Apr
22
Celebrate Earth Day – Reduce, Reuse, Recycle (and Save Money)
Filed Under Frugal, Reducing Clutter, Saving Money | 2 Comments
The credit series will resume tomorrow, after this brief interruption for Earth Day.
A lot of people are looking for ways to save money these days. Although they don’t intend it, their newfound frugality may also be good for the environment. However, it also helps to be intentionally eco-conscious when making frugal choices. Here are ten tips to Reduce, Reuse, and Recycle. As a bonus, you’ll probably save money. If frugality doesn’t motivate you, discovering your carbon footprint might.
Carry Canvas Grocery Sacks
But won’t you have to buy a grocery sack first? You might not! If you dig deep into your closets, chances are you’ll find a treasure trove of canvas bags from conferences, events, gifts, and donations. I have several in various sizes – small ones that are perfect for walking up to the store for one item and big ones that are great for my full weekend shop. Even if you do have to buy them, you can usually get them for $1 and they last a long time.
Make Reusable Produce Bags
Once you start using canvas grocery bags, you won’t want to fill them with plastic bags. You can make cheap reusable produce bags to load all your produce in. You could also buy them, but making produce bags would be more frugal if you have a sewing machine or a friend you can borrow one from. Here’s a third produce bag to give you another idea.
Reuse Ziptop Bags
This one grosses some people out, but it’s really not that bad. I reuse my plastic lunch baggies for four days, which means I go through a total of about seven a week (I bring my snacks to work, too.) You can either rinse them out, or just use the same bag for the same item each day. I also have a permanent lunch sack made from nylon.
Reuse Glass Jars
When I buy something in a glass jar, I inspect the lid. Even if I have to spend twenty cents more, I might do it if it means getting a glass jar with a screw-on lid that I can reuse later on. Do that a few times and soon you have your very own free jar collection. They’re great for storing leftover sauce or making crème fraiche.
Stop Junk Mail
Stopping junk mail not only reduces your urge to get another credit card or buy something for a catalog, it also reduces the amount of wasted paper. That’s good for everyone! Since signing up with Catalog Choice and the DMA no-junk list, I’ve reduced my pile of junk mail to ¼ its original size. Some days the mailbox is empty.
Reduce Energy Use
We reduce our energy use through careful control of the heater and air-conditioner, through the wise use of window blinds, and by installing CFLs in most of our lamps. There are a few that the bulbs won’t fit into, so we’re looking for replacement lamps that will fit them.
Eat Local, Grass-Fed Meat
I recently read The Omnivore’s Dilemma and no longer feel comfortable eating corn-fed beef and pork. Fortunately, a farmer sells grass-fed beef and pork at my nearby farmer’s market. It’s only marginally more expensive, but greatly reduces the impact on the earth. I know we could cut red meat entirely, but my diet is already so limited that I hate to cut more items!
Buy Produce at the Farmer’s Market
We’re also buying as much produce as we can at the farmer’s market. Most of it is grown without pesticides on local farms, which reduces the impact on the earth from food transport and pesticide production/waste. It does mean eating more seasonally, but the improved taste is definitely worth it.
Use Old Socks and T-Shirts for Rags
My mom still uses my old cloth diapers as dust rags. That’s over thirty years of reusing one item! They’re not hard to wash, and it’s cheaper than paper towels or wasteful disposable cleaning wipes. I love to use old socks to polish silver and brass because the soft cotton doesn’t scratch them.
Use Cloth Napkins and Dish Towels
We switched to cloth napkins and dishtowels a few years ago in order to reduce our use of paper towels and napkins. Not only has it saved us a bundle on paper products, but we create less trash.
As our awareness of the environment and our determination to save money have increased, we’ve started to reduce, reuse, and recycle as much as possible. We’ve definitely seen an impact on our energy and household expenses bills. Hopefully we’ll see a reduction in our food bills, too.
How do you reduce, reuse, or recycle? Tell me in the comments.
Apr
16
Are Pets Frugal: Annual Pet Costs
Filed Under Frugal | 4 Comments
In the next in my series of ponderings about what constitutes frugality, I tackle pets. Many people would argue that pet ownership isn’t frugal because it’s a 100% optional expense. Pets are more than a mouth to feed, though; they also provide numerous benefits to their owners. Although it depends on the type of pet you choose, pet costs also aren’t as high as you might think.
