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Living on a Limited Budget

My family is now not just one percent poor side, but my parents are poor now too. I have always lived frugally, but now my mom has returned to frugal living just to survive, and I am reteaching her what she has forgotten, and the new frugal sources as well as the old ones.

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We go to the thrift stores together now, and I am teaching her how to appreciate and shop thrift stores. Dakota Boys and Girls Ranch is an excellent place to get new overflow from Target at cheaper than store price. Clothes for children can be had at a good cheap price and a third of the price too. The clothes we look for are Target brand, and new tag clothes. Instead of $25 jeans, it is $4 for the same jeans that are name brand.

I get a couple for my children, and my one niece whom I now raise. My brother whom is my niece's father has custody, and he told me to help raise his daughter, and the only way I know how to is frugally by sewing dresses made of yellow and pink. I get to crocheting too, as my source for mitts and scarfs for all my children is yarn from thrift stores.

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My other past time is coupon clipping which my sons do with better accuracy than me. I passed that gene onto my children. We have a garden for our veggies, and seeds come cheaply from dollar stores in my area. I raise my children to be respectful and honest when it comes to living frugally. One doesn't have to cheat the system to do it.

Our rent is rent controlled by an understanding landlord, otherwise our rent would be a hardship on our family. We live in a two-income, limited budget of $1400 combined. We each get about $700 a month. This is the last year for rent return from the state, as they will not be doing it next year, so our rent return will be saved for clothes that are not thrift store buyable, or sewable.

Shoes are bought at a Payless Shoe store two times a year. One for winter, and one for the rest of the year. Shoes are a spendy adventure for a family of 14 that includes one niece, two adults, and eleven children. All of various ages. Hand-me-downs, thrift stores, and occasional garage sales help, but mostly hand-me-down clothes.

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For furniture we go to the thrift store again. I also shop for dollar store bean bag chairs for my teen son and daughter. I love the fact that people donate Snoopy and Winnie the Pooh stuff. They sell them cheaply at rummage sales too, but I guess one person's clutter is our family's gain.

I shop at Family Dollar, and Dollar Tree in Dilworth and PR for groceries and personal items for my family. I stopped shopping at regular grocery stores long ago. I make my own cleaning supplies out of items like baking soda and vinegar. I have not spent one penny on bleach or 409 in years. I clean my windows with vinegar and lemons with water as a solvent. It works well.

My family is happy and we do not feel deprived one bit. Teach them young not to want name brand and you get frugal adults. That is what I always was taught and personally have been quoted by friends and family. My children have excellent imaginations, because I raised them to know that money can't buy you happiness or fun, if what you pay for isn't what you call fun. Living frugal has always been my way.

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My grandma taught me to sew, knit, crochet, and cook from scratch. My mom taught me to clean without spending money that was not around with no job, and my grandpa taught me to fish which is what we eat fresh caught all summer long. My dad taught me car maintenance, so paying for oil changes never happened in our family which is what I teach my children, and DH was raised the same way I was raised frugally, so we teach that to our children. This is how we live frugally.

By Tanya J. from MN

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June 25, 20122 found this helpful
Top Comment

I love, love, love your post and your ideas. You are very wise and thrifty.

I would like to add that as I grow older I find that a good brand of shoes lasts longer. I no longer buy my shoes at Payless because I find they make my back, hips, and legs hurt. I buy my shoes online from Easy Spirit Outlet. The shoes have cushioning inside that makes me feel like I'm "gelling."

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The other thought I had is that I can't see how its more frugal to make your own cleaner products. I have just started buying mine at Dollar Tree. That store sells many name brand products. Washing soda and white vinegar are both pretty expensive. So I can't see how they save money. Although they might save the environment. I prefer to USE LESS of good products. My father used to add water to them, but I only measure them for use. Be careful with laundry products because the caps usually have a lot of lines inside. Use the very lowest line.

Good luck and keep up the good work of teaching others. I like using coupons, too.

 
February 14, 20160 found this helpful

same here. Upstate NY, retired, in the home I grew up in, after leaving the "Roch.," to care for my dear parents...can't afford to relocate to SE.

 
Anonymous
March 25, 20190 found this helpful

I too find washing soda and vinegar expensive. I make my own laundry liquid which contains laundry soap, borax and washing soda. As I drain the washing water from the washing machine, I grab a bucket of this water and use it to wash windows, floors, walls down.

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Also if my washing machine smells musty over summer due to the hot water, I return a half bucket of my washing machine water to the washing machine. Borax kills mould and bacteria. No need for expensive products.

 
June 25, 20120 found this helpful

In my previous post I forgot to mention the benefits of using the public library for entertainment. Libraries in cities sometimes provide free shows for children like magic shows... during the summer. You can rent movies and music as well as books for free entertainment.

Enjoy!

 
June 27, 20120 found this helpful

Well done! :-) How do you handle transportation?

 
July 26, 20120 found this helpful

What a great article! I agree with one of the other posters - good shoes are better for your legs and back, and a lot of thrift stores sell used expensive shoes for less. I've seen some shoes at thrift stores that are normally $80 - $100 for $12.

You are an inspiration to us all. Good luck to you!

 
July 28, 20140 found this helpful

You are a very smart lady and are raising some very smart and happy children. I am very impressed with you and your family!

 
July 29, 20140 found this helpful

I absolutely love this site. It is the most fun. I never learned early in my life to live frugally. In the last years, my income is a quarter from what it used to be.

This article was a real inspiration. I learned in the last years that spending money on things I do not need is not fun anymore. So many good ideas in this article about growing seeds, using vinegar and lemon for windows etc.

 
July 29, 20140 found this helpful

Sounds wonderful. I wish I knew how to do those things.

 
June 22, 20170 found this helpful

Very, very good.

 
August 11, 20230 found this helpful

Dollar Store still has a $ aisle loaded with things for consumers looking for a deal.......Dollar Tree is $1.25 now, so there is a savings at DG.

 

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