Penny Pinching

[PirateGirl]

There are lots of creative people here, lots of thrifty people, lots of self sufficient people. Let's pool our collective knowledge. What small things do you do on a regular basis to save money? This may also be things you do to help the environment or help your homestead. What do you reuse or re-purpose? I will start with a few things and we can go from there!

Coupons- this is easier than ever, my grocery store has an app, I can search for and add digital coupons as I shop, the savings is deducted when I scan my value card or type in my phone number at checkout. This also earns me fuel points at the affiliated gas station.

Plastic bags- our town has banned them so we routinely use reusable shopping bags, but every plastic bag we get, gets another life before headed to the landfill, small grocery bags fit the trash cans in the bathroom or are perfect when I clean the littler box, bread bags and ziplocks from tortilla shells get used when packing lunches or leftovers

Carpooling- my husband and I try and do this whenever our work schedules permit, also trips to the bank, post office, grocery store, etc. are all a stop on the way home from work and not a separate trip to town

Water- the last bit of water in dog bowl goes to the house plants, the water in the duck/chicken waterers go to the garden

Food scraps- obviously go to the birds, edible leftovers go in tupperware in the fridge and become packed lunches, inedibles go to the compost.

Linens- reuse everything, old towels become dog towels, old shower curtains become painting dropcloths, other things become cleaning rags, old clothes become garden clothes or my husband's excavation clothes before they go away, things that are still nice are given away to friends or family (extra gloves, clothes we've outgrown)

Newspaper- firestarter for the wood stove and then ultimately the ash ends up with the chickens' dust bath

 

[Better Than Rubies]

My family does the same things with plastic bags (using them in the tiny trashcans and for when we pick our ferrets' litter boxes).
Then my mom uses emptied cat or dog food bags for putting the cat waste in from their litter box.

We recycle recyclable things, and we save plastic water bottles--when we drink all the water from them--and reuse them for so many more refills!

Leftover or scrap food goes out to our neighbors' chickens, too (since we don't have our own yet).

Newspapers are used for my ferret. And sometimes as cheap/free treats for my mice, I give them some (usually healthy) food from the pantry.

And I'm sure there's more, but at the moment, that's about all I can think of.

Thanks for making this thread; it was fun!

 

[PirateGirl]

Thanks for sharing @Better Than Rubies ! I can't wait to hear everyone's good ideas.

 

[lazy gardener]

Egg cartons. My customers (most of them) return their cartons to be refilled. Even my "non" customers save clean cartons for me.

I pick up dry leaves in a neighboring town every fall to save for winter bedding in coop and run. I pick up wood chips at my town compost area. I pick up free building materials including windows and doors at town dump.

Recycled furniture: I picked up a maple night stand at town dump. It was being thrown away b/c of a tiny cigarette burn on the top. We painted it white, and it fits perfectly in our guest room. Shop at Good Will, Salvation Army. My most recent find was a quality chrome shower caddy for $1. I don't shop unless I find stuff marked way down. I once bought an entire outfit at Kohls for $5.48!

Grow a big garden, can, freeze, or dehydrate the bounty. Share the rest with the chickens.

I cut my own hair, cut hubby's hair.

Chicken feed: birds get sprouted grains/seeds every day during the winter. I ferment their feed. My egg customers notice the difference between my eggs and the eggs that they pick up from other back yard flock owners.

Hatch your own chicks, make your own incubator. (It cost about $15 to make a nice forced air incubator with a digital thermostat). Brood chicks with MHP system. This is safer, and much easier on the electricity bill.

Financial discipline. Don't use a credit card unless you can discipline yourself to not buy more than you would have if you were using cash. If you have that discipline, you can actually benefit from use of a credit card: Hubby and I put EVERY purchase on our credit card. We pay the whole bill off every single month (auto pay). The rewards points can then be cashed out. We have been cashing out $100 every month for over a year, and will probably be able to cash out for an other year before we use up all the points we've accrued over the last few years.

Discount bread outlets. I buy all of my bread products at a local outlet. $15 will net about $50 worth of bread products, all of which is as fresh as what I would buy at local grocer.

Vacume seal: I'm finding that meats and veggies stay fresher in the freezer when vac. sealed.

 

[RiverOtter]

Have a chest freezer. Everything freezes. About freezing cheese - frozen cheese when thawed will crumble. Not great if you want to slice it up, but if you're cooking with it, your shredding is done.
A chest freezer really pays for itself in time, and you can often find them cheaply second hand.

I try to buy everything except socks and undies second hand. I promise that where ever you are, there is a thrift store and likely an auction near you. Also craigslist and FB yardsale sites

Learn basic car repair. I can find a youtube video that will show me how to change my brake pads, calipers, oil, tranny fluid, install a new windshield wiper, etc. I have replaced the entire disk brake system and a water pump by watching 30 seconds of video, hitting Pause, going out and doing that ONE thing, repeat.
** Going along with this - learn to follow instructions.
Seriously, I am the furthest thing from mechanically inclined, but by heck I can follow instructions!! And trust the instructions - everything looks plain awful and makes no sense when you're half-way through it.

