AuntJamelle's comments

Save Money on Canning Jars - Blog Entry

07 Jul 2008 10:42 AM

I would hesitate to use non-canning jars for any type of canning - although I am sure that most of the time it would be fine. It is just that most glass jars from the store have a much thinner thickness of glass, and are not able to stand up to heat or pressure like a canning jar would.

You run the risk of having one break - but I know people do it - so it really comes down to personal choice. Certain jars may be just fine...

I would also spread the word among family and friends - I got a TON of jars from a couple of people that stopped canning years ago but had saved everything. They were glad to give it all away!

Big Lots is another great place to find jars at a great price! And so is Rural King if you are lucky enough to have one nearby, they put their jars on sale periodically.

Frugal Food Growing - Blog Entry

07 Jul 2008 10:33 AM

Some additional frugal tips:

- Check with your local city/county office, many have free compost available for non-commercial use. You have to go pick it up, but it costs nothing. We lined a flat bed trailer with a tarp and they piled it on for us. You will have to deal with some trash in the compost, things that have slipped through, but it has been a good choice for us.

- If you want to start your own seeds using growlights, do not buy the fancy grow light fixture!!! Buy a regular florescent lightbulb fixture and then buy the fancy grown light tube to put in it. You'll save quite a bit and it doesn't make a bit of difference.

The Astronomical Price of Strawberries - Blog Entry

07 Jul 2008 09:42 AM

The price of fresh strawberries is really hard to swallow when half the package is too old to eat - that is for sure!

My solution to this particular problem has been to find a local U-pick and pick my own, freezing the extra, and then finally to grow my own. People use tiered planters or special strawberry pots to save on space, or you can just plant them in the ground like I did.

They spread via runners and will take over if you aren't careful, but it definitely beats paying store prices.

I ordered strawberry plant starts from a catalog and then left the poor things unplanted for weeks. They survived though and by the second year I had a great crop.

But of course this route doesn't help the lack of fresh berries the rest of the year...

Simple Ways To Save Money On Kitchen Disposables - Blog Entry

03 Jul 2008 10:19 AM

2-liter bottles can also be used in the garden. They sell little gadgets (Menards, Lowes, etc.) that fit on the top of a 2-liter bottle that has been filled with water.

The bottle is then turned upside down and the gadget is inserted into the ground next to a plant, like a tomato plant. The water is slowly released from the 2-liter as needed by the plant...

Upgrade Your Small Kitchen Appliances for Free - Blog Entry

03 Jul 2008 08:51 AM

It may be my imagination, but I feel that older "small" appliances last way longer than those bought at stores in more recent years.

I still have the iron I bought 12 years ago and it works great. The "fancy" iron we were given for our wedding 3 years ago is long gone - it wore out very quickly.

I think that manufacturers have something called "planned obselecence" - in other words, these things are designed to break after a certain period of time, forcing you to buy a new one.

I would rather buy a small appliance at a garage sale - if I can plug it in and make sure it works before purchasing - than buy a new item at the store!