Frugal Living Tips

• Frugal Living in Canada

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  Learn About Frugal Living in Canada

  What is being frugal? A frugal person is someone that is prudent or economical in the use of consumable goods, such as food, time or money. Frugality means avoiding waste and living extravagantly.

  A frugal person knows how to purchase goods and services in a conservative manner, and knows how to use goods and services that they already own, to maximize their long term goals.

  If you would like to learn more about living a more frugal lifestyle, we have many helpful frugal living articles to get you started!

  Frugal living is a way of life and our many frugal living articles will help you on your way to living a more frugal lifestyle (and saving a ton of cash in the process!).

  I hope you enjoy these frugal living articles, and if you do, please share them with your friends & family so they can learn how to become more frugal as well.

  Click here to visit our frugal living page.

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• Create a Price Book to Save Money on Groceries

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  Price Book for Groceries.

  

  A grocery price book is essential if you’re just starting to track your spending and lower your grocery bill. It may be wise to consider making a price book if you are constantly asking yourself:

  What is a good price for _____?

  A price book can easily answer that question.

  What is a price book?

  A grocery price book is a list of items that you regularly purchase and how much you paid for those items. Having a price book allows you to spot bargains and maximize your savings at the store.

  In this book, you will track the following things:

  • Store Name
  • Item
  • Brand Name
  • Size
  • Cost Per Unit

  

  photo

  Why you need a price book

  With a price book, you will always know when a sale price is actually a great deal. Stores have sales all the time, but did you know that a lot of the sale items advertised in flyers and online are actually just regular prices?

  If you have a price book, you can check to see if the item you’re looking at is advertised at full price or is actually on sale.

  Not only will you know if a deal is really a deal, but a price book allows you to track the best prices for items you regularly buy. This means that when items hit your rock bottom price, you can stock up. So you not only know if something is a good deal, but you know just how good of a deal it really is.

  How to make a price book

  If you’re ready to make a price book to track prices of sale items at your favourite stores, here’s what you will need:

  Binder/Notebook (Or you could use a spreadsheet on your computer)

  That’s it!

  You can download our free price book sheets to help you make a price book!
  

  • Price Book (Regular)
  • Price Book (Customizable)

  Start compiling your price book information

  Make a list of the items that you buy on a regular basis. Forget everything else – it will be too hard to maintain a price book if you have too many items in it, so only stick to your most purchased items.

  You will need to set aside some time to go to your regular stores and make note of the regular prices of the items on your list. Again, don’t go to too many stores. A maximum of 3 is my recommendation.

  When I made my first price book, I tracked prices at Walmart, Shoppers Drug Mart and Real Canadian Superstore.

  Note: You many need to update this list from time to time, as regular prices can fluctuate.

  Organize your price information

  I found that, for me, the best way to set up my price book was to put everything in alphabetical order.

  For example,

  • A – Apples
  • B – Bananas, Bread – Brand Name, Butter
  • C – Cereal, Cookies, Cauliflower, Chicken

  Each page in my price book had a different letter. Some pages has next to nothing on them and some were completely full (a few even had both sides of the page filled up!).

  

  photo

  Refer to your price book often

  If possible, bring your price book with you every time you shop (in case you run across an unadvertised sale at the store). This is where a small notebook or an electronic price book works well.

  Always check your price book when looking over the sale flyers, as well. The items on the front and back of a flyer are usually the best deals, but not always. Double check your price book to be sure, before stocking up on those items.

  I have been bargain hunting for just over 5 years now, but I still keep a price book. However, mine is just a short list scribbled on note paper that I keep in my purse. It’s only for items that I don’t buy very often.

  My years of experience with shopping the sales and tracking prices has made it so much easier for me to know when a good price is actually a good price. I can spot a deal from a mile away. This may or may not be the case for you over time.

  I strongly suggest starting with a price book, though. It helped me immensely when I first starting trying to lower my grocery bill – and I know it will help you too.

  Do you use a grocery price book?

  This post is part of the 6 Weeks to a Lower Grocery Bill series. You can read the other posts in this series here.

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• 6 Weeks to a Lower Grocery Bill

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  Lower your grocery bill in 6 Weeks!

