Simple Living: How Much Do You Save?
Photo by Pixabay/JillWellington
February/March 2013
By Vicki Mattern
How Much Do You Save?
The figures presented in this article and the accompanying chart involve much estimation and some complex calculations. Our hope is that these numbers will provide helpful specifics as well as inspiration, but do remember that every family’s situation is different. We’d love to have more examples of how simple living saves money. If you’ve been keeping track of your living expenses and would like to share how much you save by homesteading/homemaking, email us at Letters@MotherEarthNews.com with the subject line “Homestead Savings,” and we’ll post your report online.
| Noel Family | Hess and Hamilton | Mather Family | U.S. Average* | Average Savings | |
Food purchased (mostly organic) | $2,333 | $1,507 | $1,400 | $3,335** (for at home and away) | $1,588 |
| Housing (including maintenance and utilities) | $2,000 | $577 | $550 | $5,521 | $4,479 |
| Transportation | $583 | $1,768 | $750 | $3,317 | $2,283 |
| Entertainment | $100 | $138 | $500 | $1,029 | $783 |
| Expense totals | $5,016 | $3,990 | $3,200 | $10,202 | $6,133 |
| In addition to lowering their living expenses, our homesteaders calculated the value of the fresh, organic and free-range foods they produce for their families. | |||||
| Value of home-produced food (mostly organic) | $1,167 (beef, chicken, eggs, vegetables) | $2,321 (chicken, eggs, fruit, vegetables) | $1,200 (eggs, fruit, vegetables) | *Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, 2011 **Number adjusted with data from the Agricultural and Resource Economics program at West Virginia University to reflect cost adjustment for a mostly organic diet | |
| Amount spent to produce food | $353 (garden, animals) | $554 (garden, animals) | $100 (garden, hens) | ||
| Net value | $814 | $1,767 | $1,100 | ||
Read more: Uncover the changes these three families make that allows them to live with less cash income but greater security and life satisfaction in Simple Living: How to Save Money and Smile More.
Vicki Mattern is a contributing editor for MOTHER EARTH NEWS magazine, book editor and freelance magazine writer. She has edited or co-authored seven books on gardening, and lives and works from her home in northwestern Montana. You can find Vicki on Google+.
