Showing posts with label frugal friday. Show all posts
Showing posts with label frugal friday. Show all posts

Saturday

Many frugal living sites

LINKS TO MANY OTHER FRUGAL LIVING SITES
list of frugal living sites

  • Better Times Webzine - An e-zine of sustainable, simple, and frugal living, published by the Oscar Romero Catholic Worker House. 
  • Families for Natural Living - A 501(c)(3) Non Profit educational organization that provides resources, information and support for families who want to make informed natural living decisions for themselves. 
  • Getting a Life - Information, ideas, philosophy and articles on voluntary simplicity, sustainability and spirituality. It focuses on the practical application of the "Your Money or Your Life" program and the concepts of the "Ecological Footprint" to achieve a sustainable future. 
  • Hermitary - resources and reflections on hermits and solitude. 
  • Hitch Hike Mike: Mike Gitelman - A Canadian hitchhiker and traveller, with his autobiographical writings on his voluntary homelessness, and a description of his simple life in a tree house.
  • Live Simple - An E-book that sets out specific suggestions for simplifying possessions, home, daily routines, personal goals, and use of resources. 
  • Live Simply With Style - Authors Mary Helen and Shuford Smith offer retirement, travel, and photography tips for a simple lifestyle. 
  • Living Lightly on the Earth - This site is based on an assumption that every human being has a right to an equal share of physical space on this planet, purely by virtue of being human. 
  • Natural Life Magazine - News and articles about sustainable living, health, family, livelihood, and mostly voluntary simplicity, since 1976. 
  • New Liberty Village - A community and network of websites with articles on self-sufficiency, voluntary simplicity, and spirituality. A movement of ideas and freedom which is providing an online school of right living. 
  • Northwest Earth Institute - Discussion courses on sustainability, deep ecology, living in place, and the practice of simplicity for groups and individuals in the Northwest and across the United States. 
  • Pioneer Thinking - Internet natural living community. Share health, home, and beauty tips, men's health, and crafts. 
  • Real Simple - An online magazine devoted to simplifying life and making it more meaningful for busy people, based on the print magazine.
  • Simple Abundance - Sarah Breathnach's official website for her series, 'Simple Abundance'. Simple appreciation of every day life and beautiful things. 
  • Simple Living Network - Sponsors a huge range of simple living resources as well as communities and books. A one-stop place for most subjects involving simplifying your own life. 
  • Simple Living Resource Guide - Resource guide for people interested in voluntary simplicity, simple living, and downsizing, maintained by the Pierce Simplicity Study. 
  • Simply Living - A non-profit organization in central Ohio, educating people to live responsibly and sustainably in a joyful relationship with the earth and one another. 
  • Slow Down Now - Humorous short stories ranging from true to the wildly absurd. The author takes an anti-workaholism stance: Slow Lifestyle Manifesto. 
  • The Center for Whole Communities - Beautiful learning center dedicated to nurturing the relationship between people and the land, a community gathering place, and a working family farm in Fayston, VT. 
  • The Hermit - Photographic record of a hermit living in the woods of Ohio, USA in a cabin. 
  • Voice Yourself - Project started by Woody Harrelson and Laura Louie to encourage citizens to protest pollution of the air, soil, and water through everyday choices and behaviors. Includes information about their bike and bus tour, recipes, a guide to farms, and a forum. 
  • Voluntary Simplicity Overview - Essay on voluntary simplicity and why it is gaining acceptance, as well of some of the movement's roots in the 70's. 
  • Welcome to Raven Talk - Raventalk is a portal for exploring how to create a sustainable planet future. Provides connections to people, activists and ideas which are working towards a healthy and sustainable planet for all living beings. 

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Live more with less

                                         

 Live More With Less that is basically what we are about. 
More: celebrate a simple life, focus on what really matters to you, enjoy time with family and friends,  live within your means,  care about the earth's resources,  self sufficiency,  gain appreciation for the things you already have in your life.
Less: less spending, less unconscious spending, less waste, less stuff.
"Use it up,  wear it out,  make it do,  or do without."   L. Reid
Frugal means different things to different people so we hope you find some ideas here that you can use.  

