Perfectly Practical #189 - 52 Baby Steps to Frugality

A New Year so often starts with good intentions to tighten your belt both literally (losing weight) and figuratively (saving money.)

A couple of years ago I posted 10 Baby Steps to Frugality and thought maybe 10 steps just weren't enough.

I realize that not everyone has the time nor inclination to make everything from scratch, hang out their laundry, and walk to and from all of their daily appointments and that's okay.

But if you are feeling that you are overwhelmed with information on how to be frugal, here are 52 ideas. 

Choose one a week and add one to it the following week:

1. Make the decision to be frugal
2. Set your goals
3. Make a budget
4. Know your budget busters
5. Pull together in one direction
6. Use a menu plan - save money, time, and stress
7. Buy in fruits and vegetables in season - healthier cheaper more flavorful
8. Go meatless one day a week
9. Put your change in a jar - it's amazing how quickly this adds up
10. Utilize the library instead of buying books or renting movies
11. Take your lunch to work - save money and calories
12. Turn off the electronics not in use
13. Combine car trips - save time and money
14. Carpool - save money & gas
15. Go out to eat one less time a week
16. Use your crock pot - saves time & money
17. Find a frugal friend - saves sanity :)
18. Don't lose sight of your focus
19. Make your own laundry detergent liquid or powder
20. Have a meal in the freezer
21. Have a 30 minute meal on standby
22. Research other frugal options
23. Grow your own food
24. Stockpile - buy items you use regularly at rock bottom prices ahead of time
25. Repurpose items 
26. Eat from your pantry
27. Don't go into a store - it's amazing how you don't spend money if you don't go to the store
28. Take a 52 week saving challenge
29. Have a family game night or movie night instead of going out
30. Order water at a restaurant instead of a cold drink
31. Hang out your laundry
32. Make your own household cleaners
33. Make your own dish-washing detergent
34. Use what you have instead of buying new
35. Make your own compost
36. Automatically draft savings from your paycheck
37. If it ain't broke, don't fix it
38. Make your own coffee to-go instead of buying from a shop
39. Use online services for TV/movies instead of using satellite
40. Compare unit prices - buying bulk isn't always cheaper
41. Use cloth napkins instead of paper towels
42. Make a soup or stew out of the week's leftovers
43. Turn off the water when you brush your teeth
44. Fix leaky pipes
45. Keep tires aired up to get better gas mileage
46. Turn off electronics when you aren't in the room
47. Use reusable plastic tubs instead of ziptop bags
48. Have a garage sale
49. Browse garage sales for housewares
50. Split bulk purchases
51. Have more candlelight dinners (saves on electricity and going out to eat)
52. Recycle - saves on garbage bags

This is part of WFMW.