cutting back

18 Times in Life When Less Is More

Dr Penny Pincher — Thu, 23 Feb 2017 10:00:19 +0000

For people immersed in our consumer culture, it may be hard to imagine, but more of something isn't always better. Surprisingly, even making more money may not be better. Studies show that the salary level for peak happiness is $75K; people who make more than this are less happy. So having more money — and more of the stuff that money can buy — may not necessarily bring the joy you might expect.

Which stuff are you better off having less of? Here are 18 times when living with less is the way to go.

1. Smaller House

A smaller home means smaller expenses. The initial purchase price of a smaller house is generally less than a larger one, property taxes are less, and your utility bills will be lower as well. Some people are even thriving in tiny houses with just 400 square feet or less of living space. How much space do you really need? (See also: McMansion to McCottage — Why Smaller Houses are Smarter)

2. Smaller Car

Some people buy a car to haul cargo or transport a lot of passengers. But it seems like most vehicles carry only the driver most of the time. Smaller cars are cheaper to buy, especially compared with a big SUV or pickup truck. Plus, you'll save money on gas every day.

3. Smaller Portions

In the United States alone, 30%–40% of our overall food supply ends up getting tossed. Not only is this a huge waste of resources, but it's a huge waste of money, too. Reduce your contribution to these statistics with smaller, smarter food portions. Make a meal plan and grocery list before you do your shopping, and stick to the essentials. While you're at it, limit your portion sizes to save even more money and stick to a healthier diet.

4. Fewer Channels

In 2016, the average cost of a cable TV package reached a staggering $103.10 per month. You pay for all those TV channels, but do you really get that much viewing pleasure out of it? With fewer TV channels, your bill will be lower every month. Maybe you could cut the cord altogether, and instead find more time to do other things that are more enjoyable than watching TV.

5. Less Random Stuff

Everything you buy has to go somewhere, whether that means a spot on the shelf, or place in the garage or basement. Instead of spending your money accumulating clutter, why not see if you can get rid of some stuff instead? Sell it online, have a garage sale, or donate to a good cause.

6. Fewer Books

Books are great, but ebooks are even better since they generally cost less and take up no physical space. You'll spend less money, and reduce clutter, by going digital for your favorite reads.

7. Smaller Yard

Lawn care in America is a $40 billion per year industry. Buying a home with a large yard is a popular goal, but why? Are you really planning on spending that much time in it? Not only will a smaller yard save you time on all the mowing and upkeep, you'll save money on lawn care products, too. Even if you already have a large yard, you can cut back on maintenance by landscaping to reduce the amount of grass you have. This will give you some of the benefits of a smaller yard without moving.

8. Less Exercise Equipment

Let's face it: Most exercise equipment costs a small fortune, gets used a few times (if at all!), and then just takes up space for years. Instead, find a physical activity that you enjoy that doesn't require any clunky, expensive equipment. Maybe you can take up running outside, or check out free workout videos online.

9. Fewer Gadgets

So many gadgets were rendered obsolete with the rise of the smartphone. If you're still hanging on to items like small digital cameras, GPS devices, alarm clocks, calculators, and MP3 players, then it's time to let go. That little device in your pocket can do it all. (See also: 7 Tools and Gadgets Your Smartphone Can Replace)

10. Less Jewelry

Jewelry is a luxury, and the expense can really add up. How often do you actually wear it? You'll also need somewhere safe to keep it, and possibly insurance to protect it from loss or theft.

11. Fewer Vehicles

If you can get rid of an "extra" vehicle in your household, you can save space, maintenance expenses, and insurance costs. Vehicles almost always depreciate in value, so there is no advantage in owning more than you really need. Carpooling and ride-sharing are a great way to get around without driving yourself. (See also: 5 Points to Consider When Becoming a One-Car Family)

12. Less Facebook

On your Facebook feed, you can read all about the expensive new stuff your friends are buying, or check out photos from your relative's latest lavish vacation. Social media has brought keeping up with the Joneses to the digital realm, and it can feel inescapable. It's no wonder studies have shown that more time on Facebook leaves people feeling sad and unfulfilled. There's a simple cure for too much Facebook — less Facebook.

