goddess of thrift

Yard Sale Find -- The Multi-Functional Canning Jar

Canning jars are fairly easy to find at yard sales, particularly those in semi-rural areas or at the homes of senior citizens.  In the past I have purchased regular canning jars (ranging in size from 1/2 pint to 1 quart) for about $1.00 per dozen, and I still find boxes of jars priced at a dollar or two. (This price is about 10% -- 20% of the retail cost for new jars.)  Bail-top jars, typically anywhere from 1 pint to 1/2 gallon in size, are also offered for $.25 to $1.00.  In addition to their obvious use in preserving food, these jars are great for a variety of uses, including:

--Gift containers for food or drink mixes, homemade potpourris or bath salts;

--Storage containers for leftovers in the refrigerator or freezer.  Be sure to leave about 1" head-space at the top of the jar when freezing food, to allow for expansion;

--Storage for staple items in the pantry, such as baking ingredients, pasta, rice, nuts and seeds.  When I store baking soda or cornstarch in a bail-top jar, I cut the name from the box and tape it to the jar lid for identification.  It is much easier to measure a teaspoon or so from the jar than from a cardboard box, and I can see at a glance how much I have left.

--In a sewing or craft room for supply storage of buttons, shells, beads and other small items;

--On a bathroom shelf to store cotton balls, cotton swabs or band-aids;

--Above the washer, to hold change, paper-clips and other items retrieved from pockets;

--As a "time-capsule" in a childs' room, filled with kids' meal toys or party favors.  This function is primarily for decoration rather than use; it is safer to use unbreakable plastic containers for toy storage for young children.  For this purpose, consider using clean, empty plastic peanut butter jars (with lables removed) for small items;

--In the workshop to hold a variety of nails, screws and other hardware;

--In the office, to hold rubber bands, paper clips and fasteners, or as a holder for pens or pencils.

When purchasing canning jars or bail-top jars, be sure to examine them carefully for chips and cracks, and pass on any you find with such flaws.  It is especially important to use flawless jars in water-bath or pressure canning in order to avoid breakage.  Mineral deposits on or in jars can usually be removed by rubbing or soaking with white vinegar.

The many uses of canning jars are only limited by your imagination.  Obviously, you have seen or heard of many of these uses before, but it doesn't hurt to be reminded how various containers can help with organization, storage and display.  Thinking in advance about how they can be used will help you to determine how many to purchase the next time you see them on a clutter-covered table at a yard sale.

--Susan Rodebush  ©  2010

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Late Summer Donation Idea

By mid-August when the discount stores are clearing their racks of remaining summer merchandise, it's a great time to stock up on deeply-discounted flip-flops.  While those of us living in four-season climates will soon be tucking away our summer footwear for the season, there are untold numbers of people in poorer, warm-climate countries who own no shoes whatsoever.  Flip-flops are fairly sturdy, inexpensive and water-proof, and protect children and adults from contracting bacteria and parasites through sores or wounds in their feet.  Of course, you can purchase and donate flip-flops any time of the year, but by buying them at the end of the season, your money will stretch to help even more. Many organizations providing relief to countries like Haiti, Guatemala and Uganda will be happy to receive your donations.  Matthew 25 Ministries is one such organization in the Cincinnati area.

--Susan Rodebush  ©  2010

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Yard Sale Find -- Cartoon Bear Clutter Containment!

Yard sale season is at its peak in my area from May through September, with more sporadic sales in other months.  Some of the great finds I've stumbled upon lately are woven wooden picnic baskets for just a dollar or two.  They make great, dust-proof storage bins for anything from gift-wrapping ribbons to playing cards and small board games, and look attractive on top of a shelf or cupboard. While a large variety of storage containers are available at retail and discount stores, they are usually much more expensive, often less aesthetically appealing, and many times don't have lids, which results in dusty contents over time.  I always wondered what Yogi Bear did with his picnic baskets after he emptied them . . . now I know!

-- Susan Rodebush  ©  2010

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Lessons I Learned from the Snake in My Kitchen . . .

There is a small gap where the kitchen ceiling should meet the wall, but since the area hasn't yet gotten new drywall, it's my guess that's where the snake got into our kitchen.  When I walked down the steps Friday and saw it slide across the floor and behind the refrigerator, I quickly decided that the only thing worse than knowing that a snake is in your house is knowing that a snake is somewhere in your house, but having no idea where.  Based on this realization, I concluded that, like it or not, I had to remove the snake.

Before you think that I am some kind of machismo-frontier woman who considers snake-rustling part of an average day, allow me to knock that idea dead to the ground.  I had been on my way downstairs to put on makeup so I could leave to run errands, and when I saw the snake, I realized that  (a) it was over four feet long (measurement courtesy of the 12" vinyl tile squares on my kitchen floor), (b) my dog, cowering in the next room, was having no impact on the snake's presence by barking, and (c) Holy Cr-p!  I was the only human being within shouting distance, a fact made clear when my initial scream upon seeing the snake was met by little more than the sound of sparrows thinking.

So, what lessons did I learn in my adventure with the snake, and how in the heck do they apply to thrift, or for that matter, anything else in life?  Allow me to share a few thoughts:

Lesson 1:  You can do amazing things when it really matters.  During my initial efforts to try to herd the snake outside through the kitchen door, I moved the refrigerator, stove and two free-standing cabinets into the middle of the room.  By myself.  And I ain't so big.  That type of resolve -- which you have also -- transfers to the ability to meet personal or financial goals, change habits or take risks.

Lesson 2:  Fear is part of life, but it doesn't have to limit action.  While I knew that the snake wasn't poisonous, and therefore wasn't life-threatening, deep down I would have rather not needed to deal with it at all.  I was pretty sure, however, that staying on the steps, shrieking, wasn't going to magically repel a snake.  In the same way, the need to curtail spending, tackle debt, loose weight or overcome procrastination, no matter how difficult it may appear, has to be addressed head-on, regardless of our fears.

Lesson 3:  At times you need to call in reinforcements.  After nearly an hour of ineffective snake-sweeping and appliance dancing, it was obvious that I needed help.  Fortunately, my son was on his way home from work and agreed to assist me with serpent-containment-and-dispatchment.  The Bible puts it this way:  "For lack of guidance a nation falls, but many advisers make victory sure."  (Proverbs 11:14  NIV)  Whatever the challenge, there is wisdom in knowing when to ask for help.

Lesson 4:  You can't kill a snake halfway . . . or, you have to see the job through to the end.  While I corralled the snake with brooms and my son attacked it repeatedly with a shovel, we were both amazed at how long it fought before it finally succumbed.  In the same way, you have to be tenacious as long as your circumstances require.  Or, in other words, you have to persevere longer than your snake.

I am sure that there are many other lessons I could list, such as the importance of finishing a drywall job, or the argument for keeping a mongoose in your attic, although I realize that these might not be as widely applicable.  I also realize that there are spiritual parallels which could be drawn, but perhaps I'll save those for a future post.  In any case, whatever the obstacles are that you are trying to overcome in your life, it is my hope for you that, in the end, you'll always beat the snake.

--Susan Rodebush  © 2010

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Summer Thrift Tip

If you park your car outside in the summer, you know how much heat can build up inside your car.  While I haven't yet found a way to package that heat to store it for winter use, I have found a way to make it somewhat productive:  use your car as a dehydrator.

Dry herbs, thinly sliced fruits and vegetables, and flowers for making potpourri by placing the items on a paper-towel lined cookie sheet or fine-mesh wire rack on the seat of your closed car.  By using the heat which naturally occurs there, you can preserve some of the abundance of your garden.  Drying times will vary, of course, depending on the outside temperature, outdoor humidity level and moisture content in the items you are drying.

