Free samples are a great example of how frugality is more about being resourceful than it is about being cheap.

Cheap people will use free samples solely because they are free. They have no intention of ever buying the product and simply think of the item as a free meal, free lipstick, free soap, etc.

Frugal consumers, on the other hand, will focus more on the fact that it is a sample. Samples allow you to try a product with no investment. If you like the sample, then spending money on it will be a smart purchase. If you do not, then no harm done. You did not waste your money.

Trying New Foods

The sample can be something petty like a new ice cream flavor. Step outside your boundaries and ask your local ice cream parlor to try a small sample spoonful of a new flavor. This is how I grew to love gelato.

Even Chipotle will give you a sample of their different seasoned toppings. This way you can try the food without risk.

Trying New Make-Up/Beauty Products

One of the most financially savvy examples of free samples is with make-up/beauty products. Sephora is great with offering free samples with your online purchase. In the stores, you can ask for a sample of any of their perfumes. Used wisely, this sample will definitely last you a few weeks. What a great way to see just how that scent reacts to your skin without spending $40.

Sephora also offers samples in the form of actually trying out the make-up right there in the store. Just find a color you want to try but might be a little afraid to. Ask one of the staff if they can apply it on you. Be sure to take advantage and ask questions about matching, weight, and application.

It is especially important to use free samples for expensive items. Lush products have a hefty price tag but the cashiers are more than willing to give you a free sample of everything there. Definitely take advantage of this. From experience, I have learned to always request a sample before trying a new product.

Trying New Medications

You can also receive samples of prescription medication. This is especially useful if you are sensitive to various prescriptions. If you are prescribed a new medication or want to change from one that is not working, ask your doctor if she has any samples available so you can see how your body reacts to the new medication without spending your money on the full prescription. This will save you money, time and frustration.

Risk-Free, Guilt-Free Spending

I’m happy to hear some twitter favs use free samples wisely, as well. @eemusings takes advantage of the free samples at Lush and The Body Shop and @pintucked likes the samples offered by Sephora.

Next time you see a product you want to purchase but are not sure you will like it, ask for a sample Most places are more than willing to take a little sacrifice in hopes you will make another purchase This way you are spending your money on products that work for you and you are making a smart, informed decision.

Ready for my guide to getting in shape for just pennies? Here we go:

1. Don’t buy anything
2. Take a walk outside; jog the last five minutes
3. Repeat tomorrow

How’s that for easy!

Okay, maybe I oversimplified. But, not really. You don’t need anything to start working out. You just need to go outside and do it!

Making Excuses

I made a million excuses before I started running. I was afraid of looking silly because I would be running so slow and walking most of the time. It was always too hot or too cold out. I didn’t have the right running clothes or shoes. I never had the time. I couldn’t afford it. Excuse after excuse.

What finally motivated me was moving to an apartment that was right across the street from a free (for students) indoor track that opened at 6:30a. This meant that the weather, money, insecurity and time excuses were all ruled out.

So I got up at 6:30a, walked over to the indoor track, walked/jogged along with other walkers/slow joggers for 20 minutes while listening to my mp3 player (before iPods were around) then went on with my day. I didn’t buy anything. No new shoes, no new clothes, no gym membership; Nothing.

Start A Routine, Then Invest in It

After a month of this routine, I decided that it fit into my life well and I was starting to enjoy it. At this point, I began to put some money into it. Do not make any purchases until you are sure you can stick with the routine.

Rather than buying some overpriced sports bras, I just went to Goodwill and bought a few t-shirts for $2/each (that was eight years ago and I still wear them running today). Sure, they weren’t wicking material but I was not engaging in two hour workouts where I needed that anyway. Any sports bras, running pants or socks I bought were all on sale at Target.

Once I could run/walk three miles, I decided to purchase real running shoes. I had just been using casual sneakers up until then. Again, I did not rush out and blow $100 on running shoes until I knew that I wanted to keep running.

To be honest, I never wanted to be a runner, I just wanted to get some exercise without spending any money. Running was the only way for me to do that and it still is today.

Spending Money as Motivation? Puh-lease!

I know some of you out there use shopping as your motivation for working out. Trust me, buying new work-out clothes will not get you any closer to exercise than Taco Bell will.

At the end of the day, you will still be sitting in front of the television telling yourself that you should be outside running but instead you are emptying shopping bags of fancy sports-bras, expensive shoes and wrist weights. You can buy all of that stuff later!

Cheap Alternatives

Here are some tips I take advantage of to keep exercise as inexpensive as possible:

• Run/Walk outside instead of paying for a gym membership
• Use Netflix Instant Watch’s fitness selection instead of buying workout dvds
• Map your mileage out with Gmaps Pedometer and track it with an excel spreadsheet or free website instead of buying a pedometer or app
• Follow one of Hal Higdon’s training programs for a race instead of paying for one
• Run to military cadences instead of buying workout mix mp3’s.

Have any other cheap work-out ideas? I’d love to hear them!

I have already mentioned making your own face exfoliator. Here is another beauty tip that I live by. It might sound a little ridiculous but trust me on this one.

Use disposable toilet seat covers as face blotters!
They are the same exact material as face-blotting sheets! Seriously! This will help you blot the oil on your face without disturbing your make-up and is much cheaper than spending $7 on a pack of those blotting sheets.

And if you’re worried about the germs, just grab one in the middle.

For a while, I was buying natural skin-care products because I didn’t like the idea of putting chemicals in my skin. Then, one day, I looked at the ingredients of these natural products. I really looked at the ingredient list, and realized that a lot of them consisted of food products that I have in the kitchen! The oatmeal-based mask, the sugar-based scrub; surely it couldn’t be too difficult to recreate these myself?

A quick search for “diy skin exfoliator” will tell you that it definitely is not difficult at all! I’ve tried a few (honey + brown sugar worked but I did not like the sticky feeling) and here’s the one I use almost daily:

Brown Sugar & Olive Oil

Unfortunately, using olive oil is more costly than the honey alternative but I like the way it feels on my skin better. Mix some brown sugar with some olive oil. You want there to be extra liquid that is not absorbed by the brown sugar (this varies on the sensitivity of your skin) otherwise it might feel too rough. You might have to scrub your face a few times to see what works best for you.

The olive oil will leave your face feeling greasy so you must use a cleanser afterward. I usually just use a drug store brand cleanser ($4) and that takes care of any of the olive oil residue. I have noticed that whenever I use the scrub, I do not need to apply moisturizer as my face doesn’t feel dry at all and sometimes gets too oily if I do use it.

Feel free to leave your suggestions and experiments of diy beauty care!