Frugal Summers: 101 Ways to Entertain Yourself and Your Family

Summer vacation lasts about two to three months, or 60 to 90 days. The following list contains 101 ways to entertain yourself and your family, so now you have more ideas than there are days in your summer vacation. Additionally, these tips are free or inexpensive, so they won’t put a strain on your wallet, either. If you create memories through any of these activities, this may be your best summer ever.

The Library

Whether you’re an adult, a teen, or a child, the library can offer some great free summer programs. Check out your local library to see what they have planned for the summer. If you’re traveling, you can attend summer events at your destination library as well. This latter trick will not only save some money, but an indoor activity can rescue you and your family from the summer heat with library air conditioning. Here are some examples of what you can experience:

1. The New York State Library is offering a state-wide summer reading program. Most libraries offer this opportunity, but if your library is behind the times you can challenge your kids to read a certain number of books in a weekend or over a week. Get their friends involved in this competition if you face a roadblock.
2. Whether you’re traveling or staying at home, you might enjoy a lecture series offered by various institutions. For instance, The Friends of the University Libraries, a support organization for the libraries at Utah State University, sponsors a summer lecture series that is open to audiences of all ages.
3. Look for special library events to spice up your summer. The Boulder, Colorado library is celebrating its 100th anniversary this year, and they’re commemorating this event with concerts, films, storytellers, and special displays.
4. Even toddlers can take advantage of local library programs with crafts and story times geared specifically to this age group. If your local library doesn’t sponsor such a program, volunteer to start one and pull other mothers into a rotating schedule.
5. Clean out your bookshelves and offer the books to your local library. Better yet, find out when the local library holds their annual book sale and offer your books for that event. If they don’t hold one, organize a book sale to benefit your library. Yes, kids can get involved as well!
6. You don’t need to hang out at the library. You can check out books and movies that will help enhance some of the other activities listed below.
7. Pick one author and read every single one of his or her books. If the author has a biography, read that as well. Learn as much as you can about this author, and you’ll become a mini-literary expert by summer’s end.

Virtual or Free Trips

Virtual trips ignore travel budgets and you can also fit free trips (excluding gas or public transportation) into a skinny budget. The best list of virtual trips is located at OOPS, but the following list will get you started:

8. Take a walk around the neighborhood to learn about various topographical features. Use Google Maps as a tool for interactivity, as you may discover new trails or other features that were previously hidden from view. Geography4Kids is just one of many sites that can introduce this subject to your family in a friendly and easy-to-understand manner.
9. Head to the library to gather books about a specific place and use the Internet to learn more about your “destination.” Virtual Field Trips is your guide for this activity, but other sites like VolcanoWorld can take you and your family to specific locations.
10. The nice thing about virtual trips is that you don’t need to stay on earth. A visit to the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) Web site is free, fun, and educational. NASAQuest challenges kids to learn, along with a page on how to participate.
11. Teens, small children, and interested adults can take a trip to the farm to learn more about agriculture. Or, if animals seem more fun, take a trip to the San Diego Zoo to visit the inhabitants online.
12. A historical trip doesn’t require a time machine. Send the youngsters to dig™, an online archeology magazine, while teens and adults can head on over to Archeology Magazine. Both venues offer interactive projects that can keep the entire family busy for days.
13. Whether you plan a real or virtual trip overseas, learn more about how to travel beyond U.S. borders. This activity incorporates ideas that can foster discussions about safety and money.
14. Most towns have local historical districts. Visit your Chamber of Commerce to learn about them, and ask if they have a walking tour. Usually you can take these tours at your leisure with a map, so pack a picnic and take a free lunch break.

