Frugal Happenings 4/7

Well here we are at the end of the first week of April.  How did this happen already?
We are finally getting a little better weather.  It has warmed up a little and should be decent most of the week.  We do have a prediction of that nasty four letter "S" word later in the week.  Just flurries - but still!
Things are really greening, and I see the first mowing being this week.  My forsythia are trying to bud out, and many flowers are poking their little noggins through the ground.

It has been a very quiet week.  I went out Wednesday, to make a grocery run and noticed a ways from home that the temperature gauge in the Blazer was starting to peg out at the high point.  Crap!  I knew enough to not drive it any further.  Gladly I was in a really safe and nice area.  I called AAA and they came (no extra charge) and took me and my Blazer to our shop.  The shop brought me home.  After 3 days - I got it back Saturday afternoon.  My radiator cracked down the side.  It was original (2002).  It could have been worse.
I really anticipated a huge bill - it ended up being around $360, which I didn't think was that bad - considering.  THAT is why we save!

So needless to say, I did noooooooo shopping this week.

My frugal week:

• I did go up to the library on Monday - hadn't been in a while
• Made an apple walnut cake with items I had on hand
• Got to air the house many times this week
• Only heat was first thing each morning
• I found a sturdy wooden captain's chair (think dining room) out back in the neighbors heavy trash area.  I brought it home and will use it as a plant stand somewhere out in the yard.
• The daffodils finally perked back up after the 20's and I picked a lovely bouquet for the kitchen

                                                         They sure make me smile!!!!!

• I got a lot of mending done this week
• Made up a batch of dill pickle cheese spread
• I did manage to get some yard work done - as things started to dry out.  Rain coming again today!
• When I got to p/u the Blazer - I did stop to get G's scripts at WM (he was out).  3 scripts of 90 days each was $45 total.  Not bad at all.
• All the usual stuff - making tea, meals from home, cold water laundry, etc.

Meals this past week:

Baked fish, oven fries and home canned slaw

Southern stroganoff (spicy & made with ground beef) green beans

Pork chops, fried hominy w/onions & peppers

Cold sandwiches, cheese spread & crackers and chips

Mexican crunch wraps

Poor man's Swiss steak and mashed pots

Fried chicken and potato salad

                                                               Mexican crunch wraps

It sure is amazing how lost one feels when there is no handy dandy vehicle to jump into sitting in the drive!  It is a bit humbling, but it also proves that we don't have to be on the go all the time.

How was your week?  Did you get any deals?

How is spring (or fall depending on where you live) starting out?

I pray that you each have health and healing for you and your families.  Stay safe and stay frugal.

Blessings from our humble home to yours.

Living & Eating Local

I have been re-reading a book that I read at least once a year.  It is a true story about trying to live ON ONLY foods that are local.  I find it fascinating - and wonder just how many people could do this.

The book is Animal, Vegetable, Miracle, A Year of Food Life - by Barbara Kingsolver.
It is really an interesting read.  Not only does it tell of her families journey to eat foods that are produced locally for at least a full year, but it also gives a great deal of information and history (good, bad, & ugly) of our food production.

Could you survive with ONLY foods produced in say a 100 mile radius of your home?
Now there can be a few exceptions like - some flours (although there are many small mills), coffee, yeast, baking soda & powder, salt, and oils (could probably render lard).

If we started today - you have what you have in your pantries and freezers to use, but can buy no more food supplies that aren't local.  You can grow your own - or buy from local vendors.
Local vendors - is not WalMart, Kroger, ethnic stores, Aldi, etc.  Local means farmers and orchards.

For us in our area:

FRUIT - we could get or grow - apples, peaches, cherries, berries of all sorts, rhubarb, grapes, persimmons, pawpaw's
Cider would go in this area as well as home made grape juice.
Basically there would be no citrus, pineapple, mango, kiwi, etc.  No tropical fruit at all.

VEGGIES - pretty much anything.  There are tons of veggies that can be grown in our state.  I don't think we would ever be wanting of much

MEAT - There are many vendors at our farm markets that sell meats - all cuts and types.  They are all in state vendors.  YES, the meat is more expensive by a long shot - but it is also better quality.

