The Complete Tightwad Gazette giveaway!
About two months ago, I checked out a book from the library: The Complete Tightwad Gazette by Amy Dacyczyn. This 959-page book is a compilation of her (now retired) monthly newsletter. Most frugal bloggers have read this cover-to-cover, as have I.
This is the book that insp
red me to start this blog.
It isn’t often that I read a book for free and then decide I have to own my own copy. But if you know anything about the Tightwad Gazette, you know that this gem is a must for every tightwad’s bookshelf. It has already changed my life, and I know it will change yours.
I decided to order myself a copy of The Complete Tightwad Gazette on Amazon.com, and I ordered an extra copy for one lucky winner. A brand-new book for you and me. Hurrah!
Here’s how you can win:
- Post a comment below and share your favorite frugal tip. It can be anything–from reusing dryer sheets to buying groceries in bulk (please use your own ideas!). I’m really looking forward to your tips, so don’t forget to do this!
- Include a way that I can get in touch with you so I can mail you your prize. For example, if you use Blogger, be sure I can access your profile and blog. Or, leave your e-mail address.
- This is open to U.S. residents, only. I’m grateful to the readers I have around the world, but I can only afford to spend the $2.81 for media mail postage. You understand.
- I will accept entries until midnight (Eastern time) Saturday, November 3, 2007. I will use a generator to randomly select an entry, and will announce the winner on Sunday, November 4, 2007.
- As soon as I receive the order from Amazon, I will mail your copy. I’ll let you know when that happens.
Thank you for entering! Best wishes to you all.
If you want to tickle me pink, please come back to my blog from time to time.
Hundreds of people will be posting links to their own giveaways here at BloggyGiveaways. You won’t want to miss it!
UPDATE [Oct. 29 11:28 a.m.] I am so thrilled that you are all posting frugal tips! We’re already up to 60. This is what the Tightwad Gazette is all about–helping each other become more frugal. Keep ‘em coming! (But of course, just one entry per person)
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I’ve bought a few reusable grocery bags when I go to Albertson’s. They are 99¢, but for everyone you use when you buy groceries you get 5¢ off. So they end up paying for themselves and then some.
I always buy clothes when they’re on sale (preferably on clearance). I hit thrift stores, too, especially if it’s a store I know is reliable for good deals and items. I like to hit the Old Navy and Target clearances, too — they’re good sources of last season stuff. I also will buy things I won’t wear, but that I can alter into something I will wear. Being able to alter my clothing and sew has really helped me out, as I don’t have to necessarily get rid of things that don’t fit or look right (which is wasted money), and I don’t have to buy as many things new. Plus, I get to personalize my stuff.
Thanks for coming over to my blog. I’m so bad at explaining how this works. Each lady at the party made the recipe for her family that night. Each recipe served 8 people. To simplify to process and cut costs each lady would bring the all the ingredients for her assigned recipe x 8 and distribute them to everyone else that night.
I was in charge of egg rolls. So I prepared everyone’s cabbage and carrots and bought all of the spices and wrappers for everyone there. I passed them out and each lady prepared them for her family to take home.
I think in the end the price averaged between$4-8 per meal depending on family size.
Look forward to reading your blog. I’m going to sign up for your giveaway!
I recently gave making my own laundry detergent a try and I’m really happy with the results. For a cost of about $6, I got an almost full 5 bucket gallon, plus I have enough ingredients to make another batch! Since I only use 2/3 of a cup per load, it’s saving tons of money and it only took maybe 10 minutes to do.
I’m looking forward to reading through your blog. I could really use some help saving $$ right now.
Thanks!
Oh, this book has been on my list for a while!
This sounds simple, but the #1 way I’ve saved money is by shopping at Aldi. I made a price book and figured out, ounce-for-ounce, that Aldi prices are better than buying in bulk (most of the time) and other supermarket sales- and there’s the added bonus of not having to spend time cutting coupons (or spending money to subscribe to the newspaper at all!)
Just found this book last week and added it to my “list” of books I want!
Excellent giveaway. Enter me, please! I use reusable grocery bags and save money at Trader Joes.
Menu plan and shop for groceries with a list. I have reduced the amount of food I waste and my grocery bills just by doing thes two simple things.
I reuse plastic sandwich bags and dryer sheets! Thanks for offering this!
toss me in. I love to bake in bulk and then freeze the dinners, that really saves money and time.
What a great giveaway! My most frugal tip is to shop away at those yard sales! I buy the next size up for my children, all our Winter coats, games, toys and even gifts whenever possible. It saves me SO much money!
thesmithclan@stny.rr.com
http://quietquandaries.blogspot.com
Please enter me. Thanks for your generosity! ihang my clothes to dry unless it’s freezing or raining. I also reuse plastic bags from the grocery for small garbage bags. I handwash dishes most of the time, although we do have a perfect dishwasher.
One thing that I do is put the wrappers off of stick butter into a sandwich bag and when I need to grease a pan I use the wrapper to do it. Also, I save bread ties to use to close packages like crackers.
I shop at The Children’s Orchard! It’s a wonderful consignment store for kids with tons of great finds!
I shop the clearance racks for me and the kids. I also buy a season ahead for the kids so that I can buy their clothes at a great discount. It’s always an adventure to see how much I can save!
So I’ve always assumed that the butcher counter at the grocery store is more expensive. After all, you get exactly the amount of meat you want, give to you by a real person, right there.
Well, my grocery store has the meat considerably cheaper there! Usually $0.40/lb cheaper on ground beef, $2/lb cheaper for bacon. I love it!
Buying canned goods at Aldi’s help me save money.
Email addy: summersnook AT gmail DOT com
I have a friend who has this book and it looks great! I make my own baby wipes using Bounty select-a-size paper towels and baby bath soap. My husband just switched out our old light bulbs for the compact fluorescent ones too.
Thanks!
lmoffitt.at.aestudios.com
I use have the recommended level of laundry detergent and I cut my dryer sheets in half.
I have a shelf in my pantry reserved for “about to expire” items. that way, I never let anything expire I bought in bulk a long time ago. once a month I go through my pantry and move anything that expires in the next month to that shelf. Takes about 10 minutes or less a month and makes sure nothing goes to waste!
http://www.paidtwice.com
paidtwice at gmail dot com
I order food from angelfoodministries.org they have some great prices. Count me in and come enter mine, too!
One thing that I try to do that has saved money is making homemade gifts for others. I can crochet and make several different items, like washcloths, scarves, etc. A crocheted washcloth costs me about $0.50 in materials. Most people seem to really like receiving them and use them regularly.
http://www.treasuresfromtheheart-willa.blogspot.com
email: wl374 at aol dot com
I try to buy all of my meat at Sam’s Club. The savings might not offset the yearly fee once my kids are out of diapers/wipes, but for now this saves money because the baby products are cheaper in bulk.
Great idea for a giveaway! I need more ideas too!!!
I didn’t read through all the comments so I hope no one said this already. I shop at Aldi. Super cheap non name brand food. And really good quality. If you don’t like something after you cook/eat it they will refund your purchase price. Can’t beat that. Also I make a menu for the two weeks and just shop off of that. I really try to limit our impulse buying. I’ve heard a lot about the tightwad gazette and would love to read it. Hope I win!
I go camping often and I bring food that requires to be cold in a cooler. Instead of getting bags of ice every time I go, I came up with an idea of putting 3 completely frozen water (gallon) jugs in cooler and they lasted a few days! No watery mess and when jugs are thawed, it can be used for drinking or cleaning.
I also reuse plastic juice containers with frozen water so it will lay flat and fit neatly in bottom of cooler. This works a bit better than gallon jugs.
~Marijo
I love these books, I have never owned one & would love to. Let’s see, some of my tips that save money: keep the heat at 68, buy clothes at thrift stores for my kiddos & watch the clearance racks, buy meat in those bulk packages, have meatless dinners, keep any unused appliance unplugged unless being used, including cel chargers, etc. Oh & one big saver is in the summer keep a cooler in my car with juice boxes & water so we aren’t tempted to pay extra at gas stations etc & I also try to limit my errands to the same day to save on gas. Ok hopefully there was something in there someone could use!
I’ve just really started to do the frugal thing, so this book would be super handy. My tip is to go through the coupons and sale ads to find the best deals. I’ll be combing through the comments to find some great tips.
Fell4UToo2001@yahoo.com
I blog almost every day because it keeps my budget on my mind! I listen to the Dave Ramsey show online. I like to read novels about pioneers. (Sorry, that’s kind of nerdy!)
Oooh… I’ve checked this book out from the library, too, but haven’t yet bought! Would love to have a copy, so count me in! My frugal tip… I’ve been using used dryer sheets on those Swifter mops to “sweep” my floor… works so much better than my broom! :)
My new frugal adventure is shopping the CVS deals. I save bunches on toiletries and over the counter meds! Thanks for the offering a great giveaway!
I have this book and the other two (not the complete). I would love to win this one for my oldest daughter.
Favorite tip: buy in bulk when on sale (use a coupon with the sale is even better) Ask for rainchecks if the item is out of stock!
I’ve heard of the Tightwad Gazette but never read it. My favorite tip: The Grocery Game for saving $$$. That, and sewing can definitely save you money too (it helps if you enjoy it though).
