Comments on: 31 Ways to Be Frugal And Save Money http://www.moneycrashers.com/31-ways-to-be-frugal-and-save-money/#utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=31-ways-to-be-frugal-and-save-money Personal Finance Blog, Your Guide to Financial Fitness Sun, 21 Mar 2010 04:34:20 -0500 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.9.2 hourly 1 By: Mike http://www.moneycrashers.com/31-ways-to-be-frugal-and-save-money/comment-page-1/#comment-5698 Mike Tue, 22 Apr 2008 19:10:01 +0000 http://www.moneycrashers.com/31-ways-to-be-frugal-and-save-money/#comment-5698 Very good list with lots of helpful suggestions. I would take AFLAC off of your gimmicky insurance list though. They offer short term disability insurance which is arguably more important for young workers to have than life insurance. According to the U.S. Census Bureau, an illness or accident will keep 1 in 5 workers out of work for at least a year during their working careers. Obviously, you may want life insurance too, but disability insurance really should be high on young worker's priorities. Very good list with lots of helpful suggestions. I would take AFLAC off of your gimmicky insurance list though. They offer short term disability insurance which is arguably more important for young workers to have than life insurance. According to the U.S. Census Bureau, an illness or accident will keep 1 in 5 workers out of work for at least a year during their working careers. Obviously, you may want life insurance too, but disability insurance really should be high on young worker’s priorities.

]]> By: fiddlehead http://www.moneycrashers.com/31-ways-to-be-frugal-and-save-money/comment-page-1/#comment-5689 fiddlehead Sat, 19 Apr 2008 10:25:32 +0000 http://www.moneycrashers.com/31-ways-to-be-frugal-and-save-money/#comment-5689 You forgot one: Start walking more. Going for groceries, to mail a letter, to work, to get a newspaper, etc. Too much driving around anymore. People are either lazy or want to show off their big new SUV. Sell it and get a Prius. Or walk! You forgot one: Start walking more. Going for groceries, to mail a letter, to work, to get a newspaper, etc.
Too much driving around anymore. People are either lazy or want to show off their big new SUV. Sell it and get a Prius. Or walk!

]]> By: Kenny http://www.moneycrashers.com/31-ways-to-be-frugal-and-save-money/comment-page-1/#comment-5672 Kenny Fri, 11 Apr 2008 04:57:29 +0000 http://www.moneycrashers.com/31-ways-to-be-frugal-and-save-money/#comment-5672 Great ideas......Coming from Asia, I can tell you that we practice these and many more. Examples are: 1. We opened a Chase account with $100 deposit in free checking, and will get back $125. That is a lot of RedBox movies! 2. Getting the BEST credit card recommended on Blog sites that pays 10K ThankYou Points which will buy $100 of free gasoline. Sure as you order more cards from various banks your score dips, but it will pick up within a year when you stop ordering new cards. 3. Borrow money from Credit Cards when you see a $29 Transaction Fee and a 1 Year 0% APR. Put reminders galore to pay it off from the CD that you opened with the money borrowed from the credit card. 4. Never buy a Coke drink (been practicing for 15 years) - Get water. This old Asian tradition is just being practiced commonly in the US. 5. Don't opt for those expensive water bottles. Take a bottle with you even if you got to moderate to low end restaurants (keep 2-3 it in the car). 6. Get ALL of the freebies from Walgreens if you have one near you, and opt for a check from them (100% money back comes VERY promptly). 7. Avoid shopping before dinner since you will BUY 4X more than normal. 8. Create some space in your closets and start 'hoarding' things that are at 50% to 80% off normal price (determine and build a normal price database in your mind). For example if you can get Colgate Toothpaste for $1.50 with a free toothbrush (9.2 oz), then buy 10 of them, since you will NEVER get that again. I have bought it for $0.99 for the same, and put 20 of them away. They do NOT expire. 9. Shop Till You Drop for electronics ONLY on Black Friday - Wait until then (if you can, and most of you can). Those prices are NOT repeated for another 6 to 9 months in a constant price-reduction market-era. 10. Buy Fully Warranted Dell PCs from their Outlet Shop; One that is returnable; But, always pick a PC that is NOT the latest, and not even the Oldest (middle of range). Bought a Pentium Duo 2 Core 2 2.2GHz/2GB Ram/160GB drive/DVD-RW/Slim-tower etc for $309.00. Repeat every 3 years. 11. I am sure I can add a LOT more but the author did not ask for the list, but I loved his list so much that I felt like adding some more. Thanks. Kenny ps: Thanks for RedBox + comments, since I did not know, and we're on it now. Great ideas……Coming from Asia, I can tell you that we practice these and many more. Examples are:

