Tips for Frugal Living

 

Perhaps the best tip one can give and use is to be organized. Knowing what you have to work with and what you can substitute for items you don't have is absolutely amazing. Even with a well stocked pantry, fridge and freezer if you let things get out of control you waste good money. It took me a few years to learn this, but now for the most part I have this under control.

Instead of allowing food to spoil, chop it up and freeze it or if you have a dehydrator dry it. This year instead of allowing the potatoes we dug out of the garden to go to waste, I made fries and hashbrowns for the freezer. Yes, a few still went to waste but not as much as other years. We really don't eat as many potatoes as we used to. I also diced many a green pepper and got those bagged up and in the freezer. We just could not eat them all.

Rethink having meat at every meal. Since the cost of groceries has risen (especially meat) I have been introducing meatless meals, or meals that use less meat. Leftovers of the meals with meat are kept to be used in another meal or two as well. Leftover roast beef for example, a few slices can be used in soups, some can be thinly sliced again and used in a stroganoff meal (which can be eaten over noodles and the leftovers over baked potatoes). Lots of interesting ways to use up leftover roasts of any kind. 

Most times unless you are working outside, getting dirty and sweaty clothing (not underclothes though) can be worn for more than one day. This cuts down on washing loads.

Find things you can do for free in your city. I live in a very small city in my province and other than the library, walking tract, joining some groups like our Great Create and the Fiber group I recently joined there isn't a great many free things to do. Instead I do hikes around the city, and go to the two free movie nights at a park that we can enjoy. 

Definitely combine errands. Not only does it save you fuel costs, but time as well.

If you can do most of your bill paying online.

I have many free streaming services on my television, plus a mini computer which means I can stream even more free entertainment. Take advantage of those, where I live the winters are long, cold, and quite often stormy. This is our free entertainment, and since we do not attend the cinema our main source of viewing pleasure.  

Everybody have a wonderful evening.

God bless.