| T O P I C R E V I E W |
| Alee |
Posted - Apr 04 2009 : 12:38:47 PM
How does your family save money?
We use the Eco friendly light bulbs whenever one burns out we replace it. We also keep the packaging from the bulbs so if they burn out too early we can take them back to the store for a replacement.
We shop the outer rim of the grocery store only with very few exceptions. (I still buy commercial cereal and toilet paper)
We make our own laundry detergent (Equal amounts of Washing Soda, Baking Soda, Finely shaved soap, and Borax)
We make our own soap
We make our own bread
I don't take Doug to work anymore and save the car for my personal use. If I have errands to run I will either go into town and after errands are run, let Nora play at the park or at the Imaginarium.
We turn the heat down and wear sweaters.
We also check out tire pressure to make sure we are getting good gas mileage
We are going to put in a big garden this year
And we buy bulk when possible to save costs.
Alee
Farmgirl Sister #8
www.awarmheart.com
Please come visit Nora and me on our blog: www.farmgirlalee.blogspot.com
Put your pin on the farmgirl map! www.farmgirlmap.blogspot.com |
| 25 L A T E S T R E P L I E S (Newest First) |
| SandraM |
Posted - Apr 26 2013 : 8:25:57 PM
We burn wood in the winter (huge savings for us)
Raise our own steer or buy meat from local farmers (whole or halve and keep in freezer)
Buy bulk (50 pound bags) of oats, rice etc..
Grind our own wheat for flour.
Buy second hand when possible
Shop sales and try not to pay full price for anything
Canning and Drying foods from garden and fruit trees
Cook from scratch. For conveniance food we make our own mixes.
Sandra
www.mittenstatesheepandwool.com |
| neeter302 |
Posted - Apr 26 2013 : 09:48:48 AM
All of you ladies are so helpful and inspiring, keep sharing your wonderful posts please!
Farmgirl #522
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| michgirl |
Posted - Apr 23 2013 : 09:06:54 AM
I have been using my own laundry soap for three months and couldn't be happier. Less allergies (I use Ivory Soap for the soap) and get happy whenver I smell the detergent!! |
| momdrinkstea |
Posted - Aug 30 2010 : 3:48:17 PM
*Favorite "FREE" sites: Freecycle.org, Craigslist.com
*Church thrift stores are the cheapest! And garage sales!
*Local CSA's and farm stands for produce,
check www.localharvest.org & type in your zip.
Also great for finding local farmers selling meat,
or for selling produce/eggs/meat yourself direct from your farm!
*BARTER! Try to set up a local barter group, you
can communicate by setting up a group on www.yahoo.com.
List wants and offers like on Freecycle. Put up flyers at school, offices.
*Shop dollar stores, bulk stores, and farmers - and ask your
farmers where THEY buy from! (notoriously frugal, those farmers!)
Check with the local farm bureau or extension for lists of local farms.
*BUY LOCAL! Helps your community, saves you money, fresher food. Found a local
seller of chicken feed, it's half the cost of Tractor Supply, and better
quality. He sells to Cornell University's Beef Program, they've had only
one sick cow since they switched to his feed. Ask around!
*Never buy what you can make, grow, trade, swap, barter, thrift or wait for!
LOVE all the tips girls!
Keep 'em coming!
"Look deep into nature, and then you will understand everything better." -Albert Einstein |
| shunger |
Posted - Jul 28 2010 : 12:41:56 PM
We have mint plants for mint tea -- chocolate mint is my favorite.
I use the library often.
We preserve our garden veggies.
I make almost all of our Christmas gifts and get the fabrics on sale or at garage sales.
My husband repurposes wood and windows for our various projects -- hope to have a chicken house soon.
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| Alee |
Posted - Jul 28 2010 : 09:29:37 AM
I went to our farmer's market this weekend. I love buying the fresh fruits and veggies. Potatos are SO cheap there right now and we got a pound of super fresh Sugar Snap peas for only $2.50 Nora also really wanted to have her own little plant so she bought a chocolate mint. Yummy. Free herbal tea for the winter. Now all I have to do is encourage it and my peppermint to spread like crazy! I love an equal blend of the two mints.
