Frugal tip #1: Get the whole family involved in saving and earning money!

Using thrifty tips to keep your household expenses at a minimum doesn’t have to mean living like beggars, or forsaking all luxuries and comforts.

Frugality only means living smart, using your money sensibly rather than carelessly. Many people live very frugal lives yet still enjoy their money. It would never appear to an outside observer that they are living any differently from anyone else.

The most important frugal tip we can give you is to make sure everyone in the family is on board. If you’re married, that means you and your spouse must BOTH be fully committed to saving money.

It will do you no good whatsoever if one of you is cutting costs while the other is still out wasting money.

The snag many couples hit is that the idea of living frugally usually occurs to one partner before it occurs to the other. That is, maybe Dad decides enough is enough and it’s time to get out of debt, while Mom hasn’t yet reached that point in her thought process.

Since saving money is 90 percent mental - it involves willpower and self-discipline and commitment - it’s important that both spouses be truly “converted” to the idea.

If one is just going along with it because the other suggested it, it won’t be long before that partner “falls off the wagon.”

Once you’ve both truly committed yourselves to following a frugal tip or two such as cutting costs, you’ll probably find that it’s kind of fun.

One of the great benefits of marriage is that you always have a partner for whatever crazy things life brings you. You’re in this together! Make saving money a game, a contest, a goal, an adventure that you can share.

If you have children, they should understand, too, that you might be doing a few things differently; buying generic cereal instead of the costlier name brands, for example, or skipping the trip to Disney World in favor of something cheaper and closer to home.

Since the kids aren’t the ones footing the bills anyway, they might not fully grasp the importance of each frugal tip you offer. However, if you’re a smart shopper, and if you exercise a little creativity, you can usually find replacements that will make the kids as happy as the things they’re used to. (Trust us: After a couple weeks, generic Cocoa Puffs taste just as good as the real thing!)

Families spend money together, so it makes sense that they need to save money together, too.

Include both spouses in the budgeting, and fill the kids in on the basics. Help everyone understand that the reason you’re doing it is to improve the quality of your lives.

Being out of debt will lead to greater benefits for everyone in the long run, and you’ll be able to enjoy your time together even more than before.

» Frugal Vacations - Lasting Memories At No Cost
Frugal vacations can be just as memorable as a trip that requires a large amount of money. The fact your family is together and building lasting memories is the true measuring stick.

» The Definition Of Frugal - Cheapskate? Miser? NOT!
The definition of frugal varies depending on who you speak to. Many believe that frugality is the same as being a cheapskate or a miser, but nothing could be farther from the truth.

» The Frugal Family - Changing The Family Tree
The frugal family is no longer the norm in America. Too often families are strapped with debt that they cannot afford. Children who grow up in the environment are more likely to be in debt.

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