Lee Lee Ebler has been married nearly forty years and is mom to two delightful and interesting daughters. She has two, fun grandchildren. Lee enjoys reading, writing, baking and quilting...and sometimes gardening. She will probably never be caught up on her cleaning! View all articles | Contact author

 Frugality- a complicated topic because one person's need is another's luxury.
 
General guidelines are simple. "Don't spend more than you make. Buy items on sale," etc. But perhaps the real secret to frugality is to know your budget, yourself, your family, to understand both need and wants, and then to adapt general guidelines to fit. I give money-saving tips hesitantly. Saving money usually means expending more time and effort, both of which are precious.
 
I hang clothes on the line year round. (Okay. Towels hung in the basement are so stiff they can stand alone, but exfoliation is healthy, right?)
 
I'm not sure small children and expensive furniture mix well. I understand the philosophy of teaching respect for furnishings, but a certain amount of stress goes with the "nice stuff."  Buy cheap when children are small.
 
We have a few acres, so we planted fruit trees, and I garden, can, and freeze.  Canning is hot, tiring work, and I'm still debating its merits. But sun-warmed tomatoes are pure joy!
 
We are efficient with gas. Our "errand runs" are intricate, complicated battle- strategies...to get as much done as possible in one trip.
 
With only adults in the home, we set the furnace at 62 degrees each night.
 
I have been cutting Dick's hair for over forty years. I have not done the math to see how much this has saved, but I know I've only nicked him three times.
 
I find that being on a fixed income has brought back some of the practices we had in our early marriage years.  I still cheerfully hate coupons, but I stock up on grocery sales and buy in bulk. God bless freezers!
 
A roasted, chicken carcass (store-bought or homemade) can be simmered with onion, garlic salt and a carrot in a crock pot.  Freeze the broth and use in soup, noodles, rice or gravy. Treat meat drippings like gold and add them to the broth. Peruse depression-era cookbooks. The lady who invented vinegar pie (No. I've never made it.) was working with a skimpy pantry.
 
Pasta, rice, and dried bread crumbs are "stretchers." Easy to dry stale bread, crush it into crumbs and use in meatloaf, as a butter-crumb topping on mac and cheese or even a cobbler.
 
A library is a free treasure trove of entertainment. Introduce children to written books, audio-books, enrichment programs. It will be a lasting gift.
 
Don't be afraid of Good Will.  Garage sales are cool, but Good Will/ Salvation Army are in permanent locations, and do not get "rained out." A good "junk shop" is a joy forever!
 
Don't make yourself and your family miserable pinching pennies. Hold a positive view of thrift. Children learn from a parent's attitude. Guard both your expectations and your children's. In a rich country, it's easy to lose perspective.
   
Save back flower seeds and plant. Trade seeds and cuttings with friends.
 
Feel like your house is too small? Walls closing in? Can't afford to move? Clean! Put away clutter, have a garage sale. Life is more satisfying when you can see the kitchen counter.
 
Wanting, yearning to buy something new? Find the cheap item that satisfies you. My "cheap buy" is dish towels. A friend buys socks. Both are practical and cheering.
 
Teach your children to appreciate small pleasures. Most of us will not own the wildly expensive, but we are surrounded daily by a wealth of
treasures...family, friends, sunsets, warm cookies....
 
Lastly, don't take advantage of others in your need to be frugal. It's not worth it. And don't be too hard on yourself. Expect to make mistakes. Expect to find frugality a challenge, and expect to be pleased as the "game" gets easier. Maybe the real trick to frugality is enjoying it.