Knowledge Weighs Nothing

Prepper’s Guide To Generators — Read This First, Before Buying A Generator

Household generator buying guide

For most people, buying a generator to power their household is probably the last thing on their mind. But what happens when there’s a major storm, earthquake or a SHTF disaster/scenario that knocks out the power? Even in the best of conditions, the average household will lose power on 3 occasions per year and these outages might last hours or even days depending on the cause.

Considering this, generators are an essential piece of equipment to consider purchasing. They allow you to cook your food, keep your fridge running and charge/power your electronic devices – something that’s becoming more important given how connected we all are, and especially in the current climate when many of us have converted to homeworking.

If you are considering buying a home generator, read on, as there’s a load of relevant information and advice to help you make your choice.

Household Priorities

There are lots of different types of generator and the one you’ll need will be determined by how many appliances you need to power in the event of an emergency.

You’ll need to aim to cover the basics so your home can function relatively normally during a power outage.

  • Refrigerator: 600 watts
  • Air conditioning: 1000 watts
  • Lighting: 600 watts – depending on the time of year
  • Computers/phone chargers: 300 watts
  • Washing machines – 1000 watts
  • Security system – 400 watts
  • Hairdryer – 1200-1400 watts
  • Oven – up to 5000 watts
  • Toaster – 1100 watts
  • Water heater – 3500 watts

Based on these essential items, you’ll probably need to look at a minimum wattage of 5000 watts.

To help you decide your own specific needs, Amazon has a nice chart detailing the running wattage and surge (startup) wattage for a range of common household appliances – you can download here – household appliance wattage chart.

Selecting the Right Generator for Your Needs

There are 4 main types of generator fit for home use.

Home Standby Generators

— Pros

  • User-friendly – They’ll let you know if they need a service or encounter an error and you can even set this up via email or SMS.
  • It can be fuelled by propane, gasoline, or even natural gases, which make it easier to fill and provide unlimited energy.
  • Covers a wide range of wattage, so you’ll find one suitable for any household.

— Cons

  • The most expensive of the 4 types. Depending on the amount of power you need, they can cost between $2000 and $6000.
  • The most difficult to install. You’ll need a professional to work out the best positioning for your home. Factor in extra labor costs for this too.
  • Can’t be moved in the event of harsh weather or flooding so aren’t suitable for all homes.

Recommended for: Frequent power outages.

 

Champion Power Equipment Generator
Champion Power Equipment 100555 4375/3500-Watt Portable Generator — available to buy from Amazon

Portable Generators

— Pros

  • Relatively cheap. You can pick one up for anything from $600-$2500.
  • Obviously, they’re portable. They’re the easiest generator to move around if you plan on taking a trip.

— Cons

  • Not flexible with fuel type and generally require gasoline. This can be difficult to get hold of, especially as the very reason that you’re using a generator might mean you can’t leave your home. Gasoline is also dangerous to store for long periods of time.
  • Most likely to give off carbon monoxide, so it’s recommended to run them from an area at least 20 meters away from your home and never leave it in an enclosed space.
  • You’ll need to ensure it’s always covered as they don’t do well with rain.

Recommended for: Frequent power outages, Occasional power outages, Travel.

Generac GP3500iO Generator
Generac GP3500iO Open Frame RV Ready Inverter Generator — available to buy from Amazon

Inverter Generators

— Pros

  • The quietest generators and are incredibly sophisticated when it comes to fuel economy. They’ll scale down the fuel used when you’re not using as much power and consequently, they’re much quieter – the sound grows as you turn on more appliances.
  • Range from 1500 -6000 watts – one of the most powerful household generators out there.
  • Come in different sizes depending on your needs, so can be light and easy to transport if you don’t need masses of power.

— Cons

  • Similar in power to portable generators but are technically more complex. This means they cost a little more – up to $4000.

Recommended for: Frequent power outages – Large inverter, Occasional power outages – Midsized inverter (a slightly smaller and cheaper model).

Portable Power Stations (Also known as solar generators)

— Pros

  • The quietest generators as there’s no engine to make noise.
  • Don’t use fuels so they can be kept indoors. There’s no risk of carbon monoxide leakage.

— Cons

  • Have a battery that needs to be charged, so you’ll save money on fuel, but unfortunately, you’ll need to remember to keep it charged. Usually, the reason that you’ll need the generator is that your electricity is out – it’s no good needing to charge it at the time.
  • You can switch the generator to charge on solar power, but this relies on you living in a warmer climate, so consider the weather before you decide on this.
  • Costs around $4500-$6000 – purely because they’re the newest to the market.
  • They don’t have a large amount of power in comparison to the other generators, usually around 1200-1500 watts at their maximum.

Recommended for: Travel, Infrequent outages.

Are Household Generators Dangerous?

People often avoid purchasing a household generator because they’ve heard horror stories about the dangers of carbon monoxide poisoning.

The truth is generators can only cause carbon monoxide issues if you don’t purchase one that’s suitable for your home or if you don’t provide the proper care to keep it in perfect working order.

These days, generators usually have a sensor to let you know that there’s a carbon monoxide issue and may have a Lo-CO engine which is another great feature to protect against carbon monoxide overload.

There are also some standard guidelines that you should follow to ensure that your generator is used safely, whichever model you choose:

  • Keep the generator around 20 meters away from your home in case of a leak
  • Don’t store in an enclosed space
  • Keep away from air conditioning units, windows, and doors
  • Get it serviced yearly
  • Transfer Switches

A transfer switch is a necessary safety feature that you should invest in. It’ll connect your generator to your circuit breaker via a single cable, making the energy transfer much more linear. You’ll just control the power to your home using a single switch. It’s recommended that you have a professional electrician install this for you as it can be a difficult process.

The Red Cross has a useful article about safe generator use at home – check it out here. Here’s an additional generator safety article from energy.gov.

Features to Consider

It might be a bit overwhelming to browse through all the special features of each generator, especially if you’re new to this. Let’s look at the common features and why you might need them.

  • Auto Shut-off – automatically turns off the generator if it detects harmful levels of carbon monoxide
  • Auto Turn-on – If you’re into automation, some generators will automatically switch to back up power as soon as your mains power goes off, meaning you’re never left without electricity
  • Removable Console – Allows you to connect devices remotely without having to trip over extension cables
  • Separate outlets – Spreads the power evenly. This is great for camping or travel
  • Fuel Gauge – Tells you how much fuel is left in the generator so you know when to fill up
  • Electric Start vs Pull Start

Pull start generators generally have more power and always use gasoline or propane.

Electric start generators are great for convenience and much less work as they just have a button to push to turn on the power. However, these generally have a much lower wattage to pull-starts, so think about what you intend to use it for.

Summary

Hopefully, that’s given you some insider info on household generators and their uses. Make sure you always do your research before making a purchase to ensure you’re getting the right wattage for your needs and always get it serviced. Safety first!

Grow Over 300 lbs Potatoes WITHOUT Digging, Watering Or Any Real Effort…

No dig potatoes

No matter whether you grow some vegetables in your back garden as a hobby or you grow vegetables on a larger-scale on your homestead, you will almost definitely grow some potatoes…

Growing potatoes in your garden on a small-scale is simple enough and fun. However, if you harbour any aims of being more self-sufficient you need to grow potatoes on a much larger scale and this can quickly become a whole load of effort and hard work. First, you must dig and prepare the soil and then plant all the seed potatoes, all of which is back-breaking work if you are planting lots of potatoes. This is only half of the work though… When the potatoes are ready, you have to then dig them all up!!!

Thankfully, there is an easier way. Much, much easier…  And the news gets even better as the good folks at Back To Reality have created an excellent video detailing how to this. I have included the video down below, so give it a watch.

They managed to grow over 300 lbs of potatoes with minimum effort. No digging/planting, no watering, and no digging/harvesting. All that is required is some hay. Tip –– you can often get hold of old or spoilt hay from local farmers for zero charges. They will likely just be happy for you to take it away. Additionally, if you ask and you are lucky, they might also be happy to provide a ready supply of manure or soiled animal bedding as well.

My recommendation – if you are not convinced by this method of growing potatoes — set aside an area to try it out this year. Grow your main crop of potatoes in the usual manner but try this no-dig, hay method on a smaller test crop. The results should speak for themselves.

BTW – after you have watched the video below, I highly recommend subscribing to Back to Reality’s YouTube channel. They produce some great homesteading, gardening and DIY videos.

Log Home Plans: 40 Totally Free DIY Log Cabin Floor Plans

Log home

A log cabin or log home is not only a versatile, endearing and cost effective living solution, it is also a great way of creating your very own retreat (especially with these free log home plans!) that you can pick up and place in a wide range of spaces, providing they have the capacity to accommodate your new it of course! See down below for the free log cabin floor plans.

Utilising traditional building methods, the art of constructing your very own DIY log cabin requires implementing unique, artisan skills that call upon a whole host of natural materials.

But best of all, log cabins are relatively simple to construct yourself, providing you have the appropriate tools, quality materials, manpower and of course, knowledge and some DIY log home plans (which we can help to provide).  Trust us, there’s no better way to embrace sustainable living!

When constructing a log home from scratch, it’s important that you follow (and stick to) step-by-step instructions that detail and outline how to create a structurally sound DIY cabin, allowing you to create your perfect log home that is able to withstand the harshest environments. After all, it’s paramount that your DIY log cabin is safe, sturdy and resistant.

So here, we’ve compiled a list of some of the best DIY log cabin plans available online, demonstrating every step of the production process, from start to finish. Outlining clear and concise construction methods, the plans will allow you to create a durable, rigid and accessible log cabin that is able to accommodate your exact requirements.

But, before you go any further, it’s important that you understand exactly what you want to get out of your DIY cabin. Log cabins, like any structural living space, come in all shapes and sizes. From intimate spaces through to cabins that are able to accommodate large groups, there are lots of options to choose from! Oh, and you’ll be amazed at the wealth of facilities, home comforts and unique features available.

