I used to shower only at work to save hit water at home. I only walked when shopping around town to save gas. I rented out all my bedrooms and slept in my living room to cash flow my daughters college. I never felt poor, I felt powerful and creative. You are such an inspiration and validation for frugal living.
Showering at the office saves me more than just heating some water, laundering towels, and more frequent shower cleanings. I leave about 30 minutes earlier than I would have. Arriving at the office before 6am with the shower intention instead of 6:30 or 7 saves a noticeable amount of commute time and slowdowns. I'm going to shower somewhere sometime so I will take the extra 15 minutes given back through less busy roads.
I buy 2 denium dresses every year and wear them daily all year long because they are durable and last a long time. I wear the older ones around the house and run errands. When they really start getting shabby, I patch them with quilting scraps and wear them to garden in. It's a total of $120 a year. I can dress them up or down. Layer them in cold weather and wear them with just sandals in the summer. It has become my trademark, and people recognize me often. I have cut my own hair for over 40 years. I make and dehydrate treats for my dogs out of scraps and dog foods my granddaughter dumpster dives for. If they don't care for a particular kibble, I grind it down and add things to it that can be dehydrated into tasty treats. I save all my yarn and fabric scraps to make blankets for animal rescues. My husband's old jeans that can't be patched anymore, worn out shirts, sheets, blankets all get recycled into beds and blankets for rescue animals. I buy marked down produce and can or dehydrated them. Buy only meat on sale and most other food items. I grow a small garden and make medicinal tinctures for ailments. I grow plants for birds and bees. I buy what is in season on sale. I drink water more than anything else, which saves money and is better for me. I try to replace parts rather than throw out something and replace it with something new. I reuse jars to put things in rather than throw them out and not buy plastic storage containers. I use cloth hand towels rather than paper towels. I make a tube of toothpaste, containers of pshampoo, and hair conditioner last a year. Once my shoes wear out I use them in the garden. I replace the handles on my gardening tools and sharpen them. I don't drive my car except when necessary and try to run all my errands in a circle back home in one trip. I use a pay as you go phone service, which costs me about $7 a month. I make air freshers out of herbs, and citrus peels simmered on the parlor stove or over a tea light. I use vinegar, baking soda, and peroxide to clean around the house instead of buying expensive cleaning products. I use Borax, baking soda, citrus peel water, bay leaves, and other herbs, or food grade Diemetrious earth for pest control against insects and rodents. I could keep going because every decision I make is geared towards conserving resources.
Using your food stamps to buy food then using the extra care bucks to get non food items is truly a genius move. 😮. I was on food stamps as a young mother and I used my time on welfare to go to college. It got me through the first 2 years. I had to take student loans for the last years. I really think it’s not a hand out, it’s a hand up. Now as a registered nurse I hope my taxes go to help people in their time of need.
In my state grocery stores donate to the food pantries. However, many items get dumped due to the transit time from store to pantry to client to preparing and finally eating it.
Have done all of these things; and at fifty seven am a entrenched freegan. Everything i have and procured over the past thirty five years, have lived on my own; got given, found, bartered, etc. freely with no money, and that made it so, despite, living on a very low (extremely) income, was able to buy my home, raise two kids, and live happily and comfortably without a vehicle for the last thirty years, very grateful and very blessed to be stress free financially in life
Dumpster dove for food and furniture/goods. I would flip items for money. This was some 20 years ago. Things I have always done 1. Line drying clothes. I only toss my heavy blankets and jeans into the dryer for a 12 minute final fluff and dry. 2. Eating mostly vegetarian or vegan. Meat is too expensive. My favorite is vegetable lasagna. 3. I wore only black, white, some navy and burgundy- had a capsule wardrobe that functioned for every situation. My biggest expense was good shoes that last. 4. Learning to maintain what I owned and taking good care of it- car, clothes, shoes, cooking items, etc. You can learn a lot on YT or at the library. 5. I did the drugstore stackable coupons and what nots- had enough toothpaste, detergent, OTC medicines, hygiene products for 5 years for nothing or pennies. 6. I don't use electricity unless I have too. I keep simple, unscented candles (In a hurricane lamp with a mirror) for deep winter nights. I also put solar string lights in my windows. Unless I really have to see, I don't turn on lights. 7. Libraries- go use your libraries! Besides books, you can utilize computers, free seeds, free classes, etc. 8. I've done my own hair for 30 years. I do get a nice cut 1x a year and I take it from there. I know stylists are amazing but I cannot afford the expense then or now. 9. Buying second hand for as much as I can, though now, it's getting ridiculous. 10. Closing off complete rooms and just heating/cooling rooms that we used. 11. Live in my car during the summer, in New England. Rented out my condo (I lived by the water) and made enough money to pay the mortgage and put some money away. 12. Painted all my homes with returned paint. Saved a LOT! 13. Live as off grid, even though I live near the city (For work). 14. In New England, you could collect cans and bottles for money. It also helped me get in a lot of walking. I made an average of $30 a month. 15. I use just bar soap for my body, including face, and to shave with. 16. Trade parties- clothes, art supplies, furniture, decorative items, etc. 17. I don't do anything that is trendy, especially when it come to eating or food. I eat basic foods- a salad with some tomatoes, olives and vinegar/oil dressing. I do roast my vegetables. Usually 2 types a plate. I like white rice and pasta. I eat frozen and canned vegetables. I grow my own radishes (I like the French Breakfast ones and I eat them like chips, with salt). Grow a few herbs. I don't go crazy. Oh I like to grow baby carrots too and beets. 18. I only drive to work, do all my errands in one night (keep life simple, so I don't have many) and I stay at home and buy a new art project for my birthday and at the holidays. Then I work on it all year. I ask for gift cards if people want to get me something. It's my treat splurge. 19. I worked for a vet, on a Sunday, doing their paperwork and laundry, to get free shots for my pets. 20. I live small, but not tiny house small, I've never upgraded anything to keep up with anyone. I work my job and go hiking, canoeing and to museums ( get a a deep discount for a lot of stuff for being a Veteran in Texas,) I will say, look for free stuff or reduced stuff based on your classification- I'm a Vet, educator and over 50, so I get some good deals. 21. I mad my own bedspread, after my last one ripped. I used all cotton clothes I had, made a beautiful crazy quilt. Got all the thread and what nots for almost free using coupons. Jo Ann's used to let you use their sewing machines for a small fee.
You don't have to answer to anyone that you dumpster dived you provided for you and your family, love all of your ideas thank you so much for sharing my family thinks I'm cheap but what they don't know is I live off half my income no debt and alot in savings my clothes are shabby but I'm a good person ❤❤❤
We used to take a lot of walks and always carried a plastic bag to collect cans. We turned them in for money and bought savings bonds for our kids. That helped fund college!
@iriswelch3553 we also walked and collected cans when my kids were little. I also kept my eyes open for the things people put out with the trash, such as beds, table and chairs, bicycles (husband took all the parts off of many and made 2 working bikes). We also found a brand new looking carpet, (except for one small stain in the same place as where I parked my couch, and no one ever saw it...
That’s what programs like food stamps are for: to help you get on your feet. My daughters received help as single moms and now are contributing to pass it on. Nothing to apologize for!
Have dumpster Dive. But the chip guy would call me and tell me that he would left boxes on top for me.All different types of chips.And I had a bread man that did the same thing. Came in handy when I was raising all my kids
I was a manager at a store that would throw all the food away even when it was still good. We had several dumpsters so I would have the employees separate the food into separate dumpsters so that people could dumpster dive and the food would stay better that way, you know produce in one and boxed foods in another. You are right about there being so much waste. I also worked at a school as a janitor and you would not believe the waste that goes on there. It is terrible.
I’d say my house is furnished/decorated with 75-80% free, dumpster-dived, used, and/or thrifted items. I scored my dresser 20 years ago when a neighbor moved out of their apartment and kept it since. Turns out, it’s a very sought-after piece worth over $2,500.
@KeliOConnor wow..if u absolutely had to,you could sell it for that much..down size to something else and put the money towards something else you needed 🤔
I like to get my furniture at the "curb store." Except for my bed, all of the furniture in my room I found for free sitting on the curb. I live in a college town so you can find some good stuff when the students leave for home. 😀
oh - - i almost forgot - the town where our beach cottage is has a "swap shop" i take great junk from there on the regular.... appliances - kitchen wares - bedding - wind surfers - reclaimed pavers - garden soil - sand - furniture - luggage - old doors windows - lawn mowers - garden tools - books dvds ---art - a chicken coop - power tools - crystal - china - ladders everything.... my 2 cottages are basically outfitted from the dump top to bottom .....
We spent 6 summers camp/park hosting at a state parks that we loved when our children were between the ages of 8-15. Lots of really fun memories, we learned about how parks were run. Our kids got service learning, and experience for boy/girl scouts. We received free firewood when cleaning campsites, and found all sorts of beach towels, sunscreen and toys during our evening beach cleanups. Not to mention all the interesting people we met, especially the AT hikers. Now I work at a preschool and take home the left over snacks that would otherwise be thrown away several times a week. I also batch cook larger portions when using the instant pot, or oven. Recently bought a used plug in hybrid car and have not had to buy any gas in 5 weeks. It uses about $1 of electricity for my work commute compared to the $3-4 daily that the SUV we had used.
