13 Frugal Living Tips From The Depression: TightWad Gazette Series

[@stevehartman1730]

Let em laff.

[@marywatkins6798]

I loved and still love The Tightwad Gazette. Read it when it came out in the 1990s and it helped me alot! I don't waste food. I buy many items pre-owned, as much as I can. I avoid debt and currently have none. I do simple mending repairs on clothes. I cook mostly from scratch, except for bread.

[@CentsibleLivingWithMoneyMom]

Thanks for sharing!

[@FrenchTwist]

The grandmother who raised me was the queen of depression frugality. When her dress was worn or stained, it became a skirt, then an apron, then a throw pillow cover, then strips to create a rag rug or pot holder! I get laughed at for mending socks.

[@coettahannah3403]

Yes, that red blouse looks good on you, its your best color.

[@andreacloyd3672]

Yes any thing from clothes 2 lines were repurposed every bit of it. Again I do they same

[@julieunruh6352]

I get told, that I can always get new ones. But, I have mended my socks for years now. Then they become rags.

[@stevehartman1730]

My late wealthy uncle got only Sunday paper He'd remove coupons and funnies. He'd use coupons and donate them to community library so others could use them. After reading paper

[@stevehartman1730]

Paper He'd wrap it round broomhandle and secure with metal coathanger. When hanger became brittle He'd put it in with metal junk for scrap yard. At end of year he had 52 paper forelegs for woodburner. He'd then put ashes in with compost.

[@elizabethnamy6053]

I have reversed my husband's shirt collars- looks brands new

[@CentsibleLivingWithMoneyMom]

Wow

[@sherabee]

Cereal bags make awesome freezer bags because they are nice and thick.

[@CentsibleLivingWithMoneyMom]

Thank you

[@HunterAnsorge-ok9jk]

I think I would rather just not eat cereal in general

[@Loraann54fi10]

My mother would scold anyone who peeled potatoes. The amount of nutrition in the skin of a potato is incredible. The peel can even help the body break down the carbohydrates more efficiently. She would say that whoever peels potatoes is throwing away the part our bodies need the most. Unless I have a request for smooth mashed potatoes, we never peel them just a good scrubbing.

[@sherabee]

@@Loraann54fi10 I wonder if there is something else you can do with them sometimes if you don't want them. I was going tontry sautéing them or frying them.

[@lynnwall7046]

My grandmother word mend socks and underwear. I've started doing that. I reuse my sandwich bags. I've started meal prepping and canning.

[@CentsibleLivingWithMoneyMom]

Wonderful

[@terryroland3992]

Use sunlight more as my light

[@heartland297]

My mother taught me to crush milk containers before putting them in the garbage to get more use out of trash bags (which were, of course, repurposed grocery bags)

[@galcomom]

I cut paper towels in half. I also reuse tin foil if it is clean enough and alot of times you can wipe it off. I also save the inside wrap of cereal and use them for storage bags.

[@CentsibleLivingWithMoneyMom]

how smart

[@ka6148]

Our scrap food feeds the chooks and others

[@janinejackson9477]

Thank you I enjoyed your video. Here are some of the things I do to save. I eat only when I am hungry, and only 120grams of meat and a variety of vegetables. I drink only 2 maybe 3 cups of coffee a day. I have cut out all sugar from my diet as I am obese and unhealthy. I drink lots of water. Drinking a glass of water first before eating lets you know if you are thirsty or hungry. I don't spend money every payday, I don't walk into a shop or spend online. I use up what I have. I do free activities such as walking around looking at gardens. I collect kindling on my walks as I live in the country. I only turn my hot water on once a week and then once hot turn it off this saves on electricity. I get four days of hot water and a couple of luke warm before it goes very cold. When it comes to the toilet there is a saying " If its yellow let it mellow if its brown flush it down". This saves on water and money as I pay for water. I use wet cloths to wipe myself with and wash, disinfect and reuse. I'm past menopause but I made reusable pads which you can get the pattern for online. I have saved hundreds each year on toilet paper. I do keep a roll in the toilet room for visitors. These are only a hair fraction of what I do to save. I do sew and crochet and make my own clothes and blankets and kitchen, bathroom and bedroom linen. I do hang clothes to dry them. And much more. I hope this gives you some ideas.

[@CentsibleLivingWithMoneyMom]

I want to hang out with you

[@jonnaborosky8836]