Also please check out our links to other frugal sites and frugal resources.


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Favorite frugal links

For this week's Frugal Friday I am sharing a short list of my current favorite frugal links where you will get lots of information on staying frugal. Frugality is the quality of being frugal, sparing, thrifty, prudent or economical in the consumption of consumableresources such as food, time or money, and avoiding waste, lavishness or extravagance.
Frugality explained at Wikipedia

earth sky sea child - blog about living an eco friendly life with kids

How to Get Rich - slowly

The Simple Living Forums

Miserly Moms money saving tips

The Freecycle Network World wide network of people who have something to give away. Free to join.

The Good News Network - GNN - positive world news site. Includes health, environment, happy homes, peace, good city award.

The Simple Dollar "is for those of us who need both cents and sense: people fighting debt and bad spending habits while building a financially secure future and still affording a latte or two. Our busy lives are crazy enough without having to compare five hundred mutual funds - we just want simple ways to manage our finances and save a little money."

Financial Integrity - transform your relationship with money with practical tools and innovative approaches for managing basic life challenges
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Friday

Frugal Friday finds

Look what we found - 5 fabulous frugal books packed full of thrifty, money-saving and eco-friendly tips and even better still they all cost very little. So if you cannot find them at the library they won't break the bank. 

If you want to be more clever with your money or simplify your life these books are full of handy hints to help.

Just click on the links to read a review of each book. These books are all on our Amazon account where a sale means a small percentage of the money goes to maintain this site.
Frugal Living: Simple Tips on How to Spend Less, Save Money and Enjoy Life on a Budget (Financial Freedom, Debt Free, Simplify Life) (Frugal living, Minimalist, Spending Less, Saving Money)

925 Ideas to Help You Save Money, Get Out of Debt and Retire A Millionaire So You Can Leave Your Mark on the World

Frugal Simplicity: 99 Ways to Declutter, Save Money & Simplify Your Life

Things Mother Used to Make A Collection of Old Time Recipes, Some Nearly One Hundred Years Old and Never Published Before

Frugal Minimalist - How to Live More Optimally By Saving Money and De-Cluttering Your Life for Beginners (Frugal Minimalist Guide, De-Cluttering Your ... Money Tips, Minimalist, Living Optimally)
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The Cheapskate Guide

frugal friday
Confession time: I’m a cheapskate. Some would say frugal, which sounds much more positive, but in reality I can be a real cheapskate.

I am fairly frugal (though not always), but sometimes I take it too far: I have T-shirts with holes in them, I never buy new clothes, we’re shopping for a new couch because our current one has holes in it, and I ran my current pair of running shoes until the soles fell off.

However, I have gradually learned to be frugal in many ways that I would recommend to others. I don’t think you should have holes in your couch, and you should definitely replace your running shoes more often than I do, but there are many ways to cut back on spending and live a more frugal lifestyle.

Why live frugally? First, because it allows you to spend less than you earn, and use the difference to pay off debt, save or invest. Or all three. Second, because the less you spend, the less you need to earn. And that means you can choose to work less, or work more but retire early. Or take mini retirements. You have more options with a frugal lifestyle.

I know what I’m going to hear in the comments, because it’s been done repeatedly with my other frugal articles: I have no life. This is boring. I might as well live in a box. You have to enjoy life sometimes.

All of which you might believe, but I believe I do have a life. A great one. One where I spend time with my family, where I have conversations and read and get outside and do things that are fun and exercise and focus on what’s important and spend my free time the way I want. This is a good life. Read this article for more.