13. Less Driving

No one enjoys a long commute. Not only do you have to pay for all those extra miles you're driving, but people are often less happy when they have those long drives to dread. If moving closer to work to reduce your commute is not practical, try to reduce your driving in other ways. Some employers allow workers to work longer days and take an extra day off, or even work from home a few days per week. If you're going out on errands, combine multiple stops on the same trip.

14. Fewer Clothes

With fewer clothes packed into your dresser and closet, it is much easier to find something to wear. Why not sell or donate what you no longer need? If you're having trouble deciding what clothing to get rid of, start with items that require expensive dry cleaning, clothes you haven't worn in over six months, and items that no longer fit. You might be surprised by how much this alone can get rid of. From there, build an affordable capsule wardrobe with timeless pieces that will last you for years.

15. Fewer Cleaning Products

Somehow, I ended up with many bottles of different cleaning products under my kitchen sink and in my closet. I even have a box filled with various floor cleaning chemicals that I am trying to figure out where to store. I think I spend more time sorting, storing, and searching through my excessive supply of cleaning products than I do using them! If you have a surplus of soaps, sprays, and other cleaning supplies, stop buying them! Seek out simple, multiuse cleaners that do the same job. (See also: 30 Household Products Vinegar Can Replace)

16. Fewer Toys

When my kids were younger, we would often pick up cheap plastic toys in fast food meals or as small gifts for them from a shopping trip. These toys would get played with once or twice, never get touched again, and then create clutter to the point where it was hard to find anything in the toy room. Yes, we actually ended up with an entire room filled with toys! My advice: Less is more when it comes to toys.

17. Less Stuff in Your Coffee

Do you take your coffee with cream and sugar? If you're loading your morning cup of joe up with sweeteners, maybe you can try cutting back. It is so much cheaper to just drink black coffee. Plus, black coffee has no added calories or fat. And you can actually taste the coffee!

18. Less Stuff on Your Desk

There are all kinds of office supplies and organizers you can buy and put on your desk. They may give the illusion of productivity, but in reality, they're just getting in your way. I have found that the less stuff I have on my desk, the more productive I am.

This article is from Dr Penny Pincher of Wise Bread, an award-winning personal finance and credit card comparison website. Read more great articles from Wise Bread:

Eat Less Sugar With These 10 Simple Tricks

Camilla Cheung — Tue, 30 Jun 2015 17:03:27 +0000

If you want to be healthier, one of the best things you can do is to cut down on the amount of sugar you consume daily. Most of us enjoy a sweet treat once in a while. But there are ways you can treat yourself without going overboard on the sugar.

The World Health Organization's recommended daily intake of added sugar is about 25 grams for an adult of average body mass. That's not a whole lot, considering that a can of soda can contain up to 40 grams of sugar. Read on for ways to cut down on sugar in your daily diet. Even if you start with just one of these ideas at a time, you'll be doing your body a favor.

1. Eat a Slow-Burning Breakfast

Start your day off right, and stave off mid-morning sugar crashes, by eating a protein and fiber-rich breakfast. Unfortunately, many breakfast foods tend to be packed with sugar — pastries, waffles, pancakes, sugary cereals, jams and jellies — so start substituting a more nutritious first meal. A veggie omelet with a slice of whole-wheat toast, or low-sugar yogurt with fruit and chopped nuts, are better options. If you're in a rush, have some hard-boiled eggs ready in the fridge so you can grab an egg and a piece of fruit on your way out the door.

2. Eat Before You Go Out

Eat a healthy meal or snack before going out. You'll be less likely to indulge in a sweet treat because of hunger, and if you're going grocery shopping, you'll be more likely to make rational and healthy choices.

3. Cut Drink Sweetening in Half

My Achilles' heel is sweet drinks. I love having an iced coffee or tea whenever I go out. To cut down on the massive sugar overload such drinks can entail, I've made a habit of always asking for "half the sugar" whenever I indulge in a specialty drink. It has become so routine that a fully-sweetened drink now tastes excessively sweet to me. While I still need to cut down on these indulgences (a Grande Caramel Frappucino from Starbucks contains a whopping 63 grams of sugar! Even with half sugar, that's just not healthy), it at least gets me a step in the right direction.

