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Build a Family Time Capsule

Build a Family Time CapsuleAn inexpensive and fun family project for this year is building a Family Time Capsule. This capsule can include any items you like. The purpose is to let your future family members know about you, your times and their family history.

 

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Famine in Niger and Links for DonationsThriftyFun is donating $2 for every photo entry sent in through Sunday, August 7th to UNICEF. Urgent appeals have been made for help for famine-stricken Niger where more than one million people are at risk from starvation after a locust invasion worsened an already poor harvest.

 

Save Energy With Trees

Save Energy With TreesAccording to the Department of Energy, strategic planting of as few as three trees can provide the average household with an energy savings of between $100-$250 annually. It may be the best long-term investment for reducing heating and cooling costs.

 

A Primer on PaintAccording to the EPA, our indoor air is up to 3 times more polluted than our outdoor air and paints and finishes are among the biggest contributor. Just about all of us have a shelf in the basement or a cabinet in the garage containing paint cans leftover from past projects.

 

Products on list.

A Guide to Non-Toxic CleaningIf you're like me, one trip down the cleaning products aisle at your local grocery store can leave your eyes burning, your head pounding and leave you gasping for fresh air.

 

Fair Trade Coffee

Brew a Cup of Fair Trade CoffeeIt's difficult to imagine that one cup of coffee can make a huge impact on the environment. However, it can. Especially if the beans used to make that cup of coffee are Fair Trade, Shade Grown and Organic.

 

Household Hazardous Waste

Disposing of Household Hazardous WasteAccording to the EPA, the average American household produces around 160 pounds of hazardous waste per year. Much of that waste comes from common household products.

 

Tips for Traveling GreenEven with the best of intentions, it's easy to generate waste and pollution while traveling. By following a few simple guidelines, you can reduce your impact on the environment and save money at the same time.

 

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Tips for Avoiding Disaster Relief FraudPhony charitable organizations started being reported after 9-11 and then again after the Tsunami. CNN reported this morning that there are 2,000 or so websites that have sprung up that are phony Katrina disaster relief organizations.

 

A car set against beautiful blue sky.

The Ecology of Your CarWhen you consider that there are well over 600 million cars on the road worldwide, you begin to understand how a few negative driving and maintenance habits can add up to large environmental damage. Lessen your car's impact on the environment by following these driving and maintenance tips:

 

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Care Packages for Troops?My husband and a friend recently was deployed to Iraq as civillians attached to military units. My friends and family are wanting to put together simple little care packages for their units and want to try to send one in time for Thanksgiving and one for Christmas. I am wondering if anyone out there has had someone there and had any new creative ideas of things to send over.

 

Buying Organic Food

Buying Organic FoodI have a friend who buys all organic food. What does it mean when they slap an organic label on a package? Is it actually better or just packaging?

 

a pile of batteries

Battery Basics - Reduce, Recharge and Recycle!Household batteries include both single-use and rechargeable dry cell batteries used to power toys, cameras, radios, flashlights, hearing aids, and many other portable products.

 

Compact Fluorescent Bulbs

Compact Fluorescent Bulbs - Fight Global Warming...According to the EPA, if every household in the U.S. replaced one light bulb with one of their ENERGY STAR rated compact fluorescent bulbs, it would be the pollution equivalent of pulling one million cars off the road.

 

Recycling Materials

Recycling Metal, Paper, Plastics and GlassRecycling is slightly more complicated than just collecting a bin full of empty cans and old newspapers to keep them out of the waste stream.

 

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An arbor lattice being reused.

Reusing a Broken ArborI reused my arbor that broke and made use of the lattice on my porch.

 

Sustainable Entertaining

Holiday Entertaining with Sustainable StyleWith the endless holiday festivities, American's waistlines aren't the only thing expanding during the holidays. Our landfills are, too. We throw out a staggering 25% more garbage during the period from Thanksgiving to New Years.