One cautionary note:  the fragrance of the herbs, fruits, vegetables or flowers you are drying may remain in your car for a while.  This might be great if you are drying basil or rose petals, but not so good if you are drying cabbage!

-- Susan Rodebush  ©  2010

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On Being Thrifty When You Don't Feel Like It . . .

We all go through various seasons in life, when time and energy are consumed with studies and job, or raising children, or recovering from illness.  I am, hopefully, coming out of one of those seasons of less-than-perfect health.  And, I have to admit, there have been times in the past several months when I really didn't feel like doing the thrifty things.  So, in my weakened condition, did I blow the budget?

This is where my reasons for doing the thrifty things come into play.  I have grown to believe that the best way to establish a new habit is to tie it to a goal.  Now, obviously, thrift isn't a new habit with me, but in honesty, the goals I have pursued using thrift strategies have changed over time.  Initially, they were about being a part-time employee and full-time mom, and stretching the limited financial means of my family.  Thrift still enables my family to maximize our financial resources.  In recent years, however, the goal which has emerged is the desire to have more money to give to the needs of others. 

Please know that I don't think I'm noble because I desire to give; in fact, I'm a little embarrassed that the importance of giving to others wasn't really on my radar for a large chunk of my life.  But, as a goal, it enables me to maintain a thrifty lifestyle when I otherwise don't feel like it, because there is a direct connection between how much I spend on myself and how much I have to give others.

Knowing that the temptation to splurge (or to take an easier route) will be there at times motivates me to plan for those times.  Some ways those plans take shape regarding, for example, meals:

--By batch cooking and freezing meals, I typically have several dinner options in the freezer, ready to defrost and heat when I don't feel like cooking.

--On nights I don't even feel like defrosting something, I have ingredients on hand for easy, somewhat-healthy, snack-like meals:

--rolled tortillas filled with melted cheese, dipped in salsa

--crackers or pretzels covered with peanut butter (my husband adds chocolate syrup to this!)

--cut up apple and chunks of cheese, or apple and celery pieces spread with peanut butter

--a "tray", which is basically any finger food we have on hand set out on a tray.  Typically this would

  contain apples, grapes, oranges or other fresh or dried fruit; peanuts or other nuts; cheeses; deli

  meats; carrots, celery, broccoli and other veggies with dip; pickles or olives, etc.

I realize that not all of these options are nutritionally complete, but then, neither is the bubba-burger I could buy at the fast-food place down the road.  The above ideas are intended as occasional meals, not a regular menu.

Another thing that enables us to remain thrifty is having a buffer, or "blow-money", or margin.  Whatever you call it, having a little money which you plan to set aside in case you need it just makes sense.  I don't have to do major guilt about not cooking if there's money earmarked for that possibility.  (And my "earmarks" have the added benefit of not being attached to a Congressional bill.)

While these ideas deal mainly with food options, it's because that's where I'm most tempted to splurge.  If another area is an economic weakness for you, having a back-up plan for that area only makes sense.  So, if you know you often have trouble finding clothing for a big event, start shopping (first in your own closet) for an outfit as soon as you receive the wedding invitation, rather than the morning of the big day.  Often allowing for a margin of time gains us a financial benefit as well, and we're less likely to overspend at the last minute.

So, do I ever just blow it?  Well, of course, I do.  But, for the most part, my little thrift disasters still occur within the confines of a pre-determined economic margin.  So, when I go on a binge and crave multiple packages of cream horns, I know that my little indiscretions in the Bakery Department still leave me with money to share . . . which brings us back to the idea of spending being goal-driven.  That's a good thing.  Otherwise, more often than not, someone else might go hungry because I'm in a pastry-induced sugar coma.  And, when I'm lucid, that's really not who I want to be.

--Susan Rodebush  ©  2010

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Thrift and Purchasing . . . Coupons?

Okay, admittedly, I am not a techno-wizard, which comes as no surprise to those who know me.  Having a little internet savvy, however, can be a huge money-saving tool.  I won't bore you with a list of many of the things you can do and learn on-line, but I will tell you about one internet tool I've recently started using to save substantial money on groceries -- purchasing manufacturer's coupons.

Now, before you tell me you don't have time to deal with coupons, let me say that I seldom buy national brands, and therefore seldom use grocery coupons.  But by finding coupons for those few brands I do use, I can realize substantial savings.

My most recent coupon purchase was for Celestial Seasonings Teas, which I use to make Fruity Lemonade (refer to my May 1, 2009 post in the 'Make It, Cook It' category for the recipe.)  The herbal teas typically sell for upwards of $2.50 for a box of 20 teabags, but Meijer recently did a temporary price reduction to $2.19/box.  By going on-line to Ebay and searching for "Celestial Seasonings Tea Coupons" I was able to find and purchase, among several dozen listings, a lot of 20-$1.00 off coupons for a total of $1.80, which included shipping.  So, by making that one purchase on-line, I can purchase my tea at Meijer for a net price of $1.28 per box.  The "best before" date on this tea is January 2012, so I'm confident I'll use twenty packages in the next twenty-two months.  The lot of coupons I purchased expires April 10th, 2010, giving me 6 weeks to procure my tea.

I like purchasing coupons on Ebay because the competition on that site keeps prices low, and their search feature makes it easy to find specific items.  You will find a number of on-line "coupon clipping services" . . . a Google search will readily turn up several.  There are all types and values of coupons available, but I especially prefer to find coupons for items which meet three criteria:  1]  they have a reasonably long shelf life (how long does deodorant keep?) 2]  there is not a comparable store brand of the item which I could purchase for around the same price, and 3] the coupon yields enough savings to warrant the cost of its purchase and the time I spend doing the search.

If you have access to an unlimited number of manufacturer's coupon inserts from the Sunday newspaper, then you'll never need to purchase coupons.  I don't, and for me, my tea coupons saved me a total of $18.20, and also the time of purchasing and recycling newspapers, clipping and filing coupons, and updating and maintaining a coupon file.  Could this be one of those rare occasions where it's actually true that "the more you spend, the more you save"?  Okay, maybe just this once . . .

--Susan Rodebush  ©  2010

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Winter Snow Shoveling Tip

When shoveling a wet, heavy snow (like the kind we had overnight in our part of the world), there is a tendency for snow and ice to build up on the surface of the shovel, making it heavier to use for the job.  The solution?  Before using, spray the dry shovel with a coating of WD-40, cooking oil spray, or rub it with a coating of vegetable shortening (like Crisco).  Really, any grease or oil will work, and by reducing friction, will enable you to use less elbow grease to get the job done.  (Sorry . . . I couldn't resist.)  If the snow begins to stick after a period of use, simply dry it well and reapply your lubricant of choice.

Finally, a use for vegetable shortening where I don't have to worry about Trans-fats!

--Susan Rodebush  ©  2010

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Winter is a Great Time to . . . Inventory Seeds

For an avid gardener, spring doesn't start with the Vernal Equinox, but at the first sign of new seed packets in the discount store's garden department.  I have to admit, the temptation to purchase a new garden by acquiring multiple packages of new seeds is tempting.  Their prices, however, are not . . . especially if I know I already have some seeds saved from last year, or last year's garden.  More than once I have purchased seeds, only to discover later that I already had that variety at home.

