Simple.. Frugal.. Content

Throwing away money is not something I like doing – Who does? Well, maybe some people, but let’s face it: These days, we can use all the help we can get when buying something.

I wasn’t always frugal when shopping in the past - As a matter of fact, I have only recently seen the light on this one.  But what an eye-opening experience it has been!

So with that said, here’s a list of my 5 most favorite places to get run-of-the-mill, day to day things and, more often than not, some very good, one-of-a-kind or hard to find items!

1. Goodwill – Going to the local Goodwill is like going on a treasure hunt. You never know what you will find! There’s always some item there that’s in excellent condition (Some even brand new) that someone simply had no use for.  And like the slightly modified saying goes – One person’s junk is another person’s treasure! Find a Goodwill local to you: Goodwill Locator.
2. Salvation Army Family Store – Here’s another place to go treasure hunting with a chance to find some really great item for a bargain price.  You can use the following site to find a Salvation Army Family Store near you: Salvation Army Family Store locator.
3. 99 Cent Only Store – I love this place.  For your basic every day necessities (Paper towels, dish soap, you name it), this place is awesome.  Find a 99 Cent Only Store near you: 99 Cent Store Locator.
4. Dollar Tree – Right up there with 99 Cent store is Dollar Tree.  Another outstanding place to save money and grab a bargain on your day to day necessities.  Locate a Dollar Tree near you: Dollar Tree Store Locator.
5. Big Lots – This place is great to find some very nice items.  What I like about Big Lots is that along with the standard items you’d expect to find there, they occasionally have what I call special, one-of-a-kind items that come into the store that are really useful.  Go check it out! Find a Big Lots near you: Big Lots Store Locator.

And there you have it – 5 of my favorite places to be frugal, get a great bargain, find a one-of-a-kind item, and save lots of money.  Some might laugh at my choice of stores to shop at.  But why not have the last laugh as you laugh your way to the bank with all your hard earned.. I mean..  SAVED cash!

It goes without saying that in this day and age, the amount of information we face on a minute by minute basis is overwhelming – to say the least.

There is a middle way between being a luddite and a total information junkie:

5 Ways To Simplify Information Overload:

1. Surfing The Web: Limit your time spent reading websites, RSS feeds, etc.  Do you really need to spend hours on all the sites you visit? Probably not.  Get online, get the information you need, and get going. Simplify.
2. SmartPhones: Stop playing with the SmartPhone. How much of the time spent using one is productive work, and how much is a waste of time? Wasted time = Time you could be using doing something productive.
3. Email: Clean out that inbox.  Getting too many emails? Unsubscribe, filter, or block. Politely ask family and friends not to forward chain letters.  Simplify the inbox; It has no power over you unless you let it.
4. Chat/Twitter/Facebook/Whatever: I mean no offense by this, but chances are great that most people aren’t interested in reading you tweeting about your bagel and latte. These social networking sites are successful because they are the ultimate ego pleaser. That’s all fine and dandy.. until you realize you’ve spent a better part of your life on those networks wasting away.  If you must participate in social networks, a few updates will suffice.  Don’t become addicted.
5. Online Games: I used to joke that Second Life is for people with no life.  How far from the truth is that? Do you really want to spend your limited existence on earth in a video game? They are fun, interesting, mesmerizing.. And therein lies the problem. You wake up one day, in the real world, and say, “Where did my First Life go?”

And there you have it.  These are just my opinions of course, and ones that I have found useful for me personally.  Hopefully these common sense steps can be of use for you as well.

Keep It Simple.
Be Frugal.
Feel Content.

These three phrases summarize what I am striving to achieve upon this journey of life.   And so, I embark upon my journey towards simplicity, frugality and contentedness.

This is an interesting journey, for I know that after many steps are taken, the journey will lead back to where I started.. Leading back to the self.

We live in a world that can often-times seem complex.  Yet, if we stop for a moment to smell the roses, as it were, sights that were theretofore unseen become apparent.  The beauty of Nature that is all around us becomes apparent.

I have for many years missed out on the beauty that is already there, all around us.  But it it not too late.

And so, as the saying goes:

A journey of a thousand miles begins with the first step.

And so, I begin the first steps towards living a simpler life, being more frugal, and achieving contentedness with what I already am blessed with.  I hope you will come along with me on this journey.  Let us explore together!