5/5 Sunday Coupon Inserts - RP SS

 

Redplum 5/5

ACT $1/1 16.9 or 18oz bottle excluding Dry Mouth (6/15/13)

ACT $1/1 Dry Mouth product (6/15/13)

ACT $2/1 33.8oz bottle excluding Dry Mouth (6/15/13)

all $1/1 liquid, powder or mighty pacs ets (6/16/13)

Allegra $1.50/1 anti-itch cream (8/3/13)

Allegra $5/1 30ct+ regular, any D or any Children's (8/3/13)

Angel Soft $.45/1 4pk double roll+ (6/5/13)

Angel Soft $1/2 4pk double roll+ (6/5/13)

Australian Gold $1/1 sun care product 3oz+ excluding lip balm (7/7/13)

Bayer $1/1 Aspirin Regimen product 20ct+ (8/15/13)

C&H $1/1 Organic Light or Amber Blue Agave Nectar (7/28/13)

Caltrate $2/1 calcium & vitamin D3 supplement (8/4/13)

Centrum $3/1 regular, Silver Multivitamin 80ct+, Specialist or Flavor Burst multivitamin 60ct+ (6/1/13)

Cortizone-10 $1.50/1 item 1oz+ (7/7/13)

Cortizone-10 $1.50/1 poison ivy relief pads (7/7/13)

DermaSilk %$5/1 full size product (5/18/13)

Garnier Fructis B1G1 free shampoo or conditioner 13oz (6/2/13)

got2b $2/1 styling item (6/15/13)

Hefty $.55/1 waste bags (8/31/13)

i-cool $2/1 For Menopause or Bone Builder +D (7/5/13)

Icy Hot $2/1 Advanced product (8/31/13)

Icy Hot $2/1 arthritis lotion product excludes 1ct back patch (8/31/13)

Icy Hot/Aspercreme/Capzasin $1/1 product

L'Oreal $2/1 haircolor product (6/29/13)

NeilMed $3/1 NasaMist All-in-One, NasaMist Extra Strength or Nasaflo Neti Pot (5/31/13)

Osteo Bi-Flex $3/1 30-60ct (6/20/13)

Osteo Bi-Flex $5/1 70ct+ (6/20/13)

Peanuts & Panko$1/1 box (6/30/13)

Pedigree $1/1 dry dog food 3.5lb+ (6/30/13)

Pedigree $1/1 Little Champions variety pack 8 or 12ct or 6 single pouches, 6 trays or 6 13.2oz cans (6/30/13)

Pure Protein $1/1 4pk 23g shakes, 1 or 2lb protein powder or value packs (6/23/13)

Pure Protein $1/2 bars (6/23/13)

Sally Hansen $4/1 nail color minimum $4.99 purchase excluding Hard as Nails and Hard as Nails Xtreme Wear (6/5/13)

Sally Hansen $5/1 Salon Insta-Gel Strips starter kit or Salon Insta-Gel Strips (6/5/13)

Soft Scrub $1/1 Advanced Surface (6/1/13)

Soft Scrub $1/1 product (6/1/13)

Sparkle $.25/1 3pk roll or smaller (6/15/13)

Sparkle $1/1 6pk roll+ (6/15/13)

Sundown Naturals $1/1 vitamin or supplement product (6/4/13)

Weight Watchers $3/10 Smart Ones frozen products (6/16/13)

Welch's $1/2 refrigerated juice cocktails 59oz (7/31/13)

 

Smartsource 5/5

Atkins $1/1 bar 5pk dnd (7/31/13)

Atkins $1/1 frozen meal dnd (7/31/13)

Atkins $1/1 shake 4pk dnd (7/31/13)

Aveeno $2/1 hair care or body wash product ets (6/30/13)

Benadryl $1/1 topical product (5/31/13)

Bengay $3/1 pain relief product ets (5/31/13)

BIC $3/1 Soleil disposable razor ets (6/2/13)

BIC $1/1 For Her product (7/31/13)

