Frugal Living Series: Gift Giving for Less

It's December 2 and I am completely done Christmas shopping. Sort of.

It seems I have become the personal shopping assistant to quite a few family members who live in and beyond these four walls. Just need to help two boys who need to buy gifts for their sisters, and then it will be finished.

How? Well, I started last December. I wish I was making this up. Alas, it is true.

Starting last Christmas break, the children and I began making homemade gifts for this Christmas. Yes, you read that right. All gifts were and are still currently stored in an old dresser drawer. We wrapped them individually in wax paper and labeled each with the recipient's name. Later this week, we'll pull them all out.

The majority of stocking stuffers, which we make and/or purchase for our children, were acquired between June and November. Usually, we shop the dollar aisle or clearance racks for small items, spending on average $1 or less per gift. I keep a listing of the trinkets we have. Each child gets ten small items in their stocking. {We don't do Santa, but we still maintain a traditional stocking stuffed with little trinkets and candies.}

For larger gifts, we stick to a three gifts per child limit. These we start buying in the warmer months as sales present themselves and cash flow allows. Again, I keep a list and we stick to a budget. We try to make the gifts look about the same, but aren't particular about spending exactly the same amount on each child. This may sound harsh, but if I can find something that was originally $50 and with sales and coupons purchase it for $15, it still looks like a $50 gift. Most years, we work in categories of gift types, like one toy/fun gift, one book, and a piece of clothing.

Our children exchange names for their Christmas gifts to each other. We decided on this long ago as a way to cut expenses and limit the amount of gifts under the tree. It seems to be the perfect solution to helping our children give to another, but not go overboard. {We aren't Scrooges, but we want to try to keep a focus on Christ at Christmas.}

For family and friends near and far, we try to give Christmas cards each year which include a picture. This year, we used these. Since they were taken over the summer, I worked on a layout in September and ordered sometime after during a fabulous sale. We've had the cards for weeks now and I work on them intermittently as I have time. The cards will be ready to mail soon.

Extended family is a little less formulated. Actually, extended family can be tough. Left unchecked, it can wreck havoc on our meager gift budget. We try to either make gifts for our extended family members or give in other ways. The listing below reflects some of the ideas we have used over the years. Homemade gift ideas are found in these posts: 2010, 2011, and 2013.


4 Low to No Cost Gift Ideas:

• Gifts of Time - Lots of loved ones would trade any material gift just to spend the day with you and your family! Spend the time, not the money and make a memory.
• Gifts of Talent - Are you artistic? creative? We each have talents and gifts that can be shared in unique ways. I've given photographs, homemade stationary, and blankets as gifts. If you are blessed with great talent then you could give even greater gifts. A super talented photographer could give the gift of a photo session.  
• Free Events - Attend a community event with your loved one. We've been to Christmas light displays, ballet recitals, plays, and concerts for free. Just recently I found out the local symphony has a free night!
• Free Passes - Sometimes, these are called homemade coupons. We use to make these when we were children. It can be quirky, but if done with the recipient in mind, it could be very meaningful.

3 Tips to Reasonable Gift Giving:

• Set a Low Budget - We challenge ourselves to spend less than we have in years past.
• Reduce the Gifts You Give - This seems harsh and uncharitable, but perhaps it is the most generous thing you can do this year. For us, we give less large gifts to live within our means and give more elsewhere at other times.
• Know Why You Choose to Give - Maybe gift giving is a love language. Some of us are wired that way. That's great! Giving is an expression of love. It should be that way. But giving to out-do or look good is not a reasonable reason.

Reading over all of this, I concede: It is a lot of work indeed! However, for us, it is worth it to set limits and work within these spending goals. In years past, when we weren't so formulated, Christmas would get out of hand. Quickly. I like to think we've learned from our mistakes and grown in wisdom.
~ Dorie

Frugal Living Series: Food and Groceries

I dislike grocery shopping, and as the prices continue to go up, I dislike it even more.

It wouldn't be so bad if I didn't feel like it was an exam in nutrition, finances, and marketing every time I entered a new aisle.

