Happy 2008 to all of my Frugal Living followers. As I sit back and reflect upon my life this year, I find myself pondering how to simplify my life...not even so much for money, though it doesn't hurt, but for peace of mind. I find that I work and work and work so I can earn and earn and earn...but why? So I can have THE prettiest funeral because I didn't stop to enjoy what I'd earned? Well, anyone who knows me knows that I am a person who is determined to enjoy my life to the fullest. Oh, there will be the regrets one day of "I wish I had...or I really SHOULD have.." but well, that's because I'm a coward and as much as I want to try sky diving, I want to try crashing even less. I was thinking of ways to simplify my life and in the course of doing that, how could I save money? Here is what I came up with...

Cable television. I have one of those bundle packages where I get the phone,  internet and cable tv for one price. That price was SUPPOSED to be $99 a month for life. Typically, it was $99 for about 3 minutes and then it jumped to around $197.00 a month. I mean, come on, I'm paying that much for tv? So, I took out the bill and started to go through it. I was furious. They're charging me over $25 a month just for "rental" fees of their boxes. Oh, I don't THINK so. So, I pack up the 2 boxes we had and the 2 remotes and return them. Then I start looking at the "premium" services I'm paying for. I'm paying for movie channels that not only do I not watch, I don't even know who signed up for them. I rarely have time to watch a movie and if I have that much free time, I prefer to read a good book. So, cancel all of these lame channels that no one ever watches (except for Nickelodeon and Playhouse Disney, can't have a mutiny), and all of a sudden my bill is almost $90 a month cheaper. Basic cable costs pretty much nothing. Invest in a DVD recorder or even a VCR at Wal-Mart for around $25, and you've got a really decent yearly savings. Close to $1000 a year.

It's no secret that gas prices are astronomical. If you live in an area that has public transportation, invest in a monthly bus pass. I found out that for my personal car I was spending around $500 a month for gas. That's just ridiculous considering that I don't go far. I called the local MBTA and found out that a bus pass is $34 a month and there's no charge for kids under 5. So, if I bought 2 bus passes for me and the 2 kids, it's $68 a month for transportation costs. The kids get to ride the bus (a treat for them) and I am saving not only the wear and tear on my car, but $432 a month on gas. So, I figured that the savings for the year is $5184. That's a decent chunk of change to put in your piggy bank for a rainy day. If you don't live in an area that has reliable (that's very important when you have small kids) public transportation, how about buying some bicycles? Not only is it great exercise but it's a great way to spend some time with your family.

Have you heard about Freecycle.org? Freecycle is a group in your community that is dedicated to keeping unnecessary trash out of our landfills. We offer items that are in perfectly good condition, at no charge, so that we can also help our environment. Freecycle is a great way to save money. I have given away all of my kids' baby clothes, toys, computers, etc. In return, I have also gotten a television, some dress up clothes for my little girl and a laptop computer for my son. Freecycle is such a great organization where I live. You can save hundreds of dollars on items you'd buy just by posting a note to your local group that you are looking for something. When my Dad passed away unexpectedly we were left with so much of his stuff. We gave away his 2 wheelchairs, crutches, clothing with tags, etc. We saved someone a LOT of money...and that's what it's all about.

There is nothing I like more (other than chocolate) on a breezy summer morning than to get up, grab the newspaper, and see where the yard sales are. You can find some of the coolest stuff at yard sales for pennies. Some people don't like "used" items but I don't care. If I can clean it up and get some use out of it and save some money, then it's been a successful day. I can pay $25 for a new book at a large chain store or I can get up at 7am on a Sunday morning, armed with a purse full of dollar bills, and buy tons of books for a quarter a piece. I can also buy pictures for the walls, a sugar bowl to replace the one I dropped, and still not spend $5.

Phone service. Ok, I admit, I'm a sucker for a phone with a lot of buttons. I keep changing my cell plan. At this rate, I will have to live to be 112 years old to fulfill the terms of my contract..lol. Ever since phone companies were deregulated they're offering you everything but to come over and do the dialing for you. You could check around and compare pricing plans. I changed over from one company ::coughverizoncough:: to a different company and instead of $350 a month I am paying $138 a month. Sounds high but I have a LOT of lines here. Or, compare your monthly cell bill with your monthly land line bill and see which one has the better deal. Usually it's the cell..then consider just dumping your land line altogether.

Well, if I gave you all of my tips today you wouldn't come back, I'd miss you, there'd be no reason for me to be here, and I'd be sad...so, I'm going to hold onto some more of my tips until next time. Living a simple life isn't a bad thing. It's...simple. Until next time..Happy Saving!