On Sunday morning, Yahoo! featured this story about whether or not paying off your mortgage early was a sound financial decision. For you Janey's-come-lately that click after Yahoo! changes the link, the ultimate conclusion of the author was that an early mortgage payoff was a poor financial decision because your money would make a better return in even a mildly aggressive retirement account.
As soon as I read the headline, I knew I would disagree. But, I gave the author her fair chance to persuade me & I'm still unconvinced. Here's why.
Above all, I think the author assumes that everyone has the same goal as she does -- to accumulate a lot of money. (She also assumes that everyone who pays extra toward their mortgage principal has a payoff goal of 25 years as opposed to 30. I'm not sure why she makes all these assumptions.) Personally, my goal is not to accumulate a lot of money. My goal is to do what I am clearly called to do, which is to take some financial responsibility for my family's well-being while still filling my daughter's proverbial cup (as Dr. Sears describes) and taking control of our children's education by homeschooling. These goals are much easier to achieve when you don't have that niggling mortgage payment sucking up over a quarter of your net income.
I would venture to bet that although the majority of Americans probably don’t have homeschooling as their top priority, they very well might list freedom. In fact, I would venture to bet that if the majority of Americans were given the choice between loads of money handed over at age 65 or the ability to spend the last 10 years of their working career doing whatever job they choose and not being a slave to the man, they would choose the latter. It probably didn’t occur to the author because, well, authors are usually pretty happy with their professional life since they already have the gig that fulfills them. A writer is a writer from the day she’s born.
The other huge reason that I disagree with this article is that it violates one of our family’s basic principles: always be prepared. If you did get to the link before it disappeared, you probably read the author’s assertion that this silly early mortgage payoff business started during the Great Depression, when over 25% of the population was unemployed. This little factoid is presented as if it is completely contrary to modern economics.
Have you all been paying attention to the unprecedented deficit the current administration is racking up? What do you think it’s going to take to pay that back? Have you also been paying attention to the percentage of tangible American goods that are being produced out of this country? And how most American middle- and upper-class workers specialize in intellectual, intangible goods & services, mostly dependent on a giant web of marketing, rather than any tangible items? What would happen if the public didn’t buy into that marketing scheme anymore? Is it being a chicken little to assume that another Great Depression is completely possible...or even probable? I think it’s naive not to.
So how’s that retirement money (you know, the money that you can’t touch without penalties of 10% or more, if at all) working for you when the bank is seizing your property and leaving you without shelter for your family? And even worse, what happens when that high-return (read: risky) account crashes and you don't even own the land your home sits on?
It all boils down to what your goals are. If you love your job, would love to retire in that field & your biggest goal is either to accumulate wealth for its own sake or to make a major purchase of some sort, then your best bet might be to funnel your extra funds into a retirement account. But, if your career is low on your fulfillment list & you could see yourself doing a hundred more interesting things before you die than what you do for 40 hours every week, don’t base a lifestyle decision on the numbers and the math. And don’t be satisfied with cutting just 5 years off your mortgage.
If you value security & freedom over wealth, here’s my advice: first, build yourself an emergency fund of 6 month’s bare bones expenses. Next, pay off all your creditors. When allocating your money to different creditors, be sure you can allocate at least enough money to those persnickety credit cards so that they will be paid off in no more than 2 years. If there’s any money left over, put it toward your mortgage. Not just once a year, but every single month. And of course, make do with what you have, now and for always, and never, ever rack up any more debt for depreciating items. In the end, you’ll be sitting in the exact position that most people dream about, even if it’s not what pads your investment portfolio.
Get Moving: I can’t say it enough. You must figure out what your goals are or you could have all the money in the world and it would be useless.
Here’s some keywords to think on...do you value your time? Traveling? Your home? Your career? What would you change if you could? Your job? Your self-esteem? Your experiences? Your time (or lack of time) for family, church, hobbies? I truly believe we all know what we’re called to from the time we are very little. Sometimes we forget or push it away, but deep down we know. That thing you keep coming back to? That thing you’re probably thinking of right now? That’s it.
Keep reading this site and you will get there one day, because once you get the financial monkey off your back, just about anything worth acquiring is possible.
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.
Sunday, April 29, 2007
Tuesday, April 24, 2007
alternate laundry detergent recipe
In this post I gave a basic 3-ingredient laundry detergent recipe. I've used the recipe off and on for a couple years and I have always found it adequate; however, it has its drawbacks.
First, it's not what I would consider "natural." The Fels-Naptha soap burns my hands after 15-20 minutes of exposure during the grating process. In fact, it prominently states on the soap's label to wear gloves when handling. Also, the Borax in the recipe contains boric acid, a known pesticide, used mostly on roaches and other hard to kill nesting bugs.
Second, while its cleaning job is adequate, it is in no way outstanding. I always practice stain prevention because I know that while using that particular laundry recipe, I will have to pre-treat all stains or they will set in during laundering. In other words, you can't just pile 'em in the basket & dump 'em in the machine if they have stains unless you're comfortable with stained clothing.
Unfortunately, I'd never found another homemade laundry detergent recipe at all until now. I can't give personal feedback on the effectiveness of the new one because I actually just ordered a starter bag of Charlie's Soap before I found the recipe so I need to work through that bag first.
But if you have the same lackluster response to the Fels-Naptha recipe that I do, you might want to give this one, found on the Gentle Christian Mothers message board a try!
1 cup of Castile Soap
1 /3 cup of Salt
1 cup of Dissolved Borax or Washing Soda (Optional)
1 cup of Vinegar (Optional)
40 drops of Grapefruit Seed Extract. ( Optional)
1/2 gallon of hot water
In a gallon jug, dissolve the salt & Borax or washing soda. Add the rest of the ingredients & shake well to mix.
From what I've read, this is not just a laundry detergent, but also a great all-purpose cleaner. And if you substitute baking soda for the Borax or washing soda, you can even use it in your automatic dishwasher.
If anyone decides to give it a try, let me know how it works out!
Get Moving: If you haven't discovered the cleaning power of pure castille soap yet, you're missing out! It only takes a little to cut through greasy grime on porcelain sinks, easily mop any kind of floor, or even wash little hands. Next time you're in the store, take time to locate the liquid castille soap (Dr. Bronner's is the well-known name brand) and see if your budget will allow for a bottle. If you have Trader Joe's nearby, you can pick up a large bottle of the TJ's brand peppermint castille for only $4.99.
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.
First, it's not what I would consider "natural." The Fels-Naptha soap burns my hands after 15-20 minutes of exposure during the grating process. In fact, it prominently states on the soap's label to wear gloves when handling. Also, the Borax in the recipe contains boric acid, a known pesticide, used mostly on roaches and other hard to kill nesting bugs.
Second, while its cleaning job is adequate, it is in no way outstanding. I always practice stain prevention because I know that while using that particular laundry recipe, I will have to pre-treat all stains or they will set in during laundering. In other words, you can't just pile 'em in the basket & dump 'em in the machine if they have stains unless you're comfortable with stained clothing.
Unfortunately, I'd never found another homemade laundry detergent recipe at all until now. I can't give personal feedback on the effectiveness of the new one because I actually just ordered a starter bag of Charlie's Soap before I found the recipe so I need to work through that bag first.
But if you have the same lackluster response to the Fels-Naptha recipe that I do, you might want to give this one, found on the Gentle Christian Mothers message board a try!
1 cup of Castile Soap
1 /3 cup of Salt
1 cup of Dissolved Borax or Washing Soda (Optional)
1 cup of Vinegar (Optional)
40 drops of Grapefruit Seed Extract. ( Optional)
1/2 gallon of hot water
In a gallon jug, dissolve the salt & Borax or washing soda. Add the rest of the ingredients & shake well to mix.
From what I've read, this is not just a laundry detergent, but also a great all-purpose cleaner. And if you substitute baking soda for the Borax or washing soda, you can even use it in your automatic dishwasher.
If anyone decides to give it a try, let me know how it works out!