  

  How to lower grocery bills, is a question that I am often asked. Instead of answering this question each time I receive it, I thought it would be a good idea to share with you a bunch of things that you can do to lower your grocery bill.

  For the next 6 weeks, I am going to share tips and ideas on how you can reduce your grocery bills and save money at the same time. Here’s what you can expect in this new series 6 Weeks to a Lower Grocery Bill.

  Week One: How and why to create a grocery budget.
  Week Two: How and why to create a grocery price book.
  Week Three: How to create and shop with a grocery shopping list.
  Week Four: How and why to create a grocery stockpile.
  Week Five: How to save by shopping in season & locally.
  Week Six: Why & how you should create weekly menu plans.

  We’re going to start this series today, so watch for the post about grocery budgets later this afternoon (I promise it won’t be boring!).

  Is there anything you would like me cover in this series?

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• Top 12 Frugal Living Posts of 2012

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  I thought it would be fun to look over the most popular frugal living posts on MrsJanuary.com in 2012 (not including our “ultimate” posts – which you can find in the sidebar on the right of the page), so, here they are!

  What was your favourite post this year?

  

  How to Save Money on Diapers

  

  Canada Tax Deductions & Credits to Take Advantage of

  

  Birthday Party Loot Bag Ideas

  

  How Long to Hold on To Financial Records

  

  Homemade Nesquik Syrup

  

  How to Sell Your Stuff on Kijiji & Craigslist

  

  How to Make Money From Home

  

  How to Handle Cashiers That Won’t Accept Your Coupons

  

  An Inexpensive Way to Re-Use Your Swiffer WetJet

  

  Items You Should Always Buy at Yard Sales

  

  Stockpile Storage Ideas

  

  What to Buy at a Shoppers Drug Mart Bonus Redemption

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• How to Store Onions: Reader Question

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  What is the best way to store onions? I just got a whole bunch of onions on sale and don’t want them to go bad (there’s no way I could use them all up before they start to rot). -Mary

  Do you have any ideas for Mary? Please share in the comments!

  Have a question you’d like to ask the readers of MrsJanuary.com? Send an email.

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• Saving Money at Thrift Stores: 5 Ways to Keep More Cash in Your Pocket

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  photo source: poserseries

  Last week I wrote about how to shop at thrift stores and it seemed like many of you enjoyed that post, so I thought a follow-up article about saving money at thrift stores would be a good idea.

  Don’t get me wrong, thrift stores are already inexpensive. Even if you don’t do any of the things listed below, you will likely still be able to score an amazing deal at a thrift store.

  However, if you do want to start saving money at thrift stores, read on…

  Shop on sale days

  Many thrift stores have regular sale days. Since so many new things are donated each day, the store has to have a way to sell merchandise quickly. Combined with their already low prices, adding additional discounts will move items much faster than just sticking something on a shelf (or hanger) and waiting for it to sell.

  Look for special tag days (where certain coloured tags are on sale) and especially watch out for those fantastic 50% off sale days that most thrift stores have every few months or so.

  Use store coupons

  There are some thrift stores (Salvation Army is one of them) that offer discounts through coupons. You can either print them from the store’s website or you can sign up to their online mailing list and coupons will be emailed to you.

  Other times you will find coupons in the mail, and even in store occasionally (sometimes when you buy something, you are awarded with coupons for your next purchase).

  

  photo credit: rajesh setty

  Ask for a discount

  That’s right, just come out and ask for it. If you want to purchase a dining room set that is selling for $150, offer $100 and see what happens. If you want to purchase 10 t-shirts that are $2 each, ask if you can have them all for $15.

  Thrift store managers are used to hagglers and usually have a standard discount of 10% that they will offer when a customer asks for a better deal. Each manager is different, though, so always ask. The worst they can say is no, right?

  Sign up for loyalty programs

  Whether it’s a mailing list online, or an actual membership card that you carry around in your wallet, sign up to loyalty programs at your local thrift stores.

  Not only will you [usually] be rewarded with great discounts (and free stuff), but you will likely be the first to know about special upcoming promotions that can have you saving money all the time.

  Donate some stuff

  Did you know that some thrift stores will actually give you a discount off of your purchase if you donate something to their store?

  Ask your local store if this is something that they offer to their customers. Talize is one thrift store that does this, and their discount coupon is for $5 off a purchase of $25 or more (which cannot be combined with any other discount).

