Frugal Homesteading, Homestead Income, Plant Propagation, Saving Seed, Survival Homesteading , , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,

30 Ways to Save Money on the Homestead!

Posted on by Three Wondrous Acres Homestead

Homesteading can be pretty expensive; I’m not going to lie.

In order to get many of the things we need or want (without spending a fortune, because it’s easy to do here and there!), I had to find a few loopholes.

Some of these methods are obvious, others take a bit of experience….

All of them can help someone who’s just jumping in!

I won’t hold you back from the list any longer; but if you have anything you’d like to add, feel free to do so in the comments below!

30 Ways to Save Money on the Homestead

  • Always Barter. If you can barter with someone, do it! It’s always better to swap when you have the materials, resources, or skills that someone else has. Swap chicks for seedlings, labor for skills, or leftover building materials for someone’s excess fencing. The sky is the limit for bartering!

 

  • Buy “Eating” Eggs for Hatching. Want to hatch your own chicks rather than pay for chicks? Great! You’re already going to save money! However, you’ll notice that “hatching” eggs cost more than the eggs that people sell for eating. Instead, purchase eggs from farms that have roosters over their hens, and only purchase unwashed eggs.



 

  • Kick Paper Towels. Can you part with your paper towels? If so, you’ll find that kitchen towels can easily meet all of your needs in the kitchen. I still use some paper towels sparingly; I largely use them for absorbing oil, cleaning if I use a chemical (otherwise I use cleaning cloths), or for other situations that I don’t like using my kitchen towels for. Paper towels can really add up over time, especially if you’re going through a few rolls per week.

 

  • Make Your Own Deodorant. Deodorants and antiperspirants can get expensive; and antiperspirants really aren’t good for the body, either. Making my own deodorant was one of the best things I ever did, as my chosen brand of deodorant (deodorant, not antiperspirant, that ACTUALLY works) is over $10. Not to mention, I can burn through a tube very quickly in the summer heat.  The recipe I use (if you’re interested in trying it) cost me just as much to buy the ingredients, which could produce SEVERAL batches of deodorant. Not bad for a deodorant that performs nearly as well as antiperspirant, at a fraction of the cost with all-natural products.

 

 

  • Craft Your Own Pest Deterrents. You can turn hundreds of homegrown items into pest deterrents, including mints, peppers, and flowers. You can also make homemade insecticides, too. They are much cheaper to make than store bought pesticides and deterrents, and they tend to be safer. There are ways around the expenses of gardening; you just have to know WHERE to cut your expenses in order to maximize yields. See the post below for more ideas!

  • Rent Equipment When Possible. Homesteading equipment is expensive, VERY expensive. Our tiller alone cost us nearly $1,000; when you think about all of the equipment a homesteader might need, it’s important to rent the items you’ll need the least often. For example, you may only need to use a log splitter, a tiller, or a wood chipper a few times per year; but you will need other equipment, such as a lawn mower, much more frequently. By renting, you save money on purchase costs and repair fees.

 

  • Ask a Neighbor, Help a Neighbor. IF you have trustworthy, reliable neighbors, always offer a hand when they need it. When you need help, drop in and you’ll likely find that your neighbors are eager to help you, as well! Sometimes, you just need a few more hands in order to get the job done; especially when it comes down to the weather.

 

  • Growing Fodder. Fodder is an excellent way to help lower feed costs on the homestead. Supplement your animals’ feed and hay with fodder, grown from grains. Fodder is nutrient dense, it’s incredibly cheap (one $9 bag of wheat could grow 200 lb of fodder!), and the animals love to eat the tender young greens. This is a great way to slash feed costs on urban homesteads that can’t pasture or free range.

 

  • Propagating Existing Plants. If you want to have more of a particular plant on your property, don’t just purchase another one. Instead, you could propagate existing plants. Many berry bushes are very easy to propagate, as are several types of herbs (see here for Rosemary, or you could check out my post on Thyme) and bulbs. Want another indeterminate tomato plant? Just rip off a sucker branch and place it in water to root. Want more dahlias? Just divide the bulbs. Is your blueberry bush not producing enough for the family? Grab your rooting hormone! A lot of the plants you can propagate yourself could also bring you a pretty penny if you sell your extra plants at just the right time, which can offset your costs for seeds, tools, amendments, and pots.

