| T O P I C R E V I E W |
| ruralfarmgirl |
Posted - Jun 18 2008 : 10:49:51 PM
About recession and the high cost of things, I was wondering what everyone was doing to save a little here and there.
Rene~Prosser Farmgirl #185
" Plant goodness, harvest the fruit of loyalty, plow the new ground of knowledge. Hosea 10:12 |
| 9 L A T E S T R E P L I E S (Newest First) |
| jpbluesky |
Posted - Jun 19 2008 : 08:58:00 AM
We turned up the thermometer on our AC and keep it warmer than before in the house.
We sold our SUV and now have 2 volvos.
We stay home a lot more, and make our trips to run errands really count.
I do not get my hair professionally done, nor my nails, or anything else.
I am using the library.
Not buying clothes we can do without.
This is going to sound a little sad, but we lost our last pet a couple of years ago, and it will be our last pet. Animals cost a lot. With no children in the house, we agreed we would not have animals anymore.
We do all the work we can on our own house, and only get professionals to do the stuff hubby doesn't feel qualified to do.
We grow as many veggies as we can.
We gave up season tickets to sports events, and let go of expensive hobbies.
We eat at home, and entertain that way too, as much as possible.
We make our own greeting cards, and shop for bargains on gifts.
We rarely rent movies, or go to the movies.
Golly, are hubby and I sounding boring or what?????
Got to admit, though, that I continue to pay for internet, and buy MJF! :)
I am president of a non-profit organization, and that does cost me money. I have to buy tickets to certain things, and maintain a membership fee....and we give to charity causes. And our church. Some things that perhaps are not necessary to living still "should" be freely given, right?
Farmgirl Sister # 31
www.blueskyjeannie.blogspot.com
Psalm 51: 10-13 |
| Jami |
Posted - Jun 19 2008 : 08:07:14 AM
I hang out my clothes, turn off the lights when I'm not in a room, open the windows (only have a room air conditioner anyway), wear a sweater if it's a cool day (then close the windows-LOL)and only go to town if I have to. Still choosing to drive my pickup because I need it to haul stuff but it's paid for so buying a more gas-efficient car would be a trade-off..payment versus buying more gas. Eat out of the garden and raise our own meat. Put the horses in the grassy areas to "mow" (not my flowerbeds though!) and simplifying my tastes when shopping...if I don't need it to survive, I don't buy it. For gifts I try to make everything and this satisfies my artistic side too. For entertainment, we go riding, watch a movie on TV, and sit outside in the evenings enjoying the view and the conversation. I am challenged when it comes to fabric and craft shopping...really have to steer away from those places!! I sort of like the feeling of being in saving mode...it's just simplifying in essence.
Jami in WA
Okay, so now I have a blog. http://woolyinwashington.wordpress.com/ |
| ruralfarmgirl |
Posted - Jun 19 2008 : 07:42:07 AM
WOW.... we are a very "get 'er done" kinda group are we not? I am finding that there are things I can do that have a chain reaction on savings.. Like, buying bulk....which is a saving for the product itself... but then also saves on the garbage as we have less of it.. same thing with not using paper towels any more, and keeping a drawer full of clothe napkins.... I have been reminded of the old saying so many times in the last couple of months...... "the attention is in the details"..... and I think that is what I am hearing from all of us.. it is being more tentive to the "little" things, that truly arent so little.
Rene~Prosser Farmgirl #185
" Plant goodness, harvest the fruit of loyalty, plow the new ground of knowledge. Hosea 10:12 |
| Prairie Princess |
Posted - Jun 19 2008 : 06:27:17 AM
I'm doing the same as Jonni -- paying down the bills. It doesn't hurt to increase the financial cushion as times get tough...
And I'll be riding my bike back and forth from work and anywhere else possible.
When I finish my move, I'll do some container gardening for a few food items, to cut back on groceries....
Little things. :)
~Jodi
"Women are like teabags...you never know how strong they are until they get into hot water." Eleanor Roosevelt |
| KYgurlsrbest |
Posted - Jun 19 2008 : 05:37:18 AM
I'm paying down bills...so in essence, I guess I'm not saving any liquid--yet. The goal is to get them paid down/off so there is extra for emergencies. The clothesline I want is $120.00....so I'm having a hard time justifying that. It's just an umbrella one, so I don't much understand the cost....
