Frugal Living - how are you managing?

hollydolly said:
no, it's not possible for me to be there currently.....anyway, tbh I;ve spent winters there.. and contrary to popualr belief, it's really not that warm in winter, especially in the house where for obvious reasons there are no carpets.. there is no central heating , only reverse AC.. and there's no insulated walls..
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Then I hope that maybe next year you will be able to use it.
 

Fracking's environmental effect on clean water. <--

FrackinginPA.jpg


The bottle in the center is contaminated water from their tap caused by fracking.
One of the gravest threats posed by fracking is the contamination of drinking water wells, vital sources of water for many rural communities. Though the industry has attempted to obscure evidence of well water contamination by fracking, multiple instances have come to light.
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In 2015, a Greenpeace investigation found that the shale industry had undue influence on EPA’s study of fracking’s impact on groundwater.
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RobinWren said:
We are not allowed to hang clothes outside:) but even if I could that is one thing I would not do. Too many wet Mondays in and out with the washing. Too many reminders of hanging out the clothes to dry, ironing them, then airing them. oh my goodness:ROFLMAO: and I hadn't even left home.
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Guess it depends on how frugal ya wanna be....or need to be
In my world, being frugal requires work

Ironing?
What's an iron?

Then airing them?
Really?
That's what clothes lines are for
Heh, there's things folks buy to put in their dryers to make their clothes smell like they've been dried on the line

When yer in a pinch, ya gotta adapt
Git off yer keester
Saves on gym fees

What am I missing?
 
palides2021 said:
Hi @dseag2, it's interesting what you said about your Chase Freedom card paying for everything. Is this a rewards program? I earn reward points on my credit card that I choose to put back into the next bill. They can also give me the credit as a money card.
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Yes, it is a rewards program, and I have a variety of choices. I can receive a credit on my statement, receive cash back, use the points toward Amazon purchases or receive gift cards. In this particular case, I chose 4, $50 Krogers gift cards. Chase also sends me offers each month for various merchants. I received savings on Chevron gas, which I would have never used otherwise. I also received savings on Le Madeleine, where we frequently eat.
 
Blessed said:
I put all my coupons straight away into my wallet in a special place, they are always with me. With the CVS ones, I put them in the center of the wallet. I see them everytime I open my wallet. It reminds to keep up with the expiration dates. They all get used, nothing like free money LOL
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Because I regularly shop at Kroger, they sent me coupons in the mail for actual items that I BUY! I used one today to save $1.50 off 3 cans of cat food that I would have bought anyway. I also have coupons for frozen pizza (our snacks), All laundry detergent, $10 worth of produce, etc. I have them out and ready to go for when I'm ready to stock up.

When I was working, I had no use for coupons. It was "get in and get out" when shopping. How retirement changes us!
 
dseag2 said:
Because I regularly shop at Kroger, they sent me coupons in the mail for actual items that I BUY! I used one today to save $1.50 off 3 cans of cat food that I would have bought anyway. I also have coupons for frozen pizza (our snacks), All laundry detergent, $10 worth of produce, etc. I have them out and ready to go for when I'm ready to stock up.

When I was working, I had no use for coupons. It was "get in and get out" when shopping. How retirement changes us!
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you bet, I use those coupons and I shop those sales. I have found Kroger to have excellent sales and then we stack coupons on the items we use to save even more money. The more we save, the more we can spend on other things. In your case travel, sounds like you and the hubs have some great trips planned!!
 
hollydolly said:
yep and companies are now having to either close down or reduce their opening hours because they simply cannot afford the cost of utilities to stay open... Pubs are going to be killed in this country.. as it is we lost many (100's) pubs after they had to close due to the enforced 2 year Covid closure. The pub culture is the single most popular form of entertainment in this country. .. Now the prediction is for £10 or more for a Pint of Beer. :eek: There's no-one in their right mind would pay anything near £10 for a pint.. so this will finish the pubs off completely .

Last week our biggest Cinema Chain announced they were closing ..
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One of our biggest cinema chains, Regal Cinemas, just filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy. With that said, I saw crowds dwindling even before the pandemic, inflation and rising energy costs. I think younger people are just streaming movies these days. I still prefer to see movies in a theater and from my experience the crowds are mostly older.
 
Gary O' said:
Guess it depends on how frugal ya wanna be....or need to be
In my world, being frugal requires work

Ironing?
What's an iron?

