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Being Frugal
Sisterfriends:
What are somethings you just can not see yourself paying a lot of money, or what are things you spent a lot of money on in the past, but for whatever reason will not now? -I no longer buy expensive lipstick. I found a brand for $1 that looks just as good, if not better. -No more expensive hairdo's for me. -Expensive CD's is out of the question. Yes I will get a bootleg CD Will not pay over $4 for a 24 case of soda -I found some of the best fitting, stylish shoes at Parade or payless My list can go on and on. I discovered I've become pretty frugal as I get older, but it's still many things I won't skimp on. |
Being a college student, you learn to go the cheap route and make things S-T-R-E-T-C-H. For example, I refuse to go to an African Braiding salon and pay $200 for some micros when I can find a girl from around the way who'll do them for $40 (granted, she may take a few snack breaks and stop to pick her kids up from day care, but hey...it IS a $160.00 difference). And like Chi_ZETABBW, I'm not into those expensive cosmetics anymore. No one can tell you're wearing Chanel lipstick unless you pull it out and apply it in front of everybody, so if it doesn't break my face out, it's good enough for me to wear. http://www.greekchat.com/forums/ubb/smile.gif
------------------ *someday...if it's in God's will* [This message has been edited by NOWorNEVER (edited June 01, 2001).] |
1. Dont buy CDs...Napter and iMesh + CD-R = Great music!!
2. Maybelline make GREAT eyeshadow and only $4 at Walmart 3. Shoe Carnaval has the best name brand shoes for $8 4. I use baby picture coupons for JC Penny's $8.99 is great for a good amount! 5. WALMART WALMART WALMART!!! Enough said ------------------ As always...the inevitable, the divine, the epitome of womanhood! |
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as for frugality: i do my own relaxers now. sure, i can't get quite achieve that salon look with the marcels and all, but, $6.99 for a box of dark&lovely versus $35 at the shop (and that's cheap!). you do the math. i use to laugh at people washing plastic cutlery, but i find myself doing that lately. oh, and payless is the bomb! who cares if the shoes don't last that long. by the time they wear out, they are out of style anyway! plus, because dillard's owns payless, the shoes look the same as any shoe in the department store (of cheaper quality of course). and, the 99-cent store is the bomb!! where else can you take $10 in a store and come out with soap, detergent, toothebrush, cleaning supplies, shall i go on? ------------------ I hope life isn't a big joke, because I don't get it. http://www.plauder-smilies.de/confangry.gif Before you criticize someone, you should walk a mile in their shoes. That way, when you criticize them, you're a mile away and you have their shoes. http://www.plauder-smilies.de/tiere/ride.gif Maybe in order to understand mankind, we have to look at the word itself: "Mankind". Basically, it's made up of two separate words - "mank" and "ind". What do these words mean ? It's a mystery, and that's why so is mankind http://www.plauder-smilies.de/nut.gif [This message has been edited by MeezDiscreet (edited June 01, 2001).] |
You ain't said nothin' but a thang! Gurl, Payless is the only place I can find affordable size 10W shoes! and the $1 store is the best place to go for paper products (plates, etc), snacks and knick knacks for the kids.
Also, I REFUSE to pay for 56K internet access. For me it's DSL or FREE (Netzero). I feel that if I am going to pay for access, it might as well be high speed! Same thing with cable, either its digital or regular TV, no basic cable for me! Quote:
------------------ MCCOYRED Mu Psi '86 BaltCo Alumnae Dynamic...Salient...Temperate...Since 1913 |
Wow, I didn't know Dillards owned Payless!!
I haven't bought a CD in years. All the good songs they play on the radio enough! Oh and a beauty salon............PLEASE!! I wish I would. I have long, really thick hair. They try to charge me like 60 bucks for a perm. NO THANKS!! Somebody around here knows how to put in a home perm. Otherwise I'll just have to sit in front of the stove. You know what I mean. |
I TOTALLY agree with all of you Sisterfriends when it comes to being FRUGAL.
