Answers to a Reader's Questions on Frugality

I recently received a few questions from a friend who is suddenly living on less money.  I started to put some thoughts down on paper but then decided to turn it into a post hoping my answers might help someone else. We could all use help these days (myself included) with grocery prices rising and no end in sight. I have not 'arrived' but continue to learn from trial and error how to live within the confines of a lower income.

So, here are a few of her questions:

1. What has been the largest area (monetarily) you have had to learn and practice frugality? (groceries, utilities, extras, etc.)

I would say that my grocery budget has been the largest area I've had to learn and practice frugality.  If I exceed my monthly budget it's almost ALWAYS in the grocery area. Not monitoring my expenditures close enough is my main problem. But, if I work hard at tracking my spending then this is also an area that I can save money.

 

2. What has been the most difficult area for you to bring under control / practice frugality in?

Again....groceries!  I still don't feel like I have as much control in this area as I'd like to. I made the mistake this month of shopping on 2 different days without catching up in my checkbook. I sat down to enter my receipts into Quick Books and found that I had overspent. *sigh* 

My 5 week pay periods are the hardest. I had a victory though this past month. I normally keep a running grocery list on my fridge. This 5 week pay period I went through the list and only bought bare necessities. I also relied heavily on what I have in my pantry.

A PRICE BOOK is very helpful. You can add any information for an item that will help you personally. I like to keep track of the date, weight and where I purchased it along with the brand. 

 I take advantage of the store's reward programs, too. Walmart's Savings Catcher program will match competitive store prices in their weekly ads and if they find a lower price they will give  the difference in an e card. I have a $10 balance. I also buy some hard to find items through Amazon and use their credit card which gives me reward points that can be used toward future purchases. Most credit cards offer rewards. Just be careful to track your credit card spending for groceries from your checkbook as if you were writing a check or you can get yourself in trouble by the time the bill arrives.

 

 3. What is your best piece of advice for frugality?

Plan ahead for known/and possible unknown expenses and work these into your monthly budget.

 Make a list of all the categories in your checkbook ledger over the past year. Most will be monthly expenses and others may be quarterly or yearly. You will get yourself in trouble if you only plan for monthly expenses without planning for the quarterly and yearly expenses. Divide those quarterly and yearly expenses by the months needed to save and then add the category to your monthly budget.  You can 'hide' the money for quarterly/yearly expenses in your checkbook under that category name or start an envelope system. For instance, I have a 'dental fund' that I hide in my register of Quick Books. I add my monthly budgeted amount for dental to the previous months total. This way I have enough to pay for our cleaning by the next quarterly visit.

Here are just a few examples of quarterly and yearly expenses:

 Quarterly expenses:
- Hair appointment (I save $25 a month and get my hair done on the 3rd paycheck)
- Dental cleanings (I save $25 a month to clean our teeth several times a year)
- Oil Change (I save $10 a month. Oil changes are approx. every 3 to 4 months) 

Yearly Expenses:
- Dog license (I save $10 a month which goes into a Vet Savings for office visits, vaccinations or dog license)
- Christmas (I have the bank transfer money every month from my checking into a special savings account)
- I used to save for accountant fees so this may be an area you need to set a side for monthly. Now we qualify for the free tax preparation at our local library. 
- DMV ( I save $15 a month for my yearly DMV fees) 

Second best advice is to save something, no matter how small, every month for unexpected expenses (car repairs, appliances, etc.)  If you can't save then you need to find some place to cut back. Seriously! Nearly everyone can find somewhere they can cut back. Check impulsive spending such as fast food expenditures, extra snacks at the grocery store, Starbucks, entertainment, etc. If not, then look for ways to bring money into the home. Swagbucks is a fun way to earn and never leave your home.  Living paycheck to paycheck without saving for unexpected expenses is a recipe for disaster which usual means credit card debt.

 This past summer we had an unexpected plumbing expense that cost more than $500. I had set aside a small amount for quite some time in my household expense fund and by God's grace I had enough to cover the expense. If not, then I would have had to put it on a credit card which would have put a monthly burden on us until we paid  it off.

Here is an example of what I save each month: 

- I take $18 out a month for house expense (filters, garden fertilizer,etc.). Why $18? That is what I had left over at the end of my monthly budget. *smile* (Put this last)

- I put aside another $30 a month for a larger house expense (plumber, new fridge or washing machine, etc.).

- I save $10 a month for vet bills. My goal is for $300 or more since it's nearly impossible to get out of an office visit for less. Yearly license fees and vaccinations also come out of this account. This year I hope to add another $100.

Your savings plan won't work if you get into your savings. Just remind yourself what your goals are! Write them down if necessary. 

It seems like I am always changing my budget because new expenses come up or prices rise and I have to adjust the previous amounts. I will be paying a higher amount for my medical insurance starting in January so I readjusted my budget this afternoon. I have a budget spreadsheet on my Microsoft program which I love! My cable bill went up... I negotiated a lower price but it will change my budget.

