Since today is clean-out-the-fridge day at our house, it's the perfect day to introduce the versatile casserole into your dinner repertoire. It is another example of the perfect frugal food since you can use all those tiny little bowls of leftovers as well as any veggies on their last legs and round them out with ingredients you likely already have in your pantry. Here's what you need:
* A cooked carb
examples: rice, potatoes, beans, barley, quinoa, cracked wheat
* Cooked vegetables
examples: broccoli, green beans, cauliflower, carrots, green peas, sweet peppers, corn, spinach, sauteed onions
* A basic white sauce (recipe below)
* Added goodies (optional)
examples: olives, water chestnuts, mushrooms, minced garlic, cooked chicken, turkey or tuna
* A topping
examples: cheese, broken tortilla chips or crackers drizzled with butter & parmesan cheese
Just mix everything together in a large casserole dish & bake at 400 degrees for about 30 minutes for a complete dinner. If you are trying to make a couple vegetarian meals a week, this is an excellent dish to include, since you likely won't even miss the meat.
To make a basic white sauce, melt on the stovetop:
*2 Tbls. butter
After it has melted, add:
*1 cup milk
While it is warming up (before it boils), whisk in:
*2 Tbls. flour or 1 Tbls. cornstarch
Bring the mixture to a light boil. If it isn't thick enough for your liking, you can add more flour or cornstarch. When it is the right consistency, add spices such as garlic powder, onion powder, salt & pepper to taste.
You can also use chicken broth in place of some or all of the milk.
Get Moving: Even if you don't make a casserole for dinner tonight, take time today to go through your refrigerator and freeze or eat any leftovers that have been in there for more than 3 days but are still good. Also print this recipe and add to your recipe collection. After trying it once or twice, you won't even need to look at it & you will watch your food waste decline.
Annoying but necessary disclaimer: All information contained herein express my opinions only and are based on my health status & location. Each person's situation, health, and local laws & ordinances are different. By all means, use your own common sense & don't do anything you see here if someone more important than me (like your doctor, your local police, your own conscience) would disagree. If you're easily persuaded by everything you read, and you think I might cause you to hurt yourself or break the law, quit reading my site, please.
Monday, March 19, 2007
Friday, March 16, 2007
savvy and cents report
Here is a chance for you to share your frugal successes this week. Did you find a good use for an item that would have been destined for the trash can? Did you try to develop a new skill? Did you find a creative temporary solution to a need (something that will work until you find the best deal on the real item you want)? Or did you just walk out of the store empty-handed instead of pulling out your credit card?
Here's mine: this week, I tried to spot-treat the stains on some of our favorite white t-shirts. Unfortunately, the bleach pen I was using left a bluish-purple ring around each stain where it was applied. Instead of throwing them away, I made plans to tie-dye the shirts next week, so I set them aside in a bag along with several others that are too stained to wear.
Leave your successes in the comments section. Please share your experiences! That’s the way inspiration happens.
Annoying but necessary disclaimer: All information contained herein express my opinions only and are based on my health status & location. Each person's situation, health, and local laws & ordinances are different. By all means, use your own common sense & don't do anything you see here if someone more important than me (like your doctor, your local police, your own conscience) would disagree. If you're easily persuaded by everything you read, and you think I might cause you to hurt yourself or break the law, quit reading my site, please.
Here's mine: this week, I tried to spot-treat the stains on some of our favorite white t-shirts. Unfortunately, the bleach pen I was using left a bluish-purple ring around each stain where it was applied. Instead of throwing them away, I made plans to tie-dye the shirts next week, so I set them aside in a bag along with several others that are too stained to wear.
Leave your successes in the comments section. Please share your experiences! That’s the way inspiration happens.
Annoying but necessary disclaimer: All information contained herein express my opinions only and are based on my health status & location. Each person's situation, health, and local laws & ordinances are different. By all means, use your own common sense & don't do anything you see here if someone more important than me (like your doctor, your local police, your own conscience) would disagree. If you're easily persuaded by everything you read, and you think I might cause you to hurt yourself or break the law, quit reading my site, please.
Thursday, March 15, 2007
Thursday Q & A - non-toxic cleaners
L.M. writes:
L, you are right to be skeptical about the price & claims made by the "eco" version cleaners at the store. There are no restrictions on products for the use of the words "natural," "environmentally-friendly," or "green." In fact, if you notice next time you are in the store, many of the products that you recognize as natural cleaners actually don't make any explicit claims on the packaging. Instead, they might place a prominent picture of a nature scene or a recycling image on the front. If you are sensitive to chemicals, you will be surprised to find that you are sensitive to most of these cleaners as well.
The one exception I have found is Dr. Bronner's liquid castille soap. It is the tall, narrow, round bottle in the natural cleaning section that has bizarre writing all over it. Don't let the bizarre writing freak you out--it's one of the things that makes Dr. Bronner's unique (and fun). This soap is great for all kinds of cleaning projects. It cuts grease & grime from sinks & bathtubs. It makes a great all-purpose kitchen cleaner. It cleans hardwood & linoleum floors with no dullness or streaking. You can use it on dishes or in your laundry, as well. You can buy a generic version at Trader Joe's, if there is one in your area.
Another great all-purpose cleaner is a spray bottle full of diluted vinegar. Vinegar is a natural anti-bacterial, which makes it perfectly suited to be a kitchen counter & toilet seat cleaner (try to use different rags for these two jobs, please). Dilute the vinegar to a ratio of 2/3 water to 1/3 vinegar. I love using diluted vinegar since I can give a bottle & rag to my 3 year old and let her clean cabinet fronts, the refrigerator, spots from the floor, and anything else she wishes.
Baking soda is one of the cheapest gently abrasive cleaners you can buy. I use it to scrub burnt-on foods from my stovetop & to scrub off rings in the toilet or bathtub.
The last two items you might need are a window cleaner & a furniture duster. I love this recipe of vinegar, dish soap, & water for window cleaning. I often just wipe my furniture with water, but if you like the slick look of a polish, try this furniture polish made of vinegar, oil, & optional lemon.
Tea tree oil & grapefruit seed oil are both anti-fungals and diluted forms can be used in place of bleach for mold control.
If the smell of your cleaners is important to you, try adding some essential oils to create the fragrance you like best. Personally, I'm now used to the smell of vinegar, so the smell of it equals "clean" to me.
With just five items in your arsenal: vinegar, baking soda, oil, Dr. Bronner's, and water, you will be able to tackle any routine household cleaning job. Add in some tea tree oil & a few spray bottles and you can clean like a pro with no hazardous chemical exposure, even on a bare-bones budget.
Get Moving: Add two inexpensive items to your grocery list this week: a spray bottle & a bottle of plain white vinegar. When you get home, fill the bottle with a solution of diluted vinegar using a 1/3 vinegar to 2/3 water ratio.
Thanks for writing, L.M.! Every Thursday The Tightwad Trainer will answer one of your questions. Email me at tightwad_trainer@fuse.net and I will do my best to solve your dilemma. Sign your name if it's OK for me to include it!
Annoying but necessary disclaimer: All information contained herein express my opinions only and are based on my health status & location. Each person's situation, health, and local laws & ordinances are different. By all means, use your own common sense & don't do anything you see here if someone more important than me (like your doctor, your local police, your own conscience) would disagree. If you're easily persuaded by everything you read, and you think I might cause you to hurt yourself or break the law, quit reading my site, please.
How can I clean my house, be as environmentally friendly as possible, and still save money (in other words, not buying the fancy "eco" version cleaners you see at stores).
L, you are right to be skeptical about the price & claims made by the "eco" version cleaners at the store. There are no restrictions on products for the use of the words "natural," "environmentally-friendly," or "green." In fact, if you notice next time you are in the store, many of the products that you recognize as natural cleaners actually don't make any explicit claims on the packaging. Instead, they might place a prominent picture of a nature scene or a recycling image on the front. If you are sensitive to chemicals, you will be surprised to find that you are sensitive to most of these cleaners as well.
The one exception I have found is Dr. Bronner's liquid castille soap. It is the tall, narrow, round bottle in the natural cleaning section that has bizarre writing all over it. Don't let the bizarre writing freak you out--it's one of the things that makes Dr. Bronner's unique (and fun). This soap is great for all kinds of cleaning projects. It cuts grease & grime from sinks & bathtubs. It makes a great all-purpose kitchen cleaner. It cleans hardwood & linoleum floors with no dullness or streaking. You can use it on dishes or in your laundry, as well. You can buy a generic version at Trader Joe's, if there is one in your area.
