I have an old fashioned tip to save soap, electricity and water. My mother in law (now 90) told me that when her grandmother was finished washing the dishes she would say - just look at all that soapy hot water! Then she would use it to go over the floors. I do this sometimes too. Not if the water is gross of course, but after a light wash I think “just look at all that warm soapy water!” This trick was of course from when they didn’t have hot running water in the house - but why waste resources just because we’re privileged?
I have done this my entire life, lol. I also use the rinse water for my plants. (I don't run the tap for rinsing. I use a basin full of water with a bit of vinegar. )
@@dianec.amundsen3591 We had a camper in the 70ies. Our dad encouraged us to lick our plates clean😏. The sink was small with a narrow rubber hose emptying into a bucket he had to carry to the wash house. Every drop of water had to be carried in and out and heated on the stove!
Good suggestions. I used to teach a Live below your means class. It was always shocking to me how many people would sign up, but then scoff at every idea. It was not a class on "you have to do this too", but a class on "think outside of the box and see how you can change your own life."
Great video PP. Still getting by on less than $600 a month, here in NorCal. Just retired last Saturday on my 56th birthday and 37th anniversary with the company. Goal is to keep expenses under $1,200 a month for this year. Did all the big ticket expenses back in 2020 and have money set aside for future large expenses.
I'm 76, and you're right on. So many things can be stretched with water or using your imagination! Great you made this video for those who do not know.Oh, I almost forgot. I wash out my zip lock baggies and use them again. My Mom used to have a whole wash line full of them indoors.
I do too wash out my Ziploc baggies it depends on what was in them. But if I have fruit or something that can be rinsed I definitely do it. We live in Frisco Texas I don't know if y'all know how expensive it is to live here. Frisco has boomed everybody from California has moved to frisco. We bought our home 27 years ago. For $128,000 paid it off in 7 years. And we are very frugal. But it's a choice. People around us are struggling losing their homes. The house is out here now My house is worth over $500,000. But ,I'm not moving. We have an SUV and we're going to go on road trips. Luckily I have a sister that has a home in Massachusetts very beautiful close to Vermont Maine and Appalachian mountains. And family in North Carolina. What more can you ask for.
PP! I am totally with you on this one. The only thing "extreme" is that you have managed to resist the multi-million dollar marketing (brainwashing) tactics and strategies that most Americans fall for. My hat is off to you! I used to be a loyal customer to brand name products and began to try less expensive alternative products, instead of store brand names and have never gone back. I began to notice that companies keep changing the labels, claiming the "new" and "improved" version, which of course is more expensive. Stay well, be safe and strong! Thanks for being you.
@@suefleming Heck yes, most of us eat far too much.I did notice on a visit to the U.S that portion sizes and everything else are gigantic....cars, fridges, just everything! Hardest thing to get used to was air conditioning when it wasn't even super hot....no windows were open. I am just not used to that. No clotheslines or fences were allowed. This was in Ocala Florida about 15 years ago. Fond memories though of staying with family. ❤ (Scot in N.Z here.)
For people who have a hard time with letting go of “fresh smelling” name brand store cleaners….you can put orange or lemon peels in a 1/2 cup of vinegar in a jar, let it sit for a week or more. You now have citrus scented cleaner concentrate that you can further dilute or even add a couple drops of dish soap to the diluted mix. It also works with lavender, which grows wild here and can be cut for free! 😬
For hand soap, I keep foaming pump dispensers and refill with tap water and a few squirts of Dr. Bronner’s castile soap. It’s pennies on the dollar compared with commercial products and a lot healthier for skin & environment. This would probably work well for body wash in the shower, too.
Great ideas! I’m a cleaning lady. Most of our cleaning, including wood floors is with dish soap in warm water and microfiber cloths. Just a tip for windows-white cotton terry towels work better than microfiber for streak free finish. You can cut Windex with water, too, or just use white vinegar or ammonia in water for windows.
I dont dilute the washing up liquid in its bottle, but I do use a spraybottle, I put 20% of soap, and rest hot water. And the spray is perfect for everything from washing up to washing the countertop etc. I have changed from liquid bodywash to bar soaps. They last so much longer. I use washing powder in the washing machine, but under half the recommended amount of product, and I use vinegar for the rinse cycle. I hang my clothes, never owned a dryer. Towards the end of every month, I do the inventory of fridge, freezer and pantry, and mealplan out of what I have in the house. This week i will only top up of milk and fresh vegetables.
My eyes opened wide when I saw the Basmati Rice pillow at the end! I saw a video recently from the Appalachian Storyteller about how a looooong time back, the Appalachians would make dresses out of the bags that products came in. This was so popular that the companies actually hired artists to come up with the nicest designs for their bags. They knew the customer was not only purchasing the bag for the product needed, but also selecting one that would make a pretty dress.
I used to be a hardcore lipton tea drinker, now I discovered it was just the black tea I craved . It costs between 4 and 5 dollars a box. Now I found another brand I like for 1.99!!❤❤
I have specific hand towels, too. My husband was going through $100s of dollars a year in paper towels and napkins! I put the hand towel over the paper towel holder. It's now habit for him to use it. I have delicate skin. I make my own detergent of borax, washing soda and Zote soap. For roughly $.05, per load, including a fancy, non gmo, organic scented oil, hubby must have a scent, I get about 130 loads from one bar of Zote and I didn't do the math on the borax and washing soda, but it's an awesome number! I also use old socks as dog toys and wipe cloths😁
Hey girl, I just ran upon you the other day I live in Kingsland Texas I was born and raised here I’m a pretty cool old woman if I do say so myself 😜 I live by myself and I have found that so many of the things that you do to save money and be frugal are things that I have been doing for a long time. I’ve lived alone for the past 23 years and it’s easy to cut corners when you live aloneand for that, I am so grateful. But I really think you’re pretty savvy for a young person. I just subscribed to your channel and will be checking it out more. Thank you for sharing. By the way, if you ever have any questions for me, I have a lot of experience in a lot of stuff
Do you have a recipe to make your washed clothes smell pretty. I like the smell of Gain but in small amounts, yet I use powdered Tide. Trying to stay away from plastics. Thank You .
You really need to start your own TH-cam channel!! I'm serious! I'm a 68 year old gal liveing on my own homestead these last 5 years! I'd sure watch your frugal tips and I'm sure others would too!!!
I have been doing the watering down method for many years as I hate waste. I am cutting down in buying plastic containers in groceries. One of which is making my own dishwashing/laundry liquid in a reusable bottle. Left over Makeup liquid I mix a little oil - almond or coconut oil to use up whats left in the tube. Home cooked food is cheaper and healthier. Plan for the week, main meals, snacks.
My sister laughed when I put some almond oil in the bottle of foundation. (You cheapskate 😂) then I showed her my "free" tinted moisturizer and now she does it, too😂
I use vinegar for fabric softener. It rem9ves soap residue and also makes towels more absorbent. It's super cheap and also earth friendly. I also hang my laundry outside to dry. I need to try the oat milk trick. Thanks for the ideas!!
Love it! I do most of these as well! I also love reusing a foaming hand soap pump: just fill the container about 1/5 the way with cheap liquid soap and fill the rest with water; shake; and enjoy nice foamy hand soap that goes a long way! Also, for my mirrors and glass, I simply spray some water on there and wipe with a dry washcloth…I never have streaks! God bless!
I thank you prepper princess for all the knowledge you have given me since my husband passed away, i do everything you share, and it has saved me hundreds of dollars and it helps me not to stress out so much . I am truly grateful for you and your videos, I've learned so much for you ❤❤❤
This is not extreme. We did these things when I was growing up and we weren’t poor, just frugal. I will do more of these things because of your encouragement.
I hear people say that cooking takes too much time. For me, it is a big bunch of time to get in my car, drive somewhere and get food. I have learned how to make my own pasta, my own bread, my own pizza and my own tortillas. I use up pretty much everything but flour, sugar and spices before I shop now. This year, I have started cooking “favorite meals” for people for their birthdays. It is fun to hear what people request. I cook for however many people show up to celebrate. It is usually something no one has had in a while and everyone enjoys it. It is a VERY personal gift and I learn new recipes.
I feel the same. I can make a couple of burgers in the frying pan and two large servings of home cut potatoes from fresh in my air fryer almost as fast as driving to the fast food place, waiting for them to do it for me, and driving back home. Plus mine are less greasy and a LOT less salty; and taste much better.