Of course, this also means that when it comes to building your DIY cabin, difficulty levels vary and, although many are relatively simple to construct, others are far more complex requiring specialist skills and expertise.

So ask yourself, what will you use your log cabin it for?  How often do you plan to use it? What type of environment will your log cabin call home?  All of these factors will have an impact on your choice of design. After all, if you only plan to use your log cabin a few times a year, a more basic design may suit your needs better as opposed to a cabin that you plan to use every weekend, or every day!

Once you’ve made up your mind, the next step is to get building. Here are some of the best DIY log home plans that are available online, and best of all, they’re all free! So why pay someone else to build your log cabin when you can do it yourself?

Log cabin build plans

Two bedroom contemporary log home with loft and basement

log home floor plans

If you’re looking to create a spacious, family log cabin, then this two-floor two bedroom contemporary cabin, with loft space and basement, then these are the log home plans you’ve been looking for.

Offering ample storage, living and practical space, this accommodating cabin features a master bedroom, and an additional bedroom space that lends itself perfectly to being used a guest bedroom or a space for your little one.

Also featuring all the facilities that you would expect to find in a liveable home, this plan also features adequate kitchen, dining, laundry and living room space – making it ideal for entertaining or kicking back and relaxing.

But this design’s standout features have to be its loft space and outdoor porch area. The loft space offers more than enough room to store away sports equipment, your seasonal clothing and anything else that can leave your home feeling cluttered and unorganised. The outdoor porch area is also a great addition to this cabin, providing the perfect area to soak up the summer sunshine or snuggle around a roaring fire during the colder months.

You can download these free log floor plans here:  http://www.todaysplans.net/CabinsAndSheds-Cabin1.pdf

One bedroom concrete block cabin loft and porch

I know – these are supposed to be log cabin plans, but this is concrete block cabin is another option to add to the mix.

Although this attractive one bedroom concrete block cabin loft and porch only offers one bedroom, it is perfectly equipped to accommodate larger family gatherings.

Offering a large family room, bathroom and dinette, this log cabin is great for accommodating short breaks and longer stays, it would also make a great family home for couples.

The addition of the covered porch also adds another dimension to this cabin, providing the ideal spot to kick back and relax season to season. You also don’t have to worry about storage, as it comes complete with a spacious loft space that will easily accommodate mass storage.

You can download the free cabin floor plans here: http://www.todaysplans.net/CabinsAndSheds-Cabin3.pdf

Log cabin plans for an“A” Frame cabin

 This two-story “A” frame cabin house comes complete with two spacious bedrooms, a large living/dining room, a balcony and porch, as well as an accommodating kitchen and bathroom.

Offering a distinct rustic feel, this charming build is bursting with character, and will enable you to create a space that is finished to highest standards.  Featuring durable wood flooring and a sturdy ladder that takes you up to the second floor, the frame of this log cabin is typical of many traditional structures.

You can download the free log home plans for this cabin here: http://www.lsuagcenter.com/NR/rdonlyres/AFC60E41-A8F6-4C45-ABE3-5D34AD0679B9/15503/24AFrameCabin.pdf

1 Bedroom Guest House

Guesthouse log cabin plans

A log cabin lends itself perfectly to creating a guesthouse that is inviting, comfortable and bursting with character, especially if you are pushed for space in your home. Obviously, if you entertain guests on a regular basis, a guesthouse also offers far more privacy and space than guest bedrooms inside your home.

This spacious 1 bedroom guesthouse cabin will allow you to build a practical living solution that will make the ideal guesthouse.

Boasting a large spacious bedroom, a sizable main living area and bathroom, this plan will help you to build a practical living solution that is cost effective, durable and resilient. It can also easily be integrated into your property’s outdoor land. In fact many people position their guest cabins in their back yard! Of course, this set up is also perfect for other purposes, such as a cool hangout den for teenagers or a tranquil retreat for you to escape the chaos of the house from time to time.

Before embarking on any build, it’s also recommended to check your local building codes criteria!

You can download the free log cabin floor plans for this guest house here: http://www.ag.ndsu.edu/aben-plans/5185.pdf

Pole Cabin  w/Plenum Heating Log Home Plans

This 24/32, two-bedroom wood frame cabin is plenum heated, making it perfect for building a comfortable, warm family home.

Attractive inside and out, this inviting cabin boasts all the everyday facilities that you would expect to find in your home.

Featuring two spacious bedroom areas, which could easily accommodate two single beds in each room, a simple yet functional bathroom suite, as well as a large kitchen/diner area, this plenum heated cabin is great for weekend and full-time living.

You can download the free log home floor plans here to create this build yourself: http://www.lsuagcenter.com/NR/rdonlyres/BCB7C088-B906-4FF0-BA7A-3E05753AC194/15591/5997PoleCabinWPlenumHeating.pdf

Tourist Log Cabin Floor Plans

Log cabin living is extremely appealing to tourists, as it not only gives them the opportunity to experience a new way of living, in new and exciting surroundings, it also offers a comfortable retreat for them to relax and unwind.

In recent years, tourist cabins have continued to increase in popularity and, in response to growing demands, they have become more accommodating and functional than ever before.

This open porch tourist cabin is small yet highly spacious, making it the ideal, intimate retreat for couples, or even solo visitors looking for a comfortable space to collect their thoughts.

These design plans show an open plan space that features ample room for a bed, bathroom and closet space. However, one of the main advantages of this particular cabin is that it has its very own large porch area, making it ideal for those who enjoy the outdoors.

You can download the free log cabin floor plans for this cabin here: http://www.ag.ndsu.edu/aben-plans/5184.pdf.

5 Room Log Cabin – Log Home Plans

5 bedroom log cabin floor plans

Perfect for large families or group vacations, this spacious 5 room log cabin boasts 5 large bedroom areas that are all super comfortable and extremely spacious.

Bursting with the character you would expect to find in a traditional log cabin, this log cabin design features two bathrooms, a large kitchen and dining area, as well as a main living area with an open log fire – another dimension that creates a striking focal point.

Other interesting design elements include a cathedral ceiling over the living room, a large walk in closet, and an inviting porch area.

You can download the free log home plans for this cabin here: http://www.ag.ndsu.edu/aben-plans/5506.pdf

Buffalo Run Series – Cabin Floor Plans

This impressive family orientated cabin offers an inviting, functional and comfortable living solution that is perfect for everyday family living.

Boasting luxuries such as a large master suite, a huge kitchen and dining area, as well as spacious loft, this 3 bedroom log cabin features a total living area of 5714sq.ft – with the main living area being 3161 sq-ft and the loft and storage areas being 2553 sq.ft.

You can view/save/download the log home floor plans here: http://whispercreekloghomes.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/07/buffalorun_01.pdf

16 x 20 Cabin with Bunk Beds

This design features a 16×20 cabin that also accommodates 2 tier bunk beds.

Smaller than the other designs, this compact cabin provides ample home comforts, that make it a safe and reliable cabin, perfect for accommodating guests – particularly children who love the idea of sleeping in bunk beds!

Featuring a stove, wood flooring throughout, and a spacious living area, this cabin is great for overnight stays or short visits.

You can get the log cabin floor plans here: http://www.lsuagcenter.com/NR/rdonlyres/1741C101-A6C6-4C05-BF47-7B96E4B0F985/15610/600416X20Cabin.pdf

2 Bedroom, 1 Storey Log Home with Open Porch

2 bedroom log cabin plans

This perfect family living solution features 2 large, spacious bedrooms with large closets, an inviting open porch and plenty of character.

With its 1 story design, this comfortable log cabin will open your eyes to compact yet spacious design that will give you everything that you need in a family home and more.

Boasting ample space to entertain and relax with family and friends, this endearing log cabin even features a large outdoor porch that is great for sitting out and relaxing on, whatever the season. Many people integrate a comfortable outdoor seating area into their design plans when building this log cabin, as a porch is often considered as an outdoor living extension of the home.

You can download or view these log home floor plans here: http://www.ag.ndsu.edu/aben-plans/5507.pdf

Community Log Cabin Plans

This community log cabin lend is perfect for hosting large group gatherings, activities and events.

Its huge assembly room is one of its main standout features, as it provides the perfect opportunity to hold large groups in one space – great if you run community focused events – its versatility shouldn’t be underestimated!

The community log cabin also features integrated storage space that is perfect for storing sports and activity equipment, props, and arts and crafts equipment. However, if you do not require this, the storage can also be taken down.

Other features of this community log cabin include a large kitchen area, bathroom, and even an office space – providing the ideal base to work from. But that’s not all, this cabin even accommodates a dressing room and cloak room, so it’s great for hosting theatre performances or assemblies.

You can view and download the log cabin floor plans for this community cabin here: http://www.ag.ndsu.edu/aben-plans/5602.pdf

30+ Different DIY Cabin Plans

Let’s get one thing out of the way quickly – the cabin in the photo above is not in the plans. It is the only nice looking newly built cabin, that I had permission to use! That said, don’t be put off for one moment as below you’ll be able to find 30 different sets of cabin build plans…

The list of plans below includes everything from small single room cabins, right through to full sized family home cabins. There’s also everything in between. Given that you can pay $100s for cabin build plans, this is a pretty cool resource. My recommendation is – if you see a cabin you like, download the build plans right away whilst they are free. It’s better to download the plans now, but never use them, rather than wish you’d downloaded them and not being able to find them in a year or so. Get them here: FREE: 30 Different Sets Of Cabin Build Plans

(Image from: Max Wolfe)

How To Build A 12×20 Foot Cabin For $2000

DIY log cabin built for $2000

Want to build a low cost, quality cabin that would make accommodation for guests? Got a bit of land for your secret bug-out location which needs an affordable cabin? Answer yes to either of these questions, then you’ve come to the right place!

