Is your family frugal? / The Frugal Lifestyle

[Ms.Beau]

---

Thanks for the stimulating exchange. I came across the book "Simple Life" by Larry Roth and since then have become very interested in the frugal lifestyle. Could you give some practical tips in saving/recycling/re-using? Thanks?

[purple]

I also recommend the book by Mr. colayco Pera Mo, Palaguin Mo. U will learn a lot on saving and investing money and also Millionaire Next Door. this pera mo..book is the Phil. version. Also try reading rich dad, poor dad...the most common advice here is save 20 percent of your income and never use credit cards...Start while you are building a career and be consistent to it...You will see the power of compounding interest...If you're a mother make a budget and stick to it no matter what...If you want something then save for it...Even 500 pr mth will be 2000 in 4 mths...spend on the basics...buy also in bulk cos it's cheaper by the dozen...Avail of bargain sales esp. in supermarket where there are buy one take 1 items.

[Ms.Beau]

I also recommend the book by Mr. colayco Pera Mo, Palaguin Mo. U will learn a lot on saving and investing money and also Millionaire Next Door. this pera mo..book is the Phil. version. Also try reading rich dad, poor dad...the most common advice here is save 20 percent of your income and never use credit cards...Start while you are building a career and be consistent to it...You will see the power of compounding interest...If you're a mother make a budget and stick to it no matter what...If you want something then save for it...Even 500 pr mth will be 2000 in 4 mths...spend on the basics...buy also in bulk cos it's cheaper by the dozen...Avail of bargain sales esp. in supermarket where there are buy one take 1 items.

Thanks, Purple! Nice to know you've also read these books. True, we have lots of info on frugality and wealth-building, but I wonder how many actually put these into practice? I'm interested in knowing what individuals here actually do. As for me, I've been taking some small steps such as the following:

* bringing home my restaurant meal leftovers - most of the time the leftover's good enough as the next meal's viand. yesterday evening my friend and I were in a ngoyhiong house and casually she left a piece of ngohiong on her plate. guess what, I insisted she bring it home. When she didn't care, I brought it. I just think it's a shame to waste food (well, guilty man ko ani sa una).

* taking a bottle of water with me when I go out so that I won't be buying any - I started doing this when one day I realized I'd been buying at least 2 bottles a day (water or C2). i even accumulated around 50 plastic bottles in I-don't-know-how-short-a-time, so kung kwentahun to sayang jud money, maypa gi deposit sa savings account. well, lesson learned. also, i gave the bottles to some teachers (i'm part of a preschool business) who creatively re-cycled these.

* I've had a yard/garage sale - made some cash, not to mention unburdened me of no-longer-used stuff

* Though I love new books very much, I have decided to purchase used ones. I found the Larry Roth book (Simple Life) in RSO!

* I used to buy the Sunday paper, but lately I've been thinking of cutting this expense. Perhaps I'll just read online and find ads elswhere.

There. Perhaps you have the impression already that I'm becoming a cheapskate. I hope not to go to that extreme. Just discovered a certain kind of high in finding ways to save. I've found plenty of frugal living articles/tips in the internet written by Americans, but what I'd like to learn are practical ones from fellow filipinos as we have situations unique to us. So please feel free to share your practical tips and suggestions. Better yet, kanang mga habits or practices nimo. Be specific as possible. For example, where do you buy items in bulk? How much did you save? Things like that. I'm thinking of compiling these tips and ideas.

Shoot!

[Ms.Beau]

i used to be gastadora...when my batonton came along...aw super think twice..think thrice...before i spend...DO I REALLY NEED IT? does my son NEED branded clothes? NOT! i think now of how long he would be wearing it...using it...then if he doesnt need it...i sell it...recycle the money into something else.

budget revolves around the needs of my son. came to a point that isang kayod, isang tuka. nakakalokah! talgang kapit lang kang Lord.

right now i am blessed. not exactly rolling in money...but God has been good...so i have to be responsible. savings is a priority. planning for the future is important. i never thought i could change my ways...but i guess we grow up eventually eh? hehehehehe.

sometimes i watch on oprah these moms who spend spend and spend...maxed out na ila mga credit card. i used to have a credit card....pero ngayon NONE!

My family is pretty frugal. Biggest expense is eating out. When we were growing up...we wore fabulous fakes. No one thought it was fake and we got the biggest kick when we did tell them it was fake and no one believed us. hahahahahaha.


so i guess if i can sum it up:
1. SAVE! SAVE! SAVE!
2. Spend only in cash.
3. Look for bargains.
4. Pay for quality and durability...not what your rich neighbor's kids are wearing..using.
5. Treat/use your things gently...coz when it is time to sell it...u can ask for a better price.
6. Eat your pride...if u cant afford it...DONT BUY IT.
7. TAKE GOOD CARE OF YOUR HEALTH. Most of the time...we get sick coz we are careless. Mahal
magkasakit!