Alee
Farmgirl Sister #8
www.awarmheart.com
www.farmgirlalee.blogspot.com
www.allergyjourneys.blogspot.com
Put your pin on the farmgirl map! www.farmgirlmap.blogspot.com |
| FebruaryViolet |
Posted - Jul 28 2010 : 05:45:15 AM
Bonnie, I do something similar..my husband is a server, so he gets cash at the end of the evening whatever he brings home, whether it's $15.00 or $115.00, I take 10% and put it away. It really adds up quickly--he laughed at me when I told him what I was doing, but it has helped out in emergencies, fun money, vacay, whatever.
Musings from our family in the Bluegrass http://sweetvioletmae.blogspot.com/ |
| Bonnie Ellis |
Posted - Jul 27 2010 : 5:13:24 PM
Wende of Farmgirls on the Loose taught me this one. Every time you get a $5 bill, put it away. If you can do this you will really save money for when you need it desperately. Not immediate savings of lots of money, but a way to increase it quickly. Thanks for the idea. Bonnie of Farmgirls on the Loose
grandmother and orphan farmgirl |
| FebruaryViolet |
Posted - Jul 27 2010 : 08:50:12 AM
quote:
Originally posted by Leilaht
"....We don't eat processed foods, so we don't need medicines...."
I find this statement intriguing. We also don't consume processed foods, either, but I always have some sort of ibuprofen on hand for headaches, backaches, etc, which comes naturally to a household where we tend a garden, play hard with a 16 month old (and as a former ballerina, sometimes my body just aches), and my husband is on his feet 8 hours a day.
Musings from our family in the Bluegrass http://sweetvioletmae.blogspot.com/ |
| Leilaht |
Posted - Jul 24 2010 : 5:04:38 PM
[quote]Originally posted by Calicogirl
Oh Liz, if only we had trees big enough :)
I'm so sorry! I'll guess you have to wait for your honey to get around to it. |
| Calicogirl |
Posted - Jul 22 2010 : 6:21:39 PM
Oh Liz, if only we had trees big enough :)
~Sharon
By His Grace, For His Glory
http://merryheartjournal.blogspot.com/ |
| Leilaht |
Posted - Jul 22 2010 : 5:21:17 PM
I use coupons, go to Dollar Tree (my favorite), grows herbs and veggies, cook from scratch, sew, knit and crochet.
I buy all of my clothes that I don't make on clearance or from Salvation Army. I'm too tall to do yard sales. I never turn down free things that I can use.
I get my books from the library, half.com, or bookcrossing.com. I sometimes buy books on clearance at Borders, but only about once a year. I think most of my cookbooks were on clearance.
If I can make it instead of buy it, I do. I really don't use commercial cleaners, just vinegar and baking soda.
We don't eat processed foods, so we don't need medicines. A multivitamin, a calcium supplement, and some fish oil are all I need. I get them when they are buy one get one free and I usually have a coupon to boot.
Now that we have somewhere to make a garden, I am going to try square foot gardening. I got most of the wood from pallets I brought home from work. Next year I am going to try ducks for eggs, and maybe a dairy goat.
It's mostly just little things like making coffee at home, riding to work together, and taking leftovers for lunch. You know the little dribbles that add up quickly. |
| Leilaht |
Posted - Jul 22 2010 : 5:10:05 PM
~Hanging clothes out. I am LONGING to do this, but we need posts first and I'm waiting for my honey :)
~Sharon
That's why God made trees! Don't need posts to hang a clothesline. I never saw a clothesline on poles until I was 17. Just make sure the trees you use don't have any fruit, and no pine trees. They drip sap. I have mine between 2 maples. I just hung mine last week. We had to live in a trailer park for 12 years. No clothesline. Now we have a house and I can hang my laundry! |
| katalind |
Posted - May 18 2010 : 3:28:49 PM
I also forgot to mention that I'm vegetarian which save more than just lives but a ton of money every year compared to my meat eating friends. |
| katalind |
Posted - May 18 2010 : 3:26:17 PM
I use those eco light bulbs, use coupons, wash my clothes in cold water & line dry them, buy in bulk, eat produce that's in season because it's cheaper and purchase it locally from roadside stands, repair things instead of buying new, use lots of re-useable hand towels and don't buy paper towels, I clean almost everything with just baking soda and vinegar. Keep my air on 55/60 in the winter and 80/85 in the summer (use fans mostly), in spring & autumn I have it turned off completely. I was so proud when my last power bill was $80. I love this forum I can't wait to try out some of your suggestions and try to save even more money. |
| bluebellequilts |
Posted - May 08 2010 : 6:17:29 PM
~ Use my library card...you can have almost any book via inter-library loan if you are willing to wait.
