How To Be A Resourceful Homemaker: 23 Tips To Help You Save Money

With rising prices and the current state of the economy, it’s understandable that we are all looking for ways to save money. As a homemaker and stay-at-home mom, I take on the responsibility of finding ways to reduce costs on essential items like food and household goods. In this post, I will share 23 tips to help you save money and become a resourceful homemaker!

Whether you are a newlywed or have been married for 20 years, we can always find ways to improve our homemaking!

I recently wrote a post on 15 practical tips to improve your homemaking, which includes simple habit changes and tips.

This time around, we are focusing on practical tips that tap into your resourceful nature. These include using what you already have, limiting waste, and learning new skills!

*As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases. When you purchase something I recommend, I may receive an affiliate commission – but it does not affect your price or what I choose to promote.*

How To Be A Resourceful Homemaker: 23 Tips To Help You Save Money

How To Be Resourceful In The Kitchen

1. Use leftover bacon grease for cooking

The cost of cooking oils seems to be on the rise, especially healthier options like Avocado Oil and Extra Virgin Olive Oil. By saving fat from cooking bacon or other high-fat meats like sausage, you can use those as your cooking fat for other dishes.

Great for frying eggs, making fries, or sauteing veggies.

2. Make homemade bone broth

Homemade bone broth is another resourceful homemaking tip! This is as simple as saving the scraps from chopping veggies and the bones from chicken or other meats. Throw them in a simmer pot on the back of your stove with water, spices, and herbs. Strain and use as needed for soups and gravy!

3. Use Cooking Juices From Meat

After making this delicious pressure cooker pulled pork I always save the juices from that and directly add in dry beans to cook ahead for the week. The juices from the cooked pork make the beans extra tasty! This works when cooking rice and soup too. Not only are you being resourceful with what would otherwise be wasted, you are also prepping food for the week, which is being resourceful with your time too!

4. Sourdough Starter

Working with sourdough may seem intimidating if you haven’t tried it before. But I promise it is doable! Access to sourdough starter gives you a huge opportunity to make bread and baked goods for your family. There are hundreds of recipes out there including my favorite sourdough discard pizza dough!

This saves you money from buying store-bought bread and treats and also gives you a healthier alternative to overly processed foods.

How to begin a sourdough starter:

• In a large glass jar add one cup of flour and about one cup of water – mix together to get a thick pancake batter consistency. Leave on the counter covered.
• Day 2, remove half and add ½ cup of flour ½ cup water and mix again
• Days 3-4 repeat the same process as day 2
• Days 5 and 6 remove 1/2 and feed twice a day, same as days 2-4
• Day 7 Ready! Check for a rising, bubbly, stretchy starter!

Sourdough likes warm (not hot) temperatures so near the oven light, in sunlight, or even in the oven with the light on (do not turn the oven on) are great places for your starter to rest.

Enjoy your starter in hundreds of sourdough recipes! Try using your sourdough discard in this easy and delicious cast-iron pizza!

5. Grow your own herbs

Fresh herbs add a vibrant and delicious touch to home-cooked meals! Store-bought herbs can add up in cost, so planting and growing your own gives you control over the cost. It also gives you immediate access to fresh herbs thus eliminating a trip to the store.

You can even dry them to make spices and seasonings!

Ideas for fresh herbs to plant:

• Cilantro
• Parsley
• Rosemary
• Mint
• Basil

Continue reading for more of the 23 tips to help you save money as a resourceful homemaker.

How To Be Resourceful With DIY Pantry Staples

Creating homemade pantry staples is an excellent way to be a resourceful homemaker. Not only does it save you money, but it also allows you to have control over the ingredients you use. This ensures that you are getting the healthiest and most cost-effective products possible.

6. Jam

Making jam is pretty easy! You simply cook down berries with a sweetener of your choice until they reduce and thicken. You can even add chia seeds for an extra healthy option! 

Many store-bought jams are filled with excess sugars and preservatives. 

Making homemade jam eliminates those unwanted ingredients and avoids the high cost of healthier jam options at the store.

7. Peanut Butter

Another DIY pantry staple that is simple to make, is peanut butter!

To make homemade peanut butter, place dry peanuts in a blender or food processor and blend until smooth and creamy.

This can take quite a few minutes and may need some stirring or scrapping of the sides to get the right consistency.

Again this resourceful tip helps save you money and gives you a healthier option to your typical store-bought version.

8. Mayonnaise

This one-minute mayo recipe is so easy to make! A jar of avocado oil mayonnaise at the store can run up to $8!

This homemade version costs about $2 and is much healthier.

Use this resourceful tip as a base for other sauces and dressings like ranch, buffalo aioli, and more!

9. Yogurt

Similar to sourdough, you can make homemade yogurt with a culture starter, which can easily be made in a pressure cooker!

10. Salad Dressings

Another great pantry staple to make on your own to save you money is salad dressing!

Homemade salad dressings are so easy to make! I haven’t purchased a store-bought dressing in years, and this easy method is why!

In a mason jar combine:

• Avocado oil
• Salt
• Pepper
• Dijon mustard
• Splash of maple syrup
• Splash of apple cider vinegar
• Minced garlic
• Dried or fresh basil chopped

Place on the lid, shake well, and enjoy! Save in fridge for 1-2 weeks.

I eyeball these measurements in my jar based on how much I’ll use within the week. Just taste test and adjust accordingly.

How To Be Resourceful With Household Products

One effective homemaking tip is to DIY as many household products as possible! I am still on this journey but have been making my own hand soap, body wash, and all-purpose cleaner for several years!

Switching to non-toxic products can feel daunting and especially expensive. My advice is to swap one item at a time as it runs out. Making your own household versions is pretty simple and gives you control over the ingredients, which matters when talking about toxic ingredients.  

