So, I think a lot of times un-frugal people look at us tightwads shopping at Goodwill, folding our aluminum foil and putting it back in the drawer and scrubbing our windows with vinegar and think we’re strange. And on top of that I think a lot of people don’t think we really save that much…after all buying windex doesn’t usually break the bank!
So here I made up a little example of how one might save a big chunk of cash in only one month by using some of those “little” tightwad strategies. I wanted to come up with accurate numbers, so I either used estimates of my personal experience or looked up prices. Obviously not everyone is going to save the same amount, you may have more people in your family or already be doing some of these, and prices vary in different places, but read on and if you’re already tightwad like me, maybe you can add an “Amen!” to this, and if you’re not, maybe you’ll convert.
The bold numbers are the savings. Where necessary I’m assuming that this is for just 2 people (think of the savings if you’re a big family!).
Buying Generic Brand Rather than Name Brand: $10
Reduced for quick sale meat = $3
Making a meal instead of going out to eat (say you spend $25 on a meal out and only $8 on making a meal) =$17
Renting from Redbox instead of going to the theater ($19 for 2 adults, $1.08 for Redbox, including tax) = $17.92
Playing a game rather than renting a movie (1.08 for movie, do this once a week or four times a month) = $4.32
Not buying a drink at a restaurant ($1.50 per person) =$ 3
Drying clothes on the line (72 cents a load, do this once a week, or 4 times a month) = $2.88
Borrowing a book from the library rather than buying it = $15
Using half as many paper towels (instead of using 2 rolls in a month, you use 1 at 1.30 a roll for the cheaper kind)= $1.30
Buying gas at cheaper station (3.41 or 3.54 and you buy 3o gallons – these were actual prices last week in Midland) = $3.90
Buying less soda (buy one less 12 pack)= $3
Using grocery bags as trash can liners (10 cents per bag, say you use 1 bag a day)= $3
Mowing own lawn instead of hiring someone= $20
Cutting men’s hair (1 cut for 1 man) = $15
Give yourself a manicure ($15 for a manicure at a salon, let’s say instead you spend $3 buying a new nail polish color) = $12
Buy 1 pair of pants at Goodwill instead of new ($20 for new pants, $5 at Goodwill) = $15
Cooking with beans in place of meat (88 cents for 1 bag of beans instead of 2.25 for 1 lb. hamburger meat = $1.37 savings per meal, do this once a week or four times a month) = $5.48
Make a gift for someone instead of buying one ( $15 store bought gift, $5 for supplies to make one) = $10
Total Savings: $161.80
Remember this is just for ONE month, and is not at all exclusive of all the ways to save, there’s lots others like planning your menu around sales, trading babysitting instead of hiring a sitter, reusing ziplocs ect…
