A few months ago we purchased a Groupon for a service that works similar to a community supported agriculture program (CSA).  I was excited because for $15 we would receive a box worth $35 that contained mostly local and organic produce.  The first time it arrived, we were excited to get into it and see what we got.  Right off the bat we noticed that the organic strawberries were all moldy and inedible.  I told Mr. Money to email them a picture explaining what we got and see what they would do about it.  They said they would credit our account $5 toward our next purchase.  As you probably guessed, I hadn’t planned on purchasing another box due to the cost and the fact that they sent us rotten strawberries.

We decided we would give it another try, and in two weeks we were charged $30 for the box (they took the $5 credit off).  The box was much better this time, with no rotten produce.  However, I decided that for the price we could do much better if we purchased the items in the store.  One of the things Mr. Money liked (that I coincidentally didn’t) was that when you get the unique ingredients you’ve got to figure out what to make with them.  Me? If it’s not something I normally eat, I’m not as likely to get creative and dive in.  Bad, I know.

Of course, the next week we forgot to cancel it and received a $35 box of produce.  Fine.  I made sure that before the next time we received a delivery that I canceled our standing order.  The deliveries are made on Thursdays.

On Friday I came home and realized there was a box on the front porch.  I was livid. First of all, I had canceled the service.  Secondly, now I have spent $35 on a box of produce that may or may not be good because it’s sat outside in 100 degree heat.  I took the box inside and luckily everything looks fine.  That didn’t stop me from sending them a nice email telling them that we had canceled and still received a box.

Here’s what we received in our box for $35.

-14-16 oz of yellow crookneck squash
-1 cantaloupe melon
-1 lb. of strawberries
-6 oz of local blackberries
-24 oz of red potatoes
-1 broccoli
-3 yellow peaches
-1 cucumber
-1 green bell pepper
-1 bulbing fennel
-1 lb of roma tomatoes

I don’t think that’s a good value for $35.  I guess I would feel differently if this was an actual CSA from a local farm.  I’d feel much better about supporting them. I don’t like that we’re purchasing this from a corporate company that I don’t know how fairly they are paying the farmers for their produce.  I’m also disappointed about the quality of some of the produce we’ve received.

Do you think it’s a good value?

Microfiber cloths are wonderfully amazing for cleaning. I went to the store a few months ago, saw the price of the pack of microfiber cloths in the cleaning aisle, and decided I could do without them. I then decided to check Amazon, and found this Microfiber 12-Pack of Cleaning Cloths for a much better price! You can also look in the automotive section of certain stores for the cheaper cloths that will work just as well.  I highly recommend microfiber cloths for green and frugal cleaning.  Here are some of the best uses I’ve come up with:

Microfiber Cloth Uses

-Window washing. This is probably my favorite use for the microfiber cloths.  What’s awesome about using them for window washing is that you don’t have to use any window cleaner.  You can just wet the cloth, wipe your mirrors or windows, and then use a dry cloth until the surface is dry.  Trust me, it works.  It will leave a streak free shine every time!  If you want to use a window cleaner, follow this glass cleaner recipe.

-Dusting.  Microfiber cloths are wonderfully amazing for dusting.  They attract the dust, dog hair, and other debris right to them.  I use a Swiffer stick and just put my microfiber cloth on the part where you’re supposed to attach the disposable pad.  When I’m done dusting, I take the cloth outside and shake it out.

-Floor washing. Microfiber cloths are very absorbent, and their texture makes a great scrubber.  I attach a wet microfiber cloth to my Swiffer (you could also use a Swiffer Wet Jet) and then mop the floors as usual.  If you have the Swiffer Wet Jet, you can just keep using the microfiber cloths instead of buying the new pads.  Plus, make sure you refill the bottles with your homemade cleaner or mixture of vinegar and water.

-Baseboard cleaning. With two large dogs, I am forever dusting baseboards.  When I run the microfiber cloth over them, it attracts the dog hair and dust very easily.  It makes it easy to clean the baseboards.

-Replace paper towels. Microfiber cloths are super absorbent and make a great paper towel replacement.  If you’ve got a huge spill, grab a couple of microfiber cloths and soak up the liquid.  It works well, and they’ll save you money in the long run.

-Kitchen counter cleaning.  When you use a hot soapy water mixture, the microfiber cloths are great for cleaning kitchen counters and surfaces.  Add in a 1/4 of vinegar for extra cleaning and disinfecting power.

