The Mennobrarian

Frugal: The Good, The Bad, and the Thrifty

04:43, Tuesday, September 23, 2008 .. Posted in Homemaking .. 2 comments .. Link

Like most of you, I enjoy collecting tips that help save us money or make life easier. Many of these ideas are very interesting to me, not only because they may actually work, but because occassionally, they are just out-right out-there. By varying degrees, they range from those that might save a few pennies (at the expense of an enormous hassle and time investment) to the outright just not doable. One extreme example of this phenomena was the suggestion in a book I read that instead of buying a salad spinner, one could use an old pillow case. How? By putting your damp veggies in a pillow case, stepping out on to your back porch, and twirling the sack over your head until your salad is "spun."

Can you really see yourself doing that? Even better, what if you were doing it and someone you knew drove by and saw you?

Another popular one making the rounds has to do with those fabric softener sheets you put in the dryer. Some shoppers buy a box of them and cut the sheets in half to automatically double the box, since half a sheet works just as well as one. Here's a secret: Skip buying the sheets altogether, and spray a rag with some diluted fabric softener (you can make your own with white vinegar and a little essence oil for scent) and throw that in the dryer. You can use it again and again. Or just hang your clothes outside to dry.

For me, frugal means making the most out of what I already have, getting the most for what I paid for, and at the end of the day, spending less than what we make. Nothing more than that. And if it takes a lot of time and complicates things needlessly, then it isn't very frugal.

In the Garden: We are getting a second crop of cherry tomatoes which are even bigger and more flavorful than the first! The slightly cooler temperatures seem to be the cause. Larger varieties are ripening on the vine, but I am more than ready for things to slow down. The ground is so parched and hard from the dry summer we had, it is hard to do the few things that still need to be done.

On the Table: Big roasted vegetable sandwiches with mozzarella cheese on crusty bread, stewed tomatoes, leftover gumbo, and homemade brownies made by my Mom.

Around the Home: Putting away any canning jars that didn't get used this time, continuing the black walnut project, and passing the latest round of building inspection. I'll also be looking to schedule some days set aside for winter sewing in the coming weeks. Oh, and planning my Christmas giveaway here on October 1.

On the Nightstand: "Twist of Faith" by Anne Beiler. A story that shows that our God is a God of second chances.

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01:04, Friday, September 26, 2008 .. Posted by SisterLori
Blessings!
Funny you should mention these. I was having this very conversation with my mother:P She loves those "time savers". I keep asking her how long it takes her and how much it really saves her. I don't mind taking a little longer to do something but paying the extra fuel to save a buck just doesn't make sense to me:)
As for that salad swinging...I use a "unmentionables" mesh bag:P Or at least I USED to. When our children were little it was something they loved to do and it kept them busy and out of mischief:)
God be with thee!
Sister Lori

Walnuts

03:00, Tuesday, September 30, 2008 .. Posted by Bob
Bob again! (http://blog.smallkitchencooking.com) So, I mentioned about getting that nut cracker? It has to be attached to a block of wood. Remembering that I have all of those walnut hulls laying around, I'm making my own wood stain out of them! They are soaking right now and I'll post the results. :)