So good! As a rule, I do use every last drop or scrap of everything, whether it's cloth from sewing, food, yarn, etc. With scraps of fabric, I've mad doll clothes. I've made clothes for small children out of clothing when I wasn't wearing it any longer and the fabric was still good. I don't peel potatoes. The vitamins are just barely under the skin. I've even mashed potatoes with skins on! Never thought of it as rationing, but I measure out what I use and try to use less. I dilute all soaps and cleansers with 50% water and then keep halving the amount I use till I find the smallest amount that gets the job done. When I was losing weight, I measured out portions to keep them correct. I measured out a box of spaghetti noodles into the number of serving the box said it had, etc. I still keep track of every expense. At the end of each month, quarter and year, I check to see where I overspent, so I'll know where to be much more careful (groceries!) and where I underspent so that when I recalibrate the budget, I know I can reduce the allotted amount in the budget. I keep every receipt until it's recorded. This is one way I spend as little as possible. When I had no income I had to do this. Now it's habit. I still look for edibles. Used to pick blackberries, rhubarb stems for pies, lamb's quarters, butter cups, violets and rose petals for salads or to sugar them to use as cake and pudding decorations...haven't done these in a long time because they're not available any more. I used to sew most of my own clothes, sometimes with hand-me-down fabrics. I save old fabrics to mend old clothing. And I mend everything till it's not bendable any more. I've got tons of cleaning cloths from doing this for so many years. When the cleaning cloths get holes in them, I cut them down into "family" cloths to use instead of toilet paper. I collect lint from the dryer and used (at least 2-3 times) dryer sheets to use as tinder to start fires in the wood burning stove. When I was younger, I took tags out of clothing and sewed them into a vest. I've always loved making something out of nothing. Parents and grandparents lived through the depression and I learned from them. I used to save any colorful glass pieces I found, break it into small pieces and make mosaic art out of it. I used to knit all the gifts I gave. I used tension squares to make baby blankets, and used a lot of hand-me-down yarn. I also dried flowers from the yard one year. I made and framed those as floral designs as gifts. I used to draw and frame art as gifts. That's a skill I haven't kept up. I used to buy plain t-shirts and embroider custom designs on them to make them unique and give them as gifts. Costs less than fancy t-shirts. I used to make my own drapes, especially when I moved. I'd take old drapes I loved and alter them to fit the new windows. I had a tailoring business out of my house once long ago. I always look for natural remedies before going to the doctor. I have a book called, "The Food Pharmacy." I also use it for preventative care. As a retired nurse, I have a pretty good idea of what can be taken care of at home and what really needs medical care. Used to cook from scratch, but now it takes way more energy than I've got. Now I use some conveniences when cooking. I request and receive socks and underwear as presents. That's what I need the most. My sister is already shopping for my Christmas socks and underwear. Yeah! Used to garden, even as a renter. Now I can't anymore. I used to save seeds from year to year when I did garden, so I didn't have to buy them. I certainly learned to go without and use what I had when I had no income. I hang some clothes in the basement, but not outside. I'm allergic to too many grasses and pollens. I have a neighbor who's helped me a lot, so I share any extra food I have with him. If he doesn't want or need it, I put it in a church's "blessing box," an outdoor little wooden box for people to drop off or pick up food items. Have no credit cards now. I scavenge for wood for the wood burning stove, pick up coins and pens I find, and keep rubber bands, twisty-ties and use old toothbrushes for cleaning. I used to use grass clippings as mulch in the garden. I re-use plastic bags and aluminum foil till they have holes in them. Then I tie them into little cat toys. When I buy butter in sticks, I keep the empty wax paper wrappings to grease pans with. OK...sorry for another book! Love you, too, Money Mom!

[@CentsibleLivingWithMoneyMom]

I have a lot of improvements to make

[@tacos_are_life]

That is amazing!! I wish I had someone like you in my life to teach me these things! I have no clue how to sew, find edibles in nature, etc. I feel like these are all gifts that will be long forgotten pretty soon. Thank you for sharing your list!

[@3TXSisters]

Jonna, Thank you for sharing your tips with us. You're amazingly resourceful. I love to hear about your life and how you made the most of everything. Take care, Linda 🦋

[@StephanieGiese]

I need to work on some of these. I lived with my grandmother for several years and she never wasted anything. She would even save the disposable straws from fast food restaurants after she used them. She would bring them home and wash them and reuse them until they cracked and broke. If she got a card for her birthday or the holidays she would cut off the front, save the side that had the message on it for herself, and reuse the blank picture side of the card as a postcard to send notes to friends in nursing or retirement homes.

[@CentsibleLivingWithMoneyMom]

Your grandmother sounds brilliant

[@buzzybee186]

That is a genius move! My father was in jail growing up and our Christmas cards from him were old cards with a blank side glued to the outside and someone with artistic talent would handwrite out names on the front in really neat cursive/lettering. Jail is the epitome of waste not

[@anniecharlotte4469]

I love hearing about Tightwad gazette!

[@CentsibleLivingWithMoneyMom]

I do also I'll talk to you later

[@kenyonbissett3512]

Yes we have the internet now but the concepts are the same.

[@trudielevins558]

My mother would save the wrappers from butter and margarine and use them to grease her cake pans.

[@CentsibleLivingWithMoneyMom]

so did my mom

[@cathycalrow2729]

I still use wrappers from butter and margarine to grease my pans.

[@andreacloyd3672]

Mom 2 & I still do

[@papermason]

My Mom does that too, it's a great tip!!!

[@moonshynegirl172]

I do this, just like my grandmother.

[@carlawaldemar1557]

I remember when the Tightwad Gazette was just a newsletter that you subscribed to! Boy that was a long time ago, and then they published the books. All were so helpful to me back then, and I was only in my 20s.

[@CentsibleLivingWithMoneyMom]

I miss it

[@daydreamdesigns989]

Just discovered your channel and I love it! I read the Tightwad Gazette when it first came out in the '90s and re-read every few years to stay motivated. Thank you for your videos!

[@CentsibleLivingWithMoneyMom]

Welcome aboard!

[@peggysuewiskocil8183]

I have been buying 2lbs ground beef and splitting it in three instead of two.

[@CentsibleLivingWithMoneyMom]

That is smart

[@buzzybee186]

So doing this!! My husband is a little meatlover! He could eat a lb of beef at each sitting. Good tip!

[@chapman1569]

If your family doesn't hate legumes/beans, maybe you could add a bit of cooked lentils to your stews, or spaghetti sauces, it would add inexpensive protein to the meat and they might not notice it at all. Just begin with a small amount.

[@MoneyMindsetCoach3]

I saw the story about Amy in Parade magazine in the Sunday paper many years ago, i was fascinating and i was hooked on frugality

[@jawannahernandez8045]

LOVE. LOVE. LOVE UR HONESTY💋💋

[@CentsibleLivingWithMoneyMom]

Thank you

[@debbieframpton3857]

I just got the complete tightwad Gazette from my library

[@mariahsmom9457]

I started a vegetable garden this spring to save on groceries but it is definitely not cheap. A lot of start up costs. Plus, i never tried growing from seed before so I bought a lot of plants grown. I wont do that again! Growing food is a skill we need back!

[@cathyjo7975]

Try using 14 gauge copper wire on a stick in your garden. Helps veggies grow bigger. I always plant 2 rows of carrots. This year my 2 rows of carrots produced 60 lbs of carrots. My husband and I cleaned, peeled and canned them. If I would have bought them it would have cost me $75.. hang in there.. gardening will pay off...

[@janinejackson9477]

To prevent food from going off and wasting I process it for the freezer or for canning. My latest is mashed potatoes spooned into serving mounds on cookie tray and freezing. Once frozen I use my egg flipper to remove them from the tray and store them in a container in the freezer. Works a treat!

