How Are You Trying To Save Money...

... In these hard economic times? I have always tried to save money any way I can. I used to go to garage sales and resale stores (as long as they aren't those overpriced-you-can-buy-it-for-that-price-brand-new type stores...), loved getting hand-me-downs from cousins or friends.... (You can always use the stained or torn clothes for play clothes, or clothes to paint or do crafts in...) I haven't been to many garage sales lately. I did go to a resale store about a month ago, but, it was 'one of those' stores. I found another one the other day, but it was closed. I hope to go again, when I can. When my husband and I were first married (and had absolutely no money at all), I tried cutting his hair myself. I said, 'If I mess it up, you can always go to the salon later?....' Well I did all right. And after getting a hair cutting book and a lot of practice, I think I do pretty good. Today I cut two of our boys' hair. I plan to do the third son later. (At least $41.50 saved, plus a tip which I probably would have rounded off to $45...plus who knows where else I might have stopped while I was out?) My husband has gotten really good at just shaving his own head, too. (Another $15 saved.... I don't mind doing his hair at all, either; because it is so quick...) My husband also colors my hair. I buy a box of Clairol Hair Color at WalMart, and he does it for me. I have cut my own bangs, in between (or even a couple times, before) getting a hair cut... (Seems like my hair is the only one that hardly gets a cut...) I googled 'Home Hair Cutting' and found a few sites:Mormonchic , Cutting Your Family's Hair at Home.... this is just a couple sites I found while googling. We have been doing everything we can to save money. To bad we can't get coupons for gas. (sigh) I have a couple books that I really like for saving money: The Tightwad Gazette, by Amy Dacyczyn. You could probably find them at your local library, or maybe a used book store, or garage sale, even. It has tips from using cloth diapers, to leftover wizardry, to hanging your clothes to dry.... I love those books. Some other little things I do are pretty obvious if you read my blog at all: Making my own cards, crocheting to give gifts, baking.... I also get a (free) newsletter from Frugal Living. Some day I hope to have my own garden and learn to can vegetables. And, I would totally hang my clothes out to dry if I had a yard (which, I will... when we move!). I also forgot to mention free address labels. I just 'ordered' some today. ;) This site has a bunch of different links. (I'm not sure if they all still have free labels, or not...) The one I got labels from was the lakota site, and the other one was the 65 roses site (something like that...) Well I hope you are having a nice day. :)