I just got my first electric bill since moving into my mobile home. I’m horrified to see that it’s $300. I already pay $1150 for rent. I can’t afford this and I don’t know how to fix the problem. I have pots and I have to keep it cool so I don’t get sick. I’m hoping it’ll get better as it continues to get cooler (I’m in the Missouri) but I’m worried about winter too. Are we just going to have to freeze this winter? Any and all advice is much appreciated.

Pretty much the title. Blackstrap molasses is pretty amazing stuff, a Tablespoon has way more minerals and electrolytes than any of the mixes on the market.

I did write a blog post on the idea, but rules say I can't post - so figured I'd just give you the basics and you can look up the nutrition numbers yourself. Just add a pinch of salt.

So I remember just a few years ago I was studying my grocery list trying to think of ways to cross something off. I landed on tortillas. I could skip the tortillas because any meal we used tortillas for I could just turn into a rice bowl. I had plenty of rice. Then fast forward a few years. We went from one income to two. My husband meanwhile climbed the corporate ladder. We are still careful. (3 college tuitions to pay for and 2 possible weddings in the future.) My husband teaches Sunday school and a frugal friend turned around concerned if he was printing off his handouts at home and the extra expense we would incur. How easily I forget that level of frugality we once had. I REALLY appreciated her concern, and it inspires me to dig in and be a bit more frugal. Do you have friends like that?

I used to have a queen size mattress but decided to downsize, and got myself a twin size mattress instead. I can still use the pillow cases and even the flat sheets, but have not figured out what to do with the fitted sheets.

It's been suggested to me to just donate them to homeless shelters, and while that is an option, I still wanted to see if I can keep them and use them, somehow.

I finally bit the bullet and bought a $20 double edged safety razor to try out a few months ago. It's SO MUCH better than any cartridge type I've ever used! I'm getting much closer shaves and not tearing up my skin like I used to. They require a little more finesse to use properly, but I was able to pick it up pretty quickly.

Even changing blades every 4 shaves before any signs of dulling, blades will cost me under $15 per year not counting the handle. I went with Feather for the brand, but there are others.

I'm not a coffee connoisseur, but I do drink a few cups every day, and even making it at home with grounds is expensive. I'd like to find a solid, inexpensive brand of ground coffee that I can make for myself and for guests that will be satisfying.

But hunting around for a good budget brand means a lot of trying out options, many of which are disappointing in various ways (too bitter, too weak, causes headaches or acid reflux). I'm looking for some reviews/recommendations based on the following options.

Walmart - Great Value Brand

Walmart - New England Coffee

Amazon Fresh

Aldi - Barrissimo

Trader Joe's

I’ve been using a free plastic grocery bag forever, but lately I’ve had a few mishaps where my food spills or leaks out of its tupperware container and also seeps out of the bag.

I have some tupperware containers I use that are short and wide, and others that are tall, so I liked how the plastic grocery bag could fit any shape. But now I’m thinking I should get a more solid, sturdy, flat-bottomed bag so things don’t spill. And maybe a zipper to close it in case it does spill, to keep the liquid inside and not make a mess.

I'm moving a one-bedroom from Denver to Austin, about 920 miles, with a couch, a small dining table, a dresser and around 20 boxes.

I got four quotes between $2,150 and $2,600, one of them through Value Added Moving because I didn't want to call six places myself, and their coordinator explained why interstate pricing works differently from a local hourly rate. Towing a trailer myself would run about $400 in gas and tolls plus three days off work, which eats most of the savings.

People in moving threads keep quoting half that for similar distances, so is this just what a one-bedroom costs across state lines, or am I missing something?

Gamestop has a deal currently happening in stores only. I believe Saturday 10/17 will be the last day.

Four games marked $10 or less for $20.

Four games marked $5 or less for $10.

That's basically 50% off if you buy $9.99 or $4.99 games, and there are plenty of them for PS4 or XBOX One. I've stopped at three game stops, getting four games in each category at each location, for a total of 24 used games for $90 plus tax. You can use their website to determine pricing, but you have to find and buy the games in-store to get the deal.

You might have to hurry, because I'm not sure how long this deal has been going on, or how much longer it will last. But you can confirm the deal is still available on their website under 'deals' and look for the 4 for $10 and 4 for $20 promotions.