Below is an excellent step-by-step tutorial showing how to build a 12×20 foot wood cabin for $2200. It is a full build tutorial with details, measurements, and materials. The cabin has a door and window at the front and double windows at the rear. The cabin is also wired for electricity with lighting and power points. Find out more: How To Build A 12×20 Foot Cabin For $2000

(Photo from: coolbeansbaby68 via Instrutcables)

Traditional Log Cabin Built For Less Than $500

$500 for a quality, traditional wood cabin, that’s crazy talk, right? Well, that is what I thought until I watched the video above which tells the story about this DIY log cabin and how it was built…

It really does emphasise the power of community, and roping in friends and family to help out on a project. Sure the cabin took eight months to build using free labour, but the whole project cost just $500. Seems an awesome trade-off to me. Watch the video and see what you think.

(Image from: OutsideFun1)

How To Build A House With No House Payments Or Utility Bills

No house payments and no utility bills, that’s the dream, right? Well, maybe that dream isn’t as far-fetched as you might think!

The video above shows how one guy built a cabin for $2000, drilled his own well and installed a solar power system which provides for all the electricity needs which cost an additional $3000. One thing to note is that the land he has, which is a little less than an acre, was gifted to him, although he does go on to say he has purchased similar plots of land for around $400. Finally, the last thing to note is that this video was uploaded in 2009, but even if you increase the costs in-line with today’s costs, this really is a great demonstration of what can be done with a minimal budget and a bit of hard work.

How To Build An Earthbag Roundhouse

earthbag house

A while back I did a post: How to Build an Earthbag Dome this was a windowless dome building which would make a great root cellar or storage shed. Today I am sharing a tutorial to build an earthbag roundhouse, complete with windows and doors.

This is very cheap and easy way to build a one room dwelling.  The cost per sq foot of living space is just $11.50; anyone in the construction business knows that is crazy cheap….

The finished house looks beautiful, inside and out. The outside is plastered and whitewashed and it has a thatched roof, have a look and see how nice it looks. I can’t see why you couldn’t build several of these alongside each other to create a larger multi-room home. Check out the photo tutorial: How To Build An Earthbag Roundhouse

(Photo from: Owen Geiger via Instructables)

How To Build A Dirt Cheap House

earthbag round house

If you have always dreamt of building your own house or bug-out house/retreat, but you have been put off by the high build costs etc, this could be right up your street…

The post below explains that by using, and knowing how to build with, locally available natural materials such as earth, small diameter wood, and straw, you can keep expenses to an absolute minimum. In fact, build costs can be as low as $10/sq. ft. With build costs this low, it opens the doors to the possibility of many more of us being able to build our own houses. Find out more: How To Build A Dirt Cheap House

(Photo from: Owen Geiger via Instructables)

Amazing Forest Home Built In 6 Weeks For $4,000

forest log cabin

This might just be my favourite cabin ever! Can you imagine if this was your weekend and holiday retreat? It would be amazing, I feel less stressed just looking at the photo, let alone spending time there…

The cabin is absolutely beautiful inside and out (check out the sink!), and the crazy thing is that it was built in just six weeks for a budget of $4000. I wish I could share all the photos of the cabin here, so you can see how beautiful the inside of the cabin is, but I can’t. But if you click through to ‘Tree Hugger’ via the link below you can check out all of the awesome photos there. I love the hillside, treehouse style rear porch! See them here: Amazing Forest Home Built In 6 Weeks For $4,000

(Photo by: Herrle Custom Carpentry via Treehugger)

How To Get Used/Working Solar Panels For FREE

SOLAR PANELS For FREE

That’s right, there is a way you can get solar panels for free! I know someone who did it and so can you. Here’s how it’s done…

Solar panels are used everywhere these days. They are often used by construction crews and traffic systems (signs, cameras & emergency signal lighting etc) and these are where we are going to focus because they quite often have contracts with the solar panel providers. Whenever a solar panel becomes cracked or damaged, they are replaced under contract, even when they are still serviceable.

The solar panel provider ends up with a whole load of damaged but working solar panels. They can’t sell them so they usually have to pay to have them disposed of. What you need to do is find the contact details for the solar panel providers and give them a call to see if they have any damaged but functioning solar panels you can take off their hands.

The person I know who did this got around $800 of working solar panels for free, just for a bit of detective work. He saw a solar panel on a road sign and noticed the sign had a sticker with a phone number on it to report a problem. He simply phoned the number and asked for the solar panel provider’s details and gave them a call. A few phone calls later and a trip to their facility and he had a load of free solar panels.

UPDATE: We have several solar farms locally, that generate and sell electricity as a business. I reached out to two of them. Both had old, in some cases slightly damaged solar panels, which still functioned. Both said I could have some of these panels for zero cost. In fact, one of the solar farms offered to deliver some for a small fee.

I enquired about the efficiency of these panels. It was explained that these old or slightly damaged panels were not as efficient as new solar panels (hence why they were replaced). With a solar farm, everything is about efficiency at generating electricity. They are a business. That said, for home use (and at zero cost) these panels have years of life left in them. Additionally, if you have space you can simply have more panels, to make up for any lower efficiency with these older solar panels. 

I guess you could also try researching and directly contacting solar panel manufacturers too. They must get loads of panels that are damaged or defective that still work but can’t be sold. Even solar panel stores must get loads of damaged but working solar panels returned, or have panels that get damaged in storage etc. No one wants to pay to have to dispose of damaged goods.  Take advantage of this and you could get free or heavily discounted stuff that works just fine.

Just a little thinking outside the box can save you a huge amount of money. Give it a try, all you have to waste is a little time and a phone call.

How To Stay Warm: 25 Tips For Saving Money & Keeping Warm (UPDATED 2020)

Tips for keeping warm

In the quest of saving money without sacrificing your comfort, many homeowners and renters alike are searching for ways to stay warm this winter without turning on, or turning up the heating at home. If you’ve been searching for how to keep warm on a tight budget, save on your energy bills this winter whilst remaining warm and cozy with these 25 effective ways of staying warm sans your heating unit.

If you heat your home via a wood fire or wood-burning stove, be sure to check out our post: How to get totally free firewood to heat your home. I can honestly say that we have more than enough firewood to get us all the way through the winter, and it didn’t cost a penny. Combine free firewood with the ways to stay warm below, and you’ll be warm and cosy in even the worst weather.

How To Stay Warm This Winter: 25 Tips And Tricks

1.) Wear Multiple Layers of Clothes – now is not the time to strut around in a pair of shorts and a t-shirt. Dress in multiple layers to keep your core temperature comfortably warm.

2.) Don’t Forget Your Socks – according to the University of San Diego, if you have cold feet, you’re going to be cold. Keep warm by wearing thick wool socks

3.) Keep Your Oven Door Open – after baking, keep your oven door open to let its heat circulate throughout your kitchen. The smaller your home, the better this technique works.

4.) Eat Hot Soups – raise your core temperature by consuming hot soup on cold winter days.

5.) Don’t Skip the Coffee or Tea – along with the caffeine boost, hot coffee or tea keeps you warm from the inside. Want to avoid stimulants? Drink decaffeinated coffee or tea.

6.) Open Your Window Curtains or Blinds – during the day, open curtains or blinds to let warm sunlight naturally heat your home.

7.) Treat Windows to Capture and Safeguard Heat – install special window treatments to capture and retain heat within your home. Improperly treated windows can let a vast amount of heat escape into the cold winter nights.
homemade thermal curtains
8.) Close Window Curtains and Blinds at Night – prevent Father Winter from stealing your heat by closing window blinds and curtains at night when temperatures drop. Making some thermal curtains from an old comforter is one of the best low-cost ways to keep warm and stop heat from escaping from doors and windows.

Sure it’s a very simple solution, but often the simple things are worth talking about and focusing on. Sometimes things like making some DIY thermal curtains are so simple they are often overlooked, but if you have a cold, draughty house, some thick thermal curtains will make a huge difference if you hang some over your doors and windows. This is a good project to get working on now before it starts to get really cold.

Making your own DIY thermal curtains doesn’t really get much easier than this – an old comforter, a bit of sewing and a few hooks and you are all but done. You can pick up old comforters from Craigslist and thrift stores etc, you can probably even get them for free if you ask around… Check out a tutorial here: Cheap DIY Energy-Saving Thermal Curtains

9.) Stay Active – clean your home or exercise whenever you feel the sting of coldness. By staying active, you’ll naturally increase your core temperature.

10.) Increase Humidity in Your Home – humidity increases the temperature within your home. Therefore, skip your space heater and turn on an energy-efficient humidifier

11.) Reverse Ceiling Fan Circulation – instead of keeping your ceiling fan turned off, reverse its circulation to push warm air down into your living space. This is effective after you’ve run your heater for a little while.

12.) Buffer Hard Floors With Blankets – while rugs are best if your budget doesn’t allow for this purchase, place blankets on bare floors to keep them warm.

13.) Keep Bathroom Doors Open When Showering – let the warm, humid air seep out into the rest of your home while showering by keeping your bathroom door open.

14.) Don’t Run Bathroom Ventilation Fans – while ventilation fans draw out unpleasant smells after using the bathroom, it also sucks out warm air. Light a candle to eliminate smells to keep your bathroom warm throughout winter months.

15.) Use Towels to Block Chilly Air – roll up a towel and place along the bottom of a door to stop drafts and heat leaks. Alternatively, you could make some homemade door snakes/draft stoppers.
DIY door snake

Here is an excellent tutorial showing how to make your own door snakes/draft stoppers. These door snakes are an excellent way to reduce the draft and cold which can come in through the gap at the bottom of your doors. These draft stoppers are cheap and easy to make, so now’s a great time to get making and sort out those drafty doors.

Full tutorial here: How To Make A DIY Door Snake (Draft Stopper)

(Photo from: 17 Apart)

16.) Keep the Fireplace Flue Shut – prevent winter drafts by keeping your fireplace flue tightly shut.

17.) Enhance Your Bedding – change out your sheets for flannel and use a down comforter to stay warm during frosty winter nights.

18.) Warm a Bag of Beans – heat up a bag of beans in the microwave and place in your bed or against you while lounging on the couch. This is one of my favourite ways to keep warm and snug on a cold evening.