4. Substitute Unsweetened Alternatives

I realized that part of the reason I loved having a sweet drink whenever I went out was simply the ritual of getting a coffee and carrying it around, whether it was at a morning playdate at the park, or during a shopping trip at the mall. I switched to ordering a black decaf Americano instead of a sweetened drink. Although I'll still sometimes order something sweet, most of the time, it's just black coffee. (Yes, I realize I would save a lot of money if I made it at home, but... baby steps, baby steps.)

5. Make It Yourself

Making your own treats at home means that you can control the sugar content. How about making a commitment to stop buying packaged cookies and making your own instead? You can usually cut out ⅓ to ½ of the sugar called for in most recipes without sacrificing flavor.

You can also make your own low-sugar, protein-rich granola instead of cereal. Instead of buying sweetened yogurt, add a bit of honey to plain yogurt. And if you (or your kids) are partial to chocolate milk, trying swirling milk, a banana, and some cocoa powder in your blender instead. A friend of mine also makes a raw, sugar-free, chia seed jam, which her kids love.

6. Start Reading Labels

If you haven't started reading nutrition labels on the food you buy, now's a good time to start. You'll be shocked at how much sugar is in your favorite foods. Once you know which foods are the biggest culprits, you can start replacing them with lower-sugar alternatives. For example, Honey Nut Cheerios have nine grams of sugar per ¾ cup serving, but regular Cheerios have one gram per one cup serving. (Yes, the serving sizes are different. The world of nutrition labeling is an imperfect one.) Even so-called "healthy" foods, such as juice, can have an excessive amount of sugar and may need to be limited.

7. Be Aware of Hidden Sugar

Even foods that we don't think of as sweet can contain a lot of added sugar, contributing to your daily quota. That ketchup you dipped your fries in could be chock-full of sugar, as is the BBQ sauce on your ribs or the dressing on your salad. Reading nutrition labels is your friend in these cases — limit these hidden-sugar foods or substitute them with a no-sugar alternative.

8. Get Sugar Out of the House

It's too much to expect the average person to resist temptation when it invades their own home — give yourself a fighting chance by keeping added sugar out of the house. Make a rule that sweet treats are just that — treats — meant for a special occasion, not for everyday.

9. Stay Hydrated (With Water)

You might feel a bit peckish, but in reality your body is craving hydration. Fill up a water bottle and make a goal to empty it within a certain time frame. With the extra water, chances are you won't feel as hungry (and you won't be reaching for a soda when you get thirsty). If plain water doesn't appeal to you, make a pitcher of cucumber or lemon water to keep in the fridge.

10. Don't Go Cold Turkey

It's okay to allow yourself an occasional treat. You're more likely to be successful in cutting down on sugar if you do it gradually, instead of by cutting it out completely. Perhaps you can allow yourself dessert on weekends, or ice cream as a reward for fulfilling a goal. Once your body gets used to consuming less sugar, you won't crave it as much.

Do you have any strategies for resisting those sugar urges?

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This article is from Camilla Cheung of Wise Bread, an award-winning personal finance and credit card comparison website. Read more great articles from Wise Bread:

15 Ways to Have a Frugal Friday

Mikey Rox — Fri, 13 Jul 2012 10:36:09 +0000

When you shout out TGIF, does your wallet feel the same way?

It’s easy to spend money on Fridays — it’s the end of the week, so you want to treat yourself, and sometimes it's payday. But by being conscious of the amount of money you’re spending on food and recreation at the end of the workweek and replacing them with low- or no-cost alternatives, you can save a bundle. To get you in the ideal mindset to have a frugal Friday, here are 15 easy ways you can cut back. (See also: 25 Frugal Changes You Can Make Today)

1. Skip the Starbucks

If your favorite barista has your regular waiting for you as soon as you walk in the door, you’re spending way too much money on joe. Skip the coffee shop this Friday, make a pot of coffee or tea at home, and bring it to work in a large thermos to help get you through the morning.

