Frugal Lessons From The Past

Concerning finances, thrift, frugality and simple living there are tried and true bedrock principals that we should never forget. In this series we examined source materials for possible lessons from the past that we could learn to help us figure out solutions to today’s problems.

The Holy Bible – Provides lessons on stocking up our pantries, saving leftovers, working hard, staying focused, moderating our habits and to pay as we go.

Frugality in the Spiritual Life – This is an excerpt from a book that William L. Watkinson wrote. His plea from the year 1908 to open our eyes to the “common things” couldn’t be more timely, surrounded as we are today with so many distractions from what is truly important.

The Art of Gardening – This was written by Iowan and Pulitzer Prize winner Frank Luther Mott (1886-1964). He reminds us not only that gardening is a great frugal option to save money on groceries but also names some of the joys that come with growing your own food.

Soar Away from the Vise – Here is advice from a beat up little 46 page booklet I rescued out of a dumpster years ago. It was written by Fred Moller, Jr. and this passage is from the final chapter called “Our Secrets.”

Seymour on Work - John Seymour (1914-2004) was a soldier, miner, farm manager, fishing boat skipper, world traveler, author, radio and TV broadcaster, farmer, teacher, and protester and is known as the “Father of Self-Sufficiency.”

Hillard Green – In 1972 the first Firefox anthology was published. Here are a couple of excerpts from an interview with Hillard Green, who at that time was around eighty years old.

Economy in the Home - The following is taken from Book Two of The People’s Home Library, published in 1920 and written by Mrs. Alice Gitchell Kirk.

College During the Depression – This is taken from the book The Great Depression by David A. Shannon and is a list of some of the ways college students made and saved money during the 1930’s.

Old Mike - In the book “Little Heathens” there is a chapter on how the author and her family practiced thrift. After describing such things as homemade cleaners and health remedies and the many life cycles of socks she ends the chapter with a recycling technique probably not used by many anymore.

Carl Faber – This “desert rat” and artist describes his lifestyle and lack of need for money while living in a little house in the Mojave Desert.

Harlan Hubbard - In this excerpt from his book about drifting down the Ohio River to the Mississippi River to New Orleans in a homemade shantyboat Harlan explains why he wanted to undertake the journey.

Kate Sanborn - Kate Sanborn (1839 – 1917) purchased and moved onto an abandoned farm in Massachusetts in 1888 and here she writes of some of the pleasures and advantages of country living.

The Mail Order Catalog - Carl Hamilton wrote about history and his own memories of growing up on a farm. The following excerpts follow the lifespan of a mail order catalog on the farm.

Five Frugal Flicks

You wouldn’t think it would be hard to come up with five flicks that deal with frugality, but most films that came to mind had frugal living as just a subplot to the main point of the movie. The following five picks either deal with frugality as a main theme or they offer it as a background to the story. If any of them sound interesting make sure to frugally check your library for a copy first, or search to find them online.

Immaterial John – This 2004 documentary is about how John van der Harst lives in a small apartment in Detroit on around $3,600 per year. He does not own a car but instead runs everywhere, recycles or reuses almost everything, forages for food, cuts his own hair, and on and on. He works when he wants to and devotes the rest of his time to his favorite environmental and social causes.

Off the Map – This quiet little 2003 movie is not really about frugality, but the subject does make its way through the storyline. A husband, wife and their daughter live off the grid in the desert gardening, salvaging and making do without. The plot is really what will pull you in, and it includes friendship, coming of age, crippling depression, spiritual and artistic awakening, death, and credit card fraud among other things. Maybe it doesn’t belong on this list but, hey, it’s my list!  

Alone in the Wilderness – When Dick Proenneke (1916 – 2003) decided to retire in 1968 he didn’t head for a little house in Florida or Arizona (as many Iowans do) to play golf between naps. Instead he made for the mountains of Alaska, built a cabin and enjoyed the wildlife and scenery for the next 30 years. During his stay he wrote journals, took photos and shot a lot of film, which was turned into several books and a fascinating documentary.   

Off the Grid: Life on the Mesa – I watched this 2007 documentary last year and found myself increasingly fascinated with the story of how a group of people that includes misfits, patriots, survivalists, addicts, runaways, war vets, environmentalists, and various kooks lived their lives and ordered their “society” living off the grid in the New Mexico desert.

Frugal – This short 2010 documentary follows Kimberly Clancy and a friend as they hunt a grocery store searching for deals with coupons galore, until they finally checkout and you see how much money they saved.