I’m so interested in these books! Thanks. I’d love to be entered in your contest. :)
My frugal tip…well, we’ve been collecting a few lately, lol.
One BIG thing for us has been including 2-3 meatless meals each week in our menu planning. We incorporate more beans, grains, lentils, etc. Not only is it healthier, but we’ve saved $, too!
And of course, this time of year, keeping the thermostat down. We usually have it around 62-64. We haven’t turned on the heat, and we’re seeing how long we can hold off. Slippers, layers, and extra blankets is our way!
Oooh Count me in please!
My frugal tip:
make and keep a running price book for your grocery shopping.
Thia alone has saved me 100′s of dollars over the course of a year.
Ooh, would love this book, especially since they don’t have it at my library!
My best frugal tip is to use the public library. I’ve probably saved hundreds of dollars in just the past few weeks by making a concerted effort to check out books and not buy them.
This sounds maaaah-velous dahling! Put me in!! My husband would just love if I won!! He can make a penny scream. PICK ME!
I buy and sell on Craigslist–no listing fees and I’ve made a lot of money!
I’ve been wanting to read this book! Please enter me!
I’m very interested in this book! Great giveaway! :)
I would love a copy of this book. I keep a cost journal of the items that I buy regularly so I know a good buy when I see one.
tnayar@cox.net
I go to garage sales almost every Saturday. Half of my house is from garage sales!
I buy almost all of my children’s clothing at yardsales and thrift stores. I will even buy up to 3 sizes ahead in jeans and jackets. I think that kids wear out their clothes so quickly that there is no reason to spend so much on one item on clothing when you can get 3-4 outfits for the same price. I found a beautiful smocked and embroidered Christmas dress for my daughter at a thrift store for $2. Something like that would only be found in a boutique for 20xs that price. Well that is just one of my frugal ways.
Le Anne
yardsaleprincess1@yahoo.com
Wow what an exciting give away. With only having one income and homeschooling our kids we always need new ideas for frugal living. I have a few tips myself.
1. Check the thift shops but not only that watch for their specials. We have a shop here that every Wed. they have half off the ticketed price. Now thats a good deal.
2. Another thing I like to do is reuse our plastic bags from the grocery store. They fit nice into our bathroom trash can so I never have to buy small baggies.
Hope these help. Boy I thought I had a lot of ideas but when I started posting I just count think of any . I may really need this book. lol
God bless
Nikki
I’m quite sure this isn’t an original idea, but I use plastic sacks to contain nasty diapers. I also like to use newspapers to wrap up the books I send for Paperback Swap.
Great giveaway!
I use cloth diaper, not those old kinds, ones that are just like using disposables, easy peasy to use! I have spent $300 for diapers for my child’s whole diapering years!
My frugal comment – cook from scratch as much as possible. Good health is far cheaper than poor health!
This is a bit of an odd way to be frugal, but… I figured out that getting our milk delivered weekly, though it costs a bit more than buying it at a bulk food store, kept me and my Husband out of the grocery store on a weekly basis. Allowing us to stick to a once a month/every 6 weeks shopping plan. and saving us money in the long run.
Mrs Nehemiah
CVS – This store is amazing! My husband is in awe at what I come home with for just pennies! I love that place!
We always read the Sunday paper sale ads. from there we made our menu for the week and then head to the store.
TheAngelForever
http://www.theangelforever.com
One of my favorite tips is to cut open the tube of lotion or toothpaste … after you have squeezed the living daylights out of it, and use what you can now get to for the next week or two. Amazing!
I’d LOVE to have this book. Thanks!
I have to use the Laundymat for my clothes since I’ve moved. Rather than pay to dry my stuff I hang it on the clothesline that’s in our trailer park. It takes a little longer to dry but they smell wonderful. Now that colder weather is coming I hang the clothes in my closet faily spread apart with a fan on them and clip socks/underwear/washclothes to hangers with clothespins.
Frugal tip: cut standard dryer sheets in half: same results and they last twice as long!
As for the book, I have had that on my wish list at paperbackswap.com for-ev-er! Would love to have this “shortcut” to my own copy! LOL
What a cool prize! Hmm…my best tip would have to be the website The Coupon Clippers. I can get tons of coupons that I actually would use!!!
tynajewell@yahoo.com
http://www.begleyblessings.blogspot.com
-Tyna
It’s not all that original…but my favorite frugal tip would be to make things from scratch…doughnuts, pancake batter, bread/rolls, soups…etc.
Would love this book!
My tips are-wash and reuse ziplocs (if not nasty!), weekly menus that reuse ingredients (roasted chicken=chicken carcass soup with veg from our garden, etc.), use on hand ingredients, cut dryer sheets in half, use Electrasol tabs in a full dishwasher (jet dry is in them-only buy one product and they are way cheaper).
I have been wanting this book forEVER! One recent tip I have is to make your own reusable dryer sheets – mix equal parts fabric softener and water in a jar, and keep small sponges in there. When it’s time to use the dryer, wring out a sponge and throw it in with the clothes. Works wonderfully! And it takes forever to go through the mix.
My frugal tip isn’t very interesting – but it saves me some money. Yard sales and second hand stores. It’s a great way to get furniture at a huge discount and most people are willing to dicker over price!
Clearance racks!!!!! Shop for the upcoming year. I found all kinds of shorts this weekend for .50 cents!
Would love to win the book!
Linda
i shop for nearly all of my kids’ clothes at 2ndhand shops. :)
thanks,
amy
My local library doesn’t carry this so I’d love to win! I reuse dryer sheets and ziplocks and use grocery bags for yucky diapers instead of a diaper genie. But my fave is shopping at a local consignment carnival twice a year for kids’ clothes – $3/item is awesome! I sell the kids’ outgrown clothes there and use the money I’ve made for my budget in buying their “new” ones there! minkners@yahoo.com
A friend of mine lent this book to me once and I’ve always wanted my own copy. Thanks for the opportunity!
This would be great to win. My tip is to skip cold cereal for breakfast. Oatmeal is healthier and far cheaper. If you use quick cooking oats it is done in a flash too.
For those plastic grocery bags: I only keep a small trash can in the kitchen and use the bags to line it. A larger can is in the garage, so it’s easy to toss it once daily (and we don’t then accumulate kitchen trash stink). I also use them to store the kitty litter scoop. The one the scoop is stored in gets filled with litter contents, then the scoop gets placed into a new plastic bag ’til next time.
kimkg@sbcglobal.net
My frugal tip is to buy generic whenever possible. Some brands are better than generic, but for things like toilet paper and ketchup, who really cares what the name brand is? (Well, at least, in my household those two items aren’t a big deal! LOL)
What a great giveaway, please enter me! Thank you!
Would love to read it!
Thanks for the opportunity to win the Complete Tightwad Gazette. ‘
My frugal tip…I double recipes and freeze extra casseroles or chilis in disposable plastic ovenware. Once it is frozen, I pop out the block of chili and label and seal it in a vacuum seal bag. It lays flat in my freezer. To use, I just cut it out of the freezer bag and pop in into the ovenware. My hubby can then microwave it at his leisure!
Warmest Regards,
valerie
My frugal tip is to cloth diaper your little ones. I love that I have diapers that I can use over and over instead of throwing money away.
Count me in even though I have no frugal tip at the moment. :)
My frugal tip is to clean your bathroom after you take a shower. Everything is all steamed up so wipe everything down and you will use less water.
Please include me in your drawing.
~Amy
My frugal tip is to check out your local consignment stores! You never know what affordable stuff you’ll find!
Please count me in! I can’t think of any great tips that have not already been mentioned. But I LOVE Target’s 75-90% off sales!
Ok, so this isn’t that new or original but I love yard sales when it comes to buying stuff for my son! I hate paying full price for stuff he will outgrow! Trading hand-me-downs with a friend is nice too!
My frugal tip would be to not purchase cleaning products, but instead use things like vinegar, dish soap, etc. for cleaning and degreasing, or at the very least, purchase a concentrate which you dilute yourself, saving many dollars in the process.
I would love to be entered!
Michelle
http://www.northofthe49.com
michelle (at) northofthe49 (dot) com
My frugal tip is to learn to be content with what you have. I am constantly getting stuck on the mentality of “Oh I NEED this!” I am always wanting more. I know I need an attitude adjustment! Otherwise, I’ll just be throwing myself a pity party. :-)
i could for sure use some tips…i would love to win this book:D
enter me please! my frugal tip is to make a monthly food menu – and stick to it! even if its just a list of meals for the month that you have the ingredients for – you will always make it through the month without needing to resort to fast food – and MUCH cheaper.
My tip is that I on;y go grocery shopping twice a month and buy in bulk, I spend less because I’m not in the stores and seeing something else to buy that I don’t need. PLease count me in!
Sign me up! I could use a little help getting the finances in order.
Great giveaway! Please enter me! Thanks! My tip is to combine coupons with sales to buy grocery/household items for very cheap or sometimes free…stockpile, so that when you need the item you don’t have to pay full price, you just go get it out of your stockpile!!
