| Author |
Across the Fence:  Saving Money?  |
|
|
babysmama
True Blue Farmgirl
931 Posts
Elizabeth
Iowa
931 Posts |
 Posted - Apr 06 2008 : 5:16:45 PM
|
I know that there has been a lot of talk about saving money on here lately and I just ran across a site that looks to be interesting.
www.homeliving.blogspot.com
Hopefully it will give everyone an idea or two! What are YOUR most frugal tips? Do you do things like wash out ziplock bags? Just wondering!
-Elizabeth |
|
|
CabinCreek-Kentucky
True Blue Farmgirl
8529 Posts
Frannie
Green County
Kentucky
USA
8529 Posts |
Posted - Apr 06 2008 : 7:18:15 PM
|
heck no! i'm not much of a 'saver' .. i pretty much leave that up to my man .. i've always told him that men are the WAGE-EARNERS .. women are in charge of SPENDING IT! (ha! neat trick if we could all get it to work!)
actually .. and truth be told .. i've saved a few thousand dollars over the last coupla' months .. jus' by putting aside all my dolly money and antiques shoppe pennies earned .. i usually jus' SPEND them .. but i want to do something reeeeeeeeeely nice for our daughter's home .. some little project she's been saving for (and there are plenty of them!)
new bathroom fixtures downstairs .. finish one of their upstairs bathrooms (it's just an empty room right now with pipes coming out of the walls!) new carpets .. decorate the new baby's room (by mid-june).
surprize them with a big screen TV ... finish off their basement and make it into a wonderful 'guest room' (ha! for hank and me!!) right now .. we have the 'big' bedroom upstairs .. but with the new baby coming .. they will need three bedroom for the children.
they have a beautiful home . .but lots of projects to be done!
gosh .. i will have to save a lotta' pennies .. that's for sure!
our farm is pretty much like we want it (want to paint the outside this spring .. and put in gardens .. but not much more to do). gosh .. that's a GREAT feeling!
there were some pretty good ideas on that site .. thanks for sharing it! xo
True Friends * Frannie
HEAR MY STORIES
come, visit my:
"GATHERING ROOM" ..
http://freedomvalleyfarm.blogspot.com
adopt a 'rag-chile'
http://sistermercysfoundlinhome.blogspot.com
treasures .. new and olde .. up for adoption:
http://mudpiemanormercantile.blogspot.com
|
 |
|
|
lisamarie508
True Blue Farmgirl
2648 Posts
Lisa
Idaho City
ID
USA
2648 Posts |
Posted - Apr 07 2008 : 02:16:40 AM
|
Interesting website, Elizabeth. Some really good tips but the chauvinistic attitude was making me mad!
I do wash out ziploc bags if they only had a veggie, cookies or bread in them. Does that seem silly? Even the generic ones seem expensive to me. I never re-use them if they had a dairy product or meats in them. I just don't trust that I would get the corners clean enough!
Farmgirl Sister #35
"If you can not do great things, do small things in a great way." Napoleon Hill (1883-1970)
my blog: http://lisamariesbasketry.blogspot.com/
My Website:
http://www.freewebs.com/lisamariesbasketry/index.htm |
|
|
|
Prairie Princess
True Blue Farmgirl
1075 Posts
Jodi
Washington
USA
1075 Posts |
Posted - Apr 07 2008 : 06:36:33 AM
|
I don't think washing out the ziploc bags is silly at all. Think about how many we go through a year... it really adds up, especially if you work and pack lunches every day of the week. I usually save the ones that have just had bread in them, but I should start rinsing out the ones I use for veggies and re-use them.
~Jodi
"Women are like teabags...you never know how strong they are until they get into hot water." Eleanor Roosevelt |
|
|
|
corporatefarmgirl
True Blue Farmgirl
389 Posts
Tamara
Pikeville
TN
USA
389 Posts |
Posted - Apr 07 2008 : 06:54:04 AM
|
heck darlin' I had to be frugal still do... We raised 5 kids on next to nothing. Then I started making money and now the grown kids take it all!
