7 PRACTICAL WAYS TO CREATE A FRUGAL HOME! OLD FASHIONED FRUGAL LIVING!
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- Опубліковано 13 бер 2023
- Come inside our home and see how we live frugally using repurposed, thrift store, and free items! Save Money! Frugal living! Money saving hints and tips! Early retirement debt free couple shows you how you can have a full abundant life while spending less money! Living a debt free life is possible by simple budgeting and not over spending! Debt free living is within reach!
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Frugal Money Saver
P.O. Box 256
Jefferson Valley, NY 10535
I learned from my Great Grandma and Grandma about being frugal and thrifty. I had to learn basic sewing by hand and machine. I learned to cook and bake. I learned that worn out clothes could still be used for other purposes and used up completely. Those two ladies were amazing.
You had wonderful teachers in your family!
We lived so far away from my grandparents, but I learned that stuff from my mom. And I'm so very grateful. My husband lost his job just before Thanksgiving and we've been living off savings, food storage, and the grace of God. My husband was supposed to start his new job yesterday or today, but he got an email saying they were having trouble setting up his work account 🤦🏻♀️. Luckily we're ok so long as he starts working by the end of the month, thanks to frugal living. We've had Christmas and 2 birthdays with no one wanting, so we've ridden the storm pretty well.
@@YasuTaniina Praying the job comes through soon and you are on track for financial recovery. Good for you that you have weathered the storm through your frugality!
When my parents got married, my father was a student, i.e. he wasn't working. Besides, they got married just before the Warr (WW II) and my mother used to turn the collars of my father's shirts inside out
Never in my life have I opened a Danish cookie tin and actually found cookies in it 🤣
LOL!!! So true Evann
I am about 40 years old Pole who was brought up during the system transformation. I remember as my mother and grandmothers at the end of 80s saved all plastic bags, plastic containers, glass jars etc. because its was practically unavailable in shops. I dare say I got frugality in my blood because I do the same right now :) I do adore your YT channel :)
Thanks so much for watching and sharing!
Im a 28 year old Pole and I still got that in my blood!!! Ironically, my mother is the opposite. She is such a spender. I paid attention at my grandma's house though! Haha
I live a frugal home and life too. I also reuse plastic food containers, bags,jars, ceramic dishes for bird feeders, newspapers to clean windows and mirrors, bakery containers, make my own candles and candle melts, make homemade jams, canning, mend clothing, curtains. I have been a seamstress since I was a teenager. I hand quilt all kinds of items. Most of our meals are from scratch. I have stockpile pantry of food, personal hygiene products, dish soap. I coupon often. I even have my boyfriend learning to do it. We make homemade gifts for holidays. Repurpose denim jeans and clothing into rugs or crafts. Plus I donate and share with public, family and friends. I was a single mom. My children are 26 and 24 now. They also have aqquired this lifestyle. I'm 49 and love our life. Yikes I wrote a novel...
Wonderful comment Trina! Thank you!
My mother died in September last year. When going through her stuff, I came across her sewing kit - an old butter cookie tin. I smiled when you said this as I think of how many women used a cookie tin for their sewing supplies. It was a good idea that caught on quickly!!
Oh I am so sorry for your loss...
I have 3 other widows over to my house every Sunday after church for lunch, and one of the three raves about how "inviting" my table always looks. Well, I didn't think much of it, because I bought the nearly-complete set of Mikasa china for under $30 at a local thrift store, stemware for $1.00 ea at the dollar tree back when it was $1.00, and cutwork linen napkins at another thrift store, at $1.00 for 6 napkins. I do take the 5 minutes to iron those napkins for each week's lunch, but the ladies so enjoy these little touches. I looked at your table, and realized that I was seeing it as this other person was seeing my table. The colors were coordinated, and the tableware looked like the person who set the table actually and truly cared about the people sitting down to that meal. I now understand what these touches, that I take so for granted, mean to these other women. True, I seem to have a knack for putting a delicious and nutritious meal on the table, and no one ever leaves here hungry. Indeed, I send food home with them because it would just go to waste here. So we four are truly blessed by the little effort that I put into our Sunday lunches, and it seems that it has become famous in our congregation. Indeed, the one who raves about my table actually bragged about me to our Bishop and I was actually embarrassed. I said, "Well Bishop, all I know is how to put some vegetables in a pan and add butter, ... and maybe some salt ... and maybe some herbs, and maybe some sauce...." and the Bishop laughed and said, "I see what she means..."
Anyway, I think my point here is that what we put out may seem like a small thing to us, but is hugely important to someone else.
Thank you for your insight and your inspiration.
I love this so much! What a wonderful way to spend a day! Thanks for sharing Tika!
I shop my home and move things around even moving things from inside my home to the garden and things from the garden to inside the house. The best part is that if you change your mind just change it back, you don’t even have to leave the house to bring it back 🤣🤣🤣 and it didn’t cost anything 😊
LOL!! Love that! "You don’t even have to leave the house to bring it back"
I often use glass jars in my freezer. So long as you leave headspace you can freeze liquids or solids in them (the contents will expand up rather than outwards) and they come in so many sizes that you can always find one which is just perfect for freezing your particular portions.
