MyThrifty Goals
      To stretch my resources
      To share my bounty with others
      To live a debt-free lifestyle
      To enjoy my life without breaking the bank
My Reason to Share

      What goes 'round comes 'round.
My Path to Thrift

--Tithe and share your time and talents.  Generosity cannot be overrated.
--Demonstrate gratitude, modify your attitude, and be honest. 
--Time is money.  Use it wisely to increase your savings. One may save hundreds in one hour under a car beneath a shade tree. Another may save hundreds making a phone call. Timers? A timer remembers for you.
--Take time to save money and to earn extra money.  Increase your income, if possible. Practice positive frugality, not deprivation.
--Stretch resources: Borrow, share, scrounge, manage with what you have, reuse, recycle, and swap. 
--Live below your means. Attempt not to pay full price. Sock it away. There is no shame in saving. Save. Save. Save.
--Search for a cheaper alternative. Sometimes, you will find it.
--Use imagination, creativity, innovation, and skill instead of money to solve problems when possible... 
--Set goals: Short, midterm, and long term, personal and financial goals. Then, restructure your lifestyle based on your goals. Uh, then restructure it again and again.
--Moneysaving games: Challenge yourself to spend less. Some choices may seem silly to you and others. Examples: Drive 10 miles less per week. Spend 50¢ less weekly for groceries. Go to bed 10 minutes earlier to use less electricity. Time your shower. Calculate your cheapest and most healthful breakfast. Watch one less TV program daily/weekly. Search for a few new money savers in a given time period. You are paying yourself when you work every available saving angle. You do not charge income tax or sales tax.
--Create an emergency money account. Attempt to decrease wants.
--A need causes more problems if you do not take care of it.
--Budget. Establish an annual spending plan.  Aw, go ahead with setting a spending plan for a month. Pay bills on time. Scrutinize every receipt and bill. Finance:budgeting and frugal living tips for saving money  ExpenseCalculator!    Bankrate.com,Inc Calculators- Hugh

--Live life as if it were a business: Track expenses to be a competent manager. 
--Plug spending leaks daily.
--Live with consistent frugality. Buy wisely. 
--$100 saved living frugally can be equal to a $125 to $150 or so wage increase.  Receive a raise: Taxes increase. Stretch your resources: No added taxes.
--Read financial expert books and take notes for future use. You won't agree with everything, though.
--Keep up-to-date with your credit report information. It’s free.
--Believe that you are creative: Have confidence in yourself.
--Read Amy Dacyczyn's,The Tightwad Gazette. Outdated in areas but inspiring. TheDollar Stretcher

--Get out of debt. Stay out of debt. Know your debt total. Track its payoff. 
--Refinance debts at a lower interest rate, if you have debt.
--Know why you want to save money. Again, save for the future.
--Organization saves time and money: Use permanent lists created on your computer.
--If coupons save money, use them.
--If rebates are available, use them.
--Tax return: If you can, prepare your own.
--Yard sales (no sales tax); bartering; thrift, discount, and dollar stores; clearance centers; consignment shops; farmer's markets; repo, scratch and dent stores; bulk buying; combining coupons with loss leaders and sales; and warehouse clubs can save money for a careful consumer.
--Ask if xxx card entitles you to a discount: Student ID, AAA, AARP... 
--Set a spending limit. Buy the best that you can cheaper. Then, make it last longer.
--Consider life, use, and how many others can use something before you buy.
--Take advantage of guarantees.  File receipts.
--Use a no-cost checking account, order checks by mail, pay via Internet, or pay by phone if it is free.  Do whatever saves money.
--Try to use half or less of many things: Shampoo, soap, utilities, vehicle, water, clothing, detergent...
--If possible, increase insurance deductibles. Use the most cost effective insurance.
--Decrease or eliminate: Addictions, cable, costly hobbies, eating out, excessive entertaining, gift-giving, insurance, LD, magazines, newspapers, paid entertainment, paying for what you can do yourself, phone extras, transportation costs... Choose what fits your lifestyle.
--Remove LD and inside wire maintenance service from your home phone. Buy a cheap LD phone card. If you have a cell phone, use it for "free" LD.
--Guard your natural resources: Time, energy, and money for what is important.
--Repair, reduce use, restore, reuse, and recycle belongings.  Don't waste.
--Cloth napkins and rags save money.
--Home hair cuts save money.  If scissors are not effective, buy a kit.
--A small home can cost less. You decide what is small. It can cost less to clean and furnish, cost less to heat and cool, cost less to insure, cost less to maintain, and cost less for taxes.
--Avoid the urge to splurge. Purge: Live simpler and free of clutter.
--Clutter is a plague. Keep what you use, love, or is beautiful. Share. Donate. Have a yard sale or sell at a consignment shop or on eBay.
--Live as if you were moving the last day of the month. Expect to do, have, and spend less.
--Organize and consolidate. Store vertically; use tall furniture; label storage containers, hang hooks in unused spaces, install shelving, use over-the-door hangers...
--File a manual with receipt attached to a product if it's not a fire hazard.
Feeding a Family
 
