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I don’t like the term “cheap” – I prefer frugal – it replaces the negative attributes of cheap with a more pretentious, upstanding adjective. And so, this post will be about the more frugal things in life (which don’t necessarily have to be simple).

First, I talked to Andrew who graduated as a Master of Computer Science last year. Just recently Andrew launched a freecycling website, trashnothing.com which aims to connect U of T students @ St. George campus. The goal? Save us some money and give our earth the lovin’ she deserves. Still confused? Check out the interview below:

Q1) What is freecycling?

Andrew: At it’s most basic, freecycling is the act of giving away your unwanted but reusable items to people who can use them.  In practice, freecycling is a grassroots movement made up of thousands of locally run online groups that help to connect people who have things to give away with people who want them.

Q2) Why do it?

Andrew: Everyone has their own reasons and the community is really diverse.  A lot of people are simply attracted by the appeal of free stuff and enjoy bargain hunting.  Some people don’t care about the free stuff at all but use the groups solely to get rid of all the stuff they’ve accumulated because it’s easier to have someone come take your stuff than having to haul it away yourself.  And then there are the environmentalists, the artists collecting objects for sculptures, the tinkerers collecting things to work with and repair and the non-profits looking for donations and so on.

Q3) I am interested! How do I do it?

Andrew: The easiest way to get involved is to find and join your local freecycling groups on trashnothing.com.  Once you’re a member of your local groups, you can post Offers of things to give away or Wants for things you are looking for.  You’ll also be able to browse and reply to posts from other members who are offering and requesting items.  And there’s no catch – everything is free and there’s no swapping or bartering or selling – just free stuff.

But freecycling doesn’t have to be done online.  If you live in an apartment complex or a dorm, you can setup a free table in the building for people to drop off things they don’t want and give others a chance to claim them.  Or you can attend or hold your own Really Really Free Market (Toronto usually has one or two RRFMs every year) where everyone meets up somewhere with old stuff to give it away to whomever wants it.

Of course, frugal-living isn’t a one-stop shop. There are other things you can do to live up to your own frugal potential. Here are some tips I’ve learned throughout the years:

• Bring your own teabags with you to campus. Hot water is a cheap find (usually less than 30 cents), and tea bags can be used for TWO mugs (in fact, most say this on the box… it’s no secret).

• Carry your own mug. This will save you 25 cents every time, and it will save our dumps, rivers, landfills, forests, etc. from more paper cups.

• Cut out Subway sandwiches and frequent Nguyen Hong Food @322 Spadina (North of Dundas, east side) where you can grab a delicious 12-inch Bahn Mi (Vietnamese sub) for $2!! This is the cheapest deliciousness I’ve yet to find near campus.

• Wash your clothes with cold water – always. Save money on your water bill and reduce your eco-footprint.

• Shop for groceries in bulk (Andrew recommends Tutti Frutti and Essence of Life, both close to campus in Kensington Market).

• Check grocery store flyers (if they don’t come to your door you can find them online) for what’s on sale. Gear your meals for the week around what you can save money on. Unsure of cheap meals to make? This website has tons of thrify meal ideas and recipes perfect for students!

This list is in no way exhaustive, there are so many ways to be frugal and I am sure I haven’t figured them all out yet. A die-hard frugal myself (I think it’s okay I just created a noun out of frugal), I am really interested in hearing your tips! What are your best tips for keeping costs low as a student?