There are certain things I simply can't afford to do at the moment, whether in terms of actual money or space for them. Eventually, life will change, and I will be able to incorporate at least some into my life. Until then, here's a list of stuff I want to do that is ultimately frugal but just not feasible at this precise moment....
I live in an apartment at the moment, and there's no backyard. No place to put a nice compost bin and let the microbes do their thing. Also, the other people on this property would probably not appreciate it. But when the Mr. and I have a morsel of green grass all to ourselves, there will be composting!
Specifically, there will be
vermicomposting. We'll get worms and we'll love it! Vermicomposting is easy to DIY, a simply process, and will make such good stuff for a garden. This is great because the next item on my list is....
Think beyond the patio tomatoes! There's nothing wrong with a few tiny plants, but I would like the space to have a yield of more than three sweet peppers, please. I could fancy a patch for herbs, one for a couple of basic fruits, and one for veggies.
Not only is this a fun thing, it's good exercise, an excuse to unplug and play in the dirt, but it can also offset grocery expenses. Produce is the achilles' heel of a frugal budget. If we can supplement with fresh, homegrown goodies, we'll save a bit more.
Oh yes, this will be a thing. If you have a garden, and you're in any way good at it, it stands to reason you'll have to put something away, anyway! I hate throwing food away, but it can happen in the most careful of kitchens. So when we have the space, I'll take it on myself to learn a little basic preservation. The supplies may be had cheaply, and with some practice (and prudence) we can get tastier, healthier preserved foods in the pantry.
My in-laws are old farm folks, and my MIL still has chicken coops on her property. Should we be fortunate enough to be able to fix up these old coops, I'd love to go in on some birds with her. This city mouse is game for many things! Chickens are fairly simple, and they eat insect pests. We could get a supply of delicious eggs and have the fun of seeing really pretty breeds around.
I'm not sure about the initial outlay of cash for the chicks, but they do pay for themselves. Also, I'll have "tech support" from MIL in tending to the birds, so I wouldn't be a total noob.
Possibly the simplest and easiest to attain. We already cook a lot, but I'd like to keep that going. I do succumb to the convenience of diners and 'marts for a quick meal. Once in a while, that's perfectly ok, but I want to keep those occasions rare. In addition to saving money, it's just healthy!
Like cooking, this is simply a part of life. Yes, it's giving away stuff for free instead of monetizing it, but letting go of your excess does someone else a favor, and
gives you the twin luxuries of more space and less bull! I'm an avid purger and donator, and I think it's a healthy part of life. Even when you don't have much, you can find something to spare, and that enriches you in ways no sale can possibly do.
Possibly the most expensive on here...possibly. I'm not talking gutting and redoing an entire house here. What I mean is learning basic restoration skills for old furniture. We have some cheapy particle board pieces, but most of our furniture is "the good stuff", at least 50 years old. And noone makes it to that age without a few bumps and nicks!
I'd love to learn basic repair and touch-ups to keep our antiques functioning well into the future. Old stuff was built to last, and by gumb, I'm gonna help it along!
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