Here are more frugal hints I'm excited to try...
1. Adding 1 tablespoon wheat germ per cup of white flour to boost a baked good's fiber content.
2. Soft Pretzel Recipe
1 package yeast
1 1/2 cups warm water
1 tablespoon sugar
1 tablespoon salt
4 cups flour
1 egg
Combine yeast, water, sugar, and salt in a large bowl. Stir in flour. Knead until dough is smooth. Shape dough into heart or animal shapes, using water to "glue" pieces together. Place on greased cookie sheet. Brush with beaten egg. Sprinkle with salt. Bake 15 minutes in 425 oven.
3.The Keeper: a re-usable tampon (sounds gross, but I'm curious just to see if they still make them).
4.Halloween Costume Fun: Rip all the stuffing out of an oversized stuffed animal, cut holes for face, hands and arms... voila! Instant costume.
5. TVP: texturized vegetarian protein. Replaces ground beef, is better for you (less fat/more vitamins) and is cheaper. I wonder if we sell this at Giant...?
6. Dumpster Diving. I think I would need a brave friend to try this one with me.
7. Peanut Butter Balls Recipe
1/2 cup honey
1/2 cup peanut butter
3/4 to 1 1/2 cup dry milk
Combine all the ingredients and roll into small balls. Roll the balls in coconut, sunflower seeds or nuts (or sesame seeds, a la my mother-in-law!)
One more volume to go!
Monday, March 30, 2009
Friday, March 13, 2009
The Tightwad Gazette: Volume 1
Highlights from the compilation and things I want to try:
1. Combine one tablespoon wheat germs per cup of white flour to substitute for whole wheat flour.
2. Bread Crumb Cookies
1 1/4 cups flour
1 1/4 cups sugar
1/2 tsp salt
1/2 tsp baking powder
1/3 cup cocoa
1/2 cup milk
1 egg
1 1/2 tsp vanilla
2/3 cup oil
2 cups bread crumbs
Combine dry ingredients.
Combine wet ingredients and add to dry.
Add oil and bread crumbs.
Drop onto cookie sheet - bake at 350 for 15 minutes (or until done).
3. The More-With-Less Cookbook: I am being extra frugal and checking it out from the library!
4. There was also a recipe for homemade playdough, but it involved too much stirring and use of the stove. While not the same consistency of the store stuff, this recipe has worked well for me and Elizabeth:
1 cup flour
1 cup water
2 cups oatmeal
Food coloring of choice
Knead all ingredients together for dough-y fun.
As I continue reading the other volumes, more fun (and frugal) tips to follow.
1. Combine one tablespoon wheat germs per cup of white flour to substitute for whole wheat flour.
2. Bread Crumb Cookies
1 1/4 cups flour
1 1/4 cups sugar
1/2 tsp salt
1/2 tsp baking powder
1/3 cup cocoa
1/2 cup milk
1 egg
1 1/2 tsp vanilla
2/3 cup oil
2 cups bread crumbs
Combine dry ingredients.
Combine wet ingredients and add to dry.
Add oil and bread crumbs.
Drop onto cookie sheet - bake at 350 for 15 minutes (or until done).
3. The More-With-Less Cookbook: I am being extra frugal and checking it out from the library!
4. There was also a recipe for homemade playdough, but it involved too much stirring and use of the stove. While not the same consistency of the store stuff, this recipe has worked well for me and Elizabeth:
1 cup flour
1 cup water
2 cups oatmeal
Food coloring of choice
Knead all ingredients together for dough-y fun.
As I continue reading the other volumes, more fun (and frugal) tips to follow.
Tuesday, March 3, 2009
Frugal Tips
As I was brushing my teeth this morning, I noticed the bag of baby wipes was empty. A few moments later, as began making a new batch, I commented to my husband "I can't believe how much money this saves us!"
When we did our taxes last month, we were shocked to see that our taxable income for 2008 was about one third of 2007. And yet, neither of us feel that our quality of life has suffered that much... in fact, in many ways having less money (and therefore less material goods) has been a very positive change. But that's another story.