Things I have done. When I worked at this one hotel, every Monday the manager would let me take any coupons out of the leftover newspapers that didn't sell before they were thrown out. Kids and I have went dumpster diving. Every Sunday, weather permitting, we take a walk in the neighborhood to see if other are throwing out anything worth saving. By doing that we have found guitars, storage bins and baskets, desks, a pleather sofa and a Keurig. We except hand me down. Half the kids clothes and all furniture except for 3 dressers, a sofa, 3 shelves, and 2 futons were free. I work at a bagel shop and when we close, i take bagels before they get thrown out
Desperate times call for desperate measures. I was raised in a poor household and I now appreciate the value of that experience. I almost never throw anything away, reuse, repurpose, recycle. Plus I hate giving money to billionaires so I will continue to hone my frugal living skills!
My husband uses a walk behind brush hog, I let it cure and then hand bail it with a large tote. I feed the hay to my goats, when I clean out their stall, I scrape the wasted hay off the top and trow it in the chicken run, the rest of their bedding goes to build soil. Once a year I clean out the run and compost it for my raised beds. I am able to feed my 3 small goats for 3 to 4 months of the winter for free (still need to buy some hay). Tore down an oak shed, it has made a cabinet, a new table top for an antique base, a coffee table, had the 2x4s and 2x6s turned into planks for flooring ($100 for 2 rooms).
In my area,1major national retailer, puts the old bread nect to the dumpsters in old bread racks for those in need, the manager said he planned to keep doing it as long as the area stayed neat and tidy!
Great ideas in the comments. Think these may be different than those mentioned. Made numerous quilts for winter use from old fabrics. Cut down adult clothes for the kids. Almost all our furniture, clothing, dishware is used. Obtained from freecycle, trash picking, second hand stores, yard sales, auctions, facebook marketplace, nextdoor, gifts from family and friends. When the kids were small, I built them a tree house from mostly salvaged materials left out on large trash days. Currently making use of a local food give away program in town, very grateful for it. Surplus farm produce and day old baked goods from a local grocery. We shop at a bump and dent grocer. Currently building a raised vegetable bed from salvaged lumber. Compost veggie scraps, eggshells. Free hobbies. Bird watching, rock collecting, learning new stuff from youtube.
We have a ''Dumpster Diving Network" in my city. People share tips, ideas and good locations. Most food is perfectly good and it's terrible to see it trashed, but a lot of us are taking it and using it which is great. There is no shame anymore as food has become so terribly expensive everywhere and most people.
I use a menstral cup and cloth pads, I wash my clothes in a 5 gal bucket and a laundry plunger with homemade laundry soap, I use a shampoo bar and cider vinegar for my hair - no shampoo for over 7 years now. I use the Flashfood app to buy meat that’s close to its best before date and either eat it right away or freeze it. “Family Cloths” for wiping after urination. I don’t drink, smoke, gamble or drive a car. I have never turned on the air condition8ng in my apartment - I don’t know if it works.
@@tayloredenfield9463 I found one at my local bulk shop but I don’t really like it. I started using it so long ago that I don’t remember the name. I have occasionally used liquid castille soap in my hair but it’s very concentrated. I will try a more mild shampoo bar next time. But they last so long it’s going to be months from now..
There is a local thrift store m/food pantry that gets all of Walmarts misfits. Bread, produce etc the extra they cannot give out at the pantry, they leave out for their thrift store customers. I stop there before hitting the dented canned goods and markdowns at Kroger, aldi and Walmart. The thrift store often has bag days that fir $3 I can fill a bag of clothes for my daughter for about a week! So much of them are almost perfect and sometimes new with tags. A years worth of clothes she outgrows quickly maybe cost $20 including shoes and coats from there too! I’ve even found things for my husband and me too there! Old torn sheets, I usually buy flannel sheets, get cut up into rags, hankies and reusable paper towels or dog beds and barn cat blankets. Old clothes become rags and I make potholders and rugs out of strips braided together. We often cook over a campfire Edie idly after a storm when limbs fall down. Running water to get hot water I save for the coffee maker or cooking or put in a pitcher in the fridge to drink. We wear our clothes a few times before washing, my daughters and my clothes that are lightly soiled I only wash in water only. Extra dirty or greasy and my husbands greasy clothes I do need detergent. I grow a garden to feed us and the plants and not prime food go to pigs and chickens and they get our scraps. We compost chicken droppings for fertilizer for the gardens. I can and dehydrate everything I can. We invested in a freeze dryer and now saving up to get the electrical upgraded. W bought a rundown 1880’s schoolhouse to renovate and live in 1 small corner of the house that’s got 1 room and 1 bathroom. It’s less to heat that way too. I use all the coupon apps and store apps to save on food and household goods. If we have friends or neighbors going on vacation, I’ll watch the house or let pets out in trade for the foods that’ll go bad in their fridge and gardens while they’re gone. Local farmers also let me take the leftovers that are last their prime that they dont want to pick, it’s not a lot but it helps!
I bought a book on edible weeds such as dandelion, persulaine etc. I have an ancient (Warrigal green)a type of spinach growing on our land. This plant grows all over the world and is extremely nutritious once it is blanched.
it is worth it to find out what edible weeds grow locally. in southern california we have lamb's quarters, mallow, and other greens that make great pesto sauce for spaghetti or added to soups, i freeze what we not use before the season ends.
We grow most of our food in the garden, have a compost toilet ( which means no water bill for this plus no fertilizer because of composting everthing). Having a wood stove and chicken helps too.
Our first year of marriage, we did a live in job at a group home while I finished grad school. The free rent saved us over $700 a month, and the job hours were just a couple hours every morning.
Wow, I took a deep dive into the comments section! Had to give my 2 cents: people are entitled to their opinions, of course and we are allowed the right to free speech (assuming we are American in this little rabbit hole on body hair), some people shave because their hair is coarse and curls and ends up ingrown (ouch!), some people shave because they are conventionally minded, some shave because they like how it looks or feels. Some people do not shave because they have light hair and can 'get away with it'. Some people shave because they think their deodorant works better without the hair. Some people have such a small amount of hair (post menopause) that it is not an issue unless you choose to shave the couple short hairs you have. Some people shave only in the summer when wearing garments that will expose the hair. Some people just don't care about their hair! Be kind to others and don't judge because it is a tough world already. ❤ 😉 Love to you all.
very good idea to share all that !! I sold my car last year and walk or take public transportation (50% of the fee is paid by my employer, this is mandatory in France) and I saved so much money and I am in better shape ! I shower in a basin and I use the water to flush the toilet (not so much for the money but because so much water wasted)...
I’m all in except the shaving part, I’m not skipping that ! They have made dumpster diving illegal in my state and most places have locked gates around them….frustrating!
Great strategies!We had to use food stamps once when my husband hurt his leg- the looks and the humiliating looks from other customers made us try to get off of them asap. No, I couldn’t work at the time- problem pregnancy, I wasn’t being lazy
Food pantries are a great resource too... I only go if close to being out I don't go every time the door is open if I have enough to get me by then I'll leave it for someone else but if I'm having a hard time struggling then yeah I'll definitely go to a food pantry...
I boil water for coffee, tea etc. then put the leftover hot water in a flask for later instead of reheating water every single time. Saves on gas/ electricity.
You're amazing 👏 Here in South Africa there are no coupons, such a pity! There are really ways to live frugally, yet be healthy. God bless you all 🎉🎉🎉🎉
I also stopped shaving several years ago. Not to save money, but I guess it does have that nice side benefit. We use "family cloths". We've done this for many many years. The great TP shortage of 2020 didn't bother us one bit LOL I've also used a diva cup for decades. Can you imagine how much money I saved with that one?! We are currently building our small house with just cash. We are off grid and use power as minimally as possible. Solar lights are a game changer. Compost toilet saves all that flushed water. I have a small portable washing machine I got on Amazon that I do all but our bulkiest laundry in and hang dry all our laundry. The laundromat is expensive! Whenever I have to wash the bedspread or big heavy winter coats, I always only wash there then hang dry at home. We have also lived in an RV for a time. It's more difficult in a cold climate, and I don't ever want to have to do that again.