I was never one who stressed name-brand items. I just didn't grow up that way. I was thankful for ANYTHING that I got that wasn't second-hand (if you know what I'm talking about). http://www.greekchat.com/forums/ubb/smile.gif http://www.greekchat.com/forums/ubb/smile.gif So given this fact, it has actually proved to be quite helpful now that I'm grown and married with TWO children. I am an ADVID PAYLESS/PIC-N-PAY shoe shopper(@ 5'2" my feet are rather small, but oh so WIDE). http://www.greekchat.com/forums/ubb/biggrin.gif and my husband and I absolutely LOVE FAMILY DOLLAR and THE DOLLAR STORE (for household/personal necessities like detergent, dishwashing liquid, soap, toothpaste, deodorant, etc.). We also LOVE WAL-MART. We do our grocery shopping there so we're there atleast once every two weeks (I've got stock in this company so yall continue to shop there). http://www.greekchat.com/forums/ubb/biggrin.gif http://www.greekchat.com/forums/ubb/biggrin.gif http://www.greekchat.com/forums/ubb/biggrin.gif I don't see ANYTHING wrong with being frugal. Nowadays it's crucial that people know how to handle their money. I've got TWO children (and a step-daughter) to put through college in the future and I'm going to need all of the money that I can get. Besides as stated before by another Sisterfried, no one knows if items are name-brand unless you show or tell them. The majority of the time, no one EVER knows the difference. As for personal care and hygiene, my "do" is short (I went natural almost a year ago). My husband maintains my cut and I apply the texturizer and coloring every other month. My husband also maintains his and my son's haircuts (that's $20 saved). I apply my daughter's perm every 6 to 8 week and I clip her ends just like they do in the salon. As far as clothing goes, I see it like this: My kids are very young. They're growing like little weeds. There's no need in putting all this money into clothes that are going to quickly grow out of in a few months anyway. As long as they are CLEAN and presentable. Besides at ages 7 and 2 years, they don't give a hoot as to whether these clothes are name-brand or not. As for myself, I don't mind buying little shirts, skirts, or shorts for places like WAL-MART or something like that. As a matter of fact (and I don't mean to "toot my own horn") I receive MANY compliments on my clothing and I KNOW where I got them from and how much I paid for it. Now don't get me wrong. There are certain things that I don't compromise like certain Winter clothing and underwear. Hey, FRUGALITY is good, in my opinion. And if there are people who can afford to splurge----GREAT!!! But until my mortgage is paid, both of our vehicles are paid, and my children are comfortable in college, I'm going to be a "PPP"---- PROUD PENNY-PINCHER http://www.greekchat.com/forums/ubb/biggrin.gif http://www.greekchat.com/forums/ubb/biggrin.gif http://www.greekchat.com/forums/ubb/biggrin.gif |
Oh yeah, we do our grocery shopping at farmers markets and Save-a-Lot. It sures saves a bundle!
I have worn a short natural since 1993 (I know you all have heard me talk about it a gazillion times! http://www.greekchat.com/forums/ubb/smile.gif ) so I have clippers I use to cut my hair, my husband's hair AND my 2 sons' hair (thank goodness I don't have daughters!). At $10 - 20$ a pop for haircuts, I save a lot of time and money....and we STILL look good! Quote:
------------------ MCCOYRED Mu Psi '86 BaltCo Alumnae Dynamic...Salient...Temperate...Since 1913 |
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ROTFL |
If you are an avid greeting card sender, the dollar store is the only way to go. Get two cards for a $1. Buy a lot and just spread them out through the year. Shoot...I wish someone would look on the back, see it's not hallmark and say something. It'd be the last card they'd get from me!