OTHER - we can buy eggs local, milk (at farm market), and various cheeses.
 If need be, there are also artisanal breads that are made locally, as well herbal teas and things like soap.
We have some grain milling operations within 50 miles - where we could get various grains and flours.
We could use local honey in lieu of sugar.
We could gather black walnuts or hickory nuts - they produce well and are here for the taking in our area.  There would be no pecans or cashews!
We could hunt mushrooms.
There are many herbs and plants to be gathered (many would call weeds) - such as clover, dandelion, plantain, thistle, wild garlic & onions, fiddle heads, etc.
It would mean making our own pasta - and there would be no rice us.
**********************

I love this idea as it is helping the local economy, the small farmer and businessman, and it would be much healthier.
Yes it is a lot more work and takes effort.  It would cost more - BUT I think this may be how things will go in the future.
I love the idea of not helping major corporations and big farma - I love the idea of not filling our bodies full of preservatives and chemicals - I love the idea of getting back to God's food (natural) - I just love the idea of local.

Yes, it would mean giving up some things we eat now - but I think it would also encourage us to try new things and widen our foodie horizons.
What do you think?
COULD YOU DO IT?

This is how our ancestors lived!!!!!!!!  Farm to table!
They grew and/or bartered, they hunted, they fished, they gleaned from the woods, fields, and surrounding lands - they preserved anything they could.  They survived.  We are testament to that - we are here!
In the book - they even followed this rule on the rare occasion they ate out - they found farm to table restaurants.

Here is another book I found at the library.  I am anxious to read it as well.  Should give a lot of ideas for finding the things that would fill our pantries and tables.

I am sure that I couldn't do this exclusively - but it sure would be neat.  I love the idea.

I try to get as many local veggies and fruit as possible in the summer and fall months - perhaps I need to try harder.

If you have never read Barbara Kingsolver's book - you should.  It is truly fascinating.  You can skip the technical stuff if you must - but her families story is so interesting.  I love the interaction with the locals and neighbors.

So what say you?  Could you do this?  Would you even try?

I'd love to hear everyone's thoughts on this.

The Love of Money & Stuff

We all know that money is important.  It pays for our home and vehicles.  It buys our groceries.  It pays our bills and it buys us those things we want and need.

Stuff - I am sure we all have too much.  I know I do.  I work regularly getting rid of and parring down my things.  WHY did I keep this or that?  What was the purpose?  Why did I buy that?  I ask myself these questions on a regular basis.
The stuff we have is money we HAD!

Some people don't understand that spending and spending is not going to make you happy.  Many people are just trying to fill a void in their lives and one day they will figure out  - it doesn't work.

Last week we had a long time friend come by to visit.  We hardly see each other any more.  Maybe once or twice a year.  She is a bit older than I am - she is 67 and is still working.
Back story:  Her husband passed away several years ago (suddenly).  She has been receiving his social security and his work retirement. (That is what we live on).  She is also working.  The house and vehicle were both paid in full when he passed.  He was very frugal and worked hard and saved.
After his passing - she remodeled the house (it did need it).
THEN she went on a spending spree!  She literally filled an entire room (floor to ceiling) with QVC purchases (which she ended up selling at yard sales for next to nothing).
She buys lotto tickets EVERY day.  She goes to casino.  She probably owns 50 pairs of tennis shoes of many styles and colors (minimum).  She goes and tans every day.  She eats out a lot.  When she cooks she throws away leftovers.  Her groceries are bought at the corner gas/village mart.
As you can see ………….. my head is about to explode!!!!!  I think:  How did we become so different?

She looks around our home and says "still the same".  Yes it is!  She asks why I don't I buy new stuff.  Don't I want new things.  Why do I stay home so much?  
I told her there is really nothing I want and there is definitely not anything I need.  She laughs and shakes her head.
I say "I am a simple person - you know that".  Her comment "you sure are".  She seems to think we are weird and a joke.
Now you might see why we don't get together much any more!

I just don't understand the 'I have to have or the I am owed' this or that mentality.  She is old enough to know better.
Our big difference is - we have a nest egg and an emergency fund.  She has none.  Her furnace recently went out and she had to finance a new one.  We purchased ours out right.

