Corrie Ten Boom, author of The Hiding Place, related a miracle that happened while she was imprisoned in one of Hitler's concentration camps: "My instinct was always to hoard that little Davitamon bottle. Betsie (my sister) was growing so very weak, but others were ill as well. It was hard to say no to eyes that burned and hands that shook with chill. I tried to save it for the very weakest; but even these numbered fifteen, twenty, twenty-five. . . And still, every time I tilted the little bottle, a drop appeared at the top of the glass stopper. It scarcely seemed possible.
Most of us have experienced "miracles" like Corrie's. Remember the satisfaction you felt at being able to extract that last bit of toothpaste or shampoo or cold cream? Remember how long it took? Each day you thought there couldn't possibly be anything left in that tube, bottle, or jar, but there always was.
To achieve such "admiring awe," you probably put a little ingenuity, patience, or perseverance into it. Take the lotion bottle, for example. You might have tried upending it, or adding a little water, then shaking it, or zapping it in the microwave to remove those final elusive drops. Or you swung the bottle around in a circle(cap facing outward) to let centrifugal force do its work. Or maybe you cut the bottle in half with scissors or a hack saw, and used a spatula to remove the lotion. Whatever you did, you were sure to get your money's worth.
But shouldn't we be just as frugal with the precious moments we have left of our lives? Isn't every instant of infinite value? Shouldn't we be living--fully-- every single second of every single day?" I think so.
That's why I surround myself with happiness--my cats, my books, my plants, my vegetable garden, my family and friends. But I also set exciting, accomplishable goals, and I work, scrimp, and save to make them happen. My current, half completed mission is to take each of my five grandchildren on a fabulous trip of choice; to the Galapagos, South Africa, and Australia, for example. And finally, I try to maximize my mind (by writing), my body (by eating right and exercising daily), and my soul (by being kind and good).
I'm living my life--now--as if every moment I have left is a miracle.
By Viaux from Miami, FL
Do you have a frugal story to share with the ThriftyFun community? Submit your essay here: http://www.thriftyfun.com/post_myfrugallife.ldml
My parents are gone now (God rest their souls) and I'm almost a senior myself. I've much to thank my parents for because they were my mentors and taught me much. I'm trying to pass on the things I learned to those who want to listen, learn, and sleep easy.
I can go on and on and on, but it all comes down to common sense and maintaining the balance of what's truly important and what's not.
By mlina from Amherstburg, ON
Do you have a frugal story to share with the ThriftyFun community? Submit your essay here: http://www.thriftyfun.com/post_myfrugallife.ldml
Spending cash hurts! Swiping a credit/debit card doesn't. If you have a 100 bill, it hurts to break it, not so with a $100 in the bank, sometimes you can even spend more of it than you have, then incurring more fees!
Try the old standby, the envelope system, for the things you can pay cash for. Gas station maybe not, but the grocery store, eating out (ridiculously overpriced and bad for you), coffee drinks, entertainment, etc. Set a budge of what you think you spend, or track your spending for a month. You'll be surprised. And when you do use cash, you'll be surprise how much you don't need that extra large coffee, another pair of black shoes or those ding dongs "on sale" at the grocery store.
I'm so excited about the envelope system, and how it's changed how much we keep each month. I bought a super cute wallet for my birthday that is the "envelope" system and a wallet all in one!
P.S. Please don't tell a frugal person your money woes if you spend it all before the next paycheck. Ask us for help, we might have some good ideas. No one makes you use that credit card or overdraw your bank account but YOU!
By Michawn from CA
By Mary from OK
In shopping for other items, you could keep the price tag, along with any other markdowns on it, with your final sales receipt.
If you are crafting, you could keep a photo what you created with a list of the makings and approximate cost, along with a print-out or clipping of a similar store item with its purchase price.
By Vivian P.
By Georgetta from Waterloo, IA
A few years ago, I was out a job from my third oil company layoff, and decided to move from Houston to Galveston to get away from big city blues. That saved me a lot right there - moving to a smaller city, only an hour away! But there were fewer jobs here, all vastly lower paying, so I had to economize. Here are some of the things I did: My peak cooling season electric bills are now only about $60-$75! I just use the A/C during really sticky, still periods to cool down the place and rid the humidity so the fans work better.
Also, gradually replace overhead and outdoor lights with those coiled energy-saver bulbs - try your $1 store for deals.
By Barbara from Galveston, Texas
Do you have a frugal story to share with the ThriftyFun community? Submit your essay here: http://www.thriftyfun.com/post_myfrugallife.ldml
Just out of curiosity... Has anyone tallied up what money they actually save with their frugal efforts? (e.g., flourscent bulbs, off-brand milk, popcorn instead of chips, air dry clothes, etx) I hear about how some frugal behavior saves loads of money, but it's hard to see it when the savings is so small. I guess I'm looking for encouragement.
Coolchinchilla
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By anne (Guest Post)
Adding Up the Savings from a Frugal Life