Author Topic: What frugalities do you find most pleasant and why?  (Read 15887 times)

jengod

  • Handlebar Stache
  • *****
  • Posts: 1219
  • Location: Near LAX
What frugalities do you find most pleasant and why?
« on: March 27, 2017, 11:38:20 PM »
* Cloth diapers and DIY cloth wet wipes are so cozy and soft!

* Line-drying is a wonderful excuse to get out in the backyard and enjoy the garden.

* Crockpot overnight groatmeal is about the happiest, cheapest food I can imagine.

Linea_Norway

  • Walrus Stache
  • *******
  • Posts: 8569
  • Location: Norway
Re: What frugalities do you find most pleasant and why?
« Reply #1 on: March 28, 2017, 04:15:04 AM »
- Not shopping. Shopping in real shops makes me feel stressed. I do buy a stuff in online shops every now and then, but not shopping feels a lot better.
- Becoming a minimalist. Have a tidy house, where everything has it's place and is standing out of sight. Easy to clean.
- Not throwing away food. Throwing away food hurts me mentally.
- Having our own vegetables and herbs growing. Good for the environment and fun to do.
- Making the house warm by using a stove with wood from own garden. Makes me feel good to not use lots of electricity.
- Have a composting bin. It is producing real earth. Funny to see that it works so well. And we can use it again for the garden.
- Going on trips short way from where we live.
- Eating good homemade food, rather than getting to the city where you can't drink wine if you have to drive home and where you need to wait for your food and are dependent on serving personnel.

redbird

  • Pencil Stache
  • ****
  • Posts: 546
Re: What frugalities do you find most pleasant and why?
« Reply #2 on: March 28, 2017, 04:52:12 AM »
Leftovers. It not only can help drive costs down when you get multiple meals' worth out of 1 recipe, but it also means I can be lazy for a few days afterward, as all I have to do is heat some up.

LindseyC

  • Stubble
  • **
  • Posts: 239
  • Location: Ontario
Re: What frugalities do you find most pleasant and why?
« Reply #3 on: March 28, 2017, 05:04:25 AM »
I agree with:

 - Line drying. I do it I my unfinished basement and it's so easy!
 - Not shopping, I never go to malls or 90% of most stores
 - An easy to clean minimal house, where everything has a place
 - Homemade eating and avoiding restaurants.

I'd also add:

 - Grounded social events that are about socializing not spending
 - Thrifting / second hand shopping to produce less waste
 - Simplifying things like toiletries, cleaning supplies, etc... Just takes less mental energy
 - Making my own gifts, home decor, art, fun to be creative and also save money
 - Doing my own repairs, home projects and DIY. I like the challenge and learning new things.

Cranky

  • Magnum Stache
  • ******
  • Posts: 3842
Re: What frugalities do you find most pleasant and why?
« Reply #4 on: March 28, 2017, 05:13:52 AM »
Clothesline - though I have to replace my pole and it won't feel too frugal this year!

fresh herbs from the garden

staying home

tickets to free events

FindingFI

  • Stubble
  • **
  • Posts: 163
Re: What frugalities do you find most pleasant and why?
« Reply #5 on: March 28, 2017, 05:39:53 AM »
-Making the same meals at home taste better with healthier ingredients for less than most restaurants
-Generally buying less so we create less waste
-Hand-making Christmas and birthday gifts
-Having friends over for a bonfire instead of going to a bar

lizzzi

  • Handlebar Stache
  • *****
  • Posts: 2150
Re: What frugalities do you find most pleasant and why?
« Reply #6 on: March 28, 2017, 05:46:30 AM »
Shopping for groceries at Aldi...buying simple, basic food items that I then prepare at home. Easy and quick to get in and out of store. When I go to the big, "regular" grocery store, I find all the choices and all the "extras" are dizzying and confusing. See too many things that I never knew I wanted or needed until I saw them. Prefer the Zen of Aldi.

My simplified wardrobe. Very Zen to wear essentially a dark, comfortable, minimalist "uniform" in slightly different permutations depending on the season of the year and whether I'm "dressed up" or "everyday." Good for my head--always feel comfortable in my clothes, laundry is very simple and quick, closet is very neat and almost looks like a work of lifestyle art.

