I'm making napkins today. Those I made about five years ago are on their last legs and I don't want to buy napkins again and again and again. Today and tomorrow I'll also be making laundry liquid, stainless steel sink cleaner, biscuits and chilli jam. These tasks, and many more like them, are a regular part of my housework. I aim for environmental and financial sustainability and I support and encourage biodiversity on the land I live on. I am mindful of the horrendous changes to the weather in recent years and this year we've seen many record breaking weather events around the world. It's the result of global warming and we've been warned about it for years but done nothing to slow it down or stop it.
Every dollar we spend makes the problem worse because that money is buying modern lifestyles built using fossil fuels. I'm not going to write about what certain countries, including my own, do to make the matter worse but I will urge you to educate yourself about global warming and work out a way to make a difference in your own home. We all contributed to this problem in tiny increments, we can undo some of it by working sustainably in our homes.
I try to save money whenever I can because it makes sense to me, it allows me to live the life I live and I want my children and grandchildren to live in a world similar to the one I grew up in. I want that for you and your children too. We can't keep putting it off, now is the time to draw a line in the sand and make sure we stay on the right side of that line, even when it's difficult.
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Prices increased during the pandemic and the cost of living is still rising. I thought it might be a good idea to share some of the things I do here to help reduce the cost of running a home. I'd love you to share some of the uncommon things you're doing too; don't worry about the common things, most of us are already doing them.
Our water and electricity prices went up July 1 and we're about to receive the first bills since that price rise. For the last few months I've changed how I use my appliances. We had a solar hot water system installed when we moved here in 1997 and our first solar panels were installed in 2007. In September last year I had the old solar panels replaced and a new system of 18 panels installed. I run my major appliances - washing machine, dishwasher, vacuum cleaner, one at a time, in the morning as soon as the sun hits the roof. That's the most efficient way to run my system. If you have solar, do a bit of research so you know the best way to run your system to save dollars. The aim is to use the solar power as you generate it and just have the leftovers going to the grid but if you work outside the home, that would be impossible for you. A solar battery would be better in your situation because it would collect and store all the solar power you generate during the day so it's available for you to use at night.
I use the dishwasher every three days but I also take a break from it for weeks an a time and go back to it again when I’m busy. After a bit of tweaking, I changed the cycle I use in the dishwasher. I used to do a sensor wash cycle (2 hours!) now it's a 45 minute gentle wash and it still does an excellent job. I've not had to rewash anything. I'm microwaving more too. I always heat up in the microwave and I'm cooking vegetables in a bowl with a silicone lid in the microwave instead of boiling on the stove. I have an induction stove so when I do use the stove, it uses less electricity than the last stove I had.
I use clothes stands on the back verandah instead of using the dryer - I get very dizzy hanging out laundry on my clothes line but anything at eye level is fine and the clothes stand is working well. My March electricity bill was $76 - less than a one person house but I'm waiting to see this bill due now because the last bill told me nothing - a certain black dog was seen in the front yard so the meter wasn't read. 🙄 I think the bill will be in the $200 range but even so, I hope that by using the solar power wisely and the $300 worth of credits I currently have, I'll get by and pay nothing.
I can't work out the water usage. I use less water than one person in my home and yet my bills are always in the $200-$250 range. My sister's water bill is less than $100, and she lives in NSW and she's in a two person house. If you live in SE Queensland, I'd love you to share the cost of your average water bill with me.
Most of the time I buy my groceries at Woolworths and have them delivered. They charge $119 a year for delivery so if I shop weekly, it costs just over $2 for delivery. That saves petrol for the 12km round trip and I'm not wandering around buying things I don't need.
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I eat less meat, I still cook from scratch, still make laundry liquid and homemade cleaners and if you do that too, your grocery bill will drop a fair bit and you'll be bringing far less plastic into your home. I'm thinking of baking bread again because the cost of good bread is sky high and I don't want to eat bread with preservatives and other additives. My recipes for laundry liquid and homemade cleaners are here. Remember to turn off the light every time you leave the room, don't leave the TV, radio or fan on. Don't leave appliances on standby. It all adds up and over the course of a three month bill may tip you over the edge.
Baby Gracie playing with a shoe the same size as her.