Look at what things are made of. Rice-A-Roni, my family loves it, but that little box costs over a dollar and is practically single serve.
Angel hair pasta, broken up (dollar a box, cheaper on sale, a box makes a LOT of this) Rice (dollar a pound, if that) gravy packet (39 cents for the cheap store brand) or whatever powdered seasonings you want to flavor it with.
Hamburger helper? Package of egg noodles and a packet of gravy makes 3x as much.

Recycle. A coat of paint makes a world of difference. That collection of old tin cans that hold your seedlings is actually pretty cute from the right angle. Get some Oops paint (people have it tinted, then decide they don't like the color, bam - half-off paint) cheap and paint them and people will ooh and aww over your "country kitsh" or whatever they want to call it.

Learn history. Seriously. Like, did you know that dog food was invented as late as the 1950's? before that, they ate what you ate, with a healthy addition of tripe, butchers scraps and raw, meaty bones. You can still get this stuff from your local butcher most places. And yes, you still probably have a local butcher. Find out who processes deer. In the city, find the local owned shop that gets their meat as sides.
Know what they used before brillo? Dust from a broken red brick and a washcloth. It's actually gentler but still just as effective. We did that one when we were homeschooling history, and years later, still have the brick and sometimes use it (scrape 2 broken edges together over a washcloth for the dust). It was 69 cents.
You obviously won't want to do everything the old way - there's a reason your Granny and mine went "Oh heck yeah!!!" and jumped right on that modern way, but it's useful to know.

One money saving tip I hate? The make your own laundry soap one. It's soap, not detergent. It's ok sometimes, but if you get really good and filthy, as some professions do (I am a farmer, my daughter studies welding, as stated we do our own mechanic work) it's just not worth it. And having the water hot does make a difference. For most laundry, it's fine, but for mine, detergent and hot water please! I'll save $ another way

 

[RiverOtter]

oops, double post

 

[Kimmyh51]

Learn basic car repair. I can find a youtube video that will show me how to change my brake pads, calipers, oil, tranny fluid, install a new windshield wiper, etc. I have replaced the entire disk brake system and a water pump by watching 30 seconds of video, hitting Pause, going out and doing that ONE thing, repeat.
** Going along with this - learn to follow instructions.
Seriously, I am the furthest thing from mechanically inclined, but by heck I can follow instructions!! And trust the instructions - everything looks plain awful and makes no sense when you're half-way through it.

How difficult did you find it doing your brake calipers? I am considering trying to diagnose then repair mine, as I can't afford a mechanic right now.
Because I live in the country miles from anywhere, I am worried if I get the calipers off, I may not be able to get them back on and will then be stuck as I can't afford a tow truck to come to where I live
[COLOR=rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.701961)]
Was wondering if you could tell me what your first experience was like fixing brake calipers. Did you have any mechanical experience before doing it apart from the YouTube video? I am a female who has never even changed a tyre. But am currently very poor and can't afford mechanics bills and new parts for my old car, and second hand parts are becoming next to impossible to find locally...

However despite never having changed a tyre, I have recently managed to change a fuel filter, and figured out how to Hotwire my car then wired up two 12volt switches from inside my old Motorhome that weren't needed (one to turn on ignition and glow plugs, the second to turn on window wipers and radio) (long story but ignition was broken and couldn't find second hand one after 8 mths searching and advertising and can't afford new ignition. Oh and I changed a radiator hose when the one in it split wide open and dumped radiator contents all over the road, to save towing cost to mechanic.

But the YouTube videos I have watched about the brakes and calipers keep talking about easing calipers off and on and make it seem like something that I might easily get halfway through and then get stuck, and then I'll really have problems as I can't afford a tow to the nearest garage which would cost heaps as the tow truck would have to come miles to get me out in the country...
So just wondering how difficult you found doing your calipers, and
whether you knew what needed doing before hand or had to diagnose first,
how long it took,
- what tools I should have on hand, as a bare minimum, to be able to get them off, hopefully diagnose problem then refit so I can go get whatever parts I need.
- Do I need anything else aside from brake fluid and how much fluid (I have maybe 250ml on hand)

The caliper I need to fix has seized before, but this time it appears to be not seized, but only one side is engaging the brake, and there is a faint scraping sound that goes away when i hit the brake.
Possibly also need to do wheel bearing, as there is a noise from inside rotar when wheel is off (but no noise when wheel is on and driving). My car is on old 4wd pajero.
Yes I have watched u tube videos but most seem to assume the minor details like exact tools I must have, or whether I need brake fluid etc are prior knowledge

And finally, any idea whether calipers, rotars etc, are all basically the same when you look at them? Because some of the other car videos I have looked at the parts look nothing like on my car.... Oh then there are the how to clean diesel injector videos, which always seem to start with the person holding injectors in their hand...like, where did they come from on the car? How did they get em out? Lol

Or do you still have any links to useful videos that break it down into absolute baby sized chunks for complete beginners?

