Comments on: Saving Money, Even When You Have None to Save http://almostfrugal.com/2009/01/14/saving-money/ Learning about frugality Wed, 25 Apr 2012 20:11:06 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3.2 By: Clairehttp://almostfrugal.com/2009/01/14/saving-money/#comment-7234 Claire Sun, 28 Mar 2010 11:12:03 +0000 http://almostfrugal.com/?p=2432#comment-7234 Pasta and eggs are great foods to fill you up without costing a lot of money. I rarely buy meat, and when I do I use it more to flavour dishes than as a main portion. Some chorizo with spaghetti and tomatoes or in a risotto is an example. My biggest discretionary spending has always been reading material and coffees - now I try to read current affairs online and to buy cheap editions of classic novels until I have an income again. Public lending libraries are also good. I try to drink all my coffee at home now or take it out in a flask. In a pinch, I will get a takeout coffee at McDonalds (about a quarter of the cost of Starbucks in Paris) or have a caf̩ allong̩ which is about 2/3rds of the price of a cappucino. I try to keep my credit card clear as much as I can. Pasta and eggs are great foods to fill you up without costing a lot of money. I rarely buy meat, and when I do I use it more to flavour dishes than as a main portion. Some chorizo with spaghetti and tomatoes or in a risotto is an example. My biggest discretionary spending has always been reading material and coffees Рnow I try to read current affairs online and to buy cheap editions of classic novels until I have an income again. Public lending libraries are also good. I try to drink all my coffee at home now or take it out in a flask. In a pinch, I will get a takeout coffee at McDonalds (about a quarter of the cost of Starbucks in Paris) or have a caf̩ allong̩ which is about 2/3rds of the price of a cappucino. I try to keep my credit card clear as much as I can.

]]> By: BobVhttp://almostfrugal.com/2009/01/14/saving-money/#comment-4428 BobV Sat, 11 Apr 2009 10:39:06 +0000 http://almostfrugal.com/?p=2432#comment-4428 I find that throwing my change in a jar at the end of the day forces me to "save" a bit each day. Granted, its not much (about the same as I make filling out surveys online) but it does accumulate. It doubles when I can get my wife to remember to do it as well. <abbr><em>BobV´s last blog post..<a href="http://rcvogler.com/2009/04/how-to-not-participate-in-recession.html" rel="nofollow">How to Not Participate in the Recession</a></abbr></em> I find that throwing my change in a jar at the end of the day forces me to “save” a bit each day. Granted, its not much (about the same as I make filling out surveys online) but it does accumulate. It doubles when I can get my wife to remember to do it as well.

BobV´s last blog post..How to Not Participate in the Recession

]]> By: Johttp://almostfrugal.com/2009/01/14/saving-money/#comment-4418 Jo Fri, 10 Apr 2009 11:18:33 +0000 http://almostfrugal.com/?p=2432#comment-4418 I have been using <a href="http://www.desktopbudget.com/" rel="nofollow"> http://DesktopBudget.com</a> to manage my personal finances for a few months now. Its the easiest to use free, offline personal finance manager I have seen so far. I have been using http://DesktopBudget.com to manage my personal finances for a few months now. Its the easiest to use free, offline personal finance manager I have seen so far.

]]> By: Karlahttp://almostfrugal.com/2009/01/14/saving-money/#comment-3519 Karla Sun, 18 Jan 2009 04:11:29 +0000 http://almostfrugal.com/?p=2432#comment-3519 Good question....we've been eating on just a buck a day! We're on Day 17 and hanging in there, but it can be tough! We are doing this as a social experiment, an educational tool, and to create awareness that billions of people around the world really do live on a dollar a day. On the side, I'm using it also as a fundraising effort to support my upcoming missions trip to Zambia; a country where this level of poverty is the norm. We invite everyone to check out our progress: http://1-dollar-a-day.blogspot.com Thanks! Karla Good question….we’ve been eating on just a buck a day!

We’re on Day 17 and hanging in there, but it can be tough!

We are doing this as a social experiment, an educational tool, and to create awareness that billions of people around the world really do live on a dollar a day.

On the side, I’m using it also as a fundraising effort to support my upcoming missions trip to Zambia; a country where this level of poverty is the norm.

We invite everyone to check out our progress: http://1-dollar-a-day.blogspot.com

Thanks!
Karla

]]> By: Jerryhttp://almostfrugal.com/2009/01/14/saving-money/#comment-3513 Jerry Fri, 16 Jan 2009 17:34:37 +0000 http://almostfrugal.com/?p=2432#comment-3513 I just happened on your blog and can imagine that it would be really hard to pay off debt in France. Although, you do have that fantastic healthcare system and no need for insurance unless you want it. However, I understand the cost of living there is outrageous. All the best on this New Year and I hope it leads to much success. Jerry www.leads4insurance.com I just happened on your blog and can imagine that it would be really hard to pay off debt in France. Although, you do have that fantastic healthcare system and no need for insurance unless you want it. However, I understand the cost of living there is outrageous. All the best on this New Year and I hope it leads to much success.
Jerry
http://www.leads4insurance.com

]]> By: Kellyhttp://almostfrugal.com/2009/01/14/saving-money/#comment-3506 Kelly Fri, 16 Jan 2009 13:00:09 +0000 http://almostfrugal.com/?p=2432#comment-3506 Good for you Meegan! Good for you Meegan!