~ Subscribe to a website called http://www.southernsavers.com that reviews grocery specials and deals for all of the major grocery chains in the Southeast. Also contains links to e-coupons. I shop @ at least two stores every week (it helps that they are right across the street from one another).
~ Buy double Sunday papers if the coupons are really good.
~ Sign up for email lists at my favorite stores.
~ One tip that I've always used from our local consumer guru, Clark Howard...when faced with several choices for the same item or service, don't buy the rock bottom, but select one the next level or two up. You receive a better value for your money. I've found the $5 carwash works just as well as the $12 car wash, but the $3 car wash is a waste of money because it doesn't clean my SUV. Works for appliances and cars as well as occasional treats like theater/concert tickets. (We suffered a severe drought until this year...only way I could wash my car was at a car wash...and we're still on watering restrictions even though the drought has ended.)
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| MotherLodeBeth |
Posted - May 07 2010 : 4:30:55 PM
Nice weather means line drying laundry, which is a HUGE money saver. There is something soothing to the senses about shaking the wet laundry, clipping to the clothesline, seeing the end results which if hung right means less ironing. And the smell. My husband used to give me this look....when he laid down on the fresh sheets. And I honestly can tell when standing next to someone, that their clothes were line dried. They smell so fresh and clean.
~Beth~
~I am the best of France and California~ |
| Calicogirl |
Posted - May 07 2010 : 10:29:21 AM
Some things we do:
~If you girls are able to get a cow, pig or lamb from the ranch go for it. It is a bit pricey initially, we purchase half a cow every year. Total cost for us ranges anywhere between $800-$1000. depending upong the size of the cow. So we end up paying an average of about $2.50 per pound across the board whether ground or prime rib. It is also nice shopping from the freezer, it has saved me trips to the grocery store which comes in handy since we only have one vehicle, not to mention the beef tastes wonderful! There are just the 2 of us so this last us a year (even after giving alot away to familes).This year we will be buying a steer and see how that works out.
~For those who cannot purchase meat like this, here's a tip for saving money. Usually on Wednesdays our grocery stores start a new sale. I used to shop early that morning for meat. Prices are usually marked down because they want to make room for the new sale items. I have purchased pork roast and boneless chicken breasts for .99 a pound.
~We are doing a garden again this year. I will be planting tomatoes, beans, peas, pumpkins, squash and herbs. I want to get the most productive plants growing and also those which will produce items I can freeze for winter. This year I am going to try fencing the whole garden and planting beans and peas along the fencing utilizing that space and making more room in the actual garden area.
~I glean. If I see fruit trees that look neglected I will ask the owner if I could pick some fruit. I have never had anyone tell me no. I have gleaned plums, peaches, apricots, pears, apples, sour cherries and even blackberries. I can or freeze these and usually make pies too. I love seeing the fruit tree owner's faces when I bring them a pie or some canned goods :) Canning jams, jellies, syrups and vinegars make wonderful gifts. I like to bring them for hostess gifts :)
~I love Thrift Stores. My best finds have been: a brand new pair of Vasque Leather Hiking Boots for $5.00 (retail $250.), a free Queen size headboard and footboard, a vintage quilt for $1.00, a Starbuck's burr coffee grinder for $1.00 (retails $100.) and lots of clothes :) I only buy new undergarments, socks, and pajamas and only purchase new clothing if something is a killer deal.
~If someone offers me free produce from their garden, I take it. I immediately can or freeze it, even if it is zucchini :)
What I would like to do:
~Learn to sew :)
~Soapmaking
~Hanging clothes out. I am LONGING to do this, but we need posts first and I'm waiting for my honey :)
~Raising chickens for eggs. It seems like we just never have time to build a coop, hopefully next year.
~Sharon
By His Grace, For His Glory
http://merryheartjournal.blogspot.com/ |
| crystalgayle |
Posted - May 07 2010 : 06:21:53 AM
We buy in bulk at our local food co-op or at the health food store.
We buy at farmers' markets during season.
I buy bushels of fruit and make butters, applesauce, and wine.
We grow our many of own veggies and preserve.
Hub hunts for his meat and works a couple of weekends in the butcher shop to get it processed for free.