Great giveaway. I am a big reader, and I trade the books that I have finished on swaptree.com for other books I want. Its free except that you pay to ship your book to someone else. But I almost never have to buy books anymore.
Great giveaway. I reuse my swiffer dusters by washing them and useing them when damp.
I am sure that my husband and I (who are diligently working to save up a down payment on a house) could use the tips in this book!
I shop at Salvage grocery stores…..plus get the sales papers on Sat. and search The Coupon Clippers site to see if I can find a deal. (Few weeks ago, I got Skippy peanut butter for .17 a jar!!!) I also LOVE CVS!!!!!
Please enter me in….
Thanks!
Alicia
theraulersons (at) msn. com
I recently had my first child and, following in my sister’s footsteps, have purchase the majority of his clothes and other baby needs at a local children’s consignment sale held twice a year. My niece & nephew are 7 and my sister has buying for them from this sale since they were born!
abliss@waff.com
Looks like a great book! A tip from me would be: I have three kiddos and each child has their own little “bucket” for bath and toilet time. It’s got their own toothbrush, soap, toothpaste, vitamins, etc so that they know what is theirs and can easily find what they need! Keeps the bathroom super organized!
When my daughter was a baby we made all of her soft food from scratch. Not only is it really healthy but it was WAY cheaper than buying it.
For an inexpensive or even free halloween bowl, to give out candy of just have for decoration, ( the handle area and then just above the triangle eyes)of one of those plastic trick or treat pumpkins and presto…you have a cute pumpkin bowl. I must have 10 of them from a 90% off sale last year!
island_baby1217@yahoo.com
Halloween bowl continued…
Oops, I left out the most important part to make the bowl:
Cut off approx. 1 1/2″ from the top, where the handle is, just above the triangle eyes, around the pumpkin. ok, continue reading my above post…Sorry…
island_baby1217@yahoo.com
we use cloth or reusable everything! diapers, baby wipes, grocery bags, napkins, you name it! we also use newspaper and window cleaner to clean mirrors and glass instead of paper towels. i would absolutly love a copy of this book :)
i keep the best price i’ve ever paid for anything i regularly eat, in my head. when i come across another price, i’m double checking to make sure i haven’t paid half that or even better in the past. jameil1922@gmail.com
Hmmm… my favorite frugal tip? I’d have to say turning off the water while you brush your teeth. Sounds silly I know, but DH grew up in a place with plentiful water and I grew up in the drought ridden land of Southern California. During the many droughts of my childhood we needed to be frugal with our water. That meant wet the toothbrush, turn off the water!
Still can’t shake it, and although we don’t pay for water in our little home right now, I am sure my landlord (though he doesn’t know) appreciates my frugalness with his water. :)
I’d love to be entered! Thanks!
I’m making dress-up capes for my girls from 2 skirts I got at the resale shop–gorgeous fabric, one silk, one velvet–total cost, under $10! Tons cheaper than buying something!
What an awesome give-a-way! I’ve heard so many good things about this book. Thank you for offering to give it to one lucky person!! As for frugal tips, like many others, I use cloth diapers and cloth grocery bags. I also use half of many things–dryer sheets, half the amount of shampoo/conditioner, and use half the amount of meat in many recipes.
Well, we plan our meals two weeks at a time, and make one trip to the store. We buy everything we need at once, so we don’t end up back there buying all the impulse things that can rack up your total from a few dollars to fifty dollars!
We use cloth napkins, cloth paper towels, cloth diapers. Cutting out paper products saves a ton of money and only adds 2 loads of laundry per week.
Take advantage of PaperBackSwap, library book sales, and thrift stores to find great deals on books.
I would love to win this book I have heard so much about it but haven’t read it. My frugal tip we pass down all the clothes from the oldest on down and accept hand me downs from other.
Another book about frugality would be most welcome. Thanks!
I am totally NOT frugal, so I have no tips. I would love to win this book!!
I buy good liquid fabric softener and then dilute it 50/50 so I get two bottles for the price of one!
another great book…the one that changed my life…Miserly Mom by Jonni McCoy…a must (enjoyable, frugal) read…count me in the giveaway :) ~Connie
cmhesh(at)yahoo.com
Let’s see I cut my dryer sheets in half, used cloth diapers for 6 of my 7 children, trade in my Discover Card points for gift cards to get brand name clothes for free, make my own granola, cook from scratch, etc.
I would love this book! If I don’t win I think I’ll just buy my own copy. :D
Ooh! I would love to win – my frugal tip is that we create a weekly or bi-weekly meal menu and buy according to what we’re eating so we don’t buy last-minute “must-haves!” I can’t believe how much money we started saving when we starting shopping this way.
Julia (jjpiggins@gmail.com)
My favorite frugal thing is to shop garage sales for my daughters clothes and not be afraid to negotiate. Also let others know that you are willing to accept hand-me-downs.
We reuse our plastic grocery bags in the small trash cans around the house. Tossing in my comment for a chance… Thanks! :-)
I would love to win this book.
My frugal way of saving $$ is to go to the library frequently for book, instead of buying them.
I want this book! I hope I can win it, otherwise, it’s off to the library!
I thought I had some good tips, until I read through the comments… they were all taken!
Our family is big (7), so I buy two Angel Food units a month. Our church takes orders… you can find a local ordering place at http://www.angelfoodministries.org.
I also shop clearance aisles, and use Walmart bags for trash bags, dirty laundry bags while traveling, diaper disposal, and lots more!
Don’t but things because there on sale and your just going to store them in closet.
Not a bargain then.
I have this book but it would make a great Christmas present.
Please put my name in the hat for your drawing.
Oh! I do want this book so much!
My best frugal tip though … boy, I don’t have many (which is why I need the book LOL!)
Let’s see … we reuse towels after baths a few times before we wash them. I also have cloths for cleaning and wiping (and a lot of them). They fit in so nicely with those towels when we wash them and I don’t have to pay for paper towels very often that way!
We have recently changed most of the lightbulbs in our house to the energy saving bulbs. I’ve also switched to doing most of our laundry in cold water instead of warm and hanging t-shirts, I’m hoping these three changes will help cut the electric bill and will make my daughter’s cute t-shirts last longer (at least until she outgrows them).
Hi. Love your blog!
Here are my tips:
I make my own baby wipes. It’s easy and $9 worth of supplies lasts me six months! Add 7 squirts of baby wash and 7 squirts of baby shampoo to 2 cups water. Shake well and pour over Bounty paper towel roll cut in half. Pull out cardboard center and store in container with lid. Works great!
I use generic diapers during the day and name brand diapers for night.
I buy Halloween costumes when they go on clearance and give them as birthday and Christmas presents. Most little kids love to play dress up..boys and girls. It’s always a hit!
Hope this helps. Thanks for the drawing.
I like to be eco-frugal, saving lots of money: craigs list/ ebay for toys and clothes (local > shipping), used clothes stores, reuse all bags, by local produce in bulk, eating veggie 50% of meals, etc.
I make handmade gifts for others (crocheted baby afghans, jewelry). People would rather have a handmade item than one you bought, regardless of the price. It shows you were truly thinking of them.
Count me in! My frugal tip is to shop at Freds and the Dollar Tree for random around-the-house items that you dont need brand-names for. I also stock my guest bathroom with toiletries from Dollar tree.
I love saving money!
I think my tip would only be useful for people who like to knit or crochet, but here goes: don’t buy yarn from the store, get a cheap, gently-worn sweater from Goodwill or similar (make sure the whole thing is hand-seamed and not serged or you’ll get into trouble!) and unravel it. You’ll get tons more yarns for your money!
I would love to read this book! Lately, I save money by planning a cooking party with friends, cooking meals for a month, and swapping them with each other.
I save on electricity by keeping all unnecessary lights off during the day!
My frugal tip is using old greeting cards (cutting pictures out) in scrapbooking, instead of buying stickers and die cut sheets.
I don’t really have a favorite, but I do bits and pieces here and there which add up.
I run errands ONCE a week (unless something urgent comes up). This cuts down on aimless driving and gas use. I also pre-plan the route.
Fabri-Tak is the best – found at Walmart it’s billed as the “sewing machine in a bottle”. I have saved many outfits and/or updated hand-me downs into something nice with this glue – it’s washable and everything! I’ve repaired hems and salvaged ruined clothes, for example: My son wears the knees on his jeans to shreds. I cut them down into shorts, glue on some ribbon trim and it’s good as new. This also helps with homemade baby gifts. Plain white onesies get a lift with little bows glued on front – no sewing machine or skills needed!
Re-use dryer sheets by soaking in a 1/2 and 1/2 fabric softener & water mix (or use washcloths). Hang them to dry and toss them in the dryer with your next load – the washcloth will last for several loads.
Warehouse Clubs offer good prices but the yearly fees can be hard. Instead of getting a membership for me and my spouse I split it with a friend! I only pay half of the fee and two households get to take advantage of the savings. One person will be “primary” and one will be “under” the other but both cards work exactly the same.
Watch prices and coupons carefully to build a “stockpile” of stuff you use the most (i.e. soaps, shampoos, razors etc.) Don’t be picky about brand names – 97% of the time you won’t be able to tell the difference!