Thanks a lot, d'monyita. I salute you for your ways.

I know I intended to just ask if individuals here if they come from frugal families or otherwise, but I think it's okay to ask further, like what your specific frugal habits are. You mentioned about looking for bargains. Would you kindly share where you usually shop for these? Real, specific tips would be highly appreciated! Thanks in advance.

[d`monyita]

Watch out for sales. Kana gyud dako ka savings. My latest purchase that has made me really happy was a set of Garfield shirt/polos na 3 for 180p lang!!!! I bought it sa SM. I was also able to buy Garfield nga pants for like 200p nga ila markdown from 350p.

Be PATIENT lang gyud...sometimes the nicest ones are in the bottom of the pile hehehe. Also, for myself...UK is the way to go sometimes. Last Sunday I was able to buy a pair of black jeans...as in parang bago...for 50p lang...dun sa may Pelaez cor Colon...in front of Emcor...diha dapita.

@Metz....di lang 200p ang imo magastos when u go out oi. Average man tingali ron mga 300p. And you have to factor in the gasoline. waaaaahhhhh!

Btw...kanina ba...para tipid...had to go to Tintay(?) and decided to just take the jeep...perwisyo lagi but think about it.... colon to tintay was just 11p, vice-versa, 11p. So about half a liter ang cost ko...now had I brought a car......hehehehe. Mga 6 liters siguro noh? KALOKAH!!! hehehehehehe

[n`gel]

God I gotta learn from all you guys. My husband worries about everything financial. Saon man ning mga Americans gud dili man na sila anad mo intrigo sa ila asawa. So mo na, mura pud kong anak palitan ug sinena ug na sya kwarta.

[cbu]

I don't buy full price. If I did, that would have been something that I really need at that time and I really liked it. Example: clothes. Since there's 4 seasons here, we change clothes very often. I always wait for the sale....sale that is really a good deal (as much as possible "clearance items") I only buy stuff after each season...lets say summer clothes, i buy those at the end of summer for me to wear it to next summer....does that makes sense? hmmm...so goes with the other seasonal clothes : fall, winter and spring. With food, i always make sure that I go to the grocery that has sale and take note grocery stores that are open 24hrs expect them to have higher prices....or I buy wholesale in costco for stuff that we always use...or I look for coupons. For other things, like electronics or whatever, I scout first. I check the price online and go to different stores and compare prices. Bottom line, dont buy stuff that u dont really need even if its a good deal.

[purple]

welcome ms. beau...there are many ways of cutting costs in the house...like when you could stand the heat don't use the aircon. In houshold electricity gyud ang dako ug cost esp here in Cebu...Sometimes we forget to turn off our lights when we get up usa sad na...What i mean buying in bulk, those items which are easily consumed like detergent soaps,tissue, toothpaste, you buy by the dozen. I usually buy this at Makro.Buy also in big bottles that way you will not be frequenting the supermarket...You could save on the fare or the gas if you have a car...If you don't need new clothes or shoes, don't buy.sometimes it just ends up in the closet after few months of use...I usually buy branded clothes on sale if not dili gyud ko mupalit.You are paying for the brand , naa pay ms nindot nga local...when u order pizza and hamburger di ba naa cla extra nga mga catsup or sugar when .you order coffee? i bring home the catsup for my kids to use with their baon...that way it will not be messy kay naa man packaging...When u do the marketing in the house like ur meat, chicken, you put it in small containers good for one meal so that when the helper gets one that's already good for one meal...I also buy fruits in season. Here in the Phils oranges ang grapes are abundant in dec. so i just buy bananas which is better than oranges and apples when these are not in season...If you buy items like toothpaste or detergents, try brands which are not very known but of good quality...Sometimes this big companies sell their products at higher costs cos they spend too much on advertising...this holds true with medicines.Ang ila man gud cost ihapak nila sa product. So, mag try gyud ka ug brands until you will discover naa diay barato with same benefits...Ill post more next time daghan pa ko ug tips but dili kaau ko frugal gyud when it comes to food hehe

[n`gel]

It's better to buy the more expensive, better material when it comes to some clothes especially for me, jeans, winter clothes etc.

Sa unang college pa ko palit ug baratuhon nindot lang for a few months, dali ra mo fade and mabati ang fit, so palit na pud usa. While jeans of good material lasts for years mas dugay madaan. There are some times that buying the more expensive brand saves me more money than buying the cheap brand due to frequency.

[purple]

It's better to buy the more expensive, better material when it comes to some clothes especially for me, jeans, winter clothes etc.

Sa unang college pa ko palit ug baratuhon nindot lang for a few months, dali ra mo fade and mabati ang fit, so palit na pud usa. While jeans of good material lasts for years mas dugay madaan. There are some times that buying the more expensive brand saves me more money than buying the cheap brand due to frequency.

yes. naa sad mahal nga u can save in the long run kay dugay ma fade...