The little framed cards from your mother’s wedding shower are so precious. They are beautiful as decor, but even more so as a reminder of your dear mother and as a way to display unique vintage items. Well done, Emmy! The sewing basket is practical while also lovely. This video contained so many wonderful ideas about frugal living and homemaking.
Oh Jeanne! Thank you for such a lovely comment!
After you clean your strawberries put them in glass jars. It preserves them much longer than leaving them in the container they came in
I've seen that a lot but never tried it. Do you wash the strawberries first?
I heard lemon and oranges too
Do not wash your strawberries first . This really does work !!!!
It works really good with blueberries too
Thank you
Another great video Emmy! So glad you're feeling better. You can tell our home is frugal when you walk in the front door and smell bread baking, see the cloth napkins in the table and the clothes on the drying rack by the wood stove! Have a blessed week!
Love that so much!! You as well, thanks!
For us it is music, scents and plants. An old song sung or some music played or a little candle or some fresh cut flowers from the garden is often very cheap if not free and really makes a difference to call a house a home.
Love that so much!
Glad to hear that you are feeling better, Emmy. Excellent tips today. My suggestion for a frugal home is to declutter - continuously declutter. Less 'stuff' has had a very positive impact on the atmosphere of our home.
So true. Try to avoid bringing in items after decluttering.
As a Mum of seven I simply had to be frugal. My children would often remark that finding butter in our fridge was like a game of hide & seek because you never knew which butter container actually had butter in! 😂😂😂
Love the video! I feel like we just had a great visit with a home tour bonus! Thank you.
My best frugal tip is to not get discouraged! Continue each day with your frugal life in focus! Not everyday you have home runs. That’s okay! Still strive, don’t give up. Being frugal is a lifestyle worth pursuing! Continue on, no matter what ❤️
Yes, so true! Well said Mary!
Another good video, Emmy & Paul! One thing I do that's frugal is save the backs of envelopes that come in the mail, if there's no print on them. They make excellent paper for shopping lists, to do lists, and to keep score on when you're playing a game. Every little bit counts! I have also used cereal boxes and other "chipboard" boxes to make quilting templates out of. I've not done that recently because I use a rotary cutter and rulers now, but if I had to make a template for an applique pattern, I would use the boxes. They hold up better than poster board for patterns.
Happy quilter here too. The free USPO boxes make excellent templates too. Waving to you from Michigan
We do all the things you do. Organization is so helpful.
My mother loved to sew. She would save all her scraps and make little sewing kits for her grandchildren. She used old tins and added all the little notions. When the grandchildren came over they would run to the closet and pull out their little kits. Hours were spent making doll clothes etc. She also had a chest with old clothes, costume jewelry, shoes etc and we could play dress up and put on plays. I realize kids don't really play like this anymore but we loved it. Frugal entertainment.
Oh what a wonderful memory Sheila!
I think we should let the children play dress-up again. It uses the imagination and in the mix have some clothes for different professions. I remember being the teacher and had my friends the class. Also nurse uniform etc. It was such a simple time as no electronics. I had so much fun.
I live with my daughter and her family so that makes my life frugal. By saving my funds I try to teach her and her sons the savings in meal planning and prep at home!
I think I have said this before but..... Freezing leftovers has saved us alot of money. I have a chronic illness that sucks the energy out of me sometimes and being able to yank dinner out to reheat is wonderful.
Yes, it is a wonderful way to have a yummy meal in no time!
In a sewing kit, it is good to include some two-sided fabric tape. It fuses two pieces of fabric together just by using the tape with an iron. Easy way to hem things quickly!
I had a roll of that in there lol!
My mother was frugal , but even in times of poverty , we never starved or went without good clothes . She used to make her own hair conditioner with rosemary fermented in water . And Olive oil was not just for cooking with but also as a skin moisturiser.
Love that!
@@FrugalMoneySaver Thanks
In our area they accept all the items you mentioned for storage containers in the recycle program. Boxes, plastic containers, carryout containers. I also use them like you for storage especially if storing a food that is messy and may leave a odor in your good storage containers. After can rinse out and recycle. They don't care if has odor as long as no food in it. I also use if taking something to my family/friends. Then I dont care if get back . Plastic bags go to local grocery stores for recycle. Use to take my lunch also. If only a little left don't use another baggie, just leave in bag. Then bring that bag home to recycle. If not messy I reuse my storage my baggies and storage bags like you. As the saying goes RESCUE REUSE RECYCLE. Love you suggestions.
Also REPAIR (This is for Paul)
Yes, we absolutely recycle all we don't or can't use!
I’m the most frugal out of my immediate family- they make fun but I love being creative. To add to the kitchen recycling- I upcycle a cereal box into a filing box by cutting the box diagonally. With the jars I store nails and bolts, cotton buds and swabs and any products I make. Being frugal can be so fun ❤
Love that!
Buy only what you need, buy when on sale, my husband passed 2 years ago and my finances were crazy, I've turn my home into frugal home because of necessity, simple pleasure are the best.
You are so right, they are the best!
Hmmm...the plastic cupcake container might make a good seed starter since it has a lid to hold in moisture. Great idea for your Mother's cards! I have the "New Baby" gift cards from when I was born almost 65 years ago. Time to display them!
Yes, I bet they would;d look lovely!
I was thinking the same about the seed starter.
