Save Money on Name Brand Clothes at the Flea Market

If you want to wear stylish name brand clothes, but cannot stand the super high prices, go shopping at the flea market. Flea market vendors are interested in bringing the hottest merchandise to the buying public, and that means dealing in name brand items. Shopping for name brand clothes at the flea market can save you a lot of money.

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One of the things to do with leftover pasta is simply save it for a meal the next day. It is very easy to throw the pasta and a little bit of water or sauce in a pot or bowl and heat it up again. In the microwave, this is even faster.

If you want to get fancy with your leftover pasta you can add it to other dishes. What you can use it for depends upon the amount you have left over. In fact, I often make extra pasta when I’m cooking it for dinner just so I can use it again in other meals. Cooked pasta will not go bad in the fridge very quickly. You can easily use it for 2 to 3 days after you initially cooked it as long as you allow it to dry out or get soggy.

Soup is one of the good meals to add leftover pasta to. Whether you make homemade soup with chopped vegetables and stock, or just opened a can and stick it in a microwave bowl, the addition of leftover pasta and turn it into more of a complete meal.

You can do the same thing with casseroles. Get out all your leftover vegetables, some meat or beans and the leftover pasta. Mix it up, pour it into a Pyrex dish, sprinkle on some cheese if desired and then bake it in the oven. You will have a delicious and very easy casserole to eat.

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It catches your eye every time you head out to the garage to start the car. You remember happy journeys on your 10-speed bicycle, and make plans to start biking again. But your busy life goes on, and your old bicycle collects dust. Before it falls into disrepair, why not go online and sell the bicycle to someone who can use it? Craigslist, the online classifieds website, is a perfect place to sell a bicycle.

Since it is very unlikely you want to ship your bicycle across the country, begin by finding the Craigslist page closest to your hometown. Amid the job offerings and personals, you will find a “For Sale” section with many categories of different types of merchandise. Pick the one that covers bicycles

Start your craiglist ad with a catchy headline. Do not bother with ampersands and asteriks in an attempt to attract attention. People searching for a good bicycle to buy won’t be impressed. Instead, post exactly what you are selling: the make and model of the bike if applicable, the measurement, any special features, and the condition. Be honest, but feel free to put a more positive spin on the bicycle by focusing on its benefits. Something catchy like “Save Gas!” could be an attention getter.

The next thing you need to successfully sell a bicycle on Craigslist is a quality photo of the bike. Leave the computer and head out to the garage. Take some time to wash and shine your old bicycle so it looks its best. Stand the bicycle in front of a plain colored wall or use the driveway as your backdrop. Take a picture that shows the entire bicycle from the side and one from the front. If the bike has any special features such as speedometer or a light, take a close up shot of that section.

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What if being frugal made you feel like a million bucks? You’d live a rich and happy life–while saving more money than you ever imagined! If you’re frustrated with your finances, drowning in debt, or just wondering where your money goes each month, don’t despair. For in these pages lies the secret to financial peace and harmony: how to become a frugillionaire. Unlike millionaires and billionaires, frugillionaires aren’t defined by the number of zeroes in their net worth, or the haute couture in their closets. Quite the contrary: frugillionaires master the art of frugality–living richly while saving a fortune. They make the most of the money they have, and treasure those things that money can’t buy. Best of all, becoming a frugillionaire is easy! Just open this book, and you’ll find 500 fabulous savings techniques at your fingertips. Mix and match them into your personal formula for financial success!

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I’m a great fan of the markets for both buying and selling. If you are interested in making some extra money by becoming a flea market vendor, please check out Flea Market Mama.

Some of the best things I have ever found at the fleamarket have been frugal decor items for my home. If you are lucky, and have sufficient transportation, you can probably find every single thing you need for your home at half price or less at a flea market.

When searching for frugal decor items at a flea market, it is important to know several things before you set out. First of all, what style are you interested in finding. Second, what sizes of items you need. This is especially necessary if you’re looking for occasional furniture, linens or curtains and things like paintings or artwork. Finally, it is important to know how much fixing or refinishing you are prepared and able to do. Never purchase anything that requires more effort than you are willing or able to give.

The most commonly found types of frugal decor at a flea market or knickknacks, small artwork and linens. Knickknacks and artwork can be found in any style and should always be investigated closely for damage. An attractive vase, statue or small picture to hang on the wall may cost you only one or two dollars. As long as they can be cleaned up or repaired with little effort they are a great choice for frugal decor.