Think I am kidding? Here is the overriding question I answer each week:

Find healthful,
tasteful, and
economical food
for 5 people
without HFC
which is appealing to children and teens.

Now, add to this food for one person (me!) that does not contain:
milk,
gluten,
soy, and
peanut butter.

 Preferably, find all food within less than an hour and pay way less than our budgeted amount.

It is easy to see why I need these tips! Maybe your grocery listing is simpler. However, each one of us can apply some or all of these techniques to save money.
~ Dorie


18 Frugal Food & Grocery Tips {which we actually use}

1. Clip Coupons - Of course, coupons only work if they are products you will actually use. If you are willing to buy a different brand make sure it is cheaper than what you would normally pray for your typical brand. Clipless coupons are available on electronic devices.

2. Shop Sales - Like most stores, our local grocery stores cycle sales. Learn them. Purchase in bulk, when possible, during the sales. If you can combine with the coupons, then an even better deal is gotten!

3. Compare Unit Prices - We taught our children this technique at an early age. We didn't want them to compare just the prices, but the cost in comparable units. Then, we could discern what was the better deal.

4. Make Your Own Food - Seriously. For instance, feeding my family gourmet organic hamburgers which were bought with a coupon during a sale ($7 for 6 burgers, almost $1.17 per burger) is cheaper than one of us going out to eat ($9.99 for a gourmet burger at a local restaurant during lunch time hours). However, making our own hamburgers only cost $3.50 for 6 (about $.58 per burger). Considering we had to run the grill whether we bought pre-made burgers or made our own, we did not factor this into the comparison. (Side note: We would have had to tip the waiter at the restaurant and that would cost more than the fuel for the grill.)

5. Make Your Own Cleaners - Even offsetting the typical purchase of dish washing detergent, laundry detergent, and household cleaners with the occasional homemade version can save lots of money.

6. Buy in Bulk - When it is practical, buy the larger quantity, but only if you will use it. Most things are cheaper in larger quantities. If you will use it, buy it. We purchase a 15 pound bag of uncooked rice which lasts us about 6 months. (We eat rice once a week.)

7. Grow a Garden - Every year, we grow, or attempt to grow, a garden. This year, we used left over seeds from last years garden to start plants. Our cost for this past year's garden: storage space, time, and effort. Since we had a summer with adequate rains, we barely had to water the garden. Twice, it needed water which we supplied from our rain barrel.

8. Dry Your Own Herbs - For the second year in a row, I grew basil. This year's crop was not as plentiful as I had hoped it would be. I wanted enough to give homegrown dried basil as Christmas gifts, but the crop was not as successful as I had hoped. Nevertheless, I have enough basil dried and stored in a glass jar which will be used over the winter. Last year, I used it weekly for the entire winter.

9. Set a Budget and Keep It! It is easy to over spend in the food department. Keep your budgeted amount in mind as you cruise the aisles. Tally your total bill as you place items into your cart. This can be a great task for children if you have some along.

10. Choose Before You Go - Make a list, and stick to it. Also, estimate how much organic and natural products your family needs or wants before you get to the store. It can be easy to overspend in the name of healthful products. However, going into debt to provide 100% organic food is certainly not frugal and, really, it just is not wise.

11. Buy Local - Food from neighboring farmers is fresher and often more cost effective. Research possibilities in your area. Food co-ops, Farm co-ops, and other food programs may be available in your area.

12. Minimize What You Use - Do you have to have all those condiments? spices? snacks? Could you offer your family less choices each week? Perhaps you could rotate favorite snack foods instead of buying every kind each week.

13. Buy in Season - Fresh fruits and vegetables are cheaper when in season. (simple supply and demand - economics again!) We only buy fresh cranberries and clementines when they are in season. Other family favorites, like blueberries, are bought fresh year round. However, we buy larger amounts when the blueberries are in season and freeze some for future use.

14. Have a Rotating Menu - Having a routine for meals makes preparation easier. It also makes shopping for supplies easier.