Learn a Skill

Your body might feel like a lazy summer, but your brain can sizzle with the activities listed below:

15. What better way to gain a solid math background than to earn money? You can spark a budding entrepreneur’s excitement with a little help from Money Instructor. Supervise younger kids with something simple like a lemonade stand. Older kids can benefit from more complicated tasks that involve crafts or business plans.
16. Do you own a guitar that gathers dust or a flute that’s hidden in the closet? Clean up those instruments and expand on your musical skills with lessons provided by Berklee Shares, an open source project that tackles everything from bass to winds.
17. Poetry may seem easy to write, but each type of poem has its own set of rules. Kids can learn more about this writing form at The Poetry Zone and play with the Poetry Engine at the Scholastic Poetry site. Teens and adults can go to Poetry Magic. Make it a goal to write some silly poetry (a haiku, perhaps?) and share those poems for a good laugh.
18. Combine those musical instruments with poetry and write a song together.
19. If you want to learn a new language, this list of free online language lessons will help you toward that goal. Practice with a language exchange that will help you to hone your newfound skills (use parental guidance for kids).
20. Teens and adults can take advantage of many new open source projects supplied by top-notch colleges. Visit this Open Source Success Stories article to learn about your options. Use the suggested reading lists provided by these courses for your next library trip.
21. If you own a GPS, learn how to map your neighborhood when you take those walks.

Holiday Perks

When you think about summer holidays, you might think about The Fourth of July. But did you know that July 13 is “Embrace Your Geekness Day,” or that July20 is “Moon Day”? Check it out…

22. Before you head out for Fourth of July festivities, take time to learn more about upcoming fireworks. Take the kids to How Fireworks Work, and then challenge them to name the various firework patterns they’ll see that night.
23. Holiday Insights offers information about every famous and obscure international holiday imaginable. Use the site on your virtual trips around the world or as a resource to help keep the kids busy. For instance, August 3 is National Watermelon Day, so be prepared to gorge on this big fruit at a backyard picnic. See who can spit the seeds the furthest, and you might end up with a free watermelon next year!
24. Celebrate a holiday out of season, based upon your beliefs. While some families might want to make Christmas projects in July, while other families might want to create a Yule Wreath for Winter Solstice.
25. Maybe your idea for a holiday isn’t listed at Holiday Insights. In that case, you’ll need to create your own holiday. Use the theme to make decorations and cards, and invite some friends to celebrate.
26. Holiday Insights probably skipped by your local celebrations. Learn in advance about any centennials, annual events, or other traditions and take part in or visit the activities.
27. Holidays mean little without family or visitors, so make it a point to include the elderly in your plans. Make holiday-specific cards and take them to the local nursing home. It doesn’t matter if you don’t know the inhabitants - they’ll appreciate your efforts.

Get Artistic

If you can’t draw a straight line, then use a ruler! Otherwise, try to stretch your visual creativity with some of the projects below:

28. If you own a digital camera (traditional is ok, but film processing costs more money), use it to create digital collages. You don’t need expensive software - just print out the photos, cut, and paste. Or you can invest in inexpensive software like PhotoMix or CollageMaker. Visit a collage gallery for ideas, and Ancestry.com for some guidelines.
29. Another version on the collage uses old photographs. Supervise the kids so they don’t cut up valuable mementos!
30. Do you have hundreds of magazines in the attic? Use their headlines and pictures to create cards, collages, posters, and more.
31. Make a family movie. Movie-Making for Kids provides a great guideline for the younger ones to get started.
32. Create a movie poster to advertise that home-grown video and send it out to family or friends along with a release date for a showing. Or, simply use this poster as a way to get the family together for a DVD night.
33. Before you pull out the paints, head to Color Matters to learn all about basic color theory and why color matters in art.
34. You might want to keep the younger kids away from messy paints. If so, just send them to the Coloring Page for non-splatter activities.
35. If you don’t mind the mess, you can involve the kids in a household painting project. Learn about interior and exterior paint methods, techniques, and other essentials before you get started. Plus, you can find special interior painting techniques through books at your local library.
36. Use a pencil instead of paint and draw a portrait.
37. Write a script and produce a play. Find costumes at a local second-hand shop, and use the movie poster venue in #32 to advertise your production.
38. Take a clue from the kids at the Newfields Elementary School. Over a month, 28 fourth-graders read biographies, wrote first-person speeches and jotted down facts and quotes. They then dressed up like their characters and created a “wax museum.” This idea is a great neighborhood or group activity for the summer.
39. Create a blank journal for some of the following activities…

Collections

Sometimes it’s fun to collect things. Sometimes it’s fun to get rid of those old collections…