What I thought would be fun today would be to explore some of my top baby-related money saving tips that I've learned this past year. I chose five because it just seems like a nice number - more than three, less than ten, but still seems like a significant amount.
Anyway... Here goes!
1. HOMEMADE BABY WIPES: How could I not start with this? When Elizabeth was first born, we bought baby wipes. And more and more and more baby wipes. Newborns go through a lot of diapers (8-10 a day, minimum) and I found myself wondering if there was a better way. After a little reading on the internet, I discovered that I could either go the reusable route (washcloth + water) which just seemed a little too stinky for me or I could make my own. Here's the recipe that I've been using for over a year - with great success!
1. Cut a roll of good quality (I like Bounty) paper towels in half, so that you have what looks like two over-sized toilet paper rolls.
2. Place one roll in a ziplock bag with the cardboard center facing up; save the other roll for next time.
3. Combine 2 cups warm water with 2 tablespoons baby wash.
4. Pour over paper towel roll. Close bag and let sit for at least 10 minutes.
5. Pull out the (now soggy) cardboard center. The damp towels in the middle will follow naturally and voila! Baby wipes. Easy, easy, easy! I usually buy a double roll of paper towels for about $3.65. Since I already have the water and baby wash on hand, that's less than $1 per "pack" of wipes. Take that, Huggies!
2. BREASTFEED: Elizabeth and I were lucky in that she was born with a very strong suck reflex and my milk came in with no problems. After the first few days, we really got the hang of nursing and kept at it for 12 months. If you can do it, do it! The health benefits are huge, but so is the money savings - I am proud to say that I never bought a single can of formula for Elizabeth. That's a savings of several hundred, if not a thousand, dollars in that first year!
3. HOMEMADE BABY FOOD: For thousands of years before Gerber and Beechnut, women made their own "baby food" as their children began to wean. It's easier than you think - you don't even need special tools. Bananas can be just peeled and mashed. Frozen pre-cooked squash is still a favorite (knock on wood) with Elizabeth. Peas, green beans, apples, carrots, potatoes, parsnip - these are just a sampling of foods I steamed or boiled, then ran through the blender. Pop the mushy mixes into ice cube trays, freeze and - ta da! Lovely little portions of baby food, all ready to go. Honestly, frugality was the reason we first tried this, but after seeing some of the jarred baby foods in the store - yuck! This way, you know exactly what your baby is eating. Check out: http://wholesomebabyfood.com/homemade-baby-food-recipes-intro.htm for more information and recipes.
PS - A single jar of baby food can cost as much as .85!
4. GENTLY USED TOYS: I will never buy another brand-new toy for Elizabeth. Not after spending some time at yard sales and second-hand stores. Baby toys are only used for a little while and many are only played with once or twice before being sold. Plus, you will be much less upset if the 10 cent or 2 dollar toy is broken or lost. Just make sure to wipe down toys before handing them off - it never hurts to be safe.
5. CLOTHES: Kids grow fast. Elizabeth is only 17 months old and is already wearing 24 months/2T sized clothes. In other words, in less than two years, she has outgrown six wardrobes already: newborn, 3-6, 6-9, 9-12, 12-18 and 18 month sizes. As you can see, just like toys, kids go through clothes quickly and may only wear an outfit once or twice before outgrowing it. Check out yard sales, second-hand stores and Craigslist - I have gotten in the habit of buying ahead to the next season or size which gives me more time to bargain hunt. (See my previous post's reference to a Craigslist meet-up.) Your baby will look cute no matter what and she doesn't care if her outfit came new with tags or not.
None of these changes require mountains to move or rivers to dry up to implement. But having gradually made these switches has helped make a big difference in my family's finances, quality of life and peace of mind.
When we did our taxes last month, we were shocked to see that our taxable income for 2008 was about one third of 2007. And yet, neither of us feel that our quality of life has suffered that much... in fact, in many ways having less money (and therefore less material goods) has been a very positive change. But that's another story.
