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:
1. Air conditioning is a must for 6 months of the year, a 1 bedroom apartment with a den can cost up to $200 a month to cool. I bought a $75 cooling fan with a water wick that rolls from room to room (Target has these) and gradually installed flat fans in windows. These are portable and cool about 700 square feet by up to 12 degrees F. I also noticed that tourist shops on the Strand here use over-door fans with a blast-jet of air as you're coming in and leave their doors wide open all summer. It circulates the humidity at the door and cools that store about 10 degrees.
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.
2. Boil a chicken weekly with nice herbs. Remove the skin and feed it to pets. Make a generous salad, or several, or chicken casseroles and eat throughout the week. (For a family, it might take 2-3 chickens.)
3. Buy minimal, basic cleansers: Ammonia, bleach, baking soda, and a good detergent. There's not much you can't clean with these few things.
4. Go to a thrift store and buy up junky old fabrics for rags to save on paper towels.
5. Create a coin jar and watch it grow. I last counted mine at $40! Also, set aside $5-$10 a week when you can in an old cookie jar or other hiding place. That will grow fast too.
6. Haunt any local consignment shops, dollar stores and thrift stores, as well as garage and yard sales, often. You would not believe the beautiful wardrobe I've assembled doing just this, and I have found many useful housewares in good condition, too. I almost never buy anything at full price anymore!
7. Get a bike and do short local errands that way (attach baskets, of course!) You'll get good exercise and save a bundle on gasoline, as lots of start-and-stop short hops really consume the most gas.
Finally, keep a notebook documenting how much money you save doing these things as a morale-builder. Once living frugally becomes a habit, it's almost a hobby, it's so much fun. My house (and liquid bank account) have never looked better!
Barbara Saunders from Galveston, Texas
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