Now, one of my annual tasks in late January is to get out my vegetable, herb and flower seed packets from their moisture-proof plastic container in an unheated room, and make an inventory of the seeds I already have on hand.  I can also note on this list varieties I don't have, but want to purchase.  I tuck this list into my wallet, so it's always handy when I'm at the store.  I can spend money on seeds I need without buying duplicates, so there's no unnecessary expenditure.  And I can enjoy buying seeds for Pinwheel Zinnias, knowing for certain that I won't find out later that I already have three packages in the basement.

--Susan Rodebush  ©  2010

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Winter is a Great Time to . . .

Freeze Grains -- If you do baking and cooking from scratch, you will sometimes find that it's less expensive to purchase grains in bulk.  Often food co-ops, grain mills or suppliers to natural food stores will sell larger quantities than those available at the grocery store.

The reason winter is a good time to buy bulk grains is that you can use the below-freezing outdoor temperatures, if they occur in your part of the world, to freeze grains before storing them.  This exposure to 24 to 48 hours at or below freezing temperatures kills any microscopic insect larvae present in the grains, to prevent them from becoming "buggy" in the future.  Simply keep them outside in your car overnight for a day or two before bringing them into the house to store them.

If you don't live where temperatures dip below 32 degrees Fahrenheit, or you purchase bulk grains at other times of the year, placing them in your freezer for a few days before storing them is also a good idea.  And if you purchase whole grains, like whole wheat flour, longer-term storage in the freezer will keep the oils in the grains from becoming rancid.  Simply bring flours and other grains to room temperature before using them for baking.

--Susan Rodebush  ©  2010

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Thrift, Anticipation, and Post-Holiday Sales

One of the most important thrift strategies around is to try to never pay full price, and late-December and early-January sales are a great time to stock up on deeply-discounted items for future use.  By anticipating future needs, you can save a lot of money and be prepared for upcoming events.  You probably already do, or have done, some of these, but a  sampling of sale items, and ideas for using them, follows:

Wrapping Supplies and Cards--  Typically gift wrap, shipping supplies and Christmas cards go on sale in late December.  Buying them now to store for next season can easily save you 50% to 75% or more over early-December prices.

Baking Supplies--  It's not unusual for stores to stockpile baking supplies before the holidays, then to discount them at the end of the season.  Butter can be purchased in bulk and frozen for up to a year.  It is possible to buy butter for half-off, or more, this way.  White or Milk Chocolate for baking is often clearanced, too, and is still fine in February for candy making.  White chocolate-dipped pretzels, sprinkled with clearance-priced red sugar or jimmies, are a standard in our household for Valentine's Day.

Candy-- If you have resolved to start dieting in January, buying this now might not be a good idea.  But for the rest of us, red-and-green M&M's, Hershey Kisses or other foil-wrapped candies can be found on sale and used for upcoming holidays.  Just sort the red ones for Valentine's Day, and the green ones for St. Patrick's Day.

Paper Products--  For ecological reasons, I limit my use of paper cups, plates and napkins, but I do sometimes use them for parties or when I'm teaching a workshop.  Of course, seasonal prints can be saved for a year, but solid red items work for Valentine's Day, and green ones can be used for St. Patrick's Day, or in summer or fall.  I'll typically use dark green plates and cups for a fall workshop, and combine them with sale-purchased printed fall napkins . . . no one realizes that they were purchased last year.

Gift Items--  Of course, it's only a good gift if it's something someone actually wants, but seasonal items can be purchased on clearance and work well as gifts for teachers, co-workers, and service personnel.  One Christmas I gave my mother a few pieces of a porcelain "Christmas Village".  After the holiday, I found additional pieces on sale for a fraction of the original price.  I purchased the remaining pieces, and they were her gift for several subsequent Christmases.  I was able to give her more since the items were sale-priced, and when the set was discontinued a few years later, I was glad I had purchased it this way.

Clothing--  Often the first sign of spring isn't a robin in your backyard, but bathing suits on the racks of store clothing departments.  When summer items start being stocked, hats, scarves, gloves, mittens and sweaters are often substantially marked down.  You can save them as gifts, or simply purchase them to replace a family member's worn item.  It's also a great idea to purchase discounted hats, scarves and gloves to donate to your local homeless shelter.

Candles--  In addition to making good generic gifts, candles are on sale this time of year and can be purchased for next year's Menorah or Christmas Decor.

Lights, Decorations and Ornaments--  If you set up a Christmas tree, you'll find an abundance of clearance-priced lights and decorations at the end of the year.  If the lights on my tree looked a little "skimpy" this year, I'll pick up an extra strand or two and save them for next season.  I'm much more cautious about buying other decorations, as I already have an abundant supply.  If you do, too, then exercise restraint!

Obviously this isn't an exhaustive list, but it illustrates that anticipation -- or planning -- is essential in saving money after the holidays.  You obviously won't find everything  you need or use at these sales, but buying this way is a smart way to stretch your overall budget . . . and to assure that there will be sale-priced goodies to eat in February!

--Susan Rodebush  ©  2009

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This Sunday is Stock-Up on Candy Day!!!

In our household, we often look forward to the day after a candy-sale holiday (like Valentine's Day, Easter, Halloween or Christmas) because candy gets marked down to half-price (or less) at the store.  This time of year, I'll stock up on marked-down Halloween candy for stocking stuffers at Christmas, and chocolate to chop up for cookies or melt for holiday baking.

Now, I hear those protests concerning candy freshness when purchased in early November for December use.  Really?  Can you honestly tell me you checked the freshness date on that Hershey bar you just stuffed in your mouth while your three-year-old wasn't looking?  I didn't think so!  My experience has been that candy displayed for holiday sale has often been in the store for less time than that sold in traditional packaging.  I have never had a problem with the quality of this sale-purchased candy if it was used within a month or two of purchase.

So, when Halloween is over, I have several options for purchases.  If I find individual pieces in traditional wrappers, but a "seasonal" bag, I'll purchase them for Christmas stockings.  The chocolate which is seasonally wrapped, however, can still be used for baking.  But how do I determine if it's really a good price?

This is where I typically employ my "rule-of-thumb" shopping strategy:  I calculate a price at which I can often find the item on sale, and refuse to pay more than that price for that item.  For example, a 12-oz package of semi-sweet chocolate chips is regularly priced $1.49 at my local Aldi Store (which is the equivalent of $1.99/pound.)  If this is my rule-of-thumb, then anything less than that price is a good deal, and anything more than that, I leave behind at the store.  I find that rule-of-thumb shopping works equally well whether I am purchasing a pound of chocolate, a loaf of bread or a pair of socks, and it makes the decision-making process while shopping quick and easy.  (My real rule-of-thumb price for chocolate, by the way, is $.10/ounce, or $1.60/pound.)

To store chocolate for seasonal baking, I'll often place it in my freezer.  (This not only keeps it fresh, but at my house, frozen chocolate is slightly less likely to be discovered and eaten.)  While the chocolate will assume a "whitish" coating when frozen, it looses that appearance when baked or melted, and is still fine to use if stored for 6 months or less.

In our current economy, there tends to be more competition for marked-down merchandise than when people have a greater quantity of discretionary income.  In our household, however, we find that we have more discretionary income on a regular basis when we purchase items on sale, to get more for our money, regardless of the economic climate.  By doing that, we end up having more money for things that matter.