Another great all-purpose cleaner is a spray bottle full of diluted vinegar. Vinegar is a natural anti-bacterial, which makes it perfectly suited to be a kitchen counter & toilet seat cleaner (try to use different rags for these two jobs, please). Dilute the vinegar to a ratio of 2/3 water to 1/3 vinegar. I love using diluted vinegar since I can give a bottle & rag to my 3 year old and let her clean cabinet fronts, the refrigerator, spots from the floor, and anything else she wishes.
Baking soda is one of the cheapest gently abrasive cleaners you can buy. I use it to scrub burnt-on foods from my stovetop & to scrub off rings in the toilet or bathtub.
The last two items you might need are a window cleaner & a furniture duster. I love this recipe of vinegar, dish soap, & water for window cleaning. I often just wipe my furniture with water, but if you like the slick look of a polish, try this furniture polish made of vinegar, oil, & optional lemon.
Tea tree oil & grapefruit seed oil are both anti-fungals and diluted forms can be used in place of bleach for mold control.
If the smell of your cleaners is important to you, try adding some essential oils to create the fragrance you like best. Personally, I'm now used to the smell of vinegar, so the smell of it equals "clean" to me.
With just five items in your arsenal: vinegar, baking soda, oil, Dr. Bronner's, and water, you will be able to tackle any routine household cleaning job. Add in some tea tree oil & a few spray bottles and you can clean like a pro with no hazardous chemical exposure, even on a bare-bones budget.
Get Moving: Add two inexpensive items to your grocery list this week: a spray bottle & a bottle of plain white vinegar. When you get home, fill the bottle with a solution of diluted vinegar using a 1/3 vinegar to 2/3 water ratio.
Thanks for writing, L.M.! Every Thursday The Tightwad Trainer will answer one of your questions. Email me at tightwad_trainer@fuse.net and I will do my best to solve your dilemma. Sign your name if it's OK for me to include it!
Annoying but necessary disclaimer: All information contained herein express my opinions only and are based on my health status & location. Each person's situation, health, and local laws & ordinances are different. By all means, use your own common sense & don't do anything you see here if someone more important than me (like your doctor, your local police, your own conscience) would disagree. If you're easily persuaded by everything you read, and you think I might cause you to hurt yourself or break the law, quit reading my site, please.
Wednesday, March 14, 2007
Saving money with your freezer
Even if you are a savvy, cash-carrying grocery shopper, two budget busters constantly try to sneak up on you: food waste & dining out.
How many times have you cleaned out the refrigerator to find moldy, half-eaten bowls of unidentifiable leftovers lurking in the back corners? And how many times in the past month have you been on the run all day & too busy to prepare lunch at home? Or how many times have in the past month have you worked all day to come home unable to think of a single thing to fix for dinner, sending you and your family driving to a restaurant so you don't have to face the dinner dilemma tonight? The freezer can help reduce these two major budget busters with little additional effort on your part.
Here's how the system works.
Phase 1: every time you cook, decide if you have the ingredients at hand to make a double or triple portion of your meal. If you do, quickly run through your major ingredients to be sure there's no items in there that will not freeze well. If you can, make a double or triple batch & label & freeze the excess.
Phase 2: choose two spread-apart days each week (such as Monday & Thursday) to go through your refrigerator & consume or freeze any foods that are reaching their deadline. Look at everything, not just obvious leftovers. Do you have milk on its way out? Freeze it in an ice cube tray, then pour the cubes into a bag & use for pancakes or other recipes that call for sour milk. Olives that are reaching their lifespan? Perhaps tonight is the night to make that pasta sauce with olives & garlic.
If you use both phases of the operation, within a month you will have a formidable freezer supply. The benefits are enormous. Now, when you're on your way out for an errand day or a busy day at work, you won't have to run through Wendy's drive-through. You can grab a lunch in minutes from your freezer. If you have no conflicting health conditions, a good lunch can always be made from a fruit or veggie, a complex grain-based carb, and a protein source. You also won't be so tempted to dine out when you have no energy for cooking at home.
Many containers will work in the freezer. High quality, zipping plastic bags are a favorite for saving space. Plastic containers are also popular for work lunches. I use both of these types as well as glass jars that I save from salsa, spaghetti sauce, honey, etc. To thaw the food stored in glass jars, I run the gar under lukewarm water, then submerge it in a pan of water & bring to a boil. Never put a cold glass jar in a pan of already boiling water or it will shatter.
If you know you are going to have a busy day, you can always move any container to the refrigerator the night before & it will be ready by dinnertime.
Be sure to label your containers. A simple labeling system is fine, where you mark the container with its contents plus the month/year. You can mark directly on the container or use a label, a piece of masking tape, or anything else that will stick along with a permanent marker.
For more information on freezer-friendly foods, freezer containers, and recipes, check out Frozen Assets by Deborah Taylor-Hough.
Get Moving: When you cook dinner tonight, make a double-batch of your meal & freeze the excess.
Annoying but necessary disclaimer: All information contained herein express my opinions only and are based on my health status & location. Each person's situation, health, and local laws & ordinances are different. By all means, use your own common sense & don't do anything you see here if someone more important than me (like your doctor, your local police, your own conscience) would disagree. If you're easily persuaded by everything you read, and you think I might cause you to hurt yourself or break the law, quit reading my site, please.
How many times have you cleaned out the refrigerator to find moldy, half-eaten bowls of unidentifiable leftovers lurking in the back corners? And how many times in the past month have you been on the run all day & too busy to prepare lunch at home? Or how many times have in the past month have you worked all day to come home unable to think of a single thing to fix for dinner, sending you and your family driving to a restaurant so you don't have to face the dinner dilemma tonight? The freezer can help reduce these two major budget busters with little additional effort on your part.
Here's how the system works.
Phase 1: every time you cook, decide if you have the ingredients at hand to make a double or triple portion of your meal. If you do, quickly run through your major ingredients to be sure there's no items in there that will not freeze well. If you can, make a double or triple batch & label & freeze the excess.
Phase 2: choose two spread-apart days each week (such as Monday & Thursday) to go through your refrigerator & consume or freeze any foods that are reaching their deadline. Look at everything, not just obvious leftovers. Do you have milk on its way out? Freeze it in an ice cube tray, then pour the cubes into a bag & use for pancakes or other recipes that call for sour milk. Olives that are reaching their lifespan? Perhaps tonight is the night to make that pasta sauce with olives & garlic.
If you use both phases of the operation, within a month you will have a formidable freezer supply. The benefits are enormous. Now, when you're on your way out for an errand day or a busy day at work, you won't have to run through Wendy's drive-through. You can grab a lunch in minutes from your freezer. If you have no conflicting health conditions, a good lunch can always be made from a fruit or veggie, a complex grain-based carb, and a protein source. You also won't be so tempted to dine out when you have no energy for cooking at home.
Many containers will work in the freezer. High quality, zipping plastic bags are a favorite for saving space. Plastic containers are also popular for work lunches. I use both of these types as well as glass jars that I save from salsa, spaghetti sauce, honey, etc. To thaw the food stored in glass jars, I run the gar under lukewarm water, then submerge it in a pan of water & bring to a boil. Never put a cold glass jar in a pan of already boiling water or it will shatter.
If you know you are going to have a busy day, you can always move any container to the refrigerator the night before & it will be ready by dinnertime.
Be sure to label your containers. A simple labeling system is fine, where you mark the container with its contents plus the month/year. You can mark directly on the container or use a label, a piece of masking tape, or anything else that will stick along with a permanent marker.
For more information on freezer-friendly foods, freezer containers, and recipes, check out Frozen Assets by Deborah Taylor-Hough.
Get Moving: When you cook dinner tonight, make a double-batch of your meal & freeze the excess.
Annoying but necessary disclaimer: All information contained herein express my opinions only and are based on my health status & location. Each person's situation, health, and local laws & ordinances are different. By all means, use your own common sense & don't do anything you see here if someone more important than me (like your doctor, your local police, your own conscience) would disagree. If you're easily persuaded by everything you read, and you think I might cause you to hurt yourself or break the law, quit reading my site, please.
Tuesday, March 13, 2007
The Frugal Four
The method behind saving money is actually pretty simple. It is achieved using the same principle that leads to successful weight loss. To lose weight, you must consume less calories than you burn. To save money, you must spend less money than you bring in.
