I'm going to be teaching a class on being frugal, care to sahre tips??

I think the biggest thing I have done is trying to conserve on gasoline. With gas prices rising daily and our living several miles out of town it can get very expensive. What I've done is make a point of combining 'errands' into one trip. Rather than running to town one day for this and the next day for that I will wait a day or two and make a list of different places I need to go. I mentally make a map of town in my head and make a circle stopped where needed along the way.

Hhhmmm...here's some: * Baby wipes: I once ran out of baby wipes and had no way to the store. So, I took a roll of paper toweles and sawed it in half. I also happened to have a spray bottle filled with soapy water nearby so when my son did his business, I'd just tear off a few pieces of paper (it was the "select-a-size") and spray it with the soapy water and use it as normal. This is something I don't recommend for households with curious children because my 2 year old was eyeing the bottle to play with. * Spray bottles: Fill several of them (and mark them well with a permanent marker!) with either water and bleach for walls and germy places, one with windex (the bottles that windex already comes in, I don't like because you can control the flow of the spray two ways) and water and dish soap. I use the last one the most because not only for a quick squirt to dishes that I don't have the time to wash right then and there, but I spray down the counters and anything else that needs cleaning.

Here is a website that has a lot of thrifty ideas and links to thrifty ideas. http://www.thriftyfun.com/

I would say checkout Craigs List free section. I got a desk several months ago in great shape. They should also check out thrift stores. I have gotten great deals at Goodwill etc. I reuse my aluminum foil, plus sandwich bags.

Do you have a recipe for home made laundry soap yet? It works out so much cheaper than store bought & works just as well if not better imo. You need a bar of "Fells Naptha" soap, Wal-Mart carries it if you have a hard time finding it in your local grocery store. Two cups of Borax, 1 cup of Arm & Hammer Washing Powder (which isn't the same as baking soda- it would be in the laundry aisle). You grate the fells naptha, you can do it by hand or in a food processor, mix with a couple cups of water & slowly cook it on the stove top until it melts. Then you mix that, and the other 2 ingredients with 5 gallons of warm water. I refill recycled laundry detergent bottles to store it or you can store it in a covered5-gallon bucket. I did the math once,if I remember correctly it worked out to be like a penny per load.

How many do you want lol. I am not frugal but I have lots of tips: * When I wanted to decorate my sons room I didnt want to paint it in different colours I went to get those paper borders and it was going to cos me about $200 to do his room. Instead I went and got a roll of the contact paper (the one that you cover your books with that is like plastic but with sticky side) they have them in lots of designs and colours. I got finding nemo, super man, spunge bob all of these costed me less than $5 then I cut the pictures out and stuck them on the walls his room is lovely. If you want to take them off just peel them no mark left. * I dont do this but I know of lots of people that put water in their shampoo, or hand washing liquid * I buy a good quality shampoo for my son (like jonhson) and put it in a pump bottle and it last me for about 4 months as we only use 1 pump for his short hair.

We have anactual store that sells everything in the store for $1 no joke. We just spent $27 on alot of things we needed for the house. I loved it. I know I am going to be going back there from now on. No they dont have name brand products but who cares as long as they work just as good as the name brand then I am happy.

Lemon juice and baking soda clean stains out of sinks, tubs, counters,etc. It's cheap, smells good and is eco-friendly. Buy your' meat in bulk when it is on sale. Divide it up at home and freeze it until needed. Plant a vegetable garden in the spring ( you can do it as a container garden too). Freeze what you pick for the winter months when fresh produce is hard to come by.

My best frugal advice is to join freecycle, a non-profit organization where people post things they don't need anymore so someone else can come take them. You have to have reliable internet access to use this site as good items tend to go right away, but I suppose if you had to you could check it at the library or your friend's computer. I also advise that people invest in those community coupon books that non-profits tend to sell as fundraisers. It costs a little money up front but you save in the long run as long as you use lots of stores that are listed. You get to help people while being frugal, that doesn't come around often.

http://www.wd40.com.au/List/list.html Check this link out- just brilliant mate. You could print it up as a hand out or better still, provide everyone with the link and let them print it themselves. ;) This is an awesome list and should be in every home.

My recipe for yummy homemade dog food. I kg of lamb or chicken mince fromt the pet shop 1 pkt chicken noodle soup (for flavour) 1 heaped desertspoonful wet garlic (keeps blood clean and fleas hate the taste) 3 cups frozen mixed veges 1/2 cup barley 3 cups rolled oats 2 litres water In a large pot, cook veges and meat till mixed. Put aside to cool put in fridge to set, skim fat off top. Back on the stove, add all the other ingredients and stir to blen. Bring to boil, stirring let set. When cool put into containers and use as required. I make it soupy by dishing up a serve and then diluting it with water till it's the consistency of stew. Use hot water in winter to take the chill off. This is very beneficial and healthy for dogs. Any combno of cereal can be used, rice, pasta, oats, barley. Whatever is on special. My cat likes it too but I give him proper cat food because of the special vitamins it contains. I travel a 300klms to get to the pet shop that sells the mince but I combine the trip with other errands as well I buy 12 packs of mince and this does me a little over 3 months because I also feed a friend's dog. The recipe is never the same. Adjust it to suit your needs but it makes feeding your dog really inexpensive and very nuttitious and healthy. I also vivit my 95 yr old Dad and stay overnight. Please message me if you have any questions.

my advice is not to overlook thrift stores...sometimes you can get some really great deals there! last year i went to one and they happened to have a half price sale on shoes and purses. i found a brand new purse (still had the wrapping on it) and it was $2.00 and since they had a sale, i ended up paying $1.00 for a brand new purse!!

before going out to buy something new check around your place and see what you already have that can do the job....even if it was not designed for that purpose.

Frugality is a life style. But its important to know where to draw the line. Buying cheap products, or making do without, is not being Frugal. Buy the best and use it well. As a kid I was taught to eat everything I put on my Plate. (if you took it u gotta eat it) THis is a lesson in its self. Penny wise and Pound foolish is often used to define a frugal person who watches the pennies but lets the dollars slide away. Always Purchase the Best, and get the best out of your purchase!