How to Spend Like a Frugal Millionaire

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I DIDN'T KNOW YOU NEEDED SOMEONE TO TELL YOU THESE RULES. THIS IS HOW I LIVE AND HAVE LIVED. NEVER MADE MORE THAN 25,000.00 A YEAR RETIRED EARLY AT 63 TO TAKE CARE OF MY MOTHER. BUT I RAISED MY 2 KIDS ON VERY LITTLE AND AM NOT A MILLIONAIRE BUT BY BEING FRUGAL, CHILDREN DID NOT DO WITHOUT, PRIVATE SCHOOL EDUCATION INCLUDED. HAVE DONE WELL WITH NO HELP FROM ANY MAN, THANK YOU. AND I AM HAPPY, HEALTHY AND CONTENT.

KATHRYN OF FL of FL 6:54PM May 28, 2009

We saved quite a bit over the holiday season last year to wait for the expected after-holiday sales. That was part of our plan ahead of time. That's just an example of having a spending and shopping strategy.
We also sell or give away some stuff on Craigslist to those who need them more than we do. In addition, we also pay off the entire credit card balance each month.
As consumers, we are all trying to make do and get as much as possible for each dollar spent. Thanks to Internet and the availability of information, my family and I have been doing more research before buying anything, and have also done more online shopping and looked harder for better deals.
One of the online sites we have found to be useful is (I would recommend checking out their Amazon discount table): http://www.uberi.com
They do have some interesting bargains listed that are not available even on price search engines. We were able to get more for each dollar. Hope that's useful info for some.

Robert of WA 1:05PM May 28, 2009

I won't ever be wealthy, sorry, it's true. I am surprised by people when they seem amazed by my $45 water bill, $76 electric bill, and my $29 natural gas bill. Seven people live in my home. How to do this... The same thing you have been hearing, cfl's, multi plug in strips, to plug appliances into, to eliminate phantom loads, water flow restrictors, water heater set to 110 degrees or less. Automatic door closers and no central air, heat and cool only the rooms you live in. Vent free natural gas heaters, only buy quality, energy efficient, front loader washers, and not running water constantly when hand washing dishes or shaving.
Those who do well, not those who are broke, should be your source of advice in financial matters.
There is a great deal more you can do as well. Pay the 'house' first, just like a bill. 5% to 10% should be taken off the top and saved for emergencies, instead of using the credit card. Special rules must be observed before this money can be used, my dryer died last month, the next day we paid cash for it out of our stash. Too expensive to repair.

Frank Abair of TN 12:10PM May 28, 2009

That to me is not only un american, it is cruel. It is not being frugal, it is being more than cheap. You want to be paid for whatever work you do. The work should go to anunemployed American Citizen. Or a Legal immigrant.
There isn`t much difference in this article, than what most people were taught, growing up.
Live within your means, or below. That was the Mantra of the past.
Steal Christmas trees? That isn`t being frugal. That is stealing
So with just those two examples you are advocating breaking the

sensible and rich of MA 12:02PM May 28, 2009

Here at work we have a Keurig coffee machine with about 20 different types of FREE coffee and tea packets. (Yes, it's to help us work more efficiently by not leaving the building for coffee.)
The co-workers that all complain of lack of money, etc, all go to Caribou/StarBucks/etc coffee houses nearby two or three times a day. We have pointed out that spending $5 a day is $1250 a year for a 5 day, 50 week work year. Especially since the Keurig coffee is FREE.

Frugal Buyer of OH 10:23AM May 28, 2009

Cut your own hair. You'll be surprised how much you can save, and it isn't that difficult after a few times.
Don't buy Christmas trees. You can stealthily cut one from a state or national park (or any remote parcel of land).
Don't recycle aluminum cans or other items that can instead be turned in for cash when you accumulate enough to make the trip worthwhile.
Hire illegal immigrants to do any physical labor you need done around the house. They're hard workers and are cheap to hire. Sometimes you can find a down-on-luck person (maybe even not an immigrant) who will literally work for food, but not always.
Don't buy razor blades. You can use the old ones a lot longer than you may realize. This can easily save $60 per year.

Monosodium Glutamate of GA 10:10AM May 28, 2009

My grandmother always said make your money work for you. If you put money in the bank, only spend the interest. Don't spend your money unless you can make it walk back to you. Once she played monopoly with my kids for the first time. They thought they would be able to get over on "Great Grandma", but she beat the pants off them. They protested & said "Grandma, I thought you said this was the first time you ever played monopoly." She said,"Yeah, that's right, but I live this game." "I wrote the rules." I always try to remember to write the rules for my own finances. I hope to someday be as rich and smart as she was.

ljordan of AZ 9:18AM May 28, 2009

Thinking about effectively spending is good .... But spending more thinking time on generating money will dominates the first one.

Prashanth Rao 8:44AM May 28, 2009

Consider making your own lunch and pack your own snacks for work. Have a coffee maker at work and invest in a mini fridge and a small used toaster. You will be surprised at how much you can save.

May of SC 8:28AM May 28, 2009

The only computer upgrade that makes sense to me is RAM. It gives a much better experience for increasingly lower cost. Every computer off the shelf is under RAMmed.

Charles Lamm of FL 6:42AM May 28, 2009