21 Frugal Living Tips for Single Moms
95Is growing up poor okay for children?
My mom was single for part of the time I was growing up. Even when she was married, she was frugal. With four kids, our family couldn’t be extravagant. Sure, we grew up relatively poor, but we had a lot of fun and were happy and healthy kids. My mom was—and still is—very frugal, and I’m proud to have learned those skills and values from her. Here are 21 thrifty things I saw my mother do, many of which I practice myself. These frugal living tips aren't just for single moms--or single dads--but they work for everybody!
Tips for Living Frugally
1. Enlist help from your kids, if they’re old enough. I remember mowing, cleaning house, helping in the garden, and doing my own laundry. And when we got old enough, we all got part-time jobs to help with our miscellaneous expenses. I was even able to save some money for college!
2. Make cheap meals. To this day, I still love pinto beans and cornbread. Mom would fry potatoes or okra, or serve some other vegetable from the garden. While we didn't eat expensive foods, we always had wholesome and tasty meals.
3. Cook simple meals with the children. Do it together, make it fun, and, chances are, they’ll carry on this tradition into their adult lives. Collect simple recipes from other moms, family, and friends. Or google some!
4. Grow your own vegetables. If you have little time, consider growing a few of your favorites. My mom was a superwoman who kept up a pretty big garden, which saved us a ton of money. She canned or froze whatever we couldn't eat fresh. As for me, while I don't go all out like my mother did, I do try to keep up with a raised vegetable bed.
Save those leftovers!
- What Foods Freeze Well? - Ways to Stretch Your Food Budget
There are many foods that freeze well that cooks don’t have to throw out but can use later. While not all foods hold up well in the freezer, there are a number that do, from meats to vegetables to sauces, to cooked foods, and more. What freezes well?
5. Rarely eat out. I didn’t have much fast food as a kid. Occasionally, Mom would treat us to a pizza. These days, however, you can find some really good frozen or deli pizzas that cost much less and are often just as good. Kids who have regular homemade meals are healthier and grow up appreciating "real" food.
6. Don’t throw out leftovers. Get creative with them. Freeze bits of veggies together to make stew later. Many foods freeze well. One of my favorite leftover meals were the “tater cakes” that my mom made from leftover mashed potatoes. Yummy!
7. Teach kids to eat the proper amount of food. Don’t let them get more food on their plates than they can eat. And don’t let them gorge. Besides costing more in groceries, letting kids eat more than they need can lead to weight issues.
8. Get creative with snacks. Kids don’t need sugary, salty, or fatty snacks in excess. Besides being unhealthy, they’re expensive. Give them peanut butter on crackers or bread with a touch of honey. Apple slices with peanut butter are good. Give them a piece of dark chocolate between two graham crackers (melted in the microwave) for a snack much healthier and cheaper than cookies.
Tips on Frugal Living
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9. Stock up on sale items. It wasn’t unusual for Mom to have several bottles of ketchup in the pantry if she caught it on sale. Or extra meat in the deep freeze. I still do the same thing. It can save a lot of money on items that you use regularly.
10. Consider going to the dentist only once a year. Get your kids on a regular schedule of tooth-brushing and flossing in order to be able to stretch out dental check-ups. We used to have a chart where we would check off when we brushed our teeth, and it was fun!
11. Teach kids to conserve. Show them how little shampoo or toothpaste they actually need. Try this with various items. Kids usually pull out way too much toilet paper, for instance. Try reducing or eliminating paper towel usage altogether by using cloth. Most families go through common household items too fast; many of these items can be replaced or done away with completely. See how you can get your kids to cut back. It all adds up!
12. Don’t go to the movie theater. If you do, let it be for a special occasion. We didn’t even rent movies but found what we could on our three—yes, three—television stations that we got. Sure, the world is different today, but there’s still nothing more fun than sitting on the couch with three brothers, eating popcorn, and watching a scary movie together. Lots of squeals, laughter…and now, memories!
How to Cut a Boy's Hair
How to Trim Long Hair
13. Cut your kids' hair yourself. It’s easy enough to trim off some dead ends here and there. I even experimented on my brother’s hair in college, and it turned out fine. Just cut where it’s been cut before; if you mess up, it will grow back. Watch one of the tutorials I've included if you need to. I didn’t have a professional haircut until I was out on my own. My mom even cut and dyed her own hair.
