Festival of Frugality: Singles Awareness Edition

Welcome to the 164th edition of the Festival of Frugality! With Valentine’s Day only a few days away, it was pretty much a given that I would make this week’s edition Valentine’s themed. The only problem is that Valentine’s Day and frugality aren’t two things you’d expect to find in the same sentence. For many couples, Valentine’s Day is a time to splurge and indulge or, at the very least, to get gifts for each other. Want to know the truth? The most frugal way to spend Valentine’s Day is to be single.

This week’s festival of frugality is dedicated to Singles Awareness Day, because no matter how much you think it sucks to be single on Valentine’s Day, it does have its advantages.

Dinner for one is cheaper than dinner for two.

Photo by Rubyran

Editor’s Picks

• Abigail Perry has declared February 15th: The Frugalist’s Valentine’s Day at i pick up pennies. I definitely agree that you can save some time and money by celebrating Valentine’s Day on a different day, but isn’t part of the whole Valentine’s Day experience waiting forever at a restaurant and paying an obscene amount of money for your girlfriend’s favorite flowers?
• Peter is calling people out on A Commonly Believed Myth: The Little Guy Just Can’t Get Ahead at Bible Money Matters. Is the difference between being broke and being poor all in your head?
• LAL asks her readers an interesting question in Are you naturally frugal? at LivingAlmostLarge. I’ve always thought of myself as a frugal person, but I don’t know if it was natural or a byproduct of being raised by my parents. Be sure to check out the comments section to see what other people have to say about their frugality or lack of it.
• Kris shares some great money-saving advice while explaining What the Great Depression Can Teach Us About Food and Frugality at Cheap Healthy Good. Find out what we can learn from the past to help get through our current tough financial times.
• Silicon Valley Blogger shares a bunch of Free Ways To Watch Television Online, Catch Movies on the Internet at The Digerati Life. If you still adjust your schedule just to catch TV shows, then get with the times. You can watch practically any show whenever you want on the Internet.
• mbhunter answers the question on everybody’s mind in Why do frugality tips suck so badly? at Mighty Bargain Hunter. Do frugality tips actually suck or do we just suck at seeing the potential of following them?

Slim to zero chance of heartbreak on Valentine’s Day.

Photo by Sister72

• Dawn explains how breaking your foot can be good for your wallet in my accidental shopping strike at Dawn’s Evolution.
• Victoria illustrates scenarios when baby stores are cheaper than Walmart or Target at Turbo-Mom’s Guide to Saving Money Without Wasting Time.
• Tom Tessin shares three websites to help you in Finding The Cheapest Gas Prices at FGC Auto Blog.
• toolsie explains how drill bits can keep you thrifty at Drill Bits.
• MoneyNing presents a great guide to What Everyone Ought to Know When Applying for Free Stuff at Personal Finance Blog by Money Ning. If you’re looking into applying for free stuff, this article has a bunch of great tips that will reduce your chances of falling for scams.
• The Writer asks Is Saving Bad? The Paradox of Thrift Says Yes at The Writer’s Coin. In these tough financial times, people are saving more money instead of spending it, but is this hurting the economy?
• PFCreditCards provides step-by-step details on How to Beat Priceline and Get a Winning Bid at PF Credit Cards. I’m going to have to try this out myself for my next trip.
• Mara Rogers shares some great Tips To Negotiate a Lower Rent at Secrets for Money.
• Robert Hazlewood presents A Survival Guide For The Economic Times filled with advice to make it through these tough financial times at Ways to Survive Life.
• FMF asks Anyone Play the Grocery Game? at Free Money Finance. Is it worth it to pay for a service that will help you save money on groceries?
• julie shares A Tip for Planning Thrifty Shopping Trips at Thrifty Frugality.
• Trevor Watkinson spent January only eating Chef Boyardee and shares his results in 30 Days Of Chef Boyardee: Day 30 at SaveYourSweat.com Blog. Not only is Chef Boyardee frugal, it helped him lose weight.
• FIRE Finance tells a great story about running into an old friend and learning how Smart Refrigeration Lowers Electricity Bill at FIRE Finance.
• Jim shares some DirecTV Satellite Television Deals at Blueprint for Financial Prosperity.
• ChristianPF tackles the issue of marriage finances: joint vs. separate checking accounts at Christian Personal Finance. Do you and your spouse have a joint account or separate accounts?

You have the freedom to do whatever you want.

