The Frugal Free Gal

Frugal Living, Money Saving Tips, Freebies, and More!

  • 6 Ways to Save on Cat Expenses

    ways to save on cat expenses

    Are you looking for ways to save on cat expenses? While cats may not seem like terribly expensive pets to have, the costs can add up quickly if you aren’t careful. In addition to following the typical money-saving advice such as shopping around and using coupons, here are six more ways to save on cats that you may not have fully considered yet. Try them today–who knows who much you could save!

    6 Ways to Save on Cat Expenses

    1. Groom at Home

    Keeping your cat clean and beautiful doesn’t have to require expensive trips to the groomers. Many basic cat grooming tasks can be done at home to save you money. These routine grooming tasks include brushing your cat’s teeth, cleaning her ears, bathing her, brushing her and trimming her nails. Here are a few cat grooming supplies that may help. If you are uncertain about how to do these things at home, ask your vet or watch carefully the next time you take your cat in to the groomer. You may pick up some valuable tips or methods.

    2. Purchase Fewer Toys

    While you will undoubtedly want to buy your cat a few toys, that doesn’t mean you have to go overboard. Instead of picking up a new toy every time you are out or for every special occasion, stick to a few classic toys your pet is sure to love and use time and time again. Make sure you purchase quality toys as well, so they will last a while.

    3. Subscribe to Newsletters

    Have you signed up for your local pet store’s newsletter or the newsletter of your favorite cat products companies? Some companies routinely mail or email coupons, special offers and information about upcoming promotions. Not only is signing up for these newsletters a good way to keep up-to-date on the latest products you likely want to know about as a cat owner, but it can be a great way to save big as well.

    Related: 7 Ways to Save on Dog Related Expenses

    4. Watch Portion Sizes

    When you feed your cat, do you pay attention to how much you are serving or do you just quickly toss some food in his bowl? If you routinely offer your cat more food than he really needs, you are wasting money in two ways. First, you are spending more money on cat food than you need to, and secondly, you may be setting yourself up for big medical bills down the road if your cat becomes too overweight.

    Just because your cat food comes in handy serving sized tins does not mean that that’s the amount your cat needs. Figure out what your particular cat needs in order to be healthy and feed him that amount instead. Find the perfect cat food for your cat. I have to order our cat food from Chewy.com each month because our cat is on a prescription food! 

    Related: 6 Tips for Saving Big on Pet Expenses

    5. Keep Your Cat Indoors

    While some cats love to be outdoors, the truth is that letting your cat wander around as she pleases exposes her to several new dangers–and expenses. For example, your cat could get lost, which means you would have to spend time and money to find her. She may get a parasite or infection or eat something that makes her ill, which means that you would need to spend time and money at the vet. The safest and most frugal place for a cat is indoors. Consider a cat tree for your cat!

    6. Work at a Pet Store

    Lastly, if you have some spare time on your hands, you may consider getting a part-time job at a pet store. Pet store employees often get great discounts, which can significantly reduce the amount of money you spend on your pet. Plus, you may be able to get certain deals, freebies or other perks just for being an employee. Even if you only have a few spare hours a week, it may be worth your time to inquire if your local pet store is hiring.

    Get a FREE pet visit at Banfield Pet Hospital! 

    Related: 6 Ways to Save Big When it Comes to Vet Bills

    Are you a cat owner? How do you keep your cat expenses affordable?

  • How to Save on Perfume and Cologne

     

    It seems as though true bargain hunters are always thinking ahead, which is no wonder stores are already trying to appeal to our Valentine’s Day needs! Chocolates, candles, flowers, it seems store fronts are chock full of these novelties, hoping to catch the early birds looking to score a deal. This year shop smart. There are many ways to not only save money on the sweet scents you buy, but to make them last longer too. Use these simple tricks to snag your sweetheart a bottle of his or her favorite scent for less and get the most smell goods for your buck!

    1. Online Shopping Can be an Oasis

    A prime way to find some of the best perfume prices is to search online. Search through review sites and online retailers to compare prices and find the best deals! Some sites offer top name brands at wholesale prices allowing you to really cash in on your savings. Sites I have used in the past are Amazon, The Body Shop, Walmart, Walgreens and other retailers. Don’t forget to search for coupon codes for any site you are shopping at to maximize your savings!

    2. Be Picky About Retail Outlets

    There are a number of retail outlets such as Marshall’s and T.J. Maxx that are carry a great selection of cologne products marked way below retail! These bottles are still beautifully gift boxed and come with shower gels and lotions as well. Perfect for gift giving! There are also discount perfume stores that reside in outlet shopping centers. These are worth checking out as they often carry lightly scratched or dented boxes for a fraction of the retail cost!

    3. Watch out for Department Store Freebies

    I do not think a department store is the best place to find cologne for sale, BUT department stores DO often run promotions that allow you to get a special free gift with your purchase. Depending on the gift this may make the purchase worth it. Fragrance companies usually beef up these promos around Valentine’s Day, so why not swing in and see what the offerings are? I have seen duffle bags, ties, even cuff links offered with a purchase. Some may even offer free gift wrap!

