Collins Country

Perfidious Purloiners on Pay Pal !

Today I went to check my bank account balance and found four transactions made to Pay Pal!  Folks, I haven't used paypal in over a year!  You can imagine my frustration and fear to see my dollars being (slowly) drained from my account!

It's kind of weird because there were four different transactions in rapid succession (One was in Euros).  Actually, it's smart.  If they (the theiving degenerates) took five dollars from 10,000 people, it's a tidy haul.  If I were of a criminous nature, I would applaud them.

Since my husband works hard for our money, and we are watching every penny (meaning we only HAVE pennies) I admire it not at all.  In fact, they caused us to be overdrawn which means they stole an additional $44.00 in "courtesy fees."   

The good news:  I contacted payPal and made an Unauthorised Transaction Report and they will refund the money.  I contacted my bank reversed the extra charges and strongly advised me to close my checking account.  Such a tedious job, especially after the hour and a half I spent ont he phone. 

Guess what I will be doing all day tomorrow? :(

The most interesting thing about all this (to me) is my response.  Instead of my normal reaction: freaking out, calling the bank, crying, calling my husband, more crying (I realize these are not effecient techniques ), I just called the appropriate parties and followed the steps and took care of it.  I was freaking out on the inside, but nobody would have known!

That's a satisfying victory in itself!  And, of course, when you are living frugally, it's especially satisfying to successfully regain the lost money.

Wretched Credit Cards

I am slooowly paying off cards.  It is a tedious business, and it seems like we will never get it finished.  I feel very confident that credit cards will never be used for our personal use again.  We can use our debit card if neccessary, although I don't even like to do that now.

WARNING:  There are drawbacks to using your debit card as a credit card.

Did you know that the merchant (not the bank) can put a hold on your funds for up to 72 hours?  This would not be bad except that they can tie up funds that exceed the amount you authorized.  For example, when we rented a car recently, the total was $144.00 in advance.  However, the merchant put a hold on $250.00 of our money.  This means that money is no longer available until that merchant releases the hold.

Last month, we rented a motel room (I did not know about the hold process).  We were really down to the wire on funds, but thought it would be fine.  Unfortunately, the motel put an additional amount on hold (to cover potential damages and such) and we ended up bouncing three checks because the money was temporarily unavailable. 

It doesn't matter if the money is later released...all the bank cares about is that it was untouchable when other transactions came through.  Just a little "buyer beware" notice.

Other woes:  Credit card bureacracy!

We have a credit card from years ago that is in my husband's name only.  The account was closed because of deliquency (we weren't paying it off fast enough LOL).  That means I cannot be added to the account. 

Last year, DH went through this whole rigamorole to authorize me to make desisions on the account.  Until now, I have never had a problem.  I tried to make a payment by phone today (I've done this many times) and they said that their policy is that my husband has to call them every time to approve me to make a payment over the phone.

What is especially frustrating about that is the guy insisted that it's ALWAYS been their policy.  I couldn't convince him that wasn't possible because I pay by phone nearly every other month.

I can mail it, with a check that is signed by me.  I can go online, set up a payment program without my husbands authorization (or knowledge for that matter).  I can pay by phone if it is LATE.  I cannot pay for it via phone if it's early.

Please tell me that's crazy...if not, it must mean I am! LOL

The good news is that if we keep on as we are now, our credit card debt will be paid off by April of 2008!  At that point I will have fulfilled my one year committment to my employer and can choose to leave if I wish (I could leave at any time but not with a clear conscience).

Homestead news: I have four zucchini, but one of them is rotting! 

I hope they don't go the way of last year's pumpkins!  I am hoping the bad Z is a result of a football incedent (I TOLD the boys not to stand on the porch while playing catch!) instead of over-watering.  I've been very careful.

Hope you all are having a great day!

Changes at Collins Country

Today at noon I start my new job.  My eagerness is tinged with a sense of failure.

I really want to be at home, but honestly folks, I just can't handle the lack of money.  I'm not talking about missed opportunities to go to the movies or out to dinner.  I mean lack where I can't afford to get the cats treated for fleas, or paying double on bills (with late fees) because one paycheck was too small.  It gets to me; The result is that my family has learned the truth of the old proverb "If Mamma ain't happy, NObody's happy.".