Carefree $.50/1 product 36ct+ (7/31/13)

Claritin $2/1 10ct+ (6/2/13)

Claritin $4/1 D 15ct+ (6/2/13)

Claritin $5/1 24ct+ (6/2/13)

Clean & Clear $1/1 product ets (6/30/13)

Clean & Clear $3/2 Advantage products ets (6/30/13)

Clear Care $1.50/1 solution 12oz (6/14/13)

Delimex $1/1 product (6/16/13)

Destin $.75/1 diaper rash ointment product ets (6/30/13)

Ensure $5/2 shakes or Ensure Clear multi-packs (6/30/13)

Farmer John $2/1 smoked sausage (7/5/13)

Febreze $.50/1 carpet deodorizing powder (6/30/13)

Fiber One $.50/2 Chewy Bars, 90 Calorie Chewy Bars, 90 Calorie Brownies or Protein Chewy Bars (6/29/13)

French's $1/1 dijon or honey dijon mustard (7/31/13)

General Mills $1/3 Big G cereals (6/15/13)

Glade $.75/1 fragrance mist starter (6/29/13)

Glade $1.50/1 PlugIns Scented Oil twin refill or 2 single refills (6/29/13)

Glade $1/1 Decor Scents holder, twin refill or 2 single refills (6/29/13)

Glade $2/1 Sense & Spray starter kit (6/29/13)

Glucerna $1/1 multi-pack bars (6/30/13)

Glucerna $5/2 multi-pack shakes (6/30/13)

Hershey's $1/1 chocolates bag 8oz+ (7/28/13)

Hormel $1/1 Compleats microwave meal (7/1/13)

ICaps $3/1 eye vitamin formula (6/14/13)

Johnson's $.50/1 baby product excluding 1-4oz size, hand & face wipes and Buddies and Kids 1ct sudsizing bar (6/30/13)

Johnson's $.75/1 baby hair care product excluding sizes 1-4oz (6/30/13)

Johnsonville $.75/1 breakfast sausage (6/30/13)

Joint Juice $1/1 product (1/31/14)

Ken's $1/1 16oz dressing (6/30/13)

Kraft $1/2 natural cheese slices (6/5/13)

Lactaid $1/1 fast act dietary supplement 32ct+ dnd (8/5/13)

MiraLAX $1/1 10ct or 14 dose+ (6/16/13)

MiraLAX $3/1 30 dose (6/16/13)

Mitchum $1/1 Men or Women excludes trial and multipacks (6/9/13)

Neutrogena $1.50/1 sunless product ets (9/1/13)

Neutrogena $1/1 cosmetics product (5/31/13)

Neutrogena $1/1 facial cleanser or moisturizer (6/5/13)

Neutrogena $1/1 hair or body product ets (6/8/13)

Neutrogena $1/1 suncare product ets (9/1/13)

Neutrogena $2.50 off cleanser& moisturizer (6/5/13)

Neutrogena $3/2 cosmetics products (5/31/13)

Nexcare $.55/1 bandages (6/30/13)

Nexcare $.55/1 first aid tape (6/30/13)

O-Cel-O $.75/2 scrub or plain sponges (6/30/13)

OPTI-FREE $1.50/1 solution 10oz+ (6/14/13)

Ore-Ida $1.50/2 products 16oz+ (6/16/13)

Pasta Prima $1/1 pasta or sauce (6/30/13)

Philadelphia $.50/1 cream cheese spread (6/8/13)

Philips Sonicare $10/1 rechargeable toothbrush or Sonicare Airfloss excludes Essence & Xtreme models (6/30/13)

Philips Sonicare $15/1 DiamondClean, Flexcare+ or Flexcare rechargeable toothbrush (6/30/13)

Philips Sonicare $4/1 brush heads or Essence or Xtreme toothbrush (6/30/13)

RoC $3/1 anti-aging product ets (6/30/13)

Rug Doctor $3/1 pet formula carpet cleaner 48oz+ (7/31/13)

Rug Doctor $5/1 rental (7/31/13)