I saved the best advice for last... put your trust in the Lord and not your budget or savings. No matter how diligently we plan and save there is always that unknown factor that can throw our best made plans out of whack. Last month I made a mistake in one area for my 'envelopes'.  I panicked! Thankfully, the Lord had mercy on me and had already made provision through another mistake I had made in my checkbook which was to my advantage. (can we say OLD brain!)  Boy, did I praise Him for His mercy.

Remember to give to the Lord's work. Be a cheerful giver as an act of worship. Give to others. There are so many ways we can give...even if we don't have anything left over at the end of the month. Prayer, our time, a phone call, small acts of kindness. 

So that is about it. Can you help my friend and add to what I have already shared?  Is there anything you can think of that I missed? We both would greatly appreciate it. 

*~*~*~*~*

A Typical Frugal Day 

So, here are a few things I've done in my home this month.

1. I am still watching for ways to stretch meat since it's so expensive. I cut the 1 pound bacon packages in 1/4's and use 1 section per week. I either use it in a Frittata or in a veggie scramble or on the side with fried eggs. This way my hubby doesn't feel deprived and it doesn't put a strain on my grocery budget. 

Time to dry SF cranberries, again!

  2. I ran out of my homemade cleaners all at once. Homemade cleaners can save a lot of money in my grocery budget. Here are my favorite cleaning recipes: 

Bathroom Cleaner

I fill a spray bottle with half white vinegar and half water and use this to clean the sink and toilet.

Laminate Floor and/or Window Cleaner
Put in a spray bottle and spray onto mop.

1/3 c.  water
1/3 c. rubbing alcohol
1/3 c. white vinegar
3 drops liquid dish washing soap
5-10 drops lemon essential oil (opt.)


Spot Remover

I keep this spot remover in a small plastic container with a lid and I use an old toothbrush to apply it on the stain. 

2/3 c. Dawn dish soap
2/3 c. ammonia
6 Tbsp. baking soda
2 cps. warm water

A few laundry soap ingredients

NO GRATE Homemade Laundry Soap

I decided to make a MEGA BATCH of laundry soap. I've seen this recipe in many places on the web but basically it's a huge batch similar to what I've made for years.

3 bars of soap, cut up in pieces before you put it in the food processor (I use 3 bars of Fels Naptha or 1 bar of Zote)
1 box Washing Soda (NOT baking soda)
1 box Borax
2 cups of baking soda
3 pounds of Oxyclean (I use a cheaper brand like Sun Oxy)
1 bottle of Gain Fireworks or similar product (Optional for fragrance)

Use food processor and add in the order given above. Be sure to cut up the soap before you put it in the food processor. You may need to add Borax to the Zote  in the food processor so it won't stick to the blades.  Use 2 tbsp. per load in your wash. I'm hoping this will last at least 9 months for our family of 2 and 3 pets bedding. I'll track it on my calendar.

I spend $1 a month on Fabric Softener from the dollar store. I need to cost this out to see if I'm getting a good deal. I've tried using vinegar but it doesn't get the towels soft enough since I hang them on the clothes line.

Spot Remover

 3. I normally don't reuse tinfoil that has been used for dairy, meat or egg products. But, I had an idea recently to use the opposite side of the tinfoil after it's washed. I mark with an X which side to not use.
 
4. I reorganized my freezer so I can keep better track of what I have. I have  2 'meat only' shelves and vegetables, fruit, etc. on separate shelves. This will also save time in the long run. 

5. I'm so excited that I found a way to dry my clothes faster this winter. I put a drying rack in front of my gas heater in the living room. My wet clothes dry in no time. I keep checking them throughout the day and move the ones that are already dried to the back rung.  If company comes to the door then I throw a towel over the rack and remind myself that this is a 'working home' not a show place. I can't wait to see how this helps on my utility bill this month since I had an increase last month because I used the dryer on damp, cold days.

6. I started a 'soup' container in the freezer of bit and pieces of vegetables, tomato products, meat, etc. that normally would have been thrown away. It's such an inexpensive meal. I love to make a pot of soup each week for lunch. My hubby likes any soup I make as long as I throw a Habanero pepper in. 

7. I've continued to knit dishcloths for Christmas gifts in the evenings while watching TV. This way I get a head jump on next year's Christmas. A friend has been teaching me how to make beanies on a loom. Such fun!

This barn was our home for 1 year while waiting to be approved for disability. We loved it!

8.  I squish my toilet paper roll before I put it on the roll dispenser. This practice helps slow down the speed of the roll. This is especially helpful if you have young children at home who like to play with the toilet paper. :-) 

9. I made Jalapeno Jelly from our garden surplus of jalapenos which I gave for Christmas gifts. Ritz sells a box of crackers with small individual wrapped tubes. I also found small tubs of cream cheese at the dollar store. I was able to give all 3 together as a gift. 