Linens, curtains and things like pillows or cushions require a little extra effort to find something that will work in your home. The quest for frugal decor should always be undertaken intelligently. Unfold linens and curtains to inspect for stains, rips or tears and fading or other damage. Smell the linens to check for mold or mildew that may be hiding inside the fabric. Be extra careful when purchasing cushions or pillows as they may contain insects or mites you definitely don’t want to introduce your home.

Flea markets are an excellent source of frugal decor. Not only can you find some inexpensive treasures, you can also get the satisfaction of saving money for bills or entertainment while rescuing a potential trash from the landfills.

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The frugal tips they tout as ways to change your financial outlook are hardly worth mentioning. To me, a lifelong penny pincher, they seem ludicrously simple.

Example: Instead of buying Starbucks-type coffee, drink coffee at home.

Well, no duh (to adopt a phrase from my youth). Do people really need a financial adviser or a news story to tell them that spending $5.00 a day on coffee is not financially responsible? $5.00 a cup coffee translates into $1,825.00 each year. That’s two mortgage payments. That’s a year’s wardrobe. That’s groceries for one person for the whole year. Think about it: ALL your food, or a cup of coffee every day.

Example: Turn your thermostat down a degree or two in the winter.

This one seems obvious to me as well. Use less fuel and electricity, pay for less fuel and electricity. You can buy a decent sweater for $20.00, and save tons of money on heating.

I know, from personal experience, that some people need help with this concept, so I suppose it is good they put it on the news. I have an otherwise frugal friend who keeps her heat at 74 degrees all winter. She wears a t-shirt in the house.

<~~Picture me shaking my head and sighing here.

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Energy costs are skyrocketing, and people are searching for ways to stretch their budgets to cover heating and electricity in these winter months. Besides turning down the thermostat and increasing insulation, reducing the amount of heat or energy you use by closing up unused or uneccessary rooms can save you a lot of money on your monthly bills.

Close Up Unused Rooms – Registers

All registers in an unused room should be closed and covered to reduce energy costs and reduce waste. Be sure to do the same thing to air vents or registers that both push air into the room and take it out. Baseboard heaters can also be turned off and covered, though this is a bit more difficult.

Save Energy and Money by Closing Unused Rooms

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To make things easier on yourself consider the following top five tips for being frugal:

One — Don’t Buy Anything You Don’t Need

While everybody wants to splurge once in a while, not buying anything you don’t need is the most important step towards a frugal lifestyle. If you only want something, chances are you’ll want something different next week.

Two — Buy Stuff You Need at the Lowest Price Possible

Hunt for sales. Buy online only if this free shipping. Search for coupon codes or printable coupons on the Internet for everything you buy. Use discount cards. Combine these methods to increase your savings even more.

Three — Use the Stuff You Have until It Is Gone

Do not throw out the shampoo bottle because it takes too long for the shampoo to trickle down to the squirt end. And you will find another couple of ounces waiting to be used. Do not throw out the problems at the bottom of the cereal box. Sprinkle them on your cereal, or mix them into yogurt for extra Yum.

Four — Use Less of Everything

Just because laundry detergent says to use a full cap in a load doesn’t mean that three quarters of the cap would work any worse. You might be surprised at how little of detergents and soaps you need to use to get something just as clean. Reduce your closet of cleaning supplies to the very basics: bleach, white vinegar and baking soda.

Five — Use Everything More Than Once

Don’t throw out your junk mail. Use it to start a fire or as scrap paper for grocery lists. Don’t throw out food jars. Use them for storage for small items or to make your own salad dressings. Almost everything can be used more than once. Get creative. Avoid waste.

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Debt has become a reality of life in America. The average adult has thousands of dollars of debt, even without a mortgage. Car leases and loans, rent to own furniture and electronics, “no interest for 90 days” payment plans… All of these things contribute to the ever-increasing debt load most people are burdened with.
The first thing you have to do to free yourself financially is to make the decision to get rid of all debt. Once you make the decision, you should further commit yourself by stating that you will get rid of debt, no matter what it takes. It is tough to pay down debt, but you can, if you attack debt with everything you’ve got.

Paying Down Debt – Methods to Save the Most Money

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