Jump Start your Frugal Budget #2

Jump starting the budget - we all need to do that from time to time.    This time let's talk about EDUCATION!
We all need to take the time to educate ourselves in new ways - in old ways - in all ways!
We are never to old to learn new things.  I learn from you all every week.  Each single solitary person has their own mind and beliefs - and they need to share.  My goodness, if we all shared the knowledge that is in our heads we would all be in good shape.

Educate yourself about how sales work.  Know the cycles that the stores follow.  They have them - trust me.  Certain items go on sale at specific intervals that can be pretty well followed.  Watch and know what goes on sale at holiday times.  You can save so much money if you follow and watch and buy during these sales times.

Educate yourself about herbs and 'weeds'.  Herbs can be healing on many levels.  Natural healing is wonderful - read and learn what you can use and how to use it.  'Weeds' are not always weeds!  They can be food - the same with some flowers.  There are many books on herbs and their use available.  Type 'edible weeds' in your search engine and learn tons about the 'weeds' growing in your yard and how they can provide food and medicine for you and your family.

Educate yourself  on gardening.  You don't have to have a yard to grow SOME food.  Heck, you don't even have to have a patio.  You can grown lettuce, onions and herbs on your window sill.  You can regrow celery and romaine lettuce and green onions from scraps (bottoms) of store bought  products right there in your kitchen!

Understand that anything you re-use or grow is something you no longer have to buy.  Thus saving money!!!

Educate yourself on using things in new ways.  Kitchen scraps can be used to make compost.  Coffee grounds and egg shells can be used in your garden.  Vick's menthol rub can be used to deter mosquitos on your body outdoors.  Milk crates can be used as storage and as decorative storage in your home.  Door mounted cloth/plastic shoe racks can be used to hold small items - toys, food packets, health & beauty, etc.  Get creative with cooking and use things differently.

Decorate with what you have.  There is no limit to what can be reused in a new way.

Educate yourself about dehydrating and canning and freezing foods.  Figure out which is best for you or learn how to do all of them.  You can freeze, can and dehydrate store bought produce - it doesn't have to be home grown.  You can dehydrate frozen veggies and fruits - which saves you room in storage and you don't have to worry about loss of electricity.  There are many sites and many books that can teach you all of this.  

Go to the library!!!  It is your friend.  There are resources about everything there.  

Watch You Tube - my goodness you can learn how to fix anything - you can learn how to can - to dehydrate - to sew - to crochet - to garden - to prep - to fix a washing machine, change the oil in a car, ANYTHING!!!!

If you go to You Tube - type in whatever you are interested in - in the search space and you will find hundreds of videos on that subject.

I love looking at the videos of people's long term pantries and watching how other people are staying frugal.  So many ideas.

Follow BLOGS and VLOGS and learn from others.  There are many helpful blogs out there.  

Use you computer to LEARN - not just to follow communicate with others.  The world is at your fingertips!!!!!

Educate yourself on medical problems/solutions.  I have a couple helpful natural medical books that I keep on hand.  You just never know when you may need that information.  You may not be able to go to a doctor or get meds - know what you can do to help yourself.

Educate yourself on how to make your own cleaning products.  SO many natural things you throw away can be used to clean.  Many natural things are antiseptic (including herbs).  Learn the natural and frugal ways.

Educate yourself on living off grid.  WHAT IF the grid went down?  Would you be able to survive?  Do you know different ways of cooking, or staying warm or cool?  Something to think about.

What you know - may become your most valuable resource some day.  Learn everything you can.  Keep reference books on hand.  Keep cookbooks.  Keep books on canning, freezing, dehydrating, gardening.  Keep books on "How To"....  Make yourself an educational library at your home.  You may be glad you did someday.

I hope this gives you something to think about and maybe some ways to help yourself in the future.

We need to prepare for anything.  Better to be prepared and have knowledge than not!

Education  and knowledge IS frugal!!!!!

Next week we will talk about expenses - and what we can do to help our budgets.