Hub carpools whenever possible to job sites.
We bike to town instead of driving whenever possible.
We use a reel lawnmower.
I take my own bags to the market. I have jars with weight marked on them to refill at the bulk store instead of using plastic bags.
No shampoo.
Resale shops!
We have a clothes closet at son's school for uniforms. We all switch and swap there.
We make our own laundry soap.
I use dish tubs and pour the water onto the plants.
We're converting our tub to drain into a reservoir to flush the toilet.
We hand make many of our gifts. I use old clothes to make towels and wrap the presents or kids will decorate brown paper sacks.
We barter with neighbors for service and produce.
I cut up son's school papers and use as note cards.
I donate my time to the church to play four masses a week, in return, my boys go to private school for free (the oldest has twelve kids total in his class).
I just ordered a hand crank washing machine.
I line dry our clothes except in a pinch. Our dryer gets used maybe 10 times a year.
A big thing for us is cutting down on clutter. You always know just what you have and where to find it. I began decluttering five years ago and it nearly killed me. I had so much scrap fabric, jars, books. But I realized I could never complete all of the projects within five years. I needed that storage space for preserved food.
My kids have a lego table and one clothes basket full of toys. It makes clean up easy. The family is allowed to give them one present each on birthdays and holidays. They get a present from Santa and a stocking, one present from Mama and Daddy, and one present from each other. We have more fun cooking and making decorations.
Most of my kitchen (exception being gas stove and refrigerator) is hand powered. I don't use a microwave. We use a percolator if hub wants coffee in the winter.
Eventually (hopefully next year) we will have an outdoor oven.
It is easy to be beautiful; it is difficult to appear so...Frank O'Hara |
| StitchHazel |
Posted - Mar 17 2010 : 09:01:55 AM
What a nice article about your farm! Your cheeses sound wonderful, they make me wish we lived closer to Fairaview Farm :D
Thanks for letting me know about those resources :}
"It's wonderful what we can do when we're always doing." -George Washington |
| nouveau_farmchick |
Posted - Mar 17 2010 : 07:29:45 AM
Carla Emery the Enclyopedia of country living. Must have book for us country gals! I didn't know about Cindy's Porch, thank you.
The Small Town Living web site is another web spot to check out, they did a really nice article on our farm if you'd like to check it out http://stliving.com/?p=141
God Bless Farmers
Sister #167 |
| StitchHazel |
Posted - Mar 15 2010 : 9:57:09 PM
Hi Pennie,
I don't have Ms. Emery's book-what is the title? I think I would enjoy it. I just started looking on the Cindy's Porch website a few days ago, and her in-house inventory lists are much less complicated that mine! haha :D I tried them this weekend, and like them so far. I added a "how many?" column to help me use some things up that I tend to stock up on without thinking.
Your Corgis must be a happy bunch with homemade food :}! We have four cats (all boys, but they get along very well!) I may have to contact you for gardening tips; we are trying out first one this year. The snow just went away for the most part as old man winter gave up the ghost a little early this year; I am very excited to start digging in the dirt :}
Kylie
"It's wonderful what we can do when we're always doing." -George Washington |
| nouveau_farmchick |
Posted - Mar 14 2010 : 08:12:54 AM
Hey Kylie,
enjoyed your post too! I think the Tightwad Gazz. is one of the very few books in my library that I read over and over again (along with MaryJanes Idea book). I wish my Husband was naturally frugal, mine loves POWER tools, we joke that he has 3 of EVERY THING!
Do you have Carla Emery's book? I like her style (much like yours) for menu planning, go through the panty,freezer,and root cellar (if you have one) first,and choose what needs to be used up right away (to avoid spoilage).For me, if I remember to plan one day ahead what the next dinner will be I'm in good shape. I do love to shop only every two weeks. I think that I save tons by not shopping more often, saves also on my time. When our cow is freshened we have milk and all the other good dairy products.
We grow tons of food, so I can cut down on trips to the grocery store even more than. I do need to make more homemade food like Tasha Tudor for our own resident herd of Welsh Corgi's (right now we have 5).
God Bless Farmers
Sister #167 |
| StitchHazel |
Posted - Mar 13 2010 : 8:30:15 PM
I’ve enjoyed reading everyone’s posts!
It’s just my husband and I, but we are always looking for ways to stretch things. It is amazing how much we save just by decreasing our consumption of everyday items like shampoo and trash bags.