14. Buy clothing from thrift stores. While my mom sewed a lot of our clothing, that craft actually became more expensive over time than buying clothing on sale or in thrift stores. With more thrift stores around, buying even name-brand clothing there is a growing trend, even with those picky teenagers! If you have more than one child, there are always hand-me-downs, too. Even as the only girl in the family, I still wore them whenever possible.
15. Don’t wash clothing every time you wear it. If it’s not dirty or stinky, hang the item back up. No need to wash kids’ pajamas every day, either.
16. Take showers at night instead of in the morning. Getting clean before you go to bed will help your sheets to stay cleaner longer.
More Great Ideas!
- How to Save Money on 10 Common Household Items - I Rarely Buy Them!
Save money on 10 Common Household Items that you Rarely Have to Buy. Find replacement items to save money or readily available freebies. This is great for the penny pincher who wants to get ahead! - Tips for Saving Money from a Frugal Mom
In today's economy, we have to pinch every cent we get to raise a family. Here is one mom's way of saving money and stretching a dollar. - Cheap Tricks: How to save money the easy way
You can save thousands of dollars a year painlessly if you follow this advice. Tips for cutting your budget the easy way.
17. Turn off the water in the shower while shaving. Reduce electric and water usage by turning off the water when you shave your legs. Limit shower time, as well. Set a timer for the kids if you have to.
18. Re-use your bath towel. There's no need to wash a bath towel after every shower just because it's wet. Wash everyone’s towels once a week. You can even air them out in the sun between washings to kill any potential bacteria and keep them smelling fresh.
19. Turn lights out in rooms that you’re not using. Teach your kids to do the same. This practice quickly becomes habit.
20. Don't buy so many toys and gadgets. Kids don’t need every high-tech creation that comes out. Get your kids to play outside! And what’s wrong with board games or puzzles...or books? Saturdays are great for trips to the library to pick up free books to read for the next two weeks. When kids really insist on having an expensive item, teach them to be responsible with money by saving up allowances or birthday money to purchase the item.
21. Don’t be extravagant on holidays. Be creative. Consider homemade gifts. Make your own birthday cakes to save. Kids that are old enough to bake enjoy helping with this. Limit gifts to one or two. The most memorable Christmas I’ve ever had—and my little brothers would agree—was the year that my mom made us a homemade Christmas. She decorated jars to make piggy banks and jewelry boxes. She sewed up several things, including a five-foot long snake from scrap materials that she had. Thirty years later, that ratty snake is still a prized possession of my youngest brother.
Be creative in finding ways to save. I find it a challenge to continually find new ways. If you have additional ideas, please feel free to share them in the comment section below.
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Well, Arlene, I do appreciate that. I've always had jobs, but living frugally allowed me to buy my first house in my 20's, which I'm now renting out. It's not yet paid for, as I didn't know what I do now, but I have been able to buy a second house and get it over half paid for in just a couple of years. Now, I've had a forced job change--haha. Long story, but I'm going to focus more on the things I like, so this frugal living will come in handy until I can figure out where to go next. I still hope to have my mortgages paid for before I turn 50 (not too far away!). I think frugality can pay off by allowing us more freedom to do the things we want to do. To me, it's not a sacrifice but a way of life. Anyway, I digress. :-) Loved your comments--and votes!
Victoria, not only are we state neighbors, but we were raised the same. My mom taught me these great tips, too. I smiled when I saw you liked pinto beans and cornbread - a staple at our house then and now. Also, reusing towels is another thing I push at my house because of the way I was raised. This is a great hub!! Votes and shared!!
Great tips... loving frugal living and couponing... saves lots of money especially when you have kids.
Voted up, shared!
Wow! That is sooooo impressive! I bought my first house at 28, but I found out the hard way that if your boyfriend or spouse is not on the same page as you when it comes to money, you are sunk! I am on my third house, and I will probably die in this one. Lucky for me, I finally married a man who will work with me on anything. I will probably pay off the house by the time I was supposed to retire (55). Which is a couple of years away. Or at least knock off a big chunk of it. I believe in home ownership. When you rent, you are at the mercy of your landlord and can be forced to move out in a hot minute. Since 2008, I've watch so many people move out of my neighborhood because the landlord decided to sell the house.
Very solid tips! I like the one about thrift stores - I've found clothes that still had tags on them. I also agree completely that we don't need to wash clothes every time they touch our bodies. Great hub - voted up and useful!
This advice is so useful that I don't think you can confine it to single moms. I'm not in that category and yet practice many of these tips. Voting this Up and Useful.
Awesome, Susan! Yeah, that's neat that we're that close state-wise! And it sounds like our moms were on the same page, too. I learned so much from my mom! Thanks for voting and sharing. And reading and commenting, of course!
