How to Live Grandly on a Tight Budget

Six months ago I thought newspapers and various corporations would be banging down my door with job offers. Now, months after college graduation and a move to a new and bigger city, reality has set in. Working odd jobs for a temporary staffing agency, I now realize that I have to be as frugal as possible while I wait to land my dream job. Living cheap is not nearly as glamorous nor as easy as the coupon moms and budget experts on the Today Show may make it sound. But, if you do it right, living on a tight budget can be fun…and rewarding.

Cut Corners
Don't have Internet and can't pay for cable? I have neither in my apartment, so I've learned to get around both. I use the local library for free Internet access, and I bought an inexpensive pair of bunny ears antennae to put on my TV to get the most out of the satellite already on the apartment complex. It's free and now I don't spend forever jumping around from channel to channel trying to decide what to watch.

Find Deals
Yes, coupons are great. But they can also be a pitfall. Oftentimes, I would spend hours searching for and cutting coupons and then I would end up buying things I didn't need or want just because it was cheap. Go through your pantry and closets and take inventory of what you really need and want, to avoid over-spending. Then cut corners. Go to the Dollar Tree instead of the grocery store for home items. Garbage bags, brooms, paper towels and even dishware can be found at Dollar Tree, all for one dollar each.

Swap Clothes
When it comes time to clean out your closet - or even if you just want to pick up a few items somewhere - swap them for new ones, or new to you. Resale and consignment stores abound, so make use of them. Call each one to find out their specific requests (some require clothes to be brought in on hangers, others prefer shopping bags) and simply trade in your old clothes for some new ones. You'll have a whole new wardrobe essentially for free!