Five simple ways to live more frugally

A few weeks back, my friend and I were discussing frugality. Apparently, there are some television shows on cable that highlight individuals and families that go to extremes to save money. My friend saw one such program where a woman decided that she would garner her savings by doing away with toilet paper.

I’m sure you have questions. I had many. It seems she felt the cost of this common bathroom item was extreme and, evidently, unnecessary and so instead cut up scraps of cloth. These would then be deposited in a container of some sort where she would let them soak prior to laundering them.

I’ll give you a minute to consider this.

Now, I am a woman who used cloth diapers on my children. I also cut up scraps of fabric, to use for wiping down counters and such. However, what was happening here was a completely different beast. Can you imagine being a guest at this home? Can you imagine living in this home? There are many ways to cut your spending and also reduce your toll on the environment. I don’t feel that eliminating toilet paper is in anyone’s best interest. I feel pretty strongly that you agree with me on this one. Let me share with you five easy, money saving, and usually earth friendly, tips (in no particular order).

1. Cut out cable.
You may have noticed that my friend had to tell me about the aforementioned show. We have not had cable television for as long as I can remember. The cost for basic cable is just under $19 per month and includes channels 2 through 21. There are also some digital channels available. With services like HuluPlus and Netflix, you can add to your viewing options for another $10-20/month. There are several locations throughout town where you can rent a movie from a Redbox for $1.30 per day. My favorite part about not having cable is that I am never tempted to channel surf. With about 10 channels to choose from (excluding home shopping), it’s a very limited and usually fruitless activity. This means I spend less time on the couch.

2. Plant a garden.
I know, you didn’t see this one coming. But seriously, even if you just start with a small container garden, the cost of the seeds, or seedlings, is minimal in comparison to the savings you will reap. It goes without saying that your food will be as fresh as can be and have a flavor that’s superior to the vegetables or fruits you buy from the supermarket. This year, our peach trees and berry brambles blessed us with an abundant harvest. It was fabulous to go weeks without buying fruit! If you’re not sure whether you can garden on your own, why not check out your local community garden where you can find support and make some new friends, too!

3. Ditch the paper towels and napkins
Though I won’t forego toilet paper, I have given up on other household paper items. Most large stores or restaurant suppliers sell bags of fabric. I call them bar rags, but they also offer them in the automotive section. There are usually about 30-50 12-inch by 12-inch white rags per bag. They have replaced my paper towels and sit in a cute basket on my counter. As for napkins, the cloth versions are available just about anywhere that sells household goods. If you’re handy with a sewing machine, I’m sure you could pick up a large swath of fabric and make your own.

4. Reuse plastics.
I hate using plastic, even if I know it’s BPA free. It still clogs up landfills and doesn’t biodegrade for thousands of years, if ever. But even as I transition away from using it, I cannot deny the convenience of plastic bags and storage containers. To make myself feel a little better, I reuse them whenever possible. Though my husband thinks it’s crazy, I wash plastic bags. Unless they have had raw meat in them (those must be tossed in the trash), I scrub plastic bags and storage containers with hot, soapy water and let them dry on my dish drying rack. Usually, I can make 1 box of plastic bags last for about 8-12 months.

5. Walk or bike.
With the price of gas holding steady at about $4 a gallon, I take every opportunity to leave the car in the driveway. I understand that not everyone has the benefit of living walking distance to downtown Riverhead. For those who do, you can set out on foot for a trip to the farmer’s market, library, or any number of great restaurants. If you live too far from Riverhead or one of the other lovely downtowns to walk there, biking is another great option. The town has been working hard to make our area more bicycle friendly. There is even a bike trail being created. I noticed that Twin Forks Bicycles on Main Street offers financing as well as a layaway program. What a great holiday gift!

I could go on and on, but I’ll spare you. This is a good start with some easy, low cost choices. None of these suggestions will make you fabulously wealthy, but they will put a few more coins in your pocket. They can also help you to live more naturally and as the saying goes, the journey of a thousand miles begins with a single step.

What’s your favorite way to save money? I’d love to hear your ideas at laurie@riverheadlocal.com.

Laurie Nigro is a mother of two, wife of a gardener, and co-founder of River and Roots Community Garden. Laurie resides downtown and though she came to gardening by accident, has welcomed it into her life.

{loadposition tab1}