Decorate creatively. Twigs and greenery from the yard are beautiful, will never go out of style and don’t have to be stored. We make our own Halloween costumes from outgrown clothes, scarves, remnant fabric and (of course) fabri-tak. This is so much more memorable for the kids than a pricey store bought costume, creates lasting memories and doesn’t have to be stored.
Garage sales and thrift stores are gold – don’t ever go to a retail store again!
I like to garage sale for baskets and wrapping paper and there is usually a huge selection of Christmas paper available year round. Christmas paper is also usually a heavier weight paper. I wrap gifts year round with this by decorating the backside with markers, stickers, rubber stamps (the kids love this!). Baskets can be picked up for pennies and make great, elegant “gift bags”.
I know I have more but they’re eluding me right now…!
I plan my menu every week so that I know exactly what to buy at the store and don’t overspend!
Hey Kacie!!!
I’m a bargain shopper and love to save money as much as I love to spend it, so this would be GREAT!
In my family we have always saved Target bags and those large shopper bags from department stores. I use those Target bags for everything!
I also love a bargain, so I find things I want and wait for the sale. I recently bought two shirts at Gap for only 4.99 each!
Recent one for the newlywed couple, we have now started halving some of our side items like boxed rice because the two of us can’t eat the entire thing. Now 3 boxes last us for 6 meals!
We also buy chicken in bulk and freeze it. I only pay about $17 every 3-4 weeks instead of $10 a week!
I’m interested, sign me up. Thanks.
I will definitely be back to check out your blog and all these wonderful tips!! We are trying to be more frugal too. We discovered the other day that we can spray paint all of the empty formula cans we are accumulating and make them into wonderful wall organizers. Hopefully I will have pics up by Wed on my blog.
One frugal tip would be to check out dvds from the library. Our’s has lots of new ones and I can check them out on Friday and bring them back on Monday. If the movie turns out to be a dud or you don’t have time to watch it, oh well, it didn’t cost anything.
Enter me in the drawing please. I’d love to give my daughter the Complete Tightwad Gazette (after I read those 100 entries I haven’t seen!)
What a great giveaway! Thanks for entering me! Mine is posted as well! Have a great day!
My frugal tip: Before making big purchases, wait, pray, and research about it.
I love this! My frugal tip is get rid of dryer sheets altogether and get the dryer balls that bounce and fluff your clothes while they dry! They are ten dollars and last FOREVER!
My tip is to menu plan and make a grocery list. ONLY buy what is on the list! I find if I stick to my list we eat healthier and for less money.
neat, I need to learn how to be a bigger tightwad then I already am, hee, hee.
i’m a cheapskate too…lol
at my office we receive a lot of faxes & i print out numerous files each day….most of them would end up in the garbage….but i bring them home & print on the back of them
umm (*blush*)…I forgot to add my email address above…!
bvcanoy@yahoo.com
Sounds like a great book.
I am always looking for ways to save money. I could use that.
Ways that I am frugal:
use coupons when I can
Buy items on sale.
Reuse baggies, dryer sheets.
Use grocery sacks for garbage bags.
Make handmade gifts.
Among many others.
I’m a big coupon clipper & sales ad watcher. I also print on the back of printer paper @ home; @ work, I use it for scrap paper. This sounds like a great book! Count me in! Good luck everyone!
Happy Monday!
Jennifer :-)
My favorite frugal tip: breastfeed! You’ll save money on equipment (no bottles necessary), formula (which is expensive) and doctor’s bills.
As a close second I would say cloth diaper and use elimination communication. Not many people out there can say that their grocery bill hasn’t gone up one single bit with a newborn but it was the case for us.
I always use a coupon when I go out to eat or shopping…there are so many coupons available online and I always check before I leave the house.
I just discovered using white vinegar and water to clean just about any surface in the house, and it’s awesome. Please enter us.
frugality is like a super fun game to me. my newest frugal amusement is spending a few minutes to write a list of everything edible in my kitchen. then i make up my menu (for as long as the food holds out) using every last bit. this means no wasting food because it goes bad and also little to no grocery money needed for a bit. then when i hit the end of it i can study the grocery ads!
I could really use a good book like this!
I have the Sunday paper delivered of the big City we live near and clip coupons. I also clip coupons from the mailings that come throughout the week.
Never buy my kids clothes new. Wait for sales or shop at Target & Wal-Mart for $4-$5 for tops and pants.
Shop off craigslist.com for baby items…just got a double stroller for $15!!
I don’t pay for retail! I wait for sales and also shop at Dollar Tree!
Love to shop at the thrift stores!
I have started using couponmom.com to get good deals with my coupons especially at Walgreens and CVS. It’s a great site and it is free!
I love to use coupons and get stuff for free at Cvs & walgreens!
I love to freecycle. :)
I’d love to enter this. My frugal tip is that I use half the recommended detergent in the wash, and also use vinegar in the rinse cycle. My clothes always come out smelling really clean and fresh.
Thanks for the offer.
Catherine
bizy_mom[at]hotmail[dot]com
CVS and Aldi are my favorite stores and getting deals is my “fun” for the week :)
My tip is to cut your dryer sheets in half. Your clothes still come out static free and smelling good and the sheets last twice as long.
I would love to win this book. I checked it out at the library but didn’t get to finish it.
Ok, these tips are AWESOME!
Mine include: use a programmable thermostat to cut heating bills, when you do splurge for coffee bring your own mug (most places offer 5-10 cents off for it), and when you want to treat yourself…go to the beauty school where services are 1/2 off what they cost at the salon!
Well, we use cloth bags for groceries, cloth dipes, cloth pads, and cloth rags and napkins. All of this has only increased my washing by 4 loads a week and I have 2 in dipes yet.
I clip coupons like crazy and normally only buy my girls clothes from consignment stores. I want to get better at being more thrifty so I bookmarked your site – thanks for a great contest mama!
I have never checked out your site before, so I hope that this is not a common one. We wash our ziploc-style bags. Most of my friends and family think we’re nuts, but we do.
I hate to say this but I haven’t read it yet. i would love to win.
i love this book — i too read it from the library, which i think is my best frugal tip — the library rocks my world. i also save money by bringing my nalgene bottle and filling it — no bottled water for me!
I buy the rolls of meat, and then when I get home, I repackage them into smaller portions.
Also, I buy next summer/winter clothes (especially the winter coats) for the kids when they hit the clearance racks. Hopefully the size I pick will be what they are the following year.
Great give away!
oh wow… my tip is that i screw off the top to the liquid part of the swiffer wetjet, and fill it with 1/2 vinegar and 1/2 water, then use a reusable microfiber pad for the mop… cheap and green!
For over seven years, I have planned a weekly menu. I estimate this saves me $30 to $50 in groceries, every two weeks. (I know this because when there is the rare occasion I don’t make a menu, I spend that much more.)
I also only use a 1/3 of the recommended amount of laundry detergent. Because of this, I am able to buy a better brand of detergent (Tide) and it keeps my washer in better working order (less repairs). Our long time plumber gave me this tip years ago, and it has worked well.
Thank you for hosting a giveaway!
One of my favorite frugal tip is re-using those vegetable mesh bags as a sponge/scrub.
Avocados, onions, and sometimes bell peppers come in those mesh bags and they’re perfect to scrub stuck on food on pots and pans. They don’t harm teflon or my counter tops and I save money by not having to buy sponges as much.
I hope I win the book!
I use to have all 3 books and absolutely loved them,but they got ruined from a water leak. I have never replaced them and would LOVE to win them. I use to read them constantly.
My frugal tips:
I cook up hamburger meat and vacuum seal to make easy meals. It only takes a few minutes to thaw and mix in Manwich sauce or taco seasoing or make a quick pot of chili. Saves on take out when you just don’t feel like cooking after work or have had a busy day.
I also shop combining sales with coupons. I stockpile when there’s a good sale to avoid paying full price in the future.
Thanks for the chance at your give-a-way!
Melinda
littlebookworm06@hotmail.com
This is one of my fav things about this…finding new frugal blogs! Our big thing now is taking our kids worn out clothes and making blankets and quilts from them. They are great for memories & recycling! We are also saving papers and socks to try our hand at paper making for cards etc. I’m doing everything I can to stay home while the kids are young! Can’t wait to come back and visit to read…sometime after the contests end! Thanks!
This one is funny and maybe rather embarrassing but I will tell it anyway! When I was dating my DH we went to pizza hut and it seemed so sinful to throw away 2 pieces of pizza that were left so he ate them! The funny part is they were NOT ours! Some strangers left their pizza lay to be pitched, and well I talked him in to eating them as he was still hungry! LOL! He did and we still joke around about this! Hey I cannot help the fact all I think about is saving money!;)
please enter me in I NEED THIS! Thank you!
Many Blessings!
Tina
I think the very best frugal tip is to use freecycle.. I get alot of my son’s clothes and toys from there.. Im also INSAINE about coupons if its something I use alot I even buy them on ebay. Most of the time our baby food never costs us more than .15 a jar and $5.00 for a can of formula (max). Bogo coupons are AWSOME for formula then top it off with formula checks and its pretty much free!