I love this video! I love your hair too without sounding weird. I’m very frugal but I don’t do without things like internet and other things deem essential. I use to dumpster dive for coupon inserts..lol..I was a CouponQueen or many years. I hand sewed my monthly pads. I wear no deodorant although I do shave my underarms with my $1000 free after coupons disposable razors from over 20 yrs ago. I cut my own hair, have not bought my mascara and eye liner in at least 5-6 yrs after using coupons they cost me a $1 each. I make my own body butter, my own chapstick from my home grown infused lemon balm as the base oil for the chapstick since I suffer from cold sores. I make all of our medicines, tinctures, salves, cough syrup, chest rub, jock itch salve, chub rub, wound salve,topical antibiotics,, tooth powder, shampoo, body wash to name some not all..I make all of our home cleaners as in pine needle infused rubbing alcohol (bathroom) , citrus peel vinegar cleaner. I foraged wild apple trees and put all of our apple goodies that I canned..all peels and cores I used to make apple cider vinegar with mother. 2-weeks ago I learned how to make pectin from wild apples and canned it. I make our wine from dandelions..blackberry brandy from foraging blackberries. Love to forage anything edible/medicinal. I found a huge patch of wild oregano that I harvested and made a tincture, a oil and dried a bunch as our spice. 2-weeks ago up the road from my house I saw a very unusual patch of white topped flower balls is the best way to subscribe it..a fyi~I’m always and I mean always looking at the sides of the road to spot any new to me edible/medicinal plants..anyhow..I googled anything that might look remotely close to this plant I saw it turned out it was a allium giant basically it’s a wild onion..lol..I have driven by this plant a million times but never noticed it until it went into bloom..I grabbed my shovel, a cardboard box and dug up a patch..this was on the side of the road, near a swamp-no I wasn’t stealing it from any bodies lawn..lol..plus the Town owns so many feet on both sides of the road so I’m sure the Town isn’t going to say anything. Anyhow..I planted it in my yard like I have done with many other foraged plants. Feel like I’m bragging but believe me I’m not..I learn any skills to help save money on a minute by minute basis.
@@raisingwildflowers ~it took me years. Since you own land and you are into self sufficiency and are a vegetarian I would invest in a perennial survival food if you don’t already know this and that’s to plant sunchokes, they are a potato substitute that is absolutely delicious in my opinion as well as medicinal excellent for diabetics as it has no carbohydrates to spike blood sugar..they grow very tall like 10ft plus -have a small sunflower in the late summer closer to fall in my area, after the first hard frost the plant will die and you dig up the tubers..I roast mine with a little olive oil, salt and garlic powder..you can put in soups and stews pretty much anything that you would use potatoes for. 1-plant can produce 2-3lbs and are very prolific and invasive. I bought from Etsy many years ago for $10 a lb have no idea how much they are now but once established you will forever have them for a food source and potential income if you choose to sell them. Also the stalk can be used as a tomato support they are very strong. There is nothing like having this plant in my opinion. Next would be having a perennial walking onion patch they are also delicious and the whole plant is edible. Very prolific once established..and a real money maker! I forgot where you said you live but I’m sure you can find/forage lots of edible perennials that you can dig up and plant on your property.
You are so smart & resourceful! Amazing how hard you work for your family. I hope they all know how incredible you are and how valuable the life lessons are that they're getting from you.♥️🇨🇦
I don't pay for wifi at home either. I also don't pay for cable. My TV is an older but very functional used flat screen TV. And I got an antenna I get about 15-20 local TV channels. Works perfectly for me. I get to watch the news but no cable bill.
I'm a Friend/Volunteer at a State Park. I can go there pretty much anytime for free. I've dumpster dove at the apartments I lived at. Got a great Christmas tree one year for free. Swapped babysitting with other single Moms. Before cell phones I would call my parents collect and ask for myself to let them know I made it back to my house. That way I didn't have to pay for a long distance call.
I'm 71 and a saver of just about everything, some for donations. I get some food from various food pantries because I can't physically do dumpster diving. I only buy clothes from thrift stores every couple of years and some clearance items. I get 27 dollars in food stamps only. I bought a winter coat at Walmart on sale for 20 bucks which was 3 years ago and I'm still wearing it. Its still in good shape. Same with my shoes, 3 years for one pair. One pair of shoes and one pair of slippers. I don't eat out ever.
Thanks for your transparency and sharing helpful ideas. I have been using a Diva Cup for about 10 years, so I save money on sanitary products. When I go out to eat, I usually always put some of my food aside to to take home for left-overs. When I get my hair professionally braided or done..I leave my style in for alot longer. My husband is a Barber Instructor, he arches my eyebrows, and cuts my son’s hair. I do water fast regularly for spiritual purposes, but it saves a little on food, and plus it has benefit my health tremendously. We use organic coconut oil for our hair and skin. I use natural soaps like oatmeal or almond to clean my face and for shaving. I try to shop for good deals at Sprouts, Publix, Aldi’s, Walmart, and other healthy food stores. We do prioritizing eating healthy, because in the long-run you will save money and enjoy life more if you are healthy. I workout at home, jog, RUclips videos, and have been certified in a few areas..I also have done a lot of research..my household have used lots of natural remedies to overcome health issues.
Used cotton diapers with both of my children. Made my own cotton diapers out of cotton tee shirts and other soft cotton apparel I would find at the thrift shops. Hang clothes on line, rather than use dryer. Buy everything I can used or on sale.
I burn candles at night to save on power, I used a crockpot to take a bath with when I had no hot water. Live out of cooler when I had no stove refrigerator to cook with. also used my dryer to stay warm in the winter because I had no heat. I would run it and get the room warm put hot water bottles in the bed and then if I got real cold, I get up and turn it back on again and it did not really run my power bill. It was like $10 a month, and that was because I had no stove, refrigerator or anything. I can live poor I’ve been there done that it’s a hard road a hoe, but it makes you a better person.
I bartered in a restaurant for them to only charge me for the take out price for fish and chips even though I was eating in the restaurant. It saved me $2 and then I left a hefty TIP for them doing so. It was a social experiment but I am sure it confused them.
Dumpster dive? Yes!! for food no! But, people will throw away the craziest stuff like burnt pans that a little time and effort come out spotless and Shiney..found lots of things in my younger years that we used to sell in yard sales and made money😊
Food stamps are hard to get. There's a lot of paperwork to fill out and hoops to jump through. For two people we got 186 dollars a month. It wasn't a lot, but we stretched them out and went to the food bank once a month for extras. I was on them while waiting for my disability approval from Social Security and that is also very hard to get. I worked for 35 years before I had to quit my job and apply. It took four years and documentation from my GP, my shrink, a neurologist, and a neurosurgeon plus I flunked two cognitive tests before I was finally approved. I never dumpster-dived for food. The most extreme thing I did for money was to sell my plasma twice a week but it was rough on me physically. I always felt drained and I fainted several times. afterward.
Really enjoyed your video, my first today. Subscribed. Thank you! Oh I’m 70 and stopped shaving my legs at 25. Soon I had no hair on my legs! Of course now I have very little underarm hair so no shaving there. Also never started the down below shaving, it wasn’t a thing in my day! ❤ instead of asking myself “what am I hungry for” I ask “what do I have on hand.”
I can’t wait to see your house build. I can see you guys doing a small barndominium!! I barely shave so I have a feeling I’m only giving away one month of my life to hair maintenance hahaha
Wow I share the fact that I don't shave really I never thought of it as saving money I just can't see that well as I used to thank you for sharing I feel better knowing that
I live in North western Indiana. Just a few miles south of Lake Michigan. Anywho, lol, USDA has loans and in some cases free $ for people who need heat or air repair or replacement. Hope this might help some people
Great list! I do not use toilet paper at home 😮 we have bidet and old face cloths. Works excellent and more hygienic. We still buy toilet paper for guests. Same goes for most other disposable products, just don't use them. Huge savings.
Wonderful video. I Have done these things to live frugal, & more, except for off grid cross country travel. I did cross from Ga to Ca , in my vehicle,& everywhere in between but stayed at motels, and been to Caribbeans twice …now, in my early 60s, extreme frugal in the mtns….its great to see you share how you all are living this way. The waste in this country is astronomical & sickening. Blessings on your journey!
Msstacy, me too they could have mobile food banks/kitchens where they provide meals. Theres so much waste. I only get 105 food stamps month.i get 10 lbs chicken thighs n a London broil beef n 5 lbs hamburger a ham.. anything left over i get canned corn peas green beans n carrots 60 eggs bread. ThTs bout it. I boil chicken off bone add 2 or 3 bags egg noodlesn when room cool i fill qt mason jars. 2 go in fridge n rest freezer. I eat 2 qts week and give some to my cats saving 2 or 3 cans that day. Each time i take 1 jar from fridge i put 1 from freezer into fridge. I boil beef till it falls apart add same vegs boil in a V-8. Same as with chicken. Hamburger i fry into patties when cool i put 3 in food store bags n freeze then when i make chili or spaghetti or burgers use 1 bag. Same with ham. That makes 28 days food n remaining food is whatever n thats how i dont have to use cash for food. It works n is healthy
I wish I knew how to dumpster dive and where and when. A friend brought me bags of kale and other veg from a dumpster (years ago). I made one of the best soups from it and still call my veg soups Dumpster Kale Soup.
My local senior center always has newly expired breads, muffins, cupcakes, from a nearby supermarket and available to senior citizens who come in. I also knew a young man who was part of a volunteer crew who would pick up newly expired food from the back of a local supermarket (free) and then distribute it to a local charity food bank/kitchen.
I used to dumpster dive at the supermarket near my home. They throw away good stuff. Even now I got no shame to talk about it. Today I'm at where I am because of frugality. 🙏
I'm up in Canada, but am also a U.S. citizen. Am wondering what states allow you to stay on your property in an RV. (Or do you need to be "in the process of" building a home on your land? Thx so much! Craziest thing for me in saving $$ was to buy an old storefront place that was uninsulated etc and I 'camped' in it all off grid. Just checked your Q & A video and got the answer to my question about RV's on land!