So what's happening in your home? I'd love to know how you're saving money in these hard time. If you have time, drop a short comment about your unusual tasks because it might help readers who are making their first changes and those who are moving on to another level.
Living kindly with the environment is near and dear to my heart. We hang our clean clothes in all seasons, inside on a rack if it's rainy.
ReplyDeleteI've learned to make from scratch so many things I used to buy - yogurt, seasonings, cleaners, even makeup. I repurpose things past their current use as often as possible and compost everything I'm able. Our garden provides much of our food and I'm busy preserving its abundance during the growing season. Our tiny waste basket only needs to be emptied every couple of weeks.
Our home was built on passive-solar principles and even in Texas heat our electric bills are tiny - typically under $100/month. Just today I baked two batches of gluten-free sweet potato brownies outside in my solar oven - no extra cooking heat inside for them. I'll be taking one to a sick friend.
Over the years I've learned much from you, Rhonda. Thank you for sharing with us!
Hi Tammy. Your home sounds similar to mine. Keep on keeping on. xx
DeleteI'm curious to see my first electricity bill after the increase...its sort of thou giveth and thou take it away - with the govt rebate on the account it will help but they may as well just given it to the electricity company and we are the middle man. I'm making sourdough bread today and it's in the fridge for the last 3 hour prove. I tried for years and years to get the hang of it but couldn't until I came across Elaine Boddy - Foodbod Sourdough and her Master Recipe and the fact that it's all done in one bowl is so easy and her time frame works as well....what put me off was you had to be home all morning but this way it's made around dinner time, folds done every hour [or 45 mins or 1.5 hours] as you walk back into the kitchen] and then leave it on the bench overnight is the easiest method. A lady in our suburb reached out to see if anyone had any starter and I told her to come around gave her some, and she sent me a pic of her bread the next day....such a simple gift but made me really happy that I could help. I've been making our laundry powder for about 11 years. I started off with your liquid recipe but it didn't work for my family and I make laundry powder and it's great. I make it in my Thermomix which is 12 years old however it can be made in a food processor or just grate the soap. HOME MADE WASHING POWDER
ReplyDeleteINGREDIENTS:-
1 x Sunlight [or pure] soap, roughly chopped
1/2 x bar of Sard [or stain removing] soap, rough chopped
200gms Borax
315gms Washing Soda [powder]
METHOD:-
Place soap into the Thermomix bowl and chop for 30 seconds on Speed 7.
Add the rest of the ingredients and mix together on Speed 7 for approximately 20 seconds.
Place into a Tupperware container with a scoop.
Use 2-3 heaped tablespoons per wash.
To save time you can make a double batch however make 1 batch per the recipe and then put it into your Tupperware container and then make your second batch.
Great work, Kathy. That's very similar to the laundry powder recipe here, I think it's very early, maybe the first year. Those recipes certainly help keep the cost of housekeeping down. xx
ReplyDeleteI’d definitely get someone to check you don’t have a leak somewhere. Sometimes a pipe will spring a leak under ground and you won’t notice it for months and months.
ReplyDeleteIf you do find a leak. The water company will take money off your bill It happened to us and we only noticed it during midsummer when all the area was brown except for where the leak was.
We did have a leak but I had that fixed halfway through the last bill. It's not the water usage I'm questioning, it's the price of water in different states.
DeleteRhonda, as sourdough from the bakers now costs an arm and a leg I have been experimenting with using my breadmaker to make a loaf. I am happy with the result. I use Elly’s recipe on her blog Elly’s Everyday https://www.ellyseveryday.com/
ReplyDeleteThanks Chel but I always use my own bread recipes.
DeleteVery happy to read your new blogs. I am from the Netherlands. With 17.000.000 people in a small country, i see the need of care about the inviroment. Our water bill is only 1 euro per M3 water. We are using about 100M3 per year. That is enough too for some dry weeks without rain in summer for the vegetable/ fruit garden.We are paying 30 euro a month for our electricity bill Because we have 12 sunpanels in east en west direction. In summer we got enough sunenergy upto from 5.30 am to 9.30 pm in average. Enough to do al our duty.s. In winter only 6 ours a day sunenergy and we also use a lot more for heating (very moderate sea climate). But paying 12 x 30 euro is 360 euro a year is enough for my husband and me.
