Part III: Make every dollar count
Hello, and welcome back to the Vandemonian Homesteader. As usual, I hope you are all doing well.
I wrote a list a post a while ago sharing some tips on living frugally, and you can find it here Frugal living tips if you want to check it out. And although I had never intended to go further into that topic, I found myself looking for more ways to reduce my day-to-day living. As the cost of living keeps increasing, it obviously cuts into my savings, and with what I have to do in the near future, I need to maximise my savings, not dip into them. And for people working and saving to get their homestead, I can understand their frustration as the savings or saving contributions they have for that goal are slowly being whittled away. Sick of spending more at the supermarket and getting less in return, I went looking for inspiration on methods to reduce my living costs further, and I thought I would look at what people did during the great depression and world war two.
These are two fairly recent historical points where people had to live with very little. Families learnt how to make it last, how to make do with what they had and make every dollar count, and for many, those lessons turned into habits that for many, became second nature for previous generations of our families. Sadly, many of these habits have been forgotten as we no longer see the need to keep them going. And why would we? We now live in a world where everything is mass-produced to be cheap and disposable. Found a tear in your jeans? Why bother trying to mend it when you can get a pack of four new ones delivered to your door tomorrow? As convenient as next day delivery and online shopping is, we are quickly finding ourselves in a situation similar to that of our grandparents or great-grandparents, where we can no longer afford to be constantly buying replacements or the newest bigger product and instead need to find ways to make the most of what we have.
While researching for this post, it was incredible to read and hear about what ordinary people and families did to survive during those times of hardship. If you want to learn more about it, as I can’t cover everything here. There is a wealth of information online and in books about how people made ends meet and survived during those times. But I would first recommend you talk with your family and see if anyone can remember what your grandparents or great-grandparents did. By learning about what your family has done in the past and then doing it yourself, you have a great way to reconnect and understand your relatives, and if they are still around, you will have a shared interest to talk about.
When researching this post, I noticed three themes constantly coming up. They were like a mantra that every family adhered to in one way or another. And although they are still prevalent in frugal living today, the modern world has tried its best to end some of these. Making it last, making do, and making every dollar count. These three main themes I noticed were at the forefront of everyone’s mind back then. Nothing went to waste, and once something had to be purchased, care was taken to ensure it would last as long as possible. I decided to keep that theme going so I split everything into those three categories. Given the size and what’s covered in these categories, I decided to split each group into separate posts that I will put up in the coming weeks.
Keep in mind that some ideas can be rather laborious, so it all comes down to finding what works for you. I have modernised some of these ideas to fit better with today’s world and thrown in some more modern tips and suggestions that I believe would also be useful. So here is the first part of the trilogy. I hope you enjoy and get something out of it.
Make it last
As the name implies, this focuses on making an item last longer to maximise usage. You can do this in many ways: cleaning, maintaining and caring for something, not being wasteful with your use, and recycling as much as possible. Many things can last longer than we think, have cheaper and more sustainable substitutes and can be recycled for many other uses. Using less and recycling what we can is a much better solution for us, our wallets and the environment.
- Less is more when using detergents and cleaning products.
When you write out your next shopping or grocery list, take a minute to think about how long a particular product has lasted before needing to be replaced. We often replace things around the home sooner than we need to, so to combat this, start using less of your cleaning and hygiene products. Now I’m not saying you should be unwashed and living in a dirty home. But figure out how much you need for each use instead of following the directions on the packet. Start with a dab of toothpaste on your brush instead of just smothering it on. If you need more than that, increase the dab until you find an amount you’re happy with. Instead of soaking your dish sponge or cloth with dishwashing detergent, get a pump that will ration it. You also don’t need as much laundry liquid or powder as the packet says you do. Instead of following the directions, use a little less. The less you use, the longer it will last. Try getting into the habit of opening up your shampoo, conditioner and moisturiser bottles when they are “empty”. Cut them open if you must. Chances are there is still plenty of product left inside the container. You can even fill them with water, give them a shake and get several more uses out of them. Another trick with your toothpaste is to get a large metal binder clip, roll up the end of the tube as you use it. And use the clip to hold it in place and force more paste out.
- Find cheaper alternatives to everyday items.