-Cloth diaper inserts. Cloth diapers can save you money with your babies, but the inserts can be expensive!  You can make your own inserts using an old towel or flannel and some microfiber cloths.  It will work just as well as the expensive, pre-made ones, and you’ll save yourself some cash at the same time!

Microfiber cloths are one of the best things you can buy for your all natural, eco friendly cleaning.  The initial investment is definitely worth it and will save you money over the years.

What do you use microfiber cloths for?

We have strawberries growing in our garden.  The delicious, juicy, organic berries taste more flavorful and amazing than any other strawberry I’ve tasted.  There’s something about going into our backyard and picking fresh strawberries and then eating them within seconds that is just wonderful.  Unfortunately, our strawberry raised bed is not very big, and it seems that every year we have many strawberry greens and leaves but not as many berries.  It is super sad, but not much I can do at the moment as we really don’t have any extra room to plant more strawberry plants.

I don’t know what got in to me, but the other night I started wondering if the strawberry leaves are edible.  A quick search indicated that they are not only edible, but highly nutritious!  Imagine that, greens being good for you.

I brought some of the leaves inside, boiled some water, and steeped the strawberry leaves in the water for about 15 minutes.  If you wanted a stronger tea, you could leave the mixture overnight in your refrigerator to maximize the benefits.  Yum!

Strawberry Leaf Tea benefits

Strawberry leaves are high in trace minerals, iron, and vitamin c.  They also contain high levels of calcium, making it a great source for those who are lactose intolerant or just avoid dairy.  If you’re allergic to strawberries, I would definitely avoid the strawberry leaf tea.

Make sure you use either completely dry leaves or very green leaves.  Anything in between can be toxic, and it’s not a good idea to risk your health.  I would make sure that you use organic strawberry leaves so you aren’t drinking a ton of pesticides and other chemicals.

It’s always neat to find out a new home remedy.  Who would have thought strawberry leaves would be good to make a tea out of?!

Would you try strawberry leaf tea?

One of the things I hate most is junk mail. Even though I chose to opt out of junk mail, I still receive some things I consider junk that apparently isn’t technically junk mail. It’s so annoying! While I think coupons are great for saving money, I also usually can’t find coupons for many things I buy because we don’t really buy processed food, and we try to limit our consumerism. You don’t ever see coupons to save money on fresh fruit and produce. Still, we receive the huge coupon mailers in the mail that I have to try to recycle or do something with.

In order to cut down on the amount of mail we receive and also reduce our carbon footprint, I’ve enrolled in paper less billing for most of my bills. I guess I had forgotten to include our health insurance company in the paper less billing because we receive paper statements from them every quarter. I have had good intentions to change that, but then I forget and since it’s quarterly, I am not reminded until three months later that I’ve forgotten.

This morning I logged in to the health insurance company’s site and changed it to email communication only. Phew. One less thing I’ll get in the mail! I am embarrassed that it took me that long to change, but I figured I’d rather be honest and tell you that I’m not perfect. I try to live my life in a way that leaves the least amount of impact on the environment and my wallet, but sometimes things happen.

I will also say that I still continue to receive paper bank statements. Because of retention records and the fear of being audited by the IRS, I like having my paper bank statements readily available in the instance that I ever need them. I hope that’s not the case, but you never know. I’d rather be safe than sorry. I know if I enroll in the paper less statements through online banking that I’ll help save trees and the environment, but my personal comfort level seems to trump that at the moment. There is always the option to print the monthly statements through online banking, but then I have to use my own ink and paper (which sometimes I don’t have) and I also have to remember to do that. Who knows if I would actually remember to print the statements each month!

I think paper less billing is an excellent option because it helps save companies money, it helps save the environment, and it reduces the amount of resources consumed in the production and delivering. I probably should think of a way to save my bank statements electronically because each month the statement in the mail is a reminder of one part of my life where I’m not living green. I feel guilty about that, and should do something to change it! It should be an easy fix, and I’ll have to come up with a solution, but this is definitely something I can change!

Do you use paper less billing for all your bills and bank statements, or do you still receive some in the mail?

