The Year of Cutting Even More Costs

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For the past 10 years of our marriage, my husband and I have been fairly frugal. It’s just who we are. When we made it a goal to pay off our mortgage in 4 years, we knew we would need to be even more frugal. Was this possible? It seemed we had already cut out everything we could. Scaling back more would mean becoming Amish! Even though that was an enticing thought, we knew it wasn’t practical. It was time to get creative. We were down to one full time income with four precious children to care for and we needed to make some changes.

Up to this point, we have never paid for television service, magazine subscriptions, or memberships to stores or gyms. For you, those may be good places to begin, but we didn’t have those expenses anyway. We also don’t drink coffee, buy bottled water or pop, or eat out more than once or twice a month. We buy used when possible and don’t waste money on groceries we won’t eat. As I was brainstorming for more ways to live on less, it seemed we were already spending the least amount possible. What else could we possibly cut out?

What I began to notice was a few small expenses that seemed insignificant, but over time, actually add up to a small chunk of change. I also read that you could save $10,000 a year if you cut back by $27.40/day. I knew I couldn’t save that much, but every penny helps. So, I began our journey to eliminate a few more expenses from our budget. Here’s what we did:

1. More cloth, less paper~

No, I am not referring to toilet paper. We still use that! We have stopped buying baby wipes and now use cloth wipes. We had already been using cloth diapers, but it had never occurred to me to use cloth wipes! We honestly don’t notice a few extra cloths in the laundry, so that switch was a win. We also now use wool dryer balls instead of dryer sheets. This has saved us money and also helped prevent skin irritations which were caused by the chemicals in the sheets. We have cut way back on paper towels too. We use approximately 1 roll every three months so that is an improvement. In place of the paper towels, we use cloths or rags to wipe hands, messes, and windows. I honestly don’t feel as though it adds any extra work to just use the cloth options and wash with my regular loads of laundry. I am planning to make some cloth napkins as well to see if that is a benefit to our family. Oh, and paper plates are rare in our house too. We don’t mind washing dishes and would be washing the pots and pans anyway, so what’s a few more plates?

2. Reuse, recycle, and regrow~

So many little things can be reused but we see them as little, so we often don’t bother. Not anymore! Ziploc bags, foil, gift bags, large empty containers for storing bulk non-perishables, etc. Before I toss an item, I take a moment to think if it could have a second life or another purpose. Toilet paper rolls get saved for crafts or making fire starters by adding dryer lint. Recently I have experimented with regrowing food (such as celery). It works like a charm! I have also decided to begin saving our veggie scraps in a freezer bag to make vegetable broth. Apple peels can be turned into apple cider vinegar. This keeps me from tossing out good food that can be used to make something I would otherwise buy. We are clearly not minimalists. We are careful to keep our reusable items well organized and only save them for a certain period of time. If they haven’t been reused by then, we toss them. I look at it as being prepared for future needs which can reduce my expenses by saving me a trip to the store.

3. Clothesline for drying~

I have read many articles about how dryers eat up electricity, so I was anxious to try my new clothesline (made of rope we already had which we strung between two trees). I actually enjoy going out in the fresh air to hang my clean laundry. We do not use this in the winter, but if times got tough, we could hang wet items near the wood stove to dry. This can also help our clothes last longer since the heat of dryers can slowly damage our wardrobe.

4. Shop around for better prices on monthly bills~

I want to be a loyal customer, but I also need to find the best price for a service. I decided to make a few phone calls regarding insurance and cell phone bills. We were able to save over $70 per month after inquiring about discounts and plan changes. Our electric company also has a program that can save around $25 per month without changing your energy provider. That was an easy way to save! You won’t know how much you can save until you ask some questions.

5. Haircuts at home~

I began cutting my husband’s hair shortly after we were married. For a one-time cost of $30 to purchase clippers, I have been cutting his hair every 3-4 weeks for more than 10 years. My kids have never been to a barber or salon. I continued the tradition and we have saved hundreds of dollars! I decided to cut my own hair at home this year and it has led to deciding to grow it out with the intention of donating it. I know that one day I will want to have more of a style to my hair, but for now, I am able to braid, curl and experiment with my longer hair as we “cut” another expense from our budget!

6. Cleaning supplies~

We have made some big changes this year with getting rid of chemicals due to allergies. I make all of our cleaning supplies now. With just a few simple ingredients, such as vinegar and Dawn or baking soda, you can make a surprising number of different cleaners. I also made laundry detergent, but have decided it isn’t cost effective for us and it didn’t work as well with our particular washer. I may try it again in the future, but for now we found an inexpensive brand that works for us.

7. Ice cubes~

So, this one might make you roll your eyes, but it has been a big deal for us. We have water in the door of our fridge, but the ice maker doesn’t work. We only drink water and milk, but my husband takes water and ice with him to work everyday. In the past we would buy big bags of ice. After a bag got forgotten in the car and melted all over the floor, I knew it was time to do something different. I remembered ice cube trays I had from making baby food for our children. (You can make and freeze the baby food in the ice cube trays and just thaw a cube or two as needed.) Anyway, I began making our own ice cubes and now cannot remember the last time we bought a bag of ice. Might sound silly to some, but it is a victory for us!

That is the point of this post! You need to find your victories. What we do may not work for you, but I hope it gets you thinking about little things that could add up to big things. Overall, less trips to the store and less online searching for things you “need” = less temptation to buy non-essentials. So, find ways to reuse, make your own or do without. We have become quite content with our extremely fugal lifestyle! Our life is not focused on temporary things or even being completely comfortable, but rather on making memories and furthering the Kingdom. We can do this with our time (since we work less) and our treasure (since we spend less on ourselves).

Keep in mind that not all of these cut backs have to be permanent. That can help you when it feels like too much! Temporary changes now can result in big rewards later. Whether you are trying to pay off debt, make it through a particular season, or save for a more expensive purchase, it is possible to live on less without losing your mind! In the very near future, our debt will be gone (yay!) and we may choose to make some changes to our budget. Regardless, we know that the money we have is not ours. We will continue to seek the Lord in how He wants us to spend, save, and give for His glory!