A little bit country

A few months ago, stuff went south fast financially speaking and I had to figure out a way to cut costs around here. The first things that went were frilly things- cable, internet, etc. but it was still tight. After some research we brought home a few hens to provide us with eggs (I know, I know who adds more mouths to feed when things are tight already? Those that know me will immediately tell you I do!). We were chugging along, barely treading water, and I was noticing how good it made me feel to raise the hens and know that I was, atleast in a tiny way, helping with the family budget. That got the wheels in my head turning and I decided to try a couple other things. I made my own laundry detergent, and then my own dish detergent. So cheap and easy to do AND they work great! Since those experiments I have discovered cleaning with distilled vinegar (seriously, it cleans everything! Clothes, carpets, toilets, tarnished metal, dishes....) And today made my first batch of regular dish soap. We planted a very small (and somewhat unsuccessful) veggie garden and plan to can/freeze whatever we can. I make all our own bread (definitely need to keep practicing that one) and all our pasta. Plans are in the works next year to expand and upgrade the veggie garden and also try our hand at raising meat birds.
This all sounds very old- fashioned and country to my "city girl" ears. But it has seriously cut back our spending! And it makes me feel so good to know that I can do it and that my girls are benefitting from it. Might be a little bit "country", but just wait til we can afford a few acres and see what I can do!