EDIT: If they aren't too busy, they have the ability to print off lists of all in-stock games at $4.99 or $9.99.

ALSO... One employee told me that they often follow this sale with 4 for $40... four $19.99 games basically at 50% off. I'm excited for that one.

EDIT 2: Some of the $4.99 PS4 Gamestop games (that you could be getting for $2.50 each)

• Borderlands 3
• Horizon Zero Dawn
• Dishonored 2
• Deus Ex
• Dragon Age Inquisition
• Call of Duty Modern Warfare
• Call of Duty Infinite Warfare
• Call of Duty Black Ops 4
• Star Wars Jedi Fallen Order
• Watchdogs Legion
• Just Cause 3
• Uncharted 4
• Injustice 2
• Rage 2
• Shadow of Mordor
• Monster Hunter World
• Thief
• Star Wars Squadrons
• Walking Dead Telltale Season One
• Walking Dead Season Two
• Tons of VR games
• Tons of sports games

The $9.99 list is longer and better, of course.

My car is paid off and perfectly fine. It gets me from point A to point B however I’m still fighting the temptation to get another car… not brand new, used but around 35,000…. I don’t need it I just reallllly want it.

I want to drive a car that I’m proud of and that I like. But I also know it’s not a good idea right now. How do y’all fight the temptation to upgrade.

Is there a balance in this scenario? Pros and cons?

I'm the kind of person who prefers preventative maintenance rather than waiting for something to break and potentially paying significantly more for repairs down the road. However, I'm also trying to be financially responsible and avoid spending money unnecessarily.

I currently drive a Japanese sedan that's approaching 10 years old with approximately 138,000 miles. This is my first vehicle, and ideally, I'd like to keep it for as long as reasonably possible. My goal isn't just to keep it running mechanically, but to preserve its overall condition, including the paint, exterior, and interior. I want to take care of it properly so that even as it ages, it remains reliable, comfortable, and in good condition.

I've already taken care of several maintenance items, including the front brakes and rotors, engine oil, transmission fluid, spark plugs, engine and cabin air filters, and battery.

However, as the car gets older, I'm considering additional preventative maintenance. As far as I know, the brake fluid, coolant, and power steering fluid have never been replaced. I'm concerned that neglecting these fluids could eventually cause expensive damage to components that would otherwise last much longer.

My philosophy is that spending a little money now to prevent a much larger expense later is generally worthwhile, especially when my vehicle is something I depend on to get to work and earn a living.

Another major factor in how I justify maintenance expenses is comparing the cost of maintaining my current vehicle to the cost of replacing it with something newer. My car is already paid off, so even if I spend several hundred or occasionally a thousand dollars on maintenance and repairs, that's still potentially much cheaper than taking on a monthly car payment, higher insurance premiums, and the depreciation associated with a newer vehicle.

For example, spending $1,500–$2,000 annually on maintenance and repairs might sound expensive, but compared to paying $400–$500 a month on a newer car, it could still make significantly more financial sense to keep what I have, assuming the vehicle remains mechanically reliable.

At the same time, I recognize that cars are depreciating assets. There's always the possibility of an accident, unexpected mechanical failure, or another situation where the money I've invested in maintenance won't necessarily pay off. I also don't want to fall into the trap of continuously putting money into a vehicle simply because I've already spent so much maintaining it.

I understand that keeping an older vehicle in excellent condition requires spending money, but I want to distinguish between maintenance that's genuinely beneficial for its longevity and maintenance that provides diminishing returns.

My question is: From a long-term financial perspective, where do you draw the line between smart preventative maintenance and overspending on an aging vehicle?

Would you prioritize replacing older fluids and maintaining components before they show symptoms, or would you save that money and address problems as they arise? At what point does maintaining an older, paid-off vehicle stop making financial sense compared to purchasing something newer?

I'm also curious how others approach preserving the cosmetic condition of their vehicles over the long term. Is it financially reasonable to invest in paint protection, detailing, and interior preservation if the intention is to keep the car for decades rather than resell it?

I'm especially interested in hearing from people who have kept their vehicles running reliably for 15–20 years or 200,000+ miles while keeping their overall ownership costs low.

