The Frugal Living Thread

[MattJVD]

Have to add one of my favourite dirt cheap meals here too:

 

black beans, rice, sautéed carrots, celery, and onions. Basically the cheapest vegetables in the produce section, mixed with some cheap staples. Depending on how you're feeling, season with cumin, chilly powder, maybe add citrus (if that doesn't break the bank) or soy sauce and siracha. You can easily get >$1 per portion. 

[86Viking]

2 hours ago, MattJVD said:

French Press: $20

Grinder: $80

1KG of Kirkland brand whole bean: $15

 

 

Amortize French press and grinder over 5 years: 365x2 (2 cups per day) x 5 =

French press: $0.005 / cup

Grinder: $0.02/cup

Coffee: (50 Grams per brew, makes 3 cups) $0.25/cup

 

Electricity for the kettle and grinder: $0.01/cup:

 

I think I spend about 28 cents per cup of coffee, with a rather modest assumption of 5 years for the grinder and french press. They'll probably last 10+ years. I counted the kettle as a sunk cost, because it's needed in the house anyways. 

What grinder do you recommend?

[Westcoasting]

On 1/25/2022 at 3:25 PM, Sean Monahan said:

Popeye’s gives Vitamixes away on Instagram “raffles”. I’m not sure how random the raffles really are, but I won a Vitamix from them just about a month ago maybe. Definitely not something you can bank on but it’s worth a shot. 
 

 

I was also going to add- just about any store that sells President’s Choice brand will have 4x450 G packs of frozen ground turkey for $10. Tough to beat that price. Also that chicken thighs don’t add on too many calories compared to chicken breast and are usually a fair bit cheaper. 

I buy that same frozen turkey product, the price is impossible to beat

[Westcoasting]

How about vehicle payments... get rid of overpriced new cars/ trucks and buy one with low Klm’s and a few years old. 

[spur1]

4 hours ago, Westcoasting said:

How about vehicle payments... get rid of overpriced new cars/ trucks and buy one with low Klm’s and a few years old. 

Then plan trips to do more than one thing to limit Kms. 

[Gurn]

13 hours ago, Westcoasting said:

How about vehicle payments... get rid of overpriced new cars/ trucks and buy one with low Klm’s and a few years old. 

 

8 hours ago, spur1 said:

Then plan trips to do more than one thing to limit Kms. 

There are places that will "help' you break out of car leases and time shares.

Heck, almost every other add on the old TEAM 1040 radio was from some "licenced insolvency" expert that could reduce your debt by up to 80%.

[The Arrogant Worms]

15 hours ago, Westcoasting said:

How about vehicle payments... get rid of overpriced new cars/ trucks and buy one with low Klm’s and a few years old. 

Cars a few years old with low k's  are about the price of what a new car was a few years ago. it's crazy.

 

Dealers are begging for used cars.

 

The market has completely changed in the dealer's favor.  Virtually impossible to get any money off what the dealer is asking

for a new or used vehicle because if you don't buy it there are 10 other people that will pay what the asking price is.

 

I bought a 2020 Jeep Compass Trailhawk 4x4 just before prices went insane about 14-15 months ago..  I could sell it now

for pretty well what i paid as I got the last one on the lot and got a good price before the market changed.

 

I just helped my son trade in his 2020 Corolla for almost what he paid for it and he bought a 2021 Mazda CX-5 and he paid the difference in cash.

 

We also just bought a 2021 Subaru Crosstek for my wife.  Traded in a 2013 Corolla for a good price.  Got some money off for a cash deal

but they gave me a killer deal on snowtires(with steel rims) for it.

 

as far as the dealerships..... Suburu by far was the best experience and open and honest about everything.

 

 

Edited February 1, 2022 by The Arrogant Worms

[MattJVD]

On 1/31/2022 at 12:16 PM, Canuckster86 said:

What grinder do you recommend?

Not sure I'd be much use. I've had the same kitchenaid stainless steel grinder since 2016, only one I've ever owned. I think it's good, but I haven't tried anything else.

[MattJVD]

On 2/1/2022 at 12:42 PM, The Arrogant Worms said:

Cars a few years old with low k's  are about the price of what a new car was a few years ago. it's crazy.