But I do believe in being frugal.
Instead of baggies I use the plastic containers for sandwiches and stuff.
I cut up old towels to use as rags instead of paper towels. You can wash them and there reusable.
I use old newspapers to clean my windows with. Less streaks than paper towels.
No cell phone with monthly minutes. We have a pre pay for emergencies.
I cook food. No prepackaged - it is a rare thing in our house
Buy on sell. Year end clearance is a great time to buy Christmas gifts and such.
I find ways to reuse and recycle as often as possible
We barter at the farmers market. I have stuff to sell the other farmers have stuff to sell and we each get what we need.
I make the snacks we have around the house.
No Soda. I make strawberry flavored water by adding frozen strawberries to our RO water and let it set for a few hours in a glass pitcher. The grandkids love it.
I think we are all looking to save. It is just what we do with our "savings" that is different.
small farms give big benefits |
|
|
|
KYgurlsrbest
True Blue Farmgirl
4853 Posts
Jonni
Elsmere
Kentucky
USA
4853 Posts |
Posted - Apr 07 2008 : 09:05:39 AM
|
I have tried washing my ziplock bags (much to my husband's frustration--he thinks it's gross), but I end up pitchinG them anyway because they don't seem to dry properly and smell musty. I really only use them for freezer items (with the item wrapped in freezer paper, then foil, then the bag).
Saving money is going to be hard this year, but we're determined to try.
We are doing the garden again, even more veges this time around. I have been grocery shopping on a bi-weekly basis instead of daily, like I used to. Still no coupons, though.
I'm going to try to make our own bread for a change, and see how that gets us through the week because bread is up to $3.50 and up here.
There are some good tips on that blog, but she does come from a different place than me...I work and don't have the luxury of staying home, so many of those things I simply can't do--I would love to stay home and make my own curtains all day or what have you. But, I have to save that for the weekends. I seem to spend a lot of time weighing out good for me/good for environment. Meaning, I use papertowels because I have 4 giant dogs and a husband who spills things (bless him) and well, the messes are legion. The idea of washing rags 2-3 times a day, using water, waiting for rags to dry seems silly (to me), especially after working all day, cooking dinner, doing dishes and then trying to focus on the OTHER cleaning or what have you. So, I buy papertowels.
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/ |
|
|
|
kydeere40744
True Blue Farmgirl
1132 Posts
Jessica
Kentucky
USA
1132 Posts |
Posted - Apr 07 2008 : 09:57:27 AM
|
Thank you for that blog. I learned over the years to not waste your money. You never know when something unexpected may happen (weather wise, home wise, medical wise, etc) and you don't want to be caught off guard.
I don't use ziplock bags except once in a blue moon. I use plastic containers to store stuff and then reuse after using. Less waste. I usually buy in bulk at Sam's Club & Gordon's Food Service on stuff I absolutely need. Any bags I get are reused for trash bag liners. We recycle & the city gives us the special bags to do so. So we usually have to take our trash out 1 time a week and only a couple of bags.
Tamara - I had no clue about that strawberry water. I LOVE strawberries. I think I will try that. That sounds just yummy! Sounds like a great treat during the summer hot days.
This year we are growing a garden with fresh veggies, etc. Hubby and I were making plans of what we were putting out there this year. Last year we had a couple of tomato plants. This year we'll add more to that pile.
I've been going through closets and through the house and cleaning out. I've been boxing up stuff and putting prices on it for a future yard sale. Rather than waiting until last minute, I'm putting prices now on it. We've been very successful with our yard sales the last couple of years and got a LOT unloaded.
We have a cell phone because it is cheaper to have all of us under one plan (mom, dad, hubby, me) and talk to others that are under our phone company than it is calling long distance via landline. Our tv, internet, and satellite is under one plan and is the bare basic. You can also save money for the fact that most shows on the main channels are rebroadcasted on their network websites.
