Comments on: Radically Frugal

By: Mrs. Gryphon

Mrs. Gryphon — Sat, 27 Nov 2010 14:20:18 +0000

“My kids like it so much they they won’t eat the fake stuff anymore.”
LOL But that IS fake. It’s vanilla-flavored sugar syrup, not even maple-flavored. Sorry, but in our house, that would be the height of nasty and Mr. Gryphon would refuse to eat it.

For the person who said the best solution would be to plant maple trees – I believe a sugar maple has to be 50 years old before it can be tapped. So plant them for your grandchildren.

Although I don’t do all of the same things (using cloth diapers/napkins when I live in an apartment and pay $4 per load of wash would be eco-friendly but anti-frugal), I don’t consider any of what you do radical. Except putting vanilla-flavored sugar syrup on pancakes. (Do you use real vanilla extract or is it the cheaper fake stuff?) We have one twelve-year-old car, don’t use air conditioning at all, use Freecycle and love it, drink unfiltered tap water, don’t have cable …

By: Jacklyn

Jacklyn — Wed, 24 Nov 2010 10:01:11 +0000

Regarding #4….The Diva Cup…don’t be afraid, it is really worth trying. Will not be for everyone but it does have it’s place :)

~Jacklyn

By: Garage Sales

Garage Sales — Mon, 31 Aug 2009 15:53:44 +0000

Instead of virtually doing it through kijijji I go to garage sales and yard sales finding them either from the classifieds in the paper, http://www.oodle.com and http://www.garagesalestracker.com

By: Kathryn

Kathryn — Wed, 12 Aug 2009 11:47:59 +0000

Evolution of Wealth: Have to you read my other posts?

This one answers one of your concerns:
http://www.milliondollarjourney.com/financial-regrets.htm

This one answers the other:
http://www.milliondollarjourney.com/asking-why-the-purpose-behind-your-financial-goals.htm

By: Evolution of Wealth

Evolution of Wealth — Wed, 12 Aug 2009 01:47:37 +0000

@Kathryn I’m glad you are happy. Why not present it that way? Lead people to happiness and using these methods to find or spend more time and money on what makes people happy. You start the post comparing frugal to cheap. To me frugal is anything but cheap. The tone of the article is missing the way in which you posted your comments. I like what you said in the comments it sets the tone. I think it is more important the reasons why you are “frugal” than how you are “frugal”. Would you agree?

By: Annie G

Annie G — Tue, 11 Aug 2009 18:10:10 +0000

I’m wondering if my F to C converter is wrong…

I get 25 C is 77 F, and 19 C is 66.2 F.

That doesn’t seem very radical to me. We have our AC on 85 F (29.4 C) and our heat on 65 F (18.3 C).

Some people think our reel mower is radical, but we like that it’s quiet and doesn’t aggravate grass allergies like a powered mower.

Probably the most radical thing we do is do without medications that would make our lives better because the prescriptions cost too much.

By: Rosa

Rosa — Tue, 11 Aug 2009 14:27:27 +0000

(I’m here from fivecentnickel) – we do all these things except we just eat jelly instead of syrup.

The thing about not making your house a way different temperature from the outdoors is that you get acclimated as the seasons change and it’s actually way more comfortable overall – in winter if you’re already wearing warm clothes you’re more likely to venture outdoors, and I’m finding this summer working from home (with no AC) i don’t feel as hot as I did last summer when i’d come out of my arctic office into the blast of hot air – my body is used to it being hot and I feel fine most of the time.

(ovary stuff) I love my menstrual cup, too – i got it for a long camping trip (no packing out dirty stuff!) but now i use it all the time. I don’t get how it’s more “gross” than a tampon.

By: steve in W MA

steve in W MA — Tue, 11 Aug 2009 07:53:36 +0000

as to suggestion 2, “paying” yourself a car payment to savings so you can buy your next car in cash: you can use a service like ING Direct Orange Savings or Smartypig (not sure if Canadians can use Smartypig but it has the highest interest rates around, at least right now) to take this money aside and put it into a savings account that you name specifically for this goal.

Quite handy and keeps the cash segregated, named, and out of sight/out of your monthly checking account.

By: steve in W MA

steve in W MA — Tue, 11 Aug 2009 07:41:23 +0000

I would be careful about the fake economy of home-made unhealthy food like the fake maple syrup. The recipie made me shudder. It’s the best way to get fat diabetic kids. It’s just not worth it.

Mai
”
I happen to love my fat diabetic kids quite a bit.
Our family also makes our own sugar syrup, which costs less than a fourth of the stuff in the stores. We usually enjoy a glass of it after dinner before dessert.

By: Eddie Parker

Eddie Parker — Mon, 10 Aug 2009 19:25:24 +0000

I have to say how interesting it’s been reading people’s comments on this, particularly how emotional some of the response has been.

I love hearing some of these suggestions, even if some of them aren’t for me.