I would have a hard time arguing with any of these; great list and nice, clear way of presenting it.
Hi, this brings back memories of my mum too, she was always so careful with food, growing our own veggies and trying desperately to make sure we didn't go without, these are still as good today as back then, and in fact probably even better the way things are so expensive, great advice, rated up! cheers nell
These are great tips for everyone, not just single moms. Eating at home and growing your own fruit, veg, and herbs makes a huge difference in my household. The leftover thing is important too! It's crazy how much food waste there is in this country.
bianc--Thanks for reading and commenting. True--many folks with kids really have a challenge in making ends meet.
Arlene, I definitely believe in home ownership, too. I'm sure it's tough financially if the person you're with doesn't have similar goals, though. Thanks for your comments!
Hi Victoria,
I agree with alocsin. This advice is not just for single moms. I use alot of it myself, especially the parts about turning out lights and not being extravagant during the holidays. Voted up and useful. Sharing with my followers.
I too remeber the days when there were only three channels. There were six kids in my family growing up, so a lot of this is familiar. I use a lot of these tips. Really great hub.
Victoria - I just linked this hub to my 'cheap tricks' hub for saving money - I'd like for readers to see your tips, too!
I'm glad you agree, Marcy, about the thrift stores and not washing clothes every time they're worn. Thanks for the votes!
alocsin--You are right in that this advice works for everyone, not just single moms. I'm glad you said that, because I just revised the first paragraph to reflect that! Thanks!
Thanks, billybuc. These tips worked for my mom, and they continue to work for me. Thanks for the compliments about the presentation! :-)
Great ideas and I'm proud to say we do most of them! I need to work on the extravgent holiday thing though. You and your mom are inspiring! ;)
Thanks, Nell! You're right. What worked then works now! Thanks for the great comments!
Maddie, it amazes me how wasteful people are with food. I can't throw anything away if it's still good. My mom would be proud (and is!). And, yes, these tips work for everyone; I revised the first paragraph in the hub to reflect that! :-)
Thanks for sharing with your followers, healthwriterbob! I changed the first paragraph to reflect that these tips are good for everyone, not just single moms! Thanks for reading and voting!
Well written Victoria, simple and straightforward. Thank you very much.
All of these are good, solid tips, and some I have been taught by my mother as well. We use all of them, and I am happy that I learned how to live this way while I was young. In tough economic times, we are living on less than normal wages some months, and managing to survive, thanks to living frugally...
Glad you could relate, patchofearth!
Marcy--Thanks for linking your hub to mine. I did the same with yours!
SUCH good advice. I really do think that kids should be raised with a frugal lifestyle- regardless of a family's financial resources. It teaches all the right habits and values!
Thanks, roxanne! Our lack of extravagant holiday gifts has led us into adulthood, as some of us may buy gifts some years and some don't if it's not in the budget. And they're simple gifts when we do. We focus more on getting together and having fun. Thanks for the "inspiring" comment!
Thanks, donnaisabella. I like simple and straightforward myself!
healthwealthmusic--It's really amazing how much people can do without....Thanks for the comments.
Well written! Some of these tips, such as turning the lights off, are applicable whether or not you are trying to save money. Every little bit still makes a difference.
Thanks, Simone! I agree that living fugally teaches kids great habit and values! I wouldn't spoil kids extravagantly if I were a millionaire (which I do hope to be someday with all the money I save! haha). :-) Thanks for the comments!
Thanks, randomcreative! Glad you visited my hub!
I LOVE, love, LOVE what you have shared here. I am doing most of them, which was kind of reassuring. But I still want to do more, as I feel like our expenses are still too high. I am seriously considering starting a garden this spring, as it seems like the next logical step for me since I love veggies and fruit and can't stand paying so much at the store each week. Thank you for sharing these tips!
Lots of great frugal living tips here! I love the ones about cutting your children's hair, reusing bath towels and eating less! Rated up across the board, Steph
Vicki...loved the tips. Many of them, I use them myself :)
Also...another good one is using energy saving bulbs and using the dishwasher/washer/dryer only when full.
voted up as useful :)
These are all such great tips to live frugally! I have been trying to get my boys to turn the lights off when leaving a room - still a work in progress. Also trying to teach them they can wear their pajamas more than once which would save me at least a load of laundry a week. Very useful hub for all - voted up!
Well, EyesStraightAhead, I LOVE, love, Love, your comments! I love it when people appreciate frugal living tips and are already practicing most of them. It's a great way of life, I think! Thanks for validating that.