 

Resolutions for a Green New Year

Resolutions for a Green New YearAnother year has come and gone and once again we are given the opportunity to wipe the slate clean and have a chance to adopt healthy new habits and new ways of being.

 

bioplastics

Bioplastics: Growing Plastic from PlantsA new generation of disposable plastic has arrived and it's going to revolutionize the way we produce and dispose of thousands of products.

 

A fish on a plate with lemon.

Fishing for Sustainable SeafoodWith all of the media attention over the past few years regarding toxin levels in fish and controversies on over-fishing and fish farming, it's almost become easier to avoid eating fish and shellfish than trying to sort through the facts.

 

Protecting Birds from Striking Windows

Protecting Birds from Striking WindowsThe Audubon Society estimates that in the United States and Canada, as many as 1 billion birds die each year due to collisions with glass. Collisions that don't end in fatalities often leave birds temporarily stunned and vulnerable to predators, or worse, seriously injured.

 

Water in a stainless steel sink.

Ellen's Tips for Conserving WaterPracticing water conservation saves you money, protects the health of your family and reduces the risk of damaging your access to quality drinking water. Water conservation also prevents water pollution-which hurts the environment and ultimately costs money to remedy.

 

organic banana

FAQ's About Organic FoodAs more and more supermarkets across North America respond to the growing consumer demand for healthy foods, foods grown organically will become even more affordable and accessible to the average supermarket shopper.

 

Guidelines for Green Building and RemodelingIf you have a building or remodeling project in your future, consider the benefits of going green. It's a common misperception to think that incorporating environmentally friendly measures into your project will cost more, but that isn't usually the case. In fact, even if you're on a tight budget, many elements of sustainable building and remodeling can be incorporated into your project with minimal (sometimes zero) upfront costs.

 

My Frugal Life - Growing Up FrugalGrowing up in a family of 5 you didn't have to learn to be frugal, it was a given. A lot of our clothes were bought at garage sales and my mom even made some. Most new clothing was gotten at the beginning of the school year, Christmas and Birthdays.

 

The posts mentioned almost every ethnic group, including blacks, Muslims, Jews and American Indians, and talked about an effort on campus to debate changing the university's mascot, a Viking. The threats came days after some student leaders suggested that

I Longed For A Simpler LifestyleWhen I was in my early 50s, I began to question the lifestyle my husband and I were living. I knew I wanted less stress, I knew I was tired of working for someone else, and I felt there had to be a way to achieve my goal of quitting the corporate world for good.

 

Plan a Party for Earth DaySaturday, April 22, 2006, will mark the 36th annual Earth Day. Why not resolve to spend the day in the most Earth friendly way possible. Lead the way by throwing an Earth Day party to show your support for protecting the environment. Here are some ideas on how to throw a party for the planet:

 

My Frugal Life: Dealing With Big BillsI have been hit with many big bills lately. I have disconnected my caller ID, saving me $7.00 per month. When I drink milk or juice, I add water to the glass first.

 

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My Frugal Life - Buying Ingredients Has Saved Me MoneyAt the age of 33 I became disabled. I had just gotten married to a man who had been disabled for years, and retired from the army, he came with a teenage son. I had always lived alone and did a lot of eating fast meals, I never cooked.

 

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My Frugal Life: You Can Have It AllWhen I was about twelve I had a talk with my Dad about money. He looked at me and said. "You can have anything you want as long as you pay for it." Wow the possibilities!

 

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My Frugal Life - Decluttering Started Me Down the Road Towards FrugalityAs a little girl I used to save up a lot of money. Most of my pocket money went into my piggy bank, to save up for bigger items I would want to buy. Soon I found out that doing this, made me a target.

 

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My Frugal Life: Cooking For OneI am a 63 year old female, and I eat on an $80.00 a month food allowance. I have high blood pressure and high cholesterol, so I have to watch what I eat.

 

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My Frugal Life - Research, Research, Research.Having been one of 5 kids of depression era parents, I had a good idea how to live frugally. Those times reappeared when I lost my job. I tackled this problem with research, research, and more research.

