Making Your Dollars Stretch

Making your dollars stretch is getting tougher with the economy in the state it is in.  Each day seems to be more dismal as we watch the stock markets take yet again another plummet.  

Growing up on a farm my parents and grandparents were accustomed to making their money stretch.   They didn’t receive a paycheck each week, every two weeks, or even once a month.  They received their paycheck once a year, when the crops were harvested.  If the weather didn’t cooperate, which was often the case, the income was even less.  Once the loan was paid off, which was taken out to plant the crop, repairs made to equipment, and the farm payment made, there was very little left to live on the remainder of the year.  We didn’t get clothes because we wanted them.  We got them because we needed them.  Purchases were based upon a need rather than a want.  Something I am sure we all struggle with today.  

Many people are used to living paycheck to paycheck.   How many of you actually have money saved for a rainy day?  With the increase in cost of groceries, gas, health insurance, and pretty much everything else, saving for a rainy day has become a struggle.  While the cost of things continues to increase, wages seem to be on the decline.  Unemployment figures don’t tell the whole story.  The figures fail to include those people who have fallen off of the scale.  What about those people who are no longer receiving the unemployment check, but still haven’t found work, or even gave up looking?  They are still unemployed. 

I know many people have planted gardens this year to help offset the cost of food in the grocery stores.  I know I did.  That was only one of the reasons, however.  I enjoy eating fresh food that, I know is chemical free.  And my chickens love it too!   I have been very disappointed with my garden this year.  We haven’t had enough rain to sustain it, and while I use my rain barrels to water, I often found them empty.  I opted to water for about a week and a half using the faucet, but once I received the water bill had to decide if it was worth it to continue watering in this manner.  My water bill increased $20 in the short time I watered the garden.  And as my parents commented, what did I get for that $20?  To continue watering would add additional cost to my water bill and how much would I actually get to harvest for the added expense?  

After digging up my potatoes, which was the worst crop I have ever had, I opted to let Mother Nature take its course.  I will still continue to water with the rain barrels and hope for rain but can’t see spending additional money on water for very little return.  In the meantime I scour the weekly grocery ads and watch for sales.  I try to buy items which are on sale and stock up on them until the next sale.  Even doing this, our grocery bill has increased immensely.  If your spouse ever comments on how much you spend at the grocery store, be sure to take them along with you each time.  

My husband couldn’t believe the soaring prices at the grocery store until he experienced it for himself.  He was generally deployed, and although I would comment on the increase in price of the cheese we were buying, or how the packages were getting smaller, while still costing the same, seeing it with his own eyes was to say the least an eye opener.  The costs of dairy prices are still a shock to us.  We are supposed to be in dairy country, but where are the dairy cows now days?  We can travel to Wyoming and buy milk for less than we can here. Currently a gallon of milk is $3.59 and a pound of butter $2.48, and that is on sale.  If you are lucky you can get butter for $1.99, however, they limit you to one.  If you are smart you will make more than one trip through the store to take advantage of the sale price while you can.  I will write more about stock piling and buying in bulk to save money in a later post. 

For now we strive to make our money stretch as far as we can, just as I am sure many of you are doing.  Many people are coming together and sharing ideas with each other, which is great.  It’s nice to see how other people are cutting back and making their dollars stretch.  I am always open to new ideas and continue to brain storm in ways to make a use for something we already have without spending money on something new.

How pathetic is this cabbage?

My cucumber crop isn't what is normally is. 

The only tomatoes that are producing well are those which came up on their own.

Natural Insect Repellent

Prep time:  10 minutes
Yield:  2 Ounces insect repellent

1/4 teaspoon citronella oil
1/4 teaspoon eucalyptus oil
1/8 teaspoon pennyroyal oil
1/8 teaspoon cedar wood oil
1/8 teaspoon geranium oil
2 ounces vodka or rubbing alcohol  ( I prefer Everclear for less of an alcohol smell)

Place in spray bottle.  Choose one that isn't plastic if possible.  Essential oils can break down the plastic of bottles.  Apply directly to skin.  Reapply as necessary.  The scent disappears faster than those repellents which are not natural.

This recipe from the book, Aromatherapy for dummies!

Natural Peanut Butter Mixer

 I love gadgets.  Especially when they make my life easier.  When I saw this peanut butter mixer on the Frontier Coop web site I couldn't wait to try it.  I buy natural peanut butter which tends to separate leaving oil on the top and the peanut mixture on the bottom.  If you have ever tried to combine the two you know what a mess it can be.  This gadget works wonderfully.  No more spilling oil while trying to mix it.  The lid fits most natural peanut butter jars. 