10. I love to cook and bake recipes in bulk and then freeze for later.  I made up 2 batches of homemade pie crusts to put in the freezer. I love to have pie crusts on hand to take a quick Chicken Pot Pie meal for someone who is sick. My mama loves them, too. I also made up a low carb pie crust for us.  I like to make a big meal on Saturday so that I don't have to cook on Sunday. It's my one day of the week that I like to take a break from cooking. I  made a huge batch of meatloaf and froze 3 of them. I fried up 3 pounds of hamburger and divided in 3 freezer bags to use in future meals. I also cooked and then froze a batch of coconut flour pancakes for my low carb diet. Last night I made Egg Muffins to put in the freezer for a quick breakfast.  I like to think of my freezer as my 'fast food' drive through. :-)

*~*~*~*~*

Here are a few new recipes (and an old favorite) I made this month: 

Spicy Roasted Butternut Squash
We really liked this new recipe.  It will become a regular. 

1 large butternut squash, peeled and cut in 1 inch cubes (warm squash in microwave for 4 minutes to make it easier to peel)
1 tsp. smoked sweet paprika
1 tsp. garlic powder
1/2 to 1 tsp. onion salt or seasoned salt
1 tsp. white pepper or black pepper
1-2  tsp. balsamic vinegar
2 tbsp. olive oil

375 for 50 minutes. You can turn half way if you'd like.

My orange tree is full this year!

Cowboy 'Caviar'
A great recipe to take to your  parties.  

2 cans of black eyed peas, drained
4-5 ripe tomatoes (or a can of drained, diced tomatoes)
3 avocados, diced
garlic salt to taste
minced yellow onion
1/3 jar of La Victoria Salsa (medium heat)
1/4 cup Italian Dressing
3-4 tablespoons red wine vinegar

Mix and let it sit overnight. Eat with tortilla chips.  

Oatmeal in a Jar 
I've been trying to add small amounts of carbs to my diet to help discourage kidney stone formation. I've especially missed oatmeal since going lower carb 4 years ago.  I put one serving of instant oats (rolled oats would be better but the instant oats were free) in a canning jar and poured coconut milk (you can use cow's milk instead)  to cover the oats. You can add nuts, raisins, coconut, etc. You can even add seasons like a little cinnamon and a sweetener.  Let it sit overnight and it's ready to eat the next morning. I heated mine in the microwave but you can eat it cold, too. Great idea to make ahead for busy mornings with school age children.

Bapa playing checkers with an older grandson

Julia Child's Braised Red Cabbage

1/4 lb. bacon
1/2 cup thinly sliced carrots
1 cup slice onion
3 Tbsp. butter
2 lbs (6 or 7 cups) red cabbage, cut into 1/2" slices
2 cups diced tart apples
2 cloves mashed garlic
1/4 tsp ground bay leaf
1/8 tsp clove
1/8 tsp nutmeg
1/2 tsp salt
1/8 tsp pepper
2 cups good, young red wine (Bordeaux, Chianti) or more beef stock
2 cups beef stock
24 peeled chestnuts (I didn't use these)

Salt and pepper to taste Preheat oven to 325 degrees. Cut bacon into strips 1 1/2" long and 1/4" across. Simmer for 10 minutes in 1 quart of water. Drain. Cook the bacon, carrots and onion in the butter slowly in an oven-proof pan for 10 minutes without browning. Stir in the cabbage leaves and when well covered with the butter and vegetables, cook slowly for 10 minutes. Add all additional ingredients (except for the chestnuts). Bring to a simmer on top of the stove. Cover and place in middle of preheated oven. I used an enamel Dutch Oven pot. Regulate heat so cabbage bubbles slowly for 3 to 3 1/2 hours. Add the chestnuts, cover and return pan to oven for 1 to 1 1/2 hours more, or until the chestnuts are tender and all the liquid has been absorbed by the cabbage. Taste carefully for seasoning. Can be made ahead - this is even better when reheated the next day! Serves 6 people. Next time I'll cut it in half for the 2 of us.

Snoopy thinks if he stares at me long enough that I will feed him early.

*~*~*~*~*

Save, Repurposed,Stretched or Reused! 

- Baggies, storage bags, most plastic bags (reused: washed and reused)
- Coffee (stretched: replaced coffee taken out of pot that morning with more water. I pour the rest of the coffee into pint canning jars and refrigerate)
-Small paper bags from grocery store (I save these to ripen fruit)
-Rubber bands off of newspapers
-Plastic bags from grocery store (reused for garbage cans)
-Newspaper (Lasagna Composting by adding grass clippings and leaves on top)
-Toilet Paper (I'm saving the very end of the paper on the roll. I take it off the cardboard, fold it and save to wipe down the toilet. It normally was thrown away. As soon as the weather warms up I'll start saving the cardboard roll for my compost pile).


Deepening the Pantry (or prepping)

-1 bottle of lamp oil
-Canned chicken and tuna (3 each)
-Bottled Water (2 gallons)
-Toilet Paper (I'm buying the largest package and then putting aside 4 rolls each month) 
-Canned soup (5) 
-Beanless chili (1)
-Box of matches (1)

Oh... and I heard that Blogger has changed things so that it's necessary to sign up with Google in order to post? I hope I understood correctly. You can always sign up for emails through a link on the side of this blog or join my Facebook page. It really doesn't take long to join Google from what I remember. 

I miss hearing from you girls and what you are doing in your homes. You always teach me so much. Anything new? How was your Christmas and New Years? Any New Year's Resolutions?

