My parents used to say "Use it up, wear it out, make it do or do without." Our culture encourages us to do the opposite.

We could all save a lot of money just by adhering to that philosophy, but we want newer, better, different, more.

We peer into full cupboards and refrigerators, and sigh "There isn't anything GOOD to eat."

We look through our over-stuffed closets and decide we're sick of this stuff and want a NEW wardrobe.

As a society we've bought into the idea that we DESERVE whatever it is, whether we can afford it or not. Hey, everybody needs a treat now and then, right?

We buy something we don't need for thirty dollars, sell it at a yard sale a few months later for fifty cents, and think we're being thrifty.

We've rationalized our wants into needs, and wonder why we end up in a pile of credit card debt.

I have people come into the office all the time wailing and moaning about how hard it is, and they have all three stalls of their three-car garages full of SUV's, take three vacations a year, eat out a few times a week, have summer homes, etc.

If only they knew what it was like to live like I did growing up, when it really WAS hard. You didn't toss the stale bread on the compost pile, you padded the meat loaf with it. We didn't have a compost pile--we ATE our compost! :D

OK, off the soap box now. I've been as guilty as the next person of snapping up whatever catches my eye, and that's why I don't have a next egg today. I wish I had adhered to my parents' wisdom more, and "I deserve it" less.

I think times are going to be hard again for a while, especially for those of us without much wiggle room in the budget. I think this is a great idea to pool our resources. Just when I think I've heard every frugality tip there is, somebody comes up with a new one!

really annoys me when i posted a fair size post here and its gone? deb and i have been frugal for a while we got 5 kids and b4 that we were sole parents. thats an automatic, there.

this year we bought a bunch of fresh picked cor on cob almost 4 dozen and i blanched it for our winter consumption, next year we are having a bigger garden and going to can some stuff too, cause i dont see things getting better just cause theres a new sherriff in DC

RW, Koala started a similar thread down in the Stumble Inn. There are lots of good tips and advice there, so thought I'd put the direct link for it here: http://neurotalk.psychcentral.com/thread55885.html

Food wise we shop sales and prepare meals around that. We are slowly trying to build a 3 month or so food pantry. Our indulgence is organic coffee beans for our 1 cup each morning treat.

We are trying to hedge inflation by buying a few things we know we will need in the next year... like larger size shoes and clothing for our teen. Right now many stores are running great clearance sales on clothing trying to move merchandise just to stay afloat themselves. We have found excellent prices for basic Tees and jeans he will wear no matter what.

We haven't always had to be thrifty, but it is hard to forget the many lessons I learned from my grandparents and parents. Hey I know how to make "flour-sack panties" if need be! :winky:

Sandy,

I've been known to say that I'll stop eating before I cancel my high speed internet, lol.

I'm thinking of cancelling the landline phone. We use the cell phones more often, and I can't even justify long distance on the landline. I pay $71 per month for what, telemarketers to get ahold of us?

Also, I've recently started to do the lawn with the push mower. I love mowing and until a few months ago, I couldn't handle the heat. It's just a bonus that it burns extra calories too! :)

I use the credit card for food, gas and utilities and pay it off each month. I don't pay any interest and I get from 1-5% cash back in rebates! :Rich:

THIS is something I need to do less of. When I go shopping with my sister I get so tempted to buy a new purse or shoes. One way to try and curtail it is to only allow yourself to buy new things at clearance prices. I did that for years, and dressed pretty well for just a small amount.

If I do get something that isn't practical, I give it to charity. That way somebody else gets something useful for free or next to nothing and I even get a tiny tax writeoff in doing so.

Generally though, I'll wear something until it's not even good enough to give to charity anymore, and then it becomes a rag for cleaning.

This is something I've started doing recently and although it really doesn't save me any money it does help someone else out without any additional cost to me.

We have a local food pantry that serves our city. They also make up food boxes to take to senior citizens who live off of SSI and tend to run out of things before the next check comes.

My local Publix has Buy One Get One Free on many different items each week. What I've started doing is taking the free one (like a box of Cheerios or a jar of spaghetti sauce or peanut butter) and donating it to the food pantry for the Senior boxes. They have a newsletter that goes out each month and they suggested this as a way for people who cannot afford to buy any extra to be able to donate.

I also have packets of cat food left over from each variety box I buy because there is a certain flavor that they just will not eat. I donate that, too, because I know alot of people have pets and pet food can be expensive.

When things get tight we all tend to focus on our own needs and while that's understandable the needs of the less fortunate still continue. I can't do much but I hope that what I can manage to do helps someone else.

I thought I posted here this morning but I don't see it?? :(

BF and I cleaned out our closets a couple of weeks ago of clothes we haven't worn in a year or so. I took them to the local Good Will - 8 bags full! The man at the store thanked us and told us they have been so busy with people buying us used clothes they were actually running low! We asked what else they needed and he said "anything, books, pots and pans, anything really. So we came back the next day went through books, pots and pans and sheets that don't get used! Took them back and again the man was very greatful.

I think people are buying used instead of new which if I can help out with stuff that we don't use than I am happy to help!

We don't buy coffee at Dunkin Donuts we bring from home. I try to support the local farmer as much as possible. We don't eat out and take leftovers for lunches. I have been making mittens instead of buying them. Saving money where ever possible!

frank and i went to a push mower too ... no elect. no gas ... only muscle power ... i love it and yes its a very good workout ... for our son chris :)

That's good Deb! Ours uses gas though, if I had to use the manual push mower it would probably take me five hours, lol. I can do ours in about an hour. Just finished! :)

Even I don't use a manual push mower. Lordy be, I have one but I can't breath after a few rounds. I have a self propelled and it goes as fast as I want to go. lol

We had a push lawn mower and it killed me every time I used it so I stopped. So needless to say the lawn only got mowed out front where people could see cause DBF hated to mow also!

But, the roof on his mom's barn fell in this last spring from the heavy wet snow fall and crushed her riding lawn mower. BF took it and pulled out all the dents, straighted up the axles and had to spend $18 on some part for the steering. And now he has an almost brand new lawn mower which he just loves!!! It took him a couple of weeks to get it all working using some parts off the push mower but for $18 he salvaged his moms.