Yeppers, it is April First, but as unusual as this post is, it is entirely sincere.
Your Central California artist lives a very frugal life. Last Friday I became aware (yet again) that frugality is just automatic, built into my DNA perhaps. Have a look at the stuff that fills my days off and brings me great satisfaction.
Gardening
Trail Guy made the top rack from old mule shoes and the bottom one from the head of a garden rake. Most of these tools are second-hand.
The daffodil bulbs were bought in January, when they were greatly discounted; the bearded iris were a gift from a friend who was thinning hers; the dutch iris was probably a bulb on sale and seems to be the last one standing.
Sewing
Many years ago, I bought a tablecloth to make valances for my kitchen windows. When I washed them last week, they disintegrated. The rest of the tablecloth was in a closet, waiting to be turned into replacements. This time they aren’t very ruffled, because there wasn’t quite enough fabric. (Nobody cares.)
About 15 years ago I stocked up on the jeans that fit me best, which meant they all expired at the same time. I tried iron patches (wouldn’t stick), sewn on patches (ugly, but worked until the pants wore out above and below the patches), and made cut-offs from a few pair. Then I saw a picture on my favorite blog (The Frugal Girl) of several things you can do with old jeans. Since it rained last Saturday, and since my sewing machine* was set up, I made this ridiculous apron! (not finished in this photo).
It isn’t very frugal to use time and electricity to sew something that I don’t need, but I can’t stand waste. (or fraud or abuse, but that isn’t what we are discussing here.)
More Gardening
My broccoli crop was pathetic this year: look at the yield from 5 plants:
After I “harvested” the heads in the colander, I ignored the plants for a few more weeks. When it was time to yank them, I was able to get another small handful. These are good chopped up in scrambled eggs. Yea us, eating fresh vegetables. (I’d rather have ice cream, but not in my scrambled eggs.)
Then I planted the basil that rooted in the kitchen window sill all winter, taken from cuttings off last year’s basil. It’s kind of sorry-looking but as with all my gardening, it is another triumph of hope over experience. I started with 6-7 plants, but some croaked when transplanted.
Others broke when I was putting them in the planting bed, so of course I moved them back to little bottles of water on the window sill.
Those bottles initially contained Trader Joe’s balsamic vinegar. I pried the pouring cork/plugs from them, and they are perfect for this purpose—cute, small mouth, and no lid to keep track of. Good thing I didn’t learn that Trader Joe’s adds sugar to its balsamic vinegar until I had a nice collection of these.
Among my friends, this sort of thing is normal. My closest friends choose to go for walks together, not go out to lunch. We get a kick out of figuring out how to do things, telling one another how we saved money, and sharing extra stuff, whether it is garden plants, fabric, produce, baking, items bought on sale, or ideas.
How are you frugal? Is this normal for you too?
*A Singer Featherweight, made in 1959, a gift from my grandmother. The plastic handle did not go the distance, so Trail Guy replaced it with a chain.
8 Comments
Frugal? Trail Guy’s garden tool rack shows human qualities we are losing in this “buy everything” world: perceptiveness; analyzation; imagination; creativity; self-reliance; honor. All your “making do’s” show the same attributes that guide your vital life!
Thank you, Louise! Our creativity definitely spills over into many areas.
My husband loves to wash and re-use plastic Ziploc bags. A box of them can last us for years. He washes and rinses them, they puts them over our drying racks that fit over our heating ducts. It works like a charm!
My parents are very frugal and I’d say I land somewhere in the middle. I had a lot of issues with money because of how I grew up and so I have to “force” myself to spend money. I’ve gotten so much better at this, but money is there to be spent for enjoyment so I try to do things as economically as possible but I also allow myself to say “yes” to things and then enjoy them! It can be a tricky balance.
Elisabeth, you seem to have a very balanced approach—all those thrifted everyday items allow you to take fabulous trips with your family. We also reuse Ziplocs, but nowhere near as rabidly as your husband! Like you, I sometimes have to “force” myself to spend money; I was taught to save and to give, but not so much taught to spend, how much and when it is okay. It has taken awhile to make peace with it all.
My mother loved iris flowers and we had several in our back yard of various shades of blue and purple. I managed to get some cuttings from a neighbor and the other day it brought forth a pretty violet flower!
I think your valance is lovely, even sans ruffles!
I gave away my sewing machine years ago, but fortunately I have another neighbor who loves to sew, alter, hem my stuff for a very reasonable price. She wants me to join her Mexican Train Dominoes club (I’ve played once a long time ago). I guess that’s what retired people are supposed to do!
Your broccoli looks more like broccolini which I love! I never thought of adding to scrambled eggs. Throw some shredded cheddar cheese on top, yum!
P.S. We’re not frugal . . . we’re cheap, and proud of it!
Sharon, to my way of thinking, “frugal” sounds better than “cheap”. Cheap is crummy stuff that wears out, people who don’t tip, and not being able to enjoy luxuries when they occur. Often the point of my frugality is to have enough money to enjoy higher end things. For example, I’d rather drive an old Honda Accord than a new Chevy (in spite of my strong patriotism).
My Father always told me “You’re rich in the things you can do without.” So, you’re rich indeed.
Ben Coombs
Ben, your dad sounds wise. I am indeed rich, and it brings me pleasure to figure out how to do things without spending money. . . it’s a game that’s fun to play.