Cutting my own hair, and not coloring it. This was liberating and life-enhancing. Not about the money, but about the freedom. Absolutely no dependence on trying to get convenient salon appointments, long hours spent in the salon, etc.

Linea_Norway

  • Walrus Stache
  • *******
  • Posts: 8569
  • Location: Norway
Re: What frugalities do you find most pleasant and why?
« Reply #7 on: March 28, 2017, 06:42:26 AM »
Shopping for groceries at Aldi...buying simple, basic food items that I then prepare at home. Easy and quick to get in and out of store. When I go to the big, "regular" grocery store, I find all the choices and all the "extras" are dizzying and confusing. See too many things that I never knew I wanted or needed until I saw them. Prefer the Zen of Aldi.

This!

I have once stood in a shop with a lot of choice, having 20 or so different tomatoes. As an other customer beside me exclaimed: and they are all so fucking red! I think I spent 10 minutes at least to compare prices and find some that I wanted to buy.

Cutting my own hair, and not coloring it. This was liberating and life-enhancing. Not about the money, but about the freedom. Absolutely no dependence on trying to get convenient salon appointments, long hours spent in the salon, etc.

And finding a good hair dresser that doesn't immediately move to another part of the city. I have used my husband once and asked him to cut my hair again. He did a better job than my last hair dresser who left the fronts at a noticeable unequal length.
« Last Edit: March 28, 2017, 06:47:15 AM by Linda_Norway »

Laura33

  • Magnum Stache
  • ******
  • Posts: 3479
  • Location: Mid-Atlantic
Re: What frugalities do you find most pleasant and why?
« Reply #8 on: March 28, 2017, 07:13:23 AM »
Putzing in the kitchen on a lazy Sunday, making Sunday dinner and getting everything prepped for the week.  Best on a nasty winter's day, when there's nothing else more tempting to do and who wants to go outside anyway?

@lizzzi -- I only wish my Aldi's were anywhere close to "zen"!  Mine is a cramped, nasty, small, dirty zoo, with bad fluorescent lighting, aisles too narrow for all of the carts/people, unreliable stock, and checkout lines that are never shorter than three-deep.  It is something I tolerate, because it costs less than half of Wegman's. 

However, I do love that moment when I have all the groceries unbagged and on the countertops to put away, and I think "wait, I just bought all of *that* for $69?"  :-)

TravelJunkyQC

  • Bristles
  • ***
  • Posts: 466
  • Age: 37
  • Location: Québec City, Canada
Re: What frugalities do you find most pleasant and why?
« Reply #9 on: March 28, 2017, 07:30:26 AM »
I'd jump on the "home-cooked meals" bandwagon. I love cooking. I don't have a garden (condo living), but it's one of the things I'm most looking forward to when we purchase a home with land. Also, having fun outside - hiking, climbing, snowboarding, biking, camping, etc.
And also, learning new things - frugality means fixing your own things most of the time, which means that I'm "forced" to learn how to do new things, which I absolutely love doing.

spokey doke

  • Pencil Stache
  • ****
  • Posts: 514
  • Escaped from the ivory tower basement
Re: What frugalities do you find most pleasant and why?
« Reply #10 on: March 28, 2017, 08:49:47 AM »
Backpacking as vacation - An entire week of beauty and solitude, good exercise, decompression/being unplugged, and spending no money (while in the backcountry, and just a little bit of gas and stocking up on inexpensive food before we go).

Beans - we are mostly vegetarian, and really like our legumes - healthy, satisfying, and cheap.  Add heaps of home grown tomatoes on top of already tasty beans and rice, and that is good living.


Linea_Norway

  • Walrus Stache
  • *******
  • Posts: 8569
  • Location: Norway
Re: What frugalities do you find most pleasant and why?
« Reply #11 on: March 28, 2017, 11:27:56 AM »
Backpacking as vacation - An entire week of beauty and solitude, good exercise, decompression/being unplugged, and spending no money (while in the backcountry, and just a little bit of gas and stocking up on inexpensive food before we go).

Indeed. I enjoy living in a tent in the mountains (in nice weather) as much as staying at a 5 star hotel. It is true and I have stayed in a 5 star hotek for a week once. And many years in a tent.