I feel like a quitter, but sewing my own underwear, making my own detergent and baking bread was just not enough.  My family gets tired of eating beans and oatmeal, although if that was the only issue, I would say "too bad." LOL

It's only twenty hours per week, and I will only work outside the home until my husband can start his own business and it begins to bring in the equivalent of the combined money he and I will be making now.  OR, when we get the debt paid off, whichever comes first.

Homeschooling will be my biggest challenge, but Summer is almost here...I think we can manage the strain for two more months LOL.

Meals will be a bit of a challenge, but I refuse to waste my hard earned dollars by going out to eat or buying prepared foods (kind of defeats the purpose).  So, I have set an evening routine and a morning routine that will include advanced food prep.  That way, when I get home at 5:30, I can throw it all together and have dinner at 6:30.  My daughter will probably be a great help there, as well.

Another good thing is that the office is only about 1.5 miles from my house.  That means I can walk there and back.  It adds an hour to my schedule (I am too fat to walk very fast), but it might save my life!  It will definately save me a little money (I figure it costs me about .28 cents per mile to drive anywhere in town).

One result of these changes is that I may not be online as much.  I will still be checking in, of course.  I am just not sure I can keep my home in order, work outside the home and still play here! (I am sure going to try, though!).

Pray that this season (of work outside the home) is a short one, will you?

Hope everyone has a great day!

Bragging a bit!

I just got back from shopping.

My daughter is attending a formal banquet at the end of the month and since she owns nothing remotely dressy, we had to buy!

A local dress shop is going out of business and we really scored.

The dress was regularly about $125.00.

The shoes were regularly $70.00.

I paid $24.00 for both!

I don't think I've ever gotten such a great deal in my life! 

It just goes to show that patience and keeping your ears open pay off!

Window Shopping

Booklegger (used Books)

The Glass Castle, Rime of the Ancient Mariner (Illustrated Edition) and The Works of T.S. Eliot - $28.87

Restoration Hardware 

Map of London Walking Tours - $7.50

Linen Coverlette - $45.00

Allure Jewelers (Going out of Business sale) 

Blown Glass Perfume Bottle - $30.00

Amber Necklace - $49.00

Leaving Old Town with out spending a dime - Priceless

Homestead Kitchen Challenge-Final Day

On Asian Tuna Cakes:  I liked them, and it was a very frugal but unique way to use tuna, but my family said they were too soft (?).  I thought they were crispy on the outside and tender on the inside, but whatever!   Anyway, they ate it, and would eat it again if they had to…especially if I could firm them up.  My husband even thought served like a burger would be tasty.  I think a dipping sauce would have been tasty, too.

Today is a busy day:

• Home-school meeting (to turn in records)
• Dr. Appointment (DS gets his cast off, I hope!!)
• School Tonight

That doesn’t give me much time to get the rest of my stuff at home done, so I won’t stay here long.  Everyone have a terrific day and thanks for participating in my Pantry Challenge!

Tonight:

From the Pantry (etc):

Canned Chicken

Spaghetti noodles

Cream of mushroom soup

Canned corn

Flour, etc.

Menu:

Chicken casserole

Soft Pretzels (courtesy of Grandma Rosie)

Homestead Kitchen Challenge-still going

A busy day today.  My DD and I must get most of her schoolwork done before 1030, so I can leave for the resource center I volunteer at once per month!

We are currently working on an embroidery project that she has been very good about (She only says "I hate sewing" once a day, now. LOL).

It's raining today, so I don't have to go out and water my hay bales, which is nice.  I DO need to purchase some whatever-it-is (Ammonium Phosphate???) to help fertalize, but I haven't got round to it!

A trip to the laundry again and I will be done with laundry until the weekend.  It's a nuisance to go, but cheaper than paying to have the dryer repaired right now.  It's a 2 minute drive, about $5.00 a week and I can get it all dried in an hour, so I can't complain (Beats hanging clothes on a ladder in the living room, I can tell you!).

Tonight:

From the Pantry (etc):

Canned Tuna

Bread crumbs

Teriyaki sauce

Green beans

Almonds

Menu:

Asian Tuna cakes

Green beans with almonds

Rice

Applesauce

Homestead Kitchen Challenge-still going

Hi folks!  I decided to see hwo many more days I can go without grocery shopping…my goal is Friday, although we might be eating plain ol’ beans by then!

