There are various levels of frugality. For some people, it's as simple as switching from paper to cloth or reducing plastic use.
Others consider themselves frugal if they create an organized meal plan and stop eating out or shop secondhand. Each person decides comfortable ways to reduce waste and save money. Income doesn't always define how frugal a person can be, however; sometimes the extremes a person takes in order to be frugal will make people take notice with a definite "yikes or likes" reaction.
Extreme frugality isn't for everyone. But these strategies are available options. For people who practice black-belt frugality, it doesn't seem extreme at all. It's a way of life. In fact, they are far more embarrassed by their non-frugal ways.
I'm not including cheap strategies such as airport sleepovers or bringing your own cheese to save on the cost of a hamburger. But I will revisit extreme frugality in the future. Tell me any extreme frugal ways that you've heard about.
Here are a few examples:
ALTERNATIVE FEMININE PRODUCTS: Sorry, guys. Some women opt to use products such as washable cotton sanitary pads, sea sponges, knit or crochet tampons or the DivaCup, which is a silicone cup that collects rather than absorbs. According to Lunapads (http://www.lunapads.com/), a Web site that sells alternatives to disposable feminine products, you can calculate your savings by following these steps:
1. Estimate your monthly spending in disposable feminine-hygiene products.
2. Multiply by 12 months.
3. Subtract the cost of the DivaCup.
4. This total is what you will save each year by using the DivaCup.
SHORT SHOWERS: Also known as timed showers, some people will limit their showers to be as quick as possible. Some might clean the shower or brush their teeth while in it. They'll collect the water from the shower to water their gardens or flush toilets, too. And speaking of toilets, many practice "If it's yellow, let it mellow; if it's brown, flush it down" method of conserving water. I've heard of people training their pets to use the toilet, too.
NO CAR: Some people have ditched their car, choosing instead to bike or walk.
NO TV: Some start by simply challenging themselves not to watch during the summer months and then discover they don't miss it at all.
ALTERNATIVE SHELTER: Some people are giving up their homes to live in an RV, car or van. One reader, John, e-mailed and shared: "The single biggest cost for most people is housing. On Yahoo groups (http://autos.groups.yahoo.com/group/VanDwellers), there is a group of more than 4,600 people who have exchanged their expensive housing for something more within their means -- a van. Their vans range from the simple to the sublime. Their videos are on YouTube, too." Also, some frugalitarians are couch surfing (http://www.couchsurfing.com/), which is a way for people to open their homes to fellow travelers or find an open home when traveling. It's a way to connect with others and learn more about travel destinations, too.
CURBSIDE MALL: Freegans (http://www.freegan.info/), an anti-consumer environmentalist group, can salvage and survive, by choice, on what mainstream consumers discard. Some frugalistas aren't as extreme but still enjoy rescuing items from landfills. One reader, Michelle in Florida, shares: "I do better with what I call the 'curbside mall' than dumpster diving. My house is mostly furnished with things I've found along the side of the road. I sat down about four months into my trash-picking venture and figured that we saved more than $1,500 from it!"
Sara Noel is the owner of Frugal Village (http://www.frugalvillage.com/), a Web site that offers practical, money-saving strategies for everyday living. To send tips, comments or questions, write to Sara Noel, c/o United Media, 200 Madison Ave., 4th Floor, New York, NY 10016, or e-mail sara@frugalvillage.com.
