A while back I figured a few ways to cut some of my expenses, but it required some up front expenses. It was hot over the summer and I decided to cover all the windows. The cheapest route I could go was to buy some extension rods and make my own curtains, out of the darkest green sheets I had, so thats what I did. Within about an hour, I noticed a reduction in temperature and the bills slowly decreased.....the house was not fighting against itself to keep cool. Also, I liked using the clothes line, but its double work, almost, so I just hang my clothes straight onto the hangers, right from the washer, but the small clothes, I put on a special line drying method that holds 26 clips and has a clamp to hold onto a line or bar and that I can easily put on the line outside and it takes less room, but it cost just under $8 on Amazon, so an upfront cost, but I think it was worth it and has since paid me back. Also, by hardly ever using my clothes dryer, not only do I not have to consume as much gas, but my AC's don't have to compensate to cool the house back up.
Over the summer I had started making an outdoor oven, so I can save on cooling costs for when I want to bake, but needed a few extra supplies, so yesterday I bought a 30 inch piece of stove pipe to pass through the oven and a rain cap to put on top, so now I want to finish the oven (not to mention putting all the loose bricks I have at various locations to good use) while its not so sultry outside. This didn't cost a fortune, but you have to know where you live and make adjustments so you can bloom where you planted. I know it gets hot, but we like baking.......hey, do it outside!!! My solar oven probably costed me $30 or so, and I haven't really gotten my $'s worth out of it yet, but plan to. Its just a matter of being organized enough to actually have the food ready so you can put in the cooker as soon as the sun is up, but it did require an investment.
I do have 6 chicken tractors and plan on making more with scraps.....now that saves me twice. Saves me on lawn care and on feed. But they are filled with roosters, who need to go into freezer camp and be replaced with hens. Might as well have virtually free eggs if at all possible. I think hens can clean up as good as roosters.
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I've never been a smoker, but I was a chocoholic. I could eat a 6 pack of chocolate bars in a day and want more. I gave up most chocolate and lost about 30 lbs., plus saved a ton of money.