Blessed to be home!
Georgene

Savings on $22,000 a year?

Something interesting happened this past month! I was able to put more in savings since I STOPPED working than when I WAS working outside the home. I wrote a few posts back about our income dropping $400 a month and all the cutbacks we were needing to make. I realized this morning that I was able to save more this past month than I did when I was working.

I think one reason may be that we are being very careful about what we purchase. We can't fall back on the 'extra' money I was making. Our old thinking was that if we wanted something extra for the house then just buy it BECAUSE there would be more money in a few weeks.  Since I stopped working we have pulled in the reins and are watching every penny we spend. I've had a few sporadic paid jobs this month. I didn't make a lot but I was able to sock that money away in savings.

Secondly, we are working hard to live BELOW our means. We've cut our bills so that we have money left over for savings.  Big expenses are bound to come up in the future and a savings will help keep us out of debt.

I'm encouraged and in awe of God's ability to take little and make it much! We really have so much!

~*~*~*

Here are a few things I did to stretch our income this week!

1. I saved an empty Kleenex box and put cloth handkerchiefs in it. It's all set to go as needed.  I went to J.C. Penny a few years ago when our income started to decline and purchased quite a few men's handkerchiefs to use instead of the disposable Kleenex. They can be easily thrown in the washing machine with other whites. I'm always ahead if I can avoid buying disposable items.

2. A friend gave me a bag of gift tissue paper. It was crumbled up so I spent a few minutes ironing it this week on a low setting. This was an old trick my mama used to do. Saving tissue and gift wrapping has been a habit I was taught as a young child.  The older women in my family would gasp if they saw one of us children tearing the wrapping. We were taught to carefully open up the package while saving the wrapping and the tissue inside. Gift bags are popular now and so I save those, too.

3. I tried a new soup this week and it was a hit.

Hot and Sour Soup

6 c. vegetable broth (I used a combo of chicken and beef broth)

2 c. mushrooms (I used fresh)

1 small can bamboo shoots

1 small can water chestnuts

2 tbsp. soy sauce

1/2 tsp. pepper

1 tsp. hot sauce

2 tbsp. vinegar

3 cloves of garlic, minced

1/2 c. green onions or scallions, sliced

2 tbsp. chili oil (I used chili paste)

Bring broth to boil and add all ingredients except

 green onions and chili oil. Simmer at least 

20 minutes. Add onions and simmer 5 more minutes. 

Then stir in chili oil. 

(I can't remember where I found this recipe.

 If you recognize it please let me know so I can give

proper credit.)

4.  Things I didn't throw away this week: 

• Bill envelopes. I pay through my bank so I saved them for seeds.
• Plastic grocery bags used for trash cans.
• Mail ads to put under litter pan for cat. 
• Paper grocery bags used to dry herbs and seeds.
• Leaves. I was taking them out of my flower beds and put them in the compost when it dawned on me to leave them where they are to compost. 

5.  I pressure canned 3 pumpkins. I ended up with  7 quarts and  24 pints. I'll use the pumpkin for LC pies and muffins, soup and to use as a dinner side dish with butter, salt and pepper. 

6.  I'm  a week and a few days into the pay period and I only have $70 left of my grocery money. I was out of a lot of items. A friend suggested I make up a 3 week menu to see if I can get by with what I already have. I realized I had 3 weeks of dinner meals. I think I'll be able to stretch the money left if I'm very careful. 

7.   I made Chicken Tortilla soup (minus the tortillas) this week and used a combo of 3 different recipes pulling from items I had on hand in my food pantry. A friend told me once that she keeps different versions of the same recipe for just this reason. You may be out of an item or two in one recipe  but the same recipe may have different ingredients you may have on hand. 

8. I'm watching for nice (but inexpensive) gifts for Christmas. I have been doing this for a few months so I already have quite a few gifts. I put aside a little extra money this month to add to my Christmas savings. I'm still doing some crocheted gifts, too. A friend said she had  been picking up items at the thrift store for Christmas. I wish I could find some good deals at a thrift store but I rarely do.

I wondered how you keep your costs down on gifts? Do you ever buy used items to give as gifts?

*Pictures from ALLPOSTERS.COM 

Frugal Friday & Diatomaceous Earth

A year ago we lived in a 300 ft. studio at an elderly ladies home while waiting for my husband to get disability. I cared for her (Miss Alice) and took care of her home in exchange for free rent and a part time salary. Miss Alice has a big heart and had been feeding stray cats for nearly 10 years. I took over feeding the cats and fell in love with one of the mama cats and her baby. Well, need I say more? When we moved we brought them with us.

"Snoopy"



I found out recently that the mama cat has worms. Poor baby! I treated her with over the counter medication but it didn't work completely. I checked with the vet and it would end up costing nearly $100 dollars to treat both cats. I started researching alternative methods and came across a lot of good testimonies on Diatomaceous Earth (D.E.).

 Diatomaceous Earth (food grade, not the one used for pools) are tiny, hard sharp diatoms (major group of algae) which work by cutting through the insects exoskeleton. I researched it for days and could find nothing dangerous. The only caution was to use a mask if you have asthma. I don't have asthma but use a mask when using quite a bit of it such as dusting for fleas or in the garden.

