We all like to rag on boomers and their old-fashioned way of looking at the world.
Grandkids sometimes think they know everything and that their grandparents are out of touch with today’s world and reality. While there might be a kernel of truth to that, grandparents still have a wealth of knowledge that can help. They may need to be tweaked to fit the current world, but they are still valuable. Baby Boomers have a wealth of knowledge to share with us, especially regarding frugal living.
While some of that advice isn’t too relevant today, much of it still is.
Here are some excellent examples of frugal tips from the grandparents’ generation that are still applicable today and you should bring back for 2025.
Make Your Own Jellies, Jams, Etc.
These are pretty easy to make and cost less than buying a jar at the store. You can make a whole lot more than what a jar contains. Just make sure you have the storage space and materials before starting. And of course, always follow safe food practices when canning or storing food.
Use It Up and Wear It Out
This is the mindset of getting the most use possible out of what you own. As long as it’s usable and working well, keep it. Only replace when you absolutely have to.
Cook at Home
Making your own meals is way less expensive than going out or ordering takeout most nights. You can also make several days’ worth of meals at a time to save time later on.
Preserve Fresh Foods
A lot of food that doesn’t get eaten by its expiration date ends up in the trash, which is like throwing money away. Freezing, canning, jarring, smoking, and making jerky are examples of ways to preserve fresh foods so they don’t go to waste.
Mend Your Clothes
A hole or tear in a clothing item doesn’t always mean you need to replace it. If you can mend it, you should. Even paying someone to do it for you will cost less than a replacement. Learn how to do basic repairs and patching to keep your clothes going a little longer.
Save Your Butter Paper
When you finish or unwrap a stick of butter, you can save the butter paper in the freezer. Then, you can use it to butter a pan in the future.
Make a Regular Menu
Planning meals in advance and sticking to a schedule helps with budgeting and buying the right amount of things. It also reduces the chances of wasteful, impulsive buying at the grocery store.
Repair as Much as Possible
If you can repair something, do it, especially if you can do it yourself. The point when this works against you is when the repairs cost more than a replacement. Then it’s time to get a new one. Learn how to do basic repairs yourself to help with this.
Keep Appliances Simple
Buying appliances like dishwashers and washing machines might be necessary today, but look out for the most basic models. These basic models are a lot cheaper, and they still get the job done and you really don’t need all those bells and whistles. Also, since they’re simpler, there’s a better chance that someone other than an expensive technician can do repairs, and they break down less frequently. No- you don’t need your fridge to connect to your phone ,despite what the ads tell you.
Only Wash What’s Stained, Smelly, or Wrinkled
When they undress at night, most people toss everything they wore that day into the laundry bin. Except for underwear, this often isn’t necessary. Washing clothes less frequently will lower your bills and extend the life of your clothes. You can also keeps separate work, going out and chore clothes to keep your work clothes as clean as possible- and no one cares if your chore clothes get a little stained.
Read More:
- 6 Best Apps To Scan Receipts for Money
- The 15 Best Reading Apps for Book Lovers
- The 9 Best Budgeting Apps To Make Managing Your Finance Easy