--Susan Rodebush  ©  2009

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Thrift, Gandhi and the Acquisition of Stuff

Back when my husband and I were dating (and "Harvest Gold" was a predominant decorating color) he lived in a one-bedroom, second-floor apartment.  He had one gold-carpeted room in which he stretched and exercised that held a desk, a mirror, a large (gold) floor-pillow and a few stacks of papers.  His gold-carpeted bedroom contained his twin bed (covered in a brown Mexican wool blanket), oak night table and little or nothing else.  His kitchen was equally sparse.  My apartment was furnished with considerably more "stuff", so when we merged our households and factored in wedding gifts, we were well on our way to the Great American Accumulation. 

My husband had a photograph, which he admired, of Mahatma Gandhi's possessions at the time of his death.  In it, if I recall correctly, were a bowl, a book and a pair of sandals.  If my husband suggested that we get rid of something (especially something of mine), I would suggest that he had a "Gandhi Complex".  Several households later, it became obvious to everyone that my husband's (and Gandhi's) aesthetic did not prevail.  Anyone who has helped us move would readily agree.

I have always enjoyed the visual "feeding" which comes from having interesting objects to view and appreciate; I'm a sucker for books and magazines loaded with color photos or illustrations.  In the past few years, however, my preference for "muchness and manyness" in my life has taken a turn.

I am now beginning to understand the greater cost of stuff, beyond the initial purchase price.  Every item I acquire becomes something to store, maintain, dust, repair or shuffle (if it is in close proximity to other such items.)  Not only does my stuff cost me money when I acquire it, but it also costs me time.  As I grow older, time is a commodity I'm less willing than ever to spend on dusting and maintenance.  As I not-so-jokingly referred to my 40's as my "Age of Acquisition", I am now seriously referring to my 50's as my "Age of Editing".  While I still love visual variety and complexity, I am becoming far more selective about what I bring into my home.

I have also learned a more subtle, but no less real, fact about ownership.  On a spiritual level, anything I cannot part with owns me.  If I truly believe that people are more important than things, then I need--and want--to be willing to part with anything that someone else might need more than I do.  This doesn't mean that I have to give everything away . . . but it does mean that I have to hold everything loosely, being willing to see ownership as a temporary thing.  As I can enjoy a library book which I then return, so I can enjoy my stuff.

The thrift lesson here is that there are multiple costs to consider when acquiring an item, beyond just the sticker price.  It really comes down to our attitudes and our choices, which only we can make.  While my long-suffering husband will probably never accuse me of having a "Gandhi Complex", I think he would agree that my attitude toward stuff has changed.  I doubt, however, that he will ever see me choose a decorating theme which is "Harvest Gold".  There are some things about which a girl just can't compromise.

--Susan Rodebush  ©  2009

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Thrift and Re-Use

     In the early years of our marriage, we rented the first floor apartment of a three-family house.  We lived in a college community, along with many of our friends, some of whom lived about a block away.  Their house was across the street from that of a retired couple who had depression-era memories, and, as a result, saved virtually everything.  My friend vowed that she actually saw a box in her neighbor's attic labeled:  "string too short to save".

     At the risk of being perceived as a total wacko (I know, it's probably too late for me to worry about that) there are some things I save to re-use, and by doing so, also save money.  I realize that we're taking about pennies and nickles here, however, I believe that those small savings can make a big difference over time.  And, typically, these strategies of re-use are environmentally friendly as well, by reducing what is eventually thrown away as trash.  Thus, below is a partial list of things I sometimes save to re-use:

Butter wrappers--  Because I do a fair amount of baking, these go into a container in the fridge for greasing muffin pans or cookie sheets before they're thrown away.  I don't save hundreds of them, however . . . I rarely have more than 10 or 12 at one time.  If I get more than that, I toss them.

Zip-style plastic bags--  I will wash and re-use bags which have stored dry ingredients, or non-messy foods other than meats.  I don't bother washing the sandwich bags . . . only the heavier quart or gallon storage or freezer bags.  I don't accumulate a big pile of these either . . . just a few.  I dry them inside-out on my dish drainer.

Barely-soiled paper towels--  This may sound crazy, but I keep these in a cupboard by the woodstove to clean the ashes off of the stove's glass door before I toss them.  Obviously, I don't keep anything which would attract bugs or furry creatures.  (I'm not interested in providing nesting material!)

Toilet-tissue rolls--  These also go in the cupboard by the woodstove, to use for fire starters.  Ditto with all non-colored junk mail or discarded office paper.

Seed catalogs--  If I save a variety of seed for a friend, I will sometimes clip the photo of the flower or fruit to put with the seed for identification, along with any growing information in the catalog.  I also find the photos great for drawing studies for my art students, or to use when making paper beads.  When I'm done, they go into the recycling bin.

Old phone books--  The outdated white pages are good to place under paper shapes when applying glue.  These books are also heavy enough to work well for pressing flowers and leaves (between paper towels).

Plastic Peanut butter jars--  After soaking the labels off of these, they work well for same-sized storage for beads, buttons, confetti, shells, pompoms, sequins and all of the various craft "stuff" in my studio.

     This is not an exhaustive list of everything I have ever saved and re-used, but it is a representative sampling.  Let me, loudly and clearly, enter a disclaimer here:  I do not like clutter, therefore I do not advocate saving unlimited quantities of stuff just in case it may someday have value to someone.  I only keep what I think I am likely to actually use in the near future, and I'm not afraid to throw any of it away at any given time.  My goal here is to save money and the environment . . . it is not to gain an entry in the Guinness Book for the largest accumulation of re-usable stuff.  I'll save that endeavor for the real wackos.  (Okay, maybe I'm in denial just a little bit.)

--Susan Rodebush  ©  2009

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Thrift, From My Dog's Perspective

     Our dog is a 40-pound Lab mix, or, as I have come to say, "her mother was a Black Lab, and her father was Ambitious."  She serves as watchdog and companion, and taking her on regular walks assures that I also get reasonable exercise.  But, you're probably wondering:  "What is it like, being the pet dog of the goddess of thrift?"  (Imagine you just heard that question in your own voice . . . it makes pretending easier.)

     Zoe, our dog, eats nutritionally complete, store-brand dry dog food, which looks suspiciously like Purina, although admittedly, I've never done a taste comparison myself.  She is a healthy weight for her frame.  We keep her food available to her throughout the day, and she eats when she's hungry.  She also gets two "cookies", Aldi-brand dog biscuits, when she comes in from outside.  She has never complained about not getting gourmet dog food, or upscale treats, because she doesn't know they exist.  She seems perfectly content with her food, and doesn't seem to have a problem with our thrifty approach to feeding her.  We are certain she receives as much love and attention as most pure-bred, upscale dogs . . . although I've never carried her anywhere in a handbag.

     I realize that comparing the consumption of people to that of dogs falls short rather quickly.  You and I are aware that there are many, many options available to us, and we would soon grow weary of eating the same food meal after meal, day after day, (although there are many people in the world who do exactly that, when they have food at all.)  And, if Zoe were given a choice between a multitude of dog food selections, she might not choose her store brand food.  Once again, I've never conducted this test.

     What we have in common with Zoe, however, is that we don't want what we don't know exists, at least when it comes to material consumption.  While we realize that there are countless options available for spending our hard-earned cash, we also have at least some control  over the extent to which we view, hear or are immersed in marketing messages.  We can turn off the television, or at least mute the commercials.  We can be selective about what magazines we read and what web sites we visit.  If we have personal weaknesses for electronic gadgets or new clothing, we can avoid the tech store or the high-end outlet mall.  The more we expose ourselves to urges or opportunities to purchase, the more the things we now have will taste like the same old, dry dog food.  And, as long as we heed these messages, we will never feel like what we already have is enough.