[@CentsibleLivingWithMoneyMom]

great idea

[@debbi945]

How do you reheat the mound, to serve?

[@janinejackson9477]

@@debbi945 hello I reheat them in the airfryer straight from the freezer frozen. Test with fork into mound, if it's ready fork will go right through and it will be warm to the touch. Crisps on outside and mush on inside. YUMMMM....

[@debbi945]

@@janinejackson9477 that does sound good, but I don't have an air fryer. Thanks for replying

[@lillic8522]

@@debbi945I am sure you can defrost it during the day and then heat it up with a little milk - no need to buy an expensive airfryer 😉

[@joanmilano5302]

I grew up seeing my mom hang clothes out every day. They always smelled so good.

[@tomaszwyszkowski2253]

Almost all the world is still hanging the clothes (electicity is just too expensive).

[@buzzybee186]

My mom had us hand the was out anytime it wasn't raining or snowing. damn, I can still remember hanging those towels in December. They were like hard, stuff boards and you hand to crack them up to fold them.

[@leeolson7730]

In the winter where it freezes outside, put a milk carton filled with water and let it freeze into a solid block. Then move it to the fridge to save energy consumption.

[@gryl.4030]

That is a great tip!

[@lorijones3294]

I do garden, we have gotten a lot better about wasting food. I learned how to make laundry soap and a some really good household cleaners this year.

[@CentsibleLivingWithMoneyMom]

That is awesome!

[@freddyfaznose4883]

As kid’s parents bought shoes w room to grow so we’d put sock/tp/newspaper in the toe of shoes. Also had a pair of “Sunday shoes”, “every day shoes”, and play shoes.

[@CentsibleLivingWithMoneyMom]

Same here

[@oliviafox3310]

I love Amy Dacyzyn. When I feel discouraged, I look through her books and get ideas on when to do better. // A kin to dumpster diving. One thing my dad, (a low income artist), would do, and I have done is curbside gleaning. When we lived in the Philly area dad would bring furniture home he found in a once wealthy neighborhood that was going down. He brought home a bentwood rocker, a set of mahogany shelves with brass handles, a sofa, some ornate cast iron shelf brackets from a mortuary that was being demolished, wooden fruit crates. Stuff like that. I still have a few pieces picked up that way.

[@bellen4329]

I do all these things. Don't do this anymore because of where I live the closest store is 3 miles away, but when my kids were young we lived only 4 blocks from the center of town so we walked to the library, grocery, drug store, etc. This was back in the 80s and I was even informed by a well meaning acquaintance that I would be able to qualify for food stamps, community nursing, and other social services - all because we walked and therefore MUST be poor. We weren't, just couldn't see any reason to take the car when everything was so close.

[@littlesongbird1]

I think many people confuse frugality with being poor. I am not rolling it by any means but not struggling either and I like to be frugal. Sometimes when my friends hear me mention about buying second hand clothes, hang drying, repurposing things (like making napkins out of old clothes or using old towels for cleaning rags) they would ask me if I needed money to go out.

[@desert_moon]

Got it when it first came out...still have it!!

[@gryl.4030]

I love that you ask for vintage frugality tips! I am interested in that too. My grandparents ( born 1915 and 1917) learned to be extremely frugal. My grandfather collected every free plasticbag he could lay his hands on, folded them carefully and stored them seperated in colors. Among other uses, he made giftwraps out of them wich he decorated with papercraft and ribbons. Looked like a million! They had a garden where they grew vegetables and rhubarbs. Tasted like a a piece of heaven :) This was in Denmark. In nothern Norway my fathers mother walked around town and asked for scraps of rubber. The firestation donated to her, and she made shoesoles out of the rubber and sewed socks on them into "shoes." Not a tip we can use nowadays, but this was under 2 world war, and she saved lifes of many russians in a conzentration camp. God bless the generations behind us . We can learn a lot looking back.

[@CentsibleLivingWithMoneyMom]

My Mom's mom is from Norway

[@gryl.4030]

@@CentsibleLivingWithMoneyMom With your love for candles and "hygge" I am not surprised! That makes two of us :D

[@pinkiesue849]

I never knew that Norway had a Russian "camp: there ( my Grandma came over from Norge).

[@gryl.4030]

@@pinkiesue849 Hi :) It was a german camp with russian and norwegian prisoners. One of my uncles was in there for a couple of months. My father was 14 yeas old. He smuggled food, clothes and the "shoes" my grandmother made, through a fence. The norwegian prisoners had some things/ clothes beforehand, but the russian/ siberian had almost nothing

[@christianmathis3320]

Thank you, I appreciate your tips and time making this video

[@CentsibleLivingWithMoneyMom]

Glad it was helpful!

[@deborahlawing2728]

All good ideas. I hang clothes out all the time. Have even had diapers freeze on the line when children were little but they still dried . Never peel potatoes or carrots; a good wash and scrub with a small brush takes care of them. Even people who don't garden can still bury their veggie scraps in the flower bed if they don't use for stock. I do garden and have buried an old cotton thermal blanket and other cotton garments to decompose and add matter ( after taking off buttons, zippers, brads, etc.). We( collectively) are such a throw away society. Sad in my opinion. I have had many nice clothes given to me when friends get tired of them, outgrow them, or the fashion trend changes. I figure if I am covered and clean, well, that's all I need. Great ideas and comments from others. God bless.

[@CentsibleLivingWithMoneyMom]

That is wonderful

[@kaitlinobrien243]

Contentment and gratitude! Goes along way. Great show! I love you too ☘️☘️☘️

[@CentsibleLivingWithMoneyMom]

Thank you I really want to work on that

[@stevehartman1730]

My Dad loved him but he became a full time alcoholic big time 25 bottles beer day Wouldne save food store as it took beer from him.

[@joancollins6207]

I live in an apartment, and always hang my washing on an airer. Cook most meals from scratch. Ration many household items e.g. washing detergent, hand wash etc. Walk to work most of the time. Borrow books from the library frequently. And work full time. Thanks for another great vlog, Dawn!