2. Walk, Bike, or Carpool to Work

Give your car a rest and walk or bike to work if your office is within a reasonable distance. If you’re too far away to walk or bike, ask a coworker if he or she can pick you up. The latter may be a good way to strike up a conversation about establishing a routine carpool that will help everyone involved save money on gas and maintenance costs.

3. Pack Your Lunch

Bring your lunch to work so you can avoid the pricey, probably not-very-healthy meal you’d pick up or order otherwise.

4. Rely on Natural Light

When you go into a room, what’s the first thing you do? Turn on the lights, right? Of course, and we all do it. But before you turn on the lights, decide whether or not there’s enough natural light in the room (you’ll need to open the blinds or curtains) for you to work. If there is, keep the lights off to help save energy and money. Who knows — this one-time practice might become a habit when you realize that natural light is sufficient for a lot of situations.

5. Use Your Coupons

I love my daily deal coupons, and I’m sure you do, too. Pick out one or two in your queue to use on a Friday to save money on lunch (if you didn’t pack one) and an activity if you plan to go out later.

6. Watch an Outdoor Movie

This is a summertime-only way to save, but I couldn’t leave it off the list since I enjoy it so much. If you live in or near a decent-size city, chances are it’s home to an outdoor movie series on Friday nights. A quick search on the Internet will let you know show times and titles. Pack a picnic with a bottle of wine, bring a blanket, and sit back and be entertained for the low, low fee of nothing.

7. See a Local Band

Pick up your area’s events guide or calendar and plan to catch a free show performed by a local act.

8. Play Video Games

My console doesn’t get much use — I forget it’s there sometimes — but video games are a great way to spend a no-cost night at home while having a good time with your partner or friends.

9. Go Thrift Shopping

If it’s imperative that you engage in a bit of retail therapy — like it often is for me — head for the thrift store instead of the mall. You’ll find quirkier cooler things at the thrift store and you won’t spend nearly as much on it.

10. Attend a Free Class

Your nearby community center, church, or other area establishment likely offers free classes. Check the online calendar and choose one to do on a Friday night.

11. Rent a DVD From the Library

Instead of running out to a Redbox or renting a movie On Demand, stop by the library on your way home from work to browse the DVD section and check out a movie or two to watch on a Friday night.

12. Go to the Gym

You pay a pretty penny for your monthly gym membership, so you might as well use it. I know it’s hard to workout on a Friday, but you’ll feel much better heading into the weekend if you do.

13. Visit a Free Museum

How often do you get out to soak up the free culture in your area? If you don’t have any plans this Friday night, maybe it’s time you visited one the free museums near you.

14. Have Leftovers for Dinner

I know, this isn’t very exciting, but think of the money you’ll save. It doesn’t have to be leftovers straight from the fridge, either. Perhaps you can think of a way to incorporate the leftovers into a new dish that you can get excited about.

15. Split Dinner Costs With a Friend

If leftovers aren’t an option, invite a friend over for a delivery dinner. You two can split the pizza — which will be better for your wallet and your waistline.

Do you try to save money on Fridays? How do you make Fridays frugal? Let me know in the comments below

This article is from Mikey Rox of Wise Bread, an award-winning personal finance and credit card comparison website. Read more great articles from Wise Bread:

The Art of Asking for Fewer Gifts

Thursday Bram — Mon, 17 Jan 2011 14:00:08 +0000

This year, my family gave me gifts, carefully picking out a variety of different things that they hoped would make me happy. I did the same for them. But, somehow, after all the wrapping paper was thrown away and the thank you notes were written, I didn't feel very wonderful about all the things I had received.

I have one relative that sends me a long chatty letter every year along with a check. I love the letters, but I certainly wouldn't mind if she just skipped the check — I don't need it. I have another relative who carefully chooses Christmas tree ornaments for my husband and I, but hasn't actually asked if we even have a Christmas tree (we don't). I appreciate the thought, but the gift itself means that I'm going to have to find something to do with it.

I feel like a bad person for it, but I don't want my relatives to go out shopping for all these gifts for me or sending me money or anything like that. I'd much rather a few more chatty letters or the occasional visit. But I know that my family cherishes the opportunity to do something nice for one another (even I enjoy going out and finding what I hope are favorite gifts). Finding a way to express my preferences for fewer gifts has been a difficult process and isn't nearly over. But I'm working on improving this particular art form.

