The Frugal Lifestyle
  • Blog
  • Tips
  • Cash Back
  • Savings
    • Home Decor
    • Housing
    • Health
    • Finance
    • Food
    • Utilities
    • Technology
    • Insurance
    • Auto
    • Shopping
    • Travel
  • Store
  • Freebies
  • Coupons
  • About

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

Top 5 Flea Market Decorating Books

11/15/2015

 
Sundays are the perfect day to go flea market shopping! I've been to my share of great flea markets in So. California as well as Paris. For inspiration on how to "display" your flea market finds, here are my top 5 favorite decorating books that has an emphasis on flea market style. Not only is it more frugal but it's also a unique way to showcase your decorating style. Plus, the books themselves make great display statements on coffee tables or anywhere in your home or office.
Picture
1. Flea Market Decorating: Creating Style with Vintage Finds

This is one of my all time favorite decorating books. It gives practical flea-market shopping tips and advice. This book has 275 inspiring color photos of homes and rooms featuring creative decorating ideas. Hundreds of ideas for giving a room character and personality with vintage finds. It gives easy how-to for evaluating, salvaging, and refurbishing finds. It has a list of favorite flea markets and antique fairs around the country. 

Click HERE to buy this book.

Picture
2. Flea Market Style: Decorating with a Creative Edge

This book offers exciting new ideas for choosing and decorating with flea market finds, illustrated with lush photographs of a variety of interiors from formal to funky. Part collector's guide, part decorating manual, Flea Market Style celebrates the marriage of two great passions - shopping and home design. It highlights flea market categories, from old textiles and paper goods to sports memorabilia, garden ornaments, collectibles, and major pieces of furniture, among others. This book proves anyone can use flea market finds to give their home a distinctive, personal style.

Click HERE to buy this book.

Picture
3. Flea Market Style

This book has great inspirations to furnish and decorate your home with "found" objects instead of new items bought in stores. It explains how to find fresh and unexpected uses of second-hand pieces and antiques, and reveal how to mix old and new with flair and panache. The author explain how to locate bargain copies of modern classics (or the real things) and how to mix flea market or thrift store finds with high-end basics.

Click HERE to buy this book.

Picture
4. Flea Market Chic

This book is about saving you money, along with recycling and repurposing. But its also about a sense of history and place, about individuality and creating a home that reflects your life and personality. Every piece in this book's interior has a story: the colorful pitcher found at a garage sale or the little chair found in a country junk store.  Discover how to spot clever finds in a pile of junk and how to re-discover and re-use things your or your family already have.

Click HERE to buy this book.

Picture
5. Paris Flea Market Style

If you love flea market bargain hunting and French interior design, this is the book for you! Shop and dream your way around the Paris flea markets like a pro with this colorful stroll through the city's best markets. Get tips on where to find what, trade secrets, favorite dealers and advice on shipping items home. Even if you can't make it to Paris, this book is truly inspirational. Take a seat and take a trip to Paris!

Click HERE to buy this book.

   

10 Free or Cheap Ways To Update Your Home Decor

8/8/2014

 
Picture
Does your home (or office) need a little style transformation? Just because you are low on cash (or don't want to spend any money) doesn't mean your home decor has to look old and stale. 

If you are willing to do some projects, the possibilities are endless. Open your mind to some creative ways of updating and creating new surroundings.

1. Re-arrange the furniture - this is one of the most effective ways to alter your space. Before you start moving heavy furniture around, either visualize it in your head or draw up a simple floor plan layout. Don't worry if you hate it, you can always move them around again. Bonus: you get to clean and sweep under the furniture.

2. Refinish furniture - give existing furniture a new lease on life - with paint or stain. Make sure to clean and sand each piece prior to applying paint or stain. For a vintage chic distressed look, use sand paper on the edges after the paint has dried. The photo shows a desk I painted and a chair I sanded then stained, both of which I found curbside!

