Frugal Life and Travel
Frugal Life and Travel Blog with site updates, money saving tips, thrifty news. The Frugal Life and Travel Times: Subscribe to Your Free NewsletterThe Frugal Life and Travel Times is the official newsletter of frugal-life-and-travel.com. It's an e-zine - we send it to you by email. It's free. Subscribe now so you don't miss out. Site Search for the Frugal Life and Travel WebsiteWelcome to the Site Search for the Frugal Life and Travel website. Use this page to find the articles, tips, and ads you are looking for on www.frugal-life-and-travel.com. Permalink -- click for full blog post "Site Search for the Frugal Life and Travel Website" Merry Christmas!Here's wishing you a holly jolly Christmas, filled with sugar and spice, and everything nice. All Natural Frugal Baked Bread Room FreshenerBake home-made bread to give your entire home a wonderful aroma. It's much better than room sprays, candles with artificial fragrances, or the chemical based plug-in deodorizers. The freshly baked bread to eat is a bonus! Frugal Uses for Baking Soda: Replace Personal and Household Products with SodaFrugal uses for baking soda from cars to carpets, feet to flowers. Soda substitutes for baking powder, expensive scrubs, deodorizers, cleaning supplies, and grooming products. Assorted Frugal TipsStill more frugal tips to help you save money on everyday life and on special travels. Use these thrifty hints to live better while spending less. Permalink -- click for full blog post "Assorted Frugal Tips " Assorted Frugal TipsAnother page of frugal tips to help you save money on everyday life and on special travels. Use these thrifty hints to live better while spending less. Permalink -- click for full blog post "Assorted Frugal Tips " More Assorted Frugal TipsA mix of frugal tips to help you save money on everyday life and on special travels. Use these thrifty hints to live better while spending less. Permalink -- click for full blog post "More Assorted Frugal Tips " Assorted Frugal TipsA mix of frugal tips to help you save money on everyday life and on special travels. Use these thrifty hints to live better while spending less. Permalink -- click for full blog post "Assorted Frugal Tips " Frugal Donations: Giving Doesn't Have to Cost You MoneyFrugal donations don't cost you a dime -- or a great deal of time. Donate your excess, your clutter, and even your garbage. Here are some of the things non-profits can use. Permalink -- click for full blog post "Frugal Donations: Giving Doesn't Have to Cost You Money" Frugal Giftwrap Part 1: A Thrifty Alternative to Costly Wrapping PaperFrugal giftwrap costs less than buying expensive squares of wrapping paper. With each frugal giftwrap in the list, you’ll find suggestions for embellishing and adorning it. Frugal Life and Travel Tip of the Day: Fresh As Spring SuitcasesPut a bar of soap in your suitcases to keep them smelling fresh and clean. Just unwrap the soap and put it in your suitcase before you store it. It keeps away that musty odor. There's no expense and no waste -- when the soap starts to lose its fragrance, use it for its intended purpose and put a fresh one in the suitcase. Combine Work, Play, and Frugal FoodOur travels this week take us to Hope, Alaska. We haven't been here since 2004, so there are many things to write about -- my work. Bob's fishing -- his play. And, he just came back to the RV with freshly caught pink salmon that we will likely can for eating this winter -- frugal food. That triple play is frugal life and travel at its best. Lodging - Same Locale, Differing CostsDon't assume motels have similar prices to one another just because they are in the same area. It can be over a $100 per night difference between one motel and the next, with very little difference in location or amenities. Two neighboring campgrounds can have vastly different prices from one another, also. Bake SalesPatronize the bake sales put on for charitable causes. You donate to the cause. You usually get delicious home baked goodies in return. If you are traveling, it is an excellent way to sample regional specialties. We bought a small loaf of date nut bread at a recent bake sale. Bob and I shared it as our breakfast. So, for $1.75 we had a tasty, homemade breakfast. Frugal indeed! Money Saving Tip of the Day:Why do you like doing something? Is there something else that fits the bill, but is less expensive? Example: You go out for breakfast every day. Is it because of the food? Or, is it because you want to get out of the house and socialize? If it's the latter, you can save a bundle without giving up the part of the activity you enjoy. Instead of going out to eat, just go out for coffee. You'll save the cost of the meal without giving up the socializing part of the outing. Free College OfferingsColleges offer many free events and activities to the public. Some of the free events you may find are poetry readings, plays, concerts and art exhibits. Colleges also have wonderful, often air conditioned libraries. You may find the pool, weight rooms, and other physical fitness areas open to the public at specified times. You may also be able to audit classes at no cost. Frugal Frozen Treat at McDonald'sCelebrate with McDonald's and take advantage of their 50 cent ice cream cone sale. This must be the frugal treat of the summer. It seems the price is good all across the USA, including Alaska. Happy Independence DayWe hope that however you are celebrating this Independence Day that you are doing it safely. Remember why the 4th of July is a holiday here in the USA -- and thank an active serviceman or retired veteran. Travel Tip of the DayIf you are traveling