Old School Frugality at its Finest

Working at a living history museum has been extremely eye opening.  Our ancestors were so thrifty and creative!  Without them and all of their trials and errors, we wouldn't be living the comfortable lives we live today.

Since this blog is dedicated to modest and economical living, I wanted to suggest to you a very popular book in it's day, the American Frugal Housewife.

Obviously some of it's advice is quite out of date, but she does have many good ideas on living well with little.  If anything it's simply a fun and quick read.

About those rules...

It didn't occur to me until today that yesterday when I mentioned the 30 Day No-Spend Challenge, I didn't set you up with any ground rules.  Slightly important...  The video that inspired my attempt at this challenge is one by Talk Raw.  I like Rachel's thoughtful rules as well as her reasons for promoting this challenge.  She recited one of my favorite quotes, "Necessity is the mother of invention."  I believe in this statement wholeheartedly.  It is one of the truest statements that I know.  

Photo Credit - Mummy Central

Below is a list of rules that are based from Rachel's suggestions.  I've added on a few to get more specific.  These rules are more like guidelines or suggestions.  You may pick the ones that work best for you, but try to push yourself.  You will find that you are more adaptable than you think.  

1.  No stockpiling allowed.  Begin where you are right now.

2.  Do pay your usual monthly bills: mortgage/rent, utilities, internet/phone, childcare, loan payments, credit card bills, etc.  Not paying those could cause you to lose even more money.  That is not the objective here. 

3.  You may buy gas for essential transportation, but no road trips or frivolous outings.  Try biking or walking more to cut down on gas usage.  

4.  The Food: No eating out or take out.  Cooking at home is so much more economical.  Pack your lunches.  Try to use the food you have at home first before going out to buy more.  This calls for some googling, brainstorming, and creativity which can lead to happy accidents and new favorite meals.  

5.  Toiletries & Cleaning Products:  Only buy the absolute necessities or try making your own with the ingredients that you already have on hand.  The uses of baking soda and vinegar are seemingly infinite.  I will post more about this subject in the near future.  

6.  No buying clothes, shoes, home goods, or furniture.  Borrowing, trading, and bartering is encouraged.  

7.  No Starbucks.  Make coffee at home instead for pennies and I'm not talking Keurig here.

8.  Only free entertainment allowed.  No going to the theater, to a game, to a theme park unless it's free.  Keep an eye out for free events in your city, go for a hike, pack a picnic, fill a time capsule, make up your own treasure hunt complete with treasure map.... 

9.  No impulse buys in general.  This includes but is not limited to make-up, magazines, gum, candy, vending machine snacks and sodas, etc.  Example: when my humble chocolate stash runs out, I won't be buying more until the 30 days have passed.  Some may argue that chocolate is a necessity - and some days it totally is - but unless you are trapped on a desert island with the option of chocolate or grass, chocolate isn't vital.  And when I run out of cereal, crackers, and graham crackers (my go-to snacks for their magnificent crunch factor), I won't be buying more.  I only eat them when I want something sweet or salty and need to crunch on something, not usually because I'm hungry.  I will deal with my psychological need to crunch when that day comes.  

To help stay motivated, keep track of how much money you would have spent so that you can see tangible figures of how much you are saving.  

Let me know your thoughts on these "rules" and if you have any additional rule suggestions.  
Baby steps is walking none the less.  :)

Greetings! Welcome. I offer you a challenge.

Hello stumblers upon, passers by, et al.  My name is Sarah.

I don't know about you, but I have an itch.  An itch, a stir, an insatiable buzzing that gives me the sensation that something is amiss.

I wasn't going to write a blog.  I've blogged before.  I wrote loyally in a journal for 10 years and trickled off my writing for another three.  I even had a sweet gig as a food writer for a couple of years.  As frustrating as writing can be at times, it has been the most consistent form of self expression throughout my life.  And so it goes again.

I will elaborate as the pages turn, but let's start here - on a physical level, monetarily speaking.

I came across an alluring challenge on YouTube entitled the 30 Day No-Spend Challenge.  Money is not everything, being the root of all evil and such, but it weighs heavily on us none the less.  How many decisions do you make that relate to or stem from money?  It's socially ingrained in us to want more, "need' more, more and more and more.  Not just money, but stuff.  All kinds of stuff.  Stuff that we didn't even know that we "wanted".  How do you know if you really want something?  Is it even a good thing to want?

Let's journey together, beginning with money, to figure out how to use less of it whilst living a full and happy life.  Simplicity is the answer.  Let's walk towards simplicity together, at our own pace, in our own time.  Together.  Better yet, let's make a game of it.

I'll show and tell first.

Today was my first no-spend day.  My ever-aching sweet tooth began to pulsate after lunch and the many hours following.  What I wanted was some chocolate.  A good substantial chunk of chocolate.  But I reminded myself that this was Day 1.  So I fixed a cup of tea with sugar and didn't spend a cent.

Another needless yet delicious item I've been craving for a few days now is halva, a sesame seed or sunflower seed based block of sugary, Russian goodness.

This lovely photo was taken by Still Served Warm.  Their description of this unusual treat is spot on.  The only flavor comparison that I can match to halva is peanut brittle with added subtle, warm spices.  The texture is hard to describe, but I'll go.  It's crumbly, almost like a dry paste that dissolves into a nutty grit on the tongue.  It's sweet and nutty and RICH.  Sometimes dotted with other nuts and dried fruit.  My Estonian friend turned me on to it.  Evil woman.

So no chocolate or halva purchases for me today or for the next 29 days.  My wallet and my body probably thank me for it.

Let's do this again tomorrow.  Let me know how you go.  Good luck and thanks for keeping me honest.