I had the same thought about the plastic cupcake holder. In fact, I save various plastic food containers for starting seeds - I especially like ones with lids (like the containers rotisserie chicken comes in).
A friend helped me break the habit of holding on to clothes that are too small by saying. " If you were to lose that weight and could wear a smaller size, wouldn't you want to celebrate by getting some newer items to show off your new look?" From that day forth, I quit keeping clothing that was too small or uncomfortable or anything that didn't spark joy when I wore it. I've got a lot of empty closets space now but I'm happier! And I still seem to have enough to wear even though I buy very little these days. 🤗👍
Yes, exactly! Thanks for sharing!
I love your little puzzle area. I have a small craft/scrapbook area in our unfinished basement that I have cozied up with paint and a rug, an old desk & all my supplies. It’s my little getaway & I just really enjoy it💗
Oh that sounds lovely Sara!
I have so many knick knacks, pictures, art pieces etc and some are very sentimental to me. To avoid the clutter, I take them down and store some and rearrange or repurpose others at least once or twice a year. It perks up the decor without costing money.
So smart! LOVE that! I do that with my Pyrex!
Cereal boxes (Triscuit, Hamburger Helper, soda cases, and all the rest) can be cut open and then be used for all kinds of crafts where light weight cardboard, paper poster board, and the rest are called for. The make for great, inexpensive activities for visiting kids. Color, roughly cut out, then glue coloring book pictures to a square or rectangle. Make picture frames out of them. Trace around cookie cutters, cut them out, put a hole at the top, color or decorate, then hang. The list goes on.
So creative! Thank you!
Glad you are feeling much better! We make our house a frugal home by making a meal plan based on our budget for the week and when money is tight we figure out what pantry meals we can find and how many days we can go without making a trip to the grocery store. Breakfast for dinner, leftovers, turning pennies into a delicious meal. That takes imagination and creativity and a little bit of magic, not to mention prayers!
Sounds like you are creative and make delicious meals!
It's so fun to do that. I love my end of the month pantry party. Even though I'm out of money, I feel so rich, smart and blessed.
If you would like to use glas in the freezer you have to leave some space / air on the top. About an inch and nothing will happen.
So do I 😉!
I’ve used the muffin containers or egg containers for starts for my plants, then I transfer. My lettuce has been growing inside my house well. This was a fun video! Thanks Emmy and Paul
Thanks for watching and sharing Donna!
During WWi, Calvin Coolidge coined this frugal saying: "Eat it up, wear it out.Make it do, or do without." It's still worth remembering, and adopting as a reminder for maintaining a frugal, repurposing attitude!
Absolutely!
I shop at thrift stores for everything, if I need a certain something it becomes a game to find one there.
I save jars and have bought a pump-n-seal from Amazon. It seals a jar to keep things really fresh (especially if you have multiple jars of something)
Oh the list goes on my friend of things I do to save money and these days you have to!
Thanks for sharing and watching Karen!
I learned that if I kept my table set, I wouldn't be able to use it as a dumping ground. My home is frugal for me because I cook on the weekend so I'm not tempted during the week for takeout. I bring breakfast and lunch to work plus fruit and something crunchy for a snack. On my way home, if I'm tempted, I know there's yummy food ready for me to reheat. I usually portion and freeze half the recipe since it's just me and have it later in the month or the following month.
I use the plastic bags from my local grocery as trash can liners for my smaller trash bins. I also eat leftovers, which makes my grandkids think I’m crazy!! They are not big on them. I do have one area in my house where I crochet.
Thanks for watching and sharing Sheila!
I eat and use leftovers all the time. Even soda that is flat I put in with new soda to fizz it up. Works great 🎉
It's not leftovers 😂 if you make it into something else. For instance, save your vegetables in the freezer and when you get enough and different kinds make vegetable soup. If you have left over beef and gravy put that in the soup. Save left over chili in the freezer for hot dogs. Make a game out of what to serve first and what could the leftovers be a few days later.
I love the idea of framing those cards from shower gifts--so special! When my sister and I were moving our Mom out of her home into assisted living, I found the certificate from my church Cradle Roll enrollment (from 1954), still in perfect condition. I repurposed a large frame I already have and now the beautiful and sweet certificate is hanging in the hallway just outside our bedroom door. I smile each time I see it.
Oh I love that!
Thanks so much for this entertaining and educational video! My home flooded during Hurricane Ian, so I had to throw away almost all of our furniture and many other possessions. As the house turns back (slowly) into a home, the few possessions that remain are more precious to me than ever. The only good to come out of this experience was that it convinced me even more of the importance of frugality and saving. I am decorating the house with the items that survived, and only replacing the essential ones. Finally I am not exceeding our storage capacity. It's a good feeling! Thanks so much for your enthusiasm and encouragement!
Oh I am so sorry you had to go through that Nanette! Such a positive attitude!
I found a tip to extend your produce. Cut you produce the sizes you will need for a dish. Place a folded paper towel in the bottom of a quart size canning jar, add fresh produce, screw on lid.
My bell peppers, green onions, cilantro all lasted two full weeks!!!!
Thanks for the tip!
My wife says: "Good ideas! Another added idea: using white or cream colored mats in frames that are a little larger will highlight the greeting card images even more. "
Oh yes! Very clever!