40. Keep a journal about summer activities. Collect quotes that fit your thoughts.
41. A larger journal can become a summer scrapbook.
42. Learn how to dry flowers for that scrapbook.
43. Kids of all ages can collect natural materials to create a small “museum” small exhibit. A real or virtual museum trip can help them with ideas for their collections. Free collections like leaves, flowers, rocks, or shells can be gathered during neighborhood or vacation walks.
44. The previous idea might lead to a hobby like stamp collecting. If so, research that hobby online, as many clubs offer their expertise for free. For example, the budding stamp collector can visit the American Philatelic Society and the National Postal Museum to learn more.
45. It’s time to clean out the kitchen! Invite friends to do the same, and pull those food collections together for a variation on a potluck. Instead of bringing a dish, you create the dish out of the ingredients. Visit Recipe Zaar for some zany potluck recipe ideas.
46. While you’re in the cleaning mood, visit your attic and closets. You might find plenty of “collections” for a yard sale. This is one activity where the kids can learn about money management, sales, and - yes, the value hidden in a cluttered closet.
47. One more on the household collection theme… make a list of all the household chores that you’ve avoided in the past. Pick one or two days where you can make headway on that list. If you have kids who can help, those tasks will be done in a flash.
48. Recycle some of those unwanted household items with a family time capsule.
49. Collect ancestors as you research your family tree. While you might shy away from fee-based Ancestry.com, this site does contain some free resources. Your other option - one of the best on the Web - is at Family Search. This activity might lead to the next one…
50. Visit a cemetery to conduct family research. While this activity might sound morbid, you can volunteer your time to keep grass trimmed around stones while you visit. Plus, many gravestones hold lessons in their carvings, and these sculptures can create a new collection. If your kids are into the Goth lifestyle, you won’t be able to hold them back. Photos are better than rubbings (rubbings can deteriorate a stone), so bring a camera.

Look Up

The sky can offer plenty of activity, mostly at night. Be sure to wear sunglasses during daytime activities.

51. There’s nothing like cloud watching, especially on a lazy summer day. Younger kids (and adults) can imagine animals in cloud formations. Teens might enjoy learning about hurricanes (it’s that time of year!) at the National Oceanic & Atmospheric Administration (NOAA).
52. Track the moon’s phases in real time and through a virtual Moon Phase calculator.
53. Even if you don’t own a telescope, you can keep track of the stars through Astronomy News.
54. If you live near a place where you can view the stars, see if you can identify the constellations in your area.
55. Make a map of the constellations that you find.
56. You can’t help but look up when you fly a kite. If you make that kite, this activity can take up a full day.
57. Go to the dollar store and purchase some soapy bubbles and a blower (or make your own bubble solution). See who can send the bubbles up and out the furthest.

Natural Delights

Take advantage of outdoor activities that can help you and the kids sleep better at night. On hot days, go out in early morning or after dinner and do inside activities (like museums or library) when the sun is high.

58. Create a campground in the back yard with sheets. Sleep out on a trampoline. Go to a local park and pitch a tent. Use whatever you can to spend the night outside.
59. Local or faraway National Parks can spice up your summer. Although most National Parks now charge a minimal entrance and/or parking fee, their grounds are superb and many hold historical or natural treasures.
60. While you’re on your camping trip, record night time sounds. Try to identify those noises at sites like Nocturnal Animal Sounds.
61. Record sounds while on a walk. Use the sounds to create a background for your poetry recordings.
62. Learn about your state flower and bird. Try to find both when you’re out on your walks.
63. Use a bicycle if you don’t feel like walking. Teach the younger kids how to ride, or hold a Bicycle Safety clinic.
64. Turn a walk into a day-long adventure with backpacks. Plan ahead to avoid frustration, and be sure to carry some bandaids, sunscreen, and wear hats.
65. If you have access to a local botanical garden, learn about their summer activities. You might discover that many of the events are free, especially for children.
66. If you live near a beach, a swimming hole, or a pool, then grab that swimsuit and practice your strokes (requires RealPlayer).
67. Create a terrarium in a jar.
68. Use your backyard to create a maze or an obstacle course.
69. You might not like worms, but your kids might love them. Help them to build a worm farm, and the whole family can learn about natural recycling (the worms eat compost and other trashy treasures). If you purchase the “Reds” to start the farm as the article suggests, the worms can be sold or offered for free to local fishermen (and women) and gardeners at summer’s end.
70. Avoid sodas this summer. Instead, drink water or learn how to make crushed fruit drinks. All you need is a blender, frozen fruit, and some juice to make a concoction that’s cold, sweet, and healthy. You can find a recipe at Mountain States Health Alliance (try it without the honey - it’s just as sweet).