What I thought would be fun today would be to explore some of my top baby-related money saving tips that I've learned this past year. I chose five because it just seems like a nice number - more than three, less than ten, but still seems like a significant amount.
Anyway... Here goes!
1. HOMEMADE BABY WIPES: How could I not start with this? When Elizabeth was first born, we bought baby wipes. And more and more and more baby wipes. Newborns go through a lot of diapers (8-10 a day, minimum) and I found myself wondering if there was a better way. After a little reading on the internet, I discovered that I could either go the reusable route (washcloth + water) which just seemed a little too stinky for me or I could make my own. Here's the recipe that I've been using for over a year - with great success!
1. Cut a roll of good quality (I like Bounty) paper towels in half, so that you have what looks like two over-sized toilet paper rolls.
2. Place one roll in a ziplock bag with the cardboard center facing up; save the other roll for next time.
3. Combine 2 cups warm water with 2 tablespoons baby wash.
4. Pour over paper towel roll. Close bag and let sit for at least 10 minutes.
5. Pull out the (now soggy) cardboard center. The damp towels in the middle will follow naturally and voila! Baby wipes. Easy, easy, easy! I usually buy a double roll of paper towels for about $3.65. Since I already have the water and baby wash on hand, that's less than $1 per "pack" of wipes. Take that, Huggies!
2. BREASTFEED: Elizabeth and I were lucky in that she was born with a very strong suck reflex and my milk came in with no problems. After the first few days, we really got the hang of nursing and kept at it for 12 months. If you can do it, do it! The health benefits are huge, but so is the money savings - I am proud to say that I never bought a single can of formula for Elizabeth. That's a savings of several hundred, if not a thousand, dollars in that first year!
3. HOMEMADE BABY FOOD: For thousands of years before Gerber and Beechnut, women made their own "baby food" as their children began to wean. It's easier than you think - you don't even need special tools. Bananas can be just peeled and mashed. Frozen pre-cooked squash is still a favorite (knock on wood) with Elizabeth. Peas, green beans, apples, carrots, potatoes, parsnip - these are just a sampling of foods I steamed or boiled, then ran through the blender. Pop the mushy mixes into ice cube trays, freeze and - ta da! Lovely little portions of baby food, all ready to go. Honestly, frugality was the reason we first tried this, but after seeing some of the jarred baby foods in the store - yuck! This way, you know exactly what your baby is eating. Check out: http://wholesomebabyfood.com/homemade-baby-food-recipes-intro.htm for more information and recipes.
PS - A single jar of baby food can cost as much as .85!
4. GENTLY USED TOYS: I will never buy another brand-new toy for Elizabeth. Not after spending some time at yard sales and second-hand stores. Baby toys are only used for a little while and many are only played with once or twice before being sold. Plus, you will be much less upset if the 10 cent or 2 dollar toy is broken or lost. Just make sure to wipe down toys before handing them off - it never hurts to be safe.
5. CLOTHES: Kids grow fast. Elizabeth is only 17 months old and is already wearing 24 months/2T sized clothes. In other words, in less than two years, she has outgrown six wardrobes already: newborn, 3-6, 6-9, 9-12, 12-18 and 18 month sizes. As you can see, just like toys, kids go through clothes quickly and may only wear an outfit once or twice before outgrowing it. Check out yard sales, second-hand stores and Craigslist - I have gotten in the habit of buying ahead to the next season or size which gives me more time to bargain hunt. (See my previous post's reference to a Craigslist meet-up.) Your baby will look cute no matter what and she doesn't care if her outfit came new with tags or not.
None of these changes require mountains to move or rivers to dry up to implement. But having gradually made these switches has helped make a big difference in my family's finances, quality of life and peace of mind.
Friday, February 27, 2009
A Day in the Life
Last Friday night, my husband and I went to the mall with our daughter. The purpose of the trip was a Craigslist transaction (they always feel like a drug deal - let's meet at X; I'll have the goods and you'll have the $$$), but afterward we let Elizabeth walk around the mall. She toddled along like she does, sometimes holding our hands, mostly not, scoping out the world from her 1.5 foot advantage. Provided a running commentary including "trash," "ball," "shoe," and "hat." Hey, for a 16 month old, that's akin to an in-depth philosophical diatribe.
