Homesteading Where You Are Series-Save

Our Wednesday Series is all about 



This is the fourth post in our 7-week series.

 ************

Today's topic is 
Save.
Saving is a mindset.

It can mean to conserve, economize, retain or salvage.

In my world,

thrift is not a four-letter word.

I'm proud to come from a long line of frugal folks.

  Whether you're looking for ways to save with regard to

energy, money, resources or time,

here are some of the principles we hold dear.

Taking what might be tossed by others,
and finding a new use for it.
Eggshells make great biodegradable seed starters.
Once the seeds germinate, the entire vessel is placed in the ground,
adding nutrients to the new plant.
We've also made seed pots out of tp rolls, newsprint
 and scrap paper.




Repurposing what you have to make something useful.
A worn out pair of jeans makes a handy clothespin bag.
Last year we made a jewelry holder out of a frame and some chicken wire we had laying around.
The possibilities are truly endless.


 

 We tend to repair things ourselves when we can.
Fortunately, Big K is pretty dang handy
and can usually figure these things out.
We have consulted the internet and books on occasion.
If you don't happen to have a Mr. (or Mrs.) Fix-It around,
don't be afraid to ask questions.
Call the manufacturer or dealer, find a local repair shop or
consult with neighbors who might have prior experience doing repairs.




Making our own cleaners and personal care products
is another way we save time and money.
These items include things like laundry soap, glass cleaner,
lotion and hair conditioners.
Knowing that we can provide our own basic necessities
is an empowering notion.
Realizing how much we are saving
makes it that much more motivating!






 We cook from scratch to save money and our health!
 Even though our reasons are mostly due to dietary sensitivities,
we prefer knowing what's in our food.
Scratch cooking is a real time and money saver.
We know eating this way will pay off big time in the long run,
as it will save us doctor bills down the road.





Seed saving makes so much sense.
Not only is it a relaxing exercise, it's a wonderful excuse to share your bounty with friends! 
Especially when one is able to grow veggies,
year after year will yield delicious, nutritious produce
with very little expense.
Tending a garden provides so much in the way of
food, exercise, relaxation and focus.


 We've posted many ideas regarding thrift and frugality.
You can use the search engine on the blog
to locate numerous "Thrifty Thursday" and "One Simple Thing" posts.
Here are a few reads you might enjoy on the subject:


Buying Used

Menu-by-the-Month Plan

New Savings Plan

Know Your Prices

One Simple Thing-Got Gunk?

Our hope is that you rethink some of the ways 
energy, money and time are spent.
There is always room for improvement.
The most important part of saving,
is the freedom it provides 
to pursue the pleasures of life:
family, friends and passions. 

Please visit the other gals sharing their ideas in this series:

*Jackie, at Born Imaginative, grew up as an avid 4-Her, on a 50 acre hobby farm, with parents who pursued a homesteading life. Now, with a husband and two small children of her own, she is bringing an 1880s farmhouse/30acre farm back to life in Southern Coastal Maine.

*Mary, at Homegrown on the Hill, lives in Southwestern Ohio with her family on a 5 acre homestead. Their goal is to be as self sufficient as possible. In helping with this goal, they raise a big garden and keep chickens, rabbits, and cattle for food.

*Staci, at Life At Cobble Hill Farm, was bitten by the homestead bug in 2006 and although she began her homesteading ventures in a rented condo, is now homesteading on less than an acre in Upstate NY.

*Sue, at The Little Acre that Could, shares her body with an auto-immune disease, and life with her husband. They live in a once-working Victorian farm cottage now bordered by a modern subdivision. She has dreamed of homesteading as long as she can remember and continues to strive toward that goal in rural Atlantic Canada.


Five bloggers, 7 weeks,
Big Ideas!
Join us every Wednesday!

Homesteading Where You Are-Intro
Homesteading Where You Are-Make
 Homesteading Where You Are-Grow
Homesteading Where You Are-Preserve