]]> By: Meeganhttp://almostfrugal.com/2009/01/14/saving-money/#comment-3505 Meegan Fri, 16 Jan 2009 12:46:38 +0000 http://almostfrugal.com/?p=2432#comment-3505 Dear Kelly, thanks for the spark of motivation to get me moving again :) Today, after reading your post, I opened our idle ING account for our emergency fund. Even though I have an account that earns more interest, it is too accessible! So ING it is :) I'm in the same boat as you - the Emergency fund is more for my peace of mind than the extra going on to debt! Here's to 2009 being one of learning, saving and more debt reduction! Dear Kelly, thanks for the spark of motivation to get me moving again :)
Today, after reading your post, I opened our idle ING account for our emergency fund. Even though I have an account that earns more interest, it is too accessible! So ING it is :) I’m in the same boat as you – the Emergency fund is more for my peace of mind than the extra going on to debt!

Here’s to 2009 being one of learning, saving and more debt reduction!

]]> By: Kristyhttp://almostfrugal.com/2009/01/14/saving-money/#comment-3501 Kristy Fri, 16 Jan 2009 01:15:39 +0000 http://almostfrugal.com/?p=2432#comment-3501 You know, I struggled with a lot of the same things when I started out on my path to saving more money. Although, I've never heard of a company not wanting to take your money when you want to pay extra, that's a new one on me! But, my personal method was to trick myself into savings. For example, I set my savings account up as an automatic bill with my bill payer so that every check as specific amount went in to savings. I wrote a post about sneaky ways to save money that you might be interested in! http://masteryourcard.com/blog/2008/05/16/sneaky-ways-to-save-money/ Good luck with your goals! You know, I struggled with a lot of the same things when I started out on my path to saving more money. Although, I’ve never heard of a company not wanting to take your money when you want to pay extra, that’s a new one on me! But, my personal method was to trick myself into savings. For example, I set my savings account up as an automatic bill with my bill payer so that every check as specific amount went in to savings. I wrote a post about sneaky ways to save money that you might be interested in!

http://masteryourcard.com/blog/2008/05/16/sneaky-ways-to-save-money/

Good luck with your goals!

]]> By: Jbhttp://almostfrugal.com/2009/01/14/saving-money/#comment-3500 Jb Thu, 15 Jan 2009 23:59:12 +0000 http://almostfrugal.com/?p=2432#comment-3500 I've waffled with this one as I struggle with paying down my debt too, but in the end I decided I wanted an emergency fund as well. I work in the IT industry, so I'm all too-familiar with the "working today & laid off tomorrow" thing. I decided about two years ago that I was going to save $200 a month in an emergency fund, come hell or high water. And you know what, as I've seen it grow to almost $4000 now, I feel much better. Sure, I'm still paying off my debt, but I know I'm in a better position right now if anything were to happen to my job. I guess it just comes down to what are you comfortable with, rather than what the "experts" say you <i>should</i> do. <abbr><em>Jb´s last blog post..<a href="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/adventuresindebt/~3/511835742/" rel="nofollow">How I Create Snowflakes From My Monthly Bills</a></abbr></em> I’ve waffled with this one as I struggle with paying down my debt too, but in the end I decided I wanted an emergency fund as well. I work in the IT industry, so I’m all too-familiar with the “working today & laid off tomorrow” thing. I decided about two years ago that I was going to save $200 a month in an emergency fund, come hell or high water. And you know what, as I’ve seen it grow to almost $4000 now, I feel much better. Sure, I’m still paying off my debt, but I know I’m in a better position right now if anything were to happen to my job. I guess it just comes down to what are you comfortable with, rather than what the “experts” say you should do.

Jb´s last blog post..How I Create Snowflakes From My Monthly Bills

]]> By: Kellihttp://almostfrugal.com/2009/01/14/saving-money/#comment-3499 Kelli Thu, 15 Jan 2009 18:50:17 +0000 http://almostfrugal.com/?p=2432#comment-3499 Great post. It is so encouraging to me to read what others are doing to save money and get out of debt. That is also my focus. I am currently working on cutting our budget back, (I also cut out lattes!) and I also started working part time at night for savings money. I work just a few days a week in the evenings when my husband can watch the kids, and put all of that money towards our emergency fund. It has been slow going, since we've had a few small "emergencies" since starting, but thankfully we've had the cash to take care of them, which is much nicer than putting them on a credit card. Previously, our savings also only amounted to a jar of change that sits on my dresser! So sad! So, hopefully this year we will make progress where we haven't before. Keep up the encouraging posts, they are so helpful! <abbr><em>Kelli´s last blog post..<a href="http://fivehansens.blogspot.com/2009/01/few-more-cleaning-recipes.html" rel="nofollow">A few more cleaning recipes</a></abbr></em> Great post. It is so encouraging to me to read what others are doing to save money and get out of debt. That is also my focus. I am currently working on cutting our budget back, (I also cut out lattes!) and I also started working part time at night for savings money. I work just a few days a week in the evenings when my husband can watch the kids, and put all of that money towards our emergency fund. It has been slow going, since we’ve had a few small “emergencies” since starting, but thankfully we’ve had the cash to take care of them, which is much nicer than putting them on a credit card. Previously, our savings also only amounted to a jar of change that sits on my dresser! So sad! So, hopefully this year we will make progress where we haven’t before. Keep up the encouraging posts, they are so helpful!

Kelli´s last blog post..A few more cleaning recipes

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