I’ve decided to make changes gradually, and have given myself one frugal challenge and one frugal DIY goal for each month. Last month, my DIY goal was to make my own pasta/pizza sauce, which I achieved several times. Eventually, I’m going to make a huge batch and either freeze it or jar it. But that’s a goal for another month. My unpublished challenge last month was to dry our clothing without the dryer and reduce our energy bill to $75, which we nearly achieved – I’m not complaining about the extra dollar or so that it ended up with.
This month’s challenge is to take 3 minutes showers. Today, I put the timer on, and on a whim, peeped out of the shower to see how much time I had left – 1 minute and I hadn’t even begun washing my hair yet! Total shower time today was 5 minutes. I don’t actually know how long they usually were, but I’d guess about 10 minutes.
This month’s DIY goal is to make yogurt. I had intended to do that last month, and had increased my weekly raw milk order for this purpose, but for some reason I have been procrastinating. So, this is the month that I get into the habit of making yogurt.
There are probably a lot of new things that I will take on this month, but these are ones that I’d like to make stick, which is why they have earned a special place in the right column. For instance, my husband just built a plant-box for our patio, so we’re planning out what we’re going to grow in it. It’s all very exciting, but I try not to get too carried away with many changes. Building new habits takes time and practice and are best done one or two at a time.
If you’d like to work on the challenge and goal with me, or have your own monthly challenge and goal, I’d like to hear about it!
5 Comments
June 4, 2008 at 8:14 am
Container gardening is a great thing. If you have a library close to you, see if you can get a book on square foot gardening or container gardening. Also, maybe you can borrow movies from your library and it doesn’t cost a thing.
June 4, 2008 at 2:33 pm
Yep, I got three new release movies from the library today, for $0.00. Interesting ones, too, not just block-busters.
I do have Netflix too. We use the free instant watch on the computer, especially the family stuff and anime, which is less available at the library.
The major expense I’m glad I don’t have is a cell phone. Never had one, even with three kids and this myth that you have to be contactable 24/7. Also, don’t own a tumble dryer, but then I have a yard for drying.
Health care expenses are what break us. But I can’t see a way around that, apart from a general uprising!
Kate. (I made my own chocolate candy bars this afternoon, based on a recipe from Jane Kinderlehrer’s “the smart baking cookbook. They’re YUMMY, but I do add more sweetener than suggested)
June 4, 2008 at 3:06 pm
PS. I get unlimited high speed internet for $15 a month, from Verizon.
If you plant your planter now, you’ll get a salad crop before the tomatoes take over.
June 5, 2008 at 8:28 am
We got “Root, Shoots, Buckets & Boots” out from the library. It’s great for using with children, and since we’re garden babies ourselves, I figure it is a good fit.
Right now I can’t figure out why we can’t watch the free instant movies on Netflix…something about not having the right setup. Very frustrating. So, it’s two movies a week for us – or, 8 movies for $8.99. Just a little over a dollar a movie. Our library doesn’t seem to have a great movie section, but I could probably request certain movies from another branch. Two movies a week is pretty much all we have time for though, so it’s not a priority.
We do not have a regular phone line, and decided to opt for cell phones instead. The cost difference is negligible here, otherwise I might opt for a regular phone line.
We are currently NOT covered by any health care plan. After seeing “Sicko” I decided, why pay into a system that’s more than likely not going to take care of us when we really need it. Also, my husband and I decided that we ought to be responsible for our own health, and pursue healthy living, which includes fresh food, little to no packaged or processed food, and exercise. My husband is probably doing better in the exercise department as he rides his bike to work 4 out of 5 work days. We are going to start a health care savings account as soon as we get our debt under control and have at least 6 months worth of living expenses saved up.
June 25, 2008 at 6:13 pm
I love your idea of having goals and trying new frugal things each month. I posted on my blog about falling off the frugal wagon and had wondered if anyone else did this. Very interesting blog! I like it a lot.