Finding Time for it ALL

As I search around the blogosphere and read blogs of other frugal or work at home moms, I sometimes feel like I'm just not cutting it. What I'm saying is, I seriously lack time management skills and I can't understand how they find time to do it all in one day. I know we're all given the same 24 hours but how we use it makes so much difference in the amount we can accomplish. I have no problem admitting I am terrible at time management. I have poor organizational skills and it's making my quest for frugal living even harder. Cutting coupons, searching sites for the best deals, managing the CVS Extracare buck deals, making a shopping list, creating frugal meals from scratch, housework, taking care of the kids, earning an income at home... Some days I feel like I don't have time to go to the bathroom! It's even difficult for me to find time to blog and read other blogs. Sometimes I feel like I'm spreading myself way too thin but all these things need to be done!

I need to get myself on a schedule and maybe I need a life coach but I can't afford one so I'll have to be my own. I'm reading all the information I can find online about time management and organization. I try to prioritize but I feel like I'm buried under a huge mound of EVERYTHING and I don't know how to start digging my way out.

How do you manage your time and keep your sanity? Any advice is welcomed ( and much needed!)

Updated to add that I found www.beingfrugal.net and the tips are awesome. LOVE IT! =)

Frugal Beauty Tips

If you've been reading my blog you know about my dental problems. Now I know you're thinking, what the heck does that have to do with frugal beauty tips? Well, I have been taking a lot (and I mean A LOT) of Aleve for pain and I wanted to make sure I flushed it out of my kidneys so I've been drinking tons of water. Guess what? My skin, which is usually plagued by adult acne, is clearer than it's been in a LONG time. I know it has to be the water. I do normally drink water but probably not enough. My skin looks so much better and I even think the fine lines that I had seem to be reduced. Amazing.

Since we're on the subject of frugal beauty tips, I have a few that I'd like to share with you. Everyone should take time to pamper themselves and make themselves look and feel gorgeous. How can we make taking care of ourselves a priority without unloading hundreds of dollars at the cosmetics counters? There are quite a few ways to save money on looking great.



Use witch hazel as astringent. It's very cheap and can be easily found. Just use it the same way you would any commercial astringent.

Vaseline - I LOVE Vaseline. I use it to soften the skin on my knees and elbows. I put it on my feet then cover them with cotton socks overnight to help with dry, cracked heels. Vaseline is also great to use as a lip gloss. And speaking of lips, add some sugar to your Vaseline covered lips and rub with your finger for a couple minutes. This will exfoliate your lips and keep them smooth and soft.

Get enough sleep - This is completely free and not only will you look better, but you'll feel better too. Sleep is the body's way to recharge so make sure you get at least 6-8 hours a night.

Unscented baby wipes - Baby wipes are great for removing makeup. REALLY. I use them all the time. Why buy prepackaged commercial brand makeup wipes when these work just as well for a fraction of the cost?

Wash your hair every other day - Unless your hair is extremely greasy, too frequent washings can strip hair of essential oils.

Stay soft with a homemade sugar scrub
Mix-
1/4 cup brown sugar
1/4 cup white sugar
1/8 cup vegetable oil
Before your shower, rub this all over especially elbows, knees and feet. You probably want to do this while standing in the shower otherwise you'll end up with a sticky mess.

Save money on cosmetics -

Ask for for free samples at department stores and shop drugstores. CVS has a lot of great deals on makeup and you can even earn extracare bucks!

Become a representative for a company like Avon or Mary Kay. Not only can you earn a little extra income, you can also save on your own purchases.

Do your own nails. It takes a little time and practice but it definitely pays off in the end. Search the internet for details on how to do your own manicure. In my area a manicure is between $25 and $40 so the savings can add up fast.

Buy products from a company with a good return policy. I'm not sure if they still do but Rite Aid used to offer a no questions return policy for makeup. I know Cover Girl will refund you if you're not satisfied. Do your homework before you buy.

Read reviews before making a purchase. If there's something specific you're looking for such as a great moisturizer or a new foundation, check out sites like ePinions and read beauty blogs for reviews on the latest cosmetics.

Buy cheaper makeup. A lot of the high price brands have you paying extra just for the name. When you compare ingredients, you'll see that many of the lower priced items are basically the same as the pricier ones. Aziza, Cover Girl, Bonnie Bell and Wet n Wild are a few brands that have some really good products that aren't expensive.

