way. I have to leave the house at 5:15, though, which is kind of a drag. But I have more or less gotten used to it.
I have also cut way back on purchase of snack foods, though increased spending on organic foods and more fruits probably cancels that out. Health costs should stay lower in the future as the family eats a healthier diet, though.
lhamo
Didn't buy a big truck. Continuing to drive the old Civic for a while, even if it annoys us sometimes.
I negotiated w/ the kid's dad how we are going to pay for college--each party (dad, mom, kid) pays 1/3 of cost of state school. For four years for each kid. This is $10,000-$12,000/year for next ten years for me.
This is an expense that I value and want to pay for. In order to do it, I have returned to full-time work, and am watching all other expenses carefully.
Most frugal decision to take on a $120,000 commitment? Yeah, I guess so.;)
Fawn, I'll be taking on the tuition commitment soon too. In my case 100% of 2 years community college including books and give him my old car and get myself a new one. It scares me sometimes, but I want to help launch him and his dad will never be able to - can't even take care of himself.
flowerseverywhere
1-16-11, 7:09am
Fawn and Yppej, I worked about eight years full time to do exactly what you are doing- a college education was my number one priority for my kids. I have not regretted it one day. My kids were lucky and got scholarship money for most of their portion and worked as well so one graduated loan free, one with a small loan. All the material things in the world have no value like the education they got and use today- and it did save money as they started working right after college and needed no further help and are self sufficient. They also listened and started the 401K thing right away and are amazed as the years go by how quickly savings build.
another friend of ours had a son who had no interest in school so they financed a lawn mowing business- he is doing well and is happy so that was a great investment for them.
I thinik signing up for Target's card, which gives me 5% off every purchase, along with starting to stick to a set number to spend there on food each month has helped me save a lot. I always thought that food was a need and thus never thought about how much I was spending. Having a specific number in mind, helps me to plan out less expensive meals and avoid expensive junk foods more.
AND I HATE SMALL TALK at the hair cut place! OMG, OMG, it is so annoying!!!!!!!!
Paying more attention to electricity usage: keeping the heat turned down, unplugging, more windows than ever covered in plastic this winter, etc.
And - Last year was the first year I think I have ever truly budgeted & had it stick for the whole year. I went through the calendar & the check book register & looked back at the previous years expenses to project ahead. I still definitely missed the mark regularly & it took til October til I finally got serious about staying strictly within the grocery budget but it was definitely progress.
fidgiegirl
1-16-11, 11:01am
I think ours was replacing our furnace, though we can't remember exactly when - might have been 2009. Bills are about half of what they previously were.
We also earn quite a bit per month by maxing out the balance allowed in a high yield checking account. We earn almost 3% but since it's quite a bit then it adds up month after month, and nothing is paying better than that. We have to jump through some hoops like using our debit card a certain amount of times per month, but it's not a big deal. We treat it as our checking money plus our short term emergency fund. Works well for us.
Bringing my coffee from home to work each and every day. Not only did I avoid the high price of the coffee, I wasn't tempted to buy something to eat along with the coffee...less money and fewer calories. And given the fact that I almost always end up with half a cup of cold coffee by the end of the day, I wan't really drinking all that I bought. This has been a great habit to cultivate.
I did 3 things this year that really saved money.
1. We got rid of our t.v
2. We turned down the heat
3. We started only going to the grocery store once every two weeks. We made a 2 week menu, made a list, and then shopped. If we ran out of something we made do. Going to the grocery store only one time in two weeks saved a lot of money. We now spend about $40 a week in groceries.
Anna, did you do any produce shopping in between, or do you grow your own? We shop once a week for bulk items, but find the produce doesn't stay good for too long so make mid-week stops for only that.
treehugger
1-17-11, 12:38pm
This could be a really long list, since 2010 for me was all about belt tightening and reducing expenses wherever possible.