Another similar old school alternative is to use a soapstone to warm things up

Soapstone is an incredibly dense stone that is great for absorbing, storing and radiating heat back. It can be warmed up in the fire/oven and unlike a hot water bottle etc, it will radiate heat back and keep you warm for most of the night.

Unlike many rocks that hold moisture that can be dangerous to heat up, soap is so dense that it doesn’t absorb water, so it is perfectly safe to heat up, as demonstrated in the video above. If you don’t have heating, or you are lucky enough to have a cabin somewhere remote, this is a great way to warm your bed up and keep warm. Get some soapstone and give it a try!

(Image from: engineer775 Practical Preppers)

19.) Cover Your Head – much like your feet, heat escapes through your head. Wear a wool hat or beanie to keep your body toasty. It might seem strange to wear a hat indoors, but so much of your heat is lost through your head, so wearing a hat indoors is an excellent way to keep warm and retain your body temperature.

20.) Keep Door Shut – keep all the doors in your home shut. The smaller space, the easier it is to keep warm.

21.) Stay Away From Windows – move furniture away from large windows to keep warm. Even treated windows emit cooler temperatures during the peak of winter.

21.) Stay Cozy – when lounging on your couch, cover with a warm blanket or sleeping bag.

22.) Wear Slippers – in addition to wearing wool socks, keep your feet extra toasty when doing chores by wearing slippers.

23.) Install Clear Shower Curtains Over Windows – allow your home to absorb heat, and keep it in, by installing clear shower curtains over windows that receive direct sunlight.

24.) Add Insulation in Your Attic – keep heat from leaking out of your home by adding insulation to your attic or crawl space. Your house loses heat through the attic in a similar way in a similar way to how people lose heat through their head. If you can afford it, insulating your attic is one of the best investments with regards to staying warm this winter, you can make.

25.) Light by Candles – along with saving on energy costs by keeping your light off, candles also produce a decent amount of heat. While not as warm as a fireplace, these small heaters can keep your immediate area warm. Candles can be especially good for warming hands.

How To Make Mead: Plus 5 EASY & Delicious Mead Recipes To Try

How To Make Mead

Mead makes for one of the oldest alcoholic drinks in history and, using a basic recipe that consists of just honey, water and yeast, it can also be considered as one of the simplest. That said, for the many that may have tried to make mead and suffered some form of a misstep, this drink can also seem like a frustrating mix to get right. So with that in mind, here is a complete introduction to mead, and five solid recipes for the beginner to get to grips with what this wonderful homebrew can offer. If you are interested in making mead, you may also be interested in our moonshine recipe post!

Mead: The world’s most varied drink

From being completely flat through to being super sparkling; from being crisp and dry through to seriously sweet and from straight-up mead flavour through to being fruit flavoured, it seems that mead may very well be the world’s most varied drink. So, after you’ve gotten to grips with the five recipes within this article there is a whole world of other recipes to try out, so…. let’s get started!

Recipe One: Dry/Semi-Sweet Mead

This recipe produces a mead that strikes the balance between dry and sweetness just right and makes for an excellent first-timer recipe.

 Ingredients that you’ll need

  • 14.5 Pounds of Honey
  • 4 Gallon soft water
  • 10 Grams of Fermaid-K
  • 14 Grams Diammonium phosphate (DAP)
  • Liquid yeast
  • 5 Grams of calcium carbonate
  • ¼ Teaspoon of potassium meta-bisulphite

Equipment that you’ll need

  • Primary food-safe fermentation bucket
  • Hydrometer
  • Pure oxygenation system OR an air pump and a sterile air filter

Dry/Semi-Sweet Mead: Step by step

Step One – Soak your honey in water for 15 minutes

This will help loosen the honey from its original thickened state.

Step Two – Add in one gallon of high-quality soft water (this needs to be no more than 150ppm TH)

You should also use a sanitized fermenter.

Step Three – Add in the honey and stir until dissolved

Step Four – Add in a further 3 gallons of room temperature soft water

At this stage you should take a gravity reading with a hydrometer, writing it down in your logbook.

Step Five – Add your Mermaid-K and Ammonium phosphate (DAP) to the mix

Step Six – Add your liquid yeast to the must

Before undertaking this step be sure that the yeast has warmed to room temperature.

Step Seven – Add your calcium carbonate

Step Eight – Oxygenate the must

You do this by either splashing or shaking the mix (which, to be honest, if pretty ineffective) or through a professional pure oxygenation system (alternatively you may opt for an air pump and a sterile air filter).

Don’t oxygenate the mix for any longer than 60 seconds if you’re working with pure oxygen. If you go for the aquarium pump then you can leave it to run for around 30 minutes.

Step Nine – Place your lid on

Ideally, you’ll be using a lid airlock, and you should fill the bucket with water or vodka to the airlock’s fill line. The fermentation should take place at between 55 to 75 degrees Fahrenheit.

Step Ten – Stir each and every day

Once the must has used up around a 1/3 of its sugar add in about 5 grams of Fermaid-K and 7 grams of DAP.

Step Eleven –Keep an eye on your mix and somewhere between 7 and 20 days it’ll be ready for the next step

Your must is ready when the activity within it slows down to around 1 bubble every two minutes or less. Once this happens you should take a gravity reading, which should be 1.018 or below). Then go ahead and siphon your 5-gallon carboy and add into the mix ¼ teaspoon potassium meta-bisulphite (which should have been hydrated with a 1/8 of a cup of room temperature water).

Step Twelve – Allow to rest for 3 to 4 weeks and then rack one more time

Recipe Two: The fastest, most efficient way of making mead (kind of)

So the first recipe may seem a bit intimidating to some, so here is a simpler mead recipe for those who want to make mead fast! However whilst it’s super quick to mix together, the brewing time still takes a couple of months.

Ingredients that you’ll need

  • 1 Gallon of Spring Water (room temperature)
  • 3 Pounds of honey (this needs to be pure)
  • 1 Pack of Yeast
  • 1 Box of raisins
  • 1 Orange

Equipment that you’ll need

  • Water jug
  • Rubber band
  • 1 Balloon pack (these should be large enough to cover the mouth of the water jug)

The fastest, most efficient way of making mead: Step by step

Step One – Pour half of your water into a container

Step Two –Slice up your orange into 1/8’s

Then place the slices, honey, twenty-five raisins and the yeast into a jug. Pour a little water back into the jug so there’s around a couple of inches space at the top. Put the cap on and give it a good shake (ideally for around five minutes)

Step Three – Pinprick one of the tops of the balloons and remove the cap from the water jug

You should then place the balloon over the mouth of the jug; the idea behind this is that the gases from within will fill the balloon, so place a rubber band around the jug mouth to secure it.

Step Four – Leave to rest on the side and keep an eye on it

After around twenty-four hours you’ll see the balling being to inflate, this then means that your yeast is busy working on transforming the contents of the jug into delicious mead wine! If it gets too large you should prick another hole into it… you want to avoid it bursting.

Step Five – After two weeks…

After around two weeks you should see that the balloon has gone limp, this will then mean that fermentation has finished.

Step Six – After 2 months…

Following two months you should notice that the mix has become a whole lot clearer and is now ready to serve!

Recipe Three: Super-fast mead (otherwise known as cheat mead!)

OK, so for those who really are impatient, here we have a recipe that takes just two weeks, rather than the months that the other recipes require.

Ingredients that you’ll need

  • ½ Gallon of cheap white wine
  • 1 Pound of honey
  • 1-2 cloves
  • Pinch of cinnamon and nutmeg

Equipment that you’ll need

  • Saucepan
  • Jug
  • Corkscrew (for the wine)
  • Spatula

Super-fast mead (otherwise known as cheat mead!): Step by step

Step One – Empty the wine and honey into a large saucepan

Heat this up gently being sure to stir the mixture frequently until a scum forms on the top of the mixture.

Step Two – Scrape the scum off and chuck away

Step Three – Pour the liquid into your wine bottle

Step Four – Place the cap on and leave the mixture to rest in a cool, dark space for a minimum of two weeks

Step Five – After two weeks…

Your mix should be ready to drink after just two weeks, however, the longer that you can manage to leave it, the stronger it will be!

Recipe Four: Metheglin (Flavoured mead)

Metheglin is the name for flavoured mead, and it’s this stuff that can date its roots back to a time before even wine existed. Unfortunately, Metheglin fails to get much attention nowadays, so I wanted to include it here for those who want to mix up mead with a difference.

This drink hails from Wales in the United Kingdom, with the Welsh word ‘meodyglyn’ being translated over time, as such many of the recipes that are out there use traditionally English sourced herbs, with a lot of recipes being focused upon serving up as an excellent accompaniment to Lamb.

Possible Metheglin flavours

Metheglin can and very much has been created from all sorts of ingredients to create practically every flavour going. Documented in history are recipes that use the following flavourings: watercress, fennel, liverwort, marshmallow roots, scurvy grass, cloves, borage, marjoram, ferns and flowers.

 Ingredients that you’ll need

  • 3 Pounds of runny honey
  • 1 Gallon of water
  • 2 Tablespoons of chopped rosemary
  • 1 Dessertspoon of thyme leaves
  • 6 bay leaves
  • 2 lemons – You want both the juice and zest
  • ¼ Teaspoon – Grape tannin
  • Yeast nutrient (be sure to follow the instructions on the yeast packet)
  • White wine yeast (again, follow these instructions to the letter)

 Equipment that you’ll need

  • Large saucepan
  • Muslin cloth
  • Demi-john
  • Food safe fermentation pot

Metheglin (Flavoured mead): Step by step

Step One – Place the water in a large pan and heat up

Once boiling you should pour in the honey and wait until it’s dissolved; boil for ten minutes, skimming off any scum that may form on the surface.

Step Two – Turn off the heat

Once the heat is off you can add in your herbs, grape tannin, lemon zest and lemon juice. Then you can leave the mixture to rest, being sure to cover it over – leave to cool.