[@CentsibleLivingWithMoneyMom]

Love that!

[@karenbaumgardner4109]

My grandmother took all her junk mail and unwanted mail and tore it into similar sizes. She always had a free stack of note paper to use for lists, etc.

[@CentsibleLivingWithMoneyMom]

that is smart

[@lifebeyondthesalary2458]

My mom used to do that too! Usually kept her coupons in her shopping list envelope 😜

[@sgist7824]

My nanna did this too and created shopping lists, notes from the envelopes ♥

[@JehanineMelmoth]

I do that too!

[@skylights2379]

I found the Tightwad Gazette years ago at the Library, then found the books. I love them.

[@CentsibleLivingWithMoneyMom]

same here

[@virginiainnes9042]

Love this! I try to do a lot to save money... sometimes I wonder how I came to do many things they might have done during the Great Depression. My parents never did these things. 😊But here are some of the things I do: 1. I reuse aluminum foil until it’s no longer useful and I reuse bread bags, sandwich bags and zip bags. 2. I reuse plastic forks and spoons till they break. 3. I wash my mirrors with water! I just sprinkle some water on the mirror and wipe it down with a dry wash cloth... works wonders! 4. I dilute my liquid laundry detergent and use the bare minimum. 5. I use about a teaspoon of regular dish liquid in my dish washer... no dishwasher detergent! 6. I use inexpensive body wash from the Dollar Tree, for both my hair and my body. 7. I use dryer lint to start fires in my smoker or grill. 8. I reuse leftovers in casseroles. If that doesn’t get all eaten, I reuse those leftovers and create a whole new casserole, till leftovers are gone. They’re always delicious and this gives lots of chances to get creative! 9. I make my own broth from chicken bones, pork bones, beef bones, deer bones... whatever meat we were eating. I also make veggie broth with leftover bits of veggies that were left as I was cutting up veggies... carrot and onion ends, less-than-pretty celery bits, etc. 10. I buy used wherever possible. I buy new as a last resort, including shoes. Most tennis shoes can be tossed in the washing machine. Shoes that can’t be washed, I spray with disinfectant and anti fungal and wipe them down. 11. I do not have cable. Never have. 12. I dilute juices (we rarely have juice, but when we do, I dilute them). If we’re running low on milk (we buy whole milk), I will dilute it just enough to make sure everyone gets some. 13. I mend our shirts, socks, underwear... whatever I can possibly mend. 14. I bake our bread most of the time and cook from scratch as often as possible. 15. Even though I live in the city, I have a garden and grow what veggies I can. 16. We brew our own beer. 17. We don’t eat out, but on very rare occasions. 18. We recycle our cans for a little extra money. This is my young daughter’s project... she takes care of the cans and receives the money, minus a little bit for the gas to get to the recycler. 19. I use up what we have in the pantry and fridge before shopping. 20. I shop clearances for meats at the grocery store... very rarely pay full price. 21. I have hens in the backyard to help supply us with nutritious and delicious organic eggs! There are many other things I do to save money. I enjoy living this way very much! Living frugally and simply always reminds me to be grateful for everything God has blessed us with! May the Lord bless you all!

[@CentsibleLivingWithMoneyMom]

Virginia, thank you for sharing

[@windsofmarchjourneyperrytr2823]

Bar soap is cheaper per use, tho. Menards had Irish Spring, a huge box of it for like 6.00. I like the homemade stuff though, from a small business or the cut up bar type at Whole Foods. I'm known to shop for blankets (dog bed covers) or soaps the day after a holiday, too.

[@anaarmalah3759]

I love to sleep too! It's free to do! 🤑

[@buzzybee186]

MM- holy moly- you look fantastic!!

[@CentsibleLivingWithMoneyMom]

You're the best!

[@prettycountrygal2367]

I use to use bones from chickens, steaks, roast (if there was a bone), ham bone (if there was a bone) to make stock and I would either can it, freeze it, or make a hearty soup in it for my family. I would usually put something like peice of abbage, carrots, potatoes, maybe some green beans or green peas, and make a vegatable soup with the meat stock and add salt, pepper, some garlic powder, I would usually put some cut up onion in it and occassionally I would have some peices of ham, in the soup, or would have some chunks or a roast beef, or I would brown some sausage and some ground beef and put some of them in it. I wash things out on my hands a lot like my grand mothers and great grandmothers did and my father. My father was born in 1935. I like to buy small bottles of stuff, just different stuff like lotion, shampoo, toothpaste, conditioner, hot sauce, dressing, preserves, a small container of some things last me a long time and I look for the best product that comes in a small container for the cheapest price. Like shampoo and conditioner, I don't wash my hair every day, and sometimes will skip several days because it doesn't get very greasy and I don't have to wash it tons so I buy the small bottles a lot and they last me a while because I am not washing my hair every day. If my hair does start getting a little greasy I either comb my hair with a comb with some water on it and it gets a lot of the oilyness out of it or I will wrap my head in a pillow slip or towel and sleep in it and it will absorb alot of the oilyness. I recycle aluminum cans at the recycle plant to earn a little money and to do a little bit to help the environment. I save scarp paper and use every inch of it that I can making notes, writing phone numbers down, I have even made my own envelopes from notebook paper, plain white copy paper, making my own stickers with a little drawing on the front of a little piece of paper and will cut it and tape or glue it on the envelope. I go through the trash at stores looking for paper, aluminum cans, pens, pencils, you never know what you will find in the trash. I got a paw patrol back pack out of a neighbors trash one time and it was still in decent condition. I have had that now for about 5 years. I wiped it off on the inside and out with some home made sanitizing cleaner and paper towels that I use to clean and sanitize things with. I make my own sanitizing cleaner with a few ingredients including white vinegar, alcohol, essential oils with a couple other ingredients.

