Hello all. Happy Tuesday to you all. Hope this finds everyone safe and healthy. I can't believe so much of the month is done already. It is still cooler here this morning, but not nearly as cool as the past couple of mornings. We had frost both Sunday and Monday mornings - no freezer her, but frost. This is why it really isn't wise to plant gardens here until after Mother's Day. As pretty as some days are - waiting is the game we need to play.
I sure didn't want to get up this morning. The bed felt so comfortable - but Bitsy had other ideas! I had kitties waiting outdoors as well.
I have been watching some videos of things people do to save a buck and many I do and agree with, and others just make me say eeeeewwww! We all have our limits and things we do - so I also say, whatever someone says here is safe. We are not here to judge, just share ideas.
You all know that I tend to stock up on clearance and sale prices. I have no problem whatsoever on using things well past "use by" dates. I repair and mend things. I water things down. I use up all things I can.
Now that it is time for Earth Day, a lot of people think more about things they can do and ways that can save not only their pocketbook, but the earth as well.
I have rain barrels that save rainwater for gardening and animals to drink. I garden and grow many things myself. I compost. I do much of my yardwork and home repairs myself. I reuse a lot of things.
I love thrift stores and yard sales, but there are some things that I personally wouldn't buy. I have purchased barely worn shoes before - I can handle that (I clean well). I will not buy used under garments. That is just me.
I understand that there are people that save their urine and use it on their gardens or to soften the calluses on their feet. NOPE for me.
Some people only have their water heaters ON for an hour or two a day - then turn it off. I am not going to do that - seems like ware and tare to me. I will dicker on prices at times, but I realize that people are trying to make some money - so I will not try to insult them. I will not be eating roadkill! (some do). I have watched shows of Extreme Cheapskates, and some of those people amaze me.
Now I have no problem "curb" shopping when people throw things out. I have gotten things to use in my yard and garden. There are many, many people that dumpster dive for all sorts of things. You can check out the You Tube channel Freakin Frugal. They have regular places that they dumpster dive and get tons of things and tons of food. I have to admit it all looks good and have never heard them say they have gotten sick. They donate a lot as well.
Most stores around here have their trash bins closed in behind fences and gates - so that isn't something that would be easily done here. It truly DOES amaze me at all the GOOD items they get that store is just throwing out! So wasteful, especially when things are so expensive and so many people could use it. (I know there are liability issues)
I have mentioned in the past, that when G and I first married, we did not buy bread or baked goods for several years (nor did our parents) - as we got it all free from A & P. A friend worked there and would call G when they took things out to the dumpster and the city guys would go and get it all. It was perfect. So many people benefited. We even got huge boxes of still frozen chicken a couple times, when the power went out for a few hours at the school. They had to get rid of it!
I do have a couple limits of things I would not do - not too many, but a few. I have just been this way most of my life, so I think about a way to reuse just about anything.
So I am curious as to where other people draw the line and say no. What is your limit?
No judgment from me - I am just curious. (be nice)
Do you have frugal limits?
Give us a shout out - I like hearing new ideas.
Have a beautiful day!!!!!!
I'm sure I have my limits. I never thought about it much though.
ReplyDeleteBTW, did you wear out your slipper socks?
DeleteI don't think about it much - but having been seeing people do some pretty odd things on videos and thought I would ask.
DeleteOh no - I still wear those too. I just can't go out on the steps or porch with them - slippers I can.
The socks sure did keep my tootsies warm this winter!
Interesting post, things I was unaware of... A giant and loud "NOPE" on the recycling of urine. Yuk! No roadkill or turning the water heater off and on. When the Farmer and I were in charge of the food pantry at a local church, we would pick up baked goods at a local Kroger. Otherwise all of it would have gone to the dump. We took some things to the city dump several years ago and the attendant told us that we would be surprised what folks throw away. Use it up or do without!
ReplyDeleteOff to work on the gardens before the serious planting begins. We are going to almost 100% planters and pots. Easier to weed and contain the plants. Need to pull radishes and green onions too.
Bits decided it was time for his breakfast. He was up so he figured you should be up too.
It makes you stop and think. I know people go to the dump to drop off and find really good things to bring back home!
DeleteMost Kroger stores around here do donate to local pantries. I really appreciate that fact. All stores should do that.
I have been out all morning - it is so nice out. Time for me to take a rest now.
Yes, he has a little built-in clock, I am sure of it! Exact same time every day!
We forage in the summer mostly berries. I do this less because many of the areas are just off the side of a counrty road and well I am not as quick as I used to be. But it is a good time to pick dandeloin greens too. I have purchased all kind of things like swimsuits and bras at local rummage sales but both had tags. I wear birkenstocks a lot and buy off eBay. Some new and some used but barely. When we started my compost pile my hubby read somewhere that urine accelerated compost so... But the other reasons are a hard no.
ReplyDeleteSome of the things I do that family thinks are crazy. I cut apart used underwear and use the elastic for plant tie ups. I started doing this when my stock of nylons ran out. Anything made out of cloth (except maybe bras and swimsuits) is turned into rags even if you can tell what it used to be. Sorry if you think it is weird that that Harry Potter tshirt you wore until it wore out is helping clean up cat barf. Shower curtains used to insulate the garden. Bread ties glued to plastic items to reinforce a crack. Rending pig fat to make lard for the cookies they like to eat. Followed by don't talk about it because they don't want to think about it.
Ok, I am just over here saving money and running my household. People are weird.
There are so many wild things out there we can eat all year.
DeleteI would buy undies at the thrift or yard sale that were new and had tags.