But I think the 2 biggest changes I made that continue to have an effect are: 1) reading the weekly sales flyers from 2 local grocery stores and cherry picking those deals (buying extras of nonperishable items) and buying little else; and 2) making a pricebook so that I know for sure when I do see a good deal. Then I plan my menus from things that I bought on sale. Sure, it means we eat a lot of beans and rice, but that's OK, we like beans and rice (and boy are beans so much better made from scratch than buying canned!).
We spent $1,300 less in 2010 than in 2009 on regular expenses was a sign of our frugality this past year. It was also the first full year of DH retirement at a young age (mid 50s). Even though we bought a motor scooter for me and a motorcycle for him, we got really good use out of them, and the gas mileage was great for going to work for me, and volunteering for him. Our life plan seems to be working well, but we will see how it goes for Taxes this year, if we paid enough, or if we have to pay extra. So I will let you know after tax day!
treehugger, I've just gotten back into soaking and cooking beans again. They ARE so much better than canned! I'm making a pinto & red bean chili later this week, so they're soaking now, will be cooked tomorrow, and the chili will be started the next day. I love food prep.
flowerseverywhere and yppej--
Yeah, it's scarey and yeah, it feels good too.
I get really jazzed as I see the college account grow (by $500 each pay period!) and think about what I am giving each kid. I think that they are positioning themselves to take advantage--good grades, lots of extra curricular activites.
I may be worn to a nub by the time the last semester is paid for, but there is nothing else on earth that I am so willing to exhaust myself for. Well, except maybe World Peace....but this seems more doable.;)
Fawn, remind me, how old are your kids?
DS#1--27, graduated from college and married
DD--16
DS#2--15
DS#3--12
If you go check out the blog, the photo at the top is from a few years back.....
My most frugal (and simple) decision of 2010 was to cut back on outside activities for my kids. They picked the activities that are most important to them and we cut out all the other programs. Whew. We were way, way too busy last year. We're enjoying more money in our budget and more time on our calendar. Cutting back on the childhood rat race was the best decision I've made in awhile.
Reyes - I grow my own and then can and freeze my veggies for the long winter. It is not the same as fresh produce but it is a money saver. This fall I was also able to glean carrots. So my freezer is packed with shredded carrots and they go in everything. I make a lot of tomato sauce with red & green peppers and onions and can that. I freeze cooked squash and pumpkin as well as peppers, tomatoes, and spinach. It isn't as nice as a crunchy stir fry but husband and I come up with neat recipes.
Anna, great ideas. We freeze produce, (tomato sauce, etc.) and can (water-bath) fruits. We just purchased a pressure canner and look forward to our new canning adventures.
Canning a lot of the vegetables I grew in my Community Garden plot and in my yard. And I started walking back and forth to work twice a day almost every day. I only fill my gas tank about once a month now and I lost 45 pounds.
And I started walking back and forth to work twice a day almost every day. I only fill my gas tank about once a month now and I lost 45 pounds.
Wow - that is great!
How far away is your work? It sounds like a great idea, but I have to get into work so early I would not be able to walk to work. It is also ~ 3 miles.
It's not the distance so much as the terrain that got me in shape. It takes me about 10 minutes to walk to work and it's mostly downhill. It takes me 15 minutes to walk back home because obviously it's mostly uphill. I do that twice a day because I come home for lunch. I can also change it up by taking the stairs. I think it's something like 120 steps to get from Main Street where I work to High Street (aptly named) where I live. So I get in about 50 minutes of walking per day.
I wouldn't necessarily set aside 50 minutes a day for exercise. I'm not all that motivated. Although gas prices going way up was certainly an added motivation. It's easy to commit to walking to work because it's downhill. I'm not so sure I would have been so dilligent about it if I had to walk up to work. But once I'm there the uphill walk isn't so bad because at least I'm headed home. The only time I don't walk is if it's raining hard, the snow is too deep or if it gets into the single digits, like it will for the next three days. I have asthma and it's not worth the risk of having a severe attack. But I'm to the point where I miss walking when I can't do it.
