Dying with the most toys still leaves you dead. The grinding stress of a harried/hurried lifestyle robs you of vitality, energy, health, connection to a higher being and hope. Some of what you do in your life rubs off, and someone else’s life is changed. Eventually, economies will change because of millions of decisions and actions like yours. We can only hope that, at some point, consumerism dissipates, selfishness stops getting rewarded, justice prevails, the world’s wealth is shared and hunger diminishes.

One of the key issues of living simply is living within your means, and not accumulating debt. Staying out of debt requires setting a monthly budget, and is probably the single best thing you can do to ensure your financial security. Budgeting helps because when you decide in advance how much to spend in each of your budgeted categories, you’re more likely to stick to it. Take the money you save by curtailing your spending and put it in an emergency fund to cover unpredictable expenses, like car repairs or a plumbing leak.

Staying out of debt allows more freedom to maintain chosen priorities and it often requires changing your “wants” versus your “needs”.

Financial concerns set the stage for chronic stress, which inevitably leads to unnecessary aging and illness. Responsibility is the foundation of debt free living. Financing an expensive lifestyle on credit may be possible, but it’s not the wisest course of action. Eventually you reach the end of your credit limits and a time of reckoning comes.

The pursuit of riches, pleasure, and power, beyond basic needs, is addictive and destructive to one’s self and to those in need.

Living SIMPLY is good in itself.

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People are always trying to save money, especially with today’s economy and housing crisis. No matter what your reason for saving, hopefully this will encourage you to discover ways you haven’t considered.

The price of everything is going up, sometimes on a daily basis, requiring people to be more conscientious about money. The problem is that by the time the mortgage, car, utilities, and credit cards are paid, there is little money to put aside. Saving money is not that hard, just a matter of learning all the different options and being creative.

In addition to the obvious of putting money into a retirement fund or savings account, there are hundreds of ways to save money. Although some ways of saving may not seem like much, once you add them up at the end of the year, you will see how substantial the savings really are. Keep in mind that saving is more than a single lump sum of money put aside. Saving is something found in your everyday life by the way you live and the frugal choices you make.

Rome was not built in a day and your bank account won’t be either. Each penny saved is one more penny than before. If you have the ability to save big, that is great. However, most people are not in that position, which is why I hope to show you how little savings can add up quickly.

Be encouraged that it is never too late to start saving, regardless of your age. Set your mind that now is the time to start building your future.

Over the next several days, I’ll be sharing simple and creative tips to get you on the right path.

1. Clearance

Always head straight for the clearance rack where you can find amazing bargains. Sometimes you may have to dig a little to find the right item but the savings will be well worth your time. Most clearance racks offer variety, current trends, and great value. For example, Bed, Bath & Beyond has a clearance section where you can find all kinds of wonderful household items for a fraction of the original cost.

2. Thrift / Surplus Stores

Unfortunately, thrift and surplus stores have been given a bad rap. Many of these stores are filled with hundreds of top quality items. Name brand merchandise is easy to find but just like clearance racks, it takes some time to rummage trhough. Find a thrift or surplus store close to where you live and then plan spending some time to find those outstanding bargains. A woman I know in Kansas City located such a store about 20 minutes from her home. After shopping through every isle over the period of two hours, she walked out of the store with eight huge garbage bags filled to the brim with designer clothes for her and her children, many with the original tags still attached. She even found a couple of Liz Claiborne suits for herself at $5.99 each and a Dooney & Burke purse normally valued at $225 for $19.95. Her children had an entire season of school clothes and best of all, she paid less than $200.

3. Reuse

When you shop, look for items that can be reused. Rechargeable batteries are a perfect example. Even though the initial purchase may be more than non-rechargeable batteries, there is a definite savings over a long period. Another option would be to purchase a nice artificial Christmas tree. Many of the current artificial trees look amazingly real and with the right lights and ornaments, you can change the look from year to year.

4. Landscaping

If you are considering creating a nice flower garden area, shopping for plants even on sale, can be expensive. Before you go out and start spending, look around to see if you have other plants that can be split from your existing flowers. Additionally, if you have a good relationship with any of your neighbors, you might ask them if they have any plants you could use as a starter. About 8 years ago my neighbor was planning a new back patio in an area where she had the most fantastic heirloom Irises you can imagine. I asked her if she was going to replant them and when she said no, she couldn’t be bothered, I jumped all over it. Now I have a front flower bed that visitors ‘ooh and awe’ over and it was completely free! Frugal Living at its best.

Another great idea is the next time you are in the market to buy a lawnmower, purchase one that mulches leaves. This way, rather than buy mulch for your flowerbeds every year, you can simply use the mulch you make. And to be even more "earth-friendly" consider purchasing an electric or battery powered mower. The way the price of gas is going, it will pay for itself in a couple of years.