For many of you, your income is pretty much fixed. You could get a second job, but the additional income may or may not outweigh the time spent outside of your home & away from your family. And for most people, simply getting a second job doesn’t do any good, because most people adjust their spending to their income. Think back to when you were a college student or newly on your own. You probably didn’t have much income, but somehow you made it because your spending was adjusted.
The first & foremost tightwad principle is to spend less than you make. There are lots of tips & tricks to help you do this, but if you don’t commit to this single principle, you will never save money.
Once you get in the practice of analyzing your purchases & spending below your income, it becomes second nature. At first, though, you must examine every single purchase that you make and decide if you are getting the most for your money.
From now on, I don’t want you to buy another item until it has passed the Frugal Four test.
Ask yourself:
-Do I need this or just want this?
-Could I use materials I already have to improvise this?
-Could I borrow it or use another temporary alternative?
-Could I purchase it used instead of new?
Let’s look at a real-life example to see how it fares with the Frugal Four test.
I would like to build a small raised patio at the foot of our deck. The easiest way to accomplish the task would be to use a table saw. We don’t own a table saw and a new one costs $150 or more.
When testing this potential purchase, I would ask myself:
Do I need this or just want this?
Well, we have long identified the need for a table saw. While it may be a “want” to build the patio at all, in the long run, a table saw will end up saving us money by enabling us to do many more projects than just the patio. So, at this point, I would call the table saw a “need.”
Could I use materials I already have to improvise this?
Yes. We could use a circular saw each time we do a cut. However, we have used our circular saw in place of the needed table saw on many past projects & each time, we have messed up our cuts. Circular saws cannot be as precise with straight cuts as table saws.
Could I borrow it or use another temporary alternative?
Yes. We have two friends who own table saws. One lives 25 minutes away & the other an hour away. We could take our wood to cut at their homes. This would be very inconvenient & use gas money; however, we would be able to visit with our friends at the same time. The circular saw has made a somewhat adequate temporary alternative for quite some time if we can accept flawed, messy cuts.
Could I purchase it used instead of new?
Absolutely. I don’t know if we’ll break down & buy a table saw for this project, but when we do purchase one, it will definitely be used. I love buying used tools in particular. I typically spend less for a tool of high quality than if I had bought the least expensive off-brand tool at a discount store.
This is an example of an item that would go on my wish list--a rather extensive written list that I keep so that I can refer to it when I hear of a good estate sale or when yard sale season begins or when my birthday is coming up. It is not uncommon for us to identify a need and wait months or even years before finding the right deal & purchasing the item.
How many times have you thought of something you would like to purchase and headed on over to the store to pick it up without a second thought? How many times has it happened in the last week? How much money would you have if you had just not purchased the items you bought last week? Would it be enough to start a small savings account?
Get Moving I’m going to list the Frugal Four test for you right here. I want you to hit the print button on your computer. Go ahead and tell your printer to print only pages 1-3 so you don’t waste paper & ink. That should cover this entry. Now, after it prints, I want you to cut out the Frugal Four down here in this section. Tuck them right inside your wallet or your checkbook or whatever it is you use to buy items when you’re shopping. Make sure you put them where you can see them before you can access your money.
Do I need this or just want this?
For many of you, your income is pretty much fixed. You could get a second job, but the additional income may or may not outweigh the time spent outside of your home & away from your family. And for most people, simply getting a second job doesn’t do any good, because most people adjust their spending to their income. Think back to when you were a college student or newly on your own. You probably didn’t have much income, but somehow you made it because your spending was adjusted.
The first & foremost tightwad principle is to spend less than you make. There are lots of tips & tricks to help you do this, but if you don’t commit to this single principle, you will never save money.
Once you get in the practice of analyzing your purchases & spending below your income, it becomes second nature. At first, though, you must examine every single purchase that you make and decide if you are getting the most for your money.
From now on, I don’t want you to buy another item until it has passed the Frugal Four test.
Ask yourself:
-Do I need this or just want this?
-Could I use materials I already have to improvise this?
-Could I borrow it or use another temporary alternative?
-Could I purchase it used instead of new?
Let’s look at a real-life example to see how it fares with the Frugal Four test.
I would like to build a small raised patio at the foot of our deck. The easiest way to accomplish the task would be to use a table saw. We don’t own a table saw and a new one costs $150 or more.
When testing this potential purchase, I would ask myself:
Do I need this or just want this?
Well, we have long identified the need for a table saw. While it may be a “want” to build the patio at all, in the long run, a table saw will end up saving us money by enabling us to do many more projects than just the patio. So, at this point, I would call the table saw a “need.”
Could I use materials I already have to improvise this?
Yes. We could use a circular saw each time we do a cut. However, we have used our circular saw in place of the needed table saw on many past projects & each time, we have messed up our cuts. Circular saws cannot be as precise with straight cuts as table saws.
Could I borrow it or use another temporary alternative?
Yes. We have two friends who own table saws. One lives 25 minutes away & the other an hour away. We could take our wood to cut at their homes. This would be very inconvenient & use gas money; however, we would be able to visit with our friends at the same time. The circular saw has made a somewhat adequate temporary alternative for quite some time if we can accept flawed, messy cuts.
Could I purchase it used instead of new?
Absolutely. I don’t know if we’ll break down & buy a table saw for this project, but when we do purchase one, it will definitely be used. I love buying used tools in particular. I typically spend less for a tool of high quality than if I had bought the least expensive off-brand tool at a discount store.
This is an example of an item that would go on my wish list--a rather extensive written list that I keep so that I can refer to it when I hear of a good estate sale or when yard sale season begins or when my birthday is coming up. It is not uncommon for us to identify a need and wait months or even years before finding the right deal & purchasing the item.
How many times have you thought of something you would like to purchase and headed on over to the store to pick it up without a second thought? How many times has it happened in the last week? How much money would you have if you had just not purchased the items you bought last week? Would it be enough to start a small savings account?
Get Moving I’m going to list the Frugal Four test for you right here. I want you to hit the print button on your computer. Go ahead and tell your printer to print only pages 1-3 so you don’t waste paper & ink. That should cover this entry. Now, after it prints, I want you to cut out the Frugal Four down here in this section. Tuck them right inside your wallet or your checkbook or whatever it is you use to buy items when you’re shopping. Make sure you put them where you can see them before you can access your money.
Do I need this or just want this?
Could I use materials I already have to improvise this?
Could I borrow it or use another temporary alternative?
Could I purchase it used instead of new?
Monday, March 12, 2007
organic foods - budget buster?
Every financial decision in our lives is a delicate dance between what's important to us and what we can actually afford. The organic food dilemma is a perfect example of this. Would we all like to eat completely organic fruits & veggies, untainted by any and all chemical exposure? Of course. Do organic fruits & veggies taste better than conventionally-grown produce? In many cases, yes. Can we all afford to eat exclusively organic? Sadly, no.
Each of us have our own beliefs, fears, & medical conditions that all play a part in this organic foods question. If surveyed, I would say that eating organic fruits & veggies is moderately important to me. I would much rather not ingest chemicals into my body; however, I also purchase many conventionally-grown items, mostly due to budget constraints. I am sharing my guidelines & money-saving methods with you so that you can walk out of the grocery next time satisfied with your food choices and your register receipt.
First, you can consider buying your organic & non-organic foods according to the Top 12 Contaminated List.
Dirty Dozen: (these are in order, 1 being the most contaminated)
1. Peaches
2. Strawberries
3. Apples
4. Spinach
5. Nectarines
6. Celery
7. Pears
8. Cherries
9. Potatoes
10. Sweet Bell Peppers
11. Raspberries
12. Imported Grapes
Conventional O.K. (top 12 least contaminated, again, in order):
1. Sweet Corn
2. Avocados
3. Pineapples
4. Cauliflower
5. Mangoes
6. Sweet Peas
7. Asparagus
8. Onions
9. Broccoli
10. Bananas
11. Kiwis
12. Papayas
As a general rule, we assume that anything with edible skin is more contaminated than those with thick, inedible skin. However, some plants are just more pest & disease resistant without any chemicals.
Once you have identified which foods you still want to purchase that are on the Dirty Dozen list, you can try to find the best prices on those items.
Many people enjoy co-ops, where you buy food as a group & then split it between the members. Co-ops are often found in metropolitan or suburban areas. Usually, you are required to work periodically splitting & passing out the food in order to maintain membership in the co-op. Some co-ops have many more food items that just fresh produce.
