Thanks for your participation in the Frugal Red Hatting group. We have 76 members now, so I know there must be lots more ideas out there that haven't been posted yet. Don't be shy! If you haven't posted yet, please do! We're a friendly bunch!

I'm still figuring out how to manage a group and just learned how to set categories in the forums. Unfortunately, I can't figure out how to move our previous postings into these categories (other than by cutting and pasting). Maybe there's a way (and if anyone knows, please let me know)!

But, from now on (Feb. 3), if you want to start a new discussion thread, please choose an appropriate category before posting. That will help new members find what they need quicker. If you want to suggest new categories, please send me a message and I'll set them up as soon as possible.

And don't forget to look back at the original Frugal Red Hatting Message Board forum for the first month's activity on the group. There are LOTS of great ideas there, too!

Rita, Queen Foxy Loxy

Welcome to the Frugal Red Hatting group on the QMB2! I got the inspiration for this group from seeing the "Ultimate Cheapskate," Jeff Yeager, on the Today Show this morning (Jan. 11). He reminds me of my husband (and it was a good thing my hubby wasn't watching, because he's frugal enough already).

Then I thought about how the ladies in my chapter are on tight or fixed incomes and are always looking for ways to have fun--on a shoestring. And I find that sometimes the best things we do are the ones that don't cost much. So, I checked out Yeager's Web site at http://www.ultimatecheapskate.com/index.cgi. You should check it out, too, if you want some ideas on living frugally! I still have more exploring to do, but already came up with my first Frugal Red Hatting forum topic--factory tours.

I invite you to share your ideas and photos of inexpensive and/or free gatherings on this group's forum. Rather than have a single thread that goes on forever, though, (and gets too long for new members to want to scroll through), please start new topics often, if the subject matter has changed!

I'd also like to see photos of you and your ladies in the Photo Gallery on some of your frugal gatherings, so please share those, too! Be sure to tell us in the caption of the photo which thread you are discussing it in, though, because when we have lots of threads, it's going to be hard to find the discussion.

Lastly, feel free to use this forum to post tips on frugal living that we can use in our everyday lives. The money we save can be used to buy more hats or something!

Happy Frugal Red Hatting, ladies!

Rita, Queen Foxy Loxy