We have enough to be comfortable and pay our way.  We have an emergency fund.  Yes, come fall we have additional income when I start collecting S.S.  That will go in savings for our future lives or whatever we want to do.
We have enough.  When I leave this earth - it won't matter how much stuff I had.

Three weeks ago on the news there was a story of a house fire - it took responders a long tome to get inside because all doors and windows were blocked with piles and piles of stuff.  The guy was a hoarder.  He died in the house that day.  I learned the next day that I went to school with him and had classes with him back in the day.  To date there has been no obituary or service for him - no money to do so.
So sad - what good did all that stuff do him?  None.

I was recently reading Amish Values for Your Family by Suzanne Woods Fisher and came across a paragraph I though was so true.

"Folks just keep wanting more and more.  Bigger houses.  Newer cars.  Bigger televisions.  They get all stressed out with these debts, and they forget what's most important.  They could live with a whole lot less stress if they could just cut back and live a little simpler...…..Live in a smaller house.  Drive a car until it's broken down for good.  I know the kids would sure be better off if Mom and Dad were home, paying attention to them."

The love of money and stuff.

What is everyone trying to prove?  And to who?

Me - I am a simple gal.  I don't want for much - just a healthy, happy life.  Enough to live out my life and be able to lend a helping hand now and then.

A roof over my head, food for my table, my family (their health) and my Savior.  I NEED nothing more.

I think we all need to pay attention and be mindful of money, to make do with what we already have, and outsmart ourselves when big desires kick in and improve on our self control.

Being frugal or thrifty does not mean being cheap.  It is all about being a good steward of what we have.

We can still live a good life and be happy and have nice things and do good deeds - but we don't have to struggle with stress and debt.

I discovered years ago that I can cut back without feeling deprived.  Actually, today I feel quite the opposite.  I feel pretty rich and smart!

I have an abundance of resourcefulness and creativity, and I have peace that wasn't there before.

I now measure my spending against our goals in life - to be able to live our days out with peace and happiness and little stress.  That is success in my book!!!!!!!

Take time to re-evaluate your situation.  Look at the long road ahead.  YES, be prepared with the goods that could save your family (your pantry) - but look at the other things.  

**  Do you live the simple life as well?

**  Do you think you can have enough?

**  Can your creative mind overcome your desire to buy new things?

**  Can you be happy and content with less?

DON'T LET YOUR LOVE OF MONEY AND STUFF TAKE OVER YOUR LIFE.

LIVE AND BE HAPPY WITH LESS!!!!!!!

Frugal Happenings 3/31

Good morning.  Here we are on the last day of March.  Woke to a white world here this morning.  Yesterday we woke to 50's and rain and more rain.  It rained the entire day.  I was watching a fascinating TV show and noticed I didn't hear the rain hitting the window any more.  YAY!  Looked outside and everything was turning white!!!!!
We got close to and inch of snow.  Crazy.

We had a decent weather week.  Ups and downs, but did get to air the house some.  The outdoor kitties sure were loving the warmer weather.  They love laying out on the deck and sunning, and this was the first week they actually had several chances, when it wasn't too cold or raining.

Things are really starting to green up.  I can see buds on the trees, and my daffodils were just starting to open yesterday morning.  Sigh!  I am betting the blooms don't survive the snow, ice and 20's.

Good morning from Lilly and Coogy - our indoor babies.  They have actually started sharing the same areas to sit.  They are just too sweet!

My frugal week:

• Finished up the kitchen deep clean.  Polished all the cabinets - they look so pretty & fresh
• I used up ham broth and ham from the freezer this week
• Did lots of paperwork this week
• Working on de-clutter more
• Put up 18 more individual bottles of water.  Neighbors gave me more pop bottles.
• Got to air the house 2 1/2 days this week
• Ran to Kroger for one of their 4 day specials.  I got 5 - 4 lb. bags of sugar for .99/bag.  I also found 2 bottles of Hidden Valley cheddar/bacon dressing and 4 bottles of zesty Italian dressing for .69 each on clearance.  I also got 4 big bottles of Hunts catsup on clearance for .79 each.  They are remodeling the store (again - ugh) and getting rid of a lot of goodies.  Those were my only shopping parcels this week.  Oh, I did buy a gallon of milk too.
• Made tartar sauce
• Doing all the normal stuff - making tea, eating all leftovers, cold water laundry, etc.