ReplyDeleteHi Rhonda, I live in Pomona and my water bill is around 250 per quarter for a single person. Half of this is made up of water and sewerage access charges, looking at the bill. Grrr!
ReplyDeleteThanks for that. Mine is the same so I guess the access charges are different around the coountry and the water charges are similar. xx
DeleteSomething that's saved me a lot of money this year has been taking a slowly slowly approach to DIY. My Dad is retired and when he need to do some DIY he has a good look and a good think, makes a start, leaves it for a day or two and works at a leisurely pace until it's done, taking weeks if he feels like it
ReplyDeleteI've always dreaded DIY, but copying his approach has enabled me to break down big household maintenance jobs into tiny steps and make slow progress that gets it done in the end. It may take weeks but I get there and it costs me next to nothing. There are still some things I'll need to pay a professional for but this gradual approach has greatly reduced what I'll need to pay to have done. My husband's taken on this mindset too and it's boosted our confidence because we both thought we couldn't manage certain jobs but by taking our time we did.
Thanks, I'm going to adopt this mindset to get a few things moving here. It can be very daunting.
DeleteI love this approach! Thank you. DIY can seem overwhelming and I often feel that as a society now we expect 'instant' results. Slow living is what we should be aiming for. Carolyn x
DeleteWe moved to a new home in December (Saskatchewan, Canada) and in the spring took out the lawn in the backyard and put in raised garden beds. "If I'm going to water it, I'm going to eat it," someone wise told me about their own grassless backyard garden. Makes good sense to me. Next year, we're replacing grass in our front yard with xeriscaping. While water is so precious to farmers in our province, it seems insulting to waste it on lawns. We do have perennial flower beds lining the driveway which my husband enjoys tending. He's wise about watering them too.
ReplyDeleteWe turn off the central air or heat as much as possible which always gives us the biggest decrease in our electric bill. We use fans and open windows in summer and extra clothes and blankets in winter.
ReplyDeleteI bet the government adds a bunch of extra charges beyond your water usage. Ours here charges extra school taxes on our water bill and electric.
I have two comments that I don't commonly hear mentioned. Both are about maintenance - of the home and of the body. It is more cost effective to keep up with basic household maintenance and minor repairs than it is to ignore them (due to cost or inconvenience) and have a major catastrophe. Get the septic pumped on time, have the gutters cleaned regularly, have the roof replaced before there is a leak, etc. Many people leave things because they think they can't afford them but eventually the cost can be much, much more. Maintenance of the body is also so very important so that one has the strength and the energy to do the things in their lives that need doing. Being ill or lame is very costly, both for the care required and also because of all of the useful little things that can no longer be done. So watch the diet for appropriate calories and start a simple exercise routine if you don't already have one. There are loads of excellent videos on youtube for free. If you are a real beginner, look for a a seated exercise routine for seniors. Almost anyone could do that, even on a bad day!
ReplyDeleteGreat advice!! Looking after our health is an investment - literally! There is not enough focus on health promotion. Thank you 🙏
DeleteHi Rhonda,
ReplyDeleteI save money by exchanging food with my neighbours. I have a neighbour with fruit trees and they give me fruit. I give some of it back as jam. I also swap jam for honey from another neighbour with bee hives. Get to know your neighbourhood. It is a great resource. Every skill you have is of value.
Hi Rhonda Jean, such a wonderful post. I love Gracie's picture.
ReplyDeleteHere in The Netherlands prices are high too. We read all the leaflets of supermarkets, to see which things are on sale. We cook from scratch. Had solar panels installed in June, as we could finally afford them. We wash the dishes by hand and I stopped using my dryer.
I bake and am looking for more things to learn to do myself.
Have a great day.
