But this happens. And sometimes rest is our best investment. We all have times when things have to slow down, there is sickness in the house or over tiredness kicks in.
These are the times when getting ahead pays off. There are meals in the freezer on on the pantry shelves. It is like the emergency fund. That is what it is for... emergencies. After these times then we begin to catch up and get ahead again.
Also this time has made me notice a few things. One is we need more bath towels. Another was the kind of pain killers Andy takes were in short supply. This is because he never takes anything! So when he was sick suddenly he was willing to take a Panadol and I didn't have many. So I have realised a few things to build up in my supplies.
My savings subject this week is recycling. Some things are simply reusing things and avoiding waste. Others are more inventive and might be using something for a totally different thing than it was intended for in the first place.
Some of my recycling around the house includes my use of old ladders. I love them! I have never bought one, they are found and now people know I like them I have been given a few.
They are so useful. I have one in my kitchen for my kitchen towels...
In my old house I had one hung from the ceiling and all my pots and pans hung from that and baskets went on top. I also hung herbs from it to dry. It saved me so much cupboard space and looked really good!
And old gate might work in a similar way.
Another favourite one is my endless collection of jars and, more recently, baby formula tins. I love these! I have collected jars for years and painted the lids to make sets. Theses were recent ones...
Also I have a set that is still growing of giant coffee jars...
I have a lot of food storage and basically do not pay for containers.
Recently I have had some great photos sent in and this is just a sample that I wanted to share:
Pat and her husband love to recycle. Just now they have been making planter boxes from free pallets they pick up.
They also are making them to sell to add to their savings. I love them! In our own area free pallets are endless. They can be turned into so many things!
Also Pat has storage in a cellar for root vegetables and they have recycled containers to make this...
As Pat said to me they have been recycling before it was cool to recycle. Just as Nan did. They saved a lot of money this way.
Jane's husband made her a butcher block. This was also from pallets plus other recycled wood. (I have shown this before but it deserves a second showing!)
Love it!
(Sorry to the husbands being identified by who they are married to! But I don't know everyones name...)
Vicky's husband made a wood splitter that is huge! He made it entirely of recycled parts, things he had and things he battered for.
It's astonishing. Look at the size of the log it will split! Oh and he made it so that it lifts up the heavy logs itself. Not only will this keep them in wood for the fire but he can hire it out or cut wood for others. Plus he has had people wanting to buy it.
Vicky was given a whole heap of told towels and pillowcases. She has been making them into cleaning cloths and all kinds of useful things.
I love these! Old towels are so useful. I also love old flannelette. It makes up into the softer hankies ever and soft dusters that are also pretty.
Rachel's husband made a whole shed out of recycled materials. (plus many other things!)
A shed for your animals could be completely free with a bit of recycling and hard work.
There are so many ideas and I am glad I have the chance to include some of what the boys have been doing!
In our yard we have old barrels that store water and a barrel that stores the laundry water. Andy has the washing machine hooked up so that the water goes into this for garden use. We have a giant container in use as a rainwater tank also for the garden.
We have the side of an old cot hanging in the shed. I hang washing from that in the winter out of the rain. It is so handy.
If you have things you make by recycling or ways you save money please share them. And if you have pictures please send them in as I will do a follow up post as this is an area we can all make things and save money. Post pics anytime to The Bluebirds are Nesting Facebook Page. Or email me at brinkzi21@hotmail.com
I hope we might all get some new ideas and find things to recycle or reuse. Saying that I am just glancing at a pile of wrapping paper from Andy's birthday that I have to fold up. Two gift bags as well. Of course they will be reused!
These are my savings for the Vicky Challenge in the last week:
The usual lunches and coffees packed and sent all week. $100
The fishing day picnic and drinks, saving $50.
A big pot of soup all made from leftovers that really needed using up. I included some chunks of sweet potato and pumpkin I had frozen. It made a lot of soup! I packed it up into some to eat now and some to freeze and give away. I gave Chloe three serves. I notice pots this size of soup in the supermarket are about $5 each!
Being the end of the month I add in doing my own hair $225
Doing my own nails and toes $120. (yes I paid that once!)
So even that added up quite nicely and wasn't so bad.
I hope you had a good week and found new ways to save. Now that April is over we have another month to total up and a new month of the challenge! The months and the seasons offer different ways to get ahead and things to do. In the south we have cooler weather and darker evenings. This means soups, stews, handiwork in the evenings for me. In the north it must be busy as its spring and time to plant which is a very busy time. I love the seasons!
Have a wonderful week! xxx
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