Further Reading:

Best Free Movie and TV Sites

Five Interesting Frugal Videos

Frugal Lessons From The Past: The Mail Order Catalog

History can provide some of the best lessons to help us figure out solutions to today’s problems.

Concerning finances, thrift, frugality and simple living there are tried and true bedrock principals that we should never forget.

This post is part of a series that focuses on some of those principals by going to source materials for inspiration.

Carl Hamilton (1914 – 1991) served as vice president and administrator of Iowa State University, was an editor and publisher and late in life wrote about Iowa history and his own memories of growing up on an Iowa farm. The following excerpts are from one of his books, In No Time At All, and follow the lifespan of a mail order catalog on the farm.

“When the average farm home, uncluttered by radio or television, had only a weekly and possibly a daily newspaper and some magazines, the arrival of a Montgomery Ward or Sears and Roebuck catalog was a major event.”

“It was carefully studied by parents as they compared prices in their never-ending struggle to match resources with necessities. “Making out the order” was a project that might go on for some weeks and would include everything from long underwear to farm tools. Clearly desires must have been stimulated beyond means by the long hours of studying the vast array of merchandise with prices which ranged from Good to Better to Best.”

“The arrival of the catalog was even more of an event for the kids. Hours and hours of long winter evenings and rainy Sunday afternoons were spent thumbing through the catalog – a page at a time!”

“But what an ignominious end it had. One so in keeping with the times: waste nothing! Where did that valued, much-treasured book end up? In the privy! There, of course, it served a double purpose. It served as “tissue” – although hardly of the scented, soft textured brands of milady’s toilette. Also it provided one last chance to review the well-studied pages. And, providing the weather was right, meaning it wasn’t so cold as to bring chilblains to unaccustomed places or so warm as to encourage flies, the catalog added interest to that interlude in the day’s activities. Of course, it did have limitations even for that final purpose. Even under the most extreme circumstances, when nothing was being wasted, the slick paper sections did leave something to be desired as “tissue.” There came a time when the remains – the high fashion section – was consigned en masse to the lower regions! Ker-plop!”

Related Reading:

Frugal Lessons From The Past: Kate Sanborn

Frugal Lessons From The Past: Kate Sanborn

History can provide some of the best lessons to help us figure out solutions to today’s problems.

Concerning finances, thrift, frugality and simple living there are tried and true bedrock principals that we should never forget.

This post is part of a series that focuses on some of those principals by going to source materials for inspiration.

Kate Sanborn (1839 – 1917) purchased and moved onto an abandoned farm in Massachusetts in 1888 and wrote about her trials and tribulations in a book entitled Adopting an Abandoned Farm published in 1891. In the following passage she writes of some of the pleasures and advantages of country living.

“I have told you of my mistakes, failures, losses, but have you any idea of my daily delights, my lasting gains?

From invalidism to health, from mental depression to exuberant spirits, that is the blessed record of two years of amateur farming. What has done this? Exercise, actual hard work, digging in the dirt. We are made of dust, and the closer our companionship with Mother Earth in summer time the longer we shall keep above ground. Then the freedom from conventional restraints of dress; no necessity for "crimps," no need of foreign hirsute adornment, no dresses with tight arm holes and trailing skirts, no high-heeled slippers with pointed toes, but comfort, clear comfort, indoors and out.

Plenty of rocking chairs, lounges that make one sleepy just to look at them, open fires in every room, and nothing too fine for the sun to glorify; butter, eggs, cream, vegetables, poultry--simply perfect, and the rare, ecstatic privilege of eating onions--onions raw, boiled, baked, and fried at any hour or all hours. I said comfort; it is luxury!

Dr. Holmes says: "I have seen respectability and amiability grouped over the air-tight stove, I have seen virtue and intelligence hovering over the register, but I have never seen true happiness in a family circle where the faces were not illuminated by the blaze of an open fireplace." And nature! I could fill pages with glowing descriptions of Days Outdoors. In my own homely pasture I have found the dainty wild rose, the little field

strawberries so fragrant and spicy, the blue berries high and low, so desirable for "pie-fodder," and daisies and ferns in abundance, and, in an adjoining meadow by the brookside, the cardinal flower and the blue gentian. All these simple pleasures seem better to me than sitting in heated, crowded rooms listening to interminable music, or to men or women who never know when to stop, or rushing round to gain more information on anything and everything from Alaska to Zululand, and wildly struggling to catch up with "social duties."