All you do is slide the stirring handle into the hole in the lid and start turning.  The lid even has a rubber seal to scrape off the peanut butter when you take the handle out of the lid.  The only down side is you can't place the mixer in the dishwasher.  It has to be washed by hand.  I can handle washing it for the time and mess it saves me. 

This can also be used for almond butter and other natural butters as long as the lid the butter comes in is the same size.

Making Fried Rice for the First Time

My son was begging for fried rice.  We were at the grocery store and the thought of buying frozen fried rice didn't sound appealing.  I told him, I can make it!  He was a little skeptical.   I had watched while it was made when I worked at a Chinese Restaurant just out of high school.  I thought to myself,  how hard can it be?  I searched the Internet and came across the recipe below. I cooked the rice just as I had for the broccoli, rice and cheese casserole.

I deviated from the recipe a little.  I used 1/4 cup chopped onions which I sauteed in olive oil. I only used about  4-5 baby carrots and I omitted the peas because my son doesn't like them.  Instead of soy sauce and sesame oil I used teriyaki sauce, simply because I already had a bottle of it open.  It turned out very well.  My son was impressed.  This is something we will definitely be making again!

Restaurant Style Fried Rice

• 2 cups enriched white rice
• 4 cups water
• 2/3 cup chopped baby carrots
• 1/2 cup frozen green peas
• 2 tablespoons vegetable oil
• 2 eggs
• soy sauce to taste
• sesame oil, to taste (optional)

Directions

1. In a saucepan, combine rice and water. Bring to a boil. Reduce heat, cover, and simmer for 20 minutes.
2. In a small saucepan, boil carrots in water about 3 to 5 minutes. Drop peas into boiling water, and drain.
3. Heat wok over high heat. Pour in oil, then stir in carrots and peas; cook about 30 seconds. Crack in eggs, stirring quickly to scramble eggs with vegetables. Stir in cooked rice. Shake in soy sauce, and toss rice to coat. Drizzle with sesame oil, and toss again.

Look How Big The Babies are Getting!

Little Leghorn

 I went away for 4 days and come home to bigger chicks.  My husband accused my parents of switching babies on me.  Trying to change them out with larger chickens.  I can't believe how much bigger they are in just that little of time.  They no longer look like baby chicks, but rather small hens.  They grow up too fast!  They are only 7 weeks old this week and look at them now.

I want to name the black one, Licorice.  My son doesn't like that idea.

The white rock is still much larger than the others.  Could it be a rooster?  Oh no...

Look at the older girls keeping an eye on the little ones.  They are scoping out their competition for our attention.

Frugal Friday~ No more buying swiffer pads

 
I have hard wood floors, which I LOVE.  They are very easy to clean.  One of the things I use to clean them is a swiffer dry mop.  I used to buy the replacement pads, until I realized I could use a microfiber cloth on the mop head.  I have some generic brand microfiber cloths, but my favorites to use are Norwex Brand.

The Norwex brand cloths are by far superior to any other microfiber cleaning cloths.  They attract more dust, are thicker, and much nicer to use. I like using the Norwex cloths so much I still have a box of unused swiffer pads in the closet.

It is easy to place the cloth on the head of the mop.  Place the mop on top of the cloth.

 Fold over one half and insert cloth into holes.

 Do the same with the other side.  

 Once one side of the cloth is soiled simply turn the cloth over and use the other side.

The mop is easy to access those hard to reach areas.  If I want to use a liquid cleaner I dampen the cloth and use a spray bottle mixed with 1/4 of liquid castile soap and then filling the remainder of the spray bottle with warm water.  Shake to mix.  This mixture cleans hard wood floors great and doesn't leave a filmy residue. 

If you would like to try to make your own cloths I found a site that gives you other ideas called:
13 Ways to Make Your Own Swiffer Pads

Ahhh Tea Tree Oil

http://www.jason-natural.com/products/tea_tree.php

Tea Tree Oil is my go to oil when I get an insect bite.  Today while working in the garden, I got munched on by a mosquito.  Tea Tree Oil to the rescue! It instantly soothes the itching.  Tea Tree Oil has so many great uses.  I use it because of its antibacterial properties.  Check out all of the uses and great things about Tea Tree Oil  here

I use tea tree oil on my ears when they get infected from wearing earrings. You can use tea tree to treat acne, bites, burns.  My family uses tea tree when giving the dogs a bath to help with any skin irritations and to help keep fleas away.  I have even put it on stubby (our chicken) when the others had pecked a spot raw on her back.