15. Experiment with Food - Some of our cheapest meals have been by combining left overs into a new creative meal, or using supplies we had on hand in a new way. Forewarning: Until you get used to the balance of flavors, some experimental meals will be a bust. When in doubt, cover in cheese or ketchup...it serves my children well.

16. Use the Oven Sparingly - For all those electric oven using sisters (I have the electric bill to prove my ownership) don't just make one thing while baking, make a few. There are times when I make two meals at once to cut down on oven operation cost.

17. Bake Once, Eat Twice - For another time saving, utility cutting idea, double the recipe. Then your family can eat half of it, and freeze or give away the other half.

18. Go Out to Eat - Being frugal doesn't mean being cheap! We still take our children out to eat on special occasions. We just try to follow a few frugal ways. We choose a restaurant wisely. It needs to be a restaurant we will all enjoy and one we can each find something to eat. We use a coupon. We go on a kids eat free night or another special offer night. We set a budget and try to stick to it. Sometimes, we pick up food. This eliminates cost of drinks. It also proves to be a fun way to picnic as a family or have a late night dinner date.

Frugal Living Series: Clothing

What finds! What deals! Our arms were loaded with too many to count jeans, athletic pants, and skirts. We headed to the try on rooms, only to discover they were closed for renovations.

We turned, bewildered. What to do?

A line was forming near the bathrooms. Were these make-shift try on rooms. We hurried over to see. Indeed, women were trying on clothes in the bathrooms! er, should I say, bathroom. Yep, one bathroom equated one try on room. We waited, arms full.

Finally, the bathroom was empty. My two girls and I hustled in and made do. We tried on our armful of clothing and sorted through what fit and what didn't. Exiting the room, I declared we would not be trying on any more clothing.

Five minutes later, my sweet girls had found a few more pants, but I digress.

We were at the local consignment shop for what was a rare sale. All clothing was on sale with 50% off. This meant that skirts, pants, and yes, even jeans were $2 a piece. I have never  been more thankful to live near a university! {College gals are so kind and generous to donate the latest in fashion to consignment shops.}

We left the store, one and half hours later with 14 pieces {some brand new with tags} for $28.

Aside from the thrift store, we have used the following ideas to find clothing deals:

8 Frugal Ways to Find Clothing:

1. shop off season - sales abound for off season clothing
2. shop online - coupons, sales, and no shipping costs do add up to big savings; pay close attention to measurement charts to assure proper fit; know the return policy, just in case
3. shop clearance - huge savings to be found with a little effort to comb through those clearance racks
4. shop with a list and stick to it - know what you need and only purchase the needed items
5. buy classic styles and cuts that look good on you for basic pieces and add fashionable accessories - it is easier and cheaper to switch out the accessories
6. minimize children's wardrobes - they will grow out of it quicker than you think
7. consignment, thrift stores, and yard sales (especially in a college town!) are great resources
8. organize a clothing swap with friends or other moms

~ Dorie

Frugal Living Series: Cutting Utility Bills

It seems kind of ironic to be writing about frugal living by cutting the utility bills after this summer. It has been a summer, in which we have barely had to use the air conditioning! Seems too easy to save money when the temps outside are not climbing to 100, but instead have lazily hovered around 80 degrees most of those long summer days.

However, let me assure you, this summer has not been our typical weather. Normally, we have hot, humid, and hazy days the majority of our summers. During those past summers, I learned a few tips on cutting the cost of running our AC. Those and a few more are found below.







General Ideas for Cutting Utility Bills

• Choose your appliances wisely. While you don't necessarily need to purchase the top of the line appliances, you should purchase the most efficient model in your price range with the options you need.
• Maintain your appliances. Keep them clean and in good repair. Clean filters regularly.
• Use your appliances correctly.
• Unplug unused appliances and TVs. Even unused appliances are using a small amount of electricity. If you don't want to have to unplug a grouping of electronics, then place them on power strips. Simply turn off the power strip when the electronics are not needed.
• Turn off unnecessary lights.
• Reduce your cable package or do away with it completely.
• Before your current contract expires for cable, internet, or cell phone, shop around for a better deal.