  Save big by shopping at thrift stores. Save even bigger when you combine thrift store shopping with this tips outlined in this article. And who doesn’t want to save bigger than big?

  Remember that you won’t always have success with all (or any, for that matter) of these tips. Some thrift stores simply don’t offer loyalty programs, coupons, or things of that nature. Shop there anyway.

  There is always a gem hiding in a thrift store – you just have to find it. And chances are, it’s not going to cost you an arm and a leg.

  Do you have any tips for saving money at thrift stores?

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• How to Shop at Thrift Stores

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  Shopping at Thrift Stores.

  

  Want to learn how to shop at thrift stores? Shopping at second hand stores is a simple way to save money and reuse items that are still (usually) in great condition.

  As I’m sure you know, if you want to save money on just about anything, you can do so by purchasing items used (at a thrift store, yard sale, consignment store, classifieds). This includes everything from clothing, to furniture, to toys, to dishes.

  Want to save money? Buy used. It’s as simple as that.

  I do most of my second-hand shopping at thrift stores. I like the variety and I like that I can take a good look at things before I decide to buy them. I know how to shop at thrift stores the “right” way, so I am able to save a considerable amount of money.

  Unfortunately, thrift stores can often be very overwhelming. If it’s a large store, there can easily be thousands of items available for you to sift through. It could be hours, if not days before you get out of there.

  In this article, you will find practical advice that will teach you how to shop at thrift stores in a way that makes it quick, painless and fun!

  Go to thrift stores often

  It’s rare that you will find a perfect item every time you set foot in a thrift store. Odds are, you won’t find anything for awhile, and then one day you’ll find something fantastic.

  Try to visit your local thrift store once per week, or at least once per month. Thrift stores put out new merchandise on a daily basis, so there is always a chance to find something you love. The more often you go, the more likely you are to find that “perfect” item.

  Always triple-check everything you buy

  Make sure that everything you purchase is in the condition you expect. If you’re buying clothing, examine it closely for stains and tears. If you’re buying furniture, make sure it sits flat on the ground and doesn’t have any significant damage.

  Pay special attention to things like toys, books and anything you need to plug in. Toys could be missing pieces (especially puzzles and board games), books could have pages torn out and items such as toasters and DVD players may not actually work.

  Check everything.

  Feel clothing for quality

  Have you ever found a great article of clothing at a thrift store, looked at the tag, and not recognized the brand name? How do you know if this is a quality piece? If you’re not sure if an article of clothing is of good quality, give it the feel test.

  Find a piece of cheaper clothing, like the 725 Walmart brand (sorry Walmart, but your quality isn’t that great), and feel that compared to the item you are interested in. If the feel of the item you want is the same or worse than the cheaper brand, the item may not be a very good purchase. If the clothing feels nicer, it’s likely of better quality.

  Always go for the better quality clothing items if you want them to last you awhile.

  Get to know the store employees

  If you visit thrift stores often, you will quickly start to recognize employees – and they will recognize you. Smile. Be polite. Ask them how they’re doing.

  When you’re friendly with the store employees, they are more willing to divulge exciting information, such as when the next sale is taking place, where to find the best items for sale (some stores have clearance racks) and any discounts that you can take advantage of.

  Don’t look for something specific

  Sure, you can go into a thrift store having something in mind that you would like to find, but don’t expect it.

  Instead, be willing to look at everything and purchase items that you really love. You never know when you will come across something amazing at a thrift store.

  Think of how you can change an item

  If you come across a couch that you really like, but it’s in a colour or pattern you’re not crazy about, consider re-upholstering it (apparently that’s very easy!).

  Also, paint can transform just about anything. Tables, chairs, light fixtures, shelving units, desks. Keep this in mind when you are looking at used items for sale.

  There is no right or wrong way to shop at a thrift store, but by trying out at least once of the ideas above, I can promise you a much better thrift store shopping experience.

  The amount of money you can save, and the remarkable items you can find at thrift stores is truly astonishing. Whenever possible, buy used. Not just for the savings, but for the adventure.

  Do you have any tips to add? Please share in the comments!

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• Cheap Food: Frugal Pantry Items You Should Have

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  Frugal Pantry Items.