--A Price Book is your homemade version of a purchasing agent's buying history. You are the purchasing agent. 
--Price Book: Create and keep it and a calculator in your handbag.  PriceBooks - Easy Tool for Saving Money 
--Create a printed shopping list for groceries and often used items.
--A clean kitchen encourages meal preparation instead of eating out. To save money, eating at home is wise, as well as brown bagging, unless your employer provides meal(s).
--Buy loss leaders, sale items in bulk, and in-season foods. Do not be brand loyal. Cherry pick stores’ loss leaders.
--Decrease grocery spending $1 to $5 weekly until you reach the amount to eat well and healthfully. Seek alternate ways to acquire food. 
--Stock a pantry with thrifty buys and you will not need a fast food drive-through: Pasta; rice; dried beans and peas; flour; corn meal; oatmeal; powdered milk; basic baking items; spices; eggs; condiments; meats; and canned and frozen veggies and fruits.  Freeze bulk yeast to maintain freshness. OrganizedHome.Com- clean house, cut clutter, get organized! - Content*  PantryBasic Supplies: Staples (standard supplies) - Home Cooking

--Chop and freeze assorted veggies on a tray. Store in freezer bags to use within 2 weeks.
--Buy loss leader meats in bulk, cook, and chop or slice. Freeze for recipes.
--Cook from scratch with a basic cookbook. Never waste food or beverages. Drink water. 
--Start a crock-pot early on busy days. 
--Organize dinners by day of the week: Soup, Poultry, Casserole, Fish, Roast with veggies, Mexican, Italian, Chinese, Stir Fry, Pizza. Choose your preferences.  One day could be crock pot and another George Foreman.
--Garden if it saves money.
--Planned-Over Meal Ideas: Cook once. Eat 2 to 4 meals. Chicken/Turkey: Patties, salad, divan, tetrazzini, or soup. Chili: Spoon over baked potatoes or top with cornbread batter to bake.  Chili beans: Soup or bean burritos. Ham: Omelet, quiche, sandwich, or casserole.  Hard-cooked eggs: Salads, sandwiches, or casseroles. Leftover anything: Tortilla wrap or quiche. Meatballs: Meat sauce or subs. Meat bits: Fried rice, soup, quiche, or casseroles.  Meat loaf: Beefaroni, SloppyJoes, or spaghetti. Pasta: Casserole, salad or soup. Rice: Casserole, salad, or soup. Roast beef: Soup, casserole, hot dip sandwich, open-faced sandwich with gravy, or cold sandwich. Stew: Lattice-top pie. Taco meat: Mix with rice and salsa. Tomato sauce, white sauce, and veggies: Soup or casserole. Tidbits: Stir into muffin batter, add to soup, meat loaf, or whatever your family likes. Be creative.
--Turn soup into casseroles by removing liquids. Turn casseroles into soups by adding liquids.
--Prepare: Brownies, cakes, candies, cookies, cupcakes, gelatins, ice cream cones, Kool Aid mix-powder with sweetener, pies, popcorn, popsicles, puddings, smoothies, yogurt. MakingYogurt Without a Yogurt Maker Recipe

--Meal Plan: During desperate times, use what you have on hand for one week or longer. Plan 7 days of meals (21 meals) and snacks. Include every slice of cheese, bread, pickle, and olive
.PreparingFoods & Planning Menus Using Dietary Guidelines 
--Serve stew instead of steak ...
--Backto the Basics Recipes - - KitchenMixes.com
 
--Serve desserts less often or not at all.
Clothes for My Summer Skin Tone and Personal Care