The best tip I have for threading a needle came from a friend at church who makes baby quilts. She says to hold the end of the thread between your finger and thumb and bring the needle to the thread. It works every time!
I'm glad you're feeling better. Take care of yourselves. xx
I will try this! Thank you!
Having a sewing kit is a necessity . Loose buttons, hemming, rips etc. I would not worry about toothpaste expiration dates. Continue to use the toothpaste even after it expires. If your medications are expired do not use, get a new refill. Use a pea size of toothpaste on your toothbrush is all you need. I like making my own smoothie , much cheaper and better for everyone. I use a blender. Love the cute cards in picture frames. Thank you for all the wonderful tips. Joyce😊
Thanks for watching and sharing Joyce!
Oh my goodness, my Italian grandma had the same type of sewing basket in pink. I have it now and I cherish that, it's in my sewing studio. Sewing is very important to learn, I wish more girls were being taught that. It's very freeing.
I'm so sorry you have been ill, I too had a horrible cold several weeks ago and boy was it a bad one, I'm glad to see you better!
Those framed cards are *priceless* not to mention the sweetest things! I love that vintage look, things were so much better in the morality department then.
I too save bread bags and such, they come in handy!
In our home? We keep things old fashioned, we love our supper time, I often play Nat King Cole, 'Love is the Thing and More' cd in the kitchen or Glenn Miller, Bing Crosby etc. We are careful of what kind of movies we watch and in general we try to keep a sweet spirit that is pleasing to God. I too love those vintage things, for Valentines I decorated with old vintage Valentines and for Christmas I had old, old vintage Christmas cards on our little tree. The cards were from the 30s, 40s. During WWII it was a time in our country when there was a healthy fear of God in a good way. I try to keep things sweet, and a homemade feeling in spirit. Sewing, cooking for the evening and saving those bread wrappers...Praying hard, loving others and laughing a lot.
Lovely comment Amelia! Thanks so much for sharing and watching!
I've started using the tip you gave about using the butter wrappers for greasing up the muffin tins and what a great tip that was!!! I store the majority of my beans and rice/grains in repurposed glass jars!
The framed wedding cards are so neat! As an "orphan", those little reminders are so precious! I wear my Dad's flannel every time I garden and gently use my grandmother's mixing bowls when I bake cookies (I never got to know her so those are extra special!).
Me too. No longer need to buy canola spray for muffin pans....yeah!!!
Thanks so much for sharing Mary!
Me too 😀
I'm only 47, but you're a kindred spirit! I thoroughly enjoy relaxing at night while watching these simple, peaceful videos. I wish all wives and moms could be as kind hearted and loving as you. Your home reminds me of my aunts and grandmother's style. Simplicity!!
Thank you so very much! Appreciate that!
I use cereal and other such boxes for my grocery lists. I just cut it top to bottom at one corner fold and it back. One of the large sides is my menu and any food thoughts. The other is the actual list. One of the narrow sides is where I add as I go. The other is the stores I am stopping at.
BRILLIANT Judy! Thanks for sharing!
We have organized well stocked freezers, cabinets of goods and food to eliminate having to go unnecessary full price shopping...wasting gas and time. Includes gifts and cards for " just in case" hostess, get well or thinking of you" occasions
Love the gift closet as you know!
I have a sewing machine so am able to do my own repairs, mending a alterations plus seamstress work as a side hustle. My sewing machine has paid for itself time and time again. It not only saved me money but generated an income.
That's wonderful Deidre!
I cut up all cereal boxes etc into cards which I use as memory slips. I like the cards more than thin paper slips. I also use the cards to tag my sons food because he is very allergic. I use the card base also for crafts. I use old textiles and clothes to make comfortable and pretty quilts. We need quilts because it gets quite cold here (Finland) and the electricity prices have increased so much. It is nice to wrap the quilt around you when you watch tv for example and keep the room temperatute affordable. I make my own kitchen cleaning spray. When the dish soap bottle is empty, I fill it with water and let it soak. Then I empty that soapy water into a spray bottle and add some vinegar. This solution is very effective especially against grease stains. We don't use kitchen paper towells. I have cut out napkins out of old black t-shirts, which we have a lot. I fold those napkins into nice little baskets and we use those instead. Then I just wash them (I have a small pretty basket with a lid in the kitchen which we use as a small laundry basket for those napkins and kitchen towells).
Thanks for sharing and watching Satu!
I used the local library to take out Dvd’s, CD, books. I used old cards to decoration, I play lots games with my roommate, we have games night where some of our friends come over it’s potluck night and bring a game it’s super easy and fun, we trade dvd and books with friends and family so that we don’t have to spend money on buying them. I save food containers and reuse them. I mend clothes, use clothes drying racks instead of the dryer. I use citrus’s peels and vinegar to make a cleaning solution. When buying Clothes,Books,DVDs,CDs, Games we try to buy used first before buying new. This are just some ways we are trying to be frugal
Great ways to be frugal Kimmy!