Step Three – Pour the mixture into your sterilised fermenting bucket

Once in the bucket, you can add in your yeast. Once well mixed allow to ferment for a period of around three days.

Step Four – After three days…

Pour your mix into a demi-john, being sure to filter the mix through a muslin cloth.

Step Five – Fit on a bubble trap/airlock and leave to rest for two months

Melomel meadMelomel mead

Recipe Five: Making Melomels (otherwise known as fruit filled mead!)

Recipe four is pretty flexible as far as flavourings and herbs go, but if you want a mead recipe designed specifically for fruit, then this is it. However rather than re-running through the steps of the other mead recipes, this instead provides guidance on how and when you should add fruit to any traditional mead recipe.

 Melomels: Common fruits flavours

The official term for fruit flavoured mead is ‘Melomels’, and is commonly brewed with the following combinations (with each having a specific name for its flavour):

– Cyser-is: Honey and apple juice/apple cider

– Capsicumel: Chile peppers

– Morat-is: Honey and mulberries

– Omphacomel-is: Honey and verjuice (verjuice is the juice from unripe grapes)

– Perry-mead: Honey and pears

– Rhodomel-is: Honey and rose hips

– Other fruits that can be used: Other fruits that are used within this recipe can be anything of your choosing, and are simply named with the fruit placed before ‘Melomel’, so you can have apple melomel, cherry melomel, orange melomel or strawberry melomel.

Adding your fruit: Stage by Stage

Regardless of what fruit or flavouring you choose to use there are many stages at which the fruit can be added. Each will make for a different end taste of the fruit, so this really is a recipe that benefits from experimenting with. You may even wish to make up multiple batches so you can add the fruits at varying stages with one brew.

Stage One: Adding your fruits and flavourings during primary fermentation

Adding fruits at the primary stage of fermentation is a particularly common way of making melomel. This isn’t so surprising given that it provides for certain benefits, such as the early introduction of nutrients that the yeast can work with to create a mixture with a regulated ph. What’s more when adding fruit into the mead mix early on you’ll find that the mead ferments more quickly.

Lastly you’ll also find that this method still retrains the flavour of the fruit, as the majority of the volatile aromatics will be gassed off.

Stage Two: Adding your fruits and flavourings during secondary fermentation

When adding later on most will choose to mix in the fruit when the mead is almost fermented completely. This is, once more, something that benefits from experimentation as everyone has varying tastes.

The one drawback of adding at this stage however is that is the fruit will take a longer time to blend in, and may lengthen the overall brewing time. This can additionally make it a little more difficult to judge the exact right time to bottle up.

Stage Three: Adding your fruits and flavourings just before bottling

This latter option of adding in the fruit may be the most straight forward, although you will need to be absolutely sure that the yeast is dead (e.g. the must has stopped producing bubbles) before adding the fruit, as you otherwise could end up with exploding bottles!

You can be sure of this by sulphating the must, which requires the addition of potassium sorbate, followed by the addition of the various fruit juices or extracts to the bottling bucket.

A further way of avoiding exploding bottles is by bulk aligning the mead for a particularly long time, and then follow this with a couple of cycles of racking up. This may lengthen the process further, but it does mean that you can be sure that the must is safe to bottle.

Fruit: How much should you add to your mead mix?

The amount of fruit that you should ideally add differs fruit by fruit (which makes sense, given that fruits feature drastically differing strengths of flavour). So here’s my guide on how much fruit makes for the perfect mix.

– Cysers-Apples: 4 Gallons of apple juice or cider (primary stage).

– Cysers-Apples (strong): 3 cans of apple juice concentrate (16 oz.) (secondary stage).

– Blueberry Melomel: 7 to 10 pounds of blueberries (secondary stage).

– Blueberry Melomel (strong): 2.2 pounds per gallon (secondary stage).

– Cherry Melomel (strong): 7-8 lbs of cherries (secondary stage).

– Citrus Melomel (medium): 6-8 lbs (secondary stage 1.2-1.6 lbs/gal).

– Citrus Melomel (strong): 1.8 lbs/gal.

– Melon Mead (medium): 6-8 lbs of pulp (secondary stage).

– Melon Mead (strong): 1.8 lbs per gallon.

– Peach Melomel (medium): 8-12 lbs (secondary stage – 1.2-2.4 lbs/gal).

– Peach Melomel (strong): 2.5 lbs per gallon (secondary stage).

– Plum Melomel (medium) -Add 8-9 lbs to secondary (1.4-1.8 lbs/gal).

– Plum Melomel (strong): 2 lbs per gallon (secondary stage).

– Raspberry Melomel (medium): 5-7 lbs (secondary stage – 1-1.6 lbs/gal).

– Raspberry Melomel (very strong): 1.8 lbs/gal (secondary stage).

– Strawberry Melomel (medium): 8-10 lbs.

– Strawberry Melomel (strong): 2.2 lbs per gal (secondary stage).

(Image from: Ryan McDonough)

48 Hydrogen Peroxide Uses & Home Remedies To Try

48 Hydrogen Peroxide Home Remedies

Hydrogen peroxide is a staple in almost every home first aid kit. While this product kills germs and protects your body from infections, its use spans far deeper than cleaning scraped knees. This common household product can be used for anything from whitening your teeth to cleaning stains out of clothes. Continue to explore several surprising uses from this simple water and oxygen compound.

Realize it or not, Hydrogen Peroxide – H2O2 – is one of the most versatile products to have in the home. It has a multitude of uses for maintaining personal health and beauty and is handy to have available for cleaning and even cooking.

Hydrogen peroxide is available in different strengths, generally 3% to 35% for domestic use. Unless stated the hydrogen peroxide, even when diluted, listed below is 3%. Always check the correct strength is being used.

Hydrogen peroxide chemical formula

Hydrogen peroxide chemical formula

48 uses and benefits of hydrogen peroxide:

Household Uses:

  1. Keeping the Refrigerator Clean

To clean the refrigerator, spray the inside with hydrogen peroxide. Let it soak then after a few minutes wipe with a clean cloth to get rid of food debris and stains.

  1. Washing Fruit and Vegetables

Remove dirt, wax and other contaminants from fruit and vegetables by spraying them with hydrogen peroxide. Let the spray soak in for a couple of minutes then rinse in cold water.

  1. Disinfecting Cutting Boards

 Raw meat and other foods are cut on cutting boards and this can lead to germs and bacteria left behind. So the boards need to be regularly cleaned. Spraying with hydrogen peroxide will thoroughly cleanse them.

  1. Disinfecting Dirty Dishrags & Sponges

Dirty dishrags and sponges need to be soaked to disinfect them. The most efficient way to do this is to soak them in hydrogen peroxide for up to 30 minutes to ensure they are thoroughly disinfected.

  1. Cleaning Bathroom & Kitchen Countertops

To clean and disinfect countertops in either the bathroom or kitchen spray with hydrogen peroxide.  Simply pour 1 to 2 cups of 3% hydrogen peroxide into the toilet bowl and allow it to soak for 30 minutes. Using a toilet brush, scrub the bowl interior and flush away the grime.

  1. Cleaning Glass Surfaces

Dirty mirrors and glass surfaces can be difficult to clean. To do the job efficiently, spray with hydrogen peroxide. This will loosen the dirt and grime which can then be wiped away with a clean lint-free cloth.

  1. Banish Mold From Your Home – The H202 Remedy

Did you know standard 3% hydrogen peroxide is so effective at eliminating mold spores, that even government health agencies recommend this remedy? Leaving mold untreated, can result in serious respiratory illnesses and even constant allergy attacks. Eliminate mold from your home or office by pouring undiluted 3% hydrogen peroxide into a spray bottle. Spray until the mold area is completely saturated. Allow the solution to sit for 10 minutes before scrubbing the area with a sponge. Wear protective breathing masks to prevent inhaling mold spores. If in doubt, repeat the cleaning process up to three times.

  1. Removing Soap Scum From the Tub

Soap scum and dirt as well as other stains build up in the bathtub over time and they can be difficult to scrub away. To make cleaning easier first spray the tub with hydrogen peroxide. Leave for around 30 minutes as during this time the grime will be loosened leaving it much easier to be wiped away.

  1. Use as a Toilet Cleaner

Using hydrogen peroxide is a good way to clean the toilet bowl. Just pour half a cup into the toilet and leave for around 30 minutes. This will help clean the bowl and remove any stains.

Tip: for blocked drains – see our homemade drain cleaner post.

  1. Whitening Grout

For whiter grout mix hydrogen peroxide with some white flour and turn into a thick paste. Next apply the paste to the grout and cover overnight with plastic wrap.  The next day rinse with water and the grout will be whiter.

  1. Cleaning Tile Surfaces

Hydrogen peroxide provides an efficient way to clean tiled surfaces. Over time tiles become dirty and pick up stains. The dirt and stains can be removed and the surfaces cleaned by spraying the hydrogen peroxide directly on the tiles.

  1. Improving Seed Germination

Fungal spores can impede seed germination. The spores can be removed and germination improved by soaking the seeds in hydrogen peroxide.

  1. Cleansing Humidifiers

Hydrogen peroxide can be used to cleanse humidifiers by adding a pint of the liquid to a gallon of water. By running the solution through the humidifiers they are disinfected and any mold or mildew growing inside them removed.

  1. Disinfecting Lunchboxes

 Lunch boxes need not only to be clean but also hygienic. This means they should be disinfected regularly. This can be done by spraying the lunchboxes, along with any coolers and cooler bags with hydrogen peroxide. After spraying let them sit for a few minutes and then wipe to leave clean and disinfected.

  1. Keeping Re-usable Shopping Bags Fresh

A good way to freshen up re-usable cloth shopping bags is to spray them with hydrogen peroxide. This will remove any lingering food odors and leave them clean and disinfected.

