Being Frugal.net » Frugal Tips

Shop for Quality or Shop for Price? Why not Both?

Lynnae — Wed, 03 Mar 2010 11:00:21 +0000

Is it more frugal to buy quality items or to shop for the lowest price? That question frequently comes up in discussions about living frugally. There’s no doubt that quality is important. After all, it’s not very frugal to have to replace broken items frequently.

However, many people who are trying to live frugally are doing so because they have no extra money to spare. Price is important, and many people out there cannot afford top quality. Or can they?

Does it have to be a question of quality or price? Can you not try to have both?

Shop for Quality…at the Lowest Price

I stopped at our local Fred Meyer last week to pick up a few groceries. As I entered the store, I looked to my right and saw a HUGE clothing clearance sale! Everything was 70% off the lowest marked clearance price.

Of course I put off the grocery shopping to look around. The sale must have been going on for a while, because the pickin’s were slim. However, I found some Dockers pants in just my size, clearanced to $34. After the 70% off, I paid less than $11 for a pair of Dockers.

You can find quality at low prices. You just have to plan ahead. The pants I bought were cords, so I won’t be able to wear them much longer, as the weather warms up. But when the weather cools down in the fall, I’ll pull out my $11 Dockers, instead of paying $49 for new good quality pants that are in season, or paying $11 for a cheap pair of pants that will wear out in a few weeks.

Don’t Forget About Yard Sales and Craigslist

Years ago, when my youngest was a baby, I did a brief stint in the eBay business. I would go to yard sales and pick up high quality children’s clothing, priced under a dollar, and I’d resell them for several dollars a piece.

I frequently found high quality pieces of clothing for mere pennies! Last summer I found a whole summer wardrobe for my daughter at 50 cents per piece of clothing. Some of it was brand new. A grandmother was getting rid of it, because she had bought it for her grandchild, who didn’t like it.

Craigslist is another good place to look for high quality items at low prices. Often when people need money quickly, they will sell possessions on Craigslist. So if you’re looking for something in particular, you may find it on Craigslist for much less than you’d pay if you were to buy it brand new.

So it is possible to find high quality items at low prices. You just need to plan ahead and be patient enough to wait until you find the right deal.

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Using the Library for Frugal Fun

Lynnae — Mon, 22 Feb 2010 11:00:14 +0000

I’m in love with the library. There. I’ve admitted it. I remember when I was growing up, going to the library was a huge deal. I looked forward to picking out books that would transport me to different worlds. Today I still love walking up and down the aisles of books, taking in the smell and enjoying the quiet.

But even though libraries are known mostly for the books they contain, they are so much more. They are a place for community, for learning, for growing.

So what can you do at the library? Well, that’s going to vary from community to community, of course, but here’s a sampling from my local library system. Those of you with bigger libraries will find even more.

Take Your Kids to Library Story Time

When Stargirl, my daughter, was a toddler, I remember taking her to library story time every week. The kids would listen to stories and sing silly songs. I still fondly remember “Shake Your Sillies Out”, the song they sang every week before the story telling began.

After story time, the kids would complete a simple craft. It was a great first introduction to the library for kids. It was also a much needed break for this mom of a toddler. I was able to meet and talk with other moms of toddlers. Those of you moms out there know how important adult conversation is to a mom of a toddler!

Learn a New Language

Our local library offers Mango, an online system for learning conversational foreign language. I haven’t tried it yet, but I think it might be fun to experiment with learning different languages.

Even if your library doesn’t offer something like Mango, there are probably resources you can check out to help you learn a different language. I did a search for “Learn Spanish” in my library database and came up with 90 results. “Learn Japanese” didn’t come up with quite as many, but it did include some great resources, such as Instant Immersion Japanese. My kids are interested in learning a foreign language next year, so we’ll probably start with library resources, before investing in a potentially expensive curriculum.

Attend a Lecture

Who says you need to be a college student to attend a lecture? And lectures at libraries tend to be free of charge! At least that’s how it works at our library.

Upcoming lectures in Jackson County, Oregon include “Understanding Islam,” “Life in Pakistan,” “From Xerxes to Alexander: Ancient Greece in War and Peace,” and a whole series on the history of Southern Oregon. Though my son is a little young for these lectures, I can see us incorporating some of them into our little homeschool someday. I think the history of Southern Oregon series would be especially interesting.

