Alpha Consumer

Vote on Best Frugal Idea

By James Pethokoukis

Posted: August 18, 2008

It's time to vote for the best idea for frugal living from the great ideas submitted last week. The winner gets a copy of David Blankenhorn's Thrift: A Cyclopedia.

Which idea do you like best? (Responses have been slightly edited.)

 Cultivate a sense of gratitude, from Single Mom in Colorado:

Here's what I TRY to live by:

1. Stop trying to impress other people with our belongings. We'll save big bucks on everything from the type of car we drive to whether we pay 0 or for a pair of shoes.

2. Develop an attitude of gratitude and contentment. When we are grateful for what we have and content with what we have, we won't be tempted by what people are trying to sell us or convince us we need.

When I focus on these two steps, I find I do much better with my money. I don't go to malls, because I'm content with what I have. I choose practical, stylish clothes that are reasonably priced, instead of designer items. I don't remodel my house every few years. These attitudes carry down to everything I spend.

I know these may not have been the "practical" frugality ideas you were searching for, but for me, if I get my attitude right, my actions follow.

Consider the trade-offs, from Aryn of California:

Rather than figure I'll find a way to pay for something later, I ask myself if I need this pair of shoes or HBO more than I need to pay off debt or buy a condo. The answer is usually no, which means that I probably actually need something if I buy it or have decided it has value to me. I don't completely deprive myself, but I try to stay clear on the bigger picture.

Cut the cable, from Flibbitygibbit of Delaware:

Here's a great suggestion that saved me 0 last year: Cancel your cable TV and do some Netflix. Not only will the quality of what you're watching go sky-high (I finally watched some great HBO series), but you might be inclined to broaden your horizons and pick up a book.


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Blog! Read! Instead of going to another bar looking for love, read about smart, sexy alternative relationships and the emotions they create.

You might like this dangerous, true threesome romance written about by a Harvard Grad, his crazy wife and real Romanian dancers in:

"Caribbean Dreams: TRUE STORY of an Ivy League Couple who Bought a STRIP CLUB in the Caribbean"

www.caribbeanstripclub.com

Dee VanDerBeck of FL @ Aug 18, 2008 15:02:09 PM

Frugal ideas! Netflix & SugarDVD.com

Running the systems for DVD rentals is complex and NFLX is a solid low cost idea! I know, I run the software for SugarDVD.com (also a good low cost idea!), the largest rental by mail for Adult DVDs online. Hats off to NFLX for addressing this publically and quickly. Anyone who gets upset at their delay can drive to the video store or use video-on-demand!

Save gas, stay home, rent DVD's by mail or watch video on demand!

bill macK of CA @ Aug 18, 2008 14:59:11 PM

The best suggestion is left out

While the first one - gratitude for what one has - is close, in my humble opinion, the best way to save money is to ask the simple question: "How badly do I need this?" A need is an absolute must have without which my ability to conduct my daily affairs is directly impeded

The answers come back usually in three degrees - not at all, somewhat and very badly. A not at all is passed up. Somewhats are given some consideration: How often am I in this store? How much money is it? Can I find it somewhere else and possibly for less? How much trouble will it be to get it when I HAVE to have it? How soon will I need it? It's a judgment call, but at least it gets you thinking about the necessity of the purchase and the other expenses involved (time, gas, distance, etc). Most often, somewhats are left until they hit the very badly category. Very badly's get picked up immediately.

This applies to all aspects of life as well - meals, sleep, relationships, etc. How badly do you need them? Or is it just overindulgence? We overindulge so much automatically because live in a society which glorifies overindulgence. The bigger car, the bigger meal, the bigger house (McMansion, anyone?) without considering whether our needs have long since been filled. It's not a contest to have the biggest, best, latest, trendiest, newest or most expensive. And once society begins to frown on our excesses (I expect it will as time goes on), our wants will fade until we evaluate most things on the basis of need as opposed to want.

Finally, frugality based on need makes the rare and occasional excess based on want much more rewarding than living in a world of constant excess. I expect life will be more enjoyable when the 'extras' are truly rewarding rather than a perceived expectation.

Fatesrider of CA @ Aug 18, 2008 13:00:38 PM

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Kimberly Palmer, senior editor for U.S. News & World Report, writes about how to save money, avoid scams, manage debt, and be a savvy shopper. Send your personal finance questions to her for expert money advice.


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