City friends, looking at the other side of the shield, marvel at my contentment, and regard me as buried alive. But when I go back for a short time to the old life I am fairly homesick. I miss my daily visit to the cows and the frolic with the dogs. All that has been unpleasant fades like a dream.

I think of the delicious morning hours on the broad vine-covered piazza, the evenings with their starry splendor or witching moonlight, the nights of sound sleep and refreshing rest, the all-day picnics, the jolly drives with friends as charmed with country life as myself, and I weary of social functions and overpowering intellectual privileges, and every other advantage of the metropolis, and long to migrate once more from Gotham to Gooseville.”

Related Reading:

Frugal Lessons From The Past: Harlan Hubbard

Frugal Lessons From The Past: Harlan Hubbard

History can provide some of the best lessons to help us figure out solutions to today’s problems.

Concerning finances, thrift, frugality and simple living there are tried and true bedrock principals that we should never forget.

This post is part of a series that focuses on some of those principals by going to source materials for inspiration.

In the fall of 1944 Harlan Hubbard and his wife Anna began building a homemade boat, a shantyboat, the first step in actually accomplishing their long held dream of drifting down the Ohio River to the Mississippi River to New Orleans. After several summer long stops they reached their goal in March of 1950. In this excerpt from his book about the journey, Shantyboat, A River Way of Life, he explains why he wanted to undertake the journey.

“There were other and deeper reasons for my going down to the river. I thought I might be able to engage there in certain harmless and simple activities which town, and even country, interfered with. For where can one find more freedom than on the river? The fields and woods are all owned by someone, and beyond the narrow bounds of the public road the walker is trespassing. I do not say the river is entirely outside the law, although we have been told of certain sections that are, but it affords a chance for a more unhampered life than any other accessible region.”

“I had no theories to prove. I merely wanted to try living by my own hands, independent as far as possible from a system of division of labor in which the participant loses most of the pleasure of making and growing things for himself. I wanted to bring in my own fuel and smell its sweet smoke as it burned on the hearth I had made. I wanted to grow my own food, catch it in the river, or forage after it. In short, I wanted to do as much as I could for myself, because I had already realized from partial experience the inexpressible joy of doing so.”

Related Reading:

Frugal Lessons From The Past: Carl Faber

Frugal Lessons From The Past: Carl Faber

History can provide some of the best lessons to help us figure out solutions to today’s problems.

Concerning finances, thrift, frugality and simple living there are tried and true bedrock principals that we should never forget.

This post is part of a series that focuses on some of those principals by going to source materials for inspiration.

Recently while looking at some books I had decided to get rid of I picked up one titled “America’s Hidden Wilderness, Lands of Seclusion.” It was published by National Geographic in 1988 and while flipping through it I stopped at a chapter titled “Desert Splendor” by Suzanne Venino. She wrote about exploring the Mojave Desert and at one point she meets Carl Faber, a “desert rat” and artist who had been living in a little house in the desert for 16 years.

“I don’t have a gallery or an agent. I sell my paintings right from my door,” said Carl, a tall, lanky man of 50 with curly hair and a mustache. Working in acrylics, pen and ink, and colored pencil, he produces near photographic renderings of desert landscapes. “I’ve become a part of the landscape myself,” he says. “I’ve had had coyotes walk up to me when I’m painting, and I’ve had birds land on my head. I know the intimacies of light and dark, the shadings of the seasons. I know the postures of plants and how they grow in relation to one another. It’s subtle, but I see it because I’ve spent so much time sitting quietly in the desert painting.”

Carl paints when he feels like it or when he needs money. “By giving up the need for money,” he says, “I’ve simplified my life. And what I’ve gained is time, time that allows me to do the things that I want to do. There are no schedules to follow here, no deadlines to meet. I read. I hike. Right now I’m teaching myself Gershwin and Fats Waller on the guitar. I can just enjoy the heck out of a day.”

Related Reading:

Frugal Lessons From The Past: Old Mike

Frugal Lessons From The Past: Old Mike

History can provide some of the best lessons to help us figure out solutions to today’s problems.

Concerning finances, thrift, frugality and simple living there are tried and true bedrock principals that we should never forget.

This post is part of a series that focuses on some of those principals by going to source materials for inspiration.

