goddess of thrift

Make Your Own "Designer" Iced Mocha

     We all know the names of the trendy coffee companies, and we also know how painful their prices can be for someone who is trying to save their money for 'things that matter'.  A 9.5 oz. bottle of the iced mocha costs about $1.50 at Wal-Mart . . .or you can make a gallon of your own iced mocha for about the same price!  Try the following recipe, adjusting it, if needed, to suit your sweetness preferences:

Brew, in an automatic coffee maker:

2  10-c  pots coffee  (In my coffee maker this makes about 90 oz.)

Cool the coffee to room temperature before adding  to a 1-gallon pitcher or jug (I use an empty distilled water jug.)  Dissolve into coffee:

1  1/2  c sugar

Combine in a 2 c  measuring cup, then add to coffee:

1 c  milk (I usually use 2%.  If you regularly use soy milk in coffee, it will be fine in this also)

1/2 c  chocolate syrup (Hershey's style -- I get a 24 oz. bottle @ Aldi for $1.19)

Fill remaining space in pitcher, to make 1 gallon, with:

cold milk

This mixture keeps well in the fridge for at least a week, although it needs to be shaken or stirred before serving.  (If you don't think you will use a gallon in that time, feel free to cut the recipe in half.)  Of course, your costs can vary depending upon what kind of coffee you use, and calorie content will depend on how much sugar and what type of milk you use.  If you like to use flavored syrups in your coffee, they work well in iced mocha also. . . just add them while the coffee is still warm for best results.  If you try this recipe, let me know what you think by posting a comment, especially if you make changes which work better for you.  Enjoy!

--Susan Rodebush  © 2009

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

On Making Money Last . . .

     "I have enough money to last me the rest of my life, unless I buy something."

--Jackie Mason

Thrift and the Problem with "Easy"

     Even the most mathematically challenged among us remember working with correlates in math class:  if X = 20, then 20 = X.  In math, which is, (at least in my world,) quantifiable and precise, this makes sense.  In English classes, we learned a similar lesson:  if big is synonymous with large, the two words mean the same thing.  They are effectively interchangeable.

     These early school lessons have not been lost on those in the world of marketing, who realize that certain product qualities will compel us to purchase.  One of the correlates they have used very effectively to sell us products is to equate good with easy.  A range of products from microwave meals to robotic vacuums to auto-release air fresheners has been sold because they promise convenience. . .they will make meal preparation, or house cleaning, or dispelling unwanted odors easy.  We can relax, or have time for the things we would rather do, if we simply purchase these products.

     Now, convenience is not inherently bad, and neither are products which simplify certain tasks.  My great grandmother used a washboard and wringer to do laundry, and I really don't want to return to that method.  But the problem with our love of convenience --   our affection for "easy" -- is that in school we also learned about antonyms:  good is the antonym of bad, and easy is the antonym of difficult.  Therefore, it's not much of a leap to conclude that, if easy is good, difficult is bad.  If it's going to be hard, I really don't want to do it.

     Sadly, our culture is full of examples where people have cut and run because things got difficult.  There has been left behind a trail of broken relationships, unkept promises, unfulfilled dreams and financial failures as a result.  And yet, some of the most fulfilling life experiences are products of the commitment to do something difficult:  parenting is extremely good, but not necessarily easy.  Staying on a diet, sticking with an exercise program, or creating and living on a budget can all be difficult at times. . .but also very good.  The decision to change our spending habits isn't always easy, but when we choose the thrifty approach so we can spend more of our money on things that truly matter to us, the result can be very, very good. 

     There is nothing inherently wrong with something being easy . . . but we can never allow 'easy' to be the primary criterion for making a decision.  Instead, we need to choose what is good.  If good, in that instance, also turns out to be easy . . . we can consider that a bonus.  If good turns out, at times, to be difficult, we can persevere, because we know that, ultimately, what is good is worth the effort.

--Susan Rodebush  © 2009

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

Moist & Thrifty Cornbread or Corn Muffins

     A lot of times cornbread is either tasteless or dry -- this recipe is neither.  It is especially good warm, with strawberry jam. 

