Ten Ways to Save $100 This Year:
1. Purchase 10 articles of clothing at thrift shops and yard sales this year instead of paying department store prices.
2. Hang four loads of laundry per week instead of using the dryer.
3. Once a month make a pizza from scratch instead of having one delivered.
4. Write a good letter instead of making a monthly long distance phone call.
5. Reduce your soda consumption by four cans per week.
6. Bake one batch of bread per week.
7. Save $50 each on two children’s birthday parties by making homemade decorations, cake, wrapping paper, and one present.
8. Reduce your smoking by three cigarettes per day (or give up smoking altogether and save even more).
9. Reduce your whole milk consumption by two gallons per week,
substituting dry milk in cooking, homemade cocoa mix, and in
half-and-half for drinking.
We don't drink soda or smoke, and school lunches are free this year. We're a work in progress on some of these others! We don't bake bread often, but when we do, it disappears before I can even slice it properly. It's a good suggestion to make it again this weekend. Yum.
ReplyDeleteThat one about smoking kind of shocked me. It seems hardly anyone smokes these days.
DeleteI know what you mean about the homemade bread! It never lasts long here either. LOL
Long distance charges may not apply any longer with the prevalence of cell phones, but the joy it brings to recipients is priceless.
ReplyDeleteDefinitely one of those items that is probably out of date, Meg. That was one of the chinks in my tightwad armor back in the day. I always called my Mom and it was long distant. But, the joy is priceless like you said.
DeleteWell I just lost that comment. I laughed at the things she chose to save money. I will have to start smoking, drinking milk and ordering take out pizza regularly (I can't remember the last time we ordered one) so we can save money.
ReplyDeleteBahaha, Anne. I know, right?! Like I said earlier, the smoking kind of shocked me. Who smokes these days? I don’t think anyone in my inner circle smokes these days. No milk drinking for me either, although I would eat/order pizza. Another chink in my tightwad armor. 😂
DeleteI still love lookin in the old TWG books, and while some outdated (long distance calls0, the philosophy is still there.
ReplyDeleteExactly, Sam. We can still learn the lessons she strove to teach.
DeleteOh what I wouldn't give to make those calls to my folks again. Worth every penny I spent in long distance charges. I called Daddy twice a day after Mom died, to make sure he was ok. Some things are worth it, no matter the cost.
ReplyDeleteThat is so sweet that you called your Dad twice a day after your Mom passed, Kathy. I’d say your Dad really looked forward to those phone calls. I agree they were worth every penny.
DeleteThank you Belinda for this post highlighting thoughts from TWG. I first saw Amy featured on a small segment of a news documentary in the early '90's here in Canada. She has been most influential in my frugal journey. I continue to search for hints/tips. My life is good and wouldn't be what it is today without that first glimpse of Amy D.
ReplyDeleteYou’re so welcome, Connie. I’m so glad she was so influential in your frugal journey. I love to read that and talk with people who feel the same way. She certainly had a good impact on so many people. I know she has mine for sure.
DeleteI just read that first one as 'buy 10 clothing articles at thrift store & resell for a profit'...lol. It's the reseller in me :)
ReplyDeleteWe only drink one can of soda per week & a pack of cigarettes lasts me an entire year. I quit smoking years ago, but need one when I'm really stressed - especially during 4th quarter.
I'm craving fresh baked bread now. Can't wait until it's cooler, because I rarely use the oven during summer so that it doesn't heat up the house.
That is pretty darn good that one pack of smokes last you a whole year, Ms. Goose. Just think of all the money you save!
DeleteBailey and you are the big resellers. I was processing for her the other day and realized she had went they her own personal clothes and added them to her resale pile.
We all need to bake some bread soon. I’m ready for the cooler weather to do just that.
Those are still all great ideas!
ReplyDeleteYes, they are, Kim. :)
DeleteHi Belinda! Great tips there. Canning when things are on sale...another great tip. I'm watching the flyers these days!
ReplyDeleteIt’s definitely good to be watching the sale flyers these days, Rain. And stock up when you can.
DeleteI used to have a stack of the few Tightwad Gazettes but somehow, I don't anymore - probably lost in our last move.
ReplyDeleteMoving makes it easy to lose things some times, unfortunately. I don’t know if she still sells the old newsletters or not anymore. I know she used to even after the single book with all three volumes in it came out. I like the newsletter better because they had just a little bit more information and graphics in them.
DeleteWhile I have never seen or read any of TWG, I have certainly read people quoting her. I was shocked I was already saving so much money, like not smoking--ever. I am quite sure I could never afford it.
ReplyDeleteYes, I think smoking costs a lot of money.
DeleteSuch easy ways to save and it is great to be reminded of them. Thanks Belinda.
ReplyDeleteGod bless.
You’re welcome, Jackie.
DeleteThat book is what enabled me to retire debt free last June at 55! Bought the book at a discount book store too!
ReplyDeleteThat is so great, Mary. I love that.
DeleteI think the outdated one was long distance phone calls, lol.
ReplyDeleteI know a lot of people who smoke & vape. I looked out the window the other day and a middle-school age boy was walking down the street puffing on a cigarette. The local convenience store I stop in I have to wait in line while several of the customer's are like "I need a carton of this. I need a carton of that!." My DH had to implement a no smoking policy in his truck several years ago because his partners they all smoke. He would come home covered in it and it would set off my asthma. Cigarettes with taxes are around $6 around here. We have one of the cheapest taxes for cigarettes in the country. DH & I don't smoke but the frugal girl in me standing in line is adding up that money when I hear the total for cigarettes, lol.
I buy most of my clothes thrifting. I hang dry a lot of items inside the home. I guess that counts. College town so picking up a pizza is cheaper than buying frozen. That is a fun treat. I can buy a pizza here cheaper than making from scratch. I got three large pizzas a few months back at Pizza Hut for $7. Not joking.
I do admit lately I have been sipping on soda. It helps my stomach when I am anxious. My doctor gave me that tip years ago. I treated myself to some Cherry Pepsi this week for a birthday treat.
I can't really eat bread so not baking it, lol. No b-day parties for kids since I don't have any, lol. I can't drink milk either.
I guess I am saving a lot of money.
Belinda, don't you miss getting her newsletters in? I think I was the only teenager who looked forward to her newsletters. I had them all in a binder. My binder was lost in one of my Mom's moves. I was heartbroken. I do have the complete book but it's not the same.
You’re right, having the books is not the same as having the newsletters. I love her newsletters. I am so jealous of your 3 large pizzas for $7. I need to come to your town for pizza!
DeleteThere are some good advices among them. But... I read the list and smiled,then I thought I might be bonkers. I re-read the list. Sorry. (You need to remember I don't live in US). I don't buy 10 pieces of clothing during a year, anymore. I've never owned or used dryer. We live so deep countryside there's no pizza deliveries.
ReplyDeleteOne stamp costs more than 10hr phone call... ok, I occasionally drink soda, but never cans because they are so expensive, just bottled. My mother brings us free bread. We have never thought of buying a cake... I've never smoked. Dry milk is 3x price of fresh milk around here, and school lunches have been free for like 60-70 years...
But to be honest, many OTHER Amy's advise is still wise and practical, those just happened to be (for me) a bit off.
Thank you for sharing your thoughts on what it’s like where you live. Do you mind sharing with us where that is located. If not, I certainly understand. Yes, Amy’s advice is a kind of take it or leave it. Take what you can and leave the rest.
DeleteThank you again for sharing your thoughts with us.
I love going over Amy D.s ideas. Always right on even if it feels a little dated.
ReplyDelete