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St. Charles County |
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In the News
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Frugal Living |
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All Contents Copyright 2007 Neighbors About Town |
Search St. Charles County W.O.R.L.D.S.
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Beginning the Frugal Life or Frugality 101
It is a struggle to live frugally. Even if we resist billboards and TV commercials, little things still catch us. A book at the school book fair costs $10 (count on buying two books if you have two kids). School lunches for just one child cost about $50 a month. The school systems are struggling and hold many (many) fund-raisers. But, families are struggling, too.
To be cheap, one must think cheap. Here are 10 good things and 10 bad things, in the eyes of a cheapskate.
Good things: A budget—Knowing where the money goes is the place to start. Cooking from scratch—The second place to start. Growing a garden—Why pay $2 a pound for tomatoes when they’ll grow in a pot? Being organized—If you know where something is, you won’t need to buy another one. The library—Free, free, free! A crock pot—Easy, uses less energy than the oven and doesn’t heat the kitchen. Garage sales—Hosting or attending, both are frugal and fun. Free concerts and activities—Free, free, free! Running errands with minimal trips—Consolidate trips and save gas. An attitude of contentment—Peace of mind!
Bad things: Products with extra packaging—Bad for environment, typically bad for wallet. Obligation buying (“we are selling candy bars…”)—Carefully consider all purchases. The TV (generally)—It’s a time-sucking spend encourager. Poor planning—Have a plan, resist impulse. Credit cards—Evil, EVIL! Eating out—Once in a while, sure. But indulge too often and there goes retirement. Cruising the mall—Buying second-hand is noble, just like recycling! Extra-curricular activity overload—Fees, fast-food and too much “on the go.” A $5 cup of coffee—That’s just silly. Keeping up with the Jones’—The Jones’ are deep in debt. They dream of being broke.
This is just a start. For detailed strategies about saving money and staying on the frugal path, read more articles at www.sccworlds.com. |
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