Beauty Supply Stores - These places are a wonderland for anyone who wants to save money and look great. I could spend hours inside Sally's Beauty. I can buy anything from products to highlight my hair to makeup sponges for really great prices. There's even a SallyBeauty.com Clearance Center to help you save even more.

What are your frugal beauty tips and ideas?

Free Build and Grow Class at Lowes

Free fun for kids at Lowes, tomorrow, April 25th! If you have one near you, check it out =)

Frugal, Fun Ideas for Bored Kids

With summer right around the corner, I'll have a house full of bored kids. I'm trying to come up with some interesting things we can do that are fun and frugal. Aside from sending a couple of them off to summer camp (not really cheap but they need the break) we don't have much planned this year. Here are my ideas so far..


Going on picnics - Even if it's just on our own patio, it should break up the monotony of things a bit.

Visit any local museums. There are a few that I know of that we've never been to. I'm pretty sure they're free too.

Free concerts - They hold concerts every week throughout the summer at area parks. I need to find a list and choose which ones they'll enjoy most.

Library - We'll visit the local library to rent movies and check out some great books. Our library even has a story time and special activities for kids.

Computers - There are lots of fun sites that are child friendly and geared toward kids.

Draw pictures or color in coloring books - Coloring has always been one of my favorite things to do. Fingerpainting is another fun thing we'll have to try.

Cook together - This will teach them skills they'll need in the future and also be fun. I'll be seeking some easy, kid friendly recipes that we can all make together.

Boardgames - This is an old standby but it can be lots of fun. We can also play charades, hangman or a card game like go fish.

Go to the mall- You don't have to spend money to have a good time at the mall. People watching is fun, and we can enjoy the air conditioning and hit the sales racks for bargains. One local mall has a pet store, and we won't miss out on that!

Read books to each other- It's really fun to start reading and then take turns making up your own endings. I love some of the things the kids come up with. They have great imaginations.

Treasure hunts - I give each child a dollar or two and head out to the thrift stores and yard sales to see what cool things they can find for their money.

Water battles - use old, rinsed out shampoo bottles or dish soap bottles, squirt guns and pails.

What activities do you do during the summer to occupy the kids?

No dental insurance - BIG mistake, HUGE!

I've never really given much thought to having a dental plan until this past week. Of course, I make sure the kids have their check-ups and routine dental care but I've put off having things done and now I'm paying for it (figuratively and literally).

Last week I started having some pains in my jaw. I dealt with it until the pain got so intense I could barely open my eyes. On Saturday, I had to go to the ER. I had a fever and was really scared of getting sepsis from an infection. They told me I had an abscess under my teeth, in the roots, and gave me a prescription for antibiotics and a painkiller, Tramadol (which doesn't work, by the way).

I won't be able to get this completely taken care of for about 10 days. I saw the dentist, they told me to keep taking the antibiotics and the infection should clear up. Today is the first time I've really felt any relief so obviously, the Amoxicillin has kicked in. Too bad it took about 98 hours. I can honestly say, the pain I was having rivaled labor and delivery.. and I've had seven kids so I know what I'm talking about.

Now, for the dental plan that I don't have... I know we need dental insurance. I'm looking into it. It seems pretty affordable for the most part. Any savings is welcome because dental visits can get pricey. Did you know for preventive care it only costs an average of $150 a year and that's without insurance? I just regret letting it get to the point where I need such extensive work.

If you have any suggestions for dental plans or ideas on how to save money on dental care, please feel free to share!

There's no such thing as "Cheap" Child Care

I've found out one of the most difficult tasks as a parent can be finding someone you trust to watch your children. Whether it's for a night out with your partner or a full-time sitter while you work, you have to be careful and thoroughly research the people you leave your children with. There's just no real way to be frugal or cheap when it comes to paying for child care. This is one time when money can't get in the way of quality. Cheap just won't cut it when your child's safety, emotional and educational needs are involved.

How can you assure your child will get quality care without going bankrupt?

You'll have to learn to scrimp in other areas to afford care for your child. Being frugal in all other areas could afford you to pay for childcare. It's a sacrifice of course, but well worth it.

See if a trusted family member can watch them. While you probably wouldn't want them to keep your child every day, a family member works out nicely for special occasions. Perhaps one of them would like additional income and if need be, watch them while you work. It would most likely be more affordable than hiring someone outside the family.

If you have a job that is flexible and allows you to stay home, then you can do most of your work while your child is sleeping. Maybe hire someone to come in one day a week to care for the kids so you can get a huge chunk done and meet deadlines.