  • Shopping Seasonal Clearances. Look, seasonal clearances are the bee’s knees. I buy plants, seeds, pots, fertilizers, tools, hose attachments, gardening gloves, garden clothes, grow lights, organic soil and compost, and so much more during the late summer, fall, and winter. As a matter of fact, the idea of buying items like gloves, tools, and play clothing at retail price makes me cringe! Be patient; I promise you, you will find *almost* everything you want on clearance at some point during the year. I just scored some raspberry canes, blueberry bushes, and grape vines for $1.50 each, while snagging up some $0.15 packets of seed…. It’s not even summer yet!

 

  • Curb Alerts! People frequently leave stuff they no longer want by their trash cans or by dumpsters. People call these “curb alerts” when they notify the public of the available items. Essentially, the owners want to toss the items in the trash; however, they are left beside the trash rather than tossed in, so that someone in need can take the items. It’s also for people to up-cycle or somehow reuse the item, in order to help reduce the waste that winds up in landfills. These curb alerts can involve anything from clothing and toys to furniture and building materials! They might be broken or ugly, but they can still be repaired, painted, and given new life. It’s a great way to save money!

 

  • Reclaim Materials. This goes somewhat hand in hand with curb alerts. If you have to opportunity to reclaim something, whether it be free or cheap, it’s a great option. I have built coops out of reclaimed lumber and pallet wood, I have walled small buildings with reclaimed coroplast (think political signs, for example), and I have re-purposed old storage totes (one found on the side of a highway) into chick brooders. Always try to reclaim items when possible- you could offer to tear down old barns or storage buildings in exchange for the lumber and roof!

 

  • Always Buy Used. If you have children, you probably live by this. Buying used items can save your family an enormous amount of money! With children growing so quickly (especially in their first 24 months of life), clothing and toys get expensive fast. Rather than spending $15 on a new three piece outfit, why not hit local thrift shops and yard sales? You can find clothing for between $0.10 and $1, while paying pennies on the dollar for toys. Always purchase out of season clothing the following season (for example, buy coats in March or April) in order to get the best deals. You can also find cheap milking stands, halters, feed dishes or water troughs, livestock tools or equipment, fence chargers, traps, tack, and so much more if you look around closely.

  • Use Manufacturer Guarantees and Warranties. Always, always, always contact the manufacturer when you have an issue. When you spend your hard earned money, you should expect a quality item in return. Most manufacturers stand behind their products. If you have a hand tool that breaks, contact them with photos, if possible. Recently, I had a hoe break on me due to a split in the wooden handle, where the metal sleeve  secured the head. When I contacted the manufacturer, they sent me a brand new hoe in the mail, no questions asked. Do you know how happy I was to find out that the manufacturer wasn’t going to take my money and run? If you have ANY issue at all with your tools, equipment, or machinery, contact the manufacturer as soon as possible and take advantage of the warranty that you are entitled to. Don’t assume that if it’s broke, that you have to fix it (especially when it comes down to an issue with quality or craftsmanship.) Many of these companies want your business, and they want to keep you happy. Give them the opportunity to right the situation before you write them off. This is how you find out which companies are worth supporting.

 

  • Only Feed What You Need. I love my pets, I really do! But goodness, they can really rack up expenses! When you only feed what you need, you’re ensuring that every animal on the homestead is performing a job. Your flock of chickens should be supplying eggs and meat (if you’re raising them for meat), your goats should be providing brush control and milk, your cattle should be providing milk and meat, and your cats should be providing pest control. I limit the number of “pet only” animals that we have, as many homesteads do. Having wethered goats, hens that no longer lay, miniature horses, and so on will cost quite a bit of money in feed, labor, fence upkeep, barn upkeep, and vet bills when applicable.  This isn’t an ideal situation for a homestead that’s on a budget.

free ranging chickens without commercial feed on homesteads

  • Buy In Bulk, and Resell. If you want to get the best deal on something, you’ll usually have to buy in bulk. If you cannot find someone to go in on a large purchase with, you could purchase the excess and resell it, passing on the savings to whoever purchases it from you. This might apply to food, fencing equipment, building materials, seeds and plants, livestock medication, or any other item that you can find in bulk.