Cat Care Costs
Cats are much cheaper than dogs. You can often get a cat for free from friends and neighbors, or you can adopt one for the cost of the shots and spaying or neutering from a shelter, pound, or pet rescue organization.
The initial costs can be high - for example an indoor cat will need three rounds of shots, plus the costs to have them fixed. You’ll also need to buy a litter box, litter, toys, food dishes, and scratch pads or a scratching post. Aside from the vet costs, start-up costs are around $200, but it can vary. You can buy a good scratch pad for $7 or splurge on a luxury cat tree with sisal posts for $500. We have a sturdy sisal post that cost around $50, but our cats prefer the $7 corrugated cardboard pads.
The costs also depend on whether you have an indoor cat or an outdoor cat. Outdoor cats require annual vet visits and more shots. Indoor cats rarely need to visit the vet until they reach their senior years. Vet costs vary by region, but ours are around $45 a visit, plus the cost of immunizations and lab tests. Getting them fixed was around $100 each. We have a very good vet, but you can also find low-cost clinics that provide excellent care. Our total year one cost for vet visits, neutering, and shots was around $300.
Food costs are fairly low - around $15 a month for high-quality wet and dry food.
Litter can also run about $10 a month if you buy good litter (which I recommend.)
If you travel, your cat can usually last a couple days without you, but after that you’ll need to hire a sitter to drop by to clean the litter box and replenish food, or ask a friend to do it. Sitter costs vary by region, but assume about $25 a visit. Friends are free, but you should at least take them to lunch or make them dinner as a thank you. You can also pay the neighbor kid about $20 for a week.
For longer trips, you may need to look into a kennel, which can run $30 or more per day.
The Los Angeles Times estimates that the average family spends $244 a year on their cat. We spend more than that, but we buy them very high quality food. The total is around $600 a year for our two cats.
Dog Care Costs
Overall, dogs cost more than cats. Most dogs are not indoor-only, which means they require more vet visits and shots. The Los Angeles Times says the mean cost to own a dog is $395 a year.
Dogs are rarely available for free. They’re usually purchased from breeders, where prices vary widely depending on the breed. However, you can adopt a stray mutt from the pound for around $50.
Initial start-up costs include shots, pest removal, spaying or neutering, dog bed, food bowls, collars, and leashes. The total cost can be around $350, depending on local vet costs and the accessories you choose to buy.
If you travel, you’ll either need to hire a sitter or ask a friend or neighbor to walk your dog at least once a day and freshen the food. Sitter costs can be around $25-30 a day for drop-in visits. A kennel can be as high as $55 a day. Check with a local humane society to see if they offer lower fees.
Food averages about $20 a month, but largely depends on the kind of food you choose.
Unlike indoor cats, dogs also need yearly vet visits and shots, which can add another $2-300 to your annual vet bill.
However, the costs of owning a dog are outweighed by the health benefits. Because you have to walk your dog, you’re guaranteed daily exercise that will help keep you fit. Dog ownership has also been shown to reduce stress and improve blood pressure.
Reducing Pet Costs
There are a few ways to reduce your pet expenses:
Get a mutt. Mixed breed animals are cheaper to buy, and usually have lower healthcare costs. Purebreds may have genetic weaknesses that make them more prone to illness.
Use a low-cost clinic. Pet stores often offer low-cost weekend clinics for basic immunizations and check-ups.
Buy insurance. Most owners don’t have insurance because of the high deductibles and premiums, but you should consider if you have an expensive breed prone to illness. You could also opt to put the premium in a savings account where it will earn interest until you need it.
Don’t panic. Cats and dogs sometimes exhibit strange behavior. Unless it involves bleeding from strange places or an obvious infection, wait a few days to see if it clears up before you visit the vet only to be told, “Yeah, cats do that sometimes.”
Double-check pet deposits. If you live in an apartment, your landlord may ask for a pet deposit. Before you pay up, make sure that they’re allowed by state law. In California, they must be refundable. The pet deposit plus the security deposit can’t be more than two times the monthly rent.
I firmly believe that pet costs are worth it. Although it’s not a frugal choice, it’s also not a huge expense that doesn’t provide a benefit. We wouldn’t give up our cats unless we had a dire situation. Do you think pets are worthwhile expense? Tell me in the comments.
