Ten Frugal Tips My Mother Taught Me
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With real inflation going through the roof, you might be looking for some ways to save money. We have been spoiled with rampant consumerism and the ease of access to almost everything. My parents both grew up during the Great Depression and World War 2. They lived through rationing and adopted a frugal mindset that lasted their whole lives. Some of their frugal tips got passed down, although I confess I didn’t always follow them. I thought it might be fun to share some of the frugal tips my mother (and father) taught me.
Use it up, wear it out, make do or do without...
The above phrase became an idiom of the 1930’s and basically sums up how my parents lived. My father told me that if they needed a new table or chairs they would have to make them. There was no money to go and buy anything. They would have to cut the trees to get the wood and then make the furniture themselves. (Yes, he was a pioneer and lived in very rural bush area.)
Use it up...
Consumables...
Don’t leave any product in the bottle, tube or whatever their container is when discarding.
- Shampoos, conditioners, beauty products
- Squeeze out all the toothpaste.
- Use the last pieces of toilet paper on the roll.
- Add a little water to get the last drops of dish soap.
- Ketchup, mustards, & other condiments.
Embrace leftovers. Make new meals from your turkey, pork, beef, etc. to eat for lunches the next day or freezer meals to go.
- Soups
- Stews
- Casseroles
- Pies
- Chili
- Sandwiches or wraps
Don’t be wasteful either, by using too much of anything.
- Many people use more laundry detergent than necessary. It’s the agitation that actually does most of the cleaning, so don’t overfill the washer.
- My mother also counted the toilet paper squares – only using 3 or 4. Unless you are unwell, there is no reason to use a half a roll for one go.
- Shut off lights and unplug appliances when not in use to save on electricity.
- Run appliances during the off-peak hours.
- Dress in layers in the winter to keep warm instead of cranking the heat up so you can sit around in your shorts.
- Water isn’t free either, so don’t let it keep running down the drain when you aren’t using it.
Wear it out...
This doesn’t just apply to clothing. All household goods, tools and vehicles were not replaced until repairing them were no longer an option. That leads to my next frugal tip…
Frugal Tip...Maintain and Repair things...
Maintaining and repairing items extends their life, allows them to perform better, helps the environment and saves you money.
- Keep up on your car’s oil changes and regular maintenance.
- Regularly clean your appliances -washer, dryer, fridge, stove, dishwasher, etc.
- Regularly defrost your freezer.
- You may not want to go around with patches on your clothes, but minor repairs like stitching a seam or replacing a button are easily doable. Paying someone else to do your sewing repairs may also be an option, although not as frugal.
Frugal Tip...Learn new skills...
My mother learned how to refinish and reupholster furniture. She also took in sewing for the neighbors to earn a little money. Some of these things I’ve learned how to do, and some I have yet to learn. What skills do you have and what skills would you like to acquire?
- Cooking
- Sewing
- Knitting
- Gardening
- Canning
- Cleaning
- Computer skills – essential in today’s world.
- Woodworking
- Furniture Refinishing
- Furniture Reupholstering
- Painting -interior & exterior
- Basic plumbing
- Changing a car tire
- Using a snow blower
Make do...
We live in a very abundant time (some may say -too abundant). Being grateful for what we have will help eliminate the “always wanting more” mentality. Before running out to buy something new, shop your home to see if you already have something to fill whatever need you have.
Frugal Tip...Be mindful and intentional about purchases...
Do you shop for fun, to relieve boredom or for an emotional pick up? We all like a good deal but is it really a good deal if you are buying something you don’t need and may not even have the space for?
Frugal Tip...Have a budget & an emergency fund...
Even if you don’t always track your spending like I do, you should have a budget. List your fixed items like savings, rent, mortgage and utilities first and then assign limits for all those variable and flexible items you need. Set aside three to six months worth of living expenses, or at least $1000 to start an emergency fund. Life happens – things breakdown unexpectedly, you may lose your job or get sick.
Do without...
At the top of this list has to be anything you don’t really need, love or can’t afford. All my life I’ve had my mother’s voice echoing in my head when I wanted to buy something saying, “Can you afford it?” Don’t go into debt or waste your money buying junk you don’t need.
Frugal Tip #4..Grow your own food...
Start small. If you have a balcony you can grow a few things in containers like tomatoes and peppers. This year I made two small raised garden beds with salvaged wood (with a little help). Try a few things that you know you like to eat.
Frugal Tip #5..Use multi-use items...
Unless you actually use a waffle-maker or rice cooker all the time, it’s probably something you can do without. There are so many gadgets that are strictly for one thing and many of them get used once or twice before we forget about them.
Frugal Tip #7...Repurpose Things...
Nothing was ever thrown away. When something came to the end of it’s natural life it was used for something else.
- Worn out clothes were delegated to work, garden or paint clothes.
- And eventually they were turned into rags.
- Some old bits of cloth and worn out blankets were made into quilts.
- My mother re-used margarine containers to hold left-overs.
- She also saved letters that were blank on one side, cut them into quarters and used them for scrap notepaper.
- Pill containers to hold thumb tacks and buttons.
- Furniture originally used in one room got a new life in another with a coat of paint or new finish.
- Same with accessories.
Frugal Tip #8...Make Gifts...
One of my fondest memories was of my third birthday. My dad made me a little doll bed with plywood and my mom made me a blanket and pillow to go with it. Another year she made me a “Holly Hobby” rag doll. My dad made my brother’s first bike from salvaged parts of one he found at the dump. (Back then you were allowed to take things from the dump.)
Frugal Tip #9...Recycling and disposing of things responsibly...
Even before it became fashionable to recycle, my mother would save all glass bottles, jars, and cans. They would be washed first, of course. Then she cut off the tops & bottoms of the cans so she could flatten them and put them in a box. Once a year she would take them all to the recycling depot in Toronto and get a little money for them too. All our compost waste went on the compost pile in the backyard where the rhubarb grew.
I don’t remember my parents taking much to the dump, but maybe that was because they took such good care of things. And things were made better back then. I still have the hand mixer my mother had in the sixties!
In the time – honored tradition of hand-me-downs, furniture and household goods were passed to the next generation when they left home. Some decluttered items went in a yard sale and some were donated to a charity shop. I still have some of the hand-me-down furniture when I first moved out on my own.
Frugal Tip #10...Have some fun...
What is the point of all this frugality if life is just doom and gloom? My parents’ one indulgence was to go square dancing. The fees for the square dance club were modest by today’s standards but their frugal ways allowed them to do this. It is important to enjoy yourself while you are here. There are many things you can do for fun that don’t cost you anything or cost very little. If you need any equipment you may be able to rent it for a small fee or borrow it from someone you know.
- Go for a walk in nature or around town.
- Take the kids to a park or free splash-pad.
- Have a board game night.
- Bike riding.
- Roller or ice skating.
- X-country skiing.
You can watch the video below...
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