Progressively look at everyday items around your house, pay particular attention to single-use items, pick one and then try to find a cheaper option; bonus points if it’s more environmentally friendly. For example, I got tired of purchasing big-brand razor blades for shaving. New razor blade cartridges are costly, and I was paying over forty dollars for a pack of fifteen replacement cartridges. Instead, I bought a stainless-steel safety razor kit. The blades are replaceable and cost a fraction of what I used to pay. I now pay ten to twenty dollars for a pack of one hundred blades. It took a bit of time and a lot of nicks to get used to shaving with the new razor, but now I prefer it as it gives a better shave. Another idea is that instead of using disposable sponges or dishcloths for washing your dishes, pick up a couple of face washers from your local dollar store and use them instead. That way, they can be washed when needed, which helps reduce the nasty bacteria that can grow in old dishcloths or sponges. And don’t get me started on kitchen paper towels. I can’t stand them. They are one of the few products you buy just to throw out. They are a waste of money. Use tea towels, dish cloths or rags to clean up spills in the kitchen. Once used, put them through the wash, and then they are ready to go again. Another suggestion is to use an actual bar of soap in your bathroom instead of liquid hand or body wash. Not only is it cheaper, but you will get more uses from one bar of soap than a bottle of liquid as most of the liquid just runs down the drain.
These are just a few suggestions, but as you look more and more around your home, you can find better substitutes for most household items. And if you are anything like me, once you start looking it is hard to stop.
- Good clothes, work clothes and play clothes.
When we were all children, I’m pretty sure we all heard our parents screaming, “Not in your good clothes,” on at least one occasion as we raced off to play in the backyard. It turns out there was a good reason for this. Having your good or going out clothes and only wearing them when you had to leave the house meant that your nicer clothes would stay nice. As I grew up and left home, I stopped that practice, but recently I have taken it back up as I realised how beneficial it can be and how expensive nice clothes are. Try dividing your wardrobe into three groups, good or going out, work or around the house and play. So when you get home, you can change into your house clothes and not worry about staining or damaging your good clothes. It also helps to cut back on washing. If you only wore one outfit for a short twenty-minute trip to the local supermarket, it may not need to be washed. Hiking, sports or other outdoor activities are done in your play clothes, this way you don’t have to worry about tears or grass stains ruining your wardrobe. As a piece of clothing gets worn out, you can move it to a different category. If a good shirt gets a bit faded and looks shabby, wear it as you lounge or work about the house.
- Get protective clothing.
Another thing to consider is protecting your clothes as you work around the house. You may remember your grandmother in the kitchen sporting her cooking apron or your grandfather wearing a thicker apron or overalls in his workshop. Getting yourself an apron or overalls means it doesn’t matter if cooking oil spatters on your clothes or you get drips of paint on yourself. Your clothes underneath are still protected. And even though you may be working in old house clothes, you still want them to last as long as possible, and the last thing you want is a wardrobe full of stained clothing.
- Bulk out meals with cheaper ingredients.
Bulking out meals is something I do all the time. I will always add pasta, rice or beans to a dish to stretch it out further. It is also the secret weapon of many mothers and grand mothers cook book. It can be barely noticeable if you manage the seasoning and flavourings correctly. Add a bit of pasta or look for a packet of soup extender from the supermarket when making soup. Soup extender, also known as soup mix, is a bag of dried mixed beans, peas and rice that goes well in soups and stews. Dried peas, beans and lentils can also be mixed into curries and ground, or minced meat can have oats added when making meatloaf or meatballs. The aim is to get as many portions out of one batch as possible, while not dominating the flavour of the dish. And if you are lucky you will have plenty of leftovers.
- Fix it before you replace it.
Before I go any further, I have to point out that when it comes to repairing stuff yourself, sometimes it pays to know what you’re doing, especially with mechanical or electrical goods. Quite often, a simple fix could become irreparable by having inexperienced people do their own work. And this could cost you more, both in time and money, so if you are unsure, call a technician or repairman and get a few quotes. Having said that, if the quote is too expensive or they are unwilling to work on it. Then have a try, as I was told when I was younger. If you try to fix something and fail, that’s ok. It was already broken when you started.
But if something breaks and you feel confident or can fix it, go ahead. Repairing things around the house as they get damaged can be a great way to save money, and you get to learn a new skill. If you are attempting something you haven’t done before and don’t know where to start. The internet is an excellent resource filled with countless “how-to videos” I have used it a lot and still check it when I have to do something around the house. There are many things around the house you can fix, damaged clothing can be patched, re-stitched or have buttons sewn back on. Broken furniture can be mended; if you are brave enough, try reupholstering a chair. That’s a great way to add new life to some old furniture. Ceramics, terracotta and porcelain can be fixed by gluing the pieces together. In fact, the Japanese have a brilliant way of repairing ceramics and pottery. It’s called kintsugi. When repairing a broken bowl or vase, they patch it back together and mix gold or silver into the adhesive so that once it dries, the cracks look like gold veins. It can produce some fantastic results. I recommend looking it up online if you are unfamiliar with it.
- Perform routine maintenance.