OH I also must Add I shop totally with coupons and can save almost HALF on my bill! I love a good bargain and recently got a sign that says Clearance as this makes me feel excited;)
I actually bought my daughter a pair of shoes that said .99 and it came to 1 cent at check out! I love it!!!!Yippee for me!!! How else can I save??? please do enter me thank you SO much!
Would love to win this book. It is great!
I LOVE the Tightwad books! Sure hope my number gets picked.
My frugal tip is to stretch your milk. Instead of 1% I buy 2%. When I open a new gallon I pour a quart of it into a pitcher. Then I add a cup of water to the pitcher and fill the gallon the rest of the way (slowly!). There is no taste difference, minimal nutrition difference and it saves us 2 to 3 gallons a month!
I would love this book. The only tightwad tip I have is something we’ve been doing lately to get on track financially. We cancelled anything we were paying for that wasn’t absolutely necessary: newspaper, cable tv, Netflix, magazine subscriptions, etc. Now that we are getting set financially we are going to start getting some of these things back, but only the ones we really miss, like the newspaper. We’re really trying to learn to be frugal around here, but it isn’t easy.
I use grocery bags in our little trash cans, and since I’ve been thinking of using reusable bags, I’m wondering what I’ll line the trash cans with. So this is a tip and a question in one. :) For now, lining with the grocery bags works great. :) Thank you for the book offer! I have been wanting to read it! Angela
mybuttercup “@” cavtel “.” net (Written that way to prevent spam bots). :)
Tip: We add cooked brown rice and black beans to our taco meat to make it last longer. It usually makes enough to freeze some.
Hmm, now I want a taco.
tjfroyd at gmail dot com
I haven’t read this, but know I need to. Most of the frugal things I know I learned from other blogs. I did realize a while back that it was silly to keep buying Swiffer cloths for the sweeper, even though they worked fairly well — I now have three reusable cloth covers. Minor dirt can either be pulled off by hand or with used dryer sheets; major dirt means they go in the washer.
jtakes(at)aol.com
My husband would love this as he likes to save money wherever he can.
Great Christmas gift for him and I wouldn’t have to spend a cent.
I would LOVE this book. some great things we do are:
1. salvation army- our area has 1/2 price Wed where all the clothes are half price. I only buy my clothes there now as I get great things like Ann Taylor, Gap etc for only a few dollars a piece. Our salvation army also had a pound place where you go in and rummage through all the clothes- pick what you want and pay $1 a pound.
2. restaurant.com- they recently had a sale for 70% off- got $25 certificates for $3. These are great for a special nite out- my husband and I have been to a great restaurant where we used a certificate and paid only a couple dollars plus tip.
3. yardsales for gift items- during yardsale season I go every week. It is amazing what you can get brand new with tags on that you can use for gifts for VERY cheap.
rebecca
ra1153@aol.com
I shop at the discount food store and use cloth diapers. Thanks for entering me in your blog give away!
We participate in a food pantry. Thanks!
I try to be content with what the Lord has given me!
Thanks for entering me in your blog!
This is a wonderful giveaway! I love the challenge of finding the best savings! My newest suggestion is we purchased a front loading washer….we are saving considerably on water and detergent.
Thanks for the chance to win. You guys are GREAT!!!
I clean virtually my entire home with just one cleaning solution. In a 32 oz. bottle I mix 15 oz of water with 15 oz of distilled vinegar and 2 Tablespoons of Earth Friendly Orange Concentrate Cleaner. Cleans everything!
I’d love a chance to win this book!
My husband and I almost ALWAYS share entrees when we go out to eat! Saves a bundle – especially when you have a coupon too!
Pick me! Pick me! :)
I make my own cheap foam soap. I’ve saved some foam soap dispensers and fill them 1/3 full of the cheap, store brand liquid soap, add water to fill them the rest of the way and turn them over several times to mix. I end up using a lot less of even the cheap liquid soap since I only fill it 1/3 with this.
Great giveaway!! Count me in!
Here’s what I do…
Every weekend I head to the grocery store to buy my lunches for the next week. It saves a lot not having to eat out every day.
Then I also make a lot of my Christmas gifts, I love Cross-stitch and so far everyone I make something for loves it too! Thank goodness!
this is such a great giveaway! i’ve been wanting her books for forever. :) my frugal tip….well, i make my own reusable baby wipes from thrifted receiving blankets cut up and sewn together in squares. wet wtih warm water, dip in a little olive oil, throw in laundry with rest of diapers, the end! i love it. :)
Okay, I used to think that doing a giveaway like this without working for it was lame. Like shouting gimme, gimme! But I did a huge giveaway in September…so I deserve this!
Thanks for entering me.
:) WM
I love to save money. Add me please.
We avoid cable which saves a lot of money and then watch the good shows on dvd we get from the library later.
Great giveaway! Please count me in. :)
My frugal tip: Use your own grocery bags and ask for the “bag credit” at the register. Most supermarkets will take 5 cents off your order for every bag of your own you use!
Instead of cotton balls or the little square cotton pads, I use organic cotton baby washcloths bought in bulk on ebay to remove makeup or apply toner. It saves the cost of the disposable types and water/room in washer by not using a full size washcloth! Very handy!
you can contact me at leighayn@gmail.com
My best frugal tip?
Use coupons on items already discounted for deep discounts!
And…
Order water at a restaurant!
I saved a ton of money by shopping at yard sales. It’s surprising how many people sell brand new items. My kids were always dressed very nicely and the majority of their clothes, books, & toys came from yard sales.
I have too many frugal tips to share here, so come read my post about them:)
I have a list of frugal meals that I can incorporate into my weekly menu planning. On very lean weeks, it helps to have some super cheap meals to prepare!
Please pick me.
http://tonsofsons.wordpress.com/
Please enter me!
This year I started making my own laundry detergent. We love it … and it is SOOOOOOO CHEAP!!
Would love to get the book!!! My tip is that I don’t buy at full retail price and always look for the clearance racks and sales! I do occasionally splurge and buy at retail but that’s even less than once in a blue moon. LOL
I gave my copy of this book away and wished I hadn’t done it. My favorite frugal tip (and environmentally friendly) – I never buy paper napkins, and rarely buy paper towels. I use cloth napkins for my family and keep a huge stack of cleaning cloths for wiping up spills, cleaning chores, etc.
I would love this book too! I’m new to the world of SAHMommy Home Ec, so I’m just now learning couponing, etc. But my best tip so far is CouponMom.com. It’s like the Grocery Game, only free!
I guess my favorite frugal tip is: I plan my meals once or twice a month. I pour over my frugal recipes and decide on what I need from the grocery. I then sit down with all the grocery store circulars, coupons and my Shopping List software – http://www.homeplansoftware.com/shoplist.htm which I input into after every grocery shopping trip, so I have the most up to date prices on everything I typically buy, adding the store name or abbreviation to the item title. (My list might say “Chocolate Chips – Kroger – $1.99) With the circulars and coupons I can decide where I am going to get the best deals and I hit two – three grocery stores in one trip, savings at least $20 each grocery shopping trip. I am so anal and so cheap, I absolutely adore the planning process.
We buy our books at the library book store! I can get great children’s books for $.25!
One of my favorite frugal things is just saying no! No to those mail order catalogs and deals and no to the restaurant meals. Just being content with what we have.
I hope no one said this yet, but my favorite frugal tip is to buy yeast and flour in bulk to make my own breads. A 2 lb. bag of yeast lasts about a year (in the fridge) for me, so it really saves money. (I make bread every week.)
This is an awesome giveaway! I hope I win!
I shop at Save-A-Lot and take my own bags so I don’t have to pay for theirs. Tonya
Plan, plan, plan. Only way to go. Plan out a budget, including not only recurring monthly expenses but also biannual/annual ones — birthdays, Christmas, car tags, insurance, etc. Plan out a menu plan, and thus plan out a shopping list (I like to start with the sales ads, pick my sale items, then plan the menu and shopping list). And don’t forget your follow up — have to actually stick to the plan to make it work! And if the plan goes off course one day/week/month, make sure to find out where and why, so that things can be adjusted if necessary.
I <3 Tightwad Gazette. I don't have this copy, though.
This might have been mentioned before, but it’s something I just did last night and it’s fresh on my mind. When shopping for meat, always check to see if the grocery store has any clearance packages at reduced prices. Where I shop, yesterday’s cuts are usually half off. I end up spending much less than even the sale prices, and I can stock my freezer with less expensive food for the future.
Definately shopping at Albertson’s where they take everyone’s coupons and offer great specials.
My frugal tip: Make your own laundry detergent. It’s better for you, better for the environment, and better for your pocketbook!
Barb J.
jonesfamilyof5@yahoo.com
oooo great giveaway! :) Let’s see….I shop for christmas gifts through out the year. Only buying on sale and clearanced items.
I love it!
This sounds like a great book to have.
I shop at BJ’s for pampers diapers – and they accept coupons too. I do find that it is cheaper there than in other stores.
I also look for meat to go on sale b/c the due date is coming up – then I will buy a bunch and make a bunch of meals and stock my freezer – I save money and time down the road!
We make our own refried beans. So easy, beans in the crockpot over night or however long and mash. Better than canned and cheaper too in the long run! Oh, and come over for my mary kay giveaway too!