I took a class at my church in 2010, Financial Peace University, and it changed the way I looked at money. The way you compiled all these tips into one reading was great because I was able to see I have come a long way. I came back today to look with my daughter and show her the garden pictures and she said we need to grow lots of watermelon and peppers. Now...to find a hub for great recipes that have watermelon and pepper! LOL Seriously, I am enjoying your hubs and look forward to reading much more from you.
steph--My mom cut 4 kids hair our whole lives growing up! Think of all the money she saved. She taught me such valuable skills that have really come in handy when money is tight or just when I needed to save up for something I needed. Thanks for the comments and votes!
Yes, Ruchira, that's another good one. I don't remember if my mom did this one, but I also make sure I use the heat at the end of my dishwasher cycle by opening the door to warm up the room. Same with a hot oven! Thanks for the comments!
Yeah, alissa, stretch that laundry out! Every bit helps, huh? with money AND time! Glad you liked the hub. Good luck with your kids and the pjs! :-)
I love that you've included your kids in your money saving tips. By showing them how to save money in those small ways like cutting their hair and saving on laundry and clothing expenses, you are giving them an excellent basis for their future money management. Great hub!
EyesStraightAhead--I listened to the course by Dave Ramsey! Although I had always been thrifty and good at saving money, it spurred me on! I realized that I can work hard to pay off my mortgage early to be free of that burden. There are so many ways we can cut back. I hope you and your daughter do well with your garden. Thanks for the awesome comments!
Thanks, Stephanie H. My mom included us in all this, and I appreciate her for it.
LOVE Dave Ramsey and love the hub. We try hard to do a lot of these things. I use coupons, shop frugally, and LOVE consignment for clothes and books. Thrift stores and garage sales are great for buying books for my kids who love to read. These are so expensive when going to a book store, but 25-50 cents at garage or thrift stores. Have found almost all Magic Tree House and other books this way. I wrote a hub recently on "finding money in your budget". Sharing with others and voting up.
Great comments and ideas TripleAMom. I may have to check out your money-saving, hub, too! Thanks for reading, sharing, and voting! :-)
I love these tips. What a great example for the kids to live economically like this - not only will it benefit the family budget, it will teach them to avoid excess. Voted up.
I agree, Colleenmt. These tips not only save money but help children learn to do the same. Thanks for the great comments and vote!
Such a great hub with invaluable advice. We are a single income family and I enjoy finding ways to be more thrifty...I love your suggestion about freezing leftover vegetables for a stew! My kids enjoy crafts and when they are feeling creative, they head for the recycle bin to find cardboard boxes and plastic containers to construct with. It makes me so proud :)
Victoria, this hub really brought it home for me. Growing up, my mom taught me how to be frugal and I've carried it through my 20's. The first time I watched a movie at a theater was when I was 15!
Great hub, with awesome advice for anyone, not just single moms. :-)
Great hub and some really good advice! The garden, I'm working on, but I would love to get really good at growing and canning. Thanks for writing!
veggie-mom--I love what you said about your kids reusing boxes and plastic for projects. That's so cool!
Thanks, Turtlewoman! Yes, these tips are for EVERYONE! I just happened to learn them from my single mom. :-) Thanks for reading and commenting. Glad you can relate!
I love your tip on saving bits of leftovers and using them to make a stew. That is a great idea and I am going to try that one. To me there's nothing better than preparing a super delicious meal for my family that cost us next to nothing to make.
Great Hub full of useful information, Thanks!
This is great to see sharing all this, brought back memories for me for sure, growing up and making due, it teaches creativity and imagination, lots of great ideas.. thanks this is a really informative hub.. Cheers!
grinnin1--I'm still working on how to garden, and the canning...Well, my mom says it's not too hard. I just have to get there. Thanks for the comments!
great hub victoria :) would have practice the same if i had the chance, but did not as i had to go overseas and work for a living and give the best to my children (2 grown up girls by now) much as that i can. good thing tho' it was my mom who reared them up while i'm away who did all those tips and taught my girls the value of every cent spent from years of sweat and tears i underwent being a solo hardworking mom. kudos to u and to all of us single mothers of the world!
I agree, Jeni. I love having a cheap, almost free meal based on items that other people might just throw away. A stew from leftovers is a perfect example. Glad you liked the hub!
You've well described my life in the 50s & 60s when my Mom was widowed in '58. Good article...I was amazed that anyone would even THINK of only using a bath towel once!