Sorry to hijack thread...
On penny pinching, there are lots of things you can get cheap or free that come in handy, ie wood pallets to make fencing, housing , shelters etc
If in a rural area, advertise or ask dairy farmers for their used 200l plastic containers that they get disinfectant and other dairy products in.you can use these for all sorts, from storing water, to cutting off the top and turning on side, screw in a couple of planks of wood to stabilize and you have a duck house. Cut up and use as large feed and water containers or storage. Cut the top off of one, then Stick the top of a pallet with wood planks close together on top of that and you have a bar leaner with storage under it.
If cutting off the top and bottom for feed and water containers use the middle section as a raised planter, or if you have ducks like me put it around new plants so the ducks don't destroy them. Use black containers as solar water heaters if in a hot or sunny location.

Old corrugated iron I found a fair bit by advertising in local sociaL media, paint at my local landfill which has a recycle store, I can get a few litres of paint or varnish for 2 or 3$ same for wire netting.
Cheap greens, pick dandelion leaves and flowers
Use duck pond muck as fertilizer, build clay duck shelter houses from it, and letting it build up will waterproof your pond so a liner isn't needed (Google 'gleying a pond')

Contact breweries and ask if they have spent grains you can collect on 'brew day' these make a useful feed at about 10-20% of their feed (need to feed out within 24 hrs or free them though as they go off really fast)
Collect sand and river stones from your local river (where I live a quarrying operation leaves a huge pile of sand nearby that anyone can take, sand is great for muddy pens or as a base under other bedding, and here it's $20 for a tiny bag about 1/3 of a sack at the landscape place, so I drive to the pile at the river and fill a few sacks for free. Most riverbeds have some sand, and for runs and muddy areas you actually want a few pebbles in the mix, rather than sandpit sand so it's perfect, and free. Can also use sand and shingle in pond bio filter systems.
Oh I don't know about indoor fires, but I have burnt cow poop in an outdoor pit fire. I got the fire going well with wood, then used maybe 70-80% dry dung with wood and it burnt surprisingly well. If the dung is dry there is no smell at all.
Also where I live a local carpet store puts out free carpet, either second hand but often in very good condition, and I have also more than once, scored size able chunks of brand new carpet, pieces large enough to do a small room, for free. Another place local to me gives away doors (without handles or hinges) they make them and I guess what they give away are seconds or maybe stock in a color or size that didn't sell. Anyway I found them great to build a duck house with.
Wood a win for a Rustic look: soak old nails or the old steelo scoured pads (the ones that would rust, not the curly non rusting ones) in vinegar for a day or two then apply with a sponge. For a darker stain, brew strong black tea (like 6 bags steeped for an hr plus in two cups of water) and apply to yr wood after applying the vinegar/steel nail mix. Let dry, sand and apply oil finish for a beautiful expensive rustic look. Great on pallet wood creations.
If you have an older diesel vehicle, look out for supplies of used oil that it will run on, ie transformer oil. I have also heard used vegetable oil will run in a diesel car with no modification, but haven't tried it.

I agree on th soap soap making. Never tried it, but that's because it seemed like such a major undertaking, for something that you can get for $1 in the supermarket anyway...

 

[RiverOtter]

So just wondering how difficult you found doing your calipers, and
whether you knew what needed doing before hand or had to diagnose first,
how long it took,
- what tools I should have on hand, as a bare minimum, to be able to get them off, hopefully diagnose problem then refit so I can go get whatever parts I need.
- Do I need anything else aside from brake fluid and how much fluid (I have maybe 250ml on hand)

It was actually a really, really easy fix.
I knew my brake pads needed changed, but when I got them off, chunks of caliper piston fell out and what was left wouldn't retract. It was a hairy moment, as I had no idea how hard that was to replace, or what it would cost or anything.

But I have a 2002 ford windstar with lots of rust and on that, changing the entire caliper and the brake pads was easier than just changing the pads, as I didn't have to retract the caliper, which sometimes takes bleeding the lines or a special tool.

It only took a few minutes once I had the part and that was with having to go back inside 2x to double check the video I used. I suggest looking for a video of your exact model of car. I needed a ratchet set (a set of wrenches would also work, but I don't have that, I have the ratchets) Brake fluid, one bottle of it and a glass jar to catch the stuff that leaks out with, a long, heavy screwdriver for prying and a hammer to smack the chunk of dirt and rust off - they sell spray bottles of brake cleaner that no doubt work far better for that.
I think that was it.
A good video will show all the tools you need. There are no special ones for this, so a basic tool kit should do it.