Trade child care with a friend. Setting up a child care exchange system can work out well if you have kids around the same age. Take turns watching each others children and it won't cost you a dime.

Work opposite shifts than your partner so one of you will always be around to watch the kids. In tough times, this can be a great solution but be sure to find time to spend alone with your partner.

Universities will sometimes have a daycare affiliated with it. They usually offer open spots to faculty and students but if there are any left over, you may be able to have your child placed there. Typically, child development students are caring for the children and it's very affordable.

Don't be too proud to seek financial assistance for childcare if you qualify. The US Government has state listings for child care information available. It's definitely an option to explore if you've exhausted all others.

Remember, the care of your child is the best investment you'll ever make so you never want to opt for the cheapest care just because it's cheap. Ask family and friends for referrals, check with your church, search classifieds and online for local babysitter listings, do background checks and ask for references. You can never be too careful.

How do you afford childcare? What sacrifices do you make?

Happy Earth Day 2009!

Today, in honor of Earth Day, I want to talk to you about Freecycle. For those of you who don't know, Freecycle.org has local email groups listed where you can find things you need and give away things you don't use for free. The idea is to keep as much as possible out of landfills. Not only will you be saving money by using Freecycle, you'll also be helping save the environment!

I've given away quite a few things and my washing machine came from a very nice gentleman on my local freecycle list. It works wonderfully and saved me at least $200! You can find everything from baby clothes to car parts and everything in between. If you haven't already, I urge you to sign up for the freecycle nearest you. You can start clearing out some clutter and perhaps find something you need. Why pay for something when you can get it for free?

Frugal Spring Decor

Trees are turning green, flowers are blooming and things are starting to feel really fresh and new. You need a lift with some Spring spruce ups in your decor? Don't let a tight budget stop you from decorating this season. You don't have to spend a lot of money to get a fresh, new look in your home for Spring.

Start by searching your closets, cabinets, attic and basement for items that you have stored away. Maybe you have some white, gauzy curtains, fresh floral linens and pillows or maybe
some pretty vases.
Make centerpieces for your table and coffee table from silk flowers or fresh flowers. If you don't have a garden go for a walk and find some wild flowers or ask a neighbor if you can cut some from their garden. Also, a lot of farmers markets have flower stands with discount bouquets toward the end of the day.

Make a fun, spring wreath for your front door for less than $5! This can be a fun and easy craft for yourself or to have the kids join in on.

Shop the after Easter sales. There are still some bargains to be had. All those colorful baskets, containers and what nots don't always have a strict Easter theme. Check out the dollar stores and places like Big Lots to see what's on sale.

Paint some plain, old flower pots in fun spring colors.

Clip pictures of flowers from Gardening books and place inside of cheap frames from the thrift store.

Go for anything that says Spring to you. It's amazing how simple and inexpensive changes in your environment can really lift your spirits!

Photo -Krzysztof Korolonek | Dreamstime.com

Frugal wedding gift ideas that aren't "cheap"

With the summer months coming up, I know there will be a lot of weddings because, 'tis the season. This got me thinking about budget friendly wedding gifts. I wouldn't want to give something just because it's cheap, would you? Sometimes with a little thought and creativity, you can create an inexpensive gift that will be adored and may even become an heirloom. I've come up with a few resourceful ideas that not only would I feel comfortable giving but I know I'd love to receive.


Create a photo album or scrapbook with pictures of them from infancy up to their wedding. Ask family members to help supply pictures!

Make a "his and hers" journal with pages for each to enter thoughts about the wedding, honeymoon and early married life. This will be fun for them to look back on in later years and share with their family.

Make a great gift basket for two with gourmet coffee and personalized mugs.

Place their wedding invitation in a nice frame with matting.

Create a DVD with video footage of them through their relationship. You can also make a slideshow of photos set to music!

Buy a laundry basket or some other storage container and fill it with cleaning supplies, personal care items and other things perfect for a newly married couple just starting out.

Make a cookbook with recipes from their family and friends. Be sure to add plenty of blank pages so they can include their own favorites.

Photo from Dreamstime.com

Money's everywhere, find some for yourself =)

In my quest for extra money, I decided to write the following. I know this seems like a strange way to come up with a few extra dollars but when every penny counts, it couldn't hurt. Besides, it can be done throughout your day and not take any extra time!

How often have you dropped change in a public place and didn't bother to pick it all up? How many times have you found coins or even cash while walking from your car to the store? It does happen on occasion and we could find a lot more free money just lying around if we were actually looking for it. Some places are better than others when trying to find money, it's just a matter of taking a closer look.