Home relaxers are the best way to go. I do all my own relaxers. I do get a good look and long lasting straightness. A few tips. Buy cheap hair grease, you know the blue kind or green kind and get a bottle of vitamin E. It will fortify the grease and make your hair grow thick and quickly. I get my hair styled at a beauty school. Dudleys. It's a little risky but how can you mess up a roller set. http://www.greekchat.com/forums/ubb/eek.gif Costco, Sam's, BJ's ...they're all the same Buy all toiletries from there. Get the super large box of feminine products. Big ol' bottles of vitamins. Bath towels. Shoot you might even find some nice clothes...I got a pair of CK clam diggers for about $20. Don't doubt the power of the bulk warehouse |
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I am sitting here cracking up @ yall! Y'all are HILARIOUS! I love Payless and Rack Room Shoes too. I've been doing my own perms since freshman year, the only thing I've paid for is a cut, $10-$12 at Great Clips or some place like that. But y'all are about to make me take clippers to hair & get rid of what's left of it. http://www.greekchat.com/forums/ubb/wink.gif I do my own nails too. As a matter of fact, I'm on my way to Sally's because I'm out of acrylic powder. OH, I forgot my FAVORTE one. I have my car insurance through Progressive. They are not kidding on their commercials. What I'm paying now for a year of full coverage is 75% less than what I was paying with my other company and I don't have the most stellar driving record. [This message has been edited by 12dn94dst (edited June 01, 2001).] |
Okay now, I thought I was a CHEAPO. I just got home from shopping (I bought a bunch of stuff from the GAP) and when I looked at the receipt I realized that I was charged $12.99 for a pair of capris that should have been $6.99 (at least the pair on the top of the stack had said $6.99, but my pair didn't have a price tag so the sales associate must have just guessed at the price). I was just going to "let it go" and not go back to get my other $6, but then again I figure why should I let them hold onto my $6? They wouldn't let me pay them $6.99 for something that cost $12.99! Right? And they can AFFORD to take the loss! I CAN'T, so I'm GLAD that I came home and saw this topic, because you betta believe that baby girl is going to get her $6.00 soon, soon very soon!!!!!!!!
Thanks for letting me vent, Sorors!!!!!! ------------------ "22 Resurrected Jewels of DiSTinction" Gamma Pi '01 Columbia College 4/12/01 |
Go get your $6...why should they have it? You worked for it.
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------------------ As always...the inevitable, the divine, the epitome of womanhood! |
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Excuse my ignorance, but where can you get a bottle of vitamin E and what brand? ------------------ #10 Sigma (Clark Atlanta University) Spring 1999 Currently: MAL, Southern Region |
I know I'm kind of late but I just wanted to straighten out a misconception. Dillards does not own Payless. They are two seperate companies. Payles just makes shoes similar to the lastest styles for those that can not afford to spend the money. Now, Payless does own Parade of Shoes. I know because I work for Payless (almost two years now). I did take a leave of abscence for a month but I know for a fact that they hae not sold the company or merged with anyone. ANYWAY!! I shop at Payless, Dillards, Foot Locker and any place that has something I like on sale. The cheaper the better. I am a LOYAL TJ MAXX and Marshall's customer. As a matter of fact I just bought an outift for $25 dollars that regular would have cost $145. I could care less where it comes from as long as it looks good, is well made, and cheap! |
I agree on the food. I also purchase from the farmers market. (fruits and veggies) The quality is so much better than the supermarkets.
Clothes, makeup etc..hmmm, it really depends on the item. For instance I don't wear makeup often but when I do, I don't want it to rub off or fade off 5 minutes after I put it on. I'll purchase $1-3 eyeliner but will pay $70 for foundation because I know it will last a long time and I get the kind that is custom blended for me. (BTW, it's Prescriptives ;) ) As far as clothes, I have my theories about Ross and some of the other cheap stores. Socks, jeans, and some household or gift items I would buy there but that's it. Shoes, jackets/coats, underwear, pants etc, I would go to Nordstrom or Macys or NM (evening wear). Since I stay away from trendy/fad clothes (clothes with labels), I feel I get the most for my money because my clothes are always in style and they last forever because the quality is better and I take care of my things. |
Things I won't spend a lot of money on:
-toothpaste, don't worry I brush my teeth ALWAYS, but why buy toothpaste when you can get TRIAL size or mooch off someone elses tooth paste who spends 10$ on top notch toothpaste. I can spend that money on food! -gas, I just can't see 12$ going into my tank at once, plus I share my car with an anonymous person in my house who's car always break down :rolleyes: it pisses me off whenever I put that much gas into my tank and that person uses my car to go from here to Jeruslem, burning up my gas! :mad: I just put 3-5$ at a time. I can spend that money on food! -haircuts! I only got two in my life. The first one cost 50$ and the second one cost 10$. Ironically, the second one was a better hair cut! I'm going back there for my third one! The first hair cut was botched up! :mad: I can spend that money on food! -speaking of hair...shampoo. It's all the same...conditioner, that's another story. I can spend that money on food! -jewelry, i'm just not down with the bling bling! Most I ever spent on jewelry was 20$ Now, on the other hand, people are welcome to spend a lot ON me! I can spend that money on food! -purses! -everything else, except for food and clothing. I love eating out at semi expensive restaurants and buying decent clothes...I sure that will change as soon as I get out of college. :( |
...he looks around the room and takes a deep breath before stepping to the podium to make the startling admission.
