How self sufficient can you get when you don't have a smallholding?

soupdragon10 wrote: »

One really cost saving thing that I've started doing is making my own tortilla wraps. Very quick and simple, but cost pennies and you can vary the flavour to suit your tastes.

Going to have a go at pitta bread and possibly bagels (which I love) especially the onion ones.

how do you do this do you have a recipe?

we make our own soap, moisturising balm, tooth powder and deodorant, so neither of us buy any toiletries (saves an absolute fortune!) Same goes for the laundry powder, softner (vinegar) and cleaning spray.

we only have a small back yard, but it's enough to provide us with salad vegs in the summer and grow our own herbs in pots & dry them for the winter. Also make jams from fruits picked at the pick your own farm (which is a great day out).

The only things we really buy are food (and yarn..... that's my weakness) but everything else we either make or buy second hand. We didn't use to make any of it though, three years ago, I was the brand-loving shopperholic We started making one thing ourself, then another thing, then another, slowly building up on the skills we needed. I wanted to learn to be a bit more self sufficient because I hated being dictated by the big companies as to what I should buy, put on my face, etc.

toothpowder - mix baking soda with pepper mint oil - takes a bit of getting used to, but if it's good enough for the victorians, it's good enough for us!

I also found that once I stopped using commercial toothpaste, I suffered a lot less from mouth ulcers.

I make playdough for my little boy to play with, easy, cheap and it's nicer to play with. You can add whatever food colourings you like and scents like lavender oil or vanilla extract for extra fun.

I am also self-sufficient in hairdressing. I bought clippers to do my little boys hair, and I've got a good technique for cutting my own hair too. This is going to save us a fortune over the years.

I don't have anything in the ground, but I've strawberries and mint in pots and going to plant more herbs in pots soon.

Of course baking is great fun to do with children!

I thought ovf another one, I stopped buying shaving gel at £2.12 a pop and use body lotion with water mixed in 50/50 is a little watery but still works just as good and a bottle lasts AGES. I always have loads of body lotion since I use body butter as a moisturiser and don't use much at all and I always get tons of it for Christmas. Good way to use up those ones that aren't so nice either.

I second the tortilla wraps cost pennies save pounds!