Another way to purchase your produce more cheaply is through a CSA. CSAs are usually only found on larger farms, and you must travel to the farm to pick up your produce. If you live close to a farming area, this might be a good option for you. CSAs typically require you to buy a share or a half-share of all the produce the farm grows. Then, the produce is divided between members based on what is harvested at the time. Members usually don't choose specific items.
A much smaller-scale way to find organic produce is through a local farmer's market. Some farmers at the market advertise as "pesticide-free," which might be acceptable for you. An organic label requires the soil to be chemical-free for a certain number of years among other restrictions. Perhaps you don't need food grown with all of the restrictions required for organic labeling.
Of course, one of the cheapest ways to get organic food is to grow it yourself. Even if you've never had a green thumb, you don't have to be intimidated by starting a few plants. Each year's garden is a learning process. The only steps you need to take in the beginning are to designate a plot in your backyard or a container if you don't have any yardspace & make sure your location can get some sun. Then, plant your seeds or seedling & keep the soil damp. Once the plant gets bigger, you can let up on the water a bit. Most sun-loving vegetables (like tomatoes) enjoy a drier soil. If your leaves start to look droopy, water your plant. My preschooler can tell when plants need to be watered. "Your plant looks sad, Mommy." If a 3-year-old can do it, I know you can, too. Remember again that each year's garden is a learning process and if you can stick with it for even 3 years, you will be amazed at how much more you know & how much more successful you are after the third season.
Since March is almost halfway gone, we are going to focus on starting some seedlings today. Don't let a lack of experience or a small hang-up in the process get in your way. If you don't know what to do, just try what you think might work. Any effort is better than no effort. If you have questions, post them in the comments.
Get Moving: You only need three items: a container, some soil & some seeds. For your container, you can use small planting pots if you have them, or you can cut an egg carton into little individual "pots" if you poke a couple small holes in the bottom for drainage. Fill your pots with soil. I like potting soil best, but if you don't have any potting soil & you would rather not buy some, go ahead & dig some soil up from your backyard & fill your pots with that. A place where tree branches or leaves have been rotting would be an excellent place to dig up your soil.
Add 2-3 seeds on top & push them lightly into the soil. Dollar stores have seeds 10/$1.00 at this time of year.
Now keep your soil moist and your seeds will soon sprout. The easiest way to do this is to place a little saucer or spare plastic lid under each pot & water the plant when there is no water underneath. I like to put the water in the saucer underneath until the plant sprouts so that I don't disturb the seeds.
Each of us have our own beliefs, fears, & medical conditions that all play a part in this organic foods question. If surveyed, I would say that eating organic fruits & veggies is moderately important to me. I would much rather not ingest chemicals into my body; however, I also purchase many conventionally-grown items, mostly due to budget constraints. I am sharing my guidelines & money-saving methods with you so that you can walk out of the grocery next time satisfied with your food choices and your register receipt.
First, you can consider buying your organic & non-organic foods according to the Top 12 Contaminated List.
Dirty Dozen: (these are in order, 1 being the most contaminated)
1. Peaches
2. Strawberries
3. Apples
4. Spinach
5. Nectarines
6. Celery
7. Pears
8. Cherries
9. Potatoes
10. Sweet Bell Peppers
11. Raspberries
12. Imported Grapes
Conventional O.K. (top 12 least contaminated, again, in order):
1. Sweet Corn
2. Avocados
3. Pineapples
4. Cauliflower
5. Mangoes
6. Sweet Peas
7. Asparagus
8. Onions
9. Broccoli
10. Bananas
11. Kiwis
12. Papayas
As a general rule, we assume that anything with edible skin is more contaminated than those with thick, inedible skin. However, some plants are just more pest & disease resistant without any chemicals.
Once you have identified which foods you still want to purchase that are on the Dirty Dozen list, you can try to find the best prices on those items.
Many people enjoy co-ops, where you buy food as a group & then split it between the members. Co-ops are often found in metropolitan or suburban areas. Usually, you are required to work periodically splitting & passing out the food in order to maintain membership in the co-op. Some co-ops have many more food items that just fresh produce.
Another way to purchase your produce more cheaply is through a CSA. CSAs are usually only found on larger farms, and you must travel to the farm to pick up your produce. If you live close to a farming area, this might be a good option for you. CSAs typically require you to buy a share or a half-share of all the produce the farm grows. Then, the produce is divided between members based on what is harvested at the time. Members usually don't choose specific items.
A much smaller-scale way to find organic produce is through a local farmer's market. Some farmers at the market advertise as "pesticide-free," which might be acceptable for you. An organic label requires the soil to be chemical-free for a certain number of years among other restrictions. Perhaps you don't need food grown with all of the restrictions required for organic labeling.
Of course, one of the cheapest ways to get organic food is to grow it yourself. Even if you've never had a green thumb, you don't have to be intimidated by starting a few plants. Each year's garden is a learning process. The only steps you need to take in the beginning are to designate a plot in your backyard or a container if you don't have any yardspace & make sure your location can get some sun. Then, plant your seeds or seedling & keep the soil damp. Once the plant gets bigger, you can let up on the water a bit. Most sun-loving vegetables (like tomatoes) enjoy a drier soil. If your leaves start to look droopy, water your plant. My preschooler can tell when plants need to be watered. "Your plant looks sad, Mommy." If a 3-year-old can do it, I know you can, too. Remember again that each year's garden is a learning process and if you can stick with it for even 3 years, you will be amazed at how much more you know & how much more successful you are after the third season.
Since March is almost halfway gone, we are going to focus on starting some seedlings today. Don't let a lack of experience or a small hang-up in the process get in your way. If you don't know what to do, just try what you think might work. Any effort is better than no effort. If you have questions, post them in the comments.
Get Moving: You only need three items: a container, some soil & some seeds. For your container, you can use small planting pots if you have them, or you can cut an egg carton into little individual "pots" if you poke a couple small holes in the bottom for drainage. Fill your pots with soil. I like potting soil best, but if you don't have any potting soil & you would rather not buy some, go ahead & dig some soil up from your backyard & fill your pots with that. A place where tree branches or leaves have been rotting would be an excellent place to dig up your soil.
Add 2-3 seeds on top & push them lightly into the soil. Dollar stores have seeds 10/$1.00 at this time of year.
Now keep your soil moist and your seeds will soon sprout. The easiest way to do this is to place a little saucer or spare plastic lid under each pot & water the plant when there is no water underneath. I like to put the water in the saucer underneath until the plant sprouts so that I don't disturb the seeds.
Thursday, March 8, 2007
Thursday Q & A - laundry savings
Z.T. writes:
Z, I do have a recipe for homemade laundry detergent and several other ideas as well that you can use to save money cleaning your family's clothes.
The recipe for laundry detergent is one I have been using exclusively for about a year. Before I began making my own, I used Purex for several years. I have noticed no differences in the cleanliness of our clothes when they come out between the homemade & the Purex. If anything, the homemade has been getting them cleaner, and they definitely smell better. Personally, I am very sensitive to chemical smells added to cleaning products, so I appreciate that the clothes don't have an overwhelming scent when they come out.
You will need the following items, all found in the laundry aisle:
1 bar Fels Naptha soap, grated
1 cup Washing Soda (not baking soda)
1 cup Borax
Grating the Fels Naptha soap will take about 30 minutes. I typically do it while watching TV. I have a separate grater that I use only for the soap -- the Fels Naptha grater should never be shared with any food. The Fels Naptha soap does have chemicals in it, so if you are sensitive to chemicals at all, you should wear kitchen gloves as you grate the soap. A hands-off method would be to use an old food processor (that is never used for food) just for this purpose.
Combine all three ingredients and store in a lidded container. Use only 1-2 Tbls. per load. The recipe will last for about 60 days at 3-4 loads/week.
The cost of the recipe at my local store is as follows:
Fels Naptha - $1.29
Washing Soda - $3.49
Borax - $3.49
Each box of Washing Soda & Borax will make about 8 batches of the recipe. This makes the price per batch, at my local prices, $2.16.
It is worth noting that the Borax contains boric acid, a pesticide. If your children have any chemical sensitivities, especially dermatological in nature, I would take caution with this recipe. You might want to try just one item of their clothing & monitor for skin reactions before converting to using it for all of your laundry.