I use Amy Dacyzyn’s “Pantry Principle” (as described in the Tighwad Gazette books) so that I can shop the sales and loss-leaders and plan our meals from what we have in stock. It’s so much easier to fit into our schedule than trying to plan the week’s dinners around the circulars. And we can still take advantage of the sales! We also keep a price book so we can be sure the “best” price is really what is advertised.
We shop at thrift stores or discount stores for nearly everything we buy, except when our principles dictate otherwise (e.g. we usually buy our produce from local sources, even if it is more expensive. I feel we are getting a better deal in the long run!). A new Ollie’s Bargain Outlet just opened in a neighboring town; I was so excited when I found out that my husband just laughed.
My husband wears rubbers over his work shoes on rainy days. It was surprising how many fewer pairs of shoes he had gone through since he started doing it!
We usually walk or bike to work. It is an hour commute round trip (except for my husband, who has longer legs. :}).
I drive a ’97 automobile that I bought used and paid off two years ago, because I’d rather not have the payments or increased mandatory insurance that it would need if I were still paying on it. We also are very lucky to have a house with no mortgage, left to us by my husband’s parents. We thank our lucky stars every day. I pay the full amount on our insurance each coverage period to save a little extra.
Last night’s dinner usually becomes today’s lunch or part of tomorrow’s dinner. (Crock-pot pot roast makes great cheesesteak-style sandwiches!)
On the occasions we go out to eat, we usually split an entrée or use Entertainment Book-type coupons for our area, which are often BOGO for entrees.
I make multiples of meals when I am preparing them so we won’t feel obligated to spend money on takeout dinner if we are running late.
I use the library to “test-drive” books; I usually find that I am happy reading them without buying them, but on occasion there are some terrific books that I end up buying used after reading them; usually reference books and books with recipes or patterns.
I consolidated my credit card debt several years ago, and haven’t gotten another credit card since. These days, I figure, anything worth having is worth saving for. :}
In my checkbook, I automatically round purchases up to the next $5 increment and save the difference. In the past two weeks (one of our stock-up periods), we saved over $200 just by doing that. It may not work for those for whom money is very tight, but it’s a very painless way to save for us. We also calculate our other cost savings on sales, coupons, and the like, and add that to savings at the end of the pay period. It's amazing how quickly it adds up.
Unfortunately, though I am learning to be handy, I am not quite there yet, so we have a really honest and reasonably-priced handyman that helps us with home repairs. He knows all sorts of fix-it trades, and doesn’t charge the crazy rates that some plumbers and electricians charge when you have to call them. Our house was built in the 40s, so he is a great help to us.
We’re planning a garden for this year, and I just started making many of our household cleaners. I’m fortunate that my husband is naturally frugal; it is so much harder to convert a spendthrift! :D
Some other great ways to save:
I work at an historic theater that does lots of classic movies and live stage shows. Our volunteers are allowed to watch the show for free once their work is done. If you’re still craving entertainment on a budget, that may be a good way to go. Most communities have an organization that does the same.
Be friendly with lots of people! :D We count among our good friends a used book store owner, a pastry shop owner, and a man who runs an Italian restaurant. They are always offering us things for low or no cost. The opportunities for bartering also increase this way; another good friend of mine who runs a natural foods store recently traded groceries for a couch.
I can’t really think of any more right now, but thriftiness is always a work in progress! :]
P.S. I’m sorry to hear about your house, Sarapauline. I’ll be keeping you in my thoughts during this trying time.
Beth and Pennie, I love Tasha Tudor, too :}! Her books and life are so inspiring. It's nice to find other fans and kindred spirits, but I shouldn't be surprised that I found them on the Farmgirl Connection! :D
"It's wonderful what we can do when we're always doing." -George Washington |
| Perennial |
Posted - Jan 25 2010 : 04:18:56 AM
I know some don't like tv, but we do. We love watching all sorts of education, movies, etc. as a family. We already had a netflix account - base account is $10 p/month, we then bought a roku box ~$100 lets us watch all our netflix instant on our living room tv instead of computer and download upto 15,000 titles to it free. We watch lots of old tv like leave it to beaver, science shows, movies. No commercials, you can pause when you want and pickup later. We do this instead of cable or dish network. No monthly bill other than $10 month. We LOVE it and there is no silly contract or such.
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