In her book “Little Heathens – Hard Times and High Spirits on an Iowa Farm During the Great Depression” author Mildred Armstrong Kalish devotes a chapter to describing many of the ways she and her family practiced thrift. After describing such things as homemade cleaners and health remedies and the many life cycles of socks she ends the chapter with a recycling technique probably not used by many anymore.

“The clincher for thrift is what became of the horse, Old Mike, after his death. It happened around 1912, long before my time. Apparently he had been retired and was allowed to graze in the orchard and on the grasses of the woods, generally living a well earned life of leisure. He’d become a family pet; his only real job was to take my mother in a surrey to the rural school where she was teaching.

Then, at the age of twenty-nine, in the middle of an exceptionally cold winter, which caused him to grow a luxurious coat to protect against the brutal weather, Old Mike died. Grandpa skinned him and sent his hide to a tanner in Muscatine, Iowa, who made it into a truly handsome robe backed by black wool and trimmed with green felt. Grandpa told me he had paid fifteen dollars to have this done. That robe was used in the car in the winters by Grandpa and Grandma until after their deaths, by Mama wherever she needed it, and then by me to place on the floor in front of the living room fireplace after I grew up, married , and had children. Sometime around 1980 it started to shed a lot of those lovely dark brown hairs, and I finally had to abandon Old Mike.”

Related Reading:

Frugal Lessons From The Past: College During the Depression

Seven Super-Cheap Gift Ideas to Help You Save Money over the Holidays

The following is a guest post by Kate Willson, who writes on the topics of top online colleges. She welcomes your comments at her email Id: katewillson2@gmail.com.

For years, the Christmas season steamrolled over my carefully planned budget, as I spent more than I could afford shopping for gifts to make all of my friends and family happy. It would take me three full months for my finances to recover from the overspending. Year after year, while making small talk at office holiday parties and family gatherings, I would always hear conversations about how homemade gifts or small-scale thoughtful gifts meant so much more than extravagant gifts; others said they wished cash-strapped family members hadn't spent so much. Something clicked. I needed to put some effort into thoughtful, low-cost gifts instead of going all-out at the mall. Here are some great ideas for Christmas gifts on the cheap:

1.) Homemade desserts. Gifting delicious cookies, pies, brownies, cobblers and other homemade goodies tops most lists of low-cost Christmas items, scoring high for the fact that you actually spend time making these desserts at home. The key is to make the items from scratch, wrapping and presenting them beautifully. Cobbling together some cookies from a packaged tube and putting them on a Styrofoam plate covered with plastic wrap won't cut it. You can find adorable baskets and ribbons to display cookies and brownies at Hobby Lobby or other craft/decor stores for cheap.

2.) Handmade Tie-Fleece Blankets. My husband tells me every year that the best gift I ever got him was a handmade tie-fleece blanket. These warm and soft wonders don't require any sewing (thank goodness, I'm no good at that), only two beautiful pieces of fleece that fit your gift recipients' color preferences that you tie together by hand. There are tutorials all over the web on how to make tie-fleece blankets, including YouTube videos. Just be sure not to pick a nerdy or holiday-themed fleece pattern. The recipient will use it throughout the winter and may not want Merry Christmas all over it for the remainder of the year.

3.) Bottle of wine. Adorned with a lovely ribbon, this is usually a perfect gift for office holiday parties, as you can get a delicious bottle of wine for under $20. Local wines are also great gifts to bring for relatives out of state, as they represent a little piece of the place you live.

4.) Photo book or photo calendar. If you're like me you have hundreds of digital photos of your family stored on your computer's hard drive. Using online resources like Shutterfly or Snapfish, you can create personalized photo books or photo calendars for less than $20. These are fantastic gifts for older family members who don't get to see you very often throughout the year.

5.) Magazine subscription. This isn't as lame of a gift as it sounds. If you have a friend who routinely buys celeb gossip mags like Ok! and People, why not let them keep up with those celebs without paying for it at the grocery store every week? Music lovers might enjoy Rolling Stone or Spin. Here's a tip: Go to your nearest chain bookstore and look closely through magazines to get ideas on mags that aren't typically available in your typical neighborhood grocery store.

6.) DVDs or CDs. Look for the classics when it comes to DVDs and CDs and you'll usually stay under $20. Buy movies that have fun memories of you and that person attached to them.

7.) Christmas ornaments. You can find some truly beautiful ornaments for your friends and family members to hang on their tree year after year for under $20.

Additional Reading:

Giving of Yourself

Sell, Trade or Cash in Those Gift Cards

Frugal Lessons From The Past: College During the Depression

History can provide some of the best lessons to help us figure out solutions to today’s problems.