So, if you’d like some tips on frugal living, here are just a few, from a cheapskate. I should note that I do most, but not all, of these tips.
  1. Go with one car. Many families have two or more cars. Besides your house, your car is probably your most expensive item. If you can do with one, you should. My wife and I both work, and we have six kids, and yet we have learned to manage with one car.
  2. Go with a smaller house. Just because you can afford a larger house, doesn’t mean you should live in one. Live in as small a house as you can and still be comfortable. I don’t mean you should live in a one-room apartment with a family of four … you know what I mean. You can save thousands a year with a smaller house. Many times, if you get rid of a lot of clutter, you don’t need a large house.
  3. Go with a smaller car. Again, you can save thousands by going with a smaller car. A car instead of an SUV, for example, is a big savings. Be comfortable, but don’t overdo it. You’ll save a lot on gas this way too.
  4. Rent rather than own. This will probably spark a huge debate, as it always does. The thing is, just don’t assume that buying is the better investment. If you calculate the interest you pay on a mortgage, the cost of insurance and maintenance, buying is often much more costly than renting … and if you rent, save money, and then invest the difference, you can actually end up well ahead in the long run. Now, it’s not a given, so do a comparison, factoring in all expenses. Here’s a more in-depth article.
  5. Look for used first. If you need something — I mean really need it, not just want it — see if someone you know has one that they don’t use or need anymore. Send out an email to family or friends, or just ask around. You might be surprised. I was about to buy a printer, and then found out my mom just bought a laser printer and didn’t need her old inkjet … saving me close to 100 smackeroos. If no one you know owns one, try freecycle.org or craigslist.org. Then look to buy used, at garage sales or thrift shops. You can find a bargain if you look around.
This is just the first 5 tips from Leo Babauta of Zen Habits. There are 45 more! We will post some each Friday for our day of frugality.
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Frugality: Anyone can Get Rich

How to get rich
Do not read this unless you seriously want to know how to get rich because you won't want to hear what I have to say. Are you ready to listen?

There are basic, simple steps upon which everyone can get rich - given time.

So, this is not get rich quick, but where did all those get rich quick schemes get us any way?

This is not based on luck like Get Rich Quick is for the majority of people. It is based on "Anyone can Get Rich". So let us proceed slowly and Get Rich in 3 basic steps...1...2...3...

1. Economic ChoiceWhen you have 1 dollar you can spend it or you can save it. There are a few variations like where you spend it or how you save it but essentially it is as simple as - spend or save.

2. Compound Interest
1 million dollars will get you 60 thousand dollars interest.
Compound interest is often called the 8th Wonder of the World but it is also often dismissed because it takes time. Small numbers seem stupid and even children are not impressed with their return but saying 1 million dollars will get you 60 thousand dollars in interest does not sound so stupid. So save your money. Start now and get interest, the best interest you can.

3. Attitude Change

You need to change your attitude:
  • Stop being a consumer.
  • Stop aimless spending. Buying something will not make you feel better.
  • Possessions do not equal status. The person who has the most when they die is not the winner. How many TV's does one house need? How many DVD players does one family need?
  • Get off the fashion bandwagon. Why are you paying 300 dollars or 150 dollars for jeans when you can get them for 40?

So 1,2,3, these are the basics on How to Get Rich - slowly.

Want more practical ideas like how to make a budget and what to save on try one of my favourite practical books Your Money or Your Life Joe Dominguez and Vicky Robin. (If you purchase it through this link to Amazon you are not charged extra but the owner of this site is paid a very small commission that would support their continued writing efforts)
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Easy Gym Free Exercises for Building Muscle

You might think that you can only build lean muscle by investing in home exercise equipment or a gym membership, but that’s just not true. While joining a gym can help a lot, it’s not a requirement; neither is buying equipment. Muscles grow when they’re faced with resistance, no matter where that resistance comes from. You CAN build muscle at home, with a few simple exercises and some dedication.

