Scrimps & Splurges

[member]

Unfortunately, I've gotten out of my frugal habits since I began this quarter in school and need to get back on board! I was wondering what y'all scrimp and splurge on for your homes, families and yourselves.

I'll be back with my list in a moment.

[Amys1st]

Save on creative ways (scrimp)
babysitting coop/exchange
shop loss leaders/ buy on sale always
meal plan
stretch meals out
clean own house
use homemade cleaning solutions
do own lawn,
do own nails
trade for services
line dry clothes
eat in mostly
breastfed 30 mos
made own babyfood
cloth diapering the next one for sure!
cloth napkins
cloth rags
eat fresh whole foods
DH cuts his own hair
Do our own remodeling
roast our own coffee

Not be frugal (its not like me to "splurge")
haircuts for me & DD
organic milk for dd
organic soy for me
choice meats when we eat it but again on sale
fresh veggies
my makeup (marykay, sometimes I trade services w my lady for makeup)
leather shoes for all. Otherwise we get sores or smelly feet not worth the trouble. We spend the most we can afford and it pays off. I just bought a new pair of birkies and threw out my 12 yr old pair.
dining out- we go to a better place when we actually go
don't garage/yard sale. It dosen't work for me and I think I spend more on gas then anything. I would end up w stuff I did not go for also.
when we make big purchases, we get the best model possible to keep it longer.

[member]

Cool list, Amy! Here's mine:

Scrimps
clothes - thrift stores and yard sales
home decore - hand-me-downs, thrift stores, outlet mall sales
food - make stuff from scratch, buy bulk, shop around, follow sales
books - library
movies/tv - no cable, rarely go to the theatre
entertainment - go to the park, look for free stuff on campus
transportation - walk if less than three miles one way or use bus (free for us)
laundry - use MIL's machines when visiting

Splurges
cable internet connection
organic foods (whole foods to use in from-scratch cooking)
organic, fair-trade coffee, tea and chocolate (bought on sale)
Le Creuset cookware (I collect, but only 1-2 pieces per year)
DVD rental membership ($16 a month, 1 movie out at a time)

[Siennaflower]

Scrimp:

cloth diapers
use vinegar/water and/or bs to clean everything
use rags instead of paper towels to clean and swiffer with
cook from scratch-even the pets food
learning to sew and making dd a bunch of summer dresses from clearanced fabric
line dry clothes
shop grocery store sales
planting a veggie garden soon!
mama cloth
dial up internet=$10 a month!
one car family
library instead of buying books

Splurges:

Stride Rite shoes for dd (our PT recommended them for ankle support)
organic milk and foods
trips to the movies 1-2x a month
Tivo (we downsized our internet connection to get it-I told dh one or the other lol)
tumbling classes for dd

[JenLove]

This is neat

My list:

Scrimp ~

I get my clothes and house decor from the Airman's Attic (I live on an Air Force Base and all lower enlisted people can go there and get *free* things that are donated from others)
I use coupons a lot
I use the gym on base (for free) instead of using the local YMCA
I go to the library for books, videos, and cds
I have just started using vinegar and baking soda to clean
I usually cut DH's hair

Splurge ~

We go out to eat occasionally
I buy things for my hobbies, like scrapbooking
We like to go out to the movies, but we try to go just once a month
We have cable internet (my husband's a computer programmer.. how could he not have something fast :LOL)

[Amys1st]

oops I forgot to add

frugal
libary for books, dvd, and puzzles
sew, mend myself.

Splurge
amazon for books dvd, and toys. If the library dosent have or I cannot get it from another source I do amazon. I try to put a lot together for free shipping.
Also, DD is a huge Thomas fan. So we have a rather expanding train collection.
We are doing DD's party at another place. When I added up the cost of doing this it was a few dollars more than what I would have spent and I can leave my dirty house behind and not have to clean up a mess.
I also scrap and stamp but it pays for itself in the long run dosen't it?

[MamaMonica]

scrimp-
-I cut everyone's hair (except dhs) including my own
-Wear my clothes until they have holes in them
-cook from scratch mostly- buy bread,crackers
-conserve electricity, turn down the heat
-cloth diapered, bf'ed etc.
-use hand-me-downs for the kids clothes
-don't drive much
-use the library for all books
-don't rent movies to have cable
-make gifts

splurge-
-I enjoy taking classes and pay for them and my gear
-hobbies- knitting yarn, art supplies
-good running shoes
-good shoes for the kids
-organic food
-road trips/travel

[CerridwenLorelei]

thanks for starting this thread I need

some more ideas

I want to save up and either move or renovate this house so I am looking for things to cut here and there

Scrimp

I started couponing again
I will not get soap/etc ( except for dh and ds who need a special one) until the last dregs are in ONE bottle
THis isn't so much a scrimp as a health thing but it is cheaper *most* of the time -I get my fruits and veggies from the local farmer's market.
If I don't have a coupon we don't usually eat there if we go out
I have cut down even on the herbal teas as well as juice for more water ( better for us too)
I started setting a food budget more often
I have several energy star appliances and use the energy save modes
I do not turn on the ac until it is absolutely too hot ( I am in Tx it does get there and I have two with asthma) and use as much of the natural sunlight as possible

Trying to cut out paper towels entirely though dh sometimes gets them -I am working on him though !