Community Resources

Community centers, businesses, and other organizations don’t take summer vacations. Use the list below for some ideas on how to use these resources…

71. Visit your Chamber of Commerce and ask them about this summer’s free town or city events. You can also check the newspaper for activities close to home. If you get online, just type, “free activities ‘your town’” and you might discover a plethora of things to do this summer. Use this same trick if you plan to travel, but replace “your town” with the destination town.
72. County Fairs are great ways to keep the family occupied - often for days. If you haven’t visited a county fair lately, you might be surprised at the level of sophistication involved with some activities and exhibits. You’ll see animals, yes. But, you’ll also see great photography, artwork, food, and other great exhibits. Speaking of food - often you’ll find very inexpensive meals at these affairs, as well as some concerts worth your attendance.
73. Sidewalk art sales are great ways to introduce kids to art and entrepreneurship. Many local or traveling artists like to talk about their work, so don’t walk by without saying hi.
74. Don’t eliminate church activities from your agenda, even if you don’t attend that church (or any church for that matter…). You might discover a concert, a play, or other secular event that uses a church as a venue.
75. Check local shops for classes. Craft shops, for instance, might hold classes that are age-specific. Some classes may be offered free as a way to lure people into the shop. Other classes might cost. Determine what you can afford, and if you can’t attend then purchase a few supplies and hold a design-it-yourself class.
76. Don’t miss Grand Openings or anniversaries sponsored by local businesses. You might find food, music, and great deals at these events.
77. Look for “free days” at your local museums and zoos.
78. Visit Cinemark, Regal, and AMC to learn whether you have access to their budget-priced G-Rated films. If not, check with your local theater to ask them about their reduced summer rates.
79. Volunteer your time and/or skills for local needs. You may soon discover that volunteerism means more than helping the poor.

Neighborhood Resources

If you like your neighbors or if you belong to a social group, you can get together for many activities. Just add more folks to the activities above, or try the ones listed below:

80. If you like scrapbooking, get together with other families to share resources. You can learn more about this activity at Scrapbooking Club Basics.
81. Leave the neighborhood with your neighbors and visit a local park. Bring dishes for a potluck picnic, and let the kids run (almost) free.
82. Create a community project, or get involved with a local effort. You could do this on your own, but it’s more fun with friends. Use this guideline [PDF] to get started. Although the guideline comes from a U.K. effort, you can use the same ideas to create your community project.
83. Create a scavenger hunt, but don’t overdo this effort. Twenty activities or items will keep kids going for a full afternoon if planned carefully. Keep this activity age-specific so it’s not too easy for teens and not too hard for the youngsters.
84. Get together to learn new games or to play old ones. Learn how to play bridge, or play bingo. Some games aren’t suitable for younger kids, so utilize the teens as babysitters or monitors for kid’s games (a small payment for this job would be appropriate).
85. Create music with your neighbors and their kids. Use traditional instruments, or get creative and use pans, spoons, or other objects to create rhythms and sounds.
86. Hold a block party. Although these parties usually celebrate special events (new neighbor, holiday, etc.), you can make up a new reason for the party and make it an annual event.
87. If the weather doesn’t cooperate, hold a neighborhood DVD day. It only takes two or three families to share two or three movies - enough to fill a long afternoon or evening. Make popcorn, bring drinks, and settle in for a showing!
88. If your neighborhood is kind of geeky and if your neighbors are willing to ante up for a trip, then you can check out the Inexpensive Getaway list at Free Geekery. While some of the trips listed here might not appeal to the entire group, they can help you to generate some ideas. The bonus? Group travel often is cheaper than traveling alone (be sure to use any airline, hotel, or travel awards cards to gain points to use next summer).
89. Hold a local tournament. Computer games, darts, horseshoes, or any other game that provides team play will work for this activity. Make the games age-specific for safety and to hold interest.
90. Coop with your neighbors. If one has a pool and another has a soccer net and you have a trampoline, share resources. Spend one day at the pool, another playing soccer, and then share your trampoline on the third day.