Mel70

  • 5 O'Clock Shadow
  • *
  • Posts: 67
Re: What frugalities do you find most pleasant and why?
« Reply #12 on: March 28, 2017, 11:33:29 AM »
Home-made bread.

LifeHappens

  • Senior Mustachian
  • ********
  • Posts: 12158
  • Location: Tampa-ish
Re: What frugalities do you find most pleasant and why?
« Reply #13 on: March 28, 2017, 11:56:01 AM »
I am enjoying hosting people at our home. I've always been a restaurant person - and still am to a degree - but having people over for happy hour or hosting guests escaping winter are pretty darn fun.

pachnik

  • Handlebar Stache
  • *****
  • Posts: 1894
  • Age: 59
  • Location: Vancouver, BC
Re: What frugalities do you find most pleasant and why?
« Reply #14 on: March 28, 2017, 12:14:18 PM »
I really enjoy my husband's homemade bread and my homemade pizza.   Inexpensive and excellent - healthier than store-bought versions.

Also, hanging clothes outside on the line is fun.  I only do it for six months of the year but really enjoy standing out on the deck and then seeing the clothing waving in the breeze.  There are two duplexes sharing my lot and all four of us have a clothes line. 

jac941

  • Bristles
  • ***
  • Posts: 284
  • Location: SF Bay Area
Re: What frugalities do you find most pleasant and why?
« Reply #15 on: March 28, 2017, 12:52:22 PM »
Biking. No traffic issues + getting exercise = huge win.

Imustacheyouaquestion

  • Bristles
  • ***
  • Posts: 316
Re: What frugalities do you find most pleasant and why?
« Reply #16 on: March 28, 2017, 01:24:32 PM »
Walking to the library to pick up books and audio CDs.

Recently, fixing up and using a push (reel) mower to mow my lawn.

Ramblin' Ma'am

  • 5 O'Clock Shadow
  • *
  • Posts: 61
  • Location: Boston area
Re: What frugalities do you find most pleasant and why?
« Reply #17 on: March 28, 2017, 01:38:41 PM »
Library books and used bookstores.

Switching from a fancy salon to Supercuts and still getting compliments on my hair.

sw1tch

  • Bristles
  • ***
  • Posts: 271
  • Age: 39
  • Location: Middle of no and where
Re: What frugalities do you find most pleasant and why?
« Reply #18 on: March 28, 2017, 01:43:46 PM »
Here's a few:

- Perusing through grocery circulars every week.  I have a list of items and lowest prices stored in Google Keep.  I have a separate list for each respective grocery store.  Aldi is usually the default, but I will also go to other stores if they have a good item on sale; else, I go to Walmart and price-match.
- Renting movies from the library.  I have almost no need to go the movies anymore.
- Also, biking.

Daisy

  • Handlebar Stache
  • *****
  • Posts: 2263
Re: What frugalities do you find most pleasant and why?
« Reply #19 on: March 28, 2017, 02:12:20 PM »
I live in a big city and it seems you have to pay for parking everywhere these days!

I love that I have a secret free parking site in almost every location around town so I avoid paying for parking, stressed about time running out on parking meters, waiting in lines to get in and out of parking garages.

All it takes usually is a slightly longer walk from my parking spot to the place I am going, but most of the times it's minimal. And I get a nice walk in! This works best in the fall, winter, and spring when it's not so hot and humid.

Carrie

  • Pencil Stache
  • ****
  • Posts: 602
Re: What frugalities do you find most pleasant and why?
« Reply #20 on: March 28, 2017, 02:26:27 PM »
I love baking bread - it makes the house smelly homey, it's cheap, simple, and tastes so much better than store bought.  Plus I can mix it up - French bread, Cuban bread, Naan, pita, ciabatta, brioche, etc.

I love making my own marinades, sauces and seasonings,  especially when I can use herbs from my own garden. It's so fresh tasting and no hidden ingredients. 

I absolutely adore cooking for my family and friends.  I can't remember the last restaurant meal I've had. My food tastes better, is cheaper,  and I get to stay in the comfort of my own home. Food prep is so enjoyable to me (mmmm, a nice sharp knife, even knife cuts) that when I do eat out, I feel gypped.

I'm learning to enjoy yard work - fresh air, vitamin D, exercise, and results I can see.

