Free for the Asking!

I love my home. The view is priceless. My biggest complaint is the lack of counter space for food prep. We determined a kitchen island would be an awesome solution. I, like Alton Brown, cannot abide a "uni-tasker" in my kitchen. Whatever we chose would also have to do double duty and work as an eating space too.

After scouring the internet and "shopping" for these islands, $1000 was the common price. CRAZY!!!! No flipping way am I spending that amount of money.

Hubby and I brainstormed, deciding to hack our own, rather than buy. Our landlord has an old, ancient, mint green dresser in our garage. It currently houses electrical extension cords, charcoal briquettes and the like. After measuring, it is three feet tall, perfect counter height. 

Inquiring what the landlord's price for the dresser would be, he informed us this was a beast of an item no one wanted and we were welcome to it for free. Awesome!

Often you can acquire things at a cheap price or for free, if you just ask. People love to unload their "junk", but if you have an eye for the "hack", you will come up a winner!

So, we are now on the lookout for the 8 foot piece of butcher block wood. We estimate we will spend around $250 for a very nice piece, but we will explore every option before spending this amount too. 

Happy hacking!

Saturday Shopping Tip-Receipts

Receipts. I hate paper receipts. I save them, just in case, of course, but I hate them. 

Sometimes there is a treasure to be found there. I file my receipts monthly and recently discovered, just doing basic grocery shopping, I earned $4 off a meat purchase. That is at least 1 if not 4 pounds of meat, (yes, you can find meat less than a dollar a pound). 

Check those annoying pieces of paper out so savings aren't tossed in the trash.

The Mother of Invention- Substitute for Lemon Juice

Just like Souper Simple recipes, I am going to run Mother of Invention substitutions from time to time.

Not too long ago, I learned I was able to substitute heavy cream, for everything but whipping, with 3/4 milk and 1/4 butter. I love this, since milk and butter are kitchen staples, while heavy cream is not, mainly because of it's price and quick spoilage.

Well, today I came across another one I want to share. While preparing a marinade for an inexpensive cut of beef, it called for lemon juice. I hate buying this stuff for the price too. White vinegar can be subbed for lemon juice, just use 1/2 the called for amount. Now, I would experiment with this and use common sense. Clearly if you are making Lemon Bars, this would NOT be an option. However, in a marinade, it is perfect. 

Sub on!

How to Save Money on...Hand Soap/Shower Gel

Purchase a foaming soap bottle for each place you wash your hands and in every shower. Yes, this is an investment. Honestly, the best dispensers have been the one's I have gotten from Dollar Tree. 

After this initial investment much less will be spent on soap and shower gel.

I may be old school, but I need to use soap when I wash my hands or take a shower. Not everyone does. There are many people using no soap and no shampoo when they shower, for ecological and philosophical reasons and this community is growing. I did a Google search and found 36 million hits on the question of using soap! That will probably never be a group I join. 

That said, I don't want to spend a penny more than I have to for the pleasure. This is a reason I love the foam dispenser so much. There is only a teaspoon to tablespoon of soap being used each refill and since it is already foamed for use, there is very little waste. I also can afford to use my favorite soap ( a little indulgence of mine) because seriously one bottle can last 6-8 months. And that bottle is used as hand soap in our main bathroom and in our shower, at three showers a day!

Clear liquid soaps do foam the best, but my favorite soap is not clear, so it is a bit thicker. You may have to experiment with your own soap to see satisfaction in the foam. Always start with less. It is never wasted either. So much gel goes down the drain when it's used straight from the bottle. 

Liquid soaps make clean up much easier, which is another reason I love them so.

Recipe and directions for refilling foam soap dispenser;
*Liquid hand soap
*Water
*Empty foaming soap dispenser

*Measuring spoon

1.Pour one tablespoon of liquid hand soap into an empty foaming soap dispenser.
2.Fill the rest of the dispenser with water (leaving a little space at the top of the container). Hot water added slowly works best.

3.Screw on the lid and shake, priming the pump a few times.

If you prefer to use bar soap in the shower and at the sinks you can still save.

Cut each bar in half. Dry the bar after every use with a washcloth or even your towel and store it in a dry container. Use a shower scrunchie so the soap doesn't just wash down the drain.