What a fun video! So homey! What I do is - I like to watch homemaking UA-cams and so many of these women like to decant their pantry items. I think it makes sense for some items, so I save all my large glass jars and for items that would be messy to clean up if they spilled (rice, lentils, spaghetti, macaroni...) I decant them into the jars. I keep a stash of cleaned empty jars in the closet, and when there is a need I use those. I do the same for any glass spice jars and use those if I buy spice in bulk. Our local Amish market sells spice real cheap in bulk. The last way I turn my house into a frugal home is - because I love to practice hospitality, I save all of my plastic containers that lunchmeat comes in and whenever I have a big holiday feast I send my guests home with a container of food. It is neater than using paper plates and tin foil and doesn't spill, and everyone knows when they come to my house for a holiday they will be allowed to pack a container and go home with one or two meals worth of food. It's a win-win! Sometimes I buy food just because I can reuse the container...Well, glad you are feeling better, Emmie! God bless! Miko from Maryland
Miko, I too love to practice hospitality!! Thanks so much for sharing!
I peel down and shred all food boxes, Amazon boxes, junk mail etc and put them through my paper shredder and use it instead of cat litter. I line the litter pan with absorbent cotton pads that I wash daily. It takes some time and I have to change the pan daily, but costs nothing and it keeps my cat paws and my house clean.
I recently re purposed 2 pictures from a 2022 wall calendar, into 2 pretty, but inexpensive frames, and hung them in our front hallway. They go perfectly with the items on the wall. I have found several perfect thrift store finds for decorating our home as well.
Perfect!
I found small frame that looks like a small window frame. I also used pictures from a calender to put behind the window frame. I put it above my sink and switch the picture for the season. It feels like I'm looking out the window to a beautiful scene. Really cool.
I do this too!
Love the framed cards. The one with the bird is adorable. I do many of the things you mentioned. My sewing box is a Queen's Rose Danish Butter Cookies tin that I have had for more than 30 years. My mom always reused the bread wrappers for her own home-made bread. My kids joke about the fact that I have reused cereal boxes as gift boxes at Christmas time. Once it's wrapped, who cares? LOL I love finding a new purpose for an item so that it doesn't go in the garbage. Sorry to hear that you were sick.
Thanks for sharing!! Great comment Rena!
When someone gives us cookies in Christmas tins, we save them and use as Christmas "boxes" the next Christmas. It keeps us from collecting so many, since many are too pretty to throw away. Stick a bow on top and voila! - an easy way to "wrap" a gift.
Really like this video. You seem to understand what is important and what is not. Education to our younger generations in a kind, loving way. ❤ Such good role models. Keep these videos coming.
I took some old handkerchiefs my and my grandma and my mom's sister made I bought old frames from a thrift store, then I put them up above my bed on the wall, along with a black and white picture of my aunt. It helps me to closer to all of them, I have some cards too I like your idea, I may just implement it also. Thank you for all your frugal ideas!!!
Oh Nancy, that sounds so lovely!
Glass jars which have lids with a rubberized rim on the inside of the lid (and most do) can also be used for future canning. I've done it.
You can use cereal boxes and the like to make file holders, pen and pencil holders, magazine holders, etc. too.
I haven't bought plastic bags (of any kind) in decades. The only time I've bought trash bags is when I've moved. There are always a few items that didn't fit into a box, so I put those in large trash bags. When I've needed to move again, I've still had the original bags to use again. For garbage bags, I've used bags from grocery and other shopping. For saving food, I do the same thing: use bread bags and other bags...like from frozen vegetables, or margarine tubs. Over the years, I've saved so many that I regularly have had to go through and thin out the stash because cabinet space was all taken up!
The pink floral picture on the wall behind you looks EXACTLY like one I had framed and hanging on my walk for years and years. Mine came from a calendar. At the end of the year, I cut all the pictures off the calendar, went to a dollar store or Wal-Mart...or a store like that...and got 12 inexpensive frames. I put them in small clusters throughout the house. I've done that with 2 more calendars over the years. I still have most of them, but now I don't use them. My house has original stained glass windows from 1915 in almost every room. Now, the house has its own art, and I have to be careful not to put up art that takes away from those windows!
A word to the wise, from personal experience: deodorant can actually go bad! It smells terrible when it does!
Do you have a button tin?
I LOVE your blue table setting!
Congrats Bumar!
So sorry to hear you weren't feeling well...and so glad you're better!
There are thousands and thousands of ways I keep a frugal home!!! Here are a few.
1 Use a tiny stream of water to wet what needs to be washed. Wet is wet, no matter what the amount of water was used.
2 Don't flush every time. Wait till it's really necessary.
3 If you hand wash dishes, use a small bowl full of water, or just a dish cloth or scrubby with hot water and soap on it to wash, and turn the water off while washing.
4 Turn the water off in the shower after you get wet, while you wash yourself.
Adjust the water level in the washing machine to match the load.
5 Turn water heater down as low as you can.
6 Only do full loads of dishes in the dishwasher.
7 Keep the thermostat set as high as possible in the summer and as low as you can stand it in the winter. Turn it off all night if you can (not at or below freezing) and wait the next day as long as you can before turning it on.