  1. Cleaning Rugs and Carpets

Hydrogen peroxide in the home can be used to clean dirty rugs and carpets. Light carpets, in particular, can pick up dirt and mud from footwear worn outside very quickly. Dropped food and spilled drinks cam also mark the carpet. To clean them spray on hydrogen peroxide. It is important to test this cleaning method on a hidden area first as the substance can bleach some fabrics.

  1. Remove Unpleasant Odors From Fabrics

Over time fabrics pick up odors that are unpleasant and unwanted. To remove the odors and freshen up the fabric soak in a mixture of hydrogen peroxide and white vinegar.

  1. Removing Organic Stains From Fabrics

To remove organic stains, such as coffee, wine, blood and sweat from a fabric mix two parts hydrogen peroxide with one part dish detergent. The mixture should then be applied to the stains. Hydrogen peroxide can bleach some darker colored fabrics, so be cautious when using this method.

  1. Whitening Laundry

Over time some laundered items can be become yellow or dingy. They need revitalizing in the wash. Do this by adding a cup of hydrogen peroxide to the wash water, leaving the laundry to soak for around 15 to 30 minutes.

  1. Contact Lens Cleaner

Hydrogen peroxide in the home is very useful for people who wear contact lenses. The lenses can be soaked in the solution overnight to remove protein buildup and leave them clean for wearing again next morning.

  1. Use as an All-Purpose Cleaner

All–purpose cleaners are expensive and can eat into the household budget. To save those hard earned dollars use hydrogen peroxide which is a cheaper, and viable, alternative to those commercial cleaners. Hydrogen peroxide can be used undiluted or mixed with water for cleaning.

  1. Save on Dishwasher Detergent

Dishwasher Detergent can be expensive so a good way to save money is by mixing it with hydrogen peroxide. Also save on ordinary detergent by using hydrogen peroxide when hand washing the dishes.

  1. Use as an Emetic for Household Pets

Household cats and dogs can sometimes suffer after eating something which makes them very ill. In these cases a dose of hydrogen peroxide can induce vomiting purging the pet of possible dangerous substances.

  1. Control Fungus Growth in an Aquarium

People who keep an aquarium in the home can use hydrogen peroxide to control the growth of fungus. It must be used sparingly to prevent any harm to the fish.

  1. Use Directly on Clothing to Remove Stubborn Stains

Stains such as blood can very stubborn and difficult to remove from clothing. One option to deal with this is to use hydrogen peroxide and pour it directly on the stain. Leave for a minute, rub, and then rinse with cold water. If need be repeat the process.

  1. Disinfecting Toothbrushes

To ensure oral hygiene is maintained it is important that toothbrushes are regularly disinfected. One way to do this by soaking them in hydrogen peroxide as it will help kill the bacteria and germs which thrive in the typical bathroom and which can infect toothbrushes.

  1. Growing Mushrooms in a Refrigerator

One of the lesser known benefits of having hydrogen peroxide in the home is that it can be used for growing oyster mushrooms in a refrigerator. The process involves freezer bags and a gallon of diluted hydrogen peroxide. This is not a quick way to grow oyster mushrooms; it takes around 6 months but the end result is well worth the wait.

  1. Marinade Meat, Fish or Poultry

Hydrogen peroxide can be used for marinating. To marinade fish, meat or poultry place in a casserole and cover with equal parts hydrogen peroxide and water. Loosely cover the casserole and refrigerate for 30 minutes. Rinse before cooking.

Health Uses:

  1. Treating Foot Fungus

 To treat foot fungus mix hydrogen peroxide and water in a darkened bottle (hydrogen peroxide should not be exposed to sunlight). Apply to the area affected by the foot fungus. Alternatively you can try the mouthwash home remedy instead.

  1. Dealing with skin mite infections

Using hydrogen peroxide can be a home cure for people suffering skin mites. Dealing with the problem is quite simple. If the hydrogen peroxide is sprayed on the affected area of skin and the process repeated a few minutes later then the mites will be killed.

  1. Relieving Ear Infections

Putting 6 to 8 drops of hydrogen peroxide in the ear using a small dropper bottle will ease the symptoms and help clear up the infection, or you can try this instead.

  1. Preventing Swimmer’s Ear

To avoid ear infection – swimmer’s ear – mix hydrogen peroxide and vinegar in a small dropper bottle. Following the swim put a few drops in each ear to prevent infection developing.

  1. Removing Earwax 

To remove earwax first put 2 drops of hydrogen peroxide in the affected ear. Wait for a couple of minutes then put a couple of drops olive oil in the ear. After another minute drain all the fluid from the ear and that will clear the wax. Here is another alternative home remedy for earwax.

  1. Softening Corns & Calluses on the Feet

To soften corns and calluses on the feet make a foot soak using equal parts hydrogen peroxide and warm water. Soak the feet in the mixture and the hydrogen peroxide will soften any corns and calluses quite naturally.

  1. Healing Boils 

A use of hydrogen peroxide is to help heal boils. Fill a bathtub full of warm water and add 1 cup of 35% hydrogen peroxide. A soak in the bathtub will help treat any boils on the body.

  1. Clear Acne

Acne is an unpleasant condition which can cause personal embarrassment. A hydrogen peroxide face rinse will kill the germs that cause the acne and lead to a clearer complexion. See here for out post: how to get rid of blackheads.

  1. Use as an Antiseptic Mouth Rinse 

To take advantage of hydrogen peroxide teeth whitening use it as antiseptic mouth wash. As well as whitening teeth the hydrogen peroxide will also kill germs in the mouth which lead to bad breath.

  1. Disinfecting Small Wounds 

To disinfect small wounds and avoid infection use hydrogen peroxide as it is a natural anti-sceptic.

  1. Easing Toothache

If someone is suffering toothache the pain can be eased by rinsing or gargling with a mixture of hydrogen peroxide and coconut oil. This benefit is down largely to hydrogen peroxide’s antibacterial properties.

  1. Clear Infected Sinuses

Infected sinuses are very painful. One way to clear the sinuses and provide relief from the pain is to make a homemade nasal spray using hydrogen peroxide. The amount of hydrogen peroxide to be used will depend on the severity of the infection, but generally 3% HP mixed in a cup of non-chlorinated water should do the trick.

  1. Rejuvenate With a Detox Bath

A soak in a bath laced with hydrogen peroxide offers the benefits of detoxifying and rejuvenating the body. To prepare the detox bath pour cup of 35% hydrogen peroxide into a tub of warm water. Then it’s a case of soaking in the bathtub, adding hot water to maintain a comfortable temperature, for half an hour.

Beauty Uses:

  1. Add Highlights to the Hair 

Spray hydrogen peroxide over damp hair to give it sun-bleached highlights. After spraying allow it to soak in to the hair for around 10 to 15 minutes before rinsing.

  1. Hair Bleaching

Hydrogen peroxide is much milder than household bleaches so it is great option for “bleaching” hair and making it lighter.

  1. Whiten Finger and Toe Nails

To whiten finger and toe nails put the finger tips and toes in hydrogen peroxide. This is a proven and natural method of nail whitening.

  1. Teeth Whitening Agent – Swish Away the Stains 

The primary ingredient in most whitening toothpastes and products is hydrogen peroxide. Obtain the whitening power of this simplistic compound, without paying the high price tag many of these products demand, by using hydrogen peroxide as an occasional mouthwash. This compound whitens teeth by naturally bleaching its surface through oxygenation. Not only will your teeth shine like the sun, but its anti-bacterial qualities help prevent the formation and/or progression of gum disease and bad-breath bacteria.

How to Use

  • Brush your teeth with your standard toothpaste.
  • Mix 1 teaspoon of 3% hydrogen peroxide with 2 teaspoons of water.
  • Pour in your mouth and swish for 30 to 60 seconds DO NOT SWALLOW
  • Rinse with water and repeat two to three times per week.

Check out our related post on oil pulling.

Bonus Uses!

  1. It’s Time to Clear the Air – Remove Airborne Germs from Your Home

Place 1 pint of 3% hydrogen peroxide for every gallon of water within your humidifier. Allow the humidifier to continuously run. The anti-bacterial and disinfecting properties of hydrogen peroxide gently infiltrate the room to prevent airborne germs from infiltrating your home

Note: This is an excellent way to prevent colds and other sicknesses from lingering in your home or office.

  1. Wash Away the Pesticides – Vegetable Cleaner

Fresh vegetables are often produced using spray pesticides and other potentially harmful chemicals. Prevent these, and any germs, from infecting your family by adding ? cup of 3% hydrogen peroxide into a large mixing bowl. Combine with 3 cups of water and soak fruits and vegetables for 20 to 30 minutes. Rinse and refrigerate.

  1. Fight Away Colds and Viruses With Hydrogen Peroxide Ear Drops

By placing 2 to 3 drops of pure 3% hydrogen peroxide into each ear, holistic proponents claim cold and flu durations are significantly lowered. After placing the drops in one ear, allow the peroxide to bubble for 5 to 10 minutes before tilting your head and allowing the peroxide (and ear wax) to drain out. Repeat on the other ear.

How To Modify A Generator To Run Almost Silently With A Muffler

Silent Generator Using A Muffler

A backup generator is a great investment so you can keep the lights on when the power’s off.  Also in many remote locations, a generator is the only means of electricity. The problem is no matter whether you use your generator for emergency preparedness or to power your remote cabin etc, they are noisy as hell. They’ll annoy you, and annoy your neighbours! Also in a bug-out retreat, a noisy generator could give away your location…

Why oh why, are generators so noisy? Why don’t generators come fitted as standard with some kind of muffler like vehicles do? Or even if you could purchase an official muffler for your generator, that would at least be something… Unfortunately,  manufacturers just don’t seem concerned with the level of noise their generators produce…

Luckily though, you can relatively easily adapt and fit a DIY muffler to your generator, and dramatically reduce the noise it generates. The video tutorial below explains exactly how to do it.

Check out this link and you will find another tutorial which shows how to adapt a thrush muffler and fit it to your generator. The result should be a silent or near-silent generator. I am sure there will still be some very low-level noise from the motor etc, but there is no way your neighbours will hear it, and it should be a good option for a bug-out location as well.