Apr
10
My $14 Kitchen Makeover
Filed Under Frugal, Home Maintenance, Saving Money | Leave a Comment
I loathe my kitchen. It was apparently designed by a bachelor who did not cook and it’s ridiculous. We have tons of storage everywhere in the apartment except the kitchen. Every day, I yell “I hate this kitchen” while making dinner. But not anymore! Now that we’ve completed our $14 kitchen makeover, I don’t love it, but I hate it a lot less.
These are photos of my old kitchen and my new kitchen. See the difference? It’s subtle. It’s the wire cage shelving - we don’t need it in my new kitchen. No, we didn’t start buying less food. Instead, we installed this wondrous thing: the shelf. It’s a simple plywood shelf, but it’s made using our kitchen a lot easier.
What We Did
It all started with the new microwave. Our old one was shooting sparks, so I asked the manager to replace it. Rather than installing the new microwave in the same place under the counter, they installed it over the stove. My mom suggested that we remove the old microwave and install a shelf in its place.
Removing the microwave was easy - it was only held in by four screws. My dad and my husband then went to Home Depot to have a piece of thick plywood cut down to size. We already had a drill, level, and lots and lots of screws. I’m one of those people who saves every unused screw from every kit, package, or piece of furniture I buy, and I have for years. They also bought a small strip of wood to support the shelf.
The total installation time took less than an hour. Now we can freely access all our cabinets (few though they are), and open the fridge all the way.
Additional Kitchen Makeover Ideas
If you have a tiny kitchen and a full remodel is out of the question (whether it’s due to lack of funds or lack of ownership), you do still have several makeover options:
Pot Rack: I considered hanging a pot rack when I first moved in, but the ceiling is a giant, fluorescent light fixture. Hanging one from the wall still would have limited our ability to access the freezer.
Magnetic knife rack: If you’re short on drawer space and don’t want a knife block (or are short on counter spice), bolt a magnetic knife rack to the wall.
Magnetic spice rack: You can also buy metal spice containers and attach them to a magnetic wall strip.
Removable shelf: the shelf on our counter was part of set of kitchen equipment. We set it on the counter to double our counter storage space.
Hanging baskets: My best friend hung wire baskets from the ceiling in her tiny New York City kitchen. Rather than use it for fruit, she used it for plastic spice bottles, garlic, and onions. These are also handy for holding bottles in the shower.
Cup hooks: Screw metal hooks under your cabinet and hang your mugs, spatulas, or other lightweight items from them.
Relocate your storage: If you can’t do any of the above, you could buy a cheap bureau with deep drawers or buy a stand-alone cabinet and hutch. Put them in the dining room or just outside the kitchen to add more storage space. Just make sure the drawers have sturdy bottoms if you plan to put dishes, pots, or pans in them.
For now, we’re happy with the dining room cabinet and our new kitchen shelf. I will probably be able to tolerate the kitchen a lot longer now.
Apr
3
The Difference Between Frugal and Cheap
Filed Under Book Review, Frugal | Leave a Comment
My post comparing being frugal with being environmentally friendly sparked some discussion about the difference between being frugal and being cheap. I recently read two books on just this topic: The Complete Tightwad Gazette and America’s Cheapest Family. In comparing the two books and the two concepts, I’m going to look at two areas I mentioned yesterday, that also consume a large portion of many budgets: food and clothing.
Cutting Grocery Costs: Frugal or Cheap?
To me, the Tightwad family is cheap, but the Cheap family is really just frugal. I define being cheap as going to great lengths to save money, even if it costs more in time and effort. Frugal means saving money without sacrificing quality of life. For example, the Tightwad family discussed one time they found off-brand sugared cereal at the ninety-nine cent store for thirteen cents a box, so they bought 50 boxes. I take issue with that for several reasons:
1. Despite the current gourmet 99-cent store press, some of the food in ninety-nine cent store is imported from countries with much lower food quality standards. At least in Los Angeles, a lot of it comes from Mexico. I don’t know that I can trust what’s in those boxes to be safe or healthy.
2. My family didn’t eat sugared cereal when I was a child because it’s not a healthy choice. I would rather spend more on quality cereal than save money by making unhealthy choices.
3. You have to have a lot of space to store that much cereal, which means your house is larger, which means the costs for heating and cooling said house are higher. Even if you store it in the garage, you’ve still got to have room in the garage for it.