But what blew my mind as Sam and I followed in her wake was that this time last year, Elizabeth was a smushy little blob - cute, yes, but her repertoire was limited to crying, gurgles, gummy smiles and spit-up. Okay, there was some more, but she's changed so much. She GREW so much. Duh, you might say, Captain Obvious - that's what babies do, they grow. Yet, until Elizabeth arrived, I had no idea how fast, how poignant this growth can be. Or, paradoxically, how slow some days go by.
When I hit a slow day (a day or afternoon that stretches into forever, alone with a cranky young toddler) I try to keep in mind the best parenting advice ever given to me: "This too shall pass." It's both comforting (hey! she won't be sobbing about the Teddy Grahams forever) and warning (enjoy this now - she'll never be this way again). This advice rocks - helps give me perspective on this ever-changing journey of motherhood that I travel each day. My favorite part is that Sam gave me this advice - probably without thinking, as it was sometime between 1 and 4 am and we had both been up with a crying newborn for much of that night. I believe I was sitting in the glider where I used to nurse Elizabeth, sobbing, convinced there was no light at the end of the tunnel, that the tunnel stretched on forever and that we would forever be the stewards of a helpless, wordless, mostly inhuman human baby. Thank goodness that wasn't true!
Fast forward a year from that pathetic scene. Today's been a pretty typical day - up at 7 to take a shower before Elizabeth wakes, breakfast for her and me, clothes for her and me. We drove to Lancaster to get the car's oil changed; Elizabeth enjoyed checking out the "big trucks" in the showroom and voraciously ate pretzels in the waiting room. On the way home, we stopped at the park and bumped into some friends, swung on the swings, played on the slide. Then we came home, ate lunch and Elizabeth went down for her "snooze." She'll wake up soon, I know, and we'll run to the grocery store and bank, come home, make dinner and wait for Sam to come home (yay weekend!). Along the way, we'll listen to Sesame Street music, blow bubbles, dance and read. I'll empty the dishwasher and warn her away from the hot oven. She'll raise her arms and demand "up," spot the bag of Tostitos and ask for "chips."
And throughout this typical day, I'll be amazed at this little person who has come so far, so fast and still has so far to go. And I'll also be proud of me and Sam - how fast and far we've come - and how far we will continue to go.
I love my family. Life is good.
But what blew my mind as Sam and I followed in her wake was that this time last year, Elizabeth was a smushy little blob - cute, yes, but her repertoire was limited to crying, gurgles, gummy smiles and spit-up. Okay, there was some more, but she's changed so much. She GREW so much. Duh, you might say, Captain Obvious - that's what babies do, they grow. Yet, until Elizabeth arrived, I had no idea how fast, how poignant this growth can be. Or, paradoxically, how slow some days go by.
When I hit a slow day (a day or afternoon that stretches into forever, alone with a cranky young toddler) I try to keep in mind the best parenting advice ever given to me: "This too shall pass." It's both comforting (hey! she won't be sobbing about the Teddy Grahams forever) and warning (enjoy this now - she'll never be this way again). This advice rocks - helps give me perspective on this ever-changing journey of motherhood that I travel each day. My favorite part is that Sam gave me this advice - probably without thinking, as it was sometime between 1 and 4 am and we had both been up with a crying newborn for much of that night. I believe I was sitting in the glider where I used to nurse Elizabeth, sobbing, convinced there was no light at the end of the tunnel, that the tunnel stretched on forever and that we would forever be the stewards of a helpless, wordless, mostly inhuman human baby. Thank goodness that wasn't true!