Bed bugs are disgusting little creatures that invade their way into your home and make themselves comfortable in your mattress.  While you are sleeping, they make their way out of their hiding spots in your mattress to feast on your body.  Gross!  It seems like there have been many more outbreaks of bedbugs lately, and the thought of getting them in my house scares the pants off me.  Ick.  I’m doing everything I can to prevent bringing bedbugs in my house, and you should too!  I think it is much easier to prevent bedbugs than it is to get rid of them.  I know someone once who had gotten bed bugs and had to trash all their mattresses and buy new ones.  That’s not frugal or green! I’ll share with you some of the tips we use to prevent bed bugs.

-When staying at a hotel, we make sure to leave all our belongings out in the hallway before taking them into a room.  Usually I’ll have Mr. Money hang out in the hallway with everything while I do a twice over of the room.  Bed bugs like to hide in the cracks and seams of the mattresses, so it’s important to pull back the sheets and check for them there.

-If you go shopping and buy new towels, clothing, or linens, be sure to wash and dry them before you wear or use them.  When buying things from the thrift store, be sure to check before you buy.  That would be so gross if  you took home bed bugs on the clothes!  If you put the items in the dryer with heat for at least 20 minutes, that should kill anything that is lingering on the fabric.  I make sure to wash everything I bring in in the washer with a cup of vinegar and then dry in the dryer.  You’ll not only kill any germs, but you’ll also help remove any toxins from the fabric!

-Bed bugs like warm areas.  They will crawl into laptops, netbooks, or other electronic devices to be warm.  Be sure to check your electronic devices before taking them back into your house after you take them somewhere.

-If you think you may have picked up bed bugs, take all of your items into an area that has a hard floor where you can see the bed bugs.  Bed bugs don’t travel on people like lice or fleas, so they’ll fall to the floor.

-Don’t buy second hand mattresses.  While this is a money saving and green option, I wouldn’t take the risk right now.  Of course, if it’s someone you know that’s selling or giving away a mattress, I’d probably be fine with it.  Getting a free mattress off Freecycle or Craigslist? I think I’ll pass.  The chances of getting bed bugs from a second hand mattress creeps me out more than spending a little extra money and buying new.

If you exercise common sense and caution, you’ll probably avoid the bed bugs.  Have you heard of the bed bug infestation?  Do you make sure you check for bed bugs before you go into a hotel room?

Castile soap is an all natural soap generally made out of only olive oil.  It’s very pure and gentle on the skin, which makes it a great soap to use for bathing.  I love to buy a large bottle of Dr. Bronner’s from Amazon every few months. It is also sometimes sold in bulk at health food stores. I’ve found the best price is from Amazon.  It looks like a lot of soap, but once you start using it to its full potential, you’ll go through it faster than you thought!

Castile Soap Uses

-Castile Soap makes an excellent baby shampoo.  If you’re afraid to do no poo on your baby, Dr. Bronner’s makes an excellent “baby mild” castile soap that’s unscented.  It can also double as a baby wash, and you don’t have to worry about harsh chemicals irritating your baby’s skin.

-Cleaning the toilet is easy when you squirt in a few drops of castile soap.  Scrub using your toilet brush, and you’re good to go!  I also add some baking soda in to help with a little abrasiveness.

-Washing your face with castile soap is a great idea.  It doesn’t strip all the oils from the skin like most face washes do.  Be careful if you use the mint kind though because it can get pretty tingly.

-You can use castile soap as shampoo.  It does clean well, but you need to do a vinegar rinse afterward to get the residue out.  Add 1 Tablespoon of apple cider vinegar to 1 cup warm water and use that to rise.  Make sure you rinse well!

-If you run out of dishwashing soap, you can use some castile soap and baking soda.  It will get your dishes clean and sparkling!

-Make homemade bathroom cleaner using castile soap and baking soda. It’s really easy, cheap, and effective!

-Castile soap as natural laundry detergent is a great idea!  It cleans clothes well and leaves a nice, fresh scent behind.  There aren’t any powerful fragrances like with store bought laundry detergent, so it’s great for people with sensitive skin.

-Cleaning the stove with castile soap will help cut the grease.  Just squirt a little on a sponge, add some water, and scrub!

-Stop using chemicals to clean your floors.  Add some castile soap and vinegar to a bucket of hot water, and you’ll have a nice soapy solution that will get your floors clean without polluting your home.  If you’re worried about the smell of the vinegar, you can add a few drops of essential oils to the bucket to help neutralize the smell.

-Replace your body wash with castile soap.  Be careful if you use the peppermint kind because if it gets to certain places on your body it will tingle!