 

Dealers are begging for used cars.

 

The market has completely changed in the dealer's favor.  Virtually impossible to get any money off what the dealer is asking

for a new or used vehicle because if you don't buy it there are 10 other people that will pay what the asking price is.

 

I bought a 2020 Jeep Compass Trailhawk 4x4 just before prices went insane about 14-15 months ago..  I could sell it now

for pretty well what i paid as I got the last one on the lot and got a good price before the market changed.

 

I just helped my son trade in his 2020 Corolla for almost what he paid for it and he bought a 2021 Mazda CX-5 and he paid the difference in cash.

 

We also just bought a 2021 Subaru Crosstek for my wife.  Traded in a 2013 Corolla for a good price.  Got some money off for a cash deal

but they gave me a killer deal on snowtires(with steel rims) for it.

 

as far as the dealerships..... Suburu by far was the best experience and open and honest about everything.

 

 

I've come around to new vehicles, especially if you plan to keep them for ~10 years. Maintence is basicly just oil changes, tires, etc for the entire period of the warranty and you can get super low rates on auto loans. The opportunity cost of paying in cash is way higher than the interest rate some dealers offer. No reason to pay cash when they offer 1% interest or less. (Okay, I haven't looked at rates on over a year, but from 2015-2020 it was pretty easy to find >1% during promotions)

Edited February 4, 2022 by MattJVD

[coho8888]

On 1/31/2022 at 11:16 AM, Canuckster86 said:

What grinder do you recommend?

This is the one I got:

 

https://www.bestbuy.ca/en-ca/product/breville-breville-dose-control-burr-coffee-grinder-bcg400sil/10407178

 

What ever you get, make sure it is a burr grinder and not blade.  Makes a huge difference.

 

 

[kurtis]

On 1/23/2022 at 10:19 AM, hammertime said:

Step 1: Get a job you can do online.

Step 2: Move somewhere tropical and cheep with internet. 

Step 3: Save money buy a house in BC, charge and insane amount for rent. 

Step 4: Kick your feet up at at your villa in said tropical country paid for by the 12 college students living on the floor eating ichiban in your 4 bdr house in Van.  

Man, I love ichiban 

[hammertime]

Just now, kurtis said:

Man, I love ichiban 

I  love Brazilian BBQ.

[Gurn]

Just got my auto insurance quote from ICBC.

I've always paid cash for a year at a time, but noticed that a $685 total bill can be paid  $58 per month, means a $685 loan costs $11  for the year.

Or 1.6%

My mortgage is at 4.29%

So I can take $685 out of my savings and put it on the mortgage, and now instead of borrowing that $685 at 4.29; I' m borrowing it at 1.6%.

 

Only saves about $18 over a year, but why not save?

 

[Warhippy]

Some frugal living advice.

 

Gas is at an all time high.  Never let your tank get below 3/4s or half a tank if you can avoid it in city.  This will help avoid the shock of hundred(s) of dollars per fill.

[The Lock]

So I thought I might ask in here given I could be doing frugal living soon.

 

I have a job right now where I can work from home and have the ability to move where I want. I've been living with my parents through covid and having just graduated university. I'm almost out of debt outside of student loans and now that things are settling down a bit, it's time for me to move.

 

So I'm deciding to move from Prince George to Victoria. I know Victoria's expensive but I've looked at the price of rent in PG and Victoria really doesn't seem that more expensive at the moment, so why not work towards a new way of life? Does anyone have any advice on this? My wage atm is around $60K but it should be going up a fair bit the next couple of years as I get more experience. I feel like things could be tight to start but maybe not if I play my cards right?

[Sean Monahan]

5 minutes ago, The Lock said:

So I thought I might ask in here given I could be doing frugal living soon.

 

I have a job right now where I can work from home and have the ability to move where I want. I've been living with my parents through covid and having just graduated university. I'm almost out of debt outside of student loans and now that things are settling down a bit, it's time for me to move.