We are eating from the garden, I am putting back from that, and I am already planning on our Christmas gifts (which are coming from the garden and orchard harvest) and I have an immense stock of chicken in the freezer for meals. I hope I can be creative with chicken!!!
We are combining trips into work. For example, today, dh has to work at 4:00, so he will take the bus in. I'm going to drop the car off to him and take the bus home, so there will still be only 2 trips today, not 4.
Little things like that.
Farmgirl Sister #80, thanks to a very special farmgirl from the Bluegrass..."She was built like a watch, a study in balance ... with a neck and head so refined, like a drawing by DaVinci"...
NY Newsday sportswriter Bill Nack describing filly, Ruffian.
http://www.buyhandmade.org/ |
| 82kygal |
Posted - Jun 19 2008 : 05:16:31 AM
We are finally settling down in our home we bought three years ago. We didn't plan to stay here but here we are. So this year we started putting in gardens and next spring it will be fruit trees. We want to stay away from the groc store as much as possible. I grew up working gardens so I have a pretty good idea of what I am doing. The only difference is location I grew up in Montana and am now in Kentucky so there are some changes. I also drive a lot less.
With God, all things are possible. (Mark 10:27)
What ever you are, be a good one. (Abe Lincoln) |
| Sandra K. Licher |
Posted - Jun 19 2008 : 04:22:40 AM
Well........I've worked in the corporate world all my life and now I don't and I;ve never been so happy! I have always been "slow"....people were always telling me to "hurry up" and of course I did and in the long run got very sick because of it but I have stabalized my health and although I had to get rid of my acreage because of it I am actually doing great! I have never been so alone, so unhealthy and so poor and I've never been so at peace! My faith has a lot to do with it...I don't worry and I've learned to let things and people go with grace.
I am living on a lot less than I had gotten used to but I love the challenge! I have always hung my clothes outside or in the basement and I have always been frugal being raised by "depression Era" folks. I do have a big SUV but it's paid for and I needed it at the time since I lived in the country and had to go through big drifts of snow just to get out my driveway but I don't drive much and when I do I try to consolidate my trips and sometimes only go out to the store monthly. I have always had a garden and when the family was all at home we canned and froze and I really wanted to live off the land and be self-sufficient since the day I was born I think! Back then I did it to save money and be frugal....now I do it to save the planet for my grandchildren. I have never built a new house or had new furniture although later in life I could well have afforded it. I always loved old houses and old furniture and did most of my shopping at garage sales and thrift stores. BUT who says you can't teach an old dog new tricks? I am reading up on being "green" or at least greener and I just received my first Mrs. Meyer's products but I am looking forward to making my own too. I used to use vinegar etc. and even remember brushing my teeth with baking soda as a child. Some of my children have follwoed suit and some have gotten caught up in the "having it all" mentality but it looks like we are all being awakened to our blessings and the responsiblity associated with them.
This is probably more than you wanted to know about me but in a nutshell...my lifestyle has always been "Use it up, make it do, throw it out or buy it new" and in that order. Also, a huge respect and gentleness for nature and all living things.
Sam in AR..... "It's a great life if you don't weaken!"
Farmgirl Sister #226 |
| elphie0503 |
Posted - Jun 19 2008 : 02:53:46 AM
I became a farmgirl!! I was raised to can, conserve, and live green...but like any girl I wanted to get out of that "dumb, small town"...I didn't go back home, but I moved 19 miles south of home. On 5 acres I garden, watch my children grow and plot my Chicken coop coup!! We down sized from a SUV to a sedan, and I am begging the DH to put up a clothes line. OH and I get to pick up my first group of goats on Saturday...we went to Jamaica for our anniversary and I tried goat for the first time...and now that I have land I want to raise them. Simply put, we just live a slower life now.
Samantha
A positive attitude may not solve all your problems, but it will annoy enough people to make it worth the effort~~Albright
|
| Sagewood |
Posted - Jun 18 2008 : 11:26:49 PM
Everything we can!! LOL..seriously, using the clothes line, cooking from scratch. Hubby has taken to driving my car to work instead of the truck. It's getting scary out there!
Sage,
The Hedgewife
Are you a Hedgewife?
http://hedgewife.blogspot.com/
http://hedgewife.forumandco.com/index.htm
Hiding in the broom closet.
http://sagewoodfarm.blogspot.com/
|
|
|