Scrubbing Bubbles $1/2 bathroom cleaners or toilet cleaning products (6/16/13)

Seattle's Best Coffee $3/2 12 or 20oz bags (7/7/13)

Sergeant's $.75/1 shampoo (7/31/13)

Sergeant's $1/1 Vetscriptions product (7/31/13)

Sergeant's $3/1 Pronyl OTC product for dogs or cats 3 dose+ (7/31/13)

Sergeant's $5/1 Pronyl OTC Max product for dogs or cats (7/31/13)

So Delicious Dairy Free $1/1 purchase (7/31/13)

Spam $1/2 products 10oz (7/1/13)

Spam $1/2 single products (7/1/13)

Stayfree $1/1 product (7/31/13)

SYSTANE $1.50/1 lubricant eye drop or gel formula (6/14/13)

TGI Fridays $2/3 frozen snacks (6/16/13)

Tree Top .75/1 100% juice blends 64oz (6/16/13)

TruBiotics $1/1 probiotic supplement product (7/31/13)

Tyson $1/1 stuffed mini bread bowls, breakfast bowls or mini chicken sandwiches (8/5/13)

VanCamp's $.40/1 baked beans (6/15/13)

Windex $1/2 products (6/16/13)

Windex/Scrubbing Bubbles $5/5 bathroom or toilet cleaning products (6/16/13)

Yoplait $.50/1 Greek yogurt 4pk or Greek yogurt with granola 2pk (6/29/13)

Yoplait $.75/2 Go-Gurt, Kids Cup, Trix multipack, Pro-Force or Baby (6/29/13)

Zadiator $2.50/1 5ML+ (7/31/13)

Ziploc $1/3 bags (6/15/13)

Ziploc $1/3 slider bags (6/15/13)

thanks to www.couponpreviews.info

 

$25 Amazon Gift Card #Giveaway

In case you missed this announcement, there is a $25 Amazon GC Giveaway with low entries. Take a few minutes and enter now!

How I Left Sprint and Kept My Same Smartphone

 

I admit that I'm hooked on my smartphone, an older model Samsung Epic 4G. I signed up with Sprint a little over two years ago and was hoping to switch over to DH's Sprint SERO plan when my contract was up. Well, Sprint won't let his grandfathered $30 plan have any extra lines at that price. So, I'm quitting Sprint. Actually, I already quit and it happened overnight.

 

I'm now up and running on my same phone with same phone number after porting my number to Ting (#ad). I used to pay $80.10 for a monthly plan that gave me unlimited everything, but month after month my usage is around 250 minutes calling, 250 texts and 1GB of data. I just signed up for Ting at $44/month for 500 minutes calling, 1000 texts and 1000 MB of data.  And I have no contract so I am free to change carriers if this does not work. But for saving $36 a month on my smartphone, I will make it work. I've effectively cut my bill in half, so now my phone will cost just over $500 a year, rather than $961/year. 

 

If you're interested in switching, Ting runs on the Sprint network, so if you have a Sprint phone (no iphones allowed on Ting though) you can bring your own device and it will work. You can also buy a phone from them or use an unlocked phone from another provider. Ting has a referral program where you would get $25 in phone credit or services credit by using this link.

 

I realized while on a cruise last week, that I can get by without constantly checking my phone, since it was out of commission as I was out of the country. Sure I had thousands of feeds and emails and texts when I signed back on - but I didn't have to have all that stuff. I just deleted without reading to start fresh. Now I will need to try to change my usage behavior and use Wi-fi more which won't use my data plan. There are lots of places that have free Wi-fi like the grocery stores, libraries, and my home. I sit at a computer all day long and can check my finances and weather on the PC rather than using my phone. I've started putting it in a drawer instead of being plugged in on top of my desk  beckoning me to check something every five minutes.

 

As part of my frugal lifestyle, I'm seeking to minimize wasteful, costly activities and behaviors in my daily life. Getting a cheaper phone plan is a step in the right direction. I realize there are more options, and LIfehacker outlines a lot of them here. So, if you are out of contract, check out your options before you commit to that expensive plan.