[@CentsibleLivingWithMoneyMom]

That is wonderful

[@dp4313]

I try hard to save, but it is not easy. I am 80 years old, mow my oun lawn most weeks, garden, can, hang out most of my laundry which saves on energy and makes clothes last longer, cook most everything from scratch. I have a few hens for eggs although I sometimes think their food cost more than they are worth. I do feed them kitchen scraps and stuff from garden, like cucumbers that have grown to large. This last week I canned green beans, made and froze pesto, zucchini etc. We all have different ways to save. My mom always said don't save pennies and waste dollars, which means do that which will benefit you the most.

[@CentsibleLivingWithMoneyMom]

You are an amazing person

[@bethbeckermeyer1732]

We to get better at not wasting food.

[@Amandafromappalachia]

I do all of these! Including having a small art business where I sell paintings, crochet blankets, and dolls!

[@CentsibleLivingWithMoneyMom]

That is so wonderful I used to embroider when I was young

[@PrairieNightMoon]

My grandmother (back in the '40s) used to take in sewing to make ends meet and then she used the scraps to make Christmas presents for her family.

[@Diane-nr3sf]

Hi this is the first time I've been watching your channel and I love it. I had two of the tightwad series books and they are really a great help one of my tips would be if you are a knitter or work with yarn. I save all the scraps when I get enough I can use them plus scraps of fabric from selling and they pillows or whatever you might want to do with it it takes a while sometimes to save this stuff up but in the end it's worth😊 I also wash and reuse my Ziploc bags

[@CentsibleLivingWithMoneyMom]

Welcome aboard!

[@TXJan0057]

I have chickens and I garden so even food waste that has no value for human use gets fed to the chicks or composted. I do sew but not as well as I used to because of old eyes and arthritic hands. I can mend and hem and do simple garments. I like to garden and preserve the harvest so that is good. I don't track what I spend. After 47 years of running a household and finances I pretty much know what to expect and we just naturally are savers so it all works out

[@CentsibleLivingWithMoneyMom]

Would you please do me a favor and name one of your chickens after me thank you I love chickens

[@TXJan0057]

@@CentsibleLivingWithMoneyMom what is your favorite color? We have 3 new baby chicks before we mix them with the flock I will pur a band on Dawn's leg and record her age in my book. I will use your favorite color.

[@RockyMTHirvi]

Hunting, fishing. I hunt elk, deer, ducks, geese, pheasants and fish. I pressure can much of this meat making it storable for yrs, easy to use in hot dishes, bar-b-q, tender. We buy virtually no domestic meat. Plus it's a great stress relief doing what I enjoy. Learned to do most of our home repairs, change vehicles oil, have woodstove in family room reduce heating costs.

[@TUKByV1]

I use thrift stores a lot. I try to save fasteners and other hardware from discarded things like furniture. If I have a box to discard, I use it for a wastebasket before tossing it out. There's often good free stuff on Craigslist (unfortunately, usually just a little farther than my junk car can go, though). I ALWAYS check clearance aisles. Always compare Price Per Ounce; sometimes the 2-pack is a better deal than the 4-pack. I recently made my own cologne, and it's pretty nice. I didn't even buy any ingredients; already had them in my house. When a neighbor is throwing away things like duffel bags, I salvage buckles, sliders, straps, etc. for fixing stuff later. I don't buy aluminum snap links (aka D-rings); while heavier, steel snap links have far more uses, and are far more durable.

[@loufeather8326]

Thank you for putting us on the correct path. We need to save more. Pay off the debt. Help our neighbors. I also added insulation to my home to cut future expenses.

[@CentsibleLivingWithMoneyMom]

I so agree about helping your neighbors

[@kenyonbissett3512]

That is so smart adding insulation for future savings. I kept a 6 mo to 1 yr pantry and freezer. The same with home goods (tp, clothes, cleaning items, personal care, otc meds). This way if illness, job loss etc happened we could eat from the pantry/freezer, be clean and clothed. Going to a job interview disheveled, dirty and hungry is a losing situation. My son never worried where his next meal was coming from. Amy helped me develop the skills and support to succeed.

[@windsofmarchjourneyperrytr2823]

I don't know how that's going to work. A normal house that was 175k in 2019 is now 340k! They're dreaming and it's extremely greedy, though. Normal people couldn't do this at 2200 or more a month. It's still a good 90 minutes from the major city where the work is.

[@blueclearsky6517]

I still have her monthly newsletters in a folder use many of the recipes today

[@CentsibleLivingWithMoneyMom]

That is wonderful

[@debbiechaney6607]

Dawn, Super great ideas!! Love from Debbie and Dexter-Dog.🙋🐾🙏🙏💓🌞🌻

[@CentsibleLivingWithMoneyMom]

You are so welcome

[@LindaR423]

When I saw the words, "The Tightwad Gazette" I had to subscribe to this channel. I used to get that publication back in the 90's I think it was and I think I received it monthly. I gave up meat a few years ago and boy has that saved me money on my grocery bill.

[@CentsibleLivingWithMoneyMom]

Welcome

[@tmo3973]

On make do with what you have... some people call it poverty consciousness, some call it a game and others purposely do it and call it minimalism. Back in the 90’s I had a great friend, Yu-ing, who was born in Taiwan and came to the US at age 14. Her family owned our local Chinese restaurant (which I frequented) and when I met her I had no idea she was affiliated with the restaurant until her mom and dad were at a dinner she invited hubs and I to! Why am I telling you this? You have never seen anything like what those folks could do in a kitchen with a sharp knife and a pair of chopsticks. They didn’t have (or didn’t use) a bunch of cooking utensils. I loved to sit at the breakfast bar while she and/or parents were preparing food. No joke... I once watched her remove potatoes from boiling water with a pair of chopsticks. And they did not waste any food.

[@CentsibleLivingWithMoneyMom]

That's amazing I love to learn about your friend

[@andreacloyd3672]

I was taught it was a Sin 2 waste!

[@julieunruh6352]

I do not do this, but my grandfather showed me this, cowboy coffee, so when our electricity goes out (have an outside grill and a kettle) you can still have your coffee or tea.

[@nl212ep]

My grandmother grew up during The Depression. I’m 50 and I remember her re-using paper towels (if they were only used to mop up water.)