Rainy Day Solutions

91. Take photos on your walks or trips and post them online on rainy days. Use flickr as a free personal photo gallery to share with family, friends, or classmates.
92. When you clean out the attic for that yard sale, you might find your old scrapbooks and photo albums. Share these books with your children so they can learn more about your life.
93. If that rainy weather persists, move the kitchen or dining room table and hold a picnic on the floor.
94. Relearn how to write letters. If writing long letters proves too painful, make cards and write short notes.
95. Turn off the lights, get out some flashlights and tell some ghost stories.
96. Gather the kids and tell them all about how their parents met and fell in love.
97. Make sure you have a pack of cards and then go to Card Games. Your family can ignore a rainy day easily if you play all the games on this site.
98. Teach the kids how to make Rice Krispies® Treats. They’re good, they’re fun, and you don’t need to turn on the oven and heat up the house.
99. If the rain is a simple shower - not a thunderstorm - go outside and play tag. This is a great way to cool down!
100. Build an eggshell ship to sail in puddles (or in the tub). Even teens think this toy is hilarious.
101. If you’ve kept a journal or have taken photographs or videos of your summer activities, then you might want to create a family blog. Use a site like Live Journal, where you can insert videos and photographs, and where you also keep the journal private if that’s your wish.

Finally, just have fun. If you can laugh just once every day this summer, you’ll know you’ve met that goal!

Top 50 Frugality Bloggers

If you are looking for advice on frugal living, look no further than the Internet. There are thousands of Web sites dedicated to the subject, many of them blogs. Blogs are often personal accounts that are regularly updated, so they are probably your best source for tested theories on being frugal. Below, we have compiled what we feel are the most useful 50 frugality blogs on the Net.

Family Life

1. A Momma and the Boys Living on a Budget will give you a heads up on cool freebies. The blog also offers a bi-monthly newsletter on frugal living.
2. MotherLoad is a blog written by two moms who wish to impart their wisdom on all things parenting and frugal living.
3. Families.com features a blog on frugality. This site is authored by experienced mothers and fathers, so this is a good place to find articles with a frugal family theme.
4. Shekinah’s Place is a British blog about a variety of subjects related to mothering and homeschooling. There is also a lot of frugal living advice throughout the site.
5. Frugal Living Journal is written by a young couple trying to make it in the world without spending frivolously. However, people of all ages should find their advice very helpful.
6. Biblical Womanhood has a section devoted to frugal living. Although it is geared toward a female audience, men will benefit from this site, as well.
7. Faith Lifts is an inspirational blog for mothers that contains sections on family life, housekeeping and frugal living.
8. Living On a Dime is another family-oriented blog that is written in first person by a married mother of three.

Home and Garden

9. Frugal By Design, although not updated regularly, has some sound advice for “reusing” household items.
10. Ask the Frugal Decorating Diva is a blog that answers all your questions related to decorating the home on a budget.
11. Keeping the Castle offers tips and tricks on housekeeping, as well as frugal living.
12. Kitchen Crafts ‘n’ More is a guide to frugal housekeeping and cooking. There are many interesting tips here about homemade cleaning and beauty products.
13. Mrs. B’s Homekeeping Blog explores one woman’s quest to spend as little money as possible on household items, including groceries and baby products.

Fashion and Shopping

14. Frugal For Life is a very stylish blog that, among other things, reports on frugal pop culture figures.
15. The Frugal Duchess is a popular blog about having fun and being fashionable on a limited income.
16. Mighty Bargain Hunter is a blog devoted to frugal shopping, as well as general personal finance topics.
17. Domestika’s Blog proves that you can be a diva without spending like one. Look for gardening tips here, as well.