Photo by KoAn La Scrivana

• Andy asks Is Obama’s $500,000 Pay Cap for Overpaid Executives Justified? at Saving to Invest.
• Jeff Rose shares an excellent list of 5 Simple Yet Often Overlooked Ways To Spend Less Money at Good Financial Cents. If you haven’t heard of the thirty day rule, then you should read this article.
• vh questions whether taking public transit to work around where she lives is worth the price in time and money compared to driving to work in Cost-effective ride? at Funny about Money.
• SD Guy explores what to do with extra cash after you get it in Nice! Extra Cash… Now What? at stretchyDollar.
• Mike G explains how to Save Electricity and Protect Your Equipment at Money TLD. You can save money on electricity by plugging your electronics into power strips or surge protectors and flipping the master switch off when you’re not using anything.
• Aryn recommends a frugal alternative to the expensive Le Creuset Dutch Oven in Frugal Product Recommendation: Enameled Cast Iron Dutch Oven at Sound Money Matters.
• Jason Patrick provides some tips on making it through the recession in Has the recession got you down? at MoneyTheory.
• debt kid explains Why Budgets Don’t Work For Everyone at Debt Kid.
• J. Money shares his opinion on “Americans Spending Less, Saving More” – This is bad? at Budgets are Sexy.. Final conclusion? Saving money is a great thing.
• Debt Free Destiny describes 3 Tips to Stablilize Your Finances at Debt Free Destiny.
• Chris explains some house-hunting expenses and how to minimize them at Home I Own.
• Stephanie shares a few great tips that will help you in cutting your food costs at Make It From Scratch.
• Stephanie presents a couple of Amazon Grocery Sale Codes at Stop the Ride!.
• Super Saver presents Lowering our Property Tax – Doing it myself at My Wealth Builder.
• Jenn Fowler @ Frugal Upstate shares some great Fun Frugal Valentines Day Crafts & Printables at Frugal Upstate.

There’s no need to look for stuff with hearts all over it.

Photo by mackz

• Studenomist explains How The Winter Can Save You Money at Studenomics. If you live somewhere cold, you should check out these tips.
• Patrick @ Cash Money Life is spreading the word about a $25 Sign-up Bonus from Lending Club, plus a Chance to Win $100.
• Patrick @ Military Money presents some simple Green Ways to Save Money.
• Patrick @ Money Saving Deals presents a list of money-saving GoDaddy Coupon Codes.
• Len Penzo explains how to Plan Dinner Menus In Advance to Save Big Money at Len Penzo . Com.
• The Smarter Wallet shares a few Cheap Meals You Can Cook At Home To Save Money! at The Smarter Wallet.
• The Investor explains the Time value of money: Why locking money away earns a better return at Monevator.
• Dana J. shares some advice to take with you on your next trip to the dollar store in Dollar Store: Best Items To Buy at Not Made Of Money.
• The Happy Rock tells us about some of his future plans in I’m going to Disney World! (In seven years) at The Happy Rock.
• Megan has taken another green step at Counting My Pennies by using handkerchiefs instead of tissues.
• Wenchypoo takes a look back in time in A Blast From the Past: “Luxury” Sacrifices at Wisdom From Wenchypoo’s Mental Wastebasket.
• DJ shares advice on how You Can Shop For Frugal Food And Still Eat Healthy at The Family Wallet.

If you live near San Francisco, two words — PILLOW FIGHT!

Photo by Steve Rhodes

• Madison lists a few great Money Saving Tips for Kids on Valentine’s Day at Kids and Money.
• Ryan Suenaga presents A Great Deal on a Great Audiobook at Uncommon Cents.
• Sun gives the latest scoop on Free Business & Finance Courses Online at The Sun’s Financial Diary.
• Shaun Connell presents 5 Principles for Getting Out of Debt at Learn Financial Planning.
• kathryn talks about The Importance of Shopping Local at Out of Debt – Christian Finances and Debt Help.
• Kevin lays out some guidelines to determine whether or not you’re really getting a deal in It’s Only a Deal If… at No Debt Plan.
• Elizabeth G shares some ingredients to keep around for Frugal Emergency Pantry Meals at Modern Gal.
• David R. Lampsen presents Saving with a Sears Coupon at Personal Finance Analyst.
• Mr. ToughMoneyLove shares some tips for Saving Money on Legal Fees at Tough Money Love. He should know because he’s a patent attorney by day.
• Curt tackles 9 Budgeting Myths and exposes the truth about them at PennyJobs.com.
• Penelope Pince shares an extensive list of Frugal and Meaningful Valentine’s Day Gift & Date Ideas, Plus Budget Tips at Pecuniarities.
• Green Panda provides a step-by-step explanation on How to Make a Price Book at Green Panda Treehouse.
• RC shares some advice on Mastering Frugal Living – Living a Simpler Life and Avoiding Consumerism at Think Your Way to Wealth.
• KCLau asks Would you pay RM 1200 for a concert ticket? at KCLau’s Money Tips.
• Em. presents a novel way to reuse your wrapping paper in Welcome to Works-For-Me-Wednesday: Wrapping Paper Edition! at Gratitude. Simplicity. Frugality..
• The Shark Investor presents Strategies For Raising Funds: Saving at The Shark Investor.

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