[@summertime9963]

I reuse plastic sandwhich bags, I have bought a Thermomix so I can make all my own condiments and fresh meals from scratch including vegetable stock using potato peel and any vegetables I have left over. I only buy one hot drink or iced coffee a fortnight, I don’t feel I am missing out, more as I’m buying a future. Plus I can always make my own now if I really want one. I love this series, the more money saved the more I can invest. You inspire me!

[@CentsibleLivingWithMoneyMom]

That is so smart

[@denisegirmer4550]

Compost scraps

[@sandrastratton6964]

grew up with outhouse. scrap of rag to wipe urine. only use paper for BM. cloths can be washed by hand.

[@irenebaker8263]

Another great video Dawn! I love the old ways! I use a clothes line and indoor drying rack in the winter. I love the idea of mending and repairing clothes. That is a huge money saver!

[@CentsibleLivingWithMoneyMom]

Great idea!

[@cathyjo7975]

I hung up laundry outside even in the winter. Live in Ohio. Bring them in and hang up on hangers til morning and dry by then.

[@cjhoward409]

Just stumbling on this video ! Wow Dawn, you look great here. I know you’ve struggled with your weight and I hope you can get back down to this size. Health js wealth. What were you eating 3 years ago that you’re doing different now ? I’ve lost 20 pounds in a year just cutting out things like sugary snacks, cereal and any snacking after supper. Good luck ! Love your frugality videos

[@GreatGrannyFreeBird]

those tips all seem ageless. thanx Dawn!

[@CentsibleLivingWithMoneyMom]

You are so sweet and kind

[@alexandriamares1402]

I wish I could have a garden !!! Everything else I do. Lol especially stretching out every single thing you have

[@robinguertin574]

Can you hang window boxes to grow herbs in? We are growing potatoes in a 5-gallon bucket in our kitchen. I buy a bunch of scallions once, then plant them in a pot of soil and keep enjoying free scallions. There are special bags grow tomatoes in and you hang them up.

[@FrenchTwist]

My two pet hens ( yes they sleep in my house) appreciate vegetable peelings. Same for my parrot. Even the dog likes sauerkraut ! And the 2 hens provide fresh eggs, so earn their keep!

[@CentsibleLivingWithMoneyMom]

That is awesome!

[@windsofmarchjourneyperrytr2823]

I know a dog who used to be called Sauerkraut. He's a Maltese. Little white yappy thing. Lol

[@terryboivin9173]

My mum would save bread bags..actually wash them out and hang them on the clothes line...I don’t know how many times she would reuse them, because I was just a child at the time and not really paying much attention...I do save them myself, only shaking the crumbs out and saving them to dispose of coffee grounds or grease from cooking...I also save bread ties, which come in handy believe it or not! lol 😊

[@CentsibleLivingWithMoneyMom]

That sounds like a smart thing to do

[@cathycalrow2729]

My mother washed out bread bags and the bags inside cereal boxes. Then if we went on a picnic They were used to wrap sandwiches. There was no cling film in the 1950s. She hung the bags on the line too. She also used old tee shirts as dusters.

[@cathycalrow2729]

We don't have reusable bread ties in the UK any more. Bread bags are sealed with tape by machine, so once you peel the tape appart you can't re-use it.

[@ninakoinz8477]

I save produce bags to line the bathroom trash can.

[@booksboundnoveljourneys1122]

How do you use the bread ties? I’m very curious.

[@robinellison6708]

I use every bit of shampoo, dishwashing det.,clothes det. When I was little Mama and I would polish furniture with Daddy's worn out socks.

[@CentsibleLivingWithMoneyMom]

That is great

[@windsofmarchjourneyperrytr2823]

They're also great for applying rub on varnish. It was a great product. I don't know why they discontinued it.

[@abcxyz3603]

Interesting and useful video. Thank you! There are many little money saving tricks I use daily, such as trying not to waste food by cooking only what I am going to eat. I have also reduced the use of plastic in my home, however, we are living in the ‚plastic-age‘ and really cannot get away from it. But I do wash and reuse plastic bags, the ones for food in the freezer are reused for other food items and the plastic bags that can not be thoroughly cleaned are delegated to under the sink and I use them to wrap up chicken bones, leftover food the cat has left in her bowl, and other organic matter that could start smelling, etc., etc., just so the foxes and other animals don‘t get into the garbage when I put it out for collection. I have a compost heap in my garden where fruit and vegetable peels as well as grass cuttings end up. I do repair my clothes, but balk at wearing patched up clothes. I keep my shoes clean and take them to the cobblers when they need new soles. Thoroughly enjoy your videos, especially now you are collaborating with Frugal Joe. Two of my favorite ladies! Stay safe!

[@CentsibleLivingWithMoneyMom]

Thank you. You are so kind

[@mompofelski4191]

vegetable scraps go to compost pile, or you can just bury around the base of plants to decompose. Consolidate all your car trips - run all errands on the same day. Air out clothing - spot clean/don't need to wash with every wearing. Fast showers. Soups and casserole the leftovers.

[@That.Lady.withtheYarn]

Some of those veg scraps are also good for feeding pets.

[@indianne9781]

Avoiding debt at all costs should be #1, especially with these rising interest rates.

[@CentsibleLivingWithMoneyMom]

so true

[@tacos_are_life]

I love that book, and this series! It’s always a good practice to live intentionally. Thank you, Dawn!! 😊🙏🏼

[@CentsibleLivingWithMoneyMom]

You are so welcome!

[@JehanineMelmoth]

The Tightwad Gazette changed our lives. With a few changes we saved enough money to put a deposit down on our lovely bungalow with its beautiful garden. This is first visit to your channel and I’ve subscribed. Thank you for discussing one of my favourite books!

