Frugal habits
None of this is expert advice. It's what people worked out for themselves, usually the hard way — what actually helped, and what they'd tell someone standing where you are. Take what fits and leave the rest.
If you only read a few
Drink tap water filtered through a home system instead of buying bottled water.
Saves money and reduces plastic bottle waste; avoids paying for 'tap water with trust issues'.
4 people, independently
Roast vegetable scraps or bones before boiling them to create a deeper, more intense flavor.
It brings out the flavor, similar to searing steak.
3 people, independently
Avoid buying trendy or influencer-promoted items.
Inner peace is not found in limited drops from influencers.
one person who lived it
Buy used PC parts if you are knowledgeable or have a tech-savvy friend.
They are amazing bargains.
one person who lived it
Learn which parts of vegetables are bitter or starchy and exclude them from your stock.
Bitter parts and starches do not belong in stock.
one person who lived it
- Leave peppers, cucumbers, cruciferous vegetables, basil, and mint out of stock to avoid bitterness; cilantro is a grey area.1
buying, items, shopping, home10
Audit your pantry and freezer before shopping to prevent duplicate purchases; buy items only if they finish an existing recipe.
Recreate ready-made sauces or spice mixes at home by reading the ingredient list and buying the basics.
It is usually fairly easy to do on the cheap.
one person who lived it
Ban yourself from shopping at convenience stores.
One person estimated saving thousands of dollars by doing so.
one person who lived it
Avoid buying brand-name items with visible logos.
To avoid paying a premium to advertise the brand and because they do not look nice.
one person who lived it
Add desired items to an online shopping cart without purchasing them to satisfy the urge to shop.
The process of searching, finding, envisioning, and selecting satisfies the feeling of deprivation.
one person who lived it
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Make yogurt at home using whole milk powder and an Instant Pot.
It eliminates the need for plastic containers.
one person who lived it
Stop taking late-night aimless drives.
You cannot justify the gas cost anymore.
one person who lived it
Use microfiber cloths instead of cotton rounds for cleaning or makeup removal.
They do a much better job and pay for themselves fairly quickly.
one person who lived it
Pick up orders in person to avoid delivery fees; often you will realize you did not want the item enough to drive.
one person who lived it
Use ceramic bowls for microwaving instead of plastic.
Plastic leaches chemicals, even if labeled microwave-safe.
one person who lived it
Audit your pantry and freezer before shopping to prevent duplicate purchases; buy items only if they finish an existing recipe.
4 people, independently
stock, vegetables, vegetable, bitter21
Strain the stock through a sieve, strainer, or cheesecloth after simmering to remove solids.
Keep your eyes on the mandolin blade at all times and use the pusher when cutting near the end of the food.
To avoid finger lacerations.
one person who lived it
Dehydrate bags of frozen vegetables to save freezer space.
It frees up space and the dried veggies still taste good in soups.
one person who lived it
Do not save garlic peels for stock, as they can make the broth bitter.
Garlic peels can make the broth bitter.
one person who lived it
Make onion jam from excess onions; it cooks down and lasts a long time.
It is great on sandwiches and for quick salad dressing.
one person who lived it
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Microwave corn with some husk leaves left on.
It steams well and keeps the corn moist and flavorful without needing plastic.
one person who lived it
Make turkey croquettes by blending meat picked off stock necks with vegetables and egg, then breading and frying them.
It creates delicious food with zero waste.
one person who lived it
Use leafy tops from carrots and beets sparingly when making stock.
They are very bitter.
one person who lived it
Boil chicken carcasses along with vegetable scraps to make flavorful broth.
It can be flavored much better than store-bought broth.
3 people, independently
Break bones before boiling them to increase collagen extraction.
This improves the mouthfeel of the broth.
one person who lived it
Buy canned tomatoes for versatile cooking.
You can make many recipes with it, add it to one pot recipes, and it is cheap and flavorful.
one person who lived it
Freeze vegetable stock in ice cube trays to have small amounts available for thinning reheated soup or adding to sauces.
It provides ease of use for small quantities needed in sauces or soups.
one person who lived it
Wash vegetables carefully before cutting them.
To prevent disease.
3 people, independently
Pour leftover water from boiling or steaming vegetables onto indoor or patio plants instead of down the drain.
Plants respond well to it.
one person who lived it
Exclude sweet potato skins from vegetable stock.
They can impart unwanted flavors and make the stock less flavorful.
one person who lived it
Freeze processed vegetable mush from stock leftovers and add it to pasta sauce or soup for extra fiber.
It provides fiber and minerals.
one person who lived it
Cook liver separately in butter rather than adding it to stock.
Liver makes everything it is cooked with bitter.
one person who lived it
Cut vegetables into small slices or strips rather than blending them into a paste for coleslaw.
Blending creates a paste instead of the desired texture.
one person who lived it
Remove carrots before processing leftover stock vegetables if you dislike a strong carrot flavor.
Carrots can make the mixture taste too carrot-y.
one person who lived it
Strain the stock through a sieve, strainer, or cheesecloth after simmering to remove solids.
5 people, independently
Add kombu to vegetable stock to increase umami.
It increases umami.
one person who lived it
Add mushrooms to vegetable stock for meaty undertones.
Mushrooms add meaty undertones.
one person who lived it