I was flipping through my copy last night, and I came upon something I did a few weeks ago. I know it wasn't something I would have thought of on my own- I saw it in the TWG and was able to save money doing it. I thought it would be interesting to share things we do that are a direct result of reading the TWG.

My example (and I am sure there are more, but I will just share one for now: ) My sister passed down some really cute blue and white checked overall shorts. I adored them on my niece, and I wanted Maggie to wear them. When I went to put them on her, I discovered that one of the fasteners was missing (the funny shaped part that goes over the button) so I got out a pair of needle nose pliers and wire cutters. I got a hanger and cut it, the started shaping it like the other one. In about 10 minutes, I had a fastener that would work, and although it wasn't the exact same color as the other one, it was terribly obvious.

I have always been frugal to the core but one thing I did was start making more things from scratch.

I would have to say that seeing in writing that buying clothing at the end of the current season for next year, made me realize how much I could save... Now only if I had her ablility to organize all those clothes...:toothy:

Of the several I'm sure I've done, right now I can remember doing the boxes of stored clothes for the kids --- when they were babies I was given a ton of clothes for both sexes up through about size 7 and then I stored them using Amy's method of lidded boxes labeled with gender and size.

I've often thought of doing the "create your own overalls fastener" Kimberly but have not done so. Good for you!

Making more things from scratch in particular.

Making things from scratch and buying up kids clothes at yard sales and storing them until they fit when you can get a really good deal on them.

Making a price book comes to my mind.

And, I agree with momof42003, if only I could organize clothes like she does!

Price book and comparison shopping! I was never taught to do this, but TWG showed me how! Then I found the village! Life is good!

I made diaper wipes when my boys were little.

I have copied the concept of garage sales and storage in copy paper boxes for children's clothes. It has saved me an obscene amount of money and enabled me to send so much more home with my foster kids when they leave.

Well, we are plagued with ant hills outside our back door and the driveway every year. They wouldn't be a problem except they get into the dogs food and then the dogs won't eat the food, lol.

I read in Amy's book to put Farina (Cream of Wheat) in and around the ant hills. The workers take it to the Queen, she eats it and then blows up, hehehe, I know, sadistic but it seems to work and I didn't have to use any chemical sprays.:toothy:

I began saving and reusing baggies after reading TWG and that is also when I began hanging clothes on the line, although I think I would have eventually gotten around to that anyway.

I also box up hand me downs of the kids clothes and label them for when they'll grow into them.

Washing and reusing ziploc bags (not ones that held meat), making all foods from scratch and comparison shopping.

I agree with people, I buy not for the size they are but for the size they will be. And think about a new and diff. way to use something before throwing it out.

One tip which was mentioned was the advantages of working a compressed work week. I have always worked eight hour shifts five days a week. TWG mentioned the benefits of working more hours and fewer days in that I would save on transportation costs, clothing, make up etc. I never thought of it that way. Anyway when offered the choice this year I elected to work 12 hour shifts. IT HAS MADE A HUGE DIFFERENCE!!! :hat: and I absolutely love having more days off each week. I only work seven days every two weeks. I also arrive at work early enough to avoid the morning rush and leave late enough to avoid the evening rush. I schedule a couple days off during the week which is a help as I can go to the post office and utilize other public services while others are at work so less crowds.

In my case, literally everything.

We were newly married with no kids for 2 years,, had NOTHING, then wanted a baby, home, and for me to be a stay at home mommy.
I obtained the newsletters right when my first baby was born.
The rest is history.
I literally sort of used her as the older sister/mom advice, that I never had.

If anyone knows Amy, hug her for me :hugz:
Are you all having a TWG discussion by chance?
I would REALLY love that!

Keeping the container in the freezer for leftover soup.....

Put your leftover veggies, rices, meats, veggie cooking water in one big freezer container.....when it;s full, you have soup for dinner!!

When I first began getting Amy's newsletter (that's how old I am, LOL) I was a young married with no kids. I used the advice to hang clothes and cook and other odds and ends. As I had children I incorporated lots of those strategies. I took her theory that you could have a large family and live where you wanted and have the house you wanted if you saved and scrimped. It took quite awhile but here we are. Most of the beginning of that was pre-internet and I felt like I had FINALLY found someone who thought like me.

One thing I used to do, but haven't for a really long time is to have a batch of refridgerator roll dough in the fridge all the time.

Quick and easy. You can always have bread with your meals and you can use it for more than just rolls.

Almost everything! Amy D. was the first frugality writer who made sense to me. I totally changed the way I looked at things and did things because of her. I reassessed my wardrobe, culling and acquiring what was required through thrift stores. I made a price book. I cooked from scratch because of her.

Every year I'd read through the book and determine 10 things I could do to save $1000 total. The first year my 10 things saved us over $3000. Every subsequent year for five years I was able to add another 10 things to save $1000. The result was we developed a much higher standard of living on the same income. We live in a neighborhood of dual income families "just scraping by". For us, life is no longer tight, and we have no debts and are sitting on a nice piece of property. And we know how to have fun cheaply. Go figure!

I owe Amy D. a big thank-you from the bottom of my heart.

Jean

Two things that come to mind are washing and reusing ziploc bags. I get physically ill if one gets thrown out without being reused a couple of times. And making the dog biscuits. Every dog I have given these things absolutely love them.

For me, it was, reusing things and to make gifts for people instead of buying things for them.

For me it was making things from scratch, shopping at thrift stores, stockpiling, resusing baggies and soon I'll be making paper napkins (just looking for a sheet around here we no longer need)