  

  If you cook from home, there are many pantry staples you should have on hand at all times.

  Having a fully stocked pantry is a great way to save money on groceries, but filling it with a bunch of junk is not the best way to go about it.

  Here are 12 frugal items to make sure you always have stocked in your pantry:

  1. Rice

  Not only is rice delicious, but it is extremely inexpensive, easy to store, and just a little bit goes a long way. Purchase rice in bulk and it will last months.

  2. Pasta

  Looking for a super quick meal for lunch or dinner? Pasta is your friend! It takes just minutes to cook, doesn’t cost much at all, and a small amount will serve many people.

  3. Flour

  A key ingredient in most baked goods, flour should be in everyone’s pantry. It’s also good for thickening sauces (as is cornstarch). There are many different kinds of flour available, but all-purpose white flour is the most common and can be used in a ton of different dishes.

  4. Dried Beans

  Healthy, frugal, and cheap as can be. Beans are great as a side dish, to make dips like homemade hummus, in soups & chilis, and even to stretch your ground beef. You can purchase them canned, but dried is best.

  5. Dried Spices

  Think garlic powder, basil, oregano, cayenne pepper, cumin, dill, onion powder and parsley flakes, to name a few. Spices are what take your meals to the next level, so make sure you always have some on hand.

  6. Vinegar

  You can do so many different things with this frugal pantry item, including cook with it (of course). Use white vinegar as an ingredient in homemade barbecue sauce, and balsamic vinegar to make a delicious balsamic vinaigrette for your salad.

  7. Oats

  Are you searching for healthy, and inexpensive breakfast ideas? Oats to the rescue! Use them to make homemade instant oatmeal packets or homemade granola. You can also use them in cookies, and just like beans, as a way to stretch your ground beef.

  8. Canned Tomatoes

  Whether you want to make your own homemade pasta sauce, need some diced tomatoes for chili or want to add crushed tomatoes to your chicken dish, canned tomatoes are the way to go (if you can’t find fresh tomatoes on sale).

  9. Broth

  Perfect for homemade soups, to make sauces, and even to cook delicious grains like couscous or quinoa in, chicken or beef broth are a frugal grocery staple that should be in every pantry.

  10. Sugar

  Sugar is a key ingredient in many different recipes. Desserts, sweet sauces (like in this baked sesame chicken), and maybe even in your tea or coffee. Buy it in bulk when it’s priced the cheapest (with so much Thanksgiving and Christmas cooking going on, stores often have discounts on baking items like sugar in October-December).

  11. Fresh Garlic

  There is nothing more delicious than fresh garlic in [almost] any savoury meal that you make. Pasta sauce, chicken dishes, burgers, and even salad dressings. Garlic adds so much flavour for very little cash. That’s why you should always have this frugal pantry item on hand.

  12. Fresh Onions

  When combined with garlic, onions can make just about anything taste amazing. Not only are they extremely inexpensive (especially towards the end of the year), but if stored correctly, they can last quite awhile.

  Look in your cupboards. Do you have these pantry staples on hand? If your answer is no, add them to your shopping list and pick them up the next time you are out buying groceries.

  Then, when you’re preparing meals each day, you will have a fully stocked pantry that can assist you in making many delicious meals, very inexpensively.

  By: Cassie Howard

  
  

  What frugal pantry items would you add to this list?

  Cassie Howard is a stay-at-home mom living in Vaughan, Ontario. She’s what many would call an extreme couponer and saves a minimum of 50% off her grocery bill every week by using coupons. Read more about Cassie on the about page.

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• 4 Reasons You’re Overspending on Groceries

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  Overspending on Groceries?

  

  photo source: naturalgrocers

  Are you struggling to save money on your grocery bill each week? Do you often spend much more than you anticipate and aren’t sure why?

  I can [probably] tell you.

  Below are 5 reasons you’re likely overspending on groceries.

  1. You don’t have a grocery budget

  The most important thing you can do if you want to save money on groceries (or other things in your life), is to create a budget.

  When you shop without a budget in mind, you have no reason to not buy every single thing that you want.

  2. You don’t plan menus for the week

  An essential part of saving money on groceries is menu planning. By creating a menu plan every week, you are not only going to save money, but your shopping trip will be easier, and you’ll know longer have to worry about what’s for dinner.