Get Moving: If you haven't discovered the cleaning power of pure castille soap yet, you're missing out! It only takes a little to cut through greasy grime on porcelain sinks, easily mop any kind of floor, or even wash little hands. Next time you're in the store, take time to locate the liquid castille soap (Dr. Bronner's is the well-known name brand) and see if your budget will allow for a bottle. If you have Trader Joe's nearby, you can pick up a large bottle of the TJ's brand peppermint castille for only $4.99.
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, April 19, 2007
Thursday Q & A - credit cards vs. cash
Lara writes:
Lara, as you might have read before, the financial gurus will always tell you that the first step in your decision to increase savings and reduce debt is to go on a cash system. The reason is that consumers do tend to spend more -- often much more -- when using credit cards. Using a debit card where the money is directly transferred from your checking account is a step in the right directions; however, it still will increase spending.
Why is this true? Well, first the psychological aspect plays a huge role. I remember in my spendthrift days (yes, I was once quite the spendthrift!), I would think nothing of pulling out my credit card for a $120 purchase at Ann Taylor. I assure you that if I had to hand over six $20 bills, it would have been very hard to make that purchase. Using plastic allows us to separate ourselves from the money so much that it never seems real. When I pay with my debit card, I see columns of numbers in my head, represented on my bill-paying spreadsheet. It's very different imagery when I pay with cash.
The second reason is that it's ridiculously easy to go over your self-imposed limits when you use cards instead of cash. For example, if you had $100 in your checking account after paying bills, you might leave it there to cover gas for the week, a trip you plan to make to the drugstore, and a gift you need to buy. But then, two days later, while browsing the fabric store with a friend, you find a great deal on fabric that would be perfect for a project you have in mind. You pull out your card to make the purchase, thrilled with your discount. Of course, when it's time to buy that gift, the money is no longer there.
You might argue that if you know your limits and upcoming purchases, you would have enough self-discipline to pass up the sale at the fabric store. For some, this may be the case. But for most people, just carrying the debit or credit cards sets up a mentality that money is always available. You can always take advantage of great deals when you stumble upon them because the money is always in your wallet in plastic form.
Here's a personal example. At the beginning of this year, I decided that because I had finally established good credit, I wanted to take advantage of it with a "rewards" credit card. I made plans to use it responsibly. I would only use it for gas and groceries, items I would buy anyway regardless of plastic or cash. In fact, in order to stick to my budget, I planned to put in checks and balances for myself. Rather than pay for gas each time I purchased it, I would buy one gas card at the beginning of the month on the credit card, receive the rewards, then pay it off the next week. At the grocery store, I could buy a gift card on the credit card as soon as I walked in the door to receive the rewards but still stay in budget.
Three months later, I discovered the major problem with my plan. I am about as organized as any mother, which means that getting out the door to begin with is a fiasco and adding in more things to remember to bring would increase the already stressful situation. Because I make weekly grocery trips, and at least one gas purchase a month, I had to keep my credit card in my wallet all the time so I didn't forget it and lose my "rewards." What resulted was that I never broke the habit of having money always available. That made it way too easy to charge a dinner out because I "really needed the break" or to charge that great deal at the fabric store.
In the end, of course, the rewards were never worth it. I spent at least 10 times the amount I earned on purchases that were mostly impulsive. Now, the credit card has retired into a drawer and it never graces the inside of my wallet.
It takes a lot of guts to go to a cash-only system. It's a great plan to use when you need to save money or reduce debt quickly. In today's society, it would be hard to maintain a cash system permanently, and for most people, to maintain it long-term would definitely require a complete shift in our modern, fast-paced consumer habits. It is, however, an admirable goal to pursue.
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.
I heard the other day that people tend to spend more money when paying with plastic (debit or credit, and even if they pay if off every month). What's your opinion?
Lara, as you might have read before, the financial gurus will always tell you that the first step in your decision to increase savings and reduce debt is to go on a cash system. The reason is that consumers do tend to spend more -- often much more -- when using credit cards. Using a debit card where the money is directly transferred from your checking account is a step in the right directions; however, it still will increase spending.
Why is this true? Well, first the psychological aspect plays a huge role. I remember in my spendthrift days (yes, I was once quite the spendthrift!), I would think nothing of pulling out my credit card for a $120 purchase at Ann Taylor. I assure you that if I had to hand over six $20 bills, it would have been very hard to make that purchase. Using plastic allows us to separate ourselves from the money so much that it never seems real. When I pay with my debit card, I see columns of numbers in my head, represented on my bill-paying spreadsheet. It's very different imagery when I pay with cash.
The second reason is that it's ridiculously easy to go over your self-imposed limits when you use cards instead of cash. For example, if you had $100 in your checking account after paying bills, you might leave it there to cover gas for the week, a trip you plan to make to the drugstore, and a gift you need to buy. But then, two days later, while browsing the fabric store with a friend, you find a great deal on fabric that would be perfect for a project you have in mind. You pull out your card to make the purchase, thrilled with your discount. Of course, when it's time to buy that gift, the money is no longer there.
You might argue that if you know your limits and upcoming purchases, you would have enough self-discipline to pass up the sale at the fabric store. For some, this may be the case. But for most people, just carrying the debit or credit cards sets up a mentality that money is always available. You can always take advantage of great deals when you stumble upon them because the money is always in your wallet in plastic form.
Here's a personal example. At the beginning of this year, I decided that because I had finally established good credit, I wanted to take advantage of it with a "rewards" credit card. I made plans to use it responsibly. I would only use it for gas and groceries, items I would buy anyway regardless of plastic or cash. In fact, in order to stick to my budget, I planned to put in checks and balances for myself. Rather than pay for gas each time I purchased it, I would buy one gas card at the beginning of the month on the credit card, receive the rewards, then pay it off the next week. At the grocery store, I could buy a gift card on the credit card as soon as I walked in the door to receive the rewards but still stay in budget.
Three months later, I discovered the major problem with my plan. I am about as organized as any mother, which means that getting out the door to begin with is a fiasco and adding in more things to remember to bring would increase the already stressful situation. Because I make weekly grocery trips, and at least one gas purchase a month, I had to keep my credit card in my wallet all the time so I didn't forget it and lose my "rewards." What resulted was that I never broke the habit of having money always available. That made it way too easy to charge a dinner out because I "really needed the break" or to charge that great deal at the fabric store.
In the end, of course, the rewards were never worth it. I spent at least 10 times the amount I earned on purchases that were mostly impulsive. Now, the credit card has retired into a drawer and it never graces the inside of my wallet.
It takes a lot of guts to go to a cash-only system. It's a great plan to use when you need to save money or reduce debt quickly. In today's society, it would be hard to maintain a cash system permanently, and for most people, to maintain it long-term would definitely require a complete shift in our modern, fast-paced consumer habits. It is, however, an admirable goal to pursue.
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.
Tuesday, April 17, 2007
selling excess stuff to raise money
Selling your excess stuff online or through real-life venues can be a great way to quickly raise some extra cash. What would you do if you found you needed a $400 car repair right now? Many (probably most) people would reach for their credit card. Any financial expert will tell you that this is why building an emergency fund is so important. But if you don't have that fund built up yet, selling your extra stuff can serve as a good method of not using credit in the interim.
There are several venues for online and real-life sales to meet your specific needs and audience.
eBay
eBay is the most famous site for selling goods. But, eBay is not the best choice for many items and its format has its pros and cons. eBay has a huge audience which makes it a great choice for collectible items, clothing, and other hard to sell goods. Shipping costs can be very prohibitive, so lightweight items tend to sell most easily. A definite plus to eBay is that it is monitored with very specific rules of behavior and it uses a feedback system to help buyers evaluate a potential seller. Drawbacks to eBay include the myriad fees, such as a listing fee, a percentage of sales, and a PayPal fee if you wish to offer buyers electronic payment capability. In addition, PayPal and eBay accounts are the target of countless hackers and it is not uncommon at all to hear of someone in your direct circle of friends whose bank account has been violated.
