Tips for being more frugal but having a great lifestyle

[Hannibal]

Roll your own cigarettes. The cigarette rolling machine you buy (if you want them looking looking like they aren't joints) will pay itself off after a couple weeks if you smoke a pack a day, and you can mix and match your favorite tobacco types and filters. You can also buy a nice looking metal pack that won't crush if you get your jacket caught in a door or something.

If you dont' plan on using the gym to game (I don't, I workout to get away from all that shit), then it's not a bad idea to work out at home or do something like Barstarzz at a local park. You might get some wierd looks, but a steady diet of dips and pullups will give you a better physique than most people who go to the gym. Sad, but true. I'll be writing an article sometime in the next year on working out at the home with a minimal amount of equipment (if I get any results from that kind of workout).

See if you can get by without owning a car. Owning and maintaining a car costs a fuckload of money.

 

[MidniteSpecial]

I used to bring girls to a mansion on a steep hill on the water that was for sale. It was so expensive no one was buying it and it was in a secluded area. We'd sneak around back and chill on the patio with some drinks and a smoke and I'd bang them on this deck like it was my house.

 

[Jbk]

Some great stuff here

 

[Cyclone]

Do you buy "fancy" alcohol. This is usually a "curse" for older people as they develop a "need" for a tasty more expensive wine/beer. No need again. Only buy top shelf stuff if it's helping you get a girl or you're having friends over. Sure you can buy the expensive stuff but if its just for you who cares, drink garbage alcohol at clubs/bars its not like you should care about the taste. Alcohol is just a "game performance enhancer".

Or, just buy 1 bottle of some top-shelf shit.
Once the bottle is done, keep it (and the label) and pour some Skol into it (ok, maybe not something that bad). 95% of girls will never know the difference and you can keep your rep.

A big one:

Buy a SCOOTER.
Or at least a motorized bike.

Fuck cars, fuck buses, fuck trains.
Scooters are the way to go. Insane MPG. Great for pickup.

And if you don't live in a place with warm enough weather for it, MOVE.
.

 

[Prophylaxis]

Buy a SCOOTER.
Or at least a motorized bike.

Fuck cars, fuck buses, fuck trains.
Scooters are the way to go. Insane MPG. Great for pickup.

And if you don't live in a place with warm enough weather for it, MOVE.
.

Having worked in a brain injury unit - I'd be hesitant on recommending them. The risk far outweighs the reward of saving a few pennies IMO. Scooters are perhaps the most dangerous as you cannot hear them coming like motorbikes.

Just buy a shitty 1.3L Toyota Yaris if you want economy.

 

[Lazarus]

Do you buy "fancy" alcohol. This is usually a "curse" for older people as they develop a "need" for a tasty more expensive wine/beer. No need again. Only buy top shelf stuff if it's helping you get a girl or you're having friends over. Sure you can buy the expensive stuff but if its just for you who cares, drink garbage alcohol at clubs/bars its not like you should care about the taste. Alcohol is just a "game performance enhancer".

Or, just buy 1 bottle of some top-shelf shit.
Once the bottle is done, keep it (and the label) and pour some Skol into it (ok, maybe not something that bad). 95% of girls will never know the difference and you can keep your rep.

A big one:

Buy a SCOOTER.
Or at least a motorized bike.

Fuck cars, fuck buses, fuck trains.
Scooters are the way to go. Insane MPG. Great for pickup.

And if you don't live in a place with warm enough weather for it, MOVE.
.

Can't wait to put on 40lbs of muscle and ride one of these around

Seriously, never ridden one, how much like riding a motorbike are they?

 

[cibo]

Sign up for mint.com

Start categorizing your spending.

Very eye opening for me.

Most of us have what are called "leaks." We spend a trickle, or small amount of money, regularly without realizing it.

How often do we buy packs of gum or a soda or red bull at the gas station for $2 or whatever? You may spend a few hundred dollars a year on bullshit that way, when you could instead buy in bulk at all once and still get the gum/soda/red bull at half the cost.

The goal is to plug those leaks.

For each guy it will be different. Mint or another program can help you find those leaks.

