This post was originally written in May of last year. It is even more relevant now. I have chosen to reprint it today not only because of its relevance but because I am getting an awful lot of google searches for it. Things have certainly changed in the past 10 months, and much of what I wrote then has become everyday life for me. I would love to hear from you about this topic – if you, too have gotten back to basics, and how you are feeling about it. Although this was first published in 2008, I am changing the dates below so as to avoid confusion.
I spend a lot of time thinking about how I can be more frugal and simplify my life more. What these things come down to for me, is simply getting back to basics. Just because it’s 2009, doesn’t mean I can’t strive for frugality and simplicity. In fact, maybe because it’s 2009, I should be striving for it more. Everything seems to be going up except paychecks. It’s time to settle down into doing things more simply and more cost-effectively around my home.
Just because it’s 2009 doesn’t mean I can’t
- Line-dry my clothes – After a couple years of my on and off love/hate relationship with my clothesline, I at least have the option now to line dry or not to line dry. Since the 92 degree days with lots of sunshine have set in, my clothes are summery fresh and dry within 15 minutes here.
- Grow some of my own food – I haven’t started yet. I have been dipping my toes into gardening slowly this season because I am, well, not all that great at keeping things alive. But I do have a goal of starting to grow some vegetables starting soon. It will be an experiment in, well, fun!
- Make my own juice – I have lots o’ fruit trees in my yard and I would really like to start fresh squeezing my own grapefruit and orange juice. Those juices don’t come cheap at the store so why not take advantage of what I have growing in my own backyard.
- Clean the natural way - It must’ve been part of the whole quick and convenient movement that brought about 1001 spray bottles for all different purposes to use around the house that are full of chemicals. It’s just plain cheaper and healthier to use natural products and it makes me feel better about my family’s health and safety too.
- Consume less – I am a consumer and I often feel at the mercy of so many when it comes to finding and having what I need but I would like to decrease that reliance in whatever small ways I can. Walk more, drive less, cut out expensive convenience bundled items that keep me from making my own way and sustaining myself and my family simply.
- Cook from scratch – I already do this quite a bit as most prepackaged stuff is not really to my taste. But I do have my weaknesses. I just want to make sure I am striving to provide my family with natural, healthy foods in the closest to their organic state as possible.
- Throw away less - by repurposing and being creative, I’d like to start making more of the things we use and toss. Also, donate donate donate. I love freecycle, craigslist and goodwill when it comes to needing to rid the home of stuff we aren’t using but can’t bear to see taking up space in a landfill.
- Save Money! – this is the most important one. All of these things above are done to keep more money with my family and less going out. I know that there is no simpler or more secure way to help my family through a rocky economy than to hold onto as much that I can so we can make it through rough times a little bit easier if those rough times should hit us. The way we’ve chosen to live – small, simple, frugal – not only keeps us grounded and secure, but will help us if times get tough. The less we are accustomed to spending and the fewer “necessities” we add to our life, the easier it will be to sustain ourselves and our lifestyle in the face of struggling economic times.
Remember, just because it’s 2009 doesn’t mean that life can’t still be simple and basic. So much of what we’ve become used to as part of daily life aren’t necessary expenditures and really giving a good hard look at what is important on an individual level will help to make small changes. Everyone has their own way and things that work for them that are easier than others. I still stink at cutting coupons but I love to challenge myself to save on electricity and gas. I can easily live without cable but don’t take away my internet! I love cooking but ask me to sew clothes and you’re in for it. We all just do what works for us.
What do you do to try to cut your costs more and get back to basics?
Leave a comment with your ideas! I’d love to hear them!
I think you are spot on. These are exactly the things people are getting back to right now. Not only does they save money (and the Earth) but I think they empower people and restore a sense of self-sufficiency that we all seem to be desperate for in these times.
Willo´s last blog post..Ringing Cedars Recap
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I do a lot of these things too and actually, they don’t really feel like a sacrifice to me. Like you said, they are just part of my every day life. I feel like I’m doing good things for my family as well as the environment. Win-Win.
I’m jealous that you make your own juice! I live in the northeast and all we have are apple trees
Nicki at Domestic Cents´s last blog post..Internet & TV & Phone, Oh My!
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Lots of what you said. We also have chosen to only hang dry our clothes (for our family of 5 living in cold & wintery Maine) and we really like being a dryer-free family. It adds simplicity, believe it or not, and is definitely a cost and resource saving measure.
http://fimby.tougas.net/hang-drying-family-laundry
renee @ FIMBY´s last blog post..String Games
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If I had my own place (read: a house instead of an apartment) I would totally do some of these things like line dry and garden.