"Ladies and gentlemen, I am not proud of the following annoucement.... (another deep breath) but if I have toast in the morning, I will wash off the paper plate and use it again. "There I said it. Now, I'm going to try to get my some help for my problem..." |
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And don't even get me started on the shoes (especially for kids). I normally buy their shoes 5 pairs in advance, so I have a 2, 2 1/2, 3, 3 1/2, 4...So when they grow out of a pair, another is waiting in the wings! Once you start buying your clothes like that...You will NEVER go back to paying full price!! |
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CrimsonTide4 and Gina 1201 wrote: Are these the PLASTIC paper plates or the PAPER paper plates??? ------- Plastic, Plastic!! I can be a lil' weird but I ain't crazy. ...but I see a brother gets no luv up in here for showing a little eccentricity. And by the way, I do toss out the little "sporks" (half spoon/ half fork thingees you get from Church's/KFC) ...guess I shouldn't talk about my McDonald's Big-Mac box collection I had back-in-the-day, huh? |
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_______________________ @ Big Mac Box collection. Hell 2 da naw that he still eats at Church's chicken!! :eek: Do you save the ketchup packets, wet-naps, etc.? **whispering to Gina** Girl we need to teach him how to press the QUOTE button. :o :p |
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CT4 wrote: Hell 2 da naw that he still eats at Church's chicken!! Do you save the ketchup packets, wet-naps, etc.? **whispering to Gina** Girl we need to teach him how to press the QUOTE button. ------ Hey, the frat has a franchise partnership deal with Church's. I encourage all of GC to eat at Church's. Never mind the slightly distrubing feeling I can't shake at the fact that you can get 142 pieces of chicken for $1.99..eat up! So what, a brotha keep wet-naps in his car... (for my daughters and their sticky hands). And while yall schooling me on the inner workings of the quote button feel free to throw in a free lesson on the smiley faces, too. Can't be hitting the wrong button and blowing up my work computer. |
I forgot some more...
Speaking of ketchup packets. I refuse to spend my money on condiments! Everytime I go to the cafeteria, fast food restaraunt, or convience store....I swipe a handful of ketchup, salt, parmesean cheese, and about 15 napkins...regardless if I need them or not...I store them in my glove compartment or pantry.
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Here are my spending habits:
Walmart The Dollar Store If I go into a clothing store I go straight to the back where they keep the clearance rack. I shop on ebay I get shoes from payless I refuse to go get my hair done every two weeks, I hate spending $65 for a hair style that doesn't last for more than 2 days. (I'm a wild sleeper!). I buy frozen dinners from Sav A lot and Big lots And I am not afraid to say that I shop at Goodwill for books and picture frames! |
I have not paid full price for a book in a long long time. I look at Barnes and Noble, but I buy at Half Price Books.
I get CD's at CD Warehouse I get clothes at Norstrom's Rack. We have a huge mall that has nothing but outlet stores (Grapevine Mills) soon I will be buying there. I'm also looking at getting my clothes at resale shops. If I don't have to pay full price for something, I'm not going to.:p |
I am cheap!
I must say, when I started college in 2000, I was someone who didn't do anything but eat out all the time, i.e. Olive Garden, Lone Star, or order food in. I was a broke sista. I have learned my lesson. All it took was me moving off campus.