I found a large bag (about the size of a 5 pound bag of sugar) at my local feed store for $3. The manager of the feed store takes the product himself in a shake and shared a lot of good information. I found several charts that recommended 1 tsp. for cats and 1 tbsp. for my dog's size. It needs to be taken for  at least 60 days to kill all cycles of the worms. I plan on giving it indefinitely. I mixed 1 tsp. into wet cat food and they didn't hesitate to eat it. I also have been giving 1 tbsp. to my dog even though she doesn't have worms. Taking it internally is also supposed to help with flea control.  I am daily seeing 'evidence' that it's working on the worms. Yuck! A million times YUCK!

It is also supposed to kill fleas so I dipped the pet brush in the D.E. and combed it into all the animal's fur. I'll do this once a week.

Lastly, I read that it works on pests in the garden. I took a jar and put nail holes in the lid to use as a shaker and then applied the D.E. around the plant and even on the leaves.

I will be one excited lady if this stuff does everything it promises! I won't have to spend a fortune on flea meds and it will be much safer for my animals. 

"Sassy" & she IS! 

***

Here are a few things I did to save money recently:

1. I needed a taco seasoning so I made my own. I had all these ingredients on hand. Here is the recipe. It turned out great!

4 Tbsp. chili powder

1 tsp. garlic powder

1 tsp. onion powder

Pinch cayenne or 1/4 tsp. crushed red pepper flakes

1 tsp. oregano

2 tsp. paprika

4 tsp. salt

2-4 tsp. black pepper

6 tsp. cumin (opt).

Use 3 Tbsp. per 1 pound of meat.

2. I've been using large Rubbermaid totes for my composting material. I read this past week to only use food grade containers when you compost so the poisons in the plastic will not leach into the soil. Uh oh! Mine were not food grade.  I called a few bakeries in the area and found several 5 & 7 gallon food grade containers that they gave away free. I just can't decide if it would be okay to use the 2 big totes of wonderful compost this one time. Any suggestions?

3.  I've been reading a few testimonies of people who lived during the depression. One common practice was to not throw anything away without evaluating whether it could be re-used. So, this week I'm really watching what I throw in the trash. One new thing I saved was the packaging from a bag of sugar. There was a nice large piece of sturdy paper (similar to the material of a paper trash bag). I plan on using it as packaging material to mail items to my grandchildren. I also started saving the string from the tea bag. I'm thinking I'll tie them together and use them for my flowers and veggies that need to be supported to a pole.

4. I made another batch of  spicy tomato sauce from our home grown tomatoes. I have a large bag of green beans I need to preserve, too. I've been freezing okra and have enough to fry for dinner. We've enjoyed cantaloupe this past week and our spaghetti squash and eggplant are ready to eat this next week. I will need to find a way to store the squash because I have close to 10.

5.  I used my Price Book to see what I had paid for Dawn dish soap at Walmart and then compared it to the sale item in the ads. I couldn't remember what I paid for it so the price book came in so handy. That motivated me to record more receipts.

6. I am saving the empty dog food cans to bury at the roots of my grape vines and also my Hydrangea. I'm told that when they rust they provide nutrients for the plants. I'll also make a 'tea' out of a few cans to pour at the base of the plants.

7.  I saved the inner cardboard tubing from a paper towel roll. I'm using it to wrap washed and re-used baggies around to keep them neat in the drawer. I use a rubber band to hold them in place.

8. I made too many veggies this week so I kept looking for ways to use them so they wouldn't go to waste. I put the cauliflower in our scrambled eggs this morning and I used the green beans to make a cold salad with tomatoes and red onion and Italian Dressing.

9.  I saved my bread wrapper and washed it out and then dried it to use another time.

10. I had left over milk from my in-laws visit so I froze it. I used it to make homemade ice cream for our company. 

11. We watched a movie I borrowed from the library. 

What did you girls do this week? Everyone's day will look different.. and that is very okay!

Behold, what I have seen to be good and fitting is to eat and drink and find enjoyment in all the toil with which one toils under the sun the few day so his life that God has given him, for this is his lot. Eccl. 5: 18

A Typical Frugal Day

This week I kept track of the things I do (almost) daily to stretch my budget.


Mornings:
- Summer months: The curtains are left drawn on east side of the house until the sun passes over the top of the house but opened during the winter months to draw in more heat from the sun.
- I  save 'first time used' tea bags and put them in a small container in the fridge. Some mornings I use 3 'previously used teabags' to make one cup of tea for hubby. 
- Egg shells or melon rinds are put in compost container on kitchen counter.
- Seran wrap or baggies used to cover fruit are washed, dried and reused. 
- Laundry is washed with homemade laundry detergent.
- Vinegar is put in a 'Downy ball' to soften clothes. 
- Homemade stain remover is applied to clothes.
- Cold water is used for nearly all loads of wash on a light cycle (unless very dirty). 
- Grey water is used from washing machine and ran to flowers on the side of the house.
- Laundry is hung on clothes line instead of using a dryer. 
- Toilet and bathroom sink are sprayed with a mixture of 1/2 vinegar & 1/2 water mixture.
- I use toilet paper to wipe down sink and toilet when cleaning instead of paper towels.
- Lights kept off in house during the day.
- Dishes washed by hand in sink with 2 dishpans (1 for washing and 1 for rinsing).
- I let water pour into a bucket while waiting for it to turn hot and then put the bucket on the back step. I throw it on the flowers (along with the dish water) after I finish the dishes.