Combine in mixing bowl:  (As with any baking recipe, these dry ingredients can be combined in advance in a mix and kept in a zip-style storage bag in a cool, dry place.)

3/4 c  whole wheat flour

3/4 c  unbleached white flour

1 c  yellow cornmeal

1/3 c  nonfat dry milk

1/4 c  light brown sugar, packed

1 T  baking powder

1/2 t  salt

Puree in blender or food processor:

1 15.25 oz. can whole kernel corn

Add to blender and blend just to combine:

1/2 c  milk

2 eggs

1/4 c  melted butter (or light olive oil)

Combine corn mixture with dry ingredients in bowl until moistened, but do not over-beat.  Pour batter into 9" - 10" greased pan for cornbread, or 12 greased muffin cups for muffins.

Bake at 400 degrees 20 - 25 minutes for cornbread, or 15-20 minutes for muffins.  Product is done when toothpick inserted comes out clean.

--Susan Rodebush  © 2009

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

On Happiness and Acquisition. . .

     "You can never get enough of what you don't need to make you happy."

--Eric Hoffer

Thrift and "Everybody Wins" -- Your "Personal Shopping Network"

     In a past personal finance class, our small group was discussing networking, bartering and negotiating.  We were trying to encourage them to look at other options first before running to the store to purchase a brand-new solution to every problem.

     "Okay. . ." Rick said, in a challenging tone of voice, ". . .let's see if this really works.  I need a freezer."  As if on cue, the man sitting next to Rick spoke up: "I have a freezer I'm not using."  In a considerably softer tone, Rick asked, "How much do you want for it?"  "Oh, no. . ." the owner of the freezer replied, ". . .I don't want your money.  What do you have that we can barter?"  It turned out that Rick did HVAC installation and repair for a living, and the freezer owner hadn't had his furnace tuned up in a while.  Rick got his freezer, its former owner got his heating and air conditioning systems checked and serviced, and got rid of something that was just in his way.  Everyone was happy. . .a true "everybody wins" situation.

     We have been led to believe, by those who spend thousands of dollars to convince us, that the only real solution when we need something is to go out and buy it new.  Sometimes, when all of the factors are considered, a new purchase does make the most sense.  But often, if we would just take the time and ask, we would find that a less expensive, win/win solution is available to us.

     There are a few points to consider when trying this approach.  First,  you have to ask.  A solution is not likely to come to you if no one knows what you need.  Put the word out that you are looking for something, and see what response you get.  Next, this approach may take a little more time than going out and paying full price.  Give your network time to work before deciding that a solution isn't out there.  Thirdly, using a network means having relationships.  This approach works best in community, whether it's in a church, workplace or neighborhood.  In my childhood, our neighbors did this for one another naturally. . .but we also knew our neighbors well.  Looking for "everybody wins" solutions within your community will encourage others there to do the same.   Lastly, be willing to provide solutions as well as receive them.  Be aware of resources you have, whether they are time, talents or possessions, which you would be able to pass on to others.  You will find that the more you engage in meeting the needs of others, the more your needs will be provided for as well.

     A few weeks ago, we experienced this yet again.  We heat our home with a woodstove and, of course, try not to pay for the wood we burn.  My husband was driving down a road near our house, and noticed that a property there had quite a few fallen trees.  He pulled into the drive, introduced himself to the owner, and asked him if he would be using the wood.  The trees had come down in a storm several months ago, and the owner, who is retired, doesn't need them.  He plans to burn the brush, but really wants the trees cleared from his property.  (His wife, by the way, wants them removed more than he does!) This man and his wife are thrilled to have my husband's help clearing their property of the unwanted wood. . .and my husband and I are thrilled to have found a nearby source for free firewood.  No money is involved in the exchange. . .and everybody wins.

-- Susan Rodebush © 2009

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

Garlic Sauce for Pasta

     Garlic is an essential ingredient in my kitchen. . . my family would probably experience culinary distress if we ever ran out of garlic!  It is easy to grow in the garden (see post below), and indispensable in the kitchen.  I created this sauce as an alternative to the classic tomato-based pasta sauces . . .it's great served over pasta with seafood, such as cooked shrimp or crab, or combined with steamed broccoli and diced, cooked chicken. 

