You might have seen in my Five Frugal things post last week that I taught Miss Frugal how to mend a hole in her trousers. This is something I thought would be the first thing they would teach in her sewing lessons at school but no, she can cover a notebook in fabric like a pro but they haven’t got to the part where they learn actual life skills yet!
It seems a bit like basic skills that our grandparents took for granted have been forgotten about. Things like sewing can be looked at as being a bit old fashioned which is a real shame because it can save money and give you a feeling of achievement that you’ve done something yourself.
In fact, there’s a lot we can learn from the older generation….
You wouldn’t catch my Nana paying someone to mow her lawn for her or to do all her ironing. Not that I’m against paying someone to help you with these jobs but you must admit that it’s not cheap.
Before ready meals and ready made sauces were popular, cooking from scratch was a necessity and my Nana could stretch her meals like you wouldn’t believe. A ham joint would do a gorgeous meal with Yorkshire puds, a lovely soup with dumplings for tea at least another two nights and sandwiches for lunches.
My Nana always used to buy local produce from the smaller shops in her town and I don’t think she went in a supermarket in her life. She liked to visit the butchers, the greengrocers and the fishmongers for the freshest food and the best deals. There was no waste as she bought what she needed and nothing else.
Make do and Mend is a philosophy that I think lots of us have forgotten. It’s not only a case of sewing up a hole or sewing back on a button but what about if you get a hole in something? I remember my Mam patching the holey knees in my trousers with some cute iron on rainbow patches whereas these days lots of us would just throw them out and replace them.
Even if tumble driers had been invented back then (no idea if they were or not) my Nan wouldn’t have had one. She always used to dry her washing on the line if it was possible and I remember visiting her and having to run out to bring it in when the rain started and then we put it back out again after it had cleared.
Most things were bought using cash now which I expect made it much easier to budget but also gave more opportunity for bartering and getting better deals. I don’t think my Nana ever had a credit card and she was brought up believing that if she wanted something, she had to save for it.
I remember my Nana had an old, old TV that my Dad was always offering to replace but she said no every single time he mentioned it because the one she had did the job. And it did. How often have you replaced something that’s working perfectly well just to upgrade to the next model? I know I have.
I love the feeling of community where my Nana used to live with neighbours who had known each other for years popped in and out. The man from down the road would do the odd job for her and in return, she’d cook him a meal. I love the idea of helping people out and getting something back in return like this.
Growing your own fruit and vegetables seems to be getting more popular and even the smallest of spaces can be turned into a vegetable patch. We’re not great with growing things but we try. 😉
Instead of working your way through all the box sets on Netflix why not find a hobby that will help you in some way. Learn crochet, knitting or sewing and then make something with your new skills – to sell, keep or even give away.
And for more inspiration on how our grandparents used to save money then have a look at the lovely Becky’s video about how her Grandfather used to save money….
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The first and biggest frugal living tip is to come up with a budget for your family and stick to it, especially when it comes to groceries! My envelope budgeting method is so simple and it will definitely help you to get out of debt. The second frugal kitchen tip is to become a master shelf cooker!
Those will become part of your budget. The 50-30-20 rule recommends putting 50% of your money toward needs, 30% toward wants, and 20% toward savings. The savings category also includes money you will need to realize your future goals.
Believe it or not, living frugally can actually make you happier than living lavishly. Living a frugal lifestyle isn't necessarily about pinching pennies and denying yourself things you want. It's about making your life easier and worrying less about money.
It helps you be more value-minded when spending, increases your satisfaction with simple pleasures, and helps you grow wealth at a faster rate! But, like so many good things in life, frugality can reach a point of diminishing returns.
As the results show, if you're a single person with no children you should be able to live comfortably in the UK on a salary of just over £24,000, while a child-free couple could live comfortably on a combined income of around £35,500.
Shop all at once — If you buy things one at a time through the week, it's easy not to realize how much you're spending. Instead, set some time aside to shop all at once so you can see the real total. Save to cart, save for later — This is a specific version of shopping all at once.
The premise of the 30-day savings rule is straightforward: When faced with the temptation of an impulse purchase, wait 30 days before committing to the buy. During this time, take the opportunity to evaluate the necessity and impact of the purchase on your overall financial goals.
Set goals. Set savings goals that motivate you, like saving up for a house or going on a dream vacation, and give yourself timelines for reaching them.
Budget. Make a budget and make saving a necessary expense. ...
Frugal living isn't about being cheap; it's about being resourceful. It's finding ways to save where you can — whether via coupons, freebies or DIY hacks — so you can focus your money and attention on the things you value, whether that's saving for a comfortable retirement, traveling or living a debt-free life.
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Introduction: My name is Foster Heidenreich CPA, I am a delightful, quaint, glorious, quaint, faithful, enchanting, fine person who loves writing and wants to share my knowledge and understanding with you.
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