How to be frugal?

After figuring out I have around $400-$550 (it varies because of child support, if he actually pays it) a month after ALL bills, rent, gas and food is bought, it seems like a lot but it feels like I'm always broke!
One problem is I get paid once weekly so I either can save up 3 checks to pay my bills and then make the last check stretch and be the spending money (and by spending money I mean cleaning supplies, hygiene products and clothes/toys for LO, and VERY rarely something for myself)
Or I can take a small amount out each week instead of having to wait all month to have the spending money because it's hard to make it stretch..
and it seems like I'm always needing something from the store, whether it be shampoo or dish soap, or laundry detergent, or eyeliner....
How do I become more frugal, so I can actually begin to save and and not have to use all my money buying household junk..?

its not much as I'm living with my inlaws atm and havent had to live "frugal" as much .. but back in October I made my own laundry detergent.. spent 20 bucks, made 2 gallons of it.. and still I have little over 1.5gallons of it left.. I was spending close to 20 a month on laundry detergent, so I find it kinda awesome.

This might sound nerdy of me but i have a little calendar book that i list all the bills and when theyre due. Plus i list payday and i plan out what weeks i pay each bill on. After that i estimate how much gas well use for the week and leave a certain amount in checking account (mine is $100) and everyrhing else goes in the savings so when i need it i can pull it out. Every week bills are paid so that im not struggling during certain weeks and having a great time the other weeks lol.

Stop buying your child clothes and toys every month.

Quoting speaktruth2powr:" Stop buying your child clothes and toys every month."

I stopped the toy buying a while ago, but the clothes are needed, she grows like a weed

Quoting speaktruth2powr:" Stop buying your child clothes and toys every month."

I was thinking this as well.
Toys and clothes are awesome but unless needed they are not worth spending the money on.
If you have 500 dollars a month left after all the bills, food, etc are bought then there is no need for you to be so tight on money.
Hell I wish I had that much left after all my bills and rent!

Quoting Momma +2 Girls:" This might sound nerdy of me but i have a little calendar book that i list all the bills and when theyre ... [snip!] ... it out. Every week bills are paid so that im not struggling during certain weeks and having a great time the other weeks lol."

That actually sounds like a great idea, since pays fall on different number dates every week, but bill due dates don't, I could do that to figure out when to pay what..
Thanks.

Quoting Uncle Obama's Banana:" I was thinking this as well. Toys and clothes are awesome but unless needed they are not worth spending ... [snip!] ... are bought then there is no need for you to be so tight on money. Hell I wish I had that much left after all my bills and rent!"

Do you have a car payment?
I don't.
I have a beater basically. I'm trying to make it last until I graduate though

its not being frugal as much as it is budgeting.
its hard, but once you stick to it for a few weeks, it wil seem as if you always have left over $$

Quoting ♥supermommy:" I stopped the toy buying a while ago, but the clothes are needed, she grows like a weed"

Buy second hand or at consignment stores if she is growing out of clothing so fast.

Also, buy sizes ahead when they are on sale.

Use the Dave Ramsey Envelope System - http://shemakescents.com/2012/03/11/the-envelope-system-saves/

<blockquote><b>Quoting speaktruth2powr:</b>" Stop buying your child clothes and toys every month."</blockquote>




This! Plus, if you have an Aldi go there.for groceries. You will only spend half of what you normally spend.

Buy clothing and toys from consignment stores
Try buying in bulk for toiletries and essentials you buy every month
Couponing

Quoting speaktruth2powr:" Buy second hand or at consignment stores if she is growing out of clothing so fast. Also, buy sizes ... [snip!] ... when they are on sale. Use the Dave Ramsey Envelope System - http://shemakescents.com/2012/03/11/the-envelope-system-saves/"

Great system - my mom has been using it for as long as I can remember.

<blockquote><b>Quoting ♥supermommy:</b>" That actually sounds like a great idea, since pays fall on different number dates every week, but bill due dates don't, I could do that to figure out when to pay what.. Thanks."</blockquote>



Youre welcome. I also dont always wait until a bill is due to pay it. If i know ill have $100 extra one week but only $25 extra the next week ill go ahead and pay it the first week instead of having to pull from my savings.

Coupon. Dont buy anything unless its on sale and you have a coupon for it.

As for clothes.... buy the next size up when the previous season is on sale. For example, Winter clothes are going to be going on sale now. Buy the size that she should be wearing next Winter. Do that for all seasons. That way she has cheap clothes that are bought for next to nothing and you are prepared. Lily's winter jacket and snow pants were bought for 5 bucks (they were originally 30) and her jacket was originally 60... bought for 15. So buy at the end of each season to help for the next.

If you have a Kohls near you they always have amazing clearance sales so if you must have clothes now their sales are awesome.