Are you making plans to become more frugal this year?

ajrsmom · #1 (**permalink**) 01-01-2009, 05:21 PM

With the start of a new year, have you decided to become more frugal?

If so, how do you plan on doing it?

We have a frugal forum here at FC that's packed full of tried and true tips from our members. Everyone posts about what has worked for them and what hasn't. The support from members in that forum is absolutely great! Everyone is welcome to join! Don't be shy about asking questions...there's always someone there to help!

Also, take the time to read "Cut Your Grocery Bills in Half" and "Turning Trash into Cash" - along with several other helpful frugal articles from the FamilyCorner.com website. These articles contain more great frugality great tips.

Lets share ideas and together we can make the best effort in making 2009 our most frugal year yet!

**AnnaInOhio** · #2 (**permalink**) 01-01-2009, 05:51 PM

Tami

Yes, we're going to be tightening the belt even more this year 2009. Doing more homemade meals or supplements such as homemade tomato juice instead of buying premade, growing a garden 3 X the size of ths past years, planting from heirloom seeds instead of buying pregrown (we already have a grow room we haven't been using so we could start them as early as we want, paying our property taxes off early instead of waiting till the end of the year as we did this year.

Anna

kathymac · #3 (**permalink**) 01-02-2009, 04:39 AM

We will definitely be tightening our belts this year. We have incurred some medical bills and credit card debt due to last-minute travel when FIL passed away this year. Our goal is to have all debt erased by June.

Kathy

**seleach** · #4 (**permalink**) 01-02-2009, 06:30 AM

At this point, I don't know what else we can do to cut expenses. But I am on the look out for more ideas.

RobertaD · #5 (**permalink**) 01-02-2009, 07:18 AM

I am looking at new recipes to incorporate more beans & rice into our meals to stretch the grocery budget.

Will work at keeping the utilities as low as possible all year.

Roberta

butterfly · #6 (**permalink**) 01-02-2009, 09:41 AM

Definitely planning on becoming more frugal this year. There are so many areas that I need to improve on, the main one being buying take-aways and ready meals. So my plan for January is to meal plan and prepare extra so that I can put in the freezer, especially as I have just started working full time.

I also wish to do more with the vegetable garden this year.

Vrsherren · #7 (**permalink**) 01-02-2009, 10:42 AM

We have to save and a lot! Dd#2 is getting married in Oct. Don't know how we're going to get it all done, because it will be 2300+ miles away. Thank heavens my sil has offered the use of her BIG house and grounds. I'll have to fly in 1 or 2 weeks early to help get everything ready. Another adventure!
dh has been so great about getting the credit cards paid off and only have 2 left we manage carefully. Buy what we need and pay it off asap! We only purchase medications on one, and mine add up to over $300.00 a month. We have been tightly watching the financial investments as several took a big hit. My portfolio went down to half, and I know dh's went down quite a bit too. But, I know from years before that God will take care of us and I don't worry about. I do what I can and God will do the rest.
My dh was laid off for 3 1/2 months. I had 2 young children and we were in a rented duplex. The owners had dh do some needed repairs, and said when we could we could make payments. Most landlords would have put us out. I began to keep children 24/7 and bring in $300.00 a week cash. It helped get our utilities back on and keep them on, not to mention put some food on our table. A friend of dh's took him fishing and they came back with 3 HUGE bass, we had been out of meat. One of these fish was big enough to take up 2 lg. baking sheets filleted! We've trusted God at his word and never been without food or shelter, but we've never been "rich" with money. We are rich with family, friends and love

Vivian

Lislyn66 · #8 (**permalink**) 01-02-2009, 11:01 AM

Vivian, trust in God, he always provides, maybe not how we ask him to but he does.

I'm pretty much going with what everyone else has said. I'm pretty frugal already but am going to crack down even harder. I really do hope I find a job fairly soon. There's a new Walgreens going in about 10 miles from my house, going to keep an eye open for the job postings.

I need to use my coupons more, I use them but not like my idol, Roberta! Also plan out my meals better and use what we have on hand instead of being lazy and just getting a pizza, it does add up.

Lisa

**Sammi1961** · #9 (**permalink**) 01-02-2009, 12:40 PM

I am definitely going to try to be more frugal this year and start trying to get out of debt. I know there are a lot of ways I can improve on. I am going to think twice before spending for one thing. I am looking forward to finding some new ideas on this thread.

Pag36 · #10 (**permalink**) 01-02-2009, 02:33 PM

I am going to the commissary next Thursday would go sooner but can not. Going to make my list and NOT diviate from it. Short of something really great on a even greater sale. I will check out the freezer to see what is what there and lots of meatless meals at least for next couple months. And use a coupon where ever I can