No, this is not a huge list post. My friends at Wise Bread have written a book by this title! They sent me a copy for review, and I have to say I love the book! And I have one to give away, too, so keep reading!
10,001 Ways to Live Large on a Small Budget is a comprehensive resource of money saving ideas. The authors split their tips into two sections: Frugal Living and Personal Finance.
The Frugal Living section covers topics like:
- 10 Frugal Ways to Care for Your Allergies
- 10 Ways to Go Green and Save Money at the Same Time
- 55 Ways I Saved Time and Money Planning My Wedding
- 5 Ways to Trim Haircut Costs for Kids
- 13 Free Ways to Wrap Your Gifts With Style
The Personal Finance section includes topics such as:
- What Credit Counselors Do and How to Pick One
- 10 Easy Ways to Find Money for Charity
- 6 Tips for Following a Budget Without Breaking Down in Tears
- 6 Horrible Financial Products You Should Avoid
- 10 Dirty Secrets Credit Card Companies Don’t Want You to Know
And the list goes on…and on and on! (But that’s a good thing!)
At the end of the book, there’s a list of 142 resources that will save you cash. (There’s a list on the Wise Bread website, as well.) Each resource has a short description, so you know what it is, before you expend the energy to look up the website. Being Frugal.net is even listed in the resource section under the Elevenmoms! It’s a small thing, but it’s pretty exciting to be listed among the other great resources.
And I have to mention the authors of 10,001 Ways to Live Large on a Small Budget. There are too many to list them all, but the authors include many familiar names in the personal finance blogosphere: Leo Babauta, J.D. Roth, Trent Hamm, Silicon Valley Blogger, Xin Lu, Linsey Knerl, and many more. I’ve had the opportunity to work with several of the authors on various projects, and I have a great deal of respect for the amount of knowledge they have on frugal living and personal finance.
I love the way 10,001 Ways to Live Large on a Small Budget is laid out! If you wanted to, you could read it straight through. But if you’re looking for specific information, it’s easy to find. I have a feeling 10,001 Ways to Live Large on a Small Budget will become a staple on the frugal bookshelf.
The Giveaway
If you’d like a copy of 10,001 Ways to Live Large on a Small Budget, you have a chance to win one right here! Just leave a comment with a frugal tip. I’ll close comments next Wednesday, May 27 at noon PST and draw a winner, using a random number generator.
Please only one comment per person, as duplicate comments will be deleted. The winner will have one week from the time I contact them to get back to me with their mailing info. If no contact information is received, I’ll draw a new winner. The book will be shipped directly from the Wise Bread people, so I will have to pass your contact information on to them for shipping.
I think that about covers it! I can’t wait to hear your tips!
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My best frugal tip is when money is tight DONT’T SPEND!
We tend to spend even when we don’t have the money to. Just STOP!
Enter me in the contest for the book!
Jennifer Sikora’s last blog post..My Famous Chicken Scampi
Sounds like a good read– I hope I win it!
DDFD at DivorcedDadFrugalDad.com’s last blog post..Words of Wisdom: Thomas Jefferson on Government
My tip: don’t buy your kids new clothes!
Jessica’s last blog post..Well, &@%$!
My tip is get a programmable thermostat. It will help to save money on those energy bills.
My frugal tip is when you hear about a book like this that you want to read, request it from your library to read it free (like I did yesterday) and decide if you want to purchase it. But then, if there’s a cool giveaway for the book, quickly enter it because owning a free book is even better than just getting to read it! :)
Learn to do simple sewing repairs- like sewing a button, hemming clothing, stitching a ripped seam-can really stretch your clothing budget. (I’m always amazed at the people who don’t know how to do these things.)
My frugal tip would be anytime you think you “need” something decide if that is really a want or a need. Then if you must have it try to find it used or find the best price on new. I have learned here that there is a great kids consignment sale twice a year (spring and fall). I love that not only can I consign the things my kids are done with, but I can then get them used items for a fraction of the price new (but look new). It is a win-win!
My Tip: Do not buy a new car during college – ride a bicycle or drive a used car.
Thanks,
Nate
Nate @ Debt-free Scholar’s last blog post..Book Review: A Heavenly College Education on an Earthly Budget
A tip from me: try to wish list things instead of buying them right away – takes some of the impulse buying out of my life!
Juliana’s last blog post..School Memories Papers & Brag Book now available!
My frugal tip is plan ahead, esp. for a new baby and use Freecycle. I’ve gotten almost 80% of the things I needed for my son free. I also freecycle items that we just don’t use or baby shoes my friend insists on buying.