Hello, I need to start packing my lunches because I'm starting a new job and eating out is too expensive. I'm thinking of alternating between turkey sandwiches and beans w/ rice dish. The concern is that the food safety guidelines on Google say 2 hours is the max if left unrefrigerated. In a lunchbox can I extend it to 5 hours? What if it's left in a hot car? How many ice packs do you use? Can I realistically go past those guidelines?

I'm thinking of purchasing the packit lunchbox where you freeze the whole thing and it's convenient.

Alright you nerds. You want to save some money and/or have better financial skills for the long term and other benefits reasons like reducing waste, mindfulness and more. Now that you're an adult, you have more control over your money but you want to it ACTUAL last especially with how things are going right now

Lets start:
You know the 3R. Reduce, Reuse and Recycle. I'll add two more. Repurpose & Repair

A library card. It's one of the few remaining third spaces where you don't have to spend any money. You can check out books, movies, electronics, tools and more. Maybe you can get a meet cute. Get Libby & Hoopla for E-books & Audio books

Get a HYSA via a Credit Union or an Online bank like Discover.

Reusable Water bottles. Tote bags for grocery shopping.

Youtube is your friend. Minor DIY and maintenance repairs because you'll be disgusted at how easy some repairs are and how OUTRAGEOUS places will charge you like air filters. Home workout videos. Educational help

Use your campus resources since you're technically paying for them. The gym, various free clinics, food pantries, career center etc.

Going to sound like a boomer here but you can make your coffee and more at home. Learn some copy-cat recipes and/or you can find a duplicate version at Walmart, Sam's, Costco and more.

Staple foods! Your rice, beans, pasta and more. One ingredient can make over 100+ different meals

Quality is it's own frugality. Yes sometimes the higher priced item is cheaper in the long run. You want to buy something once replace within 5+ years of consistent use or you can past it down throughout the generations like your grandma's cast iron IF you can keep it well maintained

Audit your stuff. Take inventory of all your belongings. I did it for my hygiene products a few years ago and only bought new things when I did something specific like my dry skin. Also I checked my trunk case and found that I have around 8 boxes of pasta.

Look at your bank statements. LOOK AT IT! You need to know where your money coming and/or going so you can plug the holes.

Consider Open source options. LibreOffice, GIMP, Krita etc. Additionally see what subscriptions you can replace. For me I replaced my Metro PCS with US mobile reducing my $55 monthly bill to $25.

Finally do what you can. You can do some. You can do all. You can do none. Mix and match. Do whatever is the easiest and most comfortable to do

Do you floss daily (be honest)? I did maybe 1ce a week or two because it grossed me out all the germs flying around the bathroom sink/mirror etc. And to avoid getting the gunk on my hands I’d use humongous long pieces of floss so every tooth had its own spot lol.

So NOW I floss in the shower :D cause all the running water and rinse takes away the ick factor (at least psychologically for me). Only use 1 piece. And for sure it’s a huge gain for dental health now flossing most days.

Hope even if it’s weird gross that one person benefits from this.

I see it online and in real life how people have "spending problems" or how they spend their entire salary week one and I'm genuinely just wondering on what are thosw people spending money on.

I'm a frugal guy, aside from my bills and social events, I literally don't spend money on anything.

Last month I didn't do anything social, so my entire discretionary spending for September was a single grocery store sandwich(I forgot to pack a lunch).

Like what would I even spend money on?

Takeout? I know how to cook.

Clothes? I already got those.

new phone? Mine works.

I don't have any subscriptions (aside from my phone plan), no debt, there's nothing I really need nor want (as of right now)

And here are my coworkers are always complaining about not having money even though we have similar wages.

I'm saving 30% of my salary my guy, you are doing something very wrong if you are living paycheck to paycheck.

I follow this woman and just watched her newest video ("Stop Throwing Away These 5 Food Scraps") and thought it was pretty good.

Normally, advice about avoiding food waste stresses me out (and I generally feel skeptical) but I think I will actually try most of these. I’ve cooked up potato peels in the air fryer before and highly recommend it. Also, imagine stretching one head of cauliflower across two meals?!

