5 Frugal Things I Did Today

5 Frugal Things I Did Today

When you live a frugal life and you’ve been doing it for a while, you don’t seem to notice all the frugal things you do anymore! If you start to get down about your budget, your bills, or the economy in general, try this exercise:

1. Grab a pen and paper. Write down the title, “5 Frugal Things I Did Today.”
2. Walk slowly through your house.
3. Every time you see something frugal or remember something frugal you have done, write it down. (Some examples include a great sale stock up in the pantry, recycling an old container into a new use, staying organized so you don’t buy duplicate items, or even using leftovers to make a meal.)
4. Write down as many as you can think of, just make sure you have at least 5.
5. Hang this list in a prominent place, like on the refrigerator, where it will be seen by the whole family.

I decided to make a list of frugal things I did this week that I may have taken for granted:
1. Used samples for my shampoo, conditioner and facial moisturizer. (A lot of people just throw them in a drawer and forget about them!)
2. Clipped coupons. (Many people don’t because they say it takes too much time.)
3. Drove my hubby’s car because it gets better gas mileage.
4. Washed out 2 ziploc bags to reuse when I washed dishes. We’re having a garage sale soon, and may as well use recycled bags to hold all the little goodies instead of brand new ones. (I didn’t save ziploc bags for a long time, until The Happy Housewife said she did. I figured if she can do it, so can I. Thanks Toni!)
5. Asked the pharmacy to fill a prescription a day sooner than they wanted, because there was no sense in making another drive to the same store 2 days in a row. Do you want businesses to accommodate your limited driving trips? Ask and you might be surprised!
I really had to think hard to come up with my list, because these things are such a normal way of life that I barely notice I’m doing them. The same is probably true for you. You’ll find a lot of things you are doing to save money that you may not notice on an everyday basis because they’re small or commonplace. Each thing may seem like such a small drop in the bucket, but these little things add up quickly into substantial savings for your family.
Every little thing YOU do each day is helping your family get out of debt or save money or work towards your financial goal, whatever it might be. So don’t get discouraged! Feel proud about your efforts and know that you ARE making a difference!

Take the 5 Frugal Things challenge today!