A completely natural alternative to this recipe & conventional laundry soaps is Dr. Bronner's liquid soaps. Trader Joe's, if you have one in your area, sells a generic version of Dr. Bronner's soap for a very reasonable price. I have not found the Dr. Bronner's to clean my clothes as effectively, though others report exactly opposite results.
By far, the most cost-effective way to reduce your laundry costs is prevention. My preschooler still wears a "bib" with messy foods in the form of a dishtowel clipped around her neck. This reduces the need for expensive stain removers & reduces time spent on stain removal. If your family is in the habit of throwing all clothing worn that day into the hamper before getting dressed for bed, you should try to change those ingrained habits. Instead, examine each piece of clothing briefly to see if it actually needs to be washed. Each of us have our own criteria for clean vs. dirty, so do what's comfortable for you. Just focus on reducing the laundry where you can.
I have had much success with hang-drying clothes for part of the drying cycle. It's simple to hang-dry fresh out of the washing machine, then tumble-dry on low for 15 minutes to soften the clothes & towels. This is a big money-saver for items that take a long time to dry, like towels, jeans, & sweatshirts. This also eliminates the need for static-cling sheets in the dryer altogether. You will not want to hang-dry clothes in a basement with exisiting moisture problems, however, or you could end up with mold. A vented attic space or the outside sunshine is a much better plan for these homes.
Here's one last thing you should note. Laundry does not have to be washed with detergent every single time. If you have ever used cloth diapers, you already know that laundry holds a lot of built-up soap within the fabric. If you run out of detergent, don't run to the store before your scheduled shopping trip. Go ahead & wash them just as you would ordinarily, except leave out the detergent. If you want to reassure yourself they are still getting clean, check out the tub your washer drains into & you will see it full of soap bubbles on the rinse cycle.
Get Moving: When your family changes into their pajamas tonight, take a moment to briefly inspect each item of clothing before tossing it into the hamper. Could it be worn again or should it be washed? Also, if you have children under 6, find a fun dishtowel or two that can be all theirs & introduce it at dinnertime. You can call it their "dinner cape." Who knows, maybe they will eat like a superhero with their dinner cape on!
Thanks for writing, Z.T.! Every Thursday The Tightwad Trainer will answer one of your questions. Email me at tightwad_trainer@fuse.net and I will do my best to solve your dilemma. Sign your name if it's OK for me to include it!
Annoying but necessary disclaimer: All information contained herein express my opinions only and are based on my health status & location. Each person's situation, health, and local laws & ordinances are different. By all means, use your own common sense & don't do anything you see here if someone more important than me (like your doctor, your local police, your own conscience) would disagree. If you're easily persuaded by everything you read, and you think I might cause you to hurt yourself or break the law, quit reading my site, please.
Do you have any recipes for homemade laundry detergent or any ideas about how I can save money on laundry for a family of four?
Z, I do have a recipe for homemade laundry detergent and several other ideas as well that you can use to save money cleaning your family's clothes.
The recipe for laundry detergent is one I have been using exclusively for about a year. Before I began making my own, I used Purex for several years. I have noticed no differences in the cleanliness of our clothes when they come out between the homemade & the Purex. If anything, the homemade has been getting them cleaner, and they definitely smell better. Personally, I am very sensitive to chemical smells added to cleaning products, so I appreciate that the clothes don't have an overwhelming scent when they come out.
You will need the following items, all found in the laundry aisle:
1 bar Fels Naptha soap, grated
1 cup Washing Soda (not baking soda)
1 cup Borax
Grating the Fels Naptha soap will take about 30 minutes. I typically do it while watching TV. I have a separate grater that I use only for the soap -- the Fels Naptha grater should never be shared with any food. The Fels Naptha soap does have chemicals in it, so if you are sensitive to chemicals at all, you should wear kitchen gloves as you grate the soap. A hands-off method would be to use an old food processor (that is never used for food) just for this purpose.
Combine all three ingredients and store in a lidded container. Use only 1-2 Tbls. per load. The recipe will last for about 60 days at 3-4 loads/week.
The cost of the recipe at my local store is as follows:
Fels Naptha - $1.29
Washing Soda - $3.49
Borax - $3.49
Each box of Washing Soda & Borax will make about 8 batches of the recipe. This makes the price per batch, at my local prices, $2.16.
It is worth noting that the Borax contains boric acid, a pesticide. If your children have any chemical sensitivities, especially dermatological in nature, I would take caution with this recipe. You might want to try just one item of their clothing & monitor for skin reactions before converting to using it for all of your laundry.
A completely natural alternative to this recipe & conventional laundry soaps is Dr. Bronner's liquid soaps. Trader Joe's, if you have one in your area, sells a generic version of Dr. Bronner's soap for a very reasonable price. I have not found the Dr. Bronner's to clean my clothes as effectively, though others report exactly opposite results.
By far, the most cost-effective way to reduce your laundry costs is prevention. My preschooler still wears a "bib" with messy foods in the form of a dishtowel clipped around her neck. This reduces the need for expensive stain removers & reduces time spent on stain removal. If your family is in the habit of throwing all clothing worn that day into the hamper before getting dressed for bed, you should try to change those ingrained habits. Instead, examine each piece of clothing briefly to see if it actually needs to be washed. Each of us have our own criteria for clean vs. dirty, so do what's comfortable for you. Just focus on reducing the laundry where you can.
I have had much success with hang-drying clothes for part of the drying cycle. It's simple to hang-dry fresh out of the washing machine, then tumble-dry on low for 15 minutes to soften the clothes & towels. This is a big money-saver for items that take a long time to dry, like towels, jeans, & sweatshirts. This also eliminates the need for static-cling sheets in the dryer altogether. You will not want to hang-dry clothes in a basement with exisiting moisture problems, however, or you could end up with mold. A vented attic space or the outside sunshine is a much better plan for these homes.
Here's one last thing you should note. Laundry does not have to be washed with detergent every single time. If you have ever used cloth diapers, you already know that laundry holds a lot of built-up soap within the fabric. If you run out of detergent, don't run to the store before your scheduled shopping trip. Go ahead & wash them just as you would ordinarily, except leave out the detergent. If you want to reassure yourself they are still getting clean, check out the tub your washer drains into & you will see it full of soap bubbles on the rinse cycle.
Get Moving: When your family changes into their pajamas tonight, take a moment to briefly inspect each item of clothing before tossing it into the hamper. Could it be worn again or should it be washed? Also, if you have children under 6, find a fun dishtowel or two that can be all theirs & introduce it at dinnertime. You can call it their "dinner cape." Who knows, maybe they will eat like a superhero with their dinner cape on!
Thanks for writing, Z.T.! Every Thursday The Tightwad Trainer will answer one of your questions. Email me at tightwad_trainer@fuse.net and I will do my best to solve your dilemma. Sign your name if it's OK for me to include it!
Annoying but necessary disclaimer: All information contained herein express my opinions only and are based on my health status & location. Each person's situation, health, and local laws & ordinances are different. By all means, use your own common sense & don't do anything you see here if someone more important than me (like your doctor, your local police, your own conscience) would disagree. If you're easily persuaded by everything you read, and you think I might cause you to hurt yourself or break the law, quit reading my site, please.
Tuesday, March 6, 2007
Lasting value in a disposable culture
Every tightwad journey eventually stops at the Multitude of Disposables, usually sooner than later. When you start to save money in different areas and control your spending, it will occur to you that spending money on disposables is often like throwing money in the garbage.
Let me put it this way: if a package of 100 napkins costs $2.00, then each time you throw away a napkin, you can imagine throwing 2 cents in the trash. A family of five would throw away 10 cents with each meal. At three meals a day, that’s 30 cents a day. Or $2.10 a week. Or $8.40 a month. Personally, I could think of several better things to buy each month with my $8.40.
I use alternatives to every paper product except toilet paper & flushable toddler wipes. Many would disagree on the necessity of those wipes, and honestly, we could do without them if pressed. But we like them and are willing to pay for them. And that’s OK. You might not like using cloth napkins, or you might be very reluctant to do without paper towels. That’s fine. Doing away with just one disposable product each year would still make a difference in your budget and a huge difference in your trash output within 5 years.