Meals this past week:

Ham and beans and homemade cornbread (from scratch)

Ham & beans with rice and cornbread

Chili/cheese baked potatoes

DINER food (we bad) - it was sooooooo good!

Tuna patties, salsa mac n cheese

Finger foods - spicy summer sausage, cheese slices, crackers, dip & veggies (we were both tired)

Smoked sausage, fried cabbage and buttered noodles

Kind of quiet of the frugal front.  The week has been stressful, as we are being bombarded with a lot of extended family stuff - but that is another story.

My plans are to continue to go through areas I haven't yet and get rid of more stuff.  Hopefully by weeks end, it will be warmer and perhaps dry out a little so I can do some yard work.

HOW WAS YOUR WEEK?  Any great deals or frugal finds?  Are you spring cleaning yet?  

I am sure we are all anxiously waiting for the temperature to change up a bit.

I am adding a lovely prayer from our paper this week:

"Awaken our senses today, O God, to beauty.  Enliven our spirits with hope.  Enrich our lives with virtue.  Season our lives with joy.  Amen"

This just seems fitting for myself - but I imagine for many.

May you all be healthy and safe this week and stay frugal my friends.  

Prayers for those having health issues, that you are touched by the healing hands of God.

Blessings from our humble home to yours.

My Favorite Frugal Cookery Books!

It is a well known fact. that I LOVE cook books!  Do I use them often?  Not really.  I cleared out many of the books last year, and I  am sure I still have close to a hundred.
I love going through them and getting ideas - then I kind go off on my own.  I do follow recipes for baking (for the most part).
We just love food, I love easy and yummy recipes and if I can add frugal in there too - it's a win-win recipe for me!

I have several books that have long been my go to books.  Now I do have my Mom's very old and fat  (and well worn) cook book.  I do several baking recipes from it - as they are sure fire favorites of the family.  There are even sweet little notes and suggestions written in the margins in her hand writing.  Many of those recipes have been past on by myself to many of the younger generations in the family.  Those are just special.

Here are a few of my favorite books - that get used often.

I like simple.  The one on the top right that is hard to see is 500 Recipes Using Zucchini.  My MIL found it at a yard sale and thought of me years and years ago.    It was put together by a garden club in Southington, Ohio.  Copyrights are 1968-1988.  I have tried to find information on it, as many others have wanted one as well.  Goodness, my brother actually copied the entire book himself on his home printer.  It cost a small fortune in ink!!!!!

The things we do for our recipes (and our zucchini)!!!!!

I love Amish recipes as they are pretty straight forward.  That book also has a lot of other types of tips and hints and stories as well.   The other books are pretty self explanatory.

I was going through the bookshelf in the other room this week, trying to do some de-cluttering.  There are many books that have been read - and won't be again.  I will keep all my cooking, medical, gardening, herbs, and crafting books, as well as G's books on mechanics, guns, and home fix-it.

There are so many self help books that just may come in handy someday.

If I have read a novel - it really needs to go.

OK - I have veered off path here.

I found these 2 books tucked away in there - and I think they are very wise keeps as well.  The hamburger book is dated 1960 and the other 1980.  Good and easy recipes never go out of date!!

The Amish book I purchased new in the late 80's at an Amish 'fair' of sorts.  All the others came from yard sales for pennies.

If you don't have any simple and frugal cooking idea books - you might think of getting a couple.  They are just fun, but they may give us some super ideas in days that we have little money or variety of pantry goods to work with.  We can't always depend on having a computer to fall back on.  I want good old fashioned hands-on books as well.

Do you have any good basic, easy, fun and FRUGAL books that you tend to use a lot?

I am sure there are many, so please spread the word on ones that are good.

Let us know if we need to be looking for some new ideas.