I'll tell you what I did that was a simple gift and my neighbor absolutely loved it. I have a couple of frames that I was not using. So I went on her Facebook and printed a couple pictures of her with her daughters at Easter time and of course they're adults and they took the cutest pictures and then pictures of her and her grandchildren. I picked my favorite picture printed it put it in a frame wrapped it up in some paper I have from the dollar store that I probably got out of the dumpster one time when they threw everything away. And gave that to her as her 60th birthday present. Oh my gosh she cried. And it cost me a free frame and some printing paper. And it was the best idea and she loved it!
I reuse my plastic baggies , just clean them and dry over a cup . I’ve been adding about 40-50% extra noodles to mac n cheese for over 30 years , I put water into shampoo, body wash, dish liquid and my store bought juice and lemon ade (on sale ofcourse).
Great tips. I try to use less chemicals and since you have tons of oranges and lemons, put the peels in a jar (such as a mason jar), stuff it with peels and then add apple cidar vinegar or regular vinegar and let it steep for a week or ten days. Drain liquid into a spay bottle and you have a wonderful smelling cleaner that is also a disinfectant.
I just wanted to say thank you for sharing the knowledge you have. I love watching you. I don’t have any debt either. I live just under the poverty line by about $$40 🙄. I don’t have a safety net unfortunately and I am a senior citizen. But I do try and incorporate things you have taught me over the years. I may not be able/or choose to do everything you do but I do listen closely and I have learned many things from you that I incorporate into my daily life. Having everything I own paid for and having a comfortably stocked pantry are where I’ve made the biggest changes simply by listening and learning from you. That has made my living circumstances much more comfortable and manageable. So once again thanks for sharing your knowledge with me/us.
And if you have hard water, adding a teaspoon of baking soda to laundry soap, shampoo, dish soap, or hand soap will make them stretch even farther, and for just pennies. Also, adding a couple of tablespoons of rubbing alcohol to your all-purpose cleaner for windows and surfaces will make it clean better and dry faster without streaking.
Thank you for helping us save money!! I have a roll of paper towels that have pretty cotton napkins sitting on top that I got from a thrift store so using paper towels is pretty rare for me. No need to use chemicals to clean or buy furniture polish!! Cheaper furniture polish that works great: In a small container: 1/4 cup white vinegar + a few drops of mineral oil (or olive oil) + a few drops of lemon essential oil (optional) clean cloths Cheaper Glass Cleaner that works great: Wipe glass with cotton rag or microfiber to remove surface dirt. Use a 50:50 mix of white vinegar and water (1/2 C water + 1/2 C White Vinegar in a spray bottle) works better at a fraction of the price and is 100% food-safe.
Forget hair conditioner. Add about 1 tablespoon of apple cider vinegar to a solo cup of water and pour over hair after shampoo. Let it sit for a minute and rinse as usual. You'll never waste money on conditioner again. Conditioner builds up anyway. Ive done this for 15+years and my hair is very healthy and shiny and doesnt smell of vinegar. I keep a solo cup and a little bottle of vinegar in the shower. Refill the shower bottle from the big vinegar jug as needed.
@@pollen8 I think it should be just fine. It's not a very strong vinegar solution. Doubt it would rinse away color any more than shampoo does. That said, I no longer dye or bleach my hair so I can't say for certain.
My hair which in my younger days was fine but I had a lot, has gotten brittle and drier. So you are saying ACV diluted would help with that? I keep the length of my hair just past the shoulders.
@@SpeakTruthBeKind I mean it's not magic but just behaves as a common conditioner would. I never thought "curative" style products delivered on all their claims. That stuff is just meaningless advertising hype. I'd just try it once and see how you like it. If you're hair is changing texture in a negative way it could be diet related or just natural change. Not sure. Sorry if that isn't helpful.
I do purchase one roll of paper towels per year that are used for cleaning up an occasional cat vomit and or hairball. You are not extreme. Already do most of what you do. Am considering the bide. I do not use laundry pods, but use half the amount of liquid detergent (Era) and spot treat where needed. So about the same effect as you are getting. Started drying clothing on a rack on the deck. (HOA prohibits use of a clothes line. I do have a working dryer but seldom use it. When I moved into this new house the plug was different and it took me 7 years to having it hooked up, and during that time I put clothing to dry on racks in the basement. (dehumidifier is run during late spring and summer). Always make and drink coffee at home. Watch for sales on pork shoulder roasts as they are so versatile. Can slice off sections and treat like a boneless pork chop, great when cut think enough to cook through when put with baking scalloped potatoes. Purchased a meat grinder off marketplace for $5, so from the pork roast can make sausage and make up patties. That saves a dollar a pound and it is easy to add desired spices. For cooking beans the insta-pot is cheaper to run than the crock pot and takes less time. Bought mine off Marketplace for $5.00, new air fryer from Salvation Army for $8.
I bought a case of 12 bottles of steramine tablets. 150 tabs per bottle. 1 tablet to 1 gallon of water. You can sterilize and clean the entire house, all hard surfaces. It replaces bleach, and tablets are shelf stable for 10+ years. Not to be used on clothing or for ypur wash. It is used in commercial kitchens to sterilize everything, dishes, glassware, untensils, cutting boards, sinks, refrigerators, ovens, stove stops, exhaust fans, floors, pots & pans, toilets, showers, faucets, windowsill, door knobs, patios, everything.
My daughter works at a dollar store while attending university for a degree in tech and she brings home so many things destined for the dumpster because it’s either slightly out of date or about to be. (9 times out of 10 we are able to use these items before they go bad so it has saved us a lot of money). She brought home an entire box of hand sanitizers and I have been adding a bottle to my slightly watered down dish soap which further liquifies it and makes it go on forever it seems. The hand sanitizer disinfects the dishes as I wash them. They are always clean. So basically one large bottle of knockoff Dawn from Sam’s club plus water and hand sanitizer is going to last me forever at this rate. I’ve been using it for a year easily and hardly made a dent in the original knockoff bottle.
I love doing these things around the house, it's fun to me. But my family hates it!!! They say I'm a cheapo and that I'm weird. I just like saving money and also I think we just consume way too much, lol. Thankful I have your channel to relate to❤️
Yes my family says the same thing about me calling me cheap. I just like to save money wherever I can. Lol I still gotta buy paper towels and toilet paper unfortunately since they are not on my team for being more frugal.
Plain old vinegar with mostly water in a spray bottle is also a great cleaner. It is an natural antimicrobial and will kill germs throughout the house. It’s much safer than commercial cleaners. You can add a few drops of lavender oil to make it smell pretty. Thanks for all the great tips. I agree about the paper towels. It is so much better for the environment to reuse old cloths instead of paper towels. If you have ever lived by a paper mill you quickly discover how polluting they are to air and water so use your old rags!😊
If you grind your coffee finer it gives great coffee, tip from when I lived in germany. Also lemon or orange rinds in a jar filled with vinegar become a wonderful cleaning spray in kitchen or bathroom.
Amber, you are great. I took a few minutes to read several of the comments...geez...i didn't realize how many negative people comment... my advice to them, don't take PP's advice, if you don't like it... but you don't need to comment your negative advice. She's doing fine without your help.
Thank you. I do some (rags, cleaning) you showed. But since my goal is to free myself from the slavery of debt, I liked the many ways you explained for saving cash. Blessings!
I make my own all-purpose spray to clean the kitchen and bathroom; a spray bottle with 1/4 cup rubbing alcohol, about 10 drops of tea tree oil, and the rest with water. Cleans, disinfects, smells nice. A bottle of rubbing alcohol ($1 at dollar tree) lasts me a year worth of cleaning, and I always ask family for tea tree oil for christmas for my stocking so that's free.
When Covid hit and toilet paper was hard to find I started cutting receiving blankets into 4x4 squares and used them for pee. Since I drink tons of water and go about every hr to hr and half, I saved tons. I put the clothes in a laundry bag/Laguerra bag and throw in the wash. I had about 18 mths of TP on the shelf but it made to where I could provide TP for friends and family that couldn't find it and I didn't mind the cloth.
During the C-word shutdowns, I took your advice and watered down my 986 ml (less than 1 quart) bottle of shampoo. It lasted me two years. No kidding! I've been doing that ever since. I make my own spray cleaners using a similar recipe - I just add about 2 tsp. rubbing alcohol. It helps it to dry faster, more streak free and kills germs more completely. I used to pay $5 for windex all purpose spray. I don't think I've paid that much for all of my cleaners in the past 5 years!