Here are some alternatives to disposable products to get the mental gears turning. Everything you use once and throw away should be considered and examined.
paper napkins - cloth napkins
paper towels - cloth rags or cloth napkins
paper plates & utensils - regular dishes or cloth napkins for plates
baby wipes - rags dampened with water or wipe solution
tissues - handkerchiefs
diapers - cloth diapers
tampons - The Keeper or The Diva Cup
menstrual pads - cloth pads
Ziploc-type bags - glass jars, plastic containers, or wash & reuse bags
I will go over each of these in depth at some other time. For now, keep on the lookout for all of the disposables you use and see which ones you might be able to do without. Many people start with cloth napkins, and our task today will require you to make some cloth napkins to have at hand. However, you might want to start with the item that is currently costing you the most money. For example, if you have an infant in diapers, switching to cloth diapers could potentially save you over a thousand dollars before your child is potty-trained. (Although an entire entry about cloth diapers is forthcoming, I do have links to other sites with great starter information. If you would like more info, please email me at tightwad_trainer@fuse.net or leave your query in the comments section.)
The great thing about tightwaddery is that it often helps the environment at the same time. If you’re still self-conscious about your new frugality, you can claim the more righteous environmental reasons and no one will be the wiser. Personally, I care a great deal about my wallet and the environment for if the world we live in becomes a trash pile in front of us, it won’t matter one darn bit how much money I have in the bank.
Get Moving: Find some scraps of fabric around your house. If you don’t have any fabric lying around, consider pillow cases, outgrown or outdated clothing, old tablecloths, or old cotton curtains. Cut them into squares of about 5 inches x 5 inches each. You can hem them if you would like, as hemmed cloth napkins are cleanly finished and great for company and gifts. But be forewarned, it will take some time and you probably will not be able to make as many napkins.
Pinking shears are most helpful for making everyday napkins. If you have pinking shears, you can use them to cut your napkins & forego sewing. If not, consider purchasing some from the sewing department of any major discount store or asking for some as a gift. They are useful for a variety of projects when there is no time to sew. In fact, I have found them to save me their purchase price many times over since I have little to no time to sew, but still need to make modifications to clothing & other textiles. With pinking shears, you should be able to make about 30 napkins in less than ten minutes.
If you have no pinking shears and no time to hem, just cut the napkins with regular scissors and trim the frayed edges if they happen. Not all fabric frays badly. Don’t let the lack of pinking shears or a sewing machine (or just time) stop you from making your napkins.
Use your newly made cloth napkins with your next dinner and see how your family likes them. Wash them with your regular laundry.
Annoying but necessary disclaimer: All information contained herein express my opinions only and are based on my health status & location. Each person's situation, health, and local laws & ordinances are different. By all means, use your own common sense & don't do anything you see here if someone more important than me (like your doctor, your local police, your own conscience) would disagree. If you're easily persuaded by everything you read, and you think I might cause you to hurt yourself or break the law, quit reading my site, please.
Let me put it this way: if a package of 100 napkins costs $2.00, then each time you throw away a napkin, you can imagine throwing 2 cents in the trash. A family of five would throw away 10 cents with each meal. At three meals a day, that’s 30 cents a day. Or $2.10 a week. Or $8.40 a month. Personally, I could think of several better things to buy each month with my $8.40.
I use alternatives to every paper product except toilet paper & flushable toddler wipes. Many would disagree on the necessity of those wipes, and honestly, we could do without them if pressed. But we like them and are willing to pay for them. And that’s OK. You might not like using cloth napkins, or you might be very reluctant to do without paper towels. That’s fine. Doing away with just one disposable product each year would still make a difference in your budget and a huge difference in your trash output within 5 years.
Here are some alternatives to disposable products to get the mental gears turning. Everything you use once and throw away should be considered and examined.
paper napkins - cloth napkins
paper towels - cloth rags or cloth napkins
paper plates & utensils - regular dishes or cloth napkins for plates
baby wipes - rags dampened with water or wipe solution
tissues - handkerchiefs
diapers - cloth diapers
tampons - The Keeper or The Diva Cup
menstrual pads - cloth pads
Ziploc-type bags - glass jars, plastic containers, or wash & reuse bags
I will go over each of these in depth at some other time. For now, keep on the lookout for all of the disposables you use and see which ones you might be able to do without. Many people start with cloth napkins, and our task today will require you to make some cloth napkins to have at hand. However, you might want to start with the item that is currently costing you the most money. For example, if you have an infant in diapers, switching to cloth diapers could potentially save you over a thousand dollars before your child is potty-trained. (Although an entire entry about cloth diapers is forthcoming, I do have links to other sites with great starter information. If you would like more info, please email me at tightwad_trainer@fuse.net or leave your query in the comments section.)
The great thing about tightwaddery is that it often helps the environment at the same time. If you’re still self-conscious about your new frugality, you can claim the more righteous environmental reasons and no one will be the wiser. Personally, I care a great deal about my wallet and the environment for if the world we live in becomes a trash pile in front of us, it won’t matter one darn bit how much money I have in the bank.
Get Moving: Find some scraps of fabric around your house. If you don’t have any fabric lying around, consider pillow cases, outgrown or outdated clothing, old tablecloths, or old cotton curtains. Cut them into squares of about 5 inches x 5 inches each. You can hem them if you would like, as hemmed cloth napkins are cleanly finished and great for company and gifts. But be forewarned, it will take some time and you probably will not be able to make as many napkins.
Pinking shears are most helpful for making everyday napkins. If you have pinking shears, you can use them to cut your napkins & forego sewing. If not, consider purchasing some from the sewing department of any major discount store or asking for some as a gift. They are useful for a variety of projects when there is no time to sew. In fact, I have found them to save me their purchase price many times over since I have little to no time to sew, but still need to make modifications to clothing & other textiles. With pinking shears, you should be able to make about 30 napkins in less than ten minutes.
If you have no pinking shears and no time to hem, just cut the napkins with regular scissors and trim the frayed edges if they happen. Not all fabric frays badly. Don’t let the lack of pinking shears or a sewing machine (or just time) stop you from making your napkins.
Use your newly made cloth napkins with your next dinner and see how your family likes them. Wash them with your regular laundry.
Annoying but necessary disclaimer: All information contained herein express my opinions only and are based on my health status & location. Each person's situation, health, and local laws & ordinances are different. By all means, use your own common sense & don't do anything you see here if someone more important than me (like your doctor, your local police, your own conscience) would disagree. If you're easily persuaded by everything you read, and you think I might cause you to hurt yourself or break the law, quit reading my site, please.
Monday, March 5, 2007
how to learn creativity
"I'm just not creative."
"I can't think outside of the box."
"How did you come up with that? I would never have thought of it."
Does this sound familiar? I hear comments like these all the time from potential tightwads. It seems that people often feel creativity is something you're either born with or you're not, and if you ain't got it, you ain't got it. That is simply not true. Creativity can be learned, but it is a process--one that doesn't happen overnight.
Recently, I found that we had a need in our kitchen for a new pantry cabinet. Our old one was an impulse purchase from my spendthrift days. It was made of cheap particle board & had been slowly disintegrating piece by piece for years. Now, I realized, it was far too wobbly & unstable for me to feel safe with small children around. First I tied it to the wall in an attempt to save it, but after the door fell off its hinges one day, we decided it needed to be replaced.
First, I priced pantry cabinets at different hardware stores & salvage companies. It seemed that $100 was about the lowest price I was going to find. It was just before Christmas, so yard sale season was a good 4 months off.
A few days later, I was in my basement when I walked for the hundredth time past an old chest of drawers I had stored down there when the creative gears started churning. After a few quick modifications, we now have a useable pantry cabinet in our kitchen for no out-of-pocket money, and with our existing eclectic style, we get many compliments on it.
Eight years ago, though, I once filled my kitchen sink with water to do dishes & a lid fell into the drain trap blocking the water from draining. I tried pulling it out with my fingers, but couldn't reach. I tried a knife, which didn't work. I had no ideas left & didn't know what to do so I left it until my roommate came home & she fixed the problem.
As embarrassing as that story is, I share it to prove a point: once you start "thinking outside the box," a snowball-effect will happen. You will eventually have several solutions for any problem. It often takes years to get to that point, so start small & it will happen on its own.
Anyone can be creative with practice. I assure you. Anyone can be creative with practice.
From now on, at the end of each entry, there will be an exercise for you to do to help you on your frugal journey. When was the last time you got in shape physically by reading a book about exercise? Never. You have to get up, get moving, do it to get yourself in shape. As your personal tightwad trainer, I'm going to give you exercises each time I write to help get you in top financial shape. Now...
