– shop for supplies at discount stores or yard sales– only make things you know you’ll really use– start with straightforward projects like crocheted dish cloths or homemade cleaning soap
– pack lunches for days of long errands rather than stopping for fast food
– go to a free story hour at the library instead of paying for an educational app.
– look at resale markets or websites for something you need.
If you’re always looking for more and thinking about things you need, you’ll get stuck in a cycle of consumerism and unhappiness. To be a frugal homemaker, enjoy what you’ve already been given and use it wisely.
One of my favorite homemaking tips for the overwhelmed: stop going out so much. It’s incredible how much energy you’ll have and how much money you’ll save.
Have you ever heard the saying “What gets measured, gets improved”? It’s true. If you aren’t keeping track of something, it can slowly get worse and worse. When you keep an eye on it, it gets better.
You can grow some food items, even if your house doesn’t have space for a huge garden. Of course, you can’t grow everything, but you can save quite a bit of money by growing just herbs and tomatoes outside your back door.
Think of frugal living as a big adventure and a challenge. If you think of yourself as always struggling and having to give up all your favorite things, life will feel like a burden.