I use the sale papers to check against my lists

I know there is likely something else but can't think of it


Splurge

I set aside an amount each month for blockbuster for my anime habit-what doesn't get used gets rolled over
I buy the paper for the coupons and read the whole thing before recycling it ...
sometimes I will put aside $$ to go visit half price books though not often
Organic milk and yogurt -two of our non negotiables...
sometimes lunch with dh if I am in his work town

[HydeParkB]

Scrimps:
Clothes for me, DD - most are from the thrift stores
Try to take lunch and ample snacks to work
Use coupons and stock up on sales
Use the library for DVD rentals (free w/ our membership)
Got bulk fennel for my nursing tea, instead of the prepackaged stuff ($4/lb vs. $5 for 16 teabags)
Heating - I pile on sweaters and wool slippers
no cable

Splurge:
Some shoes - love my Borns
Organic foods
Library membership at a higher level
A/C
Yarn - luckily my stash is pretty healthy right now, but I enjoy wool yarns
Knitting magazines and books

[newmainer]

Scrimps:

one car
dh works from home, i sahm- so no commute, special clothes, etc...
no tv/no cable
(almost) never eat out
buy used/sale clothing for dd and myself
amazon (cheapest price)/library for books
hair cut about every 6 m.
still using my wedding makeup :LOL
planting a veg. garden
moved to a cheaper part of the country (to ME from CA)
don't buy "stuff"

Splurge:
-organic food (but get 15% off for volunteering at local co-op averages to $15 an hour!!)
-high quality yard-sale items- like today, a braided rug in EC for $40!!
-travel (to visit in-laws in CA)
-we're planting a veg. garden (first year- needed compost, build beds, seeds, etc...)


sigh, i'm sure there are more in both lists.... but i know we could do much better.

[sarah_bella1050]

Scrimps:
Alot of the money saving thing I do have a lot to do with my family's health and not just frugalness
I Cook EVERYTHING from scratch
I've starting to make my own cleaners
CD & BF of course
I Yard Sale alot, So far this year I've saved hundreds of $$$
Don't use paper towels
Buy mostly second hand clothing, I do buy my jeans from old navy though : , but I only have 2-3 pairs and wears them 2-3 times before washing
I don't turn on any lights during the day (except bathroom w/o window)

Splurges:
DSL
Basic cable t.v.
Organic food, but w/cooking everthing from scratch I don't pay more than what I used to
Gas, I buy Chevron b/c my car really does run better on it

[opally]

Scrimps-

Almost too many to list, I feel like just getting to the splurges !

DIY on almost everything around the house
CD & mama cloth - made my own for both
From-scratch cooking/baking/canning
Thrifted wardrobes for the entire family
Thrifted (or yard-saled) home decor - pretty much all of it
Growing my own organic veggies - all I can cram on a small square-footed plot
I cut dh & dc's hair
No cable, no Blockbuster



Splurges-

Books. For me, for the kids, for all of us.

Mrs. Meyers cleaning stuff. I make most of my own, but once in a blue moon I get some of this stuff, and it makes me want to clean. No small feat there.

Yuengling Black & Tan

Fabric. Usually secondhand, but it's almost always a splurge considering I have an embarrassingly huge stash of it already.

Chocolate. The darker the better.

Soaps & bath stuff. Again, sometimes I make my own, but a new, fresh $5 bar of lavender-rosewood that someone else has made is worth the $5.

DSL connection

[tempestjewel]

Originally Posted by opally

Chocolate. The darker the better.

:

Scrimps:
Share a house with extended family to save on rent/utilities/etc
Own one car
Budget, budget, budget and stick to it
DH cuts his own hair, and my hair (DD's isn't long enough yet to cut :LOL )
Use as much natural light as possible
Get books and DVD's from the library
Pay as many bills online as possible to save stamps/checks/paper
Buy no-name brands as much as possible
Buy most of our groceries at the commissary to save $$$, shop ads to get even better deals elsewhere
Cloth diaper
Make DD's playdough and fingerpaint
Shop clearance racks and super sales, as well as second-hand

Splurge:
Cable modem
Lots of produce, organics, wild salmon, etc
Robeez for DD
Professional pictures of DD (I LOVE the Picture People!)

[chalupamom]

Fun topic!

