How are you cutting costs so you can get your native plant "fix"

[Equilibrium]

What things did you stop buying because of inflation so you could keep "feeding" your native plant “habit”?
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I’ll start. I stopped buying fabric softner. I wasn’t too thrilled with the chemicals in it even when I was buying the fragrance-free brands.... those chemicals do make their way into our water supplies. I used to buy fragrance free Downy.... the bulk container was up over $10 a jug and I was probably going through at least 1 of those a month. I’m ok with everyone having to wear crunchy clothes I hang up to dry in the basement… they’re not but I am. I'm convinced I'm saving at least another $20 a month line drying clothes instead of tossing em in the dryer. Lipton tea…. the price for 100 tea bags went up like $2 in the last year to almost $4 a box so now I’m buying some off brand of orange pekoe and black tea that’s only $1.29 for 100 bags. Girl Scout cookies…. is it just me or did they jack up the price while reducing the quantity when they changed packaging? I’m just asking the girls how much they make for every box they sell and giving them the profit they woulda had if I’d bought 5 boxes and we’re gonna do the same thing with the little Cub Scouts and Boy Scouts again this year when they come around selling popcorn and wreaths. The kids seem ok with that and less junk we’re eating…. I will miss thin mints though big time… I was a thin mint junkie. I’m changing brands on some of the beans I buy for chili and soups…. I totally didn’t realize how much the prices of name brand beans had crept up on me. Same thing with a 4 lb peanut butter only I think that doubled in price since last year. I totally stopped buying Skippy and went with what ever the generic was and saved about $1.75 PER JAR. I’ll still have to buy a better peanut butter that’s salt free for the birds. We totally stopped buying Listerine mouth washes. There’s an off brand called Equaline that’s $2 cheaper per bottle that had a very similar formulation to Listerine and I can’t help but wonder if it isn’t Listerine getting sold under a house brand since it tastes the exact same to us. So… what's everybody else either not buying or buying in different brands?

[GonativeAlex]

basically I just don't spend it on ANYTHING besides needs-razors/grooming supplies, med copay- ( money I get because I'm disabled) all winter.... come spring after rent goes I have hundreds to spend on plants. This year I'll have about $300 plus around $200 for Bindi/leopalorns vet visit

Simple as that

[jack]

Originally Posted by Equilibrium

What things did you stop buying because of inflation so you could keep "feeding" your native plant “habit”?
--
I’ll start. I stopped buying fabric softner. I wasn’t too thrilled with the chemicals in it even when I was buying the fragrance-free brands.... those chemicals do make their way into our water supplies. I used to buy fragrance free Downy.... the bulk container was up over $10 a jug and I was probably going through at least 1 of those a month. I’m ok with everyone having to wear crunchy clothes I hang up to dry in the basement… they’re not but I am. I'm convinced I'm saving at least another $20 a month line drying clothes instead of tossing em in the dryer. Lipton tea…. the price for 100 tea bags went up like $2 in the last year to almost $4 a box so now I’m buying some off brand of orange pekoe and black tea that’s only $1.29 for 100 bags. Girl Scout cookies…. is it just me or did they jack up the price while reducing the quantity when they changed packaging? I’m just asking the girls how much they make for every box they sell and giving them the profit they woulda had if I’d bought 5 boxes and we’re gonna do the same thing with the little Cub Scouts and Boy Scouts again this year when they come around selling popcorn and wreaths. The kids seem ok with that and less junk we’re eating…. I will miss thin mints though big time… I was a thin mint junkie. I’m changing brands on some of the beans I buy for chili and soups…. I totally didn’t realize how much the prices of name brand beans had crept up on me. Same thing with a 4 lb peanut butter only I think that doubled in price since last year. I totally stopped buying Skippy and went with what ever the generic was and saved about $1.75 PER JAR. I’ll still have to buy a better peanut butter that’s salt free for the birds. We totally stopped buying Listerine mouth washes. There’s an off brand called Equaline that’s $2 cheaper per bottle that had a very similar formulation to Listerine and I can’t help but wonder if it isn’t Listerine getting sold under a house brand since it tastes the exact same to us. So… what's everybody else either not buying or buying in different brands?

I cancelled my TV Direct TV and now depend exclusively on Netflix. In football season I go to friends' houses to watch...

[benj1]

We didn't do this to save money, but we moved, PA to VA. Voila! An excuse to buy a bunch of stuff for the new property. Unfortunately, we had to spend extra to try to protect the garden from deer. And now I need to put the brakes on my little spending spree.

We saved on telecommunications, and my wife stopped going and giving to church. We'll have less need to travel. Gas is a bit cheaper here. We got cheaper health insurance this year. On the other hand, we joined a local food co-op, so we're spending more on food (better food).