Fast forward a year from that pathetic scene. Today's been a pretty typical day - up at 7 to take a shower before Elizabeth wakes, breakfast for her and me, clothes for her and me. We drove to Lancaster to get the car's oil changed; Elizabeth enjoyed checking out the "big trucks" in the showroom and voraciously ate pretzels in the waiting room. On the way home, we stopped at the park and bumped into some friends, swung on the swings, played on the slide. Then we came home, ate lunch and Elizabeth went down for her "snooze." She'll wake up soon, I know, and we'll run to the grocery store and bank, come home, make dinner and wait for Sam to come home (yay weekend!). Along the way, we'll listen to Sesame Street music, blow bubbles, dance and read. I'll empty the dishwasher and warn her away from the hot oven. She'll raise her arms and demand "up," spot the bag of Tostitos and ask for "chips."
And throughout this typical day, I'll be amazed at this little person who has come so far, so fast and still has so far to go. And I'll also be proud of me and Sam - how fast and far we've come - and how far we will continue to go.
I love my family. Life is good.
Monday, December 22, 2008
Tradition!
No, I'm not staging a new (Christian?) version of "Fiddler on the Roof." But as we are up to our necks in holiday muck, I find myself reflecting on the many traditions that make the season special for me and my family. Really, traditions are all the separate the holidays from "regular" time. Here are a few old (and new) traditions that I look forward to... (remembering that, for me, "the holidays" run from Thanksgiving until New Year's Day.)
1. Thanksgiving dinner
2. Wrapping Christmas presents
3. Cookie swap (that's a new one - but one that will hopefully be repeated)
4. Stuffing Elizabeth's stocking
5. Putting up a tree on Christmas Eve
6. Christmas morning breakfast and "Wizard of Oz" viewing with my dear husband and kin
7. Christmas dinner
8. Wingo Bingo on New Year's Eve Eve (not a typo - that's two "eves" on purpose)
9. New Year's Eve movie marathon
10. New Year's Eve lobster and/or decadent delights meal
Hey, presents for me didn't even make the list - not that I don't like getting stuff, but really, as I try to tell my mother-in-law when she starts to stress about making everything perfect for Christmas, people don't remember the stuff - the decorations, the gifts - nearly as well as they remember the time, the people, the places where they gathered and made holiday memories. I hope that as Elizabeth grows older, Santa will visit her and give her presents, but more than that, I hope that Sam and I can instill in her a sense that the holidays are special for much more than that.
And may I wish everyone out there in Internet land a happy holiday season - whatever your traditions!
1. Thanksgiving dinner
2. Wrapping Christmas presents
3. Cookie swap (that's a new one - but one that will hopefully be repeated)
4. Stuffing Elizabeth's stocking
5. Putting up a tree on Christmas Eve
6. Christmas morning breakfast and "Wizard of Oz" viewing with my dear husband and kin
7. Christmas dinner
8. Wingo Bingo on New Year's Eve Eve (not a typo - that's two "eves" on purpose)
9. New Year's Eve movie marathon
10. New Year's Eve lobster and/or decadent delights meal
Hey, presents for me didn't even make the list - not that I don't like getting stuff, but really, as I try to tell my mother-in-law when she starts to stress about making everything perfect for Christmas, people don't remember the stuff - the decorations, the gifts - nearly as well as they remember the time, the people, the places where they gathered and made holiday memories. I hope that as Elizabeth grows older, Santa will visit her and give her presents, but more than that, I hope that Sam and I can instill in her a sense that the holidays are special for much more than that.
And may I wish everyone out there in Internet land a happy holiday season - whatever your traditions!
Wednesday, November 26, 2008
Look! Poetry
Since I have no fine motor skills to speak of, I decided that I would give writing a(nother) try. However, fiction and prose tend to overwhelm me unless I have a specific topic. Thus, I am taking my own advice, doled out while I taught my lovely 7th graders, and am trying poetry. Short, accessible with many forms, and infinitely variable, poetry may be the creative outlet I need.
My first attempts, I have decided, will be in using traditional forms - free verse is way too wide open for someone as OC as me. I'm beginning with the triolet, a French form from the late Middle Ages. Only eight lines long, with two lines repeated throughout, the triolet is a cousin to the round (think "Row, Row, Row Your Boat") and has a satisfying circuity of sound and thought.