When you first try eBay, start small and build up. Don't decide after your first successful eBay sale that this will be your new income. After 10 sales or so, you might be right in your aspirations, but eBay selling takes twice as much time (at least!) as you expect it will. Personally, I like to use eBay as a way to gradually bring in petty cash. If I have something I want to purchase in the $20 range, I will try to find something I can sell on eBay in the $20 range. This keeps the stress level down.
Craigslist
Craigslist is a network of hundreds of local advertisement sites. For this reason, it is a great choice for large items since only local pickup is encouraged, eliminating the need for shipping. The best part about craigslist is that it is absolutely free. You can even include pictures in your listing for nothing. The drawbacks are few, but significant. Number one, you reach only a local audience, and the majority of craigslist users match a certain profile: college-grads between 20 and 50 years old, who are firmly in the middle class. If there is a different audience for your item, you may not get many responses from a craigslist ad. Number two, there is the fact that local sales include an actual meeting between buyer and seller. It can be very risky to meet anyone with whom your only contact has been online and you must take the usual precautions, such as never allowing them inside your home (especially when you are there alone), always meeting in an open public meeting spot, and never revealing any personal information. And number three, craigslist users are commonly targeted by scam artists, so remember to only deal locally and in person. Never accept a cashier's check for any reason.
Local newspaper ads
You can place ads in local newspapers for a fee, and many now offer this capability online. "The Classified Section" was the primary way of placing ads for the past several decades, and it still has its staunch followers. Your audience will differ depending on what newspaper you are using, but in general, a local arts paper with liberal commentary will reach a similar audience to craigslist. A major newspaper with local and world news will effectively reach the over 50 audience, as will the community papers.
Consignment shops
If you have clothing or household goods that are name-brand and potentially in demand, a local consignment shop can be an easy way to sell these. Many charge a one-time startup fee and then a certain percentage of each sale. This is not the best option for raising cash quickly, since the turnaround time on receiving your money is often over a month.
Yard sales
Yard sales are always an effective way to make a few bucks. I like to save things throughout the year in a few designated yard-sale bins and combine a sale with several friends to draw in more people. There have been entire books written on running profitable yard sales, but I'm going to lay out just a few quick tips. First, use a table system rather than marking every item to save time. Set up 5 or 6 different tables or large blankets and mark the price just once for everything in that area. I typically do a 50 cents, $1.00, $2.00, $3.00 & $5.00 table. Don't accept very lowball offers first thing in the morning. These are your professional yardsalers, who just intend to mark up & resell your item. If they can see the value in it, hold onto it until a respectable offer comes in. Plan to stay out all day on a bright, sunny day. Gradually put things away as you have time. Relax and enjoy yourself. One day yard sales are usually sufficient. As a general rule, the second day on a two-day yard sale will only yield 25% of the first day's profits. Finally, I love to put up a big sign declaring "Half Off EVERYTHING" around 2:00. This always seems to bring in a steady stream of late-afternoon shoppers.
Familiarizing yourself with the selling venues mentioned is an invaluable tool to keep in your arsenal to eliminate consumer debt.
Get Moving: Look around the house for items you could easily part with and designate a spot to collect them. Decide which venue appeals to you most and try to sell one or more of your items there.
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.
There are several venues for online and real-life sales to meet your specific needs and audience.
eBay
eBay is the most famous site for selling goods. But, eBay is not the best choice for many items and its format has its pros and cons. eBay has a huge audience which makes it a great choice for collectible items, clothing, and other hard to sell goods. Shipping costs can be very prohibitive, so lightweight items tend to sell most easily. A definite plus to eBay is that it is monitored with very specific rules of behavior and it uses a feedback system to help buyers evaluate a potential seller. Drawbacks to eBay include the myriad fees, such as a listing fee, a percentage of sales, and a PayPal fee if you wish to offer buyers electronic payment capability. In addition, PayPal and eBay accounts are the target of countless hackers and it is not uncommon at all to hear of someone in your direct circle of friends whose bank account has been violated.
When you first try eBay, start small and build up. Don't decide after your first successful eBay sale that this will be your new income. After 10 sales or so, you might be right in your aspirations, but eBay selling takes twice as much time (at least!) as you expect it will. Personally, I like to use eBay as a way to gradually bring in petty cash. If I have something I want to purchase in the $20 range, I will try to find something I can sell on eBay in the $20 range. This keeps the stress level down.
Craigslist
Craigslist is a network of hundreds of local advertisement sites. For this reason, it is a great choice for large items since only local pickup is encouraged, eliminating the need for shipping. The best part about craigslist is that it is absolutely free. You can even include pictures in your listing for nothing. The drawbacks are few, but significant. Number one, you reach only a local audience, and the majority of craigslist users match a certain profile: college-grads between 20 and 50 years old, who are firmly in the middle class. If there is a different audience for your item, you may not get many responses from a craigslist ad. Number two, there is the fact that local sales include an actual meeting between buyer and seller. It can be very risky to meet anyone with whom your only contact has been online and you must take the usual precautions, such as never allowing them inside your home (especially when you are there alone), always meeting in an open public meeting spot, and never revealing any personal information. And number three, craigslist users are commonly targeted by scam artists, so remember to only deal locally and in person. Never accept a cashier's check for any reason.
Local newspaper ads
You can place ads in local newspapers for a fee, and many now offer this capability online. "The Classified Section" was the primary way of placing ads for the past several decades, and it still has its staunch followers. Your audience will differ depending on what newspaper you are using, but in general, a local arts paper with liberal commentary will reach a similar audience to craigslist. A major newspaper with local and world news will effectively reach the over 50 audience, as will the community papers.
Consignment shops
If you have clothing or household goods that are name-brand and potentially in demand, a local consignment shop can be an easy way to sell these. Many charge a one-time startup fee and then a certain percentage of each sale. This is not the best option for raising cash quickly, since the turnaround time on receiving your money is often over a month.
Yard sales
Yard sales are always an effective way to make a few bucks. I like to save things throughout the year in a few designated yard-sale bins and combine a sale with several friends to draw in more people. There have been entire books written on running profitable yard sales, but I'm going to lay out just a few quick tips. First, use a table system rather than marking every item to save time. Set up 5 or 6 different tables or large blankets and mark the price just once for everything in that area. I typically do a 50 cents, $1.00, $2.00, $3.00 & $5.00 table. Don't accept very lowball offers first thing in the morning. These are your professional yardsalers, who just intend to mark up & resell your item. If they can see the value in it, hold onto it until a respectable offer comes in. Plan to stay out all day on a bright, sunny day. Gradually put things away as you have time. Relax and enjoy yourself. One day yard sales are usually sufficient. As a general rule, the second day on a two-day yard sale will only yield 25% of the first day's profits. Finally, I love to put up a big sign declaring "Half Off EVERYTHING" around 2:00. This always seems to bring in a steady stream of late-afternoon shoppers.
Familiarizing yourself with the selling venues mentioned is an invaluable tool to keep in your arsenal to eliminate consumer debt.
Get Moving: Look around the house for items you could easily part with and designate a spot to collect them. Decide which venue appeals to you most and try to sell one or more of your items there.
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, April 16, 2007
Walgreen's rebate program
I rarely purchase shampoo, conditioner or toothbrushes anymore. I'm not picky about what brand of these items I use, so Walgreen's rebate program works great for me.
Here's how it works. When you walk into the store, find the display set up just inside the door with that week's circular plus that month's rebate booklet. Open the rebate booklet to find nearly a hundred items listed. About half are money-off coupons at the register and half are rebate items. Usually, there are 2-5 personal care items listed as "Free After Rebate."
Collect the items from around the store. When you pay at the register, be sure to save your receipt as well as the rebate booklet! I simply tuck mine inside the rebate booklet and keep it at home inside my bill organizer. If you make multiple trips for eligible rebate items, save the receipt every time.
Check the deadline inside the rebate booklet and plan to mail your rebate form & receipt in by this deadline. It is usually the last day of the month or later but not always. If you are a day or two past the deadline, mail your rebates anyway.