  You don’t want to restrict yourself to certain meals? Have a free day included on your menu plan, where you can make whatever you feel like. For the other 6 days, suck it up. It will be worth it.

  Remember, you don’t have to do a “this is what we’re having on Monday, and this is what we’re having on Tuesday” type menu plan. Simply list 7 dinner ideas and make whatever you want from that list each evening.

  3. You buy expensive items

  We all have our splurges, but when it comes to the majority of grocery items, to save the most money, you need to train yourself to only purchase what’s on sale.

  Don’t go into a store with a list of items you want to buy, just because you want them. Go into a store with a list of items you want to buy, because they are on sale for a good price.

  Check out the Canada Yearly Sales Cycle to get an idea of when certain items are on sale.

  4. You shop on impulse

  Have you ever decided to go shopping because you were bored? Have you ever went out for groceries at the last second, without creating a shopping list first?

  Shopping on impulse is never a good idea. You should always plan out when you will go shopping, where, what you will buy, and what your budget is. If you don’t know these things, avoid the stores until you do.

  Think about how you currently handle grocery shopping. Do you know what your budget is? Do you shop on the same day every week? Do you always bring a shopping list with you?

  If you answered “yes” to any of those questions, congratulations. You’re a money-saving, grocery-shopping super star! If not, you have a bit of work to do. Get on it. Practice makes perfect! I’m here to help, if you need me.

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• Hand Out Halloween Candy Without Going Broke

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  According to Statistics Canada, $331 million dollars was spent on Halloween candy in 2009. $331 million dollars. That a lot of money to fork over for junk food (because let’s be honest, no one is handing out apples these days – well, except maybe a few dentists!).

  Halloween candy is one of the best things about the holiday (right?), but that doesn’t mean you need to shell out an absurd amount of money for it.

  Here are 5 ways to save money on Halloween candy:

  1. Set a budget

  The very first thing you need to do before buying your candy, is to determine how much money you can realistically afford to spend.

  Set a strict budget and keep it in mind when you make your purchases.

  2. Shop the sales

  Come October, there will be sales on candy and chocolates all over the place.

  Be sure to watch the flyers of stores in your area and stock up on Halloween items when they are priced cheaply at those stores.

  The later into October you go, the cheaper the items will be, but keep in mind that if you wait until October 31st to buy candy, you’re not going to have the best selection (if you can find any at all).

  3. Buy in bulk

  Like anything, stocking up on inexpensive items is a fantastic way to save money. This includes Halloween candy.

  When you do see sales at your local stores, be sure to stock up. Don’t go overboard, though. Remember your budget, and stop once you get there.

  In addition, bulk stores, such as Costco, often have great deals on Halloween candy. If you’re able to go to one of those stores, do it, and see what you can find.

  4. Give non-chocolate treats

  Chocolate costs much more than a big box of Skittles or Twizzlers, so if you’re looking to save money on Halloween candy, pick those up instead.

  Kids just want free candy. They don’t care if it’s chocolate, candies, gum, chips or Cheetos. If it’s junk, they’ll eat it. Well, mine will, anyway.

  5. Shop the dollar store

  Many dollar stores have Halloween candy for sale; often name-brand candies and chocolates.

  This is a great place to buy goodies for the kids in your neighbourhood, for much less than you would pay at a big-box retailer like Walmart.

  Note: Always check the expiration date on items you purchase from dollar stores, as I have had some people tell me they found many expired food items at those stores.

  6. Hand stuff out yourself

  Finally, to avoid kids taking all of your candy in less than 20 minutes (this seriously happened to me one year) by picking what they want themselves, you hand it out.

  When you allow kids to pick out their own candy, they tend to grab a huge handful, instead of just one or two pieces. Don’t give them this option.

  If you want to save money on Halloween candy, do a bit of planning this year. Don’t wait until the last minute.

  Whether you choose to buy non-chocolate treats, shop at dollar stores or just wait until a good sale comes along, the important thing to remember is that being generous by handing out candy doesn’t mean you have to go broke.

  Purchase what you can afford, hand it out, and go relax. Save some candy for yourself. The good stuff.

  How do you save money on Halloween candy?

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