I wish I could have a garden; however, our HOA doesn't permit them. If we could change their minds, we wouldn't be allowed to fence them in. My property is adjacent to a large nature preserve so whatever I would grow would feed the abundant wildlife. Fortunately, I live in a highly agricultural area and have friends from whom I can purchase vegetables and eggs. Tge Amish community are also a go-to source for me. In addition, I have invested in container gardening and plan to grow root vegetables. I have purchased both wet and dry canning equipment as well as two freezers and water purification equipment. I have stocked up on food and over the past four years have purchased clothing, toiletries, and cleaning supplies as a hedge against inflation and/or tariffs. I can sew and I am learning to knit. My major focus has been financial. Both my grandmother and mother drilled into me to clear debt, buy extra coats and shoes, and always keep some cash on hand. It has been a huge struggle, but I now own everything including my home and car and I have no credit card debt. I don't have much else but I have essentials and that's good enough for me. Between the struggle of the Great Depression and the rationing of WWII, my family had a wealth of frugal tips to pass down to me. I really love this post and hope you will keep it going so that we can share ideas. I would really appreciate other people sharing their knowledge. Thank you for taking the time to share yours.
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