 

 

My Publix Trip - Got Paid $2

 

We're not having salads for lunch next week so I don't need much, it was just a matter of using up rainchecks and getting some Smart Balance milk before the coupons expire this weekend, and to get some kitty litter. I did two transactions since the Target coupons for cat litter are limit 4. I paid $0.82 for $73.37 on one order and they paid me back $2.02 on the second order for $83.07. So, all was free.

 

18-Apr	30		83.07	34.02	53.10	tax	-2.02	30	-102.44%
Product	qty	price	subtl	B1G1	-Q	0.00	total	Q#	Q details
bananas	1	0.35	0.35				0.35
Lettuce, Fresh Express BOGO	2	3.99	7.98	3.99	1.10		2.89	2	0.55/1 MQ
Almonds, Blue Dmnd RAINCHECK	10	2.89	28.90	14.45	10.00		4.45	10	1/1 MQ print
Skillet Sauces Campbells	2	2.39	4.78		4.00		0.78	4	$1/1 TQ + $1/1 MQ print
Tidy Cat Litter BOGO	4	7.79	31.16	15.58	8.00	2.03	9.61	8	$1/1 MQ 1-27RP + 1/1 TQ 4-7RP
Neutragena Soap Raincheck	10	0.99	9.90		25.00		-15.10	5	$5/2 MQ
5/25 competitor coupon	1	0.00	0.00		5.00	0.00	-5.00	1
18-Apr	24		72.37	15.58	58.00	tax	0.82	33	-98.87%
Product	qty	price	subtl	B1G1	-Q	0.00	total	Q#	Q details
bananas	1	0.35	0.35				0.35
Milk, Smart Balance 1/2 gallon	4	3.25	13.00		8.00		5.00	8	$1/1 MQ 4-14RP + 1/1 PQ bskt
Skillet Sauces Campbells	2	2.39	4.78		4.00		0.78	4	$1/1 TQ + $1/1 MQ print
Tidy Cat Litter BOGO	4	7.79	31.16	15.58	8.00	2.03	9.61	8	$1/1 MQ 1-27RP + 1/1 TQ 4-7RP
Motrin 1 ct	8	1.09	8.72		16.00		-7.28	8	$2/1 3-3ss
VitaminB6 Sundown	4	3.59	14.36		17.00		-2.64	4	$5/2 PQ + $1/1 peelie or $2/1 MQ print
5/25 competitor coupon	1	0.00	0.00		5.00	0.00	-5.00	1

Best Frugal Blogs Award

 

OMG! I was checking out a new blog who had an interesting article and noticed they got a mention on the best Frugal blogs listing at Happier. Well, would you guess in a million years that my little ole blog Frugalapolis is also on the list?

 

Yep, I'm proud to mention Frugalapolis is one of the Best Up & Coming Frugal Blogs.

4/21 Sunday Coupon Inserts - SS

Air Wick $1.50/2 Freshmatic Ultra refills (5/19/13)

Air Wick $1/1 Freshmatic Ultra Starter Kit or Gadget Only pack excludes free item packs (5/19/13)

Air Wick Buy 1 Scented Oil twin refill, get a free Scented Oil warmer gadget free up to $1.19 (5/19/13)

Arm & Hammer $1/1 Spinbrush Kid's or Tooth Tunes product (6/30/13)

Arm & Hammer $1/1 Spinbrush product (6/30/13)

Banana Boat $1/1 product 4oz+ excludes lip balm (6/2/13)

Bausch+Lomb $5/1 Preservision 120ct+ (6/30/13)

Bird's Eye $1/1 Viola! variety (7/31/13)

Brookside $1/1 smooth dark chocolate covered real fruit juice pieces 7oz+ (6/16/13)

Capri Sun B1G1 free big pouch juice drinks up to $1 (6/30/13)

Country Time $1/2 drink mixes (6/30/13)