4. You have to spend a lot of time driving around hunting for that sort of deal. Once the cost of gas is factored in, does it really save that much money? Isn’t my time worth more than that?
The Cheap family suggests ways to cut grocery costs without going to extremes, such as avoiding brand or store loyalty and stocking up (in smaller amounts) when something you like is on super-sale. Despite living in a huge city, I really only have a few grocery store options nearby and they don’t carry the same products. Comparison shopping between major grocery chains requires driving a couple of miles. In Los Angeles, that can be a substantial time investment. In my attempt to be more frugal, I buy a lot of my food from Trader Joe’s, where nearly everything is store-branded. Unlike either family, I do have to be brand loyal for some because of food intolerance issues. For example, I can only eat one brand of wild rice. Fortunately, that brand is around the same price as the major labels and comes in a smaller package. Unfortunately, it’s rarely on super-sale.
In my quest to be more frugal, I have adopted the Tightwad family’s suggestion to keep a price book. So far, I’ve discovered a few items where I’m spending more than I need to.
Cutting Clothing Costs: Frugal or Cheap?
Both families buy second-hand clothes, which is frugal, but I’m frugal in a different way. I buy 90% of my clothes from one chain store. The designs are classic yet fashionable, the styles fit me, the quality is excellent, and the prices are reasonable. They also regularly send me coupons by email. Rather than scour second-hand stores for my clothes, I can sit at my computer and order enough to use my 20% coupon and get free shipping. I return what I don’t like to the store I can walk to from my apartment. The clothes I keep usually last three to five years. So if I buy a dress for $50 and wear it 50 times, that’s $1 per wear. If I bought a $15 dress at a second-hand store, but only got 10 wearings out of it, that would cost $1.50 per wear, not to mention the amount of extra time it would take to find a dress I liked that fit me well.
I could definitely be more frugal, but I would never go as far as the Tightwad family. Yes, it’s nice to keep costs low, but I also value my time and my life too much to scour the area for thirteen-cent boxes of cereal. What is the line between frugal and cheap for you? Tell me in the comments.
Mar
26
7 Things You Should Always Buy New
Filed Under Frugal, Saving Money | 1 Comment
For many items, like cars and houses, buying used is a good idea. In some cases, though, used is not better. Here are seven items you should always buy new.
Shoes: The problem with used shoes isn’t related to hygiene, it’s related to fit. Shoes conform to our feet over time, which means that used shoes have molded to someone else’s foot and won’t provide you with proper support or comfort. The only exception might be expensive stiletto heels that you can have resoled and relined. Then the only part you’re buying used is the pretty strappy part on top.
Helmets: If possible, always buy a new, custom-made helmet. Even if you’re just buying an off-the-shelf helmet, never buy it used. Many helmets can only withstand one serious accident, and you have no way of knowing whether that used helmet has been in a crash.
Car Seats: Car seats should only be purchased new for the same reason. You also shouldn’t accept hand-me-down car seats from other people. A car seat handed down from your own child is fine if you know it wasn’t in an accident.
Mattresses: Mattresses are expensive, but a good one will last you at least ten years. If you buy a used mattress, you’ll probably have to replace it sooner. It may also contain bed bugs or other nasty beasties that come out at night. Finally, like shoes, mattresses conform to our bodies over time. A mattress someone else has slept on for the last year or two is already imprinted with their body shape and may not provide you with the right support.
Undergarments: Underwear should be bought new for obvious reasons. Bras should also be bought new. Not only does the strap elastic wear out after about six months, but the cups may have conformed to someone else’s shape and not provide you with the right support.
Cribs: Although cribs are usually used gently, it may be subject to a recall or it may have hairline cracks you can’t see. If you do buy used, always go look at it and check Recalls.gov before agreeing to the purchase.
Makeup: You often see used makeup on eBay, but it’s really not a good idea to buy it. First, makeup expires sooner than you think. Mascara lasts about three months and lipstick about a year. Second, they often contain bacteria. They don’t hurt you when they’re your own germs, but you don’t want someone else’s eye infection. Makeup artists suggest cutting off the tops of lipsticks if you do want to buy used, but I would recommend always buying eye makeup new.
Although most other items can safely be bought used, your health, safety, and body will thank you if you buy these seven items new. Is there anything else you would never buy used?