3. Move pillows around - if you've got several decorative pillows like I do - see how they look on the bed vs. the couch (or vice versa). You can also purchase inexpensive pillow covers to update an existing pillow. Or if you have any fabric lying around, use it to cover old pillows for a fresh, new look.

4. A new rug - invest in a fabulous new rug for your living room or bedrooms. I recently added a jute-like rug under my coffee table in the living room. This was a small addition, but it completely transformed the look of my living room! Check out stores like Home Goods, Target and Amazon for inexpensive area rugs.

5. New photo frames - update photos by putting them in new frames. You can get nice cheap frames at discount home stores or freshen up existing ones with spray paint. This will also give your "new" frames uniformity.  Arrange the frames with small decorative items for an interesting display.

6. Fresh flowers or succulents - if you have a garden with flowers or succulents (like I do), snip off a small arrangement and put them in small vases (or glasses) around the house. Make sure to water them or change them out when needed.

7. Organize with baskets - not only are baskets decorative, but they are also a great way to organize everything from magazines, books, blankets, etc.. plus they keep things tidy in your home. Baskets come in all shapes and sizes. I've acquired most of my baskets from thrift stores and yard sales.

8. Paint those walls - paint from your local hardware store is relatively cheap, especially if you score some unwanted or rejected cans of paint. I've purchased some "oops" paint from Home Depot for as little as $5/gallon. If you aren't happy with the color, you can mix it with other color(s) until you get your desired shade. A newly painted space transforms a room in dramatic ways.

9. Wash curtains, slip covers, etc - it's amazing how refreshing clean draperies, or sofa cushion covers can be. Make sure to dust off and shake off any dirt, etc.. outside before throwing them in the washer.

10. New curtains - if your window coverings are beyond shabby even after you wash them (as suggested above), it's time to buy new curtains. I buy most of my store bought curtains from Target, they have a great selection. For a new look without spending money on thicker panels, add inexpensive sheers to existing curtains, by placing them in between 2 existing panels.


Savvy Investment

11/5/2013

0 Comments

 
Picture
Happy November Tuesday! It's been a very busy last couple of weeks, sorry I haven't posted a blog in a while. We have been moving stuff all week long because we just sold our beach cottage!

When Jim and I purchased the beach cottage, the goal was to renovate it, live there for three years, enjoy living close to the ocean, then sell it. We even entertained the idea of moving there full time, since it's much bigger than the house we currently live in. 

Well, four years later, the timing seemed right to put it up for sale. Even though the real estate market has bounced back, there was still that risk that you are not going to make a profit when it's time to sell. I'm happy to say that all our hard work paid off, this investment proved to be a savvy decision after all.

One of the most enjoyable and rewarding part for me was designing each room's color scheme and shopping for the perfect furnishings & accessories to decorate the beach cottage. I believe that by presenting the house as a place someone can see themselves living in helped sell the beach cottage. One of the rooms that was a big selling point is the large sunroom, which is my favorite room (see before and after photos). Not only was the sunroom a hit, I was able to negotiate the furniture and accessories to make the deal happen.  I also did some savvy negotiating with other furniture and accessories towards the sale of the home.

We will miss the beach cottage, but what is even more rewarding than decorating the place is that a wonderful family will now get to enjoy it and make new memories in their new home. To my gleeful surprise, the family that purchased the home has a beautiful English Bulldog, which just proves that they were meant to live in the home that we lovingly worked on. 

Picture
Sunroom Before: That's Jim working on removing the middle wall in order to visually lengthen the room.
Picture
Sunroom After: This 7 ft wicker sofa is just one of three sitting areas. See other sitting areas below.
Picture
Sunroom After: Cozy front of the room sitting area.
Picture
Sunroom After: Middle area of the sunroom retreat.
0 Comments

Thrifty Treasures

5/28/2013

 
Picture
Happy Thrifty Tuesday! I wanted to highlight some of my favorite thrift store finds. These are items I've scored from thrift stores throughout the years and have proudly displayed them in my home. They were all in pretty good condition. I only painted the stool and table to coordinate with the color palette of the bedroom. I've acquired these items from Goodwill, Salvation Army, Disabled American Veterans, and others. Not only are these items frugal, but they are one-of-a-kind treasures!