8 Turn electricity off for an hour or 2 throughout the day.
9 Keep only one light on in the rooms where someone is, and turn them off when exiting the room.
10 Cook several things in the oven at once.
11 Open blinds in the winter to let sun in
12 Close blinds in the summer to keep heat out.
13 Catch rain water and clean it before use.
14 Catch the water that would go down the drain while warming up shower water. Use it to flush or water plants.
15 If you hand wash dishes and have any leftover dish water, use it to flush or water plants.
16 Do all laundry in cold water.
17 Catch the water that drains from the washing machine and use it to water flowers/garden.
18 Keep refrigerator and freezer as full as possible. More items hold in more cold, just due to mass.
19 If you bake in the winter, leave the oven door open as the over cools off. It'll help heat the kitchen.
20 If you bake in the summer, use a sun oven outside to keep from heating up the kitchen.
21 As much as possible, don't use a clothes dryer.
22 Unplug everything imaginable until you're ready to use it. Then turn it off as soon as you're finished using it. That includes things you wouldn't think use phantom electricity. It makes a HUGE difference in electricity bills.
23 Each time you get a utility bill, strive to find ways of having it be lower the next month.
24 Leave the hot water tank heat turned off till about an hour before you shower or bathe. It only takes an hour or so to heat up.
25 While you have the hot water heater turned off, keep a kettle on the stove, or use the microwave, to warm up water for washing hands, doing dishes by hand.
Love to you and Paul! ❤
Jonna thanks so much for taking the time to share . What a creative list! Love right back!
i am a single 70 year old that will be finally retiring at the end of year after. a lifetime of working. i am learning a lot from this channel and will be living on one income so thank you. very much appreciated. i live in a mortgage free florida home which i got rid of all credit cards just for emergency. so this is my life style now and going forward. thank you so much
So happy you found us Denise! Congratulations on retiring this year!!
You can flip boxes inside too. Then you don’t need to use wrapping paper.
Glad you're feeling better, Emmy! In the past, I have decorated my walls with framed pictures from previous years' calendars. I have also done this with pretty greeting cards. I use cards for bookmarks and gift tags as well. Great tips in today's video. Blessings
Thanks Sabrina!
I absolutely love your JOY with the simple things (sewing kit). You truly radiate joy with simple pleasures.
My son is a paramedic and his work pants are upwards of 70.00. He had caught one of the side seams and tore the seam. He told me about it and was going to toss them. Since it was at a seam,I could fix it. I don't have a machine and arthritis in my hands but I double stitched it with the same color thread and then applied seam tape inside with nylon thread to reinforce the seams.
So smart!
My sewing box is an old Polo Cologne tin. Most of the thread is from my Mom with a card of snaps from Woolworths, etc. I used to sew the police patches on my husband's shirts and do "surgery" on my Granddaughters' stuffed animals. My buttons were saved starting with my Mom in an old Tang jar. I still have that and add to it. Lastly, I still have her old Pepsi glass bottle with the sprinkler top even though I don't use that. She loved to iron! I started watching "Whispering Pines Homestead" and her motto is to "use what you have and make it special". So, I'm now bringing out some older things I have put away to give my house a refresh. Keep up the great work guys!
Yes, older item shave so much charm and worth!
I noticed the tin with buttons. I have had the same one for over 50 years! I used to do a lot of sewing and purchased many buttons over the years. If there was one or two buttons left over from the item, it went into the button box. The grandchildren loved to play with them too. My youngest daughter has let me know that she would like the button tin after I’m no longer here. I gladly agreed she could have it!
That is awesome!
Congratulations Bumar!
I have a pink sewing box just like your green one. I got it as a gift when I was in 10th grade. I'm 71 now and still use it all the time. One thing I do to be frugal in my home is to use my plastic produce bags instead of foil or plastic wrap to cover leftovers. I just slip them in the bags and then into the fridge.
So smart! Great idea!
Those wedding shower cards are so beautiful. It's amazing that she saved them and that you are now able to enjoy them. To keep a frugal home we try to repurpose things as much as we can. Old kitchen cabinet doors are now shelves. An old end table that had damaged legs was cut down to become a table for our dog's food and water. It has a second shelf where we store her extra bowls and her food and water are off the floor making it easier to clean and avoids issues with us kicking them over. We had one extra peel and stick floor tile that I put on top of the table so it's also wipeable. We recently got a new, bigger size mattress and I reused the old sheets and mattress covers for cleaning rags and garden tarps. My husband uses cardboard shipping boxes in the garage to catch any leaks when he changes his oil. So glad you are feeling better.
Thanks so much Donna! Love the idea of making your dog a little table!
Save bread,bun bags cut into strips and crochet rugs for the outside doors or even in the kitchen. Wash up great. Cut sheets up and crochet rugs. Save cereal bags and sm raisin bread bags to dredge my meat in flour . the fried chicken containers from the deli make great seed starters.
Creative ideas Patricia!
The vintage cards in the frames are fabulous and precious.
I thrifted my living room decor, and I'm cleaning my patio to make it more inviting.
Wonderful Allie!
I love to find ways to reuse and repurpose items. We do recycle what we can so I don't keep many containers for reuse. I have enough canning jars around and they can be used in the freezer as long as you leave the lid loose until what's inside freezes. These are all great ideas. My husband and I keep a puzzle going all the time. All of your tablecloths are so attractive. Well, I could go on and on.......
Thanks so much for sharing!
We purchased a case of Ball jars to store rice and beans and pasta in. We realized we needed more jars. Well, it turns out that the housemate has a friend who drinks these flavored Moonshine drinks that come in what are basically Ball jars. So he asked for his empties and we use them. I also use, for example, glass salsa jars for dried beans and rice. I use 32oz empty containers of yogurt and 24oz empty containers of cottage cheese for homemade broth and soup for the freezer.