Next time you’re in the store, pick up a small bottle to give it a try.  Target sells the smaller travel sized Dr. Bronner’s for around a dollar.  If you don’t like it, you aren’t out a lot of money.  I’ll bet that you’ll end up loving all the castile soap uses!

Do you use castile soap around the house?

Minimalism really speaks to me for many reasons.  Living with less is truly gratifying if it’s something you are interested in. A few of the reasons I like the idea of minimalism is because I save money by not buying new things, my existing things don’t cost as much money as if I had the upkeep of more items, and I’m not contributing to the consumerism.  I hate supporting large companies that don’t care about their workers, the environment, or anything other than their bottom line.

I love the idea of not keeping things in my home that aren’t useful or that I love.  If it’s not something that I use on a regular basis, it’s gone.  If I don’t absolutely love it, it’s gone.  Of course, some things (like holiday decorations) are excluded but not exempt.  This year I went through my Christmas decorations and donated some items that I had been hanging onto just because I had the room.

Even though it may seem like I’m always decluttering and donating items, I don’t think I’ll ever be a 50 or 100 things minimalist.  I like knowing that I have the flexibility to be able to get rid of things at any time, and that I haven’t formed attachments to Stuff.  I like going through my clothing and getting rid of things that don’t fit well, are worn, or even just don’t look good.  What’s the point of keeping something because “I’ll fit into it someday” or “I love the way this looks on the hanger!”?

One misunderstanding about minimalism is that minimalism = not comfy and cozy.  I think there’s a way to balance minimalism with practicality, and keeping things that make a house a home (but not cluttered) are absolutely necessary. I don’t want to live in a sterile environment!

I think a minimalist lifestyle helps save money and live green in many ways.  The most obvious is that you aren’t spending money on purchasing the latest and greatest items that come out.  Thinking about purchases and figuring out whether you really need that new item helps you figure out what’s really important to you.  Less consumerism means more money in your pocket and less crap in your house and then eventually in the landfill.

There are many times that I struggle with spending money.  I have to force myself to realize that when I need something or want something and have saved up enough to pay cash for it, then it’s okay.  Sometimes I think that being frugal and being a minimalist means that I don’t deserve nice and new things.  That’s totally a distorted way to look at it, but it’s how I feel.  I have to remind myself that as long as I am good 80% of the time, the other 20% of the time it’s okay to live a little.

Minimalism is all about balance.  I wouldn’t be happy if someone came in my house and removed all the items except for a select few.  I also wouldn’t be happy if someone brought a bunch of crap to my house either though!  Finding a happy medium in a minimalist lifestyle is so individual that no matter how many blogs you read about it, they still won’t be able to tell you what’s important to you and what you need to keep and what you need to get rid of.  That’s completely up to you.

What about a minimalist lifestyle interests you?

I’ve researched natural laundry detergent for quite some time.  I’m pretty picky when it comes to laundry detergent, and I like to choose something that is friendly to our bodies as well as the planet.  I continue to make my own laundry detergent using my laundry detergent recipe, but there are times that I’ve run out or just wanted to try something else.  I also know there are plenty of people that just don’t want to make their own laundry detergent, and that’s understandable.  I’m going to share with you my favorite natural laundry detergents that you can buy and use yourself.

Dr. Bronner’s Soap

-Dr. Bronner’s. Dr. Bronner’s soap is a staple in our household.  We use it for everything from washing dishes, cleaning around the house, and even cleaning our bodies!  I buy it in bulk from Amazon by the gallon.  It is all natural, suds well, and cleans fabulously!  To use Dr. Bronner’s as laundry detergent, just squirt about 1/8 of a cup of the soap into your soap dispenser on your washing machine.  I like using the lavender scented because my clothes come out clean and smelling good!  I’ve heard you can even use Dr. Bronner’s on cloth diapers, but I obviously haven’t tried it first hand yet.

Soap Nuts

-Soap Nuts. Soap nuts are actually berries that come from trees that grow in India and Nepal.  They contain large quantities of saponin in their shell, which is released when they come into contact with water in your washer.  They contain no chemicals, dyes, or fragrances, which is great for people with sensitive skin.  Soap nuts are also 100% non allergenic.  You can use soap nuts a few ways. You can just toss a muslin bag containing a few soap nuts into your washing machine and let them do their job.  It’s nice because you can use them a few times before they stop losing their cleaning power.  When they are completely used up, you can actually compost them!  If you don’t like that idea, you can also boil them in hot water to release the saponin and then use the liquid as laundry detergent.