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OdunPSG887s

The recipes she tries: 

• Jamaican Pineapple Skin Tea
• Indian Fulkopi’r Data Bhaja (Cauliflower Stalk Stir Fry)
• French Coffee Ground Cookies
• Crispy Potato Peels
• Corn Cob Jelly

I'm looking to buy prescription glasses online (around −5.5 SPH, mild astigmatism).

Some online retailers offer complete glasses, including frames and 1.74 lenses, for around $100, compared with ~$300 at a local optical store after insurance.

Which online retailers have you had good experiences with regarding prescription accuracy, lens quality, and optical alignment? I'm particularly interested in stores offering at least a 30-day return policy and preferably a one-year warranty.

Any recommendations or experiences with Zenni, EyeBuyDirect, GlassesUSA, or others?

I live in a tiny, old, uninsulated, and electrically inefficient apartment. One of my windows is stuck open (top half won't stay up about 2in) and creates a draft. The heaters are electric and the main one takes up the length of the southern wall in the unit, and I'm scared to use it cause it makes contact with my bed. Bed is in the southwest corner, TV is on the east wall, dresser is on the north wall next to my closet. I live in North Dakota.

I'm wondering if it would be better to use a space heater in the main room, or if I should switch my bed and dresser around. The electric heat is more expensive than running my window A/C all day. Really don't want to burn down my building. The kitchen and bathroom heaters are shorting out, and the electrician said not to use them. :(

Update: window is nailed shut until maintenance can actually fix it

I have sensitive eyes and unfortunately am stuck having to use daily contacts. Acuvue Oasys to be specific. I’d love to save some money of course, as we all do here. Any recommendations on where I can stock up on my lenses for a bit cheaper than what we tend to pay at the eye doctor?
I’ve looked into 1-800-CONTACTS which is actually a bit pricier than what I usually pay.

What’s up beautiful frugal people, here’s a new meal I tried at home today. My first ever attempt at homemade Chicken Katsu in the air fryer, I don’t like using so much oil now and I utilize our air fryer for new recipes and not only do they come out more healthier than deep frying things but I also save a lot on the oil expenses. Now, first-most, I am not afraid to buy the generic foods like Kroger brands or store brand food items. It saves me money and I really don’t think the quality is that much different. Secondly, I do a small amount of bargain shopping so I usually buy things on sale and store them or vacuum freeze them. That’s why I’m able to cut my costs so low. Also foods like seasonings and rice last a very long time.

Anyway, here goes. For the rice, I bought a little rice cooker that can make 3 cups for $15.00, enough to feed a whole family, I LOVE it and it saves me money and time, not much to it than to measure, wash your rice, and throw it in and season it. Takes roughly about 40 mins to have it come out how I like it, in the mean time I work on the other food or do something else.

For the chicken Katsu, Ive never made it before, but it’s basically the same as making fried chicken, however it was my first time making in the air fryer.

1) Beat your eggs in a bowl

2) in a separate bowl you mix your flour with your seasonings, I like to add salt, pepper, garlic powder, onion powder, and some chili powder, then I added some Panko bread crumbs. I bought the cheap generic brand and only spent about $1.70, however you can always make your own at home and save more money.

3) Then I grabbed my chicken breast (slice it in half if its too bulky), pat it down dry, dunk it in the egg wash, then in the flour mixture until it is fully covered.

4) Then I spray it with cooking spray on each side and set it in the air fryer.

5) I set my air fryer to 360°F and cook on one side for 7-8 mins, then turn it over and cook it for another 7-8 mins. Thats a total of 14-16 mins of cooking time, however each air fryer is different, sometimes you might have to cook it an extra 1-3 mins to get a crunchier exterior how I like it, it just depends how u like your meal. Just check the internals of your meat using a food thermometer. I believe properly cooked chicken is 155°F.

6) As the chicken is cooking, I start on the gravy. I had left over steak juice from last night when I had made steak in the pressure cooker. It was about a cup of water, a splash of some red wine, and some seasonings, with the steak drippings, but you can just use a can of beef broth or even chicken broth (I prefer using beef because it helps brings out the chicken flavor, imo)

7) I pour it into a sauce pan, mix in some masala powder, curry powder, salt and sugar, until taste, I cook it on high heat.

