Need crash course in being frugal

[junebugs]

Check to see if you have a clothing consignment store in your area and sell your old clothes. You won't make a fortune but every little bit helps and you can use the money toward buying some new items.

I mostly sell my DD clothes that she has outgrown. She is pretty gentle on her clothes and likes name brands that we mostly bought on clearance. I don't make a huge amount but it helps to defray some of the cost for her new clothes. I wish I had done this when she was younger and outgrew her clothes faster. I would have made a killing!

 

[pampam]

I find many times when we eat out, it's for the social part. Many times we can just invite friends over for a meal, or if it seems too money or labour intensive, go pot luck, or have them bring the salad or desert. Every Friday, now, we go pot luck with friends, it's fun, cheap, and quite entertaining. Since we don't know what the other is bringing to the table, it's always a surprise. Last Friday, for instance, we had macaroni casserole, scalloped potatoes, ceasar salad, cole slaw, macaroni salad, homemade bread, sliced cucumber, quiche, bean soup, apple pie, home canned pears, and likely other things I've forgotten. Like we say, if everyone brings watermelon, then we'll have watermelon. We usually play cards or scrabble afterward. and we don't miss the restaurants.

Sometimes for an event to look forward too, we rent the senior center, have a pot luck dinner, and then play cds and dance. There is a contribution box at the door, where people can put in a couple of bucks to help pay for the rental of the hall. We do this maybe twice a year, and it only costs a few dollars (depending how large your family is) plus a dish for the meal.