Crystal Light $1/2 drink mixes (6/30/13)

Depend $1.50/1 Real Fit or Silhouette products (6/1/13)

Depend $1.50/1 Shields or Guards for Men (6/1/13)

Depend $1/1 product (6/1/13)

DiGiorno $1.50/1 Pizzeria! pizza (5/31/13)

Dreyer's $1/1 multi-pack fruit bars, Outshine fruit bars or Outshine Coconut Waters bars 6ct+ (6/16/13)

Durex $1/1 personal massage or vibrating ring (6/2/13)

Durex $2/1 Massage and Play (6/2/13)

Edge/Skintimate $.55/1 shave gel excludes 2.75oz cans (6/2/13)

Efferdent $1/1 product 48ct+ (7/31/13)

El Monterey B1G1 free individually wrapped supreme or all natural burritos & chimis up to $1 (5/5/13)

Energizer $.50/1 batteries, flashlight or USB wall or car charger (5/18/13)

Fiber Smart $2/1 product (7/31/13)

Filtrete $2/1 odor reduction filter (6/30/13)

Finesse $1/1 shampoo, conditioner or styling product (6/2/13)

Florida's Natural $1/1 natural citrus smoothies (7/30/13)

General Mills $1/3 Big G cereals (6/1/13)

Hamburger Helper $.75/3 (6/15/13)

Hawaiian Tropic $1/1 product 4oz+ excludes lip balm (6/2/13)

Hershey's $1.50/1 Simple Pleasures chocolates 5.6oz (6/1/13)

Hidden Valley $.75/1 sandwich spread or dip (7/21/13)

Huggies $1.50/1 diapers (5/18/13)

Huggies $2/1 Little Movers, Little Snugglers diapers or Overnites diapers (5/18/13)

Huggies Free $20 gift card when you buy TWO value boxes of diapers 104ct+ BABIES R US & TOYS R US (4/28/13)

InkJoy $1/1 300RT, 500RT, 55Rt or 700RT 4ct+ dnd (5/31/13)

Jergens $1/1 Natural Glow face daily moisturizer sunscreen (5/12/13)

Jergens $3/2 Natural Glow moisturizers (5/12/13)

Kool-Aid B10G3 free unsweetened envelopes up to $.75 (6/30/13)

Mattel Buy 1 game, get 1 50% off TARGET coupon (5/4/13)

Ortega $.50/2 products (6/30/13)

Palmolive $.25/1 dish liquid 14oz+ (5/11/13)

Palmolive $.50/1 Soft Touch dish liquid 25oz+ (5/11/13)

People Magazine $1/1 issue (5/19/13)

Philadelphia $.75/1 snack delights cream cheese spread (5/25/13)

Playtex $1/1 Gentle Glide 360 tampons or Sport tampons (6/2/13)

Purina $1/1 3.15lb+ Cat Chow (7/21/13)

Revlon $1/2 hair color products (5/26/13)

SC Johnson/Kleenex $5 Target gift card wyb 6pk+ Kleenex facial tissue and 2 cleaning items; Scrubbing Bubbles, Windex or Pledge (5/12/13)

SC Johnson/Scott $5 Target gift card wyb 15pk+ Scott bath tissue and 2 cleaning items; Scrubbing Bubbles, Windex or Pledge (5/12/13)

SC Johnson/Viva $5 Target gift card wyb 8pk+ Viva paper towels and 2 cleaning items; Scrubbing Bubbles, Windex or Pledge (5/12/13)

Schick $.75/1 Hydro shave gel (6/2/13)

Schick $1/1 razor, refill or disposable excludes 2ct (6/2/13)

Schick $1/1 shave gel ets (6/3/13 TARGET coupon (6/3/13)

Schick $2/1 Hydro Power Select, Hydro 5 or Hydro 3 razor (6/2/13)

Schick $2/1 Hydro refill (6/2/13)

Schick $4/1 Hydro 5 disposables (6/2/13)

Schick $4/1 Hydro silk disposable razor (6/2/13)

