Use it up, wear it out, make it do, or do without.

"Use it up, wear it out, make it do, or do without." I don't know where it originally comes from, but Elder Hansen used it in Conference in 1998: W. Eugene Hansen, “Children and the Family,” Ensign, May 1998, 58 (My sister-in-law found that quote for me to use in my talk last year).

I got this list from a frugal yahoo group and wanted to preserve it, and hopefully follow it. :-) Here it is:

1. Go with one car. Many families have two or more cars. Besides your
house, your car is probably your most expensive item. If you can do with one,
you should. My wife and I both work, and we have six kids, and yet we have
learned to manage with one car.
2. Go with a smaller house. Just because you can afford a larger house,
doesn´t mean you should live in one. Live in as small a house as you can and
still be comfortable. I don´t mean you should live in a one-room apartment
with a family of four ... you know what I mean. You can save thousands a year
with a smaller house. Many times, if you get rid of a lot of clutter, you don´t
need a large house.
3. Go with a smaller car. Again, you can save thousands by going with a
smaller car. A car instead of an SUV, for example, is a big savings. Be
comfortable, but don´t overdo it. You´ll save a lot on gas this way too.
4. Rent rather than own. This will probably spark a huge debate, as it
always does. The thing is, just don´t assume that buying is the better
investment. If you calculate the interest you pay on a mortgage, the cost of
insurance and maintenance, buying is often much more costly than renting ... and if
you rent, save money, and then invest the difference, you can actually end up
well ahead in the long run. Now, it´s not a given, so do a comparison,
factoring in all expenses. Here´s a _more in-depth article_
(http://www.getrichs lowly.org/ blog/2007/ 07/16/renting- vs-buying- the-realities- of-home-buying/) .
5. Look for used first. If you need something - I mean really need it,
not just want it - see if someone you know has one that they don´t use or
need anymore. Send out an email to family or friends, or just ask around. You
might be surprised. I was about to buy a printer, and then found out my mom
just bought a laser printer and didn´t need her old inkjet ... saving me close
to 100 smackeroos. If no one you know owns one, try freecycle.org or
craigslist.org. Then look to buy used, at garage sales or thrift shops. You can find a
bargain if you look around.
6. Eat out less. One of the biggest expenses in our daily lives is
eating out - the average person spends well over $2,000 a year on eating out.
Restaurants are expensive, including fast-food (not to mention the health
hazards). It´s much cheaper to cook your own food. Our family creates a weekly
menu, then we buy the groceries, and cook dinner (and lunch) each evening. Lately
I´ve even been prepping it in the morning, so it´s a snap when we get home.

7. Eat out frugally. If you do eat out, check out _these money-saving
tips_
(http://www.bargaini st.com/deals/ 2007/07/ideas- for-saving- money-on- eating-out/) .
8. Brown bag it to work. Instead of eating out for lunch, bring your
lunch. _More here_
(http://zenhabits. net/2007/ 04/simple- way-to-save- 3000-a-year- brown-bag- it/) .
9. Adopt a minimalist wardrobe. This tip won´t be for everybody, but I
try for a minimalist wardrobe. I generally wear jeans or casual pants, a
T-shirt or Polo-type shirt, and sandals or shoes. Plain, solid colors are my
favorite. Everything goes with everything else, and I don´t have too many
clothes. This saves me the stress of picking out an outfit, and I don´t need as many
clothes.
10. Stop online impulse buys. This was a problem for me before I
canceled my credit card. I used to buy online a couple of times a week. Now I buy
maybe once every couple of months, using PayPal or someone else´s credit card. I
´m not saying you have to go to this extreme, but realize that online buying
can be way too easy (you don´t even have to go to a store) and therefore, we
make too many impulse buys. Buy online if you really need something and it´
ll save you money, but beware the impulse buy. See 30-day list tip below.
11. Don´t shop. Don´t go to the mall or other shopping area or
department store to look around and shop. Go to a store if you know what you need,
and then get out. Many times people go shopping, with a vague idea of what they
want, and get caught up buying much more. Or they go just for fun, as a form
of entertainment. That ends up costing a lot. It can really add up. Instead,
stay away from shopping areas and find other ways to have fun (more below).
12. Use a 30-day list. To curb impulse buys, create a 30-day list. When
you want to buy something, other than a true necessity (medicine or food, for
example), put it on this list, with the date you added it to the list. And
make it a rule that you can´t buy anything for at least 30 days after you put
it on the list. And stick to it. You´ll find that you buy a lot less with
this system.