Zoie’s last blog post..A visit from big brother
I save the liners from boxed cereals. They are good for marinating meat in, lining cookie sheets for freezing cookie dough and even for short term freezer storage of bread and vegetables.
Gosh. I don’t think I have anything new or original to mention. I do love rotisserie chicken and the ones in the store are small and full of their seasons and no telling what else. I buy a roasting chicken and cook it in a crock pot. I put foil balls down to keep the chicken off the bottom of the pot and out of its juices. It turns our marvelous everytime. Just a note that when you use your seasonings on it to go light. They are greatly enhanced by this method and could end up being too strong.
Coco’s last blog post..GOOD NEWS….BACON IS GOOD FOR YOU
I make a giant list of all the things I “want”. No censoring happens when I make the list.
But then I look at how ridiculously greedy and expensive it would be if I bought all of it, and I usually can’t decide which ones I *really* want, so I end up not spending anything!
Since it is that time of year, my frugal tip is to grow your own vegetables, or even have a few herbs in pots on the window sill. It is fun, organic, and a great way to add to your meal planning all summer long.
Dawn’s last blog post..Easy Chunky Chickpea and Pasta Soup
Buy regular Olive Oil for cooking. Extra Virgin Olive Oil is for tasting.
I put a pitcher under the water when it is running to get hot and use that to water the container plants on the patio. I also fill a pitcher with water left in glasses when the ice melts or water the kids did not drink, instead of pouring it down the sink.
Southern’s last blog post..Comparing Gym Prices
Prepare a monthly budget and stick to it!
Share magazine subscriptions with your friends.
The best way to DOUBLE your money is fold it in half and put it back in your wallet!
You know the butt ends of the loaf of bread that no one likes to eat, get a ziploc bag and put it in the freezer. When full make homemade stuffing. I love learning how to be frugal and budgeting. All new to me.
Repurpose old picture frames that don’t match your decor anymore with alittle spray paint. Spray paint is pretty cheap and goes along way and is cheaper then buying new frames every time you paint a room or redecorate one. That is my frugal tip. Plus picture frames can almost always be found cheap at yard sales, goodwill and thrift stores.
I try to combine coupons with sale items to stretch our grocery budget.
I could so use this book, I am always looking for new ways to save money and the enviroment.
A good tip is to invest in a package of either wooden or plastic clothes pins. Instead of wasting the paper of a “post it note”, I use the clothes pins and attach a piece of scratch paper with my “forget me not” note on it and I never waste the paper of a expensive store bought post it note!
My best frugal tip is EAT LEFTOVERS! Some things are even better as leftovers. (Now the next trick is convincing the boyfriend of that!)
Laura’s last blog post..This Makes Me Sad
Allow yourself a little “splurge” money in your budget. Even it if is only $10 a month, it will keep you from feeling like you never get to have any fun! It will also make you think twice about your splurges (Starbucks, McDonalds, books, etc) if you know you only get a certain amount of money for the month!
Also, your splurge money goes further at garage sales then at the mall!
Lisa at Saving Money Living Better’s last blog post..Free Download: Larry Burkett’s Money Matters
I am planning a wedding so my frugal tip is to do everything yourselves to save money though the trade-off is more of your time! We’re doing our own invitations, programs, dress (my mom’s making mine!), flowers, centerpieces, etc., and we’re doing away with a lot of the excessive-ness of weddings (no huge bouquets, aisle runner, huge flower bouquets).
I use newspapers to make homemade pots for stating seeds.
The most important point of how to live frugily is to adjust your mindset! So much of our behavior is governed by advertisements and pressures from our culture. Living frugily comes from within, knowing what we need rather than what we want.
I find just putting a space of time between the desire to have and the actual purchase helps me to live frugily. It gives me an opportunity to assess questions like: do I need this, is this a good price, is the quality good, can I obtain this any other way, etc. Again, it has to do with your mindset – avoiding impulses.
Eat at home!
This is going to sound painfully obvious – but we know people who don’t do it: save and eat your leftovers. Honestly, I know a family who always tossed the leftovers – claimed that the kids wouldn’t eat them. Well, of course they won’t, if you don’t serve them and eat them yourself. ;o)
trek’s last blog post..In which trek is reminded
Ohh, awesome giveaway, it sounds like an excellent book!
I’d suggest that if you are looking to buy something and don’t mind it being used check Craigslist in your area. I’ve found quite a bit if quality stuff there and generally people even let you haggle a bit on the price.