Loladusk--Thanks for appreciating the hub. My mom taught me a lot about frugal living. Cheers to you as well!
Thank you for a wonderful article! Living frugally is the only way to go! I just wish that I had learned that much earlier in life. But finally, I'm getting it, and I find that the rewards of living what I like to call "sensibly" brings a deep soul and spiritual satisfaction as well. It's just the right thing to do. Full stop. I hope that if the economy begins on a boom path in future that people embrace the values of living simply. It is the right thing to do. We don't need all the "stuff" so many of us accumulate. It weighs on our bodies, minds, and spirits. Thank you again, and bless you for sharing.
Kudos to you, angela! Glad you appreciated the hub!
Civil War Bob--I'm with you in your thinking about the bath towel. Actually, with many of these tips, they're so ingrained that I think why would people even think of doing things any other way! Thanks for the great comments.
I agree, Dancing Water. Living frugally just feels good and right! Great comments. Love them!
Great tips! I'm not a mom yet, but many of the tips still applied to me. I especially liked tip 7 about eating the proper amounts of food. So often I prepare larger portions of food than I can actually eat and they are the types of meal that cant be reused as leftovers so go to waste!
I think the best advise from your hub is to teach our children these tips, not necessarily as a way to simply save money, but as a way of living one's life in harmony with others.
Best Regards,
WebsiteConfetti--I'm not a mom except to animals and nieces--haha, but I was raised this way and still use the tips even just for myself. Living frugally can be a way of life for everyone!
Very useful! And it is good for everyone to follow, even if you don't feel tight on cash. Reading this list I realized my family did a lot of these things growing up - we lived relatively frugal. Now that I'm out of the house, I found out my parents have almost a million dollars in savings! (and I never even suspected we were "rich") And that's after putting four kids through college. Because my parents live smart, and taught us to do the same, my dad could afford to take my mom on a cruise that she's always wanted. They can live in their retirement worry free! You walk into my home, and it looks like a normal middle-class family, but my mom has a brand new car, all because they followed these tips.
So useful. You can save so much and make your life easier later on.
Simplicity...an awesome article with some good old fashion sage advice!!! Thank you for sharing!
alifeofdesign--Good point! Living simply isn't all about saving money. Well said.
xlorna--Great story about your parents. I think that by living frugally people can have more later on. That's what I'm hoping for...an easier life later on. :-)
picadilly--There's something to be said for simplicity. It feels good as a way of life, at least I think so!
Although i am not a single mom, this is great advice for anyone who is trying to save. Great budget tips and great ideas for streching the almighty dollar. great hub. voted up and useful. sharing it on fb as well.
Fullerman--Thanks for passing along the info. It IS great for anyone who wants to stretch their money.
Thanks Victoria for the tips for single mothers.
That was interesting. I am from Ukraine and what is advised in your country as tips to save money is an everyday life of majority of people here :-). If anyone is a fan of frugal living just come to Ukraine or may be Russia (better in a warm time of the year :-) live in some simple family for a copule of weeks and you will not only write an artickle but a BOOOOOOOK (very thick) of how to do it! Joking of course... In fact it is a nice hub. I like it!
It is important for all to save some money for old age. Look for some old age plans and save. http://www.micoequipmnet.com
Victoria, I do the same heat reclamation when I bake. I leave the door open so that I can warm the kitchen.
#6 is key!! I know so many people who "don't eat leftovers" as a principle and it's the dumbest thing I've ever heard. I hate cooking so I actually make too much on purpose just so I can have leftovers...
You're welcome, Grace! I think these tips can help everybody, but they were inspired by the practices of a single mother. :-)
Pavlo-Great comparison. I do know that many countries do live more frugally as a whole, while Americans can be wasteful. I do think that they are learning how to be thriftier, forced on by the economy of the last few years. Thanks for the great comment, pavlo!
Yes, Mike, sacrificing now to save money for old age is smart. Thanks for the comment.
melodylewis--I do the same thing with the dishwasher, too!
Me, too, CarliF! I love leftovers. Will keep eating them or freeze them for later. Some people are so wasteful, refusing to eat them and throwing them out. I can't imagine!
This article is commonsense on steroids. You ROCK. Thanks for being the voice of reason in an increasingly insane world! Voted up.
annescripts! YOU rock! I LOVE your comments. Commonsense on steroids--what a great phrase! :-)
Another idea that will save money and is good for the planet is to be creative with art supplies. Save old toilet paper and paper towel rolls, old/damaged cds, and apple sauce cups and add them to your art bin. Kids love using this stuff for art projects.
