How to Be Frugal and Enjoy Life's Everyday Simple Pleasures

Treated as a game instead of as a chore, frugality makes living less expensive and promotes a simpler lifestyle. Living a frugal lifestyle does not mean going without life's luxuries to stay within a tight budget. Being frugal can require creativity, extensive planning, or living a more flexible schedule.

Rather than rehash common tips for a frugal lifestyle, let's explore a few that are rarely on the radar of today's penny pinchers. It really is possible to find bargains everywhere.

Eat discount chocolate candy

Chocolate is one of life's most simple pleasures. Frugal chocolate lovers know that discount chocolate can be purchased at 50% off retail at local chocolate manufacturing facilities starting the day after a major holiday. The best times to stock up are after Easter and Christmas. Imperfect candies can be bought at up to 75% off retail year round. The candy can then be stored long term in a freezer. Frugal chocolate lovers need not suffer.

Get food at 50% off everyday

Frugal food shoppers know that meat, bread, and dairy products can always be purchased for 50% off retail prices. Grocery stores have products that expire daily and must sell them or take a complete loss. Frugal shoppers know to visit the grocery store early in the morning to buy these specially marked 'Manager's Specials'. Once they are all in the shopping cart, use cooking creativity to whip up a masterpiece meal for that evening.

Barter at the farmers market

Farmers are some of the best barterers. Frugal farmers market shoppers that have a product or service the farmer needs can often barter in exchange for bedding plants, fresh veggies, fresh bread, raw honey, or other farm fresh products. I've bartered online advertising, social networking, herbs, seeds, and shallots from my home garden for all of the above. Wear a smile and an outgoing personality to make the bartering friendly and productive.

Get paid for your opinions

Major regional hub cities are often the sites of 'bricks and mortar' consumer survey firms. These are definitely not the online survey scam sites. These firms pay cash honorariums for consumers to come to their firm and participate in very structured opinion panels. They are always recruiting for outspoken opinionated consumers.

After qualifying through online and phone questionnaires, consumers come to the site, sign in, and then spend 30 minutes to a few hours discussing pet food, food, food packaging, beverages, or political opinions. Honorariums range from $65 to $200. Many sites recruit for children's surveys too.

Ski or snowboard for free

Everyone knows how expensive ski lift tickets are at the lift ticket window. A few ski resorts in Colorado now charge $108/day during peak season. How does free sound instead?

Most ski resorts rely upon volunteers to fill their mountain host and ski race event positions. For frugal skiers and snowboarders, this is the perfect way to score free tickets or free season passes in exchange for a few hours or a few days commitment. No time to volunteer? Find out when the 'discount days' occur.

Drink craft beer for free

The popularity of craft beer has resulted in an explosion of craft beer festivals. One can find a festival in almost every major city in the USA, especially during American Craft Beer Week.

Craft beer festivals rely heavily upon an array of volunteers to staff the various events. Frugal craft beer enthusiasts can attend even the largest beer festivals for free by volunteering their time. Volunteers often receive free festival tickets, T-shirts, get to meet celebrity brewers, expand their beer knowledge, and taste new and exciting frosty adult beverages.

Work part-time as a brand ambassador

Attend any festival or large community event and one often finds people handing out free samples of beverages, snacks, and other various products. They greet people with a smile and briefly explain product details and benefits. It's how many major companies market new or unfamiliar products to frugal consumers.

Most companies hire short-term promotional staff known as brand ambassadors to work these events. Brand ambassadors typically earn $17/hour and up for a promotion. By working 10 to 12 hour shifts over a three day holiday weekend, one can easily clear over $600. Better yet, the frugal brand ambassador often receives ample amounts of unused food samples and products to take home.

Be a contest winner

The best way to be frugal is to get what you want for free. Find contests or giveaways for products that are needed at home and register for them. Many companies host quick trivia contests on Twitter or Facebook. One can either stretch their budget with the free products or sell them on eBay or Craigslist.

Being frugal doesn't mean going without the things that make life enjoyable. Stretching a tight budget is possible by 'outside the box' thinking and creativity. Frugal shoppers, let's go get it for free.

Resources:

http://www.russellstover.com/storelocator/storelocatormain.jsp
http://www.plazaresearch.com/
http://www.fieldwork.com/
http://www.associatedcontent.com/article/7848296/get_free_lift_tickets_to_winter_park.html?cat=16
http://www.greatamericanbeerfestival.com/the-festival/volunteer-benefits-opportunities/
http://www.gcmarketingservices.com/