Posted by Lending Club :: November 6, 2008 @ 11:18 am

Sometimes it pays to be a little crazy. I went through a period of extreme frugality in my life (living in my office, showering at a gym, no bank account, etc). It's not something I want to repeat again. Group showers aren't exactly my thing. That being said, for the truly ambitious penny pincher, these 7 tips could come in handy.

Oh, a note to single guys: this list could also be titled, "7 ways to make sure you never get a date". So, you've been warned.

1. The 60 second shower

It's just like being in the military again, only you get to now shower in the comfort of your own home! Lather up, rinse, enjoy the last 10 seconds. Done! Not only do you save on hot water, you just freed up 9 more minutes in your morning routine.

2. Flush less

"If it's brown, flush it down. If it’s yellow, let it mellow" - I think I first saw this phrase in an episode of "Six Feet Under". If you haven't gotten what I'm talking about here... just keep thinking about it. Or not. Let’s move on...

3. Become a "freegan"

The freegan movement has become more and more popular in the last decade. The word itself comes from "free" (duh) and "vegan". It's like a super hard core really cheap vegan. Basically, living as a freegan, you try to consume what other people waste. Dumpster diving, um, er, I mean "Waste Reclamation" is popular among freegans. Wedding crashing (for the food) or attending a lecture at your local college where food is served (for free) could work as well.

4. Live in your car

Want a truly mobile lifestyle? Ditch your overpriced apartment and live in your car. Make sure to move your car at least every few nights to a different part of town. Staying too long in one place will arouse suspicion and perhaps a call from a not so happy home-dweller to the police

5. Unplug everything

Not using the fridge? Unplug it. TV? Unplug. Computer? Unplug. Nearly all electronic devices drain small amounts of electricity even when plugged in. So go unplug everything.

6. Move off the grid

Do you think Adam and Eve had to buy groceries? Of course not. Living off the grid could eliminate your housing bill, electricity, cell phone, internet, cable, Netflix, gas, car... the list goes on and on. You can even pick up a home for your off-grid lifestyle for $500. And that's the nicer version.

7. Sell your car

Do you really need it? Really? No car equals no insurance bill, no more complaining about gas prices. And plus, the bus can be a fun (aka, crazy) way to meet new people. Note, if you're living in your car, unless you want to go off grid, don't do this one!

As I said, these are all slightly crazy ways to be frugal. There are plenty of more practical ways to save money, but they aren't nearly as fun. When you have grandkids, don't you want to tell them your crazy stories about how you saved money?