[@CentsibleLivingWithMoneyMom]

Thank you so very much

[@windsofmarchjourneyperrytr2823]

I saw a place I would have loved in 2019. A bit big (2,500 sf) but 2.5 acres. Quiet. It was 175k in 2019. Now, the smaller place next door (1350 sf) is 340k. Same size land. But they don't really count it in that state. So, I'll probably buy a school bus or shuttle and live in it and to hell with it, as gramps would say. It's very sad that normal working people are expected to not own any land. They want to squash everyone too close together into condos or condo like houses. Where you neved own the property. And they'll charge 250sf+ for it, too

[@JehanineMelmoth]

@@windsofmarchjourneyperrytr2823 Agreed. Good luck.

[@witchypoo7353]

Every single one of my hobbies is a useful tool

[@CentsibleLivingWithMoneyMom]

love it

[@witchypoo7353]

@@CentsibleLivingWithMoneyMom thank you so much. I found your content yesterday & I find it very helpful & inspiring

[@sunseekermama]

One simple thing I do,is I wash all the dishes by hand in tubs I place in the sink,then use that grey water to water my flower pots on the deck

[@CentsibleLivingWithMoneyMom]

Great tip!

[@TheFractalStorySpinner]

From a stockpiling and a food budget standpoint...real foods are cheapest and easiest to store. Sometimes cooking takes a little planning. By cooking twice what we need, we cut the cooking time in half because the other half goes into the freezer.

[@CentsibleLivingWithMoneyMom]

That is so true

[@lindadavidson2237]

Agreed. Dinner last night was a pan of ziti pulled out of the freezer.

[@kendrasmith6637]

Thank you Money Mom. I can do better with most of these things and I will 😊

[@CentsibleLivingWithMoneyMom]

Wonderful!

[@granitemoss1451]

I need to be better about not wasting food, but veggie scraps go into a bag in the freezer to make vegetable stock as needed.

[@TUKByV1]

1:11 This is why I miss my garden and compost bins. I had poor soil. "Food waste" grew my garden.

[@sherabee]

@@TUKByV1does there have to be an actual bin? Depending on what you put in it, you may not need to worry about bugs.

[@TUKByV1]

@@sherabee Definitely not. I just happened to have one a friend gifted to me. I had a few small heaps with no containment in places I anticipated future planting. David The Good is a great source of ideas for composting.

[@sherabee]

@TUKByV thank you. My husband is always saying he wants to get a bin and I keep saying we don't need one. We have a huge pile of rabbit manure and there are paper pellets mixed in because that's what we use for his litter. Great composting material!

[@sherabee]

@TUKByV thank you. My husband is always saying he wants to get a bin and I keep saying we don't need one. We have a huge pile of rabbit manure and there are paper pellets mixed in because that's what we use for his litter. Great composting material!

[@pennyleonard3496]

🙂Ty for the VIDEO 😊

[@CentsibleLivingWithMoneyMom]

Thank you love

[@peggysuewiskocil8183]

I have learned not to buy larger sizes of shampoo, laundry detergent, dishwashing soap, etc. I have issues with strength in my hands and I was wasting so much by over filling or spilling. Some of those containers get really cumbersome. I also use half the detergent recommended and cold. Works great.

[@CentsibleLivingWithMoneyMom]

Great tip!

[@johndoe-wv3nu]

I've read using less detergent helps your washing machine and clothes last longer.

[@cathyjo7975]

Try making your own laundry soap. I do and last a year. Spend 23. On supplies to make it.

[@belindamiller6349]

​@cathyjo7975 what is a good recipe?

[@sherabee]

When I need something, I try to think of ways I can make it with something else. A weird example was when my kids were little and they had a hard time putting on their shoes, I made a shoe horn by cutting a plastic cup in half long ways. It was done in a pinch because I didn't know where to get one and the internet was pretty limited, but it worked! LOL

[@CentsibleLivingWithMoneyMom]

wow

[@TheJoaneD]

I am mindful to purchase food with nutritional value rather than just for taste (fruit vs candy) . I purchase local cheapest veggies that keep longer (cabbage /turnip vs lettuce) By retiring at 55 by my own accord, my income was reduced to 55% so I had to implement savings. Was never a big drinker but I still decided to stop purchasing any alcohol. I switched hair color to blonde, easier to dye at home without making a mess, until I decided to go natural. I just have my hair trimmed 2 or 3 times a year. I avoid using the oven for little quantities. Finally, I am now doing intermittent fasting & consuming just 2 meals per day. Ahh and finally, I take clothes out of the dryer when they are still humid and let them finish to dry on hangers.

[@CentsibleLivingWithMoneyMom]

Do turnips taste like carrots I've never had them

[@TheJoaneD]

@@CentsibleLivingWithMoneyMom I should have written rutabaga instead of turnip. They say its an acquired taste but very healthy, low on calories. :)

[@catb394]

@@CentsibleLivingWithMoneyMom I make a vegetable soup that's low carb and it calls for turnips. I had never had them before either, until my daughter gave me the recipe. They remind me of a potato in the soup...except not much flavor. I like it due to low carb rather than potatoes. Hope this helps!

[@lifebeyondthesalary2458]

Dawn, homegrown (maybe even farmer’s market) turnips are AMAZING!!! & if you can get the little white baby turnips those are actually sweeter!!!

[@marthaC495]

@@CentsibleLivingWithMoneyMom Use them like potatoes; can boil and mash them. they have a little stronger flavor, but very good.

[@jeannebowes2898]

We compost, waste very little, wear out items, repurpose, ration everything, I have an online record. I am cash-free, This way I do not fritter or impulse. gardening is our hobby, exercise, and entertainment. I do purchase frozen veg for the winter. I use a clothesline when weather permits. I worked hard to be debt free. I no longer can, or sew my clothes, my side gigs were lost to Covid.

[@CentsibleLivingWithMoneyMom]

That's really great

[@kenyonbissett3512]

Hopefully your side gigs will return soon.

[@eddiemoore8468]

I own The Complete Tightwad Gazette. It has been a big help to me in making ends meet. It came out as a newsletter as you said. They eventually compiled 3 volumes of it until they made it all together as one volume with extra issues not in the 3 previous volumes. It is my main source for ideas on how to live cheaply as possible. I enjoy this book so much that I have given several copies to family and friends to help them make every cent count. I would recommend it to anyone.

