Living Frugally: Know Your Town

Living frugally encompasses many areas of our lives. Yes, we all want to save money on groceries and toiletries, but living frugally and making our budgets stretch means shopping for household items at a discount as well.  When you know your town you are able to find the best deals.  The first full weekend of each month our library has a book sale.  Most children’s books are 25¢ each, unless otherwise marked.  If you bring your own reusable bag then you get a 50¢ credit.  That is the equivalent of two free books!  The first weekend of the month you will find my girls toting their own reusable bags filled with a couple dollars and loose change, begging to go to the library book sale.  The recently learned that the early bird get the worm when we made it to the sale late and the book selection was very picked over.

Over the weekend we purchased all 22 books in the photo for $7 out of pocket.  We each had our own purchase and each received 50¢ in credit, which is $1.50 total.  My older daughter loves Berenstain Bear books and my younger daughter is collecting Clifford books.  Those books cost around $3.00 in the Scholastic book order, which is a discounted price.  I think 25¢ is a much better bargain!

Whether it is a an annual church yard sale, a community center rummage sale, or a library book sale it is pretty safe to say that most people have items they are willing to part with in hopes of getting a little money.  Regularly check the calendar section of your local newspaper (these are often posted online as well).  Head to your city center’s website and take a be familiar with it.  With Thanksgiving and Christmas coming your area may have a Thanksgiving food drive that you want to participate in or Cookies with the Clauses.  The more familiar you are with your town the more likely you will be to make your budget stretch while getting great deals!

If there is nothing in your area just remember that the wheel does not need to be invented.  If you read about a great community even in the next town over you can create one in your town too.  Once a group of people gets excited about something and things are set in motion it is amazing what can happen!