Then airing them?
Really?
That's what clothes lines are for
Heh, there's things folks buy to put in their dryers to make their clothes smell like they've been dried on the line

What am I missing?
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I'm in an apartment and hang my clothes on the patio on two folding racks. They can't be seen. I refuse to use the dryer when I can air dry them for free.

I also use scent free natural laundry soap.
 
Liberty said:
Well, we finally had to get new HVAC units (2 big ones). Can't complain, as the old units had lasted 38 years with minor repairs. Good news is our electric bill in this horribly hot 4 month summer has gone
down over $100 a month. Sometimes dated equipment uses more juice. Of course it will take years to
make up for the cost of the new units but its nice is saving us some bucks...hoping for the same thing this winter.

Suggest everyone replace all their light bulbs with low voltage LEDs. Hub is a retired electrical engineer and that was the first thing he did around the house and outside - lights in the front and back. They are amazing economical - we have a very large house and in the months where we don't use heating or A/C our bills are only around $75 to $80 bucks or so. Can't beat it as we leave things like hallway desk lights and outside lights on 24/7. He refuses to live in a house where its darker than a dungeon...especially in winter. No way to live if you can help it.
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We replaced our 2 big units (for upstairs and downstairs) a few years ago as well. One of our neighbors is in IT for an A/C company and told us we made a good choice. They weren't cheap, but the savings in our electric bills (along with getting energy efficient windows) has amazed me during our triple digit months.
 
@Packerjohn Got to wonder if that lifestyle is going to catch up with those people. I've never lived like that. I see the lines at the drive through coffee. I buy the barista oat milk for my coffee by the quart and I'm drinking fine tasty coffee at home. Bring my lunch to work everyday now and when I worked full time.
 
The AC units at my apartment complex are old, probably original when they were built about 1990. Some have been replaced. I've thought that they are probably inefficient and more costly to run. The lucky apartments have had theirs replace. I have an old one.

These new owners are putting what I'm sure is cheap pergo in the apartments if they are vacated. To dazzle the prospective tenants. The people should take a look at the AC unit instead.
 
I do use the dryer but when the clothes are about halfway dry I pull them out and hang dry the rest of the way, It takes care of the wrinkles, no ironing needed. The towels and sheets are dried. I don't have a clothes line and am not going to put one in. I know they work well, I had one growing up but I would rather save in other ways. We all have our hated chore or foods, now we get to pick what suits us and the budget.
 
dseag2 said:
One of our biggest cinema chains, Regal Cinemas, just filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy. With that said, I saw crowds dwindling even before the pandemic, inflation and rising energy costs. I think younger people are just streaming movies these days. I still prefer to see movies in a theater and from my experience the crowds are mostly older.
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..and the cost of a ticket is sky high not to mention extras like Popcorn... so taking a family to the cinema can be extortionately expensive
 
Blessed said:
I do use the dryer but when the clothes are about halfway dry I pull them out and hang dry the rest of the way, It takes care of the wrinkles, no ironing needed. The towels and sheets are dried. I don't have a clothes line and am not going to put one in. I know they work well, I had one growing up but I would rather save in other ways. We all have our hated chore or foods, now we get to pick what suits us and the budget.
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I have an extendible clothes line, and I rather not use it for drying clothes. I prefer my clothes to be tumble dried which means I don't have to iron them, Further..when they're on the line they often get little tiny beetles on them..which I sometimes don't see and they end up in the house when I bring the clothes in..

I do use the line when I'm washing the rugs.. or large items like the duvet.
 
David777 said:
Avoid buying into the American way of going into constant debt. I live in Santa Clara County aka Silicon Valley, one of the most expensive areas in the nation. Live in a 60s era 2 story 2 bdrm 4-plex townhouse with poor wall insualtion. Yet have lived 5+ years since retiring on my monthly SS benefit check without using any of my bank saving/assets.

Many people at all economic levels eat out for many meals from restaurants and fast food to convenience stores. Much cheaper buying from supermarkets, especially low cost markets, and preparing one's own food, snacks, meals. And what about your meat every meal habit? Or daily alcohol/cigarettes/drugs/gambling? Not good for your health or pocketbook.

Also many are addicted to a list of telecom services, especially tv. Also energy costs of warming/cooling one's residence and lighting/appliances that really don't need to be turned on 24/7. Use open or closed windows/doors times of day to control temperature. Wear warm clothes in winter. Many people only go on expensive package vacations. There are plenty of inexpensive alternatives for leisure and vacations.