Souper Simple

Created a slow cooker soup last night. Used leftover frozen ham from Thanksgiving, frozen leftover roasted carrots, potatoes and onions. 

I added a can of sweet corn, with the juice, to the above ingredients.

I then made my own beef gravy. I boiled two cups of water with 6 tablespoons of instant beef broth. Then I blended one cup of water with 4 tablespoons of flour and when blended, added to the boiling beef broth. Returned to a boil and stirred constantly until it reached a gravy thickness. 

I poured that over the ingredients in the slow cooker. Added two cups of water, covered and cooked for 4 hours on high.

The fam loved it!

How to Save Money On....Garbage Bags

We all have trash. However, how we view and dispose of that trash can lead to cash savings!

The Amish money mantra is "Use it up, wear it out, make it do or do without." and so it stands to reason that re-using, re-purposing and recycling are the duties of the frugal.

My family has been able to get down to one 13 gallon garbage bag per trash cycle, which, around here, is every other week. 

How does a family of 4 do this? With a two-stage garbage system.

We have a paper bag for dry garbage and a small waste basket that we line with plastic grocery shopping bags for wet garbage.

We recycle as much as possible. Pill bottles, condiment bottles, plastic wrappers, etc. 

Each time we throw something out, we ask ourselves "can we re-purpose this?" and often the answer is yes. Sour cream containers become storage containers, zipper- close tortilla and cheese bags are washed and re-used for sandwich or snack baggies.

Even if you can cut your garbage bag use in half, it is worth it. 

How to Save Money on....Laundry

Did you know in many Westernized countries, a laundry dryer is not considered a necessity? Drying racks are used almost exclusively for drying clothes. Now, living in the frigid Mid-West, this is not always the best option.

Scouring the internet, articles will abound about how much detergent to use, if any. If any? Yeah. Well have you tried washing your clothes without detergent? Some people swear it makes no difference. How about this? Start using half what you normally use and see if it comes out clean. If it does, use 1/4 the detergent. If it's still pretty good, go 1/8 and then finally skip it. Not everyone is a mechanic with greasy, grimy clothes.

I will admit the one place I will use detergent and bleach is my towels, underwear, socks and bed linens. This is psychological to me. I have to know I used this stuff or I won't let it touch me. Yes, I'm nuts.

So, what other tricks are there to save money here?

I have a laundry schedule where I wash one load a day, every week.
*Daughter's
*Son's
*Mine and Hubby's
*Hubby's work clothes
*Towels
*Every two weeks bed linens, but I have two sets for each bed, so they are changed weekly.
 I air out the comforters every week on the best weather day of the week, then toss in the dryer for 30 minutes on high.

My method;
Laundry is washed first thing in the morning.
I wash everything on gentle wash, normal spin speed.
I stop the cycle after the water fills the tub and let the clothes soak, setting a timer for 30 minutes.
I use the shortest wash time cycle.
I run all laundry loads through 2 final spin cycles so as much water is extracted as possible.
All laundry is hung on drying racks for at least 8 hours. This at least diminishes the amount of time in the dryer by half and during the summer, I can line dry outdoors.

Is this a lot for work? Yes. Does it take time? Yes. Does it eliminate electrical and gas use for the dryer? You bet!

How to Save Money On....Using the Dishwasher

I have put my time in as a dish washer, having lived that role my entire childhood. Now that I have the opportunity to use an automatic dishwasher, I am taking it. It helps me not detest cooking, which leads to a very frugal end result, right?


One month we were without this privilege, due to a necessary part replacement and we found it saved $15.We have a very small dishwasher and are forced to wash larger pans and dishes by hand, but still, to not have to hand wash and use bleach water based rinse, since I am a HUGE germiphobe, is worth it.

The challenge is on to make this as frugal an endeavor as possible. Here we go.

1. Have enough utensils, glassware, plates, pots and pans on hand as possible to make a full load. Since our dishwasher is RV sized, it isn't hard to make a full load.

2. Use the same glass all day. You won't get sick. Trust me. I am a hand-sanitizer junkie. Clean is my game. If you like coffee and/or tea and having a liquor drink at night, invest in some glassware with a handle. It is multi-purpose. Just rinse your glass our after every use and if you are really worried, keep your glass in the fridge. Have plenty of utensils. Build your supply at rummage sales. If you are particular, save the "good" ones for guests in a separate area, just have enough to get you through a large breakfast, lunch, dinner and snack day.