Sewing my own home decor - it'll be one of a kind, and it's cheaper. Plus I love seeing and using something that I've created.

Ebrat

  • Stubble
  • **
  • Posts: 239
Re: What frugalities do you find most pleasant and why?
« Reply #21 on: March 28, 2017, 02:38:37 PM »
I'm finding I really enjoy kneading bread. Very meditative.

I also love biking or walking places and not having to worry about parking. I had to drive to work today, and I was not happy about it. Such a pain.

alewpanda

  • Bristles
  • ***
  • Posts: 319
Re: What frugalities do you find most pleasant and why?
« Reply #22 on: March 28, 2017, 06:18:25 PM »
Minimalism...so luxurious on so many levels. Easy to clean, maintain, pretty to look at, etc.

Capsule year round wardrobe.  Only replace when too worn.  All loved and in my favorite few colors!

Thrifting and buying only second hand.  It takes longer, makes me reconsider my wants/spending, and feels like a treasure hunt and celebration once the perfect thing is found!

Cannot Wait!

  • Handlebar Stache
  • *****
  • Posts: 1036
  • Age: 57
  • Location: Nomad
  • FIREd 2016 @ 49
Re: What frugalities do you find most pleasant and why?
« Reply #23 on: March 28, 2017, 06:32:49 PM »
Potluck dinners -  so much more enjoyable than loud, crowded, expensive restaurants.

Daisy

  • Handlebar Stache
  • *****
  • Posts: 2263
Re: What frugalities do you find most pleasant and why?
« Reply #24 on: March 28, 2017, 06:44:29 PM »
Potluck dinners -  so much more enjoyable than loud, crowded, expensive restaurants.

And you get to talk with all of the guests before and after eating as you have the whole living area to communicate. I've  found when going to restaurants in a large group, you only get to talk with the few people sitting around you.

Abooki

  • 5 O'Clock Shadow
  • *
  • Posts: 44
  • Location: on a Safari to FIRE.
Re: What frugalities do you find most pleasant and why?
« Reply #25 on: March 28, 2017, 06:53:07 PM »
Cheap meals in general
     -Eating rice and beans. Why you ask- because I make the best beans and could eat them every
       day over chicken.
     -Making my grandmother's cheap healthy meals that not only save me money but remind me of home and
       her. 

Side note: I may even start a journal on here about some of these recipes.

Thinkum

  • Pencil Stache
  • ****
  • Posts: 725
  • Location: SoCal
  • Life is Good
Re: What frugalities do you find most pleasant and why?
« Reply #26 on: March 28, 2017, 07:11:56 PM »
Driving my 10+ year old Prius that is paid off. It does everything I want and need in a vehicle and gets stupid good MPG as well as low maintenance costs.

Making my own bread, soap, mouthwash, and dog shampoo; I know what's in it and it's really cheap to make.

Cooking in general. I LOVE cooking and coming up with new ideas as well as finding new recipes.

Growing veggies, fruits, and herbs. It just feels so luxurious to go outside and get ingredients rather than to the store.

Being a minimalist not really for the frugal itch, but more the aesthetic one. Still, it means I do not buy a bunch of stuff to put on shelves or in closets or what have you. Also means that my stuff doesn't own me.

Going outside to enjoy nature instead of to stores or bars/restaurants. Nothing wrong with doing that every so often, but a lot of people would rather spend money on those things while I enjoy the solitude of a good nature walk/hike.

Plenty more I'm sure, but those are the big ones.

better late

  • Bristles
  • ***
  • Posts: 488
Re: What frugalities do you find most pleasant and why?
« Reply #27 on: March 28, 2017, 07:19:43 PM »

- cleaning the house and especially doing laundry with white vinegar. I like the way it makes my clothes smell cleaner. And I like that whatever the question is re: cleaning the answer is most likely white vinegar.

Step37

  • Bristles
  • ***
  • Posts: 465
  • Age: 50
  • Location: AB, Canada
Re: What frugalities do you find most pleasant and why?
« Reply #28 on: March 28, 2017, 11:00:31 PM »
Biking around on a warm, sunny day, in no particular rush - I feel SO HAPPY doing it, and get a few errands done at the same time.

