Now I’m not in debt and never have been, but I have certainly seen some lean times which cause me to go into saving mode. My recent stupid actions have pushed me into that saving mentality again.
When I get like this, I think of ways that I can be my most frugal. I cut back on all luxuries and see what I can do without. I enjoy living a comfortable lifestyle and I like to save money for my various goals, but sometimes they just don’t make the cut!
Take for example a pedicure. During the summer I get these fairly regularly (cash flow permitting) since there’s nothing better than showing off pretty digits in some hot new sandals! I usually get at least one pedicure to start of the season as my little piggies need a major makeover after being trapped in socks and shoes all winter.
This time around though, I’ve been hit with a cash crunch. So one of my ways of being frugal and pinching those pennies? Home pedicure!
Today I slaved over my bathtub in some awkward yogic position attempting to transform my hobbit feet into something less heinous. It reminded me why I get pedicures in the first place :s I had the knowledge but only rudimentary tools… I felt like I was un medecin sans frontieres relegated to some backwater 3rd world country. No scalpel? That’s ok. We’ll use this bent butter knife!
(heh heh heh, yall enjoying the mental picture?)
I’m also making an effort not to buy any food for the next little while. I’ve got some Jenny food to get through and other stuff in my pantry and freezer which should help me keep costs down. I’ve also got to stop eating out for lunch at the office.
Those are just 2 of the ways I’m being extra-frugal until I get a few more cash infusions. A little extra belt-tightening should help me get out of this situation pronto!
Seeing as this blog has a large focus on personal finance, I’d like to open the forum up to the readers to find out some of the interesting ways that you save when you really, really need to.
Please, share your stories!
3 responses to “The Ways of Frugality”
I usually cut back on buying coffee from Starbucks, Tim Horton’s, etc and don’t go clothes shopping. I also try and pack my lunch. It’s the little things that add up!
Def. it’s the brown bag it for me. AND it’s the hardest thing now that I work in a building with a caf and a lovely salad bar and snickity snacks.
Also I have a small pop addiciton so will buy the 12 or 24 packs and lug them to work.
I hit the library for books too or rely on wonderful friends for book sharing. Or yard sales. or well ok I really miss buying books.
I tend to not save much – I am already pretty frugal and there are not that many places to cut back. What I do is to work harder to try to earn more money!