Technology and Business

18. Lean Blog should interest business professionals who want to maximize their expenditures.
19. Frugal Coder Blog may be of interest to any computer professionals who are looking to save some cash.
20. Budgeting Software Journal will be of interest to computer professionals, technology buffs and anyone else who wants to learn about the latest software news.

College

21. The Frugal Law Student intends to help law students with their sometimes crippling debt from attending school.
22. Frugal101 is devoted to the college student who needs to save money wherever they can.

Food and Drink

23. The Frugal Oenophile’s Wine of the Week may be of interest to you if you enjoy drinking wine but don’t want to spend a fortune on it.
24. The Frugal Family Kitchen contains many recipes and frugal cooking advice.
25. Frugal Cuisine will help those of you trying to eat on as little as $2 or $3 a day. It also features many delicious, yet sensible recipes.

Financial Planning

26. My 1st Million at 33 will help you learn about frugal living, even if your sights aren’t set as high as becoming a millionaire.
27. FIRE (Financial Independence Retire Early) Finance is dedicated to helping people achieve financial stability. Everyone could benefit from the advice found here.
28. All Financial Matters will help you decide what to do with the money you save by living frugally. Topics include asset allocation, 401K, IRA and more.
29. Get Rich Slowly is one of the premier frugal living blogs. Updated regularly, it focuses on personal finance tips and seems to have a lot influence on other frugality bloggers.
30. My Money Blog covers all things related to finance, but their frugal living section may be the site’s finest asset.
31. Free Money Finance covers many personal finance topics, focusing specifically on how to grow one’s net worth.
32. Easy Budgeting will help you plan a budget that works for your particular lifestyle.
33. Time to Budget is a blog that covers many tips and tricks for creating a budget and preparing for the future. As the author states, it is time to “stop borrowing money!”
34. Debt and Budgeting is a personal online journal by a married mother who is trying to get out of debt. This is both an informative and inspiring blog.
35. Getting Out of Debt is written by a mother of seven who is attempting to climb her way out of debt. She shares her experience with her frugal readers.
36. Consumerism Commentary refers to itself as a personal finance blog, but it should also be sought out as a guide to frugal living.
37. Money Smart Life delves into all aspects of personal finance, including how to stretch your dollar as far as it will go.
38. Wise Bread’s subtitle is “Living Large on a Small Budget”. Indeed, the advice found here will help you to enjoy life on a tight budget.

General Frugality Advice

39. A Frugal Living Blog by a Frugal Guy has to be one of the longest blog titles on this list. Don’t let the silly name fool you, this is a great resource for practical advice.
40. Zlittle Frugal Living features advice on frugal gardening, coupon clipping, weight loss and more.
41. My Frugal Life is a hub for blog entries by ThriftyFun users. Anyone can join this site and post.
42. Frugal Living Blog from About.com is updated by a freelance writer who specializes in frugality. Her tips and tricks have also been featured in many major magazines.
43. Frugal Traveler is a section of the NYTimes Web site. It focuses only on travel tips and is updated regularly.
44. The J-Walk Blog is an odd site about, among other things, banjos and computers. There are also many entries about frugal living that may interest you.
45. Frugal Village is a well-written blog that is updated regularly and covers a broad range of frugal topics.
46. Neat Living is all about keeping your life simplified, orderly and frugal. If your life is a bit messy, look to this site for advice.
47. Pat Veretto’s Frugal Living Blog is the work of a freelance writer who specializes in frugality and money management.
48. Simply Thrifty teaches us to be money-wise and to embrace the smaller details of life.
49. Frugal Upstate contains the musings a woman in upstate New York who is trying to live within her means.
50. Boston Gal’s Open Wallet is written by a single woman trying to make it in the city with a frugal attitude.

There are certainly more than 50 noteworthy blogs on frugality, but the above list contains the sites that stand above the rest. Not only are these sites worthy of bookmarking, you may want to subscribe to any RSS feeds that they offer. Reading about different perspectives on frugal living will alert you to new tips and strategies. After all, being frugal takes work and it never hurts to change your game plan now and again.

