Being Frugal Begins with Attitude

When it comes to saving money it doesn’t have to be all work. It can also be a little fun. I know that living frugally brings to mind all sorts of unpleasant things to many people. But those that live frugally often have a zealous approach to frugal ideas. They are actually excited by the idea of saving a little money. And it doesn’t matter how little it really is.

Frugal living becomes a game you play against yourself. You are looking for ways to save. I started out simply looking to see if I could really lower our electric bill. And I did with very little effort. Then I looked to our heating costs. Hey, I did it again. Then I looked to our driving expenses.

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Home Decorating the Frugal Way

To improve your home decor, you do not have to spend a lot of time or money. From a simple paint job to adding candles, you can create a warm and inviting atmosphere in which to live. The following are some fast and frugal ways to redecorate your home.

Painting  — One of the main ways people tend to redecorate their homes is by painting. This is an inexpensive method to creating a whole new look. If painting your room is not something you want to do, consider adding a wall boarder or choosing a wallpaper to brighten up your room. These are all inexpensive ways you can change the décor of your home.

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Low or No-Cost Gift Ideas

It doesn’t have to cost anything in the way of money to give a loving gift.  Try one of these frugal gifts and see how thrilled your recipient is.

* Print them off a handmade coupon for a back massage.
* Cook a special dinner for a friend or loved one.
* Give someone a special a day of pampering.
* Write a poem or a quote in honor of someone’s birthday.
* Create a drawing or painting that has special meaning.
* Make them a piece of jewelry out of seashells or pinecones.
*Print off information on a topic of interest to someone.
* Pass along a family heirloom or something that has sentimental value.
*Surprise someone with a picnic using food that you already have on hand.
* Make cookies or fudge and wrap them in tissue paper.
*Send an e-mail that lists out the reasons why they are special or why you love them..
*Give them an old photograph that has been tucked away for some time.
*Create a hobby scrapbook with images, articles and tidbits about their favorite activity.
*Give them a seedling to grow using one of your own plants.
*Find a funky shaped rock and write a story about what it reminds you of.
* Sew together pieces of old clothing for a truly unique table runner.
* Create a gift voucher for one hour of doing whatever they want.
* Weed their garden for them or rake their lawn.
* Decorate a household utensil with craft items you have on hand.
* Give them a hug.
* Give them a kiss.

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Frugal Living - What It Is and What It Is Not

There is a lot of advice out there on how to live a frugal life. You can go from anything as simple as turning off the lights when you leave a room to grinding your own flour. There are forums out there where people discuss the way they use the rainwater they collect to do everything from watering plants to flushing their lavatories. These have their place.

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Frugally Safe

You don’t have to spend a fortune to insure the safety of your family and home.  I have listed several things you can do for little money to help make your home a safer place without having to install a complete home security system, which is definitely not frugal.  In fact, few have the money to install such a system.

*Install alarms
First things first. You might want to buy one of those small door-installed alarms that cost about $20 or less. Powered by cell batteries, once it’s turned on and the door is opened, the alarm emits a sharp warning to alert you. It’s cheap, unobtrusive and it works.

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