Enjoy Art Displays

Bigger libraries often have art displays in the foyers. I always love going to the main branch of our library to see what’s on display for the month. Sometimes it’s art. Sometimes it’s a fun collection. The display changes frequently, and it’s fun to stop and get the kids’ opinions about the month’s offering.

Even if your library doesn’t offer much, think outside the box. Do you want to start a book club? Ask the librarian if there’s a place you can put up a notice or announcement. I’ve found that libraries are a place of community, and if you have an idea that would benefit the community, why not share it?

Do you enjoy going to your library? Have you used the library for something other than checking out books? Please share!

Photo by Stewart.

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Kyle’s Coupons: How To Keep Valentine’s Day Frugal

Lynnae — Thu, 11 Feb 2010 11:00:29 +0000

The following is a regular feature by Kyle of Rather-Be-Shopping. Be sure to check his site if you are in need of online coupons or codes!

I realize that many people are not big fans of Valentine’s Day and they think it is a made up holiday promoted heavily by retailers. That may be the case but that reasoning does not fly with my wife! Personally, I have no problem spoiling her on Valentine’s Day, even though I try (sometimes unsuccessfully) to show her that I love her all year long. But guys it does not have to break the bank. Here are a few Valentine’s Day gift giving tips that have worked for me in the past.

~ Fresh Flowers. My wife loves getting fresh cut flowers. I have had great success buying flowers at Costco. I typically pay around $20 for a dozen roses, which is pretty reasonable and much cheaper than our local nursery.

~ Jewelry. With the over-inflated price of gold, stay away if at all possible. Instead give sterling silver jewelry this year, your wallet will thank you.

~ Cards and Notes. Also, I have found that by doing something she does not expect really makes her day. If you are not the type of guy who gives notes or cards to your sweetheart, suck it up and give it a try. Almost any grocery store or drug store has the .99 cent cards. Express your love in writing and I guarantee you will have a great Valentine’s Day.

~ Eating Out. – If you can, avoid the crowd and go out for dinner the night before Valentine’s Day. You typically will have a much more relaxing dinner. Or save even more money and pack a picnic lunch and take her to your favorite park. I actually did this last year and it was great.

It is not always about the cost, but rather the thought that counts. Please give me some other ideas. Looking forward to your comments. In keeping with tradition, here are some coupon codes that may help you save even more money this year.

1-800-Flowers.com
Save 10% Off your Entire online purchase
Coupon Code: RATHERBESHOPPING
Expiration: 2/28/10
See All: 1-800 Flowers Coupons

Barnes & Noble.com
Save 10% off any 1 Item in your online order
Coupon Code: C3R3U4C
Expiration: 2/14/10
See All: Barnes & Noble Coupons

Diamond.com
Valentine’s Coupon – Save 25% off your online order + Free Shipping
Coupon Code: CVW25
Expiration: 2/14/10
See All: Diamond.com Coupons

Ice Jewelry.com
Valentine’s Coupon – Save 25% off your online order + Free FedEx Shipping
Coupon Code: SVW25
Expiration: 2/14/10
See All: Ice.com Coupons

J.Jill.com
Get 15% off your Full-Priced online order
Coupon Code: FEB15
Expiration: 2/15/10
See All: J.Jill Coupons

Martha Stewart Flowers.com
Get 15% off your Entire online purchase
Coupon Code: MARTHA47
Expiration: 2/28/10
See All: Martha Stewart Coupons

ProFlowers.com
Save 25% off your $29.99+ online purchase
Coupon Code: VDAY25
Expiration: 2/25/10
See All: ProFlowers Coupons

Ross-Simons.com
Get 25% Off your Entire online purchase + Free Delivery
Coupon Code: SAVE25
Expiration: 2/14/10
See All: Ross Simons Coupons

Photo by Crickontour.

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Of Recipes and Memories: A Frugal Gift Idea

Lynnae — Wed, 10 Feb 2010 11:00:16 +0000

February is a month of birthdays in my family, and I have gifts on the brain. Unfortunately, just a month and a half after Christmas, money is usually tight when all the birthdays hit.

I’m always on the lookout for frugal gift ideas, and yesterday a friend and regular reader, Angelsong, reminded me of a wonderful, inexpensive gift: A Personalized Recipe Book!