You can work all the major muscle groups without equipment, as long as you’re doing the right kind of workout. Exercises that work multiple muscles at one time are called “compound exercises”. These are a great addition to any workout, and can be modified to work muscles in different ways (you can do push ups with your feet or hands on a bench for instance). Squats, dips, bicycle crunches, lunges, and leg raises are all compound movements you can do without equipment. Here are some more:

Pushups: These are for the upper body, and they develop the muscles of the chest, the shoulders and the triceps. When you do a push up with proper form, your core (abdominals) has to work to keep the body stable. One of the best things about the push up is that it can be done anywhere there’s enough space for you to lay on the ground.
Click here for a video illustrating the correct form for a push up.

Pull ups: The only thing you’ll need to do pull ups is a bar that will hold your body weight. Doing a pull up the right way will work many different muscle groups, but the main one is the latissimus dorsi (your back); the biceps get some work in also. Your core has to work in order to keep your lower body stable.

Squats: It’s easier to do a body weight squat than you might think- it’s really no different than if you were using weights in the gym. To get an effective workout, do enough sets and reps to fatigue the muscles of the quadriceps. This is another exercise that’s effective mainly because it can be done anywhere. Alter the speed at which you complete the squats to challenge your muscles further.

Many people fail to complete squats correctly however; watch this video to perfect your squatting technique and prevent hurting yourself.

Lunges: Doing lunges without weights is still a great workout for the thigh muscles. As is the case with the squats, do enough reps and sets to fatigue your muscles to failure. This video will help you perfect your lunge.

Remember once again that whether you’re doing exercises with or without equipment, proper form is essential. The push up should be done in an even, steady motion. Start on your stomach, with your hands a bit wider than your shoulders. Your feet should be touching. Push your body up until your arms are straight, raising your hips enough to keep your back straight. Lower your chest until it almost touches the floor, and repeat. See the video above for further clarification.

You may not have barbells and weights at home, but there are plenty of things around your house you can use. Bottles of water, containers of laundry soap, heavy backpacks and even soup cans can all be sources of resistance. With a little ingenuity, a little space and a lot of dedication, you can get the lean muscle you want without the expense and hassle of the gym.
 
About the author:
When he isn’t down the gym trying to keep in shape Antony Belanger writes for Slimmers Digest – a blog that covers all topics regarding slimming products and weight loss.

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How to Build Lean Muscle Without a Gym

While frequent gym visits can increase your muscle mass and strength, body-weight exercises can help you build lean muscle, too. These exercises target all the muscles in a particular group, while gym-based workouts target just the major muscles. Activities like running, swimming and yoga combine the best of cardio and strength workouts; a diet rich in complex carbs and protein will also work to build muscle. Here are ten exercises that will get you fit without setting foot in the gym.

  1. Sit-ups: They strengthen the muscles of your core (your back and your abdominal area). To get strong quickly, don’t try to do as many as you can, do a lesser number (but do them with proper form).
  2. Push-ups: These are a tried-and-true exercise, and they’re popular because they work many different areas of the body (the chest, arms, core and back). If you want to see muscle gains, do them regularly with the correct form.
  3. Pull-ups: Use a bar to lift your body weight, working against gravity to pull up. The pull-up works the same muscles as the push-up, with the greatest focus being on your chest and shoulders.
  4. Running: It builds strength in your legs and back, although it’s a great workout for your whole body, including your cardiovascular system.
  5. Martial arts: They can make you very strong without the need for the gym. All that punching and kicking works to make your muscles lean and toned, and most classes also add in push-ups and sit-ups.
  6. Team sports: It’s a fun way to improve your cardiovascular health and build lean muscle; you’ll be so focused on the game that you forget you’re exercising. The motivation that comes from your teammates will help you push your fitness to a whole new level.
  7. Swimming: This is the best exercise for tired muscles and joints; it’s ideal for senior citizens, but is a great way for anyone to increase their overall fitness. Swimming tones your entire body, from your shoulders to your calf muscles.
  8. Aerobics: Just like martial arts, aerobics classes use vigorous arm and leg movement to build muscle and provide a cardio workout at the same time.
  9. Hiking: All that walking may seem tiring, but you can use the desire to see the outdoors as a form of motivation. Hiking, especially climbing, is great for your legs- ascents work different muscles than descents. If you have a knee injury, avoid steep climbs.
  10. Yoga: It requires great balance and strength to flow through poses for an hour or more. A regular yoga practice will build muscle in the butt, core, arms, legs and back, and it will also improve cardiovascular health. Yoga is a great way to build strength without the gym, and it’s ideal for anyone’s fitness level or age.

