Frugal

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Discuss how to save money.

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submitted 1 year ago* (last edited 1 year ago) by [email protected] to c/[email protected]

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Here are my basics:

Hydroponics: lettuce, basil, strawberries, microgreens. Cost to implement well ~ $350CDN
Yoghurt: Cost to implement well ~ $50
Crochet + yarn: mainly for making dishcloths. $5
Mayo: I like mayo, obviously, but it doesn’t last very long. Has anyone made mayo that lasts as long as store bought?

More advanced ideas?

locally sourced meat and eggs: is this cheaper? I’m in Vancouver BC and there are a lot of farms in the valley. Logistics seems challenging.
jarring: is it worth learning how to do this and investing in the equipment? volunteering at a farm: I’m sure this would net some food
solar power or bike generator: electricity is cheap here
minimalism: I’m realizing this is a lifestyle. It has taken me a while to reduce, and I’m still reducing. Are most of you like this?

And things that can save money, but I don’t want to do:

Bread: I don’t like making bread. Bread machine vs. buying a mixer?
Beer: I’d like to but last time I tried it was messy and space consuming
switch to cotton socks and underwear. Quantity over quality.
no alcohol or drugs: What’s your experience?
meal prep: savings seem big if combined with jarring. But if I had food prepped I’ll eat it, cheaper to skip meals?

Any other ideas welcome. I’m looking to save $$$ by spending $$

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[–] [email protected] 7 points 1 year ago

Basics:

Cut down on subscription services: We started using our library more, reading/watching stuff we already own, and taking advantage of what's already free on the internet
Buying used: I've gotten some big ticket items and smaller stuff for less than half the price of new. Mainly through OfferUp now since I deleted FB, but I've heard marketplace can work too
Mainly drink tap water (RO filtered), coffee/tea, and oat milk. Healthier than when we were buying sports drinks and soda. Also, kombucha is pretty easy to make once you've got a SCOBY.

Advanced:

Insulating our house. Reduced our electric bill in the summer and gas bill in the winter. Prolongs the life of our AC unit.
Getting an electric vehicle. Wife has a longer commute and the savings on gas is significant. Plus no oil changes and less overall maintenance. It's been a great experience and I can't imagine going back to an ICE vehicle in the future.
Biking or walking whenever possible. This was easier when we lived in the city, but even in the suburbs we can walk to the gym or grocery store. Driving to the gym to hop on the treadmill always seemed counterintuitive to me.
Installing solar panels. Don't have worry as much about our utility bill fluctuating, peak hour usage, or annual rate hikes. Plus there were government incentives that lowered the upfront cost.