This is another of those spend money to make money tasks. Nobody likes having to pay for regular or routine maintenance. But it can pay off; having a knowledgeable technician regularly checking your larger items, car, laundry appliances, dishwasher, or heating system can help prolong their life, and if a fault is detected, it can be fixed before it causes any bigger problems. This same idea can also be applied to the smaller appliances, machines and tools you may have around the home. When was the last time you took the cover of your computer and cleaned the dust off the fans? This is a simple task that, surprisingly, not many people do. Anything with a fan or air intake will need to be cleaned regularly as it accumulates dust. Handles, benches and cutting boards that are made out of wood sometimes need a bit of attention as well. This can be as simple as rubbing a bit of cooking oil into it, or you may need to sand it back and give it a coat of varnish. Re-sealing wood is an easy task that helps ensure it stays protected, lasts longer, and looks like new.
- Keep things that can be reused or repurposed.
For many people, throwing something out and buying a new one has become second nature instead of repairing it. At one point, Older generations didn’t have this luxury, so they would fix things when possible, and if it couldn’t be fixed, any valuable parts were salvaged before it was thrown away. My grandparents from both sides of the family had small collections of scrap materials they had recovered for possible future use. A small timber or sheet metal pile was hidden under the house or garage rafters. A bag or box stashed in the hall cupboard had fabric scraps salvaged from old clothes and jars of buttons, so clothing repairs were a breeze. This meant they always had materials on hand whenever they needed to fix or build something.
So next time you go to throw out a piece of clothing, towel or linen. Look and see if the buttons or zippers can be removed. Can any undamaged bits of fabric be saved to patch something up? Jars left over from pasta sauce have countless uses around the home or workshop, they are great for storing and organising loose items. You can fill egg cartons with seed mix and sow seeds into them. When you are ready to plant the seedling, plant the egg carton, which will break down in the soil. I have seen the cardboard roll from toilet paper used for the same thing. Gift bags and wrapping paper can be reused if it wasn’t destroyed while being torn open. If boots or shoes are being thrown out, keep the laces for the next pair.
And paper, we get so much paper. Catalogues, newspapers, flyers or unwanted mail are great scrap or note paper sources. Even the envelopes they come in can be kept for note taking. Newspapers have endless uses around the home, a protective covering for crafts, hobbies or minor repairs, fire starters, cleaning windows, packaging for delicate items and. If you are lucky enough to have a home office shredder, shredded paper is an excellent mulch for your garden.
Cans left over from your kitchen, once you’ve eaten what’s inside, can be cleaned, have the label removed and can be used to put small plants in as a temporary pot. I was watching a show recently where they planted green beans in old used cans that originally had beans inside. And as I have mentioned in a previous post, plastic yoghurt and ice cream tubs can make great pots for gardening.
Although he deals mainly with wood, there is a great guy on YouTube that has made me think differently about waste. Beau Miles is his name and also the name of his channel. He has a small series where he salvages waste wood and then builds something new. The wood is found in places like a roadside ditch or fished from a bin behind a factory. He then makes a canoe paddle or chair out of what he finds. In one episode, he builds a small cabin/office from the leftover timber on his property. It’s called “Junk series”, its a great collection of videos that, as I said, has made me look at waste and recycling differently. If you are keen to have a look, you can find his YouTube channel here. I have to say I don’t know him, so this is just me recommending a series of videos I like and think others would enjoy. I especially like his different approach to discussing our environmental impact and how we can reduce it. And for that, I am more than happy to recommend his channel.
I understand how this approach of reusing items has a negative stigma attached, as it can come off as a penny-pinching or a stepping stone on the path to hoarding. But if you keep your scrap collections small, neat, and, most importantly, you are realistic about the likelihood of using what you keep, you can avoid ending up in a house full of old newspapers. You don’t want to fall into the trap of hanging onto everything because “I will need it one day”. Instead, look at regular occurrences and plan for them. I keep my boot laces from old work boots because I know that my boots will outlive their original laces. And in the past, in the lead up to spring I have kept egg cartons. I would use them, as I mentioned above, for growing seeds, but when I had too many of them, or didn’t need them any more, I would gather them all and give them to a friend with chickens. They get a box full of egg cartons, and in return, I get a dozen eggs, which is not a bad deal. But when the time comes, and you finally purchase some land to start homesteading. You may find that having scrap collections can be useful. Need a quick climbing frame for your peas? Sticks or old bits of timber tied together with old rags or fencing wire will do the trick. When you have a few good junk piles on your property most problems can be easily fixed with what you have on hand.
And there you have it, Making it last. After reading this, I hope you have come away with some ideas on making things around your home last longer. The main point is to reduce how often you replace an item and find alternative ways to use, stretch out and recycle what you already have at home. The fewer trips to the store or replacements you buy, the more you will save. Next week I will go into the second part of this trilogy, Making Do. In my next post, I will discuss methods of using what you have on hand to substitute or replace something you would typically need to buy to help keep your costs down.
Until next time, have yourself a good one, and I will catch you later.
Vandemonian Homesteader 