Think About What You Truly Want

At the end of the day, I do like getting gifts. I like knowing that my family and friends want to go out of their way to do something nice for me — and I think that's true of most people. It's just the end results that bother me: I don't want to have to find a home for some knickknack that I only keep because a family member gave it to me.

One of the best gifts I've ever received was when I convinced my grandmother that all I wanted was for her to bake me up a batch of my favorite cookies. I truly wanted those cookies (a treat I didn't normally get) far more than anything she could have given me.

Just sitting and thinking about the gifts that I really have enjoyed and loved has provided me some insights on what I want and how to ask for those items. I love the handmade gifts I've received. My favorite blanket, tasty treats, and other homemade gifts are what I remember with the most fondness.

The tough part is telling my friends and family that I cherish these gifts far more than a check or another purchase. Trying to tell relatives that I don't want their money can go very wrong. When I have these conversations, I want to talk about the fact that I appreciate what they do for me and the matter is not that I don't want their gifts. It's incredibly difficult to gracefully say that you'd prefer something other than what your family members have been giving you, and it requires as much sensitivity as you can find.

Consider Helping Others

One of the simplest approaches I've found to the gift question is telling family members that I appreciate the thought but, if they were thinking of sending me a check or a gift card anyhow, I'd love if they just sent it directly to my favorite charity.

Of course, there is that occasional relative who will make a donation in your name and then turn around and still give you something, but that's a situation you'll have to talk about with the giver.

It Isn't a Matter of Giving Less

No matter my own preferences, I try not to give fewer gifts out. Part of the matter is that I love giving gifts (although, over the past few years, I've been trying to focus on giving meaningful gifts, homemade where possible). But I also don't want to offend anyone or give the feeling that I don't appreciate them.

Not too long ago, there was a Miss Manners column where someone wrote in with a question: A relative had switched to making donations in family members' names rather than giving gifts. It was to the giver's preferred charity, and the giver seemed to still prefer receiving gifts rather than donations. The question was about how to handle the situation.

In my mind, every aspect of that situation was problematic. I want to be able to give my family exactly what they want — and, despite any hope I have of rising above wanting gifts myself, I want them to give me exactly what I want. It just so happens that the things I want (to make donations to a favorite charity or a homemade batch of cookies) don't quite match up with what my family expects to give. At the end of the day, if keeping my family happy means finding another knickknack a home, I'm happy to do it.

This article is from Thursday Bram of Wise Bread, an award-winning personal finance and credit card comparison website. Read more great articles from Wise Bread:

8 Ways Convenience is Screwing Your Finances

David Ning — Wed, 17 Nov 2010 14:00:12 +0000

Our collective hunger for more is great, motivating us to keep pushing the limits and never settling for the status quo. Because of this desire, we've found ways to make everything from finding the nearest gas station to staying in touch with a distant relative easier and easier, but all that convenience comes at a cost too.

The U.S. median income in 1900 was $438 a year, and it shot up to $23,602 by 1999. You might look at this 5389% increase and say "WOW. Life has got to be good." Yet, life isn't all that great right now. We are barely recovering from a recession (most say we are still in it), and everybody from the government to our schools to our neighbors are having a tough time making ends meet.

I know there was inflation, but that's hardly the whole problem. Here are a few reasons why we can't seem to keep our budgets in check even though we keep getting huge raises. (See also: If Budgeting Isn't Fun, You're Doing It Wrong)

House Services

I'm guilty of this one, because I love my house cleaner. She comes every three weeks, and she makes everything sparkling clean. There's nothing I couldn't do myself of course, but if I can spend time sitting on the couch watching TV and doing nothing, why should I actually exercise and work?

Cell Phones

I have an eight-month-old daughter named Sara, and I can't wait for the day when I have to deny her request for a cell phone. My excuse will be "But you don't need a cell phone..." I wonder what her response will be when she realizes that I have one, and I actually don't need it either.

