Frugal Living

In my attempts to ease the pain of living in a one income family during these financially tight times, I have been putting an extra effort into living more frugally.

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Instead of going shopping for new (not completely necessary) items, I'm finding ways to change or make do with what we have. And learning how to do more for myself instead of paying others to do it for me.

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And honestly, it has more to do with how I want to raise my kids than anything. I desire for them to grow up to know a different way of living. To not be completely dependant upon store bought items to get them by in life. I want them to grow up to know how to do things for themselves. And even if they don't put these things to use someday, at least they will know that there is a different way. I want them to see how back in the "good ole' days" people actually made their own cleaning products. They used to sew their own clothes. They didn't make their weekly visits to Publix to stock up on foods laden with preservatives, additives, hydrogenated oils and of course the good 'ole corn syrup and expect their kids to grow up healthy as we do in our culture.

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So, one thing I've been doing, is I've found a new love of thrift shopping. The last time I went "junk shopping" as my mom would call it was in her perfect company. So it had to have been at least four years ago or more. It was something she found pure joy in doing and now I completely see why.
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I bought an old sheet that I used to make this shirt:

I made it using this pattern found here.

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Does this qualify for fitting the 30 year old homeschool mom image?

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Well, even if it doesn't, I don't care because it's my shirt and I like it! And watch out because I'm excited to make some more.

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That's right, I did say 30! Well, I'm almost there anyway. I'm just getting used to saying it so when it hits me in exactly one month today, I won't have such a hard time spitting it out.
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I also scored on lots and lots of books for $.25 - $.50. And these are some GOOD books too! Mostly books that I can use for school but also some fun reading books too. If I could have fit more into the stroller, then you can guarantee I would have. I truly couldn't believe it! It felt like I was hitting the homeschoolers jack pot. Each book I purchased was in nearly perfect if not new condition. For a quarter! That's totally unheard of! Did I say how much I love thrifting? I'm totally hooked!

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I bought some canning jars like this one for $.25 to use for our yogurt making (which you'll read about below) and an old metal platter for $1.00. All it took was a little Krylon spray paint to turn them into these. (Yes, I did the research to make sure it was safe to paint over serving wear. Everything I read lead to the fact that it is completely safe but I feel especially so knowing that I'm only placing food on it short term as a serving platter. Would you put a cookie or cracker down on a painted dresser only to come back and eat it several minutes later? It's basically the same concept.) I'm sure it won't be the last time I do this because I'm all about instant gratification and this surely did it for me!)

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Although it looks even better with this yummy strawberry banana bread in it. You can find the recipe here.

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I even found this cool blanket for $.50 that someone obviously devoted some loving time into making. We will surely put it to use and enjoy it on our many picnic's that we take.

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Yes, it keeps on going. I told you... I'm hooked.

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This adorable dress that looks completely brand new, $3.00.

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A pretty white shirt for $2.00 (and as you know, girls can never have enough white shirts)

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to go with these... Gracie's FAVORITE of all...

A air of Bloch tap shoes for $3.00 in perfectly good condition. I wonder if they've even ever been worn. She is LOVING these so dearly! We might just have to add a tap dancing class someday to the list of our many activities.

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So, if you're ever in the need of anything, think of it as recycling. Go visit you're local thrift shop. You'll be amazed at what you find! I know I was.

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Some of the other things we've been doing include making our own homemade yogurt. It's blissfully free of corn syrup and saves quite a few bucks in our wallet. We were going through a ton of Stoneyfield organic yogurt which we use for making smoothies, frozen fruit pops made from left over smoothies and just eating the french vanilla flavor alone or along with fresh berries. This became too costly for us yet it was still important for me to feed my kids good wholesome yogurt without all the junk in it especially with the amount we consume. So If anyone is interested, I'll post the recipe on the blog. It's yummy and fun for the kids to see how yogurt is made!

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Another money saving thing you can do is to make your own laundry detergent. I use the recipe found here and it truly creates more detergent than you'll know what to do with (unless you are washing for 5 that is : ) The website says this detergent costs an average of 1 cent per load! Can't beat that one! The only downside is you'll have to get used to your home and laundry not smelling like the fragrant commercial laundry detergent does, but with the help of some essential or fragrance oil you can customize it to your liking. I tend to like lavender. I think because it reminds me of being in labor with my baby, Fletch. Yes, believe it or not, that actually is one of my happiest memories (along with my other two births) that I like to recall it as often as possible. For some reason during Fletcher's birth, I couldn't get enough of it! I walked around the house with the bottle up to my nose and even had Josh sprinkling it in the tub as I was bracing for "the moment". Back to doing laundry, other popular scents tend to be in the citrus family, lemon, grapefruit and the often favorite, orange. I've even heard that cinnamon oil can be quite nice but I haven't tried that one. Happy washing!

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Oh, and happy thrifting! There's so much more to be thrifty with but I think I've written enough for today. I've got to get back to cooking my frugally conscious dinner!