Jaime´s last blog post..Castle.Was.Awesome. And some blathering on about the weather.
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All great ways to save money and the environment, and not to mention it’s much healthier for your family. I was just thinking yesterday as it was in the high 40′s. HM, it’s about time to start line drying my clothes again.
Chiot’s Run´s last blog post..A Spot of Tea
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Great ideas! Some of the things I’ve been doing are:
1. If it’s not raining, we walk. Almost all of the time.
2. We have started composting…although I have a love-hate thing with it, because it still grosses me out! ; )
3. I tear papertowels in half. It feels wasteful to use an entire square, when I can get away with half.
4. I bring reusable bags to the grocery store, and I’ve started re-using the plastic bags that you put your veggies/fruit in.
5. Grow some of our own veggies (although the seeds haven’t been started yet this year…)
6. Instead of buying new plants for the garden, I propogate from our garden.
7. Consume less (not buying stuff just to buy stuff!)
8. I’ve started going paperless…
Thanks for the great ideas! I can’t wait to get more ideas.
Kirwin´s last blog post..The F word…(finances)
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great post! I try to reuse and use less, as much as I can.
~TidyMom
Tidymom´s last blog post..Salt Dough Easter Ornaments
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I wholeheartedly agree! Growing up we never had a garbage disposal – we composted instead. If the weather was warm and sunny the dryer was not used but the clthesline was. Laundry was done a certain day a week. If it was not clean you needed to wait. We rarely ate out, we rarely went to see movies.
Some of these practices I still do. Some I have forgotten about. Thanks for the reminder.
paisleypenguin´s last blog post..101 Things List Completed
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I love these ideas and applaud you!
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We have started planning our garden, but I don’t know how “basic” that really is when you consider how much stuff we need to add to the dirt in order for anything to grow!
Alison@This Wasn’t In The Plan´s last blog post..What Makes a Good Day Great?
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Hubby and I are really cutting back. We grow cabbage, collards, mustard and turnip greens. Broccoli, onions, peas-multiple kinds, okra (i’m in the south), tomatoes, jalapenos etc..We make a point of using less paper towels. You get to have beautiful towels in the kitchen then. We eat all leftovers…cook from scratch a lot…less sodium. Reusing bags etc. Love it.
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Great post, Emily! I just planted some herb seeds and I can’t wait to have them available for cooking! I always hate buying a huge bunch of cilantro when I only need a little bit for some guacamole, for example.
Nicole aka Gidget´s last blog post..How Crocs Redeemed Themselves {After Making Such Ugly Shoes}
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These are exactly the kinds of things that I am learning to do on my new “homestead”. Besides learning to garden, I’m also planning on getting some goats for milking, and chickens. Now, I’m a Southern California city girl who is very new to all of this, so it’s been an adventure so far trying to learn this new way of life! But it’s so rewarding when you are doing more to save your family money! Thanks for the post
Kendra at New Life On A Homestead´s last blog post..Need Some Broccoli Growing Advice
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I already cook from scratch for health reasons, but I definitely want to get back into (at least TRYING) to garden. Since our living situation is uncertain – we may be moving in the next few months; I will just do sprouts which is quick and easy.
We rent so there is not much choice in what we do around the house though we do line dry our clothes (its raining now) and hang dry in the house when necessary.
In terms of clothes, (I’m a fashionista!), I do a lot of my own mending and take what’s out of my ability to the tailor which is definitely cheaper than buying new/used clothes. I’m also getting back in making some of my own clothing as well.
Carla´s last blog post..Eco Fashion: Do it yourself – Organic Fabric
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Ugh, so true in my life right now because usually not only are these things healthier and cheaper, they make you feel so much better about the way you’re living. These are great extra little tips to know as well!
Taylen´s last blog post..Growing the House with the Family
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This post has been on my mind all week. Partly, I know it’s because you said you have citrus trees in your yard. I always thought that would be so incredible to have.
Second, you boiled down so many of the things that I have in my mind so well. I’m big on the consume less idea, which is always tough as a blogger wanting to share the inside of my kitchen/living room. I feel like everyone else is always buying more things and dumping money into little details. It’s really nice to come to your blog. It refreshens me every time you post something.
I hope the beauty returns to your life. You’ve brought so much to mine!
Katie
Katie´s last blog post..Joel’s Small Kitchen Tour
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We’re already doing the last five items on this great list! Eventually we will be adding the first three!
Francine´s last blog post..Nursery Tour
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my girlfriend has a grape fruit plantation in their backyard and we always taste some of the harvest.;;~
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