What are your frugal and sustainable tips and tricks?

[AGeese]

I have had an Aquapur for about 3 years (like a Berkeley). The water tastes YUMMY, much like the water from our 300' deep well back in my childhood. I can't stand the taste of bottled water anymore. I bring my own with me to work, in a stainless steel bottle.

My gramps used to take me up to the capitol building where they had a mineral water pump (not sure where it came from) but I liked the taste. It's long since been removed.

 

[gtaus]

Using Computer AI Programs to Save Time and Money

I have become a big fan of using AI in many different ways. Two of the programs I have used a lot recently are ChatGPT and Microsoft Copilot. I find it amazing that these AI programs can go out and "read" thousands of sources and give you a best educated answer. That is some real power and what wonderful tools.

I have been using ChatGPT to help me program a spreadsheet in Google Sheets. I just tell ChatGPT what I want to accomplish, and it writes the code for me. I test out that code and make changes as needed, but it has saved me countless hours in writing code myself.

The other day, we were having some questions about whether or not our oven was working correctly. It appeared to be taking a lot longer than normal to cook some of our food. For example, we bought a ready to bake pizza at WalMart, and it took 25 minutes to cook instead of the 15 minutes on the box instructions. From the start, I told Dear Wife that I thought 15 minutes was not going to be long enough because she bought a thick stuffed crust pizza, and I suspect the instructions on the box were for a thin crust pizza.

I asked Microsoft Copilot if there was an easy way to check the oven temperature setting for accuracy. Not only did it outline a procedure to test the oven heat, but it told me that my oven has an option to adjust the heat calibration if it is slightly off. I did not know that. So, I got a link to the owner's manual .pdf file of my model and read up on how to make any adjustments to the thermostat settings, if needed.

Fortunately, the initial test showed that our oven was spot on the heat setting, so I did not have to make any adjustments. Point is, we thought our oven was failing but Microsoft Copilot was able to walk me though a simple testing and informed me that I could make adjustments to the oven setting if needed.

I also used a combination of ChatGPT and YouTube videos to troubleshoot our hot water heater a few months ago. I fixed the problem with a few replacement parts that had failed and everything is still working today. I saved money on that repair because I learned how to test the elements and thermostats before replacing everything. One thermostat had failed, but I ended up replacing both as a set which was recommended in the instructions. Much, much less expensive than having to call in a plumber for a service call.

If you have not tried out these new powerful AI tools, you might want to give them a try. In my case, it has helped me save both time and money on home repairs and other interests.

 

[gtaus]

Seriously considering going back to clothes lines, since I'm not returning to work. BUT those heavy baskets might be hard to maneuver w/ still healing broken ankle...

Nothing like the fresh smell of clothes hung out on a clothesline. But I know it's a lot more work than tossing them into a dryer right next to the washing machine. Well, that, and here in northern Minnesota using a clothesline outside is not a viable option for about six months out of the year.

I have had to start filling up containers only half full these days compared to when I was a younger man. It might take me a little longer to get the job done, but I'm OK with that. I would rather take smaller loads safely then trying to haul one heavy load and risk wrenching my back, for example.

For yardwork, I bought myself a Gorilla cart with four wheels. Much easier than using a one-wheeled wheelbarrow. I use it for moving all kinds of stuff. In your case, you could probably load up smaller baskets of wet clothes to take out to the clothesline. No need to risk reinjuring your broken ankle...

I actually have three different kinds of four-wheeled carts because of what I need. I bought some off-brand carts on sale at Menards. Gorilla brand carts might be the Gold Standard, but I saved some money buying non-Gorilla brand carts. In any case, I use my carts all the time and my one-wheeled wheelbarrow is basically retired.

I just got to an age where it was worth it to me to pay extra for these four-wheeled carts which allow me to do so much more, and safer, than I could with the old wheelbarrow. It was well worth the investment.