Get Moving: We all have mental lists of needs that we have identified. Choose one need that is on your mental list. Brainstorm on paper (or in the comments section) what you might be able to substitute for that item. Consider these questions while you do the exercise:
Do I have items already that might serve the same purpose (with or without modification)?
Could I change my lifestyle or environment so that I don't truly need the item anymore?
Is this an item that I could acquire from friends or family who have stopped using it?
Remember that the point of brainstorming is to write every idea down & not censor yourself until the end.
Annoying but necessary disclaimer: All information contained herein express my opinions only and are based on my health status & location. Each person's situation, health, and local laws & ordinances are different. By all means, use your own common sense & don't do anything you see here if someone more important than me (like your doctor, your local police, your own conscience) would disagree. If you're easily persuaded by everything you read, and you think I might cause you to hurt yourself or break the law, quit reading my site, please.
Thursday, March 1, 2007
Thursday Q & A - bottles & bags
Lara writes:
Lara, you bring up an excellent point. When you start saving consumer packaging, you will end up with an excess fairly quickly. It's great that you're saving them, because they do have myriad uses. You'll just have to start running your kitchen a little differently than Mom probably did.
Here's some ideas. These include ideas for food & non-food uses. (Remember that after a container has been used for a non-food purpose, it can never be used for a food purpose again!)
Ketchup bottles - homemade salad dressing, marinades, & other sauces; use to turn regular (cheap) sour cream into the "squeezable" kind, if you're so inclined; homemade finger paint; glue from a bulk container or experiment with homemade paste from flour/water; tightwad water gun for summer play
Glass jars - great for the freezer if you bring back to temp gradually; leftover storage in the refrigerator; mixing containers for powdered milk, protein shakes, etc.; airtight dry storage for coffee, loose tea, herbs, baking cocoa, etc.; canning jars (if standard size lids will fit); storage of small toys or hair accoutrements; endless crafty ideas (garden or other scene inside the sideways jar, snowglobes, colored sand dunes); science experiments; Christmas gift containers, such as the one pictured below for homemade vanilla extract I gave this Christmas:
Ziploc-style bags - perfect for grab & go snacks, especially for kids to eat on the go; foods in the freezer stack best & use the least space in Ziploc-style bags; bread bags for homemade bread; toys such as card sets, puzzles, paper doll sets, flashcards, and any other small toy sets; crayons & markers
Note: I'm assuming you are washing & reusing Ziploc-style bags? Please remember that once meat has been inside the bag, you cannot safely wash & reuse the bag. Bags that have contained meat (raw or cooked) should be discarded.
Grocery bags - work lunches; lining small garbage cans; stuffing in a dog bed; wrapping dirty disposable diapers before throwing away to contain smell; keeping in your car for any impromptu shopping or other impromptu pickups
I hope that gives you some ideas! Of course, the best way to eliminate excess stuff is to not bring it home in the first place. Consider changing habits when you can & as you're comfortable with it, such as using bulk bins more and consciously choosing the products with the least packaging, if possible. These often cost less as well. Never hesitate to write the company that makes your favorite foods if you are unhappy with their packaging & urge them to consider less or more environmentally-friendly packaging.
Thanks for writing, Lara! Every Thursday The Tightwad Trainer will answer one of your questions. Email me at tightwad_trainer@fuse.net and I will do my best to solve your dilemma. Sign your name if it's OK for me to include it!
Annoying but necessary disclaimer: All information contained herein express my opinions only and are based on my health status & location. Each person's situation, health, and local laws & ordinances are different. By all means, use your own common sense & don't do anything you see here if someone more important than me (like your doctor, your local police, your own conscience) would disagree. If you're easily persuaded by everything you read, and you think I might cause you to hurt yourself or break the law, quit reading my site, please.
What do I do with all the bottles (ketchup bottles, glass jars for jelly, sauces, etc.) and plastic bags (used ziplocs, grocery bags) that I save up? I know they could be useful...someday....but that day hasn't arrived yet and they are collecting under my kitchen sink.
Lara, you bring up an excellent point. When you start saving consumer packaging, you will end up with an excess fairly quickly. It's great that you're saving them, because they do have myriad uses. You'll just have to start running your kitchen a little differently than Mom probably did.
Here's some ideas. These include ideas for food & non-food uses. (Remember that after a container has been used for a non-food purpose, it can never be used for a food purpose again!)
Ketchup bottles - homemade salad dressing, marinades, & other sauces; use to turn regular (cheap) sour cream into the "squeezable" kind, if you're so inclined; homemade finger paint; glue from a bulk container or experiment with homemade paste from flour/water; tightwad water gun for summer play
Glass jars - great for the freezer if you bring back to temp gradually; leftover storage in the refrigerator; mixing containers for powdered milk, protein shakes, etc.; airtight dry storage for coffee, loose tea, herbs, baking cocoa, etc.; canning jars (if standard size lids will fit); storage of small toys or hair accoutrements; endless crafty ideas (garden or other scene inside the sideways jar, snowglobes, colored sand dunes); science experiments; Christmas gift containers, such as the one pictured below for homemade vanilla extract I gave this Christmas:
Ziploc-style bags - perfect for grab & go snacks, especially for kids to eat on the go; foods in the freezer stack best & use the least space in Ziploc-style bags; bread bags for homemade bread; toys such as card sets, puzzles, paper doll sets, flashcards, and any other small toy sets; crayons & markers
Note: I'm assuming you are washing & reusing Ziploc-style bags? Please remember that once meat has been inside the bag, you cannot safely wash & reuse the bag. Bags that have contained meat (raw or cooked) should be discarded.
Grocery bags - work lunches; lining small garbage cans; stuffing in a dog bed; wrapping dirty disposable diapers before throwing away to contain smell; keeping in your car for any impromptu shopping or other impromptu pickups
I hope that gives you some ideas! Of course, the best way to eliminate excess stuff is to not bring it home in the first place. Consider changing habits when you can & as you're comfortable with it, such as using bulk bins more and consciously choosing the products with the least packaging, if possible. These often cost less as well. Never hesitate to write the company that makes your favorite foods if you are unhappy with their packaging & urge them to consider less or more environmentally-friendly packaging.
Thanks for writing, Lara! Every Thursday The Tightwad Trainer will answer one of your questions. Email me at tightwad_trainer@fuse.net and I will do my best to solve your dilemma. Sign your name if it's OK for me to include it!
Annoying but necessary disclaimer: All information contained herein express my opinions only and are based on my health status & location. Each person's situation, health, and local laws & ordinances are different. By all means, use your own common sense & don't do anything you see here if someone more important than me (like your doctor, your local police, your own conscience) would disagree. If you're easily persuaded by everything you read, and you think I might cause you to hurt yourself or break the law, quit reading my site, please.
Wednesday, February 28, 2007
the best things in life are free
I want you to accept this as your new mantra:
This is a basic tightwad principle that will quickly help you expand your social network, which, in turn, helps your budget. Here's how it works:
Most people in our society have too much stuff. These people (the majority, remember?) are constantly trying to pare down their things & figure out what to do with the excess. At the same time, humans, for whatever reason, often form strong emotional bonds with their material goods. It's common for these people to want to give it to someone they know will love it & use it. That person could very well be you. It becomes a win-win situation. You get something you have been needing for no out-of-pocket expense & the giver rests much easier knowing that her sweet possession is being well-cared-for.
Now, before long, people will realize that you are someone who likes to take free stuff off their hands. At this point, not only are you being offered things of sentimental value, but you're being offered things of little to no retail value before the giver's ready to head down to the local Salvation Army. Within a few months time, you might have a stockpile of things--some you need and are using now, some you might need or use down the line, and some that you don't have a use for, but can offer to someone else as a trade or just to fulfill a need that they have. This is the basis of community & networking on an economic level.
There are just a few caveats to remember:
*If someone offers you her grandmother's china, don't accept it unless you plan to use it. Deeply sentimental items should only be accepted if you can love them the way she does.
*If someone offers you things that are headed to the donation bin, by all means take them, whether you love them or not. And thank the giver--profusely. Later, you can sort through the pile & separate useable from donation-worthy items.
*A thank-you note is priceless. Don't belittle this social custom. I like to create my own thank-you notes with a picture on the front of our family using the item we have received & a short note on the inside. The price of your stamp is well worth the item they have given you and you can prove yourself as a grateful recipient. If you truly don't want to sport for the regular stamp, turn your note into a postcard & cut the cost by almost half. This is one area where email isn't going to cut it.
