goddess of thrift

On the Necessity of Money. . .

"Money is better than poverty, if only for financial reasons."     -- Woody Allen

Veggie Crust Quiche

Making a quiche is an easy way to practice use-what-you-have cooking.  Follow the ingredients as listed, or feel free to experiment!  A 10" quiche will serve 6 as a main dish.

In food processor or by hand, coarsly grate:

--scrubbed, redskin potatoes, to make 2 cups grated

--scrubbed, peeled carrots or sweet potatoes, to make 1 cup grated

--1 small red onion, to make 1/2 cup grated

In 10" pie pan, toss grated vegetables together with:

--1 T melted butter (or use 3 T butter and omit oil)

--2 T oil (or use 3 T oil and omit butter)

--1/4 t salt

--1/8 t garlic powder

Press into pan to form crust.  Bake @ 400 degrees for 15 mins.  Add to pre-baked crust:

--1 c  grated jack or cheddar cheese

--1 c  cooked chicken or turkey

Combine and pour into crust:

1 c  fresh milk, mixed with 1/3 c powdered milk

2 beaten eggs

1/2 t  salt

1/4 t  dried basil

2 t dried parsley

Bake quiche @ 400 degrees for 30-40 minutes, or until knife inserted into filling comes out clean.  If crust edges brown too quickly, cover with foil during baking.  Cool quiche 5-10 minutes before serving.

-- Susan Rodebush ©  2009

All materials in this blog are copyrighted and may not be reproduced or distributed without permission.

Thrift and Perception

     "Spin" is a word frequently used to describe the discussion of political activity (or, in some cases, inactivity.)  When we think of political spin, we are aware that the person or legislation under discussion is being framed by the speaker's views.  A favorable view produces a favorable evaluation, and, of course, the opposite is also true.  We can all identify political spin because we have heard so much of it, especially in the past year.

     We typically associate "spin" with the media, and rightly so, for that is where much of it originates.  Yet, each of us engages in our own form of spin on a wide variety of topics, when we assess and evaluate people, concepts and objects based upon our personal preferences.  "Thrift" is such a concept.  If you ask twenty people what they think about thrift, you will hear a wide range of responses.  Just a few years ago, the attitude I often encountered was that thrift was only a viable strategy for those people who didn't make enough money to spend like "normal" people did.  In other words, only those who were financially "strapped" needed to be thrifty.  Thrift has often been associated with poverty or financial struggle, and in our present economic downturn, that attitude persists.  It is currently much more acceptable to talk about thrift when a large number of people are unemployed or otherwise financially pinched.  The perception seems to be, however, that the need for thrift is a temporary thing, to see us through a difficult time until we can return to consumption-as-usual.

     In order to make the need for thrift more acceptable, spin is once again in high gear.  A woman who "shops" her closet to create new outfit combinations, rather than spending at the mall, becomes a "recessionista".  When the Olsen twins and their counterparts buy clothing at secondhand stores, their purchases are referred to as "vintage".  Those in higher income brackets who still shop in upscale stores are practicing "wealth-stealth" by asking store clerks to place purchases in plain bags, or ship them directly to their homes, to avoid being heckled on the street for displaying expensive logos.  For the time being, thrift is trendy.

     When we base our actions on fashion, current trends and the perceptions of others, we continually have to monitor the spin to determine which actions are socially acceptable at a given time.  If we base our decisions and actions on our values, however, they don't really need to keep changing.  Thrift becomes a strategy we employ to keep our spending consistent with our values.  If we value quality and durability, thrift might mean we save and purchase a better made, more expensive tool once, than to buy multiple inexpensive ones at that Giant-Purveyor-of-all-Things-Made-in-China.  If it is important to us to care for the environment, thrift compels us to make purchases with less packaging or the ability to biodegrade.  If we value caring for others, thrift enables us to avoid excessive consumption for ourselves in order to have more resources to help someone else.

     Preferences can, and do, change, and that can be a good thing, particularly if we are discussing polyester double-knit leisure suits.  Values, however, endure.  They determine and reflect our motivations for whatever action (or inaction) we engage in throughout the course of our lives.  When we stop to identify for ourselves what it is that we truly value, we can use that information to guide our purchasing decisions, making those choices which are consistent with what is ultimately most important to us.