Hi Rhonda, we do things similar to you, some of which I learned from you😊. My biggest savings are around food. I buy dry goods in bulk and grow much of the fruit and vegies we eat. We also have a cow which gives us all our dairy, and we have chooks for eggs. Neither of which really save us money but they are primarily kept as manure producers and for their ability to build soil. I don't find any joy in shopping so easy to keep purchases to food. You have been such an inspiration, thankyou so much for all you share. Kate purple pear farm
ReplyDeleteHi Kate, lovely to see you here again. I don't enjoy recreational shopping either, such a waste of time and money. I really miss my chickens, especially for the manure. I'm loving what you're doing on your farm. xx
DeleteThanks Rhonda. We have semi retired now. Letting others take over some our activities. Still gardening though, such a joy
DeleteIn the past I have bought alot of seedlings and small plants, as well as planting seeds. But this year I have been planting pretty much all seeds. Since we we are stating with a blank slate over a large area its impossible to remember where I have planted seeds so I make bundles of plant markers from a empty plastic milk bottles. Square at the top and pointy at the bottom to push into the soil easily. Then I label them with a permanent marker. Because they are free I can label the areas I sow extensively, ensuring each edge is marked and that I (or anyone else who might want to help in the garden) doesn't accidentally disturb any seeds before they sprout. There is no need to buy plant markers. When they are finished with they can be popped into a plastic milk bottle for recycling or stored again for another round. xx
ReplyDeleteHi Rhonda-
ReplyDeleteI’m always happy to see a new post from you. Hooray!
I, too, am committed to living frugally and consuming less. Here in the northwestern corner of Washington State in the U.S., I had solar panels installed a little over a year ago. We pay $27.56 a month to access the electric grid, but have only had to pay more than the minimum for the months of February and March. Here, I generate so much more than needed during the sunny, warm months, and the extra is “banked” by our Public Utility District to use in the darker, colder months. I’ve been really impressed with the performance of the panels. According to the installer, the technology has improved by leaps and bounds. I thought some of your readers may want a report from the cooler and cloudier part of the world. I also had a mini-split heat pump installed to heat my small home. It does an outstanding job and cools, too, when we have our rare hot days in the summer. Although our electricity is hydroelectric in this corner of the world, we were paying around $200 a month for electricity in the winter before the heat pump and solar panels were installed. I’m sure it would be more now. Thanks for sharing your thoughts and suggestions. xo Carol
I’ve learned a lot from you and your commenters on ways to save and be resourceful, etc.
ReplyDeleteI use my local library for all my reading material and especially resources on how to make things myself etc. free tutorials if you will.
During lockdown the set up the Libby app through my library on my devices. I can checkout hard copy books, ebooks, audiobooks and even magazines.
I started out a few months before lockdown when patrons weren’t allowed in the library but we could drive by and pick up a sack with our selections on certain days/times.
When lockdown happened we could still do hard copy books but I switched to ebooks, audiobooks and even magazines I could read on my electronic devices.
When everything opened up again I decided to continue with the Libby app, although I’ll occasionally go into the library if the wait on electronic versions is too long for my liking.
As a voracious reader I used to spend a lot of money purchasing books. I’m grateful that lockdown “forced” me to use the library and the electronic app so I’m can keep learning and saving money and petrol too.
This is in no way a promotion. But when we installed solar panels we purchased a device called a “Powerpal”. I believe these are subsidised in some states. It enables us to see our power use in real time and the effect the solar panels have. You can also see what you next bill is projected to be.
ReplyDeleteSome utilities allow you to check your own meter and upload the data too. I like to do this just incase the utilities worker doesn’t do it or makes a mistake.
Hi Rhonda, We are a family of 4 all working ( hubby, myself and our daughters 21 and 18 ) . We are saving money but menu planning and meal prepping each week and only buying what we require. We have very little food waste. Any leftover vegetables are choppped up and frozen. We turn all appliances off at the wall and although we don’t have solar we are $1000 in credit on our power bill as I pay a bit extra each fortnight. We buy toilet paper and washing powder in bulk through my hubby’s work. Hubby gets a work car so we drive it on weekends to save money on fuel. For exercise I walk, do you tube workouts and brought a second hand spin bike for $50 so no gym memberships. I’m a big reader so I borrow books from the library instead of purchasing. We don’t have a dishwasher or a dryer so save $$ on power. We clean with simple multi purpose natural cleaner concentrate that lasts two years . Vinegar is used instead of fabric softener. I always liked getting my nails done but couldn’t justify the price so I purchased a $100 gel nail kit and use it fortnightly and it is awesome. Both our daughters use it so we save a lot of $$ as a set of nails is easily $70 a fortnight. Our kit was brought half price so only $50. There are probably a lot of other things we do but these are some basics
ReplyDeleteHi Rhonda. I’m in your region and our last Unity water bill was $361. 2 people and no concessions. I do water the garden and potted plants a lot when it’s been dry. My bills are usually about $340 and unfortunately most of it is fixed charges for sewerage and water supply. We do have water tanks but not plumbed to the house. I have work colleagues with children who pay twice that! I definitely save a lot with eating food we grow and reducing meat consumption. We are often gifted citrus and avocados which is wonderful. I have been making yoghurt and make bread occasionally - something I will do more off when I retire or reduce my work hours. Loved reading your post and drawing attention to environmental issues; it really is sad that so many people are just ignoring what is happening. Katie
ReplyDeleteThanks Katie. xx
DeleteHi Rhonda,
ReplyDeleteOur water bill for 5 adults is around $800. We're at Ipswich. We water the fruit trees with our washing machine water by bucket and use the hose for the vegetables. Our kids like to have long showers, my husband and I have quick ones. We don't have a dishwasher.