Extra TVs

It's common nowadays for a household to have two, three, or even four TVs in the house. Of course, each one has got to be hooked up to paid TV service too, right? Oh, I need to watch TV when I take a bath, for god's sake. What else would I be doing when my house cleaners are cleaning? (See also: 8 Alternatives to Cable TV That Will Keep You Entertained)

Cars

We love brand new cars, especially with all those options that signifiicantly add to the cost. Premium sound, a sun roof, a navigation system, heated and electronic seats, V6 turbo, and performance packages are all necessary, because you know, how else will we be able to get to work?

Eating Out

I love eating out, and I'm a good tipper too. If I cook at home, how will all those waiters/waitresses survive? Not paying for the markup of the dining service is only good for my own family's budget.

Diapers

Why would I need to wash anything when I can just replace it? Wipe and throw them away. The trash man will collect them, and I'm saving money because I'm sure my house cleaner would want to be paid extra if I asked her to wash diapers too.

Post-it Notes

It's not like I can use anything reuseable, like my computer, to remember appointments.

Credit Cards

I can see why a small population of people won't like credit cards, but I bet most people won't spend more with that convenience. I mean, why would anyone buy more things when they always have money available? Why would anyone buy more when credit card companies send countless marketing materials to get us to buy more, travel more, and do more?

Back in the 1900, a pound of butter might have set you back a quarter. Nowadays, it probably costs $3 for the same thing. That's inflation, but our income more than made up for that. On the other hand, people washed their clothes by hand back then, costing almost nothing. Nowadays, a washer costs $600 dollars and a dryer costs another $600, not to mention that many of us end up all going to the dry cleaners anyway.

Convenience is great, but watch your wallets before you conveniently lose your fortune.

This article is from David Ning of Wise Bread, an award-winning personal finance and credit card comparison website. Read more great articles from Wise Bread:

How to live on $12,000 a year

Paul Michael — Mon, 02 Apr 2007 21:43:51 +0000

In my first job out of college, I was on 12,000 English pounds per year. That was back in London in 1996, i was single, lived with two friends and only had rent and travel to pay for. And I still remember how tough that was. Well, one person is doing that right now (right here in the US of course) and recording the experience for us all to share.

The story comes from a site called w4resistance.org (as you can imagine, it's more radical in its approach than your average blog). I can't say I am an advocate for everything in the list, I actually want to have a life. I like eating out now and then, and I really don't have the time to unplug every appliance after using it to save $20 a month. But, cherry pick the ones you think are applicable and leave the ones you don't. Here is the bulk of the list, with an introduction from the author...

"How can one possibly live on just $12,000 year, unless you live on the streets?" one might ask. Well it is possible, I've been doing it for the past three years, ever since the Iraq war started and I wanted no part of it. I also had some reduction in my income due to the merger mania that is going on in the United States, so as one of the old jokes goes, "This is a non profit corporation, it's not what we intended, but that's what it turned out to be"

When faced with a cash flow problem, the first thing to do is cut all expenses that you can immediately without having to spend money to do so. Use the money that you save to invest in money saving alternatives, then go to work on finding ways to reduce your greatest expense. For most of us, that will be your housing. But it might take awhile to find a cheaper apartment, sell that 4000 square foot monster you were talked into buying or find an alternative living arrangement.

So here is what I did first that doesn't require any "investment" at all.

I got rid of the cable TV/Satellite service. That saved me $50 a month. You'll save at least $40 and up to $100 if you got suckered into "Premium" services such as Showtime or HBO. Television is garbage anyway, and you are better off not watching it. True, there are some things on PBS, Discover and the History Channel that are worth while, but it's not worth spending $50 a month for. I still own a television set, but it is used mostly to watch tapes and DVDs borrowed from friends. It's hooked to an outside antenna for the rare moments, such as a flood emergency, that I even want to watch broadcast television.

The next item was to get rid of all the "Phantom Loads". What is that? You may ask. That is all the electrical appliances in a typical household that still draw current, even though they are "off". The worst offenders are TV sets, VCRs, anything with a remote control. You see, in order to respond to the power on command from the remote control, part of the set still must be "on" in order to receive commands from the remote. While the drain may only be a couple of watts, the fact that the drain is continuous makes it all add up. I unplug all these appliances when not actually in use or put them on a switched outlet. I saved slightly over $20 a month on my electric bill by getting rid of these phantom loads.