I’m a huge fan of buying used children’s clothes. I save money and don’t get upset if the kids trash them (which they always seem to do).
Hmmm… I know I am frugal. I just can’t think of anything really good right now.
But here is something that I do, right now. I keep a list of all the ways we’ve been blessed, monetarily or real things or even food. It is a reminder for me when I am worrying how we are going to pay for things. I can look at the list and see that God does provide and take care of even the extras!
I have never read this but have heard about it. We’ve been using cloth napkins, cloth diapers and homemade wet wipes to try and cut expenses and for the health benefits (the cloth dips and wipes). Thank you!
WOW — The Tightwad Gazzette — count me in!!! A frugal tip is stay home. :-) I find I spend more money when I am out and about than if I just stayed home. Thrift stores – love them and not just for clothes for the growing boys. And make as much of your own food as you possibly can. That way you can control what your family eats and save money too.
I thought that I left I comment before, but I don’t see it. So here’s my frugal tip again:) I use 1/2 the amount of laundry detergent than the container says. Also, I use dish soap for our liquid hand soap (diluted with 1/2 water) and it’s saved us a lot of money. I just use the cheap Ajax dish soap and it works great! I’d love be included in your giveaway.
I don’t know how original this is, but I cook mostly from scratch and buy a lot of generic brand food.
Count me in!
Trying to learn to be more frugal – at this point I’m just clipping coupons and keeping an itemized grocery list so that I don’t do random shopping at the store.
The book sounds like a great read!
basham628@tampabay.rr.com
Pick me! Pick me!
My tip: Never buy anything on the spur of the moment. If something is on sale and seems like a good buy, walk away from it for a while or go to another store. Give your emotions time to chill. If you still think it’s worth spending your money on go back and get it, but I bet 98% of the time you won’t.
thewritingwell@carolina.rr.com
This is a hard book to get ahold of at the library, for some reason! ;)
Count me in: leia18@yahoo.com
My tip(s): We reuse bread bags for homemade loaves, cook in the crockpot rather than the oven (less energy used), and use facial scrub to clean the bathtub. Works great! Hardly takes any effort. Am looking for walnut husks to grind to make my own shampoo scrub for this soon!
Excellent choice. Amy D and Dave Ramsey are my idols – I think everyone should be introduced to them. Thanks for making everyone post their own frugal tip – I’m about halfway down the list and have bookmarked the page for more fun reading later. I’m looking forward to scouring your blog too – hooray for another young, newlywed, frugal, kindred spirit!
When I first read the Tightwad Gazette I called my mom and told her I was going to make my own twisties! I can never find them in the store. My mom told my aunt, who died laughing, and promptly mailed me a couple hundred from her collection.
MY tip, however, is to know how much dishwasher detergent to use. Almost no one should be filling both cups – it can even ruin your dishes if you use too much. Check your local water hardness (water company website should have it) and use this guide: 0-3 “grains per gallon” hardness, 1 tablespoon; 4-6 gpg, 2 tblsp; 7-9 gpg, 3 tblsp and 10-12 gpg, 4 tblsp. I stole this tip from Mary Hunt here: http://www.debtproofliving.com/rss_articles.asp?ID=38116
Although I don’t do it with the idea of being frugal in mind, I have given up using toilet paper in favor of cloth wipes. Just can’t beat that no-lint-y feel, KWIM? My family is less convinced though.
I have two favorite tips…that are interrelated.
1. Join your local CSA (Community Supported Agriculture) – you’ll get organic produce in season for a fraction of store prices, plus it helps the enviroment and supports small local farmers. As a bonus – the produce keeps much longer – my local CSA literrally picks the produce within 24 hours of delivery to me!
2. Use your produce to make your own toddler /baby food – it’s easy to cook a veggie and puree or mash it and them freeze portons in an ice cube tray!
Besides reusing plastic bags as garbage bags, selling a few things at craigslist (and buying), buying books for my son at garage sales, borrowing DVDs from the public library, we are using the CULTURAL PASS of the library as well, getting to know many new museums and attractions for free.
Thanks,
Karen (karenyoram@gmail.com)
I could use this book!
I make my own baby wipes with paper towels, baby bath and baby oil. It costs about $.60 per 80 count & works as well or better as store bought.
I just read this book over the summer, as well! I had checked it out from the library, loved it, and now it’s on my Christmas list!
My frugal tip is to really evaluate if you need something. Though it may sound way too obvious, we save money by not spending it!
I’ve also been trying to decrease our consumption of convenience products, both for frugality and to be better stewards of creation.
my newest frugal tip is craigslist, both for buying and selling. way easier than a garage sale, and if you post pics of your sale items it’s easy to keep them in one folder and have a handy inventory of what you want to get rid of.
I buy most of our furniture used, give it a fresh coat of paint, and it’s good as new!
What a great giveaway! I have a couple of the books, but not the complete collection!! If I win, I will donate my other copies to the local library.
Even with our small family of three it still makes sense to buy in bulk and freeze EVERYTHING! Okay, I don’t freeze bread and milk because I can’t fool myself into pretending it is the same thing, but everything else is freezer fodder!
Thanks for the chance to win! My favorite money saver is shopping at thrift stores for clothes! This past Saturday all clothes were 50 cents each! I got nine pairs of pants, three shirts, a coat and a bunch of other stuff for under $16. I was hyped up! Now my closet is FULL!
I buy gifts for birthday parties my kids are invited to when toys are clearance to 75% at target. I have about 5 stashed in the closet right now.
This is a great book!! I had to borrow it from the library and would love to have one for myself! My favorite frugal tip is to make your own grocery bags. Here we have an Aldi’s and just made our own bags instead of buying them from there.
Debby
Love to have this book. I go to the MOPS garage sale at my church. They have it twice a year. I usually stock up on barely used clothes for my little boy. It is hit and miss sometimes, but when I hit I usually don’t have to shop for the entire season!!!
I make all our bread. I just pick a day and make a whole lot of dough and then freeze it. Works great! Hubs and Son are spoiled now on the homemade bread!
for clothing like blue jeans for my boys, instead of paying full price to have the knees blown out in a few months, I shop Goodwill and The Salvation Army.
My frugal tips would be eat at home more. Eating out is very expensive. Also, buy clothes and furniture second hand. I buy very nice stuff for very little money.
I shop the church consignment sales and always. and since i have two boys. well if the ones that my oldest boy grows out of fit my youngest (and are in great shape) well that’s less money i spend on him.
Instead of using a diaper genie, we use plastic grocery bags for dirty diapers and send them out to the trash each night. Saves money and keeps the stink out of the bedroom!
recently i’ve been making my kid’s baby food. It saves a ton of money, is easy, and makes me feel old-fashioned which is kinda nice from time to time.
I buy candles and generic little gifts when they are deeply discounted and save them for when the kids need a teacher present, or it’s time to appreciate a friend, etc.
I also re-use those present bags, more to recycle and reduce waste than being frugal, but I’ll post it here anyway LOL!
Mrs. C
PS I enjoy all these posts… good ideas!!
There are so many great comments already, that I’m not sure what to add.
The most frugal thing that I do is to use the entire chicken.
Legs-Fried Chicken
Thighs-you name it
Wings-Buffalo & BBQ
Breats-Any & everything
Back & Bones-Chicken stock
Gibblets & Liver-Stuffing and Gravy
I buy 5 or 6 whole chickens a week. I cut and bag and pop them in the freezer. Now I never have to wait for chicken to go on sale. Whole Chickens are always .69 cents a pound at Aldi.
Wowee! This would be so nice to win! Thanks!
I’d love to have a copy of the tightwad gazette and the frugal tips everyone is sharing are wonderful! I guess mine is to plan meals and shop sales. Not unique I know, but having menus helps so much! I think if the average american family could pick just one thing that would save them money – it would be to cut back on eating out.
wow, my FAVORITE frugal tip – that’s hard!
here’s a good one though: we often picnic after church instead of going out to eat. I still don’t have to cook, and we have a lovely time as a family in our beautiful local arboritum.
This is great!!! Enter me, Please!!! Thanks,tracy
I have also wanted to read this book for a long time. One thing that saves our family a lot of money is avoiding shopping as a way to pass time. Window shopping just leads us into unnecessary temptation. We shop when we need something specific. Thank you for offering this give away!
busygirldz@yahoo.com
My frugal tip is to shop stores for specials. Or find a salvage store in your area. Stock up on bargain foods. Then, when you want to cook, shop from your own store. This saves LOTS of money!
I would love to be entered into your drawing. Thanks.
Please visit my blog anytime at http://www.xanga.com/chefvangie.
God bless ~E
This couldn’t come at a better time for me! I’m terrible at saving money and need help desperatly! I have no tips because I need them for myself. I save money by eating over at my parents’ house.
My frugal tip is being resourceful with what I have and use what I have around the house before going out and buying more!
This book has been on my list all year. Enter me, please! Thanks!
A frugal tip? Aaaah! *Panics*
A frugal tip, of course I have one….many….just one actually to share with you.
Well, to buy small nice stuff, I don’t go to Amazon or ebay, I rather check websites offering 1 dollar items, because they also offer good stuff for a few more dollars. Found some cool things there this year.
