What is your BEST Frugal Accomplishment?

**KimZ** · 11-06-2011, 09:21 AM

It can be one BIG accomplishment you have achieved frugally or something that you do every day that you consider a personal accomplishment?

Example: I can stretch a chicken to feed 4 for 4 days.

Maybe some of you can clothe a family of 6 for 1 year on under a $100 etc.

I am looking for different ways to stretch my budget and I think by hearing about others GREAT accomplishments it gives me and others major

encouragement!

**NicJean** · 11-06-2011, 10:45 AM

With DH's help, pay off serious amount of college debt, personal debt - and working on savings. It's a huge weight lifted as well as peace, not stress. Oh yeah - last payment on our vehicle going in this week!!

**melodys** · 11-06-2011, 10:54 AM

The big thing is that I (finally) paid off my student loans, and I am a few months off from having enough down payment to buy a house.

The little things are that I got rid of cable and my home phone, cook more from scratch, learned to make pretty good bread, and I am having a wonderful time dating without spending money. (Romantic walks in the park are great

)

**Incognito** · 11-06-2011, 11:23 AM

Surviving on a private music teacher's income for the past 25 yrs, while raising 3 kids, one mentally disabled (though not dx'd or funded all that time due to the failure of the system).

And now, being seriously crippled and ill for the past 4 years, and surviving on a private music teacher's income of $2,000 - $4,000 per year, hopefully till I can retire in 2-7 more years. That's the plan.

**Ramona** · 11-06-2011, 12:14 PM

Mine is not something I do, it's something I don't do; shopping for recreation. It's dangerous to me, there's always something that appeals

.

**pollypurebred39** · 11-06-2011, 12:27 PM

I think the biggest one is keeping food on the table in dire circumstances. Years ago, before I was married, I was destitute poor. We had a roof over our heads but little else. I lived with my Father and my oldest. I learned how to make a different meal every mealtime on just the very basics of staples. Now, it might have meant that we had cake for supper, or biscuits with country gravy, but are stomachs were full and there was variety. My Father grew up extremely poor and God bless him, he never said a word about what I set before him to eat. He was just thankful that there was a meal in front of him. They were some tough years, but they were happy years.

Forward fast to our economic circumstances now and that knowledge has served me very well. But, we still had times where I didn't know just exactly how we were going to get through the week. My cupboards echoed, even with my MIL gifting us with food frequently. Then HappyMama from here on the FV showed me how to build a deep pantry, and that changed everything. I don't worry anymore about not having enough food to make it through a week because I learned how to spend my food dollars more effectively.

Even though it's HappyMama's system and not my own, I feel a sense of accomplishment in being able to employ it to work within our budget. Keeping myself apprised on how the prices are in the market (HappyMama's the bomb on that too) Helps me know what kinds of things I need to focus on and at what times. Like peanut butter, I've got about 15 jars on my shelf. I hope to be able to not need peanut butter again till the prices come back down. Beef is another big one, I bought about 24 pounds of round steak @ $1.99 a pound before the beef prices started to rise. I cut it up in 24 one pound freezer packets. If I serve beef twice a month we'll have enough beef for a year. It might not seem like a lot, but it breaks up the pasta, bean meals enough so no one feels deprived.

Add to that we increased our garden last year and I learned how to dehydrate. I had been just freezing, but there's only so much room in the freezer. So now I have vegetables to go through Winter. Not enough to make it till next garden harvest, but certainly enough not to starve. And more than enough to share. I hope that next garden season we do even better. My goal is to learn how to can and be able to put up enough vegetables and fruits for my family to see us through till the next harvest.

We still are on the fence about small livestock for meat. But if things keep turning the way they have been in our economy I expect that will be on our to learn list too.

**dancemommy** · 11-06-2011, 12:59 PM

For us, it is me being able to be a SAHM for the entire time we've had kids- 17 years. I wouldn't trade it for a thing. It has required some sacrifice and even some risk sometimes. We could live in a larger home, drive nicer cars, have nicer things, but instead I am home with my kids. I know what they are doing. They have straight A's in school. They are able to do activities and discover their passions. I now work part time from home for a business we own, but it is completely flexible and really the result of necessity as the kids activities have gotten so much more expensive. We have carried a little debt in order for me to be home with the kids, but have whittled that down to an amount we are comfortable with for the time being. We are not interested in paying off our house right now- we'd rather invest in our businesses as they are more profitable and we want our kids to have experiences- they are only young once. We are frugal about a lot of things, but we still live- we go on vacations, we buy the kids some of the things off of their want list and we do fun things. But we do each of these frugally compared to our peers. The kids hardly notice, but they do know that when we got out to eat it is with a coupon or that I won't buy an item unless it is on sale, etc. We love our lives right now and wouldn't change a thing!

**Mom2-3** · 11-06-2011, 01:08 PM

Originally Posted by dancemommy

For us, it is me being able to be a SAHM for the entire time we've had kids- 17 years. I wouldn't trade it for a thing. It has required some sacrifice and even some risk sometimes. We could live in a larger home, drive nicer cars, have nicer things, but instead I am home with my kids. I know what they are doing. They have straight A's in school.