Heating & Cooling

• Turn down the heat/up the AC. Even a few degrees can greatly impact the cost to run either the heat or AC. 
• Consider turning down the heat/up the AC during certain times of the day, especially when you are away or at night.
• Supplement central AC with a window unit. If it is just one room that needs cooled at night, why are you cooling the entire house?
• Install ceiling fans or a house fan, which often can be used in lieu of the AC unit.
• During the summer, shut your curtains when the sun is shining brightly into the windows. Direct sunlight heats up a room. The darker your room is, the better. Conversely, open your curtains and windows to cool breezes and indirect sunlight. In the winter, reverse this idea. Open curtains to direct sunlight and allow the light and heat to fill your room.
• If your windows are 'vintage' {aka original} like ours, then use heavier drapes or add room darkening shades or curtains. This is a type which is similar to what we have.
• Change your heating source. Do you have a fire place or wood stove? These may be more cost effective to run.

Water & Laundry

• Collect rain water in a rain barrel.
• Use water which you would normally waste. Our children try to keep water ready for thirsty moments, but sometimes, they get too much. These 1/2 filled glasses become water for my house plants or potted flowers.
• Line dry clothing. On rainy days, use a drying rack. Even air drying half a load will cut your dryer time. 
• Consider making your own laundry detergent and dish washing detergent. If you can't use the homemade versions for every load, then perhaps use them for certain washables. By occasionally using the homemade versions, we are still saving some money. This is the laundry detergent recipe I use.

This is a simple listing of ideas. I'm sure there are many more ways to cut those utility bills. I'd love to hear any tips or suggestions from you!
~ Dorie

Frugal Living Series: Time

Sadly, this may be the biggest area of waste for our culture me. Becoming aware of time, gaining a time consciousness, is a learned process for me.

In the past, at various jobs, I had to do time studies. You know where you write down everything you do at a certain hour. Employers use these to write job descriptions, analyze cost effectiveness, streamline job responsibilities, etc. I thought they were just checking up on us - micromanaging our days. So, I did what any good employee would do. I completed the time study according to what I was suppose to be doing, at least for the days we were required to fill out the forms. It was accurate for those days. Not exactly the method we were suppose to use, nor was it entirely helpful for management.

Since that time, I like to think I've matured. Yet, if I were to do a time study today, I'm pretty sure I'd employ the same mentality - all to look good for that one day.


So instead of doing a 'spot check' of one day, I needed to look over the bulk of my days. I wanted to gauge how much of my time was spent reflecting my priorities. Instead of taking just one day, I looked at the week or month as a whole. This created a more accurate depiction and helped me to know how I am truly spending my time.

It wasn't pretty.
Many changes were, and are still, needed.

Some of the changes I have implemented:

• decreased computer time - To be successful at this I decreased blog reading, email communication, and facebook usage for this blog. I wrote less for online sites, including this blog.  
• gotten rid of excess stuff - I have heard that the stuff you own really owns you and your time. It is true. The more you own, the more you have to clean, take care of, repair, etc.
• established or created better boundaries - Saying no isn't easy and it sure doesn't make you the most popular person on the block, but it does allow for time to be regained.
• stopped some extra activities - Going along with the saying no, I stopped a few extra activities. By removing just one extra activity, there was a tremendous impact on time.

These changes creates some excess time. From experience I knew if I didn't fill my excess time with something, even purposeful rest, the extra time would get eaten away by other less than worthy activities. And really, I wanted some extra time so I could be a better wife, momma, and homemaker. These are the areas I say are a priority but don't seem to always be fleshed out in my time.

What I have done with some of my reclaimed time:

• increased home cooked items - I may not thoroughly enjoy baking and cooking, but I do love the people I bake and cook for, and they love homemade treats. So, I have learned to make from scratch bread, cinnamon rolls, barbeque sauce, pancakes, and more from scratch.
• increased our garden (which I was able to grow completely from seeds this year, since I had the time) - Fresh vegetables and herbs from our yard not only help us save money, but help us eat more healthful foods. It is a win-win thing.
• taken better care for our home - Though keeping an orderly and clean home has always been a priority, I haven't always done all the things to maintain our home that I should. Now with more time, I have been able to routinely incorporate larger home maintenance projects, like washing curtains, with ease.
• gone somewhere, done something spontaneously - Before even playing a game with my children seemed to need an appointment. Sad, I know. Now, with more flexible time, we can, on a whim, go to the park or pool, create a masterpiece of sidewalk chalk art, or take a bike ride.

