The idea of buying anything NEW was foreign to my grandma’s generation (Grandma Gracie, still going at 89, is shown with me, at right). She typically reused stuff they already had for whatever she needed. Grandma Alice (shown below) used outgrown or worn-out clothes (with the buttons or other closures cut off and saved for future reuse) for scraps for quilts or other household items like clothespin bags. Empty jelly jars or old canning jars stored everything from leftover food to buttons, silverware, toothbrushes, and the like. You used everything up even cutting up tubes of this and that to scrape out the last little bit. Those memories shed light on valuable skills I’m finding so important in surviving The Great Recession, which has made us all rethink our spending and what we consider “essentials.” 
Being thrifty is even fashionable now with magazines, TV shows, and newspapers all jockeying for our attention with money-savings tips and lessons. The days of American gluttony are a thing of the past replaced by a more conservation-minded class of folk. My sister and I have transformed the idea of “living on less” into a game. Anytime we get a great deal or awesome cheap idea, we share it with each other do Atta-girls. The really fun part is learning to be creative with meeting your family’s needs. My gift to YOU is this list of “Grandma’s Frugal Secrets for Living on Next to Nothing.” Hope you find some useful stuff in here to save you some dough on everyday stuff and holiday gift giving. Enjoy!
Everyday Secrets:
Put on a Sweater – Saving money on your heating costs is simple and doesn’t have to leave you feeling cold. Try this: turn down your thermostat 5 degrees, or better yet get a programmable thermostat and lower the temp while you’re sleeping even more. Learn to put on a sweater, wear slippers or extra socks, get a small space heater to heat the main room you live in, and close the vents and doors on rooms you don’t use frequently. For more tips, visit http://www.thefrugallife.com/heatsave.html.
Turn off that Light – Turn off lights when you leave a room. Better yet, replace those regular light bulbs with energy-efficient CFL bulbs. Plug your computer, printer, and other electronics into power strips and turn off the power with one button when done.
Shut the Door – Check your doors and windows for drafts and replace weather stripping and caulk where needed. No sense heating/cooling the whole outdoors.
Steady Speed and Fewer Trips - Drive evenly with a steady foot. Avoid jiggling the accelerator. Cruise control helps maintain a constant speed. Learn to plan out your trips to consolidate your weekly errands. Pull out slowly from a stop sign and accelerate more easily. Wait until everyone is in the vehicle before starting the engine to reduce idling. Following these instructions will help you increase your gas mileage.
For more info, visit http://www.fueleconomy.gov/.
Twice a Year – Dentists recommend regularly cleanings at least twice a year, and more if needed. It would be unwise to not go twice a year, no matter how healthy your teeth and gums are, because you never know when a problem will arise. The sooner that a problem is found, the sooner it will get fixed, and the less money you´ll need to spend on expensive dental procedures.
Exercise to Stay Healthy - Daily exercise boosts your immune system and keeps you healthier (meaning fewer trips to the doctor for medication). Even 15 minutes of walking in place while watching TV daily can be enough to get your body moving. Gradually increase your exercise each day to boost your immunity even more. Use cans of vegetables for weights to exercise your arms while you walk too. For more ideas, click Stay Healthy.
Unused Clothing – Got a sweater as a gift you never wore or a favorite sweatshirt you’ve worn to shreds that you can’t seem to toss? Got old kids’ clothes and uniforms cluttering your closets? Transform them into pillow covers, tote bags, a plastic grocery bag holder, clothespin bag, or cosmetic case with Velcro closure. Make several larger tote bags and store them in your vehicle to use for carrying home groceries (keeps those plastic bags out of your house too). For even more tips, click Reusing Clothing.
Cardboard Boxes – Reuse those sturdy boxes that shoes and so many other products come in by wrapping them in pretty or simple brown wrapping paper. Use the boxes to organize your closets and other cluttered. Use a marker to label each box’s contents for easy identification.
Tin Foil - Did you know that you can re-use tin foil? Just wash/dry and store for another use. A wad of tin foil is a great tool for getting the grease off your grill grate too! More ideas at Reusing Tin Foil.
Leftover Wallpaper - Use leftover wallpaper scraps to line drawers and shelves.
Cotton Balls - Instead of throwing away the cotton that comes in a bottle of pills, use it. Save it in the same bag as all of your regular cotton balls, so you remember to use it the next time you need a cotton ball.
Plastic Drink Bottles - Use the top half of a plastic soda bottle to make a disposable funnel. Take that cap off the bottle, and then cut it to the funnel size that you want. The part that you used to drink out of acts as the funnel. For more ideas on recycling everyday items, click Recycling Crafts.
Toothpaste as a Cleaner - Why spend money on expensive cleaners when all you need is a tube of toothpaste? Try it to: polish silver and gold, remove crayon marks from walls, remove ink spots from cloth, remove fruit punch "moustaches" from kids, deodorize smelly hands, remove scuffs from shoes, and fill holes in walls. For details, click Amazing Uses for Toothpaste.
Baking Soda – Baking soda is a cheap cleaning magician that can:
- Clean a drain (pour two tablespoons down a sink with a ½ cup of vinegar)
- Whiten clothes (just add a ¼ cup with your regular laundry soap)
- Make mashed potatoes fluffier (just add a pinch while mashing them)
- Get fresh vegetables cleaner (add 2-3 teaspoons in cold water)
- Clean your dishwasher (add 1-2 tablespoons to any wash cycle to remove odors and make the inside sparkle).
- For more uses & recipes, go to Magical Baking Soda.
Think Before You Buy - Before you purchase an item, think about how many hours you had to work at your job to earn the money to buy the item. Sometimes, when you think about it that way, you´re more likely to only purchase it if it´s a necessity, or at least try harder to find a bargain.
Family Cookbook - Put together a list of favorite family recipes organized by seasonal varieties (like holiday dishes and desserts) or uses for leftovers. You can have it copied and bound at a local Kinko’s or other copy center.
Share your Talents - Offer to teach a skill you possess, such as canning, swing dancing, knitting, furniture making, or doing the butterfly stroke. Offer free services in one of your skill areas—such as photography, gardening, or financial planning. Create a Family Video Documentary and record interviews with relatives. You can ask them to share memories of the person you plan to give the recording to, or tell stories of your family history.
Pass It On - Pass on possessions that you no longer use but would be useful to others. Like a sewing machine to someone who wants to learn to sew. Share the history of the article with the recipient. Give away the last great book you bought and enjoyed to someone with similar taste.
Have a “re-gift” swap - We all have gift-quality things in our closets we don’t actually use (many left over from holidays past, still in the box). Get together with a few like-minded friends and trade them for items that fit your gift list.
Green Living - Help someone green their home: give them a boost with a compost bin, insulation project, water efficiency improvements, or other task they may have a hard time starting on their own.
Gift of Time - Special activities with a loved one like a candlelight dinner, massage, picnic, or even a monthly lunch date with an elderly relative or friend.
Letters of Love - Celebrate your loved ones by writing them a letter listing all their qualities you admire.
