Welcome to the Frugal Living Page!!
With this page I hope to help you steer down the path of financial security and peace of mind.
Debt Free!
Whether you choose Frugal Living as a way of practicing voluntary simplicity, or you just simply want to get out of debt -- I have lots of suggestions and resources for you.
Our family has been able to pay off most of our bills with the exception of our mortgage, and a few hundred dollars put on some credit cards in an emergency. We saved money and bought our car for cash, as we try to do with most of our major purchases. I use a debit card to pay for online purchases and those requiring "credit card type" methods. We pay off the interest cards as quickly as possible. In the future we will cancel them, and just keep money in the debit card account for those "money emergencies" that crop up.
We are not money fanatics. We could cut our monthly expenses even more by dropping cable (the only way to get TV reception in our hilly area), our weekly visit to a fast food place for a Family Treat, and the expenses involved in keeping a car. I could get a job instead of staying home to homeschool our son. However, family members would be very unhappy without these small pleasures, and I think part of being thrifty is to give yourself the OPTION of picking your expenditures, rather than being a slave to the credit companies. Living debt free will give your more control in your life not less.
Good Luck!
Lili
THE SEVEN EASY STEPS TO BE DEBT FREE:
1)GET MOTIVATED
To start, I think no matter what your reasons for frugality, you should read a very fine essay on voluntary simplicity in The Tightwad Gazette. It will help make a change to frugality seem more manageable.
2)ADD UP YOUR MONTHLY EXPENSES
Whether you like it or not, you need to write down all your expenses. This will require every single expense you have including the daily cup of coffee. You need a realistic idea of what you spend every month in order to rank your debts in order of importance.
3) RANK YOUR DEBTS IN ORDER OF IMPORTANCE
Place the bills like food, and shelter at the top of the list. Place less important expenses like transportation and clothes lower down the list. Put expenses like entertainment and eating out on the bottom.
4) PICK OUT ANY ITEMS YOU CAN DO WITHOUT
This might include eating out several days a week, always buying a name brand, buying lunches rather than carrying them, etc.
5) PAY OFF HIGH INTEREST DEBT.
Many credit cards charges as much as 28 percent, plus fees on your debt. PAY THESE OFF FIRST!
6)BRAINSTORM WAYS TO LOWER OR PAY OFF THE EXPENSES YOU CANīT AVOID
It can take a long time to pay off a mortgage. However, even one extra payment a year can take seven years off a thirty year mortgage. Buy your clothing and small appliances at thrift shops and garage sales. Shop smart. Check out prices online through search services. For instance, we saved hundreds of dollars on house and car insurance by comparing online quotes.
7)CULTIVATE CHEAP CONCIOUSNESS
Learn the difference between a Want and a real Need. Before you reach in your wallet, start to always ask the questions:
"Do I really need this?"
"Can I make do with something I already own?"
"Can I get this for free or cheap somewhere like a garage sale?"
"Can I make it?"
"Can I borrow or rent this for a one time use?"
If you do all the steps above, you will get out of debt. One site I have used which saved me lots of money on car insurance and phone bills is:
LowerMy Bills.com
LowerMyBills.com.
Another site some friends of mine used to do the same is:
LoanOuotes:
GetAFreeQuote.com - get a free quote and save on loans, cars, insurance, home improvements, credit cards and more!
You might check them out!
For inspiration check out sample pages by other frugal authors at:
Complete Tightwad Gazzette
The Complete Tightwad Gazzette
Declare Your Finanacial Independence
Declare Your Financial Independence
Complete Cheapskate
Mary Hunt's Complete Cheapskate
Miserly Moms
Miserly Moms
You Can Afford to Stay Home With your Kids
You can Afford to stay Home WIth your Kids