Schick $5/2 3ct Hydro disposable razors TARGET coupon (6/3/13)

Schick $5/both Hydro 5 razor and cartridge and refill excludes disposable TARGET coupon (6/3/13)

Schick $5/both Hydro Silk razor and cartridge refill excludes disposables TARGET coupon (6/13/13)

Schick $6/both Hydro Silk razor and Hydro silk refill (6/2/13)

Scotch-Brite $.75/2 Heavy Duty, Non-Scratch, Delicate Care or Greener Clean scrub sponge and scour pad multi-packs or dishwands (5/31/13)

Sharpie $1/1 gel highlighter 2ct+ dnd (5/31/13)

Sunsweet $1/2 dried fruits dnd (7/31/13)

Tom's of Maine $2/2 antiperspirant or deodorant (6/15/13)

Tom's of Maine $2/2 toothpaste or mouthwash excluding trial size and under 4oz (6/15/13)

Werther's Original $1/2 caramels dnd (6/30/13)

Wet Ones $.75/1 wipes product, canister or singles excludes 15ct or 20ct travel packs (6/2/13)

Zegerid OTC $2/1 (6/9/13)

Zegerid OTC $8/1 42ct (5/5/13)

Zyrtec $4/1 regular or D product 24ct+ (5/18/13)

Zyrtec $7/1 regular or D product 24ct+ (4/28/13)

 

thanks to couponpreviews.info for sneak peek.

The Frugal Millionaire Next Door

 

A lady at work was teasing me the other day because I didn't want to spend eight dollars on a group lunch. She was telling a coworker that I'm "loaded" but can't bring myself to spend any money, ever. This of course is not true, but she is one of the most unfrugal persons I know - frivolous and also generous, but not frugal. Anyway, I am not loaded despite her impression (i'ts not from my frayed shirt sleeves and my scuffed old Rockports), but I hope to be loaded someday by following these simple guidelines to becoming the unassuming rich neighbor someday.

 

1. Spend less than you make.

This is simple math, doesn't require a college degree so even 4th graders should be able to figure out they can't buy that new $30 video game if they only got $20 in birthday money. Apply this principle throughout your life and money will amass almost by itself. This is non a negotiable factor, in fact if this is the only thing you do, you will do okay. The millionaire next door will decline those invitations to go on an expensive dinner party and suggest instead that everyone have a BBQ at their place or the local park.

 

2. Maintain what you have - repair rather than replace.

I  have a favorite pair of khaki shorts that has patches all over and the material is so fragile and thin with strangling threads on the seams. They are over fifteen years old and get worn about 200 days a year. They are top quality materials and they just last forever. The older an item is generally the better quality it was when it was manufactured. Stuff made in the 1980s is rock solid. Our best appliances were made in the 80's and its a shame to pass them on. New stuff is cheap and uses cheap components that do not last, its built into the design so you have to replace the item. The millionaire next door likely wears tattered but clean clothing, that may be a little out of style but they don't really care what you think. They're comfortable and practical.

 

3. Drive your cars until they aren't reliable.

Cars over ten years old are cheap to own. If you get a good quality vehicle (i.e., not Chevrolet) it should last a couple decades with minimal maintenance - brakes, tires, oil changes. We just replaced the brakes on our 15 year old Ford truck for the first time. This truck still has another fifteen years in it. Older vehicles are cheaper to insure and own. The unassuming millionaire next door likely has a couple of old, well maintained vehicles in their driveway or garage.

 

4. Spend less than 2.5x of your annual salary on a house.

This is where a lot of people have screwed up their chances of ever becoming millionaires on an ordinary middle class income. These days you can't plan on your income increasing throughout your career. When you buy a house you need to just use your income NOW. If you make $40K per year, you should only be looking at houses that cost less than $100K. If you spend more, you will be house poor and all the extra income you should be investing and saving will be used up in housing expenses. Don't concern yourself with the amount bankers will tell you you're approved for, they don't have to live with that expense for the next 15-30 years. The millionaire next door likely has a modest, ordinary home that brings no illusions of grandeur that you might think a millionaire would display.