5. Budget

Everyone should create a budget. If you are not sure how or just not good with money, many businesses such as H&R Block, offer free financial consulting to help you put a budget together. Knowing where you are spending your money is by far the best way to save. In most cases, people have no idea where their money is really going and once they see it on paper, not only are they surprised but eager to change their spending habits. There are also many free online Budget websites and free software sites for setting up a home budget.

6. Plan

Planning is a great way to save. Before you go to the grocery store, make a list and stick with it. If considering a vacation, plan everything. Heading out with no set direction will certainly lead you to impulsive spending.

7. Buy in Bulk

It is true that warehouse shopping can save a lot of money. Even if you have a small family, you can always split large quantities. The price of items in bulk is generally a great bargain. If you are single, you might go in with friends or family on bulk items. However, if it is an item that you may not use up in 15 years, then it is not a bargain, no matter how cheap (unless of course it’s free).

8. Allowance

Do not forget to give yourself an allowance for things you enjoy. Even if on a tight budget, buy something that you enjoy, which could be as simple as buying a new shirt or grabbing lunch at your favorite café. If you do not allow yourself this small “splurge”, you could find yourself in the same position as if dieting. Total deprivation leads to overindulgence.

I hope some of these suggestions will spur you on to begin your journey of Frugal Living.

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Budgeting your monthly expenses in order to get the greatest return on your income, and perhaps even put aside some for saving doesn’t have to be extremely difficult.

Various budgeting programs are available for use. Money management programs provide you with the usual package that allows you to enter your cash inflows and outflows, categorizes your expenditures, and at times, presents to you an analysis of your spending behavior. Through these programs you can also input the various payments you have to make monthly, and subsequently track if you’ve paid your bills on time. One of the absolute best free money management/budgeting tools available is is Yodlee.

I have been using it for over 15 months and it has made all the difference in our lives, as far as keeping track of all our accounts in one place. I have also tried Mint and found it not to be quite as robust as Yodlee.

Another budgeting tool that you can utilize are coupons. Various stores and magazines contain coupons that you can use to get discounts on various products. Should there be a need to purchase a particular product for which you have a coupon for, you will end up saving a fraction of what you might have had to spend on a regular purchase.

Lists, whether on a piece of paper, on your cell phone, on your personal digital assistant (PDA) or on a website (I’ve used this one plenty of times Don’t Forget the Milk will help you keep focused on what you have to buy, and in effect, keep track of the purchases you make. A classic example is your regular grocery trip. Prior to making the trip, plan out the week’s entire menu and identify what food items and materials you need to purchase that are unavailable in your pantry. Then, make a list of other household items that you’ve run out of (or are eventually going to run out of before you can make the next trip to the grocery). Armed with these lists, you can go to the grocery and know exactly where to go and what you’re going to buy. Without these lists, you will walk idly along aisles, and will likely pick up various food items that you won’t need in the immediate future, or already have at home.

A filing system is perhaps one of the best budgeting tools you can have in your home. With simple, labeled file folders, you can put together your bills, your receipts, and whatever bank documents are issued to you when you save or pay. By putting together your bills, your credit card receipts, and the like, you are able to keep track of how much you owe and when your payments are due.

Effective budgeting tools are those that best address your needs as a consumer. Create your own budgeting tool or find a program to do it for you—just make sure it suits your lifestyle.

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Living cheaply is all about prioritizing and being cagey. Living cheaply is kind of like being on a diet. If you try to restrict yourself to raw vegetables and wheat thins, sooner or later you will break down and eat the contents of your fridge, and yes that includes the condiments. Living cheaply is not the same as living frugally.

Frugality is a lifestyle choice. It is in the eye of the beholder. It is about saving the most amount of money over the long term. Frugality , as I understand it, is to make wise choices when it comes to your expenses; it is the art of efficiently using your resources; it is the art of making the best of your life by staying within the limits of what you can afford. It is spending wisely and avoiding unnecessary expenses.

Frugality is usually applied to matters of consumption, and commonly points to simplicity of style; miserliness is frugality carried to an extreme, involving meanness of spirit, and a sordid mode of living. Economy is a virtue and parsimony a vice.

Frugality is living with less of what money can buy. It is the attempt to save money when you can, rather than spending it. Frugality is a great way to save money, especially if you don’t have a great deal of money coming in. It doesn’t mean I’m cheap, it means I have priorities, and avoid impulse buying. Frugality is very freeing and fulfilling. I have gained everything worthwhile and lost nothing of true value.

Personally I think frugality is a means to an end. For me I am frugal in order to save money so I can spend it on what I really care about most. I don’t think anyone can judge another as being “not frugal”. It’s not about a contest to see who can spend the least.

Rather than aiming for absolutes and risk failing miserably, incorporate frugality in your life in small doses. The change in your mindset will help you a lot in the long run, as opposed to small prizes by taking drastic steps.

Spending money on something unnecessary is wrong, but not spending money on something necessary is equally wrong. Spend less than you make. Don’t spend more than you can afford.

Material wealth does bring some happiness, but we generally overestimate how happy it actually makes us. Material purchases are about what you have. Experiential purchases are about who you are.

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