Mar
25
After I wondered if frugality is in the air, I started to think about the differences between living a frugal lifestyle and being environmentally conscious. Depending on how you choose to live, your frugality could automatically be better for the environment, or it might not benefit the environment at all.
When a Frugal Lifestyle Equals Positive Environmental Impact
Some of the most basic concepts of frugal living are in fact also environmentally-friendly, even if you don’t consciously set out to accomplish that.
Using less energy. If you unplug electronics that aren’t in use, use energy-efficient lightbulbs, turn the heat down in the winter and the air-conditioner down in the summer in order to reduce your electricity bill, you’re also being a friend to the environment.
Driving less. If you drive less in order to conserve fuel, you’re also being a friend to the environment.
Buying second-hand goods or borrowing from friends. If you buy most of your goods second-hand or borrow short-term items from friends in order to save money, you’re also reducing the amount of new goods that need to be produced or purchased.
Preparing fresh, natural foods. If you avoid buying pre-packaged meals and instead start with whole ingredients that are closest to their natural state, you not only save money, but you reduce the impact on the environment from packaging food.
Buying less. Many frugal people tend to buy less stuff, because stuff costs money. If you avoid buying stuff you don’t need, you’re not only helping your wallet, but you’re reducing the total amount of goods that need to be produced. The environment thanks you.
When a Frugal Lifestyle Conflicts with the Environment
On the other hand, being frugal doesn’t always mean being a friend to the earth. If you’re focus is on saving the most money, you might actually do more harm than you realize. Here are some examples:
Buying cheap goods that wear out quickly. If you buy a $5 shirt that you have to throw out at the end of the year, you may save money initially, but you’re not helping the environment. It would be better to invest in a $20 shirt that will last five years.
Using coupons to buy cheap pre-packaged food. I’ve noticed that many coupons are for pre-packaged meals, boxed mixes, pre-made sauces, and other commercial foods. If your focus is on maximizing coupons to reduce your grocery bill, but that results in buying a lot of boxed or packaged food, you’re being frugal but not environmentally-friendly.
Driving an old car to avoid buying a new one. Certainly I recommend owning a car for at least ten years, but if you’re driving a twenty-five-year-old car that guzzles gas and just barely meets emissions standards, being frugal definitely isn’t helping the environment any.
Buying less energy-efficient appliances. While buying a used ten-year-old refrigerator is cheaper than buying a new one, older appliances or new cheaper appliances may not be as energy-efficient, and therefore less environmentally friendly.
Now that I’ve compared these two lists, it strikes me that the poor environmental choice might not be the more frugal choice in the long run. A cheap old car probably uses much more gas, which will cost you more over time. The same goes for energy-inefficient appliances. Buying new cheap goods ever year will ultimately cost more than buying high-quality, durable goods.
I definitely believe in using grocery coupons to save money, but I don’t believe in pre-packaged foods. Although they’re a frugal choice when purchased with coupons, convenience meals often have more fat, sugar, and sodium than their homemade counterparts, so ultimately the health cost could outweigh the grocery savings. I would rather eat healthy, nutritious food that costs a little more than eat junk to save a buck.
This may come down to the difference between being frugal and being cheap. For me, a truly frugal lifestyle doesn’t simply mean saving the most money. It should also give some thought to the environmental impact it has and each choice should be considered in that light.
What are your thoughts? Tell me in the comments.
Mar
21
13 Frugal Ways to Celebrate Spring Fever
Filed Under Frugal | 2 Comments
It’s officially spring! According to legend, you should have been able to stand an egg on its end at the moment of the spring equinox. In case you missed the moment, here are 13 frugal ways to celebrate spring fever (one for each week of the season.)
Buy fresh flowers: This year, the first week of spring also includes Easter, which will kick spring fever into overdrive. Visit a local farmer’s market or grocery store to pick a bunch of daffodils to dress up your table. Trader Joe’s had a bunch of 10 for $1.29! Of course, if you have a garden, you pick flowers for free.
Buy fresh herbs: Stop by a nursery or visit a friend with a green thumb to get a pot of fresh herbs. Choose something you use in a lot of recipes. Nothing brightens even the simplest meal, or cures spring fever, like fresh herbs.