Filling out the form is very simple. Follow the directions carefully and you will have no problem. You do not typically need UPC symbols or any other snippets of the packaging materials. You will need your receipt(s) and rebate form from inside the rebate booklet. If, by some chance, you have misplaced your rebate booklet, you can download a copy online from walgreens.com.
You have the option to request a check or a Walgreens gift card. If you choose the gift card option, you will get 10% more than what you actually spent added to the card. I use this option every time. It's an easy way to grow my rebate dollars so that after a month or two, I don't have to spend any actual out-of-pocket money on my next rebate trip. You can expect to receive your rebate check or gift card within 4-8 weeks.
By the end of each year, I have a closet full of shampoo, conditioner, toothpaste & toothbrushes that I can either use or give away. If you have a surplus, these could make nice gift baskets for Christmas presents or for new parents. You could also do as my dear friend does and donate your surplus to women's shelters or other similar charity groups. What a great return on just a few mintues of work!
Get Moving: If you have a Walgreen's in your area, go to the Walgreen's website and download their rebate booklet. If you see anything that could be useful in there for free, you can schedule in a quick stop.
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 how it works. When you walk into the store, find the display set up just inside the door with that week's circular plus that month's rebate booklet. Open the rebate booklet to find nearly a hundred items listed. About half are money-off coupons at the register and half are rebate items. Usually, there are 2-5 personal care items listed as "Free After Rebate."
Collect the items from around the store. When you pay at the register, be sure to save your receipt as well as the rebate booklet! I simply tuck mine inside the rebate booklet and keep it at home inside my bill organizer. If you make multiple trips for eligible rebate items, save the receipt every time.
Check the deadline inside the rebate booklet and plan to mail your rebate form & receipt in by this deadline. It is usually the last day of the month or later but not always. If you are a day or two past the deadline, mail your rebates anyway.
Filling out the form is very simple. Follow the directions carefully and you will have no problem. You do not typically need UPC symbols or any other snippets of the packaging materials. You will need your receipt(s) and rebate form from inside the rebate booklet. If, by some chance, you have misplaced your rebate booklet, you can download a copy online from walgreens.com.
You have the option to request a check or a Walgreens gift card. If you choose the gift card option, you will get 10% more than what you actually spent added to the card. I use this option every time. It's an easy way to grow my rebate dollars so that after a month or two, I don't have to spend any actual out-of-pocket money on my next rebate trip. You can expect to receive your rebate check or gift card within 4-8 weeks.
By the end of each year, I have a closet full of shampoo, conditioner, toothpaste & toothbrushes that I can either use or give away. If you have a surplus, these could make nice gift baskets for Christmas presents or for new parents. You could also do as my dear friend does and donate your surplus to women's shelters or other similar charity groups. What a great return on just a few mintues of work!
Get Moving: If you have a Walgreen's in your area, go to the Walgreen's website and download their rebate booklet. If you see anything that could be useful in there for free, you can schedule in a quick stop.
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, April 11, 2007
spring break - the real deal
Wondering where the new posts are? The Tightwad Trainer is on vacation this week. And true to my nature, I'm spending no money to take this little break.
My freelance job is cancelled for this week, so I decided to take the week off from (almost) all responsibilities & spend some time doing stuff that I want to do only. So far, it's been one of the more fulfilling vacations in the last few years. It seems all of our after-kids vacations have ended up being more stressful than regular day-to-day life....certainly not the "Great Escape" we all seek on a vacation.
So, we have no gas money spent, no overpriced hotels of questionable cleanliness, no pop-up tent with hard dirt to sleep on, no low-quality food from countless restaurants. The props for this retreat are just me & the kid & a lackadaisical attitude.
TTT will return on Monday, hopefully quite regenerated, with more money-saving tips & tricks.
My freelance job is cancelled for this week, so I decided to take the week off from (almost) all responsibilities & spend some time doing stuff that I want to do only. So far, it's been one of the more fulfilling vacations in the last few years. It seems all of our after-kids vacations have ended up being more stressful than regular day-to-day life....certainly not the "Great Escape" we all seek on a vacation.
So, we have no gas money spent, no overpriced hotels of questionable cleanliness, no pop-up tent with hard dirt to sleep on, no low-quality food from countless restaurants. The props for this retreat are just me & the kid & a lackadaisical attitude.
TTT will return on Monday, hopefully quite regenerated, with more money-saving tips & tricks.
Thursday, April 5, 2007
thursday q & a - restaurant savings
Lisa writes:
Lisa, your question is shared by tightwad trainees and seasoned veterans alike. For some reason, we all have those nights where we have no energy to cook, let alone face the clean-up afterward. Then, of course, nothing we have even sounds good. The eating out bug is one of my own family’s biggest potential budget busters, so we have tried many techniques for saving at the restaurant. Here are some of our ideas.
Collect your coupons
Coupons may or may not pay inside the grocery store, but for restaurants, you can find some great deals. Actively seek out two-for-one restaurant coupons and other deals. They can often be found in the Sunday paper or in coupon mailings to your home. College areas often have their own coupon books set in stands around town. You can even have your friends and family on the lookout for you. When you know it’s going to be a dining-out night, don’t choose based on what you’re “in the mood for,” but instead, choose based on what you have the best coupon for. This tip alone can cut your bill by 40% or more. If you like to eat out quite a bit, an Entertainment Book (usually $35-$50) might be worth the money for you. If you buy after the first of the year, you can get a substantial discount.
Carefully consider kids’ meals
In most restaurants, the kids’ meals are not only overpriced but are also void of any real nutrition. If you made those chicken nuggets & french fries yourself at home and added all of the ingredients in them by hand, such as the teaspoons full of chemical preservatives and MSG and salt and sugar, I doubt you would want to eat them yourself, let alone feed them to your children. Instead, it helps the immune system and the budget to let your children have a little from the adult meals on their plates. If you have more than two children, perhaps they could split an adult meal.
On the other hand, some children’s meals, especially in ethnic restaurants, are the same food and nearly as large as the adult meals, but at half the price. Perhaps your family could split one adult meal and one children’s meal and still be full.
Order water
If you can just save your more expensive drinks for home, you will save considerably on your restaurant bill. A cup of coffee at home, for example, costs less than 10 cents. At the restaurant, you will pay $1 or more.
Save dessert for home
Many people, myself included, never purchase desserts at the store so that there is no temptation to eat them in the house. What results is that when I go out to eat, I want to enjoy a dessert since I don’t eat them at home. Of course, I end up paying the price for this little self-indulgence. A better idea is to purchase a gourmet-type dessert from the grocery freezer case and keep it in the freezer. When you’re tempted at the restaurant, you can just come home & eat one of your pieces. Or, you could put a piece in a little plastic container & let it sit in the car until you are finished with dinner.
This method takes a little forethought, but the benefits are huge. Dessert typically adds $5 for each slice to your restaurant bill – more if you decide to have coffee with it. Plus, you’re limited to whatever the restaurant serves, whether it’s your favorite or not. Buying frozen desserts at the store will add $5 to your grocery bill for the whole dessert. Plus, it’s not that much of a temptation for many people since you have to think ahead and plan for defrosting time to enjoy a frozen dessert. If you feel you would be tempted by this and you’re trying to watch your weight, consider purchasing frozen desserts such as cream pies or other egg-based items that cannot be defrosted in the microwave.
Always get a box
I joke to my family that I have no shame. I will ask for a box for half of an uneaten pancake and I’ll throw in all the condiments that have been served to the table as well. Why? Well, the half a pancake makes a great pint-sized breakfast the next day. And those condiments can definitely come in handy for on-the-go meals or next time I run out of something and I don’t want to make an unscheduled trip to the store. The fact is, most restaurants have a policy against serving condiments to another table once they have hit your table. Why just send them to the trash when you can use them later?
Lisa, I hope some of these ideas help you reduce your dining out expenses. You’re very smart to be thinking ahead on this instead of waiting until hunger strikes along with its notorious side effect of no self-control.
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.
Our biggest spending habit is eating out. I just don’t have the energy to cook every night! What are the ways we can save money if we do choose to eat out?