I started driving less. I was shocked to find that I was spending over $2000 a year for gasoline, and that was before prices went nuts. Since I run my own business, I don't have to show up 5 days a week. There was nothing at the post office that couldn't wait a day, so I started driving only three days a week. I took the time to work out on a map a minimum mileage route for things that need to be done. Grocery shopping is done only once a week. Before going on the shopping trip, I check the pantry for items that are running low and buy enough to last a week. If I run out of something, too bad, it waits till the next shopping trip and I learn to be more careful about checking stock before I go. Of course I always take advantage of sales, but only if the unit cost of the sale item is less than buying the house brands. Which is a good segue into the next item.

I Buy house brands. With few exceptions, house brands are every bit as good as the over advertised national brands. You'll save anywhere from 5% to 25% by switching to a house brand. The only items that I found in house brands that were not as good were dry cat food (the cat's did not seem to do well) and lab tests have shown that house brand dietary supplements do not have the same level of active ingredients as name brand supplements. However note that the house brand OTC drugs and prescription drugs are every bit as good as the name brands, it's only the supplements that have the problem. You can also minimize the need for supplements by eating a well balanced diet.

I Cook from scratch. Prepared food is always more expensive, and full of additives that are probably not good for you. Even simple items like Bisquick contain things like soluble salts of aluminum, which have been implicated in Alzheimer's disease. You are better off health wise and financially by making your own baking mix from flour and baking soda. Here is my weekly diet. It is mostly vegetarian, although it does have poultry two days a week.

I never buy "Soft Drinks" (known as 'soda' or 'pop' in some parts of the country). Why waste money on sugared water that is not good for you? If I'm thirsty, I'll drink tap water, which is the best thirst quencher.

I Eat In, I Don't Eat Out: When you eat out, you have to pay for the rent or mortgage on the restaurant building, the wages of the employees, and the profit for the owner as well as the cost of the food and the fuel to cook it. By eating at home, the only costs are the food and the fuel. I saved $35 a month by switching to Friday night dinner at home. This is in an area where you can get a good restaurant meal for $10 a person. You'll save even more in an expensive city. Even a frugal meal at the local fast food emporium is going to set you back $5.00. You can "brown bag" a meal for less than $1.00. Oh, be sure to reuse the bag until it falls apart, which brings us to:

I Never buy garbage bags. Reuse the bags that you get at the grocery store for your lunch container and for putting out the garbage. Sure they are small, but who cares? They all go into a garbage can just fine! I know that some people just set out the 20 gallon garbage bags by the curb, but that is just asking for the garbage to be raided by animals before it gets picked up.

I keep the heat down during heating season. My house is zoned, so rooms that are not being used are set to 55 F. Rooms that are infrequently used are set to 60 F. I have one "warm room" that I keep at 65. If you have forced air, you can close off the registers to the unused rooms. If you have electric baseboard heat, those usually have individual controls. If you have hydronic baseboard heat, the best you can do is close the flaps on unused rooms. If you have one pipe steam, you can install a Varivalve in place of the standard vent, as the name implies, the device is adjustable. Don't try to moderate a one pipe steam system by closing the radiator valve part way, you'll just have knocking and banging if you do.

I use the wood stove for heat: I'm fortunate enough that the place where I live has a Franklin Stove and 50 acres of woodlot that can be harvested in a sustainable manner, so when I'm home, I use the wood stove.

I don't use air conditioning during cooling season. Where I live, there are only 10 or 12 really bad days a year. I set up a bed in the basement on really hot nights, rather than put in an air conditioning system. People in really warm climates can save by setting their AC to 85 F, which is enough to take the edge off the heat and even more important, reduce the humidity.

I don't buy things that I don't really need: Making a shopping list before going to the store really helps. I only buy things that are on the list. I don't go to the grocery store on an empty stomach, so that I'm not tempted to buy junk food. Instead of buying music CDs, which probably only have one good cut on them, I listen to music for free over broadcast radio. If it's a song that I really want my own copy of, I buy the single on the Internet for $1.00. Before buying anything, I ask myself, "Do I really need this? Is it of lasting value? If I won't use it that often, can I borrow it from someone or rent it instead of buying my own?"