Appreciate your positive perspective on dumpster diving. I have a bad impression of people going through neighborhoods the night before trash day, digging through garbage for something they can resell because they would open bags and leave the trash scattered on people’s lawns. Not to mention the biohazard of discarded diapers, used menstrual products, rotting food, or even pet poop. Now we wait until the morning to put our garbage out. In my area grocery stores donate excess to local food banks. In the area I used to live, grocers locked their dumpsters.
I really want to hit up the DGs in my area. I’m so afraid of getting caught! How do you dumpster dive and not get caught? I personally do not care what anyone thinks of me going into a dumpster.
LIVE BELOW YOUR MEANS. ALWAYS WISE. DONT MOVE DOWN PURGE YES DUMPSTER DIVE GREAT CLOTHES LOVE LIBRARIES. YES VOLUNTEER OUTDOORS. AND AT OPERA HOUSE GO TO SPCA WALK DOGS TO SOCIALIZE THEM .
Increasingly states and cities are requiring markets to curb dumpster disposal of foods, mostly because urban dumps are filling up. The main option they have is to donate their food, and where I live the big regional food bank gets it all from every market I know of. Thankfully at the food bank, the food is shelved and given to those who need it, no dumpster diving required! If your location doesn't do this, maybe it's time to set up a local food bank and use local markets to fill the shelves.
We need to deal with ALL the fathers (it’s almost exclusively fathers) that do NOT provide financial support for THEIR OWN children. Why should mothers and children have to deal with food stamps and so little $$$ and why should taxpayers have to pay for that.
Maybe you and your beloved might consider building an Earthship. I’d love to live in one, but we’re retired and are debt free, so we will stay where we are. 💙
I am a baby boomer, and I stopped shaving except for 2x year, once at the beginning of summer, and once just before Christmas. My husband didn't care, so why should I? I also got a free paper delivered that I would go through to find free things to do with the kids. I started breastfeeding back when the nurses at the hospital would tell you that breastfeeding was nasty and that I should not consider it. I used cotton diapers when everyone else had gone on to disposable diapers, and hung my clothes out on a line, in the city. I now use family cloths and make my own cotton diapers that I must wear due to a disability. I also always took cash to the grocery store along with a manual hand calculator to make sure I didn't go over what I had budgeted. I used coupons and cash rebates. I bought stuff at CVS and Walgreens to get freebies and donated extras when I had them. I went to city hospitals on Sunday and 'with permission', I took the coupons that were still left in waiting rooms at the end of the evening. I also went to other places and got permission to gather coupons still left in the papers that were left out for their customers at the end of Sunday. I went dumpster diving before it was popular in the midwest. I cut up whole chickens and was given leftover turkey every Thanksgiving by my mom, so I bought a grinder to grind it up and put it in the freezer for turkey salads. As soon as I got married, I started trying out generic brands. I got free cothes for baby or went to thrift shops, which was looked down upon at that time, I actually lost a job because bosses found out I bought my clothes from a thrift shop, and they just couldn't/wouldn't take a chance that their neighborhood clients might find out. While I lived in the city, I used to bundle my youngest into a stroller while my daughter walked beside me,and we picked up a grocery size bag of cans on the weekend while also looking to see what everyone was throwing out. Then I would go back home to get the truck to pick up anything I thought we could use, like a bunk bed, a baby bed, like new carpeting that had a stain where I usually put my sofa, several partial bikes that my husband turned into two good bikes as the kids got older. I once owned a business in a small town and when my husband got let go from his job, we built an apartment into the back of it and lived there for awhile. Yes, my family considered me a wildchild! 😅 I have also been cutting my own hair for about a year because my disability check is barely enough to pay rent, and now I am considering moving into my van. I also noticed that their was always change laying around at bus stops and laundromats because people wouldn't bend down to pick up what they dropped. When i found out that places were buying used Levi's jeans, I bought themat thrift shops and garage sales, etc. and sold them at the business that bought them. I also bought gold jewelry this way as well and sold them at pawn shops, now i would do it on ebay... I know there are many more things I am forgetting, but I can tell thati did everything i could to save money because my husband didnt like me working even though everyone said you couldnt make it on one income, and my husband made minimum wage at that time! I also got free babysitting in exchange for cleaning 1 house, so that I could go clean houses a couple of days a week after the kids started school, ironed peoples clothes from home, babysat, pet sat, etc. to make extra money from home...
@cherylT321 Thank you, I had to be when my husband was making minimum wage and didn't want me working. Even after he doubled his income, he wanted more children, so I kept it up. It was hard work, but back in the 70s, everyone thought you needed a family income of about $7 hour to just scrape by. We usually did it on $3 except for the 2 houses that I started cleaning after baby #2, which eventually added a total of $50 week for 2 days of work.. And of course, we can't forget the bags of cans I picked up on the weekend, and later yet 50 cents worth of gold that turned into $10!
@ccstinchcomb2967 Even today, I believe you can make it on one income, though it might have to be more like $10hr. I bought my house while we lived on $3hr, although, I did have to borrow $1,000 toward the down payment. At that time, the average house was between $40,000 and $50,000. I found us a house for $18,000 and had to do some work on it, but I only had 1 child at the time. It was run down and ugly, but it was ours. I did have to do a lot of work, but it had decent bones. It was hard work, but back in the 70s, everyone thought you needed a family income of about $7 hour to just scrape by. We usually did it on $3hr, except for the 2 houses that I started cleaning after baby #2, which eventually added a total of $50 week for 2 days of work.. And of course, we can't forget the bags of cans I picked up on the weekend, and later yet 50 cents worth of gold that turned into $10 here and there! It was all worth it to get to see my children growing up. I simply had to replace working outside the home with working hard at home... and I saved on childcare costs, transportation costs, clothing costs, etc. For us, not having to pay out all that money on work expenses actually helped us out a lot. All together, we probably came out ahead by my not working outside the home. If more people today were willing to be creative, do a lot of investigating on how to do things cheaper, doing a lot of work instead of buying the newest electronics, etc, getting by on less, (I forgot to say that we went without a phone for over 10yrs, and only bought necessities for many of those years) they could probably be stay at home moms as well. After all, they claimed it couldn't be done back in the late 70s, 80s and 90s when I did it!
![Blox Fruits Dragon Rework Update [Full Stream]](http://i.ytimg.com/vi/EqDAp8udhm0/mqdefault.jpg)
What is the most extreme/crazy thing YOU have done to save money?
I used to shower only at work to save hit water at home. I only walked when shopping around town to save gas. I rented out all my bedrooms and slept in my living room to cash flow my daughters college. I never felt poor, I felt powerful and creative. You are such an inspiration and validation for frugal living.
Fantastic! My kids & husband all shower at the gym (they all have free memberships through work & school).
@@jamieperson7623 yes, powerful and creative.
@@KS-jf2jfyes! I loved her saying that!
Showering at the office saves me more than just heating some water, laundering towels, and more frequent shower cleanings.
I leave about 30 minutes earlier than I would have. Arriving at the office before 6am with the shower intention instead of 6:30 or 7 saves a noticeable amount of commute time and slowdowns. I'm going to shower somewhere sometime so I will take the extra 15 minutes given back through less busy roads.
You help yourself and other people. I personally rent a room and wash my clothes in my work place .I shower there too .
I buy 2 denium dresses every year and wear them daily all year long because they are durable and last a long time. I wear the older ones around the house and run errands. When they really start getting shabby, I patch them with quilting scraps and wear them to garden in. It's a total of $120 a year. I can dress them up or down. Layer them in cold weather and wear them with just sandals in the summer. It has become my trademark, and people recognize me often.
I have cut my own hair for over 40 years. I make and dehydrate treats for my dogs out of scraps and dog foods my granddaughter dumpster dives for. If they don't care for a particular kibble, I grind it down and add things to it that can be dehydrated into tasty treats. I save all my yarn and fabric scraps to make blankets for animal rescues. My husband's old jeans that can't be patched anymore, worn out shirts, sheets, blankets all get recycled into beds and blankets for rescue animals.
I buy marked down produce and can or dehydrated them. Buy only meat on sale and most other food items. I grow a small garden and make medicinal tinctures for ailments. I grow plants for birds and bees. I buy what is in season on sale. I drink water more than anything else, which saves money and is better for me.
I try to replace parts rather than throw out something and replace it with something new. I reuse jars to put things in rather than throw them out and not buy plastic storage containers. I use cloth hand towels rather than paper towels. I make a tube of toothpaste, containers of pshampoo, and hair conditioner last a year.
Once my shoes wear out I use them in the garden. I replace the handles on my gardening tools and sharpen them. I don't drive my car except when necessary and try to run all my errands in a circle back home in one trip. I use a pay as you go phone service, which costs me about $7 a month.
I make air freshers out of herbs, and citrus peels simmered on the parlor stove or over a tea light. I use vinegar, baking soda, and peroxide to clean around the house instead of buying expensive cleaning products. I use Borax, baking soda, citrus peel water, bay leaves, and other herbs, or food grade Diemetrious earth for pest control against insects and rodents.
