StBridgit's commentsComments On: EverythingArticles Blogs Journals Photos created by: EveryoneStBridgit Frugal Food Growing - Blog Entry27 Jun 2008 10:00 AM A couple of other suggestions for frugality in vegetable gardening: 1) Invest in the proper tools. Hand weeding is tedious, and while it might be necessary when plants are just sprouting, it should be avoided after that point. Use a good hoe to remove weeds and save your back and your time. 2) Talk to master gardeners before planting your garden. Most counties have an extension office with a master gardener program. They can tell you what varieties grow well in your region, so that you don't go crazy buying random seeds at the store and then get nothing for your trouble. 3) Start from seed when possible. If you are in a short season climate, then you might have to buy starts for things like tomatoes or onions. However, next year you can find out from the master gardeners when to start seeds indoors, and have your vegetable plants ready to go outside after the last frost. It is far cheaper to grow from seed than from starts purchased at a store. 4) Work your soil very thoroughly before planting, and liberally amend it with compost. It will be easier to weed because it is soft, and your plants will grow better with the added nutrients from the compost. If you're planning a garden for next summer, cover your prospective garden patch with a thick layer of shredded fall leaves this autumn. Next spring you can just till those shredded leaves in, and voila, compost added for free! 5) Water your garden thoroughly. Vegetables need regular watering in order to avoid heat stress and damage to your crops. A good soaker hose or two, buried about an inch below the ground in the center of your bed, will work better than a top surface sprinkler. Try to avoid getting leaves wet, as this bothers some plants and creates conditions for several plant diseases. 6) Nip problems in the bud. If you notice insect damage or potentially diseased leaves, take it to a garden center or investigate online and treat the problem properly immediately. This will hopefully save your crops. Saving Money on Ice Cream - Blog Entry27 Jun 2008 09:43 AM Making your own ice cream can be a frugal activity. You just need to use what you have on hand, and avoid recipes that require a lot of egg yolks if eggs are expensive for you. Any flavorings can be used, from cardamom to honey, and it makes a 'fancy' dessert out of plain cream, milk, sugar and a few egg yolks. We make homemade ice cream when our cream is about to go out of date. It's a great way to use the cream, and the whole family enjoys a treat. We keep the ice cream maker in the freezer all summer long, so it's ready to make a quart whenever we feel like it. Outlet Shopping - Blog Entry28 May 2008 08:29 PM I have found that for the most part I can beat the outlet prices at the clearance racks of our local stores. For kids' name brand clothing, I can always beat the outlet on price by shopping the clearance rack and combining it with in-store discounts, which are mailed or emailed regularly. I save on gas and I still get the great deals. The only exception I have found is for shoes, oddly enough. The regular store sale prices just don't get down low enough to beat the outlet shoe store. Frugal Contentment Thieves 2 - Blog Entry20 May 2008 07:50 PM What I have discovered, is that if I keep a list for myself of things that I think I want, then set aside money in a "slush" fund, I will often whittle down the list just over time. Yes, a new kitchen would be nice--but my husband and I spent about $300 (probably less) to repaint our tired kitchen cabinets, and to paint (yes, PAINT!) our old formica countertops, and now I have a kitchen I no longer feel ashamed of when friends come over. It's clean and feels modern, even if the range and dishwasher are the "out of fashion" almond bisque. That was $300 spent from the "slush fund", instead of tens of thousands of dollars on a HELOC to get a new 'designer' kitchen! And I am happy enough with it, that I am thinking it will last us for at least ten years before we get the itch to do something else with it. Time is often the best cure for a case of the "wants". The Less is More Philosophy - Blog Entry20 Apr 2008 08:19 AM I think another "more" is more freedom. You aren't tied down to your stuff as much as when you have more of it and consider it to be a status symbol. You also have more creativity, because you come up with new ways to use what you have, instead of buying another gadget or game because you don't think about how to reinvent what you already own. Save Money on Baby Food - Blog Entry08 Apr 2008 01:05 PM Making our own baby food for our two had the added benefit of getting them used to what we eat and how we cook (i.e. the spices/herbs, etc). Both of our kids transitioned relatively quickly to table foods, and we don't have picky eaters who will only eat "kid food" like chicken nuggets, etc. We just steamed our own veggies and fruits, and blended them and froze portions in the smallest Ziploc and Gladware containers. A good book that we found was Top 100 Baby Purees: http://www.amazon.com/Top-100-Baby-Purees-Healthy/dp/0743289579/ref=pd_sim_b_img_6 Getting Free Design Ideas - Blog Entry08 Apr 2008 01:01 PM One other thing to bear in mind is to pay attention to the style/design of your house and what you already have. It's far more frugal to stick with an existing design scheme than to bring in something totally new; i.e., if you have a traditional style of furniture & decor already, then making the new family room or den be post-modern is probably going to cost you more money. You can always borrow pieces from other rooms or swap things around to fill in empty gaps--a big gap in your new room might be filled simply with an extra dining room chair that you slipcover. Keeping your existing style in mind can help save you some big bucks while decorating your new space. How to Frugally Make the Perfect Cup of Coffee - Blog Entry04 Apr 2008 11:37 AM If you like espresso based drinks like lattes or cappucinos, invest in a stovetop espresso maker and an inexpensive milk frother. The stovetop espresso pots usually cost about $20, and are very easy to assemble and use. The espresso tastes very good and can be used to make whatever espresso drinks you like. A milk frother can be had for as little as $1 at stores like IKEA, and will allow you to microwave some milk and then froth it for that coffeehouse feel! A Guide to Inexpensive Composting 2 - Blog Entry04 Apr 2008 11:31 AM There is an even cheaper way to compost. Just pick a spot in your garden, preferably unobtrusive or out of view. Start layering your compost--browns and greens, and water it occasionally when you think about it. That's it! Compost pile, free and easy. You can turn it with a pitchfork to aerate it, just move it all over to a new "spot" next to the original. You can get a series of piles going and the oldest is the one you use on the garden. You can also add wood ash to the pile, if you burn firewood and have ash to dispose of. The wood ash also makes a great natural repellant for snails & slugs--just encircle problem beds with a line of wood ash. Frugal Fabric Ideas - Blog Entry20 Mar 2008 09:49 AM One more comment on fabric--unsewn fabric remnants are a great way to change out the seasonal look of your throw pillows. Just fold over the unsewn edges, then tie them around the pillows as if you were wrapping a package. You can tuck in the ends and have an instant new look for throw pillows. This works whether you are covering the whole pillow or just doing a big fabric band around it. If you don't like the look of the tie in the middle, flip the pillow over to show the smooth side of the new fabric. |
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