Batch cooking on the weekend. It makes the week so relaxed! Have to stay a bit longer at work? No big deal... dinner is already in the fridge and ready to heat up. Love eating my healthy, homemade leftovers for lunch at work, too.

Freedomin5

  • Walrus Stache
  • *******
  • Posts: 6485
Re: What frugalities do you find most pleasant and why?
« Reply #29 on: March 28, 2017, 11:18:56 PM »
Shopping for groceries online -- free delivery and don't have to pay for a taxi to get home.

Staying home and watching movies online.

Downloading ebooks from the library

Not paying for daycare -- spoke with my workplace to fit all my hours on 3 days so that I can spend half the week with DD. DH works on the days when I'm home, and vice versa. I love spending three to four full days per week with DD. In fact, we just came back from the playground.

Linea_Norway

  • Walrus Stache
  • *******
  • Posts: 8569
  • Location: Norway
Re: What frugalities do you find most pleasant and why?
« Reply #30 on: March 29, 2017, 12:12:08 AM »
I live in a big city and it seems you have to pay for parking everywhere these days!

I love that I have a secret free parking site in almost every location around town so I avoid paying for parking, stressed about time running out on parking meters, waiting in lines to get in and out of parking garages.

All it takes usually is a slightly longer walk from my parking spot to the place I am going, but most of the times it's minimal. And I get a nice walk in! This works best in the fall, winter, and spring when it's not so hot and humid.

We also have such a place in a town where we used to live/grew up. It is 15 minutes walking from the city center and therefore it's for free. There is always 1 place left when we get there.

Squirrel away

  • Handlebar Stache
  • *****
  • Posts: 1041
  • Location: United Kingdom
Re: What frugalities do you find most pleasant and why?
« Reply #31 on: March 29, 2017, 04:02:09 AM »
Having a minimalist home and wardrobe.

Going for a walk in the park, free and stress-relieving.

Reading a good book, keeps my mind occupied and a fairly cheap activity.


Mezzie

  • Pencil Stache
  • ****
  • Posts: 816
    • Mezzie Learns
Re: What frugalities do you find most pleasant and why?
« Reply #32 on: March 29, 2017, 06:13:08 AM »
Eating at home: I find myself less and less satisfied when eating out. The quality doesn't justify the cost usually, and there's a sense of being rushed that I don't enjoy.

Using the library: I've always got ten or more things checked out. If I bought all that, I'd be both broke and buried in books.

GreenSheep

  • Handlebar Stache
  • *****
  • Posts: 1072
Re: What frugalities do you find most pleasant and why?
« Reply #33 on: March 29, 2017, 07:21:00 AM »
I'm so happy to see so many people here who enjoy cooking as much as I do! Most people I know don't enjoy cooking, and I don't quite understand that! Gardening, too. It DOES feel luxurious to wander outside in my slippers to pick an eggplant or some basil or whatever.

I also agree with outdoor recreation and minimalism. Simplifying life makes it so much more enjoyable.

Not going out for entertainment (restaurants, movies, etc.) very much appeals to me. Home is so much more comfortable!

Cwadda

  • Handlebar Stache
  • *****
  • Posts: 2178
  • Age: 29
Re: What frugalities do you find most pleasant and why?
« Reply #34 on: March 29, 2017, 07:31:21 AM »
Minimalism and anti-consumerism in general is very comforting. Consumerism, not just big oil companies, is destroying our environment. Living in 3000+ sq. ft homes, buying new clothes every month, buying new cars every other year, all at the expense of our environment.

Miss Prim

  • Bristles
  • ***
  • Posts: 409
  • Location: Michigan
Re: What frugalities do you find most pleasant and why?
« Reply #35 on: March 29, 2017, 08:03:23 AM »
Joining boondockers welcome and staying in people around the country's driveways and backyards.  We have been taking cross country trips with our travel trailer every fall for 2 years now and in one month away, we only paid for 5 nights of camping!  Husband is very social and meeting new people along the way helps us both by giving us wonderful people to talk to and also save us a ton of money. 

Lots of ways of saving money give me great pleasure.  Thrift store and garage sale finds, washing and reusing ziplock bags, canning my own tomatoes and freezing vegetables from my garden, raising meat chickens and making my own stock from the bones, and the list goes on.