Fishin' with the grands!

Lunch:
- Vegetable peelings from salad fixings are put in small compost container on counter.
- Same routine for washing morning dishes.
- Laundry taken down from clothes line and folded to avoid ironing.
- Soda cans are saved to recycle. 
- Old soft clothing and old towels are used for rags to dust.
- Vacuum cleaner canister's contents is dumped on compost pile.
 - Newspaper saved for composting and plastic cover is used as a cover for seedlings to make
    mini-greenhouse.
- Fans used in each room to avoid using window air conditioner until it's over 90 degrees outside.
- Phone calls made on Magic Jack. 

My granddaughter learning how to do needlepoint.

Evenings:
- Garbage is dumped and grocery store bag is used to line the can.
- Compost container in kitchen is taken to larger tote at the back of the garden.
- Recipes are double and tripled so I only use the stove a few times a week.
- Large toaster oven used for baking to keep the house cool.
- Timer is used when watering the lawn so that I don't forget and let the water keep running. :-)
- Same routine as morning for washing dishes.
- Night lights turned on to avoid using overhead lights in bedrooms and bathroom.
- Lawn mowing night: clippings & leaves thrown into compost.
- Car washing night: 2 small buckets of water used only.
- Shower water is turned off while soaping.
- Shampoo is allowed to set on head until end of shower. This allows only one application of shampooing.

My backyard vegetable garden full blown!

Wealth gained hastily will dwindle,

 but whoever gathers

 little by little

 will increase it.
 Proverbs 13:11 ESV

Okay friends! How did your week go? Please forgive me for not getting back to you last week. It's been busy, busy here as I try to keep up with the veggies. But, I do learn so much from you and I'm thankful!

Keeping cool without A/C

I should clarify that even though I don't have A/C I do have 2 window air conditioners and ceiling fans. It still gets very warm on days that are near or over the 90's. So, I'm looking for ways to keep the house cool which will also help with my electric bill.

Cooking in my kitchen heats up the entire house ...  even if I cook early in the morning. So,  I'm finding alternative ways to make my meals by developing a routine to cook outside. I have a propane camp stove (high powered that I purchased at Bass Pro), a very large toaster oven and a crock-pot. I use the propane stove on the patio and the toaster oven inside my garage along with the crock-pot.I also have one electrical burner that was given to me last week.

It's a little inconvenient to cook my meals outside. I think over time I'll come up with an easy routine. I use a large tray to carry my food items out to the stove. I set a TV tray next to the camp stove for my utensils and plates. I take notice what keeps me running back and forth to the house and look for ways to reduce my steps. As a result I decided to leave a couple of potholders in the garage along with a few cooking utensils.

Cooking outside makes a huge difference when it comes to keeping my house cool.

The second thing I do is to watch where the sun is hitting my windows and keep the curtains drawn. I realized the sun hit my kitchen windows  until around 10 o'clock. I had a burgundy sheet in good condition so I made half drapes and found 2 tension rods. I keep the bottom part of the curtain up until the sun stops shining on that side of the house and then I take them down.

Thirdly, I ,like to take advantage of the cool air outside so I open up the windows in the early morning hours and allow the air to flow inside. Once the air outside starts turning warm I close all my windows to trap the cool air.

Fourthly, I use small personal table fans in several of my rooms. I have a small table fan in my kitchen, office, bathroom and next to my bed. Oftentimes I can use the small fan in place of the ceiling fan which I believe costs less electricity.Last night I was warm but my husband was not so I was able to turn the small fan on next to my bed and save using the overhead fan.

Lastly, I wear lighter clothes on hot days. It's amazing the difference between wearing capri's and a  long pair of pants. I've collected a few light cotton tops for the summer which really help. Putting my hair up helps, too.

I read last week to run some water in your bathtub about ankle deep and to dip your feet when you get too warm. I haven't tried it yet but I think it would help.

How about you? Could you add anything to this list?

Why I do radical things to save money

I've often wondered what people think when they read some of my money saving ways. I remember posting something quite a few years ago that was very uncommon and had responses as to "why in the world would you do that?"

This is why I sometimes do things that seem radical to others in order to save money:

I have a plan...

and the plan is to eventually (hopefully) live on only my husband's disability check  (when Miss Alice no longer needs my help) which is under $2,000 a month.

My current budget is set at this amount and I'm practicing each month how to live on only his check. It's difficult but I'm thankful that I have some time to practice. Groceries are still the hardest since prices continue to rise.  I use my part time paycheck for 'extras' and savings. We had a plumbing bill this weekend so my check will pay for things like that.