I could keep going because every decision I make is geared towards conserving resources.
Using your food stamps to buy food then using the extra care bucks to get non food items is truly a genius move. 😮. I was on food stamps as a young mother and I used my time on welfare to go to college. It got me through the first 2 years. I had to take student loans for the last years. I really think it’s not a hand out, it’s a hand up. Now as a registered nurse I hope my taxes go to help people in their time of need.
💜
The food stamp program also supports farmers and our agriculture economy.
Throwing away food from these stores VERSUS donating to local food banks or shelters is bananas to me!!!!!
In my state grocery stores donate to the food pantries. However, many items get dumped due to the transit time from store to pantry to client to preparing and finally eating it.
State health department laws mandate ridiculous practices.
No no no, it's bananas to the dumpster, then the land fill.
Greedy corporate America. They’d rather throw away the food than save a starving person because they refuse to lose a penny of profit.
I did 10 months without buying any clothes, also managed to de-clutter and re-think my style during that time!😅
I pick up receipts on the ground outside of stores and put them in my fetch app
I do the exact same!😊
Please share how beneficial fetch app is, thanks! does it TRACK your lifestyle and do something undesirable with the info?
Me too
I use receipt hog.
Me too
Have done all of these things; and at fifty seven am a entrenched freegan. Everything i have and procured over the past thirty five years, have lived on my own; got given, found, bartered, etc. freely with no money, and that made it so, despite, living on a very low (extremely) income, was able to buy my home, raise two kids, and live happily and comfortably without a vehicle for the last thirty years, very grateful and very blessed to be stress free financially in life
Dumpster dove for food and furniture/goods. I would flip items for money. This was some 20 years ago. Things I have always done 1. Line drying clothes. I only toss my heavy blankets and jeans into the dryer for a 12 minute final fluff and dry. 2. Eating mostly vegetarian or vegan. Meat is too expensive. My favorite is vegetable lasagna. 3. I wore only black, white, some navy and burgundy- had a capsule wardrobe that functioned for every situation. My biggest expense was good shoes that last. 4. Learning to maintain what I owned and taking good care of it- car, clothes, shoes, cooking items, etc. You can learn a lot on YT or at the library. 5. I did the drugstore stackable coupons and what nots- had enough toothpaste, detergent, OTC medicines, hygiene products for 5 years for nothing or pennies. 6. I don't use electricity unless I have too. I keep simple, unscented candles (In a hurricane lamp with a mirror) for deep winter nights. I also put solar string lights in my windows. Unless I really have to see, I don't turn on lights. 7. Libraries- go use your libraries! Besides books, you can utilize computers, free seeds, free classes, etc. 8. I've done my own hair for 30 years. I do get a nice cut 1x a year and I take it from there. I know stylists are amazing but I cannot afford the expense then or now. 9. Buying second hand for as much as I can, though now, it's getting ridiculous. 10. Closing off complete rooms and just heating/cooling rooms that we used. 11. Live in my car during the summer, in New England. Rented out my condo (I lived by the water) and made enough money to pay the mortgage and put some money away. 12. Painted all my homes with returned paint. Saved a LOT! 13. Live as off grid, even though I live near the city (For work). 14. In New England, you could collect cans and bottles for money. It also helped me get in a lot of walking. I made an average of $30 a month. 15. I use just bar soap for my body, including face, and to shave with. 16. Trade parties- clothes, art supplies, furniture, decorative items, etc. 17. I don't do anything that is trendy, especially when it come to eating or food. I eat basic foods- a salad with some tomatoes, olives and vinegar/oil dressing. I do roast my vegetables. Usually 2 types a plate. I like white rice and pasta. I eat frozen and canned vegetables. I grow my own radishes (I like the French Breakfast ones and I eat them like chips, with salt). Grow a few herbs. I don't go crazy. Oh I like to grow baby carrots too and beets. 18. I only drive to work, do all my errands in one night (keep life simple, so I don't have many) and I stay at home and buy a new art project for my birthday and at the holidays. Then I work on it all year. I ask for gift cards if people want to get me something. It's my treat splurge. 19. I worked for a vet, on a Sunday, doing their paperwork and laundry, to get free shots for my pets. 20. I live small, but not tiny house small, I've never upgraded anything to keep up with anyone. I work my job and go hiking, canoeing and to museums ( get a a deep discount for a lot of stuff for being a Veteran in Texas,) I will say, look for free stuff or reduced stuff based on your classification- I'm a Vet, educator and over 50, so I get some good deals. 21. I mad my own bedspread, after my last one ripped. I used all cotton clothes I had, made a beautiful crazy quilt. Got all the thread and what nots for almost free using coupons. Jo Ann's used to let you use their sewing machines for a small fee.
You don't have to answer to anyone that you dumpster dived you provided for you and your family, love all of your ideas thank you so much for sharing my family thinks I'm cheap but what they don't know is I live off half my income no debt and alot in savings my clothes are shabby but I'm a good person ❤❤❤
@@AnnMarieHall-l6c you have and do all the things that matter, you rock!
Money has nothing to do character.
We used to take a lot of walks and always carried a plastic bag to collect cans. We turned them in for money and bought savings bonds for our kids. That helped fund college!
Did you report that as income to the IRS? No shade. A lot of people scrap, just curious..
@pamsmith1665 it was only a few dollars a month
@iriswelch3553 I use to collect cans also to sell
@iriswelch3553 we also walked and collected cans when my kids were little. I also kept my eyes open for the things people put out with the trash, such as beds, table and chairs, bicycles (husband took all the parts off of many and made 2 working bikes). We also found a brand new looking carpet, (except for one small stain in the same place as where I parked my couch, and no one ever saw it...
Betcha couldn't do that nowadays
You are a kick-a- problem-solver, trying all those ways to provide well for yourself and your family! Thanks.
That’s what programs like food stamps are for: to help you get on your feet. My daughters received help as single moms and now are contributing to pass it on. Nothing to apologize for!
Have dumpster Dive. But the chip guy would call me and tell me that he would left boxes on top for me.All different types of chips.And I had a bread man that did the same thing. Came in handy when I was raising all my kids
God bless those men,that was very nice 🙏 of them
My sister and I used to dumpster dive when we were sharing an apartment and splitting the bills
I was a manager at a store that would throw all the food away even when it was still good. We had several dumpsters so I would have the employees separate the food into separate dumpsters so that people could dumpster dive and the food would stay better that way, you know produce in one and boxed foods in another. You are right about there being so much waste. I also worked at a school as a janitor and you would not believe the waste that goes on there. It is terrible.
You are also helping the planet, wildlife and other humans through your frugal living. Thank you!❤
@@anniep855 Frugal living is almost always sustainable living 🌍
I’d say my house is furnished/decorated with 75-80% free, dumpster-dived, used, and/or thrifted items. I scored my dresser 20 years ago when a neighbor moved out of their apartment and kept it since. Turns out, it’s a very sought-after piece worth over $2,500.
@KeliOConnor wow..if u absolutely had to,you could sell it for that much..down size to something else and put the money towards something else you needed 🤔
I like to get my furniture at the "curb store." Except for my bed, all of the furniture in my room I found for free sitting on the curb. I live in a college town so you can find some good stuff when the students leave for home. 😀
oh - - i almost forgot - the town where our beach cottage is has a "swap shop" i take great junk from there on the regular.... appliances - kitchen wares - bedding - wind surfers - reclaimed pavers - garden soil - sand - furniture - luggage - old doors windows - lawn mowers - garden tools - books dvds ---art - a chicken coop - power tools - crystal - china - ladders everything....
my 2 cottages are basically outfitted from the dump top to bottom .....
We spent 6 summers camp/park hosting at a state parks that we loved when our children were between the ages of 8-15. Lots of really fun memories, we learned about how parks were run. Our kids got service learning, and experience for boy/girl scouts. We received free firewood when cleaning campsites, and found all sorts of beach towels, sunscreen and toys during our evening beach cleanups. Not to mention all the interesting people we met, especially the AT hikers. Now I work at a preschool and take home the left over snacks that would otherwise be thrown away several times a week. I also batch cook larger portions when using the instant pot, or oven. Recently bought a used plug in hybrid car and have not had to buy any gas in 5 weeks. It uses about $1 of electricity for my work commute compared to the $3-4 daily that the SUV we had used.
@@ccstinchcomb2967 I expect that was a lot of fun, and what great memories your children must have!
Things I have done. When I worked at this one hotel, every Monday the manager would let me take any coupons out of the leftover newspapers that didn't sell before they were thrown out. Kids and I have went dumpster diving. Every Sunday, weather permitting, we take a walk in the neighborhood to see if other are throwing out anything worth saving. By doing that we have found guitars, storage bins and baskets, desks, a pleather sofa and a Keurig. We except hand me down. Half the kids clothes and all furniture except for 3 dressers, a sofa, 3 shelves, and 2 futons were free. I work at a bagel shop and when we close, i take bagels before they get thrown out
Desperate times call for desperate measures. I was raised in a poor household and I now appreciate the value of that experience. I almost never throw anything away, reuse, repurpose, recycle. Plus I hate giving money to billionaires so I will continue to hone my frugal living skills!