Tonight:

From the Pantry (etc):

Black Beans

Corn

Bell Peppers (freezer)

Masa Flour

Applesauce (home canned)

Menu:

Black Bean burritos on

Homemade tortillas

Applesauce

That was supposed to be the menu, but I burned the beans!  I was so annoyed with myself.  We had leftover sandwiches for dinner.  I guess at least I got those cans out of the pantry, right?

Homestead Kitchen Challenge-Day 5

Whew!  I am finding it hard to make time to blog, so for now I am keeping it simple.  My daughter arrives home today (she was with family for the weekend) so it's a busy day for me getting ready for her return (and also taking advantage of her absence).

I think yesterday was day four; I get a little mixed up...anyway, here is my daily menu entry for the challenge.

Tonight:

From the Pantry (etc):

Potatoes

Canned Cranberry sauce

Oatmeal

Maple syrup

Pork ribs (freezer)

Canned corn

Menu:

Maple Crock-pot ribs

Baked taters with sour cream and butter

Corn on the side

Cranberry bars

Homestead Kitchen Challenge - Day 5

Homestead Kitchen Challenge - Day 4

About last night:

The beet salad was different, but my DH liked it.  I will post the recipe later.

Tonight

From the Pantry (etc):

Vermicelli

Canned clams

Alfredo sauce (packet)

Parmesan Cheese

Canned Pineapple

Menu

Pasta in clam sauce (My DH LOVED this!)

Pasta with Alfredo sauce (I don’t like clams)

Leftover beet salad

Chilled pineapple

Homestead Kitchen Challenge Day 3

Well, there’s not much to say about leftovers last night.  They were good the first time and not bad the second time! LOL

Tonight:

From my pantry (etc):

3 cardboard pizzas (freezer)

1 can diced beets

1 apple

5 packets of Ranch dressing (saved from misc fast food meals)

Candy canes

Vanilla chips

Menu:

Cardboard pizzas ( the $ .99 kind) with extra cheese & sauce

Beet/apple dish (I'll let you know...)

Peppermint bark for dessert

Day 3 Information challenge

Extraordinary uses for ordinary things

Bottles: Around the House

Make a foot warmer

Walking around on harsh winter days can leave you with cold and tired tootsies. But you don't need to shell out your hard-earned money on a heating pad or a hot-water bottle to ease your discomfort. Just fill up a 1- or 2-liter soda bottle with hot water, then sit down and roll it back and forth under your feet.

Use as a boot tree

Want to keep your boot tops from getting wrinkled or folded over when you put them in storage? Insert a clean empty 1-liter soda bottle into each boot. For added tautness, put a couple of old socks on the bottles or wrap them in towels.

Recycle as a chew toy

If Lassie has been chewing on your slippers instead of fetching them, maybe she's in need of some chew toys. A no-cost way to amuse your dog is to let her chew on an empty plastic 1-liter soda bottle. Maybe it's the crunchy sound they make, but dogs love them! Just be sure to remove the label and bottle cap (as well as the loose plastic ring under it). And replace it before it gets too chewed up -- broken pieces of plastic are choke hazards.

Make a bag or string dispenser

An empty 2-liter soda bottle makes the perfect container for storing and dispensing plastic grocery bags. Just cut off the bottom and top ends of the bottle, and mount it with screws upside down inside a kitchen cabinet or closet. Put washers under the screw heads to keep them from pulling through the plastic. Fill it with your recycled bags (squeeze the air out of them first) and pull them out as needed. You can make a twine dispenser the same way, using a 1-liter bottle and letting the cord come out the bottom.

Place in toilet tank

Unless your house was built relatively recently, chances are you have an older toilet that uses a lot of water each flush. To save a bit of money on your water bills, fill an empty 1-liter soda bottle with water (remove any labels first) and put it in the toilet tank to cut the amount of water in each flush.

Cut out a toy carryall

If you're fed up with Lego or erector-set pieces underfoot, make a simple carryall to store them in by cutting a large hole in the side of a clean gallon jug with a handle. Cut the hole opposite the handle so you or your youngster can easily carry the container back to the playroom after putting the pieces away. For an easy way to store craft materials, crayons, or small toys, just cut the containers in half and use the bottom part to stash your stuff.