My MIL used to stretch her coffee the same way, but she had gradually added the cheap coffee to husband's "absolutely must be Folgers" coffee until it was 50/50. He never noticed as she reused a large Folgers can.
Can i mention that i have small garbage can in bathroom and living room, i have bought small garbage bags, but i use small shopping bags for my cans to save money!
I work at a dollar store, and every season clothes for all will go deeply discounted, im talking $1.00 or less for hoodies, pajama sets robes, shoes, summer clothing etc, i buy for gifts at christmas etc and help keep my grandchildren in clothes, just buy a size up, and then the next year they will fit
Lolol i buy all my clothes and shoes for pretty much one dollar each for the next year season too. Occasionally might hit a thrift store in june for one dollar sweaters. Hav several totes full of one dollar blankets stored under the bed just in case that i bought couple years ago. Hav pulled some out. And a crap load of new and almost new candles and oil lamps when they were one dollar or less. Just saw this coming years ago.
The bidet is the best...cleaner behind, better for the environment, and money saving! Here's a tip if you go to your local laundromat you can pickup detergent bottles that customers have thrown away and use the remainder of the detergent. I haven't paid for detergent in forever!
I use a lot of vinegar and lemon juice to clean. Cuts grease, I use baking soda for teeth, putting out fires on my stove, to cut grease in clothes before pretreating with dawn that has been halved with water. I use dry milk for creamer, or to liquify, add water to all of my liquid make up in winter, and use dry blush, eye shadow with water in summer for eye liner, blusher that lasts even in high heat and humidity,
I love the smell of coffee. But I hate the taste. In college I had a roommate that loved coffee so for Christmas one year I bought her this huge collection of flavored coffees. She loves them. And the house smells so good.
I can't afford a coffeemaker. Besides, I learned that ALL coffeemakers (except Bunn) have an ALUMINUM tube that heats the water. Aluminum is bad for the brain. I use a stainless steel pour-over funnel to make my coffee. Just heat the water and pour it over the coffee grounds in the pour-over funnel and voila' !! Coffee taste great every time! Probably because I buy beans and grind them myself using a HAND grinder... no wasted electricity on grinding. BTW, I love Prepper Princess! She's a role model for those who want the best out of life without spending a fortune. You go, girl !!
Yes, I have wondered that too. Even if you use a bidet, it seems that you would still need to use some TP to dry off....I'm guessing... just not as much TP as without a bidet...but no one ever talks about that outright.
This is what living frugally is all about. My grandmother's did these types of things 60 years ago, and it was what everyone did, just to get by, especially after the depression. I wouldn't know how to live any other way. I have orange peels soaking in a jar with a cup of white vinegar, which is my next bottle of cleaning product brewing. Bidets are such a cost savings.
I don’t know how I found you, but I’m glad I did! It seems like you have a great supportive community here. I’m enjoying reading the comments and getting more ideas😀 Thanks for what you do!
You are SO right about the soap staying in our laundry! I use about a tsp. of liquid and it's still hard to get it all rinsed out. Now I just use about a Tablepoon of baking soda to wash my clothes and rinse with white vinegar, I also soak them for hours or overnight. Works great! You have a lot of great ideas to save money. Love your videos. Also love when you share the dogs with us. You are SO right! Nala IS SO stinkin' cute!
Baking soda and vinegar.... I brush my teeth with baking soda and wash my hair woth baking soda and vinegar. I make my own laundry soap. 1 part Epsom salt and 1 part baking soda plus 2 parts washing soda. I add a little of this powder mix and about 2 tbs of Dr Bronners. This is way cheaper and way healthier than regular detergent. Also, soda and vinegar for your house cleaning products.
So many frugal channels and I keep coming back to you. Love your personality. Bought your book a few years back. (Irritated the family watering the shampoo down. 🤭)
I want to add some recepies for making detergents yourself: Bathcleaner: put orange or lemon peels in a jar and cover with vinegar, let it sit for 3 weeks, then fill the vinegar into a spray can and use it to clean limescale. If your bath is also covered with oily residue from e.g. conditioner, add a little alcohol to the vinegar. You don´t need expensive alcohol that is fit for human consumption, any cheap variety like the one used to start a fire will do. laundry detergent: mix 1 tablespoon of washing soda with 1 tablespoon of soapflakes (just shred a soap bar on a grinder)
Funny! Yesterday, I stood in my kitchen reflecting on the new (very) cheap coffebrand I tried. Whether or not I should start using that instead. Its ok, but no where neer my regular coffee when it comes to flavor. And I thought, wonder what prepper prepper princess would do? And I had it, you would "water it down" with the cheaper brand. But how much? And here you are telling me 20%!! 😍😍 Its like you heard my need for help. The universe is a funny thing. Thank you for your videos. Never stop, I love them. ❤️❤️⭐🦋🌿🦋🥰
I don't wear makeup or use nail polish and never really did. I would buy some once in a while and put it on, only to let it sit in the cabinet for years. One day I threw it all away and never bought it again. Why do women think they need makeup? Who told us that?
We shouldn’t have to put an artificial ‘mask’ to be presentable to the world. Makeup is fine if you like wearing it but no one should feel obligated to just because society expects it.
Lol. Been cutting and watering down for over 50 years. My kids did fine. Neighbors moved and left me cleaning products. Our clothes last forever. Near O'Hare airport. Tina, Al's wife
I have been using 2/3 pump squirts of Dr. Bronner's pure-castile soap to wash my long hair, then rise my hair with 1/2 cup of white vinegar and warm water. Not only is my hair clean but the knots/tangles gone. Yes people are going to say Dr. Bronner's soap is costly, this is what I have to say. When I am ask what would you like for Christmas/birthday/holiday etc. gift. I answer a large bottle of Dr. Bronner's soap.
If Top Ramen is your thing, you can use one packet of the seasoning for two of the bags of ramen, then add whatever meat and veggies you have to the mix. I use one cup of water for each packet, so I don't have to drain it. Put the other seasoning packet away for another use. I found this mix and have used it forever for the dishwasher: 2:1 baking soda and kosher salt. That's it. I buy a 3-lb box of salt and two 64-oz boxes of baking soda. Weigh 6 lbs of baking soda. Mix it all up very well, put it in a plastic creamer container or other large container, and keep a spoon in there. When you get ready to use it, fill the cup and put in a few drops of Dawn. Run as usual. You don't save very much over the cheap stuff but this mix lasts a long time. I make it because it's easier on my silverware and other items and it won't strip anything.
Your advice from that previous video about laundry detergent was right on target. You need a very small amount of actual detergent to get the dirt to release from the fibers in your average load and yes, it's the movement of the clothing that largely cleans them. Oh, and the other day, my husband needed a kitchen towel, and picked up one from the pile with more frayed edges than sewn ones. LOL He said, what's up with this? I said that it was my favorite practical towel, because it was thick and absorbent - my last of the old guard of my towels that were from the days where towels were made to LAST. It's true. My newer ones are pretty, pretty but you know they were made to fall apart sooner...than later. :(
I live in a party of the country that doesn't have the abundance of fruit you have. But I do something that saves money and makes me happy - sign up for the Community Supported Agriculture (CSA) from the farmer's market. You pay up front which gives farmers money to buy seeds, etc. and in exchange you get a weekly bag of vegetables for several weeks. Not only is buying this separately at the farmers market much more expensive, you get beautiful abundant produce and help the local economy. I share with a friend, so it's even cheaper. Yes, I occasionally get something I don't like (like arugula) but I give that to my neighbor who loves everything. I freeze anything I didn't get to. It costs me about $15/wk, which is more than your budget, but an OK price for me here.
I use Kirk's bar soap as a shampoo, and now I no longer need to use conditioner. I have natural wavy/curly hair. It used to be dry and I had to use expensive conditioner. Not any more. My hair is so soft. Wish I would have known about this sooner.
I understand about the huge savings. I wonder about the use of conditioner for your hair. If you are going 3-7 days between washing your hair, would not the natural oils condition it? Back years ago, I wore my hair long and wouldn't use conditioner. The only thing I used was a little honey that was heated in the same sunlight that heated my shower water. I would wash my hair first. Then, I use my hands to work the honey into my hair. After I finished washing my body,I would wash out the honey. It worked wonders.
I skip on the room deodorizers. I use a spay bottle (with fine mist) full of water and add a few drops of essential oils that were gifted to me, boom! I got my self a free room deodorizer!