Melt or heat in medium saucepan, over medium heat:

1/4 c  butter (or 1/4 c light olive oil)

Saute until soft and fragrant, but not brown:

6 cloves garlic, minced

Stir in until smooth:

1/4 c  flour

Add slowly, stirring constantly:

1 c  chicken broth, or bouillon and water (I prefer the bouillon without MSG)

1 c  milk

1 t  dried parsley  (or 1 T minced fresh parsley)

1/2 t  salt

1/4 t  paprika

Stir sauce until it thickens and bubbles, then add:

1/2 c  grated pParmesan cheese

Stir sauce well until cheese is thoroughly combined.  Makes enough sauce for 1 pound pasta, cooked and drained.

--Susan Rodebush © 2009

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

Thrift and the Garden -- Growing Garlic

     If I had to live with only one seasoning, it might be garlic.  While it does require a fairly long growing season (about 8 months), it is very easy to grow in the home garden, and is not bothered by pests or diseases.  I typically plant garlic in early November in my Zone 6 garden, mulch it with straw or grass clippings over winter, remove the mulch in the spring, and harvest it the following summer.  Garlic requires a period of cool weather early in the season to grow well.

     Garlic prefers well drained soil, so it does well in raised beds, in soil which has been amended with compost or composted manure.  It is best to purchase bulbs from a local grower, because you will get a variety which does well in your region, but you can also use bulbs purchased at the grocery store.  Separate the bulbs into cloves, and plant the individual cloves with the tips up, just below the soil surface.  Cloves should be planted 4" apart, and can be intensively planted in rows 4" apart, or in rows spaced about 12" apart in conventional gardens.  Garlic does best with regular watering, in soil which never dries out completely while bulbs are developing.  The leaves of the plant are also edible, and can be sparingly harvested as the plants are growing.

     After about 8 months, discontinue supplemental watering.  When the leaves begin to turn brown, the garlic is ready to harvest.  Dig up the entire plant and remove excess soil.  Bulbs should be allowed to cure in the shade for about  2 weeks before storing, and brought inside if it rains.   The leaves may be left on the bulbs and braided together, to hang for storage, or leaves may be removed about 1" above the bulbs, which then can be stored in baskets.  Save the largest bulbs to replant for the next season's crop, but be sure to plant them in a different location the following season.  Garlic will store well for up to a year if kept in a cool, dry location.

--Susan Rodebush © 2009

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

    

Thrift and the Garden -- Growing Native Wildflowers

     Every March the first warm, sunny days of spring draw me outside to the garden.   Our garden contains a variety of vegetables, fruits, herbs and flowers, and because we have lived in our current home less than four years, it is very much a work in progress.  One garden element I am trying to expand is our collection of native wildflowers.

     These natives grow in a number of locations around our property.  Some are in beds, interspersed with vegetables and herbs, and non-native annuals and perennials.  Some are naturalized in wilder areas.  Although we have a few woodland types, the native flowers which grow among our cultivated plants are mostly varieties which originated in meadows and prairies.

     Natives are among the thriftiest flowers to grow for several reasons.  They usually don't need additional fertilizer, having adapted to lean soils.  Plant diseases and insects normally don't bother them, (although some native flowers are host plants for butterfly larvae,) so they won't need herbicides or pesticides.  Their watering requirements are also usually lower than non-natives, and often, once they are established, they will only require water during prolonged periods of drought.  In addition to all of that, they happen to be beautiful.

     One of the other reasons I like native flowers, however, is because they attract pollenators to the garden, which in turn spread pollen on neighboring plants, increasing their yields.  Among my favorite native varieties are orange Butterfly Weed (Asclepias Tuberosa), Purple Coneflower (Echinacea Purpurea), rich purple New York Ironweed (Vernonia Noveboracensis) and  bright yellow, Showy Goldenrod (Solidago Speciosa).  All of these plants are attractive to butterflies, and attractive in the landscape as well.  The ironweed and goldenrod can be trimmed back halfway about 2 months before flowering to make them shorter and bushier.  They are all relatively easy to grow, although the butterfly weed should be planted where you want it, since its deep taproot makes it hard to transplant.

