Casual Homesteader

Our Friday Pizza Night: Two Homemade Pizzas for About $8 Pizza night has become one of our favorite family traditions. Every Friday, instead of ordering takeout, we make our own pizza from scratch. I mix up homemade dough, simmer a simple pizza sauce, pick fresh basil from the garden, and top each pizza with fresh mozzarella, Italian sausage, and pepperoni. The best part? We can make two homemade 11–12 inch pizzas for about $8 , which is a fraction of what we'd spend ordering takeout. Why We Started Making Pizza at Home Like many families, we noticed that ordering pizza has become expensive. Depending on where you order from, two medium pizzas can easily cost $30–$45 before delivery and tip . I've been making more of a conscious effort to be frugal with my money, so instead of completely cutting out pizza nights, we switched to making our own from scratch. Not only has it saved us money, but it's also become something we genuinely look forward to every week.

How I Plan a Week of Dinners and Save Money on Groceries If you've ever walked into the grocery store without a plan and left wondering how you spent so much money, you're definitely not alone. I've done it more times than I'd like to admit. Wandering the aisles, grabbing whatever sounds good at the moment, and forgetting what I already have at home can make grocery bills climb fast. Over the years, I've found that a little planning goes a long way. I don't use an elaborate system or spend hours making meal plans. Instead, I've created a simple weekly routine that helps me save money, reduce food waste, and take the guesswork out of what's for dinner. Every week, I plan our dinners before I shop, check what we already have in the pantry, refrigerator, and freezer, and build my grocery list around those ingredients. It's a habit that's helped our family stretch our grocery budget without feeling like we're sacrificing the meals we enjoy. In th...

Why I Switched to the Cash Budgeting Method (And Why It's Actually Working) One of the biggest goals for our family has been becoming more intentional with our money. As we've worked toward a simpler lifestyle and financial freedom, I realized that using my debit card and credit cards made it far too easy to lose track of small purchases. A few dollars here. A quick stop there. An extra item in the grocery cart. Individually, they didn't seem like much. But by the end of the month, those little purchases added up. That's when I decided to give the cash envelope method a try. It has been one of the simplest changes we've made, but it's also been one of the most effective. Why I Chose Cash When money stays on a debit or credit card, it can almost feel invisible. You know it's there, but you don't physically see it leaving. Cash is different. Handing someone a $20 bill makes you think about the purchase in a way that swiping a card simply doesn't. As th...

How to Freeze Fresh Sweet Corn (The Easy Way) There's nothing quite like fresh sweet corn in the middle of summer. Every year, our local farm sets up a roadside stand, and it's one of those traditions I look forward to. This year I picked up a dozen ears for just $8, and instead of trying to eat it all before it spoiled, I decided to preserve it for later. Freezing sweet corn is surprisingly simple, and it means you'll have delicious, farm-fresh corn ready for soups, casseroles, side dishes, and skillet meals all year long. Why Freeze Fresh Corn? Fresh-picked corn begins losing sweetness shortly after it's harvested. Freezing it soon after buying helps preserve both the flavor and texture. Benefits include: Saves money when corn is in season Reduces food waste Keeps fresh corn available year-round Quick side dish for busy weeknights Perfect for soups, chowders, and casseroles Supplies You'll Need Fresh sweet corn Large stock pot Ice (I used ice packs)  L...

  👉🏼 Disclosure:  As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases. The Pros and Cons of Line Drying Laundry If you're looking for a simple way to reduce household expenses and make your clothes last longer, line drying your laundry might be worth considering. While clothes dryers offer convenience, they are also one of the more energy-intensive appliances in many homes. Line drying can help lower energy use, reduce wear on clothing, and lessen environmental impact. However, it isn't without drawbacks. Here's a closer look at the benefits and challenges of hanging clothes to dry. Benefits of Line Drying Clothes 1. Reduced Energy Consumption One of the biggest advantages of line drying is the reduction in energy use. The U.S. Department of Energy notes that clothes dryers are significant household energy consumers, and reducing dryer use can lower household energy costs (U.S. Department of Energy, n.d.). Research from the University of Michigan found that household...

Homemade Laundry Detergent Recipe (1 Gallon) 👉 Disclaimer: As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases. Store-bought laundry detergent can be expensive, especially when you're washing gardening clothes, workout gear, chicken coop clothes, and everyday family laundry. After experimenting with homemade cleaners, I put together this simple gallon-sized laundry detergent recipe using a handful of inexpensive ingredients. Not only is it budget-friendly, but it also allows you to control exactly what goes into your laundry routine. Why Make Your Own Laundry Detergent? Making homemade laundry detergent can help: Save money on household expenses Reduce plastic waste from detergent containers Use simple ingredients you may already have on hand Create a customizable scent using essential oils Stretch your household budget without sacrificing clean clothes Ingredients For one gallon of homemade laundry detergent, you'll need: ¼ cup grated Zote soap ¼ cup borax ⅜ cup (6 table...

🍼 1 Month Using Cloth Diapers: My Honest Review 🌿 What My Month Actually Looked Like          I’ve been sticking almost exclusively to cloth diapering for most of the month, and honestly, that surprised me. There were a couple of moments early on where I questioned it, but once I got into a rhythm, it really just became part of our daily routine. 😬 The Leaks (Because Yes, It Happens) We did have a few leaks throughout the month, mostly around the waistband. I’m not 100% sure, but I think it might have to do with how my daughter sleeps at night. Because of that, during the last week, we started using a disposable diaper overnight, and that’s been working really well for us. So right now, we’re doing a bit of a hybrid approach: Cloth diapers during the day Disposable at night And honestly, that balance feels realistic and sustainable. 🚽 Unexpected Win: Potty Training Progress This was something I didn’t expect… Since switching to cloth diapers, she’s been usin...

🍊 Homemade Orange Popsicles (A Simple Way to Reduce Food Waste) 👉As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases. Have you ever looked at fruit on your counter and thought… “I should probably use that today, or it’s getting tossed.” ? That was me with a bunch of oranges the other day. They weren’t bad, but they were definitely past the point where anyone in the house was reaching for them. Instead of letting them go to waste, I turned them into something better: Homemade orange popsicles 🍊 And honestly? They came out really good! 🌿 Why This Matters This is what realistic, everyday homesteading looks like. It’s not always chickens, gardens, and big projects. Sometimes it’s just: Using what you already have Saving food before it goes bad Getting a little creative in the kitchen Those oranges could’ve easily ended up in the trash. Instead, they turned into a refreshing, kid-friendly snack with zero waste. 🛒 What I Used Equipment Homemade Popsicle Molds [Found here on Amazon]...

Cloth Diapers Week 1: What I’ve Learned So Far  👉🏼 Disclosure: As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases.  It’s been one week since I switched to cloth diapers, and honestly… I have thoughts. I went into this expecting it to be more work, more mess, and a little overwhelming, but that hasn’t really been the case. If you’ve been thinking about cloth diapers but feel intimidated, here’s my honest experience after week one, what worked, what surprised me, and what I’m still figuring out. Quick Takeaways After 1 Week Easier than I expected Bamboo liners make cleanup simple They held up overnight Travel is doable with some planning Still figuring out the laundry rhythm