and realize you forgot something, check with second hand shops before you buy it new. You can find clothing, thermos or water bottles, pet food and water dishes, sports equipment, tote bags, and other travel essentials. Use Your "Good" ThingsUse the things you have instead of keeping them for show. Do you have your "good china" tucked away safely in a china hutch or boxed up in a storage unit? Are you saving your "good clothes" and wearing "everyday clothes" during the week? Do you have unopened packages of sheets stashed in the linen closet while those on our bed are thin and raggy? Where is your beautiful heirloom quilt -- on your bed or in a cedar chest? If you have nice things that you aren't using, why? What good do they do stashed out of site? The thriftiest thing you can do with your good things is use them and enjoy them. Electric Frying Pan -- One Appliance with Many UsesUse things for more than one purpose. My electric frying pan wore out today. No wonder. I use it several times a week. It's not that I fry that much. But, I use it to cook rice and pasta. I use it to make sloppy Joe, chili, spaghetti sauce and such things that need to simmer. It makes a great omelet pan. I use it in place of a grill for grilled cheese sandwiches and making pancakes. It is also handy for reheating pizza, egg rolls, and other things that get soggy if reheated in the microwave. Instead of having a bunch of small appliances for special purposes, I use my electric fry pan for multiple things. Frugal Life and Travel Tip of the Day:A couple of clothespins are good for all sorts of things. When you hand wash something, pin it to a wire clothes hanger to drip dry. Clip chip or other snack bags shut. Clip one to something you don't want to forget. Glue a magnet on the side of one to make a magnetic clip. Buy at Wholesale PricesFrugal is signing up to be a distributor for your favorite products so that you can buy them at wholesale prices. Foods, body care, cleaning supplies, gifts, vitamins and nutritional supplements. Frugal Restaurant MealsRestaurant menus are often suggestions, not the only options available. You can sometimes get a half order of something, even if it isn't on the menu. Or, maybe you want the entree a la carte, without all the side dishes -- that is usually possible, too. Tell the waitress what you'd like and ask if it's available. Frugal Clothing: Shop Smart and Take Care of Your ClothesFrugal clothing shoppers find high quality classic pieces that last for years. Cheap, trendy, bargain fashions can also be frugal. As important as what clothes you buy is how you care for them. Permalink -- click for full blog post "Frugal Clothing: Shop Smart and Take Care of Your Clothes" Garage Sales: They’re Clearing Clutter So Expect Bargains At Yard SalesGarage sales help people get rid of their clutter. For the frugal shopper, that means paying 70% or less of the new retail price. When you buy something at a yard sale you are helping the seller. Coupon Books Cut Expenses at Home and AwayLook for coupon books for areas where you plan to spend even a day or two. We have one that has hundreds of coupons in it and is a huge savings. Many of them are buy-one-get-one-free deals. A lot are for restaurants. Some are for motels, campgrounds, and tourist attractions. Others are for services, ranging from copies to pet care. Frugal Travel Tip of the DayKeep an extra bottle of drinking water handy in your vehicle. Besides being an inexpensive thirst quencher for you or a pet, it can come in handy for other things. If you run out of windshield wiper fluid you can add it to your washing fluid tank. If your washers quit working, you can squeeze or pour the water directly on your windshield. Use it to wash your hands after having a snack or changing a tire. Or, if you are particularly hot, splash a bit of it on your face. It is a life saver if someone gets carsick. Disposable Pet Pooper ScoopersDisposable pet poop scoops are great for at home and while traveling. Make them with a 1/2 gallon plastic milk or juice jug. Cut the bottom and part of one side out, leaving the handle and a smooth edge for scooping. You can line it with a plastic bag and then tie the bag and toss. Or, if depending on your supply of jugs, toss the scoop and all. Frugal Life Tip of the DayReuse the Styrofoam trays meat comes on when you give homemade goodies. Be sure to wash and dry the tray thoroughly first. Cover with foil or plastic wrap, or a colorful napkin. They are much sturdier than paper plates. Saving on SodasYou know how expensive individual cans of sodas are, and 6-packs from convenience stores aren't much cheaper. Buy your sodas in 12-packs or cases when they are on sale and take them along on the trip. For the most savings, choose the store brand. Frugal Travel Tip of the DayA traveler's worst enemy can be a new pair of shoes. Save your money and wear a pair that you've already broken in and that you know are comfortable. You'll also save yourself from pain and the expense of buying things to soothe those aching tootsies. And, if you are wearing comfortable shoes, you may decide to walk instead of taking a taxi, saving even more. Food is Only Part of the BBQGrill hamburgers instead of steaks. Really, that BBQ is all about the camping experience, isn't it? The people you are having a good time with. The view of the lake or mountains or clear sky. Just the freedom of vacation or traveling. You can enjoy those things as much while sinking your teeth into a juicy burger as you can having a more expensive steak. Full-time RVing BudgetsA frugal way to travel can be by recreational vehicle (RV). We found that when we went