Let's go back to the TP issue.  I tear off 1 square at a time (I tear off about 10-15 at once, & put them on an open shelf near the toilet), & use only that 1 square in all but emergencies!  Not quite corncobs, but still relatively frugal.  Yours in thrift, Deb

OMG no wonder! If I do 6 loads of laundry in one day that's 240 gallons of water...mostly clean too! I think I do about 10 loads a week.

Cinnamonhuskies:

OMG no wonder! If I do 6 loads of laundry in one day that's 240 gallons of water...mostly clean too! I think I do about 10 loads a week.

I did some digging around to see how big of a hole you'd need and found that you'd need one cubic yard for each 202 gallons of water. Part of that would depend on how fast the water drained, though.

Babs, I am truly impressed. I hope life today is easier for you.

 

Surprized that no one mentions gardening as the best of corncob living.  We save hundreds in food dollars by having a big garden and canning/freezing/drying our surplus. Even a small area can reap big savings. Also, we make all our own bread,rolls,etc. Bread making is not the time-consuming job most people think...you have 10 minutes initially and then you just need to be around to punch down,shape loafs and bake. You will nevere go back to that store stuff. Might mention that I work fulltime but I can still work this into my lifestyle. We do have chickens and they cost more than they are worth probably but we know what they eat. Get our eating chickens from a Mennonite family who grows them organically. Tend a big orchard,have bees and raise a steer yearly. And I don't consider myself particularily frugal compared to some I know who can 1000 jars of food a year and spend $25 a week while feeding two adults and three teens!!!!!!!!!  Mutti

Mutti, it is odd that no one mentioned gardening.

I can't really do that until I am settled into a home again. I am trying containers but I have been trying with no success on and off for years.

I love bread baking and really miss doing it. Another when we have a home again thing.   :(

 

 

 

Yes much easier.. I started a home daycare in 1988. We bought a house in 1992 and paid the last payment Aug. 2005. It took a lot of life changes, but we are pleased with the results We paid every extra dollar on our mortage . We paid off a 30 year loan for $91,000 in 15 years.

.I am still working but not as much and hope to slow down over the next several years by not acceping new children. Let the ones I have now grow up and go off to school Now we are working on putting some money away for the future.  God has blessed us in many ways.

Hi Brandy,

  I see here that you shampoo your hair with baking soda. Do you mix anything with the soda? How does it make your hair feel?

Also how do you make your own bath and body products?

I think all this is so interesting. My husband and I are both retired and on a limited budget, so anything will help. Plus it is so inspiring and a challenge to try different things.

Thank you,

  Lorraine

Hi there!

The only thing I put with the baking soda is a few drops of fragrance oil. I don't suppose that is necessary but I like fragrance. I don't use it for every washing but alternate it with a shampoo for the best results for my hair. To note, I have oily hair so the baking soda helps to dry out the excess oil and keeps my hair looking healthy and soft.

With the bath and body products, I use various items. Let me get a new discussion started on that since it's an interesting topic of it's own and I'd love to see what others are using. Since this is the weekend, I may have to wait until Monday to get to it so I can give you all the details and find links on more things for you.

 

 Speaking of tp I have to share the funniest story. I took a sewing class and they were trying to sell us all on these patterns that would work for "everything" and then we wouldn't need our old tissue paper patterns any more.  He said one lady had who was very frugal but fairly affluent took all her old patterns and cut them up into nice little squares.She had some women over for a special luncheon  and they were talking about her afterwards. One lady said  "Did you see her toilet tissue? I've never seen anyone else who had toilet tissue labeled for front and back!"  

 The corn cobs reminded me :) I'd rather grow some Lamb's Ear- nice soft plants. 

joan of ark