     Of course,  I'm not advocating that we reduce our consumption to the level my dog experiences.  Each of us gets to decide where, when and how we spend our money.  There is a difference between never again purchasing anything, and finding a level of spending which meets our needs without becoming excessive.  But, I have to admit, I often wish I had a life a little more like my dog's.  To delight in running in the sunshine or the rain, to appreciate having food to eat and clean water to drink, and to love nothing more than hanging out with family seem like signs of a pretty good life.  I think maybe spending more time outdoors appreciating the beauty around me, and less time at the mall, is at least a step in the right direction.

--Susan Rodebush  ©  2009

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Thrift and What it Costs to Be a Zombie

     It was a late October day when he walked into the waiting area, where my husband and I were trying on eyeglass frames.  His navy blue shirt, matching pants and grease-stained hands indicated that he was either a mechanic, or worked at a "quick-lube" type of establishment.  Although I don't remember what it was, his name was embroidered in red on a white patch above his left shirt pocket.  He was there to get some contact lenses, he told the woman behind the desk.

     My husband and I watched, speechless, as we realized that the contacts for which he was fitted weren't for vision correction . . . they were his Halloween costume.  His eyes watered and turned bright red as they tried to adjust to the presence of the white contacts he was trying.  Looking in the mirror, he was satisfied with the un-human effect of the lenses, and he kept them in as he pulled out his credit card, paid $100.00 plus tax for the lenses, and left the store.

     If he was like the majority of Americans who use credit, he did not pay the card balance off in full when his November bill came.  So, in addition to the purchase price, he also paid interest.  It is likely that, by the time his initial bill came in the mail, he was done with the lenses, and probably never wore them thereafter.

     I have to admit, the contacts he purchased were quite effective in transforming him into a zombie.  I have no idea whether or not he purchased additional items to complete his "costume".  But I was aware, once again, of the principle of cost-per-use in action.

     Under normal conditions, a pair of contact lenses or eyeglasses used for vision correction costs as much or more than Mr. Zombie's lenses.  However, if you consider the total hours they are worn, and the purpose they accomplish, most probably cost much less than $1.00 per use.  And while you may shop for value on frames, you don't want to forgo quality on lenses for the sake of a better price.  The need for quality justifies the cost of the lenses, for, as my mother told me, "you only get one pair of eyes." 

     The principle here is that the purpose of the item determines the quality (and therefore, cost) required.  While I personally would advocate spending as little as possible on a single-use costume, it is worth it to pay more to get quality vision correction.  The same would be true of a tool which would be used frequently, like a hammer or a paintbrush.  In my opinion, it is not worth it to save money on painting tools if it means picking stray bristles out of wet paint with my fingers. 

     I realize that my values aren't the same as everyone else's.  You may have a burning desire to arrive at a party as a Zombie.  (My dad would say:  "To each his own.")  I would just encourage you to consider the cost of the transformation relative to the number of uses and the level of quality required.  When you spend with those criteria in mind, you will find that you have more money left for "things that matter."  (Am I implying that Zombie costumes don't "matter"?  . . .Ummmm. . .I'll let you decide that.)

--Susan Rodebush  ©  2009

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Becoming a Grocery Store god or goddess

     Yesterday, I went grocery shopping, and I thought it might be instructive to share my shopping trip with you, my fellow gods- and goddesses-in-training.  So, let's relive my grocery outing together.  For me, thrifty grocery shopping is as much about what I don't  do as the things I do.

     Typically, I keep a list of things we might be running low on in the pantry, or want to watch for on sale.  Monday or Tuesday morning, I retrieve my bundle of grocery ads from my driveway, and with whatever list I have started, I peruse the ads while eating breakfast.  After doing that, I also check the manufacturer's coupons which come with my ads.  While there may be four or five stores where I occasionally shop, I usually only hit two or three in my 3-times-a-month outing.

     This wasn't a particularly stellar ad week for the things I normally purchase, so I would have skipped going this week, but I had other errands to run in the area.  My first grocery stop was Meijer.  Because I knew there were no staple items on sale which I wanted or needed to purchase, I headed to the marked-down produce rack.  There, I found bing (sweet) cherries -- organic -- for $.45/pound, and bought almost 10 pounds.  There was a package of celery with 2 bad stalks for $.14, and a bag of 3 green bell peppers for $.46.  (Mine aren't ready in the garden yet.)  I then cruised by the meat and dairy departments to check for markdowns, went through the checkout line, and walked out of the store 12 minutes after entering, having spent $4.97.

     Three minutes later I was at Kroger.  There I bought almost 5 pounds of reasonable-condition, marked down bananas for $.29/pound, and a 3-pint container of their house Chocolate Marshmallow ice cream for $.99.  I also picked up 6 on-sale Crest toothpastes and 2 deodorants from my toiletries budget.  I again looked at the marked-down meats and dairy items, but didn't purchase any.  11 minutes after entering I was leaving, having spent $2.37 on bananas and ice cream and $7.23 on toiletries.

     After running my other short errands, I returned home.  I washed the cherries, which contained 1-3 bad fruits per pound.  About 5 pounds went into the fridge for fresh eating, and the rest I froze, whole, in pint containers.  I discarded the bad celery stalks and refrigerated the rest, and washed and diced the peppers, which went onto a cookie sheet and into the freezer.  I'll scoop them into a container when frozen . . . that way they won't stick together.

     Of course, some shopping trips take longer because I purchase much more.  But what I don't do might  be as important to note as what I do:

--  I don't decide in advance what fresh produce I want, unless I see it for a good sale price in the ad, or must  have it for a recipe.  I see no point in paying $1.49/pound for fresh peaches when I can buy cherries for $.45/pound.  So I allow what is available on sale in a given category -- fruit, vegetables, meats, cheeses -- to determine what I buy.  (This assumes the sale items are things we eat.  I don't typically buy bologna or hot dogs, no matter how good the deal, because we don't particularly like them.  It's only a bargain if you actually use it.)  This method also creates variety in our meals.

--  I don't go up and down every aisle of every store, but I do  typically shop at more than one store per trip.  Because I have read the ads, I only enter the aisles which contain items I plan to purchase. 

--  I don't use many manufacturer's coupons.  I normally find the items are still often more expensive than store brands and loss-leader items.  I used one coupon (doubled) for Speed Stick antiperspirant at Kroger, getting two for $.38/each (before tax) to donate to a food pantry.

--  I don't impulse shop, buying what "looks good".  If I'm hungry, I'll buy a cup of yogurt and eat it in the car. 

--  I don't wrestle with other customers for marked-down bargains.  I typically try not to take all of one item if there are other shoppers nearby. My approach is that there is enough for everyone, and if they want it badly, I assume they may need  it badly.

     The quantity and types of items I purchase vary, of course, with each shopping trip, but yesterday's trip is representative of my approach.  By hitting several stores, I find the best prices at each.  By avoiding all of the aisles, I don't waste time.  And by utilizing my freezer, I always have food to enjoy in the future.  This winter, when we eat frozen cherries, allowing them to slowly melt in our mouths, I'll think fondly of my sweet mother-in-law, who, when she was alive, enjoyed sharing her frozen cherries with us in December.

--Susan Rodebush  ©  2009

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Thrift and Perseverance

     The pretty, 30-ish woman in our group had her arms crossed and was scowling.  "This stinks!" she exclaimed.  "I don't want to have to do this stuff.  It's not any fun at all."  The rest of the group nodded in agreement . . . we were discussing, in our personal finance class, the previous week's lesson on budgeting.