13. Cut out cable. I´ve _talked about_
(http://zenhabits. net/2007/ 08/10-odd- little-minimalis t-things- i-do/) how I cut out cable before. It saves me
money every month (in my area, about $60, or more than $700 a year), and also
forces me to do things like read and have conversations and go outside. Win
win.
14. Use the library. Instead of buying books, check them out. The
library often also has a great selection of DVDs (depending on your area), saving
you even more. Now who needs cable?
15. Find free entertainment. Find cheap ways to have fun. Entertainment
often ends up costing a lot of money, if you go to the movies, buy
concessions, or go out at night, go to the bar, etc. The average person spends about
$1,800 a year on entertainment (not including eating out). Now, I´m not saying
you shouldn´t have fun ... but there are cheaper ways to do it. _Here are a
few ideas_
(http://zenhabits. net/2007/ 02/100-ways- to-have-fun- with-your- kids-for/) . Here´s a frugal family´s _fun and cheap weekend_
(http://www.thesimpl edollar.com/ 2007/08/25/ a-glimpse- at-how-a- frugal-family- spends-their- weekend/) .
16. Frugal exercise. Exercise is important, but it doesn´t have to cost
a lot of money. _Here are some tips_
(http://www.bargaini st.com/deals/ 2007/08/12- frugal-exercise- ideas/) .
17. Stay healthy. Easier said than done, I know, but staying healthy can
save you tons of money on doctor´s visits, hospital bills, and medicine over
the long run. An ounce of prevention, and all that. Eat healthily, and
exercise. Simple and effective.
18. Commute by bike. Even if you own a car, commuting by bike will save
you gas, and get you in shape at the same time. I highly recommend it. _Here
are my tips_
(http://zenhabits. net/2007/ 01/6-tips- for-commuting- to-work-by- bike/) .
19. Carpool or ride the bus. OK, you don´t want to bike it. So find a
friend or neighbor who works near you, and arrange a carpool. Or take public
transportation. Simple advice, but something a lot of people ignore.
20. Walk. Often we drive to the corner store, or to a school that´s less
than a mile away. Leave a few minutes early, walk, burn some calories, and
save gas.
21. Sell your clutter. This is not so much saving money as making it,
but the frugal, simplifying cheapskate, like myself, will want to declutter and
make a few bucks doing it. Hold a garage sale or sell it on eBay. It´s
amazing what some people will buy. See the _Simple Dollar´s post on this_
(http://www.thesimpl edollar.com/ 2007/08/24/ an-interesting- voluntary- simplicity- exercise-
that-can-really- improve-your- financial- situation/ ) .
22. Frugal gifting. Gifts can cost a lot of money over the course of a
year. Look for ways to do it cheaply. Make a gift, or give a consummable. My
family enjoys getting and giving cookies, for example. _Here are some ideas_
(http://www.betterbu dgeting.com/ articles/ money/63giftsund er10dollars. htm) .
23. Quit smoking. Not the easiest way to save, I know. It´s hard. But I
did it, and so have many, many others. Not only will you save on cigarettes
(which are expensive over the long run), but also associated costs (I used to
buy a soda or beer to go with my cigarettes) ... and of course the huge,
long-term medical costs. In less than 2 years of not smoking, I´ve saved well more
than $3,000. _Here are my tips for quitting_
(http://zenhabits. net/2007/ 01/10-tips- for-quitting- smoking/) .
24. Alcohol in moderation. If you drink one beer or a few beers a day,
that adds up to big money each month. Some drink even more than that. It´s
expensive. If you can cut your drinking to the occasional party, and once in
awhile with friends (not all the time), you´ll save tons.
25. Sweets in moderation. Desserts and sweet snacks give us lots of
calories with no nutrition. And we pay a premium price for that, in dollars and
in our deteriorating health. Cut back on sweets (don´t eliminate them entirely
of course) to save money and cut calories.
26. Drink water. Often we drink lots of calories through sodas, coffee,
alcohol, juices, tea, etc. And that costs a lot too. Drink water, save money,
save calories. _Here are some tips for forming the water habit_
(http://www.dumblitt leman.com/ 2007/07/9- great-reasons- to-drink- water-and- how.html) .
27. Batch your errands. Instead of running an errand or two every day,
batch them into one errand day, and plan your most efficient route, to save
gas and time. Also do as much bill-paying online as possible, to eliminate some
errands.