1. We opened a Chase account with $100 deposit in free checking, and will get back $125. That is a lot of RedBox movies!
2. Getting the BEST credit card recommended on Blog sites that pays 10K ThankYou Points which will buy $100 of free gasoline. Sure as you order more cards from various banks your score dips, but it will pick up within a year when you stop ordering new cards.
3. Borrow money from Credit Cards when you see a $29 Transaction Fee and a 1 Year 0% APR. Put reminders galore to pay it off from the CD that you opened with the money borrowed from the credit card.
4. Never buy a Coke drink (been practicing for 15 years) – Get water. This old Asian tradition is just being practiced commonly in the US.
5. Don’t opt for those expensive water bottles. Take a bottle with you even if you got to moderate to low end restaurants (keep 2-3 it in the car).
6. Get ALL of the freebies from Walgreens if you have one near you, and opt for a check from them (100% money back comes VERY promptly).
7. Avoid shopping before dinner since you will BUY 4X more than normal.
8. Create some space in your closets and start ‘hoarding’ things that are at 50% to 80% off normal price (determine and build a normal price database in your mind). For example if you can get Colgate Toothpaste for $1.50 with a free toothbrush (9.2 oz), then buy 10 of them, since you will NEVER get that again. I have bought it for $0.99 for the same, and put 20 of them away. They do NOT expire.
9. Shop Till You Drop for electronics ONLY on Black Friday – Wait until then (if you can, and most of you can). Those prices are NOT repeated for another 6 to 9 months in a constant price-reduction market-era.
10. Buy Fully Warranted Dell PCs from their Outlet Shop; One that is returnable; But, always pick a PC that is NOT the latest, and not even the Oldest (middle of range). Bought a Pentium Duo 2 Core 2 2.2GHz/2GB Ram/160GB drive/DVD-RW/Slim-tower etc for $309.00. Repeat every 3 years.
11. I am sure I can add a LOT more but the author did not ask for the list, but I loved his list so much that I felt like adding some more.

Thanks.

Kenny

ps: Thanks for RedBox + comments, since I did not know, and we’re on it now.

]]> By: Michael Lombardi http://www.moneycrashers.com/31-ways-to-be-frugal-and-save-money/comment-page-1/#comment-5664 Michael Lombardi Sat, 05 Apr 2008 21:42:27 +0000 http://www.moneycrashers.com/31-ways-to-be-frugal-and-save-money/#comment-5664 Use insurance wisely. To use the word "gimmicky" is deceiving. For some people, pet insurance is great. My realtor rescues greyhounds from the track and it has come in very handy for her. Aflac can be a smart buy too depending on one's situation. If you're a cab driver and break your right ankle, health insurance will cover your medical bills, but Aflac will help replace the money you miss out on because you can't work. Most of these are great ideas, but insurance isn't gimmicky. You get what you pay for. You bet you'll need the money and the insurance company bets you won't. If you do you win. If you don't you have peace of mind. Use insurance wisely. To use the word “gimmicky” is deceiving. For some people, pet insurance is great. My realtor rescues greyhounds from the track and it has come in very handy for her. Aflac can be a smart buy too depending on one’s situation. If you’re a cab driver and break your right ankle, health insurance will cover your medical bills, but Aflac will help replace the money you miss out on because you can’t work.

Most of these are great ideas, but insurance isn’t gimmicky. You get what you pay for. You bet you’ll need the money and the insurance company bets you won’t. If you do you win. If you don’t you have peace of mind.

]]> By: author http://www.moneycrashers.com/31-ways-to-be-frugal-and-save-money/comment-page-1/#comment-5661 author Sat, 05 Apr 2008 14:44:13 +0000 http://www.moneycrashers.com/31-ways-to-be-frugal-and-save-money/#comment-5661 Bob, you are right. It's very easy. I actually cut the first part of it, and my wife fades it for me. I use a 1/2 inch on the sides, and then I run a 3/4 inch on top and she blends it in with two fade clips that I have. And you're also right, it's $120 a month, I was just running rough numbers in my head and I was thinking $25 a week. Thanks for catching me! Bob, you are right. It’s very easy. I actually cut the first part of it, and my wife fades it for me. I use a 1/2 inch on the sides, and then I run a 3/4 inch on top and she blends it in with two fade clips that I have.