Top 10 Most Frugal Celebs (Yes, They Do Exist)

They may spend $44,000 to whiten teeth, but they won’t spend more than $50 on a flower arrangement. That’s a frugal celebrity for you. Appearances are important, but some celebrities won’t spend the money for that Bentley when the Cadillac DTS will serve just as well. Who are these celebs, and where and how do they save their bucks? The following is a list of the top ten most frugal celebs (hard to find, by the way!) who spend their dollars with a squeak.

1. Halle Berry
   Berry is careful with her cash despite making millions of dollars per year. The star who reputedly earned $4 million for 007 film, Die Another Day, is grateful for her good fortune, but she admits one of her biggest fears is that she could lose it all. She saves money instead of spending it on “ten cars and lots of diamonds,” because she worries constantly that her movie career may end.
2. Teri Hatcher
   This Desperate Housewife drives her cars into the ground before she pays for a new one. According to the Frugal Duchess, Hatcher would rather have the “trip of a lifetime” than pay for a sports car or a million-dollar home.
3. Tobey Maguire
   This Spider-Man actor refused to splash his cash even when his earnings sky-rocketed and he credits his financially modest upbringing for his frugal outlook on life. Maguire believes his frugality means he will never be forced to “keep making movie after movie” to maintain a comfortable lifestyle.
4. Glenn Close
   Known best for her penny-pinching rabbit stew in Fatal Attraction, Close was seen traveling coach on a recent flight with JetBlue. Either the airlines goofed up and Close kept her cool, or she really does prefer JetBlue’s extra legroom in coach over first class champagne.
5. Sheryl Crow
   When Crow advocated using one square of toilet paper per restroom visit, “except, of course, on those pesky occasions where 2 to 3 could be required,” the choice to call her frugal or stingy became sticky. When she announced that this suggestion was more a joke than an actual green initiative, the decision still wasn’t clear. But when she was seen ordering a $230 bottle of Silver Oak Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon over a $600 bottle of Opus One (even though Vanity Fair was footing the bill), she made the list.
6. Eric Bogosian
   Law & Order: Criminal Intent isn’t the only thing on Bogosian’s mind. He tries to live within his means with as little debt as possible. Instead of renting an apartment in Manhattan, he invested in Manhattan real estate so that he would have a cushion to sit on if times get rough.
7. Eric Clapton
   Legendary musician Clapton was seen washing his own clothes at a West Hollywood laundromat in LA. Twice. But, he did it with class in a Porsche.
8. Simon Le Bon
   Duran Duran’s lead singer and lyricist was once caught overriding his business partner’s decision to avoid a discount at a Los Angeles Tower Records store. When the business partner declined the discount, Le Bon responded, “WHAT? Are you crazy? Of course we want your discount!”
9. Kristen Bell
   This Veronica Mars star was seen wearing a $45 dress from Target at a hotel opening in San Diego. Bell’s little strapless number from Behnaz Sarafpour for Target was an off-the-rack special for a limited season.
10. Warren Buffett
    Last, but certainly not least, is the financial celeb who has become rich and famous yet who has remained totally unpretentious. Buffett continues to live on Farnam Street in Omaha, in the same gray stucco house he purchased four decades ago for $31,500 (now worth $500,000). He eats burgers or steaks for lunch and dinner, and he recently traded in a six-year-old Lincoln Town Car for a 2006 Cadillac DTS. Granted, those are luxury cars, but they aren’t Bentleys. Buffett does have a weakness for luxury air travel. His Gulfstream IV-SP jet is one can’t-live-without luxury for this second-wealthiest man in the world.

Celebrity frugality seems rare while “cheaping out” seems more common. While Tobey Maquire might be frugal, his co-star Kirsten Dunst cheaped out when she racked up a $233 bill at a New York restaurant and didn’t leave a tip. You can find more celebrity names with this habit at Bitter Waitress once they reinstate their STD (Shitty Tipper Database). But cheap celebs are about to learn a lesson from the owner of that New York restaurant. Eliza Pharrell stated that she’s about to refuse entry to those VIPS. “The message is simple: We have to make a living, too. Famous or not, we always remember those with scrimpy tendencies.”