--Coordinate a wardrobe of summer navy, sage, and taupe/ivory/khaki colors. 
--Wear clothes in one color family: Coordinate taupe, ivory, and khaki, for example.
--Wear navy or taupe shoes and carry a navy or taupe handbag.
--Create a variety of outfits from 2 or 3 colors and 9 garments and accessories. 
--Rejuvenate clothes to change from casual to dress with accessories. 
--A navy jacket and a dress, skirt, pants, or walking shorts create an extensive wardrobe with a few tops, a string of pearls, a necklace, earrings, pins, and scarves.  Be imaginative and flexible.  Planning Your Travel Wardrobe This excellent site deals with everyday wear, too.
--With a simple tee shirt, wear a pretty scarf, chain necklace, or a string of pearls.
--Bulk buy under garments during sales.
--Exchange clothes with others. 
--Give each garment proper care.
--Shop the men's department for casual shoes, belts, shirts, tee shirts, pullovers, jackets...
--Sew clothing basics when they cannot be bought for less.
--Transform khaki pants to walking shorts when legs fray.
--Know sizes and preferences when you shop.
--Extend a sewing machine needle's life: Remove sewing machine threads. Run the machine's needle back and forth through finest sand paper.
--Buy cosmetics and health care products at stores such as Big Lots or dollar stores.
 
Health

--Eat healthfully, drink plenty of water daily, and exercise.
--Footcare: Rub on petroleum jelly and cover with socks at bedtime. Foliate with pumice stone.
--Take advantage of free health fair checkups when set up in public places.
--Doctor's appointment: (1) Print 2 alphabetical lists of drugs you take and why. (2) List discussion topics. (3) Say, “I want to discuss "X"number of topics.” (4) Give your doctor a copy.  Write his comments on your copy. It saves additional appointments. Know the staff’s names.
--Request samples, generics, and 90-day prescriptions. If possible, mail-order scripts.
--Floss. Brush your teeth and the back of your tongue daily. 
--Have regular dental checkups. Know the dentist's staff.
Saving Energy

--Weatherize your home.
--Use a George Foreman Grill, crock-pot, microwave oven, electric fry pan, electric steamer, toaster oven, or fill an oven with baking foods.
--In warm weather, plug a crockpot and/or veggie steamer outside. In cold weather, use appliances inside.
--Serve cold sandwiches and/or salad meals on warm days.
--In crock pot or oven, cook a chicken, a beef roast, meat loaf, pork roast, and/or a ham for lunches and planned meals and to freeze for future meals. Add scrubbed potatoes to bake around the meats for dinner or to make twice-baked potatoes, potato salad, potato casserole, or oven-fried potatoes. 
--Extra crock pot space? Cover meat and veggies with foil. Then add a layer of sweet potatoes or other root veggie for other meals.
--Double or triple cook regularly. Store in freezer containers for individual or full meals.
--One stove burner cooking ideas: Boil a pot of water for tea, pasta, and gelatin. Then, use water proportionately. Prepare pancake syrup to store in fridge. Next, prepare a white sauce for a soup base or casserole and then a pudding to store in fridge. Cook a chocolate sauce to top a cake warm from the oven. Saute veggies for a crock pot soup recipe. Brown ground meat, cool in fridge, measure to bag for recipes, and store in the freezer. Use your imagination.
--Bake quick breads and brownies in the oven together.  Next, bake yeast breads. As bread bakes, mix up cookies or slice rolls of freezer cookies to bake. 
--Prepare homemade biscuits, quick freeze on a tray, and then bag. Bake them frozen.
--Hand wash dishes in a small container, rinse, and then air dry.
--If it isn't being used, turn it off. Light only the room where you are at night.
--Do as much work as you can in daylight hours to avoid using extra lights at night.
--Outside lights: Do not use at night unless needed for safety.
--Water heater: Set at 125 degrees and take shorter showers.
--Don't over heat or over cool your home. 
--Brush return air vents before changing the heater/air-conditioner filter.
--Replace inside house filter and maintain outside air conditioning unit.
--Hot? Water-mist your body, wear lightweight clothes, apply ice packs, drink water, use a fan, cool off in a pool, or go to cool public places.
--Using fans and increasing the air conditioning temp decrease expenses.
--Cold? Layer short-sleeve tee, long-sleeve tee, hooded sweatshirt, and sweat pants. 
--Cold night? Set thethermostat so that heater will not come on. Adults can use an electric blanket.
Laundry