Lisa, your question is shared by tightwad trainees and seasoned veterans alike. For some reason, we all have those nights where we have no energy to cook, let alone face the clean-up afterward. Then, of course, nothing we have even sounds good. The eating out bug is one of my own family’s biggest potential budget busters, so we have tried many techniques for saving at the restaurant. Here are some of our ideas.
Collect your coupons
Coupons may or may not pay inside the grocery store, but for restaurants, you can find some great deals. Actively seek out two-for-one restaurant coupons and other deals. They can often be found in the Sunday paper or in coupon mailings to your home. College areas often have their own coupon books set in stands around town. You can even have your friends and family on the lookout for you. When you know it’s going to be a dining-out night, don’t choose based on what you’re “in the mood for,” but instead, choose based on what you have the best coupon for. This tip alone can cut your bill by 40% or more. If you like to eat out quite a bit, an Entertainment Book (usually $35-$50) might be worth the money for you. If you buy after the first of the year, you can get a substantial discount.
Carefully consider kids’ meals
In most restaurants, the kids’ meals are not only overpriced but are also void of any real nutrition. If you made those chicken nuggets & french fries yourself at home and added all of the ingredients in them by hand, such as the teaspoons full of chemical preservatives and MSG and salt and sugar, I doubt you would want to eat them yourself, let alone feed them to your children. Instead, it helps the immune system and the budget to let your children have a little from the adult meals on their plates. If you have more than two children, perhaps they could split an adult meal.
On the other hand, some children’s meals, especially in ethnic restaurants, are the same food and nearly as large as the adult meals, but at half the price. Perhaps your family could split one adult meal and one children’s meal and still be full.
Order water
If you can just save your more expensive drinks for home, you will save considerably on your restaurant bill. A cup of coffee at home, for example, costs less than 10 cents. At the restaurant, you will pay $1 or more.
Save dessert for home
Many people, myself included, never purchase desserts at the store so that there is no temptation to eat them in the house. What results is that when I go out to eat, I want to enjoy a dessert since I don’t eat them at home. Of course, I end up paying the price for this little self-indulgence. A better idea is to purchase a gourmet-type dessert from the grocery freezer case and keep it in the freezer. When you’re tempted at the restaurant, you can just come home & eat one of your pieces. Or, you could put a piece in a little plastic container & let it sit in the car until you are finished with dinner.
This method takes a little forethought, but the benefits are huge. Dessert typically adds $5 for each slice to your restaurant bill – more if you decide to have coffee with it. Plus, you’re limited to whatever the restaurant serves, whether it’s your favorite or not. Buying frozen desserts at the store will add $5 to your grocery bill for the whole dessert. Plus, it’s not that much of a temptation for many people since you have to think ahead and plan for defrosting time to enjoy a frozen dessert. If you feel you would be tempted by this and you’re trying to watch your weight, consider purchasing frozen desserts such as cream pies or other egg-based items that cannot be defrosted in the microwave.
Always get a box
I joke to my family that I have no shame. I will ask for a box for half of an uneaten pancake and I’ll throw in all the condiments that have been served to the table as well. Why? Well, the half a pancake makes a great pint-sized breakfast the next day. And those condiments can definitely come in handy for on-the-go meals or next time I run out of something and I don’t want to make an unscheduled trip to the store. The fact is, most restaurants have a policy against serving condiments to another table once they have hit your table. Why just send them to the trash when you can use them later?
Lisa, I hope some of these ideas help you reduce your dining out expenses. You’re very smart to be thinking ahead on this instead of waiting until hunger strikes along with its notorious side effect of no self-control.
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.
Wednesday, April 4, 2007
haircuts at home
This is one of those frugal topics that women, in particular, often draw the line on. But, in most cases, there no real reason to fear the home haircut. You only need one specialized tool - hair scissors ($10 or less) - a little knowledge & a good dose of chutzpah to be ready to go. If you learn to be successful at this task - or perhaps I should say, art - you could save your family $100 or more each year plus eliminate the hassle of more appointments with your new self-sufficiency.
First, you need to determine what type of hair you're going to be working on. Hair that is perfectly straight is much harder to work with than wavy or curly hair. Thinner hair can also be a challenge. Personally, I wouldn't attempt a short haircut, but my husband does his own with a pair of clippers. If you or your "client" were OK with an all-over clipper cut, this is an easy way to accomplish a shorter haircut.
By far, the most forgiving hair is thick, wavy or curly hair that is shoulder-length or longer. If you or your children have this type of hair, you really have nothing to lose by trying. I would suggest that if anyone in the family has this type of hair, that you try cutting their hair once or twice before attempting the more difficult types.
Now, there are many different haircuts for the shoulder-length or below. Do you want any layers? Do you want it shorter in the front? Longer in the front? Anything with the bangs? Determine what you want the final look to be and start cutting. I like to pin the hair up in layers, just as they do at the salon. If you are too nervous to add in layers at first, you can always do a straight cut all around (easiest and more flattering on straight hair).
For beginners, it is easier to get a good cut with dry hair. Cutting wet hair always sets you up for a surprise when the hair dries. Even professional hair stylists hold their breath a bit during the drying phase.
This is really the only knowledge you need. For most people, the hardest part is psychological. This is why a courageous attitude is the key. You need to trust that you can do it and if you don't succeed at first, it's really not the end of the world. Most of us on a budget end up using the stripmall haircut places anyway when the budget gets tight. While there are many talented hair stylists in these places, your chances of walking out with a great haircut are always 50/50 with someone you don't know.
If you do shoulder-length or below cuts, what's the worst that can happen anyway? You would have to keep the hair worn up until you can take that trip to the nearest haircut joint with your head down & sheepishly ask them to fix it, knowing that they will probably laugh at you after you walk out the door. Don't let your fear of being teased by people you'll never see again stop you from taking a risk. All skills are learned by practice, and cutting hair is no different. But you have to do the first cut.
On a final note, you can cut your own hair. You might want to start with your children and get familiar with hair-cutting before you do it. Or, you might want to just throw caution to the wind and see what happens. Whether it's hair or sewing bobbin adjustment or auto oil changes or landscaping, don't fall prey to those who want to convince you it's only the business of "experts." Unless the financial or other risk is extreme, what do you have to lose by giving it a try?
Get Moving: Next time you are in the salon for a haircut for yourself or another member of your family, pay special attention to exactly how the hair stylist does his or her job. Next time, you can try to duplicate the procedures on your own at home.
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.
First, you need to determine what type of hair you're going to be working on. Hair that is perfectly straight is much harder to work with than wavy or curly hair. Thinner hair can also be a challenge. Personally, I wouldn't attempt a short haircut, but my husband does his own with a pair of clippers. If you or your "client" were OK with an all-over clipper cut, this is an easy way to accomplish a shorter haircut.
By far, the most forgiving hair is thick, wavy or curly hair that is shoulder-length or longer. If you or your children have this type of hair, you really have nothing to lose by trying. I would suggest that if anyone in the family has this type of hair, that you try cutting their hair once or twice before attempting the more difficult types.
Now, there are many different haircuts for the shoulder-length or below. Do you want any layers? Do you want it shorter in the front? Longer in the front? Anything with the bangs? Determine what you want the final look to be and start cutting. I like to pin the hair up in layers, just as they do at the salon. If you are too nervous to add in layers at first, you can always do a straight cut all around (easiest and more flattering on straight hair).
For beginners, it is easier to get a good cut with dry hair. Cutting wet hair always sets you up for a surprise when the hair dries. Even professional hair stylists hold their breath a bit during the drying phase.
This is really the only knowledge you need. For most people, the hardest part is psychological. This is why a courageous attitude is the key. You need to trust that you can do it and if you don't succeed at first, it's really not the end of the world. Most of us on a budget end up using the stripmall haircut places anyway when the budget gets tight. While there are many talented hair stylists in these places, your chances of walking out with a great haircut are always 50/50 with someone you don't know.