I received one such recipe book from my aunt a few years ago at Christmas. It is truly one of my treasured possessions, and I’ve included pictures of the recipe book throughout this post.

How to Make a Personalized Recipe Book

All you need to make a personalized recipe book is a binder, some page protectors, if you like, a stack of recipes, and some good anecdotes.

To put the recipe book together, just print up the recipes. Be sure to include any interesting facts or stories about the dish. “Grandma made this for a picnic lunch every summer” or “This apple pie recipe has been passed down for at least 5 generations.” Anecdotes like these transform a list of ingredients and directions into treasured memories to be passed down across generations.

Once you have the recipes printed out, slip them into page protectors or hole punch them and insert them into your binder, categorized by type of recipe. If your finished project is large, you might want to add tabs to separate the different sections of the recipe book.

Print out a cover for your recipe book, and insert it in the clear plastic sleeve on the front of the binder, and you’ve got a personalized, inexpensive gift, good for birthdays, Christmas, or bridal showers!

Why a Personalized Recipe Book Makes a Great Gift

My grandmother passed away about 10 years ago, and when my aunt sent me my grandma’s recipes for Christmas, it was almost like having a part of her back with me again.

I love trying the different recipes, but even more, I love the trip down memory lane. My aunt photocopied some of the original recipe cards onto cardstock to use as divider pages, so I have some of the recipes in my grandmother’s own handwriting.

Little notes from my aunt make the recipes meaningful. I now know what my grandma liked to prepare for company, what my grandpa’s favorite pie was, and how grandma used up extra mashed potatoes.

Since my aunt copied the recipes as written by my grandmother, some of them are incomplete, like the banket (sic) recipe that doesn’t state how long or at what temperature to bake it. And some of the directions don’t make since to me, like the butter cookies, which are to be baked at 300 degrees on brown paper, 10 down & up. I haven’t tried either of those recipes yet, but I smile when I see them on the paper, imagining life in previous generations, when recipes were memorized, and precise directions weren’t needed.

A personalized recipe book is more than a collection of recipes. It’s also a history book, reminding younger people of generations past.

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Are You Ready for the Superbowl?

Lynnae — Fri, 29 Jan 2010 19:31:20 +0000

I love the Superbowl! I like football, but I’m not the world’s biggest fan. None of my favorite teams made it to the Superbowl this year, but I’m still looking forward to game day. Why, you ask? Well, for the Superbowl party, of course!

This year my husband and I will be attending a party with his co-workers. They’re a great group of people, and we always have a fantastic time. But feeding a huge group of people can end up costing quite a bit.

There are a couple of ways to cut back on the costs. First, you can go potluck style. That’s what my husband and his coworkers do. Everyone brings a dish to share. This year I’m thinking about making Victory Veggie Pizza, a cold veggie pizza, crafted to look like a football field. It’s not a cheap recipe, but since I’m only bringing one dish, I might splurge a bit. The recipe is fun, and it’s always a hit.

The other way to save money on a pizza party is to serve inexpensive football food. You know, hotdogs, crackers, dip, and the like. At one of my favorite Superbowl parties, we had Coney Island Dogs. Cheap and yummy!

A Superbowl Party for Less and a Giveaway to Boot!

How can you throw a Superbowl party for under $50? Is it possible? It is, if you shop carefully. Currently Walmart is running a Gametime promotion, where you can get a lot of Superbowl snacks for under $50.

For $44 you can buy

One package of Oscar Meyer meat hot dogs (8 ct.)
One package of Johnsonville bratwursts (6 ct.)
Two packages of Great Value hot dog buns
Two bags of T.G.I. Friday’s frozen appetizers
One Hormel Supreme Party Tray
12” Chocolate Chunk Cookie
Two boxes of Nabisco Wheat Thins or Triscuit Crackers (8-10 oz. box)

That’s not too bad! Look for coupons to make it an even better deal! Have your friends bring some drinks, and you’re set!

What’s more, to celebrate Superbowl party time, I’m giving away a $50 Walmart gift card to one lucky reader!

To enter, leave a comment on this post, letting me know which team you’re rooting for: the Colts or the Saints (or none at all…you can be honest and tell me you just want the card). Don’t worry. I don’t have a dog in this fight, and I’ll be picking the winner, using a random number generator.

I’ll close comments at 12 noon PST on Tuesday, February 2, 2010. The gift card will be sent out via first class mail from Oregon, as soon as I get the winner’s address. Giveaway open to residents of the United States only.

