Frugal Tips to Make Your Dollar Stretch

This list is a compilation of frugal tips I've found online!  Hopefully some of them will inspire you!  

• Always grocery shop with a list.
• Take advantage of sales on items that you would normally buy.
• Keep a price book and track prices by unit cost.
• Stockpile staples when prices are low.
• Buy generic items.
• Plan meals according to what is on sale that week.
• Take advantage of rainchecks if the store doesn’t have a sale item that you need.
• Buy enough of a sale item to last 12 weeks. That’s about how long sales take to cycle.
• Take advantage of stores that double coupons. (Dillons!)
  
• Watch out for deals on things that your friends need, and have them do the same for you.
• Eat leftovers.
• Cook large amounts and freeze extra for busy nights.
• Scrape out food jars to use the last little bit.
• Eat out rarely.
  
• Eat from your stocked pantry.
• Bring lunch from home.
• Eat less. The average American eats too much.
• Always have a meal plan.
• Get creative with leftovers. Concoct new recipes, so nothing is wasted.
• Look for events that entertain and feed you at the same time. Church socials, shopping at Sam’s (think about those free samples)…
• Don’t drink soda. Drink water!
• Make your own jello cups (or applesauce cups, or pudding cups) for lunches and snacks.
• Use Angel Food Ministries if you have one in your area.
• Join a freezer club. Get together with like-minded people to exchange meals for your freezers. It’s cheaper to prepare a lot of one meal and split it up, than to prepare a bunch of different meals.
• Make your own baby food.
• Always take a snack and bottle of water wherever you go. You won’t be tempted to stop for expensive fast food or drinks.
• Grow your own produce. No room? Use pots on the patio.
• Cook with the crockpot to avoid using the oven, which warms up the house.
• Run errands once a week and use the most efficient route.
• Walk as much as you can.
• Stay home more.
• Ride your bike.
• Fill up early in the morning when the air is cool, and the gas is dense. You’ll get more gas and less air.
• Shop around for insurance. The rates can vary a lot!
• Keep the lights off during the day.
• Line dry clothes by setting dryer racks over heater vents. Use your shower rod if you need even more room.
• Let dishes air dry after running them through the dishwasher.
• Consider a family plan for cell phones.
• Use a fan.
• Get rid of your land line and use your cell phone.
• Take short showers.
• Insulate your water pipes.
• Turn off the PC if you won’t be using it for an hour or more.
• Keep the freezer full. If you have to, put milk jugs filled with water in the freezer. It’s less expensive to keep a full freezer cold than an empty one.
• Never leave the water running when rinsing dishes, brushing teeth, etc. Only use the water you need.
• Ask your doctor to prescribe generic medication.
• Limit clothes shopping.
• Shop garage sales.
• Use rechargeable batteries for electronics and toys.
• Store batteries in the refrigerator. They last longer.
• Accept hand-me-downs. You can donate them if you can’t use them.
• Wash and re-use Ziplock bags.
• Use a kitchen rag instead of paper towels.
• Use the library for books, magazines, and movies. See if you can reserve them online and then just pick them up.
• Celebrate “no spend” weekends, where you don’t spend anything.
• Prepare special dinners at home, rather than going out to celebrate.
• Use hotel points and airline miles for vacation.
• Split an entree with someone else when you go out for dinner.
• Do free things for entertainment: Hiking, free city concerts, board games.
• Order from the dollar menu when eating out.
• Go to the park and have a picnic.
• Take advantage of “get in free” days at the museum, etc.
• To find special festivals, get a free state tourism guide.
• Entertain at home. Have friends over for dinner, or have a game night and just serve snacks.
• Make your own “take out” style meals. Pizza is a good way to start. And if you do a recipe search for your favorite restaurant foods, there are some good knock offs out there!
• Trade babysitting with friends who also need a sitter.
• Only get haircuts every 8-10 weeks, instead of every 6 weeks.
• Shop for Christmas gifts year round to catch the good sales.
• Sell it on eBay or Craigslist.
• Sell homemade items on Etsy.
• If you get a raise, don’t increase your lifestyle. Save the extra or pay off debts!
• If you’re a two income family, make sure the second income is more than the expenses associated with working.
• Pay off debt as quickly as possible. Saves on interest.
• Use a budget. (I recommend Mvelopes.)

Thanks Being Frugal!