PP, ever since you mentioned using less laundry detergent, I have been practicing that tip. Amazing how far it goes. Also, I use cheapie wash rags for cleaning instead of paper towels. You can wash them and even the cheapies last, but they are inexpensive to replace, too. Appreciate you always ❤
For anyone who's trying to replace coffee because caffeine isn't agreeing with them I highly suggest dandelion tea. It keeps you regular like coffee and has a bitter taste like coffee while being cheaper if you get it online. I'm not knocking coffee, it has great health benefits it just messes with some of us unfortunately
Just be careful not to consume too much Dandelion tea. I swapped it for coffee a few years ago, and after a few months of drinking 5-6 cups of dandelion tea a day I developed an allergy to anything in the dandelion family. Now I cannot even eat honey because of the allergens in it. I always had honey in black tea, and now I have to drink black tea plain.
Good morning Amber! We bought a fixer upper in the Upper Peninsula of Michigan for less than a new car! The property is very overgrown so we have a lot of work to do but we have planted blueberries, raspberries, rhubarb, and blackberries. We also got 3 elder berries and we have elderberries on the property. Slowly as the trees get leaves etc I am learning what everything is!
great tips, do know, all the cleaners you use including the toothpaste are full of toxic chemicals which then have to go to your liver for detox and are harsh for the environment; I use vinegar, baking soda, borax, essential oils, and I make my own lemon cleaner from lemon rinds in vinegar...
Thank you for sharing this is really helpful! Coming from a stay at home wife and mom of 3 ❤I'm going to start watering down my products too now so I can get my credit card paid off faster.. I try to stick to a low grocery budget thanks for these tips!!
Costco half n half is the cheapest for me so far. We are a big family so for us it makes sense to have the Costco membership that gives us back a percentage so it pays itself. I have to have my half n half. Our persimmon, lemon and orange and loquat trees keep our fruit cravings satisfied. Cactus grows easily too and is very healthy, we love eating cactus.
P.P. I’m confused about something. Most of the prepper channels I follow say to stock up on everything because of an apocalypse, war, depression, etc. Like u, I want to live a more minimalist lifestyle. Clutter stresses me out. Could u do a video expressing your thoughts on this pls?
I believe her early video's from years ago discussed prepping. She does do a lot of reviews on solar generators, which are used for preparedness. You can search her videos for preparedness if curious.
PP videos is more about how to live on less by living below your means and taking advantage of sales and opportunities. When she can and finds a good sale she will stock up on meat or whatever. She gives examples how she makes certain food stuffs go farther. And, yes, she talks about how to focus on financial security and less on stuff. None of her videos have to do deal with preparing for an apocolypse, etc. They are about choosing to live day to day on less money than you have coming in. It's about financial survival in the world we live in now. Not preparing for the end of the world as we know it. She has the things she needs, but has learned to define not only what she can live without, but what makes her comfortable. By the way, as I have grown older, I find more and more how much I detest clutter. It kind of comes down to how much stuff do you really need and do you own what you need and really want, or does your stuff own you--money, maintenance, etc. I don't need to prepare for the end of civilization as we know it. I just want to live an ok life while I'm here. 🙂
I don't think she does, but depends on where you live. I'm not a prepper for the end of the worlds, but do storage based on my childhood teachings, long cold winters, & lack on shopping choices.
Preparing a working pantry that works for you is also for when you don't have enough money to get groceries that month, you are in ill health and don't feel up to grocery shopping for something, a job layoff has occurred, it's snowing and you don't want to be on the road, unexpected company... all sorts of everyday situations.
Of course, if you just use a bit less each time, but add more water, it does the same thing. I like the idea of adding moisturiser to foundation. I might try that
I love everything about your channel. I agree with you about laundry. I use an empty large dish soap container to house laundry detergent. I give each load a small squeeze and that’s it. When I do bras & delicates I add nothing most of the time. My positive addition is to not cook with seed oils EVER!! Most crops (like wheat+++) are sprayed with glyphosate to kill them so they are easier to harvest. Don’t eat grains besides GMO free organic popcorn.
I bought flannel sheets at a yard sale to cut up for TP and Kleenex. I have different patterns so I know which are which and I wash them in a lingerie bag to keep them together. The flannel sheets are so soft and absorbent. I chose not to hem them so you need to account for some unraveling the first few washes.
Concerning foaming hand soap ,,I learned that it is about 80% water 20% soap ,when getting empty I add water and maybe a teaspoon of soap and Wala still foaming .😊 also I have a Swiffer mop ,I take the bottle off ( they expect you to buy a new refill bottle ) and put in my own cleaner ,,have not bought a new bottle in 5 yrs .
@@grammy279 Not sure, but probably a little extra grease cutting. Alcohol is NOT for painted surfaces, I found that out using formula 409 on painted cupboards. The paint color was transferring to the rag I used. Our fridge and stove are painted too, found that out too.
Spray bottles are the key. I like to use 50% wintergreen rubbing alcohol to clean my cell phone and laptop throughout the day. Also those individually packaged 70% Alcohol towelettes prep pads so multipurpose for earring cleaning dirty fingers and overall freshening up. I like your channel .
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I have an old fashioned tip to save soap, electricity and water. My mother in law (now 90) told me that when her grandmother was finished washing the dishes she would say - just look at all that soapy hot water! Then she would use it to go over the floors. I do this sometimes too. Not if the water is gross of course, but after a light wash I think “just look at all that warm soapy water!” This trick was of course from when they didn’t have hot running water in the house - but why waste resources just because we’re privileged?
I have done this my entire life, lol. I also use the rinse water for my plants. (I don't run the tap for rinsing. I use a basin full of water with a bit of vinegar. )
Haven't had running water in eight years.
I miss my indoor rivers! 🐴
@@dianec.amundsen3591 We had a camper in the 70ies. Our dad encouraged us to lick our plates clean😏. The sink was small with a narrow rubber hose emptying into a bucket he had to carry to the wash house. Every drop of water had to be carried in and out and heated on the stove!
Good suggestions. I used to teach a Live below your means class. It was always shocking to me how many people would sign up, but then scoff at every idea. It was not a class on "you have to do this too", but a class on "think outside of the box and see how you can change your own life."
Great video PP. Still getting by on less than $600 a month, here in NorCal. Just retired last Saturday on my 56th birthday and 37th anniversary with the company. Goal is to keep expenses under $1,200 a month for this year. Did all the big ticket expenses back in 2020 and have money set aside for future large expenses.
I'm 76, and you're right on. So many things can be stretched with water or using your imagination! Great you made this video for those who do not know.Oh, I almost forgot. I wash out my zip lock baggies and use them again. My Mom used to have a whole wash line full of them indoors.
I do too wash out my Ziploc baggies it depends on what was in them. But if I have fruit or something that can be rinsed I definitely do it.
We live in Frisco Texas I don't know if y'all know how expensive it is to live here. Frisco has boomed everybody from California has moved to frisco. We bought our home 27 years ago. For $128,000 paid it off in 7 years.
And we are very frugal. But it's a choice. People around us are struggling losing their homes. The house is out here now My house is worth over $500,000. But ,I'm not moving. We have an SUV and we're going to go on road trips. Luckily I have a sister that has a home in Massachusetts very beautiful close to Vermont Maine and Appalachian mountains. And family in North Carolina. What more can you ask for.
PP! I am totally with you on this one. The only thing "extreme" is that you have managed to resist the multi-million dollar marketing (brainwashing) tactics and strategies that most Americans fall for. My hat is off to you! I used to be a loyal customer to brand name products and began to try less expensive alternative products, instead of store brand names and have never gone back. I began to notice that companies keep changing the labels, claiming the "new" and "improved" version, which of course is more expensive. Stay well, be safe and strong! Thanks for being you.
Hi Princess!! I'm a frugal minimalist too!!
Eating less is one of my favorite frugal hacks!!
Love Nala and Rocky too !!
❤❤❤❤❤❤
@@suefleming Heck yes, most of us eat far too much.I did notice on a visit to the U.S that portion sizes and everything else are gigantic....cars, fridges, just everything! Hardest thing to get used to was air conditioning when it wasn't even super hot....no windows were open. I am just not used to that. No clotheslines or fences were allowed. This was in Ocala Florida about 15 years ago. Fond memories though of staying with family. ❤ (Scot in N.Z here.)
