I've always liked making do with what I have, but now I have a goal to pay off a particular debt ASAP, so I'm trying to take it to a whole new dimension. I'm working on not buying unnecessary items, even small items from thrift stores or garage sales, using and using up what I have on hand, re-purposing, and just in general avoiding spending money I don't have to.
It's become like the perfect storm of not buying around here, because we have several goals this year that all dovetail nicely. We want to get our house de-cluttered, we want to pay more toward the aforementioned debt, we want to use up various supplies we already own rather than buy more, and I'm also attempting to start a micro-business with minimal start-up costs selling handmade items at the local farmers market.
I'm hoping some you other villagers will join in with your own ideas and accomplishments.
At this moment, I have a chair mat toasting in front of the gas fireplace. Yesterday morning, I pulled it out of the clutter pile in my sewing room. It looked like a taco shell. I need it and I don't want to pay to replace it. I softened it in front of the fire for a while yesterday, until I could unfold it. At that point it resembled a mountain range with numerous bumps all over it. Today it's more like the Black Hills in South Dakota. Tomorrow, I'm hoping for eastern Nebraska. The point is it looked like garbage 36 hours ago, but now it's on the verge of becoming completely useful for a total cost of absolutely nothing.
I'm making a conscious effort now to use up all the old cleaning supplies that are hanging around the place, instead of buying new ones.
Earlier this week, I repaired a broken hitch receiver cover using pieces cut from a plastic milk jug and some leftover Eternabond tape, thus avoiding the cost of buying a new one.
What's everyone else up to? How are you avoiding buying new things in favor of using what you already have? Give us your best ideas! We can all learn from each other.
It's become like the perfect storm of not buying around here, because we have several goals this year that all dovetail nicely. We want to get our house de-cluttered, we want to pay more toward the aforementioned debt, we want to use up various supplies we already own rather than buy more, and I'm also attempting to start a micro-business with minimal start-up costs selling handmade items at the local farmers market.
I'm hoping some you other villagers will join in with your own ideas and accomplishments.
At this moment, I have a chair mat toasting in front of the gas fireplace. Yesterday morning, I pulled it out of the clutter pile in my sewing room. It looked like a taco shell. I need it and I don't want to pay to replace it. I softened it in front of the fire for a while yesterday, until I could unfold it. At that point it resembled a mountain range with numerous bumps all over it. Today it's more like the Black Hills in South Dakota. Tomorrow, I'm hoping for eastern Nebraska. The point is it looked like garbage 36 hours ago, but now it's on the verge of becoming completely useful for a total cost of absolutely nothing.
I'm making a conscious effort now to use up all the old cleaning supplies that are hanging around the place, instead of buying new ones.
Earlier this week, I repaired a broken hitch receiver cover using pieces cut from a plastic milk jug and some leftover Eternabond tape, thus avoiding the cost of buying a new one.
What's everyone else up to? How are you avoiding buying new things in favor of using what you already have? Give us your best ideas! We can all learn from each other.