You really don’t have to spend hours in the gym to build lean, sculpted muscles. Simply try one (or more) of the workouts on this list, and you’ll be on your way to a more muscular figure in no time at all.

Antony Belanger writes for the slimmers digest, an online blog that cuts through hyperbole to look at the diets, products, pills and weight loss techniques that actually work. Antony has recent posted about the Paleo diet and the Mediterranean diet.
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Hi, it's frugal friday: what's your gazingus pin?

"A bargain ain't a bargain unless it's something you need."  ~ Sidney Carroll

This is so true.


In the past I have been a bit of a bargain hunter and then I also have my gazingus pin which is stationery. In one of my favourite practical books Your Money or Your Life Joe Dominguez and Vicky Robin talk about this:  “A gazingus pin is any item that you just can’t pass by without buying. Everybody has them. They run the gamut from pocket calculators and tiny screwdrivers to pens and chocolate kisses.” Do you have something that you can’t help but buy?
For a while I found creative ways to stop buying stationery by avoiding shops and relying on my willpower.  I no longer have this desire to pick up and purchase notebooks and pens and organizers. One of the reasons is my greater reliance on the personal computer, another is a drawer full of unused stationery items that nobody wants. The main reason is I am trying to de clutter my life and not spend money in general. I am pleased to announce I can now go into a store and not buy a stationery item, I can even look at them at not buy. The most amazing thing to me though is that I can even see them in a bargain bin and not buy them because I realize they are not really a bargain at all as I do not need them.

Do you have or did you have a gazingus pin?
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CHOOSE A CHALLENGE to help the environment

help the environment tips
As individuals there are many things we can do personally to make our own living more sustainable or environmentally friendly. Have you tried or are you doing any of these simple things? They all add up to a better planet.

Turn off the TV for a week.

Walk or cycle nstead of taking the car.

Have 3 minute showers.

Change your light bulbs to more energy efficient ones. Check if they can be disposed of environmentally.

Only wash your clothes in cold water.

Take your re usable bags to the store to bring home your groceries.

Buy local produce. If you are lucky enough to have some earth plant something edible. If you are lucky enough to have a nearby grower's market support it. 

Get more environmental good news, ideas and tips at GNN Good News Network.                                                                                                                                                        
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Choose a frugal challenge: disconnect

Try it for a day: go without Facebook or Twitter or Pinterest or tumblr or any of the other social sites you go to daily.

This is a 1 day challenge and probably most of us have already done this - some intentionally and some not. Maybe when you were travelling you had no access to the internet or, like me, when you visited your grandmother.

How about going without the computer for more than a day ? No email, no browsing? This also may have happened to all of us. Let's consider a further challenge and maybe try 3 days?

Or the big one: Don't use the computer for a week.

This may feel scary to some. My teenage son said taking his computer away would be like chopping off his arm! Quite a vivid analogy. We need that connection with others and we feel we get it from the computer. Teenagers obviously feel this strongly.

Walking or driving in the car, quietly and in solitude, is where I get most of my creative ideas or clarity on something in my life. The same way that going on a holiday helps give a bigger picture on life. I'm with Audrey Hepburn who said I have to be alone very often. I'd be quite happy if I spent from Saturday night until Monday morning alone in my apartment. That's how I refuel.

