The First Principle of A Frugal Lifestyle: Reduce

by Mary Ann Romans | More from this Blogger

23 Feb 2007 09:13 AM

Learn how to follow the first principle of a frugal lifestyle when you reduce your resources and save money.

"Reduce" is the very first thing you can do when embarking on a frugal lifestyle. It can be as simple as conserving energy use by turning off lights. The idea is to look around your home and your life and see what you can do with using less.

There are so many things that can be reduced without much of an impact to yourself or your family. Did you know, for example, that if you let your clothes soak in the washer for about 30 minutes, you can reduce the recommended amount of detergent by 1/4 or more? I use about half of the recommended amount, and my clothes are always clean, spot free and fresh-smelling.

Another example of reducing something can be found in an earlier blog about Saving Money in the Bathroom. I love using those paper facial cloths that are infused with facial soap. But I don't need a whole cloth to clean by face. As I mentioned in the article, I cut them in half and have effectively reduced the amount of those cloths that I need to buy.

There are many products of which we use more than needed. Don't we glob on the conditioner when a dime-size amount will do? Can you put a little less sugar into your corn bread or muffins without noticing a difference in taste? I can. Be aware of how much product you use around your house.

Can you walk to the store or a friend's house instead of driving? You've just reduced your gas consumption (not to mention mileage). Can you find books and movies at the library instead of buying them at the store? You've just reduced your book consumption (at least where saving money is concerned).

Reducing your energy usage by improving your home is also a good way of practicing this first principle of living a frugal lifestyle.

Those are just some of the ways you can start to reduce consumption and live a frugal lifestyle.

In future articles, I cover the remaining two principles of living a frugal lifestyle.

Check out the Conservation category of the Frugal Living Blog for ideas you can use to reduce and conserve.

And for more principles of a frugal lifestyle:

The Second Principal of A Frugal Lifestyle: Reuse

The Third Principle of A Frugal Lifestyle: Recycle

Learn more about Mary Ann Romans

Mary Ann Romans is a freelance writer, wife and mother of three children. She lives in Pennsylvania with her husband, the kids and a 16-pound cat.

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