Have you ever wished you had more ideas for frugal living? Have you looked at your budget and wished there was something else you could trim, but don’t know where to start? Not excited about saving a few pennies by reusing plastic baggies? Me neither. I’ve found that some of the best ideas for frugal living are lucrative and don’t have to be painful.

Dial for dollars. You can often save money – even hundreds of dollars – in one simple phone call to your Internet provider, cable company or credit card account. Ask your cable to give you the low introductory rate your new neighbor has, or you saw advertised. I recently got another introductory rate with my Internet provider, only two months after my first introductory period ended. That call saved me $150 over six months. When my cable was down for three days after a storm, I had another $15 taken off my month’s bill.

Ask for a refund of late charges or fees, especially if you normally pay on time. Be polite and ask for a “one-time courtesy”; more often than not, you’ll get the fees waived.

When hoping for a lower rate on your credit card, use this strategy: ask the company representative where to send the payment to pay off your credit card bill so you can close the account. Mention closing the account several times; when I did this, the rep transferred me to “Account Retainment” and my interest rate was slashed in half to keep me a loyal customer.

Stop borrowing money. This might seem obvious, but many still use credit cards and finance their cars even as they struggle to live on a budget. Live without debt, and you will save more money than you can imagine over your lifetime. Not only will you save thousands of dollars in interest payments, you’ll buy less when you pay with cash, check or your debit card.

Bargain. Most Americans are used to simply paying the sticker price wherever they go, but the secret is that many larger-ticket items are negotiable when it comes to price. Financial guru Dave Ramsey suggests researching the best prices before you go out to buy your appliance, sports equipment, or other big-ticket item. Then, bring cash and ask for a lower price than what’s being asked. Talk to a manager if necessary, and look for refurbished or returned items with warranties to get an even better deal.

Sell stuff. Offer your used items on Craig’s List, in the local classifieds or at consignment sales instead of just donating or disposing the things you don’t need. Think outside the box – even spare car parts from a dead vehicle have resale value. Children’s clothes and toys have great resale value at seasonal consignment sales as well as stores that share the sale price with consignors.

Grow some food. Whether you have a few acres in the country, or a south-facing townhouse with a deck, you can cultivate some vegetables and herbs to help lessen your food budget. Recycle containers for potted plants and tomatoes if you can’t plant directly into soil. Save your non-hybrid seeds form one year to the next to save on planting costs. If you have space and time, plant a large garden and include fall crops like pumpkins, cabbage and winter squash to extend your harvest season.

I know I barely scratched the surface, so please share your ideas and resources for frugal living below

Food Storage Easy Dehydrating - Nairaland