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I have $50 to spend to become even more frugal..

post #1 of 23
2/14/05 at 2:15pm
Thread Starter 
:LOL I know this seems like a stupid question but I have some money and was wondering what I could buy to cut down costs even more in the long run. Make sense? I was thinking along the lines of a pressure cooker so I can get cheap dry beans and not have to soak them overnight. Would that be a good frugal purchase? Can you think of anything else that you would buy to get further along in your thrift?
I could just throw it in savings but I thought I'd see if I needed to spend to save.

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post #2 of 23
2/14/05 at 2:23pm
Congrats on the $50! Are your debts all paid off? Car payments? Is your emergency fund fully funded? Your retirement funds? Kids college funds?

Maybe it should go straight to the bank!
post #3 of 23
2/14/05 at 3:41pm
Thread Starter 
Quote:
Originally Posted by bamboogrrrl
Congrats on the $50! Are your debts all paid off? Car payments? Is your emergency fund fully funded? Your retirement funds? Kids college funds?

Maybe it should go straight to the bank!
Car payment is 0% financing so I'm not worried about paying it down any faster than the term of the loan. It wouldn't really benefit me. Um no cc debt. I put money into savings all of the time I was just thinking of things I could do to be more frugal and I thought that buying dry beans would help out. I often find myself putting off starting dinner and then I end up doing something quick and not always healthy. Storing canned beans is taking up most of my storage and I could use the space to store bulk items instead of cans. So I want a pressure cooker. I was just wondering what other things could I buy now that would be a thrifty saving purchase in the long run but my thinking could seriously be flawed.
post #4 of 23
2/14/05 at 4:15pm
Along the same lines... how about a crock pot? Then you could put dinner on in the morning and it would never be a last minute issue.
post #5 of 23
2/14/05 at 4:16pm
keep your eyes open for secondhand pressure cookers. I bought a cooker/canner for $3 at a thrift shop, and replaced the rubber ring and pressure guage, and still came out having spent under $15. I don't often use it as a cooker though, due to the, um, gas issue. Soaking the beans helps break down the protiens.
I assume you already have a crock pot?
I would use that $$ to jazz up my stroller with better tires (it's a jogger, so I can do that) but that's me. I just want winter tires for my jogger.
Let me think about this. That's a tough call.
post #6 of 23
2/14/05 at 4:16pm
Oh, or a bread maker. (No idea how much they cost.) Then you could save money by making your own bread.
post #7 of 23
2/14/05 at 4:20pm
Thread Starter 
Quote:
Originally Posted by KoalaMama
Oh, or a bread maker. (No idea how much they cost.) Then you could save money by making your own bread.
I make my bread in my KitchenAid stand mixer. I think that bread machine loaves look funny. Yup I have a crock..
Whats this about beans and gas? Could you tell me how to soak beans then please?
post #8 of 23
2/14/05 at 4:35pm
basically soaking beans (and changing the water before cooking) will help to get rid of the protiens that cause you to get gas after you eat them. Sometimes I am a rebel and throw unsoaked beans into a crock pot meal. As long as there is enough liquid (and beano ) they cook just fine.
I had one thought: how about some basic tools so that you can fix things around the house? I have my own toolbox with a hammer, a few screwdrivers, a ratchet set, a couple saws, etc etc. My next purchase will be a plane and a set of chisels to fix all the darn doors.
post #9 of 23
2/14/05 at 5:40pm
How about timers for your thermostat or for your water heater?
post #10 of 23
2/14/05 at 11:49pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by bamboogrrrl
Congrats on the $50! Are your debts all paid off? Car payments? Is your emergency fund fully funded? Your retirement funds? Kids college funds?

Maybe it should go straight to the bank!

very well put- I agree.
post #11 of 23
2/15/05 at 12:07am
Quote:
Originally Posted by Geofizz
How about timers for your thermostat or for your water heater?

if i had $50 i would replace the seals on my doors or insulate the garage door.
post #12 of 23
2/15/05 at 12:19am
Thread Starter 
I live in an apartment so I don't want to make changes like adding a timer for my thermostat. My gas and electric are each <$40/month. We are fine from a financial standpoint. I don't like to talk about lil details like our retirement and dd's college but its taken care of. I think I'm going to get some flourescent bulbs and put the rest away for a rainy day.
post #13 of 23
2/15/05 at 12:35am
um, maybe some containers and tools to make a little container garden on your patio for herbs and expensive vegetables?
Fluorescent bulbs are a good plan.
post #14 of 23
2/15/05 at 12:42am
If you get a pressure cooker- you can also use it some of them as pressure canners. One of my friends does this and she cans beans, salsa, fruit- anything that isn't nailed down. I haven't done this (don't have a pressure cooker) but she claims its easy and saves a lot of money on canned goods.

Of course, fluorescent bulbs would be easier...
post #15 of 23
2/15/05 at 1:06am
Quote:
Originally Posted by sweetfeet
I think I'm going to get some flourescent bulbs and put the rest away for a rainy day.
are there ones that don't make the kids look ill? the ones i got make my family look jaundiced.
post #16 of 23
2/15/05 at 1:48am
Thread Starter 
Oh I'm going to do a patio garden! What a fabulous idea. I have no idea about the bulbs but I checked and every fixture in our apartment uses big circular decorator bulbs except for our lamp.:LOL
post #17 of 23
2/15/05 at 2:35am
Some thinks I've gotten or have been thinking about:
--seeds for growing my own organic produce
--mama cloth
--cloth cleaning rags and TP wipes (Although I just cut up old towels, socks, T-shirts.)
--cloth napkins
--cloth diapers/accessories
--pressure cooker and mason jars (I'm borrowing the cooker, but they're often for sale cheaply 2nd-hand. The mason jars are also great for pantry storage and can be sealed w/ a vacuum sealer.)
--vacuum sealer (I hate the freezer burn we get w/ regular freezer bags.)
--some books for making my own frugal organic foods, cleaners, toiletries (I checked lots out from the library and bought the few that I wanted to keep. My library can order books 40% off.)
--A chest freezer (Ours was a hand-me-down.)
--What about a sewing machine? You could save a ton of money sewing stuff you'd normally buy. Again, look second-hand.
post #18 of 23
2/15/05 at 2:47am
:
post #19 of 23
2/15/05 at 1:36pm
I'd buy a freezer if it is allowable with your lease. I wish I could have a freezer.
post #20 of 23
2/15/05 at 3:35pm
I'm not sure if this would work for you, but I just bought a solar dryer (ahem - clothes line) for $45. They had to special order it for me...and dollar tree had wooden clothes pins.

I figure just the diapers alone will save me $45 in electric bills for a year.
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Mothering › Mothering Discussion Forums › Natural Family Living › The Mindful Home › Frugality & Finances › I have $50 to spend to become even more frugal..