3. Be sure your glassware, utensils and dishes FIT in your dishwasher. We had long stemmed wine glasses, but me and my germiphobe self could not handle it not going through a sanitary dish-washing cycle. It did take a while to find the right glasses, but eventually we found some that are perfect.

4. Who exactly decided on the size of your dishwasher detergent receptacle? Do you just fill the hole without a care? Have you thought about this before? I did an experiment. First, I found the detergent that washed my dishes the cleanest on the shortest cycle. Then, I experimented with the amount of said detergent it would take to clean the dishes. I discovered when I used the best brand, I could actually only fill the receptacle 1/3 the way full in the shortest wash cycle for a perfect clean!

My suggestion is to start with the high end detergent. They won't usually change formulas as often as store brands might and it is better to not get surprised and end up with an almost full container of dishwashing detergent that does nothing for you.

5. When we have a huge group of people over we use paper plates AND foil pans. The time and effort and energy equation does not add up and I HATE having dirty dishes on "stand-by" in my sink.

Where Your Treasure Is...

So, this is admittedly, a rant more than a post, but necessary. My hubby always says"life is a time vs. money" equation. So true. Since I am home, I am now the Money Manager, therefore I spend my time trying to save money wherever I can. 

Matthew 6:21 and Luke 12:34 say "For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also."

Well, I want to be home. Why? I love helping those I love!

The blessing of this time in my life is the availability I have in helping my husband, my children, my friends, my extended family. Honestly, I LOVE THAT!

The work, however, is to save as much as possible. Therein lies the focus of my blog for the next few weeks. How to Save Money on......

I hope it blesses and helps you!

Cut It In Half!

Want to easily save half on some things? Cut them in half. 

Many of you are already frugal enough to not buy paper-type products. I admit I will purchase disposable items if it motivates me to actually take care of some things. For example, if I did not use a disposable pad type toilet cleaner, I wouldn't clean my toilet. Those bottle brush things are gross to me and having them sitting around is even more disgusting in my mind.

I also use disposable, exfoliating cleansing cloths. I just won't make the effort to wash my face before bed if I have to stand at the sink for a few minutes. If I can just grab a pad, I will. 

That said, I try to stretch the use of them as long as possible. Every disposable wipe or pad in the house, I cut in half. My face cloths actually are large enough to be cut into fourths, so I end up spending about $1 a month on those. Worth it to me for healthy skin. I also make them do double duty and rinse them off after use to clean the bathroom counter top.

I cut everything in half that I can; paper napkins (which we use when we have company) paper towels (for food prep) anti-bacterial wipes (for bathroom cleaning) dryer sheets (don't use them often, but when I do, they get cut) magic cleaning erasers, etc.  Trust me, if it can be cut in half, it will be.

This can be done with food items too. I cut Italian Sausage I serve in pasta into as many round slices as possible, and cut them in half again. It still appears to be a chunky piece of meat to satisfy the eyes and it stretches far.

Bagged frozen chicken breast can be sliced in half easily if it still partially thawed. Bonus is it stretches the serving amount, still looks like a substantial portion and it will cook faster too, which saves $$$$.

The possibilities are endless, it just takes the mindset of looking to cut costs, literally!

Coffee Creamer Hack

Not too long ago, I mentioned I keep powdered milk in the house, simply because of the options that are available and it's shelf life. I like cream in my coffee and sometimes I like it flavored. Today I created a creamer!

I took one envelope of instant hot chocolate and 1/4 cup dry milk, poured it into our creamer shaker and shook it well. Of course, you can play with it until you have your desired strength of chocolate by adding more or less of the milk or cocoa. YUM! Give it a try!

Easiest Chili EVER!

With the cold weather, a hot meal is awesome. Spicy makes it even better. Since I have been "pantry cooking" (not meal planning, just keeping a stocked pantry) I can make just about anything on the fly. 

Hubby asked for chili this weekend, so I was making the beans in the slow cooker. Easy-peasy recipe: Fill a slow cooker 1/3 full of dried pinto beans, cover them with chili powder, cover half with cayanne, 5 teaspoons of beef base ,1 can of whole tomatoes with juice, cover, fill to the rim with water, set to high and cook for 6 hours. 