Concerning finances, thrift, frugality and simple living there are tried and true bedrock principals that we should never forget.

This post is part of a series that focuses on some of those principals by going to source materials for inspiration.

The following is taken from the book The Great Depression by David A. Shannon and is a list of some of the ways college students made and saved money during the 1930’s.

Running a “dog laundry”

Serving as a campus guide

Working side jobs including gas station attendant, undertakers helper, railroad fireman, in a steel mill, cutting tombstones, selling newspapers, first aid instructor, washing dishes, moving furniture, painting, tutoring, washing cars, night watchman, janitor, secretary, mail carrier, clerk, usher and switchboard operator.

Cooking their own meals

Working on campus or trading items for tuition

Taking in boarders

Reselling textbooks

Remodeling and mending clothes

Catering

Housekeeping

Babysitting

Tinting photographs (there might not be as much of a market for this one today)

Related Reading:

Frugal Lessons From The Past: Economy in the Home

Tasty Autumn Tidbits

The following is a guest post by Olivia Fox. Growing up in an artist’s family, she delights in finding creative ways to make money stretch. Her musings can be found at The Frugal Bohemian. I highly recommend you visit.

At our house we’re always in the market for treats, especially frugal ones. Here are several food items prepared from stuff we used to dump. Now they’re good enough for gifts.

Candied Peels

Score the surface of four thick skinned oranges or five lemons into quarters through the white, and peel from the fruit. Slice the rind lengthwise into 1/4 inch wide strips. Place in a pot, cover with cold water, bring to a boil. Simmer for 15 minutes. Drain. Repeat with fresh water. Drain. Repeat. Dissolve 4 ½ cups sugar in 1½ cups water over low heat. Add peels to the sugar syrup. Simmer on a low until the rinds become translucent, about 45 minutes. Let them sit in the syrup overnight. Heat through in the morning and gently drain. (Save the syrup for hot tea.) Coat individual peels in granulated sugar and dry on a rack overnight. Store in an airtight container.

Toasted Seeds

Take a squash with big seeds, like butternut or pumpkin. Remove the seeds, separate them from the pulpy middles, rinse and drain. Preheat the oven to 350 degrees. Drop the still-damp seeds, single layer, onto a lightly greased pan. Sprinkle them with salt, garlic powder, and paprika. Or for a bit more kick, chili powder. Toast for about fifteen minutes until lightly brown.

Apple Peel Jelly

Put the cores and peels from about 15 apples (4 cups tightly packed) into a large pot and cover with 6 cups water. Simmer about 20 minutes. Drain the juice through a cheesecloth lined colander into a bowl without squeezing. At this point follow the recipe for apple jelly on your pectin package. If you find there’s not enough juice, do a second boiling of the peels in an additional cup or so of water. The final jelly is delicately flavored, and blush colored.

So there you have it. Buon Appetito.

Related Reading:

One Way to Get the Most Out of Your Chicken

How to Save Money by Salvaging

Become a Food Rescuer

Five Interesting Frugal Videos

The following are five interesting videos showing many ways people who are practicing the art of frugality can conserve resources and save money, courtesy of YouTube.

Meet the Carters



The $21 Challenge!



The Most Frugal Moms in the Country



Being Frugal: The Original Sustainability?



Possum Living

Frugal Lessons From The Past: Economy in the Home

History can provide some of the best lessons to help us figure out solutions to today’s problems.

Concerning finances, thrift, frugality and simple living there are tried and true bedrock principals that we should never forget.

This post is part of a series that focuses on some of those principals by going to source materials for inspiration.

The following is taken from Book Two of The People’s Home Library, published in 1920 and written by Mrs. Alice Gitchell Kirk.

“It is interesting to watch the wonderful strides of today in producing wealth, but it is of at least equal importance how this money is spent; and the home is the center for the consumption of this wealth. It has been said by students of Home Economics that the greatest financial losses come through the home. If this be true, then women should begin to have a better understanding of the practice of economy in the home. First, they should help and encourage in every way to increase the income; and second, to lessen the expenditures. It is not always what we earn, but how that is spent that insures the best economy and results in perfect, or nearly perfect, household management. At the present time the difficulty with the housekeeper is not so much that she has lack of income, as that she does not always spend wisely.”

Related Reading:

Frugal Lessons From The Past: Hillard Green

Frugal Lessons From The Past: Hillard Green

History can provide some of the best lessons to help us figure out solutions to today’s problems.