And you’re also right, it’s $120 a month, I was just running rough numbers in my head and I was thinking $25 a week. Thanks for catching me!

]]> By: Bob http://www.moneycrashers.com/31-ways-to-be-frugal-and-save-money/comment-page-1/#comment-5659 Bob Sat, 05 Apr 2008 04:33:41 +0000 http://www.moneycrashers.com/31-ways-to-be-frugal-and-save-money/#comment-5659 On the haircuts... I have done this for some time. There's no way someone should end up bald (as mentioned up-thread). Just buy a cheap set of attachments with the clippers - it's not even possible to screw it up. Snap on the 1/2 inch or 3/4 inch attachment and buzz away. We ordered a DVD made by an old barber who shows you more than you'll ever need to know. BTW, a pack of cigarettes a day at $4 per pack is NOT $100 a month - it's $121.67 per month (365 days/year x $4 divided by 12 months = $121.67 per month). On the haircuts… I have done this for some time. There’s no way someone should end up bald (as mentioned up-thread). Just buy a cheap set of attachments with the clippers – it’s not even possible to screw it up. Snap on the 1/2 inch or 3/4 inch attachment and buzz away. We ordered a DVD made by an old barber who shows you more than you’ll ever need to know.

BTW, a pack of cigarettes a day at $4 per pack is NOT $100 a month – it’s $121.67 per month (365 days/year x $4 divided by 12 months = $121.67 per month).

]]> By: Steph http://www.moneycrashers.com/31-ways-to-be-frugal-and-save-money/comment-page-1/#comment-5658 Steph Fri, 04 Apr 2008 14:46:04 +0000 http://www.moneycrashers.com/31-ways-to-be-frugal-and-save-money/#comment-5658 These are all good ideas - we're going to have to check out the Red Box one. I remember the first time I tried to give my husband a haircut - he ended up bald! He's never going to let me live that down. But he still lets me cut his hair... These are all good ideas – we’re going to have to check out the Red Box one. I remember the first time I tried to give my husband a haircut – he ended up bald! He’s never going to let me live that down. But he still lets me cut his hair…

]]> By: author http://www.moneycrashers.com/31-ways-to-be-frugal-and-save-money/comment-page-1/#comment-5657 author Thu, 03 Apr 2008 21:59:18 +0000 http://www.moneycrashers.com/31-ways-to-be-frugal-and-save-money/#comment-5657 haha, yeah like I said, the haircut thing only works if you've got a simple haircut. Jacqui, you're so romantic! haha, yeah like I said, the haircut thing only works if you’ve got a simple haircut.

Jacqui, you’re so romantic!

]]> By: Jacquelyn Hart-McCoy http://www.moneycrashers.com/31-ways-to-be-frugal-and-save-money/comment-page-1/#comment-5656 Jacquelyn Hart-McCoy Thu, 03 Apr 2008 14:52:23 +0000 http://www.moneycrashers.com/31-ways-to-be-frugal-and-save-money/#comment-5656 Good ideas. Something else Shawn and I do is if we are craving a meal out we may order part of a meal out. For instance, I will sautee some veggies and buy a bottle of wine, set a nice table with the good dishes and order some pad thai. Its a nice meal that feels like dining out without the pricey beverages, sides, and tips. Shawn is not okay with me giving him a hair cut though! :-) Good ideas. Something else Shawn and I do is if we are craving a meal out we may order part of a meal out. For instance, I will sautee some veggies and buy a bottle of wine, set a nice table with the good dishes and order some pad thai. Its a nice meal that feels like dining out without the pricey beverages, sides, and tips.

Shawn is not okay with me giving him a hair cut though! :-)

]]> By: Writer's Coin http://www.moneycrashers.com/31-ways-to-be-frugal-and-save-money/comment-page-1/#comment-5655 Writer's Coin Thu, 03 Apr 2008 02:37:36 +0000 http://www.moneycrashers.com/31-ways-to-be-frugal-and-save-money/#comment-5655 Good point on RedBox. You can also find codes online all the time to get free rentals so you don't even have to pay $1 anymore. Good point on RedBox. You can also find codes online all the time to get free rentals so you don’t even have to pay $1 anymore.

]]>