How to Save Money

[ILG]

Originally Posted by Titus2woman

We grow and raise everything we eat with few exceptions. Right now I have 2 upright and one chest freezer packed with meat; beef, venison, lamb, cabrito, chicken, turkey, duck, goose... I grow a big garden and can, freeze, dehydrate. I milk cows and goats and gather eggs. I believe that we could feed ourselves for a year if there was no grocery. We could feed our entire family (five kids, their spouses and five grands) for months which would allow us to grow fresh food. I buy grains in bulk. Our grocery bill last year was $680.

I only go to the store once a month. Buy toilet paper, detergent, etc. in bulk. Don gets 2 new pars of Carhart overalls a year, I buy a jean skirt or two, we buy under clothes and work boots when they wear out, other than that we have enough clothes to last for the rest of our lives left over from when I was mall shopper. Once I gave up shopping I froze getting rid of stuff and now we wear it out and then I make quilts, rag rugs and craft stuff out of what can no longer be mended. Our total clothing bill last year was $145.

I know our situation may be a little different than many... but I think everyone can do some of what we do... I have several friends who have started edible landscape and now grow all their own veggies in their tiny suburban yards.

I think that's pretty cool. We do a fair amount of our own food. My husband hunts and we eat venison and I grow a garden. Beyond that I use coupons etc.

I like your lifestyle I just wonder what your plans are for when you are older and can't do all that work?

[Titus2woman]

Originally Posted by ILG

I think that's pretty cool. We do a fair amount of our own food. My husband hunts and we eat venison and I grow a garden. Beyond that I use coupons etc.

I like your lifestyle I just wonder what your plans are for when you are older and can't do all that work?

We are already old, lol!

My Aunt Dollie cans everything and she is 86, Joann milks cows and she is 84.
Hopefully I'll just have the big one while out picking my garden one day and not have to worry about it... but if not maybe one of our five boys or one of the grands will live here and let us have a small piece or maybe we'll sell and move to a retirement community... or... or... Usually I am just so thankful to be living the life I have now I don't spend much time worrying about how it may end.

[KeptByTheWord]

Originally Posted by Titus2woman

We are already old, lol!

My Aunt Dollie cans everything and she is 86, Joann milks cows and she is 84.
Hopefully I'll just have the big one while out picking my garden one day and not have to worry about it... but if not maybe one of our five boys or one of the grands will live here and let us have a small piece or maybe we'll sell and move to a retirement community... or... or... Usually I am just so thankful to be living the life I have now I don't spend much time worrying about how it may end.

My grandmother is up in her 80s, and still puts in a huge garden every year, and still cans herself. She never stops for long, and is still going strong.

You'll probably outlive all of us here on AFF!!! Eating all that healthy homegrown food, and getting plenty of vitamin D and exercise....

[Praxeas]

Peanut Butter...thats all I have to say

[ILG]

Originally Posted by Praxeas

Peanut Butter...thats all I have to say

I never put chicken broth on my peanut butter.

[Praxeas]

Originally Posted by ILG

I never put chicken broth on my peanut butter.

You don't know what you are missing

[ILG]

Some people never use leftovers. To me, that is anathema! For example, say you went out to eat somewhere and you had steak or you just stayed home and had steak. Steak is expensive. Don't waste any leftovers. Say you have a few scraps of steak leftover that do not look nice and would not look very appetizing on a plate. What can you do with them?

1. Use for a sandwich.

2. Cut into small pieces and make a beef stew.

3. Make steak burritos.

4. Be like Prax and have a peanut butter and steak sandwich.