     This woman understood well the concepts of allotting dollar amounts for each category, curtailing the use of credit, and setting goals.  It wasn't the process she was struggling with -- that was straightforward -- it was having to delay gratification.

     "Yeah, but won't it be cool if, by doing this stuff now, you can save the money to send your kids to college?"  I asked.  Her face softened, and she shrugged, and said "I know.  Yeah, I guess that would be cool."  The realization that she was working toward a goal didn't eliminate her frustration completely, but it did  help her to put it into context.

     The problem with using thrift strategies, or any other financial discipline, is that they sometimes require short-term persistence or, the "s-word" in our culture:  sacrifice, to yield long-term gain.  In a culture which is spoon-fed immediate gratification through the media, persevering to reach a goal isn't always "fun", and doesn't have the shine of "new, now, you-owe-it-to-yourself" which we regularly encounter. 

     I was reminded of this a few weeks ago while complaining about how long it was taking to remodel my kitchen.  A kind friend said, gently, "But think of how rewarding all your hard work will be when it's finally done."  Hating to admit it, I had to acknowledge that she was right.  Sometimes the greatest feeling of accomplishment comes with the realization of a goal which we have persevered  to meet.  (Any graduation ceremony is a great reminder of the rewards which come with perseverance.)

     Now, you may notice that my 30-ish friend and I have something in common:  that is, we both sometimes whine when things feel difficult . . . when we're doing something that isn't "fun".  I, for one, am still learning not to whine, and am more successful some days than others.  But it is also important to note that the desire to quit is not the same thing as the decision to quit.  Perseverance, for my friend and I, means that we are both still working  toward a goal.

     If changing the way you use your finances -- and employing thrift strategies to do so -- enables you to reach your goal, then the end will indeed justify the means. You will have freed up funds for things that really matter . . . and your reward will be that much sweeter because you will have persevered.

--Susan Rodebush  ©  2009

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July Bargains

     There are good deals available in all months of the year, and July is no exception.  While you're out shopping, check out the following:

--School supplies.  These are usually cheaper in July than at any other time of the year.  If you have school-aged children and can get their supply lists early, you can pick up supplies gradually at loss-leader sales for some of the best bargains.  Be sure to get enough for the entire year; prices are considerably higher in January!  If you don't have school-aged kids, you can still find great deals on items to donate to under-served schools and their students.  The other day I purchased 24-count packs of Crayola crayons,2-count packs of Elmer's glue sticks and 4-ounce bottles of Elmer's School Glue for $.15 per item at Wal-Mart!  The better price you find, the more students you can help!

--Garden supplies.  July and August are months when garden tools, ornaments and seeds frequently go on sale to make room for the influx of fall and winter merchandise that will be in stores soon.  While some stores send seeds back to the distributor for re-packaging, often smaller stores will sell their remaining seeds on clearance.  Stored in a cool, dry place, they're usually still good the following season.

--Picnic supplies.  All those cute plastic coordinating dishes, bowls and cups that are in stores will be marked down and sold.  Buying discounted, multi-use items, (especially if the plastics are recyclable) is environmentally better than using single-use paper, plastic or styrofoam disposables.  A very wise friend of mine purchases one of an item and runs it through her dishwasher.  If it passes the dishwasher test, she returns to purchase a stack of plates, bowls and tumblers which can be washed and reused over and over again.

--Pool supplies and outdoor toys, baseball equipment, and other seasonal recreational equipment.  All of these items are frequently discounted at the end of the season.

--Lightweight/summer clothing, footwear and swimwear.  If you've ever tried to find a bathing suit in September, you know that they are usually long gone by then, so July is a good time to pick up another suit if you typically need one after the summer season. 

     This is by no means an exhaustive list . . . just a few ideas to get you thinking ahead about what you might buy now that you will need later. Obviously, you don't want to stock up on a bunch of stuff you don't need, just because the price is good, but a basic principle of thrift is to purchase whatever you need for the best price possible.  Building your awareness of seasonal price fluctuations can help you get the best prices on the things you need to buy . . . leaving you more money for things that matter.

--Susan Rodebush  ©  2009

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Thrift and Whining

     Four years ago, when we took occupancy of our foreclosure-fixer-upper-farmhouse, we were met with a strangely similar reaction when our friends walked into the kitchen.  "Oh, wow!" was typically all they would say . . . not "Oh, wow!" as in: "Oh, wow, what a great kitchen!" but "Oh, wow!" as in "Oh, wow, what a major rat hole!"  But, we thought the kitchen, including the farmer-built cabinets, had "charm". 

    Four long years later, we are remodeling our kitchen, and have been working to restore the farmer-made kitchen cupboards.  By "restore" I mean "essentially rebuild from the inside-out".  My husband has blocked mouse holes with steel wool and spray foam, cut wood panels to re-line the back walls of the cupboards (which were just plain nasty), and used enough caulk on the insides of the cabinets to seal them tightly from intruding critters.  Now it's my  turn to remove ages-old, grungy contact paper from the shelves, and coat the cupboards inside with primer and paint.

     Forty minutes ago, I was doing just that:  having wiped the interiors with "liquid sandpaper" I was brushing them with stain-blocking primer.  My neck was crooked at an awkward angle, and, frankly, I wasn't having fun.  I commented (okay, whined) that we probably would have been better off building new cabinets from scratch -- the old ones seemed to have lost their "charm" -- and told my husband I was taking a break to walk our dog.

     While I was walking, however, several things occurred to me.  For one, we had a choice  in repairing the cupboards rather than replacing them.  Although part of our reasoning in repairing them was to save money, we could have purchased new cabinets if we chose; we simply wanted to use the money for other things.  My second realization hit me harder:  the reason I was painting the interiors of cupboards which would store food, dishes and cookware was because I have all of these things to store.  If I was like at least twenty percent of the world's people who often don't have  food, I certainly wouldn't need cupboards.  My third realization came when I returned from my walk and spoke to my husband, and he reminded me that the origin of the word "cupboard" is a literal one.  In earlier days, the "cup-board" was a board with nails or pegs on which each family member hung his or her cup.  They didn't need more storage, because they also had far, far less than I do to store.

     So, now it's time for me to take my own advice!  First, take responsibility for your choices!  I have no real reason to whine if I'm doing what I have chosen  to do.  Secondly, don't insult the poor of the world by whining when you make financial choices out of your abundance.  Gratitude for what I have is once again the key to contentment.  Finally, realize that often our frustration results from the complexity of our lives and the abundance of our stuff.  I'm not advocating getting rid of all of your (or my) dishes and cookware, but if I want to simplify my life, I really have to look at the quantity of my possessions.

     I'm heading back to the kitchen now to finish priming the insides of the cabinets.  I'm hoping that, now that I've had some time to consider my choices and my blessings, I'll be able to see the "charm" in the cupboards once again.  Somehow, I'm confident that my husband is hoping the same thing.

--Susan Rodebush  ©  2009

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Thrift and Spots on the Carpet

     Four years ago when we took occupancy of our "fixer-upper" farmhouse, the floors in three rooms were covered in dirty, brown carpet.  Did I say "dirty"?  The carpet was filthy, and apparently the previous owners' pets had done their "business" indoors -- on the carpet -- on numerous occasions.  The carpet and padding had to go, and, wishing he owned a haz-mat suit for the occasion, my long-suffering husband undertook the task of carrying the nasty carpet and padding out to the dumpster.

     The wood floors beneath the old carpet were sound, but not in good enough condition to refinish, so we made the decision to purchase new carpet.  We shopped, comparison-priced and negotiated, and then paid for a decent-quality berber carpet, with padding and installation, for the same three rooms.  Knowing that we would later install a wood stove in the living room, we chose a mottled gray . . . the color of wood ash.  As it turns out, it's also the color of dust, which works well with my level of cleaning.