The Sidewalk - When you're walking from place to place, keep an eye open for change, especially near parking meters and self pay parking machines.

The Laundromat - People are using coins all day at the laundromat and at some point, some are dropped and never picked up. Be sure to check around the washers and dryers and also near the snack and change machines.

Vending Machines - You don't have to reach inside every coin return slot. People drop coins around vending machines all the time.

Stores - It's logical that people are going to drop money near registers. I do it all the time. Run your foot along the outside edge of the end caps and the edge of the shelves going down the lane. Sometimes the money is there, but not in plain sight.

Parking Lots - When walking from your car to the store and back, take a little time to check the ground. I've found money in parking lots numerous times, especially where the lot meets the sidewalk entrance of the store and around the cart return areas.

The entire eHow article is here

Convincing family to be frugal isn't always easy..

The other day, I touched on the subject of saving money for groceries and mentioned my soda guzzling hubby. Well, that got me to thinking about obstacles in our way of living frugally and how to deal with them. Friends, family and coworkers alike may try to sabotage our efforts to live on less. Even if they don't realize they're doing it, they can make us feel belittled with their comments as well as their actions. I know it really frustrates me that my husband has this soda addiction but that only makes me determined to look for other areas to save.

So, how can you deal with a not so frugal party pooper? Everyone in the household needs to be on board if you want to be successful at keeping costs down. Whether it's a struggle with hubby over buying soda, brand name clothes shopping for teens or eating at home instead of restaurants, you need to convince them to be on your side.

With kids, I've found the best way to get them to spend less is to have them earn their own money. If they get an allowance, make sure they know once it's gone, that's it. If your teen has to have certain brands of clothes, turn the shopping over to them but let them know they have a certain limit and if they want anything else, they need to figure out how to get it for themselves. Of course, introduce them to thrift stores and consignment shops. My daughter knows she can get about 10 pair of brand name jeans at the thrift for the price of one pair at Abercrombie. They'll either learn to shop smart or have a very limited wardrobe.

Younger children want every toy they see on commercials, don't they? The thrifts come in handy for this as well. My 5 year old knows he can buy one cheap toy at the department store or fill a whole bag with toys for $2 at the thrift. He is already learning to stretch his dollar and he rarely asks for anything when we're out shopping because he knows where the bargains are!

Now, for the toughest of all, the adults. Sometimes they're so stuck in their ways they can't imagine change even if it means saving money. I do understand having preferences but I don't understand being inflexible. Talk to them, show them on paper how much you can save by making a few changes and simple sacrifices. Don't nag them. Nagging gets you nowhere. Sit them down and show them all the advantages of your plans to save. Ask them what they're willing to cut back on and go from there. Think of it as playing a game of Let's Make a Deal. If you realize you're not getting anywhere with them, drop the subject until a later time. Again, I have to say, don't nag =)

Free Food on Tax Day - Today! April 15th

All of these deals are good for today only so go get yours!

Cinnabon - free cinnamon-roll bites from 5 pm - 8 pm

Maggie Moo’s Ice Cream and Treatery - get one free scoop of ice cream

PF Chang ’s China Bistro - save 15% on the total bill.

Taco Del Mar- if you sign up online you can receive a coupon for a free taco during the “Taxes Suck, Tacos Don’t” promotion.

T.G.I. Friday’s - receive a $5 gift card when you spend $15 to $25 and $10 card for a purchase of more than $25.

It's Time for a Little Change...

In the past I've saved change in a jar or container of some sort and cashed it in when it was full, or when I needed a few extra dollars to make ends meet. I've decided to start doing that faithfully to see how much I can save. I'll of course, add this to my emergency fund savings. I recall filling a jar and it was over $80 when finally cashed in.. that's a nice little chunk of change right there.


I'm going to take this one step further and save all of my one dollar bills as well. I got this idea from "The Dollar Bill Challenge". I really have no idea how much I could save but we'll see. With our budget as tight as it is right now, I'm not sure if I'll put all the savings from the dollar bills toward the emergency fund or see if I have enough to pay a bill and then save whatever is left. We'll see how it goes.

This will only be effective if I cut back on using the debit card. What I'm planning to do is use the debit card when I make my main household purchases such as toilet paper, shampoo, toothpaste and such but get cash back with the transaction. I can't stand the thought of wasting a few of my hard earned dollars on ATM machine fees. As of right now, there's no charge for getting cash back so that's the best option for me.