Scrimps:

- no satellite TV (we can't get cable out here in the back of beyond)
- cut the kids' hair
- scratch cooking/canning/baking (VERY little in the way of packaged foods - maybe cream cheese and the like periodically and the occasional dozen bagels to go with)
- gardening (several kinds of tomatoes, zucchini, hot and sweet peppers, cucumbers, lettuce, radishes, green beans, corn, horseradish, garlic and lots of herbs)
- kids' clothes come from thrift (my husband are hard to fit from thrift, we score every now and again)
- making most gifts (needlepoint, sewing, canning, etc.)
- library use
- furniture from relative's basements


Splurge:

- Netflix (although this may have to get cut - things are about to hit the fan around here)
- Satellite radio (ditto)
- as much organic food as I can afford
- well-made and -fitting bras
- healthclub membership (I've been working out almost every day!!!)
- a couple bottles of wine a month
- my husband's cigars
- Party Lite candles (the only ones that don't aggravate allergies around here)
- As many weekend trips as we can afford


Funny thing, I enjoy my scrimps just as much as my splurges. We don't feel deprived in the least.

[Amys1st]

Okay so I'm reading all your awesome lists and DH is looking over my shoulder. So I show him my post and as hes reading hes taking ownership of different things.

So for the record:
it is DH's idea
cut his own hair
home made clean solution
breastfeed alap
roast coffee
do our own remodeling

Glad I got that straight :LOL

[Belleweather]

Scrimps:
No TV
Books from the library or go to Bookstore to read
cook at home
Clothes for everyone
Hand me down baby stuff, furniture, and household goods
Make my lunch for work (Don't have time to go anywhere anyway!)
Carpool to work or bus so I don't have to pay for parking
Borrow rather than buy

Splurges:

One absolutely reliable car that gets fixed well as soon as it needs it.
DSL (Pays for it's self in entertainment, since I D/L almost all my books)
Monthly subscription DVD rental service.
Travel and visiting friends and family
Good ethnic food ingredients from the ethnic grocery
My Birth Center fees, since we could have had the birth 100% covered if we went to the hospital

[OliveGirl]

Fun thread!!!

Scrimps
- Yard sale clothes for DS, for DH and myself where we can find them
- Hand me down maternity clothes for me
- I cut DS and DH's hair
- We both work from home, which saves fuel and clothing costs
- Our home consists of about 85% hand-me-down furniture
- We don't decorate much
- We try to get by with less (DS seems to have far fewer toys than his friends)
- Books (exception below)
- Cook and bake from scratch (I do buy w/w bread though, but I make our own waffles, muffins, tortillas, etc.)
- Buy bulk (flour, dried beans, etc.)
- Don't eat much meat
- Cloth diaper (50% of the time)
- I use a Diva cup when I'm menstrating
- Breastfeed
- We do everything ourselves around here (fence building, landscaping, carpentry, etc.)
- No cable television
- Books from library

Splurges
- Good shoes (Merrell and Keen for DH, Birks and Dansko for me)
- Books for DS
- Yarn for me (only a few times a year)
- Knitting books
- Buy our beef locally
- Organic milk
- Allegro coffee from whole foods
- Dellalo pasta and real parmesan cheese
- Wine and beer (only DH now, but I imbibe in moderation when I'm not pregnaant)
- Hair cuts for me (I'm trying to grow it long so I'm only going in 4x a year)
- Personal care products (mostly from H/F store and Aveda/Lush for me when I feel like really splurging!)
- Travel to see my family at least 1x year (they're across the country, so we fly)
- Cell phone (cheap package and I feel this is important because I do some travel for business)
- Dh's new truck

[justmama]

Scrimps:
-cloth diapers
-breastfeeding
-made dd#1's baby food, plan on doing that with dd#2
-cloth wipes and homemade solution
-use TP for all diapers and some other things
-secondhand clothing for all
-most of our household furniture is secondhand
-sell outgrown diapers and clothing on TP or ebay or give to relatives
moving into base housing to save a little money(free utilities!)
-cluster errands into one or two days to save on gas money and hassle!
-pack all snacks and meals for us when going out
-make household cleaning supplies
-make most foods from scratch
-buy generic, not name brand
-line-dry clothing and diapers
-buy in bulk when it saves money
-coupons
-hit sale racks and clearance racks before buying full price
-knit, crochet, or sew things myself to cut down on buying(unless sometimes it's cheaper like the $5 recycled wool pants from the TP for dd that would have cost me $15 in wool to make)
-don't use things like paper towels, we use hand towels
-saving dd#1's clothing and toys for dd#2 even though it takes a LOT of storage space
-not buying "stuff"
-library
-McDonald's Playplace on rainy days
-lots of playground trips
-from our new house we can walk to the post office, the playground, the library, the doctor, the pool, and the golf course, and dd's school, YAY!(right now we live 45minutes out of town)

Splurges
-internet(we do have dial-up though)
-satellite tv(it's dh's vice but we also can't get cable out here in the boonies and local comes in WAAAAAAAY fuzzy)
-lots of produce and soem organic
-having the Air Force move us instead of doing it ourselves to save money(hey who needs the hassle with an active nearly 5 year old and a high-needs infant!)



WOw, I'm so much more frugal than I thought!
Meg