by Texas Homesteader ~ 

Many are interested in self sufficiency these days. The good news: it’s easy, oftentimes free and comes with some powerful feelings of satisfaction.

Come see how to easily save money on groceries, necessities, and provide for yourself. 

Why Self Sufficiency?

There are many reasons to practice self sufficiency:

• • Preparedness for weather disasters or world situations

  • Reduce dependence on grocery stores or corporations

  • Reduce dependence on supply chain interruptions

• • Save money by providing for yourself 

  • Provide better & healthier products for your family 

Today I’ll share with you the simplest self-sufficiency steps you can take now to begin providing for your own home and family.

These were the easiest steps for me when I first started on the path to Voluntary Simplicity. And I think they can help you too.

Learn Basic DIY Skills

You can learn basic DIY skills to make or repair things instead of relying on a store to buy or repairman to repair. 

Start small and build your experience from there!

• Don’t Throw It Away – Think easy repair first!
• How To Repair A Solar Light – Step-by-step instructions.

Save Money On Unavoidable Expenses

There are some things you just have to pay for. But there are also easy ways to save money on those necessities. Sometimes it just takes thinking outside the box.

• Get What You Pay For – This article is eye-opening and can give you a different way of thinking about necessary expenses you’ve always just paid without thinking about.

• How To Make Ends Meet w/o Corporate Salary – Here is a 2-part article, and there are many tips on making ends meet even without a corporate salary.
• When Financial Times Get Tough – Another timely article to help you figure things out when you find yourself without much income.
• Saving Money On Electricity – This article talks about easy ways to save money on your electric bill that you may not have thought of.

• Rainwater Catchment Systems– Here on the Homestead we do 100% of our outside watering with FREE rainwater. I share the three simple rainwater catchment systems we use.

Stretch Your Groceries

Stop and think about easy ways to feed your family without wasting food. Some of these tips significantly reduce the amount of time spent cooking and cleaning too! (fist-bump!)

• Cook-Once, Eat Twice is my favorite ‘simplify in the kitchen‘ method of cooking. It’s where you cook LOTS of a single entrée and freeze the leftovers for future meals. Then freezing the excess for a later meal. Heat-n-eat convenience.

• Planned Leftovers – Examples might be making meatloaf one night, then using a portion of that meatloaf for the meat ingredient in spaghetti or quesadillas.

Make What You Used To Buy

This self-sufficiency category can be very easy as well. Following are a few things I make for  myself instead of buying. It not only saves money, but it reduces the need to go to the grocery store.

• Homemade Yogurt – I was floored to find out how easy it was to make yogurt on the stove-top with no special equipment. Now I typically make Instant Pot Yogurt since it’s even easier.

• Taco Seasoning – I make Tex-Mex meals often. So I make a jar of taco seasoning and keep it in my pantry for Carnitas Tacos, Pulled-Pork Enchiladas, Taco Soup and more.

• Homemade Bread – There are LOTS of  bread recipes like Rosemary Skillet Bread, Beer Bread, Mix-n-Pour Tortillas or Buttermilk Biscuits and many more!

Make Your Own Cleaners

From bathroom cleaner to laundry detergent, there are lots of homemade options out there. I share a few of my favorites here.

• Simple Household Cleaners – I used to think each different room and/or surface needed its own purchased special formula cleaner. Now I keep our home clean using a much cheaper & less-toxic method.

• Homemade Laundry Detergent – I’ve used this detergent recipe exclusively for over 15 years now. You only need 1-2 Tablespoons per load.

• Laundry Scent Booster – I line-dry our clothes and love the fresh scent of sunshine it leaves behind. But I use this laundry-scent booster from time to time. Only TWO ingredients!

• Easy Room Freshener – I have this cute lavender-scented room freshener in our guest bathroom.

• Homemade Carpet Cleaner – I needed something for pet stains on our carpet, but didn’t want to use harsh chemicals. This homemade carpet cleaner is all I use now.

Reduce Or Eliminate Disposables

Years ago I realized I was buying many things specifically to throw them away. Things such as paper plates, paper napkins, trash bags and more.  I’d thought they offered me convenience. As it turns out, it’s not necessarily so.

• A Bidet Can Be An Eco-Win –  It can eliminate the need for purchasing toilet paper altogether.

• Reducing Kitchen Trash – Check out this article for kitchen-specific tips on reducing the amount of trash our household produces.

• Paper Napkins In A Paperless Kitchen – Even if you DO need disposable paper napkins, there’s an easy way to get them… for FREE!

Zero-Waste Health & Beauty

Step by step I’m making our health & beauty routines with less waste. It’s much easier than I thought it would be.

• Homemade Hairspray -This is the only hairspray I use.
• Light & Sheer Face Powder – This sheer face powder is totally adaptable to your skin tone. And it’s made entirely with standard items in your kitchen. 
• Zero-Waste Deodorant – I’ve used this deodorant for over a decade now. I’m very pleased with the results.
• How To Use A Safety Razor – Like many of you, I was afraid I might be more likely to cut myself using a safety razor. I’m happy to say I’ve not found that to be the case and I’ve effortlessly used my vintage safety razor since around 2010.

Grow Your Own Food

This is one of the most enjoyable self-sufficiency tasks in my opinion. Plant a garden. You get healthy food for pennies on the dollar and stay out of the grocery stores too! It doesn’t have to be an all-or-nothing deal. Start by planting just a few things your family likes to eat.

• 3-Sisters Garden – This is a symbiotic garden strategy that the Native Americans utilized. Each vegetable actually helps the other. 

• Growing A Garden Can Be Life Changing – It’s really true – come see the 4 ways growing a vegetable garden can actually change your life. For the BETTER!

• Edible Landscape – Incorporate edibles into your regular landscaping for double the benefit. The results can be stunning.

Join Free Homesteading Subscription To Learn Even MORE!

There are many, MANY more ways to flex your self sufficiency muscle. On this Texas Homesteader website I share easy recipes, gardening tips, eco-friendly living and self sufficiency moves and more.

I’d be honored if you’d join us by subscribing. That way you’ll be notified each time I publish a new post.

And it’s EASY – just click the button below and enter your email address. You’ll need to respond to the confirmation email sent to you and then you’ll be subscribed. Join us, won’t you??

~TxH~

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Other Self-Sufficiency Tips

• Easiest Self Sufficiency Steps To Take NOW

Emergency Situations

• Be Prepared For Emergency Power Outage
• Solar Oven For Preparedness Cooking
• How To Stay Warm When The Power Is Out

Food & Water

• Foraging And Eating From The Land For FREE
• 3 Simple Water Catchment Systems We Use
• Homemade Broth & Canning Instructions

Energy

• Solar Energy Can Be Passive & FREE
  
• When To Use Sunshine Instead Of Kitchen Appliances

Lifestyle

• Build A Life You Love With Your Own Two Hands
• Get Around HOA Rules For Voluntary Simplicity
• Living A Voluntary Simplicity Lifestyle
• Things I No Longer Buy At The Store
• Why Bother With This Homesteading Thing?

…and many MORE!

See ALL Our Self-Sufficiency Articles

 

C’mon by & sit a spell!  Come hang out at our Facebook Page. It’s like sitting in a front porch rocker with a glass of cold iced tea. Lots of good folks sharing! 

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