1. I eat.
2. I go shopping.
Great, huh? Both are just awesome habits to have. When I say "awesome," I mean stupid. So I've really been working on both of these areas of my life over the past few weeks. I'll save the eating issue for my fitness blog, but here are some things that have been on my mind with the spending issue...
Basically, I am not nearly as frugal as I should be. I am finally realizing that I could be so much more money-conscious than I am, and how much of a difference that could make. Luckily, Nate makes much smarter financial decisions than I do (phew), but I know that I need to rise up to his level. 
I recently read an article about the secrets to super frugal families. The biggest thing I took away from it was their ability to separate "wants" from "needs." That's huge. So many of the things I spend money on are not necessities. Each time I'm about to buy something, I'm learning to ask myself, "do we really need it?"
Couponing is another thing I've been thinking about. I've always been hesitant to coupon (it's a verb now, did you hear?) because I believe that many couponers end up buying things they don't really need, or buying lots of junk food because it's cheap. However, I know that many people also save tons of money doing it. So I think it's time for me to enter the coupon world. The key is not to get so caught up in getting a good deal that you forget to separate wants from needs. 
Also, we are starting a garden this year, and I'm excited about it. I don't know why we didn't do it last year. I can't wait to have our own fresh fruits and vegetables. And what a great way to save money.
I'm a changed woman, and I feel so much better.
Do you consider yourself to be frugal? What do you do to save money?
P.S. If you see me at Target, please walk me to the door and shove me out. Thanks.
11 comments:
I think you are being a little hard on yourself. I think we can all analyze our wants and needs better. I am happy to hear you are planting a garden. I want to come and visit you in the late summer and help you can. You have all those fruit trees nearby. I have about a million empty jars in the garage. It would be nice to see them with peaches, pears, etc in them.
I am not frugal...at all. I sure wish I was though it would make life so much easier!
I just buy stuff I want. Does that help?
Target is such a hard place... it's filled with the funnest cutest stuff, I love going there but it's hard not to buy all the great stuff they have! I clip coupons, but only for things I usually buy anyway. And I look for online coupons for stores like Old Navy, Michaels, Joann, etc. And for restaurants, if you join their e-mail list they usually e-mail good coupons.
I consider myself somewhat frugal but there are certain things I pay more than I should for!
We use coupons every week- usually just 2 or 3 but it can save quite a bit of money. Check this out to et an idea- http://fromonemommatoanother.blogspot.com/2011/01/coupon-savings.html
Okay, I'm totally not secretly stalking your blog anymore :) ...and I think you're not seeing the whole picture here with being frugal. You made those awesome canvases and make Paige such cute hair clips. You could have easily spent way, way too much money on both of those things, but you decided to make them instead and saved a bundle. Being frugal in a way that you like (i.e. making hairclips, etc.) is still being frugal...it still counts!
I consider myself frugal but these winter months drive me crazy being cooped up inside. So when I need out of the house, guess where I end up? In stores, usually the mall, and its hard not to spend money.
I'm also excited to plant a garden.
And I think you're smart about couponing. It's true, there are so many couponers that think because they have a coupon for something they don't normally buy, they are saving money.
Did that make sense??
You go girl!
I too have the same problems :) Here are a few idea's I have been using. I love Mint.com it's a website (very Secure)where you can enter all your info, checking accounts, credit cards,loans, assets, etc in. It will automatically update all the information from your financial institutions as long as they are available which most are. you then set up your income, budgets, goals etc. You then can have it automatically put things in different categories based on the store. It's no perfect at categorizing things so I have to do some manual change the category but that is probably because I have a pretty detailed budget. It's awesome because I can split my target transaction between my "fun money" the kid items, groceries etc. I love it because I can give myself X dollars and not feel guilty if I want to buy something that is a want not a need. It makes me realize where my money is going it's almost a game for me to stay in my budget!
Next I love the bountifulbaskets.org it's a food co-op where you get a whole laudry basket plus full of fresh produce (you don't get to pick what it is but its super fresh and it's half fruit half vegetables and for the mots part I know what to do with everything and its nice to try new things) it's $16.50 you can order bread too which I suggest it's $10 for 5 loaves of multi-grain best part it's only 50 calories because it doesn't use oil. I throw them in the freezer and it's honestly so tasty especially toasted! I know they have it in eastern Washington but I don't' know how close to you but I suggest checking them out. Only downside is you pick it up on Saturdays and some can be pretty early. Mine is 730am
And finally I totally agree. Love couponing and saving money but beware not to buy things just because they are cheap!
Good luck! and again I suggest a little fun money budget. I gave myself one and I honestly never use it because I am like I don't want to spend all of it what If I need it. I think I am going to have a little chunk of change soon :)puts things in perspective
Target & homemade chocolate chip cookies are my downfall...if we move back to Spokane, I'll keep you away from Target if you keep me away from the cookies ;)
I am super frugal! I never pay full price for anything. Where do I begin ??!! =) I do love coupons ... they are time consuming and I could be WAY better at that ... but it is worth it when checking out. I only shop clearance - I don't even look at full priced items as if they weren't even in the store! If I don't have coupon ... I google until I find one. I buy diapers on Amazon ... (join amazon mom and get 30% off - click subscribe and save and look in Parents and Parenting mags for an additional 20% off ... bringing your diapers down to 7-10 cents each - oppose to the 25 cents Costco sells them for ... yes, Costco isn't the best deal here ... and Amazon ships free to your door in two days. It rocks ... I will think of more .. or maybe you should just call me ! lol .. good Luck ... (I love your Target comment ... soooo true !)
I love gardening and this is my second year it saves tons of money for us and we eat fruits and veggies that are way higher in nutrients than things that are in the store picked and shipped green, those usually have hardly any nutrients.
I also ONLY shop sales and clearance, I mean I literally walk into a store and unless there is a sale price I don't buy it, but I grew up that way and been like that since forever (mostly - cuz no-ones perfect).
I can't recommend Mint.com enough. Its amazing but you have to look at it so you see what your trends of spending are and were to cut down. Paul and I have a weekly meeting to go over our finances and were we are on budgets.
I don't coupon.
Oh with the garden, if you are doing the square foot as the one you pictured, I've done a lot of research and this is my second year doing it so I can give you some pointers as well as how much to plant in each square. I'm not an expert just have some things I've learned by trial and error.
Overall though what is frugal?
Saving money? saving time? Its a lot of things.
Oh another thing I've thought of but haven't implemented yet is try only spending 2 weeks of each month or something like that. This way you have to plan out your grocery shopping, your errands etc - you don't get caught randomly in target buying something just because. ie the 1st and 3rd week of each month are the only weeks you can swipe your cc, just some reduction of swiping.
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