Make a lemon tart: If Meyer lemons are available where you live, use those to cure your spring fever. If not, use regular lemons and add an extra bit of sugar. Lemon curd is very easy to make and costs less than $2. I like this bittersweet Meyer lemon curd tart (scroll down to the bottom), or this lemon curd recipe.
Make lemon olive oil: Spring is the season of lemons. For serious cases of spring fever, lemon olive oil is another cheap fix. Michael Chiarello’s Flavored Oils and Vinegars recommends this recipe: you need 3 lemons and 1 cup olive oil. Cut lemons into eighths. Put in a stand mixer with 1 cup olive oil (clean-tasting, not bitter). Stir for ten minutes, then let stand two hours. Wet four layers of cheesecloth, squeeze dry. Set strainer over a bowl, cover with cheesecloth. Pour mixture into cheesecloth and squeeze out liquid. Let stand another hour, then spoon clear oil that floats on top into a glass jar. Store in the refrigerator and use within one week.
Attend a baseball game: Baseball and spring go hand in hand. In fact, spring fever has a related condition called baseball fever. Most stadiums offer ultra-cheap seats for a few games, so score some of those and try not to buy a hot dog.
Visit a botanical garden: Most cities have a botanical garden. Take along a picnic and enjoy a lovely afternoon. If you don’t have a botanical garden near you, visit a nursery. Just don’t buy anything.
Go for a hike: Plan a lovely hike and picnic for a warm spring day. I suggest some options in my frugal exercise club post.
Change your home décor: If you’re like me, you’ve got candles, vases, and other décor items hidden away in closets. Spruce up your home by sorting through them and setting out some that remind you of spring.
Make deviled eggs or egg salad: Probably because of their association with Easter, deviled eggs and egg salad remind me of spring. Make some, alongside a simple salad and crusty bread, for a delicious light lunch.
Visit the farmer’s market: If you haven’t visited a local farmer’s market or green grocer, spring is the time to go. You can watch the season change before your eyes. Soon the oranges and apples will be gone, replaced by berries, grapes, peaches, nectarines, and other luscious spring and summer fruits and veggies.
Prepare lamb for dinner: Most meats are available year-round, but lamb is best (and cheapest) in the spring. Serve a simple lamb dinner with a homemade mint chutney for a taste of springtime.
Bake a fruit pie: How about peach cobbler? Cherry pie? Rhubarb pie? Buy fresh fruit at the farmer’s market and bake a fresh pie. Serve with fresh whipped cream. It’s like a taste of spring fever.
Tickle your toes in the grass: Go outside barefoot and let the grass tickle your toes. Be warned, though. This cure has also been known to make spring fever worse! If it does, see the other twelve cures.
Spring fever doesn’t have to cost a fortune. You certainly don’t have go to on spring break to enjoy all the season has to offer. Just make a point to enjoy the season before it melts into summer. Do you have a favorite way to celebrate spring fever? Tell me in the comments.
Mar
13
Frugal Meals: Fish
Filed Under Frugal, Groceries and Food | Leave a Comment
To me, frugal meals should be healthy, delicious, and contain fresh, seasonal ingredients. If that means spending a little extra to eat well, I will do so, but I don’t go overboard. Because fish is so healthy, I try to make fish for dinner at least twice a week. We generally eat salmon, shrimp, and snapper, although I occasionally buy cod or halibut.
Fish is so flavorful that it doesn’t need heavy side dishes. My favorites are wild rice, brown rice with toasted pine nuts and rehydrated currants, or white rice (rarely). We also usually have salad before the main course, which stretches out the meal so we don’t feel hungry when we’re done.
Yes, Shrimp is Frugal
I keep a bag of frozen shrimp in the freezer at all times. We can get two dinners out of one 16 oz. bag (remember, there are only two of us.) That size bag from Trader Joe’s usually costs around $10, which means $2.50 per person. When you add affordable sides or pasta, the total cost of the meal per person isn’t above $3-4. It’s also great way to boost the protein content of a meal without a lot of effort.
Shrimp cooks in minutes, even from frozen. Just toss it together with some pasta, sauté it with spices, or pour chicken stock in a fondue pot so you can cook it while you eat, and you’ve got a delicious, healthy, affordable dinner in minutes.
Flash Frozen Fish is Frugal, Too
I buy flash frozen fish from Trader Joe’s. They carry wild-caught salmon in reasonable portion sizes at amazing prices - often around $5.99 a pound. Flash frozen fish is frozen at the peak of freshness. I simply defrost it in the fridge overnight and then sauté it or toss it on the Foreman Grill.
