Official SS Poll: What do you do to eliminate bills / cut down expenses?

[Mini Horses]

Well, the milk goats are definitely a go to here. Love my goats and the great milk, cream, cheeses, etc. Plan to expand my cheese making next Spring. I want to do some hard cheeses then.

I do most everything you mention. Garden failure this year (between weather & too much outside work) but, have some farmer market items to can. Some free fruits, etc, to can. Chickens to butcher. I'm good. Plans to do better next year.

My hens lay well and keep themselves fed from egg sales -- they often keep goat feed paid up, also.

It's tight when you live on a short budget! My goats, chickens & a garden can sure provide enough if managed well.

Aldis can be great for some items. Our Kroger stores are fantastic on their "pull in" sales. Both can be heck on a budget, short term.

 

[casportpony]

Subscribing.

 

[Hope Hughes]

Other*
We hunt for our meat. We try to use all of the amily we get. What we dont eat the animals eat.

When we first moved to Oklahoma 4 years ago(so glad we are back in FL, but we will miss the hunting) we didnt buy meat or veggies for 9mnth. Everything we grew or hunted. And we had meat chickens so we just froze them for when time came we wanted chicken. We also did alot of fishing & trading meat for other meat.

I cant wait to get back to that way of living! We still kinda do all those things but we dont 100% live that way like we did. It made a huge difference in our overall health when not buying meat from stores, as well has veggies. But we could really tell with the meat.

 

[Mini Horses]

It's tight when you live on a short budget! My goats, chickens & a garden can sure provide enough if managed well

I am becoming more critical of what I buy, spend, raise, etc. as I am hoping to stop a lot of my working for others. Right now I have myself on a strict budget, to assure I am ready next summer to quit at least some. Training now for cash only, use what you have, limit to expenses, etc. Have always been frugal but, new emphasis on it. Stricter with self. Buying anything I will need to be able to be pretty fully SS. Have picked up some items that are expensive, got fantastic CL buys, will help me later....cream separator, cheese press, new canner, extra jars, etc. Already had 2 new vac sealers, another canner, slicers, grinders, pots, etc.

Pressing to pay off my beloved tractor, then I can chill and be happy to not feel a pinch if I quit at the drop of a hat. At my age there is limited employment opportunity. So, you want to plan ahead.

But we could really tell with the meat.

Do you mean in eating & health or just $$?

Not much hunting in FL, right? BUT sheep, goats, pigs, chickens can provide and you control their diet.

Plenty of deer here, wild turkey everywhere. But, I don't hunt. I have plentiful pasture and am considering a feeder calf for next year, even a couple sheep for butcher when ready. Goats & chickens already in abundance & providing.

 

[Hope Hughes]

Both $$$ and health. The meat you buy at the store has been pumped full of bad stuff while being raised and after butchering. My husband used to have bad stomach issues and after going the 9MNT of ONLY eating what we raised or hunted/fished he didnt have issues like before.

There is TONS of hunting in FL. Turkey, deer, hogs, squirrels and our favorites Frogs and Gators. We raise our quail, chickens and ducks. But we still hunt ducks come season, here in FL and in Oklahoma. (I'm married to a duck hunter through and through lol) we live on 40acres in Noth Central FL now, but even in C.FL and South FL we had all the above to still hunt.

I grew up in the Glades and there are deer everywhere. They are just smaller then those in other states. There are also tons of hogs.

We hope to get our own sheep goats and pigs(although we truly enjoy hunting for them! ) for the homestead at one point to provided meat/milk. Fingers crossed it's not too far away!

 

[Mini Horses]

I had homes in Melbourne & Homestead for many years, then Andrew. Sold all and no living there since. But even then it was only part-time, main home in VA. Yeah, the deer are smaller. I don't do fish or gators. Just a more select area to hunt with the population area. Glades, well I've seen all I need there LOVED the fresh citrus and avocado tho. The honey from avocado groves is my favorite! Almost like molasses, just sweeter. Stayed in the Keys when there with our camper. Love Key West.
That has been a long, long time ago now. So things have changed.

 

[Hope Hughes]

Oooh I love gator & Frog legs. But you have to clean and cook it. Most places will only sell the tail and its (IMO) the toughest part of the gator. We brine ours in a saltwater, vinegar ice mix for like 2-3-4 days(we do all out wild game this way) and the meat comes out white and flakey when cooked! Mmmmm.... my husband dips it in Jalapeno jelly(yuck). And we gig and clean the frogs ourselves and I fry them in a simple four and egg wash.

I was born and raised in the Keys. Left at 21 with my husband, and we moved to LakeLand for a year then to Holowpaw(between saint cloud and melborne) And my husband worked in Melborne.

Growing up in the Key, no there is no hunting. Haha everything is done on the mainland so I grew up running airboats in the glads and you see it all out there. My mom still lives there and my sister is in Marathon, along with my SIL. So I still have ties to the keys.

There is nothing that can compare to the redlands food. All the veggies and all the local....everything. there was a fruit stand in homestead call Robert's Fruit Stand, best shakes you could EVER have! We also went mudding up in homestead right off of CardSound. And the good old Jack's Bait & Tackle for their boiled peanuts!

 

[Hope Hughes]

And things are ALWAYS changing in the Keys. I lived the way it was when I was kid growing up. My mom didnt have to worry about me playing in the neighborhood by myself or just with other kids. Everyone knew everyone and looked out for us kids and our houses. Now I wouldnt leave my girls out there without being out there with them. It's so sad.

 

[CrealCritter]

Great list we do them all. But maybe should have included hunt/fish for meat. I would be curious to see the %.

My wife pretty much refuses to buy anything unless it's an on sale. As of late I find myself buying more and more on-line after searching for the best price. A on line item must include the best price, free shipping and no taxes. I go out of my way to not pay Dick Durban for the privilege of purchasing something. I can't stand that guy!

 

[CrealCritter]

And things are ALWAYS changing in the Keys. I lived the way it was when I was kid growing up. My mom didnt have to worry about me playing in the neighborhood by myself or just with other kids. Everyone knew everyone and looked out for us kids and our houses. Now I wouldnt leave my girls out there without being out there with them. It's so sad.

Creepers

A few years ago my grand daughters came for the summer from Raleigh NC. My wife go sick of them being in the house all the time. She said you girls are going to go play outside. One grand daughter said to my wife "can't... someone might snatch us up". My wife looked out the door and said "Who? There ain't no one out there to snatch you". I loving living in the country in middle of nowhere but I would like to move deeper into the woods.