Other things I would like to mention are that if you are very frugal, you really enjoy the occasional splurge, such as a good cup of coffee from a coffee shop.  If splurges are not common, they seem to be than much more enjoyable.

                                                                                          Miss Prim

gardeningandgreen

  • Bristles
  • ***
  • Posts: 326
  • Location: Minnesota
    • Gardening and Green
Re: What frugalities do you find most pleasant and why?
« Reply #36 on: March 29, 2017, 08:31:30 AM »
I love cooking for large groups of people. Its so much more fun to have something homemade. My husband and I did almost all the cooking for our wedding. I generally have enough food to feed quite a few people when Im cooking. So we have leftovers when Im lazy or for lunches.

Gardening is my favorite thing. Im going to try to start saving seeds this year which will make it an even more frugal hobby!

DIYing the work on our house. We bought an old house and built a garage and are now working on the house. It is so satisfying to see the things you have done all around your house!

Step37

  • Bristles
  • ***
  • Posts: 465
  • Age: 50
  • Location: AB, Canada
Re: What frugalities do you find most pleasant and why?
« Reply #37 on: March 29, 2017, 06:14:47 PM »
* Cloth diapers and DIY cloth wet wipes are so cozy and soft!

* Line-drying is a wonderful excuse to get out in the backyard and enjoy the garden.

* Crockpot overnight groatmeal is about the happiest, cheapest food I can imagine.

Would you mind sharing how you make the reusable wet wipes? I'm thinking these could be handy in the back entrance for dirty dog paws. :)

zinnie

  • Pencil Stache
  • ****
  • Posts: 710
  • Location: Boston
Re: What frugalities do you find most pleasant and why?
« Reply #38 on: March 29, 2017, 10:00:52 PM »
Cooking is my favorite thing ever, and we eat ridiculously delicious food all the time because of it.

Walking to the store--it's always beautiful out and it makes me appreciate where I live. Biking around the neighborhood on the weekends, same thing.

Building things. We've made a few pieces of furniture and it is such a great feeling of accomplishment!

Gardening and caring for the yard is really peaceful.

Line drying--I like standing in the sun while hanging it up, and the sound of flapping clothes outside.

Having a clean and tidy small home. It makes me feel put together.

Plus having low expenses and money in the bank makes me feel secure!

jengod

  • Handlebar Stache
  • *****
  • Posts: 1219
  • Location: Near LAX
Re: What frugalities do you find most pleasant and why?
« Reply #39 on: March 29, 2017, 10:25:02 PM »
* Cloth diapers and DIY cloth wet wipes are so cozy and soft!

* Line-drying is a wonderful excuse to get out in the backyard and enjoy the garden.

* Crockpot overnight groatmeal is about the happiest, cheapest food I can imagine.

Would you mind sharing how you make the reusable wet wipes? I'm thinking these could be handy in the back entrance for dirty dog paws. :)

It's literally just cut up flannel cloths rolled up, moistened and stored in a "wipes warmer" I purchased used!(https://www.amazon.com/Prince-Lionheart-Ultimate-anti-microbial-warmers/dp/B00008ODBG) Anything reusable results in extra laundry plus there is a slight increase in electrical, but I prefer reusable when possible.

Step37

  • Bristles
  • ***
  • Posts: 465
  • Age: 50
  • Location: AB, Canada
Re: What frugalities do you find most pleasant and why?
« Reply #40 on: March 29, 2017, 10:49:01 PM »
* Cloth diapers and DIY cloth wet wipes are so cozy and soft!

* Line-drying is a wonderful excuse to get out in the backyard and enjoy the garden.

* Crockpot overnight groatmeal is about the happiest, cheapest food I can imagine.

Would you mind sharing how you make the reusable wet wipes? I'm thinking these could be handy in the back entrance for dirty dog paws. :)

It's literally just cut up flannel cloths rolled up, moistened and stored in a "wipes warmer" I purchased used!(https://www.amazon.com/Prince-Lionheart-Ultimate-anti-microbial-warmers/dp/B00008ODBG) Anything reusable results in extra laundry plus there is a slight increase in electrical, but I prefer reusable when possible.