Soap Nuts liquid can also be used to wash dishes and clean around the house as well!  Another nice thing about using soap nuts is that you don’t have to use a rinse cycle when you use them, which also helps save water!

Fels Naptha

-Fels Naptha. Fels Naptha has been around for many years as a laundry soap.  When I’ve run out of laundry detergent before, I’ve just grated some Fels Naptha into my washing machine and let it go.  My clothes have always come out clean and smelling great.  Fels Naptha has also been used as a natural stain remover and even a carpet cleaner!

If you’re not into any of these natural laundry detergents for one reason or another, I’d recommend buying a brand like Seventh Generation Natural Laundry Detergent or Ecos Liquid Laundry Detergent. It will be a little more expensive than making your own or buying the products listed above, but at least you’ll know you’re using an Earth and body friendly laundry detergent.

What type of laundry detergent do you use? Do you make your own, or buy it?

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If you’re one of those people that just can’t hack the idea of cloth toilet paper, you can take other steps to save money on toilet paper.  If you’re concerned about the environment, you can feel good about a new product that Kimberly-Clark has just unveiled: Scott Tube Free Bath Tissue.  It’s a pretty simple concept: it’s toilet paper without the cardboard tube in the middle.  Ingenious? Yes.  Perfect? No.  While I am ecstatic that a company has come up with a solution that will have a positive impact on the environment, I also think that they could improve the product as well.

I love the fact that they are challenging the norm of toilet paper and venturing somewhere no one has gone before.  Toilet tissue has always contained a cardboard tube in the middle.  It does a good job of holding the bath tissue in place on the roll, but it seems that it is also something that can be eliminated.  By eliminating the cardboard tube, many trees that would have been cut down to make the cardboard tube will be saved and carbon emissions will be eliminated from lighter shipping of the bath tissue.

I have a few concerns about how well the bath tissue would hold up on the toilet paper holder, but I’m sure that was extensively tested before it was unveiled.  Personally, I would much rather deal with toilet paper that’s a little hard to roll (or a little too easy to roll) and help save resources.

Here’s what I think they could have improved upon with the Scott Tube Free Bath Tissue:

-They could use recycled paper for the bath tissue.  Contrary to its name, recycled toilet paper is not actually recycled toilet paper. It’s toilet paper that’s made with recycled paper. Why not use recycled paper?  I think if the company is hitting the whole “eco-friendly” point, they should go all the way and use recycled paper.

-Use eco friendly packaging.  I’m not 100% sure, but I’ll bet that the bath tissue comes in plastic packaging.  While it’s easy to transport that way, it’s also made of plastic.  Plastic is one of the worst things for the environment, as it’s made from oil and contains BPA.  I think it would be better if they could use recycled paper as the packaging somehow.

-Encourage consumers to purchase their product by purchasing carbon offsets or creating a carbon neutral company.  I know that I’m willing to pay extra money if I know that the company uses sustainable practices and is concerned about its impact on the environment.

I do think it’s completely ironic that the same company that is producing the Scott Tube Free Bath Tissue (Kimberly-Clark) also produces the Kleenex Disposable Hand Towels.  While I think the tube free bath tissue is a step in the right direction, I don’t think that it outweighs the damage that the stupid disposable hand towels causes.

Have you heard of the Scott Tube Free bath tissue?  What’s your opinion?

I’d like to introduce you to my friend Kendra at New Life on a Homestead.  Kendra is an inspiration to me, as she strives to live a frugal and simple life while creating a homestead for her family.  Today she’s sharing her journey to a simpler life on their homestead.

Only three years ago, my husband and I were living a dramatically different life. We were renting a noisy apartment in the middle of town, he was working his full time job and I was keeping kids during the day so that I could stay home with our four year old daughter and newborn son. We were very frugal, yes, but in such a mainstream way. We didn’t shop at the mall, but bought our clothes second hand. We didn’t own a new car. Actually, we only had one vehicle which my husband had most of the day. We used coupons for groceries and toiletries. We did what we could to save money… but there was always something bigger that seemed to be missing.