     Any of these plants, and many others can be started from seed, and can be pre-sprouted using the technique described in my post dated 2/20/09 (Pre-sprouting Seeds).  Since they are all perennials, they are not likely to bloom until the second season.  After that, they should bloom and flourish for many years to come. 

    For seed sources for these and other native wildflowers, try www.wildseedfarms.com or www.parkseed.com 

--Susan Rodebush © 2009

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

      

Thrift 101 -- Start With a Dream (Lesson 1)

Dear goddess of thrift--

     I'm not really sure I get this thrift stuff.  I mean, I've been saving orange peels, but it doesn't seem to have made a difference in my financial situation.  Is there something else I should be doing?

--Fiscally Bewildered

Dear Bewildered--

     Great question! You are correct . . . there is much more to thrift than just saving orange peels.  I'll try to give you some general guidelines for developing your thrift skills.  There are some major changes you can make in your approach to your personal finances, as well as learning a lot of minor strategies, like saving orange peels.  But where do you start?

     One of the best motivators to making positive change in your life is having a compelling reason to change.  If your doctor says you can avoid a painful and expensive medical procedure by making alterations to your diet, you will probably feel like it is worth it to you to eat differently.  In the same way, having a good reason to change your spending habits will make it easier to learn a new approach to money.

    So what is your dream?  It may be an immediate need, like getting caught up on bills or being home more with your kids.  It may be a purchase you want to make, like a big-screen tv, a vacation to Italy or a down payment for your first home.  You might want to save to create a college fund for your two-year-old.  Maybe you want to be debt-free, or to decrease your living expenses to be able to work a lower-paying, but more fulfilling, job.

    Letting yourself dream, and then making the realization of that dream a goal, is the key to staying motivated when changing your habits.  Instead of being annoyed by large and small changes in spending -- and the choices which go with those changes -- each dime or dollar saved is moving you a step closer to realizing your dream.  (By the way, I've always heard that goals have to be both measurable and attainable.  Dreaming you'll be crowned the next Queen of England may not be attainable if your were born in Pocatello, Idaho.)

    So sit back with a notebook and pencil and jot down your dreams.  Let your mind run away with all of the changes, large and small, you would like to make in your life.  Think about the present as well as the future. When your list gets big, go through it, and rank the items in order of their importance to you.  If you can pinpoint a short-term goal -- something you can accomplish in about a month -- meeting that goal can help you to build momentum to work toward future goals.  Don't worry about how you will make the dreams reality.  Deciding what you want is the first step in pursuing what you want.

     Once your list is complete, we'll discuss your plan of attack.  That's lesson two.  Until then, I remain, Humbly yours,

--goddess of thrift

--Susan Rodebush © 2009

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

From a Christian Perspective -- We Have to Do the Math

     The speaker that Sunday was in his requisite corporate attire -- dark blue suit, white shirt, "power" tie -- and was preaching on the topic of stewardship.  We knew he had graduated from seminary and had been ordained as a minister in his twenties, but had subsequently gone to work in middle management at a blue chip company.  We were hoping that his experiences in both ministry and business would help us unravel the mysteries of personal finance.

     "The secret" he said "to good stewardship, which is really not a secret, is to spend less than you make."  Finally, I thought, someone will explain to me the steps I need to follow to manage my income and expenses.  "Although, I must admit. . ." he continued, ". . .that I've never quite figured out how to do that in my own life."  He went on to tell us that we needed to give to the church "in faith, trusting that God will provide for you."

     Now, this man meant well, and there was truth in his admonition to trust God for provision.  Ultimately it is God who provides everything we have.  But I have since come to regard his approach to money as "magical Christian thinking". . .somehow, by giving charitably, we are relieved of all other personal responsibility when it comes to managing money.  Give, and trust God, and somehow the numbers will all work out.  We are therefore exempt from making tough choices about our wants, needs and acquisitions.