I usually prefer to focus my energy on generating revenue than saving but I do agree with you that everyone probably has a few expenditures that are causing most of their problems (80/20 rule). I did the math on my Red Bull and coffee expenditures last year and it convinced me to cut it out and buy a espresso machine since it was so massive. Saved a lot there with little effect on my lifestyle.

Also if you go out to eat and hit the same places often enough you can almost always get a discount or at least some additional food/service for free. This always look good when you're with a girl and they comp you the wine because they know you. And they'll usually say it in a way that makes you look good too.

 

[Cyclone]

Buy a SCOOTER.
Or at least a motorized bike.

Fuck cars, fuck buses, fuck trains.
Scooters are the way to go. Insane MPG. Great for pickup.

And if you don't live in a place with warm enough weather for it, MOVE.
.

Can't wait to put on 40lbs of muscle and ride one of these around

Seriously, never ridden one, how much like riding a motorbike are they?

It's less like riding a motorcycle and much more like riding a bicycle. Embarassingly easy. My experience was solely in Vietnam (where it's at least semi-automatic).
.

 

[blackglasses]

Get rid of clothing and things you don't need. The more you have, the more you have to maintain and replace

 

[thegmanifesto]

I used to bring girls to a mansion on a steep hill on the water that was for sale. It was so expensive no one was buying it and it was in a secluded area. We'd sneak around back and chill on the patio with some drinks and a smoke and I'd bang them on this deck like it was my house.

Now that's Game.

 

[snoop]

I used to bring girls to a mansion on a steep hill on the water that was for sale. It was so expensive no one was buying it and it was in a secluded area. We'd sneak around back and chill on the patio with some drinks and a smoke and I'd bang them on this deck like it was my house.

Now that's Game.

the younger guys can also pull this move with the more gold diggerish chicks...mention to her that you live in a real rich neighborhood, then drive her there. As you are driving up the street, pick out a house with the lights on and say "guess my family came home from <xyz place>, we'll have to go back to your place"

 

[CaP7]

For those that need internet in their apartment. PDAnet. It's an app that I use from junefabrics.com. I have an android phone via verizon. The app allows me to tether my phone to my laptop for internet via the 4g LTE network. I save $40/month doing this. If you need a wifi spot for a tablet, I think PDAnet has an update that does this too. I paid $25 for the app 2 years ago.

Take vodka mini's out to the bar and order plain club soda's. The mini's fit better in your pockets than a flask, and are cheap to replace. If you're the slightest bit aware of your surroundings, you won't get caught.

Buy things on craigslist. I've had a full size armoire, delivered to my front door for $80. I've sold all of my apartment sh*t. If you don't know how to do craigslist, learn. Practice. It helps build negotiating skills for the office.

Buy apartment sh*t at Ross or Marshalls. Pillows for $8, pans for $5, etc. Stay away from Target and Bed Bath Beyond. Also get dress socks and workout gear here.

This is the most important for me. Stay healthy. Lifestyle benefits are endless.

 

[Cyclone]

Another major one I forgot about is RETURNING shit.

Everyone knows about Walmart's rediculously lax return policies. Most items have a 90-day return policy. Back in college, I used to buy bikes from them for $90, and return them after riding for 2 months. Free 2-month loan. I've also done it for heaters, backpacks, and xbox 360's.

If you want to go real hardcore, there's a site which has a 180-day (!) return policy. I just bought a razor and plan to return it in the summer. The site (a couchsurfer made it) It's good if you dont have a Walmart nearby.
.

 

[CaP7]

If you work for a corporation, always spend your HSA money as soon as you can. Here's why, with an example.

I designated $2000 for my health savings account, to be spent on chiropractic and dental work, at the beginning of the year. In January, I paid my chiropractic bill for the year, then had dental work done in February. The entire $2000 was spent from the HSA account.

HSA accounts are funded through a deduction of your paycheck throughout the year. $2000 = $77 per paycheck if there are 26 pay periods in the year.

The reason you need to spend the money asap, is if you change jobs or are fired/laid off. When you change jobs, the company eats the difference.

This just happened to me. I paid back $500, switched companies, and benefited $1500 in HSA expenses that already were incurred.

It's little tweaks like this that make a big difference. I just stumbled upon it and will do this every year from here on out.