Concerning finances, thrift, frugality and simple living there are tried and true bedrock principals that we should never forget.

This post is part of a series that focuses on some of those principals by going to source materials for inspiration.

The Foxfire Magazine project started in 1966 as a gathering by Georgia high school students of the oral history and folklife of their elders living around them in the Appalachian Mountains. In 1972 the first book anthology was published, followed over the years by 11 more books. The following are a couple of couple of excerpts from the first book of an interview with local resident Hillard Green, who at that time was around eighty years old.

The first excerpt is taken from the interview while Mr. Green is preparing to can tomatoes.

“Everyone ought t’learn how to do such as this. One a’these days, times might get back hard again, and then what will they do? Nobody not knowin’ t’do nothin’. Might have t’live off the th’land again, one day. We never had nothin’ fer th’winter only what we put up. What we put up was what we had. Goin’t’be a lot of hungry people someday.”

On another occasion Mr. Green spoke about government fiscal policy. The war he speaks of is Vietnam, of course, but it sounds eerily like he could be describing America today in 2010.

“They’re sittin’ up there raisin’ their big wages. We’re livin’ here a’doin’th’best we can. They can keep that war goin’. They’re runnin’ th’ money out, y’know; goin’ down, goin’ down all th’ time. It’s goin’t’finally go plum out ‘til we don’t have nothin’ but stamps t’trade with here first thing y’know.”

Related Reading:

Foxfire.org

Frugal Lessons From The Past: Seymour On Work

Five Free Tutoring Sites

Schools are back in session and while there is plenty of learning going on there are always students who are struggling with a subject or class. If that includes you or someone you know consider looking into free online tutoring sites for help from the comfort of your own home. Most operate 24/7 to provide free help and usually all you have to do is register. Give them a look, one of them might be just what that perplexed student needs to get over the hump.

Algebra.com – They write algebra lessons, help solve homework problems and offer free tutors online for Pre-algebra, Algebra I, Algebra II, Geometry and Physics. Make sure to visit their extensive question board.

Tuition Plaza – Their online tutoring section offers quizzes and homework help forums for many different subjects.

Tutoroli – They connect students with live tutors in real time, who provide one on one help for homework whenever it’s needed.

Tech Tutorials – This site offers a directory of free tutorials for IT professionals, hobbyists, and home users. They also offer discussion forums, a free job search, free tech magazine subscriptions, white papers, and other technical reference materials.

HippoCampus – They provide multimedia content on general education subjects to high school and college students free of charge. Their content has been developed by colleges and universities all over the world.

Related Reading:

Search for Scholarships

10 Great Resources for Free Books

Best Free Reference Sites

10 Free Online Colleges and Courses

Frugal Lessons From The Past: Seymour On Work

History can provide some of the best lessons to help us figure out solutions to today’s problems.

Concerning finances, thrift, frugality and simple living there are tried and true bedrock principals that we should never forget.

This post is part of a series that focuses on some of those principals by going to source materials for inspiration.

John Seymour (1914-2004) was a soldier, miner, farm manager, fishing boat skipper, world traveler, author, radio and TV broadcaster, farmer, teacher, and protester and is known as the “Father of Self-Sufficiency.” The following is taken from one of his books “The Self-Sufficient Life and How to Live It.”

“I once knew an old lady who lived by herself in the Golfen Valley of England. She was one of the happiest people I have met. She described to me all the work she and her mother used to do when she was a child: washing on Monday, butter-making on Tuesday, market on Wednesday, and so on. “It all sounds like a lot of hard work,” I said to her. “Yes, but nobody ever told us then,” she said. “Told you what?” “Told us there was anything wrong with work!” Today, “work” has become a dirty word, and most people would do anything to get out of it. To say that an invention is labor-saving is the highest praise, but it never seems to occur to anyone that the work might have been enjoyable. I have plowed all day behind a good set of horses and been sad when the day came to an end!”

Related Reading:

Frugal Lessons From The Past: Soar Away From the Vise

Frugal Lessons From The Past: Soar Away From the Vise

History can provide some of the best lessons to help us figure out solutions to today’s problems.

Concerning finances, thrift, frugality and simple living there are tried and true bedrock principals that we should never forget.

This post is part of a series that focuses on some of those principals by going to source materials for inspiration.

