Being Frugal

[NOWorNEVER]

Originally posted by Renegade02
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.

Girl whaaat??! Amen to moving off campus, wal-mart, and dollar tree. I see you're representing Greensboro like myself

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.

[Rain Man]

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.

[CrimsonTide4]

Originally posted by NOWorNEVER
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.

GIIIIIIIIIIRL, what do you do when you have company?!?!?! My my my.

[mulattogyrl]

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.

[NOWorNEVER]

Originally posted by CrimsonTide4


GIIIIIIIIIIRL, what do you do when you have company?!?!?! My my my.

LOL I'll flush when I have company...but you better let me know before you come over

[rho4life]

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.

[Wonderful1908]

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%

Sidenote, Wal-Mart is NOT really my best friend, but damn they trying....

[SummerChild]

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