     Because God is more concerned with our character than our comfort, He calls us to make wise choices. . .which are not always easy choices.  He has given us the freedom,  and the responsibility,  to choose industry over laziness. . .love over hatred. . .service over selfishness. . .and contentment over greed.  We are free to choose His way, or our own.  We are free to choose His way. . .or the way of our culture, which operates on the basis of unlimited consumption.  He is always there to help us in the pursuit of godly choices, but He will not push us against our will.  The choice is ultimately ours, and ours alone.

     On a practical basis this means that, at some point, we have to do the math.  As much as we might like God to magically provide everything we want, (and I am not exempt from sometimes wanting the magic,) we will never learn to spend less than we make unless we sit down with our check stubs and a calculator and create a financial plan.  Sometimes we have to choose between high-speed Internet and health insurance, or between gourmet dinners and giving.

     There are plenty of budgeting tools* available to use in crunching our personal numbers, but the trick is, we have to actually use them.  I am not, by nature, a numbers-geek, nor do I gain any personal pleasure from creating spreadsheets.  But I do desire to be obedient to the mission God has for my life, and I can't do that if I'm distracted by the storms of personal financial chaos.  Neither can you.

     When we make the decision to spend less than we make, we may not end up with all of the stuff we might want.  There will always be an unlimited supply of stuff, and an unlimited supply of people wanting to sell us their stuff.  But what we can end up with is freedom.  We can gain freedom from financial stress. . .freedom from the phone calls of creditors and collectors. . .freedom to give.  Ultimately, and most importantly, we can gain freedom from the financial burdens which inhibit us from finding, and following, God's mission for each of our lives.

*Check at www.goodsenseministry.com or www.daveramsey.com for budgeting resources.

--Susan Rodebush © 2009

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

Sweet & Thrifty Chocolate Popcorn

     It took a few test runs, buy my family dutifully sampled each of my efforts until I refined this recipe to its current status of wonderfulness.  (Yes, I said it.)  A batch goes together pretty quickly, but be warned. . .it is addictive.

Pop popcorn to make 2 quarts, and set aside in large bowl.   I used my theater-style popping pan and:

--2 T cooking oil  (Or if you have an air-popper, you can use that and omit oil.)

--1/2 c  popcorn kernels (generic store-brand yellow popcorn - gourmet popcorn may pop fluffier) 

Combine in saucepan over high heat:

--1/2 c  light brown sugar, packed

--1/2 c  light corn syrup

Bring to a rolling boil, stirring constantly.  Add, one tablespoon at a time, and stir until melted:

--4 T butter (either softened or straight from the fridge)

Return mixture to a rolling boil, continuing constant stirring.  Remove from heat and stir in until melted:

--1/2 c  semisweet chocolate chips

Pour chocolate mixture over popcorn, tossing with spoons to coat.  (Mixture also tastes great drizzled over fresh apple slices.)  Enjoy!

--Susan Rodebush © 2009

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

Thrift and Ripe Bananas

      I tend to buy bananas from the discount produce rack at my grocery, but even when I buy them at the prevailing price, we usually have one or two which get brown-speckled.  No one in my house wants to eat them at this stage, so they go directly into my freezer, peel and all.

     Although the skins will turn black when the banana freezes, the fruit is perfectly good to use for baking Banana Bread or Banana Peanut Butter Muffins.  Just thaw fruit overnight in a bowl in the refrigerator, or in the microwave.  Cut off the stem end of the banana with  kitchen scissors, and squeeze banana into a bowl or measuring cup (like squeezing from a pastry tube.  It's a little gross, but, really, the fruit is fine.)  Bananas will remain in good condition in the freezer for 3 - 6 months.

Banana Peanut Butter Muffins

To one Muffin Mix From The Make It, Cook It Post dated 2/25/09, combine and add:

--1 c  mashed, ripe banana

--3/4 c milk

--1/4 c  peanut butter (or oil if you can't have peanut products)

--1/2 c  chocolate chips (these can be omitted, but. . .why?)

When dry ingredients are just moistened with liquids, turn batter into greased or lined muffin cups.  Bake at 400 degrees for 15 - 20 minutes.  Inserted toothpick will come out clean if muffins are done.  Cool muffins in pan 10 minutes before removing.  Makes 12 regular-sized muffins.

--Susan Rodebush © 2009

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

On Money and Your Best Friend. . .