I've switched to using cash and avoiding Woolies and Coles unless they have something I really need such as half price Australian olive oil. Then I will buy 6 months worth.
Avoiding Woolies/Coles is saving me a lot of money. I walk to a small IGA nearby to buy milk, carry cash and only a small cloth bag. If I can't carry it home, I can't buy it. This saves me buying rubbish.
Once a fortnight we go to a market to buy fruit and vegetables direct from small growers. We buy meat direct from a butcher once every few months. We buy environmentally friendly dishwashing liquid and laundry powder in bulk once or twice a year.
Shopping this way saves us a lot of money. The less often we go to the store the less we spend.
Michelle.
Rhonda we have had 14 solar panels since 2012 and have never had a bill until now so price rises are definitely making an impact. I will look into your suggestions about using the power as the sun hits the panels. Thank you!
ReplyDeleteI appreciated your comments about climate change and how we need to consider it always in how we live our lives.
ReplyDeletePeople will complain about the cost of fuel and then drive 20 kilometers for an ice cream cone after dinner.
With a pantry and a garden, it is possible to shop just once a month for perishables. I do. We stayed home for a 4 month stretch once just to see how it would go. Powdered milk and frozen eggs were fine. It was winter so we did not miss lettuce and tomatoes as we do not buy out of season veg as a rule. The great American aquifers are being drained to provide winter greens to North Americans.
When home is a self-sustaining sanctuary, there is no need to seek stimulation elsewhere.
A great asset is a caring neighbour. The exchange of favours and sharing of friendship is gratifying.
It is reassuring to read the comments here and know that there are others who are making a difference in this world.
I detest wastefulness and have learned to use every morsel of food in my kitchen - it saves money and resources. Our neighbor passes on his Sunday newspaper and my husband enjoys reading it, then I fold it into wastebasket liners to use it again. We take care of the things we own so that they last as long as possible TVs, microwave, washer, dryer, all have lasted years now. Thank you for your post, Rhonda.
ReplyDeleteI enjoy using library apps, too, as well as checking out hard copy books. Such a great savings.
ReplyDeleteFor 65 days ours is $283. I got the bill this morning! That’s inclusive of everything, and in Melbourne, south east suburbs. We generally have 2 adults and 1 child living with us, and our daily use is about 320L, which is less than our “target 155 litres per person” they pushed a while back when there was drought. Xx
ReplyDeleteHi Rhonda,
ReplyDeleteOn saving electricity I have a torch and I can't remember the last time I bought a battery for it and have been using it for yonks. I have tried using candles, night light etc but found it so much easier and cheaper having a small torch next to me in the living room. So when I go to the loo I don't have to put the hall light on and then the bathroom light etc. It's just so easy and costs practically nothing. After dark I leave only one light on in the combined kitchen/Lounge and use my torch in my travels to the rest of my 3 bedroom home. Anything I have to work on I bring out to the loungeroom, so I am not turning lights on and off all night long. I live alone so it works for me, might not work for everyone.
We are very lucky that we have a 'free fridge' once a week in our village hall. Surplus food from local shops is available for free (none of it being out of date). The aim is to reduce the amount of good food going to landfill. I have told other people about it and the reaction is "But we are not poor. We don't need charity." Not one of the people I have discussed it with actually goes, even when the principle behind it is explained. I am almost up to 100 visits and, by my calculations, have saved over £2,500 on my shopping bill as well as saving all that perfectly edible food from ending up rotting in the ground. We have also tried lots of new foods that we would probably never have taken a chance on buying. Win, win!