The Beginner’s Guide to Going Green: 8 Painless New Habits

For a lot of people, going green is a lot like losing weight. You keep saying you are going to do it, but too many excuses get in the way of your goal. No one ever said that doing the right thing is easy. However, there are many simple measures you could be taking right now to help the environment. Below are eight easy habits you should adopt for the sake of the planet. Not only will this help you start a new life as a conservationist, you will also save quite a few dollars.

1. Use Your Ceiling Fans
   Ceiling fans are designed to circulate both cool and warm air. Most newer fans come with two directions: forward and reverse. During the summer, conserve energy by turning the air conditioner to a reasonable temperature and setting your ceiling fans to the forward position. In the winter time, you should do the opposite: keep your heater at a modest temperature while running your ceiling fans in reverse. By utilizing your ceiling fans correctly, your air conditioning and heating unit will have a lot less work to do.
2. Turn Off Unnecessary Lights
   If your parents ever nagged you about leaving on too many lights in the house, it’s because they were the ones paying the utility bills. Now, as an adult, you probably feel a little pain every time that bill comes to your door. A very easy way to save energy is to turn off all unnecessary lights. Never leave a room empty without making sure the lights are off. Also, utilize smaller lights, such as a desktop lamp. A small lamp will use much less wattage than the giant bulbs on an overhead light fixture.
3. Buy Energy-Saving Light Bulbs
   Energy-saving light bulbs, also known as compact fluorescent lamps, use a fraction of the wattage of normal bulbs. These bulbs do a lot for the environment and will save you hundreds of dollars a year in energy costs. Granted, these bulbs come with a higher price tag, but they are an investment that will pay off within a month or two, especially if you have a home improvement rewards card. Not only that, energy-saving bulbs can last years before going out, making life even more convenient for you.
4. Manage the Thermostat Wisely
   Most people don’t think twice while adjusting their thermostat. However, a few degrees too high or low may result in unnecessary energy loss. Get to know your thermostat and set some house rules about what temperature it should remain at during the winter or summer. Ceiling fans will help you year round, as will installing a programmable thermostat. If you are gone for long periods during the day, you should turn down the air conditioner or heater. After all, the house doesn’t need to remain a comfortable temperature if no one is in it.
5. Carpool With Co-workers / Classmates
   Carpooling is a great way to save money on gas and to reduce outdoor pollution. Whether you are going to work or school every day, there should be a small handful of people around who are interested in a carpool arrangement. Many cities have special carpool lanes on the freeway, so you may even be able to avoid some nasty traffic.
6. Check Your Tire Pressure
   You should check your tire pressure regularly, as unbalanced tires can affect your car’s performance and waste fuel in the process. Not only will this habit conserve gas, it will reduce your chances of having a blowout, which is both dangerous and bad for the environment. After all, shredded remnants of tire are hardly a good thing to leave on the road.
7. Buy a Good Doormat
   Doormats aren’t just for keeping dirt out, they are for keeping pesticides and other toxins out, too. Always keep a good doormat by all outside doors, particularly if you have small children and pets. You can track in a lot of invisible, hazardous waste from the outside. For that reason, a lot of green homes have a “no shoes policy“, which means you leave your footwear at the door. If you aren’t ready to commit to such a policy, however, the doormat should help quite a bit.
8. Clean With Baking Soda
   Baking soda is a household item that can be used for practically everything. It can serve as antacid, toothpaste and even a cleaning product. Since many cleaning products contain chemicals that are harmful to humans and the environment, you should opt for a more natural solution. Baking soda, which is safe for human consumption, works well on counter tops and windows. It is also a lot less expensive than buying different kinds of cleaning products. So, cleaning with baking soda will give you peace of mind and save you some money.

The suggestions above can serve as your initiation to living green. If you practice these habits, then you will see how easy it is to make adjustments for the betterment of the environment. Another motivating factor will probably be the money you will save by following these tips. Indeed, green doesn’t have to be expensive. Frugal people can be the most eco-friendly people in the world. With a little practice and a small attitude adjustment, the painless habits listed above will only be the start of your new, environmentally conscious life.