If you do shoulder-length or below cuts, what's the worst that can happen anyway? You would have to keep the hair worn up until you can take that trip to the nearest haircut joint with your head down & sheepishly ask them to fix it, knowing that they will probably laugh at you after you walk out the door. Don't let your fear of being teased by people you'll never see again stop you from taking a risk. All skills are learned by practice, and cutting hair is no different. But you have to do the first cut.
On a final note, you can cut your own hair. You might want to start with your children and get familiar with hair-cutting before you do it. Or, you might want to just throw caution to the wind and see what happens. Whether it's hair or sewing bobbin adjustment or auto oil changes or landscaping, don't fall prey to those who want to convince you it's only the business of "experts." Unless the financial or other risk is extreme, what do you have to lose by giving it a try?
Get Moving: Next time you are in the salon for a haircut for yourself or another member of your family, pay special attention to exactly how the hair stylist does his or her job. Next time, you can try to duplicate the procedures on your own at home.
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, April 2, 2007
changing habits to save
We all have them--the things we thoughtlessly do day in & day out that are drizzling into our household expenses. Changing your habits to save is a two-part process. First, you have to identify the habits that are costing you money and secondly, you have to purposefully focus on them for at least 7 days to invoke a permanent change.
Here are some common habits that are worth investigating:
Too much detergent
I have participated in many consumer surveys for a large consumer-products company based in our town. I remember one in particular where it seemed the entire point of the survey was to see if I would notice that the cap size on the laundry detergent was larger on the new bottle than on the older one. Conveniently, the cap doubles as a measuring cup for the liquid detergent. Do you automatically fill the laundry detergent cup when you put in your detergent? How about your dishwasher detergent? Your dish soap for handwashing? Your shampoo?
A good rule to remember is that soft water needs less detergent and hard water needs more. Use this as a starting point and then experiment. I have found that 2 Tbls. of laundry detergent works well for me & 1 Tbls. of dishwashing detergent in only one dishwasher compartment. However, more dish soap works best for me so that dishes don’t come out greasy. Find the perfect amount for you rather than acting out of habit.
Tossing dinner-gone-wrong in the trash
I’m certain there is not a single cook out there who hasn’t experienced dinner-gone-wrong--multiple times, most likely. My last experience was just last week. I made 8 loaves of sourdough bread and used two entire bags of whole wheat flour in the process. I accidentally pulled 2 of the loaves out of the oven too early, so after they cooled, they each had a large, doughy middle. I considered what I could do with the loaves. Since they had no preservatives or other added chemicals, I mixed some of the doughy parts into some chicken broth for our dog (she has no wheat allergies). Then, I cut the rest into small squares, coated them with oil & spices, and baked them in the oven at 250 degrees to make croutons. My daughter loves them.
Unless your food has been burnt beyond recognition, you can probably think of a way to save it.
Tossing food & garden waste in the trash
You don’t have to be a gardening genius to make compost. First, forget all the green/brown business. Throw out calculations, specialty boxes, and watering requirements, too. If you have a yard of any size, find a corner of your lot and start dumping at least your cut grass & raked leaves there. Add your kitchen food waste (no meat or fat) if you can. We don’t add kitchen waste because our dog would consume it all and a fence for the compost pile is not currently in our budget.
Don’t worry about taking the temperature of your pile or anything else the “experts” tell you to do. Trust that mother nature will do its job.We know that plants would keep growing with or without humans in the picture, because when dead matter falls in the forest, it decomposes into the soil and creates a nourishing environment for future growth. This is what will happen in your pile, too. Use the compost as soon as it’s dark & crumbly.
Loading your computer printer with fresh paper
Do you need to print your MapQuest directions on a fresh clean piece of paper? Or would the back of the article you printed out a couple night ago suffice?
Renting a Saturday night movie
Do you need the newest release every Saturday night? Is it possible that the library has a movie you’ve been wanting to see sitting on its shelves? Or, maybe you could plan ahead and request something you’ve been wanting to see so that it’s waiting for you at the library on Saturday afternoon?
Saving money is part discipline, part attitude & part creativity. Develop an attitude of examining every habit, use your creativy to come up with a new routine, then be disciplined in using your new routine for at least a week. At the end of the 7 days, you will likely have a new habit--one that’s keeping your money in your bank account.
Get Moving: Examine your usage of non-food consumer products this week, such as laundry detergent, dishwasher detergent, hand dishwashing soap, shampoo, conditioner, liquid soap, toilet paper & paper towels. Experiment with using less until you find the amount the works for you. Make that amount your new habit.
hint: it can be helpful to replace the measuring devices provided by the company with a smaller one of your own
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 are some common habits that are worth investigating:
Too much detergent
I have participated in many consumer surveys for a large consumer-products company based in our town. I remember one in particular where it seemed the entire point of the survey was to see if I would notice that the cap size on the laundry detergent was larger on the new bottle than on the older one. Conveniently, the cap doubles as a measuring cup for the liquid detergent. Do you automatically fill the laundry detergent cup when you put in your detergent? How about your dishwasher detergent? Your dish soap for handwashing? Your shampoo?
A good rule to remember is that soft water needs less detergent and hard water needs more. Use this as a starting point and then experiment. I have found that 2 Tbls. of laundry detergent works well for me & 1 Tbls. of dishwashing detergent in only one dishwasher compartment. However, more dish soap works best for me so that dishes don’t come out greasy. Find the perfect amount for you rather than acting out of habit.
Tossing dinner-gone-wrong in the trash
I’m certain there is not a single cook out there who hasn’t experienced dinner-gone-wrong--multiple times, most likely. My last experience was just last week. I made 8 loaves of sourdough bread and used two entire bags of whole wheat flour in the process. I accidentally pulled 2 of the loaves out of the oven too early, so after they cooled, they each had a large, doughy middle. I considered what I could do with the loaves. Since they had no preservatives or other added chemicals, I mixed some of the doughy parts into some chicken broth for our dog (she has no wheat allergies). Then, I cut the rest into small squares, coated them with oil & spices, and baked them in the oven at 250 degrees to make croutons. My daughter loves them.
Unless your food has been burnt beyond recognition, you can probably think of a way to save it.
Tossing food & garden waste in the trash
You don’t have to be a gardening genius to make compost. First, forget all the green/brown business. Throw out calculations, specialty boxes, and watering requirements, too. If you have a yard of any size, find a corner of your lot and start dumping at least your cut grass & raked leaves there. Add your kitchen food waste (no meat or fat) if you can. We don’t add kitchen waste because our dog would consume it all and a fence for the compost pile is not currently in our budget.
Don’t worry about taking the temperature of your pile or anything else the “experts” tell you to do. Trust that mother nature will do its job.We know that plants would keep growing with or without humans in the picture, because when dead matter falls in the forest, it decomposes into the soil and creates a nourishing environment for future growth. This is what will happen in your pile, too. Use the compost as soon as it’s dark & crumbly.
Loading your computer printer with fresh paper
Do you need to print your MapQuest directions on a fresh clean piece of paper? Or would the back of the article you printed out a couple night ago suffice?
Renting a Saturday night movie
Do you need the newest release every Saturday night? Is it possible that the library has a movie you’ve been wanting to see sitting on its shelves? Or, maybe you could plan ahead and request something you’ve been wanting to see so that it’s waiting for you at the library on Saturday afternoon?
Saving money is part discipline, part attitude & part creativity. Develop an attitude of examining every habit, use your creativy to come up with a new routine, then be disciplined in using your new routine for at least a week. At the end of the 7 days, you will likely have a new habit--one that’s keeping your money in your bank account.
Get Moving: Examine your usage of non-food consumer products this week, such as laundry detergent, dishwasher detergent, hand dishwashing soap, shampoo, conditioner, liquid soap, toilet paper & paper towels. Experiment with using less until you find the amount the works for you. Make that amount your new habit.
hint: it can be helpful to replace the measuring devices provided by the company with a smaller one of your own
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 29, 2007
thursday Q & A - indigestion remedies
Ann writes:
Actually, I do have a few that can be made with very simple and inexpensive ingredients.
My husband swears by his baking soda mixture for indigestion. To prepare, mix a teaspoon of baking soda into a small glass of water and add lemon or lime juice to taste.