 

  • Stockpile. If you come across a great sale, stock up when you can. There is always a “good” time of year to buy something that you should have a stockpile of. This goes hand in hand with seasonal clearances, but it applies to items that aren’t seasonal. If you see that canning supplies have dropped to the lowest prices of the year, go ahead and stock up on new jars, canning salt, lids, and seasoning mixes. When November rolls around, it’s prime time for stocking up on flour, sugar, shortening, seasonings, and other baking needs. Many of these items will store for a year or more, so be sure to purchase a 12 month supply when the prices plummet. It might seem like you’re paying a lot; but you’ll be thankful that you paid such low prices, and you’ll love the shorter shopping lists that you’ll wind up with. For more, you should stock up on condiments during Super Bowl and Fourth of July sales, and you should hit expensive OTC medications during the first quarter of every year (this is commonly when stores reorganize shelves, introduce new products, and discontinue products, resulting in cheap prices). Stockpiling sale items is one of the best ways to budget your home.

compost is a food source for winter free range chickens

  • Compost All of the Things. Whatever it is, compost it (if you’re comfortable with that). The more compost you produce, the fewer amendments you’ll have to purchase and the more plants you can nourish. We don’t go by the rules here; we compost everything! As long as your compost pile gets hot, and it’s allowed to rest for an extended period of time, why not? Sure, they say not to compost dairy, or meat, or offal, or pet waste. However, the heat will kill most of the pathogens that we need to worry about, so we don’t worry with separating that stuff out. My reasoning is this: animals are always excreting waste in our garden areas, whether it’s a bird, vole, rat, snake, cat, dog, or other animal. In addition, animals both birth and die in these areas, too. Simply tilling the soil could kill small animals that may be just below the surface. Therefore, I see no reason to follow these rules on our homestead. The more your compost ingredients vary, the more nutrients it will contain. You should only compost what you personally feel is safe; for me, I enjoy composting everything, then allowing these large piles to rest for a few years.

 

  • Plan Around the Weather. If you want to save on pesticides, water, gas, and seed, you should plan around the weather. Only till your soil on hot sunny days, if you can. This kills the weeds and grass more effectively, and a second till on another hot sunny day will kill off anything that germinates thereafter. This significantly reduces the number of times virgin spaces need to be tilled, reducing your gasoline expenses. Wait to apply diatomaceous earth and your pesticides (such as homemade organic ones) until directly after a rain shower. You should also plant your seeds before a week of rainy weather, too; this keeps you from having to water the seedlings, saving you on water costs. Always plan your watering around the weather, planning to water established plants only when they won’t receive rain for a week or when they begin to wilt.

 

  • Cook from Scratch. Buying fast food, pre-made food, or boxed food can be much more expensive than cooking from scratch. Cooking from scratch doesn’t only taste better, it significantly reduces grocery costs, as well. Have you ever compared the costs of homemade tacos and fast food tacos? Do you see the price difference between fresh potatoes and instant potato flakes? What about the difference between frozen cooked chicken and raw chicken? Some things are incredibly easy to make, but they cost much more when you buy them processed or precooked.

 

  • Have a “No Spend” Month. No spend months are always a fun challenge! The idea is to go a whole month without spending a dime on certain categories (or on anything, if you’re into expert-level challenges). For a no spend month, families commonly opt to avoid buying groceries (this is handy for cleaning out the pantry and freezer in the late winter), fast food, paper products, luxury items, clothing, decor, and much more. This is a great way to break a cycle of impulse buying, as we all get a little out of control during the spring months (you seed hoarders, berry bush snatchers, and bulb collectors in my tribe, I’m speaking to you!)
  • Cut Your Own Fence Posts. Alright, perhaps a fence post is only $8. But what if you need dozens, or more? Fence posts add up fast, and that doesn’t even include the hardware or fencing to complete the project (or concrete, for those who use it.) If you have a wooded property, you should hunt down the trees that would make excellent fence posts. Yes, all of those sun-hogging cedar trees can serve a purpose! This one does require quite a bit of planning ahead, as you should opt to allow the post to rest and age for 6 to 12 months; it’s not 100% necessary, though.

