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.
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