My recent foray into alternative fabric softener left me feeling introspective. Am I a survivalist at heart? Is my hair conditioner fabric softener my first step into a world of rugged cabins, no trespassing signs, and a strong desire to make a blanket from animal skins?
I have recently discovered a strong desire for self-sufficiency. I am starting to develop this deep seated need that goes past “how little can I pay?” and ventures into “how easily can I make this myself?”
I think some of this feeling stems from how isolated I feel in the desert. There was an emergency management study that ranked the Southern Nevada area poor for emergency situations based on evacuation ability and isolation; you can get out of the area but there’s not really any place to evacuate to.
So I’ve started thinking about things I want to know how to do on my own. I want to know:
- how to make my own soap
- how to make my own dish detergent
- how to make my own laundry detergent
- how to do basic clothing repairs (fix buttons, basic alterations) (I’m an urban tightwad, a lot of this escapes me)
- how to start a fire with a flint
I’m sure I’ll keep adding to this list. Many of these skills have come to mind while I’m researching my tightwad emergency kit and bug out bag. I’ve come to realize how dependent I am on the commercial system around me, and dependence at any level makes me uncomfortable. The main reason I’m trying to become debt free and reduce my necessities of life is to create more freedom for myself and family.
I don’t want to wake up and find myself in an emergency and unable to provide the basic needs of life for my family because I turned over my knowledge, skills, and self-sufficiency to the universe around me. Nor do I want to realize one day that I have no choice but to spend money on things I should be able to do myself.
So I don’t think this qualifies me for a yurt in the Rocky Mountains, I do feel a sense of empowerment with my new goals. As a child, we can’t wait to walk and run, stepping away from our parents; as an adult, I’m finding new ways to extend myself, to really get my feet under me. The surprise seems to be the fun I’m having with the process.
Photograph by visulogik
{ 3 comments… read them below or add one }
Cool! It’s always a great feeling to feel more in control and capable. Today it is so easy to purchase or pay someone else to do what past generations made or did themselves. Bravo to you for setting out to learn these great skills! I’m trying to be more self-sufficient, too, hehe, but I’m not as advanced as you, yet : ).
@Jules: Thank you! I’m taking it one step at a time; there’s actually a lot more I want to learn, but I know I’ll end up overdoing it and giving up. Good luck to you, too, for more self-sufficiency!
I make soap to sell as a part-time business. However, I would not recommend it for the casual person that is doing it to save money. The equipment costs quite a bit to get started and just using it for personal use will take several years to recoup the costs for start-up. My start-up for all the equipment and materials was about 300 dollars. Soap requires lye and a chemical process, so you don’t want to skimp on safety equipment or the actual equipment, or you could end up with a very big hospital bill… not very frugal. I would recommend just finding coupons to buy soap.