Genius struck when I decided to just throw in some leftover taco seasoned beef and cover the beans with one more round of chili powder.

We topped it with sharp cheddar, diced sweet onion and jalapenos.

BEST CHILI EVER!

Powdered Milk = Options

  Every find a great recipe you want to try out immediately but it calls for sweetened condensed milk, evaporated milk or just plain milk and you have none of these in the house? It's happened to me quite a bit. So, I decided to buy powdered milk.

My family has lactose intolerance issues when we drink straight milk, but incorporated in recipes doesn't bother us. As a result we rarely have milk in fridge.

Powdered milk gives us such a great variety of options, that is has been a life saver and I never have to worry about it spoiling before I get around to making a recipe.

By the way, regular milk can be frozen, so if it is on sale, stock up and empty a cup out of each one before you freeze it to allow for expansion.

I don't recommend the flavor of powdered milk when consumed with water added. That said, I've been told that if regular milk is mixed 50/50 with it, there is no noticeable difference. You'll have to be your own judge.

Here is a recipe for sweetened condensed milk and evaporated milk.  And if you just don't think you will be able to use the powdered milk enough for cooking to justify the purchase, here are a few other uses for powdered milk.

Realizations: Part 1

Did you ever have a moment, while talking to someone, that a mess of thoughts and feelings, which have been swirling around in your mind, connect themselves and form a concise idea, that you then share out loud and experience an epiphany?

This actually happens quite a bit with me. I am a "feeler" first. I feel something in my spirit and then later can put two and two together. Apparently my mind does this for me without intention at times.

Since I was 16, I wanted to be a teacher. My experiences in school gave me the desire to see each child as a wonderful, gifted human being. To help children discover who they were, by learning what questions to ask of themselves and how to listen to their spirit, in order that they may experience the confidence that leads to positive interaction with others and their world.

I realized recently that I have been a teacher almost my whole life. Beginning with caring for my siblings when I was 9 during summer vacation, to homeschooling my own children.

Until recently, I didn't have a "piece of paper" defining who I was and my abilities as an educator.
Definitions can be limiting as well.

I am such an "all or nothing" person. When I do anything, my whole heart is involved. My respect for the unique lives of the people around me coupled with my ability to listen and understand others, then turn that into encouragement for them feels like a calling.

My desire as a teacher, either at home or in a classroom, is to enable a human being to be a wonderful human being.

In a discussion of grades and my son's anticipation of how we would feel about his report card, I caught myself saying, "reading and writing are important. Though, the most important thing is that you are a wonderful human being to be around."

My son needs to know grades do not define you. They are merely a gauge set up by others; a measuring tool. What matters most is that he is a compassionate guy, aware of his neighbors and their needs and willing to be part of the answer.

So, when I get reports of my son extending invitations to the lonely at lunchtime and about his being a joy to teach, I smile. Aside from being a proud Momma, I've seen this little man in action and use these reports as affirmation that I am not being too biased.

He is a great kid!

Not "Sew" Much!

Yikes! That machine strikes fear in me.

I have such a desire to do crafty things around my house, but if they involve sewing, I'd rather run ten miles.

The one opportunity I had to fully use a sewing machine was in 8th grade Home Economics class. What started out as a skirt had to be turned into a pillow and my mother finished it for me. Yes, I cheated.

My daughter on the other hand, has created items for her wardrobe and altered clothing from thrift stores with great ease. Yes, she actually is good enough to wear her creations in public.

I had a chance to work with her on a Pinterest project of DIY roman shades this weekend, if I am allowed to use the word "with" very loosely.  I picked out the fabric, paid for the needed items and that is where my part ends. I was hoping I could learn this craft at this stage in life, but, I just cannot stand the sewing machine.

Hopefully, my daughter will keep up the willingness to assist me.

She did a great job.

Easiest.Fudge.EVER!

Here is the easiest fudge recipe I have ever found, courtesy of penniesandpancakes.blogspot.com.

Cheap Butter @ Econo Foods

Econo Foods in Sturgeon Bay has butter on sale for $1.89 with your MORE card. NO LIMIT! This is a great stock up deal and yes, butter can be frozen!