Store your sugar

The next time you bring home a 5-pound (2.2-kilogram) bag of sugar from the supermarket, try pouring it into a clean, dry 1-gallon (3.7-liter) jug with a handle. The sugar is less likely to harden, and the handle makes it much easier to pour it out.

Fashion a funnel

To make a handy, durable funnel, cut a cleaned milk jug, bleach, or liquid detergent container with a handle in half across its midsection. Use the top portion (with the spout and handle) as a funnel for easy pouring of paints, rice, coins, and so on.

Bottles: In the Garden

Feed the birds

Why spend money on a plastic bird feeder when you probably have one in your recycling bin? Take a clean 1/2-gallon (2-liter) juice or milk jug and carve a large hole on its side to remove the handle. (You might even drill a small hole under the large one to insert a sturdy twig or dowel for a perch.) Then poke a hole in the middle of the cap and suspend it from a tree with a piece of strong string or monofilament fishing line. Fill it up to the opening with birdseed, and enjoy the show.

Make a watering can

No watering can? It's easy to make one from a clean 1-gallon (3.7-liter) juice, milk, or bleach jug with a handle. Drill about a dozen tiny (1/16-inch or 1.5-millimeter is good) holes just below the spout of the jug on the side opposite the handle. Or carefully punch the holes with an ice pick. Fill it with water, screw the cap on, and start sprinkling.

Create a drip irrigator for plants

During dry spells, a good way to get water to the roots of your plants is to place several drip irrigators around your garden. You can make them from clean 1-gallon (3.7-liter) juice or detergent jugs. Cut a large hole in the bottom of a jug, then drill 2-5 tiny (about 1/16-inch or 1.5-millimeter) holes in or around the cap. Bury the capped jugs upside down about three-quarters submerged beneath the soil near the plants you need to water, and fill with water through the hole on top. Refill as often as needed.

Mark your plants

Want an easy way to make ID badges for all the vegetables, herbs, and flowers in your garden? Cut vertical strips from a couple of clear 1-gallon (3.7-liter) water jugs. Make the strips the same width as your seed packets but double their length. Fold each strip over an empty packet to protect it from the elements, and staple it to a strong stick or chopstick.

Secure garden netting

If you find yourself having to constantly re-stake the loose net-ting or plastic lining over your garden bed, place water-filled large plastic jugs around the corners to keep the material in place.

Use as an attachable trash can or harvest basket

Here's a great tip for weekend gardeners and pros alike: Cut a large hole opposite the handle of a 1/2- or 1-gallon (2-or 3.7-liter) container, and loop the handle through a belt or rope on your waist. Use it to collect the debris -- rocks, weeds, broken stems -- you encounter as you mow the lawn or stroll through your garden. Use the same design to make an attachable basket for harvesting berries, cherries, and other small fruits or vegetables.

Space seeds in garden

Want an easy way to perfectly space seeds in your garden? Use an empty soda bottle as your guide. Find the distance that the seed company recommends between seeds and then cut off the tapered top of the bottle so its diameter equals that distance. When you start planting, firmly press your bottle, cut edge down, into the soil and place a seed in the center of the circle it makes. Then line up the bottle so that its edge touches the curve of the first impression, and press down again. Plant a seed in the center, and repeat until you've filled your rows.

Isolate weeds when spraying herbicides

When using herbicides to kill weeds in your garden, you have to be careful not to also spray and kill surrounding plants. To isolate the weed you want to kill, cut a 2-liter soda bottle in half and place the top half over the weed you want to spray. Then direct your pump's spraying wand through the regular opening in the top of the bottle and blast away. After the spray settles down, pick up the bottle and move on to your next target. Always wear goggles and gloves when spraying chemicals in the garden.

Set up a backyard sprayer

When temperatures soar outdoors, keep your kids cool with a homemade backyard sprayer. Just cut three 1-inch (2.5-cen-timeter) vertical slits in one side of a clean 2-liter soda bottle. Or make the slits at different angles so the water will squirt in different directions. Attach the nozzle of the hose to the bottle top with duct tape (make sure it's fastened on tight). Turn on the tap, and let the fun begin!