The three of us all eat different kinds of bread and so we split up our bread for the week in half and use last weeks bread wrappers to store some to freeze and some to eat fresh.
Those framed shower gift cards are so adorable. Such a good idea.
Yes! I insist on a clean and clutter free kitchen. I enjoy cooking and walking into a kitchen that is clean makes it even more enjoyable.
Congrats to the winner!!! Yay!
I'm so glad you feel better, Emmy!
Yes, a clutter free kitchen is so necessary! Thanks so much Barbara!
Great tips. Reuse and stay organized. Most everything in our home is from family hand me downs or second hand shops or sales. It's the only way I am comfortable. When grandkids break something it's not a big deal and can be replaced. I have friends that spend tons of $$ on furniture that no one can go near, that just wouldn't fly at my house! Glad you are feeling better
I agree! I want my home to be livable lol!
Congratulations to the winner! Your framed cards are so special, and I love using things like that and not keeping everything in a box. I have a couple of hallway walls full of photos in a variety of frame styles of family and friends. There are very old ones of grandparents, great grandparents and all of our families. Some of them are huge! I did not want them stored away or on top of furniture everywhere so looked online for gallery wall ideas and put a few clear narrow shelves among them for special mementos as well. It does make things homey. We also have several oak furniture items of our grandparents that make our home unique from what you'd buy nowadays. Decluttering things is ongoing, but trying to use it or lose it is my goal.
Glad you are feeling better and never be sorry you aren't up to answering all the comments all the time. Especially as your channel grows, I'm sure others would agree that we don't expect that individual response. We know you'd like to but, oh my!! Thank you and Paul for all your caring, encouraging ideas. God bless you! 💕💕🙏🙏😊😊
So kind as always Lulu! Thank you and God Bless you as well!
A lot of our home is decorated with things my sisters, mother or friends were getting rid of. I also learned how to Mend, Crochet, cook, bake etc from my frugal mom and grandmothers. We like to keep things clean and clutter free.
Yes clutter free is so nice 🎉
I just loved this video, but then I say that every Tuesday and Friday 💚
I enjoyed all the ideas today. I made a small closet into a craft area during Covid. The area includes card making supplies, visual journal craft boxes and adult coloring and paint 🎨 boxes.
Have a terrific week.
Oh what a great idea Alisha! You have a great week as well!
Love the shower card framing idea! I have the baby book that my Mom kept when I was an infant and there are some shower cards in it....may borrow this idea and from a few!
A few years ago I got tired of some Home Interior framed prints that we'd had on the wall for years. I carefully cut Norman Rockwell prints from free calendars to fit the picture square, used the existing matting, and hung the 'new' pics to better suit our decor these days--a more throw-back, old-fashioned, country look.
Oh I love that!
Congratulations to the lucky winner! I save all those things you mentioned except the bags from the boxes. Times have changed so much I do not trust to use them. I save every glass jar no matter what was in them. Use for those really not of any value to utilize.. I pour grease etc into them which saves anything going down my drain! Then I can dispose it with no mess. Saves my sink getting clogged! That’s just one of so many things I do. Ty for sharing!
Thanks Jackie!
My frugal home is very simple and plain.
Your home sounds lovely!
Love to see this idea!! I've been for a year now here and there trying to make my apartment more comfortable, less cluttered and relaxing. I bought a few simple storage options to help better organise instead of clunky furniture. But I'm still working on the right balance for decorations and knick knacks. I feel I'm either going to minimal or having too much... I'm trying to be more creative giving a seasonal touch to my apartment. I always love your ideas for simple frugal decorations! They always have such a refreshing and cozy vibe to it. I really love whimsy and hand made items but always seem to be out of ideas what to do
So happy you enjoyed the video! Thank you!
I am so glad you are feeling better, Emmy. Another great video - you would never know you've been sick!
I don't know if this qualifies or not, but I have been determined to not buy a bunch of toys to keep in our home for our grandkids. We see our grandson regularly (most of my grands live out of state) and we have found so many ways to have fun. We have a few things - wiffle ball bat and ball, a big bouncy ball, some sand and toys, quite a few trucks and cars - but we have the greatest fun making up games, playing hide & seek, running crazy relay races, cutting up scrap paper and other household materials that would wind up in the trash and doing something creative with them. We have the BEST time! He always wants to come to our house to play - and that makes this grandma smile.
Paul said I was a little "slower" than usual filming LOL!! Thanks for watching and sharing!
I was working on a jigsaw puzzle today while watching you today. I do the puzzles on my dinning room table. My dinning room and living room are all one room and the prettiest part of the house. I can look at the fireplace and their are lots of windows to look out at the trees and flowers. My husband made a board for me to put my jigsaw puzzles together on from a big box my niece got her tv in. my husband drew the measurements on the board so I can do the frame first. I have a table in my kitchen, but if I want to use my dinning room table I can just pick up the board with the puzzle on it and and move it to our bed in our bedroom. I can move it back after our guest have left. Thank you for all your great ideas.
Such a great idea for the puzzle board Cheryl!