On a warm Spring day in 2008, my husband and I loaded the kids up in our van and drove to a local farmer’s market for their grand opening. We’d been thinking about eating a more natural diet, and figured this would be a good way to start. Little did we know that this day would change the course of our lives forever. I met an amazing woman there, who has since become my mentor. I was looking for a source for raw milk, but what I found was more precious than any treasure. She is the True Queen of Frugal. Ms. Addy opened up her humble home to me and my family, and has taught me how to save money in ways that had never even been a possibility in my mind.

That same year, my husband and I found a repossessed 2200 sq. ft. modular home- a major fixer upper! After several negotiations with Fanny Mae, and after selling the land the home came on, our initial investment was $22,000! I wish I could say that was our total investment, but we knew it would take a lot to make it livable again, plus, there was the major expense of moving the home onto an acre of land that my father so generously gave us.

We worked on this home for about eight months. Every day, my father and I would spend hours and hours cleaning, repairing, painting, and trimming. We did most of the work ourselves. We bought almost all of our materials from a salvage yard, or found them used (or even free!) elsewhere. Although it took us much longer to finish, it saved us a ton of money doing as much as we could on our own. It is amazing what you can learn to do when you put your mind to it! (For those of you who are curious, our total investment ended up being about $80,000- still a good price for such a large home.)

By November 2008, we moved into our new place in the country. Surrounded by nothing but trees and nature, a mile away from our own mailbox, and no neighbors in sight, we finally had a place to call our own. And it was heaven! But the changes did not stop there. No, this was just the beginning!

Now that we had a place away from the city, we were eager to put to use the advice I’d been gleaning from my new friend, Ms. Addy. Through all of those months, she’d been sharing with me everything she knew about saving money: how she grows and cans her own food, how she milks her cow and makes her own cheese, how she makes a head-to-toe shampoo bar for her family to use instead of store bought soaps. I sat at her feet, fascinated by what she was telling me. Honestly, in all of my life, it had never occurred to me that I had the ability to can my own food, or make my own soap, or do any of the other amazing things she shared with me!

She showed me her fruit trees, and invited me over when they picked apples and made fresh apple juice (or cider) with their cider press. She dug up some of her blueberry bushes so that I could have some of my own. She shared her herbal remedies with me, and showed me her favorite herb books. She told me everything I needed to know about raising chickens for meat and eggs. She took me to a hidden Amish Community, which I never even knew existed, and we browsed their general store in awe of all the neat things they sold. She shared her family recipes with me, and encouraged me to try making my own bread. She gave me raw cream from her cow and showed me how to turn it into fresh butter. My eyes were truly opened to a whole new world of frugality, and my appetite for learning more was ravenous.

But the most important lesson she taught us, the main theme of everything that she said, was the invaluable wisdom of learning to become more self sufficient. To Ms. Addy, the whole reason for learning to do all of these things wasn’t merely to save money, but to be able to provide for her five children should the world around us suddenly begin to crumble. She didn’t want to live depending on others to supply her most basic of needs. If electricity was lost, if grocery stores were empty, she had peace in knowing that she could still go about her daily life pretty much unchanged, and her children would hardly notice a difference. The more I thought about this philosophy, the more I clung to it.

My husband and I began implementing this mentality in our own home. We immediately put in a large garden (our first attempt ever at growing anything!). We planted fruit trees and bushes. We got a couple of milk goats. We got chickens for eggs and meat, rabbits, and even a pig!! We put up a clothesline for drying our clothing. We purchased cloth diapers for our babies. I learned to cook from scratch, and how to grind my own wheat for bread. I bought a couple of canners and learned to can our own food. I make our own cleaning supplies, including laundry detergent. We bought a wood cook stove to cook on without the use of electricity, and an old hand crank washing machine. Slowly, over the past two years we have learned to do everything that Ms. Addy has shown us, and more! The internet has proved to be an invaluable tool for learning to do many things.

We definitely aren’t there yet. We’ve still so much to learn. But as you can see, we are taking great strides toward self sufficient living. And everything that we’ve done has been on the strictest budget, especially since my husband lost his full time job at the beginning of the year. We definitely make the most of any free materials we can get our hands on, and always… ALWAYS… buy used.

For us, learning to homestead has been for three main purposes: saving money so that we can pay of our home and shed the slave’s shackles of debt, living and eating healthier and more naturally (on a budget), and learning to live life without depending on anyone but God to take care of our every need. I hope that you will be inspired to look into your own life, whether living in the city or a rural town, and ask yourself if there are things you can be doing to stretch your dollar and your resources even further! I’m betting there’s still more that you can do!