So, keep your mantra handy & stay on the lookout for offers. Then, watch the domino effect happen. Happy receiving!
Annoying disclaimer because people can be lawsuit happy: All information contained herein express my opinions only and are based on my health status & location. Each person's situation, health, and local laws & ordinances are different. By all means, use your own common sense & don't do anything you see here if someone more important than me (like your doctor, your local police) would disagree. If you're easily persuaded by everything you read, and you think I might cause you to hurt yourself or break the law, quit reading my site, please.
I will graciously accept everything I might be able to use that is personally offered to me.
This is a basic tightwad principle that will quickly help you expand your social network, which, in turn, helps your budget. Here's how it works:
Most people in our society have too much stuff. These people (the majority, remember?) are constantly trying to pare down their things & figure out what to do with the excess. At the same time, humans, for whatever reason, often form strong emotional bonds with their material goods. It's common for these people to want to give it to someone they know will love it & use it. That person could very well be you. It becomes a win-win situation. You get something you have been needing for no out-of-pocket expense & the giver rests much easier knowing that her sweet possession is being well-cared-for.
Now, before long, people will realize that you are someone who likes to take free stuff off their hands. At this point, not only are you being offered things of sentimental value, but you're being offered things of little to no retail value before the giver's ready to head down to the local Salvation Army. Within a few months time, you might have a stockpile of things--some you need and are using now, some you might need or use down the line, and some that you don't have a use for, but can offer to someone else as a trade or just to fulfill a need that they have. This is the basis of community & networking on an economic level.
There are just a few caveats to remember:
*If someone offers you her grandmother's china, don't accept it unless you plan to use it. Deeply sentimental items should only be accepted if you can love them the way she does.
*If someone offers you things that are headed to the donation bin, by all means take them, whether you love them or not. And thank the giver--profusely. Later, you can sort through the pile & separate useable from donation-worthy items.
*A thank-you note is priceless. Don't belittle this social custom. I like to create my own thank-you notes with a picture on the front of our family using the item we have received & a short note on the inside. The price of your stamp is well worth the item they have given you and you can prove yourself as a grateful recipient. If you truly don't want to sport for the regular stamp, turn your note into a postcard & cut the cost by almost half. This is one area where email isn't going to cut it.
So, keep your mantra handy & stay on the lookout for offers. Then, watch the domino effect happen. Happy receiving!
Annoying disclaimer because people can be lawsuit happy: All information contained herein express my opinions only and are based on my health status & location. Each person's situation, health, and local laws & ordinances are different. By all means, use your own common sense & don't do anything you see here if someone more important than me (like your doctor, your local police) would disagree. If you're easily persuaded by everything you read, and you think I might cause you to hurt yourself or break the law, quit reading my site, please.
Tuesday, February 27, 2007
Soup - the perfect frugal food
What can you do with a roasted chicken carcass, an onion, and some random veggies you bought last week? Make chicken soup, of course!
Never throw away another roasted chicken carcass. Just put it in a large pot, cover with water, and boil until the water is about 2/3 the amount you started with. Strain into another large pot & voila!. Homemade chicken broth out of table scraps with no added MSG or preservatives, to boot.
When you strained your chicken broth, you had a bunch of meat & skin loosely stuck to bones, right? Spend 5 minutes to pick through for good meat. Throw it into the pot with the chicken broth you just made. Give the skin & scraps (minus the bones) to your dog, if you're so inclined. You may now throw away the bones.
Throw in a chopped onion, maybe some carrots, maybe some celery, chopped cabbage, frozen corn, cauliflower, spinach--you get the idea. This is a great way to use up produce before it spoils.
Add noodles before you cook the soup if you wish. Or you can stir in leftover noodles or rice after the soup is done.
Bring the whole thing to a boil & then put it on low & simmer for about 30 minutes. That's it! Homemade chicken soup.
Be sure to freeze what you won't use within 3 days.
Never throw away another roasted chicken carcass. Just put it in a large pot, cover with water, and boil until the water is about 2/3 the amount you started with. Strain into another large pot & voila!. Homemade chicken broth out of table scraps with no added MSG or preservatives, to boot.
When you strained your chicken broth, you had a bunch of meat & skin loosely stuck to bones, right? Spend 5 minutes to pick through for good meat. Throw it into the pot with the chicken broth you just made. Give the skin & scraps (minus the bones) to your dog, if you're so inclined. You may now throw away the bones.
Throw in a chopped onion, maybe some carrots, maybe some celery, chopped cabbage, frozen corn, cauliflower, spinach--you get the idea. This is a great way to use up produce before it spoils.
Add noodles before you cook the soup if you wish. Or you can stir in leftover noodles or rice after the soup is done.
Bring the whole thing to a boil & then put it on low & simmer for about 30 minutes. That's it! Homemade chicken soup.
Be sure to freeze what you won't use within 3 days.
lay it on me
OK, here's the deal. You can save money, on any income. And you can achieve realistic goals--and even some of the ones your naysayers will call "unrealistic." But it will take self-discipline. And it will take self-denial.
Don't get nervous! Those words have a negative connotation in our society that they don't deserve. I assure you: if you faithfully follow this site & the tips contained herein for at least 52 weeks and you diligently practice self-discipline & self-denial during that year, you will come out on the other side not only with more net worth but more confidence, empowerment, and character than you have today.
Give it a try--you really have nothing to lose. You're not paying for this, right? This is all free info from someone who knows frugal inside & out, and I give it to you so you can really live. There is no true freedom when you're living under a sea of debt. We were all designed to live in financial freedom.
We're going to spend a lot of time on some subjects and hardly any time on others. If you've got a big chunk of money and you want investment advice, you've come to the wrong place. If you want to nickel & dime your way to a big chunk of money so you can then seek investment advice elsewhere, you're in exactly the right place!
Some of your current expenses are fixed. Some are not. You can save money in just about any area of your life, but ovbviously, the non-fixed expenses are a good starting point since they require very small lifestyle changes. Many people begin their tightwad training by looking at their grocery bill & clothing expenditures. This is an excellent place to start.
Before I dive into the tips, I'd like to ask that you consciously decide to throw your opinions of the Joneses out the window. Have you ever seen your neighbor's credit card bill? Have you laid in bed nightly with the other preschool moms to see whether they toss and turn and can't fall asleep, worrying about money? How do you know that your attorney family friend doesn't shop at Aldi? Why is it that we all respect people who have "worked hard to get where they are?" It's because anyone can charge a big-screen TV on her credit card, but few people have the self-discipline to save for years for a vacation of a lifetime and enjoy every minute of it.
Keep your goal squarely in mind, and remember that your goal is not the same as Ms. Jones' goal. And at the end of the 52 weeks, I will be surprised if you're not proud to be a tightwad.
Don't get nervous! Those words have a negative connotation in our society that they don't deserve. I assure you: if you faithfully follow this site & the tips contained herein for at least 52 weeks and you diligently practice self-discipline & self-denial during that year, you will come out on the other side not only with more net worth but more confidence, empowerment, and character than you have today.
Give it a try--you really have nothing to lose. You're not paying for this, right? This is all free info from someone who knows frugal inside & out, and I give it to you so you can really live. There is no true freedom when you're living under a sea of debt. We were all designed to live in financial freedom.
We're going to spend a lot of time on some subjects and hardly any time on others. If you've got a big chunk of money and you want investment advice, you've come to the wrong place. If you want to nickel & dime your way to a big chunk of money so you can then seek investment advice elsewhere, you're in exactly the right place!
Some of your current expenses are fixed. Some are not. You can save money in just about any area of your life, but ovbviously, the non-fixed expenses are a good starting point since they require very small lifestyle changes. Many people begin their tightwad training by looking at their grocery bill & clothing expenditures. This is an excellent place to start.
Before I dive into the tips, I'd like to ask that you consciously decide to throw your opinions of the Joneses out the window. Have you ever seen your neighbor's credit card bill? Have you laid in bed nightly with the other preschool moms to see whether they toss and turn and can't fall asleep, worrying about money? How do you know that your attorney family friend doesn't shop at Aldi? Why is it that we all respect people who have "worked hard to get where they are?" It's because anyone can charge a big-screen TV on her credit card, but few people have the self-discipline to save for years for a vacation of a lifetime and enjoy every minute of it.
Keep your goal squarely in mind, and remember that your goal is not the same as Ms. Jones' goal. And at the end of the 52 weeks, I will be surprised if you're not proud to be a tightwad.
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