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Welcome Frugalistas!

What exactly does frugal lifestyle mean?  I believe it’s being smart and savvy in your choices. Prioritize and take control of what’s important to you and you will come out ahead.

This blog and website offers frugal tips and money saving ideas to help you live a richer life. Save money on everyday living. Start living the "Frugal Lifestyle" today.

Spend Less  • Earn More • Live Better

10 Fun & Free Things To Do This Weekend

5/20/2014

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The long Memorial Day weekend is around the corner which means Summer is almost here!! Memorial Day is the unofficial start of Summer, even though it doesn't actually start until June 21st.

Here in the Los Angeles area, the weather forecast says the high will be in the low 80's. A welcome change from the 100 degree weather we've been having.

If you are looking for fun and free things to do this holiday weekend (actually on any weekend), I've come up with at least 10 fun (mostly) outdoor activities that require little to no money at all.

1. Head To The Beach - pack up a cooler with food and drinks and head to the nearest beach. Leave early so you can get good parking for free.

2. Visit Farmers Markets - check out a few farmers market within your neighborhood. Sample a taste or two of some of the fresh fruits or drinks the vendors are offering. 

3. Pack A Picnic - Go to your nearby park with picnic basket in tow filled with yummy food, drinks & treats. Enjoy a leisurely day under a shady tree while listening to cool music.

4. Play Sports Outdoors - whether it's a game of basketball, tennis, tag football or frisbee ... the important thing is that you are amongst friends and having fun!

5. Stroll Art Festivals & Street Fairs - make a day out of of browsing through local artist's arts and crafts as well as other interesting vendor wares.

6. Check Out Flea Markets - explore local swap meets or flea markets and discover truly one-of-a-kind treasures.

7. Host A Potluck - instead of going out to a restaurant, get together with your favorite people and have a potluck at someone's house. You can rotate who will host the party next time amongst everyone.

8.  Tour Open Houses - pick a neighborhood that you might want to move to someday. Pick up a few ideas on how you might decorate your own home. 

9. Go For A Walk - whether it's a walk along the beach or the park, enjoy every sight along the way.

10. Plan Your Next Trip - it's never too early to start planning your next vacation. You not only save time, but money too! Plus, it gives you something to look forward to.

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Mother's Day Gift Ideas

5/7/2014

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Mothers are special every single day of the week, but there's one day every year that celebrates how much she is loved and appreciated. 

This year, it's on Sunday, May 11th - Mother's Day!

Let mom know how special she is without breaking the (piggy) bank. Here are 10 favorite frugal gift ideas any mom would love:



Homemade Jewelry - find inexpensive beads, chains, jewels, etc.. at a craft or hobby store to create unique bracelets or necklaces. You can also customize the jewelry with letters that spell out her name. A really inexpensive option is look through some old jewelry and create a whole new piece!

Breakfast in Bed - greet mom in the morning with a tray of her favorite breakfast goodies. Include a homemade card, her favorite drink and some flowers too. 

Organize Her Closet - you can give this gift as a "coupon" that's included in her homemade Mother's Day card. This could be really fun and functional... have mom participate in which item in her closet goes in the Keep, Throw Away or Donate pile. 

Framed Photos - make copies of mom's favorite and special photos. Select a theme, such as a particular vacation, party, event, etc.. Choose various sized photo frames and group them in a gift basket.

Wine and Cheese - buy a couple of her favorite bottles of wine (there's some great ones at Trader Joe's) and a few delicious cheese wedges for a sophisticated gift basket that she can indulge in right away!

Movie Marathon - rent a few of mom's favorite DVD movies from Redbox or the library and spend a night with her watching movies while munching on buttered popcorn.

Picnic at the Park - prepare a picnic basket with mom's favorite stuff, including yummy desserts and head over to a nearby park under a shaded tree for a nice, leisurely picnic. 

Plant Arrangement - create a special and unique arrangement from your garden (or a friend's garden). Find a container, such as a pot, bowl, cup, pitcher, etc.. fill with dirt halfway, pick pieces of succulents (they work the best) taller ones in the center and shorter ones cascading off the sides. Top off with more dirt to pack them in and your unique homemade card.

Books and Magazines - encourage mom to take a breather and catch up on her reading. Give her a series of books she's been meaning to read and/or a few of her favorite magazines in a gift basket.

Special Classes - give mom the chance to try something new... whether it's yoga, belly dancing, pilates, cooking, a new language or any other special interest class she might have talked about. These classes are usually offered at community colleges. You can purchase a one class session or a series of classes.


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Q&A with CouponsDaily.com

5/2/2014

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This post was featured in CouponsDaily.com - Couponer Q&A last week. Click here to access the article on their website, or read it below...

Marissa Winfrey has been living a frugal existence ever since she can remember. Like a lot of people, she works from home, so saving money is key.

She has always looked for great bargains and getting the best value for her money without compromising style and quality. Her website and blog, TheFrugalLifestyle.com, offers readers money-saving tips on just about everything, from housing and shopping, to technology and travel.

1. Why did you create TheFrugalLifestyle.com?
After some friends asked me how I've saved money on this or that, I decided to compile everything I have done to save money into one website. From there, I also decided to incorporate a blog within the website.

2. What is the main goal of your blog?
The main mission of my blog is to empower others to adopt a frugal lifestyle without giving up what they are accustomed to. By being smart in their choices, prioritizing and taking control of what's truly important, everyone can truly enjoy a "richer" life.