28. Stay home. Becoming a homebody might not sound like a lot of fun,
but it really can be. I love staying home with my family. We can do all kinds
of fun things at home. Or I can spend a day alone, if the family is at school,
and really enjoy it. It´s quiet and peaceful, I can read or watch a good
movie or respond to comments on my blog or write. Staying home can save tons, in
eating out expenses, shopping expenses, gas, and incidentals.
29. Stop using credit cards. Credit cards are not evil. And before you
flame me, once again, I realize that they can be used to good purpose. If that´
s how you use them, then that´s good, skip this tip. For others, credit
cards make buying too easy, and end up making them buy too much.Not only that,
but if you don´t pay your bill in full each month, they will cost you a lot in
interest. The average American with at least 1 credit card has more than
$8,500 in credit card debt. Don´t make that mistake. _Here´s my story_
(http://zenhabits. net/2007/ 02/how-i- ended-my- love-affair- with-credit/) .
30. Cancel subscriptions. With the wealth of information and
entertainment online, do you really need magazine subscriptions? With all the news
online, do you really need a newspaper subscription? If you can get _DVDs for free
or cheap_ (http://www.bargaini st.com/deals/ 2007/07/10- ways-to-buy- cheap-dvds/)
, do you really need a Netflix subscription? Don´t flame me if you think you
do need any of these - I´m just asking you to consider whether they´re
really essential - the answer might be yes. Also consider other subscriptions you
might be paying for - I´m not saying you should cancel everything, but
seriously consider whether they can be canceled without much loss of value. _Read
more_
(http://www.thesimpl edollar.com/ 2007/08/22/ evaluating- my-magazine- subscriptions- which-ones- are-worth- it-and-which- ones-arent/) .
31. Make your own. I won´t go into all the possibilities here, but many
times we buy things when really, we could make them ourselves for much
cheaper if we get a little creative. Now, this might take a little more time and
effort, but it can be fun, especially if you make it a family project. We
recently made our own (very simple) bookshelves with only a couple of pieces of
lumber, instead of buying them. If you don´t know how to make something, search
for it online. You´ll most likely find some instructions.
32. Do it yourself. Instead of hiring someone to do something, try doing
it yourself. Sure, it takes some time and effort, but it´s satisfying, and
of course cheaper. It´s also educational, if you don´t know how to do it -
again, do an online search, read up on it, and give it a go. Frugality freaks
are DIYers.
33. Stop paying interest. I mentioned the interest of credit cards, and
auto loans, and mortgages. I consider them a waste of money. I´ve talked
about _how to live without credit before_
(http://zenhabits. net/2007/ 08/10-ideas- for-living- a-life-without- credit-or- debt/) , and I recommend it for a frugal
lifestyle. Consider any other accounts or loans where you pay interest, and
see if you can eventually eliminate as much of these as possible.
34. Reduce convenience foods. Frozen foods, microwaveable stuff, junk
food ... anything that´s packaged and prepared for our convenience is not only
more expensive than something you cook yourself, but also most likely less
healthy. I´m not saying to eliminate these completely, but reduce consumption.
35. Travel frugally. I actually don´t travel (or haven´t for years),
but if you do have to travel, some advance planning can save you money. Airfare
is most expensive, usually, so look to buy your ticket in advance, and look
for deals. Also consider train travel. Shop around for car rental rates, as
they can vary greatly (or use public transportation) . Look for cheaper
accommodations, or stay with a friend or relative. Just a note: I do plan to travel,
but not until I finally eliminate all of my debt.
36. Cut the cell phone. This will not be a popular suggestion either. If
you don´t like it, move on to the next one. It´s not for everybody. But
think about this: 20 years ago, most people didn´t have cell phones. And
miraculously, they survived. A cell phone is not a necessity. It´s a convenience.
When people needed to make a call, 20 years ago, they either waited until they
got to a destination (wait to make a phone call?! omg!), or pulled over and
used a pay phone or a phone in a business establishment.
37. Cut your own hair. Again, this one isn´t for everybody. Personally,
I use electric clippers to shave my head. It´s easy, it´s cheap, it´s
minimalist, it´s care-free. I don´t worry about my hair getting messed up, or
having to fix it in the morning. However, I´m not saying you should shave your
head. Many people cut their own hair, in many simple but nice hairstyles, long
or short. Saves money, and time.
38. Maintain stuff. This is a no-brainer, but we don´t often think about
it: if you take care of what you have, it will last longer. You´ll then
spend less on buying new stuff. When you buy something worth maintaining, take a
few minutes to read the maintenance manual, and create a maintenance
checklist that you can attach to the item. For important things like your car´s oil
changes or tune-ups, put them in your calendar.
