Dawn over at Frugal for Life started this meme Septemeber 27th. I’m a little late, but hey, better late than never!
It was surprisingly difficult to think of 25 items. I think it is because certain little tips and tricks of frugality become so ingrained that you forget about them! I wrote this list without reading everyone elses. After I completed it I went back and read the others, and of course I found tons of things that made me say “hey! I do that!” that I hadn’t included.
In the interest of being truthful, I think that tomorrow I’ll do a list of 25 things that I do that AREN’T frugal. After all, I can’t have you all think I’m the frugal version of a Stepford Wife.
Here’s the list!
1. I cook from scratch
2. I have a pricebook although. . . .
3. Usually I just shop at Aldi’s or Save a Lot because their prices are consistently lower.
4. I buy most of my and the kids clothing at the thrift store.
5. I make my own laundry detergent. Really.
6. I keep a gift box with miscellaneous kids birthday gifts that I have gotten on sale. I can usually handle a birthday party for less than $10
7. I keep a greeting card box of cards bought at $.50 or less each-saves time and money!
8. I use my local library ALL THE TIME. Even with the, uh, occasional overdue fee, it is still tons cheaper than buying the books and renting the videos!
9. I try to consciously limit recreational shopping.
10. I pack Princess’s lunch.
11. I have a veggie garden. It fed us plenty of veggies this summer, and we have quite a few packages of green beans, chard and new zealand spinach.
12. I’ve only bought 2 boxes of dryer sheets in the last 3 years (at dh’s insistence) I usually use little sponges soaked in liquid fabric softener and water. (and I’ve only bought 2 bottles of liquid fabric softener in that time.
13. DH and I don’t exchange more than token gifts for our Anniversary, Valentines Day, Mother’s Day or Father’s day.
14. We don’t buy much for the kids for Christmas or birthdays. By the time they get done being spoiled by their Grandparents and 5 sets of Aunts and Uncles there really isn’t any need!
15. We use scrap paper (ie already printed on in one side and ready for recycling) from DH’s work for all of our regular printing needs.
16. I buy my spices etc in bulk from the Mennonite food store.
17. I buy my rice, lentils, beans etc at a discount from an Asian grocery store.
18. I research major purchases online before buying to make sure #1 it is what we really want and #2 that we are getting the best deal.
19. I use a free Yahoo email account.
20. I try to repurpose or reuse things as much as possible instead of buying something new. As an example: using cut down cardboard boxes as drawer organizers, reusing old milk jugs to store lentils, reusing parmesean cheese containers to hold bulk bought salt, cornstarch, soy flour etc.
21. Try to drive into town as few times as possible during the week. Although my local village has a little bit of everything, the major chain stores are 30 minutes away. I frequently have the urge to run to Wally World etc just to pick up a few things. With the cost of gas (and the value of my time) I frequently talk myself out of it and try to combine errands and trips with times that I already have to be in town, like for my MOPS meetings, doctors appointments, etc.
22. I make a pot of coffee in the mornings and send DH out the door with a travel mug rather than have him buy coffee at the gas station. Similarly, I buy Diet Pepsi at the grocery store, on sale if possible, and then send it in to work with him to avoid visits to the vending machine on the days he’s in the office. Now if I could just get him to take a lunch more frequently . . . .
23. Tell the kids “no” when they want candy or toys while we are shopping. Actually, this is one of those things where the primary purpose is not to save money, it’s just a side effect. We believe that it is important for kids to know that they can’t have everything that they ask for. And too much candy just isn’t good for them anyhow 
24. Use email instead of phone calls to ask family and friends quick questions.
25. Write this blog. Knowing that I have people that are reading about what I am doing helps keep me on the straight and narrow. It also encourages me to try new things sometimes so I can tell folks about it.
{ 8 comments… read them below or add one }
Thanks for participating, your link is posted
I need to do more of 17 (I buy my rice, lentils, beans etc at a discount from an Asian grocery store.)
If you don’t mind I would like to add my own “25 Things” to my blog. I’ll be sure to give you credit
BTW I read your blog daily, it is really an inspiration.
The parmesan cheese container! I hadn’t thought of that. I have just started using Borax for toilet cleaning, and for the life of me couldn’t figure out a reusable container. Ah, thank you!
I was wondering if you could correct the link back to http://frugalforlife.com/25-ways-i-save-money/ as that would be very helpful. Thanks!
You’ve inspired me to write my own list. Thanks!
You are a frugal queen!
I do a lot of that, but I am a bit scared of the Asian stores now. There have been so many recalls and so little oversight that I have had to throw frugality out of the window in favor of american grown. We have a lot of our own problems, but heavy metals is not something i want to feed my family. My garden is going to be huge this year, can’t wait for it.
Micki-I can understand your concerns. I just buy the rice, and the other items I buy there are also avail at the big grocery chains, just for more $$
I too am looking forward to a big garden. Yay!