I have been accused of being extreme about my frugal living, and yes I am. I still have 3 years before I get my state pension (if they don’t change the rules again!) and I do not want to have to work. We don’t rely on any hand outs or benefits as I don’t want to have to jump those hoops, but if I wasn’t extreme I would have to return to work. That would not be good for my mental health and I don’t think that I could be told what to do anymore, or go into work on a sunny day. They are so few at the moment. I also care for my grandson one day a week which means that my daughter can afford to work.
Here are some of the ways I was extreme about saving waste the first hour of yesterday morning. These habits also help me be frugal.
- Put the kettle on for a hot drink for Mr S. The kettle just had one cup of water in it.
- Looked in my fridge and designed the meals for the next few days with what needed using up or was going off in the fridge.
- Made a fruit salad with fruit from the bowl, what is growing in my garden, and a melon that I have stretched to make 3 fruit salads already. However, there wasn’t quite enough fruit for two servings each. I therefore opened a can of peaches (34p), drained off the syrup, rinsed them, and added half the can (chopped up) to the fruit salad. The other half I added to the freezer in a washable silicone bag that has been reused for a few years now. I will use them to make a meal at a later date, eg chicken an peaches
- Made an apple pie for lunch with some left over pastry (from the sausage rolls on Friday) and two cooking apples that were beyond their best. I also grated a bit of courgette in to bulk it out. Mr S didn’t notice!
- Sweetened the apple pie with the syrup from the can of peaches.
- I divided what what was left of some yoghurt that was made 5 days ago. With one half I made a marinade with some out of date spices. I just added a bit more as spices lose their taste a bit if past their best date. The spices were bought in a world food aisle in supermarket as they are cheaper. The marinade will soften the chicken and add to it’s flavour.
- The rest of the yoghurt was used to start a new batch in the slow cooker. It is cheaper and healthier than buying it.
- I had salad with my breakfast as we have a glut at the moment. The square of paper towel that had been in the box to stop it going soggy was hung up to dry so that it can be reused again. I have used it about 7 times already.
- Had a short shower and saved the water whilst it was getting warm to use to flush the toilet later.
- I had soaped myself up before putting the water on and so it was on for a shorter time.
- Used a bar of soap rather than shower gel.
- Hung my towel outside to dry to reuse again and save on washing. (we have one each and use for a week as they are only drying clean bodies).
- Only ran the tap for a minimal amount of time when brushing my teeth and had it turned off most of the time.
- Cooked the apple pie in the air fryer to save putting the oven on.
- Cooked my breakfast in the air fryer in the gaps around the pie dish at the same time (home made sausages).
- Wore the same clothes as I wore yesterday to save on washing. (except undies).
- Watered my greenhouse with rain water collected in old dustbins.
- Saved the apple cores to make apple cider vinegar later.
- Stored the fruits salad and the marinating chicken in glass boxes with lids (in the fridge) . These can be reused rather than using cling film.
- Stored the apple pie in a tin (when cold).
- Plugged my phone into the small solar charger to save on electricity.
- Put any other fruit skins or stalks from the fruit salad into my compost bin to save on buying compost next year.
This was just the first hour of my day. It would be interesting to write down a whole day. I am lucky. Due to the fact that I don’t work, I do have the time and space to have a garden and save money. Not everyone has that luxury. However, just incorporating a few things that save waste into a day, will save every one money. What are your extreme money saving habits?
Wow! That is impressive. I do try to be mindful about water use – even though any cost is included in my rent. I shower every other day and only wash my hair every third day – and like you, I hang up my towel to use over again for the week.
I only go into the office 3 mornings a week and I’m mostly sitting at a desk so re-wear outer clothing – undies and socks changed daily.- I also keep clothes to wear at home for housework or out for grocery shopping – that sort of thing and yes, I also re-wear these.
I have a laundry room in the basement of my apt. but it is $2.50 for each wash and each dry. I only use the dryer for sheets & towels – everything else gets hung up over the shower rail or on my two clothing racks. I buy minimal clothing (I prefer a uniform sort of look and can mix & match most items). I have never had any luck at charity shops (and we don’t have the number that the UK seem to have) so I buy the best quality that I can afford, look after them and wear them to death!
I reuse jars and containers for food storage to cut down on plastic wrap. I will also wash and reuse foil and Ziploc bags (not if its held raw meat). I go through my fridge at least once a week to see what needs to be used up before it spoils and I can be pretty creative in using up leftovers.
I use public transit or I walk – I don’t drive.
Furniture, appliances and tech are all years old (I don’t feel the need to replace perfectly good items just because a newer model is available).
I just do my best.
A woman after my own heart. There are always zip lock bags drying on wooden spoons in my kitchen. Thanks for sharing
I try to live like this as much as I can but I’ll probably find it easier when the kids have left home. They have picked up a lot of my simple life habits but I’m quite looking forward to being able to go more “extreme” low-waste. My daughter flies the nest in Autumn so it’ll be just my husband and son to work on!
Please can you tell me where your solar charger is from? I have never seen one on online with good reviews.
I haven’t persuaded my husband about an air fryer yet, it’ll take up worktop space and our kitchen isn’t too big. I’m hoping to borrow a double one from my mother-in-law and see how we get on.
Thanks for your posts, they always inspire me.
Thanks for sharing. To be honest we have had the mini solar charger about 8 years and I am not sure where we got it from. It isn’t that brilliant and is very slow but it has worked enough to keep our phones going when camping in the summer. I don’t like the double ones. My daughter had one and switched to our cheap Ninja one with a lift up lid that you can fit a dish in to cook cottage pie or crumble etc and where there is enough room to make a batch of scones. I hope that you manage to persuade him
My son bought me an instapot, which has an air fryer program.I think it may be the one Toni has or very similar It’s also a slow cooker and a pressure cooker and a yoghurt maker among other things. It is one of the best things he has bought me. He is a bit of a foodi, and his friends all say he can make a meal out of nothing, takes after his mum in that respect lol.
He says because it is a plug in device rather than an oven which has to be wired in (no plug) it uses far less electricity than an oven
My kitchen is very small, but I would give it room anytime.
I wish I did have that one. No I just have a basic air fryer, though it does dehydrate. It has saved me a lot of money on energy as things cook quickly
Thanks Toni I find this inspirational. Lesley would you be prepared to pass on the make and model of your air fryer as It sounds good. Sharon
No worries. Thanks for commenting