    4. Take Care After the Sale

    There are several measures you can take once the cologne has been opened to help preserve it longer. Even though cologne bottles look pretty (and are convenient) when placed on top of a dresser or counter, the sunlight that gets through the glass can weaken them. Keep cologne bottles in a dark place like a drawer instead. This storage spot should also be room temp or slightly cooler, as heat and humidity can also cause the cologne to lose its scent. Remind your recipient that pulse points are key! Applying cologne to clothing is wasteful because it will not refresh itself throughout the day. Cologne should go on pulse points such as the underneath of the wrists and under the jaw. It will last much longer this way and he will require less.

    Related: How to Save Money on Beauty Products

    Like any great bargain hunter, be willing to shop around a bit and you may be surprised at what you find! With the money you save you can also treat your sweetheart to that pink and purple polka dot teddy bear he had his eye on, or at least to a box of his or her favorite candy!

    Find more money saving tips here.

  • Five Ways Decluttering Can Actually Save You Money

     

    Shopping sales, using coupons and getting items for free are all fantastic ways to save your family money. Unfortunately, however, these money-saving techniques can come with a certain risk that no one talks about very much: clutter. When we get things for cheap or free, we tend to stock up, hoarding more than we really need. We think “Better safe than sorry–I’d better hold onto these items just in case.” And while it is good to be prepared, sometimes there comes a time when “being prepared” crosses the line into being a pack-rat.

     

    You may think that holding onto things and accumulating as many things as you can for the future is a great way to save money. And, honestly, doing this might save you a little. But what many people don’t realize is that decluttering can actually save them money too. (Plus, it’s simply a nicer way to live.) Here are five ways decluttering can actually save you money.

    1. You Can Earn Money By Selling the Extras

    The quickest and most obvious way that decluttering can save you money is simply the fact that you can earn money by selling the items you don’t really need anymore. Sell the clothes and toys your family has outgrown on Ebay or at a consignment shop. Have a garage sale and get rid of all of the extra stuff your family doesn’t need anymore. Just think of what you could do with all of that extra money instead!

    Related: 5 Easy Steps for Throwing the Perfect Yard Sale

    2. You Won’t Waste Money on Things You Won’t Ever Use

    Between coupons and sales, there are some incredible deals out there! With items like toothbrushes, ketchup and bathroom cleaner going on sale for next to nothing, it only makes sense to stock up, right? Yet, how many times have these items gotten lost or gone bad before you’ve even had a chance to use them? Clean out your stockpile and take inventory of which items you actually use and not. Even if certain items didn’t cost you very much, if you aren’t using them, the money you spent on them was wasted.

    3. You Won’t Have to Buy So Many Replacements

    How often have you not been able to find something, so you go out and buy another to replace it? How often have your things been broken because you have too much stuff to store it nicely (think: kids’ toys)? When you have less, you can keep better track of what you have and take better care of it. It becomes less expendable, and you spend less money replacing it.

    4. You’ll Use Less

    When you have 30 extra things of toothpaste and 50 extra boxes of cereal on hand, it becomes all too easy to become wasteful. After all, you have plenty on hand. I’m not suggesting that you shouldn’t have a stockpile–you should! But if all of that excess is causing your family to go through items much more quickly than you would otherwise, you may need to reevaluate how much extra you keep on hand.

    Related: 10 Ways to Declutter Your Home

    5. You’ll Have More Time and Energy for Other Tasks

    I’m not sure I would even want to know how much time I’ve spent looking for items I couldn’t find because they got lost in all of the clutter! Not only is searching for your items annoying, but all of the time and energy you spent searching for things was time and energy you didn’t spend doing other, more productive tasks, like working from home, cutting coupons, finding deals or cooking from home so you wouldn’t have to eat out.

    Here are more Decluttering and Organization Resources if you’d like to keep reading!

    Do you declutter on a regular basis?

    decluttering saves money

  • Ways to Save Money on Flowers

     

    Valentine’s Day is coming, and you can’t go wrong with giving your sweetheart flowers! Fresh flowers are fragrant, beautiful, and make the recipient feel so very loved. And while fresh flowers can get pricey, very pricey, you don’t need to go broke buying your sweetie a nice bouquet.

    To make sure you get the best deal on fresh flowers this Valentine’s Day, check out the tips below. You will be tickled pink at how simple it is to save on blooms. It just requires a little effort and legwork. But in the end, your budget will thank you! Take a peek!

    1. Be Mindful of What is in Season

    Spring time flowers are already starting to make their debut. This is a great time to look for tulips, daffodils, and hyacinths. All three of these varieties are considered in season will be more budget friendly. Flowers that aren’t in season will cost a lot more, and roses naturally will cost you an arm and a leg because they are in demand this time of year!

    2. Shop Grocers Instead of Florists

    If you order an arrangement from a florist, you won’t see the flowers until they’re ready to be picked up or delivered.  Such a gamble. Florists also are more costly than a grocery or chain store. You can find flowers that are just as fresh at these grocery and chain stores at half of the cost. Plus,  at these stores you can see the flowers for yourself before you buy them to assure freshness.