Thank you for looking after animals... God bless you.
My husband uses a walk behind brush hog, I let it cure and then hand bail it with a large tote. I feed the hay to my goats, when I clean out their stall, I scrape the wasted hay off the top and trow it in the chicken run, the rest of their bedding goes to build soil. Once a year I clean out the run and compost it for my raised beds. I am able to feed my 3 small goats for 3 to 4 months of the winter for free (still need to buy some hay). Tore down an oak shed, it has made a cabinet, a new table top for an antique base, a coffee table, had the 2x4s and 2x6s turned into planks for flooring ($100 for 2 rooms).
Thanks for sharing! Appreciate your honest, down to earth videos- you’re very inspiring ☺️
in some countries it is illegal to throw out food that can still be eaten- I hate that they just do not donate the dog food - that sort of shocks me
In my area,1major national retailer, puts the old bread nect to the dumpsters in old bread racks for those in need, the manager said he planned to keep doing it as long as the area stayed neat and tidy!
Great ideas in the comments. Think these may be different than those mentioned. Made numerous quilts for winter use from old fabrics. Cut down adult clothes for the kids. Almost all our furniture, clothing, dishware is used. Obtained from freecycle, trash picking, second hand stores, yard sales, auctions, facebook marketplace, nextdoor, gifts from family and friends. When the kids were small, I built them a tree house from mostly salvaged materials left out on large trash days. Currently making use of a local food give away program in town, very grateful for it. Surplus farm produce and day old baked goods from a local grocery. We shop at a bump and dent grocer. Currently building a raised vegetable bed from salvaged lumber. Compost veggie scraps, eggshells. Free hobbies. Bird watching, rock collecting, learning new stuff from youtube.
We have a ''Dumpster Diving Network" in my city. People share tips, ideas and good locations. Most food is perfectly good and it's terrible to see it trashed, but a lot of us are taking it and using it which is great. There is no shame anymore as food has become so terribly expensive everywhere and most people.
How brilliant that you used your food stamps to get all your extras from CVS for free, that’s amazing and impressive 💗
So Brilliant! I like your mentality, you are always winning. Keep it up!
👍
I use a menstral cup and cloth pads, I wash my clothes in a 5 gal bucket and a laundry plunger with homemade laundry soap, I use a shampoo bar and cider vinegar for my hair - no shampoo for over 7 years now. I use the Flashfood app to buy meat that’s close to its best before date and either eat it right away or freeze it. “Family Cloths” for wiping after urination. I don’t drink, smoke, gamble or drive a car. I have never turned on the air condition8ng in my apartment - I don’t know if it works.
What shampoo bar do u use?
@@tayloredenfield9463 I found one at my local bulk shop but I don’t really like it. I started using it so long ago that I don’t remember the name. I have occasionally used liquid castille soap in my hair but it’s very concentrated. I will try a more mild shampoo bar next time. But they last so long it’s going to be months from now..
There is a local thrift store m/food pantry that gets all of Walmarts misfits. Bread, produce etc the extra they cannot give out at the pantry, they leave out for their thrift store customers. I stop there before hitting the dented canned goods and markdowns at Kroger, aldi and Walmart. The thrift store often has bag days that fir $3 I can fill a bag of clothes for my daughter for about a week! So much of them are almost perfect and sometimes new with tags. A years worth of clothes she outgrows quickly maybe cost $20 including shoes and coats from there too! I’ve even found things for my husband and me too there! Old torn sheets, I usually buy flannel sheets, get cut up into rags, hankies and reusable paper towels or dog beds and barn cat blankets. Old clothes become rags and I make potholders and rugs out of strips braided together. We often cook over a campfire Edie idly after a storm when limbs fall down. Running water to get hot water I save for the coffee maker or cooking or put in a pitcher in the fridge to drink. We wear our clothes a few times before washing, my daughters and my clothes that are lightly soiled I only wash in water only. Extra dirty or greasy and my husbands greasy clothes I do need detergent. I grow a garden to feed us and the plants and not prime food go to pigs and chickens and they get our scraps. We compost chicken droppings for fertilizer for the gardens. I can and dehydrate everything I can. We invested in a freeze dryer and now saving up to get the electrical upgraded. W bought a rundown 1880’s schoolhouse to renovate and live in 1 small corner of the house that’s got 1 room and 1 bathroom. It’s less to heat that way too. I use all the coupon apps and store apps to save on food and household goods. If we have friends or neighbors going on vacation, I’ll watch the house or let pets out in trade for the foods that’ll go bad in their fridge and gardens while they’re gone. Local farmers also let me take the leftovers that are last their prime that they dont want to pick, it’s not a lot but it helps!
garden solar lights for indoor night lights
This is actually a great idea. Thanks for sharing!
Good for you lady! You’ve done really well with a minimum foot print! Not easy to do congratulations ❤
I bought a book on edible weeds such as dandelion, persulaine etc. I have an ancient (Warrigal green)a type of spinach growing on our land. This plant grows all over the world and is extremely nutritious once it is blanched.
it is worth it to find out what edible weeds grow locally. in southern california we have lamb's quarters, mallow, and other greens that make great pesto sauce for spaghetti or added to soups, i freeze what we not use before the season ends.
Got kitchen cabinets off the side of the road and made my summer kitchen in my basement. That's where I didn't my canning in the summer.
We grow most of our food in the garden, have a compost toilet ( which means no water bill for this plus no fertilizer because of composting everthing). Having a wood stove and chicken helps too.
Our first year of marriage, we did a live in job at a group home while I finished grad school. The free rent saved us over $700 a month, and the job hours were just a couple hours every morning.
We worked at one for 3 years!! It saved us lot of money too!
I charge any electronics at work, there's a washer and dryer there too that I will take my bulky cloths to
You are doing really well honey, keep it up!!! Rob Greenfield is a Legend!!!
Wow, I took a deep dive into the comments section! Had to give my 2 cents: people are entitled to their opinions, of course and we are allowed the right to free speech (assuming we are American in this little rabbit hole on body hair), some people shave because their hair is coarse and curls and ends up ingrown (ouch!), some people shave because they are conventionally minded, some shave because they like how it looks or feels. Some people do not shave because they have light hair and can 'get away with it'. Some people shave because they think their deodorant works better without the hair. Some people have such a small amount of hair (post menopause) that it is not an issue unless you choose to shave the couple short hairs you have. Some people shave only in the summer when wearing garments that will expose the hair. Some people just don't care about their hair! Be kind to others and don't judge because it is a tough world already. ❤ 😉 Love to you all.
very good idea to share all that !! I sold my car last year and walk or take public transportation (50% of the fee is paid by my employer, this is mandatory in France) and I saved so much money and I am in better shape ! I shower in a basin and I use the water to flush the toilet (not so much for the money but because so much water wasted)...
We pick up kitchen cabinets
And appliances etc. That others leave at the curb. With signs that say free.
I’m all in except the shaving part, I’m not skipping that !
They have made dumpster diving illegal in my state and most places have locked gates around them….frustrating!
Great strategies!We had to use food stamps once when my husband hurt his leg- the looks and the humiliating looks from other customers made us try to get off of them asap. No, I couldn’t work at the time- problem pregnancy, I wasn’t being lazy
Food pantries are a great resource too... I only go if close to being out I don't go every time the door is open if I have enough to get me by then I'll leave it for someone else but if I'm having a hard time struggling then yeah I'll definitely go to a food pantry...
Bloody good for you!Smart,clever,innovative,intelligent thinking.
I’ve heard so many times of people going through dumpsters of Ulta and Sephora because so much make up/beauty products are thrown away.
Online surveys would get be out of a lot of binds. Awesome video. Oh I lived in my car too!
I boil water for coffee, tea etc. then put the leftover hot water in a flask for later instead of reheating water every single time. Saves on gas/ electricity.
You're amazing 👏 Here in South Africa there are no coupons, such a pity! There are really ways to live frugally, yet be healthy. God bless you all 🎉🎉🎉🎉
I also stopped shaving several years ago. Not to save money, but I guess it does have that nice side benefit.
We use "family cloths". We've done this for many many years. The great TP shortage of 2020 didn't bother us one bit LOL I've also used a diva cup for decades. Can you imagine how much money I saved with that one?!
We are currently building our small house with just cash. We are off grid and use power as minimally as possible. Solar lights are a game changer. Compost toilet saves all that flushed water.
I have a small portable washing machine I got on Amazon that I do all but our bulkiest laundry in and hang dry all our laundry. The laundromat is expensive! Whenever I have to wash the bedspread or big heavy winter coats, I always only wash there then hang dry at home.
We have also lived in an RV for a time. It's more difficult in a cold climate, and I don't ever want to have to do that again.