full-time RVing, our budget expenses dropped considerably. Traveling by motorhome or pulling a travel trailer, even though it may cost more for gas, can save you a bundle. Inexpensive SouvenirsAnother place to find low cost souvenirs is the grocery store. Look for foods that are native or popular in the area you are visiting. In Hawaii, we bought coffee beans and macadamia nuts. In Alaska, we bought canned musk ox and birch syrup. In Louisiana, it was hot pepper sauce. If you want something that can be kept, look for foods that come in decorative tins that you can later use for something else. Frugal Tip of the Day -- Consolidate TripsHave a designated errand day. Keep a list of errands you need to run, things you need to buy and pickup, and places you need to go. Do as many of them in one trip as you can. Make Motel Reservations In the Parking LotI went to the website and checked out the price of the motel. When I went in to register, the price was much higher. I mentioned the website price to the counter clerk and asked for that rate. She told me it was an online only special and that she couldn't match it. So, I went out to the parking lot, fired up my laptop computer, and made reservations. Armed with my reservation number, I went back inside and she gladly honored that rate. Frugal Travel Tip of the Day: Useful SouvenirsInstead of buying souvenirs that just take up space and collect dust, buy something useful that will still remind you of the good time in that area. Some ideas are storage baskets, regional foods, cook books, and clothing that you will actually wear. Bring a Jacket and GlovesBring a jacket and gloves with you or plan to buy them before you go home. Beautiful, sunny days turn chilly as soon as the sun goes down. If you'll be out on the water, you'll be extra glad to have them. How To Dress For Alaska Life and TravelCasual -- and in layers. Temperatures in Alaska can change within minutes, and often do. The sun plays hide and seek with the clouds. A beautiful, warm sunny day can suddenly turn overcast and rainy. Don't assume that just because it is summer that it will be hot. Start the day with several layers and peel them off as you warm up. It's handy to have a backpack or tote of some kind to stuff them into when you aren't wearing them. You'll want them handy so that you can put them back on as you cool off, depending on both the weather and your activities. Substitute Local Snacks for One Restaurant Meal Each DayReplace one restaurant meal a day with local foods you buy at roadside stands, street vendors, the farmer's market, a local bakery, or a specialty shop. You may also find food bargains when touring manufacturing plants, visiting museums, or at other entertainment venues. Recreational Vehicle Travel Can Be Both Frugal and Earth FriendlyYou may know that my husband and I've spent a decade and a half or so full-time RVing -- living and traveling in a recreational vehicle. Throughout that time, we've been teaching that the full-time RV lifestyle can be very economical. We've also been teaching how it can be a very efficient way to live, a lifestyle of conserving energy and natural resources. Now, with frugality being the new buzzword and family vacation time fast approaching, major newspapers and TV stations are featuring RVs, RVers, and the benefits of RV travel. So, we'll say it one more time: one way to have a very frugal life and travel is do it via recreational vehicle. Ask For Rain Checks Or a Substitute If Sales Items Aren't AvailableRain checks are usually available if the store you are shopping in is out of an item that is on sale. The rain check is a voucher or coupon the store gives you, which you can use at a later date, when the item is back in stock. This is great if you have plans to return to the store before the rain check expires. If you are traveling through an area or otherwise may not be back to the store to use the rain check, ask for a substitute. Some stores will let you buy a different brand at the advertised price. Others may offer a similar discount on a different model or size. Frugal Travel Tip of the Day - SouvenirsLook for souvenirs in second hand stores and thrift shops. You're apt to find a good selection of coffee mugs, t-shirts and sweatshirts, and other items with the logos of local businesses on them. You may also find cookbooks from community clubs and area churches, plus those featuring regional foods. You may also find locally made arts and crafts, such as pottery and hand tied fishing flies. Frugal Gift Wrap Part 2: Inexpensive Trimmings Dress Your Gifts In StyleFrugal gift wrap personalizes packages. Regular gift-wrapping paper can be cheapest. Here are frugal alternatives. Try these if you are out of regular giftwrap and trim or if you want to be creative. Macaroni and Cheese Meals Are Quick, Frugal, and Nutritious Convenience FoodsMacaroni and cheese meals are frugal wonders. Start with cheap mac and cheese, then add meat or vegetables. The results are nutritious, tasty, and homemade hot dishes. Both kids and adults like them! Frugal Donation Tip - Craft SuppliesSchools, day care centers, and other non-profits can use office, art, and school supplies. They can also use holiday decorations. Craft supplies, especially those found in nature, such as seedpods and seashells are useful frugal donations. Frugal Life and Travel Tip of the Day: Travel the Shoulder SeasonsTravel the shoulder seasons for pre and post season discounts. Motels, campgrounds, theme parks, and various other attractions routinely have lower prices before and after the prime tourist season.
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