Thank you, jengod! I'm not sure the dogs need the wipes to be warm, so I will see what I can do with a plastic container, cleaning solution and rags. It's really only an issue for a month or two each year. I shall google. ;-)

Linea_Norway

  • Walrus Stache
  • *******
  • Posts: 8569
  • Location: Norway
Re: What frugalities do you find most pleasant and why?
« Reply #41 on: March 30, 2017, 12:46:52 AM »

It's literally just cut up flannel cloths rolled up, moistened and stored in a "wipes warmer" I purchased used!(https://www.amazon.com/Prince-Lionheart-Ultimate-anti-microbial-warmers/dp/B00008ODBG) Anything reusable results in extra laundry plus there is a slight increase in electrical, but I prefer reusable when possible.

I never knew such a product existed, but I have gotten warm and moist towels at restaurants sometimes. Also the diaper disposal bin is new for me.

Cannot Wait!

  • Handlebar Stache
  • *****
  • Posts: 1036
  • Age: 57
  • Location: Nomad
  • FIREd 2016 @ 49
Re: What frugalities do you find most pleasant and why?
« Reply #42 on: March 30, 2017, 08:11:31 AM »
Reading this blog is a most pleasant frugality.  😊

CintranGhola

  • 5 O'Clock Shadow
  • *
  • Posts: 20
  • Age: 34
Re: What frugalities do you find most pleasant and why?
« Reply #43 on: March 30, 2017, 08:25:39 AM »
Cooking is my favorite thing ever, and we eat ridiculously delicious food all the time because of it.

Absolutely this - I feel so good coming back from the grocery store and looking in my fridge knowing we're going to be eating awesome food that's good for you every day. I love knowing that it's the healthier and most frugal option. Just makes me feel like I'm really doing it right. I know there are some areas of my lift that I need some serious face-punching, but I feel like I've got this part down.

Trudie

  • Handlebar Stache
  • *****
  • Posts: 2106
Re: What frugalities do you find most pleasant and why?
« Reply #44 on: March 30, 2017, 02:21:01 PM »
+1 to all the comments on minimalism and not shopping.  I don't enjoy spending mental energy on making shopping decisions, so not shopping so much is a double-win.

Cooking and drinking at home is a pleasure, especially on a Friday night after a week of work.  We watch the PBS News Hour (geek out on Shields and Brooks), drink our favorite $6 bottle of red blend, and prepare a nice meal at home.  Recent faves have included homemade black bean taco bowls and homemade pizza (we go to an Italian grocery for the good toppings.)

Listening to Spotify on our blue tooth speaker is another favorite frugal way to pass the time.

I could also relate to the comments about simple housekeeping.  I love the minimal approach of keeping the place tidy and using simple ingredients (vinegar, baking soda) to do the job.  I get satisfaction from having stuff around the house in order.  I also get a weird endorphin rush when I purge excess stuff.  In a similar vein, I get a cheap thrill when I cook with what I have on hand or clean out the fridge.

I take pride in my almost ten-year old car.  I live in a rural area so can't avoid a commute, but the thing still runs like at top at 170,000 miles.  I plan to drive it until it collapses, then have my local public broadcasting station take it off my hands for a tax deduction.


ketchup

  • Magnum Stache
  • ******
  • Posts: 4323
  • Age: 33
Re: What frugalities do you find most pleasant and why?
« Reply #45 on: March 30, 2017, 02:51:29 PM »
Not clothes shopping very often is pretty nice.  My only pair of jeans (worn about 90% of days) is starting to spontaneously develop like 15 holes in different places (it was 0 holes a few weeks ago, I swear) so I bought two new-to-me pairs at Goodwill today for $15 on my way to Trader Joe's (next door) for groceries.  Fast, efficient, inexpensive, no bullshit.

Last year I bought 10 (I think) pairs of socks at Kohl's, and new shoes at Costco.  Pretty sure the last time I went clothes shopping before any of the three trips mentioned here was in 2014.