Looking for some ideas to help free up your time?
10 ways we are using in our household to reclaim time.

1. say no - Just because a multitude of activities and events are available, it doesn't mean you need to attend every single one. Most things can fall into the good or better category. Saying no to the good or better things, helps free up time to say yes to the best things.
2. double up chores - Whenever possible combine chores and errands.
3. get help, don't do it all - A family lives together, and a family should work together to help maintain that home. We have implemented a family clean time. Once a week, we all pitch in and do a large scale cleaning of the household. We each have daily chores we do independently to help the household run smoothly, too.
4. have routines for household things - Implementing a schedule or routine for cleaning, meals, and home maintenance makes it easy to know what was done when and what needs to be done soon. It also spaces it out to make it more manageable.
5. plan an errand route or day - Doing errands is one of my least favorite things. I detest it, but it is necessary. Approximately, once a week, I do errands. All errands are saved for this time, unless it is an emergency. I plan out a route which makes the errands easier to complete.
6. make lists of needs and wants - This saves a great deal of time shopping and doing errands. Generally, we shop for needs once a week and wants are purchased about once every three months.
7. keep organized - Use lists for items needed and wanted. Calendars are necessary for appointments, activities, and events. Organize your shelves and closets to better see what you have.
8. own less stuff - The less stuff you have the less you need to take care of.
9. be less high maintenance - Simplify your hairstyle, wardrobes, and beauty routine. If it takes 1/2 hour to put on your face, then you are using 3 1/2 hours per week or 182 1/2 hours per year.
10. become regulars - Shopping at the same store saves time. Lists can be created in order of isles for grocery stores. Frequent shopper cards can help save money.

Frugality of time can be summed up in one word for me: simplify.

Someone else once said "Live simply to simply live." It has become a mantra of sorts around here. I want to enjoy the time I have with my husband and children. I don't want to be running around from here to there never fully accomplishing what is really important to me. So, I join the ranks of those trying to live more purposefully so I can live out my purpose more effectively.
~ Dorie

Frugal Living Series: A Matter of Faith

Being frugal does not mean you are cheap.

Nor does it automatically equate selfish, Scrooge-like behavior, either.

Choosing to be frugal is more about making wise choices with your limited resources.

It is about living within your own means.

Isn't that akin to being a good steward?

A good steward, or manager, uses what they have now. Not dipping into future possible earnings, nor asking for more.

A good steward knows their limitations and works within them. They are content with what they have now. today. at this moment.




Frugal living is about being content with our possessions, time, and money and using them for God's glory.

It is about believing God is sovereign. He is in control. He has blessed each of us with certain talents, time, possessions, and money. He has given us all we have.

With those talents, time, possessions, and money we can choose to squander them, save them, or use them for His glory.

It is all a matter of choice. And, the choice we make directly reflects our heart.

To be clear: Splurging once in a while isn't necessarily terrible. For instance, treating our children, or even ourselves, once in awhile is not always bad. However, spoiling ourselves, or our children, can be. Borrowing money to satisfy a want is not wise, nor is wasting all our resources.

Our motives in using, spending, or doing are what define our choices. For us, this is the heart of frugality: in doing the most with what we have been given, we glorify God.

 We want to give more, do more, but we can't if we needlessly squander our resources.

From time to time, I hope to share with you what we have learned {and are still learning} about living with a frugal mindset. It is to this end that I have created the Frugal Living Series. Below, you will find a listing of topics I hope to cover. {In the future, links will be supplied.}

A Better Life with Less - a series on frugal living
Time
Food and Groceries
Entertainment
Vacations and Day Trips
Utility Bills
Education
Clothing
Gift Giving