     Because we have a dog with a "delicate" stomach, and humans who sometimes drop the pizza sauce-side-down, I picked up an aerosol can of carpet spot cleaner after the carpet was installed.  Having depleted that can, I looked at the store a few days ago for a replacement.  Sticker shock!!!  The cleaner had doubled in price to $4.00/can for the cheapest cleaner, and my internal thrift alarm went off.  There had to be a less expensive alternative!  Thus, I started looking for home-made solutions.

     It turns out that there are many very smart people who have gone before me and figured out what works best on various spots.  For most stains, clean up solids, if any, and then blot the spot with a paper towel to remove as much liquid as possible. 

For an all-purpose spot cleaner, combine in a 1-quart spray bottle:

--1 T  dish soap/laundry soap (avoid ones containing lanolin or bleach -- for 'ultra' concentrates, use less)

--1 T  white vinegar

--1 quart water

Spray solution on spot.  Wait 3 -- 5 minutes; lightly rub with a clean rag.  Blot until dry. 

For ink:  sprinkle on cream of tartar, then a few drops lemon juice.  Blot until spot is removed.

For blood:  if fresh, clean with cold water on a rag.  If stain persists, try a small amount of club soda or hydrogen peroxide.

For greasy/oily stains:  sprinkle with baking soda or corn starch; rub in.  Leave overnight. Vacuum.

For red wine or coffee:  clean with a rag dampened with white vinegar or club soda.

     As with any formula, test whatever you use for colorfastness on an inconspicuous place on the carpet.  What amazes me most about the all-purpose cleaner is not only that it works as well as the spray can, but that I can make a quart of the solution for five cents!  This means that, even counting the purchase of a $1.00 spray bottle at the dollar store, I could make sixty quarts of homemade cleaner for the cost of one quart of store-bought spray.  Put another way, I could make $4.00 of homemade cleaner, or buy an equivalent amount of store brand for $240.00! 

     A lesson for the future for all of us:  before we run to the store to purchase a solution to a problem, it often doesn't hurt to research other alternatives.  Not only might we save money on product, but we save time we would spend shopping for it, and can end up keeping lots of single-use containers out of the recycle bin -- or landfill -- as well.

--Susan Rodebush  ©  2009

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Thrifty Summer Cooking and Energy Saving Tips

     We typically run our air conditioner when the outdoor temperature hits 90 degrees or above, but rather than setting the programmable thermostat and letting the a/c cycle on and off around the clock, we wait until the indoor temperature gets warm -- typically in the early afternoon -- and then run it for 2 -- 3 hours during the hottest part of the day.  If the temperature gets too warm several hours later, we turn the a/c back on for a few hours.  By keeping south-facing window shades closed, we are able to run the central air much less frequently than if we kept it on the "automatic" setting. Typically, the overnight temperature is low enough that we can open the windows and don't need to run the a/c overnight (unless, of course, a wandering skunk has chosen to make its presence known nearby . . . we do live in the country!) 

     It always bothers me, though, to do a lot of cooking when the air conditioner is running.  I don't like to create more heat, and then require more cooling.  There are several approaches we take to avoid heating up the kitchen on the hottest of days:

--Cook outside.  Many people do this on the grill, but if you have an electrical outlet on a porch, deck or patio, you can easily use a crock-pot, toaster oven or hot plate outdoors.  Make sure your appliance won't be somewhere where it can get wet from a pool or sprinkler (or unexpected rain shower), keep small children away for safety, and cook on a heat-proof surface.  Our ancestors did this when they used their summer kitchens, to avoid building a fire inside the house in the heat of the summer.  We're pretty sure that the outbuilding on our property which we now use for a garden shed was once a summer kitchen.

--Cook during the cool time of day.  The time I don't want to be preparing a hot meal is at 4:00 in the afternoon when the outdoor temperature is 97 degrees!  An evening meal can be prepared early in the day, and simply warmed in the microwave just before serving.

--Use energy-saving appliances, like the crock-pot, toaster oven and bread machine, if you have them.  If I run out of the beans I had cooked on my wood stove during the winter and frozen in 2-cup containers, I will cook 1 -- 2 pounds of dry beans in my crock pot for 4 to 5 hours on the high setting.  (Beans don't need pre-soaking when cooked on the "high" setting.)  Even if you don't have a place to cook outside, these small appliances will generate much less heat indoors than a conventional oven.  A toaster oven will also cook recipes more quickly, and at a lower temperature, than a conventional oven.  (Refer to the following "fruit crisp" recipe as an example.)

--Batch cook.  Make a double batch of pasta, and use half for a meal with sauce, and the rest for a pasta salad.  It takes longer to boil a larger pan of water . . . but not twice as long. 

--Cook rice in double batches also, following the rice cooking tip on my February 6, 2009 blog post.  Even if you don't have a place to cook it outside, you can always let the "wrapped" rice finish cooking outdoors.

--Eat more main-dish salads in the summer.  We find it pleasant to eat something cool on a particularly hot day.

--Eat smaller, more frequent meals.  Consider having your main meal earlier in the day -- brunch or lunch -- instead of eating a large, heavy meal in the evening.  While snacking on junk food isn't good for your health or your waistline, having a nutritious snack between meals helps maintain steady blood-sugar levels, helping you maintain energy.  If you snack on low-fat yogurt, peanut butter crackers, or an ounce or two of cheese with fruit, you may find it less necessary to eat a big lunch or dinner which requires more cooking.

--Build a solar oven.  This is a great project to do with kids!  A solar oven can be as simple as two nested cardboard boxes with styrofoam packing in between.  The inner box is lined with foil, and both boxes are covered with a sheet of glass and placed outdoors, facing south.  Find more specific directions by googling "solar oven".  While I wouldn't recommend cooking meat in one until you are sure you can do so safely, baked potatoes are a great food to try in a solar oven.

     In addition to cooking, one appliance which generates a lot of heat is a clothes dryer.  A clothesline or collapsible drying rack can enable you to utilize the sun and wind for drying without heating the house.  At least consider hanging larger items outdoors in the summer.  I typically like to machine dry socks, underwear and towels together, and line dry the rest when the weather permits.  If you live in a neighborhood which doesn't permit outdoor clotheslines, you may find that hanging a line in the garage will allow you to use the outdoor temperature to dry clothes.  And now, you have even more motivation to clean out the garage this summer!

--Susan Rodebush  ©  2009

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How to Save More -- or Less -- on a Recipe

     Many recipes are billed as "inexpensive" or "money-saving", but there can be a big difference in price for your finished meal depending on how you shop for ingredients.  One of my thrift workshop 'mantras' is:  "Acquired tastes are expensive tastes."  The more you insist on specific brands when purchasing food, the higher your grocery bill, and cost per meal, will be.  Let's look at a sample recipe:  the pasta salad I posted on June 14th.

     For the sake of discussion, let's assume you only purchase national brands.  No store brands for you!  You are convinced that national brands taste better.  To make the pasta salad, you would purchase a 1# package of Creamette Rotini for $1.41, an 8-oz. package of Trans Ocean Imitation Crab for $2.99, an 8-oz package of sugar snap peas for $2.50, a 2# bag of carrots for $1.34, and a 16-oz. bottle of Hidden Valley Ranch dressing for $3.50.  With 1/4# of peas and 10 carrots left over, you would spend $9.27 to make your salad:  6 to 8 servings at $1.16 to $1.55 per serving.

