Every day I take the opportunity to look around my home and decide how I can make a difference in the cost it takes to make my household run. It can be as simple as turning off a light when someone else walks out and leaves it on, or it can mean taking that leftover mac and cheese and adding hamburger, onion powder, garlic, and some milk to make my own "Hamburger Helper".
I'm kind of old fashioned as well. I use dish towels instead of paper towels, hang the clothes on the line when it's nice, open a window instead of turning on the air conditioner, and always use cold water in my washer for laundry.
My shopping sprees consist of going to Goodwill, the Reuse/Recycle Center where everyone can get free items that have been taken there, or yard sales. I have yet to buy a new outfit; even from Walmart, LOL! I won't buy cookies or cakes, because I make those at home. Until we had the drought this past summer, I always canned my own garden produce; such as tomatoes, green beans, etc.
One of the funny sides to this essay is that, while there are "new" ideas coming out all the time on how to save money, time, or energy. I have been carrying out these same ideas for years and ask myself, "If I already do all of these things, what else is there to do to save?" I hope this has been helpful and I appreciate you taking the time to read it.
By katiedid from Laurel, IN
Do you have a frugal story to share with the ThriftyFun community? Submit your essay here: http://www.thriftyfun.com/post_myfrugallife.ldml
Add your voice! Click below to comment. ThriftyFun is powered by your wisdom!
I think many of us feel the same way. I came from a large family and our parents were from the depression era. We were taught to be frugal from an early age and "waste not: want not". My mother and grandmother baked desserts, bread and did their own canning. I learned a lot from them. The only thing we can do is our best with what we have.
I do many of the same things you mention here too. Big kudos to you! :-)
I feel the same way. Be a good steward of what you have. I often will take and recycle food. Steamed veggies are often put into soups, casseroles or for picky eaters pureed up and frozen into ice cube trays for some healthy flavoring into dishes they can't pick out.
i have a juicer and love to juice watermelon it taste great and less leftovers..also when i juice vegetables i freeze the pulp in put it in soup once my chicken noodle soup was orange and tasted very good..lol
All of you make me feel happy. Every Sat. I clean out my freezer to see what next week food menu will be. Then I realize I only need milk and peanut butter. I enjoy reusing everything and my niece is the one who claims a person came live on $10.00 a week and with no spend days was right. Today I made apple juice and with the skins pulp I now have apple juice plus I can also mix some apple juice with my home made V8 tomato juice that I had from last week.
Add your voice! Click below to comment. ThriftyFun is powered by your wisdom!
