The Festival of Frugality Stops at Go Frugal

This week Go Frugal is honored to host the latest (187th!) edition of the Festival of Frugality.  We were overwhelmed by the number of great money-saving ideas sent in, so let’s get right to it!

Money Matters

Let’s start with something ambitious - James, of the blog Losing Face, has spent over 18 months in a cashless existence.  What began as a bet, ended up teaching him the importance of budgeting and planning ahead.  Watch his video for some of the “Do’s and Dont’s” he’s learned along the way.

If your still mystified by your credit rating, Master Your Card is here to break down the rules of credit inquiries, Soft Pull vs. Hard Pull.

For more environmentally sound money-saving tips, check out It’s Frugal Being Green and their comprehensive 23 Basic Budgeting Resources post.

The mortgage free-for-all might be over, but good deals are still out there. Everyday Finance provides some sound tips for getting your rate under 4%.

Looking for a low- or no-interest balance transfer to help manage your credit card debt?  Money Blue Book wants you to know your options.

Student credit cards can be tricky business, but Dough Roller has you covered.  Don’t miss their College Student’s Guide to Credit Cards for all the pros, cons, risks and rewards.

Sneaky bank fees have long been an enemy of the frugal set.  Good thing Banker, Saver is here to help us avoid those extra charges.

Home Repair and Maintenance

Wanna spruce up your house this summer?  Associate Money teaches us how to Save Money with Do It Yourself Projects.

If ants are running a muck in your house, don’t bring in the exterminator just yet.  The Greenest Dollar has several organic, low-cost solutions to share.

Kitchen-cleaning can be another costly (not to mention annoying) part of home maintenance.  Visit Miss Thrifty for a low-cost solution to every homeowner’s enemy: the filthy oven.

PocketMINT did the math and discovered that downsizing your appliances can not only save you room, but also save you money.

Moving?  True Adventures in Money Hacking has some battle-tested tips for saving you time and money - check them out here.

Automotive Savings

One of the easiest ways to save some big bucks is buying used (or “pre-owned,” as they are more often known these days) on your next car purchase.  But it’s a purchase many of us still regret down the road.  Fortunately Money Ning did the research, so you can get it right.

If your car ever breaks down, the right mechanic can mean all the difference for keeping things frugal.  Think Your Way to Wealth offers their tips to make it happen.

Couples can cut all kinds of costs if they eliminate one car all together.  Five Cent Nickel offers this Testimony of a One Car Couple to help you decide if this move is right for you.

For even more ways to save money on your automobile, check out Frugally Green’s post on the Cash for Clunkers program.

Vacations

Think vacation homes are only for the rich or wasteful?  Think again!  Bargaineering gives us “7 Reasons to Skip Hotels and Rent Vacation Homes” that’ll change your mind.

After returning from a summer road trip, Frugal Force blogger Cheap Kate wrote up her tips on packing food for summer trips.  Head over here for examples of the easy-to-assemble meals she used on her family vacation.

For even more ideas on how to save money in your next vacation, don’t miss The Canadian Finance Blog and their 10 tips.

Work

We all know jobs have been scarce - Too many bills to go the unpaid intern route?  Maybe an apprenticeship is your ticket to career advancement.  As the Lucrative Investor tells us, they aren’t just for electrician and Jedis.

In a down economy, many of us have been forced to make do with part-time work.  If you find yourself underemployed, this post from Modern Gal might provide some tips to help you cope.

Weddings

Wedding season can cost a pretty penny if you’ve lots of friends getting hitched.  Budgets are Sexy wants to help you be cheap but chic at this year’s nuptials.

On the other hand, if the wedding is your own, PT Money has a great list of tips for keeping down costs that every bride or groom should check out.

Shopping

Deferred payment plans are tempting, but they could end up costing you more money in the long run.  Saving to Invest has a great post that should help you assess your options.

Monroe on a Budget tells us about a grocery store favorite of the money-saving set that’s frugal no more.

The Smarter Wallet takes a closer look at online auction sites to bring us tips for saving money and turning a profit.

The Frugal Housewife reminds us of the many money-saving advantages to canning your produce.

Unnecessary spending is a mortal enemy of the frugal lifestyle.  Woman Tribune has a great post for getting a handle on this dangerous compulsion.  Give it a look!

Other Frugally Goodness

If you’re looking to get started on the road to financial independence, Dave Ramsey’s 7 Baby Steps, brought to you by the Military Finance Network, are a great start.

Frugal Dad wants to help you confront your Financial Inferiority Complex.  It’s not too late!

The only thing better than frugal is free!  The About.com Frugal Living guide has provided 8 Ways to Eat for Free that everyone should know.

Moolanomy breaks down the financial advantages of prepaid cell phones to reveal surprising opportunities for savings.

Busy families know how hard it can be to make time for economical, healthy meals every day of the week.  That’s why Home Life Weekly is sharing this free menu planner to help us plan ahead.

New York isn’t known for being cheap, so residents and visitors alike will no doubt enjoy Frugal NYC.  Check out their 10 Free Things to Do in Queens post for some local frugal fun.

Already well on the road to frugal freedom and hoping to retire early?  Cash Out Life explains why the Roth IRA might be the way to go.