So first off, there is no real froogle. It's just a crazy place that I wish exsisted. If it did, I would always be searching everything I buy through it. That's right y'all, I am CHEAP!!! It's no secret. I am PROUD to be the cheapest of all my friends. Why buy it, if you can make, or better yet, get it free??? Here are my tips for those of you that either want or need to join me in the land of cheap.
First of all make a list of all your neccessities. That's right my friends, I used the n-word. A neccessity is something you need to survive. Anything you don't need, you don't have to buy, thus it should never be an expense. To make this easy for you, I will break down the things I use for a week and how I aquire these items. Some items I may use more than one method of getting so I will explain that also.
Food- Coupons and free samples. Thats right I go to the websites of the foods we eat most frequently and I sign up for any offers they have. Since I don't have a printer (I know, I know, but I don't NEED it.) I am a bit more limited as to what coupons I get as they have to be mailed. the idea is not to pay full price for anything. Search the ads for a sale, then use a coupon. I try to not pay over 5 dollars for any meal out of the month for my family of 6. Also, there is an abudance of free samples out there. I have gotten candy bars, potato chips, and even entire tv dinners shipped to me for absolutely nothing. It may take me two minutes, but they are free.
Beverage- Drink water. Laugh all you want, but it's cheap and healthy.
Laundry Detergent- Make your own! Get free samples to supplement. Laundry soap is easy to make, it smells amazing depending on your soap or fragerance you use and it cleans just as well or better than store bought. Also use Coke as a whitening agent.
Fabric Softner- use vinegar in your wash.
Automatic Dishwasher Soap- Make it. Get free samples or use generic kool-aide. :)
Cleaning products: baking soda as a vacuum powder or as a natural whitener. Use bleach sparingly. Rinse with vinegar.
Shampoo- again sign up for samples, when no samples are available use baking soda, rinse with vinegar and use mayo for conditioner.
Deoderant- somethings to me are not worth a compromise. This is one thing I need to work, so I sign up on the website of the brand I use and I still almost never have to pay full price.
Clothes- There just are not coupons for clothes, so watch sale ads. I usually won't buy it unless it's on a clearence rack for under 2 dollars though. That's right ladies and gents I don't spend more than 2 bucks for anything but shoes, socks and underwear. (Underwear, especially for my twins, is cheapest purchased in bulk) Go to Goodwill and fill a bag for $35 dollars. I spent $110 at Goodwill doing this and bought summer clothes for all six of us. At the end of the year I sell the best stuff to Once Upon a Child. (Last time I made a profit) Then I use that money to buy more clothes. Garage sales are amazing too. I bought all my son's clothes for the first six months at garage sales and maybe spent $50 and that includes his accessories like blankets, coats, bibs and socks.
Shoes- Buy at the end of the season only. If it's a great deal I may just buy the next two sizes for my children. I have a thing about used shoes that's quite personal, but if they are something like dress shoes I will buy them in excellent used condition.
Ok folks now that you know how cheap I am, you can go out and be cheap like me. Have a good day.
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