-- Susan Rodebush © 2009

All materials in this blog are copyrighted and may not be reproduced or distributed without permission.

Something-from-Nothing Strata

     Strata is truly one of those something-from-nothing recipes.  Although you could go out and purchase fresh ingredients to make this dish, your level of satisfaction with your own resourcefulness will skyrocket when you pull this meal together with what you have on hand.  Depending on which foods you select to include, it can work for either a brunch or a dinner entree.

Butter a 9" square baking dish. 

Cover the dish bottom with:

--thinly sliced, buttered bread--stale bread is fine.  (I especially like to use more dense breads, like sourdough or artisan breads.)

Layer on top:

--sliced or diced, leftover cooked meat (chicken, turkey or ham are good - so is imitation "crab".  Crumbled cooked bacon or sausage also work well for breakfast.)

--1/2 to 1 cup sauteed vegetables, if desired (diced onion, bell pepper, and/or mushrooms, or use more vegetables and omit meat) or steamed broccoli.  Or layer 2-3 cups fresh spinach or swiss chard leaves.  You can use vegetables in any combination, or omit and serve strata with a green salad.

--1 to 2 cups shredded cheese (cheddar, colby jack or another favorite)

Cover with:

--a second layer of thinly sliced, buttered bread

Combine and pour over all:

--3 large eggs, beaten

--1 3/4 cups milk

--1/4  t  salt

--1/4  t  garlic powder  (I like garlic in almost everything.  You can also add your favorite herbs.)

Sprinkle on top:

--1/2  t  dried parsley

Bake strata in 350 degree oven for 35-40 minutes until puffed and golden.  Allow to cool 5 minutes before serving.  Serves 4.

-- Susan Rodebush © 2009

All materials in this blog are copyrighted and may not be reproduced or distributed without permission.

Share Your January Thrift Tips!

     Do you have a money-saving idea you typically use this time of year?  If so, share it here with the rest of us. Just click on 'comments' and enter your idea.  I'm looking forward to hearing it!

-- Susan Rodebush

Something from Nothing - Saving Orange Peels

Saving Orange Peels--

January is a month when my family eats a lot of citrus fruit, especially oranges. They tend to be on sale this time of year, along with tangerines and clementines, and we typically have a bowl of them out on the kitchen counter.  (I like the way they look in my old, blue willow serving bowl.)  I typically save the peels for a variety of uses:

--orange zest (just the bright orange part of the peel) is great to use in baking, and dries well.  A zesting tool is good for scraping the usable part from the skin, or a small hand grater works, if you are careful not to remove the bitter white underskin.  Dry in a paper towel-lined basket, in a warm room, and store in a sealed glass container.  A teaspoon of dried zest gives wonderful flavor to cookies, cakes and sweet breads, and can often be substituted for vanilla extract. 

--orange peel, cut into small squares or strips, works well for simmering spices, potpourri, or bath bags (directions to follow on a later post.)  Dry the same way as orange zest, and store in a sealed glass jar.

To use for simmering spices, place dried peel in a heat-proof container with whole cloves, broken cinnamon sticks and boiling water.  I keep mine on my woodstove to add fragrance to the house, but if you have floor registers for your furnace, with ducts which run parallel to the floor, you can slip off the register cover and place the spices in the duct below the cover.  The scent will fill your room whenever the furnace runs!  When the mixture looses much of its scent, run the spices down your garbage disposal to freshen your kitchen, or dump in your compost bin.   I typically purchase whole cloves in bulk in the Indian Foods section of a specialty grocer for much less than the small containers would cost at the grocery.  Often cinnamon sticks are on sale in after-Christmas clearance in the crafts section of the seasonal department at Wal-Mart or Hobby Lobby.

Any baking spices too stale for other use can work for simmering spices, such as pre-mixed pumpkin pie spice or apple pie spice.  Whole allspice or cracked, whole nutmeg also work well, although I would only use these if I found them for a great price.  Sweet or spicy tea bags or dried apple peels can be used, too - feel free to experiment with different combinations, using what you have on hand.  Enjoy!