BONUS TIP: If you are interested in getting a four-wheeled cart, I strongly recommend getting a cart that has the handle that will convert from hand pulling to riding mower towing hitch. That is what you see in the picture I post above. You can buy less expensive carts with just a hand pull handle, but I do lots of yardwork and fill up my carts with topsoil or heavy wood. It's great to have the option to hitch the cart to the riding mower and let the machine do the towing.

 

[gtaus]

On recycling & reducing - North Carolina Working Horse & Mule Association (NCWHMA) has members that only use "true" horse power to farm - corn, wheat, hay, other mowing & logging.

Very much enjoyed your post and the pictures. Thanks.

 

[gtaus]

Recently got a letter from the water association they can't identify what my lines are made of. I haven't trusted tap in decades. If there isn't a tap water advisory due to a line break or some other thing I just don't trust miles of line in the ground to be free of ingress.

I live on a lake and have well water. I know some communities might not have safe drinking tap water. I am thankful my water is safe. If not, I would be investing in some kind of filtration system to clean up the water.

 

[Sally PB]

We have a well, and the water had a lot, a LOT of iron in it. We had an iron filter installed when we last replaced our water softener, and the difference is night and day. The bill went from about $1500 to $3000, but I'd do it again in a heart beat, the difference is worth the difference.

That said, I don't want to drink a lot of salt in softened water. About 10-15 (?) years ago, we got a reverse osmosis (RO) filter on the kitchen sink for drinking water. Again, night and day difference. Our water tastes good. Our coffee and tea are much better too.

I brew my own kombucha tea ($$$ savings right there!) and saved the bottles from store bought to use for my own. We have half a dozen glass water bottles from that stash. It's easy to see when they need to be washed, and then they get a trip through the dish washer.

 

[HenriettaPizzaNolan]

We have a well, and the water had a lot, a LOT of iron in it. We had an iron filter installed when we last replaced our water softener, and the difference is night and day. The bill went from about $1500 to $3000, but I'd do it again in a heart beat, the difference is worth the difference.

That said, I don't want to drink a lot of salt in softened water. About 10-15 (?) years ago, we got a reverse osmosis (RO) filter on the kitchen sink for drinking water. Again, night and day difference. Our water tastes good. Our coffee and tea are much better too.

I brew my own kombucha tea ($$$ savings right there!) and saved the bottles from store bought to use for my own. We have half a dozen glass water bottles from that stash. It's easy to see when they need to be washed, and then they get a trip through the dish washer.

A built-in reverse osmosis filter is my goal! They are pretty pricey though so they Brita is my temporary fix.

I used to make my own kombucha in my college dorm room closet, and then for years at home after graduation. It's so easy, cheap, and tastes better! I, like you, used to use old store-bought kombucha bottles (GT's brand). I would love to get back into kombucha but it can be a bit of a pain when you have a busy schedule because it's time sensitive (my ideal batch was around 10-12 days). Maybe one day soon!

 

[Sally PB]

GT's brand

Yup!

I bottle every other Thursday, and brew the next day. I do 2 1/2 ish gallons every other week.

When I bottle, I add 1/4 cup montmorency cherry juice. I let the bottles sit at room temperature (secondary ferment) until Monday, and then they go in the fridge.

 

[gtaus]

We have a well, and the water had a lot, a LOT of iron in it. We had an iron filter installed when we last replaced our water softener, and the difference is night and day. The bill went from about $1500 to $3000, but I'd do it again in a heart beat, the difference is worth the difference.

My well water is definitely hard water. But it tastes fine. We considered getting a water softener, but chose not to due to the higher cost and maintenance of the system. But I grew up with well water and was used to the taste. A water softener tastes too "salty" to me.

Certainly, if you have bad tasting water, those filtration systems can correct just about anything and are well worth the price at that point. I am not opposed to using filters. I just don't need it with my well water.

 

[AGeese]

I won't dare drink my well water. I always dump the first bucket for the chickens which comes out red. Though I'm not even sure if it's a well or not because there's no records.