LAdria27

  • 5 O'Clock Shadow
  • *
  • Posts: 30
Re: What frugalities do you find most pleasant and why?
« Reply #46 on: March 30, 2017, 03:20:48 PM »
Not owning a car. I save sooooo much money at the end of the year and it feels good to ride a bicycle and walk freely around the town. Also when I get the "you are 24 yo and dont own a car, you would be much more happy with a car!"

falcondisruptor

  • Stubble
  • **
  • Posts: 151
  • Location: Ottawa, ON
    • Simple Cheap Mom
Re: What frugalities do you find most pleasant and why?
« Reply #47 on: March 30, 2017, 05:29:43 PM »
Hanging my laundry to dry,
Going through bags of hand me downs as an adult from my big sister
Walking through our neighbourhood instead of driving (car will be for sale soon!)
Rice and Beans
Oatmeal
Under-scheduling

natb2347

  • 5 O'Clock Shadow
  • *
  • Posts: 28
Re: What frugalities do you find most pleasant and why?
« Reply #48 on: March 30, 2017, 06:15:22 PM »
Cheap meals in general
     -Eating rice and beans. Why you ask- because I make the best beans and could eat them every
       day over chicken.

Recipe please!  I love bean dishes.

Batch cooking - yes!  Since I gave up cable I sometimes struggle to find things to entertain myself and on Sundays it's batch cooking.  Shephard's Pie and Lasagna kept me busy for a good 4 hours last Sunday!  Saving $$ on work lunches and having ready made dinners when I don't feel like cooking after work are also divine.

One thing I have been pretty good with lately is shopping.  I am a fashion girl.  I haven't been to malls, stayed off internet shopping sites etc, but I feel like I may hit a wall at some point and binge.  Am I alone here?  What do I do?  I may need an intervention and it worries me.  Unlike others here, it is cathartic to shop, I zen out flipping through racks of clothing and walking malls.  Even if I don't buy anything.  Struggling to find something to replace that with.  Right now its hopping on here and reading but I don't know if that will sustain me long term.  I may start a journal on this and my overall frame of mind and musings since very recently becoming a mustachian student. 

I love home entertaining too - but that gets expensive (sometimes more than going out to eat).  How do you do this and still save money??

I like searching the internet for deals, coupons, specials and such.  I have the time and to me it's well spent if I find one cool thing that saves me money.  And I get great satisfaction sharing with everyone I know.  Latest find was AT&T Thank You deals.  Buy one get one free movie tickets on Tuesdays!  Not a bad perk.

Games with friends.  Scrabble night, Cards Against Humanity, Battle of the Sexes, backyard volleyball or cornhole tournaments.  Good clean fun and laughs for next to nothing.  Friends just having fun interacting together - in our case with a few drinks - at home.  Such fun and memories!  We have a few inside jokes we still laugh and reminisce about that came out of some of these game nights.

Just thinking about what frugalities are pleasant to me is a good exercise in positive reinforcement.  Thanks.

GreenSheep

  • Handlebar Stache
  • *****
  • Posts: 1072
Re: What frugalities do you find most pleasant and why?
« Reply #49 on: March 30, 2017, 06:25:43 PM »
One thing I have been pretty good with lately is shopping.  I am a fashion girl.  I haven't been to malls, stayed off internet shopping sites etc, but I feel like I may hit a wall at some point and binge.  Am I alone here?  What do I do?  I may need an intervention and it worries me.  Unlike others here, it is cathartic to shop, I zen out flipping through racks of clothing and walking malls.  Even if I don't buy anything.  Struggling to find something to replace that with.  Right now its hopping on here and reading but I don't know if that will sustain me long term.  I may start a journal on this and my overall frame of mind and musings since very recently becoming a mustachian student.

I may be the wrong person to answer this, as I've never really enjoyed shopping, but maybe it would help to ask yourself WHY you enjoy it so much. Is it the thrill of finding a good deal? Is it how you look in a new outfit? Is it checking out the latest trends? Is it bonding with girlfriends who shop with you? Is it people watching at the mall? Once you figure out why you enjoy shopping so much, then maybe you can find that element in other activities. If you can truly enjoy just window shopping without ever slipping and buying something you don't need, then maybe you don't need to kick shopping out of your life altogether. Strolling through the mall and flipping through racks of clothing can be a form of free entertainment if that's what you like.

Mrs. Frugalwoods of frugalwoods.com says she, too, was once a fashion girl, and she has completely changed that. She just recently finished 3 years of not buying any clothing at all. She's written some blog posts about it that might be helpful to you.

 

Wow, a phone plan for fifteen bucks!