As I have been feeling a bit off lately (for lack of a better term - I tried googling "how to tell if you're depressed" today; good news is I'm probably not, bad news is that means I'm just cranky), my first triolet is a bit self-indulgent:
Sometimes I want to curl up in a ball.
I wish I knew why.
I feel angry, sad, petty and small.
Sometimes I want to curl up in a ball.
And yet, through it all...
While I fume and mope and cry
I wish I knew why
Sometimes I want to curl up in a ball.
My second attempt is more inherently joyful (though perhaps with a touch of melancholy) as the subject is Elizabeth. Coincidentally (or perhaps I just have a small vocabulary) both poems use ball as one of the major rhymes.
My daughter's favorite word is ball.
And yesterday she began to run.
Didn't she just learn to crawl?
My daughter's favorite word is ball.
She's gone from small and soft to sturdy and tall.
Climbing, dancing, never done.
And yesterday she began to run.
My daughter's favorite word is ball.
Hmm... looks like I was right - poetry is fun!
My first attempts, I have decided, will be in using traditional forms - free verse is way too wide open for someone as OC as me. I'm beginning with the triolet, a French form from the late Middle Ages. Only eight lines long, with two lines repeated throughout, the triolet is a cousin to the round (think "Row, Row, Row Your Boat") and has a satisfying circuity of sound and thought.
As I have been feeling a bit off lately (for lack of a better term - I tried googling "how to tell if you're depressed" today; good news is I'm probably not, bad news is that means I'm just cranky), my first triolet is a bit self-indulgent:
Sometimes I want to curl up in a ball.
I wish I knew why.
I feel angry, sad, petty and small.
Sometimes I want to curl up in a ball.
And yet, through it all...
While I fume and mope and cry
I wish I knew why
Sometimes I want to curl up in a ball.
My second attempt is more inherently joyful (though perhaps with a touch of melancholy) as the subject is Elizabeth. Coincidentally (or perhaps I just have a small vocabulary) both poems use ball as one of the major rhymes.
My daughter's favorite word is ball.
And yesterday she began to run.
Didn't she just learn to crawl?
My daughter's favorite word is ball.
She's gone from small and soft to sturdy and tall.
Climbing, dancing, never done.
And yesterday she began to run.
My daughter's favorite word is ball.
Hmm... looks like I was right - poetry is fun!
Thursday, September 25, 2008
Soup's On
As autumn kicks into full gear and an annoying cold has settled into my system, it seems like the perfect time to break out soup. It's warm and soothing, plus I can make it in my slow cooker (the most awesome home appliance anywhere).
I'm making veggie soup for dinner tonight and am planning on potato soup for Sunday. Tuesday night we had tomato soup and I include the recipe here (partially for any random readers and mostly for myself so that I don't forget what I did!):
Coarsely chop 4-5 fresh tomatoes - place in the bottom of slow cooker.
Add: 1 beef bouillon cube, 1 chopped onion, 1/2 cup water, 1 eight oz. can of tomato sauce and spices to taste (I used black pepper, oregano, fresh basil and thyme).
Cook on low for 5-6 hours.
Add 1/2 cup milk - cook an additional 30 minutes.
Yummy served with fresh warm bread or biscuits for dunking!
I'm making veggie soup for dinner tonight and am planning on potato soup for Sunday. Tuesday night we had tomato soup and I include the recipe here (partially for any random readers and mostly for myself so that I don't forget what I did!):
Coarsely chop 4-5 fresh tomatoes - place in the bottom of slow cooker.
Add: 1 beef bouillon cube, 1 chopped onion, 1/2 cup water, 1 eight oz. can of tomato sauce and spices to taste (I used black pepper, oregano, fresh basil and thyme).
Cook on low for 5-6 hours.
Add 1/2 cup milk - cook an additional 30 minutes.
Yummy served with fresh warm bread or biscuits for dunking!
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