In Portland you can get recycled paint for $8-$10 gallon at http://www.metro-region.org/index.cfm/go/by.web/id=521

Also, buy landscaping supplies at http://www.bestbuyintown.biz/
You scoop your own and also the compost mix is excellent! Our tomatoes are beautiful Far from where you live but “might” be worth it.

Our recent frugal moves:
1. 2 blu-ray movies free from the library as well as books.
2. Upgraded Ramen (good quality Korean) lunch with home-grown veggies.
3. Upgraded frozen pizza (Trader Joe’s) with fresh tomatoes and cheese.
4. Fresh salads from CSA. (www.sungoldfarm.com)
5. Shared 3 entrees for 4 people family-style at Chinese Restaurant.
6. Vegetarian chili with home-grown peppers, no meat.
7. Invited friends over for a home-cooked dinner.
8. Purchased plane ticket for my brother and mom leaving and returning on weekdays. In this case, it did not matter because they have plenty of time off.

Wow, it feels good to think about it

I might have a few tips on budget travel.

France & Italy were part of my first trip abroad. Not sure if you’ve been before but you’ll definitely have a good time.

It’s a memory foam mattress like Tempurpedic, for about 20% of the price.

-Mattresses are hugely marked up (at least here in Canada). I bought one for staff price (brand new, not a display model) that cost 50% less than what we were selling it for. They still made money off of me. Either wait till they go on sale, or make sure you ask for a good deal. Good mattress/box sets start around $1,500 “regular” price.

-Make sure you buy a mattress pad so you get full warranty. The salespeople will try to sell you on the manufacturer’s 10-year warranty, but they don’t always tell you the warranty is void if you stain it.

-To go along w. the warranty thing, always buy the matching mattress/boxspring set. Mismatching usually voids the warranty. The boxspring is usually only about 10-15% of the mattress set’s price so don’t try to cut costs there, or by using your old “perfectly good” boxspring.

-Don’t be afraid to test the beds on the showroom floor – that’s what they’re there for.

Don’t really have any other comments for the post, just the mattress thing piqued my interest.

Frugality like reduce or no paper towel usage, hanging out clothes to dry (and getting used to stiffness–are we total wimps?), turning off lights when not needed, trying to not buy extra food that gets thrown out–is all this considered so frugal? It’s standard fare in other parts of the world.

JD. Can you tell us more about your trip to Europe? Do you have a certain number of days you want to travel? Places/things you want to see? Is this a “once in a lifetime” trip, or just the “first in a series”? Things over here (I’m in Poland) aren’t particularly cheap for the traveler. One thing I’ve not figured out (and maybe it would be a good subject for a blog article) is how we can manage to stay at such wonderful hotels if we go with a prearranged trip with a tour company, but if we try to arrange it ourselves, we have to pay $200/night for it. You know it isn’t costing the tour agency anything like that. (I’ve heard something like $35 night for the tour agency for that $200 room but I don’t know if it is true.)

I’d be curious if there is any way to get such good prices individually.

The best frugal weekends I have are via Netflix/BBonline and reading a book with the wife before sunset.

I tell ya, the library and netflix is the greatest frugal entertainment ever!

Rgds,

RB

I’d replace that mattress yesterday, as others have already said. Think of the other things you “just do” when they wear out and become unsafe or function poorly — car tires, toothbrushes, sponges, knives, ladders, etc. The mattress very easily fits into the same category.

If you haven’t been shocked, and I hope you haven’t, you’re just speaking theoretically. J.D. is by no means destitute & can afford the cord. (Perhaps he should ask Kris, who loves him, whether it’s a good idea.)

As for the drying clothes outside – we can’t go that route due to allergies – wet clothes outside soak up the allergens.

My wife and I went out over the weekend searching for a replacement for our nearly ten year old mattress. Neither of us feel that we’re sleeping very well, and she’s been having back problems. Her spine doctor told her to look at replacing the mattress, as it sags inward somewhat, and that’s a bad thing for the back.

After hearing rave reviews from my brother and parents for several years now, we decided to consider the Sleep Number bed. Hardly a frugal choice, indeed. After spending two hours in the store, we came to the conclusion that we would order one. Although expensive (the model we got was around $2500 with tax), if you consider dividing this over ten years, and two people, it doesn’t seem so unreasonable.

To those who think that fifteen years is “nearly the lifespan of a mattress”, I think you’re kidding yourselves. The sleep specialist I’ve seen has advised me that seven years is more reasonable, and ten years is around the useful maximum lifetime of a mattress.

For those who might wonder about our frugality, we have zero debt beyond our home, a healthy and growing emergency fund, and a pretty nicely funded 401(k).

Mark

@Chris Brown (#48)
“The Bob Newhart Show”, not “Newhart”. I’d much rather watch classic television than most modern stuff.

@Thai tuna salad folks
Okay, I’ll share the recipe this weekend, but if people complain about a recipe post, I’M BLAMING IT ALL ON YOU!

The show they are referring to is “The Bob Newhart Show” NOT “Newhart”. The former is a TV classic from the 70′s which you’ve obviously never seen.

(Try getting your facts straight before ridiculing others’ choices).

Marie — you probably need some kind of large umbrella or cover for the line. Would also protect against sun damage and/or unexpected rainshowers. Or, line-dry indoors …

It’s always interesting to hear traditions in other parts of the U.S.