What are you doing to stretch a dollar?

[AngieChick]

We are single car, which is a pain at times but saves us on insurance and maintenance. It's paid for, as well, and we will drive it until it falls into pieces. I cook from scratch using mostly local produce and whole grains. I canned a ton this summer (it's amazing how much fruit goes to waste because it is not canned in this nation). My freezer is full of blueberries among other treasures. We don't use paper plates, paper napkins, or paper towels at all. I have amassed a collection of cloth napkins and kitchen towels from 2nd hand stores. I use vinegar and water with a bit of lavendar essential oil (for smell) in a spray bottle for all household cleaning. I buy my laundry detergent in bulk from the local Co-Op (phosphate free the cheap way!). I bake instead of buying snacks for in the kids' lunches. My grain mill comes in tomorrow (yay!), so my flours will be cheaper and higher quality. I make my own yogurt (thank you Miss Prissy!).

 

[orbirdman]

oh i forgot we make our own detergent for both clothes and the dishwasher. the stuff for the dishwasher performs better than anything else have bought.

 

[sis]

What is the directions for making dishwasher soap?
I have the one for clothing.
thank you.

 

[Sequin]

We turn off our computers and any other electronics we are not using at night. We have weather sealed and re-caulked around the windows and doors to make sure no drafts come in or heat goes out. Using vinegar and water for cleaning the house is a Huge saver - and a great way to 'go green'. We make sure the air filters in the house are replaced so the house is a little more energy efficient. Regular oil changes in the cars so they run more efficiently. Combine errands and plan a logical driving route so we don't drive back and forth over the same roads. Use up what we do have in the house before buying new stuff. Turned off the cable - but kept the internet. Use smaller portion sizes when buying meat and making meals. Having a few vegetarian meals a week(veggie lasagna is soo yummy!!). Buying veggies and fruit at a local produce stand. Using a heated blanket instead of having the heat on at night(or just adding More blankets and wearing socks). We don't really eat out. If we do, my son and I share a plate. I bring a packet of ice tea mix or some other drink mix with me to restaurants and only order water - then I mix my own drink. I eat before grocery shopping - sounds odd, but I buy less food that way and stick closer to my shopping list. Next spring we will have our own large garden plus the chickens for eggs. Look for ways to make extra money - I used to groom dogs, and am now grooming my friends/neighbors dogs for a modest amount. People still enjoy the homemade touch, and making my own greeting cards/gifts for friends allows me to give without breaking the bank. Keeping the house clean and neat makes me feel good about myself and relieves stress about finances. It is hard to relax and think clearly in a cluttered messy house. Finding contentment in what I do have, rather than being saddened/upset by what I don't/can't have.

The thing is, there are some things that I will not let go of too quickly. Feeding my family and animals the best food for them possible is probably the main thing. We can eat Less of healthy things vs. more of the junk food, but I prefer to think of it as eating like the french. Their portions are not huge. We are always satisfied without feeling stuffed. Also, we don't snack all day. And it will be a Long time before I give up my daily glass of wine. I could go on and on on this topic. There are many ways to save a penny, and they add up. I feel that having a direction and a plan are always the best ways in going about doing things. I also feel that if you want something badly enough, there are ways of getting what you want. Rich people get rich by working smart and hanging on to every penny they don't have to spend. Large companies don't usually pay their bills early. Because the interest the money makes for them while it is sitting in their account is in their favor - why should they give that away by paying early? That is a part of working smart. Not necessarily working harder, just smarter.

Sorry if I went overboard here with my ramblings. I'm done now. Sorry.

I hope everyone is warm and happy tonight.

 

[2manyhats]

Quote:
Great idea! Thanks. I'm going to call about our cable today. There's never anything on anyway. Hate to spend so much for so little.

 

[2manyhats]

Quote:
What recipe are you using? The one I tried did not work at all and left everything cloudy.

 

[animal nut]

Like the rest of you I truly am watching my pennies. I hang clothes outside only wash my clothes in cold water. I really can say that cold water cleans as well a warm or hot. Keep the thermostat down, lights off and change all light bulbs to energy saving. I have really been using alot of manufactors coupons at the store. Sometimes I manage to find a store that doubles them. I managed to save $208 in one week this way.

 

[jnjross]

Stay home!
that's all that left we can our life style back in 2001 & 2003 when we were trying to save our home from being forclosed. didn't work but we had to keep the changes and now its just the way we live.
i was born poor, not really a big deal.

i tryed the homemade laundry soap and it just didn't work for us, Dh's clothes are too greasey for it, his pants got so heavy using the Homemade i could believe it, the oil was still in the fabric weighing them down!

 

[Hobbley_Farm]

I do much of what everyone else does.

But I use to drive my kids to school. Now I have them ride the bus. That saves me in gas a lot more than I thought it would.

I also shop at Aldi's and save TONS there. I do have a membership to Costco. I buy some things there in bulk...but not much.

The dogs and cats have gone from a premium food to a really quite cheap foods. But they get scraps and bones and bits and pieces from us and their coats have actually gotten BETTER! go figure!

I have my thermostat set at 67 during the day and 68 at night. I would have it set at 67 also but my tot gets cold and finds her way into our bed

And yes, I do dress her properly and warm at night.

We eat a lot of chicken. If you must buy chicken, for some reason Leg Quarters and drumsticks are REALLY cheap around here. So we BBQ a-LOT. Once our Meat chickens are big enough, I'm going to research canning meat.

Since I found out my tot likes potatoes, we eat them almost every meal and that helps with the food cost. (smaller meat and larger potato or serving of potatos) We decided to do a "breakfast night" and a "veggie night" to help out.

My hubby is going to try his hand at Hunting this year. He has also had some of his buddies give us Last years deer meat so they could clean out their freezer in prep. for this years. I processed that with the kitchen aid food grinder. the pieces that I didn't see fit to grind into ground meat, I packaged for the dogs and cats. (my cats love deer meat!)

We don't buy snacks other than Ice Cream. I buy cheap cake mixes and brownie mixes and the kids just make us a cake or something if they get a sweet tooth. ( my teenagers not my tot)

We go through cool aid like nobodies business. I guess that's our serious sugar intake. But it does have Vitamin C

We're on Well Water and my family drink a LOT of ice water also. It takes better than bottled water !

My eldest Cuts my hair. I dye their hair.

I guess the biggest thing we're gping to do is get a wood fired boiler for our heating and hot water heat with our tax refund. With 5 of us there are so many loads of laundry, dishes, showers, baths, what am I forgetting? It will help with our electric bill tremendously!

 

[Buff Hooligans]

I refuse to get a cell phone,
refuse high speed internet at home,
refuse upgraded cable tv,
shop at thrift stores for 99% of my clothes,
drive a 9-year old paid-for car,
ride my bike to work for three months over the summer/fall.