Cheap Living

What is cheap living all about anyway? It doesn't mean what most people think of when they hear that term. It actually translates into living smarter with less, being creative with how you use the resources available to you, and ultimately it means freedom. When you learn how to live frugally (such as cook frugal meals with frugal recipes) while still living well, you'll discover there is emotional, physical, and financial freedom just waiting for you to enjoy!

Cheap Living - How Does it Work?

Stretching your hard-earned dollar is really not as difficult as it may sound. Don't allow the idea of saving and reusing make you turn the other direction and whip out the credit card! Cheap living actually gives you the opportunity and the freedom to live creatively and give generously once you get the hang of it. Really, living on less is really as simple as reducing your consumption and spending (and saving) smarter. Think of it this way - you work hard to earn your paycheck, right? Why would you want to squander it unnecessarily?

Here, we've listed a few ideas on how to get started on your adventure of living on less. Get creative, have fun, and enjoy reaping the benefits of cheap living.

1) Reduce your energy consumption - install water-saving shower heads, take slightly shorter showers, flip the light switch off if you aren't in the room, outfit your light sources with energy-saving light bulbs, turn the heat down a few degrees and the AC up a few degrees, wash the laundry in cold water instead of hot, and make sure all of your windows and doors are sealed properly.

2) Make it from scratch - it's not as "old school" as you might think. For a fraction of the cost, you can make healthy meals and household cleaners from scratch.

3) Married to your mortgage or rent payment? Downsize your living space and put that extra money away for college tuition, car repairs, travel, or retirement. Keep budget charts of your finances to help track where all the funds go.

4) Transportation - if you must drive (perhaps you have little ones or live in rural areas), group all of your errands together or make a plan to do all of your running on one day to save on gas. Whenever possible, walk or bicycle to your destination. Think of it as an adventure! What could you see along the way? New and interesting perspectives await you when you try something new!

5) Plant a garden - all you need is a small area of grass or an area where you can try container gardening. Both are excellent ways to cut your food bill and eat healthier.

6) Pool your resources - Talk to the ladies in your church group, reading club, or home school cooperative. Swap services and physical goods with each other. You'll all save a bundle and have a lot of fun in the process.

7) Watch movies for free - remember your local library? You can read books, watch movies, enjoy music CD's, and listen to audio books all for absolutely no cost. It's really the best deal going!

8) Always look for freebies - freebies abound online, so take a few minutes a few times a week to look for them. Free samples will arrive in your mailbox and perhaps fill a need at just the right time.

When you've become an expert at cheap living, teach someone else! You'll help another person or family experience the fun of living with less and enjoying the financial freedom for years to come.