 

  • Obtain Free Wood Chips, Don’t Buy Bagged Mulch. A lot of landscaping companies and county tree trimming crews are happy to dump their wood chips for free. Most have to pay a fee to dump these chips, which makes it a win-win situation when a local resident wants to offer a dumping location for free. One truckload of wood chips will have you set for quite some time, even with a large garden.

  • Teach Children to Help on the Homestead. When your children are able to help on the homestead, you’re able to dedicate more time towards other things that require your attention. After all, time is money; time saved can be spent on other projects that you may have otherwise hired help for. In addition, children that are capable of watering the gardens, picking produce, and weeding the beds can significantly boost food production. This, in turn, helps to lower your grocery bill for both the family and some of the livestock.

 

  • Allow Animals to Free Range. The more food that your animals can forage for, the better. A natural diet is not only healthier for the animals, it’s easier on your wallet. If you can free range, do so at every opportunity. Feed costs add up quickly, but the spring and summer months can provide an abundance of food for grazing livestock and poultry.

 

  • Learn to Fish, Hunt, and Forage. Sure, this one might be a given, especially hunting. Hunting and fishing can fill your freezer easily. However, foraging is one thing that many pass up. You can find so many different wild greens, berries, seeds, nuts, and herbs for use in your home. Just be 100% sure with your plant identifications before you eat what you’re foraging for. This is a great way to harvest wild garlic or onions, salad greens, berries for jams and breakfast dishes, or even syrup for your pancakes.

  • Build It. Just Try! Your building doesn’t have to be perfect, or beautiful. It just needs to be functional and reliable. Keep your animals dry and out of the wind and sun, and they’ll be happy! Every homesteader should try their hands at building, as it’s an important skill to develop on the homestead. You will save so much money by doing it yourself; and a ton more can be saved when using salvaged materials. How would you feel about yourself if you built an entire chicken coop for little more than $20, for the paint, screws, and nails? I still feel proud about my first building project! I believe in you, as I built that coop with not a single plan, solid idea, or new piece of wood. I literally pieced it together with what I had, used my imagination, and hoped for the best. Yes, that coop is STILL standing!

 

  • Purchase Based On Reviews, Not Brand Name. I’m sure a few jaws will drop but, here it goes: a brand name does not mean anything, it truly doesn’t. At one point, yes, I could have argued with myself. However, I have learned over the last few years that a brand name means little more than perhaps improved customer service at best. Now, there are a few exceptions out there. However, a majority of the time, buying a branded item is just a silly way of spending twice as much as you need to. Many of the “cheaper” brands seem to offer competitive quality, or they flat out exceed your expectations and go beyond the brand name items. Before you make a purchase, compare the reviews of a few items from a few different manufacturers. Pick the best two or three models or variations from each manufacturer (if applicable), and compare them with two or three other brands. Pay close attention to the most common complaints, especially those from reviewers who have been using the item for quite some time. Next, pay close attention to how customers describe the way the manufacturer handled their complaint; you want to eliminate any products with a high ratio of complaints, high price points, and poor customer service. You want to find a way to balance your budget while buying the right item.

  • Use a Homestead “Change Fund.” Every time you make a purchase for your homestead, from chicks to feed and fencing with everything in between, place the change into a “homestead change fund.” This change is not to be touched until you can afford to complete a project on the homestead with it. Keep a list of future projects and their costs by the change fund, so that you can plan for the next project when funds become available. This is a great way to save up for a new enclosure, coop, fruit orchard, a new dairy goat, a new piece of equipment, and so much more. You could round up to the nearest $1, $5, or $10 when doing this, whatever amount is most reasonable for your family’s budget.

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