Oregon OATH

One of the first expenses that get cut in a frugal budget is entertainment. Whether it’s by cutting out dinners at restaurants or cutting down on movie theater trips, funds for going out usually are minimized.

At first, no or little money for going out seems like the right thing to do. Your friends like coming to your house for dinner parties or meeting you at a restaurant where you have a Groupon.

But over time, you will miss your Margarita Fridays. Your friends will tire of always doing the cheapest thing possible to spend time together. If you haven’t gotten frugality burnout, they probably will.

Here are some tips to work a social life back into your budget without overspending:

1. Decide what you like.

What parts of your social life do you really look forward to? The anticipation of going to the zoo or playing kickball with your friends should guide you toward where to spend your social funds. If you don’t like cheap friend dates at the coffee shop, stop spending your money buying $4 lattes and put it toward something you’d prefer to do.

2. Think smaller.

You can work in some of your favorite friend events on a smaller scale. For example, if you and your friends used to meet up for an all-night bacchanalia at the local bar but gave it up for the occasional dinner out, start a new tradition of meeting for happy hour on Fridays.

That way, you will retain the bar fun that all of you used to have while keeping your spending to a minimum. Institute a two-drink limit for yourself and stick to cheaper, less caloric drinks such as beer or a glass of wine.

Split an appetizer or order soup in lieu of dinner. If you go clubbing, pay your cover fee, buy one big drink, and then stick to water. Of course, you can always find payday loans near you online and get cash fast, but don’t do it too often.

This video helps a lot:

3. Budget for it.

Rather than planning to eat all three squares at home, plan on eating out by yourself or with friends once a week, and budget accordingly. If you put aside a certain amount of money a week, you won’t have to worry about how to afford a dinner out or a movie with friends.

If you don’t use that money that week, you can stash it into your savings account or let it accumulate to cover a bigger event, like a day at the ski lodge or spa.

4. Socialize on the fly.

If you and your friends are busy people, run your errands together. Doing the weekly food shopping with a friend in tow won’t stop you from couponing. You’ll get to chat while walking down the aisles and you might find some better products or deals on the way.

5. Reinvent your nights in.

A lot of frugally-minded people subscribe to Netflix instead of buying movies or stalk the $5 bins in search of a cheaper movie night at home. But if you’re not using those services regularly or you’ve collected a lot of movies you don’t like, it doesn’t make sense to spend that money.

It doesn’t make sense to invest in ways to spend your nights in if you want to spend your nights out with friends. Cancel your Netflix subscription and sell those $5 movies in favor of $1 a night rentals from Redbox.

Put the rest of your money toward your social life budget instead. You’ll be building memories instead of a dusty stack of DVDs.

6. Date smart.

Your social life probably extends beyond friends. If you’re dating and splitting the bill, let the other person know that you’re on a budget. Early dates revolve around talking, so spent your dating dollars on dinner.

Spend money on a ticket to the zoo instead of a movie where talking is taboo. If you’ve got a significant other, it’s OK to use Groupons to try out new places. But don’t forget to budget $6 for two cones of ice cream enjoyed on a bench together. The little treats matter when it comes to lifetime love.…

Hey, I’m all about saving money; I clip coupons like it’s my job.

But, there are some people who have crossed the very thin line between frugal and idiotic.

There are certain things that warrant a considerable amount of spending.

Below, are five tip-offs that you’re beyond frugal, beyond cheapskate, just a plain maniac?

1. You don’t turn on the heat… ever:

Heating your home during the winter is expensive.

It’s perfectly understandable to ask your family to sleep in a cozy sweater and double up on socks, but to never turn on the heat is excessive.

You need heat to survive. And no, stealing body heat from your lover doesn’t count.

I’m guilty of being a guard dog for the thermostat in our house, but when it’s below 30 degrees, the heat in our house is blasted on high.

Choose your battles.

When it’s freezing, turn on the heat.

2. You eat Ramen Noodles every day:

If you’re in a financial situation that doesn’t allow for a bigger grocery budget, that’s fine.

But, if you’re earning a healthy income and are eating Ramen noodles every day just because you don’t want to spend $5 on a Big Mac, you’re beyond pathetic.

If your budget allows, trade out the noodles for a balanced healthy meal every now and then, you cheapskate.

3. Smoking Cigarettes to Curb Cravings:

If you think that “poppin’ a lucy” a few times a day will help you save money on food, you’re a flaming idiot.

First off, cigarettes can cost more than $7 for a pack of 20.

You’re better off living on Ramen noodles (see above) if you can’t afford any better.

4. Buying a Fake Engagement Ring:

Men, listen up here. If you buy your fiance a fake engagement ring, when she thinks it’s real, you’re in big trouble.

Your wife will be wearing this ring on her finger until the day she dies; don’t give her a $20 knock off that will wear off in less than six months.