David: Never wealthy, never ever in debt. Summer AC and winter heating turned of for 2 decades. Electric/gas bill about $40/month. Only Internet access and web hosting telecom bill as in no cable/streaming, cheap telephone service.
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David777 has hit the "nail right on the head." Massive debt in America & Canada is by weak, guillable, sheep type of people who are trying to live some sort of Hollywood millionaire lifestyle. Keeping up with those silly "Jones" has given them nothing but forever debt.
 
Remy said:
The AC units at my apartment complex are old, probably original when they were built about 1990. Some have been replaced. I've thought that they are probably inefficient and more costly to run. The lucky apartments have had theirs replace. I have an old one.

These new owners are putting what I'm sure is cheap pergo in the apartments if they are vacated. To dazzle the prospective tenants. The people should take a look at the AC unit instead.
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Wonder how many people even think to ask about the past utility charges of the units they are thinking of
living in. Have head complaints about small apartments having such costly electric/gas bills.
 
In an effort to lower my electricity bill, today I raised my thermostat to 76. I usually keep it at 72. As a result, I changed from my usual long-sleeved top to a sleeveless top and made sure the ceiling fans were working. it's been very comfortable all day, even though outside was in the upper 80s. The other change I did was to wash my clothes with cold water instead of warm or hot water. I have not used a clothes line for drying - yet. Incremental steps will get me there. :)
 
palides2021 said:
In an effort to lower my electricity bill, today I raised my thermostat to 76. I usually keep it at 72. As a result, I changed from my usual long-sleeved top to a sleeveless top and made sure the ceiling fans were working. it's been very comfortable all day, even though outside was in the upper 80s. The other change I did was to wash my clothes with cold water instead of warm or hot water. I have not used a clothes line for drying - yet. Incremental steps will get me there. :)
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You won't believe it but we keep our house at 82°. The house is built for co efficient energy construction - especially warm weather wise and the A/Cs make it too cold if we put down in the high 70's. Ceiling fans are part of the air exchange so like your place, it really keeps it nice and comfortable - all summer long and its been a very long hot summer this year!
 
I say nothing (except to you guys) to my DD. She‘s a spender. We were in a nice restaurant and her 12 year son ordered dessert, $13. He was the only one. She always orders an appetizer or two. Glad they picked up the bill, it would have been sizeable.
 
Liberty said:
You won't believe it but we keep our house at 82°. The house is built for co efficient energy construction - especially warm weather wise and the A/Cs make it too cold if we put down in the high 70's. Ceiling fans are part of the air exchange so like your place, it really keeps it nice and comfortable - all summer long and its been a very long hot summer this year!
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Keep mine on 83. Sometimes 82 at night. Glad to see another doing the same. You actually get used to it. I'm lucky I don't get the afternoon sun at least.

The ceiling fan in the dining area is OK but the clicking noise gets on my nerves so I don't really use it. The one in the bedroom is small and unusable.
 
Gary O' said:
Guess it depends on how frugal ya wanna be....or need to be
In my world, being frugal requires work

Ironing?
What's an iron?

Then airing them?
Really?
That's what clothes lines are for
Heh, there's things folks buy to put in their dryers to make their clothes smell like they've been dried on the line

When yer in a pinch, ya gotta adapt
Git off yer keester
Saves on gym fees

What am I missing?
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I am talking the 60's, and where I grew up Monday was washing day depending on the weather that job wasn't finished until Tuesday. We had a wringer washer, before that a mangle, never a dryer. Joy oh Joy those were the days :ROFLMAO:
 
RobinWren said:
I am talking the 60's, and where I grew up Monday was washing day depending on the weather that job wasn't finished until Tuesday. We had a wringer washer, before that a mangle, never a dryer. Joy oh Joy those were the days
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Yeah, I know that one
only we didn't have the mangle
and it was the '50s

Moms did the wash
hung the wash
unhung the wash
folded the clothes and linen
ironed the other clothes
made breakfast, lunch, dinner ('tween times)
Kept the house
tended the garden

The job was steady
The pay sucked

No wonder her and many more ran out the door and got jobs

Then
Gramma did the wash
hung the wash
unhung the wash
folded the clothes and linen
ironed the other clothes
made breakfast, lunch, dinner ('tween times)
Kept the house
tended the garden.....

Yeah

good times

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