I like to be frugal in some areas so that I can splurge on others things. Please share some of your tips on being frugal with us.

Kitty litter. I see what he does to the stuff - I'm not about to pay for the premium brand!

For the most part, I've found store brands to be good on a lot of things. I use them whenever I find one that isn't "inferior" to the name brand. Then, I can spend my money on other name brand things.

I try to buy cleaning supplies, litter, toilet paper, etc (staples) at somewhere like Target. You can find the same brands of those types of items there for less than the grocery store.

I've found that drug store mascara is just a good as Clinique, so I typically buy it there and then spend a bit more on something else at the Clinique counter.

I'd love to hear what others do to save money here and there.

I ought to be the expert here as my ex-husband not only had a Masters and a Phd in being frugal but he wrote all the text books!!!!! Unfortunately I rebelled once we separated and went the other way

TRAVEL - When you stay in a hotel remove the soaps etc immediately you get to your room, then the maid will think that she forgot to give you any and will give you more. Help yourself to teas, coffees etc everytime that you walk past the trolley - take them home with you.

ENVELOPES should always be re-used.

STAMPS - this tip is for those who write to a family member frequently. Use the smallest denomination of stamp possible then get the recipient to return them to you when they reply to your letters, sell the used stamps - he used to buy halfpenny stamps and sell them for one penny each used!!

NEWSPAPERS - shred and soak to make paper logs to burn in winter.

TREES - those that blow down in storms should be chopped up and burned as fuel with the paper logs.

FALLEN FRUIT - place on garden wall with a tub for the money - passers by will purchase them. For larger quantities advertise them for sale in local newspaper. Only advertise one year, keep names of those who responded then contact them in future years to see if they would like some more apples.

UNDERPANTS - get wife to patch them when they go into holes

SOCKS 1 - get wife to darn when they go into holes.

SOCKS 2 - when you go to the launderette and find an odd sock remaining in the washing machine from the last person who used it, don't throw it in the corner with the other odd socks ... go to the corner and have a look for one of a similar colour, it doesn't have to match. Take them both home.

DRIVING - remove shoes to get a better feel for the controls. Do not stop at junctions, just keep moving slowly so as to conserve fuel.

ICED LOLLIES - when on holiday make your two children share one iced lolly or ice cream. Limit their drinks to one each in a restaurant.

You want more?

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From over the pond....

Linda and Sue, those are great tips. Yes I more, more, more.

When I buy a frozen pie, I always save the pie pans to heat food in. The best part is, that when they are too tough to clean, I just toss them into the garbage.

LOL Sue you crack me up!! Good tips!!

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Sandalwood's Cosmic Creations: Working with the magic of love....

I also take large cereal boxes, turn them inside out and cut them like magazine holders and put my magazines or papers in them. I usually cover them with leftover wrapping paper or I paint them.

Whenever my grandmother or great-grandmother went to a resteraunt tey always would take all the sweet n' low and the sugar and stuff them in their purses. Then they would ask for more- then stick them in their pockets!

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IndianPainter
The United States would be 10 times better if a woman was president.

LOL!! I always take the little packets of sugar and I keep all the little packets of mustard and ketchup in case I run out. Well actually I haven't bought ketchup in years because I always use the little packets and I don't eat ketchup often. BTW, has anyone tried the new green ketchup from Heinz?

Oh goodness, no! Eeekkk

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IndianPainter
The United States would be 10 times better if a woman was president.

Talking of ice lollies, although Sue I don't think I EVER made them share one!!! (LOL he sounds like a champ!!) Home made lollies ARE cheaper and so much better for teeth etc.

When the soap gets too small to use, I have a container that I put them in and when I have enough, I grate them and them into the micro for a little bit and then pour them into heart shape molds and make pretty soaps for the bathroom.

I use my old pillow cases as pillow covers to protect my pillows. So I always keep two pillow covers on my pillows.

When I buy ice cream in a 5 quart tub, I save those great clear plastic round tubs with the handles. They are great for storage. I keep a lot of my craft supplies in them. They also great to take to the beach if you collect sea shells.

