Did you see Oprah today?

I don't know what it is, I guess I am just built this way; but I love anything to do with being thrifty.

Today's topic on Oprah was Being Thrifty in today's economy. It was great, and there were alot of great ideas to take and implement into one's life.

Some tips from the show:
*Barter/Trade. The example on the show: You want your friends couch, she wants yours-trade straight across. It's a win-win for both of you. Lady teaches dance and trades lessons with a mom who ownes a restaurant. They get free dance lessons, the other gets free food.

*Use your hometown resources. Goto the library to rent dvd's for free. Search the internet for restaurants in your area that have specials or deals for kids' meals. Take advantage of the beach, the park, museums, etc.

*Keep a budget. Track your wants vs. needs. Keep a journal and see where you are really spending your money. Go through receipts at the end of every day.

*Unplug your appliances when your not using them. Example on the show. One lady unplugs EVERYTHING when she's not using it. Even if its off, it is still drawing power. Her electric bill went from $268 down to $60.42!

*Coupon. Loved this one! They featured Couponmom and she showed how she went shopping, used coupons and only spent $37.xx when her original bill was $127.xx.

*Commitment. They had the Thriftiest Family in America on the show. They are a family of 6, mom & dad, and four boys. She's a stay at home mom. They make $58,000/year. And have plenty to live off of. They have $70,000 in savings, they pay $5/month for their cell phone, their dinner meals cost $4/meal for their whole family, she cuts their hair, he carpools to work, he does own renovations, and she coupons.

*Ride your bike instead of driving.

*Vacation in your own back yard to save money.

There were some other tips, but these are the ones that stuck out in my mind. It was a great show. Hope you were able to see it!