 

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My Frugal Life - Depression Era Thread TipI wanted to tell you about how my mother was taught to be frugal. After graduating from high school during the Depression, she learned "make do, or do without".

 

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My Frugal Life: Tips from a Save-o-holicI honestly don't know where or how to begin telling everyone how I save money, because it's natural for me. It's an everything day thing. I love to teach others how to save. Saving money is a "rush" for me.

 

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My Frugal Life - Reflecting on the Lean YearsWhen my husband and I were married years ago, we both made minimum wage and lived from paycheck to paycheck. After the birth of our first child, we thought he was so wonderful and decided we wanted a dozen like him. I quit my job to stay home with him and my husband worked two jobs.

 

You Don't Need a Financial Windfall to Start Saving...My health has been getting worse for years. Not only have we lost my income, but the medical bills are through the ceiling. We spent everything that we had saved for our retirement, and were flat broke.

 

Here's To Thrifty Living!My mother, raised in the Depression, passed down a lot of thrifty wisdom to me. It was a matter of principle not to waste and to get as much value as possible.

 

Food, Prom and GiftsMy Mother was raised during the depression so being Frugal is a way of life for me. Mother would never go anywhere unless it was to work, she did all her shopping on the way. If a store was more than a block or two off her route she didn't shop there.

 

burn barrels

Alternatives to Backyard BurningI grew up in a rural community in the 1970s and 80s with a burn barrel in the backyard. Like most of our neighbors, our family burned trash in an effort to minimize costly trips to the dump. As a kid, it was one of my favorite chores. I mean, what kid doesn't like being asked to light stuff on fire?

 

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Still FrugalI came from a family of 10 kids. With 12 people in the house, we had to be frugal - that's all we knew. My Mom, never bought anything that she couldn't make. She made fabulous meals that stretched with enough for leftovers.

 

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My Frugal Life: Thrift Store ShoppingI grew up in a family of 4 children, a stay-at-home mom, and a father who didn't make a lot of money. We had everything we needed but I did wear a lot of boys PJs inherited from my older brother and cousins.

 

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My Frugal Life - Fixing It YourselfMy husband has built and renovated houses, rebuilt car wrecks to exceed safety standards, fixed burnt out ovens and replaced parts on washers, etc.

 

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My Frugal Life - One Proud Mom!For the last year our daughter has done many fundraising events. Her school concert band wanted to attend Disney World in Florida over spring break and she needed to earn her own way.

 

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My Frugal Life: Born ThriftyI am a natural born thrifter. I have been poorer than a church mouse as well as on top of the mountain. That has never stopped my bargain hunting. I learned about thrifty living early in life since my mom was raising 3 kids on just her salary.

 

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My Frugal Life: Always Something To EnjoyI grew up in a wonderful family. Mom and Dad brought we four children up with dignity and love. Sometimes you realize life is good but you eventually realize it is very special

 

A No Dumping sign for water drainage.

Preventing Stormwater Runoff PollutionSpring is here and that means runoff. Precipitation from melting snow and spring rains that does not naturally soak into the ground flows across impervious surfaces like our rooftops, driveways, sidewalks and streets and picks up a variety of potentially polluting materials along the way.

 

Vegetable Ready for Canning

The Old Fashioned Way is the Cheaper WayToday people look for items to make life easier. Yet, those items cost money which is earned by working, thus defeating the purpose of making life easier. In the "olden days" things were done more economically than today, and life seemed simpler.

 

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My Frugal Life: Country LivingI began my quest for frugality when my husband had been laid off from his job and we were in a financial bind. It isn't something that you want to do, I don't think, in the beginning. But realizing the benefits from just changing a few things can really have an impact on your life.

 

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So Many Ways to SaveI started reading about frugal living about 9 years ago. My main reason was to save us money for my husband and I who were living on our own for the first time. Now we just bought our first house so I'm trying to learn even more about frugal living.