-- Susan Rodebush  © 2009

All materials in this blog are copyrighted and may not be reproduced or distributed without permission.

From a Christian Perspective: Thoughts on Entitlement

     At times I've heard people talk about someone who has an "entitlement mentality".  Typically, they are referring to a person who expects governmental services such as food 'stamps' or other subsidies; someone who has grown up in the welfare system.

     Yet, given trends in marketing over the past 20 to 30 years, it seems that an entitlement mentality has been encouraged in all Americans.  This trend might not promote government programs, but it does invite ongoing, immediate gratification at any cost.  'Just do it.'  'You owe it to yourself.'  'I want it all, and I want it now.'  We have gotten so used to this attitude over time that we often don't realize that, subtly, we have come to expect such gratification as a right.  We even believe (haven't we been told?) that we deserve it.

     Sadly, most Christians in the United States share this tendency with other Americans.  Sure, we try to live by biblical values, like avoiding theft, murder and sexual immorality, but when it comes to material consumption, are we really any different than anyone else?

     Now, before I come across as sanctimonious, let me readily admit that I also struggle with feeling like I deserve a nice (I use the word "dependable") car, a climate-controlled, comfortable (all right, beautiful) home, fashionable clothing, and on and on.  Now that my son has a flat-screen tv, mine seems too small.  If I let myself, I can fixate on stuff.  Not eternal stuff, but worldly, material stuff that, if I'm honest, I often believe I deserve.

    I really like the way The Message version of the bible translates 1 John 2:15-17:  "Don't love the world's ways.  Don't love the world's goods.  Love of the world squeezes out love for the Father.  Practically everything that goes on in the world - wanting your own way, wanting everything for yourself, wanting to appear important - has nothing to do with the Father.  It just isolates you from him.  The world and all its wanting, wanting, wanting is on the way out - but whoever does what God wants is set for eternity."

     I'm pretty sure that freedom from wanting is a process which, in most cases (definitely mine) will take a lifetime to complete.  But when I acknowledge that everything I have is God's - and allow him to direct where and how it is used - I move a little farther along in the process.  Thrift can be a tool I use in that process to deliberately control the importance I place on material stuff.  By putting some restraints on my spending for material goods, I can make more available for kingdom purposes.

     I pray that you, and I, and the rest of the church which calls Jesus "Lord", will allow the Father to change our hearts as we submit our finances, and our desires, to him.

-- Susan Rodebush  © 2009

All materials in this blog are copyrighted and may not be reproduced or distributed without permission.

Thrift and Something from Nothing

     It was spring of 2005, and my husband and I had just taken possession of our old farmhouse in the country.  We were working frantically to meet the 30-day deadline we had been given to qualify for homeowners' insurance.  Among the list of repairs we had to make to insure our property - and thus, qualify for financing - was to "make the barn safe".

     The old post-and-beam wooden barn was packed to the gills with several generations worth of "stuff".  After taking 5 pickup truck loads of metal to the scrap yard for recycling, and filling half of a large dumpster with the remainder, we tried to determine what the mystifying term "safe" meant to our insurance agent, who would give us no more specific directives.  We finally decided that if it looked safe, it was safe, and set out to repair it as much as we could in that short time period.

     A number of the old boards were warped and had to be removed.  After that was done, we had planned to go to the home center store to purchase treated lumber to replace them.  Having made a pile of discarded barn board, we realized that not only would the purchase of new lumber be expensive, it's use would detract from the aesthetics of the old barn.  Thus, the scrounging began.

     There was a fair quantity of old wood in the barn, and we used virtually all of it for repairs.  After cobbling the openings shut with reused wood, there remained one 3-foot gap where no usable piece had been found.  By this time, however, we were working by our truck headlights - the inspection was the very next morning - and the building materials store was closed.

     All that was left was the stack of warped boards we had already removed.  So, not expecting to find a suitable board, we started tossing the warped wood into our truck.  At that point we realized that one long board, curled at both ends, contained in the center a section straight enough - and just long enough - to make the repair.  My husband cut off both curled ends of the board, and we triumphantly screwed the remaining piece in place.