Your first tip was so timely! I save all sorts of containers, mostly glass jars, and reuse them for all sorts of storage. Right now I have an old salsa jar (large) with my overnight oats for breakfasts, an old pasta sauce jar with my tabbouleh for lunches and another jar with my vegan cheese sauce in it. I have my kale stems. in an old bread bag in the freezer. My kale itself is in two (washed) produce bags I got from work ( I never use the produce bags in the stores). Coworkers, friends, family and even my clients know to save me containers, jars, boxes and egg cartons (for seed starting and composting).
That is so resourceful Julie Ann!
I freeze my pizza dough in repurposed bread bags
Recycle containers, shop my closet and do swaps for clothes, sending more ecards, making more of my gifts, ordering veggies from a farm, ordering pet food at cheapest place in bulk…
All wonderful!
I saved an empty butter container and put it in the cabinet thinking I would use it for something down the road. Then I watched your episode on how to make whipped butter, which I tried only I whipped mine with olive oil instead of milk. Worked like a charm and was much cheaper than buying whipped butter. Put it in the butter container and now my husband doesn't have to hunt all over for the butter because it is still in the butter container! I always save glass jars as they are so reusable for my pantry shelves. i also save empty coffee tins, etc. to put used grease in as I won't put it down my sink. My husband likes the empty ice cream buckets for garden use!
All great ideas Vicki! Thanks!
It might be a little out there but it has made a huge impact over the last month. Re use toilet paper but only for pee, make my own laundry soap, no convince items (for example I shred my cheese by hand, and make coffee at home). I was about to pay an extra 3,500 toward my debt this month just because I cut large expenses and stopped buying convinces.
$3,500! WOW! That's great!
I live in a 400 sq ft. mobile home, my bathroom is in the middle of the house. I used some old twine I had laying around and some cup hooks and created a clothesline in my bathroom to hang my clothes in the colder months and have a heater from an old dry cleaning product I bought years ago. I stored the rack part and just use the dryer on the floor and I can choose to close the bathroom doors or leave them open to warm up the rest of the house.
So very smart!!
I keep a running inventory of EVERYTHING in my refrigerator, freezer & pantry, along with my household cleaners and cosmetic needs.
Inventories make creating my shopping list easier, because I know what I already have.
So smart!
Hello 😁glad to see you're better Emmy!!
Do you remember when jelly came in glass jars designed to be used as drinking glasses? I have a few I inherited and they fit in the hand so nicely.
Yes, I have seen those at flea markets!
I don’t use those sites, so I did not know you were ill….I’m very glad you’re feeling better…..congratulations to your winner…..the picture frames with your moms cards are lovely….and, thanks for keeping it real 🤗🤗
Carolyn my community board is not a site. When you go to our home page on UA-cam it's just one of the categories I can write a personal message to you all. It's free and part of my channel.
Loving watching your video this morning from New Zealand with my morning cuppa. Thank you x
I'm so happy you're feeling better, Emmy! I always look forward to your videos. Hope it wasn't too much for you this week. Congrats to the winner! As far as a frugal home, I keep a well stocked pantry so I don't have to run out to a grocery store to get an ingredient and perhaps buy something I wasn't planning on. Lol! I improvise a lot too!
Thanks Chris! Yes, much stronger! Have a great week and thanks for checking on me the other day! Hugs to my 2 Jersey boys!
Those cards in the frames are absolutely lovely Emmy!
What a lovely way to honour your mother!
Thanks so much 😊
Glad to see you up and around, Emmy! :) Blessings and health to you and yours! :) Dawn @ Rich & Dawn in MN :)
Congrats to the winner! When I cook a meal, there is usually enough for a couple more meals, as it's just my husband and me......I freeze the other 2. Keeps from ordering take-out and meal just needs re'heated!
Smart!
I always laugh when I prove to a robot I am not a robot. My home is frugal because I am happy with what I have and take care of it. I keep care of our things and don't throw out things because they are old. Seasonal decor is repurposed and reused. Always look at glass jars, cards, calendars, left over material from projects to see what I can make. Refrigerator leftovers eaten ot frozen then eaten soon. Sure makes retirement living so much more pleasant than still trying to work to 80 because never saved and always had new.
That's wonderful Dora!
Emmy & Paul thanks for your Frugal Home tips! I am on board with all of it! Congratulations to the winner!! May you happily continue on to your next level of 50.000! Here is a tip about buttons. When you purchase a new garment..use clear nail polish on the button. Keeps them on longer. Till next time...stay well.!
Great tip! Thank you!
I use super glue
You've mentioned your mom before. I know you inherited costume jewelry from her. I got some from mine too. When our home was robbed in 2011, the thief got gold rings and chains from my main jewelry box, but missed a dumb little 1960s earing box that had old pierced earing hoops from when I was in high school, a broken chain of mom's and a knotted up bunch of the tiny chains that came with gold pendants I've gotten over 60 years. This was all 14k and such a small amount that it all fit in the Palm of my hand. I took it to the local jeweler. He paid me over $700. $2 in quarters would have weighed more. That money really came in handy.
So sorry you had to go through that... So happy they didn't take the little box!
i make my own fresh dogfood, toothpaste, mouthwash, i use rubbing alcohol and peroxide for cleaning...some people think it gross lol but i use cloth for going pee and handkerchief for blowing nose easily washed together w vinegar all my laundry is washed with just vinegar i save alot of money this way