Bottles: Away From Home

Make a scoop or boat bailer

Cut a clean plastic half-gallon (2-liter) jug with a handle diagonally from the bottom so that you have the top three-quarters of the jug intact. You now have a handy scoop that can be used for everything from removing leaves and other debris from your gutters, to cleaning out the litter box and poop-scooping up after your dog. Use it to scoop dog food from the bag, spread sand or ice-melt on walkways in winter, or bail water out of your boat (you might want to keep the cap on for this last application).

Keep the cooler cold

Don't let your cooler lose its cool while you're on the road. Fill a few clean plastic jugs with water or juice and keep them in the freezer for use when transporting food in your cooler. This is not only good for keeping food cold; you can actually drink the water or juice as it melts. It's also not a bad idea to keep a few frozen jugs in your freezer if you have extra space; a full freezer actually uses less energy and can save money on your electric bill. When filling a jug, leave a little room at the top for the water to expand as it freezes.

Use for emergency road kit in winter

Don't get stuck in your car the next time a surprise winter storm hits. Keep a couple of clean gallon (3.7-liter) jugs with handles filled with sand or kitty litter in the trunk of your car. Then you'll be prepared to sprinkle the material on the road surface to add traction under your wheels when you need to get moving on a slippery road. The handle makes it easier to pour them.

Bottles: For the Do-It-Yourselfer

Build a paint bucket

Tired of splattering paint all over as you work? Make a neater paint dispenser by cutting a large hole opposite the handle of a clean 1-gallon (3.7 liter) jug. Pour in the paint so that it's about an inch below the edge of the hole, and use the edge to remove any excess paint from your brush before you lift your brush. You can also cut jugs in half and use the bottom halves as disposable paint buckets when several people work on the same job.

Store your paints

Why keep leftover house paints in rusted or dented cans when you can keep them clean and fresh in plastic jugs? Use a funnel to pour the paint into a clean, dry milk or water jug, and add a few marbles (they help mix the paint when you shake the container before your next paint job). Label each container with a piece of masking tape, noting the paint manufacturer, color name, and the date.

Use as workshop organizers

Are you always searching for the right nail to use for a particular chore, or for a clothespin, picture hook, or small fastener? Bring some organization to your workshop with a few 1- or 1/2-gallon (3.7- or 2-liter) jugs. Cut out a section near the top of each jug on the side opposite the handle. Then use the containers to store and sort all the small items that seem to "slip through the cracks" of your workbench. The handle makes it easy to carry a jug to your worksite.

Use as a level substitute

How can you make sure that shelf you're about to put up is straight if you don't have a level on hand? Easy. Just fill a 1-liter soda bottle about three-quarters full with water. Replace the cap, then lay the bottle on its side. When the water is level, so is the shelf.

Make a weight for anchoring or lifting

Fill a clean, dry gallon (3.7-liter) jug with a handle with sand and cap it. You now have an anchor that is great for holding down a paint tarp, securing a shaky patio umbrella, or steadying a table for repair. The handle makes it easy to move or attach a rope. Or use a pair of sand-filled bottles as exercise weights, varying the amount of sand to meet your lifting capacity.

Information Challenge

I loved Belle’s challenge to post, once a week, something informational about homesteading.  In that spirit, I am posting a knit pattern (I am sure my friends like Musketman with be giddy with anticipation over this!). 

Under the category of Needlework and household Economy:

I love to knit and often have balls of yarn that are too small for most projects, so I collect patterns for smaller projects that can use them up.  The pattern is fairly easy to follow, and the site has all the instructions and materials listed.

My daughter has dubbed these "hobo gloves", but most people probably know them as fingerless gloves! LOL 

I personally use multiple colors to make stripes.  The whole point is to use up left over yarn.  Anyway, these are very helpful on cold days; I can type, knit, and do most household chores with them on (don’t try and do dishes, trust me! LOL).  You could also use these for fishing in “man colors” and I would just use larger sized needles.

Makes a nice gift when all your friends have already received socks, scarves and hats!

I look forward to seeing what everyone else posts!

Homemade laundry detergent

Several months ago I started making my own laundry soap.  As of today, I have to say it has not been a great success.  Our clothes are dingy and they never smell nice...sometimes, they actually smell bad (I think our water is stinky and the home-made soap just isn't strong enough to fight it).

I do know that vinegar and lavendar are good fresheners, but I always forget to add them to the rinse cycle (Washer is in the garage so I don't always hear it).  Any other natural and inexpensive additives?

