A Frugal Life Still Requires Budget Cuts

CENTERBURG, Ohio -- I've lived a fairly frugal adult life. Married young, we rarely had any money, and I quickly learned to save on the basics -- food, clothing and utilities. Since then, I have had periods of prosperity when I enjoyed traveling and going out with friends.

Those days are over. As the economy has soured, it wasn't too hard for me to adjust. After a career with heavy travel, I really don't like to eat out and prefer cooking from scratch. My man prefers cooler temperatures and I like to be wrapped in a blanket.

In central Ohio, the cost of living is lower than other areas of the country. My full-coverage car and rental insurance are affordable at less than $70 a month. I live in a two-bedroom log cabin with a full basement in the middle of over 50 acres for $600 a month.

I have friends in Phoenix who pay almost $1,000 a month for the privilege of living in a two-bedroom apartment. Another friend moved from Columbus, Ohio, to Scottsdale, Ariz., and saw his car insurance costs triple.

We have cut back on many things we enjoy, but we don't argue about money. Money comes and money goes and I think my years of married life with very little have made it easier for me to adapt than others.

Here are four ways we save:

Car Payments

My 1996 Dodge Intrepid is paid in full. Even though the payment was only around $125 a month, I made the right decision to pay it off when I quit my job in 2007. We keep patching it up and doing the basic maintenance. And I'll drive it until the wheels fall off to avoid a monthly payment.

Books

If I can say I collect anything, it would have to be books. I want to be surrounded by books. Right now, it's hard for me to pay hardcover prices of more than $20 for an evening or two of pleasure.

I am making an exception this summer for the return of James Lee Burke's Dave Robicheaux. Dave's been my friend for years and I'll gladly forgo a new shirt in order to spend a couple of nights with him.

Travel

In 2008, we were on the road more than we were home. Since then, we save for one special vacation to Bear's Den Lodge in Ontario. We roll pennies and sell at flea markets and on Craigslist to save enough money for that one trip.

By packing most of our food from home, we save at least $100 on our meals for the week. Last year, my man had a prescription that we filled at Giant Eagle to obtain the best fuel rewards. We were able to fill the 40-gallon tank on our truck for less than $10 and that got us almost to the lodge 600 miles away.

Savings

I think I'm most uncomfortable not having any savings to fall back on. While I never had a huge nest egg, I used most of my savings in 2007 to start my licensed home bakery. While I've been able to sustain, I haven't been able to put anything back. I know that if I were to get injured to the point of not being able to bake, I would end up completely dependent on my man.

I try to keep the money I earn from freelance writing set aside for a rainy day, but this farmers-market season has been filled with rainy days. Market sales are down, and I find myself using the writing money to help pay the bills.

More painful than any of my budget cuts is the occasional worry that I may no longer be able to depend upon self-employment to support myself. I've had great-paying jobs that made me miserable and won't help me find a job at my age in today's economy.