     "Money will buy you a pretty good dog, but it won't buy the wag of his tail."

--Henry Wheeler Shaw

Thrift and a Near-Tragedy with Truffles (Really Rich Brownies)

     Although I mentioned that my husband and I don't spend big bucks for Valentine's Day, that doesn't mean we don't do anything nice for one another.  This past month I was in the throes of a nasty case of bronchitis, which meant I didn't leave the house much in February.  I did want to make something sweet for my husband, however, so I decided to throw together a batch of truffles.

     My problem was that I didn't have heavy cream, so I tried mixing my semi-sweet chocolate chips in steaming evaporated milk instead.  Although this made a great chocolate glaze, it never set up enough to make truffles.  I then added 3 cups of confectioner's sugar, and proceeded to turn my chocolate glaze into chocolate frosting.  (Not exactly what I had in mind.)  I covered the pan with foil and refrigerated it, but it never became stiff enough to form into truffles.

     After this chocolate 'substance' spent about a week in the refrigerator, I decided to try to turn it into something, well. . .edible.  Adding melted butter, eggs and flour, I baked it in a buttered dish to make brownies.  Really, really rich brownies -- almost a cross between brownies and fudge.  My husband and son seemed to think they were a success.

     The moral of this story is, of course, that kitchen experiments don't always work, but a) you almost always learn something--evaporated milk is not cream-- and b) you can usually salvage a less-than-perfect experiment.  Oh, and in case you would like to make some really rich brownies, the recipe is as follows:

In a large saucepan, heat to just boiling:

1/2 c  evaporated milk

Add and stir until melted:

2 1/4 c  semi-sweet chocolate chips.

Refrigerate, poke several times with your finger, and shake your head.  Then add until blended:

3 c  sifted confectioner's sugar

Shake your head once again, cover pan with foil, and refrigerate for one week.  Remove from fridge and add:

2 T melted butter

2 eggs, beaten

1 c  flour

Pour batter into greased 12" square pan. (A 9" x 13" pan would also work.)  Bake at 325 degrees for 30 minutes.  Cool before cutting into squares.

--Susan Rodebush  © 2009

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

Thrift and the Garden. . .Saving. . .Silica Gel?!?

     I've always been a little mystified by the warning on those little packs of silica gel which come in boxes of shoes and electronics:  DISCARD - DO NOT EAT!  It has never even occurred to me to look in a box of shoes for something to eat, so I find it difficult to understand why anyone else would.  Maybe it's just me.

     There is, however, another part of the warning which I ignore:  the word DISCARD.  Now, I know that some thrifty people save anything and everything for future use, and I don't advocate saving anything you can't, or won't use.  Silica gel, however, is very useful to a gardener.

     The main purpose for which I use silica gel is saving seeds.  In the fall, when the gardening season is winding down, I typically save seeds from annuals, perennials, herbs and vegetables for next year's use.  (This works best with open-pollinated, or non-hybrid, varieties.)  A small packet of silica gel, placed in the bag or container of saved seeds, absorbs excess moisture and keeps seeds from getting moldy in storage.  By saving packets of silica gel whenever I receive them in packaging, I always have some available for keeping my seeds in prime condition until the following growing season.

     Another use for silica gel, if you are so inclined, is as a medium for drying fresh flowers.  For those types of blooms that don't air-dry well by hanging them upside down in bunches, the individual flower heads can be removed and covered for a few weeks in a container of silica gel.  The large silica gel packages (sometimes marked 'desiccant') which come with some electronics items work well for this.  Gel is simply removed from packaging and poured over the blossoms in a sealable container.  I don't personally spend time drying this type of flower, although I have in the past.  More complete instructions are available in floral arrangement guides if this topic is of interest to you.

     Saving seeds is a great way for gardeners to save money, and using silica gel is a great way to preserve seeds.  And, although I've never tried it, I'm sure it beats eating the stuff.

--Susan Rodebush © 2009

All material in this blog is copyrighted and may not be reproduced or distributed without permission.

    

On that Queasy Feeling. . .

     "Car sickness is the feeling you get when the monthly payment is due."  --Author Unknown