Frugality

I've always been a frugal person. We didn't have much when I was growing up, so I learned not to ask for anything that wasn't essential. And I remember how proud my mom was when she would save money using coupons or when she would find a great deal on something. So frugality is always in the back of my mind when I buy anything, but I have to admit that I softened over the years because I could. Now that our financial situation has changed, we have had to reinvent ourselves. Here are some of the changes we've made:

• Eating out only once or twice a month as a family intead of once or twice a week.
• Homemade bread (at least a loaf a week...that's as much as I can do so far!)
• More homemade everything (beans, pizza, soup, lunch meat, spaghetti sauce, etc.) Turns out it's way yummier to be frugal!
• Coupon use ramped up and gift cards used creatively
• Much fewer "just because" purchases at the grocery store (and everywhere for that matter)
• Creative use of leftovers
• No more eating out for lunch (Erik used to eat out almost every day)
• Making creative heartfelt gifts that cost a little instead of grandiose useless gifts that cost a lot.
• Not giving up on giving...that may sound like it's not a way to be frugal but it is. God blesses it more than I would have ever guessed.

So what tips do you have on being frugal? What has worked for your family? I'd love more ideas!