Mark Roberts’s last blog post..How to Resolve a Conflict With Your Significant Other [RePost]
I use the plastic bags that the newspaper comes in to put dirty diapers in before I throw them away that way the do not stink up the diaper pail. This sounds like a great book.
One of my favorite tricks is to add a little bit of baking soda to my shampoo when I’m washing my hair. I put a bit of baking soda in my hand, add the shampoo, swirl it a bit with my finger, and wash my hair as normal. It really cuts through the dirt and grim and leaves my hair really feeling clean– even when using inexpensive shampoos!
Melissa’s last blog post..My Big Ladies Weekend Away
Always check ebay for items you need, you can really find some good deals! But watch it not ALL items are good deals!
Instead of renting a DJ for a wedding use an Ipod or MP3 player. You can create your own playlists on an Ipod. If you don’t have one, you can try to find a used one or maybe even buy a new once, since you didn’t pay a DJ. Or maybe you could borrow an Ipod or MP3. Load it with all of your favorite music that you already have, check out CD’s from the library or borrow from friends. Ask a younger cousin to run it for you (it could be their gift to you). You will need to have equipment to play it on, so you might have to rent that, or maybe you can borrow it too? I suggested this to a friend last year and they went with a DJ, and she wishes she had used my idea. If you already own an Ipod or MP3 player then you’re halfway to a DIY wedding reception on the cheaper!
combine leftovers with salad greens and other random items in the fridge to turn them in to 2 or 3 meals!
One idea I use to stretch ground beef and make it healthier is to add TVP (textured vegetable protein) found in the health food shelf of most supermarkets and grocery stores. It adds protein and reduces the ammount of fat in the recipe.
I hope I get the book, I love learning newe ways to being frugal.
Well, you had me at the 10 ways to take care of your allergies. :) With 6 of us, and 5 of us with allergies, spring and summer get expensive.
I’d love to win the book. I’m sure that wouldn’t be the only beneficial advice. Hope I win!
Lalycairn (at) gmail.com
When shredding paper only rip off the part with confidential info to shred and use the rest of the paper for scraps or recycle. Our recycle won’t take shredded paper and I always have no cost scraps for grocery lists, etc.
Also, read Being Frugal and other blogs to curb the spending habits.
I’d love this book! My tip is to save all your veggie peelings in the freezer until you have enough to put together a veggie stock.
Don’t collect anything…ex. spoons, figurines/etc. it all costs money plus you have to have a place to display them & then you have to dust. If you are able to do this, you’ll save money & time (by not shopping & by not having to dust it all).
I wish I could turn back the clock of time & set up my house differently.
Another tip is drink more water (cold or hot as tea)…if you are unable to eliminiate other types of beverages, at least cut back on soda & beer (I don’t drink that) expenses by consuming less…you’ll be healthier, as well.
please enter me, thanks!
My tip would be to find and follow blogs that match sales and coupons for stores in your area. I had stopped shopping at a local store becaue their prices were too high, but now that I have found a regional blog that lists the sales/coupons matches, I have saved a lot of money by shopping there. I wouldn’t have put the time into trying to match everything myself, so this has been quite a blessing. Thanks for a great blog yourself! I learn a lot from you.
Carolyn’s last blog post..It’s Okay
My tip is to cook from scratch, elimating lots of prepackaged food and eating out at restaurants. This has helped us tremendously since my husband’s been laid off since November.
Thanks,
Kimberly in NC
Frugal tip: The library is a GREAT resource. I rarely buy books, DVDs, music, etc. Instead, I borrow from the library. If I absolutely love an item, I may buy it later, but many times I just want to read/listen to/watch it one time.
Check whether your local library offers free movie rentals. The past two cities we’ve lived in have this with a great selection of movies. As soon as a movie I want to see comes out on DVD, I request a hold on it. It’s like Netflix but free!
This book sounds great!
Make your own bread and buy the bread flour at Sams. You can get a 25 lb. bag for about $8 vs. 5 lbs for $3. Per pound, it is almost half price.
My frugal tip is to use homemade cleaners. Also, couponing has really helped me at the grocery store. Lastly, just keeping a budget has made me more frugal because I actually see where every penny is going.
Ride your bike as often as you can for errands and commuting. Invest in a warm cycling jacket and a rack or panniers to carry stuff and you’re good to go (assuming you already have a bike and helmet). You will save gas, enjoy the outdoors, feel better, and be able to dump the health-club membership (if you had one to begin with).
Liana’s last blog post..Friends, Romans, Countrymen…
Cloth diapers, all the way! It is the most frugal tip for baby. Well, and breastfeeding.
Kelly’s last blog post..I Miss…