39. Save energy. There are little things we can do to lower our power
bill. I don´t use a dryer or hot water heater, although those are a little
extreme. Try _these tips_
(http://www.bargaini st.com/deals/ 2007/06/12- ways-to-lower- your-electric- bill/) .
40. Save gas. With the rising price of gas (and no end in sight), fuel
has become a major monthly expense for many people. Small things can add up to
big savings. Try _these tips_
(http://www.bargaini st.com/deals/ 2007/08/20- tips-to-save- money-on- gas/) .
41. Only buy bargain clothing (when you need clothes). OK, so you´re a
cheapskate like me who only buys clothes when the old clothes have too many
arm or leg holes. But now you need new clothing. I mean really need it. So
instead of buying new, look for thrift shops with good clothes. Or buy new, but
only buy the stuff that´s 50% off. Look for the bargains, and you´ll save a
ton.
42. Telecommute. Telecommuting doesn´t necessarily give you your dream
job, but it´s definitely a step in the right direction. But in addition to
allowing you to work in your underwear (and who doesn´t have that dream?),
telecommuting saves money on gas, on eating out (if you eat lunch at a
restaurant), and on buying expensive work clothes (all you need to buy is underwear,
right? And no, don´t buy used underwear).
43. Plan ahead. Sure, easy to say, hard to implement. But if you make it
a habit to think ahead to things that are coming up in your life, you can
save a lot of money. For example, if you think about where you´re going to get
your meals when you go out to do errands, you can pack a lunch or dinner
instead of eating out. If you pack a big container of iced water, you don´t need
to buy expensive bottled water. If you know that a birthday is coming up, you
can buy a gift on sale instead of spending more at the last minute.
44. Cook ahead. If you have one free day a week (or even a month), cook
food in big batches and freeze in dinner-sized portions. I don´t do this all
the time, but I have done it and it saves money (buying big can often save)
as well as time. You have to plan it out a bit, coming up with a menu and
shopping, cooking enough meals for a week or a month. But once you´re done, your
meals each night (and for lunch if you like) are quick and easy. This saves
you from eating out or eating convenience food when you´re hungry but too
tired to cook.
45. Wash clothes less. Some people wear clothes and then wash them, but I
´ve gotten into the habit of wearing my clothes more than once if they´re
not really dirty. I use my nose as a test - I don´t want to wear clothes that
smell, but most times the clothes are still perfectly clean. This saves on
washing.
46. Sun-dry clothes. When my parents were young, everyone used a
clothesline to dry clothes. Now dryers are ubiquitous, because they´re fast. But if
you don´t wash a ton of clothes, it´s not that hard to take a few minutes to
hang them up. You´ll save a lot in electricity, plus your clothes last
longer.
47. Eat less meat. I´m not saying you have to become a vegetarian
(although you could always _give it a try_
(http://zenhabits. net/2007/ 08/how-to- become-a- vegetarian- the-easy- way/) ), but once in awhile, eat meatless dishes.
Pasta, vegetarian chili (see my recipe halfway down _this article_
(http://zenhabits. net/2007/ 02/health- tip-try-eating- vegetarian/) ), vegetarian Indian or
Thai dishes, falafels with hummus and pitas and tomatoes and lettuce ... there
are plenty of tasty dishes without meat. And as meat is expensive (well, the
fresh kind is ... Spam is cheap), you´ll save money on meatless dishes. Again, I´
m assuming you cook with fresh meat, not canned.
48. Save on groceries. For my family of eight, groceries is a major
expense. With some simple habits, we´ve been able to save a lot of money. See
_more here_ (http://zenhabits. net/2007/ 04/50-tips- for-grocery- shopping/) .
49. Frugal Christmas. Christmas is expensive, especially in America (if
you live in an area that doesn´t celebrate Christmas with a huge amount of
buying, or doesn´t celebrate it at all, skip this tip). People go on crazy
shopping gorges. It´s insane. While it makes the retailers and manufacturers
happy, it doesn´t make our bank accounts happy. Break out of the cycle and find
cheaper ways to celebrate Christmas. Here are _some great ways to do that_
(http://www.getrichs lowly.org/ blog/2006/ 12/11/five- fantastic- frugal-tips- for-christ
mas/) , and here are _some more_ (http://www.betterbu dgeting
.com/articles/ holidays/ saveatchristmas. htm) .
50. Eat a cheap breakfast.Here are _some great ones_
(http://www.thesimpl edollar.com/ 2007/08/21/ tackling- breakfast- healthy-inexpens ive-and-easy- meals-to
-get-me-started- in-the-morning/ ) .