How to Cut Your Grocery Budget in Half-FREE!!

This is a free guide from the Hillbilly Housewife.. awesome stuff and did I mention, it's free? Can't beat that ;)

Saving For a Rainy (er) Day

We've all heard how important it is to set up an emergency fund. Some say we should have enough saved to get us through three months with no income, others say six. I'm going to say that in this day and age, I'd like to have closer to 9-12 months saved just for my own peace of mind. Right now, I have a whopping $16 in my emergency fund. I'd be lucky if that bought diapers for a week. I didn't mean for my fund to be so low but things came up and it didn't take long for the small amount I had saved to dwindle. So here I am back at square one.

I think it's important to set small, weekly savings goals and take baby steps toward building up savings. I know if I really try, I could save around $10 a week easily. In a year that would be $520. What I need to do is to figure out how to save beyond that. Perhaps even adding extra income and adding that toward my emergency fund. Below I'm going to share my ideas on ways to boost my emergency fund. I'll be sharing my progress with you over the months to come.

First of all, I need to look where we're really spending extra and could scale back. I've mentioned in previous blogs my slight aversion to coupon use. Well, I'm going to bite the bullet and relearn coupon usage. Way back in my early days of parenthood (when dinosaurs ruled the earth =)) it wasn't uncommon for me to walk into a store with a fist full of coupons and walk out with a cart full of stuff for up to 80% off. I got out of the habit of using coupons when I decided it was no longer worth my time and time equals money, right? Well, right now I have a heck of a lot more time than money so coupons, here I come.

Next, I'm going to get my husband to switch from brand name soda to store brand. This may or may not work but it would make an extreme difference. Right now, he's drinking over $1,000 a year worth of Mountain Dew. If I can tackle this feat, I'm guessing we could save around $50 per month.

Getting my two year old potty trained would be such a blessing financially. Right now, I have two in diapers and the cost, as a lot of you know, is outrageous. For sanitary reasons, I won't go the cloth route. I know so many people use cloth and are very successful but I'm a former cloth diaper user and I sucked at it. That was back when I only had 3 kids, I can't imagine the mess I'd make now. I lack the organization it takes to keep the diapers properly washed, etc so we won't even go there. It's an ugly, gross memory that I'd rather forget ;)


Since the weather is getting nice in my area, I'm going to have a yard sale and perhaps also set up at a local flea market once a month or so. We always have things lying around that we don't use so why not make a little extra cash from them? I may sell higher end items on eBay because I've learned from past experience, a global marketplace can be the way to go when selling pricier items. I can reach far more people than a yard sale or flea market would and make more money even after I deduct the fees.

I'm planning to get in touch with my creative side again and start selling on Etsy. I used to be an avid crafter and I did pretty well in a few shows. I'm sure I can come up with something to generate a few extra dollars. I'll be brainstorming over the next several weeks until I come up with a few good ideas. It has to be something original and something of quality. I'll keep you updated and welcome any suggestions.

I'm an expeditor for a company called ChaCha. It's a text search company that finds information for it's users and sends it back to their cell phones. When traffic is good, I can make around $20 in a few hours. It's great to do in the evenings after the kids have settled down for the night.

I started writing for eHow last month and I'm hoping in time, it will boost our savings even by a minimal amount. So far I only 17 articles and have made a little over a dollar but I'll keep adding articles and see what happens. I'm wanting to add around 30 articles a month, more if possible.

You may be saying, "Why not get a part-time job?" but I don't think that's feasible for me right now. I'd have to pay for a babysitter, use gasoline to get to and from work, purchase work clothing.. the expenses would cut so far into the extra income it wouldn't be of much benefit. I've been down that road before and it wasn't pretty. Perhaps when all the kids are in school I'll give it another go.

So there you have it, a few things I'm planning to do to make baby steps towards saving. If you have any other ideas or suggestions, please, please feel free to share!

What's For Dinner? Saving money on food

So, it's time for dinner and you have nothing planned? Normally, I'd be tempted to drag the family out to a restaurant or call for pizza delivery. Since I'm trying to be frugal and stick to somewhat of a budget, I've decided I need some help in the food department. I've always lived in a large family so I'm pretty good at making a dollar stretch but I have to admit, I'm sorta lazy. You won't find me making a month of meals and freezing them for later. I also have issues with coupons (which I'm trying to get over). I know you can save a lot by using coupons but again, I'm lazy. So, how does a lazy person like me save money on their food budget? Here are my ideas.