 

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My Frugal Life: Two Part AgendaMy first career was as a musician. Despite some good breaks and a substantial amount of business success, music was basically a hand-to-mouth existence. So I learned to manage on the little money that I had.

 

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My Frugal Life: Save Everywhere I CanHere goes my life. I try to save everywhere I can. I shop at thrift stores for necessary items. I give a lot to thrift stores, because clutter will increase your cleaning by 50%.

 

My House (And Bank Account) Have Never...A few years ago, I was out a job from my third oil company layoff, and decided to move from Houston to Galveston to get away from big city blues. That saved me a lot right there - moving to a smaller city, only an hour away! But there were fewer jobs here, all vastly lower paying, so I had to economize. Here are some of the things I did:

 

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My Frugal Life: Advice From a Stay at Home MomI've always been pretty smart with money, but three very special little boys have taught me that simplifying all areas of our lives is one of life's sweetest lessons learned.

 

Money Stuffed in Gas Tank

How to Conserve Small, Medium & Large Amounts of EnergyWith oil and gasoline prices on the rise, conserving energy is on the mind of many Americans. As a nation, we're being asked to do our part to cut back on the amount of energy we consume. Here are some easy energy conservation strategies that can save you money.

 

My Frugal Life - Outsmart The PricesI am a 54 year old married lady who has chosen to be as frugal as I possibly can be. My dear hubby has retired in the last month, so this is even more important to me than ever, as money will be limited from here on in. I cook almost everything from scratch, which I love doing. I use all the "great" sites that are listed online.

 

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My Frugal Life: Finding Small LuxuriesMy earliest adult encounter with frugal living was as a twenty-something single woman living on $425 a month in the 70's. I was exasperated with most of the budgeting articles in ladies magazines with titles like "How to Get the Most Out of Your Roast".

 

Selling vegetables at a farmers market.

Lessons Learned at the Farmer's MarketThis was posted as feedback to a post about Farmer's Market but we thought it was a great My Frugal Life entry. When my children were young (around 8-10 years old) I would give them each a few dollars and let them go shopping for their own goodies at the Farmers market.

 

A detergent box that has been converted into a file box.

Make a File Box from a Detergent BoxI transformed a family size Tide detergent box into a file box. I attached teabag envelopes to the outside to indicate the contents of the box. I put ribbons through the handle.

 

My Frugal Life - Tips from a Single MomI am a single mother of three and a teacher at Head Start. We don't make much money (think fast food restaurants) and we get laid off for the summer so I must live frugally throughout the year.

 

My Frugal Life - An Active, Frugal FamilyI am 43 years old and my husband is 40. He has just recently completed nursing school so, for the last 2 years, money has been extremely tight. We have 3 children, two teenagers and a five year old. Prior to my husband's schooling, we both worked extra to pay off all outstanding debts.

 

My Frugal Life - Free Produce... Saved From The DumpsterIt occurred to me that the local grocery store throws away bruised fruit and spotted veggies everyday that I could put to good use if I prepared them right away.

 

My Frugal Life - Why I Love Yard SalesYard Sales are on during the spring and summertime. Honestly, yard sales are truly a money saving thing for me. I am a person who finds treasure in somebody's trash.

 

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My Frugal Life: Lessons Learned by a Single MomIn my early thirties, I went through a divorce and suddenly found myself as a single mother of three small children. Fortunately, I was able to still manage to buy a small home with a backyard and continue working full time.

 

My Frugal Life - More Time Spent With Your ChildrenHow can you measure the worth of spending time with your child? In time? Money spent on activities? Neither! It is in their eyes when it is you they see when they wake up. It is in the way they say, "Momma", their voice so sweet and true.

 

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My Frugal Life: Buying Items at Country AuctionsBuying Items at Country Auctions. We are retired and are living on a fixed income. Being frugal has become a way of living. We shop the specials at the supermarkets and I have a vegetable garden.

 

10 Things You Can Do Right Now to Fight Global WarmingThe debate is over. Scientists agree that planet Earth is in the middle of a warming cycle and human activities that dump CO2 into the atmosphere are helping to turn up the heat. With melting glaciers, more intense weather patterns and vanishing species, we're already starting to see the consequences of rising temperatures.