Good work everyone, and so long as you’re not less happy doing any of these things, keep it up.

By: Kathryn

Kathryn — Mon, 10 Aug 2009 18:09:31 +0000

I wouldn’t say ‘proud’ per say but yes, I’m very happy about these things. We are a happy that most of them are environmentally friendly as well.

There are lots of areas where we aren’t frugal
1) We drink only VQA wine because it’s made from 100% local grapes
2) We donate 8-10% of our income to charity yearly
3) We support local arts and attend area concerts and art shows.
4) For fun we go hiking in local conservation areas (which charge an entry fee)
5) We have weakness for hardcover / rare and antique books
6) Weekly we have friends over for dinner and serve great food .. with good wine.
7) We love hosting out of town friends and family and take them around to see the local sights, often paying for all of their expenses.

So, yes I’m very happy about my life. I’m not worrying and I am living my life. I’m hesitant to say ‘proud’ as it implies what I do is better than what others do. This isn’t true. It’s what works for us. It means we have more money to spend on the things that ARE important to us.

By: Evolution of Wealth

Evolution of Wealth — Mon, 10 Aug 2009 11:52:35 +0000

Are you proud of these things? Is this what ‘frugal’ has come to mean? I don’t see the happiness in some of these activities. What I see is worrying. Worrying and concern about not having enough money whether it be now or later. To me it looks like money is ruling your life. Why don’t you live your life? You only get one. What gives you enjoyment? I couldn’t imagine it being this constant worry about money. Reading recent posts like this was the inspiration to my recent blog post titled “Redefining Frugal” http://evolutionofwealth.com/2009/08/09/redefining-frugal/

@evolutionwealth

By: Ben Hebert

Ben Hebert — Sun, 09 Aug 2009 23:51:54 +0000

Personally, I have always cut my own hair as a way to save money while also washing all of my clothes on cold water setting. To save money on food I like to make a giant bowl of spaghetti and eat it all week. :) My personal favorite

By: Victor

Victor — Sun, 09 Aug 2009 20:27:26 +0000

Tap water is either free or so close to free that it might as well be free when compared to the cost of bottled water. Bottled water, at least bought individually, costs you more by volume than the gas you used to drive to the store, yet most people complain about the gas, not the water that they could have gotten for free (or almost) from their tap. Lunacy.

Ironically, I work with a guy named ‘Dave’ who cuts his own hair. Funnier still, I work with some others who have the same haircut as ‘Dave’, but pay to get it cut.

By: Dave

Dave — Sun, 09 Aug 2009 20:08:12 +0000

I think it’s funny how much effort some people go to to save pennys. Yes, I think saving is always better than spending but there is a line. I want to enjoy my life and living in a cold house in the winter, limiting our activities because we only have one car to move 5 people around in, etc is crazy – I work so I can enjoy my life and provide for my family not so I can die with a million dollars in the bank.

FYI – tap water is not free, at least where I live.

FYI 2 – for those of you that cut your own hair – trust me – we all know who you are, spend $10 at supercuts and let your co-workers find someone else to laugh at.

By: The First Million

The First Million — Sat, 08 Aug 2009 04:31:11 +0000

If you want to get real maple syrup, go to the sugar bush and get it from the farmer. Its about $20/litre which will last a long time for most people. In the grocery store I have seen “real” maple syrup for $10 for 200 ml! Sleeping in the basement to avoid heat seems a bit extreme for me. As well, my 1000 sq. ft. apartment is way to small and I am moving to a 1400 sq. ft. home in September. My best tip to being frugal is to shop directly from farms. If you need peppers/cukes/pumpkins etc, go to a farm and pick your own. I find the prices are always excellent.

By: Kathryn

Kathryn — Wed, 22 Jul 2009 12:06:08 +0000

Silicon: Good point. We have a guest room in the basement so in the summer we only move back upstairs when we have company. :-)

By: Silicon Prairie

Silicon Prairie — Tue, 21 Jul 2009 18:04:20 +0000

Sleeping in the basement doesn’t seem extreme unless you move the bed back and forth every day – of course for us it’s unfinished and we have a relative living there so it doesn’t work – I have considered it. It would be nice to stay cool without the noise of an air conditioner or a fan.

By: Trish

Trish — Tue, 21 Jul 2009 07:24:42 +0000

I thought the use of cloth nappies for the kids, and sleeping in the basement was a little extreme, but otherwise most of your ideas are really effective. I totally agree that living in a smaller space is more economical than owning a big house and having to clean in day after day.

By: Kathryn

Kathryn — Mon, 20 Jul 2009 21:00:52 +0000

Alexandra: Brendan has politely asked us to refrain from discussing the specifics on here which I will respect.

If you like to reach Squawkfox here is a direct link to her post on the subject.

http://www.squawkfox.com/2008/06/13/10-reasons-the-diva-cup-can-change-your-life/