I love this video! I love your hair too without sounding weird. I’m very frugal but I don’t do without things like internet and other things deem essential. I use to dumpster dive for coupon inserts..lol..I was a CouponQueen or many years. I hand sewed my monthly pads. I wear no deodorant although I do shave my underarms with my $1000 free after coupons disposable razors from over 20 yrs ago. I cut my own hair, have not bought my mascara and eye liner in at least 5-6 yrs after using coupons they cost me a $1 each. I make my own body butter, my own chapstick from my home grown infused lemon balm as the base oil for the chapstick since I suffer from cold sores. I make all of our medicines, tinctures, salves, cough syrup, chest rub, jock itch salve, chub rub, wound salve,topical antibiotics,, tooth powder, shampoo, body wash to name some not all..I make all of our home cleaners as in pine needle infused rubbing alcohol (bathroom) , citrus peel vinegar cleaner. I foraged wild apple trees and put all of our apple goodies that I canned..all peels and cores I used to make apple cider vinegar with mother. 2-weeks ago I learned how to make pectin from wild apples and canned it. I make our wine from dandelions..blackberry brandy from foraging blackberries. Love to forage anything edible/medicinal. I found a huge patch of wild oregano that I harvested and made a tincture, a oil and dried a bunch as our spice. 2-weeks ago up the road from my house I saw a very unusual patch of white topped flower balls is the best way to subscribe it..a fyi~I’m always and I mean always looking at the sides of the road to spot any new to me edible/medicinal plants..anyhow..I googled anything that might look remotely close to this plant I saw it turned out it was a allium giant basically it’s a wild onion..lol..I have driven by this plant a million times but never noticed it until it went into bloom..I grabbed my shovel, a cardboard box and dug up a patch..this was on the side of the road, near a swamp-no I wasn’t stealing it from any bodies lawn..lol..plus the Town owns so many feet on both sides of the road so I’m sure the Town isn’t going to say anything. Anyhow..I planted it in my yard like I have done with many other foraged plants. Feel like I’m bragging but believe me I’m not..I learn any skills to help save money on a minute by minute basis.
These are all GREAT ideas! I am wanting to learn to do so many of these things :)
This is so impressive!!
Ohhh my you are so resourceful!
@@raisingwildflowers ~it took me years. Since you own land and you are into self sufficiency and are a vegetarian I would invest in a perennial survival food if you don’t already know this and that’s to plant sunchokes, they are a potato substitute that is absolutely delicious in my opinion as well as medicinal excellent for diabetics as it has no carbohydrates to spike blood sugar..they grow very tall like 10ft plus -have a small sunflower in the late summer closer to fall in my area, after the first hard frost the plant will die and you dig up the tubers..I roast mine with a little olive oil, salt and garlic powder..you can put in soups and stews pretty much anything that you would use potatoes for. 1-plant can produce 2-3lbs and are very prolific and invasive. I bought from Etsy many years ago for $10 a lb have no idea how much they are now but once established you will forever have them for a food source and potential income if you choose to sell them. Also the stalk can be used as a tomato support they are very strong. There is nothing like having this plant in my opinion.
Next would be having a perennial walking onion patch they are also delicious and the whole plant is edible. Very prolific once established..and a real money maker!
I forgot where you said you live but I’m sure you can find/forage lots of edible perennials that you can dig up and plant on your property.
You are a wealth of amazing ideas! You should write a book or something!
You are so smart & resourceful! Amazing how hard you work for your family. I hope they all know how incredible you are and how valuable the life lessons are that they're getting from you.♥️🇨🇦
My husband and I lived in a cleaned out tiny tool shed..with a newborn!
Why?
@pamsmith1665 there was nowhere else to stay at the time
@@glendaschilder3048 why were you having a child when you couldn't even provide?
@pamsmith6890 I wasn't ready, but my narc husband didn't listen, didn't care..he was mean to us but..that's a whole other story 😔
Children are a blessing from the Lord. God bless you.
Great video. That’s too much for me but I hope to have a solar panel setup and rain barrel someday soon.
I don't pay for wifi at home either. I also don't pay for cable. My TV is an older but very functional used flat screen TV. And I got an antenna I get about 15-20 local TV channels. Works perfectly for me. I get to watch the news but no cable bill.
I also don't use my dishwasher. I'm the only one at home so really no need to use my dishwasher I honestly use it as storage for pots and pans. 🤷
I'm a Friend/Volunteer at a State Park. I can go there pretty much anytime for free. I've dumpster dove at the apartments I lived at. Got a great Christmas tree one year for free. Swapped babysitting with other single Moms. Before cell phones I would call my parents collect and ask for myself to let them know I made it back to my house. That way I didn't have to pay for a long distance call.
You are so smart.i do many of these things too respect
Hygiene cloths insteda of tp
Forage wild foods
Turn off hot water heater
Heat with wood when the temperature goes to freezing,
Wear layers of clothes.
I use that CVS trick at our local grocery store. They give you up to a dollar off on gas, so I can fill up 2x a month and spend 1.75 per gallon
I'm 71 and a saver of just about everything, some for donations. I get some food from various food pantries because I can't physically do dumpster diving. I only buy clothes from thrift stores every couple of years and some clearance items. I get 27 dollars in food stamps only. I bought a winter coat at Walmart on sale for 20 bucks which was 3 years ago and I'm still wearing it. Its still in good shape. Same with my shoes, 3 years for one pair. One pair of shoes and one pair of slippers. I don't eat out ever.
Great video. I love being frugal
Watching from South Carolina. You go girl!
Thanks for your transparency and sharing helpful ideas. I have been using a Diva Cup for about 10 years, so I save money on sanitary products. When I go out to eat, I usually always put some of my food aside to to take home for left-overs. When I get my hair professionally braided or done..I leave my style in for alot longer. My husband is a Barber Instructor, he arches my eyebrows, and cuts my son’s hair. I do water fast regularly for spiritual purposes, but it saves a little on food, and plus it has benefit my health tremendously. We use organic coconut oil for our hair and skin. I use natural soaps like oatmeal or almond to clean my face and for shaving. I try to shop for good deals at Sprouts, Publix, Aldi’s, Walmart, and other healthy food stores. We do prioritizing eating healthy, because in the long-run you will save money and enjoy life more if you are healthy. I workout at home, jog, RUclips videos, and have been certified in a few areas..I also have done a lot of research..my household have used lots of natural remedies to overcome health issues.
Used cotton diapers with both of my children. Made my own cotton diapers out of cotton tee shirts and other soft cotton apparel I would find at the thrift shops. Hang clothes on line, rather than use dryer. Buy everything I can used or on sale.
I burn candles at night to save on power, I used a crockpot to take a bath with when I had no hot water. Live out of cooler when I had no stove refrigerator to cook with. also used my dryer to stay warm in the winter because I had no heat. I would run it and get the room warm put hot water bottles in the bed and then if I got real cold, I get up and turn it back on again and it did not really run my power bill. It was like $10 a month, and that was because I had no stove, refrigerator or anything. I can live poor I’ve been there done that it’s a hard road a hoe, but it makes you a better person.
WINTER. WARM MOHAIR SWEATER AND KNIT HAT
Im also on food stamps and learning how to better stretch them to
it is sad they are locking the dumpsters. I wish they would donate the food to shelters.
Yes, my local Family Dollar locks their dumpsters.
We live in an inhumane society. They will starve people to keep profits high for shareholders.
I bartered in a restaurant for them to only charge me for the take out price for fish and chips even though I was eating in the restaurant. It saved me $2 and then I left a hefty TIP for them doing so. It was a social experiment but I am sure it confused them.
Dumpster dive? Yes!! for food no! But, people will throw away the craziest stuff like burnt pans that a little time and effort come out spotless and Shiney..found lots of things in my younger years that we used to sell in yard sales and made money😊
Food stamps are hard to get. There's a lot of paperwork to fill out and hoops to jump through. For two people we got 186 dollars a month. It wasn't a lot, but we stretched them out and went to the food bank once a month for extras. I was on them while waiting for my disability approval from Social Security and that is also very hard to get. I worked for 35 years before I had to quit my job and apply. It took four years and documentation from my GP, my shrink, a neurologist, and a neurosurgeon plus I flunked two cognitive tests before I was finally approved. I never dumpster-dived for food. The most extreme thing I did for money was to sell my plasma twice a week but it was rough on me physically. I always felt drained and I fainted several times. afterward.
Really enjoyed your video, my first today. Subscribed. Thank you! Oh I’m 70 and stopped shaving my legs at 25. Soon I had no hair on my legs! Of course now I have very little underarm hair so no shaving there. Also never started the down below shaving, it wasn’t a thing in my day! ❤ instead of asking myself “what am I hungry for” I ask “what do I have on hand.”
I can’t wait to see your house build. I can see you guys doing a small barndominium!!
I barely shave so I have a feeling I’m only giving away one month of my life to hair maintenance hahaha
Wow I share the fact that I don't shave really I never thought of it as saving money I just can't see that well as I used to thank you for sharing I feel better knowing that
I live in North western Indiana. Just a few miles south of Lake Michigan. Anywho, lol, USDA has loans and in some cases free $ for people who need heat or air repair or replacement. Hope this might help some people
Great list!
I do not use toilet paper at home 😮 we have bidet and old face cloths. Works excellent and more hygienic. We still buy toilet paper for guests. Same goes for most other disposable products, just don't use them. Huge savings.
