Signs You're Being Frugal

Comments: 24

Kelly M. Mar 26, 2008, 1:33am EDT

No fast food wrappers or cups in the car!

Jessica N. Mar 26, 2008, 1:56am EDT

I agree with Kelly. That is a big one with us. Also needing less gas because of less shopping trips each week. We have 1 day we go shopping now.

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Eclectic Bird Mar 26, 2008, 2:30am EDT

The dumpster thing is what hit me :) I use to have so many fast food containers (they take up a ton of room especially the drinks) that I didn't always have room in our outside trash can! ~I know eating out = bad But now I'm looking for things to throw away to fill it up :)
Hmm..other signs...my freezer is almost empty b/c every week I've been eating out of the freezer instead of buying new stuff..does that count?

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Diane MacEachern Mar 26, 2008, 6:04am EDT

My daughter cleans out her closet and takes what she's not wearing to the thrift store. She either banks the money she makes or uses it to buy other worn but wearable clothes.

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Mary M. Mar 26, 2008, 6:19am EDT

The plastic bag thing applies to us, also we unplugged our extra freezer because we don't buy so much frozen, pre-packaged food.

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Dana H. Mar 26, 2008, 12:31pm EDT

Kelly: Fast food wrappers is a great one. I forgot all about always having to clean out empty pop bottles and wrappers from the car.

Jessica: I didn't even think about the gas. That is another great point.

Diane: That is wonderful you are teaching your daughter those habits early.

Mary: Wow - you're saving on the cost of electricity too. Not to mention not having to throw away food that is freezer burnt.

I never realized before what a cumulative effect being frugal can be.

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Marilyn M. Mar 27, 2008, 1:06pm EDT

A tank of gas lasts me more than 2 weeks, because the only time I use my car is when I have to - for shopping, bank trips.

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Marilyn M. Mar 27, 2008, 1:07pm EDT

We don't have as many of those pesky plastic bags around here either.

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Sammie B. Mar 29, 2008, 1:00pm EDT

Every week my parents go shopping and yet there's never anything new to eat in the house, just old stuff from the previous weeks. xD

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j - Frugal Mom - r. Mar 29, 2008, 3:10pm EDT

I too am out of plastic bags? It is either a sign that I am spending less money at the grocery store, or that we use to many garbage bags:)

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Borgie B . Mar 29, 2008, 3:11pm EDT

Your visit gather to try for the cash option in hopes of making 32 cents per hour of chatting about nothing

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Dana H. Mar 29, 2008, 3:33pm EDT

Alexia, that is too funny - but true!

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Kathryn M. Apr 15, 2008, 11:43am EDT

I am actually saving money in my savings instead of using it as a stash to come back to before payday.

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Digital Dogs Apr 19, 2008, 7:16pm EDT

I always refuse to take those plastic shopping bags, and now they're debating whether to charge .25 or .35 cents per plastic bag here in California. That thrilled me because so many people are SO wasteful! I always bring my own shopping bags when I do the grocery shopping and now I'm starting to do it when I go other kinds of stores too.

I reuse the plastic bags my newspaper comes in to pick up my dog's poop.

It's great to see that so many other people are beginning to actually think about what they do before they do it. It can only benefit our pockets and our planet.

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H M. Oct 27, 2008, 5:22pm EDT

lol i like this thread - it has been ages since I ate out - although we did order chinese food the other day - it used to be they knew my order from my phone number on the caller id - but there is new staff since i last called in - times have changed i guess!

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Trish A. Nov 18, 2008, 1:07am EST

Our food is lasting longer, we freeze what we don't eat in one meal or save it for lunch the next day.

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Robin G. Nov 19, 2008, 11:32am EST

When you start looking at coupons like they are money :)

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Robin G. Nov 19, 2008, 11:33am EST

Find yourself cooking everything from scratch... because it's cheaper. Better for you too.

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~*~ tinksmagic ~*~ ~ Jan 12, 2009, 12:46pm EST

We use the reusable green bags, so plastic is few and far between. We noticed that the grocery bill is lower when we buy fresh foods too!

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Amy Ostrander Jan 12, 2009, 1:21pm EST

I'm trying to be as frugal as possible lately. Making sure we eat leftovers, shopping with coupons, no more buying cleaners (we make them), etc....

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kathleen w. Mar 7, 2009, 9:48am EST

oh i love those plastic bags, when some one leaves a mess in a bowl( i love you honey but finish your darn dinner!) i put one over my hand and use it like a "glove" and unwrap and toss. I know we are getting frugal, since we will make a pot of spagetti sauce(i love you honey but your Italian mama spoiled you) make spagetti, then make another pot of something.....like this time we had spagetti for a few days and then i made up some ziti andebaked that up with the remainder it actually costs less per serving for the home made kind and its better for you(i added chopped fresh garlic, chopped fresh tomatoes and onion)
any way sorry about the novel heee heeee

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kathleen w. Mar 7, 2009, 9:51am EST

oh and to california thank you for reminding me! My plastic bags over floweth and i will be needing to start using my reuse bags again! I Use those a lot to for carrying stuff if i go to a potluck, library books etc...i used to use a plastic bag and then throw it away after a time or to. I really think that if we all started going by the waste not want not motto, not only would it save us money, but it would be better for the environment!
Even laundry detergent comapnies and others are using smaller packaging and toting it as green which it is ,, but it also saves them green on shipping and packaging! we would be wise to follow suit!

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