Same here.

**KimZ** · 11-06-2011, 01:26 PM

Originally Posted by pollypurebred39

I think the biggest one is keeping food on the table in dire circumstances. Years ago, before I was married, I was destitute poor. We had a roof over our heads but little else. I lived with my Father and my oldest. I learned how to make a different meal every mealtime on just the very basics of staples. Now, it might have meant that we had cake for supper, or biscuits with country gravy, but are stomachs were full and there was variety. My Father grew up extremely poor and God bless him, he never said a word about what I set before him to eat. He was just thankful that there was a meal in front of him. They were some tough years, but they were happy years.

Forward fast to our economic circumstances now and that knowledge has served me very well. But, we still had times where I didn't know just exactly how we were going to get through the week. My cupboards echoed, even with my MIL gifting us with food frequently. Then HappyMama from here on the FV showed me how to build a deep pantry, and that changed everything. I don't worry anymore about not having enough food to make it through a week because I learned how to spend my food dollars more effectively.

Even though it's HappyMama's system and not my own, I feel a sense of accomplishment in being able to employ it to work within our budget. Keeping myself apprised on how the prices are in the market (HappyMama's the bomb on that too) Helps me know what kinds of things I need to focus on and at what times. Like peanut butter, I've got about 15 jars on my shelf. I hope to be able to not need peanut butter again till the prices come back down. Beef is another big one, I bought about 24 pounds of round steak @ $1.99 a pound before the beef prices started to rise. I cut it up in 24 one pound freezer packets. If I serve beef twice a month we'll have enough beef for a year. It might not seem like a lot, but it breaks up the pasta, bean meals enough so no one feels deprived.

Add to that we increased our garden last year and I learned how to dehydrate. I had been just freezing, but there's only so much room in the freezer. So now I have vegetables to go through Winter. Not enough to make it till next garden harvest, but certainly enough not to starve. And more than enough to share. I hope that next garden season we do even better. My goal is to learn how to can and be able to put up enough vegetables and fruits for my family to see us through till the next harvest.

We still are on the fence about small livestock for meat. But if things keep turning the way they have been in our economy I expect that will be on our to learn list too.

I would LOVE to here this System Polly! I am not an extreme couponer but I am trying to stock pile necessity

**pollypurebred39** · 11-06-2011, 01:32 PM

Kim, I'll see if I can find the link where HappyMama explains her system.

**Contrary Housewife** · 11-06-2011, 01:38 PM

It has to be getting out of debt and living debt free and within our means these last 5 years or so. It took years of living on the edge to get off the credit card roller coaster, and what a change it was. We have more than we need, most things we want, and no stress over bills to be paid each month. Most of all the freedom to do what we want, like take an exotic vacation at the drop of a hat.

**piney** · 11-06-2011, 01:43 PM

Originally Posted by Ramona

Mine is not something I do, it's something I don't do; shopping for recreation. It's dangerous to me, there's always something that appeals

.

That was one of my bad habits shopping for recreation when i gave that up and started using things i had i could pay more on cc and other debt and finally got dept free.And i also gave up house phone,started using less detergent & i found out that my clothes got just as clean & started using vinegar for fabric softener.Baking soda and vinegar for cleaning.Buy very few new clothes.Cook extra and freeze some for another time.Use less shampoo & conditioner.

**pollypurebred39** · 11-06-2011, 01:48 PM

Here's the link, read through the entire thread. HappyMama is a wealth of information. She's one big GOLDMINE! Use what works for your family, in your situation, that's what I do. HappyMama is extremely skilled, wish I lived closer because I'd love to be her apprentice.

Ditching the Regular Grocery...

**ladykemma2** · 11-06-2011, 02:23 PM

getting past the brainwashing

examples: stopped buying saran wrap. now i use the bags from walmart to cover food, or use sealable containers

stopped buying cleaning products. now i simply use a small or large squirt of dishwashing lquid in a bucket of water for household use. i also stopped buying laundry detergent and use ajax lemon dishwashing liquid to launder clothes.

stopped buying paper plates, paper towels and disposable products. the world continued to spin on its axis.

i reduced the use of feminine hygiene products and began using black terry hand towels for menstrual use if i were home.

cutting the electricity bill in half by diligent use and cutting phantom load.

cut my doctors visits by finding a GP who does all my medical needs.

**Nana2two** · 11-06-2011, 03:34 PM

For me it is teaching my 16 year old that she can still wear the latest fashions. Hollister,Abercrombi. By shopping at thrift shops. She is proud to tell others she got those Hollister jeans for $1.99 instead of $79 . I give her $100 a year for clothes and she buys every thing at garage sales and thrifts. In August she got real lucky and found 2 dresses one for home coming and one for prom . She got 8 pairs of jeans,5 Hoodies, Winter coat. Ugg boots 10 different tanks and tee's 5 sweaters. Gloves,hats, 5 button ups and 2 book bags for under $65.00. 90% was at 1 garage sale.The young lady even gave her a box of shoes and purses for free since she was closing up. I always buy her underwear and socks new and bra's I found 15 victoria secret ones in her size and a few a size bigger,perfect condition for a $1.00 each.