Invest in a real diamond, even if it’s set in so-so quality gold.

She’ll love you for it and you’ll get a happy wife.

Happy wife, happy life – or no?

5. DIYing:

Don’t get me wrong, I’m the biggest fan of DIY out there.

But, when it comes to fixing the sink or rewiring the electric, let the professionals handle it.

Taking on projects like these may very well land you in the hospital and with a wife that will say, “I told ya’ so, cheapskate” every day of your adult life.…

If you are one of the millions of Oregonians who are looking for an alternate source of cash for gas, look no further than your weekly trip to the grocery store.

Alleviate the pressure from the pump by being a frugal grocery shopper.

Here are some easy tips to make the most out of your budget.

Make your own meals.

Cook.

Take-out and fast food are expenses that add up.

Cooking for yourself is healthier and a whole lot less expensive.

Clip Coupons.

If you’re really serious about saving money, take advantage of clipping coupons.

However, don’t buy anything you really don’t need just because you have a coupon for it.

Buy what’s on sale.

Many stores offer online circulars telling you what’s on sale for the week. Some stores also send you circulars by mail.

Take the time to look through them to see what’s on sale. This is one of the simplest ways to save money when grocery shopping.

If there is something on sale that you regularly use in your household, stock up on it.

Plan your week’s menu.

After you see what’s on sale, plan a menu around the items. For instance, if pasta is on sale, and ground beef is also on sale, plan to make spaghetti for dinner one evening.

Make a list, then stick to it.

Making a list is one thing, but sticking to it is another, discipline yourself to only buy the things on your list. Impulse buys tend to make your grocery bill soar.

Find the best deal by comparing prices per ounce.

Pay attention to the actual price tags on the shelf. They contain important information.

Buying bigger is not always cheaper. In the bottom corner of the price label, you will usually be able to see the price per ounce for an item.

Use this price to determine which item is the better buy when comparison shopping.

For instance, if an item of 15 ounces costs 10 cents per ounce, and another 12-ounce item of the same thing by a different brand costs 6 cents per ounce, then you should opt for the less expensive one.

However, keep in mind the quality of what you are buying.

Sometimes it’s worth it to buy the more expensive item because the quality is better.

Cut out the junk.

Junk food is always bad. It pads your grocery bill up, amp; it’s unhealthy for you and your family.

Instead, invest in buying organic produce amp; food that is nutritious and healthy.

If possible, leave the kids at home.

Children want everything they see advertised on T.V.

Grocery stores put certain items at the eye levels of the targeted consumers.

More than likely you’ll find the more expensive candy and junk food at the eye level of your children.

If you can leave your kids at home while you grocery shop, there will be no pressure on you to buy these items.

Buy in Bulk

Sometimes buying in bulk at places like Costco or Bj’s can save you money.

If you have a small household consider sharing your membership with another family, and split the cost of the membership between you.

You can also buy what you need in bulk, amp; split the items between your households.

Making small changes to your shopping habits can save you money.

Depending on the size of your household, and what you consume, you can save anywhere from $10.00 and up per week.

At minimum per month, you’ll have an extra $40.00 to go towards filling up your tank.…

Smart frugal people have strict guidelines about what they will and will not pay for.

For a list of things that frugal people will not pay for, see our corresponding article.

However, there are some occasions when a frugal person will save money in the long run if they end up paying extra.

#1: Plumbers

Unless you’ve attended trade school, taken plumbing courses or have a plumber in the family, it’s best to leave the toilet, sump pump, septic tank and underground clogged pipe issues to a professional plumber to solve.

A mishandled installation of a toilet or sump pump can cause future problems to lurk under the surface only to be discovered later.

For underground clogged septic pipes, most homeowners don’t own a long enough snake to handle this type of job.

The money that must be spent in order to fix these issues is just part of owning a home.

#2: Tax Accountant

Many taxpayers use free income tax websites and software in order to avoid paying a tax preparer or tax accountant.

If a taxpayer has several sources of income or has sold stocks or mutual funds, income tax preparation instantly becomes several degrees more difficult to understand.

Details such as cost basis per share, capital gains and capital losses that can be carried over from previous years must be taken into consideration.

A good tax accountant will also have valuable knowledge of new or little known tax laws that could net you more money than the cost of the tax preparation fee.

#3: Healthy Food

Frugal people are usually smart shoppers when it comes to squeezing the most out of a food budget.

However, even with an abundance of store sales and coupons, they won’t load up their carts with unhealthy food for their families.

Frugal folks don’t sacrifice healthy living just to save a few dollars at the local supermarket.

With all of the obvious ways to save money and practice frugality, such as trimming utility, vehicle, insurance, and housing costs, it’s obvious that paying for plumbers, tax accountants, and healthy food are smart moves.

These important expenses will save money in the long run.…