The Rocket Mass Heater: Everything You Need to Know

DIY rocket mass heaters

Looking for the most efficient way of heating your home? Perhaps you’ve heard all about rocket mass heaters and just how clean they are? Whatever the reason, this guide takes a closer look at these heaters, explains how to build them, and covers all of their benefits (of which there are many!).

Wait A Minute… Just What Are Rocket Mass Heaters?

You’re likely here because you know all about rocket stove mass heaters and the benefits that they provide. However, for those who may be less than completely up on everything that these handy heaters can offer, here’s a quick summary.

Rocket mass heaters can:

  • Heat up your home with 80% to 90% less wood than is required with a traditional fire or log burning stove.
  • Exhausted output is practically all steam and CO2 (this is minus a little smoke at the beginning).
  • Heat from a single rocket mass fire can burn and heat your home for days on end.
  • A rocket stove mass heater can be easily built within the space of one or two days (less if you have a helping hand from friends or family).
  • When being particularly careful, you can build a rocket mass heater for under $20!

Rocket Mass Heaters… What Are People Saying?

 Rocket stove mass heaters have great reputation amongst the survivalists and off the grid living crowd. Here are some of the most common comments that you’ve likely heard:

“I burn nothing but dead branches, and the heating within my home has never been warmer”.

“They burn cleaner than any other form of heating… and are a lot more efficient to boot”.

“I’m a city dweller who uses rocket mass heating to cut down my bills”.

 So, now that we know that these really are the most efficient forms of heating on the planet, let’s get down to the nitty gritty of how they work, and what you’ll need to build one.

Example of a rocket mass heaterRustic rocket mass heater used to heat a permanent tipi

The science behind a rocket mass heater

OK, so you may be wondering just how rocket stove mass heaters work, particularly as they seem to buck all the trends and go against all of the fire guidance that you’ve ever been taught (e.g. they output no smoke and the wood burns sideways).

What’s more, with a 75% efficiency rate you’d think that the most wood you could possibly save on would be the remaining 25%, right? And to top it all off, just how on earth can such a contraption not emit a plume of smok,e given that there’s a gaping big hole right in the top of it?

Well many of these questions are answered as soon as you see a rocket mass heater in action, here’s a quick overview…

How rocket mass heaters work – In detail

With the sticks within a rocket mass heater stood straight up, it’s only the bottom ends that burn and, what’s more, as they are at a junction within the heater, they burn sideways. The heat within is also insulated, which is why rocket mass heaters get so hot. As this naturally has a strong convective current, encouraging hot gasses to hit the barrel where they then expel much of their heat, consequentially cooling the gasses and making them easier to push around the heater. The gasses that finally exit are then simply made up from steam and carbon dioxide.

The main magical act that makes a rocket mass heater super special, and the main working of the rocket mass heater that we should be in awe of, is found within the heat riser. Here this open ended combustion chamber, coupled with a strong convective current, ensures that the smoke never gets sucked upwards and instead the air is continuously sucked in from the wood filled hole, meaning that no smoke escapes at all. In fact, it’s so hot within this top region that most of the smoke gets burned up!

How to build a rocket mass heater

2 Rocket mass heater plans from the tried, tested and completely trusted experts

Bonny rocket mass heaterThe ‘Bonny Convection Bench’ rocket mass heater

The first  tutorial is based upon one of the most popularly referred to designs for rocket mass heaters there are. Constructed by Ernie and Erica Wisner, this is a roadmap that has been carefully put together by two engineering veterans (who reassuringly have over 700 rocket mass heater builds under their belt).

Here’s the link for the ‘Bonny Convection Bench’ rocket mass heater professional build plans. It currently cost $25 but they are professional quality build plans that could save you $1000s

Rocket Mass Heater Annex6‘RocketMassHeater-Annex6’ rocket mass heater

Need a pretty large rocket mass heater for your home? Well, the second tutorial below are for a heater that’s more than capable of heating a 3 storey, multi-level family home, even in cooler regions such as right by the coast. The reinforcement within the plans along with the in-built air flow channels ensure that any flooring, hardwood or otherwise, is completely protected whilst providing for effective circulation that heats the whole house.

Here’s the link for the ‘RocketMassHeater-Annex6’ rocket mass heater professional build plans. It currently cost $25 but they are professional quality build plans that could save you $1000s

If you need an adapted plan to fit within your cabin then here it is. This design maps out an eight inch diameter rocket mass heater which takes up just 3.5 foot by 9 foot on the floor.

Rocket mass heaters versus the traditional wooden stove

There may be many readers out there who are avid fans of the conventional wooden stove, and who may be seriously pessimistic about just what a rocket mass heater may be able to offer them. So this section is dedicated to demonstrating just how a rocket mass heater compares when talking about heating efficiencies between the two.

“They say that a current wood stove is 75% efficient… so if the most improvement that can be seen is 25%, and rocket mass heaters can heat the home with a tenth of the wood… isn’t a rocket mass heater then 750% efficient? And why wouldn’t 100% be the maximum efficiency rate at which you can operate?”

The statement above sets out both a confusing landscape as well as a few common misunderstandings. And there are two ways in which this conundrum can be answered.

First, you should measure the temperature and volume of smoke that leaves your traditional wood stove (in short, it’s both extremely hot and of a large amount) and compare this to the exhaust found within a rocket mass heater (where there is a trickle of output that has a temperature of a little more than room temperature). This shows that there is far more heat that is retained by the rocket mass heater than by the conventional stove.

Second, we should look at the figures. Being 75% efficient does not consider the heat that escapes up through the chimney in smoke form. If we were to test a conventional oven within the lab we’d find that between 14% and 16% of the heat were escaping in smoke form alone. So then the 75% rating then becomes 64%. The higher rating is simply marketing spiel helping the big stove companies in their quarterly figures.

Lastly, we must consider that this original 75% may not be all that it seems in any event. This is a rating that was found within a laboratory with experts who were focused on getting the very best rating (and therefore skewing the results). So even though a wood stove may be able to achieve 75% when in ideal laboratory settings with a bunch of experts, the rating that you’ll receive within your home is likely to be far less. In fact it’s been found that on average the operating efficacy of a conventional wood burning stove tends to level off at around 35%, which becomes ever less efficient for those who are opting to burn damp leaves (where efficiency can run at something like 5%!). Now in comparison we take rocket mass heaters, which have no way of losing their inner air flow, and thus never lead to a slow, inefficient burn.

If you liked this post, but you’d like something a bit simpler to build first, why not check out our DIY rocket stove post?

(Images from: Wikipedia & Ernie and Erica Wisner)

500+ Money Saving & Frugal Living Tips (HUGE Resource)

500 money saving tips

This is a money saving and frugal living ’round-up’ post. I have gone through all our shorter posts on frugal living etc and consolidated them into this one huge resource on money saving. There may well be some overlap on some tips, but overall I am fairly certain there is around 500 money saving tips and tricks here.

5 Things You Can Do Today To Save Money And Be More Self-Sufficient

5 things to save money

For millions, the notion of living a more financially self-sufficient life is nothing more than just that – a notion. Existing free from the bounds of debt and comfort knowing you aren’t relying on anything other than yourself is a concept many desire, but few achieve. While the road of being financially self-sufficient is different for every person, achieving financial security and sufficiency begins at the same point for all adults.

The following five tips are geared to increase your savings account while simultaneously boosting your financial self-sufficiency in the modern world. Use these topics as the foundation for your personalized plan to reach financial stability and personal reliability.

Switch to a Better Bank

There’s a disturbing trend in the modern financial industry – fees. Whether it’s debit card fees, minimum account balance fees or the always mysterious, maintenance fees, banking institutions love to charge its customers for simply existing. While this may be true for many banks, there are a select few who offer stellar financial services without charging a fee for every action.

Research and switch to a bank that is fee-free and one that offers a decent interest on checking and savings accounts. Take your time researching the best bank for you. Much like your financial life, banks are unique and cater to specific financial situations. You can also research and switch insurance companies and energy suppliers. We saved $800 a year switching to a better energy tariff…

Create a Daily Budget (In Cash)

For many, the word ‘budget’ is nothing more than a fancy way of setting unachievable goals. The art form of budgeting is not easily acquired, yet it’s necessary to truly save money and become self-sufficient. Take an afternoon and review your monthly bills and expenses on all items (including food, drinks, entertainment activities, etc.). From here, subtract this total from your monthly income. Subtract a little extra for unexpected expenses.

The remaining balance is your expendable income. To ensure you actually spend within this limit, create a daily ”petty’ cash envelope. In an envelope for each day of the week, place the amount of cash you’re able to spend for that day. This method is a relative thought-free way of staying within your daily spending budget.

Fatten Your Piggy (Don’t Be Quick To Dismiss)

Now that you’re conducting your daily spending with cash instead of debit or credit, you’re bound to end up with a fair amount of loose change. Focus on placing this change into your piggy bank. Did you know that by placing aside fifty cents per day for a year, you’ll be at almost 40% of the recommended $500 emergency savings account? Become diligent in saving loose change and leftover bills, and you’ll soon be sitting on a significant amount of cash.

Keep Your Car in Top-Notch Shape

It’s no secret that a well-maintained car lasts substantially longer than a neglected vehicle. However, did you know that by keeping your car tuned-up results in saving money and making you more self-sufficient? By keeping tires properly inflated and the engine maintained, it’s possible to save hundreds in gas purchases each year.

Not only does a properly maintained vehicle save you money on required maintenance and expenditures, but a reliable mode of transportation is among best ways to solidify your self-sufficiency. Take care of your vehicle and watch it care for your livelihood.

Weatherproof Your Home

Regardless of where you live, the weather has a tendency to become extreme. Whether it’s blistering heat or bone-chilling cold, you likely spend hundreds on annual heating and cooling costs. Reduce your monthly utility bills by weatherproofing your home. Because all homes are unique, the exact process to make your residence efficient can vary. Spend time researching various weatherproofing techniques and adopt a system to save you money and sustain the comfort and viability of your home.

