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Frugal Articles of the Week

By Frugaling 5 Comments

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I’m back with another terrific group of articles! Hope you enjoy and share widely.

How We Pay Ourselves First by Our Next Life
I’m a big fan of budgets, but if you struggle to make or stick with them, there’s another way to stay frugal. The authors at Our Next Life propose “paying yourself” first. That means taking the money out of the bank account, and out of your hands before you have a chance to spend it. It’s a great psychological trick and well worth a read.

5 Awesome Dates That Won’t Break the Bank by Elliott Bailey
Frugal dating has sometimes been a struggle. I’m always open to new ways to save. Elliott Bailey may have come up with five of the most unique date ideas I’ve seen. And the best part? They’re all frugal friendly!

How Much Is Your Time Worth? by Stefanie O’Connell
Time equals money; at least, that’s the old adage. I’ve frequently thought about that and realized that my “worth” varies according to my work demands. If I have more free time, I’m less valuable. If you’re a freelancer, this is a great question to keep in mind.

Emotions and Food: How to Deal by Laurie
Vulnerability surrounding food decisions is exceptionally admirable. Laurie acknowledges a past of eating mistakes. Now, she’s turned a new leaf: eating well and staying frugal. Props to her and her family!

Filed Under: Save Money Tagged With: articles, Budget, Budgets, dates, dating, Food, Frugal, time, week

5 Ways To Fix America’s Food Problems, And Still Eat Frugally

By Frugaling 7 Comments

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Mark Bittman at The Englert in Iowa City

Mark Bittman’s diet advice is minimal and frugal: eat real food and more plants. As the first-ever op-ed food columnist for The New York Times, he’s paid to provide thoughts on various topics related to chowing down. But his job goes well beyond recipes and healthy eating strategies. Bittman recognizes powerful, systemic concerns that affect our world. From climate change to GMOs to organic foods, he’s got an opinion on nearly everything.

Two weeks ago, a friend invited me to see Bittman speak. I didn’t know what he’d preach about. I didn’t know what his style would be like. I hadn’t ever read his columns. I didn’t even read the flyer. All I knew was that he wrote recipes and cared about climate change.

We settled into our balcony seats, and the lights lowered. Eventually, a balding man with tiny spectacles walked onto the stage — a sheet of papers in tow. Bittman gulped from a bottle of water and placed his speech on the podium. I was initially disappointed — expecting him to speak extemporaneously. That ruffled attitude dissipated, as his spoken words were potent.

He explained that we are living at a time of great peace and prosperity. But our tragic irony is that amidst this wealth, we are not providing adequate care for the disenfranchised parts of society. We can produce faster than ever, but we can’t reliably provide clean water and air for everyone. And when these basic elements to sustain life are threatened, only the wealthy can afford to move and buy water filters.

Children are constantly being exposed to toxic advertisements for sugar-laden fizzy beverages that rot their teeth, spike insulin levels, create excess adipose tissue, increase incidence of cancer, and lead to various other medical complications. Bittman makes it clear that we are doing our children and future generations a disservice by advertising these unhealthy drinks and providing vending machines in K-12 schools.

We aren’t educating children to be critical consumers in school; rather, we are schooling them to insert dollar bills into the coffers of multinational corporations. Their reward is a carbonated gurgle that makes them temporarily feel good. The sugar targets evolutionary epicenters for life, but is overabundant in today’s processed world.

Food is just the tip of the melting iceberg for Bittman. Our way of life is being threatened by climate change. As global temperatures increase, crop yields will be threatened, waters will rise, and food scarcity issues will worsen. The research is abundantly clear, and yet, we haven’t taken any action. He seems to understand that sugar, corporations, and schools all play a part in affecting our food decisions. But even greater, that climate change complicates everything.

Bittman is controversial in his views. He takes firm sides and argues his points until others relent. I’d take greater issue with his debate-style personality, but I agree with him too frequently to care. He’s right, and people need to listen up.

While a polemicist and op-ed columnist, Bittman is not a pessimist. He recognizes these problems and provides solutions — however grandiose they might seem. The following are five takeaways from his talk:

1. Eliminate empty calories

We need to reduce empty calories from our diet. We need to stop eating treats and sweets in such great abundance, and eliminate sugary drinks (they’re awful for us). And we need to start eating nutritious foods. As a frugal blogger, this is vital to saving money, too. Junk food is junk, and not worth our money (or time working to afford them).

2. Support government research

Research on nutritional needs and diets is complex and onerous. For average readers, it’s entirely inaccessible. What are the researchers suggesting, should I have more or less salt? Are all high-fat diets bad? How much sugar do we need? All of these questions get answered in various ways by esteemed PhDs. But some research is better than others. Bittman emphasizes that we need to support government-funded — not industry-funded — studies. By removing corporations (or eclipsing their findings), we can find out how we should really take action.

3. GMOs aren’t that important

Despite being the popular object of vitriol, GMOs aren’t that bad. They aren’t linked to cancer or other health concerns. They aren’t dangerous. Meanwhile, this hatred of an acronym distracts us from real concerns such as antibiotics. They’re in chickens, cows, and lots of other livestock. Antibiotics leech into water sources, are ingested, and spawn radical bugs that cannot be killed. They’re awful and need to be done away with.

4. Transparency is vital for choice

Industrial agriculture companies constantly fight against labeling foods to enhance greater transparency. From calories of meals to GMO-free designations, they fight labeling because it cuts into profits. When people are made aware of what they’re ingesting, they make wiser choices and buy other products. To be able to “choose” healthier options, people must know what they’re buying first.

