Friday's Frugal Roundup

Often, being frugal is more about what you don't spend money on, rather than what you do.

Some examples from my own life:

I don't have an appointment every eight weeks with a hair salon. I get my hair cut about every six months or more. I don't color or highlight my hair. During a time of extreme frugality I let it grow for over four years, relying on free trims from myself, my husband and children to get through. Last fall I got a perm to help me get through the "ugly" stages of growing out layers. I don't spend very much money on my hair. To my eyes, natural hair is more attractive. We've been pretty well brainwashed to believe that light colored hair is more beautiful, or that having a new color or style every few months is necessary. Hogwash! Natural hair that is healthy and silky to the touch, that swishes with head movement is the prettiest to me. And when my hair began to go white at the temples I named them my racing stripes! A frugal person has to have a good sense of humor.

I don't get manicures and/or pedicures, other than the ones I give myself.

To my eyes, natural is best. And, of course, it is the easiest and cheapest to keep up. Nail polish is pretty for special occasions, but a woman or girl with chipped nail polish and scraggly nails is not impressive. Want strong nails? Take an Omega 3-6-9 supplement each day! It's great for both skin and nails.

I don't follow clothing fads or fashions. I'm either ahead of or behind the times. But who cares. Most of us are not photographed as the current "It" girl. Most of us are just anonymous women living normal lives. Looking good is more a matter of cleanliness, good fit, (mended, no drooping hems or missing buttons) and appropriate colors. That doesn't need to break the bank or keep us in debt.

I don't have a smart phone. I use a five year old Tracphone flip phone to call and text my family.  I spend maybe $100 per year. Using a non-smart phone takes planning ahead, but that's what we did in the "olden days" so I'm used to it.

We don't pay for cable, satellite or dish TV.  In fact, we haven't watched television for over twenty-five years. I'm sure we haven't missed much of value.

I do my best to adhere to the pioneer adage "Use it up, wear it out, make it do or do without" which invites and encourages creativity in using what we have, whether food ingredients or crafting supplies to make what is needed or wanted.

Another virtue of a frugal person that I've developed is Patience. Waiting for the perfect deal, the right piece of furniture on Craig's List, the best sale on canned goods, or whatever it is. Sometimes when we're patient, the "need" goes away by itself, or rather because circumstances change and it wasn't such a pressing need after all. Or if we put the word out we find that someone else is wanting to get rid of the very thing we want! Or maybe it comes for a birthday present or other gift occasion. Frugal people are patient! And we work out creative alternatives in the meantime.

How were you frugal this week?

Friday's Frugal Roundup

I’ve been keeping track of my frugal accomplishments, or the things I’ve done this week (actually the past two weeks) to spend less, not spend at all, or otherwise save money. In no particular order here goes.

Gave TopDad a haircut

Fixed a pair of reading glasses (the arm had fallen off and the hinge was tricky!)

Turned down the heat

Found three future birthday presents at the thrift store (can’t show or tell because the recipients read the blog)

Ground wheat, baked five loaves of bread and made a quadruple batch of cookies.

Froze six bananas that were overripe to use in smoothies

Ate out only once! (TopDad likes to eat out more than I do)

Used up all the leftovers, didn’t waste any food

On sunny days opened all the blinds and curtains to let the sun warm the house

Turned the laundry detergent bottle upside down to drain the last of it, then rinsed it out to get the very last of it for another load; did the same with the dishwashing soap (or detergent)

Some frugal things are so habitual for me that I don’t even think about them, such as measuring dish detergent instead of simply squirting it in the sink; or squeezing the toothpaste tube for a week past when I think it is all gone, then cutting it open and using the very last dregs; drinking tap water instead of bottled; using a silicone spatula to get all the food out of a pan, bowl or container; turning off lights when I leave a room.

I like to read what other people do because there is always some new trick to learn. 

What did you do to save money this week?

Lessons from Pain

Have you ever grown your hair out? You know, from short layers to long all one length. It's a painful process of ugly, bad hair days and VERY bad hair days. I'm attempting it right now and the process tries my patience. I'm tempted to trim it or cut it to make it easier, but cutting hair doesn't help it grow faster or longer. I just have to go through the ugly stages, using bobby pins, gel and hairspray (otherwise known as glue) to get to the desired length. It's an emotionally painful process. Just ask my husband.

So what's the lesson here? Getting out of debt is sort of like growing out your hair. There will be bad days of making do, and very bad days of doing without, but you can't spend your way out of debt. You just have to go through (not around) the pain to get to the other side. But the other side is wonderful.

It's Just Fine

Tomorrow is the first day of school here in Audubon, Iowa (where did the summer go?) so I gave Dr. Hair and Dandylion haircuts trims. Not my best this time (I'm so erratic), but decent enough. In our family we have a code phrase "It's just fine," which means it will do until something better comes along, or I could have done better than that.

I told Dr. Hair to use his own money for a "professional" haircut if he wasn't satisfied with my work; he liked that idea. Dandylion's hair is the slowest growing hair I've ever seen. He can go three or four months between trims.

I've been puttering around doing a little here and a little there, but not really completing anything. I need a block of time and some space to do some big projects.

Yesterday I had the boys work in the kitchen next door cleaning the cabinets, which involved taking out the old shelf paper and edge trim, along with thumb tacks and cup hooks, then vacuuming out all the debris. Today we scrubbed and washed the cabinets. I think we got the first layer of dirt off; they still look dingy to me (I hate other people's dirt) so I'll have to do them again. I also scrubbed out the second closet in the master bedroom so it's ready to paint. I'm not sure what was on the walls of the closet, it seemed like some kind of mildew; it was easy to clean off and I'm hoping the KILZ I paint on will keep it at bay. The bright white sure is fresh and nice.