 

My Frugal Life - Frugal Rural LivingMy family was tired of living in the big city. High taxes, high crime and high cost of living. After many years of scrimping, coupon clipping, yard-saling etc., and just barely making it, we decided to make the big move.

 

My Frugal Life - Thoughtful LivingNot frugal, it is too uptight a word. The word I like to use is thoughtful. Every time I save money, I smile because I have purchased quality.

 

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My Frugal Life: Make It Do Or Do WithoutI was raised during the depression by my maternal Grandparents. We had to be saving and making do. "Use it up, wear it out, make it do or do without". I'm 76 now and I still make do a lot of the time. I still do things the "OLD TIMEY" way.

 

My Frugal Life - Watering My Flowers With Recycled WaterWater is a precious resource. I re-use the wash and rinse cycles of my washing machine to water my garden. No government agency has hassled me yet over putting gray water on flower beds.

 

Living Off The LandWhen my husband and I married, we each brought children to the union. Within a year, we had added the two little boys from across the street. In an 800 square foot house with two bedrooms, this did not work.

 

My Frugal Life - Frugality, Debt Reduction and Giving BackFriends and family have called me a tightwad or a cheapskate. I prefer to be called "frugal"! About 12 years ago, my husband and I came to the bright conclusion that we had too much debt (after only 3 years of marriage!)

 

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My Frugal Life - A Frugal Challenge - Up From HomelessnessIn August of 1998, I decided to find an apartment after living in a long term homeless shelter for over 2 years.

 

Green Grilling

Green GrillingEven the simplest activities can have a substantial impact on the environment, including firing up the backyard grill. With outdoor activities in full swing, here are some tips for making those summertime barbeques green and guilt-free.

 

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My Frugal Life: My Frugal ParentsMy father was my example when it came to being frugal. He lived through the "dirty thirties" and the depression had a life long effect on his frugality.

 

My Frugal Life - Frugal Sunburn Protection When Riding a BikeMy friends and I are avid bike riders and happen to ride recumbents. As we are at retirement age or over, we have thinning hair. In fact, some of us are bald. My dear friend recently spent $14 on a skull cap to wear under his bike helmet so his head would not get sunburned.

 

My Frugal Life - I'm Thankful For What We HaveAfter graduation, most people go out to a big fancy dinner, spend lots of money on graduation gifts and have a big job all lined up. Nope. Not us. For dinner, we enjoyed Hamburger Helper from the $1 section at the grocery store (with free meat from my parents' farm).

 

My Frugal Life - The Frugal GeneI was born with a gene that not everyone is born with - the Frugal Gene. I was coming up with ideas to save money and electricity as a kid. My clothes line across my room made of yarn didn't work real well, nor did my idea to turn off all lights and only use candles.

 

My Frugal Life - Giving BackI went out into the world and started supporting myself at age 15. At age 22, after a disastrous teenage marriage, I became a single mom and learned frugality out of necessity.

 

My Frugal Life - BarteringI'm almost ashamed to admit it but I have not been a frugal person most of my life. Up until 5 years ago, my husband and I both had great jobs ...

 

My Frugal Life - It's for the kids!I am a stay at home mom of two little boys. It was not a hard choice, given my mother stayed at home for as long as she could with her four children.

 

Back to School Clothes on a Budget

Back to School Clothes on a BudgetTips as suggested by our ThriftyFun community: My daughter has three children in school. She visited our local Goodwill Store, got 6 pair of boys jeans, 2 skirts, and 12 blouses for $100.

 

My Frugal Life - The Kids Think We're RichI, too, have been living very frugally. My husband and I have been married 15 years. We have 4 kids. Needless to say, some times have been rougher than others financially. I have done just about everything to make sure that my family's needs have been met.