Will you Disconnect? I hope to do so soon, to walk amongst the trees and reflect and journal and maybe read a book by one of my favourite authors or creative people who I mention here below:
  • Carl Jung whose search for an authentic experience lead him into solitude, away from men and events.
  • This is to be alone; this, this is solitude! ~ Lord Byron, Childe Harold's Pilgrimage
  • We are rarely proud when we are alone. ~ Voltaire.
  • Without great solitude, no serious work is possible. ~ Picasso
  • In order to understand the world, one has to turn away from it on occasion. ~ Albert Camus, The Myth of Sisyphus: And Other Essays
  • The more powerful and original a mind, the more it will incline towards the religion of solitude. ~ Aldous Huxley
  • I have never found a companion that was so companionable as solitude. ~ Henry David Thoreau, Walden
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FRUGAL FRIDAY: BASIC WARDROBE or how many clothes can you wear at once?


Did you know the Dalai Lama has 2 sets of clothes? Now that is frugal! I am not advocating that but know I find life much easier when I go on holiday with a pared down wardrobe of only a few items where:
1. everything fits
2. everything mixes and matches
3. everything fits the activities I will be doing

 A really basic minimalist, western world wadrobe would possibly include the following:

Blue Denim jeans

 A good pant (or good jeans) or skirt

 1 casual pant ( I need this comfort item and wear them at home every day)

 White shirt or another colour if you don't like white

 T shirt

 Good shoes

 Casual shoes

Jacket or jumper

 Work clothes (for whatever you do)

 Dress for women and a suit and tie for men

 Socks and underwear

 Oh and it's raining here today so maybe a raincoat

This does seem really basic but 2 jeans and 2 tops already give you 4 outfits - double the Dalai Lama! If you feel that is too restricting I like to add a scarf or necklace.
So why do we make it so complicated? This is really worth thinking about.This definately is a First World Problem.
I am off to declutter my wardrobe. I love this minimalist approach as I feel so much more organized and spend less time getting dressed every day. Maybe it won't be as basic as the suggestion above but it is something to build on and after all how many clothes can you wear at once?
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FRUGAL FRIDAY: Walk to School

Oh for the good old days when I use to walk about 2 miles to school and home every day. My mother did not work but she never drove me and my sister to school, it was not even thought of.  We walked to a neighbour's house and a couple of kids joined us and then to another house a few doors along and got another girl and we all walked along together. It was fun and it was what was done back then. Now we have to convince people that walking :

  • is good exercise
  • gets our brains working
  • is fun
  • reduces stress
  • reduces TV and computer time 
  • saves petrol money 
  • is great for the environment as there are less fumes and less use of petrol

 Now we have to have Walk To School Iniatives as so few children walk to school.

 One of these initiatives says: Take Your Kids To School With Walking Buses, Bicycle Trains, Anything But Cars if at all possible.  WHY? More kids are killed in cars than in any other mode of transportation, yet that is how most of them get to school.

 So it is safer to walk to school than go in a car! There is also a website that can help you learn how to start a walking bus like me and my sister did every day. I personally also think the exercise and frugal angles are a big plus in walking to school.

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Frugal Friday: How to get discount magazines

I know it would be more frugal to not buy magazines at all but sometimes I am struggling for gift ideas, especially for the men in my life and I think magazine subscriptions do make great gifts. There are so many magazines for all ages and if you are struggling for ideas, there are so many topics that might appeal.

Eating well is an award winning health magazine that is now only $5.00 for a whole year's subscription.


EatingWell 


Amazon Magazines offers thousands of discount magazine subscriptions, spanning many topics. They include bestselling magazines like:

Or you can shop by favourite topics like:



Check out the magazine gift ideas for mothers, dads, kids, family, and friends. Don't forget to tell everyone to pass their magazines around after they have read them so they have a longer life.

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Frugal Friday: Live More With Less

Live More With Less that is basically what my idea of frugal is all about. But how do I do this?
More: celebrate a simple life, focus on what really matters to me, enjoy time with family and friends, live within my means, care about the earth's resources,  work towards self sufficiency, gain appreciation for the things I already have in my life.
Less: less spending, less unconscious spending, less waste, less stuff cluttering up my life. Of course these are all just ideals or statements of intent that I am working towards. When I look at the large amount of stationary items I have accumulated in the past, now sitting in a drawer, I know I have a long way to go. But I am on the path: I no longer go to the office supplies or stationary shop but instead try and use what I have in this drawer.
 
