Saturday, November 1, 2008

Minimalist Preferences = True Frugal Life

Since entering this little blogging world I have spent a little time searching for other blogs that talk about frugal family life or money saving tips and such. This is one of my favorite topics so I am just sure that I will find some good ideas somewhere on-line. One theme seems to run through most all of the blogs that I have previewed thus far, how to spend less on stuff. I hate stuff. I don’t want stuff. I also despise shopping for stuff. So aside from buying necessites like deodorant, toothpaste, toilet paper and soap and such I do not give a rats arse if Walgreens has 20 deals right now on unnecessary things like anti-aging cream, which I don’t believe work, or disinfectant kitchen counter spray. Grocery savings coupons and tips usually include 50 cents off some RiceARoni mix or something similar. No, that is not saving. What would really be saving is buying bulk plain rice and adding your own herbs purchased at a country store at a deep discount. It would be cheaper AND healthier since the cheap version would contain less sodium and preservatives and who knows what other un-pronounceable ingredients. Instead of buying anti-aging cream I would prefer to read about how vegetable shortening or something that most households have on hand might be proven to have anti-aging effects when applied topically or how a mixture of distilled vinegar and water disinfects the same as expensive kitchen counter cleaners. Do you get what I’m saying? The way I like to save money is by truly NOT buying stuff vs. spending less on stuff. Making something out of nothing should be more appreciated than spending less on stuff for the sheer genious of it. I suppose this is why I like Amy Dacyczyn’s The Complete Tightwad Gazette so much. I believe the Gazette is out of print now but there are many money saving tips in there that a minimalist like me can appreciate. My hopes is to share money saving tips on this blog that involve a little more time perhaps and possibly a little more work but a lot less money and a lot less stuff.

I am certain that there are blogs out there that would appeal to my minimalist frugal preferences and when I find them I will be sure to add them to my blog list.

1 comment:

Danielle said...

I agree about the rice--I always find the the rice I make is so much better than the crap in a box with powder mix!!

Speaking of buying in bulk--we went to BJs today and I bought my flour, sugar, butter, and meat all in bulk this week. The last time I bought meat was at BJs in May! It has saved me so much money buying the giant pork loin and cutting it into 4 or 5 pieces and getting a ton of roasts out of it--same with chicken breasts, and beef. This time though, i did invest 8 dollars in the Reynolds vacuum seal machine and the bags--by the end of the meat the last run the seal from the foil was a little battered and the meat was a tiny bit freezer burned--hoping that these bags will keep that to a monimum--and I can wash the bags in the dishwasher to reuse them!