Well, I hope that my decision to install cellular blinds throughout the house will pay off in the long run. I need to start tracking my energy expenses to find out.
Another decision - and this is major for me - was to take it back a notch on my fitness routine. You see, I keep getting these stupid repeat injuries which takes me to the doctor, which means paying lots of co-pays and all that stuff. I LOVE my exercise and hate to have to admit that this old bod can't handle it anymore. But this decision should definitely pay off in the long run. We'll see how it goes - it was the end of 2010 when I finally bit the bullet, so I'm still recovering from the latest injury. :|(
Wildflower
1-19-11, 8:52pm
Greg44, I hate making small talk with the hairstylist too. :0! I would gladly never go, but alas I can't cut my own hair - I've tried before and it was a disaster!! Since I wear it long I only have to go 2 to 3 times a year, but that's 2 to 3 times too many in my book....
My most frugal decision of 2010 was regarding medical insurance. DH and I switched from a PPO plan to an HMO. So far we are happy with it and are saving LOTS of money on doctor visits and prescriptions. :)
We also continue to live in our small, mortgage free house, hopefully for the rest of our lives. In the past two years we have replaced almost everything in our older home to energy efficient models - appliances, furnace, AC, roof, doors, windows, and garage doors. I think it will serve us well for the future, but hard to see the savings right now since utility rates have increased so much in the last year. On the flip side - our house feels much warmer with the thermostat set at a much lower temp. No draftiness anymore, so that has to impact our future heating and cooling bills positively. :+1:
No longer going to the Casino,wich soaked up the money pretty fast lol.After my emergency operation Nov 2009 and almost died Casino is no longer is attractive to me .Spending time with DH and our kids wich are grown is no my ni 1 priority and soooooooooooooo much cheaper.
Anita
A few 2010 frugal choices....
gave up Starbucks drive thru.
homeschool (instead of private)
focus on spending less and paying off debt
coordinating errand trips
My biggest frugal decision of 2010 was keeping my 2004 Toyota van. It has 250,000 km on it and I have been very tempted to trade it in for a newer vehicle. The fact that it is paid for makes me keep it.
clear water
1-27-11, 11:48am
I started making my own bread about half way through the year. I had taken a friend who has a really limited income on some errands I was running. I went to a special bakery and spent $11.00 on two loaves of flax seed bread.The friend was horrified at the price and said good god girl don't you know how to bake bread? So now i'm making really good bread, whole wheat, flax seed etc and saving lots, plus I enjoy it.
Buying a piece of artwork. Sounds odd, eh? Why I think it was frugal was because, though it wasn't cheap, it reflected a lot of thought of our values. It supported an artist, it gave us something we really want and value, it is an asset of a type and it took a lot of reflection to figure out which piece we wanted.
We spent maybe 3 weeks looking a the art the artist had and thinking and deciding. I see it every time I walk into the living room, and often put the little light on, to show it better.
How could our money be better spent? Really.
clear water
2-7-11, 3:35pm
As a Canadian I have to say we are spoiled when it comes to health care costs! As a group we need to be careful not to overuse the system and take care of ourselves as much as possible so the health care system can continue.
My most frugal decision in 2010 was to quit buying clothes, shoes and purses that I don't need. I quit work two years ago and now we don't even miss the income. Someone else is doing my job now and need the money more.
I started tracking my finances (again, fell off the wagon for a few years) in 2010 when we decided to try to pay extra to the mortgage. While tracking is not necessarily a frugal decision it has been the impetus to many frugal decisions.
Checked with insurance rep every time a bill was billed to me--had had lots of hospitalization and subsequent related expenses.
Stopped Physical Therapy (had a copay) as soon as I learned the exercises and could do them on my own.
Eating a very simple diet, recommended by kinesiologist--it's cheaper and involves fewer buying decisions than any other way I've ever eaten.
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