I’m not afraid of saving money, and I’m proud of being frugal. I’ll always save money where I can, and if I find little value. I’ll share just some of ways I save money while living my frugal lifestyle. Check it out!
Don’t Pay for TV
As I have talked about when I first started tracking my spending and budgeting. I found that I was dumping a bunch of money into DishNetwork on TV, I never really watched. I have found it rather easy to drop my paid Satellite TV provider. What’s often overlooked, and is super easy to do, is just use an antenna to get, digital, over-the-air (OTA) broadcast. You can pickup an antenna from Target, Walmart and Amazon for under $20. Most modern TVs have a digital tuner already built it. You may not even know it, but it’s there. Simply connect the antenna to the Coaxial Antenna-In connection on your television. Next, go your TV’s menu and choose an option for auto-tuning, or channel scanning. For example, I scan channels in my area and can pickup 22 Channels! Yup! This includes all my local/network stations, plus a bunch of other channels with local or other types of programming. Some of the things I can watch for FREE are:
- Local and National Network News, I watch my local news every weekend morning.
- Local NFL games, I watch the Minnesota Vikings every week!
- Prime time network programming on NBC, Fox, ABC, CBS, WB
- Live Network events, like Grammy’s, Academy Awards, etc…
- PBS – Publicly funded Television from TPT (Twin Cities Public Television)
There are other channels available as well:
- Local Channel 45, Newer reruns of shows like The Goldbergs, and classics like Seinfeld and Friends
- H&I, Heroes & Icons – Watch reruns of McGyver, Greatest American Hero, or Star Trek
- MeTV – Shows from the 70’s & 80’s like Hogan’s Heroes, M*A*S*H, ALF
- Fox9 + Local News, Weather and information
You can see over the air channels here
Hit the clearance rack and thrift stores
I recall one time I was attending a networking event, and I had two compliments on my new dress shirt (Yes, when I’m not wearing Metal T-Shirts, my shirts have buttons) and I commented, “Thanks! It was my latest find for $4 at Goodwill.” My buddy leaned in and whispered, “dude, I wouldn’t tell people that.” I’m always one to share where I find a good deal. I’m not afraid to save money and let people know if it makes sense. For example, check this latest outfit of name-brand digs.
- My dress shirt: 3.99 (Goodwill)
- Jacket: 24.98 (Macy’s Clearance)
- Jeans: 3.99 (Goodwill)
- Dress Shoes: 19.98 (Kohl’s Clearance)
Buy Generic
When I’m in need for paper products, or household items, even over-the-counter medication, many of the times, I’ll buy the generic equivalents. I feel that there are times when buying generic is totally fine, but for somethings it is better to buy a name brand, top quality product to get the longevity. However, things that are consumable or some products it’s totaly fine to purchase the generic version. Many of these products are identical to the name brand, if you look at compare ingredients of some of these they are exactly the same! Here is an example of some items that usually buy the generic version:
| Generic Equivalent | Brand Name |
| Ibuprofen | Advil |
| 200 Caps – $3.89 | 200 Caps – $14.99 |
| Acetaminophen Day/Night Time Cold and Flu Relief Liquid | Vicks DayQuil & NyQuil Cold & Flu Relief Liquid – Acetaminophen |
| 2ct/12oz – $10.99 | 2ct/12oz – $14.99 |
| Gentle Face Cleanser | Cetaphil Skin Cleanser |
| 16oz – $6.69 | 16oz – $8.63 |
| Premium Ultra Strong Toilet Paper | Charmin Ultra Strong Toilet Paper |
| 12 MegaRolls – $10.79 | 12 MegaRolls – $17.89 |
| Make-A-Size White Paper Towels | Bounty Select-A-Size Paper Towels |
| 12 Single Plus Rolls – $13.49 | 12 Singles Plus Rolls – $15.29 |
| FlexGuard Kitchen Drawstring Trash Bags | Glad ForceFlexPlus Kitchen Trash Bags |
| 120ct – $15.99 | 90ct – $17.99 |
Use a treadmill at home
One of my goals for 2020 is to begin walking on a more consistent schedule. With Minnesota winters, I wanted to walk in a controlled environment, but not pay monthly membership costs to a gym or fitness center. I took to craigslist, and Facebook Marketplace. I had looked at three treadmills for sale, and my third one was a good shape, it met my needs and cost me $40!
Stack Errands
If I need to run errands, either if that is locally, or across town. I try to stack these to save on my effort, time and fuel costs. If I need to connect and have a meeting with my Real Estate Agent or Lender, and I need to visit a rental property, both of which are 25 miles away from home but roughly the same direction. I’ll try and coordinate to do this both back to back. If I have an errand to run, or I am meeting with someone south of the cities, I build that into when I’ll be visiting my customers, that are typically south of the cities. Again, doing so saves time and fuel. Location-based reminders can help with this. If you setup a reminder to be location-based, or remind me when I’m near this area, or remind me when I leave this location. It can help remind me stack my errands together.
Join eClubs and Rewards
I do have a dining budget that is used only for eating out. One thing that I have done is join mailing lists, or clubs. Especially, with those that have pretty consistent offers that are sent out to members. If I’m in the mood for BBQ, I’ll go to Famous Dave’s or for bacon and eggs, I’ll go to Perkins, for example. I consistently get BOGO offers at Famous Dave’s, or 20% off coupons at Perkins, for example. Perkins also drops BOGO an entree, usually, once a week. Using things like the Target App and joining the Target Circle (what used to be Cartwheel) for Deals, and earning rewards. The kicker here is to stick to the deal, and don’t let other items creep into your order. For example, order water to drink, or if you are getting an entree you probably don’t NEED an appetizer.