That is interesting on the urine in compost. Never heard that. I did save one year and poured around the deck where a groundhog was living (no kitties then) - as they said they didn't like the smell - thought it was a predator. Seemed to work that year.
heck yeah, I save elastic and buttons and zippers - all from things that got turned into rags. I have even saved the clasp parts of bras to use as extenders for others that seem to small.
Some things we do and just don't mention - like you said.
There are so many different ways.
NO: dumpster diving (I will sidewalk shop on trash day as I do love preventing landfill detritus :-), weed forage, urine catching, used lingerie, used shoes (foot support/high arch is critical and as a RN, excellent support was paramount and as a retired avid walker continues to be)
ReplyDeleteI like to keep what I can out of the landfill. I sure try to find new uses for things.
DeleteWe don't plant anything until after the first of May here for that same reason, it can frost in the mornings up until then. I buy second hand clothes, wash them, and wear them, but some people are grossed out by that, not me as I save money doing this. I do try to compost, but mostly the wild animals here eat whatever I throw out there. I won't buy used shoes that are clearly worn, but will buy a new looking pair. I don't do the urine on the garden either. No roadkill or turning off the water heater either. Some things are just too extreme for me. Unplugging my refrigerator is also something I don't and won't do.
ReplyDeleteOne time I was grossed out by a frugal blogger who mixed condiments up to use them up and the combination did not sound very appetizing to me, but they liked it, so what do I know? LOL
Yes May 10th is a generally good date here for planting.
DeleteI have no problem with buying secondhand clothes - actually prefer it. Let someone else pay the big price, and let me get it for pennies. I agree, there is always an animal that will eat things thrown out.
I don't unplug TV or any of that stuff. I do unplug the toaster and blender every day - just have heard too many horror stories of fires over the years. Don't have a coffee pot - or it would be unplugged too.
Now you can buy mixed condiments at the store! Some just don't sound good to me.
My hot water heater is on a timer from the power company - gives me a discount - I think it's like $30 or so a year. Never had an issue with that. I buy used clothes, but not (generally) used shoes, but if they're really new looking and fit properly then yes. No, to underpants - but not to bras.
ReplyDeleteI like your Weed poster, but remember that Garlic Mustard is considered a top level noxious weed in some areas (like mine) as it gets into the forests and smothers out the native plants there.
Very little food gets tossed here. There was something after Christmas that didn't make the cut - I tried a couple of times to use it in some way, but failed badly so out it went (it was a gift to start with, I'd never have bought it myself). I think my compost heap liked it, or some bird did, for it disappeard quickly. :)
MaryB
That is neat on the timer from the power company. They try to do that with electric around here, not many people go for it.
DeleteI think some weeds are obnoxious just about all places. We all have something that we wish never got a start!
Good for you on trying not to toss food. At least if something ate it outside, it did not go to waste in my opinion.
I draw the line at all of the things you do too. While watching Extreme Cheapskates one time there was a man on there that washed his used dental floss, hung it up to dry and reused it. I draw the line there as well. I don't unplug the TV, refrigerator or freezer, but do unplug all other things if they're not in use. I don't do wash or run the dishwasher during peak electric use, but rather after 7 pm, which is when our off peak hours start or before 7am, or on the weekends when it's all off peak hours the entire weekend. I also make my own natural weed killer for the weeds that pop through the mulch or between the pavers on our walkways, with vinegar, epsom salts and dish soap. Works great.
ReplyDeleteCookie
Some of those stories they showed on Extreme Cheapskates were cringe worthy! Now I do wash baggies and reuse, floss no.
DeleteI do laundry when I think about it - never really checked the time schedule. Don't have a dish washer.
I make my own weed killer as well and homemade fertilizer.
I think we do a lot of the same things.
I will eat things that are past there date if they look and smell ok. My husband will curb pick, we know of a few pizza places that will box up left over pizza and put it on top of the dumpster for the homeless population.
ReplyDeleteGrocery stores around our church donate items to our food pantry every week. Which is good because we have about a hundred and 125 family groups come thru every Saturday. Church members also donate to the pantry. Protein is usually in short supply so they i]encourage the congregation to donate that or money for the pantry to be able to purchase some.
Some dumpsters around us are locked. But we have heard stories of the trash pickup people finding homeless inside the dumpster sleeping so I would not dumpster dive. Each driver is required to get out and check each dumpster before the pick it up.
There are things I could be better at if I took the time. I know I should be unplugging electricity vampires, I am not good about that. My husband hates it when I do that and he is terrible about turning off lights.
Same here - I don't pay much attention to dates.
DeleteNice of the pizza place. It is great to hear of other groceries that donate to the needy and to the pantries. It really helps a lot of people.
Now that would be scary to open a dumpster and see someone! Smart to check them first.
I think we can all do better on many things. I seldom use lights, especially in the summer months with all the daylight hours. I think as long as we try and keep trying, we are doing good.
I think my comment went to trash
ReplyDeleteMaryB
Cheryl I am very much the same as you in where I draw the line.
ReplyDeleteAs I age I realize how important my health is to me, and that includes mobility, so I won't wear second hand shoes or even buy cheap shoes or slippers that aren't good for my feet. I do rug up at home in the winter but I will still keep the heater on so that I am not shivering.
Definitely have my limits. I will not dumpster dive or by used underclothing. I need special support for my feet, so purchasing used is not something I would do.
ReplyDeleteI will mend, darn, cook from scratch, and stock up. I save rain water, recycle water that I have collected while waiting for it to warm up to water plants with.
God bless.