     You and I won't always have a stockpile of usable material to resolve whatever problem or need we have at hand.  But we have been conditioned, in our consumption-driven culture, to run out and purchase a solution whenever a need presents itself.  I am NOT advocating clumsy, jerry-rigged solutions, but often it doesn't even occur to us to first look at what we might already have on hand.

     My sister and brother-in-law do this.  They live in a lovely home in an upscale neighborhood, and could afford to purchase whatever gadget or material they might need to perform a task.  But rather than driving to the nearest store for a special hanging rack for their laundry room, they simply hook clothes hangers on top of the doorjamb when hanging up clothing fresh from the dryer.  No expense, no installation project, and nothing extra to maintain or replace.

     We won't always find a suitable solution to every problem with what we have on hand.  But by first taking inventory of our options before we run out to spend cash, we'll often find something which does the job.  If not, we can spend money for a solution knowing that we are purchasing something we actually need.  If we do find we can utilize something we already have on hand, we can use our money for things which are more important to us - as my husband and I were able to do with our barn repairs.

     We drove home that night in 2005 with a new perspective on purchasing materials to repair our property, which has served us well ever since.  And, to our enormous relief, the next morning, the barn passed inspection.

--  Susan Rodebush  © 2009

All materials in this blog are copyrighted and may not be reproduced or distributed without permission.

Tortilla Crisps

This is a great use for those slightly stale flour tortillas in your fridge!  Delicious with soups.

For each serving, brush:

1  medium flour tortilla     (I buy mine at Aldi 10/ $ .99)

with:  melted butter.

Sprinkle with:  salt and garlic powder.

Cut tortilla in 12 wedges and place on ungreased baking sheet.

Bake at 350 degrees for 8-10 minutes.

-- Susan Rodebush © 2009 

All materials in this blog are copyrighted and may not be reproduced or distributed without permission.

How Small an Effort is Too Small???

     "If you think your actions are too small to make a difference, you've never been in bed with a mosquito."

--Anonymous

From a Christian Perspective: Thoughts on Thrift

     For me, saving  money is about more than my personal "bottom line", although there is nothing wrong with focusing on getting my (or your) financial "house" in order.  In the long run, though, I want my life to be about something that is bigger than my own comfort and convenience.  To me, it would be a tragedy if the best thing people could think to say about me after I died was:  "She was always comfortable."  So, one of the first things I've had to do in order to find more money for the needs of others is to learn contentment.  The Apostle Paul said in Philippians 4:11-13:  ". . .I have learned to be content whatever the circumstances.  I know what it is to be in need, and I know what it is to have plenty.  I can do everything through him who gives me strength."  (NIV - emphasis mine.)  Now, I would be kidding myself, and you, if I claimed to have perfected living in contentment.  Those who know me well know that I am still very much in the learning process.  But, I have grown in the area of contentment, not because I have "willed" myself to do so, but because God has been faithful to change my heart as I have allowed Him.  It is the power of Christ which transforms me:  it is His work to change me, and my work to let him.  It is my prayer that you, and I, will continue to grow in contentment in order to free up resources to advance His Kingdom, for His glory.

--Susan Rodebush     © 2009

All materials in this blog are copyrighted and may not be reproduced or distributed without permission.

Tasty, Quick & Thrifty Black Bean & Corn Soup

     I purchased the items to develop this soup at my Ohio Aldi store in December.  Prices may vary in your state.  If you don't have an Aldi store near you, prices for ingredients may be higher purchased elsewhere, but should still be affordable compared to many other items.  You may add 1-2 cups diced, leftover chicken, ham or turkey, if desired.

In a large (3 qt. or more) soup pan, heat:

2  T  canola oil           $  .06 (48 oz/$2.79)

Saute until soft:

1 large onion, diced          $  .14 (3#/ $.99)

Add and saute 1 minute:

2 cloves garlic, minced          $  .06 (2 bulbs/$.69)

Stir in:

1 14.5 oz. can black beans, undrained          $  .45

1 14.5 oz. can diced tomatoes w/green chilis, undrained          $  .49

1 C white rice, uncooked          $  .24 (3#/ $1.79)

1 15.25 oz. can whole kernel corn          $  .38

4 C water (rinse cans & add to soup)                                           

1/2 t salt, or to taste                                                                

Bring to a boil, then simmer 20 minutes or until rice is done.  Serve topped with sour cream or shredded cheese, along with tortilla crisps (recipe to follow) or crackers and a green salad.