I repair things instead of buying a replacement: A good rule of thumb is repair it unless the repair is going to cost more than half of the replacement cost, or in the case of a car, more than half of it's market value. Learn to fix things yourself, which will reduce the repair cost. There are plenty of places on the web where you can learn how to do simple plumbing, car, and other house repairs. Even if a repair is beyond your skill or should not be attempted DYI because of safety reasons, you should at least learn the basic technology so that you won't get taken by a con artist.

If I do need an item, I try to buy used: With the exception of some appliances like refrigerators, where it makes more sense to buy the newest most energy efficient model, I save money by buying used. I buy "last years" computers at close out sales, they are more than fast enough. When my truck is so old that it's rusted out or I can't get parts for it anymore, I replace it with a three or four year old model. Since depreciation is non linear, that is, the value goes down more quickly when it is brand new, you save a lot of money overall. Which is a good segue to the next item in this list.

I never pay interest: If I can't afford to pay cash for an item, I either find a less expensive one, such as paying cash for a $9000 car instead of having to get a loan to buy a $12,000 car, or wait until I've saved enough to pay cash. I always pay off the full balance on my credit card every month. The only exception to this rule is if I can get a really good deal on the loan, meaning that I can take the cash and invest it in a municipal bond fund that is paying more interest than the loan interest.

Hang out clothes to dry instead of using a clothes dryer. This can save up to $40 a month, depending on the size of your family and how often you do laundry. During the winter, I hang clothes inside, as this serves to add needed humidity to the air. During the summer, this means planning to do laundry on a sunny day.

I don't smoke, never have, but if you do smoke quit! Not only is quitting good for your health, it's good for you finances! A smoker with a two pack a day habit is blowing $180 a month on tobacco!

With the money I saved from the first list, I went ahead and made the following investments.

I Replaced incandescent bulbs and fixtures with compact fluorescent bulbs and fixtures. I would do this even before the existing bulbs burn out, you can always use the old, but still working bulbs as spares for infrequently used lights. The manufactures of compact fluorescent bulbs have finally worked out how to make the bulbs roughly the same size as what they replace, so you generally won't have to replace the whole fixture. After this, I was using less electricity living in my house than the former occupant who was only there three days a week!

I Replaced my refrigerator with a modern energy efficient model. Actually, the old one's compressor decided to lock rotor on a hot Forth of July when all the stores were closed. I beat it into running with a hammer, but figured it was not long for this world and bought a replacement when the stores opened. I was amazed at how much my electric bill went down. If you still have a refrigerator built before 1993, you will probably save enough on your electric bill to pay for the new machine within three years! Be sure that your new box has the Energy Star label and recycle your old machine. It is also best to go with a traditional top freezer model of less than 25 cubic feet capacity as I did. Side by sides and refrigerators over 25 cubic feet use significantly more energy.

I put in a vegetable garden: I've puttered around in the garden off and on, with varying degrees of success. The best I've done was to meet all my vegetable needs for the summer, plus have some extra tomatoes to can for use during the winter. I'm still experimenting with the best way to have a garden with my relatively poor soil and the slug problem, I lost all my peas last year to a slug invasion. I avoid pesticides, since they are an additional expense and aren't good to eat. I estimate that I can grow my own veggies for half the price that I would pay in the store. If you live in the city, the best you can probably do is to have some containers out on the patio or inside a south facing window.

While the author certainly seems to be living the ultimate life of frugality, I think there are many pointers we can all take from this article. Using energy-saving lightbulbs is something I've been doing for a while. A vegetable garden is a great idea, you can't beat your own, home grown produce for taste or price. And my mum always hung our clothes out to dry. They smelled so fresh, too. I think most of us have plenty of room to trim the fat in our budgets. Save the pennies, and the dollars will take care of themselves, right?

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This article is from Paul Michael of Wise Bread, an award-winning personal finance and credit card comparison website. Read more great articles from Wise Bread: