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] 3 points 1 year ago* (last edited 1 year ago)

Love this prompt. Here's how I interpret the categories.

Basic / Easy to Implement:

Learning to cook and mealprep - sustain yourself without prepared food
Buying generic - find low cost replacements for name brand items
Buying used - look through Craigslist / FB Marketplace for durable items
Maintaining your things - buy items that last a long time with proper care, and give proper care

Advanced / Difficult to Implement:

Embracing low-cost hobbies - center your focus and happiness around activities that are cheap or free. Exercise and creative pursuits are good options. I like hiking, rollerblading, programming, reading and playing tabletop games.
Cooking from scratch - baking homemade bread, making homemade stock, fermenting your own pickles and making your own sauces
Lowering your transport costs - go car-less, move closer to shops, work and friends

Not Worth it to Implement (IMO):

Producing your own food - growing produce beyond a small vegetable garden / raising animals is more effort than its worth IMO.
Sewing your own clothes - I have tried it, but the savings are marginal and its a huge time expense
Eating cheap food to save money - Grocery store freezer pizzas are $4 for 2+ meals worth of food w/ 0 prep time, but your medical bills will cost more than you save in the 10+ year horizon
Brewing your own alcohol - not as much of a cost saver as it sounds. can often be the same price as buying beer, plus a huge time expense