[@CentsibleLivingWithMoneyMom]

I love it to

[@southerngrandma4353]

Great tips! 👍👍

[@CentsibleLivingWithMoneyMom]

Glad you like them!

[@coettahannah8110]

I really enjoy tips from the Gazette. I like your videos too been watching quite awhile, they're interesting and short.

[@CentsibleLivingWithMoneyMom]

Glad you like them!

[@adrieneanders0n998]

I started canning fruits and vegetables, and I am going to start canning meat as I have just invested in a pressure canner. Thank you for the tips.

[@CentsibleLivingWithMoneyMom]

Fantastic

[@cathyjo7975]

Awesome! I bought propane camp stove with 3 burners. Put on covered porch. Bought 2 pressure canner and we can meat , veggies, fruit. Make soups etc and can. It's so nice in the winter to grab food you grew and canned yourself...

[@Rocdag]

My mother got a gift subscription to this journal. She sent it back for a refund, as it really had few articles she was not personally familiar with!

[@TheAnneli77]

Frugal living tips didn't make much difference when it came to my net worth, but I sure did enjoy using and collecting every trick and tip. Living frugally allowed me to get used to living on less and I continued it as my net worth got bigger.

[@CentsibleLivingWithMoneyMom]

That is awesome!

[@Myfrugallife]

You won’t believe, but even though h work over 50 hours a week and homeschool my kids, I still mend my clothes and cook mostly from scratch. I also milk my goat every morning and evening and have over 50 chickens. It is doable if someone wants to do it. And no, my husband never helped me with housework or cleaning even when he wasn’t sick.

[@CentsibleLivingWithMoneyMom]

That is awesome!

[@papermason]

I've stopped buying a lot of exotic foods, they don't get eaten. Also we used to buy so much at the bakery, we've stopped that too. The bus in our area costs $2.25 but I often pocket my money while I'm at the bus stop and start walking.

[@CentsibleLivingWithMoneyMom]

I am really working on using all of our food

[@windsofmarchjourneyperrytr2823]

You couldn't pay me to use our public transit system-- it's getting unsafe.

[@thriftytowers7160]

I save and freeze chicken bones until I have enough to make stock.I grow potatoes in an old metal dustbin. I buy as much as possible 2ndhand and from charity shops; last year i also bought reconditioned my laptop and mobile phone.

[@CentsibleLivingWithMoneyMom]

What a great idea

[@kenyonbissett3512]

How are the phone and laptop doing? I admit to being to scared to by electronics used.

[@tabithawarren8249]

I save dryer sheets and local grocery ads that come in the mail to clean windows and ads for draining grease from fried foods

[@cheryldellamano3374]

You can also use used dryer sheets on your swiffer instead of buying replacement pads.

[@dianehall6686]

I just found you today and so enjoyed your video. I’m in the Tightwad Gazette! It was so much fun when it was going strong. But, to your subject. I don’t ever peel the potatoes-that’s wasteful to me. I don’t eat meat; being a veg head for the last 40+ years has saved me a lot of money directly and also in a lack of health care bills. (My cholesterol, for example, has never been above 106.) I don’t use toothpaste (per my dentist, no less!) and just brush with water. I wrote down every cent until a couple years after I paid off the mortgage. I’m a gardener (fruits, nuts, veg). I used to sew my own clothes, but no longer. I use a clothesline in summer and indoor drying racks in winter. My #1 tip is to treat your mortgage like credit card debt-pay it off as fast as you can. If I found 53 cents in the parking lot, I’d deposit it against my principle.

[@CentsibleLivingWithMoneyMom]

Welcome. You are amazing

[@lindadavidson2237]

I garden, but not in a huge way. However, my herb garden is 4 x 4 and produces a lot. Those herbs are expensive at the grocery store! I pick them fresh in season then harvest and hang to dry before the first big freeze.

[@CentsibleLivingWithMoneyMom]

I have had a garden in the past

[@3TXSisters]

Dawn, Very good tips for any generation. I have a long way to go, but am much more aware of ways to save or make do. Thank you for another great video. Love to all, Linda 💕

[@CentsibleLivingWithMoneyMom]

Glad it was helpful!

[@lindagbukvic9441]

Love, love, love Those Tightwad Gazettes. In the early 90's they started out as, once a month newsletters that were snail mailed to your house. If I recall she did it for 6 years. Then she compiles 2 years worth of newsletter into books. So there was TWG I, II and III. I guess it's all in one giant book now. Her information is what originally got my husband and I into the Thrift Mindset. So glad to see it again. Some of my ideas made I into the books. 😉

[@CentsibleLivingWithMoneyMom]

I wish her kids would do the newsletter

[@devlevine2782]

I use a measuring spoon to control dish detergent

[@CentsibleLivingWithMoneyMom]

That's a great idea!

[@devlevine2782]

@@CentsibleLivingWithMoneyMom Thought I was being frugal by using a cheaper dish detergent then using my regular Dawn and switching back to dawn as soon as the bottle is finished. Going to find a use for the cheap detergent

[@lizajoymorales248]

@@devlevine2782 Great to use on shirt collars and cuffs.

[@kenyonbissett3512]

Smart!

[@laurieadams5328]

Great topic today Dawn

[@sannevandeneijnde6716]

I always look what I still have in stock before I go grocery shopping, especially when it comes down to produce. Hardly any of my produce do ever go to waste. If fruits are on the brink of going bad, I might bake something with it. The French made a cake/pie specifically for this! It's called 'clafoutis'. The original one is with cherries, but you can experiment with different fruits :) it's also delicious with kiwi! And I guess some of my hobbies do save money. Like sewing/mending clothes. I'm now getting into making stuff with oils and essential oils and stuff (like care products), due to a gift idea. The basics were a lot more expensive than I had planned. But once made the diy versions will be a lot cheaper than store bought beard oil, hair oil, massage oil, incense diffusers,... so I can go and do a lot of budget yet personalized gifting next few years :p