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When baking, follow directions. When cooking, go by your own taste. ~Laiko Bahrs









Wednesday, March 16, 2011

Becoming Frugal

What does "Becoming Frugal" mean?

Well....This is what the dictionary defines it as:

Frugal:  [froo-guhl]
–adjective
1. economical in use or expenditure; prudently saving or sparing; not wasteful: a frugal manager.
2. entailing little expense; requiring few resources; meager; scanty: a frugal meal.


1.  thrifty, chary, provident, careful.
I agree with this definition but I would also like to add that it means, spending less and saving more. It means that you use the resources that you already have. Spending you money wisely!

My family is slowly but surely becoming frugal in our daily living. If you read in previous blogs, I have mentioned that we are spending less in our grocery bill department. I also tested out a recipe for homemade laminate floor cleaner. My mom uses this on her hard wood floors too. I used it on my kitchen floor and it seemed to do a good job. Next time I think I am going to mix a few drops of Lemon juice/oil in it to make it smell much better. 
We have chicken, so we get our own eggs. 

 I use coupons when I shop.

I make bread but I also by regular wheat bread at the bread store in town.
We grow a garden every year and I can and freezer veggies.

There are more but I want to also share with you the fact that we are going more GREEN too. WE make our own fertilizer for our garden. Since we have chicken, and their poo is rich it nitrogen, we mix a little bit into our garden. This is the first year we are doing so... I will let you know how it goes later on in the summer!

I try and combine all my errands in to one days worth since we live about 13 miles from town. We live 2 miles from the school our daughter attends kindergarten at and about 11 from the preschool our son attends. My husband works 45 miles from home so I try to control my driving around so we don't spend too much in gas each month. 

We are also buying our meats from Whole Foods. It has none of the antibiotics or fillers or harmful "things" that are bad for you. Yes, it is more pricey but if you learn to cook frugally, you can make it stretch! My parents and I are going to be going in together on purchasing a side of beef. We should be good on beef for at least 9 months! We know where the cow was raised and how, since it is going to be coming from a farm right down the road. I buy foods that are lower in sugar, sodium (just for health reasons), and artificial additives.

Our daughter and son take their lunches to school. Once a week, I let Emma buy her lunch, (on fridays they have hamburgers and fries, her treat for the week lol) I don't see how it takes over 60 ingredients to make a small pizza 6 in. in diameter but, that's what the pkg said when I looked at what the other kids were eating on pizza day. 

I purchase Sun & Earth Organic laundry soap at Whole Foods also. It took me a LONG time to switch over since I though all the organic soaps wouldn't work. But, to my surprise, its works just as well. The smell isn't as strong as Tide or Gain, but seriously, do you really need it to be that strong if you are going to be putting perfume or lotions on???? Its nice knowing that I am wearing clothing free from harmful chemicals.

These are just a few ways we are becoming frugal and GREEN. 

In the coming blogs I will be sharing my adventure in clearing out clutter and going even more GREEN!! 

What are you doing to save money, go green or becoming frugal?

~Remember to put God first, and everything else will follow~