For people who have a hard time with letting go of “fresh smelling” name brand store cleaners….you can put orange or lemon peels in a 1/2 cup of vinegar in a jar, let it sit for a week or more. You now have citrus scented cleaner concentrate that you can further dilute or even add a couple drops of dish soap to the diluted mix. It also works with lavender, which grows wild here and can be cut for free! 😬
For hand soap, I keep foaming pump dispensers and refill with tap water and a few squirts of Dr. Bronner’s castile soap. It’s pennies on the dollar compared with commercial products and a lot healthier for skin & environment.
This would probably work well for body wash in the shower, too.
I do this. Add essential oils sometimes. Been using same bottle for a year or so and still have half the bottle
Great ideas! I’m a cleaning lady. Most of our cleaning, including wood floors is with dish soap in warm water and microfiber cloths. Just a tip for windows-white cotton terry towels work better than microfiber for streak free finish. You can cut Windex with water, too, or just use white vinegar or ammonia in water for windows.
Best cheap cleaner- one part vinegar to one part water. Done.
Add a little apple cider vinegar to your shampoo and conditioner and it lasts longer and is healthy for your scalp as well.
I dont dilute the washing up liquid in its bottle, but I do use a spraybottle, I put 20% of soap, and rest hot water. And the spray is perfect for everything from washing up to washing the countertop etc. I have changed from liquid bodywash to bar soaps. They last so much longer. I use washing powder in the washing machine, but under half the recommended amount of product, and I use vinegar for the rinse cycle. I hang my clothes, never owned a dryer. Towards the end of every month, I do the inventory of fridge, freezer and pantry, and mealplan out of what I have in the house. This week i will only top up of milk and fresh vegetables.
My eyes opened wide when I saw the Basmati Rice pillow at the end! I saw a video recently from the Appalachian Storyteller about how a looooong time back, the Appalachians would make dresses out of the bags that products came in. This was so popular that the companies actually hired artists to come up with the nicest designs for their bags. They knew the customer was not only purchasing the bag for the product needed, but also selecting one that would make a pretty dress.
I just love this!
Dresses out of chicken feed sacks! I want one!
I wore feed sack dresses and summer short outfits...my Grandma made them.. as well as she would make matching outfits for our dolls as well❤
I used to be a hardcore lipton tea drinker, now I discovered it was just the black tea I craved . It costs between 4 and 5 dollars a box. Now I found another brand I like for 1.99!!❤❤
I have specific hand towels, too. My husband was going through $100s of dollars a year in paper towels and napkins! I put the hand towel over the paper towel holder. It's now habit for him to use it. I have delicate skin. I make my own detergent of borax, washing soda and Zote soap. For roughly $.05, per load, including a fancy, non gmo, organic scented oil, hubby must have a scent, I get about 130 loads from one bar of Zote and I didn't do the math on the borax and washing soda, but it's an awesome number! I also use old socks as dog toys and wipe cloths😁
Hey girl, I just ran upon you the other day I live in Kingsland Texas I was born and raised here I’m a pretty cool old woman if I do say so myself 😜 I live by myself and I have found that so many of the things that you do to save money and be frugal are things that I have been doing for a long time. I’ve lived alone for the past 23 years and it’s easy to cut corners when you live aloneand for that, I am so grateful. But I really think you’re pretty savvy for a young person. I just subscribed to your channel and will be checking it out more. Thank you for sharing.
By the way, if you ever have any questions for me, I have a lot of experience in a lot of stuff
Do you have a recipe to make your washed clothes smell pretty. I like the smell of Gain but in small amounts, yet I use powdered Tide. Trying to stay away from plastics. Thank You .
You really need to start your own TH-cam channel!! I'm serious! I'm a 68 year old gal liveing on my own homestead these last 5 years! I'd sure watch your frugal tips and I'm sure others would too!!!
I have been doing the watering down method for many years as I hate waste. I am cutting down in buying plastic containers in groceries. One of which is making my own dishwashing/laundry liquid in a reusable bottle. Left over Makeup liquid I mix a little oil - almond or coconut oil to use up whats left in the tube. Home cooked food is cheaper and healthier. Plan for the week, main meals, snacks.
My sister laughed when I put some almond oil in the bottle of foundation. (You cheapskate 😂) then I showed her my "free" tinted moisturizer and now she does it, too😂
I use vinegar for fabric softener. It rem9ves soap residue and also makes towels more absorbent. It's super cheap and also earth friendly. I also hang my laundry outside to dry.
I need to try the oat milk trick. Thanks for the ideas!!
Love it! I do most of these as well! I also love reusing a foaming hand soap pump: just fill the container about 1/5 the way with cheap liquid soap and fill the rest with water; shake; and enjoy nice foamy hand soap that goes a long way! Also, for my mirrors and glass, I simply spray some water on there and wipe with a dry washcloth…I never have streaks! God bless!
I thank you prepper princess for all the knowledge you have given me since my husband passed away, i do everything you share, and it has saved me hundreds of dollars and it helps me not to stress out so much . I am truly grateful for you and your videos, I've learned so much for you ❤❤❤
This is not extreme. We did these things when I was growing up and we weren’t poor, just frugal. I will do more of these things because of your encouragement.
Not only GREAT tips but also the mind-shift inspiration. Dividing products and food does not mean deprivation. ❤
I hear people say that cooking takes too much time. For me, it is a big bunch of time to get in my car, drive somewhere and get food. I have learned how to make my own pasta, my own bread, my own pizza and my own tortillas. I use up pretty much everything but flour, sugar and spices before I shop now. This year, I have started cooking “favorite meals” for people for their birthdays. It is fun to hear what people request. I cook for however many people show up to celebrate. It is usually something no one has had in a while and everyone enjoys it. It is a VERY personal gift and I learn new recipes.
I feel the same. I can make a couple of burgers in the frying pan and two large servings of home cut potatoes from fresh in my air fryer almost as fast as driving to the fast food place, waiting for them to do it for me, and driving back home. Plus mine are less greasy and a LOT less salty; and taste much better.
My family tradition growing up is mom would make us whatever dinner we wanted on our birthday. Thanks for the great memories!
@@LauraMacMillan-el2kc I make my own burgers and fries too! So delicious! I started that last year.
@@HopefulEmpath ❤️
I'll tell you what I did that was a simple gift and my neighbor absolutely loved it. I have a couple of frames that I was not using. So I went on her Facebook and printed a couple pictures of her with her daughters at Easter time and of course they're adults and they took the cutest pictures and then pictures of her and her grandchildren. I picked my favorite picture printed it put it in a frame wrapped it up in some paper I have from the dollar store that I probably got out of the dumpster one time when they threw everything away. And gave that to her as her 60th birthday present. Oh my gosh she cried. And it cost me a free frame and some printing paper. And it was the best idea and she loved it!
I reuse my plastic baggies , just clean them and dry over a cup . I’ve been adding about 40-50% extra noodles to mac n cheese for over 30 years , I put water into shampoo, body wash, dish liquid and my store bought juice and lemon ade (on sale ofcourse).
Same, I save a lot of plastic. I just realized I should use a rubber band with plastic I've cleaned & cut from frozen veggie bags from the store.
Great tips. I try to use less chemicals and since you have tons of oranges and lemons, put the peels in a jar (such as a mason jar), stuff it with peels and then add apple cidar vinegar or regular vinegar and let it steep for a week or ten days. Drain liquid into a spay bottle and you have a wonderful smelling cleaner that is also a disinfectant.
I just wanted to say thank you for sharing the knowledge you have. I love watching you. I don’t have any debt either. I live just under the poverty line by about $$40 🙄. I don’t have a safety net unfortunately and I am a senior citizen. But I do try and incorporate things you have taught me over the years. I may not be able/or choose to do everything you do but I do listen closely and I have learned many things from you that I incorporate into my daily life. Having everything I own paid for and having a comfortably stocked pantry are where I’ve made the biggest changes simply by listening and learning from you. That has made my living circumstances much more comfortable and manageable. So once again thanks for sharing your knowledge with me/us.
And if you have hard water, adding a teaspoon of baking soda to laundry soap, shampoo, dish soap, or hand soap will make them stretch even farther, and for just pennies. Also, adding a couple of tablespoons of rubbing alcohol to your all-purpose cleaner for windows and surfaces will make it clean better and dry faster without streaking.
Thank you for helping us save money!! I have a roll of paper towels that have pretty cotton napkins sitting on top that I got from a thrift store so using paper towels is pretty rare for me.
No need to use chemicals to clean or buy furniture polish!!
Cheaper furniture polish that works great:
In a small container: 1/4 cup white vinegar + a few drops of mineral oil (or olive oil)
+ a few drops of lemon essential oil (optional)
clean cloths
Cheaper Glass Cleaner that works great:
Wipe glass with cotton rag or microfiber to remove surface dirt.