3. What kind of deals does the blog focus on?
My blog specializes on spending less on almost everything. I also offer ideas and tips on how decorate on a budget.

4. How long have you been couponing?
I have been using coupons for a long time. The first time was probably about 15 years ago. I would get a variety of coupons in the mail from local merchants in my neighborhood. There was a coupon for a restaurant I wanted to try, so I took advantage of their mailer coupon and have been going back ever since.

5. Any particular books or speakers that helped you learn?
I read a book a while back I really liked called "The Everything Couponing Book: Clip Your Way to Incredible Savings." I'm also inspired by frugal celebrities like Kristin Bell and Zooey Deschanel. Although they have plenty of money, they like to get a deal just like the rest of us.

6. Are there any tips and tricks you can give to new couponers?
My best advice to new couponers is to only clip and save coupons you will actually use. They also should keep these coupons handy in their wallet so it's always accessible when they are out and about.

7. What's the best part about saving money through couponing?
I feel a sense of victory when I've found a way to save money on something I was already going to buy. Freebies are the best (besides being free, of course). Freebies expose potential customers to new businesses they might have otherwise not known about.

8. Does your family enjoy your couponing habits?
Everyone knows I'm the go-to frugal girl. When it comes to finding a way to save money, they ask me first.

9. Make the haters believe - is couponing worth the time?
Absolutely! People will be amazed by how much money they can save by just taking the time to find deals and offers. The savings can add up if one has the mentality that there's the potential to save money on almost everything.

10. What's an exciting thing you've done with money you saved?
One of my other passions (besides saving money) is travel, so the money I've saved goes into my travel budget. Last year I was able to use most of that money toward a trip to Cabo San Lucas, Mexico for Christmas.

11. How can people save on everyday purchases?
My recommendation is to sign up with their favorite grocery store's member rewards program. This is the most efficient and convenient way to save money on food and groceries because often the discounts are already programmed into their membership card.

12. What are your future plans for the blog?
I plan to continue to offer relevant frugal tips and ideas. In addition, my goal is to write more about investment tips and ways to make more money with little effort.


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    What does living frugally mean to me? Well, it does NOT mean being cheap, quite the contrary, I believe it’s being smart in your choices, such as how you spend your money everyday. Prioritize and take control of what’s important to you. I always strive to spend less on almost everything.

    In this challenging economy, some of us have had to cut back on our expenses. Wouldn't it be nice to still have the things or services you want and need but not have to pay full price or even better, get them for free? 

    Choose value and quality over quantity or fads and you will come out ahead. The great benefit of being frugal is that it eliminates waste and clutter which in turn helps our environment.  By doing simple changes towards more “green” and frugal ways, together we can make an impact on our planet. 
        

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     Hi, my name is Marissa Winfrey and I have been living the frugal life ever since I can remember. I have always looked for great bargains and getting the best value for my money without compromising style and quality.

    My background is in visual display and interior decorating. It’s always been my objective to recommend cost effective solutions to my clients. I, of course, practice what I preach! I have furnished my own homes mostly with furnishings and decor items from my own little vintage boutique, estate sales, discount stores, flea markets, yard sales, thrift stores and even curbside discarded furniture!

    My frugal practice goes beyond the home. I offer money saving tips on just about everything, from shopping to travel and everything in between. I hope my blog and website will inspire everyone to be their own Frugalista.
        
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Read and learn about useful tips and tricks from experts on how to live "the frugal lifestyle" everyday!  Check out the books below, to see more of my top picks of frugal and financial savvy books, please visit The Frugal Book Store.
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Living The Savvy Life:
The Savvy Woman's Guide to Smart Spending and Rich Living
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It's Not About Being Cheap.  Living the Savvy Life isn't about being a cheapskate, a miser or a tightwad.  It's about having security and peace of mind by spending less than you make.  It's about knowing where you stand financially on a daily basis so you can make intelligent fiscal decisions. 

​It's about being penny-wise on the things that are less important to you so you can spend money on the things that are important to you. It's about choosing to purchase only the things that you love and make you happy.  
It's about finding, attaining and maintaining balance.  Are you ready to start Living the Savvy Life?

   
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​Thrifty: 
Living the Frugal Life with Style


Best-selling author Marjorie Harris offers a timely and entertaining guide to living the richly frugal life. From tips on how to haggle to becoming a frugal fashionista, maintaining your home on a budget, and thrifty gardening, travel, and entertainment, Harris provides essential guidelines to living a quality life on less. Written in her trademark witty, engaging, and accessible style, Thrifty is packed with simple and savvy tips drawn from Harris' own fulfilled, thrifty experience. Bonus tips come from renowned experts such as best-selling author Margaret Atwood, chef Jamie Kennedy, actor R. H. Thomson, travel writer Sylvia Fraser, and The Globe and Mail's style columnists.
  
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How to Retire Happy, Wild, and Free: 
Retirement Wisdom That You Won't Get from Your Financial Advisor
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How to Retire Happy, Wild, and Free offers inspirational advice on how to enjoy life to its fullest. The key to achieving an active and satisfying retirement involves a great deal more than having adequate financial resources; it also encompasses all other aspects of life -- interesting leisure activities, creative pursuits, physical well-being, mental well-being, and solid social support. 

What sets this retirement book apart from all the others is its holistic approach to the fears, hopes, and dreams that people have about retirement. This international bestseller (over 110,000 copies sold in its first edition) goes way beyond the numbers that is often the main focus of retirement planning in most retirement books.
   
To see more of my top picks of frugal and financial savvy books, please visit The Frugal Book Store.

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