The following passage comes from a beat up little 46 page booklet I rescued out of a dumpster years ago. It is entitled “Homesteading Your Way to Health and Happiness” by Fred Moller, Jr. In it he describes how he and his wife Cheddy came to the decision to try homesteading and he gives readers tips and pointers if they decide they want to try it, too. At the end of the book is a section called “Our Secrets.”

“Cheddy and I have a real aversion to charging things. That is to buying things today and putting off the paying until tomorrow. That’s the way Uncle Sam does things as do those who are famous for their economic savvy. You see how much trouble Uncle is in just in terms of Federal Deficit. We don’t make much money by today’s standards. However we make a little more than we need. That is our biggest secret!

You can accomplish this same situation by not “biting off a bigger chunk than you can chew.” Be willing to relocate, if necessary, to get land at a reasonable price. Remember that its price is based only on the laws of supply and demand. If money is short, go where not many people want to live but for a reason that you don’t find objectionable.

Try really hard to get rid of all the mortgages soon! Even if you have an early pay penalty on a mortgage, pay it as soon as possible and forget what it means to have that anchor tied around your neck. Buy a small place, put up conservative shelter, pay it off and SOAR! Now you have extra money in your jeans.

You have the freedom to launch any career that you crave because you are no longer in the VISE.”

A smaller modest place also means minimum property tax. It all goes together and compounds (banker language) to enlarge your free time.”

Related Reading:

Frugal Lessons From The Past: The Art of Gardening

Other Uses for Baking Soda

It’s time to pull that little box of sodium bicarbonate out of your kitchen cabinet and consider all the other things you can do with it besides baking. This natural, environmentally safe and inexpensive powder could be the most versatile product in your house, if only you knew the secret powers that it held. To that end, here are some other uses for baking soda.

Use it to eliminate strong odors from your hands by rubbing them with baking soda then rinsing with water.

Sprinkle a little in your shoes to eliminate odor.

Mix a ¼ cup with one quart of warm water to wash almost any household surface. Wipe with the solution and rinse. For dirtier surfaces just use more powder.

Add a cup to your bathwater to act as a skin softener.

Use it as an occasional substitute for toothpaste to keep your teeth white. You can also soak dentures and retainers in a cup of water mixed with two teaspoons of baking soda to keep them clean.

Sprinkle it on small grease or electrical fires to put them out.

Once a week pour ½ cup down your drains followed by hot water to keep them clean.

Remove burned-on food from a pans and skillets by soaking them in a baking soda solution before washing.

Add water to make a paste and use it as a facial scrub.

Make a paste with water to polish chrome and stainless steel.

Use a ½ cup of baking soda as an alternative to bleach when washing your clothes.

Put an open box in the refrigerator to absorb odors.

Mix a teaspoon with a glass of water and drink to sooth heartburn.

Sprinkle some on your carpet or upholstery, wait a few minutes, and then vacuum to cut down on various odors, including those left by pets.

Make a paste to relieve itching from insect bites, rashes and pain from bee stings and sunburn.

Related Reading:

Other Uses for Petroleum Jelly

11 Ways to Go Frugal

The following is a guest post contributed by Jena Ellis, who writes on the topics of Online Certificate Programs. She welcomes your questions and comments at her email address: jena.ellis20@gmail.com.

If you're not careful, the word "frugal" can start to sound like an insult. People use it to mean "cheapskate" or even "freeloader," which is unfair when you consider that at its heart, frugality is just about living wisely and well and doing it within your means. If you're new to living frugally or you've been doing it a while, it can be a good idea to take a step back and refocus on where you can save the most money. With that in mind, here are 11 great ways to live a low-cost life:

Plan your shopping. Don't go to the mall and browse the racks; that's the quickest way to spend money you don't have on something you don't need. Plan in advance what you need to buy -- clothes, a tool, etc. -- and only buy that. Trust me, this is a great way to save money you didn't know you were losing. Impulse buys can be deadly for people trying to live a smart, frugal life.

Work out on your own. Avoid paying a costly gym membership and work out on your own. You can do tons of exercises and get in great shape without ponying up high monthly fees for all that equipment.

Cut out the red meat. You'd be amazed at how much you can reduce your grocery bill by cutting out the beef. Plus, as a bonus, you can focus on lighter meats or veggie meals.

Sack it. You probably hear this tip all the time, and that's because it works. Taking a sack lunch to the office, even if it's just last night's leftovers, is so much cheaper than going out for a midday meal.

Buy a clothesline. You can slash your electric bill by skipping the dryer and hanging your clothes on the line after they're washed.