[Equilibrium]

I never needed any excuses to go on spending sprees.... I'd just go hog wild picking up this or that for me or for whoever from cute little kids or sweet old people selling what ever so.... I don't go shopping unless I have to and I bring a list with me and stick to it. Just sticking to my list and buying when there's a holiday or somebody's birthday around the corner saves me from myself. I'm capable of being my worst enemy in the budget department and I know it!!! I do go to a few estate and craft faires but that's because I'm looking for manual tools and specific gift items. Changing my buying habits probably saved me a good coupla hundred a month but I don't know that it counts since I stopped looking for trouble a coupla years ago.
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I can make my own bleach now. I got sick of paying what Clorox wanted for a gallon so I picked up some Pool Shock last year and started making my own.... re-filling the Clorox jugs I saved.
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Another tip I got was that the grocery stores have more sales toward the middle of the month. I was told it’s because all the welfare checks come out the beginning of the month so grocers wait it out until they've blown their wads before running sales. Sun of a gun!!! Once I started paying attention to when the blunt of the sales were run… they sure as heck are toward the 3rd week of the month!! And with a little pantry going here…. I’ve got the foods we eat the most always on hand so usually if I run out of something I don’t have to buy it until it goes on sale. Something else that’s helping is just flat out not eating at restaurants unless we’re out of town or have no choice.

[BooBooBearBecky]

Cutting costs in the garden involves, starting most everything from seed, saving seeds in the fall, and learning a variety of propagation methods. I'm refocusing my gardening efforts on edibles.

Around the home I cut costs (and reduced my sneezing), by skipping all the household cleaning product purchases. I use vinegar, baking soda and sometimes bleach. It's easy and it works.

I cut back on the frequency that I do laundry. I purchased a fold out clothes hanger to dry clothes. I toss the clothes in the dryer when they are almost dry for about 5 minutes. No crunchy clothes or bath towels. All the blankets, sheets and rugs get hung outside when the weather cooperates.

I joined Amazon Prime for $79.00 per year. I can watch free streaming movies and get free shipping on most items. The Subscribe and Save feature works great for heavy items, like kitty litter, cat food, and dog food. No more lugging and no more wasted gas running to the store for these items!!!

I buy groceries in bulk quantities and shop the sales.

I stop at the thrift store once a month.

I've set a goal to do more sewing.

I combine errands with dr. appts. or shopping trips.

I make do or do without.

In 2011 my main budget eaters were medical expenses and the high cost of groceries.

[Kitcatclub]

I teach continuing ed garden courses at my local high school. I can earn $50 for a 2.5 hour class and get to talk about the things I love! This year I'm teaching 5 classes over 6 weeks and will earn $250. Of course, since I've already made my plant orders for the year, this money is already spent! It's a lot of fun and I get to meet like minds in my community.

[Rebek56]

Originally Posted by Kitcatclub

I teach continuing ed garden courses at my local high school. I can earn $50 for a 2.5 hour class and get to talk about the things I love! This year I'm teaching 5 classes over 6 weeks and will earn $250. Of course, since I've already made my plant orders for the year, this money is already spent! It's a lot of fun and I get to meet like minds in my community.

Cool!

[savannah]

Quote: "I've set a goal to do more sewing."


????%#$@#$U^#*!!

BooBooBecky.......Where are you finding fabric?

I have noticed around here there are no more fabric stores. What gives? When the heck did this happen? I live in a big city too. I think I hollered about this once before.

I cook a lot of those one dish meals, the kind in a big pot that you can eat for the next few days. We are easy to please here.

We buy all clothes at the Thrift Store, have for years.

We drive a little car. Mazda Miata. Leave the truck parked mostly $$$$.

We have no kids. How do people afford kids these days anyway? I don't know.

We check out those bargain shelves at the grocery. Also, the frozen meat that they put in the freezer before the date runs out and sell cheap. We consider it an "adventure", like a treasure hunt looking through all the mismatched choices. Out life is filled with these kinds of treasure hunts.

We buy bread at the "Day Old Store".

I wait for the sales on plants and start new ones from the ones I have. Actually, less variety with more of the same plants repeated is more visually appealing anyway I found through trial and error.

All time spent in the garden is time not spent spending money when it comes to entertainment and that is my main entertainment so I'm happy.



One thing I won't give up is coffee. As high as it gets, I will pay. I draw the line.

[Rebek56]

Originally Posted by savannah

One thing I won't give up is coffee. As high as it gets, I will pay. I draw the line.

Shade-grown coffee actually benefits migratory songbirds, so I've found a way to feel good about my addiction. (Of course, it's more expensive than the generic grocery-store brands--or was the last time I checked them--but the coffee fix is as necessary for me as the garden fix.)