Simple Changes for Frugal Living

Learning to change your spending habits in a difficult economy can be tough. I'll show you how to save money on everything from hair care to grocery shopping to watering. With these helpful tips, you'll be on your way.

Salons

If you're lucky, you have a great hair stylist. She knows exactly how you like your hair styled, including the trick-cutting around your unruly cowlick. He knows the perfect shade of summer blonde for your locks. And, you can solve the worlds' problems with friendly chit chat during a hair color appointment.

Since we've been impacted by the sour economy, I've recently halted our numerous salon visits (we're a family of five) and I've learned how to cut hair at home. Invest in a good pair of appropriate scissors and some hair clippers. The keys are to understand that you won't be perfect the first time and to always cut longer than you think it needs to be (you can always cut it shorter, but you can't glue it back on). With some practice, you'll develop confidence and enjoy huge savings. Cha-ching!

I do not, however, recommend cutting your own hair. Let's just say that I could double for Jim Carrey's character, Lloyd Christmas, from the movie Dumb & Dumber. While no oversized bowl was harmed during the creation of my current hair style, I do qualify as a ridiculous looking moron. And that's just the top layer of my hair! Thank goodness for ponytails.

My favorite new hair care skill: coloring my own hair. The money saved: lots. For under $5 (store sale combined with a coupon), I transformed my root-ridden once-blonde highlighted mane back to its natural brunette color. Not only was it painless, but it looks fabulous. Too bad I look like Lloyd Christmas.

If you've never colored your own hair, research it online first. You don't have time to stand in the hair color aisle at the grocery store with that perplexed look of confusion on your face. A bit of research will eliminate that blank stare and help you navigate the confusing rows (and rows) of different brands and colors. It will provide an answer key to help you select the right color because the little numbers and letters on those boxes read like a chemistry test. I don't know about you, but I didn't do well in chemistry.

Several color-at-home brands have websites full of information and interactive guides to help you select the right color. Just don't cut your own hair.

Brand Names

Once upon a time, I was a loyal brand name consumer, but the sinking economy has forced me into unknown territory. Lately, I've succumbed to different brands and I now purchase anything on sale. If I can get it cheap with a store sale and a coupon, it's taking a ride in my shopping cart.

In the past, I refused to buy any brand of toilet paper other than that which graced the paper holders in all five or my bathrooms. It was soft and durable and oh-so squeezable. Mr. Whipple would be proud of me. Yes, I'm the one who pokes holes in the toilet paper wrappers to get a feel for the new-to-me brand.

Another brand I've ditched is Starbucks. I was a full-blown coffee snob. I'd grind my Starbucks Gold Coast Extra Bold coffee mere seconds prior to brewing and then melt into its warm, black goodness every morning.

Now, I just scoop normal pre-ground coffee out of a red plastic container and smile at all the money I'm saving. It's the best part of waking up!

A great website to help you match coupons to store sales is The Grocery Game. I save between $130 and $150 each time I hit the grocery store.

Credit Cards

I don't know about you, but we are up to our necks in alligators with credit card debt. It's the normal American way, but I'm ready to dump it and be abnormal. If you're in the same boat, consider pledging to never use credit cards again. Then, the next time the effects of an unpleasant economy hit, you'll be a spectator instead of a participant.

I've recently begun my journey with Dave Ramsey and his common-sense approach to debt elimination and personal finance. It's liberating! We'll be 100% debt free, including our mortgage, in the not too distant future. Now that's a sanity saver! The path to get there is a very frugal one, but the reward far outweigh the cost.

Clothing

Are you still paying through the nose for your clothing? Now is the time to stop.

Good sources for deals are consignment shops, garage sales and, my personal favorite, thrift shops. When shopping at these places, be sure to dress accordingly so you can easily try stuff on, if necessary. Be wary - some folks have their clothing tailored, so that size 12 you're looking at might not fit you correctly.

If the pair of slacks you're looking at are too long, you can very easily hem them with a genius of an invention called hem tape. Just use a common household iron to fuse your hem together. Works like a charm and you won't have to pay tailoring fees.

Does the thought of used clothing makes you squirm? Do you not want to look like Napoleon Dynamite the next time you need new clothes? Discount chains like Meijer, Wal-Mart and Target carry stylish clothing at a fraction of the cost.

Want free school uniforms? Consider starting a uniform exchange at the school and encourage every school family to participate. Hold the exchange twice a year - once in early fall and again at the end of the school year. The idea is to exchange outgrown uniforms for ones that fit.

Watering Methods

Save on watering your houseplants by using recycled water. Simply top a milk jug, or any recycled empty bottle, with a funnel and place it under your kitchen sink. Instead of dumping half-empty glasses of water or ice down the drain, pour it into the milk jug. It doesn't have to be pure water -- you could use watered-down liquids like juice or soda. Regardless, you'll be surprised at how quickly the jug fills up. You'll save a bit o' green, too.

Timing for lawn watering is important. LandscapingIdeasOnline.com offers important guidelines to follow, including how much water and when to water. Their article, "How Often Should You Water Your Lawn," states that early morning hours are best because your lawn will drink up the most water and evaporation is at a minimum. Overnight hours may promote the growth of disease because the water simply sits on the lawn rather than being absorbed and used.

Sometimes, change isn't easy. With an open mind, however, and a willingness to try new things, you just might be surprised by the money you save. Your level of sanity will benefit, too. Just don't cut your own hair. One Lloyd Christmas is enough.