8) Then I mix in some flour or cornstarch, maybe about a tbsp or slightly more depending on how the consistency looks. It should thicken up. I didnt use a recipe for this curry, I just winged it and did my own thing until I liked the flavor.

9) Once everything was done, I put everything together and topped off the chicken Katsu with some slices of onion and the homemade curry gravy with some sliced radishes.

I usually like to add more, but I needed to go to the grocery store this weekend and this was all that I had, however I will admit that this meal came out FANTASTIC! My picky sister LOVED it, she couldn’t get enough of the gravy and asked for a second serving. She gave it an excellent 9/10, she wished I had made more gravy. I know the presentation wasn’t great and I should have sliced the chicken katsu into more slices, but I was a starving man. My sister was impressed by how well everything tasted and especially the chicken fried in the air fryer. I am a fan of air fried chicken from now on.

Now, I went over my costs and I do think I over-calculated here, however I would rather over calculate than under. Here’s a list of ingredients and what I paid for each serving.

Chicken breast (½ breast) $1.00 (pack of 5lbs for $10.00)
Eggs (2 whole) $0.28
All-purpose flour 1 Cup $0.16
Panko breadcrumbs $0.21
White rice (1¼ cups cooked) $0.10
Onion (Ring slices) $0.08
Radish (½ radish) $0.20
Seasonings and spices $0.25
Olive oil spray $0.06
Leftover steak juices $0.00
Water $0.00

Total : $2.34

Anyway, this meal really was fantastic and I hope you guys enjoyed it as much as I did, cooking really is the way to go, you can save so much by going this route. Ladies, I’m single btw 😉.

Halloween (and most holidays) tend to get pretty spendy. Has anybody seen the price of a bag of candy recently?? This year, I'm trying to be more conscientious both for frugality's sake and be less wasteful.

Halloween costume came from the thrift store and decorations are either natural items or creative re-uses.

Would love to hear other's tips! This community always has great ideas.

Image from: 1 Million Women (an Australian climate focused organization). I'm not affiliated with them, just like their stuff

PS: I wish we had a holiday flair

I've been looking at our household expenses lately, and window cleaning is adding up more than I expected.

Our house is around 2,200 sq feet and it includes a glassed in porch. We pay $250 each time, and we usually get the windows cleaned twice a year. That's over $500 a year just for windows.

I've considered doing it myself since basic tools are cheap. But cleaning all the windows and frames myself would probably take most of the day and I'm not sure I'd get them as clean as a pro.

We're thinking about doing most of the cleaning ourselves and just hiring someone occasionally for a deep clean. What do you guys do? Any tips for saving money without spending an entire day on it?

My office frequently orders food for visiting clients or project executives. Usually, everyone gets some and then there’s a TON left over. When I started working there, I noticed they would throw it away and no one ever wanted to take any home. So for over a year and a half about once a month (sometimes more, sometimes less) I take home all the leftovers, process them, and freeze it all. I’ll eat it for weeks and I don’t even mind. Mind you, I always ask if people want to take some too and they just never want to-I’d be happy to share, they’re just not interested. I am so happy because I save it from the trash and it’s literally free food! This time I had several large containers of black beans, pinto beans, Spanish rice, white rice, sour cream, fajita veggies, tortillas, cheese, salsa, and tomato onion salad. I made them all into tacos and, when I ran out of tortillas, made a burrito filling. :)

I live in an old rental that has rotted windows. I want to cover them year round. They are cold in the winter, and let in moisture and humidity in the summer. My electric bills are insane!!!

Has anyone ever used clear vinyl? The heavier kind...like 20 gauge? I was thinking I'd buy magnetic tape with steel tape so that I can remove it if necessary. I can use some nails to hold some of the weight at the top. I plan to use painters tape to avoid damaging the wall.

Just wondering if anyone has tried this? I can't find anyone on YouTube who has used this method for window coverings. Thank you!

Edit: Thank you all lovely people who responded! I will probably go with the plastic kits...I had wanted to be able take them on and off to monitor the moisture and to just have a working window with the clear vinyl idea.

Thank you all so much! Doing all of this alone is hard, and I really do appreciate your help!!! May your winter heating bills be as low as possible 🙏!