Cheapskate Digest

Libraries are wonderful places – and they’re free!

Use your local library.  Really.  What could be more frugal?  Membership is free.  They have all kinds of stuff that lots of people don’t know about – music CDs, DVDs, magazines, newspapers, phone books for other areas, and of course – books!  Picture books, novels, information books, poetry, art books, cook books, gardening books, self-help [...]

Bargain shopping – frugal budgeting?? Or not.

Although there are lots of after Christmas sales on everywhere you look, buying a bunch of stuff just because it’s there and you might need it – someday – is not being frugal, living frugal, or anything even approaching frugal.  It’s not even being sensible!  What it is, is being loosey goosey with your hard [...]

Are you being frugal by making the most of points cards?

Recently I cancelled several credit cards because they either had fees or they offered nothing more than credit. I did a little research and found some no fee credit cards that give me something extra – either points towards items of my choice or travel or lower priced gas. The only catch is that you [...]

Ho ho ho – No, no, no!

I don’t hate Christmas, but I do dislike the crass commercialization of it as just another retail event.  I’m also not religious, but I do very much appreciate the time off to spend with my family.  So, as a means of both saving money and simplifying life, my family has decided not to participate in the [...]

From Two Incomes to Frugal Living

Many families start living a frugal lifestyle because one partner wants to stay at home with the kids. If you are going from a two-income household to one, you may be afraid of what all has to be done to live frugally. Below are several steps you can take to make the transition easier. 1. [...]

Frugal Rules to Live By

Frugal living is something that you undertake for the long haul. It isn’t something you can pick and choose to do one day and not the next-that is, not if you expect to see progress toward your goal. You do have a goal, don’t you? If not, read the final tip here first. Below are [...]

Frugality Can Equal Happiness

Frugality and happiness aren’t something society usually puts together. Frugality often brings up images of great sacrifice. We think of the miser who lived in poverty only for others to find millions saved after the miser passes away. What was the use? Frugal living isn’t necessarily what you may possibly consider it to be. Frugal [...]

Six Traits of the Frugal Shopper

A frugal shopper has skills that help him or her gain benefit of the money-saving opportunities in life. Below I have listed several traits found in frugal shoppers.  By incorporating these into your life, you too can become a frugal shopper. 1. A frugal shopper studies other people. There are probably people near you living [...]