I also go online and look at coupons to use online if I must make a purchase. For frequent stores that I go to online or brick & mortar, I sign up for their email list. I've gotten a lot of stuff 1/2 off and even cheaper via email list coupon.
We take our newspapers to the animal shelter for bedding for their pets. Most of the big city news is online, so we usually just get the Sunday paper sometimes.
I can't think of anything else on top of my head...I just know that we've always been very basic in buying stuff. Not a lot of fluff and extra. We also have one of those Entertainment books with buy one, get one free coupons for a lot of places we visit and eat at. Interesting to hear what others do.
~Jessica in Kentucky & Farmgirl Sisterhood #137~
Be sure to visit my blog & Crafty Clipart for some of my photographs:
http://bluegrassprincess.blogspot.com/
http://www.craftyclipart.com |
|
|
|
corporatefarmgirl
True Blue Farmgirl
389 Posts
Tamara
Pikeville
TN
USA
389 Posts |
Posted - Apr 07 2008 : 10:04:44 AM
|
I think everyone has to decide where their own personal line is for saving. As Jonni said some things seem silly to her but may work for me. It is about choice. I work 8 hour days and have 4 hours of driving each day so making bread everyday doesn't work for me. I do make bread on the weekend.
Jonni - With 2 dogs and a husband that spills that much it the rags may not work for you! I have a very neat husband, a dog, one teenager, 4 other kids, and 5 grandkids! But we use very few rags through out the day. Not a lot of spillage  . We have a basket that I keep the old rags in and I wash at the end of the day. No biggie to wait for them to dry. I have others to use if I need to.
Again the big thing is to look at all the possiblities and pick the ones that fit your life.
I am excited to see some other ideas!!
small farms give big benefits |
|
|
|
Amie C.
True Blue Farmgirl
2099 Posts
Finger Lakes Region
NY
2099 Posts |
Posted - Apr 07 2008 : 10:17:15 AM
|
Jonni, you might not save much by baking your own bread. I usually bake two loaves/week, but we still use our normal one loaf of store bought bread. The homemade tends to go fast because it's hard to slice it thin when making a sandwich. Plus, it's really good so we tend to eat more bread than we normally would, just for a snack!
I haven't had much luck building savings through frugality. If the money is in my checking account, it gets spent on other things. My best savings tip is to divert it from your paycheck into a savings account automatically. When I get a raise, I call the bank and tell them to start taking out an extra $20 per paycheck. I could easily spend that on a book, but if I don't have the chance, it can really add up over the course of the year. We do that with our income tax refunds and work bonuses as well. |
|
|
|
KYgurlsrbest
True Blue Farmgirl
4853 Posts
Jonni
Elsmere
Kentucky
USA
4853 Posts |
Posted - Apr 07 2008 : 10:22:27 AM
|
You're right about that, Amie...taking the money out before you have an opportunity. My husband is a server, so there's cash everyday. He gives me all of it, I take a majority, split it put some away and use the other as weekly spending money for all our little wants and needs. Sometimes, I even forget about the money I put away (which is great) so when a bill comes up and we may be running a bit low, I have that back up. Of course, it helps now that he's actually making some money :)
Amie, that's also a good point about the bread...we're more "weekend" bread eaters, but my husband does eat a sandwich on his days off (Mon. and Tues.)....I'll give it a shot, but it might not be worth it. We shall soon see :)
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/ |
|
|
|
kydeere40744
True Blue Farmgirl
1132 Posts
Jessica
Kentucky
USA
1132 Posts |
|
|
Alee
True Blue Farmgirl
22941 Posts
Alee
Worland
Wy
USA
22941 Posts |
Posted - Apr 07 2008 : 8:14:46 PM
|
I use a VOIP (voice over internet protocol) Phone and I really like it. As long as you don't take your modem to a different house, you can call 911, and all your information like name, address, phone number, etc is brought up automatically so in case of emergency you can save time. Also we do still have our phone jacks free so we can plug a non cordless phone into those for emergencies like power outages. Phone lines have their own electricity that is maintained by the phone company. Often when the power is out with the power company, the phone lines still operate. And even though you might use a VOIP phone and therefore not have traditional phone service, the phone company has to let you dial 911. Just something to think about.
