Monday, December 1, 2008

Thrifty Spending

By William Blake

Living a frugal life is not just about saving. You also have to learn how to spend what you have in the best possible way. Now that you have mastered the savings side, what should you do with all that money? Here are some great ideas:

Start out by making a list of the things that you need, want, and desire related to your money. Number the things you list in order of how important they are to you and try to estimate how much they would cost. Once you have your thoughts mapped out, you can go about making them a reality.

You could pay extra on your mortgage each month or make one extra payment each year. This could help you pay off your mortgage in half the time it would normally take. This will save you money on interest, and the payment will be free money for you to use on your other dreams or to help rebuild your savings. Be sure that your bank applies your extra payment to the principal of the loan.

Money you have been saving can be spent on home repairs and projects that you have long wanted to do. Some such projects might be simple, do-it-yourself jobs while others will require that you hire a professional. Money spent on making your home more beautiful will certainly be well spent.

Buy a newer pre-owned car. Even if your current vehicle is in good condition, you can get a newer pre-owned one. Your old car can be donated to a church, charity, or friend. Remember, though, that a newer car will be charged more in insurance payments.

Take that dream trip that you've always said you would take. By traveling during the shoulder or off season you will be able to stretch your money into even more of a vacation experience.

Even though been frugal does mean saving money in case of unexpected costs, it also important to enjoy the benefits that come from working hard to save your money. Thrifty people should also save some money with the intention of using it to enjoy themselves in some special way.

Using the money that you have saved to congratulate yourself will be a great boost to keep on saving and living frugally. - 15224

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