A new year is underway. And while I don’t usually go crazy during the holidays overspending on gifts, I do spend more money than at other times during the year – especially on food. Partly because I tend to give food gifts, and host a holiday dinner or two. And that time of year is so busy – who has her wits to keep a detailed account of the budget? There are gift exchanges, and social gatherings, and holiday donations aplenty. It just is an expensive time of year.

So come January, I always take a hard look at my finances and start my budget with renewed zest. And although my income is quite low, I am genuinely grateful for what I have – for my job, for my side hustles, and for my ingenuity and determination to make it on a shoestring. Believe it or not, I typically view frugality as a sort of game. How long can I make this laundry soap last? How many meals can I get out of this one chicken? Can I grow it, or make it myself? Right? Isn’t it fun? And this is why I am never bored. {smile}

Somehow I was well into adulthood before I heard this famous quote which originated during the World War II era:

Use it up, wear it out, make it do, or do without.

I was thrilled! It was me! And I was slightly embarrassed that I had never known. But I “fit in” with that mentality. The mentailty of frugality – of not wasting, using what you already owned, and delaying gratification; of saving up for wants and for “a rainy day;” and of clarifying the difference between wants and needs. The mentailty of being creative in thriftiness, of simplifying a lifestyle. I was already on board.

A good deal of this mentality was instilled in me, both overtly and covertly, with the example my parents set while raising me. Also, the more I learned about my Polish ancestors, poor and hard-working, I believe there is support and a connection there, too. More often in my adult years, as I am conscious about saving and spending and the cost of things, I strive to follow that motto.

Here are just a few ways I practice frugality in my everyday life. Some are small, some are maybe weird to you. They make sense to me, and they are fluid – likely to change over time as my family’s needs change.

• cloth napkins – Two years ago I made the switch to using cloth napkins for our everyday needs. They are cute, easy to care for, and are still going very strong.
• natural skin care products – I love me some Olay face cream, but it is pricey. I don’t buy it anymore. I might ask for it at Christmas or my birthday, but it has been well over a year since I have used any. Instead I use olive or avocado oil on my face, or any oil I might have leftover from making my homestead skincare products. And I use a light touch and just a dab of baking soda as an occasional exfolient. I don’t get clogged pores, and people compliment my skin. I guess all is good.
• corn starch as dry shampoo – A radical hysterectomy equals not a drop of estrogen in my body equals fragile hair – big time. It is disheartening to see all that hair in the tub drain every time I shampoo it; so I let it go a few days between washing. On the in-between days I use plain old cornstarch as my dry shampoo. My hair is blonde-ish, so it works for me!
• menu planning – With food prices soaring, menu planning is a necessity. I plan our menu and shop for groceries every other week – the weeks I have my kids with me. I plan out dinners and snacks. Right now the kids get free lunch at school (my daughter buys snacks, and they are in my budget.) They don’t eat breakfast at home on school days. I plan on a homecooked dinner every night, and there are a few treats like fruit cups for James, homemade Chex mix, cookies or granola, ice cream for Rhianna. On the “off” weeks, I make it a game to see if I can use up the leftovers and stay out of the grocery store!
• scratch cooking – This is non-negotiable for me, for several reasons. It’s cheaper, it’s healthier, and it’s a way I can love on my family. I cook just about everything from scratch, even items like yogurt, and bread, and beans. Sometimes I buy these things in the store, but my preference is homemade.
• gardening – I LOVE growing a garden. I love nurturing seedlings and watching the plants grow. I love having fresh vegetables in season. I get satisfaction out of pulling a jar of tomatoes, pickles, or jam off of my cellar pantry shelf in the dead of winter. I grew this. I made this. I am feeding my family healthy, homegrown goodness. And I’m saving money, too. My garden typically isn’t pretty, or perfect. But it is fresh, mostly organic, and chemical-free.

There are other things, such as combining errands, utilizing our local library or free apps like Libby, shopping at thrift stores, and not eating out. And probably things that are so commonplace to me I can’t even pinpoint them, yet they might make another raise her eyebrows in mild disbelief. Probably to be frugal in today’s world is to be a little weird. I’m okay with weird. <3