Picture
Globes $10 each • Typewriter $50 • Books $5
Picture
Stool $10 • Headboard $20 • Lamp $5
Picture
Table $7 • Silver Bowl $3 • Frame $5 • Books $1
Picture
Basket $8 • Beach House Sign $5 • Parasol $6
    

Frugal French Decor

5/17/2013

0 Comments

 
Picture
Happy Frugal Friday! Although I've haven't been to Paris or anywhere in France yet, I love all things french!

For the past 5 years I've kept my eye out for frugal Parisian items for the home. I've also been researching quaint apartments to stay in when we finally do make it to Paris, which I hope is within the next couple of years.  I was considering an apartment in the Latin Quarter. I welcome suggestions and recommendations on which is the best, most centrally located arrondissement for the money. Please send me your recommendations here.

In the meantime, I satisfy my french dreams by surrounding myself with beautiful french inspirations. My best friend Jeanine treated me to a delicious birthday lunch at Paris in a Cup Tea Salon in old towne Orange. To top off our great afternoon tea sandwiches, we split a scrumptious petite chocolate truffle cake (see photo).

Below are a couple of areas in my home where I did french-inspired yet frugal display vignettes that j'aime! 
Picture
Dresser Display Vignette: Total Spent $85
• French Dresser - $30 estate sale
• Stone Vase - $5 thrift store
• Empty Frame - $5 estate warehouse sale
• Eiffel Tower Print - $18 Ross
• Antique Fan - $10 antique store
• 2 Petite Mannequins - $15 flea market
• Photo Frame - $2 thrift store (Paris pic goes here)
Picture
Vanity Display Vignette: Total Spent $55
• French Mirrored Vanity - $25 estate sale
• Stone Urn - $5 thrift store
• 2 Mercury Glass Vases - $5 estate sale
• Antique French Books - (free) gifts
• Petite Paris Mannequin - $10 Marshall's
• Little Frenchy Picture - $4 thrift store
• Table Lamp + Shade - $6 estate sale 

To receive new blog posts from The Frugal Lifestyle, please enter in your information on the Subscribe Here form located on the right side of this page. You will receive Thrifty Tuesday and Frugal Friday posts.

HomeAway.com, Vacations with more room.
0 Comments

Frugal Home Decor Ideas

3/20/2013

0 Comments

 
Picture
I love looking through home decorating magazines and books for inspiration ideas for my own home. I take those ideas and find similar items for less money in order to create my dream room.  

I recently furnished our living room in Oceanside, California with furniture and accessories from thrift stores, discount home stores, sidewalk finds and hand me downs.

You really can have a stylish room without spending a fortune.  The total cost of the living room was only $350. 

Here’s a photo of the living room and an itemized list of where I acquired my frugal items:

  • Shabby Chic Sofa + Ottoman – Thrift Store $200 set
  • Assorted Pillows - Ross & Marshall’s $7 each
  • Coffee Table – Yard Sale $5
  • Small Nesting Tables – Donated (thanks Leslie)
  • Silver Bowl and Shells – Donated (thanks again Leslie)
  • Sun, Sand, Surf Coasters – Ross $5 each
  • Colored Glass Vases – Rummage Sale $3 each
  • Retro Ashtray – Swap Meet (free at end of day)
  • Vintage Lamp + Shade – Antique Store $25
  • Sheer Curtains – Ross, Target $8 per panel
  • White Tray – Salvation Army $5
  • Flea Market Book on Tray – Gift
  • Side Table – Sidewalk Discard (re-stained with new knobs)

0 Comments

Home Decor on a Budget

2/20/2013

0 Comments

 
Picture
These days people have been more budget conscious on how they spend their money on non-essential items such as home decor. 

It doesn't matter how much money I have to spare, I have always practiced the art of smart and savvy decorating. 

It will not only be more rewarding financially but creatively as well. You can proudly say to your friends that you've furnished your room for less than 3 months worth of coffee at Starbucks!  