Wow, Laura, cool idea! Who woulda thought? :-)
Wholeheartedly agree! 2011 was the first Christmas we didn't go into debt!
I learned a lot from this Hub. My grown children are very helpful (they live down the street from me). Unfortunately, I fail at cheap meals, eat out often, and get a "D" many of the other tips. I'm going to put them on my bulletin board in the kitchen
Great tips. We do some of that as I married a thrifty Yankee whose mom is a Hosier! I learned some of this from my grandparents too. They never forgot the Depression!
Great hub great tips for everyone not just single moms.
cluebbert--Good for you! I just don't see any reason to go into debt for Christmas! That's not what it's about.
I do 18 out of the 21 ... Dentist twice a year is a must as is clean laundry and going to the movies at least 3 times a month. The rest are fantastic ideas that I agree with! I can see why this hub is the #1 Best Hub right now!:)
ThomasBaker--Shame on you, haha! Yes, post these tips, cut your food expenses, and save your savings for a rainy day! :-)
That's great, mbwalz! I think I'm too much of a Depression hoarder. Just might need something. haha!
I agree, Daddy Paul! Great tips for all of us! thanks!
Hi Vic! While we aren't state neighbours, or even in the same country, many of these tips are pretty familiar. We did a lot of the same sorts of things such as reusing towels, eating in, lots of homemade food (our ethnic version of pinto beans and cornbread was cabbage rolls, and saskatoon berries in or on just about everything!). I've incorporated many of these practices into my own family life. The only suggestion I would ask you to reconsider is the trip to the dentist. Our family did something similar; for my brother, who actually had good teeth, this wasn't a problem. However, I didn't have good teeth and those limited dental visits caused me untold pain and expense as an adult. As a result, I am almost fanatical about ensuring that my sons (and me, for that matter) visit the dentist regularly. At 19 & 17 respectively, both my boys have yet to have a cavity! I attribute that to regular dental visits, along with my insistence that the boys floss and brush thoroughly twice a day. Other than that, love your ideas and it's fun to see this side of you, Arkansas! xoxox Canada.
I love pinto beans, cornbread, and tater cakes. Learning how to cook and only eating out on special occasions will save a lot of money. Great job introducing money concepts to kids too. Voted up, awesome, useful, and shared.
Good Stuff Vic!!!
Thanks, Sunshine! Can you believe I haven't been to the movies since 1997. haha. Maybe I will one day. Thanks for reading! AND the support! :-)
Good to see you, Leina! I had good teeth, too, and never a cavity as an adult with sometimes years without a dentist. But that's not true for everyone, I know. Good advice to be prudent about that brushing and flossing. Flossing--yuck. I try, though. Cabbage rolls sound great; I love cabbage! Glad you saw this side of me, Canada! I've been doing lots of writing these days. xoxoxo right back at ya from Arkansas!
Thanks, Jennifer, for the validation! It's amazing how much money cooking at home can save. Thanks, too, for the votes and sharing!
Thanks for the comment, Douglas! Good to see you here!
Vicki - this is awesome! I love these ideas.
Thanks, Lara! so glad you read it!
Awesome hub! If many people knew about this already, I a, just learning and I really need to know this. Thank you for sharing and happy hubbing :) Voted!
I am so happy that you have written this hub. I have been doing these things for years and I am not ashamed. We have very little means and thanks to these practices my children always had a meal. Voted up!
Nare, it's never to late to start living more frugally or too late to save money. Glad the info was helpful! Thanks!
ananceleste--I've always been proud of being frugal, especially as an adult. I grew up seeing the value of it. Happy you feel that way, too! :-)
I wish this was more of the norm for everyone without poverty being the driving force. Voluntary simplicity is something that jives with my personality but not for some. I've found that freezing large quantities of perishables is easier for me than canning. Buying bulk and avoiding processed foods is key in my eyes both for money savings and health benefits.
Ruby, I haven't learned to can like my mom did/does, but my garden isn't ever very big, either. I, too, freeze extra quantities of perishables. Thanks for the read. And comments!
Great hub, Victoria Lynn. While I'm not a single parent, I do agree with what you've said here and buying discounted merchandise is something I do whenever I see it. I have nearly a years supply of body wash in my linen-closet and probably paid about a quarter of what it would cost. I also snap-up toilet paper when it's on sale because you can never have enough of that stuff in my opinion.
haha, Roleary, you're so right about the toilet paper! I always stock up when necessary items are on sale Great comments!
