Secondhand & Frugal Living (Living in Duplex):

Absolutely, you can live a fulfilling and comfortable life at a fraction of what the average person spends by embracing a frugal, secondhand, and resourceful lifestyle. Many people already do this, especially those focused on financial independence, early retirement (FIRE), or simply reducing their expenses to gain more freedom and security.

Let’s break it down:

1. Housing – Paid-off Duplex or Multi-family Home

Living in a multi-family property (like a duplex) that you own outright is one of the biggest keys to reducing expenses. If your rental income covers taxes, insurance, and utilities, you essentially live for free or even profit.

You can live in the smaller or less desirable unit (or basement), maximizing rental income from the other units.

Maintenance and repairs can often be done yourself or sourced cheaply via local handymen, Facebook Marketplace, or barter arrangements.

Savings Estimate: 30-50% less than the average person, since housing is often 30-40% of expenses.

My Take: I bought a duplex in my 20's had it paid off by my 30's and my housing cost now are just property taxes insurance and utilities. Live in Cedar Rapids or the area around it on or near a main road with a bus route. Have a multifamily house like a duplex or fourplex so you can increases housing density and lower your cost of living. 

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2. Furniture – Secondhand, Free, or DIY

Craigslist, Facebook Marketplace, estate sales, thrift stores, and curbside finds can furnish an entire home at nearly no cost.

Repurposing or refurbishing older furniture (e.g., sanding and painting) can create unique, high-quality pieces.

Many people give away furniture when moving – being patient and keeping an eye on local listings can yield great finds.

Savings Estimate: 80-90% less compared to retail.

My Take: An old man down the street from my has a few garage sales a year and I bought my recliner for $40 from him he hauled away the old chair that I had that I had gotten for free. I have bought most of the furniture for my house from the old man the price is right and its easy to pick up and move it in :) 

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3. Technology & Appliances – Secondhand and Refurbished

Refurbished computers and electronics from reputable sources like eBay, local shops, or government surplus sales.

Older, simpler appliances often last longer and can be maintained more easily.

Learning basic repair skills (e.g., YouTube tutorials) allows you to extend the life of devices and avoid replacement costs.

Savings Estimate: 50-75% less compared to new.

My Take: I buy used Dell Latitude laptops and have done that my whole adult life more bang for your buck. I dont have a lot of appliances but they are all old and simple I advod the new smart tech etc.. I do buy new smartphone tho but I buy a Pixel and keep it for 5 years till the support ends for it then I would get a new model I still have my pixel 6 and plan to keep till 2026 I bought it back in 2022. But before this I always bought cheap basic Moto smartphones. 

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4. Books & Entertainment – Free or Nearly Free

Public libraries offer books, movies, music, and sometimes even tools or equipment for free.

Used bookstores, thrift stores, and online marketplaces often sell books for pennies on the dollar.

Project Gutenberg, Libby, or OverDrive apps offer thousands of free e-books and audio books.

Local groups 

Backyard Abundance setup a garden plant trees that are edible https://www.backyardabundance.org/ has a lot of info on how to make your place more editable. 

Prairie Woods  Eco sprit center https://prairiewoods.org/ 

good food and good events that are earth centeered 

Indian Creek Nature Center https://indiancreeknaturecenter.org/ nature center with classes and info on how to live a greener life.

Savings Estimate: 90-100% less compared to buying new.

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5. Food – Discounted, Clearance, and Food Assistance

Discount grocery stores like Aldi, Save-A-Lot, and stores that sell near-expiry or damaged goods.

Clearance sections, day-old bread, and end-of-day discounts can cut grocery bills significantly.

Food pantries and community resources can supplement groceries, especially if your income is variable or low.

Cooking from scratch and avoiding prepackaged meals saves massively over time.

Savings Estimate: 40-60% less compared to average grocery spending.

My Take: look for deals the library in my town has food bank that they just give differnet food away for free to anyone who stops there so you can get a free base for how you want to build meals and then go from there.

setup a garden plant trees that are edible https://www.backyardabundance.org/ has a lot of info on how to make your place more editable 

Places to get food at would be NewPi Food Co-op Amana  https://amanafood.com/ 

Having a composting 

as well as rain barrels can be used to collect water to so it will  water everything

business called the  Rain Barrel  Guy  his phone number is 319-929-4241

Trying to minimize environmental impact as much as possible using solar panels. Eating vegan

Looking at non-commercial options for other services and endeavors such as 

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6. Transportation – Low-Cost and Practical

Owning a reliable used car instead of leasing or financing a new one can drastically reduce costs.

Car-sharing or biking for local errands can eliminate or reduce fuel and maintenance costs.

Doing your own maintenance (oil changes, brakes, etc.) saves hundreds annually.

Savings Estimate: 30-60% less compared to car payments and dealership maintenance.

My Take: Take the bus buy a simple old car that is 10 years old or older dont drive it much. Get rides with others take the bus its only $1 each way. Take a greyhound to get out of town. I think it would be good to write about non-car living using like a bike using the bus living off of 1st avenue so you could take route 5

Having a bike and  e-bike would allow for more travel on your terms hopefully at least 8 months out of the year.

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7. Utilities – Conservative Use and Efficiency

Energy-efficient appliances, LED lighting, and low-flow fixtures reduce ongoing costs.

Thermostat adjustments and wearing layers in winter can cut heating costs.

Renters often cover utilities in multi-family homes, or you can split costs.

Savings Estimate: 20-40% less compared to average households.

My Take: Lower water gas and electric usage 

add installation around the roof and other places Air dry clothes and limit AC and heating 

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8. Healthcare – Preventative and Strategic

Staying healthy through exercise, good diet, and avoiding costly habits like smoking or excessive drinking.

Seeking community clinics, generic prescriptions, and negotiating medical bills can reduce healthcare costs significantly.

Savings Estimate: Variable, but potentially 20-50% less over time.

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9. Clothing – Thrift, Secondhand, and Minimalism

Goodwill, thrift shops, and online platforms like Poshmark offer high-quality clothing for a fraction of the price.

Buying durable, classic styles secondhand often results in longer-lasting clothes compared to fast fashion.

Savings Estimate: 70-90% less compared to buying new.

Key Mindset Shifts:

Embrace simplicity: Value experiences over possessions.

Learn basic repair skills: Empower yourself to fix and maintain your belongings.

Patience and community connections: Finding great deals secondhand takes time but is rewarding.

Pride in frugality: Treat frugal living as a strength, not a sacrifice.

Intro 

This page is about low impact low cost of living with a focus on Cedar Rapids Looking at non-commercial avenues 

Tech

 using calyx for internet and tello for cell phone service just for talk and text and a little bit of data.

Linux and free and open source software and just the overall options and avenues to pursue with that

 buying a computer used from Midwest computer brokers.