Makes 2 quarts for $1.82, or 8 1-cup servings @ $ .23/serving

--Susan Rodebush     © 2009

All materials in this blog are copyrighted and may not be reproduced or distributed without permission.

Start Your Holiday Shopping NOW!

     I know, I know. . .it's January and you're still trying to remove the plastic wrap from those DVD's you got for Christmas, Kwanzaa or Hanukah.  The last thing on your mind is to go back out there and start shopping.  But one of the essential keys to a good financial strategy is planning ahead, and if you can anticipate at least some of your gift-giving needs, you can find some great bargains.

     Of course,  not all items can be purchased in advance.  You'll need to wait to buy gifts of food (with the exception, or course, of fruitcake, which has a half-life rather than a shelf-life.)  But if you can begin with a general list of the people you gave gifts to this past holiday season, including items given and dollar amounts when possible, you can project much of what you might need for the upcoming season.

     If you usually give gifts to teachers or service persons, there is a vast selection of discounted holiday decorations, ornaments and candles available after December.  Toys frequently get marked down after the holidays, and while you may not be able to procure the latest trendy toy for the upcoming year, classic toys and board games can be found at bargain prices.  Since many stores conduct inventory in late winter, it's often worth their while to reduce stock and pass the savings on to you.  And every season has items which go on clearance, such as garden accessories and wind chimes in September.    

     A word of caution about buying ahead:  a gift is only a great purchase if it's something someone actually wants.  If you see a hugh pile of ugly place mats, the fact that they're 90% off makes them no less ugly.  Often there's a good reason certain items are marked at deep discount.  If you tend to be a sucker for a great price on a not-so-great item, getting the input of a trusted shopping partner may help you in your purchasing decisions.

     One of the best things about starting now is that there is no sense of time pressure or urgency.  You simply shop now (and throughout the year) with an awareness of sale items which would make good Christmas (or birthday, or anniversary) gifts.  You may also save time and avoid stress, as stores are much less crazy in January than they are in December.  Of course, any gift wrapping supplies you would normally use can also be purchased early.

     January is also a great time to procure Sterlite or Rubbermaid plastic storage bins in which to keep future gifts hidden and dust-free.  If you have a designated spot for them, next year's gifts are much less likely to get lost or forgotten in the back of a closet, or in that 'special' hiding place which is so secret, even you won't remember where it is next December.

     If you often make gifts, now is also a good time to plan and begin time-consuming projects.  Purchasing materials when they are on sale helps to keep costs down, enabling you to spend more time than money for your handmade creations.  Since you may not see all of your gift recipients regularly, making notes or starting projects now helps you to determine the appropriateness of future gifts for people you see infrequently.

     And if your problem with shopping now is that you overspent in December, it's okay.  You don't have to have all of next year's gifts this month.  But if you can shift some money each month to the "gifts" category of your budget, you'll feel much less of a purchasing pinch when next December arrives, and shopping will be much less stressful.  You may even find the extra time to bake your own fruitcake.  Or maybe not.

--Susan Rodebush  ©2009

All materials in this blog are copyrighted and may not be reproduced or distributed without permission.

Welcome to goddess of thrift

        Hello, and welcome to "goddess of thrift", a blog that focuses on strategies to save money in order to have more money for things that matter.  My grandiose nickname came from a friend of my son, and it made me laugh, so I decided to use it.  While I claim no supernatural powers in saving money, I have learned many strategies over the past 20 years or so which work for mere mortals, and have served me and my family well.  I hope you will find them useful, too.   

       One of the areas where I've learned to save a lot is in grocery shopping.  We buy paper products and feed 3 adults and a 40-pound dog on an average of $160.00/month.  Among other things, I'll share some of my grocery-savings strategies in the months ahead.

        I would also love to hear from you!  If you have any thrifty ideas, or comments about a specific post, just click on the word "comments" below that post to share your thoughts with the rest of us. 

--Susan Rodebush