Saving money in the current economy is becoming increasingly difficult. I’m not going to get into why, but we all feel it right now. The rise in food, fuel, date night activities, buying a book… you get the idea. But there is a way to make your spending habits work to benefit you in the long run.
Disclaimer: I’m not a financial expert or planner or lawyer. I’m just a regular person who is trying to figure out how to get through on a daily basis. This article is for entertainment purposes and anything which appears as financial advice is solely based on my own personal experiences and not to be taken as sound advice.
Now that the legal disclaimer is over… on to the stuff I have tried and found successful.
Grow your own food: this one sounds easy, but it has its own difficulties. Anywhere you live, you can grow at least one thing to prevent having to buy it at the store. Live in the city? Grow in the window sills, on the balcony or get a cool shelf with grow lights—even a regular light will work for some plants. Herbs in the kitchen window are great for cooking. Fresh basil on pasta right out of your own little garden is even more delicious because you know right where it came from. The trick is to treat these plants like pets. They need food and water and a little love and they can do wonders for your family.
Long term food supply: Canning, dehydrating, freezing, freeze drying and drying anything you can after harvest will save money in the leaner months. In winter you’ll have extra stores for when you maybe have a smaller paycheck or after too much holiday gift buying—happens to me every year. Getting set up for long term storage can be easy and inexpensive if you get creative. Buy used pots from a thrift shop, or support a local nursery for your garden. Reuse your canning jars—just be sure to get proper lids for a good seal, nobody wants to get sick! Dried beans are your best friend and if you store them in jars, they’ll last longer.
Make it yourself: if you have just one thing you make each week, like a loaf of bread or bagels for breakfast, that saves quite a bit of money. All it takes is a good recipe, a little work and you’ll have fresh, useable food to replace the expensive store bought items. Especially lately with the way companies are up-charging for products with smaller quantities in the packaging.
Sell what you don’t need: If you don’t need it, sell it. Stash the cash for a rainy day or use it to buy something you do need. Why not use those things that are no longer of use to your lifestyle and use the money for something that is. Have a few yard sales, sell things online. Downsize but for something useful. Save for a freeze-drier or canning materials, upgrade your food processor. Benefit from the junk cluttering your house.
I hope these tips are helpful for your lifestyle! No matter what you do always remember that creativity is key to success. These days everything is expensive but you can find work-arounds if you’re willing to put in a little extra work.
Until next time, keep those boots wandering around the homestead and on many adventures!
With My Boots On 