Use it up, wear it out, make it do, or do without." is how L. Reid expressed it.

I know frugal can mean so many things to different people and I would love to know what frugal means to you?
 
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FRUGAL FRIDAY: WHY THE GLOBAL RECESSION IS GOOD.

 (This may be a radical idea but please listen to my husband's rant.
He wrote this in 2009 and is still ranting today about this and other things!)
"People will have to re aquaint themselves with the moral sensibilities of past ages. That is stop consuming and repair things and re use things and respect things. The global recession may stop the "consumptionist" attitude that this world has - that things can just be consumed and that there are no consequences. There are consequences - there is less of everything.
Surprise, surprise! Do you think the natural world is endless? Do we just forget the future generations? What happened to caring about things? What happened to responsibilty? We only have one world.
So what is important? It isn't getting yourself on you tube or having the largest plasma T.V.or having the most money. It is personal relationships and your family. Your life means nothing unless you have someone to share it with. Thank you for listening. "
 
Family and friends enjoy nature up close
as they leisurely bike the paved Heartland and Paul Bunyan State Trails
along the Lake Country Scenic Byway.
 
 
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Frugal Friday Challenge: what did you do?

My biggest success in frugal living is to stop going to the shops, the mall, the stores.
If I don't see something I don't want it.
If I don't smell something, like coffee, I don't want it.
My worst temptation, and idiotic spending, is stationary - somehow I just think that the new clean notebook will help me get organized, the new pencil will make me create an amazing illustration, the new address book will change my life.

So the best thing I did this week was keep my money in my pocket and not spend it. I spent $2.00 on parking to go swimming. I spent money on the weekly groceries, only going to the shop to buy the food, nothing else. I spent $6.95 on lunch one day for a delicious taiwanese lunch pack with hot sour soup which I saved for the next days lunch.

What thing did you do this week to live simply and stay frugal?
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Frugal Friday: Food and Money Shortage


Having a bit of a money shortage lately and scrounging for cash, to feed my family of teenagers - Hungry people teenagers - has given me a different viewpoint on food. It is all very nice to follow a certain diet, or tell everyone to sit at the table together and freeze leftovers etc but what if you don't have any money or any leftovers? 

 Here's what we did -

1. we bought cheap basic staples like bread, mince, potatoes, butter and whatever veges were the cheapest.

 2. we had less choice - there was 1 type of fruit in the fruit basket (whatever was on special)

 3. we got more bang for our buck - there was a 5 kilo bag of potatoes for $5.00 so we ate potatoes - mashed, spicy wedges, baked, on sheperd's pie, in soup, fried - we became friends with the humble potato and the carrot.

 4. all concepts of dieting (which is a choice) went out the window. There was no "is this lowG.I.?" or "I can't eat white rice" it was what will fill the bellies with the coins I have or the food that is in the fridge.

 5. all leftovers were used (Margaret Fulton has just brought out a book about this and never throws food away but she does not use the word leftovers)

 6. mother became all important in putting out snacks and meals because teenagers could not SEE there normal food choices and thought there was no food

 7. a list was made of what foods there were, ranked in meal types, so everyone could see what was available when the munchies struck

 8. more time was taken in preparing meals just like the olden days

 9. more people became involved in helping prepare food

 10. we actually looked in the pantry, right in the back, and used up all the food that was hiding there and also the freezer

 11. we found a site where you can punch in (for free) what food you have and it will generate meal ideas - Supercook recipe resource

Frugal Food Recipes and Tips:
super salads
choose a challenge
frugal suggestions
seasonal fruit & veges
save at supermarkets
lower your grocery spending

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Frugal Friday or "Is this carrying things too far?'


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