ReplyDeleteTracy, I love the free fridge idea. That's the first one I've heard of. I'd jump at the chance if we had one here. xx
DeleteSo good to see you.
ReplyDeleteWe have had excessive heat in Texas for 2 months and often get a conservation low energy alert from our Texas grid company. The only energy I use daily is my AC. I never turn on lights, wash once a week and rarely use my dishwasher. I only use my toaster oven and microwave. I wonder if we will ever get below 80F again. Our landscape is scorched. I put water out for wildlife.
Diane in Austin TX
God bless you for putting out water for the wildlife!
DeleteGreat comments everyone!
ReplyDeleteNew cloth napkins are in the making here, too. A stack of cut ones are sitting by the sewing machine awaiting hemming. I happened upon a $1 a yard clearance of cotton fabrics and we were able to restock napkins for very little. I recently cleared worn out ones that I know that some lasted 20 years!
I save money by having a large stock of essential oils and natural remedies on hand and knowing how to use them. This keeps us off expensive prescription drugs and avoids trips to the doctor for things we can take care of ourselves.
We have several salvage grocery stores in our area and we take advantage of their great prices on anything we can use. Most are short dated but often we can just freeze items to extend their use. We can also vacuum seal items such as a good deal on coffee beans. We sealed 36 pounds of coffee beans bought at $2.50 a pound and have been happily using our supply while coffee has gone sky high in price. It is just as good as the day we purchased it about 18 months ago.
Great work, Lana. I got into vacuum sealing over the last year and I wish I'd discovered it earlier. My food wastage is minimal now.
DeleteI think that two things that save money and other resources are keeping up with basic home maintenance. I see a lot of neighbor's homes with gutters never cleaned, and outbuildings are falling down. Minor plumbing leaks eventually became a major emergency, etc. This kind of thing can really have a negative impact on the condition of the home, eventually depreciating its value and even becoming a hazard. Actually this is also true of cars! WIth basic regular maintenance, a car can last for years and avoid costly repairs.
ReplyDeleteMy second critical thing is maintaining personal health, physical, emotional , and spiritual (if that applys to you). Physically, a healthy diet and regular steady exercise including stretching and some light weight training can prevent so many issues and keep one able to be active for a long time but protecting one's mental and emotional health is also very important and can be helped with exercise, time in nature, time with supportive people, and counseling where needed. It takes energy and stamina to maintain household routines and to just keep going when things might be hard and I rarely see that addressed in reference to saving money.
Thank you Rhonda. Loving your blog posts. Jeanette x
ReplyDeleteHi Rhonda, I was thinking of you when I've been sitting knitting up some new cotton cleaning cloths.I still find them the best. Spending time with my sister who has been poorly and as we do chatting about family and old times.Have a lovely week.
ReplyDeleteI’m so pleased to have you back I love reading your blogs especially your home made cleaners thank you
ReplyDeleteHi Rhonda
ReplyDeleteSo glad to have you back on this platform.
We purchase from our farmers market, which frequently saves money, but also supports local business. In the winter the effect on climate change is negligible as food is shipped into our upstate NY area, but in the spring/summer there is an impact. We also use reusable mesh bags for produce we do buy, to reduce our use of plastic bags. We’ve stopped eating red meat except for the rare treat (traditional German beef recipes) due to the climate change impact and the cost.
We had a leak in our water supply system that took months to locate. Our bills were double. I hope you find a solution to your dilemma.
ReplyDeleteI don't have a water leak, Elle.
DeleteI use a thermos flask to make yoghurt, (6 hours at 103C), cook rice (30 mins) and pasta (45 mins) in boiling water poured in from the kettle. Any hot water generally left over in the kettle goes into a thermos flask for re-use later in cups of tea or whatever. You can also cook reconstituted packet soup in a thermos flask, and I'm sure there would be many more things you could cook in it!
ReplyDeleteUntil earlier this year we just had 12 solar panels, but had decided to update our system seeing as most of our power use is at night . The new system has 24+ panels, a storage battery and has made a huge difference in our power bill, our 5 adult household now only uses the equivalent grid power for a one person home. Usually the battery lasts until well after midnight (unless it's very overcast), lights are often on all night due to having night shift workers who are awake all night on their days off.
ReplyDelete