A Frugal Life

“I have three precious things which I hold fast and prize. The first is gentleness; the second is frugality; the third is humility, which keeps me from putting myself before others. Be gentle and you can be bold; be frugal and you can be liberal; avoid putting yourself before others and you can become a leader among men.” - Lao Tzu (Chinese Taoist Philosopher)

If you need help cutting expenses and living within your means, check out the recent Festival of Frugality at Green Panda Tree House. You’ll find dozens of links to money saving advice like:

• Lower Your Car Insurance Rates! How To Cut Insurance Premiums In Half
• Beat Recession Advice #2: Cut your expenses, save money and conserve cash
• Reduce Spending without Sacrificing Lifestyle #4 - Be Choiceful on Options
• 9 Excuses Why You Haven’t Started A Budget Yet
• 25 ways to save money and bargain shop in small towns and rural areas: Part 1
• 50 Ways to Save on Pet Expenses
• Reconsider Your Subscriptions to Save Money
• Keeping Cool on the Cheap - How to Save on Air Conditioning

And many, many more.

Bottom Line

There is no one simple answer to saving money (other than don’t spend!). Because money is spent on so many different things, you have to look at each thing independently. Sometimes you can buy cheaper, sometimes buy less, and sometimes stop buying completely.

Examples:

(Cheaper) Pet food – will your pet eat a cheaper generic brand?

(Less Often) Unable to give up expensive Starbucks coffee? Then save it for a special treat once a day or, better yet, once a week.

(Stop) Lunch out everyday? – Eat at work instead; most places have a microwave. I now pack dinner leftovers into Tupperware and have great meals at lunch – today was meatloaf and mashed potatoes made at home. Watch out for the cost of buying frozen pre-made meals to eat at work.