Frugality was once one of the premier life skills, along with other values like thriftiness and resourcefulness.
These essential life skills are making a comeback.
This time they will be here to stay because consumerism and the landfill economy have run their course and are coming to an end.
Do you have some favorite frugal tips? Please feel free to share them in the comments below.
These all seem reasonable, how I grew up and how we parent now LOL. I've got lots of tips, two of my favourites are keeping all the peelings/ends etc from any veg we use to put into a bag in the freezer. Once it's full I boil them all up, strain and can for vegetable stock. Also, did you know you can replace a battery in a two battery device (like a remote control) with a long paper clip and it will still work? I don't know how much money that saves but it does mean your packet of batteries last longer :)
ReplyDeleteThe veggie stock tip is a good one if you are trying to use as much as you can from the food you grow or buy. I wonder if one battery lasts half as long as two. Sounds like an experiment in frugality. Follow the Science TM.
Delete- Gregg
Gregg from my non peer reviewed studies it appears the battery lasts as long as two... but that is totally my experience only. We also make most food from scratch, grow lots of our own food, make compost, mend and sew and buy second hand wherever possible. And like the poster below, buying really good quality means things will last decades if you take good care of the item. I still have my leather boots that I bought when one of our children was born....11 years later they are still going strong and are pretty much the only footwear I use during winter (and the rest of the year actually).
DeleteWe are trained to like new stuff. However, I am partial to old stuff. I love to see how long I can make things last, and as it turns out, a lot of stuff (especially quality stuff) can last a long, long time with no need to replace for sometimes decades.
DeleteLike boots! I love my old leather boots that have been with me since the 1980s. They are only used for gardening and yard work now, but they are just fine for that. It seems that many things could last several lifetimes, like a cast iron frying pan.
New is not alway improved, and often is not as good as what is replaced.
Food from scratch is a solid recipe for health and wellness. Unfortunately for those who don't like to cook, or don't have time, there is no replacement for making it yourself from wholesome ingredients.
- Gregg
Some of my frugal habits:
ReplyDeleteWhen soap nears the end, squish the old soap on top of the new bar so nothing goes to waste.
Mend clothing early and often. Don’t wait until it gets beyond repair. It is a good cozy evening activity too.
Hang up clothes or fold them properly and put them away. Dont let clothes sit in (wet or damp) piles and lose their shape/structure or get moldy/stinky. Keeping items clean extends the life of clothing.
Wear an undershirt/slip under blouses, sweaters, or dresses to protect the nice fabric and absorb any body odor and arm pit stains. This prolongs the life of the dress or blouse. I have kept classic simple work dresses for more than 12 years that stay beautiful despite weekly wear because of this strategy.
Buy the best quality shoes you can afford (leather, for me) because the soles can be replaced and they can be repaired to extend life. Brush shoes daily upon returning home to remove debris like salt in the winter months. Dust and polish or wax them on a regular schedule. This keeps them going longer. Again, I have shoes that are 15+years old in excellent condition because I treat them well.
Avoid trendy styles because clothes look dated more quickly. Buying basic silhouettes in simple colors (black, grey, and my favorite splash of color -red, for me) that complement one’s coloring are easy ways to avoid spending.
For me, frugality is about stretching my dollar so that items I purchase last longer. I find that caring for what I purchase has frugality and sustainability benefits. I’m spending less money and putting less stuff in landfills if I can extend the life of use as much as possible.
That is an awesome list with many good, doable ideas that will effectively achieve their intended purpose. Thanks for sharing.
Delete- Gregg
Ich finde Ihre Liste auch sehr gut. Danke dafür.
DeleteI'm the toothpaste sqeeuze! LOL. But the rest as well of course.
ReplyDeleteHello from Southern California where we capture rain water from the roof and drain gray water from the house to the yard. Why pay extra to water the veggies? Plus the native plants don't need extra water.
ReplyDeleteVery efficient. Go with the flow.
Delete- Gregg