    3. Say YES to Potted Bulbs

    Potted bulb varieties such as tulips can be saved and replanted. A pot of tulips I bought for my sister last year is blooming again this year! She simply saved the bulb after it was done blooming and transplanted it to her garden. It is a gift that keeps giving! Now that is value.

    4. Say NO to Exotic Blooms

    While flowers such as orchids are lovely, they are not grown locally in most areas. A great deal of shipping and transporting go into the delivery of lilies and orchids, and that cost is passed on to the buyer. Look for flowers that grow locally in your area and they will be way more budget friendly as well as easier to care for.

    5. Buy Your Own Vase and Arrange Yourself

    Buy your flowers fresh cut and then put them in your own vase. Dollar stores and thrift stores carry vases by the dozens for $1.00 or less. Buying premade arrangements is by far more costly than just buying a fresh cut bouquet and arranging it yourself.

    6. Add Some Aspirin

    Not because your flowers has body aches, but because it will make them last longer! By adding a crushed aspirin to the water of your bouquet, it will help them remain in bloom longer, giving you the most bang for your buck. Who knew?

    7. Find out About Freebies

    Does your local department offer free greeting cards and novelty picks with your purchase? Take advantage of these FREE perks to add a little more bang and personalization to your bouquet! Some will even wrap your bouquet in colorful tissue for free. You won’t know if you don’t ask, so ask!

    8. Think Beyond the Blooming Flowers

    Basic house plants can be a cheaper alternative to blooming flowers. Your sweetheart might like an aloe plant this year instead! It is functional and can be used to treat a sunburn even. Plants like these are a gift that keeps on giving!

    9. And Please…Skip the Delivery!

    If you do go through a florist, skip the delivery fees and deliver your flowers yourself. Some florists charge as much as $20.00 to deliver your blooms, and even then you don’t know if anyone will be home to receive them! If your sweetheart lives in town, take the flowers to him/her yourself. After all, they will be so much happier to see you than the delivery driver!

    Order fresh flowers at Amazon!

    By following these simple strategies, you will be able to give a fresh arrangement that you can be proud of, and still look like you spent a ton! It just requires a little work, but the pay off is a beautiful arrangement you won’t bust your budget for.

    how to spend less on fresh flowers

  • Five Ways to Save Big When Dining Out

    save when dining out

    How much does the average restaurant meal cost a family of four? Somewhere around 50 or 60 dollars? Maybe a little more if you get appetizers and a few margaritas for mom? Sure, a break from cooking and doing dishes is totally worth it, but if you dine out often (at least once a week), those breaks can add up.

    The good news is, it’s pretty easy to save money while dining out. What’s that mean? It means you can dine out more often … or save that money to hire a maid to do your cooking and dishes for you!

    Don’t Forget the Coupon!

    Oh sure, when you go grocery shopping, you’ve got binders full of coupons, but where are those money-saving scraps of paper when you’re dining out? Find them and use them to score free appetizers, half price desserts, and good deals on drinks.

    Say No to Drinks

    This one takes a lot of willpower, but you can shave 10 to 20 percent off your dinner tab simply by order water (free!) instead of regular drinks. If you usually order alcoholic beverages, try cutting those first (they’re the costliest) and opt instead for soda or iced tea, which usually include free refills.

    Say No to Appetizers

    While we’re in the habit of saying no to things, skip the appetizer, too. Yeah, you’re hungry and those jalapeño poppers look amazing, but they’re not $8 amazing and they’re not worth ruining your appetite over.

    Skip the Kids Meal

    Yeah, kids meals usually only cost about $5, but that’s five bucks you don’t need to spend. Instead, give your tot a taste of what mom and dad is having by sharing a little bit of your entrees. Those meals are gigantic enough, so you won’t really miss a few bites, will you?

    Score a Free Kids Meal

    Some restaurants offer “kids eat free” discounts, which means you can ignore tip #4 and have your dinner all to yourself.

    Related: How to Cut Back on Eating Out (and Save Money, Too!)

  • Save Money: Give Yourself a Pedicure at Home

    Do you get regular pedicures at your local salon? I’m guilty of getting pedicures in the past and paying at least $30 (after tip) each time. When I stopped to think about how much money I was spending on something that I could do myself and for free at home, I quickly decided to cut back on professional pedicures and save money instead. Although I do miss professional pedicures slightly, I feel better about saving hundreds of dollars each year with my own DIY pedicures.

    DIY pedicures at home are super easy and fun if you have the right kinds of supplies. These supplies typically are inexpensive and once you have a great set of pedicure tools in your collection, you can enjoy your own pedicures in no time.

    Here are my at home pedicure essentials:

    • cotton balls
    • nail polish remover
    • nail polish (at least two to three colors, usually a pink or coral for spring/summer and red for winter)
    • toe nail clippers
    • foot lotion

    When I begin my pedicure, I remove any old nail polish with nail polish remover and cotton balls. Then, I soak my feet in the tub and wash them really well with soap. After I soak my feet, I towel dry them and begin my pedicure. I start with my heels and work my way up to the toenails.

    I look forward to my at home pedicures these days. My box of pedicure essentials helps me to keep my feet looking their very best!