For heartburn, many people find relief in yogurt. About a half a cup is enough to soothe most episodes.
My favorite nausea remedy is strong ginger tea. You can buy bulk ginger root as an herb in many health food stores or herbal shops. Make a strong tea and take it by the tablespoon for relief. Or, you can mix it into sparkling water and add some simple syrup to make a "ginger ale." To make simple syrup, dissolve 1 part sugar into 1 part hot water. Refrigerate to store.
As with any food items you plan to take for medicinal purposes, you should ask your doctor to be sure they are OK for your particular health situation. And always consult your OB if you are pregnant or nursing.
Thanks for writing, Ann! 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 cheaper remedies for indigestion, heartburn & nausea?
Actually, I do have a few that can be made with very simple and inexpensive ingredients.
My husband swears by his baking soda mixture for indigestion. To prepare, mix a teaspoon of baking soda into a small glass of water and add lemon or lime juice to taste.
For heartburn, many people find relief in yogurt. About a half a cup is enough to soothe most episodes.
My favorite nausea remedy is strong ginger tea. You can buy bulk ginger root as an herb in many health food stores or herbal shops. Make a strong tea and take it by the tablespoon for relief. Or, you can mix it into sparkling water and add some simple syrup to make a "ginger ale." To make simple syrup, dissolve 1 part sugar into 1 part hot water. Refrigerate to store.
As with any food items you plan to take for medicinal purposes, you should ask your doctor to be sure they are OK for your particular health situation. And always consult your OB if you are pregnant or nursing.
Thanks for writing, Ann! 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 27, 2007
finding more summer clothes
Some years, kids grow up and not so much out. If that's the case with any of yours this year, don't immediately retire their old winter clothing. Girls' pants that are too short can make great capris by taking them up another inch or two. Boys' pants that are too short can often be made into summer shorts.
What about those girls' dresses from last year? Some of them might make a great summer baby-doll style shirt. My 4 year old is still wearing one shirt this summer that is actually a size 18-month dress.
How about clothes that you might have received from others that are actually a bit big for your children this year? Little boys who are still in diapers can fill out the next size up if you quickly hem the bottoms. Girls' sleveless dresses that are a size too big can sometimes be "shortened" by a few quick stitches across each strap. In a pinch, I have even tied a small knot in small dress straps & no one has noticed.
And how about for the adults? My husband has been making his own long summer shorts out of cut-off pants for a long time, as have I. But, last year, I added no-sew capris to my Spring wardrobe by using large folds to fold up the bottoms 2-3 times until they were the desired height for my 5'8" frame. Then, I ironed them down & put a safety pin on each side. This way, I can take them down in the winter & put them up in the summer. Of course, if you don't care for the pants as pants anymore, hemmed shorts or capris would give a cleaner look.
If you don't plan to have a large family and continually pass down clothing, this is an easy way to stretch your clothing budget, allowing you to "shop at home" for free.
Get Moving: When you switch out your Winter & Spring wardrobes this year, try to identify clothes that can be used again this year in a different way. Pay special attention to girls' dresses that can become no-sew shirts & your own pants that could become no-sew capris.
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 about those girls' dresses from last year? Some of them might make a great summer baby-doll style shirt. My 4 year old is still wearing one shirt this summer that is actually a size 18-month dress.
How about clothes that you might have received from others that are actually a bit big for your children this year? Little boys who are still in diapers can fill out the next size up if you quickly hem the bottoms. Girls' sleveless dresses that are a size too big can sometimes be "shortened" by a few quick stitches across each strap. In a pinch, I have even tied a small knot in small dress straps & no one has noticed.
And how about for the adults? My husband has been making his own long summer shorts out of cut-off pants for a long time, as have I. But, last year, I added no-sew capris to my Spring wardrobe by using large folds to fold up the bottoms 2-3 times until they were the desired height for my 5'8" frame. Then, I ironed them down & put a safety pin on each side. This way, I can take them down in the winter & put them up in the summer. Of course, if you don't care for the pants as pants anymore, hemmed shorts or capris would give a cleaner look.
If you don't plan to have a large family and continually pass down clothing, this is an easy way to stretch your clothing budget, allowing you to "shop at home" for free.
Get Moving: When you switch out your Winter & Spring wardrobes this year, try to identify clothes that can be used again this year in a different way. Pay special attention to girls' dresses that can become no-sew shirts & your own pants that could become no-sew capris.
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 22, 2007
Thursday Q & A - packaged food vs. homemade
Anonymous writes:
Good question, A. The main thing you want to keep in mind when you’re comparing packaged foods and homemade foods is to be sure you’re comparing apples to apples. For example, if you compared the cost of your 100% whole wheat, honey-sweetened bread to a loaf of store-bought white stuff, you’ll find you’re paying much more to bake it yourself. But, if you’re comparing your homemade loaf to the specialty artisan loaves in the store, yours is going to be much less.
I compare my prices based on usage. If I were baking my bread to take the place of a sourdough boule and I plan to serve it French-style with soup or fruit & cheese, then I’ll compare my price to that of the specialty artisan loaves. However, if I’m baking in the breadmaker just to have a loaf for sandwiches, then I’ll compare to the price of the preservative-free soft wheat bread on the shelves. You will want to ask yourself, if I were not baking this at home, what loaf would I actually be buying at the store? That is your comparison point.
You also need to factor your time into the equation. A loaf of bread does not take very much hands-on time. Of course, if you bake three loaves at the same time, your hands-on time per loaf reduces considerably. If you saved $1.00 per loaf and your hands-on time equaled 30 minutes, you will be “earning” $2.00/hour per loaf. Could you “earn” more at other activities? Surely, yes. However, say you really enjoy baking. If you weren’t baking that day, would you actually be spending money on another activity you enjoy for its entertainment value? Also, don’t forget to factor in your time spent in the store. If you can make at home half of the items on your grocery list with ingredients you already typically buy, then you have cut your time in the grocery store by half.
The actual dollar amount saved per homemade item varies greatly according to the price you’re spending on the ingredients. If you can find a source of high-quality bulk wheat flour and you use it up before it goes rancid, your price is going to be much better than the rest of us buying the 5 lb. bags in the store. Even with the 5 lb. bags, the price fluctuates according to sales.
Some convenience items would take too much time & frankly, don’t interest me a bit. I have never tried to make mustard, ketchup or mayonnaise, for example. Perhaps one day I’ll try it & find it so easy that I’ll regret buying all those pre-made bottles for years. But for now, the time spent would not have enough enjoyment value to justify the pitiful earning wage.
I do, however, regularly make my own salad dressings. Store-bought salad dressings are chock full of salt & MSG. My dressings are simple & my honey mustard can usually be made in minutes even at a friend or relative’s house with common ingredients.
Here are a couple recipes:
Honey Mustard Salad Dressing
1 part honey
1 part yellow mustard
1 part olive oil
Mix with a fork & serve.
Sweet Asian Peanut Dressing
1/4 cup raisins, soaked in 1/2 cup water
1/4 cup olive oil
1/4 cup peanut butter or other nut butter
1 lg. clove garlic
1/2 tsp. ginger
1/4 tsp. salt
1 tsp. mustard
Blend all ingredients except raisins. Add the raisins with their soaking water. Blend until smooth. If you want a thinner dressing, you can add more water until it reaches the right consistency.
Get Moving: It is a good exercise to figure out your “hourly wage” on frugal activities. Although food items usually bring a lower wage, once you get in the habit of figuring this number out, you can better decide if some of the activities you just don’t enjoy would be worth your time or not.
Choose one of your homemade items (cakes, muffins, breads, & pies are common ones). Add all of the ingredients together. The more exact you are, the more reliable the number will be, but don’t stress over your exactitude if it prevents you from doing the exercise. You will also want to add the cost of heating the oven. As a general rule, you can figure 20 cents/hour for 350 degrees on an electric oven and 18 cents/hour for 350 degrees on a gas oven.
You can then compare the price of the homemade item to that in the store. The difference between the two items will be compared to the hands-on time spent preparing your homemade version to determine your “hourly wage.”