Pizza night is a great treat for families but ordering in can be a major budget buster. In a real pinch for time, frozen pizza is still cheaper but if possible, make homemade.

Learn to cook. You need to stay away from as much prepackaged foods as possible to really save money. Cook most of your meals at home. This does take some planning but it's not that difficult to pull off. Invest in a great cookbook of easy, frugal recipes or just search "frugal recipes" online. You'll be amazed at what you can find. The Thrifty Fun site has some great,frugal recipes that aren't too complicated for me.


Buy rice and beans - the typical "poor" people food. It adds bulk to any meal and fills you up faster.

Drink mostly water. Water's cheap, it's simple and you'll be amazed at the savings. My husband is a huge soda drinker. He probably goes through at least 4 24 ounce bottles a day. Do you realize he's spending over $1,000 a year on soda. He won't give it up. I can count on one hand the number of times I've seen him drink water. The soda drinking is killing our budget and probably killing him in the process.. Some people won't change. If I don't buy it, he'll go out and get it himself. I've seen him leave after midnight for a soda run. Any suggestions for dealing with this are much appreciated =)

Go shopping alone. If possible, leave the kids and the significant other behind. You'll find it's much easier to stick to your list and you don't have the input of others influencing your purchases.

Speaking of lists, write one! After you find some easy, frugal recipes to try out, write down a few meals that you plan to make and on another paper, write the ingredients you'll need. Make your shopping list and when you get to the store, don't stray from what's on the list. Buy only what you need. Pass up the snack foods. If it's not on the list, don't buy it.

Check the sales ads. I know you've heard this one before but really, it's a little disappointing to buy something when you're rushed only to get home and later realize you could have saved yourself a few dollars by shopping around. Get a notebook and keep track of what you need and who has what on sale. If the stores are fairly close together, you don't have to worry about wasting gas. It does take a little more time but you have to decide if it's worth it for your family.

Don't be scared of generics or store brands. This used to be a problem area for me. Growing up, I lived with my grandparents and I usually wasn't included in the grocery shopping. I fondly recall my grandmother returning with bags and bags filled with colorful boxes of name brand foods. My grandfather worked as a truck driver and made a really good income so grandmother didn't usually buy "off" brands. I have to admit I was spoiled and well, I was a brand snob when it came to food. I still have to buy "real" Miracle Whip salad dressing and I can't stand any American cheese besides Kraft but I've come a long way with other items.

There's no way I can cover all my food budget tips in one post but I'll be sure to blog more soon. In the meantime, remember search for easy, frugal meals, write your list, shop alone, check the ads and try off brands!

Frugality isn't punishment, it's freedom

What is frugal? Merriam-Webster's dictionary defines frugal as "characterized by or reflecting economy in the use of resources". But exactly, what does that mean? Some people are naturally better at being thrifty than others. I'm not one of those who it comes completely natural to, so this is why I'm writing this blog. I've recognized the need to be more careful with my spending. I have a large family and I'm tired of barely making it every month. Some people are frugal out of habit, others learn to be more frugal because of their situation. There are many reasons to learn to live on less. Whether it's because you want to be a stay at home mom and need to live on one income, you've lost your job or simply because you want to start saving instead of spending - being frugal doesn't have to be painful. Join with me in my search to spend less and live better!

Living frugally isn't a form of self punishment. Yes, perhaps in the past you've been careless with spending but that doesn't mean you're taking a total "time-out" from spending because you've been bad. I think spending less, sticking to a budget and starting to save is more about freedom than punishment. Sure, it's going to require a good deal of will, determination and discipline but there isn't much in life that's worth doing that doesn't require effort and sometimes, sacrifice.

So, think about what being frugal means to you. To many, when they hear of someone being frugal they think of deprivation. Images of people living in rundown shacks, making their own clothes from old sheets and making ketchup soup with the packets they picked up from McDonald's come to mind. For some, that may be how they live but for most people, frugality means improving their quality of life through simplifying things. In today's world, everyone is so rushed and a lot of their purchases are on impulse. When something wears out or breaks, they're off to the local department store to purchase another. Sadly, there are many people who don't comparison shop, they just get what they need and are on their way.

Sure, being frugal may mean having to give up $4 dollar coffees and $600 handbags. Being frugal may mean we stop feeding a grand monthly to our gas hungry SUVs. Being frugal may also mean we look at the price on the box of garbage bags before we throw it in our cart. In the end, you'll realize being thrifty doesn't have to be extreme or painful. It's simply taking a step back and rethinking the way we spend our money, our time and our lives.