How thrifty are you?

[LoneCowboy]

Quote:
Did you know that a normal 1000lbs horse creates 9 tons of manure a year? We haul manure, a 12 yard dump trailer is $170 a load to remove. However, we also have to pay to dump it at the local yard material place. They compost it and sell it.

 

[chcknrs]

I never expected so many responses! For those of you with lots of manure, I see it given away on craigslist in Portland, OR all the time. So many good ideas.....maybe we could get the mods to do an index for this. I think so many of us are so creative (you guys more, and I thought I was, HAH!) I was just thinking my petty little stuff, but this is BIG! And the help for the environment, the cut back costs.........we need to share MORE!!! (and have more chickens, at least my wish.....

 

[Josie]

When I worked an hourly job, and I was trying to decide if I wanted to but something, I would convert its currency price into how many hours it would take me to earn that product. It turns out I thought most things weren't worth an hour or more of my life.

 

[chcknrs]

On the hour, for worth, I would say having grandkids, raising kids, and raising chickens..........depends on the day for what order they fall into. Other than that, just loving someone...........

 

[MandyH]

I have a big garden, fruit trees, and blueberry bushes. I quit shopping at Wal-Mart about 6-8 months ago and that saves a lot of money. I go to the thrift store, estate sales and there's a salvage store nearby. I also use feed bags for garbage sacks and when they are full the whole thing goes on the burn pile. The bunny and chicken litter goes in the garden and on all the plants and trees. I use the clothes line whenever the weather is above freezing( I love the smell of line dried clothes) We catch rainwater in barrels for watering and such. I use holey socks to dust, clean and wash the trucks with. We raise the windows and use the attic fan forever before we use the air conditioners. I shred the daily paper for chicken and rabbit coops. I also consign all my childs clothes and toys.

 

[chcknrs]

So, my DH is now somewhat into the chickens, and accepts organic foods idea, how do I get him to recycle better? It's only $3 for 3 50 gallons cans here, and $1 if he recycles, but he REFUSES! I hate it, don't know how to change that behavior...........help? I finally got him to stop the burn barrel!!!! grrrrrrr

 

[TechEdFireman]

I am guilty of being one of those people who go on freecycle or Craigslist of find manure. I have been getting a few truck loads from a Alpaca farm for my garden. It seems like any store I go in anymore I only look for the items with clearance stickers on them. I once went into Lowe's and got 900.00 of merchandise that were "cull" supplies (roofing, plywood) for 40 bucks. That was a good day at Lowe's for me

When I go to the town to dump my garbage I am going through the metal pile for random items that I could use. I got a 8hp Troy Built tiller from there just had to put some gas in it and it ran like a champ

My father was jealous of me for that since he just bought a 5hp Troy Built for a friend at work. I go on freecycle almost daily to try to find things that I could use. We have a garden, now chickens, we heat our house with wood (convinced the wife of that last winter), collect rainwater, will be making biodiesel, and soap from the glycerine (byproduct of biodiesel)

 

[Pupsnpullets]

I use high priced earth friendly laundry detergeant. It is important to me to do what I can for the earth. To offset the price of the laundry detergeant I mix it with cheap, earth friendly borax laundry booster.

Barb

 

[Pupsnpullets]

Lets keep this going - I can use more ideas

Barb

 

[professor-yellow]

Dont give away the bunny doo, but sell or trade.
Feed greens from grocery stores for greens and use remaining in compost.
I gallon plastic bottles make great hanging feeders and water jugs for rabbits. A grommet and a 1.75 brass nipple and you have a one gal hanging waterer.
Compost everything, and place into red wiggler beds to offset high protien feeds.
Grow heirloom veggies so you can grow your own seed for the next year.
Start more and sell what you cant use.
Excess veggies are well loved by rabbits, ducks, and chickens.
Use florescent lighting, or at least use 40 watt bulbs (longer life too)
By bulk dry goods and store in 5 gal lidded buckets.
Darn your holy socks and triple the life.
When tennis shoes start breaking sown, wrap in duct tape and use for garden shoes.
Use 5 gallon buckets to collect the cold bath or shower water while it runs to get hot. We have several buckets of water ready to feed the critters the next morning.
Plan your errand route carefully to use minimal gas.
Ride a bike .
keep lights off when not in use.
If cooking in the oven, open it after use so heat goes into house not outside through duct.
Turn off oven 5 minuted before food is done.
Keep the house on the cool side and wear more clothing. I work outside all day so a house around 55 to 60 degrees is ideal for me.

Thats just a start of what I do to not spend money.
I am called the cheapest guy in the world, but I am just spendthrift.