I think that takes care of the technical details! So…who do you want to win?

Photo by Anderson_Mancini.

*Walmart provided me with two $50 Walmart gift cards for my participation in this program. I’m keeping one for my time & effort in writing this post, and I’m giving the other away.

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How to Lose Weight Without Spending a Lot of Money

Lynnae — Mon, 11 Jan 2010 11:00:18 +0000

One of the top New Years resolutions every year is losing weight. Fortunately for those of us who are trying to lose weight and get out of debt at the same time, you can lose weight without spending a lot of money.

Forget the expensive gym memberships. Forget the expensive exercise equipment. Those things are great, if you can afford them while still meeting your other financial goals. But if you don’t have a lot of extra money to spend, it is still possible to lose weight and get fit.

Losing weight comes down to two things: eating less and exercising more. I’m going to focus on the exercise portion of this equation, since that’s where people tend to think they need to spend money. If you need help with eating less, check out Spark People. It’s a free tool that helps you track your eating and exercise habits to help you lose weight.

But what about that exercise? What are some low cost options?

Lose Weight by Taking Up Running

For the cost of a pair of running shoes, you can lose a lot of weight by running. Several years ago my husband lost 50 lbs. by running and watching his food intake.

If you’re new to running, you can start out by alternating running and walking. You don’t even have to figure out the intervals yourself. Couch to 5K is a free program designed to get beginning runners off the couch and running 5 kilometers in 9 weeks.

On the site, there’s an option to buy the program, but there’s really no need. The schedule is free, and free podcasts are available to help you with your workout.

If you can’t handle the Couch to 5K training schedule, don’t worry. You don’t have to do the program in 9 weeks. Spread it out to 18 weeks, if you like. The important thing is that you’re up and moving.

Lose Weight With DVDs From Netflix

I know I talk about Netflix a lot, but I really use Netflix for everything…including my workouts! For years people have bought DVDs to help them lose weight in their own homes. The problem with that is eventually you get so sick of the DVD, you don’t want to work out anymore.

Netflix solves that problem in a couple of ways. First, when you request a DVD by mail, you can keep it as long as you like without incurring late fees. That means you can use a workout DVD until you get sick of it. Then just mail it back and get a new one. They carry a wide variety of fitness DVDs, so you’re sure to find something that appeals to you. Currently I’m enjoying Jillian Michaels’ 30 Day Shred.

The other way you can use Netflix to lose weight is with their instant streaming feature. You can stream workout DVDs straight to your computer (or your TV, if you have a Roku player). Not all workout DVDs are available for streaming, but there is enough of a variety that you can shake up your workout routine a lot.

Netflix memberships with unlimited instant streaming start at $8.99 a month. That’s a little more than I prefer to pay just to lose weight, but since I also use Netflix for homeschooling, streaming TV shows, and entertainment on the weekends, we get more than our money’s worth. And if you already have a Netflix membership, it’s not any extra out of your pocket.

Lose Weight with Resources From the Library

This is the least expensive way to get workout DVDs, because it’s free. If you have a great DVD or video section in your library, you can check out workout DVDs. If you’re taking up a new sport like running, you can also check out training guides.

The upside to using the library is that the resources are free. There is a downside, though. The things you want to check out may not always be available. And if you really enjoy a DVD, you don’t get to keep it as long as you like.

Also, if you live in a smaller town, your library options might be limited. If interlibrary loan is available at your library, you might be able to check out DVDs from different library systems. My library website states that borrowing audio-visual materials through interlibrary loan can be difficult. Before you use interlibrary loan, check on the fees. Some libraries offer interlibrary loan at no cost. Others charge to use the service. My library charges $5 per interlibrary loan search (even if they don’t find the item), so I never use it.

If you would like even more options for losing weight without spending a lot of money, check out your local parks and recreation department. Though not free, many communities offer low cost fitness classes. Paying for a class is less expensive than joining a gym.

Regardless of what you decide to do, if you work hard at eating less and exercising more, you will find that it is indeed possible to lose weight without spending a lot of money.

Photo by lu_lu.

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Do It Yourself Frugality

Lynnae — Thu, 24 Dec 2009 03:10:13 +0000

There’s a reason I haven’t posted more this week. For the last couple of days, I’ve been moving my websites over to a new host. There wasn’t really anything wrong with my old host, but it was more hosting than I need right now.