At least for this month I am back to store-bought.  However, if anyone has a tried and true recipe for laundry soap, I'd love to try it (mine was borax, laundry soda and Fels Naptha).

Have a nice day!

Home Decor

If you are trying to save money, one way is to stay home!  It saves on gas and wear and tear on cars.  If you don’t go out to dinner, movies, etc., you’ll be saving money, of course!

Spending more time at home will be easier if it is a place you want to stay.  Decorating your home in an attractive way is important.  It’s doing it without spending all the money you are saving by not leaving the house that is the challenge.

Here are some frugal ideas:

1.              Check out Flylady.com.  I know I mention this site a lot, but the information and encouragement have done a lot for improving our home.

2.              Get rid of stuff.  It is hard to be comfortable in a home where there is no room to breath.  I have to battle a poverty mentality all the time “I can’t get rid of this; I might need it!”  If you have a reasonable use for something, and a place to keep it, by all means-save it.  But saving the twist ties from the bread and bulk food bags is only going to make a mess.

3.              Try different rooms.  Switching curtains from one room to another, or furnishings, or pictures, can make a huge difference.  It gives a room a new look and costs nothing!  We just moved the piano to my son’s room, which looks nice.  Even better, it made space in the living room!

4.              Paint.  You can paint almost anything!  Walls, frames, furniture, lamps, vases, bricks (I don’t know why you would, but you can).  It is a relatively inexpensive tool.  When you go, check out the miss-mixed paints.  They are usually very cheap and you might find one you like.

5.              The Dollar Store.  If you have one, these are great for little things.  For example, I used a straw wreath from there as a hand-towel hanger in my bathroom (I actually used a dishtowel, which can also be purchased there).  I bought some little nautical themed pictures, a bag of shells and a wooden box…I love how my bathroom looks.

6.              Don’t forget the thrift shops.  Sometimes you find treasures there.  An old end table that needs paint, some old books that give your shelves a scholarly look, or a pretty sheet that can be made into curtains or pillow covers.  Be creative.

7.              Do your own thing! I am blessed with friends who have marvelous taste.  Due to finances and a certain lack of ability, I can’t match their style.  I’ve had to find my own.  It’s eclectic, to be sure, but it’s what I enjoy.  Warm colors, comfortable furniture and splashes of bright colors.  I know that when people walk into my kitchen, they aren’t bowled over by its majesty (hah!), but I am happy with its cozy and functional setup. 

My husband and I have had fun experimenting.  Nothing pleases me more than when he says “I like what you did there.” Or “That was a good idea.”

So, have fun, be frugal, and please yourself!

Christmas in July??

I know it’s early to be thinking of the Holidays, but for those of us who make gifts, it’s really never too early to start.

This year, we are on a budget.  Each family member is going to contribute as much money as they are able (starting now) to a Christams savings account. 

What ever we have two weeks before Christmas will be divided by five (our family) and that’s what we have.  My husband and I will probably make up the difference so that we each have $20.00 to spend on each person (trust me, $400.00 for Christmas is a HUGE cut back for our family-of course the kids rarely chipped in much, but now that they are older and able to earn money…).

We are trying to taking our focus off gifts at Christams and will find more ways to give our time to people who really need it!  We love to celebrate Christmas, so that will continue, but with a focus on fellowship instead of presents!

As far and friends and extended family, the job falls to me to find creative gift ideas that I can make. 

I started of by making a short list of things I can do (sewing, knitting, cooking, candle making).  Then, I started looking around my house for supplies and ideas. 

• I am saving frozen juice cans, and the wax that didn’t melt from candles.  All I need to buy are wicks and I can make candles (I think I raffia, to decorate them with).
• I have several jars to put either pancake mix, accompanied by homemade blackberry syrup or pie crust mix with a quart of berries.  A trip to the Dollar Store for pie tins, or pancakes turners and a basket; that’s a nice little gift!
• I have TONS of yarn that I have bought or been given over the years and not used.  I have already started knitting socks, but I have other ideas, too.
• I have an embroidery machine (gift from my darling MIL), so I can make some nice embroidered items (Last year, I made stockings from my great-grandmother's quilt-it had a 2 foot hole in the center- and embroidered my sister’s names on them; they were a big hit).
• My daughter tossed three pair of jeans on the table, yeaterday, that she couldn’t wear.  I envisioned small overnight bags for all my nieces (the outer pockets for toothpaste, brush, washcloth, etc. and the inner part for overnight clothes).  I started on the prototype for that yesterday.