Shop resources such as discount stores, thrift stores, outlet stores, garage sales, swap meets, flea markets, estate sales, Craigslist, even curbside discards! Let your friends and family know you are re-decorating, you'll be surprise what hand me down treasures they'll pass on to you. 

Check out the guest room below that I furnished for $160 total. Happy decorating!

• Floor Lamp - Rose Bowl Swap Meet $10
• Loveseat - FREE Curbside Discard
• Slipcover for Loveseat - Target $30
• Window Shade - Target $20
• Stool for Fan - Flea Market $10
• White Tray - Yard Sale $5
• Flower Vase - FREE Water Glass Bottle
• Pillows - Ross & Marshall's $15
• Vintage Fan - Antique Store $40
• Stack of Boxes - Michael's $20
• Guest Room Book - Gift from my friend Jeanine
• Woven Floor Covering - Sample Sale Prop $10

0 Comments
        
         
    Picture

    ​Subscribe Here

    Enter your email address:

    Delivered by FeedBurner

        

    Trending Posts

    Some of our popular articles
    Picture
    • 13 Ways To Make Extra Money At Home
    ​
    Picture
    • Save a Life and Get Paid to Foster a Rescue Dog
    ​

    Picture
    • 8 Ways To Save Without Compromising Your Lifestyle
    ​
    Picture
    • 13 Money Tips From The Amish
    ​

    Picture
    • Top 10 Thrifty Travel Tips
    ​

    Picture
    • Frugal Picnic Tips & Ideas
    ​

    Picture
    • 6 Ways I Save Money On Hair Care Costs
    ​

    Picture
    • Enrich Your Life With Less
    ​

    Picture
    • 13 Ways to Save Money On Everything
    ​

    Picture
    • Rich Yet Frugal Athletes
    ​

    Picture
    • 5 Bridal Shower Tips
    ​

    Picture
    • My Top 5 Flea Market Decorating Books
    ​
        
    Saving Money Blog Awards 2017 ​


    Blog Archives

    December 2022
    November 2022
    October 2022
    September 2022
    August 2022
    July 2022
    June 2022
    May 2022
    April 2022
    March 2022
    February 2022
    January 2022
    December 2021
    November 2021
    October 2021
    September 2021
    August 2021
    July 2021
    June 2021
    May 2021
    April 2021
    March 2021
    February 2021
    January 2021
    December 2020
    November 2020
    October 2020
    September 2020
    August 2020
    July 2020
    June 2020
    May 2020
    April 2020
    March 2020
    February 2020
    January 2020
    December 2019
    November 2019
    October 2019
    September 2019
    August 2019
    July 2019
    June 2019
    April 2019
    March 2019
    February 2019
    January 2019
    December 2018
    October 2018
    September 2018
    August 2018
    July 2018
    June 2018
    May 2018
    April 2018
    March 2018
    February 2018
    January 2018
    December 2017
    November 2017
    October 2017
    September 2017
    August 2017
    July 2017
    June 2017
    May 2017
    April 2017
    March 2017
    February 2017
    January 2017
    December 2016
    November 2016
    October 2016
    September 2016
    August 2016
    July 2016
    June 2016
    May 2016
    April 2016
    March 2016
    February 2016
    January 2016
    December 2015
    November 2015
    October 2015
    September 2015
    August 2015
    July 2015
    June 2015
    April 2015
    March 2015
    February 2015
    January 2015
    December 2014
    November 2014
    October 2014
    September 2014
    August 2014
    July 2014
    June 2014
    May 2014
    April 2014
    March 2014
    February 2014
    January 2014
    December 2013
    November 2013
    October 2013
    September 2013
    August 2013
    July 2013
    June 2013
    May 2013
    April 2013
    March 2013
    February 2013
    January 2013

       

    RSS Feed

         
    View my Flipboard Magazine.
         