46 Penny-Pinching Ways To Save A Lot Of Money This Year

46 ways to save money

The little things really add up. Admit it, there’s a small part of you that relates to the ladies on Extreme Couponing. I read a great blog on how to save money by doing simple DIY projects, tips on how to reuse old things and awesome ways of saving money by doing simple things to items you already have.

Also, remember, times will only get harder and items only cost more, so save money now to have more money for later down the road. This way of saving money will help you if an emergency were to happen and you had to cut back on spending or even if SHTF.

More here: 46 Penny-Pinching Ways To Save A Lot Of Money This Year

100 Painless Ways To Save Money And Live More Frugally

100 ways to save money

Times are hard, goods and services are expensive but money is short. The rich are still getting richer, and the poor are still treading water, trying to keep their head in the air…

The things is, you don’t have to be living right on the bread-line to be concerned with saving money and living more frugally. It makes perfect economic sense for everyone, no matter what their wealth, to not waste their money. To be honest, I believe that living a more frugal life is also better for the soul, it is a more satisfying way to live. If you’d like to save some money and live a little more frugally, check out the post below.

See: 100 Painless Ways To Save Money And Live More Frugally

(Photo from:  Tax Credits)

50 Nifty DIY Tricks To Save Loads Of Money

DIY money saving tips

Some of these ideas cost nothing, but they result in improved performance and reduced costs. Shortening your dryer hose for example – it costs nothing but will save around $25 a year and make your clothes dry 20% quicker. That said, if the weather is good, you should hang your clothes outdoor to dry for even bigger savings!

My point is – there are loads of free/low-costDIY things you can do that can save you big money. The link below contains 50 DIY money saving tricks in categories of how much money they will save you, $50, $150, $250 and $500 a year. Check out the list below.

Find out more: 50 Nifty DIY Tricks To Save Loads Of Money

(Image from: Alan Cleaver)

100 Great Tips For Saving Money

100 money saving tips

There are so many ways we can save money, but often we are so stuck in our old ways and routines, that we miss the most obvious ways to save money… For example – we have saved $1000s a year by sitting down once a year and reviewing things like loans, utility bills, and insurance. We get the paperwork out, check the numbers and then go online and use one of those comparison websites which help find the best deal. A few hours doing this once a year can save $1000s.

It’s not just the big things, though – a friend of mine was telling me how much debt he was in etc, but then later in the conversation he mentioned that he buys his lunch from a local deli each day on the way to work. I asked why he doesn’t pack a lunch at home to save money and he said he couldn’t be bothered and it wouldn’t save that much money anyway. This kind of thinking is crazy though as $10 a day is $50 a week (5 day week) and that’s over $2500 a year. Little things add up!

If you save some money, check out the post below which lists 100 genuinely useful tips, to help you cut your cloth to fit.

Read: 100 Great Tips For Saving Money

41 Green Ways To Save Money ($1000s Each Year!)

41 Eco Ways to Save Money

It seems quite obvious to me that we are screwing our planet up at a rate far greater than previous generations. Lots of people also seem to be struggling and a lot less well off now too. Therefore if there are things you can do that save you money AND save the environment, surely that’s a no-brainer? It’s a win, win.

The post below contains 41 little things you can do that will save you big money and enable you to do your little bit to help safeguard the planet. I am a parent and I believe it is especially important for our children to see us doing these little ethical things that help us and the environment. Just like if you get them to eat healthily at a young age sets lifelong habits, so can this. Set a good example now and they will carry it on in the future.

Read: 41 Green Ways To Save Money ($1000s Each Year!)

(Image from: Greatist)

27 Ways To Save Some Money

27 ways to save some money
 

Money is tight for most people, and there’s no buts about it, times are getting tough…

If you are feeling the pinch (especially after Christmas), head over to One Good Thing By Jillee and read her excellent article detailing 27 (do-able) ways to save a bit of money this year. Great advice, make sure you check it out!

Find out more: 27 Ways To Save Some Money 

(Image from One Good Thing By Jillee)

High-Deductible Health Plan: How To Cut Costs & Save Money

Health care cost cutting

Ok so this is a break from the norm on Knowledge Weighs Nothing, but I saw this and I thought that with the 30,000 daily visitors to K.W.N, this can really help a lot of folks struggling with their high-deductible health plans. In fact, I guess unless you have an HDHP, you probably wouldn’t be here reading this. Anyway, we’ll see how popular this post is…

Anyway, the link below contains post written by Insure.com that includes lots of help, advice, and tips on how to cut costs and save money on your health care if you have an HDHP. If you just ignore the Insure.com advertising and free quote boxes, there is some great free information to be had here.

Read more: High-Deductible Health Plan: How To Cut Costs & Save Money

(Image from: Wikipedia)

Home DIY: How To Do Home Repairs Yourself To Save Money

Do home repairs to save money

So often when something at home breaks and needs repairing, we just phone a tradesman (or woman) and pay them to do the work for us… You shouldn’t be afraid to do a little home DIY, as many tasks are pretty simple and straightforward, especially with Google as your friend. A quick Google and you can often diagnose the issue, and a lot of the time someone has created a DIY tutorial for you to follow.

In the last year, with the help of Google, the home DIY tasks that I have done myself include: replacing a toilet, replacing a power-shower pump, laying a wood floor, building decking in the garden and fixing my computer and my wife’s laptop several time. My point is – you don’t always have to pay someone else to do the work, with the internet, lots of these tasks are easy to do yourself.

Here’s what I do –

If it is a broken appliance (washing machine, dishwasher, computer etc), I get the make and model and Google the specific issue. For example – ‘Sony Vaio S1 laptop not booting up’. When you do this you will usually find loads of posts and forum threads where people have had the same issue. They often also include the DIY repair and how to do it. A little research is all that is required.

If it is a home DIY task (fitting a new toilet, laying a floor etc), I simply Google how to do the task. For example – ‘DIY guide to laying laminate wood flooring’. Again you will usually find loads of guides and tutorials showing how to do the task you need to get done.

All that is up to you is deciding whether your level of DIY skill is up to the task of following the instructions you have found online. If it is, do the work yourself and save loads of money. If it’s not, bite the bullet and pay a professional to do the work for you…

(Image from: Wikipedia)

200 Tips & Ideas For Living More Frugally & Saving Money

200 frugal living tips

Everyone likes saving a bit of money, but these days, most of us HAVE to save money each month, just to get by… Times are hard and the ability to be able to cut costs and live more frugally is becoming more important than ever. Living frugally doesn’t necessarily mean going without, often it can mean having more for less, gardening for example – you can grow and have more food for less.

There are so many things you can do to live more frugally and cut costs. In fact, almost every single thing you do each day can be evaluated to see if there is a cheaper, better way of doing it. Below are two posts from ‘The Parsimonious Princess’ that list 200 ways to live a more frugal life.

See: 100 Painless Ways To Live More Frugally & 100 MORE Painless Ways To Live More Frugally

(Image from: StockMonkeys.com)

9 Frugal Living Tips From The Great Depression

9 frugal living tips

I read somewhere the other day the frugal living was going to be the new ‘in’ trendy thing for 2014. It’s nice for some to be able to play at having to live frugally, but for many of us, it is simply a way of life, not a trendy lifestyle choice…

Anyway, regardless of whether it’s a trendy choice or a necessity for you, below is a post listing 9 frugal living tips that folks had to rely on during the Great Depression. Actually, when I go through the list, I am starting to think that maybe choosing to live this way as a lifestyle choice (rather than having too!), isn’t such a bad thing after all. I think the world might be a better place if we took on some of these values.

Read more: 9 Frugal Living Tips From The Great Depression

(Image from: Wikipedia)

The Fine (and Frugal) Art of Repurposing Leftovers

Food security

Have you ever been really poor?  I don’t mean “I can’t afford Starbucks until my next paycheck” poor.  I mean “Should I buy food or pay the electric bill before the power gets shut off” poor. If so, this is a great article to read to make leftovers stretch your food budget. There are even some recipes on there so you can make leftovers even more “yummy”

Times get hard sometimes but if you are doing well with money, this is a great way to start preparing for an emergency situation because money will have no value or there will be no food to buy.

Find out more: The Fine (and Frugal) Art of Repurposing Leftovers

Picture Credit:  Muffet

11 Couponing Tips That Will Save You Thousands

Save money with coupons

If you are not couponing, you are throwing money away each and every week. The mistake many people make is thinking that a coupon here and a coupon there, isn’t going to make much of a difference and therefore couponing is not worth the effort. The thing is – if you actively seek out coupons and shop wisely, you can easily save around $200 each month… A $2400 a year saving for a bit of couponing seems a no-brainer to me.

If you want to switch from cashing the odd coupon here and there, to being a couponing pro who saves big each month, I highly recommend heading over to ‘Live Like You Are Rich’ and checking out their couponing guide. I guarantee it will save you money!

Read more: 11 Couponing Tips That Will Save You Thousands

(Image from: Live Like You Are Rich)

Feed A Family Of 6 For Less Than $400 A Month (Including Diapers!)

Save money on grocery shopping

There are two lots of people reading this – one is going ‘blah feeding a family of 6 for $400 is easy’, and the others are going ‘how on earth do you feed a family of six for just $400 a month?’

The things is, if you eat low-quality food it is easy to feed a family on very little money, but the post below from ‘Womanhood With Purpose’ explains  how Bernadette eats healthily, with lots of fruit, meats, and vegetables. The amazing thing is that her $400 a month budget also includes diapers and cleaning supplies. Find out how she does it below. I would also add that you could eat healthier and cheaper by also growing some of your own fruit and vegetables too!

Find our more: Feed A Family Of  6 For Less Than $400 A Month (Including Diapers!)

(Image from: Bernadette Veenstra via Womanhood With Purpose)
(Top Image from: 401(K) 2012)