I make lists when I go grocrey shopping, shop for clothes at Old Navy when they have clearance sales and go to the library to get books. :) I’ve heard lots of good things about the book you’re giving away. :) email: jdeguzman0930 at gmail dot com
Well, I’m new to the frugal mindset but I think the biggest change I have made is using coupons they can make a good sale into a great sale. Clothes, groceries, books, restaurants, everything.
shelly5196@aol.com
My frugal tips I have is to:
1) Hang out laundry to dry
2) I am making my own detergent
3) Think of wyas to reuse products and not waste
4) Don’t buy convenience food.
I would love to win this book. I just borrowed it from the library and have been trying to copy down the important things.
Ruth
Thanks for the opportunity.
1. We buy the entertainment book for our area each year. Usually within the first month we have used enough coupons to pay for the book so the rest of the savings add up for the year.
2. I add TVP (textured vegetable protein) to ground meat to make it last longer.
3. We skip the microwave popcorn and use a popcorn popper. Tastes better, is cheaper, and is better for you.
I obviously need this
Wow, I think this giveaway is popular, Kacie. You picked a really nice item!
Hmmm, frugal tip. *thinks to self* If there is a purchase I am pondering, but it is something I am not sure I need (or even how much I’ll appreciate it after I buy it), I usually walk away and think about it. If after a few days or weeks I still even remember what I was considering (usually I’ve completely forgotten about it!), then I consider it more, but usually that’s enough to make me realize that I didn’t really want the item all that much in the first place.
Susan Keister
susan dot garrison at gmail dot com
I am seeing alot of places that sell reusable bags now. Kroger and even Ikea. Not only are they inexpensive, they are green.
I shop yard sales, buy in bulk, I also use my freecycle group to get items I may need.
have a blessed day
rochelle
shellynickles@yahoo.com
We have two kids in diapers. Instead of wasting money on diaper genie refills, we now use plastic grocery bags to tie up the diaper and cut down on smell.
Great Giveaway! Please enter me.
We keep our house on the warm side in the summer…78*, and cool in the winter…64*. This has helped our electricity bill out immensely!
I’ve been wanting this book for a while now! I always use a list when shopping so I don’t buy everything I see and forget to get what is needed for the planned meals for the week.
This book started my love of tightwaddery! Paula W
I try to do some things but I know I could do much better. I reuse dryer sheets, shop clearance, and I try to use containers instead of plastic bags whenever possible.
julieahudson[at]hotmail[dot]com
Oh, I would love to win this!!
Frugal tip:
We prefer organic produce but it is so expensive here. We planted a garden for very little money. Organic produce for less!
Thanks for the chance to win!
Organic groceries are on sale for a month at a time from my local grocery store. So you can check out the sales, then head to ebay to buy coupons for the sale items. You can get good organic stuff for pennies by doing this!
katie at dekabyte dot com
I use a couple of tennis balls in my dryer instead of fabric softener sheets or those blue spiky balls. The tennis balls “beat” the clothes and soften them, and they are a lot cheaper than the blue spiky balls…plus there are no additional chemicals to worry about.
I always buy toys used and then resale once theyve been outgrown my turn over has always been good alot of toys I make money on.
Andrea
3osterbergs at gmail dot com
Kacie,
I’ve heard good things about that book for a while. Please enter me in your drawing.
I’m new to frugality, so I’m not sure I have tips to share, but we plan our shopping carefully and try to pay cash for our purchases. This eliminates unplanned purchases and saves us money in the long run. Does that count as a frugal tip? I hope it helps.
By the way, I live north of Pittsburgh. Email me offline if you like and we’ll talk.
mama2gems [at] gmail [dot] com
Karen
I often wash and reuse ziploc bags if they were used for things like snacks, crackers, etc.
Thanks!
My most helpful tip is going to blogs like yours and getting ideas from those smarter than me!!! but, I also fill a spray bottle with softener and a little water. spray a washcloth and throw it in the dryer. voila…my own dryer sheet!
I’ve been meaning to read this book for a long time. Our library doesn’t have it…
djodb (at) verizon (dot) net
I make my own cards out of scrap paper instead of buying from the store. swarrenpeace@comcast.net
I would really like to have a copy of this book!
I don’t have any really amazingly frugal tips other than I don’t buy books even though I am an avid reader. I browse the Doubleday Book Club website to find out the new releases and then I get online with my library and put holds on those books for when they are available at the library. I use wash and reuse plastic food storage bags. I try to cook dinner every night (several meatless nights a week) to save on restaurant costs. I reuse dryer sheets, but in a different way. When I take it out of the dryer, I then use it to dust off/wipe down the dryer, washer and surrounding area in my laundry room from all the fuzz that doing laundry generates.
Cindy (cossege@gmail.com)
We keep 10 reusable fabric market bags in the trunk of each car. We take them into all the stores not just the markets. I also keep a small (bigger than the lunch box size) ice chest in my trunk for cold and frozen items.
I save the plastic bag that the newspaper comes in (Sunday only for the coupons) and use it for dirty diapers.
Make friends….yes that is my tip. When you have friends you can does Halloween costumes, share kids clothes and even tell each other about clearance finds!
Count me in! I make homemade cloth diaper wipes. I love them. They clean better and can be used over and over again.
I reuse ziploc bags. I will also only buy a box of cereal if it is under a certain price (usually $2-3/box). Cereal can be so expensive otherwise!
if you are military, shop at your local commissary!
count me in!
melissa nassraway
I bought this book for a dear friend, and wish I had my own copy. I get the tightwad tips via email.
I use vinegar in almost every rinse cycle when doing laundry. Kills bacterias – makes clothes smell fresher (and really does NOT smell like vinegar) and I NEVER have to use dryer sheets.
Thanks for joing in the give-away contest!
eko (marblehead64@gmail.com)
My tip is to send away for every free sample you can find! I haven’t bought toothpaste or shampoo from the store in six months!
Something else I enjoy doing is sending away for all the free pet food products and treats and then donating them to the local pet shelter. I also do this with baby items too!
Please enter me in your contest so I can learn more. Thank you and have a great day!
Thegrocerygame.com… I’ve saved a ton on my groceries!
My tip is to live simply. Avoid spending to make you feel better.
Would love a copy of this book. Thanks!
I’d love a copy of this book. I’ve checked it out from the library numerous times & would love to have my own!
My tip is if you have candle wax on cloth, put an iron on low heat, cover the area with a cloth that you don’t care about & slowly iron it off. It transfers to the other piece of cloth. This is especially helpful on velvet.
This would be a great book for my family.
My tip is to shop only once a week for groceries. If I go in to pick up something I always end up buying stuff I don’t need. :o)
I use vinegar and baking soda to clean almost everything. It’s super cheap and does just as good a job as the name brand products. Also, we stopped using paper napkins and paper plates, and we save a ton of money!!
I shop and consign at a huge consignment sale that happens twice a year here for all of my kids clothes.
My favorite tip is to stop right before you go through the check-out line. Look at everything in your cart. Now is the time to purge those impulse buys that you put in your cart.
You also get some more exercise walking around the store putting them back ;)
Me too, pls.
I hate wasting plastic bags, so I decided to start bringing my own felt bags. I find when I have less room (by refusing to get plastic bags) I spend less and buy less impulse purchases. I get what I need, so i have room.
Becky =)
At work, we’re always being encouraged to cut expenses. We have hardwood floors and we Swiffer them every day, but we found out a good sturdy papertowel will do the same job as a Swiffer pad for a fraction of the cost. So now we buy papertowels instead of Swiffer refills!
I love shopping garage sales!! Lame, but my best frugal tip.
I always always ask to pick over leftover clothing at yard sales. My kids wardrobes are 95% free.
For me, the best budget-saver is staying out of the stores. If I don’t know about it, I can’t want it.
melanie at welfing dot net
I’d love to win this! My favorite frugal tip is to buy in bulk with a coupon combined with a sale! Keeps my pantry stocked! Thank you!
Nancy @ Homemade Blessings
I would love to win this book!! Here is my frugal tip…
I still put my three year old daughter to bed in pull-ups just in case she has an accident in the middle of the night. This saves me the headache of having to change sheets and 2:00am. Pull-ups are very expensive so I by the store brand and I re-use them. She gets a bath every night and we just use the same pull-up for a bout a week or more until it wears out. (Obviously if she has an accident we throw it away and start fresh!)
This is the book I need. Thanks for doing this. My favorite savings is to do RiteAid rebates. I saved $70 last month. You do it online and never have to mail anything in…check it out.
sounds great
I cut open all the air-filled sacks that protect the contents of packages and use them as bags for all sorts of things, especially when I travel (to separate and contain toiletries, etc.) Thanks for this opportunity!
Marvellous gift!
My tip:
use the best parts of a tomatoe to put on the salt or on bread.
Don’t throw the lesser parts away.
Crush or slice them and put them in the soup.
Feel welcome to enter my give-away!
I hit craigslist and do tons of stuff on freecycle. I also buy non name brands (as long as they are comparable) and use recyclable grocery bags.
We have put our hot water heater on a timer so it does not run at night. Otherwise it runs at regular intervals around the clock, whether we need hot water or not. This has saved us quite a bit!