I am so excited about this.  For those of you on a budget, who like to make things, now is the time to start looking around your homes for ideas and supplies.  In addition to being a frugal plan, it’s a lot of inexpensive FUN!

Waste not, want not

Uses for leftover coffee:

 Use it in place of water when making a chocolate cake.  It gives the cake a very deep, dark chocolate flavor! YUM.

 During the summer, we love to drink blended coffees.  Since they are so expensive, I have made my own.

• I add a bit of sugar to the left over coffee in the pot and stir until dissolved. 
• Then I freeze it in an ice cube tray or two.
• When it’s frozen, I empty the tray into a zip lock freezer bag so that I have a tray available for the next morning's left over coffee.
• When we want to have a blended coffee, I toss the cubes in a blender, add milk and sugar (and cocoa if we want a mocha) and blend away.  
• For a very tasty treat, try using sweetened condensed milk in place of some of the milk.

 You can also make coffee syrup as a topping for ice cream, for milkshakes or an extra jolt for hot cocoa.

• Just heat the coffee and add sugar (Equal parts coffee and sugar) and stir until sugar is completely dissolved. 
• Boil for two minutes or so.
• Remove from heat and let cool.  I keep mine in the fridge and it lasts for a long time.  I am going to add baking cocoa next time to see how that tastes!

I am sure there are many things you can use coffee for, so I’d love to hear about what you do with left over coffee (besides dump it LOL).

Living off the fat of the land

Being in a financial pinch has resulted in some of the best eating!  Saturday, my husband and daughter went fishing and brought home about 15 pounds of fresh fish.  I made some home-made corn tortillas, splurged on an avocado and cabbage and we had wonderful fish tacos.

The cherry tree is still giving fruit, so we’ve had some fresh cherries for lunches and desserts.  Plus, you can’t do better than homemade bread and jellies for sandwiches.  Honestly, I think we have eaten better since this “scarcity” than we ever did before.

We feel like real pioneers!  Fishing for meat, picking fruit, making everything we can from scratch, putting things by!  Berry season is coming up, and I look forward to a good crop of Himalaya Blackberries, black and red huckleberries and maybe a few wild raspberries.  Yum. 

I also have my little garden to look forward to.  My corn is growing (a few, anyway), and the pumpkins are really taking off.  I haven’t seen hide nor hair of my green beans and sunflowers.  I may have planted them too late, or they may have gotten dug up by visiting critters. 

My dogs have gotten out of their yard (my little lab-cross knows how to untie the rope…weird).  My big boy, Chuck (who weighs 80 plus pounds) has tromped his huge paws over my corn more than once.  So far, I’ve saved all but one stalk, so I am grateful for that!

I can’t wait to have some green beans to can, and some corn on the cob to serve up with a nice BBQ.  Fresh pumpkin pie, oh my!  Being frugal is fun.

Saving Space

Organization and frugality go hand in hand.  I have a tendency to save everything “in case I need it.”  I am still learning, but one thing I’ve finally gotten through my stubborn skull is that clutter is wasteful!

It really creates a sense of disorder that is stressful to me.  I open a drawer to get something out and it’s full of parmesan cheese packets and twist ties, tangled with plastic bags, rubber bands and broken pencils.  If these things are going to be saved, they must be orderly and easily accessible.

The first step is deciding what’s worth saving and what should go immediately in the trash (this is the hardest part, in my opinion). 

After that, it’s making a place for these things and remembering where they are so you can find them when you need them; then you have to use them!

What usually happens, speaking for myself and my sister, is one day we can’t get the drawer open properly.  Finally a good yank and it’s out and everything is all over the floor.  In disgust, we scoop it all up and stomp over to the trash can and dump our collection.

At that point:

• We’ve wasted our time saving the things which are now on a journey to the dump. 
• We’ve wasted our peace of mind dealing with a mess everyday as we try to find things. 
• We’ve wasted our space with a wad of junk instead making a place for everything and everything in its place. 
• We’ve wasted our money because now that we’ve tossed perfectly good reusable items, we have to go buy them!

From now on, when I de-clutter I will weigh the value of the item over the value of my time, mind and space!

Have a great weekend!