I use tea tree oil in my dishwasher detergent.  I add it to my all purpose cleaner.  I have added it to the rinse cycle of my washing machine to help kill germs.  It's less harmful than bleach.  Tea Tree Oil is one oil I make sure to take when we travel and always have on hand.  Although the fragrance isn't the best, the results outweigh it.

My Latest Bargain~ Princess House Orchard Medley Dishes

This is my latest bargain.  The items were listed as a set for $30 on the local facebook for sale page.  The set includes items not pictured such as dinner plates, salad bowls, and cereal bowls, salt and pepper shakers, a cheese shaker and a spoon rest.  The plates and bowls weren't in the best of shape, which didn't really matter to me.  I wanted the set for the tea pot and pitcher.  The other items were a bonus.  The large bowl is called a pasta bowl, however, the pitcher fits inside nicely just like an old fashioned pitcher and bowl set would.
   

When I did some research I noticed the tea pot alone was selling for anywhere between $20 and $60.  The same with the pitcher, bowl and platter.  I paid $25 for the entire set and am pretty happy with my find.  The ensemble goes well in my dining room. 

Platter along with the sugar and creamer set

 Although there are pieces that aren't in the best shape, I have already found uses for them.  The larger salad bowls are being used to hold fruit in the kitchen.  The cereal bowls and dinner plates are being used for chicken food.  In the future I can glue one of the bowls to a plate and make a bird feeder.  Recycling items for another purpose is one of the things I enjoy.  It brings out my creative side.

Beating the Heat with a Toaster Oven

During the warm weather I don't like to heat up the house by using the oven.  Several years ago for Christmas I received a toaster oven.  It was great when my son was younger to fix quick meals for him without turning on the big oven. 

We use the toaster oven mainly for toast and heating up frozen foods on occasion.  With the heat I decided to make an easy meal that I could put into the toaster oven so I wouldn't heat up the house.  I found a Pyrex glass baking dish that would fit into the oven before I started.  Luckily I had one that fit perfectly.  I baked a tater tot casserole which everyone enjoyed.

Tater Tot Casserole
1 pound ground beef
1/3 packet of onion soup mix. 
1 Can Cream of Mushroom Soup
1/2 can of milk
3/4 package of tater tots

Mix ground beef, onion soup mix, soup and milk.  Cover top with tater tots pushing them into the mixture and adding more to cover the top.  I sprayed the Pyrex dish with non-stick cooking spray before adding the ingredients.  It helps to keep the food from sticking to the pan. 
Bake 350 degrees 45-60 minutes.  Or until tater tots are golden brown and casserole is bubbling.

A "Chevy Chase" Vacation

Our yearly vacation was not going to happen this year.  Normally we take the RV and camp on my father-in-laws property located between Cheyenne and Laramie in Wyoming for a couple weeks.  

This year we made a last minute decision to go for the weekend and make it a quick trip.  We didn't take the RV, due to the additional gas expense and time in preparing it for the trip.  Instead we packed suit cases and a cooler for drinks in the back of our jeep and headed west.  No reservations to stay anywhere nor did we have any idea where we were going to stay.  My husband's way of traveling.  Not mine!  He could easily live like a gypsy.

It was an interesting trip to say the least.  We had an extremely hard time finding lodging.  We joked that it was our "National Lampoon/ Chevy Chase" vacation.  Yep, we saw it, back in the car and on the road again. 

The first night we were able to find a motel.  However, the bedding hadn't been changed.  The sheets were wrinkled not to mention the hair in the beds.  It was disgusting.  We were moved to another room.  The second night we ended up staying in a dive of a motel even worse than the first.  We wore flip flops in the shower if that gives you any idea how nasty it was.  To top it all off the third night we could not find any place to stay,.  We opted to start driving home and sleep in the vehicle.  Not the best time but we were glad we went.  We were very happy to be home and sleep in our own bed once again.  Not to mention a clean place where we could cook our own food.  Those are the things I missed most about not taking the RV. 

My father-in-laws property is actually the old ghost town of Sherman, Wyoming.  There is a lot of interesting history in the area.  Very little of the town remains.  There is still a cemetery with one grave marker.  Most of the bodies were moved as indicated on the stone.

The property is located adjacent to the Ames Monument. 

We enjoy the peace and quiet along with getting away.  We usually haul our dirt bikes along so we can ride the mountain trails and explore into Colorado. 

We always make a point to attend Cheyenne Frontier Days.

On one of our trips we came across this old log home.  Although my goal is to live a more simple life, I don't think I could handle one this simple.