Cheap Eats- The Pantry

Got your freezer? Good. The next thing to spend that extra money on is a stocked pantry. Why? Your pantry is the underwear drawer of your money saving plan. It is where all meals start. If you have this pantry fully stocked, you can create a meal out of thin air.

Here is my favorite pantry list. You can create your own, adding things you will and subtracting things you won't use. This is a pretty comprehensive list though.

After stocking the pantry, the next most important thing is to keep it organized, for replenishment, which is a topic for another day.


Good luck!

Cheap Eats-The Grocery List

You recognize this item, right? Relax! You are not going to be told this is how to eat cheap, although these noodles do make a great side dish or fast, cheap meal.

Like any successful venture, planning is key to eat cheap, but it's not difficult.

Since returning to a one-income family, I have also returned to the $30 a week grocery list. Since I try my hardest to shop only once a month, the budget is $120 a month for six people. This list is FOOD ONLY. Not household supplies. Do I go over this? Yes. It is simply a target.

My shopping outline includes 4 meals, all large enough to be eaten as leftover dinners and lunches.
Is it exciting? Well, maybe not, but it does provide.

4 meats (burger, pork, chicken, Italian sausage)$40 ($10 each)
4 sides (rice, pasta,potatoes,veggie)$20
Breakfast food(oatmeal or eggs)$5
Snack Food(hard boiled eggs or cookies)$5
Staples:(*Milk, butter, oil, seasoning, baking supplies,canned tomatoes)$30
Misc:$20 (cheese, recipe ingredients)
*I purchase dry milk for a number of reasons I'll share in a coming post)

So with this list, I then mix and combine to come up with a menu.

Good Luck!

A Freezer is Your Friend

If you want to save serious money, a freezer is your best friend.You can freeze just about anything, including milk, butter, cottage cheese and eggs (as long as they are  OUT of the shell).

You may be wondering how you can afford such an item. In actuality, a nice freezer can be found for under $200, and even less if you look on Craigslist!

In terms of procuring the funds, consider buying one the 4 or 2 weeks you are paid extra a year. Items around your home could also be sold or bartered on Ebay/Craigslist.

Anyway, consider stock up potential with a freezer. This past week Walgreens had eggs and turkey bacon on sale for $0.99, with no limit! All you need to freeze eggs is an ice cube tray. Crack an egg into each compartment. Freeze. Extract eggs into baggie or freezer safe container and use again, until all your dozens are froze.

Cream of Canned Is Not the Only Option.

Recognize this glop? It is the base for many recipes that call for condensed cream of anything soup.
It's about a buck a can for the generic or store brand version, or $1.25+ for the red and white can name brand.

So, even if you don't mind paying that price, here is a less expensive, healthier version that will certainly taste better on it's own or in any dish you add it to.

Enjoy!

What Happy Weekends Are Made Of.

Togetherness :)

You Do What You Have To Do

Mother Teresa said it best. "If you want to bring happiness into the world, go home and love your family.".
Sing it, Sister!

I am now convinced family was hard-wired into my DNA before my birth.

It seems my heart, hopes, thoughts and dreams center around this amazing group of people I've been given the privilege to call Husband, Daughter, Son, Mom and Dad. Oh, I have a great bit of room in there for others. I care for them like I breathe!

It is just that in recent days, it became apparent to me that when I am able to help my family in their life, I feel so purpose-filled! So many other things pale in comparison. For me, that is.

I am fully aware that not everyone is wired this way and believe we all should pursue our own joys.

Seven months ago, I became a "working outside the home" mom for the first time in my life. I met amazing people, kindred spirits, hard-working souls. I shared time with some truly beautiful little humans, who bless the world with their presence.

Yet, this called for doing some serious re-evaluation of my life's priorities. Along with the prioritizing came the paring, pruning and defining.

I do not compartmentalize much. It always feels like dishonesty to my spirit. I am who I am, in every situation as much as possible. I don't have a "business side" and "personal side". I am still me in both settings. And I don't do things halfway.

In the past week, I have been told countless times by my family just how happy they are to have my support and presence and to simply be available to them again. Perhaps a "career" in teaching awaits me when my nest is truly empty. Until then, Mother Teresa's quote is my mantra and I will eek out every ounce of  joy in being here <3