For example, here is my rough price per loaf of wheat bread:
Wheat flour - 60 cents
2 Tbls. honey - 15 cents
2 Tbls. oil - 9 cents
1 tsp. salt - 1 cent
2.5 tsp. bulk-purchased yeast - 6 cents
water - free
My ingredient price for this loaf is: 91 cents
My oven price is: 20 cents
My total price is: $1.10
If I did not make my bread, I would only buy Trader Joe’s sprouted wheat bread at $2.50/loaf. Therefore, my savings is: $2.50 - $1.10 = $1.40
I only make one loaf at a time, and it takes me about 15 minutes hands-on cooking time. I would divide an hour by my cooking time. 60 minutes / 15 minutes = 4. I would multiply my savings by this number to find my hourly wage. $1.40 x 4 = $5.60.
I am “earning” $5.60/hour with this activity.
Credit to the hourly wage idea should go to Amy Dacyczyn in her Tightwad Gazette books, which are invaluable sources of frugal information.
Thanks for writing, A! 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 really save money by making your own convenience foods like bread and condiments or is it mainly done for quality of food purposes?
Good question, A. The main thing you want to keep in mind when you’re comparing packaged foods and homemade foods is to be sure you’re comparing apples to apples. For example, if you compared the cost of your 100% whole wheat, honey-sweetened bread to a loaf of store-bought white stuff, you’ll find you’re paying much more to bake it yourself. But, if you’re comparing your homemade loaf to the specialty artisan loaves in the store, yours is going to be much less.
I compare my prices based on usage. If I were baking my bread to take the place of a sourdough boule and I plan to serve it French-style with soup or fruit & cheese, then I’ll compare my price to that of the specialty artisan loaves. However, if I’m baking in the breadmaker just to have a loaf for sandwiches, then I’ll compare to the price of the preservative-free soft wheat bread on the shelves. You will want to ask yourself, if I were not baking this at home, what loaf would I actually be buying at the store? That is your comparison point.
You also need to factor your time into the equation. A loaf of bread does not take very much hands-on time. Of course, if you bake three loaves at the same time, your hands-on time per loaf reduces considerably. If you saved $1.00 per loaf and your hands-on time equaled 30 minutes, you will be “earning” $2.00/hour per loaf. Could you “earn” more at other activities? Surely, yes. However, say you really enjoy baking. If you weren’t baking that day, would you actually be spending money on another activity you enjoy for its entertainment value? Also, don’t forget to factor in your time spent in the store. If you can make at home half of the items on your grocery list with ingredients you already typically buy, then you have cut your time in the grocery store by half.
The actual dollar amount saved per homemade item varies greatly according to the price you’re spending on the ingredients. If you can find a source of high-quality bulk wheat flour and you use it up before it goes rancid, your price is going to be much better than the rest of us buying the 5 lb. bags in the store. Even with the 5 lb. bags, the price fluctuates according to sales.
Some convenience items would take too much time & frankly, don’t interest me a bit. I have never tried to make mustard, ketchup or mayonnaise, for example. Perhaps one day I’ll try it & find it so easy that I’ll regret buying all those pre-made bottles for years. But for now, the time spent would not have enough enjoyment value to justify the pitiful earning wage.
I do, however, regularly make my own salad dressings. Store-bought salad dressings are chock full of salt & MSG. My dressings are simple & my honey mustard can usually be made in minutes even at a friend or relative’s house with common ingredients.
Here are a couple recipes:
Honey Mustard Salad Dressing
1 part honey
1 part yellow mustard
1 part olive oil
Mix with a fork & serve.
Sweet Asian Peanut Dressing
1/4 cup raisins, soaked in 1/2 cup water
1/4 cup olive oil
1/4 cup peanut butter or other nut butter
1 lg. clove garlic
1/2 tsp. ginger
1/4 tsp. salt
1 tsp. mustard
Blend all ingredients except raisins. Add the raisins with their soaking water. Blend until smooth. If you want a thinner dressing, you can add more water until it reaches the right consistency.
Get Moving: It is a good exercise to figure out your “hourly wage” on frugal activities. Although food items usually bring a lower wage, once you get in the habit of figuring this number out, you can better decide if some of the activities you just don’t enjoy would be worth your time or not.
Choose one of your homemade items (cakes, muffins, breads, & pies are common ones). Add all of the ingredients together. The more exact you are, the more reliable the number will be, but don’t stress over your exactitude if it prevents you from doing the exercise. You will also want to add the cost of heating the oven. As a general rule, you can figure 20 cents/hour for 350 degrees on an electric oven and 18 cents/hour for 350 degrees on a gas oven.
You can then compare the price of the homemade item to that in the store. The difference between the two items will be compared to the hands-on time spent preparing your homemade version to determine your “hourly wage.”
For example, here is my rough price per loaf of wheat bread:
Wheat flour - 60 cents
2 Tbls. honey - 15 cents
2 Tbls. oil - 9 cents
1 tsp. salt - 1 cent
2.5 tsp. bulk-purchased yeast - 6 cents
water - free
My ingredient price for this loaf is: 91 cents
My oven price is: 20 cents
My total price is: $1.10
If I did not make my bread, I would only buy Trader Joe’s sprouted wheat bread at $2.50/loaf. Therefore, my savings is: $2.50 - $1.10 = $1.40
I only make one loaf at a time, and it takes me about 15 minutes hands-on cooking time. I would divide an hour by my cooking time. 60 minutes / 15 minutes = 4. I would multiply my savings by this number to find my hourly wage. $1.40 x 4 = $5.60.
I am “earning” $5.60/hour with this activity.
Credit to the hourly wage idea should go to Amy Dacyczyn in her Tightwad Gazette books, which are invaluable sources of frugal information.
Thanks for writing, A! 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 20, 2007
onion bag kitchen sponges
One of the disposable items that has been hard for me to replace are kitchen sponges. Even though I find their cleanliness questionable after about a week, I continued for a long time to purchase & use these sponges. One of my favorites was the "Dobie" sponge.
Finally, as I was about to throw away another mesh onion bag, it stuck me that it was a very similar material to the outside of the Dobie sponge. I inserted one of my kitchen rags and I am thrilled with the final product.
Not only was it free to make, and thus eliminating another item from my grocery list, but I can replace the rag inside every couple days so that it is always clean.
Another use for a mesh onion bag is to hold things that repeatedly get wet. They make great bath toy bags when hung up to let the toys drip dry. Swim toys are easily toted to the pool & back in one of these bags. We have been using one for quite some time to hold our cookie cutters. After we use our cookie cutters, I throw them into the bag & close with a bread tab. They then go through the dishwasher cycles enclosed in the bag & are put back into the drawer still in the bag. We have not yet lost a cookie cutter. You could use the same process for any other small items you regularly wash.
Get Moving: Next time you buy onions, save the bag & put it with your stash of consumer packaging that could be useful. Don't have a stash yet? Clean out one drawer, cabinet or shelf so you can start one!
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.
Finally, as I was about to throw away another mesh onion bag, it stuck me that it was a very similar material to the outside of the Dobie sponge. I inserted one of my kitchen rags and I am thrilled with the final product.
Not only was it free to make, and thus eliminating another item from my grocery list, but I can replace the rag inside every couple days so that it is always clean.
Another use for a mesh onion bag is to hold things that repeatedly get wet. They make great bath toy bags when hung up to let the toys drip dry. Swim toys are easily toted to the pool & back in one of these bags. We have been using one for quite some time to hold our cookie cutters. After we use our cookie cutters, I throw them into the bag & close with a bread tab. They then go through the dishwasher cycles enclosed in the bag & are put back into the drawer still in the bag. We have not yet lost a cookie cutter. You could use the same process for any other small items you regularly wash.
Get Moving: Next time you buy onions, save the bag & put it with your stash of consumer packaging that could be useful. Don't have a stash yet? Clean out one drawer, cabinet or shelf so you can start one!
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
casserole - another perfect frugal food
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.
* 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.
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.
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