LOL I cannot think of anything that I do to add to this..BUT I am really big on recycling!! We recycle just about everything!!

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Sandalwood's Cosmic Creations: Working with the magic of love....

Sandalwood, I like to recycle also and love to make things out of objects that some (or most) people just throw away. I like to know some additional ways to be frugal.

for those that use the plastic bags from the grocery store...use those to put used kitty litter in. they work great.

and for those who like the scooping kind and know how much it costs...here is a good easy substitute...half clumping half regular clay...half the cost and the same result...

save 2 liter bottles for when you are going on car trips or picnics...they are a great way to tote your favorite kool aid or lemonade.

save those gift bags and boxes when you get them people...they can always be reused...rest assured to buy me a nice one since you may recieve the same one next year...

oh and if you take lots of trips you know how much ice is for the cooler...use the 2 liter bottles...fill 3/4 full with water and freeze...they work just like ice and you'll have ice water the whole day through...

I save a ton of money by sitting down and planning our meals for the week and making a grocery list before I go to the grocery store. I end up spending much less beacuse I'm not just wandering the aisles thinking it up as I go along (it also cuts down on the amount of time I spend shopping). Also, I've learned that if I leave hubby and "mini-me" at home it saves money as well. The key though is that you have to stick to the list!

Another tip...Don't even go down aisles that don't have items on your list.

I just love all these frugal tips. Keep them coming!

when i go to the groceryi do it like this, i get the ads and see what is on saleand i make my list up from that and if the sales are especailly good i will make several trips to the store just to get these items
to get stocked up our store runs an ad about once a month buy one get one free thats when i really stock up or if are things at a good price i buy several i also have learned when the store marks their meat down you would be surprised how much money you can save this way when i buy extra meat this way i take it out of the package and wrap about 3 times one turn and wrap it 3 times around ends to keep out as much air as possible as to prevent freezer burn buy the extra vegetables
chop them up and freeze them in serving sizes or recipe sizes your freezer is one of your budget's best friends goodnite and sleep tight

Never go shopping for food when you are hungry, you will only impulse buy.

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From over the pond....

Coupons are not always necessarily a good thing. Be carful that you don't end up spending more on a higher priced brand just beacuse you have a coupon. Even with the cents off it may still be more expensive.

At the grocery store (Lowe's Foods) where I shop they sometimes have double or even triple coupon days...That's when coupons really count!

I also do alot of my buying at Sam's Club (a bulk discount warehouse type of store). Even though, for example, I may have to buy six cans of something, it is usually considerably cheaper than buying one at a time. Their frozen foods are especially good buys.

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In reference to the current state of my health: NyQuil...The sniffling, sneezing, aching, coughing, stuffy head, fever, how the heck did I wake up on the kitchen floor medicine. Louie Anderson

and remember folks...buy one get one free does NOT mean you can only use one coupon...if you have two coupons for that particular item try to use it...the item was rang into the system twice..it should show up...then its like you bought them both for half the price of one...

just as a side note...our major grocery store is Kroger...they had triple coupons here a few years back...we bought tons of stuff...paying 15 cents for tubes of toothpaste and 25 cents for deodorant...the kicker though was canned pasta...before they worked out the glitch the coupon would triple without stopping at the item price...meaning they were PAYING us to buy it...it was great...ah the days of cheating the grocery store...I remember them well...

Instead of replacing an old dresser that I have, I painted it and added decorative knobs. It was a whole lot cheaper than buying a new dresser and I was very pleased with the results. Consider replacing knobs in your house. They are a wonderful way to personalize any room within your home and most of them are very inexpensive. Here's a few ideas on what you do with decorative knobs:

* Cut glass and crystal knobs add elegance and sophistication when utilized on cabinets and drawers in the dining area.

* Consider hanging a row of interesting knobs on your bathroom wall, for a unique towel holder.

* Small knobs hung in a kitchen area offer an interesting place to hang keys.

* Update the look of an old dresser by changing the existing drawer pulls.