Homesteading isn’t just a natural and peaceful way of life; it is also a frugal way of life. You don’t have to have large amounts of land, money, or expensive equipment to benefit from small homesteading lifestyle changes. Here are 7 things I do that save my family money on our micro homestead.

1. I ferment my chicken feed. The cost of livestock food is significant. I reduce the cost of feeding my flock by fermenting their feed which doubles the volume as well as improves the nutritional availability of the food for my flood. I also make my own chicken treats at home using simple ingredients I have on hand. Fermenting my chicken feed and making my own chicken treats significantly reduces our livestock food cost.
2. I learned to cook at home. Prior to the pandemic I had never invested time in learning to cook and prepare my own food. My cooking skills were very basic and rudimentary. I relied heavily on pre-packaged and processed foods. Now as a homesteader I have learned to cook vegetables and herbs from my garden as well as methods for preserving my own harvests. Even in an urban homestead setting where you are using container gardening you can skill grow great crops like herbs, micro greens, spinach, lettuce, kale, cherry tomatoes, and others. Our homestead is still not 100% self-reliant, I consider that our lifetime goal. With each food item you learn to cultivate and cook at home that is one thing you are not dependent on someone else for. It also saves money.
3. I shop discount racks, thrift, and consignment stores. I buy very few if any full price retail items anymore. Between social media market places, thrift stores, and clearance items you can often find what you are looking for at a reduced price or even for free. I have also learned to do minor repairs on clothing like repairing a tear or sewing a button back on. These are by no means phenomenal seamstress skills but being able to salvage clothing items and find what I’m looking for at a reduced price saves my family money.
4. As a family we enjoy simple free forms of entertainment. Reading. Playing with our pets. Enjoying the back porch with a cup of tea. Listening to music. Playing cards. Putting together a puzzle. Renting movies, books, and games from the library. Walking in the woods. Camping in the backyard. Having a small fire in our backyard fire pit. While my husband and I still do celebrate some occasions in town, for the most part, our family celebrations and special events are held at home on our homestead. Finding free and meaningful ways to commemorate our special occasions and spend quality time with each other here on the homestead saves my family money.
5. I consolidate my trips to town and shop locally whenever possible. The cost of fuel is a factor in how and when I shop. Shopping locally whenever possible which not only helps small businesses in my community but it also reduces my fuel cost. I also keep track of our grocery needs and farm supply needs very carefully so when I do have to go shopping, I can acquire as much as possible without having to make multiple trips. If you’re using public transportation to get to and from stores on your shopping trip you can utilize reusable bags, shop with a friend or partner who can help you carry items, or use a collapsible shopping carry basket to maximize the efficiency of your trips. Research the baggage policies for public transportation in your area to shop in the most informed way possible.
6. I eliminated as many single use items as I can. I replaced disposable waters with a water filter and reusable bottles. I am slowly replacing my plastic bags with reusable plastic and glass lid containers. This change is not an instant one but, in every case, where I notice I am buying a disposable item I try to find a more earth friendly, replaceable, washable, or reusable alternative.
7. I wear seasonally appropriate clothing and have adjusted our thermostat to be closer to seasonal temperatures. Whenever possible I open our windows at our homestead to let in fresh air and live at the normal seasonal temperature. When that’s not practical I try to keep our thermostat closer to regular seasonal temperatures and wear clothing that’s appropriate for the season. I wear light, airy, cotton clothes in the summer and I wear wool, layers, and warmer clothes in the winter in order to save on our heating and cooling costs. I also utilize our fireplace to supplement our heating costs in the winter.

I hope these tips will be a helpful starting point for your research about incorporating simple and frugal homestead living into your current routine. Check out Chuck’s other social media for more backyard chicken and homesteading content.

https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC6CjdDVs4qN1xxxJXAH6sOg?sub_confirmation=1

https://www.instagram.com/chuckandthechicks/