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Frugal Living Week in Review for July 30th to August 5th, 2007

The frugal living blog has been full of activity this week, with articles of all kinds, offering you ways to save money. For most families, saving money is important to allow them to have money for other things. With school in full swing for many, and it rapidly approaching for others, now is a great time to find ways to save money on everyday things.

So what articles showed up in the Frugal Living Blog last week?

The McMansion Phenomena

Recently, our city newspaper has been running all sorts of news stories about homeowners who are facing tough times because of their mortgage payments.

Secrets of the Retail Clearance Racks

Do you like to take advantage of clearance sales? Now is a great time to take advantage of all of those end of the season deals that keep cropping up in retail stores everywhere.

Iron in Bulk to Save Money

Did you know that the way you iron can save you money? It is true. No, it won’t save you tons and tons, but one thing I learned from reading that old encyclopedia of frugal, The Tightwad Gazette, is that every little thing counts.

Frugal Living for Large Families

Large families are becoming increasingly more and more common. Mostly because of the step family or blended family generation, however some families are still choosing to expand the traditional way too.

Return Your Clutter for Cash or Goods

I bet you never realized that some of the clutter around your home can be turned into cash or goods with very little effort. By returning some of this clutter to its place of origin, you can be ahead of the game. Not only will you de-clutter your home, but you will gain financially, as well.

Gourmet Coffee For Less

Don’t you love gourmet coffee? If you are a coffee fan, you’ll want to keep reading this article. That is because the following tips will help you get your gourmet coffee for less. Gourmet coffee can be very expensive, but here are some ways to enjoy your coffee and still be frugal.

Are Extended Warranties Worth It?

Have a major appliance or other large piece of equipment break down? It can cost big money to repair or replace a unit such as a washing machine, refrigerator or oven. Even outdoor items such as a lawn mower or weed-wacker can run up a big bill when the repair man comes to call.

Appliance Repair for Less

Just recently, I wrote about how sometimes it makes sense to pay for an extended warranty when buying products on appliances. But what if you don’t have a warranty on your machine? Major and minor appliances can be costly to repair.

Frugal Back to School Ideas

Back to school time is rapidly approaching and for many, it is already here. Not only can this time be extremely stressful, but it can put a huge damper in your family budget.

Sales Tax Holidays: Frugal Back to School

Isn’t it amazing to realize all that kids “need” today to go back to school? From clothing to notebooks, shopping for back to school can really add up. But one of the ways to save is by taking advantage of sales tax holidays for back to school items.

Make Your Own Fabric Softener

A few years ago, I stopped using fabric softener all together. Not only was it an added expense, but I didn’t always like the way it made the clothing feel.

Say No to Impulse Purchases

Impulse buying is extremely difficult to conquer, with all the great deals, and fun items out there to have. However, if you are trying to live a frugal lifestyle, and save money and cut costs, it is probably one of the biggest money eaters there is.

A Frugal Secret: Bakery Thrift Stores

Finding out where your closest bakery thrift store is located is definitely worth the trouble. Here is why.

Avoid the Gas Gouge

Here is a little secret I just recently learned about saving money on gas. I think you’ll like it, since you can probably save an average of 20 cents a gallon on gas without any special calculations, gas watching or long distance driving (which actually wastes gas).

Removing Wax from Glass Candle Jars

Glass candle jars and containers are great items to reuse. It is nice to reuse them, especially since the cost of the candles is generally so expensive. The glass jars can make pretty additions around your home. There are so many things you can do with them.

Saving Money on Dryer Sheets

If you like to use fabric softener dryer sheets then no doubt you know how expensive they are. And it doesn’t take very long for you to go through a box of them. I have a hard time justifying the expense of the dryer sheets, maybe because I grew up without them.

Do Large Families Save Money Buying in Bulk

There is a great debate taking place in regards to bulk purchasing foods. With the crop up of bulk warehouses everywhere, it seems like the thing to do. But people are beginning to ask if it truly saves you money in the long run.

Volunteering Has Its Frugal Benefits

There is no doubt that volunteering is a great thing to do. Think of all of the people that you help when you volunteer! That is the main reason to do it. But, volunteering has its frugal benefits, too. Many times there are perks that go with the volunteering job that save you money.

Budget Baking Substitutions

Baking your own meals and snacks are a really great way to save money. But sometimes you just don’t have everything you need available.

Free Family Fun for Thirty Days

Several months ago, a frugal friend of mine told me about something that her family does to save some money and have some serious fun together. I waited to try it, and kept it in the back of my mind. July was the month.

The Three-Tier Method for Saving Money

Have you heard about the three tier method for saving money? It has to do with stretching out your things so that they will last longer. When your things last longer, you don’t have to replace them as often, and so, you save money!