How to Save Money without Being a Cheapskate

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• Use glass, ceramic, or steel utensils as long as they’re dishwasher-safe. The reason for this is so you don’t get lazy with doing the dishes and be tempted to use disposables. Always think of non-disposables and sustainability when buying things. Instead of disposable plastic cutleries and paper plates, use the real thing.

• Always keep a canvas bag handy so you can avoid paying for extra plastic bags when you go shopping. It should always be fold-able to fit in our purse or bag.

• Lessen paper consumption at the home and office. Use both sides of copy paper and stationary. Turn into scratch pads those papers that have only been used on one side. Send emails or chat messages rather than written letters or memos.

• Avoid printing out materials whenever possible. If you must, use the printer-friendly version and always use the back side of used paper. Optimize your printing by reducing margins to print as many data in one page. Choose font that consumes less ink like Ecofont and Evergreenfont.

• Switch from paper to cloth napkins; paper towels to sponges (or old but clean small cloth towels). Cloth napkins can be washed repeatedly; the same goes for sponges which can be cleaned in the microwave or dishwasher. Also, remember to switch off lights and other electrical items when not in use.

• When choosing between similar items, select the one with the least superfluous packaging; it adds to the cost and waste.

• Switch to compact fluorescent bulbs; they last ten times longer than incandescent bulbs and use 75% less energy.

• Avoid loading your phone bills with services such as call waiting and call messaging.

• Forgetting to pay bills on time

• Paying for a gym membership and never using it

• Overstocking groceries like vegetables that only go bad in the fridge. This will diminish your meal savings in no time!

• Buying stuff at full price without even trying to look around for discounts or sales.

• Paying for services that you might be able to do yourself.

• ‘Pigging out’ or engaging in ‘retail therapy’ when you’re bored or emotionally disturbed.

• Reduce your subscription to newspapers and magazines you buy by sharing it with someone or read some or all of them online. You can also get them at a library which is better because you’ll lessen your electrical consumption with the free air conditioning or heater. Going to public buildings such as malls and museums for leisure or when you want to relax also benefits you the same.

• Cut out mobile and cable TV, or downgrade the subscription package you’re getting. There’s a lot of call, messaging options, and free streaming online if you look.

• This is a good post on an interesting topic. As a personal finance blogger, I tend to walk a thin/fine line between being frugal and cheap. It is sometimes a little hard to understand what makes someone cheap and what makes someone frugal.
• However, some examples on how I would personally draw the line are shown below:
•  Cheap = Signing up to go on a ski trip in West Virginia with a group of friends, having something come up that makes you have to cancel after the group leader has already made the lodging accommodations, and not paying them back for your share.
• Frugal = Respectfully saying that you can’t go because something came up, but still paying the group leader back for your share.
• Cheap = Going to eat at a fairly nice restaurant, spending more money than you are comfortable with, and then tipping only 5%.
• Frugal = Eating at the nice restaurant, spending more money than you are comfortable with, tipping 20%, but then not eating out at all for the next two weeks to make up for the error.