Use a 50:50 mix of white vinegar and water (1/2 C water + 1/2 C White Vinegar in a spray bottle) works better at a fraction of the price and is 100% food-safe.
Hey I got a tip saver for you, use shampoo bars, they go a long way. I only shampoo every 3 days. Try it and conditioner bars go for it
Which do you recommend and where do you purchase them? I have never tried them, but want to.
I was thinking about doing this, but wasn’t sure they really saved money…
Forget hair conditioner. Add about 1 tablespoon of apple cider vinegar to a solo cup of water and pour over hair after shampoo. Let it sit for a minute and rinse as usual. You'll never waste money on conditioner again. Conditioner builds up anyway. Ive done this for 15+years and my hair is very healthy and shiny and doesnt smell of vinegar. I keep a solo cup and a little bottle of vinegar in the shower. Refill the shower bottle from the big vinegar jug as needed.
@@spookykitty1912 can you do this if your hair is colored?
@@pollen8 I think it should be just fine. It's not a very strong vinegar solution. Doubt it would rinse away color any more than shampoo does. That said, I no longer dye or bleach my hair so I can't say for certain.
My hair which in my younger days was fine but I had a lot, has gotten brittle and drier. So you are saying ACV diluted would help with that? I keep the length of my hair just past the shoulders.
@@SpeakTruthBeKind I mean it's not magic but just behaves as a common conditioner would. I never thought "curative" style products delivered on all their claims. That stuff is just meaningless advertising hype. I'd just try it once and see how you like it. If you're hair is changing texture in a negative way it could be diet related or just natural change. Not sure. Sorry if that isn't helpful.
I do purchase one roll of paper towels per year that are used for cleaning up an occasional cat vomit and or hairball. You are not extreme. Already do most of what you do. Am considering the bide. I do not use laundry pods, but use half the amount of liquid detergent (Era) and spot treat where needed. So about the same effect as you are getting. Started drying clothing on a rack on the deck. (HOA prohibits use of a clothes line. I do have a working dryer but seldom use it. When I moved into this new house the plug was different and it took me 7 years to having it hooked up, and during that time I put clothing to dry on racks in the basement. (dehumidifier is run during late spring and summer). Always make and drink coffee at home. Watch for sales on pork shoulder roasts as they are so versatile. Can slice off sections and treat like a boneless pork chop, great when cut think enough to cook through when put with baking scalloped potatoes. Purchased a meat grinder off marketplace for $5, so from the pork roast can make sausage and make up patties. That saves a dollar a pound and it is easy to add desired spices. For cooking beans the insta-pot is cheaper to run than the crock pot and takes less time. Bought mine off Marketplace for $5.00, new air fryer from Salvation Army for $8.
This is a woman after my own heart. When it comes to frugality, details matter.
I bought a case of 12 bottles of steramine tablets. 150 tabs per bottle. 1 tablet to 1 gallon of water. You can sterilize and clean the entire house, all hard surfaces. It replaces bleach, and tablets are shelf stable for 10+ years. Not to be used on clothing or for ypur wash. It is used in commercial kitchens to sterilize everything, dishes, glassware, untensils, cutting boards, sinks, refrigerators, ovens, stove stops, exhaust fans, floors, pots & pans, toilets, showers, faucets, windowsill, door knobs, patios, everything.
@@thisnthattalks1153 nice tip!
Didn’t know this. Thank you for sharing.❤
My daughter works at a dollar store while attending university for a degree in tech and she brings home so many things destined for the dumpster because it’s either slightly out of date or about to be. (9 times out of 10 we are able to use these items before they go bad so it has saved us a lot of money). She brought home an entire box of hand sanitizers and I have been adding a bottle to my slightly watered down dish soap which further liquifies it and makes it go on forever it seems. The hand sanitizer disinfects the dishes as I wash them. They are always clean. So basically one large bottle of knockoff Dawn from Sam’s club plus water and hand sanitizer is going to last me forever at this rate. I’ve been using it for a year easily and hardly made a dent in the original knockoff bottle.
What is "knockoff Dawn" at Sam's Club? Asking because I buy the Blue Ultra from Sam's. Is this the "knockoff" I've been buying?
@@gymgirllja the Sam’s club brand name members mark in the blue color just called liquid dish soap.
I love doing these things around the house, it's fun to me. But my family hates it!!! They say I'm a cheapo and that I'm weird. I just like saving money and also I think we just consume way too much, lol. Thankful I have your channel to relate to❤️
Yes my family says the same thing about me calling me cheap. I just like to save money wherever I can. Lol I still gotta buy paper towels and toilet paper unfortunately since they are not on my team for being more frugal.
Exactly!! 💯💯 😅
Liquid foundation + moisturizer = tinted moisturizer. You'll save $ on both.
Plain old vinegar with mostly water in a spray bottle is also a great cleaner. It is an natural antimicrobial and will kill germs throughout the house. It’s much safer than commercial cleaners. You can add a few drops of lavender oil to make it smell pretty. Thanks for all the great tips. I agree about the paper towels. It is so much better for the environment to reuse old cloths instead of paper towels. If you have ever lived by a paper mill you quickly discover how polluting they are to air and water so use your old rags!😊
If you grind your coffee finer it gives great coffee, tip from when I lived in germany. Also lemon or orange rinds in a jar filled with vinegar become a wonderful cleaning spray in kitchen or bathroom.
I also use the citrus vinegar combo, it's great
Me too
You get a little more caffeine that way!
Amber, you are great. I took a few minutes to read several of the comments...geez...i didn't realize how many negative people comment... my advice to them, don't take PP's advice, if you don't like it... but you don't need to comment your negative advice. She's doing fine without your help.
Thank you. I do some (rags, cleaning) you showed. But since my goal is to free myself from the slavery of debt, I liked the many ways you explained for saving cash. Blessings!
I make my own all-purpose spray to clean the kitchen and bathroom; a spray bottle with 1/4 cup rubbing alcohol, about 10 drops of tea tree oil, and the rest with water. Cleans, disinfects, smells nice. A bottle of rubbing alcohol ($1 at dollar tree) lasts me a year worth of cleaning, and I always ask family for tea tree oil for christmas for my stocking so that's free.
Watering down soaps and shampoos is a great idea. Thanks!
Been doing this for years.
When Covid hit and toilet paper was hard to find I started cutting receiving blankets into 4x4 squares and used them for pee. Since I drink tons of water and go about every hr to hr and half, I saved tons. I put the clothes in a laundry bag/Laguerra bag and throw in the wash. I had about 18 mths of TP on the shelf but it made to where I could provide TP for friends and family that couldn't find it and I didn't mind the cloth.
During the C-word shutdowns, I took your advice and watered down my 986 ml (less than 1 quart) bottle of shampoo. It lasted me two years. No kidding! I've been doing that ever since. I make my own spray cleaners using a similar recipe - I just add about 2 tsp. rubbing alcohol. It helps it to dry faster, more streak free and kills germs more completely. I used to pay $5 for windex all purpose spray. I don't think I've paid that much for all of my cleaners in the past 5 years!
I put rubbing alcohol in my homemade “all purpose cleaner” too. It’s easy to use and so cheap.
My MIL used to stretch her coffee the same way, but she had gradually added the cheap coffee to husband's "absolutely must be Folgers" coffee until it was 50/50. He never noticed as she reused a large Folgers can.
Hard vs soft water matters, too. If your water is hard, it will take MUCH more soap, shampoo, laundry detergent, etc to get things clean.
That is a fact. And I hate it !!
I have hard water and white vinegar comes in handy for most cleaning jobs where needed for water deposits.
In addition to watering down the dish soap, it actually works better if you use the watered down soap with a foaming soap dispenser.
Add a few drops of alcohol (not too much) to make it foam better
I buy a cheap container of bubble bath from the dollar store and fill it with just a tablespoon of soap and the rest water and it works great!!
Can i mention that i have small garbage can in bathroom and living room, i have bought small garbage bags, but i use small shopping bags for my cans to save money!
I work at a dollar store, and every season clothes for all will go deeply discounted, im talking $1.00 or less for hoodies, pajama sets robes, shoes, summer clothing etc, i buy for gifts at christmas etc and help keep my grandchildren in clothes, just buy a size up, and then the next year they will fit
Lolol i buy all my clothes and shoes for pretty much one dollar each for the next year season too. Occasionally might hit a thrift store in june for one dollar sweaters. Hav several totes full of one dollar blankets stored under the bed just in case that i bought couple years ago. Hav pulled some out. And a crap load of new and almost new candles and oil lamps when they were one dollar or less. Just saw this coming years ago.