So as of now, Media Temple is my new webhost. What does that have to do with Do It Yourself Frugality, you ask? Let me tell you.

I don’t have a background in technology. Everything I’ve learned about managing a blog has come from asking a lot of questions and doing a lot of Google searches. So the thought of moving Being Frugal.net and Bump-Drafts.com (my husband’s blog) scared me. I almost decided to pay somebody else to move my site for me.

The more I thought about it, though, the more I didn’t want to pay someone. First of all, I’m frugal. Second, I wanted my sites moved soon, and there was no way anyone could do it for me before the holidays. I didn’t even want to ask. That would have been pretty unreasonable of me. So I decided to give it a try myself, figuring if I screwed up, I could pay someone to fix it.

So, I found some tutorials on the internet and got to work. When I hit a glitch, my friends were wonderful about giving advice and encouragement. (Thanks, Mrs. Micah, Larry, Mike, Patrick & Pete!) And Media Temple’s tech support was really helpful, too.

To make a long story short, I was able to get my sites moved. It probably took me at least twice as long as someone who knows what they’re doing, but I learned a lot in the process. I’m not scared of ssh anymore, and I know more about DNS than I ever wanted to.

The bottom line is, often it’s good to try things yourself, even if you aren’t sure you’re up to the task. It might take you longer than a professional, but you’ll save money and learn a lot along the way.

Have you ever tried to do something yourself, when you weren’t sure you’d be able to? How did it work out for you?

Photo by derekGavey.

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Tightwad Tuesday: Green Gift Wrapping Guide

Lynnae — Tue, 08 Dec 2009 11:00:24 +0000

This is a guest post from Mrs. Money who blogs about saving money and the environment at The Ultimate Money Blog. She blogs about saving money and the environment while living a frugal life. If you enjoy this post, please check out her blog!

Do you need some new ideas on inexpensive and green ways to wrap your Christmas gifts this year? Have no fear; I’ve got some great ideas on how you can save money and be green with your wrapping endeavors. Here’s some tips to get you started.

Unique Wrapping Paper

Old newspaper. You can use the comics section for a child’s gift. For the football fanatic, use the sports section.

Kraft brown shipping paper. I buy rolls of this at the dollar store for shipping purposes and it is amazing! You can use this to wrap your presents and leave it plain, or you can decorate it with rubber stamps or have your kids draw their own creations.

Brown paper grocery bags. Remember when you used them to cover your books in school? Use them to cover small boxes, and then decorate!

Leftover wallpaper. I know when I go to the thrift store, there’s normally some rolls of rejected wallpaper waiting for someone to snag. Hopefully you’ll find a fun and funky print!

Old maps. It would be really cute to highlight the route if your gift was tickets for a trip!

Reusable Wrapping Paper

Holiday Fabric bags. Around Christmas time, holiday fabric goes on sale. If you can get some at a good price, you can cut the fabric to fit the boxes, and then secure it with tape, safety pins, or even sew it shut. Then you can reuse it next year!

Towels. Wrap your towels around the gift, tie with a ribbon or string, and now you’ve got more than one gift! This would be a great idea for newlyweds.

Old pillowcases. These should be a good size to put flat, long boxes in. You can secure the end with some ribbon and make it look cute! Or, if you’re really crafty, you can make it look like a candy roll by securing both sides and putting the present in the middle.

Old T-shirts. You can sew up the bottom, put your present through the neck, and then secure with a ribbon at the top.

Cloth grocery bags. Last year I used many of these for putting different small gifts in for my aunts. They loved it because there was no wrapping, and now they had a cloth grocery bag out of the deal.

Receiving blankets. Baby gifts would be so cute wrapped in a flannel receiving blanket.

Hopefully I’ve given you a few ideas that may help you save time and money wrapping your holiday presents this year. Go green!

What’s your favorite unique way to wrap a present?

Do you have a frugal tip? Write a post, linking back to Being Frugal.net. Then sign MckLinky, so others can find your post!

Photo by Marco Arment.

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Tightwad Tuesday: Make Your Turkey Stretch

Lynnae — Tue, 24 Nov 2009 11:00:56 +0000

Can you believe Thanksgiving is two days away? Neither can I! This year has just flown by. My mom always used to tell me that time seems to move faster as you get older. I guess she was right!