Get a family cell phone plan. It's unlikely you'll be able to ditch your cell phone altogether -- for many people, the cell phone is the only phone they have -- but you can save some serious cash if you pool your plans and get a family rate to share with your spouse and children.

Cut the credit cards. Don't use credit cards, period. They trick you into living beyond your means and suck you into a world of debt that can take years to escape. If you've got debt, work hard to pay it off. If you don't, consider yourself lucky.

Cut the cable. This is a good decision, especially if you're not a huge sports fan and don't need dozens of channels of games and highlights. Cutting off your cable TV will save you hundreds of dollars a year, and you can use some of that money to invest in DVD purchases or rentals for programs you really want to see. As a bonus, you'll have more free time to spend with friends and family.

Cut the addictions. Smoking and drinking can be hard habits to break, but the financial and health benefits you'll reap from eliminating them from your life are amazing. You'll be healthier, wealthier, and all-around happier. Seriously: You'll bank thousands of dollars by quitting. Don't be afraid to ask for help, either.

Share your ride. Joining a carpool is a great way to reduce fuel costs and lower your carbon footprint. Along the same lines, check out the public transportation options in your city. I've found it cheaper -- and more relaxing -- to ride the train to work than to waste gas dealing with rush-hour traffic.

Use that library card. Books, movies, music: You can get them all for free at your local library. Hang onto those hundreds of dollars you're spending on trips to the movie theater and various stores by opting for free media.

That's just the beginning. With a little practice, you'll be living like a frugal champ in no time. Good luck!

Frugal Lessons From The Past: The Art of Gardening

History can provide some of the best lessons to help us figure out solutions to today’s problems.

Concerning our finances, thrift, frugality and simple living there are tried and true bedrock principals that we should never forget.

This post is part of a series that focuses on some of those principals by going to source materials for inspiration.

The following was written by Iowan and Pulitzer Prize winner Frank Luther Mott (1886-1964). It is taken from the January, 1962 issue of The Palimpsest, where he reminisces about living in small town Iowa in the 1890’s. He reminds us not only that gardening is a great frugal option to save money on groceries but also names some of the joys that come with growing your own food.

“Many of us were, in a way, small farmers. We surely raised big gardens. In my family, each of us had an individual section of the family garden for his own; and though the general plan came from our parents, each child had his own responsibility and his own pride in what he got out of his plot. I acquired at that time a passion for gardening that has been with me all my life. I came to regard the raising of vegetables as a creative art – something dreamed up and followed through from seed catalog to dinner table. To see the seeds I have planted breaking through the ground has for many years brought a new excitement with every recurrent Spring and Summer. Hoeing in my garden has seemed to me a calm and philosophic exercise, useful and healthful, and mildly relaxing and satisfying. And picking the first succulent green peas, bringing to the house the first fat red tomatoes, snapping off the first roasting ears: these are the climax of the year for the kitchen gardener.”

Related Reading:

Frugal Lessons From The Past: Frugality in the Spiritual Life

Other Uses for Petroleum Jelly

While petroleum jelly is famous for lubricating babies bottoms and chapped lips there are many more uses for this inexpensive, multipurpose ointment. Some other uses include the following:

If you dye your hair rub some around your hairline to protect your skin from the dye.

Rub some on wood furniture water stains, leave overnight and then wipe clean.

Apply petroleum jelly along the bottom of a sticky drawer to make it open easier.

Rub a little onto your dry hands and feet to keep them smooth and moisturized.

Smear a little into candleholders to make it easy to remove spent candles.

Remove lipstick stains on clothing by applying some petroleum jelly to the stain and washing.

To easily unscrew light bulbs coat the threads before screwing it in.

Use it as a face cream.

Coat it on bolts, nuts and screws to prevent rusting.

Lubricate squeaky hinges.

Lubricate jar caps or lids with a fine film to keep them from sticking.

Apply some to car battery posts to prevent corrosion.

Rub it on the skin around your nails before applying nail polish so mistakes can be easily removed.

Smear a little on the shaft of a key and insert it into the lock to lubricate the tumblers.

Use it as a make-up remover.

I’m sure this list doesn’t cover all of the uses for petroleum jelly. What have I missed?

Related Reading:

The Many Uses of Mineral Oil

The Power of Peroxide

Why You Need WD-40

Other Uses for Rubbing Alcohol

Vinegar: Is There Anything It Can’t Do?