 

Solar Panels

Getting Started in Solar Electric PowerWhen it comes to solar power, most people are interested in it, but they have no idea how to get started. For those that decide to forge ahead and explore their options, many become intimidated by the all of the confusing terminology or abandon their solar aspirations early fearing a hefty price tag.

 

My Frugal Life - My Frugal GrandfatherThis isn't actually a story of my life but one of my grandfather who passed away 4 years ago. I still miss him.

 

My Frugal Life - "Time is Money"I was raised in a frugal household so I learned from the masters. I am a very organized person who believes "Time is Money" so I have learned to budget my time very wisely.

 

Frugal and Tightwad LivingThis is my story about frugal and tightwad living! To start, I live alone right now. I have been frugal my whole 38 years. I am also a tightwad. My family laughs about to what lengths I will go to live the way I do.

 

My Frugal Life - Comfortable and FrugalI grew up with frugal parents who did well by watching how they spent their money but saved for luxury items. We were taught to be careful with our money and to watch the cost of utilities.

 

My Frugal Life - My Scottish AncestorsBeing frugal probably started with my Scottish ancestors. I wasn't married long when I discovered that my husband's paychecks were much smaller in the winter. He drove through the Okanagan and brought me a lot of produce.

 

Saving Money on Public TransportationLooking for cheaper public transportation options? I don't have a car and am a non driver, so I depend a lot on public transport. Up till the end of February this year, I had part-time paid work, which included a monthly travel card for the public transport system.

 

Steve Irwin "Crocodile Hunter" - Online MemorialMy family has been deeply saddened by the death of Steve. We would like to express our sympathy to our Aussie friends and to all of the people who loved him....worldwide. He truly was "one of a kind".

 

My Frugal Life - Homemade Christmas GiftsHomemade Christmas gifts? We love them in our family. My aunt always gives homemade dishcloths, etc. My parents, who are in their 70's, loved their gift last year. I went to the store, bought a couple of big boxes of Q-tips, Ivory soap, toothpaste, everything they use in the bathroom, careful to use their usual brands.

 

My Frugal Life - Coupons, Contests, Freebies and RebatesI've used coupons and have done rebates and sweepstakes for years, even before my husband and I got together 20 years ago, this next month. I got started by seeing a show on TV and thinking, I could do that, too. I did, even when I was single and still living with my parents.

 

My Frugal Life - A Fun AdventureFor 21 years, I've lived the "frugal life" so, I guess it's really a way of life for us now. I've done all the classic frugal things. Most people say I have a knack for being in the right place at the right time, but I think it's really about being aware of what's going on.

 

A stack of old books.

Twelve Ways to Get Rid of Your Old BooksAs a writer (and literary packrat), I periodically find my nightstand and the shelves of my office bookcases sagging under the weight of enormous stacks of books.

 

My Frugal Life - A Homemade ChristmasAs a teenager without a lot of money, I made potholders that I wove with jersey loops. We also made candles with leftover candles and paraffin and poured them in orange juice cans or Pringles chip cans and added a drop of scent from the hobby store.

 

My Frugal Life - Avoiding The Fast Food LifeFrugal living has been a way of life since I was a small child. Coming from a large family of 8 in a rural small town, I was raised in a simple environment.

 

My Frugal Life - My Frugal GardenThrifty is my middle name, just ask my kids. I blame it on the fact that my parents were raised during the depression, though there's really no cause for blame. Thrift has served me well over the years.

 

My Frugal Life - Frugal Living on Five AcresDuring a stressful time in our lives, my DH and I did not have the money to pay our rent, so we had to search for a more frugal life for the two of us, our daughter and three children who were at the time living with us, plus our son and his two children who also stayed part-time with us.

 

My Frugal Life - A Week Of Frugal Summer FunThe week never cost more than $7.50. The public library has a program to encourage reading. They have story time and a craft to go along with it. We would then pick out the books for the week.

 

My Frugal Life - Enjoying the Wisdom of Our ParentsI am happy to say that I grew up in a frugal family. It certainly made a difference. My greatest influence was my father.

 

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