I did need a ride to the parts store, because once I had the pads off, nothing was going back in place without the new caliper, so that's something to think about. The broken caliper, the pistons (my model has 2 pistons, some have one) simply were not going back, meaning nothing else could go back. If you think that might be the case with yours, go on and pick up the new one before you get stuck.

I have to add - I have driven to the parts store and done repairs right in their parking lot. I'm also female, and the reaction I get is usually impressed that I'm doing it at all and both pleased and amused that I'm doing it there - it's good business for them after all, I can run in and get anything I need! Some places have diagnostic services and tool rental, making it an even better idea. I've never had a place get upset about it, but I've also never made the gaff of being there for more than a couple of hours, if that.

 

[itsasmallfarm]

one thing i found out to save on food was going out and getting your own food, you may save a little or a lot. but the food quality is so much better. and too me that is what counts. so i try to grow as much veggies as we can and save as much as we can (been in a drought last year so garden sucked so had to buy a lot of produce)

raise your own meat if you can (i have a problem on wanting to make pets out of meat animal's so i decided it is easier for me to just hunt for my meat).

 

[HoopyFrood]

For those interested in ecological balance/sustainability, you can set a stretch goal like having a zero-waste kitchen. In the long run you save money and you have less garbage/recycling to deal with. I've found this website very interesting:
https://zerowastechef.com/

Make your own sourdough!! We "had" to buy sourdough as it was the most "friendly" bread to my wife. The cheapest (but still good) stuff we could find was $5 a loaf and we'd go through about one loaf a week. We then found a 50 lb bag of King Arthur flour at a regional health food store for just $15! Now it DOES take a lot of experimentation and patience. But if you see it through you get the best bread possible made out of only three ingredients: flour, water, and salt! For only pennies a loaf - amazing! And far easier to digest than store bought breads. Next year I hope to grow my first crop of hard wheat. I'm looking forward to trying to make 100% stook-cured, whole wheat sourdough bread! You can't even BUY that no matter how much money you have.

Grow all the food you can! If you're intimidated, start as small as you like. Just TRY. You'll either succeed, or you'll learn! Just keep trying!

Buy in bulk and learn to store food, including canning and freezing.

When things break, try to fix them. I don't just mean vehicles and houses. ANYTHING. I've attempted repairs on some odd things: cell phones, cell phone signal boosters, food processors, vacuum cleaners... if it's broken, there's no harm in trying! Again you'll either succeed, or you'll learn from the experience!

We make great use of thrift stores, and HFH Restores... Someone else mentioned the only clothes they buy new are socks and underwear. Ditto!

See if you can insert yourself into the "waste stream" somewhere. I get all the free wood chips I can take from an arborist friend. I know people who mill wood, so I can get free rotted sawdust. Like @lazy gardener COLLECT FALL LEAVES! Gardening gold!! You can offset fertilizer (which is not cheap!) needs with them (and other organic things) used the right way.

And the waste stream can be quite exotic! I recently talked with an energy contractor and now I have access to not only to all of the free NEW pallets I want, but I have access to their scrap, too, which has some wonderful materials in it (they install a lot of solar panels, so you can imagine the goodies). They would be unhappy if I cleaned them out, obviously. But 0.1% of their waste is all I need to do my projects. So they don't care.

97% of our house hold cleaners? Distilled vinegar or baking soda (and washing soda that came from baking the baking soda). Bleach is only used for disinfecting rodent nesting sites.

Apart from handsoap 100% of our personal care products (not "hard" goods like toothbrushes, floss, toilet paper, etc) are homemade: Toothpaste, deodorant, shampoo, hair rinse, moisturizers, lip balm... even bug spray! And because they're made from simple ingredients they're cheap, and non-toxic to the point of being edible! I wouldn't RECOMMEND eating the deodorant, it has a fair bit of baking soda in it I can also say these products are FAR more effective than the fancy, chemical-laden stuff you find in the grocery store. I didn't realize my pit sweating problem was not genetic until I stopped using commercial deodorant. Commercial deodorants/antiperspirants actually CAUSE me to sweat.

If you have free time, see if you can find outbuildings that folks need torn down that have a lot of reclaimed materials in them. Lumber is quite expensive! But make sure you have the free time. Reclaiming lumber is a time-intensive process.

Lastly (for now ), I mentioned this on another thread recently, one might CONSIDER living/homesteading without animals or animal products. I'm not speaking to any moral ideas here, just plain old efficiency. Animals need care. Many people have simply left the idea of having animals (and/or using animal products) behind. It can yield savings on both the expense and labor sides of life.