HAPPY COOKING

Meat = Good Eats #4

Today we will talk about stocking up on meat.  I know, not everyone eats meat - and those that find that offensive, probably shouldn't even read this.  We all have our own thoughts on the subject, and it is doubtful that they will be changed by a blog post.

I have an ample supply of meat - a huge percentage is frozen.  I have never home canned meat,  Have you?  It is just something that scares the beejeesus out of me!!!!!!  I am very intimidated by a pressure canner - crazy I know - but that is me.  One of these days I will get brave!!!!

So other than home canned meat, which is shelf stable - there is store bought canned meat supplies that are shelf stable.
WHY do I mention that?  Well, if things go south for our world, and there is disruption of power - shelf stable will be hugely important!  All that freezer meat won't do us a bit of good - except we will have one heck of a cookout for the neighborhood - then the meat will be gone!

I know lots of people are now getting into self canning meat.  They are emptying their freezers and canning.  People are getting scared and want to prepare.  YES, you can process previously frozen meat.  There are many videos and instruction on-line that tell how to do this.  I do believe I will be checking them out in the near future.

So, if we don't can meat ourselves, we need to think about having that particular protein on our shelves.  I know a lot of us keep dry beans, peanut butter, powdered eggs, and even protein powder on hand.  Hopefully, we would be covered for protein - but shelf stable (ready to eat) meat would be nice to have as well.

Some of my stocks include all sorts of meat.

I keep some cans of corned beef (G loves this stuff), luncheon loaf (SPAM or other brands), tuna, chicken and I always have a few of the little canned hams.

I really like the 'Spam' like luncheon loaf from Aldi.  It is a lot cheaper and it tastes good.  If you have never tried - dice up and add to a pot of soup beans.  It truly is good and a great substitute if you don't have ham.

I get those little hams at Big Lots - as they are quite cheap there.  They are just a neat item to have on hand.  Tuna and chicken - well, those are pretty much self explained.

We also keep some mackerel on hand (not much - as it  is stinky), and of course salmon.  I do like mackerel, but it is highly smelly - so I generally cook it  on the grill.  It is also messy to deal with - but I think salmon is too.  So that is just me.  These are very high in protein, so they are good items to have on hand.  Mackerel is much cheaper than salmon, but can be fixed the same way.

I have seen canned shrimp and clams and crab as well.

There are many more items that can be kept on the shelf.  Jerky is a good one.  That lasts a long time.  Pepperoni can be left on the shelf for extended periods of time (until opened).  Pickled bologna and Vienna sausages are also available.  We both enjoy pickled bologna (with crackers) every now and then.  You can also find chipped beef (dried beef) in jars.  That is something I need to get.

There is canned turkey and beef pieces as well (like chicken).  I have had both of those in the past and they are fine.

You can find shelf stable sausage patties and even cooked ground beef.  I have seen the ground beef at WM and for a 28oz. can it runs about $6+.  Not something I would keep a lot of - but it sure might come in handy in an emergency situation.

There is even cooked and shelf stable bacon available now!

You can check out a lot of different sites for large cans of meat and other foods - such as eggs and peanut butter.  LDS sells these items, much can be purchased through WM (online) now, Sam's Club has some survivalist items, Lehmann's sells them - there are many places.

There is quite of variety of meats that are available that are shelf stable - you need to check them out.

I am NOT suggesting that people panic!  I am suggesting you just get busy and get prepared - cause I do believe with all my heart that lean times are coming.  I think the weather situations will have more to do with this than anything (at least in the short run).

If you think meat and groceries are expensive now - JUST WAIT!  So much has been destroyed already and more bad weather is heading in.  I heard this morning that nothing will be dried out until well after May - and that is if ONLY one more big weather event happens.  If there are more - not much will be happening this year in those areas.

Not only have the farms been destroyed (along with homes and towns), but also the roads.  The infrastructure will have to be repaired as well so transportation will be slowed and stopped in many instances.  There is also no power in these areas due to the flooding.  It is a accumulation of devastating things.

It takes great time to replenish livestock and fields and buildings and feed and farms - IF it can EVER be replenished back to normal.  Many farmers will be done now.

I truly don't mean to sound like a panic monger, that is not my intention.  It is just common sense.  If you want your family to eat in the future - you need to get your bums in gear now and PREPARE!