Snapper is another favorite in my house. I also buy it flash frozen from Trader Joe’s, and it’s around the same price as the salmon. I’ve discovered that it cooks best in a pan with a little olive oil and butter. It’s too delicate to do well on the Foreman. Just add a dash of lemon juice and toasted slivered almonds, and you have a delicious main course. I love to serve it with brown rice and a simple walnut salad.
On rare occasions, I’ll get cod and make fish and chips. Tyler Florence, of the Food Network, has a fantastic and quick recipe for rice flour fish and chips. It’s light, flaky, and only requires club soda so it’s easy on the budget (assuming you have rice flour on hand, which I always do.) Tartar sauce is easy to throw together with mayo, mustard, lemon juice, and green onions. Don’t bother buying pre-made sauce. Odds are you won’t use it up before it goes bad anyway. Just make a small amount fresh whenever you want it. It makes a lovely topping for pecan salmon or a dipping sauce for salmon fondue nights.
Fresh Fish Is Sometimes Frugal
I’ve found that fresh fish is really affordable if you buy it when it’s in season and buy fish your local markets carry. For some reason, trout is not popular in Southern California, so I don’t eat it here. I could buy it from the fish market, but I don’t leave near one. Driving there would significantly increase the cost. I prefer to buy fresh fish from the fish counter so I can buy exactly the amount I need. Often, they will remove the bones and skin if you ask, and it doesn’t increase the price.
I know many people who don’t believe fish can be part of frugal meals, but if you know how to prepare simple, delicious meals, it can be. Just don’t buy fancy fish! That means no Copper River salmon! Stick to Wild Alaskan and your budget will thank you. If you make a point to eat fish, your heart will, too.
Mar
12
Is Frugality in the Air?
Filed Under Frugal | 2 Comments
It started slowly with concerns about rising food and energy costs. Next came the mortgage meltdown. Finally, news coverage reported that more than half of Americans plan to use their rebate checks to pay down debt or boost savings. Now, I’m seeing car commercials that encourage people to pay off their credit cards. Is frugality in the air?
Frugality in the News
This Sunday, the Los Angeles Times business section was entirely devoted to frugality and personal finance. They detailed the rising costs for food, fuel, and housing, all of which are crimping everyone’s budgets. According to their report, food costs are expected to rise 3.5% this year. And not just pre-packaged foods, but the basics like bread, milk, and eggs.
They also profiled five people who recently realized the importance of frugality. The feature I found most interesting was the recommendation to buy all your food, including produce and dairy, at 99 Cents Only stores. I had no idea they carried produce! My friend reports that it’s poor quality, however, so I don’t think I’ll start shopping there.
Frugality in Commercials
Of course, it wasn’t terribly surprising to find tips for saving money in the newspaper. I was very surprised to see a recent Honda commercial encouraging buyers to use the money the save on the car to pay down their credit cards. Now, buying a new car isn’t necessarily frugal, but I’ve never actually seen a commercial for a product that advised customers to get out of debt. Is paying off debt now such a buzz word that even advertisers see it as a tactic?
What’s the Cause of this Interest in Frugality?
I think it’s a confluence of factors, really. The costs of food, energy, and housing are a big concern for the average family. The last five years have been a high-flying time for homeowners, but as prices come crashing down and all other costs rise, most people realize that the stodgy recommendations to save money, pay down debt, and live wisely aren’t old-fashioned. They’re smart bulwarks against rising costs.
There are also other factors at work:
Baby boomers retiring. As Baby Boomers look at the possibility of living another 40 or more years and having to pay ever rising medical costs, I think some of them are ready to start pinching their pennies.
Gen Xers lacking hope. I don’t buy into the generalization that all Gen Xers are cynical and hopeless, however I don’t know a single one (and I am one) who expects to get money from social security. We’re going to live a long time and we don’t have a big safety net, so more of us are starting to value frugality.
Gen Yers dealing with more expenses. Gen Yers were the generation that seemed to grow up with the most stuff, but now that many of them are balancing spiraling student debt, the costs of living on their own, and the reality of having to pay for all of that stuff out of their own pockets, I think they’re starting to question the value of the stuff.