 

5. Don't move.

This goes along with the point above, get an affordable home and don't move. Ever - if you can help it. Struggle through those years with the kids growing up and having to share rooms, and in the end you will not have to downsize when the kids all move out (and they will move out...). If you make a good decision on your home purchase, in a friendly, safe location near lots of job opportunities you can stay there your whole life. Moving is expensive and a waste of money paid to all the providers who make it happen. And of course, if you move you need new drapes and furniture. So, a few thousand dollars for a move turns into several times that by the time you are settled in. The millionaire next door likely has lived in their same home for twenty or thirty years and has no plans to move.

 

6. Invest regularly and don't touch it.

Every small amount adds up. A regular weekly contribution to stocks, IRA's or company 401Ks will slowly amass to a considerable amount over time. People who make this part of their budget early in life may simply be millionaires with some lucky investments in time tested stocks growing over the years. Sure there will be some mistakes and some losses but over time the stock market is a solid investment vehicle. The millionaire next door is the guy who made a middle class income all his life, who lived below their means but invested regularly and didn't cash it in during an emergency - probably since he had an emergency fund too. 

 

7. Don't divorce.

This goes without saying that the millionaire next door is content in their life enjoying simple pleasures like sitting outside on a beautiful day, the warmth of a fire on a cool night, and the conversation of friends and family, and the companionship of their spouse. All these things are free. Sure money can make things easier, but it is the emotional support and love of a healthy relationship that can ensure that a partnership is permanent. A divorce is a senseless way to waste lots of assets and money. If you're not committed for marriage then don't do it because a divorce is one of the worst things that you could do to screw up your chances of financial success. Having kids as part of that divorce makes it even worse. The millionaire next door has likely been happily married for several decades.

 

8. If you have kids teach them your frugal ways so they are self sufficient adults.

One of the greatest gifts a parent can bestow on a child is financial savvyness. Starting at a young age children can learn the value of saving, coupons, deals, and investing. As they grow they can see how frugal ways increase the life of items so they don't need replacing, and that taking care of something is important to longevity. Then as they near adulthood and make independent spending decisions they learn the consequences of poor decisions and also how smart their parents really are. Your children will learn to manage money the way you manage money. The millionaire next door does not have any adult children he is providing for, they are self sufficient.

 

9. Choose quality over quantity.

One important factor that comes into every purchase decision is quality. The better quality item will cost more than the poorer quality item. But it should have a better performance, longer life, less maintenance and ease of use. We cut a lot of fire wood for fires and over the years we have owned a half dozen chain saws. We always got the cheap ones at Home Depot and they only ever lasted a year or two before performance issues became the problem. Our last one we bought was a Stihl and we've had it many years now and it operates like brand new every time we use it. It was three times the cost of a cheaper one, but it is a pleasure to use. We also do a lot of kitchen preparation of salads and meals. A constant dissatisfier is crappy, dull knives. I finally bought a $400 chefs knife for DH and it has transformed meal prep. Now he is always looking for something he can cut up. It is a joy to use. I wish we would have had it years ago. The millionaire next door will have top quality tools, electronics or functional items even though they are expensive. The millionaire next door does not tolerate cheap shit that doesn't work as designed.

 

10. Ignore the Jones' and all their new stuff.

Be tough and don't give into peer pressure to  buy new stuff when the stuff you have functions as designed. So what if its not all shiny and full of bells and whistles, if yours still functions it is all you need. Once you advance to fancy stuff, it's really hard to go  back to frugal. But then again, because you are frugal you can enjoy the occasional splurge in a high quality item that seems to be frivolous. But the trick is that not all you have is frivolous, only a couple things.

 

So there is my recipe for success to becoming the millionaire next door. Do you have anything to add?

National Pet Day

 

Of course there has to be a National Pet Day. So here's our pet. She's the one with black hair, you can ignore the one with glasses, although he is my pet too.