I’ve got a question for you today! I’ve been doing a bit of daydreaming lately, specifically about things I want to do here at Simply Frugal. So yesterday while I was driving around town, I was thinking about you all. So…:
I’m Wondering: What skill(s) do you wish you knew that could impact your finances positively?
This could be budgeting skills, sewing skills, canning skills, learning to have fun without spending…etc
I would love to know more about canning/preserving/freezing 🙂 I’ve just newly ventured into this area for myself after growing up watching my mother, aunt and grandmothers doing it. (Believe it or not, I had no idea that you could actually BUY frozen veggies at the store until I was about 10 or 11 years old because my mom always did her own…). Also, any new-to-me but tried and true recipes for the same would be great (never hurts to add to the repertoire!) 🙂
Another topic that I would be interested in knowing more about would be bartering. What types of things could be set up on a trade system and how and with whom would one set up that system?
Love, love, LOVE your site! Keep up the great work and look forward to hearing more from you!
BUDGETING – how much for what? Planning for retirement. Is there a website where I can plug in different numbers and figure out different plans? I live in Canada and I think the cost of living here is ridiculous – but maybe I’m out of the loop and the cost of living here is regular?
I would love to organize my recipes, so when I see sales I know recipes I have liked and tried that go with what is on sale and what else I need to make the meal. I would also like to learn this summer how to make those fancy drinks with the little umbrellas that look so wonderful. Summer salads that are meals unto themselves would nice. Today I was at the garden center and realized that making a fairy garden would be expensive, so how about ideas on how to make a fairy garden cheaper. I am already thinking about Christmas so how about ideas on what to pick up now or in the summer, or even to make, to save us money. And the last thing I would like is some ideas for stay vacations. I plan to spend my vacation in town and need some ideas.
I wish I could garden better. Only the hartiest of vegetables survive in my garden, which ends up being just the green onion. Even the tomato plant died a horrible death last summer :/
Canning would be fantastic too. Something I may try this fall if I can get my condo to sell and into a nice big house. More room definately needed for such a task 🙂
Hi there!
I would love to learn how to do some basic sewing, as I know that would be a skill that could have a positive financial impact. I have a sewing machine, but am not very good at sewing at all. I’d like to be able to do basic alterations on clothing (such as taking in tops, fix unravelling seams, lengthen/shorten pants), as well as know how to alter clothing to make it wearable again (ie. when a top gets to small, add side panels to make it fit again; how to spruce up an old pair of pants; etc).
My problem isn’t getting ideas (there are plenty of those on Pinterest) – my problem is not knowing even the basics – ie. how to work with different types and weights of fabric, how different fabrics lay differently depending on how they’re sewn, what can be altered and what can’t, how to adjust tension on my sewing machine to account for different fabrics and types of sewing, what stitches to use, etc. THAT is what I need help with.
Maybe short lesson each week (or two), and then a “challenge” to use the new skill or idea?
Thanks for taking the time to ask what we, your readers, would like. I love all your postings, and learn new things all the time, so whatever you end up focusing on will be wonderful I’m sure!
Lizzy
I have a sewing machine but I don’t yet know how to use it. I would love to learn how to take down a size on some skirts. I also have a variable income and I’m not sure how to budget when expenses (gas bills) and income vary from month to month. I would be interested in learning how to revamp leftovers. Love your blog!!
Canning would really help our budget . I usually can once a year but am wanting to learn how to do it efficiently through out the year to capture sales and keep my stalk up . But don’t know how to go about it with a 4 month old and a two year old as I don’t have the option of a babysitter close by. If I could learn how to do it without it feeling like it is a big daunting task.
I am having a hard time sitting down to organize my recipes and figure out cost per serving so that I can see where we are spending our grocery bill and where we can cut. Not necessarily how to calculate it but more where to start. I’m wondering if there is a program out there that makes it easier, or if it would be easy enough in excel, or good ol’ pen and paper.