Growing environmentalism. As more people become aware that something must be done to ease climate change and the way we treat our world, I think frugality has also entered the conversation as a way to conserve and preserve our resources.
Awareness of other cultures. Specifically, the awareness of how other cultures view us and how we affect them. As more nations advance technologically, they adopt our wasteful ways. It’s not good for the planet or our species, and I think more people are realizing we have to reverse the trend toward wastefulness.
Of course, these are just my theories for why frugality seems to be in the air these days. Have you noticed a greater awareness of frugality? What do you think is the cause? Tell me in the comments.
Mar
3
Why Reading is Frugal
Filed Under Entertainment, Frugal | 7 Comments
Note: I wrote this as a guest post at a friend’s now-defunct blog, so I’m re-posting it here.
Last year, a horrifying study found that 25% of Americans hadn’t read a book in the last year. This is horrifying for a number of reasons:
- We’re not reading because we’re choosing other entertainment forms, most of which are mindless
- We’re not reading because we’ve learned that books are “boring,” which tells me that our education system is failing us (to be fair, I already knew that.)
- We’re not reading because our parents didn’t demonstrate reading as a worthwhile habit, which again reflects poorly on the values of our culture. Our culture says that TV/movies/sports/shopping are more important than reading.
My Love Affair with Books
I’ve been a lifelong reader. I recall fondly my weekly trips to the library where I would spread the children’s books out on the floor to choose my books for the week. I loved those books with their pretty pictures and slippery plastic library covers. When I opened one, the plastic made a very satisfying crinkle that said I was about to slip into a fascinating world. A trip to the bookstore was a huge treat. Of course, I wanted to buy every book in the store, but my parents would limit me to one or two, so I chose carefully.
Once I got older, I spent much of my own money on books, especially Sweet Valley High romances, but I also nicked books from my Mom’s shelf. I would routinely read three or four different books at once, and have no problem keeping them straight. Some of those books were 5-600 pages long, but I loved them anyway.
Today I try to read at least two books a month, more if I can manage it. I’ve got 19 books on my “to be read” shelf, two on hold at the library, and several more on a list to get from the library once the shelf is clear. If I stay on track to read a book a week, that will take me 21 weeks to get through them before I start the list. If I get really into a book, and I nearly always do, then I try to read as much as I can in just a couple days. I find the time to read by cutting the amount of television I watch.
Why Reading Is Frugal
So now I’ll tell you why reading is frugal. Yes, books can be expensive, but through the wonder of the library, you can get them for free! If you have a large enough system, they may have an online catalog that you can order books through, even novels and bestsellers (fiction and non-fiction), and be notified when the books arrive at your nearest library. If the book isn’t available in your system, ask the library about intralibrary loan. You’d be surprised what books a librarian can get his or her hands on.
You can also get free, or low-priced, books through places like Paperback Swap. http://www.paperbackswap.com/ I love Half.com http://www.half.com for books I want to keep. Sadly, keeping books isn’t always frugal because you have to buy more bookcases when the old ones get full. I know a person who bought a larger house to hold all his books, but that’s an extreme.
But beyond getting books free or cheap, reading is frugal because it doesn’t feature advertising. When you watch TV or movies, your brain slips into a meditative state where you’re more susceptible to advertising. Seeing the same ads repeatedly encourages a need to own those things, so you spend more money. When you read, you avoid the consumer culture.
Reading is also frugal because it makes you smarter and healthier:
Better mental health: Studies have shown that people who read or do puzzles are less likely to experience dementia and other mental disorders later in life, which vastly reduces your healthcare costs.
Higher incomes: Readers are also more likely to have higher incomes, although this may be because people who read tend to be better educated.
Improved communication skills:
Exposure to new ideas:
Better school performance: Children who read definitely do better in school because reading helps train you to learn. You subconsciously absorb facts, vocabulary, and grammar. Later in life, homework isn’t necessarily a chore and even a biology book can be fascinating if you enjoy reading. (Okay, minor admission, I was the kid who read the back of the cereal box at breakfast because it was in front of me and I needed something to read.)
If you have children, make the trip to the library a regular event so they get used to reading. If you don’t have children, try to stop by every couple weeks to see what’s new. Once you get into the habit of reading, you’d be amazed how addictive it becomes.
How often do you read? Tell me what you think of reading books in the comments.