I live in northern midwest and berries and mulberries are easy to grow, not citrus, but we are very pleased to have a good harvest so far!
The bidet is the best...cleaner behind, better for the environment, and money saving! Here's a tip if you go to your local laundromat you can pickup detergent bottles that customers have thrown away and use the remainder of the detergent. I haven't paid for detergent in forever!
I have done that. And car washes are the best place to find free money, gift cards and clothing….and cans to recycle for money.
I'm not seeing a link for the bidet?
I use a lot of vinegar and lemon juice to clean. Cuts grease, I use baking soda for teeth, putting out fires on my stove, to cut grease in clothes before pretreating with dawn that has been halved with water. I use dry milk for creamer, or to liquify, add water to all of my liquid make up in winter, and use dry blush, eye shadow with water in summer for eye liner, blusher that lasts even in high heat and humidity,
I buy the real Dawn dish soap BUT put a couple of DROPS on a dish washing sponge. A tiny bottle lasts a very long time
Huh. Gonna try that.
White vinegar & water mixture makes a good floor cleaning solution.
That's a good idea with that pasta roni.I I've never thought of it but there is plenty of flavoring and sauce to go farther With more noodles.
I love the smell of coffee. But I hate the taste. In college I had a roommate that loved coffee so for Christmas one year I bought her this huge collection of flavored coffees. She loves them. And the house smells so good.
Win, win situation, lol!!
I can't afford a coffeemaker. Besides, I learned that ALL coffeemakers (except Bunn) have an ALUMINUM tube that heats the water. Aluminum is bad for the brain. I use a stainless steel pour-over funnel to make my coffee. Just heat the water and pour it over the coffee grounds in the pour-over funnel and voila' !! Coffee taste great every time! Probably because I buy beans and grind them myself using a HAND grinder... no wasted electricity on grinding. BTW, I love Prepper Princess! She's a role model for those who want the best out of life without spending a fortune. You go, girl !!
Yes, I have wondered that too. Even if you use a bidet, it seems that you would still need to use some TP to dry off....I'm guessing... just not as much TP as without a bidet...but no one ever talks about that outright.
People í know use à dry rag, not tp.
People í know uses a dry rag, not tp.
I make my own laundry detergent: equal parts washing soda and Oxyclean, powder, 1 tbsp per load. I've used this for many years and I'm 67!
The dish soap mixed with water and vinegar works in my bathroom and kitchen better than any other products. I also mixed water with dish liquid.
This is what living frugally is all about. My grandmother's did these types of things 60 years ago, and it was what everyone did, just to get by, especially after the depression. I wouldn't know how to live any other way. I have orange peels soaking in a jar with a cup of white vinegar, which is my next bottle of cleaning product brewing. Bidets are such a cost savings.
A church member gave me the empty gallon OJ containers with spout lids. I soaked off the labels and have free water/ lemonade containers for fridge.
I never buy mouthwash, I consider it totaly useless. Brushing teeth and floss is enough (and eating + drinking water regularly to avoid bad breath).
After covid i find you don't get close enough to people to be offended by bad breath so i skip mouthwash
I don’t know how I found you, but I’m glad I did! It seems like you have a great supportive community here. I’m enjoying reading the comments and getting more ideas😀 Thanks for what you do!
I buy that giant bag of Foca laundry soap and I use very little per load, clothes get clean and soap last forever.
You are SO right about the soap staying in our laundry! I use about a tsp. of liquid and it's still hard to get it all rinsed out. Now I just use about a Tablepoon of baking soda to wash my clothes and rinse with white vinegar, I also soak them for hours or overnight. Works great! You have a lot of great ideas to save money. Love your videos. Also love when you share the dogs with us. You are SO right! Nala IS SO stinkin' cute!
Baking soda and vinegar....
I brush my teeth with baking soda and wash my hair woth baking soda and vinegar. I make my own laundry soap. 1 part Epsom salt and 1 part baking soda plus 2 parts washing soda. I add a little of this powder mix and about 2 tbs of Dr Bronners. This is way cheaper and way healthier than regular detergent. Also, soda and vinegar for your house cleaning products.
“Don’t Twist My Words, Ppl”!!!
😂 We all love you so much!!
So many frugal channels and I keep coming back to you. Love your personality. Bought your book a few years back. (Irritated the family watering the shampoo down. 🤭)
Loved the laundry pod one. I found it out accidentally. It was raining really hard and the legs on my jeans started bubbling after they got soaked !
I want to add some recepies for making detergents yourself:
Bathcleaner: put orange or lemon peels in a jar and cover with vinegar, let it sit for 3 weeks, then fill the vinegar into a spray can and use it to clean limescale. If your bath is also covered with oily residue from e.g. conditioner, add a little alcohol to the vinegar. You don´t need expensive alcohol that is fit for human consumption, any cheap variety like the one used to start a fire will do.
laundry detergent: mix 1 tablespoon of washing soda with 1 tablespoon of soapflakes (just shred a soap bar on a grinder)
@@evelinharmannfan7191 didn't know about adding alcohol to the vinegar to cut oil. Great tip thank ❤️YOU❤️ and ❤️PP❤️.
Funny! Yesterday, I stood in my kitchen reflecting on the new (very) cheap coffebrand I tried. Whether or not I should start using that instead. Its ok, but no where neer my regular coffee when it comes to flavor. And I thought, wonder what prepper prepper princess would do? And I had it, you would "water it down" with the cheaper brand. But how much?
And here you are telling me 20%!! 😍😍
Its like you heard my need for help. The universe is a funny thing. Thank you for your videos. Never stop, I love them. ❤️❤️⭐🦋🌿🦋🥰
I don't wear makeup or use nail polish and never really did. I would buy some once in a while and put it on, only to let it sit in the cabinet for years. One day I threw it all away and never bought it again. Why do women think they need makeup? Who told us that?
Agree 💯
Not wearing make up or using nail polish is a great one!! Look at all the savings right there!!
Scientists have found a harmful chemical from nail polish in the blood of women who wear nail polish. I think the chemical's name is tolulene.
We shouldn’t have to put an artificial ‘mask’ to be presentable to the world. Makeup is fine if you like wearing it but no one should feel obligated to just because society expects it.
Age discrimination sets in as early as age 28. You can increase your job offers by looking your best
Sad but true.
Lol. Been cutting and watering down for over 50 years. My kids did fine. Neighbors moved and left me cleaning products. Our clothes last forever. Near O'Hare airport. Tina, Al's wife
I have been using 2/3 pump squirts of Dr. Bronner's pure-castile soap to wash my long hair, then rise my hair with 1/2 cup of white vinegar and warm water. Not only is my hair clean but the knots/tangles gone. Yes people are going to say Dr. Bronner's soap is costly, this is what I have to say. When I am ask what would you like for Christmas/birthday/holiday etc. gift. I answer a large bottle of Dr. Bronner's soap.
If Top Ramen is your thing, you can use one packet of the seasoning for two of the bags of ramen, then add whatever meat and veggies you have to the mix. I use one cup of water for each packet, so I don't have to drain it. Put the other seasoning packet away for another use.
I found this mix and have used it forever for the dishwasher: 2:1 baking soda and kosher salt. That's it. I buy a 3-lb box of salt and two 64-oz boxes of baking soda. Weigh 6 lbs of baking soda. Mix it all up very well, put it in a plastic creamer container or other large container, and keep a spoon in there. When you get ready to use it, fill the cup and put in a few drops of Dawn. Run as usual. You don't save very much over the cheap stuff but this mix lasts a long time. I make it because it's easier on my silverware and other items and it won't strip anything.
Your advice from that previous video about laundry detergent was right on target. You need a very small amount of actual detergent to get the dirt to release from the fibers in your average load and yes, it's the movement of the clothing that largely cleans them. Oh, and the other day, my husband needed a kitchen towel, and picked up one from the pile with more frayed edges than sewn ones. LOL He said, what's up with this? I said that it was my favorite practical towel, because it was thick and absorbent - my last of the old guard of my towels that were from the days where towels were made to LAST. It's true. My newer ones are pretty, pretty but you know they were made to fall apart sooner...than later. :(
I live in a party of the country that doesn't have the abundance of fruit you have. But I do something that saves money and makes me happy - sign up for the Community Supported Agriculture (CSA) from the farmer's market. You pay up front which gives farmers money to buy seeds, etc. and in exchange you get a weekly bag of vegetables for several weeks. Not only is buying this separately at the farmers market much more expensive, you get beautiful abundant produce and help the local economy. I share with a friend, so it's even cheaper. Yes, I occasionally get something I don't like (like arugula) but I give that to my neighbor who loves everything. I freeze anything I didn't get to. It costs me about $15/wk, which is more than your budget, but an OK price for me here.