This is how I look at it... I would rather practice 'radical' money saving ways than work extra hours outside my home. This is my preference. I would rather be cold in the winter and hot in the summer than work outside my home. I would rather cook everything from scratch than work more hours outside my home. I would rather make my own laundry detergent than work outside the home.  I see these.. not as inconveniences.. but as a lifestyle choice that will help reach our goal.

Life is more hectic when I work outside the home and it effects my relationships.. even if just a little.. but sometimes it's a lot. I struggle with impatience when I'm torn in too many directions and my husband knows this very well.  That is why he asks that I keep my outside commitments to a minimum.

I personally just miss being in my home full-time and especially now since my husband is home full-time. I've been a homemaker the majority of my married life except for these past few years since he became disabled. Most of the previous years I did something from the home to make extra money. I ran a used homeschool book business from my home for 10 years. I've done sewing, ironing, babysitting, surveys and typing.. all in an attempt to make extra money so I could be a full-time homemaker.

Everyone has their reasons why they live frugally. For me, personally, it's a small thing to live radically frugal because the benefits far outweigh the inconvenience.


How about you? Are there some things you do that others think are radical in order to achieve an important goal?

(Permission given to use picture from posters.com)

Frugal Friday: How I saved money this week (Nov. 1)

 Lots of saving going on in my home this week! I've been a busy girl!

1. I was given a couple sacks of green tomatoes so I made green tomato salsa and a Green Tomato Pie. I used Stevia in place of the sugar which turned out pretty good.

Green Tomato Salsa

2. I'm trying new ways  to get our water bill down. I came up with a couple more ideas. I purchased two small buckets from the dollar store and put one in the kitchen and one in the bathtub. I'm saving my kitchen rinse water into a dishpan and once I'm finished washing dishes I pour it into the bucket which then gets poured into the bucket in the shower which then can be used for 'flushing'.  I also put a small, shallow plastic container in the bathroom sink to catch the water when we wash our hands which then goes into the shower bucket. Lastly, we put a bucket under the tub faucet to catch water when we take a shower. I'm amazed at how much water has been just going down the drain.. along with my money. :-)

3. I love aprons and wear them all the time to protect my clothes when I'm working in the kitchen. I think this is a very frugal practice because it keeps my clothes free from stains (which saves stain remover) and also helps my clothes last longer.

4. I made egg drop soup this week which is super easy and super cheap.

5. The window air conditioners have now been covered with plastic on the outside to keep the cold air from coming into the house. This should help on our heating bill this winter. I'm imagining that since the house was built in 1917 it will be quite drafty. :-)

6. I put my shampoo into a pump style hand soap dispenser. I used a fraction of what I normally do and it did the job just fine.

7. I'm saving the remnants from our meat that we normally don't eat such as the skin, grissle and small leftover pieces. I placed these in a bag in the freezer for a recipe I found to make dog food which I will end up canning. I also saved some leftover rice which will also go in the recipe. This is food that I would normally have just thrown away.

8. A neighbor asked if I'd like her pumpkin. I plan to cook it for pumpkin pies for Thanksgiving and to eat like squash with our meals. I kept putting off buying a pumpkin until after Halloween hoping the prices would drop.

9. I order some foam inserts for the inside of our air conditioner to help with drafts. I did a search online using (SWAGBUCKS) (which helps me earn money)  to see if there were any discount codes for free shipping,etc. I did find one and didn't have to pay the shipping.

10. I'm still cleaning out old business files. I kept the paper that only had print on one side. I'll use it for my computer. Most of the things I print from my computer are for personal use so it doesn't matter if there is print on one side or not.

What did you do in your home this week to save money? I love to learn from other women. Oh, and hop over to Life as Mom for more Frugal Friday ideas.

But seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness, and all these things will be added to you.    Matthew 6:33 ESV

Frugal Friday: How I saved money this week!

Fall is in the air which has me thinking how I can prepare our home for the winter months. I know I  have an electric blanket that needs washing but I keep putting off going to the laundry mat. I've pulled out the slippers and located the sweaters and I need to bring the kerosene in from the garage to have it handy. I keep flash lights in most rooms so the batteries need to be tested.

 This will be the first year in our new home. Since the house was built in 1917 I'm thinking it may be a bit drafty. We do not have central heat but there is a wall furnace in the living room. We were told by the grandson of the owners that it efficiently heats the entire house. I hope so. If not then I'm sure a couple of layers of clothes will do the trick. I don't mind the cold nearly as much as the heat.

I've listed a few ways I saved money this week:

1. I've been saving leftover bits of veggies for a few months. I put them in a small marked container in the freezer. This week I dumped the container into a pot of hamburger soup. I was able to avoid using a can of veggies because of this practice. These were small amounts I would have just thrown away.  I also had frozen a container of unused tomato sauce that I threw in, too.

2. Homemade ice cream can be expensive to make. An older lady once shared a trick that helps keep the cost low which is to drain the water from the ice and salt and use it in the second batch. This also helps reduce the amount of salt needed for the second batch.  My friend also used to freeze water in milk jugs and then crush the ice with a hammer. I  have never been able to get the chunks small enough that they wouldn't jam as it's turning.