I do not have delusions that any agencies would help us.  We are on our own.

Get busy - add to your pantry as you can.  Maybe make an extra effort now - add a few dollars to your grocery fund each week and stock up.  Make the effort - it is truly important to you and your family.

I just can't emphasize how very important this is.  Don't wait - as prices will be increasing soon!

Frugal Happenings 3/24

Good morning.  Happy Spring to all in U.S..  It hasn't felt a lot like spring in our area, but it has been O.K.  Yesterday got warm enough (and the sun was shining), that I got to air the house out.
I am not going to complain - last year on this date we got 10" of snow!!!!!  So a few clouds and some rain today will be fine!

Things are really starting to pop through the ground and more and more birdies are serenading us every morning.  Daylight hours are getting longer and longer.  We are to get close to 70 by weeks end.  I'll take it and be happy!!!!!

Continued prayers for all those folks dealing with the flooding and snow in the midsection of our country.  It is just so terribly sad.  So many have lost crops, farm animals, feed supplies, homes, and many instances  - entire towns.  Many farmers may not be able to come back from this - it is horrible.

My frugal week:

• Received a free magazine in the mail
• Cut G's and my hair
• Colored my hair again (I cut off all the color!)
• Cooked chicken in the crockpot this week (then baked to crisp skin), but ended up with 2 lovely golden pints of chicken stock for the freezer
• Put the spring décor on the doors
• G has been without an ID for a few years as there is no way he can get to and get in the license branch.  They finally have a way for him to get one - but he needed a letter from doc and a POA (power of attorney) for me to sign for him.  We found a lawyer (someone he knew when working), that drew up the POA and came to the house for G to sign.  Very reasonable and he will do our wills as well.  So there you go - a lawyer house call!  We have been fortunate to find so many wonderful people to help us professionally.
• I ran to feed store (squirrels were almost out of groceries again).  I made the rounds while driving down there.
• Hit the Kroger that is down that way.  Got cabbage at .39 lb. before the sale ended.  Got about 9 1/2 pounds (3 heads).  I got 5 packs of thick cut bologna for $1 each.  Nice to have around for a quick meals or treat (the date is way in future).  I also found 3 packs of ground beef marked down to approx. 1.27 per pound.  Worked out to about 9 pounds.  I ALWAYS buy hamburger when I find a deal - I use a lot and it can be transformed into all kinds of things.

•  Then ran by Big Lots on the way home to see if they ever got in any comforters worth bringing home.  The material these days is so ugly in my opinion.  I need a new one - but I am not even considering one till I find something pretty.  Well as I was walking out, I looked and saw a clearance shelf.  There were 8 packages of Archway molasses cookies marked .25 each!  I grabbed them all.  There are only 10 (big) cookies per package - but I couldn't make 80 cookies for $2.  They taste like the ones Mom used to make!  Wonderful treat!!!      Funny side note:  A clerk walked by and said  "can I get you a cart?"  (I had 8 boxes in my arms!)  Nope heading straight for the register.  That is all I got - a cart would just entice me to shop more!

• Got to air the house a bit - love the fresh air
• Spent yesterday deep cleaning the kitchen!  Surfaces, under, behind, on top of, inside of...…. you name it.  Not complete yet, but really got a ton done.  I have no stove vent - so things get tacky and dusty over time.  Love deep cleaning!
• Doing all the normal stuff - meals from home, making tea, laundry in cold, etc.

Our meals last week:

Egg salad sandwiches and chips

Pizza casserole

Chef salad

Chicken thighs and dumplings

Dirty rice with ground sausage and salad

Taco pie (2X)

Not a lot of exciting stuff, but every little thing helps.  We all do what we can to save a little and be good stewards of what we have. 

What was your week like?  Any deals or money saving projects?

I am totally anticipating warmer weather and being able to work in the dirt again.  Trying to get the house in order and just enjoying every day the Lord gives me.

May your week be one of health and happiness.  Stay frugal my friends.  Try to improve your lives each day and to help make the world better one little decision at a time.

  

Blessings to you and yours from our humble home to yours.