5. Local influences global

What Bittman excels at is framing food in a systemic perspective. Food is about socioeconomic status, race, culture, geographic location, and much more. It’s not just what’s for dinner. The choices we make today are influenced by the advertisements of yesteryears. One of the greatest changes we can make today is supporting more local options. Buy nearby crops, go to farmers markets, and support your neighbors. These choices will reduce climate change, likely be healthier, and make for more vibrant communities. Additionally, the hope is that local change affects national and international policy. We have to start small and build out.

I highly recommend you check out Mark Bittman’s recent book, How to Cook Everything Fast, for fun, frugal recipes that don’t take long to make!

Filed Under: Save Money, Social Justice Tagged With: Agriculture, Budgets, Calories, eating, Food, Frugal, GMOs, Mark Bittman, minimal, Organic, Systemic

Frugal Articles of the Week

By Frugaling Leave a Comment

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Every week I like to feature a few frugal articles that caught my eyes. Curl up in your favorite reading nook and enjoy. Hopefully these encourage you to live frugal lives!

The Men Powerful Enough to Wear the Same Thing Every Day by Alex Hawgood
I’ve got a couple articles this week that feature people who are wearing the same thing nearly every day. From fashion icons to tech CEOs, there’s a movement to simplify wardrobes. In becoming more minimal, we can save money and worry less about what we wear.

Why I Wear The Exact Same Thing To Work Every Day by Matilda Kahl
Like I mentioned, here’s the second article on wearing a single uniform. Curiously, this one features an art director who “leaves the creativity behind when it comes to her professional wardrobe.” I think a movement is happening here!

Freedom > Money > Stuff by J. Money
In case you need a reminder, J. Money has a simple mathematical formula for life. Prioritize free time and freedom over anything else. Then, save whatever you can — make that money work for you. And if, after all that, you still need stuff…

California Drought Tests History of Endless Growth by Adam Nagourney, Jack Healy and Nelson Schwartz
California is currently suffering one of the most punishing droughts they’ve ever experienced. All signs point to climate change and poor water rights/restrictions. This article is a likely harbinger of the trials and tribulations that are to come if we don’t do something about climate change — fast.

Filed Under: Save Money Tagged With: articles, Budgets, California, climate change, Clothing, Frugal, New York Times, Outfit, weather, week

Failing To Plan Ahead Destroys Budgets

By Frugaling 27 Comments

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Wow! I didn't know that failing To Plan Ahead Destroys Budgets! Thanks for pinning this!

This is a guest article from Stefanie! She’s trying to find ways to stretch her budget in one of the most expensive cities out there, New York City. A graduate of New York University’s drama and psychology programs at the height of the financial crisis, Stefanie discovered the world of financial planning out of necessity. Thanks for sharing your insight, Stefanie!

There’s a simple savings tool you may have overlooked. It doesn’t require cutting back on indulgences, savvy investing strategies, or even detailed budgeting. The key is planning ahead.

Here are some situations in which waiting until the last minute might be costing you, and how you can plan ahead to save in the future.

Commuting

Running late can lead to a significantly more expensive commute. In NYC, it typically comes down to taking the subway or hailing a cab. For me, that’s a choice between $2.50 on mass transit and about $10 on a taxi. Needless to say, I always leave enough time to get to the train, or even better, ride my bike.

Meals

Failing to bring lunch, pack snacks, and plan dinners at home can lead to an expensive grab and go habit. Dropping into the local deli or visiting the office vending machine for an afternoon pick me up carries a convenience cost that can add up quickly when it becomes a daily habit. There’s no need to cut out afternoon snacking. Just buy in bulk and bring from home. Or, if you have trouble remembering to pack a daily snack, bring the whole box and keep it at your desk!

Travel

You may get lucky with a last minute deal, but generally speaking, booking travel late in the game is an expensive endeavor. According to International Business Times, “…the worst time to buy a [plane] ticket is the day before. Two days before is a close second, and then three days and so on…” You probably have to request your vacation days or confirm visits to family and friends in advance anyway. Plan travel as soon as you get approved to avoid putting it off and getting stuck with the high prices of last minute booking.

Expedited Service

From shipping a package to dropping off dry cleaning, a quick turn around will cost you. I recently renewed my passport and know first hand that expedited service will run you an additional $60 charge plus the cost of overnight delivery fees. Note expiration dates on all important documents or service contracts. Mark your calendar with special events that will require specific preparations. Then flip your planner to a month before and make a note to deal with each of those items and expirations ahead of time.

Seasonal Purchases

From clothing to holiday decorating the best deals are always available at the end of each season. Rather than stocking up on winter boots in March and Christmas decorations in January, the majority of people continue to choose to pay the premium of shopping during the peak price season. Shop smarter by taking advantage of the end of season clearance deals.

“Drop In” Buys

A quick trip to the drugstore to buy shampoo, deodorant, or whatever you just ran out of is almost always more expensive than if you plan ahead and order items in bulk, purchase with coupons, or use a subscribe and save service like Amazon.com’s. When it comes to dry goods, paper products, personal care, and anything else you use consistently that doesn’t go bad, stock up when you see savings or order online when you find yourself getting to the bottom of a package.

These are just a few examples of how failing to plan ahead can lead to expensive, last-minute decisions. How has waiting until the last minute cost YOU?

Filed Under: Make Money Tagged With: Budgets, plan ahead

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