Very good hub. I am going to link to it on a hub I wrote about small spaces and another on living frugal style. We lived the frugal life all of our married days but we have always done it in style...aesthetics are important to me. I will check back often.
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These are great and very practical. It is amazing how much less we can spend when we lead simple, down to earth lives. I enjoy growing my food and cooking simple meals. The meals taste great and are good for me. Thank you for the encouragement.
Thanks, sirrot, for linking my hub. I looked at your blog and am intrigued by the thought of retiring in style. Frugal living seems to be a part of that. I'm bookmarking your blog. Will be reading more of it. Thanks!
You're welcome, Mary. It's encouraging to me, too, to know that others are appreciating the same values....
Oh cuz! I am so proud of you for writing all of this down! Were we raised by the same mother? I use most of these frugal tips but was never really taught to save. But I do it now and it feels good! I am of the mindset that I wont go into debt for anything again..not a car, probably not even a house! Another thing you could add is not running the dryer thru the entire cycle. I dry my clothes for about 15 minutes then hang them up in the closet to finish drying. I hang towels across doors etc. If you dry them a little while they wont be stiff when they are fully dry! Being frugal in challenging and fun! I have to be frugal right now but later on when I dont have to be I still want to be frugal just like "Mom" is now! Good job!!!
I adore so much the single moms. This is such an inspiring tips for them.
Most libraries have books on tape, videos and magazines that you can borrow for free! Thanks for the tips, they are valuable at any age.
Shop the sales.
Take the time to clip coupons or print them for free online like at refundsweepers.com or just use their forums for getting coupons, oh and you might also want to get into refunding where you keep the proof of purchase off from the product you bought and send in for a rebate, the site I just mentioned has a refunding forum where you could find out how to do that.
Or, you could take a refunding magazine if you are not on the internet much. Using sales, coupons and then rebates each time you buy your groceries will save you alot.
Hey, cuz! (Girafne) Glad to see you here! Our mothers both did a lot of the same things, huh? Yeah, I don't plan to ever go in debt. Am working hard on paying off the mortgage! Good idea about the dryer. When the weather is warm, I hang most of my clothes out on the line. So glad you read this, girl!!
SquidooLens--My mom taught me so much. So proud of her. Thanks for the comments!
Great info, frugalday. I may have to check out refundsweepers. Thanks!
Thanks Victoria,
All great items. The one about eating out is key to me. You do not realize how expensive it is until you look at your expenses for the month and realize you have spent hundreds of dollars ordering out.
You can also trying lowering the cable bill. Check out this hub to find out how:
lifelovemystery--I agree! Great tip about the library, too!
Newyork--Eating out has never been a way I've wanted to spend my money. It's like money going down the drain to me. And thanks for the info on cable TV!
My Mom grew up during the depression and was very frugal. Waste not want not was a common comment from her. She saved everything because "she might need it later"! Nice hub!
Budman--I hear ya! I'm afraid sometimes I save too much stuff. Oh, well. I do follow the "waste not want not" saying!
Thanks for the tips. I totally need it now that we are one income family.
rdown--You're welcome. These tips really do work for saving money!
Useful Hub. Love the idea of a tooth brushing chart and I've often felt like going to the dentist every six months was totally unnecessary.
Thundermama--I think the dentist thing depends on the person, but it's a possibility. I like your name, Thundermama!
Agreed, and thanks my 12 year old daughter came up with it and I think it describes me pretty well. Looking forward to more of your hubs.
Well, it's cute, Thundermama. Glad you liked this hub!
Great tip about limiting how much kids eat! We're supposed to 'eat to live', but too many families flip that and kids end up morbidly obese at an early age. Very sad.
On the subject of clothing, I used to comb yard sales in "nice" neighborhoods for designer-label clothing for my kids. Thrift stores in my area didn't have the variety or quality I could find for pennies at yards sales.
An aunt had her own system for financing new shoes (for herself - her kids' shoes were purchased as necessary). She'd throw change in...what else?...a shoe box! Wouldn't go shoe shopping until she had "enough".
It's so interesting to see that many of these tips are just the way my parents raised me to be, so much that these are second nature. your hub has made me appreciate their example that much more -- they were very big on appreciating the little things and not wasting nature's resources or money. And more time together equals less money sometimes, but it's so worth it. Great hub!
Great tips! As a stay-at-home-dad, I can attest to the wisdom of these tips, even if finances aren't cramped. In a hundred little ways, these types of things can show our children not to be quite so materialistic and greedy.