But I do know that different VOIP providers (Vonage etc) have different rules so it is always good to ask about 911 and such before signing up. We have saved about $50 a month in long distance because I call home so often and now I get free long distance for the same amount we were paying for basic regular service before.
But that's just my experience, and like I said, it could be different elsewhere.
Alee
Farmgirl Sister #8
www.awarmheart.com
Please come visit Nora and me on our new blog:
www.farmgirlalee.blogspot.com |
|
|
|
miss wilma
True Blue Farmgirl
3410 Posts
Wilma
Knob Lick
Ky
USA
3410 Posts |
|
|
kydeere40744
True Blue Farmgirl
1132 Posts
Jessica
Kentucky
USA
1132 Posts |
Posted - Apr 07 2008 : 11:06:52 PM
|
Alee - that's cool about your internet phone. I know around here in our neck of the woods they kept saying that it messed up with 911 systems. We learned fast after the ice storm and you couldn't get good reception over cell phone, no electric to run computer, so good ole landline phone helped at the time. I guess having a backup emergency phone is always helpful.
~Jessica in Kentucky & Farmgirl Sisterhood #137~
Be sure to visit my blog & Crafty Clipart for some of my photographs:
http://bluegrassprincess.blogspot.com/
http://www.craftyclipart.com |
|
|
|
Alee
True Blue Farmgirl
22941 Posts
Alee
Worland
Wy
USA
22941 Posts |
Posted - Apr 08 2008 : 12:02:32 AM
|
Jess- it doesn't surprise me that you had issues. I know it is still a new technology so I think it is a location-to-location evaluation as to whether it works or not. :D *hugs*
Alee
Farmgirl Sister #8
www.awarmheart.com
Please come visit Nora and me on our new blog:
www.farmgirlalee.blogspot.com |
|
|
|
sweetproserpina
True Blue Farmgirl
535 Posts
meg
Vinemount
Ontario
Canada
535 Posts |
Posted - Apr 08 2008 : 09:36:00 AM
|
I wish we could use VOIP out here. It really is a savings over a landline, but a word of warning to country dwellers, we had Vonage and the connection was terrible because we were out in the sticks. (Not really, but mountains get in the way!) When we moved out here I decided to go with a landline, because there was no way it would work way out here.
I don't recommend Vonage. When I tried to cancel my account it took forever, and they wouldn't take no for an answer. Just trying to find out how to cancel was a nightmare. Eventually they bought the "I live in the country with sketchy internet" excuse, but then wanted to know if I wanted to transfer my line to a family member, instead of cancel. Geesh! It was like pulling teeth with those folks. The VOIP lines the cable companies offer seem like a much better bet, then you could bundle everything - cable, internet and phone.
Homeliving.com is a neat website, I've been there before, but just remember the lady that writes it is a very Christian lady with certain beliefs, so it may not agree with everyone here. But she does have some good frugal tips! I remember she used to have some great frugal decorating tips posted too.
"Isn't it splendid to think of all the things there are to find out about? It just makes me feel glad to be alive--it's such an interesting world."
http://theprimroseway.blogspot.com/ |
|
|
|
bohemiangel
True Blue Farmgirl
2087 Posts
Bridget
Ligonier
pa
USA
2087 Posts |
|
|
babysmama
True Blue Farmgirl
931 Posts
Elizabeth
Iowa
931 Posts |
Posted - Apr 13 2008 : 12:28:37 PM
|
Here is another website that you may all enjoy better!
http://sensetosave.com/
-Elizabeth |
|
|
| |
Across the Fence: Saving Money? |
|
Saving Money?
