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Aug

3

FBN Roundup - Summer of Frugality Edition

It’s that time again - time for a Frugal Blog Network roundup! There were some really awesome posts this week from my fellow bloggers. Has anyone else noticed how great summer can be for frugality? I, personally, just feel the need to spend less… but in case you haven’t caught the no-spending bug, here’s some inspiring frugal reads for you

Not Made of Money

Dana wrote Five Fun Things to do on the Weekend That Don’t Cost a Dime - some great things to do when you don’t want to spend money. I tend to try and spend as little as possible on my fun, which makes for a lot of creative planning and spur-of-the-moment adventures to the park
She also wrote Storing Your Financial Documents: What to Keep and What to Shred, which is a good basic list of info to keep in hand when you’re going through your files. I have a similar post coming up that will be a good addendum to this one.

And finally, in celebration of summer, Dana wrote Great Buys During the Month of August, which is really a post worth reading.

Frugal Babe

First, I loved her post Using Balance Transfers For Credit Card Debt. I did a bit of credit card juggling as I was paying off my debt and it was a good choice. But for all that I did transfer around, there was a lot I didn’t bother to, either. There are a few key factors to consider when moving your debt around, and Frugal Babe explores them for you. Personally, I only ever transferred if the amount was high enough to justify the transfer fee, and if I could then keep the debt on the new card for something like 0% interest for 6 months. That way I was making more progress on my other debts without accruing interest on that one. It’s a game worth playing if you can get it straight and make your moves wisely.

Second, she wrote Cloth Diapers Really Are The Frugal Way, which I totally agree with. If I ever have children, they will certainly be cloth-diapered, and I will make the diapers myself And finally, she wrote all about her plans to build a hydroponic garden in her home, which is just totally awesome! I love how this lady is making her family so self-sufficient! Way to go

Almost Frugal

Kelly wrote a fantastic post called Eating Out Frugally: Have A Picnic, a marvelous idea for summer and, you better believe it, winter, too I have picnics at my dinner table all the time - it’s all in the mindset and what you put into the meal. I think this is a great suggestion.

She also wrote Give Linens a New Lease On Life, an idea totally up my alley. I always give things a few chances before I give up on them - and her decision to dye rather than to buy is exactly what I would have done! I’ve bought pillows, duvet covers, and furniture that weren’t right for the decor or weren’t the right size, etc., but perfect in price. With a little altering, dying, or sanding and staining, the things were perfect in the end. It’s worth it to get your hands dirty if you have the skills - you will save a lot of money and have a lot of fun in the process.

Tight Fisted Mister

Andy wrote about quitting his job, a decision he decided to make because he was robbed and it just seemed like the right decision, all other circumstances weighed as well. In the meantime, he contemplated other income ideas for his between-job time so that he won’t have to dip much into his savings. When getting out of debt, I did at least half of these things for more money with success - so it’s a good list!

Hope you are all having a fantastic Sunday. See you next week!