Posted on 06/24/2005 6:35:23 AM PDT by Gabz
I was participating in a thread the other day started by a FReeper who has started to grow his own tobacco because of the ever escalating increases in tobacco taxes.
The fact his "crop" is tobacco is neither here nor there and I only mention it as way of introduction to the idea for the title of today's thread theme.
We all got talking about the benefits of making and or growing our own things as a means of saving money and were called on the carpet by a bean counter who claims that when one adds in the time it takes to prepare the things we grow or make we are not saving any money and in fact are losing money because the time could better be spent doing soemthing that actually pays money.
I disagree and would like all of your opinions.
Same here. The only exception is for my vices of fine wine or imported/microbrewed beer.
Of course, you can brew your own beer as well. Something I plan to do this summer!
Try your hand at making bread. Most people think two dollars is not a lot to pay for bread, but it can be made for about 19 cent a loaf, and well worth the effort. Have to buy your flour in bulk at least 25 pounds) but it it will keep on the shelf for 10 months. Longer in the fridg. and even longer in the freezer.
same goes for pasta. A pound of pasta @ 1.00 is expensive since it too can be made for about .19 a pound plus whatever one egg per pound of pasta cost. I keep my own chickens, and some days think a dozen eggs is costing me five dollars a dozen. Have to fight the opposums, chicken snakes, and coons for them.
I have no problem whatsoever with handouts either, and I also pass along things.
Instead of buying a tiller, we are using friends' - I just added a few extra things to the garden that I hadn't p-lanted but they expressed an interest in.
We love the barter system!
I disagree too because the "lost free time" would have been sent doing something unproductive anyways.
ROFL!
Mine too. Part of our house is a garage partially converted into a den. The previous owner replaced the garage door with HUGE sliding glass doors that were just POINTLESS in keeping the elements out.
Last fall, hubby replaced one of the glass doors with a regular door and a solid wall. I asked how much it would have cost to HAVE it done versus the $250 he spent on materials and doing the labor himself.....he said probably around $2500.
I like to have DIED!
Kegs of beer are cheaper then "40s"...
Good grief............you're right, your state doesn't want its residents to be self-sufficient.
>>>drying the seeds
Any tips on this? I'm hit and miss in drying seeds. I get more mold than success stories.
Home projects is a planned thread in the upcoming weeks :)
Isn't that the most ridiculous law ever? I am so angry about this! Also a little worried. We bought a small cheap house that we are fixing up one room at a time (by ourselves) to make it the perfect home. Only problem is we back onto a fairly busy street in our town. The town is trying really hard to lure more businesses into our area because the big city is so close and taking away revenue. I'm afraid they will come along and wipe out our street to make room for that much desired strip mall. We'll never get the money for our houses that we are putting into it. It's one of the nicest houses on the block and will not fetch much because of the rest of the neighborhood. Makes me nervous!!
Cross link the tobacco thread to here. There is a lot of great tips in that thread.
That is unbelievable, Calpurnia. Try catalogs. I get a lot of my baking supplies from KING ARTHUR FLOUR. One pound bags of Red Star Yeast (it's the best). some of their specialty flours are rather expensive, but I usually just order yeast, bread bags, and supplies. The shipping cost are what eat me up, since they're in VT and I'm in TX. Request a catalog. It's inspiring and also free recipes.
Than we should start a bump list and index all the threads together.
Agri/Garden
Cheaper Freepers
Home Improvements
Home School?
Home Improvments
Fun craft and learning projects with kids
Etc.
I sold my salsa last year. It was fun and well worth it. I would make three kinds (mild, med, and really hot!). I sold it faster than I could make it sometimes. Most of the buyers were friends from my husbands job. I sold about four to five jars per person weekly. It was a very nice way to use up the last of the tomato we had. I lost most of my seeds from last year after they were taken over with black mold. I didn't store them correctly I guess. But this year I am going to store them inside so the humid weather doesn't get to them as I save them.
http://www.kingarthurflour.com/
KING ARTHUR FLOUR
Thank you!
Aren't you the lucky one!!!!!!!!!!!
As the song goes..........We've only just begun.
He just got back from ordering the siding - and was still having palpatations over the cost compared to last year. But guess what is needed for making vinyl siding? petroleum products..........sigh - but it is still far cheaper to do it ourselves than hire it out, becuase those increased costs would still be there and even moreso.
Canning supplies
http://www.pickyourown.org/canningsupplies.htm
PickYourOwn.org
http://www.kitchenkrafts.com/product.asp?product=PG0104FPA
Kitchen Krafts
http://www.dehydrators.com/canners.htm
Mountain Home Basics
Hey!!!
Where you been????
My money saving tip. Stay off E-bay when one is obsessed with a Japanese movie.
You get coupons for wine?! Where?
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