Connect my Hilton Points to Amazon
Did you know you can use your Hilton Points as a payment method on Amazon? If you connect the accounts, your points earned for Hilton hotel stays can be redeemed upon checkout at Amazon. The exchange rate is 500pts = $1, so it’s not great…However, I travel for work, and if I happen to stay at Hilton hotels, I bank those points, if I’m shopping on amazon for pantry or other household items, I use points to drop my price, or even get something for free sometimes!
Use the Cash Envelope system
This is a methodology that has become very popular for followers of Dave Ramsey. Basically you allocate a budget for a specific spending category. You place cash in the envelope that will specifically be used for that category. I typically use this for Dining, or eating out and groceries. One thing I did for 2019 was set a budget for Dining out, and Groceries of $300 each. I also made a list for my grocery items. I created a shared list on my phone and shared it with my kids. That way if there is something specific they want they can add it to the same list. This forced me to save a lot of money on spontaneous, random grocery spending, as well as how when you just swipe a card it was so much easier to spend and not feel that pain of spending. There was no friction. I would often go over budget especially when eating out. In 2020 I’ve combined my grocery/dining budget and I’ve reduced this to $400 per month. I like combining these now, so if I happen to not prepare meals at home, I can use that money for a meal out, or visa versa. This does limit my spending. If there isn’t cash available. You don’t spend.
There are many, many ways we continue to save money, time and live a frugal life. Please share some of your best ways you save!
Hey ya. Just a handful of things I do (the online comparisons I’m just getting started on) . . .
– Compare shop online first between Target and Cub. Every weekend I hit the two. Jot down your shopping list, put on some tunes, and spend 15/20 minutes checking versus the two, and mark which store to buy what. Even if you just do this on the things you buy most often. Examples . . . Family Size Cheerios ($5.29 Target vs $6.99 Cub . . . and on sale 2 for $9 at Target recently), Bragg Organic Apple Cider Vinegar ($7.29 Target vs $7.99 Cub), Kodiak Instant Oatmeal Packets ($5.59 Target vs $6.19 Cub). Just those three things (out of dozens) is $3 in savings. Bought twice a month, that’s $72 a year. On only three products. Adds up
* btw, I find almost always Target has the lower prices
– If you buy something often, it’s shelf stable, and it’s on sale? STOCK UP. Dry good, foil/cling film, paper products and toiletries, cleaning products, etc
– Spend the change in your wallet before paying with your card. Even if it’s only a dozen coins. I like to have cash for spending at small local businesses, concession stands, vending machines, etc, and change collects up. If you save up your change in a jar at home, it’s just sitting at home, and most banks won’t cash it out anymore. If you use a Coinstar or something like that, you pay what, 13% of every dollar plus a transaction fee? They take about $2.20 of your $10, or look at it as $22 of your $100!?! Instead, if you just feed the bits of coin in your wallet/purse into the self checkout each time before you use your card, pay the remainder by card, you get 100% of your money’s value
– Buy Nothing on FB. The neighborhood where you live probably has one. It’s a fairly safe place to pick up stuff for free, and get rid of stuff for free. Example. We moved into a house where the previous owner left a number of things that we didn’t want. Instead of throwing those cheap framed pictures, homemade garden statuary, whatnot in the garbage. Paying for the privilege and filling up a landfill, there has almost always been somebody who’s happy to take them off your hands.
AND, you’ll find plenty of useful things that you can use. Examples . . . I picked up a couple kid soccer goals and bought nets for them, art/craft supplies, scrap wood for projects, tall standing file cabinets that I combined with closet doors to make shelving. Best was a gorgeous hutch for storing dishware that is maybe only used a couple few times a year. A couple a few blocks over put it up because her grandfather hand crafted it, they were doing a remodel, and she couldn’t bear to throw it in the dumpster
People even request things. Anybody have an old sled your kids have outgrown? Anybody have a dorm wall mirror they don’t need anymore? I have a ton of old cds, and I wanted a Japanese boombox so I could play them in the garage doing stuff. Said I didn’t care if it was dusty, dirty, paint splattered. All it needed to do was play cds. A woman nearby was emptying out her father’s house, and was happy to have it go to somebody. I use it all the time in the garages, doing yard work, cranking up tunes while I shovel
-Buy from Early Adopters/Must-Have-Newest-Version people. We picked up our rechargeable mower and weed wacker off FB Marketplace from a guy who was upgrading for about half the cost of new for gently used equipment. Yeah, you need to be safe and careful on FBM
– Craigslist Free Stuff is also a good resource, though you need to be even more careful/safe. A guy in Vadnais Heights was looking to get rid of a three section work station with long countertop from his garage, and I was more than happy to pick it up, clean it up, and put it in the garden shed. I even found a “pallet connection” in Roseville. Guy owns a print shop, has product delivered on pallets, but mostly has no use for them. So a few times a year he posts them for free when they stack up too much. I’ve hit him up and used them to build storage shelving in the garages, built a woodshed out back, and use some to keep things off the ground incase of spring floods
Get creative. What do I have at the house/garage that I can repurpose instead of buying something? I read a great example the other day. Instead of buying a desk organizer, use iPhone boxes. C’mon, you know you’ve been saving them all these years. Put them to use 🙂