Wonderful video. I Have done these things to live frugal, & more, except for off grid cross country travel. I did cross from Ga to Ca , in my vehicle,& everywhere in between but stayed at motels, and been to Caribbeans twice …now, in my early 60s, extreme frugal in the mtns….its great to see you share how you all are living this way.
The waste in this country is astronomical & sickening.
Blessings on your journey!
Msstacy, me too they could have mobile food banks/kitchens where they provide meals. Theres so much waste. I only get 105 food stamps month.i get 10 lbs chicken thighs n a London broil beef n 5 lbs hamburger a ham.. anything left over i get canned corn peas green beans n carrots 60 eggs bread. ThTs bout it. I boil chicken off bone add 2 or 3 bags egg noodlesn when room cool i fill qt mason jars. 2 go in fridge n rest freezer. I eat 2 qts week and give some to my cats saving 2 or 3 cans that day. Each time i take 1 jar from fridge i put 1 from freezer into fridge. I boil beef till it falls apart add same vegs boil in a V-8. Same as with chicken. Hamburger i fry into patties when cool i put 3 in food store bags n freeze then when i make chili or spaghetti or burgers use 1 bag. Same with ham. That makes 28 days food n remaining food is whatever n thats how i dont have to use cash for food. It works n is healthy
I hit the clearance areas in all my local stores. Only for stuff I can actually use. Also thrift stores, if I need something.
I wish I knew how to dumpster dive and where and when. A friend brought me bags of kale and other veg from a dumpster (years ago). I made one of the best soups from it and still call my veg soups Dumpster Kale Soup.
My local senior center always has newly expired breads, muffins, cupcakes, from a nearby supermarket and available to senior citizens who come in. I also knew a young man who was part of a volunteer crew who would pick up newly expired food from the back of a local supermarket (free) and then distribute it to a local charity food bank/kitchen.
Many dumpsters have fences now around them.
I used to dumpster dive at the supermarket near my home. They throw away good stuff. Even now I got no shame to talk about it. Today I'm at where I am because of frugality. 🙏
CVS has some great deals on products where you can earn extra bucks. Our prescriptions are at CVS and we earn extra bucks that way. Great program!
I'm up in Canada, but am also a U.S. citizen. Am wondering what states allow you to stay on your property in an RV. (Or do you need to be "in the process of" building a home on your land? Thx so much! Craziest thing for me in saving $$ was to buy an old storefront place that was uninsulated etc and I 'camped' in it all off grid. Just checked your Q & A video and got the answer to my question about RV's on land!
Oklahoma will let you live in an RV . I bought 5 acres outside of city limits and no permits were required to build my shed to house.
Appreciate your positive perspective on dumpster diving. I have a bad impression of people going through neighborhoods the night before trash day, digging through garbage for something they can resell because they would open bags and leave the trash scattered on people’s lawns. Not to mention the biohazard of discarded diapers, used menstrual products, rotting food, or even pet poop. Now we wait until the morning to put our garbage out.
In my area grocery stores donate excess to local food banks. In the area I used to live, grocers locked their dumpsters.
I really want to hit up the DGs in my area. I’m so afraid of getting caught! How do you dumpster dive and not get caught? I personally do not care what anyone thinks of me going into a dumpster.
LIVE BELOW YOUR MEANS. ALWAYS WISE. DONT MOVE DOWN PURGE YES DUMPSTER DIVE GREAT CLOTHES LOVE LIBRARIES. YES VOLUNTEER OUTDOORS. AND AT OPERA HOUSE GO TO SPCA WALK DOGS TO SOCIALIZE THEM .
A friend of mine renovated her own house and replaced tiles of the floor, in the hair shop she works at
Increasingly states and cities are requiring markets to curb dumpster disposal of foods, mostly because urban dumps are filling up. The main option they have is to donate their food, and where I live the big regional food bank gets it all from every market I know of. Thankfully at the food bank, the food is shelved and given to those who need it, no dumpster diving required! If your location doesn't do this, maybe it's time to set up a local food bank and use local markets to fill the shelves.
Great ❤video you do what you have to I applaud you 👏👏👏👏👏👏
We need to deal with ALL the fathers (it’s almost exclusively fathers) that do NOT provide financial support for THEIR OWN children. Why should mothers and children have to deal with food stamps and so little $$$ and why should taxpayers have to pay for that.
Maybe you and your beloved might consider building an Earthship. I’d love to live in one, but we’re retired and are debt free, so we will stay where we are. 💙
Amazing ideas.
Great vlog I haven’t shaved in years. I’ve done all sorts of crazy things to save money.
Great job!
I am a baby boomer, and I stopped shaving except for 2x year, once at the beginning of summer, and once just before Christmas. My husband didn't care, so why should I? I also got a free paper delivered that I would go through to find free things to do with the kids. I started breastfeeding back when the nurses at the hospital would tell you that breastfeeding was nasty and that I should not consider it. I used cotton diapers when everyone else had gone on to disposable diapers, and hung my clothes out on a line, in the city. I now use family cloths and make my own cotton diapers that I must wear due to a disability. I also always took cash to the grocery store along with a manual hand calculator to make sure I didn't go over what I had budgeted. I used coupons and cash rebates. I bought stuff at CVS and Walgreens to get freebies and donated extras when I had them. I went to city hospitals on Sunday and 'with permission', I took the coupons that were still left in waiting rooms at the end of the evening. I also went to other places and got permission to gather coupons still left in the papers that were left out for their customers at the end of Sunday. I went dumpster diving before it was popular in the midwest. I cut up whole chickens and was given leftover turkey every Thanksgiving by my mom, so I bought a grinder to grind it up and put it in the freezer for turkey salads. As soon as I got married, I started trying out generic brands. I got free cothes for baby or went to thrift shops, which was looked down upon at that time, I actually lost a job because bosses found out I bought my clothes from a thrift shop, and they just couldn't/wouldn't take a chance that their neighborhood clients might find out. While I lived in the city, I used to bundle my youngest into a stroller while my daughter walked beside me,and we picked up a grocery size bag of cans on the weekend while also looking to see what everyone was throwing out. Then I would go back home to get the truck to pick up anything I thought we could use, like a bunk bed, a baby bed, like new carpeting that had a stain where I usually put my sofa, several partial bikes that my husband turned into two good bikes as the kids got older. I once owned a business in a small town and when my husband got let go from his job, we built an apartment into the back of it and lived there for awhile. Yes, my family considered me a wildchild! 😅 I have also been cutting my own hair for about a year because my disability check is barely enough to pay rent, and now I am considering moving into my van. I also noticed that their was always change laying around at bus stops and laundromats because people wouldn't bend down to pick up what they dropped. When i found out that places were buying used Levi's jeans, I bought themat thrift shops and garage sales, etc. and sold them at the business that bought them. I also bought gold jewelry this way as well and sold them at pawn shops, now i would do it on ebay... I know there are many more things I am forgetting, but I can tell thati did everything i could to save money because my husband didnt like me working even though everyone said you couldnt make it on one income, and my husband made minimum wage at that time! I also got free babysitting in exchange for cleaning 1 house, so that I could go clean houses a couple of days a week after the kids started school, ironed peoples clothes from home, babysat, pet sat, etc. to make extra money from home...
Wow, that was so amazing! You were really awesome in your resourcefulness!
You are truly the Resourcefulness Queen! Love it!
@cherylT321 Thank you, I had to be when my husband was making minimum wage and didn't want me working. Even after he doubled his income, he wanted more children, so I kept it up. It was hard work, but back in the 70s, everyone thought you needed a family income of about $7 hour to just scrape by. We usually did it on $3 except for the 2 houses that I started cleaning after baby #2, which eventually added a total of $50 week for 2 days of work.. And of course, we can't forget the bags of cans I picked up on the weekend, and later yet 50 cents worth of gold that turned into $10!
@ccstinchcomb2967 Even today, I believe you can make it on one income, though it might have to be more like $10hr. I bought my house while we lived on $3hr, although, I did have to borrow $1,000 toward the down payment. At that time, the average house was between $40,000 and $50,000. I found us a house for $18,000 and had to do some work on it, but I only had 1 child at the time. It was run down and ugly, but it was ours. I did have to do a lot of work, but it had decent bones. It was hard work, but back in the 70s, everyone thought you needed a family income of about $7 hour to just scrape by. We usually did it on $3hr, except for the 2 houses that I started cleaning after baby #2, which eventually added a total of $50 week for 2 days of work.. And of course, we can't forget the bags of cans I picked up on the weekend, and later yet 50 cents worth of gold that turned into $10 here and there! It was all worth it to get to see my children growing up. I simply had to replace working outside the home with working hard at home... and I saved on childcare costs, transportation costs, clothing costs, etc. For us, not having to pay out all that money on work expenses actually helped us out a lot. All together, we probably came out ahead by my not working outside the home. If more people today were willing to be creative, do a lot of investigating on how to do things cheaper, doing a lot of work instead of buying the newest electronics, etc, getting by on less, (I forgot to say that we went without a phone for over 10yrs, and only bought necessities for many of those years) they could probably be stay at home moms as well. After all, they claimed it couldn't be done back in the late 70s, 80s and 90s when I did it!
❤❤ I do the same 😂
Good advice❤