I agree with Glenn. I'm not rolling in the dough, but live well. Even so I don't want my kids to expect their life to be handed to them on a silver platter. A lot of your tips I already use, but some were new. I like the brushing your teeth chart! Maybe I will get some gold stars to fill in the squares. Voted up and useful. Thanks! (I come from a family of 5 kids myself - I can relate to what you're talking about!)
JamaGenee--I love the story about your aunt throwing change in a shoes box for shoes. Neat idea! Yard sales ARE great for finding nice clothes. I recently found a local thrift shop that has high quality items, so I'm lucky there. Thanks for the comments!
hobbynob--So with it, as you say. I just want to say DITTO to everything you sad. Exactly!
I agree, glenn. Even folks with lots of money (and their kids!) can benefit from living a frugal, non-wasteful lifestyle. Great comments!
I wish my wife reads this hub
EuroCafeAuLait--Glad you can relate! I agree with Glenn, too. Kids shouldn't have things just handed to them all the time. Thanks for the great comments!
emdi--I hope your wife reads this hub, too. Sounds like she needs to--LOL! Good luck!
Excellent article! I have learned some great ways to save money. I am a single mom with 2 boys and will definitely use these. I use a couple already but always looking for more ways to save money!! Thanks!
Awesome, Keeley. I'm always looking, too, for ways to save money. I'm glad my hub could help you. :-)
Wow this is a great article! And I feel like I wrote it myself - or at least I live it myself. Just ask my daughter lol! I am a single mother and I have applied many of these great ideas and tactics!
Way to go, Romewolf! I follow this way of life that my mom taught me!!
Awesome Victoria! We are a rare breed LOL! People today feel so entitled to everything. It is nice to see your perspective. Thanks for a great article.
Yes, we are a rare breed, RomeWolf, and one that I am attracted to more and more. I find it freeing to save money, to live greener....It's not like we can't spend money, but, by not being wasteful, we can save money for a rainy day or a splurge when needed!
I haven't got children but am interested in being frugal and found myself nodding at all of these as I do them too and feeling pleased with myself! :)
I do these, too, jasmith1, and I think it feels good. Good living!
~W~O~N~D~E~R~F~U~L~
Honestly, I am single but I love pampering my nephews and nieces with outdoor foods and toys. There's definitely something to ponder upon now. Great Hubs. V~up!!
Poukham--Nothing wrong with pampering the nephews and nieces some. Being frugal in other areas can help you to do that. Thanks for the vote!
Some great tips. Not going out to the movie theater is a tough one but saves a ton of money. My fav was not washing clothes every time you wear them, jeans especially do not need to be washed either.
I think these could apply to a single father as well (I don't have kids yet but I can see where these would help with some of those individuals).
cheapstuff--After a while, being frugal just becomes a natural way of life. Thanks for reading and commenting!
mikey--I agree! These tips can apply to single fathers, or anybody, really! They are just tips for good living, I think. Thanks for the comments.
Awesome tips!!! :)
Thanks, gracefaith!
I felt in an encyclopedia for the single moms.. Great!!!!
naimishika--An encyclopedia, huh? Thanks, I guess! :-)
Thank you, being newly single I needed to read this! Great tips!
lifesparadox--Glad this was helpful. Thanks for reading.
My mother was a single parent so I recognised alot of this. Thank you for the trip down memory lane. Great Hub.
iwriteforyou--Glad I could take you down memory lane. My mom instilled in me a lot of valuable lessons.
Wonderful hub, great ideas and options, wonderful and responsive comments. This is a well-written,well-timed Hub. Thank you. :)
wow, phdast! I love your comments. Thanks so much!
When I was a single Mum one of the things I learned to do was cook from scratch, simple, healthy meals and being clever with the food you buy. I used to bulk buy bacon, roll it up in 2 rasher portions and place in a freezer bag then I could take out 2 rashers at a time and reduce waste. I would cook in bulk and freeze the rest, I bought all our clothes in secondhand stores and I walked, a lot instead of driving. Frugal times but I was healthier and happy and so was my son.
That's great, Eileen. I often buy in bulk, too, and break it up into portions to freeze. Cheaper and something is always on hand to cook. Thanks for the great input!
Arlene V. Poma 3 months ago
Victoria Lynn, I've been keeping up with your Hubs on living frugally, and I must say that you have been a huge inspiration. I can honestly say that I've never had it tough in my life. I'm a Boomer, and the jobs were always out there. But now, by being retired and on a fixed income, I do enjoy living frugally and saving money. It's the only way to go. Voted up and everything else.