My friend, Leah Ingram, and her family bought their dream house a few months ago. It was a bit of a stretch, so they needed to adopt a more frugal lifestyle. They’ve also become more “green,” adopting more eco-friendly habits that also save them money. She’s started a blog about it that I think is really worth checking out.

On another note, several weeks ago, my daughter came home with one of those coupon-book fundraisers. I’ve bought this type of book before and forgot to use it, so it was a waste of money. I was going to return it to the school without purchasing it, but I took a look. There were actually many coupons for stores I visit regularly. So, I decided to fork over the $25.00. Most coupons in it are valid from now until December 2008.

Here’s my plan to make it pay back: I’ve already torn out the coupons for the stores and restaurants we visit most frequently. Those are in my purse. I’ve put the book near my computer, where I’ve gotten into the habit of searching online for coupons before I go shopping. That way, it’s in plain sight and I will remember to check it before I go out. A quick calculation tells me that, conservatively, I can save about $78.00 over the next six months, just by using the coupons in my purse. All in all, not a bad investment.

But the school fundraising thing can get expensive, especially if you have more than one child. Add that to club and group fundraisers and you need a budget just to buy candy, cookies, wrapping paper, and calendars. It may sound harsh, but we are saying “no” to any “purchasing” fundraisers that don’t give us something we need or want. And nothing with sugar in it. Having 17 boxes of Girl Scout cookies lying around doesn’t do anyone any good — least of all the family member who works from home. (That would be me.)

How do you rein in the school fundraising beast? Do you have parameters for making school fundraising purchases or donations? Share your tips in the comments section.