--Detergent: Use half or less as instructed and dissolve in hot water; add laundry to washer's cold water; soak; agitate on shortest washcycle. Hang to dry. 
Cleaning Your Home

--Do it yourself.
--HOUSEHOLDRECIPES

--Clean with baking soda, Bar Keeper's Friend, bleach, dish detergent, dishwasher powder, Goo Gone, Magic Eraser, Micro fibercloths, newspaper, Orange Glo wood cleaner, rags, rubbing alcohol, salt, silver cloth, and white vinegar -- OR -- limit yourself to white vinegar, baking soda, and salt, as well as a product to clean up after eating and for cleaning clothing
Household/Yard

--Learn new skills. Read owner's manuals and handyman books. Seek advice. 
--It’s your castle. Maintain it: Do your own cleaning, interior design, lawn care, painting, pest control, plumbing, pool care, repairing, restoring, sewing, tool restoration, weather stripping and caulking...
--Inventory your belongings: Photograph or videotape, write descriptions, list serial and model numbers, prices paid, and when and where purchased. Print several copies for family and/orfriends to file in labeled sealed envelopes, videos, and CDs.
--Duct tape, spray paint, a hot glue gun, needle and thread, or Velcro solve many problems.
--Plant perennials and grow flowers from seeds and plants from cuttings. Swap with others.
--At a home improvement store, purchase the "mother" of toilet snakes to blast toilet clog.
--Every couple of weeks, slowly pour a pot of simmering water into sinks and bath tub drains, not into a toilet.
--Orange Glo Wood Cleaner and Polish kills and controls many varieties of inside insects.
--Buy a bag of DE to sprinkle around perimeter of house for DIY pest control.
--Boiling water kills weeds in outside walkway cracks.
Fridge and Freezer

--Refrigerator's temp: 37 to 40 degrees F. Air should circulate around fridge foods.
--Clean and sanitize fridge to avoid bacteria.
--Inside the fridge, cover liquids to remove humidity.
--Organize the fridge to avoid playing find the pickles. 
--Place water or day’s beverage in an appropriate sized cooler rather than in fridge.
--Defrost foods in the fridge compartment for 24 hours to save energy.
--Freezer's temp: 0 to 5 degrees F. Pack tightly with 4 inches of upper space for circulation.
--Increase a freezer's capacity: Use cornered boxes and flattened freezer bags.
--Clean the condensing coils that dissipate hot air, or the compressor works harder.
Vehicle

--Take care of your vehicle. Read its manual. Maintain a journal. Do the maintenance you can. Wash, wax, and vacuum. Drive carefully. Map shortest route to destinations. For safety, obey laws and avoid fines. 
--Reputable shade tree mechanics save repair costs.
Pastimes and Entertainment

--Invest your time in enriching activities.
--Music, art, literature, theater, and nature are as important for the spirit as a healthful diet and doctor and dental exams.
--Public TV provides a gateway to the arts without cost.
--Local museums and zoos may offer free days. Often, art galleries are free.
--Attend free parades and firework displays.
--Visit bookstores at author reading/discussion/signing times.
--Houses of worship offer free concerts, dramas, musicals, and activities for all ages. Join a  worship or community choir, band, orchestra, or drama group.
--Borrow from/read at the public library and use Internet's free resources.
--Join a Bible study group or book club. Volunteer to be a docent at a museum or event.
--Record programs from TV to view later; listen to the radio, CDs, and cassettes...
--Swap videos, DVDs, CDs, cassettes, books, video games, board games, sports equipment...
--Be a good and kind family member, friend, and neighbor. Volunteer.
--Volunteering develops a network of information, assistance, and friends.
--Play board games and yard games. Walk. Sing. Dance. Exercise.
--Keep a list of free community activities. Enjoy public parks.
Gifts

--A gift closet, as well as gift wrappings, baskets, and boxes save time and money. 
--Know anniversary, wedding, Christmas, baby-due, graduation… dates.
--Log what you give and what you receive.
--Be creative: Assembly line gifts can be unique and desirable.
--Spray paint, a hot glue gun, needle and thread, gel pens, Velcro, papers, baskets, fabric and wood scraps, and odds and ends combine to create gifts.
--From a pretty yard sale garment, make nice one-of-a-kind gifts. 
--Arrange fresh flowers grown from a 99¢ pack of seeds in a yard-sale vase. 
--Bake a homemade treat.



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