@Lisa-sf4fy That sounds like a great idea! Wish it were available in more towns.
“My face has never rotted off” 🤣🤣
Now THERE'S a tee shirt I would pay money for. 😂👍🏻
"Take a handful of noodles, break it in half" - that thud in the background was the Italian viewers dying 😂
@@bc4yt Well ... I'm not Italian; I don't live in Italy; and anyone having a hissy about my broken spaghetti can just ... uh ... eat elsewhere. 😏
I use Kirk's bar soap as a shampoo, and now I no longer need to use conditioner. I have natural wavy/curly hair. It used to be dry and I had to use expensive conditioner. Not any more. My hair is so soft. Wish I would have known about this sooner.
I was worried you were going to add water to your oil change 😂😂😂
😅😅😅😅😅😅
I understand about the huge savings. I wonder about the use of conditioner for your hair. If you are going 3-7 days between washing your hair, would not the natural oils condition it? Back years ago, I wore my hair long and wouldn't use conditioner. The only thing I used was a little honey that was heated in the same sunlight that heated my shower water. I would wash my hair first. Then, I use my hands to work the honey into my hair. After I finished washing my body,I would wash out the honey. It worked wonders.
Those juices are what us Hispanics call aguas frescas. They look delicious 😋 also!!! The Nido! Its one if the best milks in Mexico. ❤❤❤
I skip on the room deodorizers. I use a spay bottle (with fine mist) full of water and add a few drops of essential oils that were gifted to me, boom! I got my self a free room deodorizer!
That stuff is poison anyway.
I like that❤
I geminated one lemon seed. Got a little tree going. Got ideal online...fun!
@@robinsteyer6986 go you! I hope it grows nice and healthy :)
PP, ever since you mentioned using less laundry detergent, I have been practicing that tip. Amazing how far it goes. Also, I use cheapie wash rags for cleaning instead of paper towels. You can wash them and even the cheapies last, but they are inexpensive to replace, too. Appreciate you always ❤
Even cheaper if you get used ones from the thrift stores! :)
For anyone who's trying to replace coffee because caffeine isn't agreeing with them I highly suggest dandelion tea. It keeps you regular like coffee and has a bitter taste like coffee while being cheaper if you get it online. I'm not knocking coffee, it has great health benefits it just messes with some of us unfortunately
Just be careful not to consume too much Dandelion tea. I swapped it for coffee a few years ago, and after a few months of drinking 5-6 cups of dandelion tea a day I developed an allergy to anything in the dandelion family. Now I cannot even eat honey because of the allergens in it. I always had honey in black tea, and now I have to drink black tea plain.
I like foaming hand soap. I have foaming hand soap dispensers. I use 1/4 cup regular liquid handsoap and add 1 cup of water to make foaming hand soap.
Good morning Amber! We bought a fixer upper in the Upper Peninsula of Michigan for less than a new car! The property is very overgrown so we have a lot of work to do but we have planted blueberries, raspberries, rhubarb, and blackberries. We also got 3 elder berries and we have elderberries on the property. Slowly as the trees get leaves etc I am learning what everything is!
Girl! Yes to the bidet! We haven't purchased TP in 2 years! It's so much cleaner too.
great tips, do know, all the cleaners you use including the toothpaste are full of toxic chemicals which then have to go to your liver for detox and are harsh for the environment; I use vinegar, baking soda, borax, essential oils, and I make my own lemon cleaner from lemon rinds in vinegar...
Thank you for sharing this is really helpful! Coming from a stay at home wife and mom of 3 ❤I'm going to start watering down my products too now so I can get my credit card paid off faster.. I try to stick to a low grocery budget thanks for these tips!!
Costco half n half is the cheapest for me so far. We are a big family so for us it makes sense to have the Costco membership that gives us back a percentage so it pays itself. I have to have my half n half. Our persimmon, lemon and orange and loquat trees keep our fruit cravings satisfied. Cactus grows easily too and is very healthy, we love eating cactus.
P.P. I’m confused about something. Most of the prepper channels I follow say to stock up on everything because of an apocalypse, war, depression, etc. Like u, I want to live a more minimalist lifestyle. Clutter stresses me out. Could u do a video expressing your thoughts on this pls?
I believe her early video's from years ago discussed prepping. She does do a lot of reviews on solar generators, which are used for preparedness. You can search her videos for preparedness if curious.
PP and Rocky and Nala ❤❤😮😮😮😊😊😊
PP videos is more about how to live on less by living below your means and taking advantage of sales and opportunities. When she can and finds a good sale she will stock up on meat or whatever. She gives examples how she makes certain food stuffs go farther. And, yes, she talks about how to focus on financial security and less on stuff. None of her videos have to do deal with preparing for an apocolypse, etc. They are about choosing to live day to day on less money than you have coming in. It's about financial survival in the world we live in now. Not preparing for the end of the world as we know it. She has the things she needs, but has learned to define not only what she can live without, but what makes her comfortable. By the way, as I have grown older, I find more and more how much I detest clutter. It kind of comes down to how much stuff do you really need and do you own what you need and really want, or does your stuff own you--money, maintenance, etc. I don't need to prepare for the end of civilization as we know it. I just want to live an ok life while I'm here. 🙂
I don't think she does, but depends on where you live. I'm not a prepper for the end of the worlds, but do storage based on my childhood teachings, long cold winters, & lack on shopping choices.
Preparing a working pantry that works for you is also for when you don't have enough money to get groceries that month, you are in ill health and don't feel up to grocery shopping for something, a job layoff has occurred, it's snowing and you don't want to be on the road, unexpected company... all sorts of everyday situations.
I've been adding water to liquid soap and shampoo since the Eighties. I add moisturizer to foundation.
Of course, if you just use a bit less each time, but add more water, it does the same thing. I like the idea of adding moisturiser to foundation. I might try that
@JaneAustenAteMyCat it works. I do it.
I didn't know about this but will try it now!
I love everything about your channel.
I agree with you about laundry. I use an empty large dish soap container to house laundry detergent. I give each load a small squeeze and that’s it. When I do bras & delicates I add nothing most of the time. My positive addition is to not cook with seed oils EVER!! Most crops (like wheat+++) are sprayed with glyphosate to kill them so they are easier to harvest. Don’t eat grains besides GMO free organic popcorn.
Such wise advise, that not too many folks get. Seed oils r killers! Thank you, dear lady for getting the word out. :)
As a soft furnishings maker of many years, now retired, I have made lots of lovely cushions, but this one wins the prize!!! Love it 💓
I bought flannel sheets at a yard sale to cut up for TP and Kleenex. I have different patterns so I know which are which and I wash them in a lingerie bag to keep them together. The flannel sheets are so soft and absorbent. I chose not to hem them so you need to account for some unraveling the first few washes.
Excellent idea!
Concerning foaming hand soap ,,I learned that it is about 80% water 20% soap ,when getting empty I add water and maybe a teaspoon of soap and Wala still foaming .😊 also I have a Swiffer mop ,I take the bottle off ( they expect you to buy a new refill bottle ) and put in my own cleaner ,,have not bought a new bottle in 5 yrs .
I make my own cleaner, put it in a spray bottle and use reusable pads. You can put them in washer and use them for years.
I think some people put a little rubbing alcohol in with the other ingredients for their foaming hand wash.
@@lizh1988 what does the alcohol do?
@@grammy279 Not sure, but probably a little extra grease cutting. Alcohol is NOT for painted surfaces, I found that out using formula 409 on painted cupboards. The paint color was transferring to the rag I used. Our fridge and stove are painted too, found that out too.
Spray bottles are the key. I like to use 50% wintergreen rubbing alcohol to clean my cell phone and laptop throughout the day. Also those individually packaged 70% Alcohol towelettes prep pads so multipurpose for earring cleaning dirty fingers and overall freshening up. I like your channel .
Forgot to mention Witch hazel, rose water and Eucalptus Oils,onics and Elixirs are great multipurpose products.