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My frugal life began when I married young against my parent's wishes. I dropped out of high school and made my way in life without a lot of help from anyone so learning to do without or making it myself became a life-long thing. When I think back to the things I learned most during the toughest financial times in my life, it was not about saving as in a Savings account, it was about going from paycheck to paycheck. I have 5 children and getting by was rather difficult at some times. My main challenge was raising five children and giving them some of what they wanted but also to teach them to be self sufficient. But I made it through and you can too. Some of my best tips I learned by accident, some by necessity. Sad as it may seem, this is a disposable society and I have learned to take advantage of that. Being dirt poor, and I mean only being able to afford the basic necessities, are a reality for many in this country. I always worked and sometimes worked 3 jobs in one day and had a husband who worked also but we could barely make it above the poverty line. That's my story and now on to how to get by.
First off, I learned to be a lifetime learner. Not having an education set me back many a time. Even though I knew I could do the job, without that piece of paper saying I could and could show, no employer would take me seriously. Now there were some people who let me show them but it was a rarity. So I learned how to crochet to make extra money. I took free classes at the library on everything from preserving food to home economy. I checked out books on saving money and how to weather proof my home to bring down the utility bills and how to do various jobs. The library and its resources became my best friend. Now we have the internet and what a wonderful resource it can be for learning. I have learned so much from just reading ThriftyFun on other people's ways of saving money. I also learned from many elderly folks who lived through the Depression, learning can be as simple as listening.
I also let it be known that if someone in my family or my friends had a bunch of junk they wanted to get rid of, I would take it. I never turned anything down so that people would be willing to give me what ever they had to get rid of. Once I took a whole box of bedspreads that someone had gotten from a dormitory, I made curtains out of some of them and swapped some of them and gave the rest to charity. I have also taken that junk and gone to the flea market and sold their stuff and made a little money that way.
Second, I learned to barter, whether it be for babysitting or for groceries. I would trade cleaning someone's house for babysitting or typing someone's report for groceries. I learned there were a lot of jobs out there that people hated to do and while they might not pay someone else to do them for them they often would be willing to barter that job. I bartered pre-school for my youngest daughter at the time by working in the home run pre-school. The teacher needed help and my daughter needed an education so it worked out well for all of us. I have bartered personal shopping, dog dropping pickup, typing services, working for a day as a receptionist answering phones, and swimming lessons for the things I needed. I have bartered car repairs with a backyard mechanic for cooking some meals for him. Try it, you will see that it works.
Third, I learned to be a trader. When one of my friends were getting rid of something I needed, most of the time I could trade for something that they needed. I started a clothes swapping group when my children were younger. I also used to trade food that I had bought on sale and in bulk for other things I needed like cigarettes (nasty habit, I know) and for other things that were needed. I knew many single mothers who were given clothes by friends that do not fit or were not their style, so we would get together and swap the leftovers. A church in our community also had what they called the Clothes Closet, and many of us would go there to get clothes for ourselves and our families. The cost was free, of course, and was fueled by donations but most of us donated clothes and household items to it when we could, so I consider that trading.
Fourth, I learned to dumpster dive. Now, don't turn up your nose, I have found everything from a classical guitar to a bed that I needed or could be fixed up a little to be traded for something else. People throw away things all the time that are still useful. Think about some of the things that have made it into your trash recently. Not good enough for a charity but really not bad enough to throw away.
I save buttons from junked clothing and nice lace for craft projects. Hand knitted sweaters from the thrift store get unraveled to make new things from the yarn. Recycled glass jars get made into candy jars at Christmas. These are easy things you can do to have the things you want. I take my friends leftover craft supplies and make things to sell at craft shows or the flea market it keeps my costs down. I love to read so I have always done book swaps with friends for myself and my children.
I buy in bulk and break up big packages into smaller ones. This saves me a lot on my meat purchases. I save jars and other packaging to repackage things such as macaroni and beans. I have found that in the Hispanic food section, I can buy alphabet noodles and stars and other specialty shapes for like .23 cents a package and I bring them home and dump them into one of my jars and use them for soup. I try and stretch every meal I have to make two, if not three, meals from any meat dish. I freeze my leftovers so we don't eat the same things too often and to save me time.
I keep a gift closet so I am prepared for most birthdays and holidays. By spreading out the cost of these over the whole year, I save a lot of money. I buy things at yard sales and thrift stores to make gift baskets. The dollar store is also one of my favorites for gift giving.
I shop thrift stores, garage sales, and church rummage sales for the things I need even now that I have a good job and my husband's business is going strong. I rarely even now feel the need to buy something new because I know I can usually find it for free (Freecycle) or I can find what I need in a thrift store.
If I could have one wish, it would be to have the resources to start another clothes closet for needy women and their kids. It would sure help those who need it, would teach the world about recycling the things we don't use and maybe this idea could spread.
That's my story and I hope it helps one of you out there.
Debra Frick from Colorado Springs, Colorado
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