I'm on a 'Low Budget'

02/02/09 | Jenk

[jenk]

While chatting with fellow freepers, I realized I have some expertise (I'm no expert) in the ways of making a household more economical. I preserve foods by canning and freezing, I hunt, plant a garden, dry clothes outside, and so on. I do not pretend to be an expert in any of these endeavors, but I do my best.

I have been told in the past that I mustn't be so thrifty, because it is that unwillingness to spend that hurts our economy. Got it. However, I live this way because I am building and planning for a grand future. The past eight years have been extremely good for me financially, and I'm being forced right now to go back to what I've had to do ten years ago to get by. No problem, been there, done that.

That said, I hope to start this thread to help others and answer questions to the best of my ability and find others with expertise that I do not have.

[autumnraine]

A better way to wash windows than with paper towels is with newspapers. Recycle, using something you are going to throw out anyway AND no streaks or lint.

Also, for using cloths to wash glass, add a touch of vinegar to the wash of towels to avoid lint.

[OB1kNOb]

Maybe we should join the Ahmish. Until this blows over.

Not sure if this comment was meant tongue in cheek, but their ways of self-sufficiency are worthy of study as we find ourselves in tougher economic times. If I wasn't so caught up in the world system like most others, I might consider joining them.

[OB1kNOb]

Another excellent resource I keep in my personal library.

Excerpt from customer book review:

Most of the information is on canning and freezing (including different packaging and wrapping techniques), but the book also goes into salting, smoking, drying, and root cellaring.

The recipes they give are educational--covering jellies, jams, butters and pickling. These are prime opportunities for failure without appropriate instruction.

They also explain the best preservation method for the food (often right down to a variety of fruit or veggie, or cut of meat) and how the preservation method used will alter the food. They also tell you what the food will be best used for after preserving.

Things like that make a difference--especially if one didn't grow up in a household where these were items of common knowledge!

[screaminsunshine]

Or emulate em. They do not pay tax and do not take the “freebies”.

[CottonBall]

Good idea. I’ll go to the dollar store and stock up on washcloths/dishcloths. I think I’d want the thin ones for cleaning up and then later watching them. So, the cheaper the better. I’ve gotten so spoiled was just using paper towels and then throwing them away — what a waste! We have turned into a throwaway society. I’ve noticed even over the last few years that items are being made cheaper and cheaper, presumably so they will get thrown away and later repurchased.

[jenk]

Actually, I would suggest an all-Cotton wash cloth and flour sack towels. Too often, when you go "cheaper the better" it isn't all that great. Some washcloths are made of questionable fabric and do not soak up what you've spilled onto a surface.

I used to clean houses for a living and one of the ladies had a rag bag for me to use when cleaning. However, most of the material in the rag bag was unusable because of polyester fabric or blended fabric. I'm just speaking from experience.

[CottonBall]

Some washcloths are made of questionable fabric and do not soak up what you've spilled onto a surface.

That's a good point. I've bought cheap dish towels before that only smeared the water around.

I found some Handiwipes today at the dollar store. I didn't know they still made those things! I bought several to test and see how they work out. They won't last as long as towels, I'm sure, so I'll still get something else. It was more of a reminiscing thing.

[jenk]

I began sending lunches to school with my daughter after having been singed with a 42 dollar bill. I said to her, "I thought I just gave you 40 dollars?" She said, yeah well it's $2.50 per day. (Wow what an oversight on my part.) Anyway, I know how much the picky one eats and no way is she scarfing down two and a half bucks worth of cafeteria food. I sent her to school today with a salad, a small piece of lasagna and a bottle of water when yummy fruit is in season, she will get that in her lunch. (She brought back half of the salad.) Total cost? Almost a dollar, and she finished the salad before bed. She drinks milk in the evening and in the morning, so she doesn't need milk at lunch.

[jenk]

I hurt my knee last year, and it made exercise more difficult. I used to walk in the woods with the dogs, but since my knee couldn't take it anymore, my husband found a bike for me.

It is a Raleigh, probably a 90's model, it is a great, smooth ride. My kids call it the "harley" they like to take it for a spin down our 1/4 mile driveway. Anyway, the low budget part of this is that my husband found it at The Salvation Army for 6 dollars.

I started riding it to work--granted, I live in the country and my job is only 5 miles away--but by October I had trimmed down and felt stronger than I had in a very long time. Plus, as we all remember,gas was around 4 bucks a gallon and so riding to work really helped us from becoming gas-poor.

I realize this tidbit is not for everybody, and it sounds kind of pro-hippie, but I really can't wait to get back on that bike when spring rolls around.

[CottonBall]

I realize this tidbit is not for everybody, and it sounds kind of pro-hippie

Not in the least! Or perhaps I'm just of the same mindset.

When I spent last summer in the mountains, with diesel being close to $5 here in Mexifornia, I walked anywhere I needed to go. When I went on hikes, some of my hiking partners would want to drive to a trailhead. That seemed silly since the scenery on the way was just as pretty and only a mile or 2. or 3. Anyway, by the end of the summer, I had gained a perverse kind of pride at being independent of vehicles. I may try a mountain bike next summer.

[CottonBall]

Beautiful home. I love those windows. Are the kitchen cabinets hickory?

[CottonBall]

They do not pay tax and do not take the “freebies”.

Actually, I've read that they do pay federal and state income tax and property tax. Sales tax too, of course. But they got a Supreme Court ruling to not have to pay into SS and Medicare. They take care of their own. Too bad the rest of society has gone so far astray.

[stainlessbanner]

beautiful house you built there gorush

[gorush]

Thank you...and yes, they are hickory.