I see people post things on the what have you done frugal posts, and I think "That's not frugal, that is just normal" Than I realize that what is normal for me may not be normal for everyone!

1) I always wash everything in cold water, with less than the full amount of laundry detergent.
2) I always shop thrift stores and clearance sales for clothes.
3) I always keep the house just a few degrees warmer (in summer) or cooler(in winter) than totally comfortable.
4) I always compare prices before I buy something.
5) I always keep the lights off during the day
6) I always use up left overs
7) I always make a menu and shop accordingly.

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~Happiness is a large family~

This is me, perfecty. I also

1. Don't like to drive around to find something to do - I like to plan
2. Borrow a lot of stuff from the library instead of renting or buying
3. Try my hardest to take a drink with me when I leave the house, because I always get thirsty once I'm down the street
4. Line dry the clothes 6 or more months out of the year
5. Use coupons on things I NEED
6. Shop for Christmas/misc gifts year round
7. Don't leave the house but on weekends for pleasure shopping/browsing

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"And the state of his bathroom -- I'm not one to gossip, but there are things crusted on his sink that have not simply developed intelligent life but have in all probability by now evolved their own political systems." Cain describes Abel in in SANDMAN #70

I do everything already listed.

My coworkers are surprised that I bring my lunch with me to work on the weekends. I think I've bought food from the cafeteria once in the last year. I shop at Goodwill for clothes for me and the girls, books, and sometimes toys. Dh has some friends that wouldn't be caught shopping in Goodwill. People are surprised by how much I utilize the library (dvds, magazines, books, craft time, etc).

i also do all of the above

1. we don't eat out maybe once every 2 months if that
2. i never pay full price for anything i can wait until it goes on sale
3. i use vinegar instead of fabric softner
4. i don't buy convience pre packaged food very often i make from scratch.

those are just a few

1)I have an indoor dryer vent thing that heats and humidifies the house in the winter when it is on. Saves my son from all of the bloody noses.
2)I "sell " my children's clothes to the consignment store and get back more than what I spent on the items, especially since most are gifts.
3)I purchase a cow and have it butchered. I personally know where my meat came from and who has handled it.
4)I wash and iron my hubby's uniform instead of taking it to the cleaners at $1.75 each piece.
5)I only "shop " 4 times a year--where I actually spend money--10 days after Christmas, a month before school starts when stuff is super cheap, and around the kids b-days.
6)I go grocery store shopping every 2-3 weeks. Hubby picks up the milk, ect. on the way home, it is cheaper at the convience store than the grocery store.
7)I "buy " tax software and do my taxes that way, instead of paying someone to do it. I do my in-laws taxes too so they pay for the software in reality.
8)I make my own laundry detergent.
9)We bought 4 -- 275 oil drums a few years back so we could save on heating oil. This also comes in handy when my brother, grandparents, or neighbors run out of oil before a delivery can be made so they do not have to pay the emergency delivery fee.
10)I turn off the A/C unit from my electrical box.
11)I make soup out of the leftovers from a chicken, from ham, beef loin, ect.
12)I stay at home because it is cheaper in the long run, plus I do not have to deal with a boss who has an attitude that I will need to go because a child is sick.

Me too! It way better meat too. I rarely have to even drain the hamburger. I also think when you have a freezer full of beef you don't have to spend so much at the store - just get the stuff for side dishes and lunches and maybe chicken and pork once in a while. Sure it's a once a year expense but in the long run I think it's cheaper - and better.

I take my kids to the library, park, walks for fun
I have a Christmas club and stick to it
I use coupons

We buy older cars in cash so we don't have a car payment. We haven't had a car payment for 4 years and never ever want one again.

I shop thrift and clearance.

I wash everything but bedding in cold water.

I think that alot of how we run our household is considered frugal to others, but is just a way of life for us. We do have our indulgences, but, for the most part, I think we live much more frugaly than the average family.

1. I buy "clearance" meat and prep and freeze or use it the same day that I buy it.
2. I make a LOT (85% or more) of our food from scratch (saves money and it's healthier!)
3. I have a "coupon organizer" that is organized by type of item and when it expires
4. I don't buy toilet cleaner- I use vinegar and baking soda and a small bit of bleach
5. We rent a lot of kids movies from the library- some adult ones too(free)
6. I pack my DD1's lunch for her everyday...I can pack it for about 90 cents a day when it costs $ 1.80 to buy it at school
7. I go to second hand stores
8. I shop "end of season" sales for clothing
9. I take one big shopping trip every month- and lately 2 "small" ones to re-stock fresh foods.
10. I've made a HUGE price list sheet...what costs what and where it's cheaper
11. DH changes the oil on our vehicles
12. I can my own/freeze my own fruits and veggies
13. I shop on the radio auction- get things like restaurant certificates, hair cuts, gift certificates for 50-70% off...
14. We don't eat out unless we have a coupon or kids eat free
15. My family orders two adult meals and splits everything if we eat out- unless kids eat free
16. We rarely order drinks (other than water) if we eat out.
17. We have a small solar panel on the top of our roof. It cuts our electric bill by 30-40%
18. On road trips, we pack a snack cooler with drinks, snacks, sandwiches
19. We buy memberships to places like the zoo, waterpark, science museum.
20. We eat leftovers
21. We WRITE down our budget, where our money is going...if we didn't write it down, we wouldn't be aware of what we are spending and saving.
22. I rely on lists...LISTS for EVERYTHING...shopping lists so we don't forget something and have to run back to the store, "to do lists" so when I'm running errands I don't forget to do something and have to run out again, lists of activities that need to be done and lists of what we have in the house so I don't over buy.
23. the ONLY thing I wash in hot water is bedding (in my mind, it kills more "bed bugs" to wash in hot)
24. We line dry things/hang dry when we can.
25. I make our own baby food

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One happy wife and mommy!!!

I do my own taxes for FREE! Free everything. The irs has a thing where if you make less than , I think it's 50,000 (not sure of amount) you can file your taxes for free. Theyhave a link and you go to whichever software program you want to use, I usually choose HR block software. YOu do all the calculations online and then file. If you have to itemize it might be harder but I don't make enough to itemize. If I remember correctly you can find it by going to the irs.gov homepage and look for the small file your taxes free link. They made it small on purpose I think so it couldn't be found.

Free File Home - Your Link to Free Federal Online Filing (here's the link it was hidden better than I thought so I thought I'd include it)

I also use cloth napkins which everyone comments on like I'm trying to be fancy. yeah right I'm being cheap and don't want to buy paper ones!

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Indybreeze
DD 17
DS 13
DS 4
DD 2 months