Turn down the heat and put on a sweater!
Open the windows and let the sun light and heat your home during the day. :)
Since the little ones refuse to eat bread crusts, I remove the crusts before I make sandwiches. The crusts go in the freezer. When I get a bag full, I make bread stuffing.
juliedelpriore (at) hotmail (dot) com
I love that book! I have borrowed it half a dozen times, but would love my own copy.
My frugal tip: Empty half of the bottle of liquid fabric softener and save. Fill the rest of the way with vinegar. You still get the great scent, plus the added benefit of vinegar. (Reduces hard water spots, a great rinse agent, CHEAP!, etc.)
(My email is on my profiles)
Cloth diapers! Wash them and reuse! Also I water down juice. Not just to save money, but for the health of my family.
count me in thanks!!!
jnjnelson@verizon.net
The “scratch & Dent” section at the grocery store is perfect for us. We try new items, get fsmily favorites, and an occasional treat at less than half of the regular price.
miraclesdamsel@juno.com
hmm, my frugal tip…
try not to order food…but if you do, split it in half and save the rest for tomorrow’s lunch/dinner, or tonight’s later meal. There’s always too much, and that way you dont end up stuffing yourself, and you have a tasty meal waiting for you!
I like seeing personal finance/ money saving type blogs like yours! (that’s what mine is supposed to be…)
ok…I have lots of frugal things that I do. But one I was just telling a friend about today is on laundry detergent. I watch our local grocery (Giant) for their bogo free on laundry detergent and buy 4-6 at a time. I get a big bottle for just over $2 each!
I wish I was more frugal. Maybe this book will help.
~Jill
My frugal tip: joining http://www.flylady.net. FlyLady’s system is 100% free and teaches so many ways to be a better home manager. One example is that I no longer waste money buying duplicates of something I already have, but I lost or didn’t know I had it.
I’d love a copy of the Tightwad Gazette! Thanks for the chance to win this. :-)
sarah_carol (at) hotmail (dot) com
I absolutely love this book. What a great gift this would be!!!
Oops sorry I didn’t realize I was supposed to leave a frugal tip… hmmm… I use cloth diapers, 80% of the time ;) I use home made dishwashing liquid and I bake everything from scratch. I also buy things in bulk and do not buy processed foods or junk food (accept for Coke and S&V chips for the hubby)
I’m a beginning frugal but my favorite and biggest savings tip is to sell my kids gently used clothing in lots on ebay. The demand is high there and then I use the money in my paypal account to purchase gently used (usually name brands) clothing for the upcoming season. With three growing children, this clothes swap works out beautifully! I would love to read this book! Thanks for the giveaway!
I do alot of garage saling for my kids clothing. Most sales have tons of kids clothes. You can’t beat the sales with quality clothing for 25 cents each! It’s so worth it to garage sale when there are winter jackets and pants, etc. for only “pennies” compared to paying full price.
I’d love this book!
Yard sales!!! Aldi!!! Vegetable Co-ops!!! Great giveaway!
amolloy3345@yahoo.com
I always do “family baskets” for Christmas. These can have lots of homemade food items, movies, family games, etc. I also usually get one small gift that is intended for each kid in the family. These have been great hits and have gotten my whole family involved in gift giving as well as save a considerable amount on gifts. Thanks for giving away such a great book!
wow…there’s a book of tips just in this post alone. I already feel like a winner. :)
Another tip: big coffee cans make wonderful storage bins. Also, scour your local resale shops – you can get name-brand stuff at a reasonable price if you’re willing to look for it. :)
I made all of my son’s baby food when he was little.
We also added a “jacket” to our hot water heater.
I am only one of the thriftiest people EVER! This sounds fabulous!! =)
I would love to learn to be more frugal.
I take my used books to the 2nd hand store who lets me trade them 2 for 1. Great deal since I have tons of books. This way I will never run out. They also keep track so if there is nothing I want I can still get them later.
Unfortunately I tend to overspend but my DIL is a tightwad. My frugal tip is this, I let her do my shopping for me, that way only what is on the list gets bought. She loves to do the shopping and I love the savings!
One of the best things I ever did for saving money was to start reading deals forums and blogs. The postings about available deals combined with the opportunity to trade for coupons and forms I hadn’t received has been invaluable in shaving money off my grocery bills.
I hang my clothes out to dry & wash ziplock bags & reuse. Thanks! Melody
http://www.xanga.com/meljoypip
love your site-will be back! would love this book! i either buy my kids’ clothes at resale shops or recycle with other moms. come visit me!
These are some great tips so far.
Iwash & reuse ziplocks…not just for money saving, but for the environment.
I also shop for my holiday stuff the day after the holiday. I bought a bunch of Halloween stuff yesterday.
Laura
COupons coupons coupons — I have them all organized in baseball calrd pages in a inder and arraged ABC style — I also do the Walgreens and Cvs rebates and EBC programs! My best tip — DON’T TAKE THE KIDS when I grocery shop – the “mom can I’s” get me every tim!
I’m pretty inexperienced at the frugal game, (I’m trying to get started though) but I do the majority of my shopping online and whenever I get ready to check out I log onto mypoints.com and make sure the store is one of theirs and log on through them so I get “points or credit for doing so. After about 2 months of shopping I cash in my “points” for FREE giftcards! My favorite are for Cracker Barrel & Wal-mart !!
What a great give away. I find the most frugal thing I do now-a-days is budget our month before the month begins! Once the money is in our account, it flows very VERY quickly. If I have a plan in place it flows in the right directions! I can’t wait to see all the wonderful tips in this book.
Rean Day
i have lots of little tips i do- rip the dryer sheets in half, use less detergent than it calls for, make pancakes and eggs for dinner one night a week, bean rice and cheese burritos are cheap too- i use very little consumabale paper- paper towels, plates etc.
:)
i’d love to win this. i’ve paged through it a few times..
heathair@hotmail.com
Wow! This would be great. Count me in.
We don’t use any paper products in our home, well only toilet paper. We use cloth diapers, napkins, rags, cloths, etc. We also make all of our own cleaners.
Thanks
I would love my own personal copy of her book! I’ve checked it out from the library dozens of times. Thanks for the chance to win!
rjkettler@sbcglobal.net
Please count me in!! Thank you.
Hello!
Here is my tip. My hubby generally doesn’t like regular ground beef because of the junk you can get in it. So, when something like london broil or really lean roast meat goes on sale (.99-1.99lb) we will ask the meat dept. to grind it for us and stock up. It is usually very good quality hambuger and cooks down less. There you go. Please enter me I have very much wanted this book! :)
Wow, there are a lot of frugal gals leaving cool tips! I try to never buy anything full price for myself. Ever. I do try to love what I buy for myself to wear, and if I don’t love it I don’t buy it (unless it’s an essential like undies). We share meals at restaurants, reuse just about everything food comes in so we never have to buy Gladware, and I like to use half the detergent needed to wash. We don’t get our clothes that dirty. Okay, more than one tip, but I wanted to share. I’d love to win!
i hope you consolidate all these tips and make a post out of them. email me when you do, i would love to see. :)
we crock pot all our own beans. i think it helps to have a mini crock pot. so you don’t have to worry about what to do with the rest of them or making anything fancy. just enough for the meal (about 2 cans). i think you’re more apt to pull it out when it’s small, too. we buy in bulk, never seem to run out.
one more thing, we never set foot in the likes of walmart or shopko. sometimes, while trying to be cheap, you end up just that. i’ve been committed, since i got married 5 years ago, actually, to only buying things that i love and will last me a lifetime. if i find one day that i need a sieve, i bide my time until i can afford the $18 stainless steel sieve i really like. in the end i am only surrounded by things i love instead of broken bits of crap that i’m too cheap to throw away. i think it is these little things that add to the feel of a home. you know, when you open your dish cupboard and bits of mismatched tupperware hit you in the head (that is bad). be thrifty but also have an eye for the quality of life.
What a great giveaway!
I didn’t make it all the way through the comments, so I hope my advice is not a duplicate. Rather than spending loads of money on cleaning products, I do nearly all of my cleaning with a 50/50 water/vinegar solution, and baking soda if I really need it. A $1.25 bottle of vinegar lasts me quite a while!
I stock up on clothes for my children during the out of season sales at the local BX/PX here on post (we’re military), and their reductions are INSANE! Love it!
I try to reuse everything, like old magazines become craft supplies and projects, soup cans become altered gifts etc..
chevybelair1 @ juno . com
count me in too please :)
i cut dryer sheets in half to make them last longer
I love this giveaway, (though I’ve never heard of the book) and I will definitely bookmark your site to come back. I have major grocery store spending issues.
My frugal tip is buying used books at Goodwill instead of checking them out of the library and when I finish reading them, turning them back in. That way, I can keep the book as long as I want, but don’t spend too much.
My frugal tip is to stock up on items when they are cheap or free with coupons. I never run out of things and I never pay full price :)
I use microfiber towels instead of buying paper towels. I look online for coupons before shopping.
I shop at Aldi’s for most things. I use coupons where I can’t. I don’t buy paper towels or sponges. I keep lights off unless it is dark outside…. Please count me in! Thank you.
Ann – crafty.momma.too (at) gmail.com