3.  I use seran wrap for my waffles when I freeze them. I reused the seran wrap after the waffles are eaten for the next batch. I also saved and washed a brown sugar bag and a piece of tinfoil to reuse.

4.  I had purchased some carrots with jalapenos and onions that I thought would go well with a mexican meal. They didn't. There was too much vinegar and no one cared for them. I froze them in small amounts thinking I could use them in future soups. Well, I tried a small amount in the pot of hamburger soup and my husband did not care for it at all. I'll need to come up with another idea to prevent throwing them away. Maybe I'll try to rinse them first.

5.  My husband enjoys a cup of Earl Grey Tea in the morning when it's chilly. I've been saving the tea bags by putting them in a container I keep in the fridge. Once I've gathered quite a few I will then use 3 used bags for a new cup of tea. I let it sit just a bit longer than the first use. My husband has never complained that it's too weak.

6.  I cooked 2 chicken pieces in the crock pot to use in a few recipes this week. I saved the meat juice and put it in a jar. Once the meat juices were cooled I put the jar in the fridge to separate the fat from the broth. After I threw away the chicken fat I labeled the jar and put it in the fridge to use in a soup someday.

7.  I saved an empty peanut butter jar. I use empty jars for all types of things. One thing I use it for is to contain grease so I don't have to put it down the drain. I also use jars for compost items because the lid helps deter gnats and odor.

8.  Two clothes lines were hung in my laundry room for rainy days. I may have a chance to try them out this week.

9. I bought a few $1 Popsicle holders. We like sugar free Popsicles but the price is hefty so I'm trying to find a way to cut back on that expense. I use natural stevia in place of sugar. I did not like the way the Popsicle holders worked so I'll be on the hunt for an inexpensive set that is easy to use.

That's it for this week. How did you save money in your home?

How I saved money this week

I've been wanting to keep track of how I've been saving money each week. I'm discovering that small little practices add up to big savings. So, here is how I saved money this week in my household:

1. I have an olive tree that is full of olives in my front yard. I've wanted to learn how to cure olives for years so I finally gathered the courage to tackle it with the help of a dear friend's advice. I spent 2 days picking olives. It's very time consuming because you have to pick one olive at a time (and they're small). I finally got the tree pruner and cut the top branches that were bursting with large olives. That way I could sit and just pick the olives off the branch instead of standing on a ladder while I pick. Once they were picked it was a long process of lye, soaking and a lot of rinsing. I now have 5 gallons of olives soaking in a salt brine. We hope to share with a few neighbors and some of our family.

2. I hung out my laundry on the line. Winter is just around the corner so I'll be hanging some lines in my garage... hopefully next week. I plan to hang my laundry as much as possible through the winter to keep my electric bill low.

 3. I cut back the watering time for the lawns. The grass was pretty much dead when we moved into our home. So, we focused on saturating it with water to bring it back to life. As a result my water bill went up to $127. Ouch! This month I'm setting my timer and only allowing the water to run 10-15 minutes in each spot. So far the lawn looks just fine.

4. I planted lettuce seeds and green onions in a container by the back door.

 5. I made 2 batches of laundry detergent. I've been making my own laundry detergent for years (off and on). It's one of my biggest money savers.

 6. I saved 2 celery stalk ends to regrow. I laced them in small little dish by my kitchen window in some water and they are already sprouting. I'm not sure how tall they will grow. I saw this idea on Pinterest.

7. I realized I was wasting a lot of water in the mornings when I first turned on the hot water faucet. The water would run and run until it finally turned hot. I now keep a bucket outside my back door and bring it in next to the sink. I let the water run into a container and then fill my bucket. I end up with a half a bucket of water from the kitchen sink and the bathroom sink which I then toss onto the new seeds I planted outside my backdoor.

8. I bought whole milk and added water to stretch it. :-)

9. I used cabbage leaves for my breakfast burritos instead of low carb tortillas (which are so expensive).

10. I used a Kohl's $10 coupon and purchased a gift for Christmas.

 I had several new money saving ideas I wanted to tackle this week but I ran out of time. The kids are coming for lunch on Sunday and so I've spent my extra time this week preparing.

Well, that's all I'll write about for now. I'd love to hear how you saved money in your home this week.

Saving vs. Spending (this might surprise you)

This quote is from Money, Possessions and Eternity by Randy Alcorn. I hope I always remember this lesson!

Practical Guidelines to Control Spending.

"Understand the difference between spending money and saving money. 

Saving money is setting aside money for a future purpose. Money that is saved stays in your wallet or the bank and can be used for other purposes, including your needs or the needs of others that arise.  On the other hand, money that is spent leaves your hands and is no longer at your disposal.  Hence, when you buy a fifty-five dollar sweater for thrifty-five dollars, you do not save twenty dollars - you spend thirty-five dollars.  Whether the sweater was worth thirty-five, fifty-five or two hundred dollars is irrelevant.  The point is, the thrifty-five dollars is gone, and you have saved nothing.  The next time you hear of a great sale on something you don't need, remember- if you keep 'saving' like this you will soon be broke!"