Being Frugal

Chi_ZETABBW · #1 05-31-2001, 11:41 PM

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.

NOWorNEVER · #2 06-01-2001, 12:00 AM

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.

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*someday...if it's in God's will*

[This message has been edited by NOWorNEVER (edited June 01, 2001).]

99melodies · #3 06-01-2001, 12:06 AM

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

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As always...the inevitable, the divine, the epitome of womanhood!

MeezDiscreet · #4 06-01-2001, 01:42 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by 99melodies:
5. WALMART WALMART WALMART!!! Enough said

OKAY!! i never knew the wonder that is wal-mart until i became a college student!! sure, i had been in the store and cringed when my mother tried to get me to try on clothes in wal-mart. "what? wal-mart clothes? please. can we go to the mall now?" WHATEVA!! i plan on doing a lil clothes shopping at wally world next week!

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?

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I hope life isn't a big joke, because I don't get it.

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.

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

[This message has been edited by MeezDiscreet (edited June 01, 2001).]

mccoyred · #5 06-01-2001, 08:11 AM

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:

Originally posted by MeezDiscreet:
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?

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MCCOYRED
Mu Psi '86
BaltCo Alumnae

Dynamic...Salient...Temperate...Since 1913

dst-sunshine1 · #6 06-01-2001, 08:12 AM

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.

korkscru · #7 06-01-2001, 09:27 AM

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).

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).

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).

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

mccoyred · #8 06-01-2001, 10:08 AM

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!

) 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:

Originally posted by korkscru:
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). 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). 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).

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

------------------
MCCOYRED
Mu Psi '86
BaltCo Alumnae

Dynamic...Salient...Temperate...Since 1913

PrettyLadyT · #9 06-01-2001, 10:08 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by NOWorNEVER:
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 make take a few snack breaks and stop to pick her kids up from day care, but hey...it IS a $160.00 difference TRUE.).

ROTFL

kitten03 · #10 06-01-2001, 11:26 AM

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.

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

MeezDiscreet · #11 06-01-2001, 02:57 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by kitten03:
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!

girl please!! they better have an email address cuz MeezDiscreet will send a bluemountain.com e-greeting card in a heartbeat!! i aint got money for cards that somebody is just going to throw away

12dn94dst · #12 06-01-2001, 03:28 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by MeezDiscreet:
girl please!! they better have an email address cuz MeezDiscreet will send a bluemountain.com e-greeting card in a heartbeat!! i aint got money for cards that somebody is just going to throw away

LMAO (for real) I was thinking the same thing! if they want to keep it, they can print it out on THEIR paper. It saves the trees

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.

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).]

Imperial11 · #13 06-01-2001, 04:11 PM

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!!!!!!

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"22 Resurrected Jewels of DiSTinction"
Gamma Pi '01
Columbia College
4/12/01

kitten03 · #14 06-01-2001, 04:53 PM

Go get your $6...why should they have it? You worked for it.

99melodies · #15 06-02-2001, 12:00 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by dst-sunshine1:
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 didn't know that either but I perm my own hair and I have learned the tricks of the trade and i must say that my hair looks just as good and then I do my room mates perms and colors too. The salons are rediculus at times...especially the booshy one that want to charge $60 for a $4 perm!!!

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As always...the inevitable, the divine, the epitome of womanhood!