WalMart is the best thing to come. I will only by my food and stuff from there. Everything is so much cheaper. And don't start on Dollar Tree. You can get ALL your cleaning supplies there and not worry about a thing. And it works like magic. Mean Green is something special. Another great thing is half.com. You can get textbooks for almost 50% off. I will never by a book out of the campus bookstore again. But I must say, the only thing that I will spend money on is my hair. Don't get me wrong, when I started paying bills, I found out what box perms were(seeing that I never had one before 2002). I have mixed grades of hair, so I have to get mine professionally done or I will look a mess. So, the pro that I go to charges $60 for a perm. Its a lot, but it is worth it. |
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Everyone, I've been keeping a secret ever since I moved into my apartment 8 months ago...I only flush my toilet once a day. I don't care what's in it, it ain't goin down til the end of the day before I go to bed. There! I said it. A sista gotta worry about the water bill in addition to electric and gas. :cool: |
My cheap habits...
Yes, I eat on paper plates and plastic utensils--AND I REUSE THEM! If I use the porcelain/china and the metal utensils then it's b/c I have a date coming over for dinner.
I eat only take out/microwave foods; I don't cook unless I have a date coming over. I rent my videos at Video Central/North Campus Video--they charge $1.50/$2.50 per day for DVD rental and I don't feel the need to keep them over several days, so IMHO I am getting a deal. Plus they specialize in hard-to-get/obscure video titles and their cult section videos are off the hook. If I go to Blockbuster or Hollywood, it is b/c they have a hard to get VHS title I want to see. I have been buying and wearing the same dress shoes from Payless since 1994--plain black Hunters Bay Oxfords with the horizontal seam/stitch going across the toe. Cost $29.99. Oh, and I buy all shoes--dress, athletic, casual no more than once per year. I can get two years wear out of most shoes. Suits and clothes are thrift store only. Ain't no shame in my game. Napkins and condiments I get from fast food places. Oh, and recently I have been getting haircuts on an as-needed basis (read: when my hair can't be brushed down or slicked back without spike-strands sticking out looking like Alfalfa). BTW, the only time my hair is cut short 'n natural is in the summer for low maintenance/humidity-frizz purposes. I pay all my bills on time and in full unless there is a discrepency. Then I will dispute the charges and fight with the company like an Ali-Foreman fight. |
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:eek: :eek: :eek: :eek: :eek: :eek: :eek: :eek: GIIIIIIIIIIRL, what do you do when you have company?!?!?! My my my. |
Oh well I guess I have to take some lessons on being frugal. My favorite stores are Old Navy and Target, which I guess are on the cheaper side. I do save the ketchup, salt, pepper, etc. packets when I go out. I also do my own doobies as much as possible. I also do Payless - I have short, fat, wide feet, so the cheaper shoes feel better to me than the tight, expensive ones.
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AFter buying shoes at a variety of places and price points, I now go to Nordstrom Rack to get a lot of basic work shoes. For workout shoes, wait until there's a sale at copeland's. For any item that I use regularly [ie undies] I don't pay full retail. I still am a stickler for quality, but I just time my buying.
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Hmm I am a name brand junkie however when it comes to things like milk, sugar, eggs, etc no way!
Wal-Mart is my best friend, they are always there when I need them, they can be ready for any mood, they have all the things I need and most what I want. They understand when my pockets are empty, they listen when I bring in competitors ads, they always give me 100% :cool: Sidenote, Wal-Mart is NOT really my best friend, but damn they trying....:p |
I no longer buy Nine West Shoes, Parade of Shoes works just fine and I can get the cutest boots for $25, not $120 at Nine West
I no longer pay full price for those expensive name brand detergents and cleaning products at the store - the dollar store cleansers work just fine for me and I can save almost $25-30 sometimes I no longer pay full price for designer purses... I'm not giving Ms. Gucci, Louis, Mr. Coach, Mr. Fendi or anyone else the full price for what I *know* is like a 500% markup on what it costed to make it. I don't know them like that and I'm tired of making them rich with all of my money I no longer take my clothes to the dry cleaners (when possible). I have gotten real chummy with Dryel and Woolite. LOL I no longer buy name brand canned veggies - generic brands work just fine for me. It really all tastes the same to me. I no longer pay $16 for a small, round Mac eyeshadow. I use what I have at this point and when that runs out, I'll find a drugstore brand I still pay full-price for my beloved perfumes however. Can anyone help me out on a nice inexpensive substitute for Donna Karan Cashmere Mist?? LOL SC |
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