Since many of you will be dealing with Thanksgiving leftovers after Thursday, I thought a great Tightwad Tuesday tip would be different ways to use up your turkey leftovers. Anytime you can make a meal stretch into 2, 3, or more meals, you save money.

So what can you do with leftover turkey? Lots!

First let’s make sure we don’t let the turkey carcass go to waste. You can boil it and make broth to use in place of chicken broth. Alternatively, you can make turkey soup. My favorite recipe is a creamy turkey soup.

Now that we’ve taken care of the bones, what can you do with the turkey meat? Here are a few recipes to get you started.

We usually eat some of the leftovers in the form of sandwiches, make a few turkey dishes, and chop the rest of the turkey up and freeze it. Then we use the chopped turkey in place of chicken in chicken dishes.

How do you use up your leftover turkey? If you have a recipe on your blog, feel free to leave a link.

If you have a frugal tip (or recipe), write a post, linking back to Being Frugal.net. Then sign MckLinky, so others can find your post.

Photo by brdavids.

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Christmas Presents for the Frugal Person in Your Life

Lynnae — Mon, 23 Nov 2009 11:00:03 +0000

Well, the busiest shopping week of the year is upon us. On Friday, millions of people will brave the crowds in the wee hours of the morning, just to score a deal on Christmas gifts.

Me? I’ll probably be shopping in front of the computer in my PJs, having stuff delivered directly to my home, so I can avoid the traffic and the crowds of the Christmas season.

Regardless of how you shop, it is the season to start thinking Christmas gifts. And I thought it might be fun to look at a few gifts that could enhance a frugal lifestyle.

Kitchen Gifts for the Frugal

A Crockpot. We all know that the truly frugal don’t like to spend money on eating out. But for those of us with school aged kids, sometimes afternoon activities make it difficult to find time to cook. For those people, a crockpot is a great gift! I use mine all the time. In fact, I use it so much that the handle fell off the lid. I’m too cheap to buy a new one though.

A Bread Machine. Last week I baked all my own bread. My bread machine has been a lifesaver. I used to do all the kneading in my kitchenaid mixer, but now that I’m homeschooling, I don’t have time to mix, let rise, punch down, and let rise again. I just let the bread machine do it all for me. And we have eaten fabulous, whole wheat bread with no preservatives or corn syrup every day.

Frugal Entertainment Gifts

Netflix/Roku. My favorite frugal discovery in the entertainment realm has been a Netflix membership and a Roku box. For $13.99 a month, I get 2 DVDs in the mail at a time, and the number of DVDs per month is unlimited. I can also watch an unlimited number of direct stream movies a month.

This is a perfect gift for the homeschooling family, as I have used Netflix a ton in conjunction with homeschooling. I also use Netflix for favorite movies, television series, and workout DVDs. The Roku box comes in handy for direct streaming to your television. If you have a laptop that connects to your television, though, you don’t even need the Roku box.

Frugal Gifts for the Home

A Programmable Thermostat. We don’t have one yet, but I would love a programmable thermostat! I’m pretty good about remembering to turn down the heat at night, but I would love to set the thermostat to warm up the house a bit before I get out of bed. Call me crazy, but I’d love a programmable thermostat for Christmas.

A Down Comforter. Down comforters go a long way toward keeping you toasty warm on cold winter nights, so you can keep your thermostat lower at night. Properly cared for, they last a long time, too.

Frugal Gifts for the Kids

The Money Savvy Pig. I love this piggy bank. Each of my kids have one. It’s a fairly good sized piggy bank with four chambers: give, save, spend, and invest. From an early age, you can teach your kids to budget their allowances, so they meet their financial goals!

The Game of Life. We rediscovered this game a couple of months ago. It’s not always completely true to life, but playing the game with your kids can spark some good, and important, discussions on topics like debt, choosing to go to college, the cost of having children, and more.

A Frugal Gift for Yourself

YNAB Pro/YNAB 3. If you’ve never kept a budget before, why not make 2010 the year to start? YNAB is a great budget tracking system for beginners, and it works well for budgeting veterans, too. I bought it as an after-Christmas gift for myself a couple of years ago, and I’m glad I did. It really made tracking my budget easier than tracking with Quicken, which is what I was using before YNAB.

Those are my gift suggestions for the frugal person in your life. Do you have anything to add?

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