Frugal Living: 25 Small Ways to Help Lower Your Expenses

The cost of living is rising all over America, and minimum wage unfortunately isn't keeping up. It is tough to survive in today's economy, especially for a single income family in this double income world. Unfortunately, there are some expenses you can avoid without going without. And sometimes, going without isn't as bad as it seems. Learn how and when to go without--and how to save money without neglecting your needs and desires. Here are some tips, in no particular order!

1. Don't buy what you don't need if you don't really have the extra money. That cute sweater on sale may be a steal, but if you've already got enough sweaters, and your account balance is dwindling, you should pass.

2. Don't buy name brand, unless you know the off brand is terrible. Compare the ingredients in the two different brands, as well as the amount in each container. Most of the time, the cheaper brand is the better buy and works just as well.

3. Buy thrift whenever you can. Find out when stores like Goodwill and Arc have their discount sales, and make it a point to go when you need something. Check Freecycle and Craigslist, too, before buying something new.

4. If you have an air conditioner, don't use it unless you must. Dress for the weather even indoors. If it gets so hot you're sweating in your underwear, or so cold that you're shivering in your sweatpants, then turn the air conditioner on.

5. Don't buy expensive things. Have a price limit--for everything. I, for one, never spend more than $10 on a shirt or pair of pants unless we have plenty of extra money (if we've received birthday money, for example). When it comes to meat, a $2 pack of hamburger meat fills my families belly as well as $6 steaks, and a $1 pack of chicken drumsticks is as satisfying as filet mignon. A $10 bag of shrimp is a rare luxury.

6. Collect, sell, trade, and use coupons. It can save you money. But, remember that sometimes the name brand is less expensive even when you have a coupon.

7. If you qualify for government programs like WIC or food stamps, use them. The government funds those programs adequately enough that if every single person who qualified used them, there would be enough money. If the people who qualify don't use them, that doesn't mean more is left for others who need it. They'll get no more. It also doesn't mean less will be set aside next year. The money won't be recycled back into the system. It will just go unused, sitting there, waiting for someone to use it. If you are doing well enough that an extra $75 wouldn't make a bit of difference for you, or you feel that you should forego it on principal because you can manage without it, that's fine--but it's not benefiting anyone. The taxpayers will pay the same amount regardless, because the amount isn't calculated based on how many use it but on how many qualify.

8. If you must borrow money, borrow from friends and family. Pay them back. If you have to borrow from somewhere else, chose a bank over a credit card or instant cash company. You will get a much lower interest rate.

9. In fact, avoid borrowing if at all possible. In America we want instant gratification. Where we once saved up for that new washing machine, now we just charge it--and pay a high interest rate. Take a lesson from the past: save for those big purchases that you want. Before purchasing anything on credit, ask if you really NEED it NOW, or is there is a way you can manage to wait until you can save it up.

10. Wait for something to go on sale before you buy it. If it's summer, and you want to buy a new camera, buy it around Father's Day. If it's winter, and you need a new desktop computer, buy it during the Christmas shopping frenzy. You may have to spend more time in line, but you can save up to a few hundred dollars.

11. Find extra sources of income that require little effort or financial backing. You can make money by babysitting, dog walking, using GPT sites on the internet, or having a garage sale. If you're a writer, try sending a few pieces off to magazines and internet websites.

12. Don't throw something away that can be reused. Rinse zip lock baggies. Save your grocery bags for trash bags.

13. Save your left-overs for breakfast or lunch. Additionally, try not to frequently prepare food that you know will have left-overs that cannot be reused.

14. Don't drive somewhere when you can walk or ride your bike. This is healthy and will save you not only on gas, but on oil changes, tire replacements, etc.

15. Avoid temptation. When you go to a store, have a list, and don't buy anything that isn't on it. Don't go to areas of the store unless you need something from them. Don't go to stores where you have a tendency to overspend.

16. Find cheaper ways to entertain yourself. Rent movies for $5 a piece instead of going to the movies and spending five or six times that. A $300 above-ground pool will amuse your family just as much as an expensive day at the water park--and last longer.

17. Make sure you are paying the least for quality service as possible. Do you have cable? See if DirecTV is cheaper. Have you compared your insurance company's rates with those of other companies? Have you thought about switching from a regular phone company to a voice-over-IP system like Vonage? What about your cell phone plan? Are you getting the most minutes for the least amount of money? Some companies will allow you to bundle services like your ground line, house phone, and satellite TV for additional savings.

18. Refinance your auto loans, mortgages, and other debts every 6 months to a year. You can lower your interest rate, as your credit improves, and your monthly payment, as your balance decreases. You save money this way, and you spend money for a shorter period of time. The key, however, is to keep making the same monthly payment even if it decreases along with your interest rate. That will help you pay your vehicle off even faster and help you save quite a bit more money.

19. Consider buying the less expensive term life insurance, and investing a little for your retirement, rather than paying for whole life insurance, which can be more costly.

20. Change your diet. Cut out those expensive, salty, fatty foods, and stock up on seasonal fruits and vegetables as snacks instead. Drink water instead of cola.

21. If there is a small package, and a big package, the big one is probably a better buy. Buying in bulk saves you per unit. Just make sure you don't get so much that you won't use it before it expires!

22. Frozen juices run you about $1 a can, which yield 48 oz. Juices that are old in jugs are usually $2.50 for the same amount. If you want a small package of juice for when you're on-the-go, instead of paying too much for too little, make the juice, and then pour it into a special drinking container of your own, like a mug.

23. Don't buy convenience foods because of their packaging, like soups that come in a mug. They are priced higher and don't usually taste as good in my experience. If you must have soup in a mug, buy a regular can. Pour it into a regular mug, and then heat it up in the microwave.

24. Make one trip to the store a week, when you have a list of things you truly need, rather than frequent trips because you ran out of this or that and "need" it. Chances are you can do without that 1/2 gallon of milk or that tub of butter for a few days, until you have a few more things on the list. This will mean less chances for overspending, as well as savings on gas, oil changes, and other auto-related expenses. It also makes it easier to keep track of your spending.

25. Have a budget every month, and stick to it. Pay your bills. Then buy necessities. Then save what you can, and if you really, truly want something, buy it if you can. If not, wait.

Hopefully some or most of these techniques will work for you. Personally, I'm not into coupons, and while I qualify for WIC, I'm not interested in having yet another set of doctors tell me how to parent and comment on my child's development all the time. I have, however, saved quite a bit by shopping thrift, sticking to a budget, and bundling my services. Comparison shopping has saved me a lot--and not just in the grocery store. One of the best ways to be frugal is to talk to others about how they save money. These are only a few ways that I and others I know manage to make ends meet. There are a variety of other creative ideas out there that may benefit you and your family. You just have to seek them out and listen to what others have to say.