While trying to live a toxin-free lifestyle and save money, these resourceful tips have proven to be extremely helpful!

11. Handsoap

Very easy to make, and again you control the ingredients. See my DIY hand soap recipe here!

12. All-purpose cleaner

Made with 3 simple and natural ingredients, you won’t need to buy store-bought cleaner ever again! This cleaner costs about $2 to make and lasts for weeks.

Try my 3 ingredient all-purpose cleaner here.

13. Laundry detergent

This one has been on my list to try for a while now, and I am eager to figure out the perfect recipe.

Here is a great version to try by Our Oily House

14. Body Scrub

Combine sugar, coconut oil, and essential oils to make your own spa-worthy body scrub!

This makes for a great gift for loved ones too.

How to make:

• 1 Tbs coconut oil
• 1/4 cup raw sugar
• 4 drops of Tea Tree essential oil
• 2 drops of Lavender essential oil

15. Candles

On my toxin-free journey, I have since ditched candles with artificial fragrances and mostly use essential oils. However, I love the cozy glow of candlelight, especially in the colder months. Homemade beeswax candles give that cozy glow without the high cost of store-bought candles which are filled with artificial fragrances.

Try DIY Candles using:

• Beeswax pellets
• Amber Candle Jars
• Cotton wicks
• Essential oils

If candles aren’t your thing, try this non-toxic and easy stovetop method to create a cozy home fragrance.

How To Be Resourceful With Home Decor

Decorating your home on a budget may seem impossible, but it is very achievable! Here are some resourceful ways to decorate your home.

16. Curtains

Making your own curtains is so easy and cost-effective. All you need is some fabric and this no-sew hemming tape. Measure your window/space for the lengths and width of the fabric you will need. Head to the local fabric store and shop the clearance section for a print you love. Get the fabric cut to match your measurements and use the iron on no sew tape to make the edges look professionally hemmed!

17. Furniture

This is one of my favorite resourceful homemaking tips as I have repurposed over 10 pieces of furniture for our home so far!

If you are searching for a new coffee table, dresser, etc., check your local thrift store, garage sale, and Facebook marketplace for good deals.

Try several refinishing tips to create the look you want for less. Try this paint-wash method or turn a bookcase into a beautiful wardrobe!

18. Artwork

Wall decor adds a beautiful touch to our homes, especially ones that are meaningful to us. This resourceful homemaker tip includes shopping thrift stores for gorgeous frames and using affordable digital artwork to decorate your space!

Be A Resourceful Homemaker By Learning A Skill

Learning a skill is not only beneficial for us as productive individuals, but it can also help our families by saving time and money. Being a resourceful homemaker often means utilizing what we have and making the most of it. Here are some skills that can benefit our families:

19. Cut hair

Learning to cut hair is a resourceful tip that will surely save you money, especially if you have a large family! Haircuts for men and kids can cost up to $20 at the salon and women’s cuts can often run $40 or more! That adds up quickly. Learning to cut hair, especially for young boys and men can help save you money and a trip to the salon.

20. Sewing

This skill is on my wishlist to learn! The many items that can be made by sewing are so enticing to me. Aprons, dresses, curtains, you name it.

Learning to sew is a major tip to use as a resourceful homemaker that saves money. Even if you don’t use this skill to make brand-new pieces you can use it to repair torn and ripped items, which also saves you money from having to replace them!

21. Gardening

Similar to planting herbs, gardening is a resourceful tip to save you money. Growing your own food is so rewarding and cost-beneficial!

Again having control over your food supply eliminates the worry that comes with pesticides from store-bought food.

Gardening is a skill and some may say a science. There is often a learning curve that can take a few growing seasons to figure out.

Once mastered you can have a flourishing harvest to feed your family with. The ultimate resource!

Bonus Tips

These bonus tips to help you save money as a resourceful homemaker are 2 of my favorites. I implement these often for our family and I hope they can be of some use to you too!

22. Stay home

This may sound silly but simply staying home can help you save money! If you are tempted to run to the store or go window shopping, just don’t!

When it comes to saving money, intentionality will help you achieve that goal. If you don’t go to the store to randomly browse the aisles you won’t see that pretty new sweater you think you need. Or that new line of clothes for the kids. Even on-sale items can suck us into spending money we don’t need to be spending!

Make your trips to the store solely for groceries and necessities. Avoid going into any other aisles or browsing the sale section.

Staying home also forces you to be resourceful with your food choices as you will eliminate eating out.

When on the go we are often tempted to stop for a quick and easy lunch which often adds up to more than $20+ for a family! That money can be put towards healthier options at the grocery store instead.

I make all of our meals at home. We eat out maybe one time a month but often go months without doing so. This has saved us so much money!

23. Shop your house

My last tip that ties into many of these is to shop your house! My favorite saying 🙂

Use items you already have to make do.

This may look like pulling out all your glassware and items from your cabinet to take stock of what you own. See what can be utilized for other uses. Like using a mason jar as a vase for flowers. Or an old Tupperware as a drawer organizer.

Rotate the clothes in your closet for a fresh-feeling wardrobe.

Re-arrange your living spaces to create a new and fresh feeling.

We often think we need new items to complete a task we have been dreaming up, but often, we just need to use the resources we already have and make them work for us!

I hope you enjoyed learning How To Be A Resourceful Homemaker with 23 Tips To Help You Save Money!

Using our resources, finding solutions, and saving money are all counted as joy in life as a homemaker. Take ownership and pride in serving your family by being a resourceful homemaker!

Do you have any resourceful homemaking tips? I would love to hear about them in the comments.

As a homemaker, I will Rejoice About saving money and time, you should too!

Happy Homemaking!

*As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases. When you purchase something I recommend, I may receive an affiliate commission – but it does not affect your price or what I choose to promote.*