 

So I'm deciding to move from Prince George to Victoria. I know Victoria's expensive but I've looked at the price of rent in PG and Victoria really doesn't seem that more expensive at the moment, so why not work towards a new way of life? Does anyone have any advice on this? My wage atm is around $60K but it should be going up a fair bit the next couple of years as I get more experience. I feel like things could be tight to start but maybe not if I play my cards right?

There’s probably better people to ask ITT but I’d suggest overestimating when you’re doing your budget prior to moving and then underestimating your budget once you actually do move out. Sort of like the concept of underpromising and over delivering. A few months after the move you can reevaluate and adjust from there, but for that first few months after you’ve just spent money on the move itself and adjusted to the new city you’ll know you can actually afford to live. 

[Gurn]

48 minutes ago, The Lock said:

So I thought I might ask in here given I could be doing frugal living soon.

 

I have a job right now where I can work from home and have the ability to move where I want. I've been living with my parents through covid and having just graduated university. I'm almost out of debt outside of student loans and now that things are settling down a bit, it's time for me to move.

 

So I'm deciding to move from Prince George to Victoria. I know Victoria's expensive but I've looked at the price of rent in PG and Victoria really doesn't seem that more expensive at the moment, so why not work towards a new way of life? Does anyone have any advice on this? My wage atm is around $60K but it should be going up a fair bit the next couple of years as I get more experience. I feel like things could be tight to start but maybe not if I play my cards right?

Victoria?

Or the suburbs- Saanich, North Saanich, Sidney, Brentwood Bay, Oak Bay, Esquimalt, Langford and Colwood are all within a 20 minute drive.

Watch out for rush hour, just like Vancouver, nobody goes far or fast during it.

Multiple Costco stores in the area and a co-op gas station or two.

Bus service isn't terrible, and bike lanes are prevalent.

[The Lock]

9 minutes ago, gurn said:

Victoria?

Or the suburbs- Saanich, North Saanich, Sidney, Brentwood Bay, Oak Bay, Esquimalt, Langford and Colwood are all within a 20 minute drive.

Watch out for rush hour, just like Vancouver, nobody goes far or fast during it.

Multiple Costco stores in the area and a co-op gas station or two.

Bus service isn't terrible, and bike lanes are prevalent.

I'm thinking either within Victoria or, if that's too expensive, somewhere like Langford to start if that makes more sense. I could also potentially start in a cheaper place and move into something more for my lifestyle later on. It helps to not be tied down with anything: no wife and kids, my job's from home so no commute, etc.

[Gurn]

19 minutes ago, The Lock said:

I'm thinking either within Victoria or, if that's too expensive, somewhere like Langford to start if that makes more sense. I could also potentially start in a cheaper place and move into something more for my lifestyle later on. It helps to not be tied down with anything: no wife and kids, my job's from home so no commute, etc.

Langford is not a bad location, close to Victoria, while still being a bit quieter.

Lots of shopping- food and otherwise. Costco etc.

Sooke,  and the famous pot hole swimming pools are just a bit to the west. An ok rec center, so you wouldn't have to go into Vic for a swim, or to use a weight room.

A couple of really nice beach walking areas as well.

Wester Speedway and an water slide park were out that way, but I think the malls took their spot.

There is a Great Canadian Casino out there- close to the rec complex.

[The Arrogant Worms]

44 minutes ago, The Lock said:

I'm thinking either within Victoria or, if that's too expensive, somewhere like Langford to start if that makes more sense. I could also potentially start in a cheaper place and move into something more for my lifestyle later on. It helps to not be tied down with anything: no wife and kids, my job's from home so no commute, etc.

My son makes around $67,000 and has been working from home here since Covid started..  I have been looking for places also in Victoria

 in case he is called back to the office soon.

 

When he left he was paying $1750 for a brand new condo right across the street from work.  They are now asking $1950-$2100 for the same building.

Granted its a nice place...has a gym...BBQ's...firepits...dog walk...soundproof room if you want to jam on guitars or drums....Save On is basically part of the building.

It's walking distance to everything downtown.

 

Colwood/Langford have a lot of new buildings that are a bit cheaper for rent but if you ever have to commute downtown it's a nightmare.  Many of the new buildings also have wait lists.

Edited March 7, 2022 by The Arrogant Worms