    Blog Categories

    All
    Bargains
    Bridal Shower Tips
    Budget Renovations
    Budget Travel
    Cash Back Rewards
    Cash Back Shopping
    Cash-back Shopping
    Coupon Tips
    Deals
    Decorating Ideas
    Discounts
    DIY
    Dollar Store Buys
    Earn Money
    Freebies
    Free Money
    Frugal Beauty
    Frugal Celebrities
    Frugal Gifts
    Frugal Health
    Frugal Home Decor
    Frugal Ideas
    Frugal Living
    Frugal Savings
    Frugal Tips
    Frugal Travel
    Frugal Wedding Tips
    Fun Ideas
    Garage Sale
    Gift Ideas
    Giving Back
    Happiness
    Healthy Living
    Home Based Business
    Home Decor
    Make Money
    Money Savers
    Money Saving Tips
    Network Marketing
    Picnic Tips
    Recycle
    Retirement Tips
    Rewards
    Richer Lifestyle
    Save Money Eating Out
    Savvy Ideas
    Savvy Money
    Side Gigs
    Simplicity
    Smart Tips
    Spend Less
    Tax Tips
    Thrifty Ideas
    Thrifty Tips
    Travel Tips
    Wealthy Living
    Wedding Tips
    Work From Home
    Yard Sale Tips


    Subscribe Here

    Enter your email address:

    Delivered by FeedBurner

          
    Saving Money Blog Awards 2017
       
    ​
         
    Picture
        
    Follow Marissa on Facebook, Pinterest and Twitter.
       
    Visit Marissa's profile on Pinterest.
        
         
         
    BeFrugal.com Members
         

    Site Search


    Site Categories

    • Spend Less
    • Earn More
    • Live Better

    • Auto
    • Cash-back
    • Coupons
    • Deals
    • Entertainment
    • Finance
    • Food
    • Freebies
    • Giveaways
    • Health
    • Home Decor
    • Housing
    • Insurance
    • Money
    • Rebates
    • Retirement
    • Resources
    • Rewards
    • Savings
    • Shopping
    • Technology
    • Tips
    • Travel
    • Utilities
    • Websites

    Picture
    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. 
        

    Real Savings 
    +
    Extra Earnings =
    A Richer Life

        
    Picture
         
         
    Saving Money Blog Awards 2017
         
    Picture
        
       

    About Me

    Picture
     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.

    Follow me on Facebook, Google+ 
    and Twitter.
        
    Picture


    Subscribe Here

    Enter your email address:

    Delivered by FeedBurner

    RSS Feed

         
    Picture
         
         
        

    My Fave Links


    • Amazon 

    • GoDaddy

    • Groupon

    • LivingSocial 

    • MrRebates 

    • Priceline​

         


    Site Categories

    • Spend Less
    • Earn More
    • Live Better

    • Auto
    • Cash-back
    • Coupons
    • Deals
    • Entertainment
    • Finance
    • Food
    • Freebies
    • Giveaways
    • Health
    • Home Decor
    • Housing
    • Insurance
    • Money
    • Rebates
    • Retirement
    • Resources
    • Rewards
    • Savings
    • Shopping
    • Technology
    • Tips
    • Travel
    • Utilities
    • Websites
        
        
        
    Endless Vacation Rentals
         
        
    Picture
       
       
        
        

    Real Savings 
    +
    Extra Earnings =
    A Richer Life

        
    Picture
        
    Mr. Rebates
          
        
    Weebly - Websites, eCommerce & Marketing in one place.
       
    Picture
         
        

TheFrugalLifestyle.com

Real Savings + Extra Earnings = A Richer Life

      

Sign Up To Receive Updates Here

Enter your email address:

Delivered by FeedBurner

     
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.
​
Picture
Living The Savvy Life:
The Savvy Woman's Guide to Smart Spending and Rich Living
​

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?

   
Picture
​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.
  
Picture
How to Retire Happy, Wild, and Free: 
Retirement Wisdom That You Won't Get from Your Financial Advisor
​

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.

​

Sign Up To Receive Updates Here

Enter your email address:

Delivered by FeedBurner