Get Started

By Erin Huffstetler, About.com Guide to Frugal Living

Jumping into the frugal life means learning how to budget, reduce debts and organize your finances.

1. What is Frugal Living?
2. Create a Budget
3. Get Rid of Debt
4. Organize Your Finances

What is Frugal Living?

Discover what the frugal life is all about, and start living it today.

• What is Frugal Living?
• Top 10 Ways to Start Living the Frugal Life
• Frugal Living Worksheets
• The Best Books About Frugality
• The Ethics of Saving Money

Create a Budget

Create a frugal budget to match your frugal lifestyle.

• How to Create a Frugal Budget
• Build-a-Budget Worksheet
• Budget Calculator
• Monthly Spending Worksheet

• Develop a Monthly Spending Plan
• How to Budget Annual Spending
• How to Set Financial Goals
• Can You Make It on One Income?

Get Rid of Debt

Learn how to get out of debt and stay out of debt.

• How to Get Rid of Credit Card Debt
• Calculate Your Debt Load
• Smart Debt Reduction Moves for Beginners
• Get-Out-of-Debt Checklist

• How to Eliminate Debt Quickly
• Top 8 Frugal Debt Reduction Ideas
• How to Break the Spending Habit

Organize Your Finances

A step-by-step guide to smarter, more organized money management.

• Organize Your Finances
• How to Budget Using the Envelope System