     Okay, maybe the sticker shock made you reconsider store brands.  You return to the market and pay $1.29 for Kroger Brand Rotini, $2.49 for Kroger Imitation Crab, the same $2.50 for your peas and $1.34 for the carrots, and $1.24 for Kroger Garlic Ranch salad dressing.  Now you're down to paying $6.39 for your salad, or $.80 to $1.07 per serving.  And actually, you've discovered that store brands taste pretty good!

     But is that as good as you can do?  What if you purchased ingredients on sale for your pantry and freezer?  What if you maybe even grew some vegetables in your garden?  When I made the salad less than a week ago, I had spent $.67 for Meijer Rotini, $1.19 for Meijer Imitation Crab, $1.00 for a 2# bag of carrots on sale, $.88 for Kroger Garlic Ranch dressing, and the sugar snap peas were from my garden.   (I saved the seeds from last year's crop.)  My salad total was $2.83, or $.35 - $.47 for 6 to 8 servings:  30% of the National Brand cost, and 44% of the Store Brand cost.  Multiply the savings by hundreds of meals per year, and they are significant.

     In fairness, none of the National or Store Brand prices were sale prices.  But how many people decide what they will make before they purchase ingredients, and then pay the prevailing price?  So, for future cost savings, consider these ideas:  1)  Stock your pantry (and freezer) with items purchased on sale.  If you read the ads before shopping, you can get the best prices without spending an enormous amount of time.  I typically shop 3 times a month, and hit 2 or 3 stores each trip.  Refer to the post from June 10th on Building a Pantry, if needed.  2) Limit your loyalty to National Brands.  Do a taste comparison with store brands, many of which are packaged by national companies.  If you must buy National brands, at least buy them on sale!  3)  Plan your menu based on what's on sale and what you already have.  If you have cooked chicken, or zucchini is much cheaper, by all means, use those recipe variations.  4)  Consider growing your own.  Even a small garden can yield big savings when you grow vegetables which are pricey at the store.  Gourmet lettuce blends, sugar snap or snow peas, herbs, tomatoes and garlic are some good examples of foods which are fairly easy to grow, and yield a lot of food in a fairly small area.

     By planning and shopping wisely, you can make any recipe more affordable.  If you add a small garden and use a few creative variations, you will be amazed at how much you trim from your grocery bill, while continuing to serve foods that are delicious as well as thrifty.

--Susan Rodebush  ©  2009

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The Night We Burned the Hedge

     Our first house was a white cape cod in an older city neighborhood on a 1/5 acre lot.  Previous owners had planted a hedge across the front property line, which, as new homeowners, we had dutifully trimmed all summer.  The second summer we lived there, however, we discovered that the harsh winter temperatures had killed the hedge to the ground.  New, green shoots were emerging from the roots, but we had 75 feet of dead brush to remove to make room for the new growth.

     With pruning saw and trimmers in hand, we began cutting . . . and cutting . . . and cutting some more.  Before  long, there was a small mountain of dead brush in the front yard which would have to go somewhere.  The trash service said they would charge $40.00 to haul it all away, and we weren't crazy about putting all of that brush in the landfill.  After some brainstorming, we called the fire department to learn what the local ordinances allowed in the way of open fires, and were told that a small, open fire was permissible for cooking food.

     Back by the garden, in a bare spot, we carried stones from elsewhere on the property to create a fire circle.  We got out marshmallows, hot dogs, and chairs to sit by the fire . . . and started burning the hedge.

     Before long one neighbor, and then another, and then two more made their way to our backyard.  What started as a practical solution to dispose of the brush ended up as a party.  The kids roasted hot dogs and made s'mores, one of the families ordered some pizzas, and at least half a dozen people pitched in, helping to carry armfuls of brush from the front yard to the fire.  There were clusters of people sitting or standing in the yard talking, or just relaxing and watching the fire burn.

     By the end of the evening, the hedge was gone . . . and, even better, we had gotten to know our neighbors.  That was the first of many evenings we built fires inside that circle of stones, and usually, when we did, someone from the neighborhood would stop by to visit.  Before long, two of our nearest neighbors had fire circles in their backyards as well.

     The night we burned the hedge, we found an inexpensive solution for removing the dead brush from our yard.  The real gift that night, however, was the realization that a simple fire brought us together as neighbors, and sparked many evenings of conversation and laughter . . . and all for the price of a match . . . and a couple of hot dogs.

--Susan Rodebush  © 2009

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Thrift and Rediscovering "Special"

     Typically, the roads were gentle hills with the occasional sharper curve, and outside the windows of the blue, Ford Falcon station wagon we would see corn and barns and red-winged blackbirds.  It wasn't unusual, particularly in the summer, for our family to pile into the car on a Sunday afternoon and go for a 'ride in the country'.  Sometimes, one of my parents would sing a song like "I See the Moon" or "Red River Valley", and most times, my sister and I would be fighting motion sickness in the backseat.  Part of what made Sunday rides anticipated, though, was the possibility -- if we were well-behaved -- of stopping afterward at Baskin-Robbins for a single-dip ice cream cone.  We didn't go for rides every Sunday, and we didn't stop for ice cream every time we went for a ride.  But sometimes, we got to stop, and make our own selection of flavor, (I remember trying "Bubblegum" -- it was pink) and savor the cold sweetness of that special treat.

     As a kid, "special" was something which, by definition, didn't happen very often.  It was a reward for merit or good behavior, or an event, like attending the circus, which might occur just once during childhood.  We were a middle-class family, but my parents were children of the Depression, and treats were exactly that -- they were special -- they were uncommon.

     Somehow my generation, and the rest of our culture, seems to have lost the concept of special.  Now, we live with a "whatever we want, whenever we want it" mentality . . . so much so, that it's not unusual to hear people complain about luxuries which would be unheard of in other countries.  "That sushi wasn't as good as the sushi we had Tuesday". . . "I'm tired of having pizza -- can we get something else?" . . . "These shoes are okay, but I really wish I had gotten the other ones" . . . "Yes, it's a nice car, but it doesn't have a moon roof."  The more we have, the less what we have seems to satisfy us, and the more it seems to take for us to experience something as "special."

     So, what if we went back in time?  What if, instead of buying a new pair of shoes every paycheck, we bought a new pair once or twice a year?  What if we ate at a restaurant once a month (or less) instead of four or more times a week?  What if we delayed gratification long enough for things to become special again?  What if, instead of spending more and more money for less and less enjoyment, we waited long enough to do or acquire something that we could appreciate it in a new way?

     Most of us in this country are blessed with abundance, to the extent that we have taken for granted how often we can enjoy almost endless options of food, clothing, entertainment, and stuff.  But by continuing to acquire so much so frequently, we not only spend on ourselves money which could help others, but we lessen the value of each item or experience to ourselves, because it becomes lost in the blur of continual acquisition.

     So, let's restore "special" as a word which has real meaning in our vocabularies.  By spending less on ourselves, and spending less frequently, we will discover we have plenty for ourselves already, plenty to share with others, and we may even be able to revisit that rare, almost forgotten time, where the simple, occasional treats can become special once again.

--Susan Rodebush  © 2009

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Thrift and Setting Limits

     There are those weeks -- all of us have them occasionally -- when the "to-do list" seems insurmountable.  (I typically experience this at tax time!)  The daily routine becomes a tightly choreographed series of maneuvers with little room for error.  One unexpected delay can suddenly push everything else past deadline.  There may be some people who flourish with that type of schedule . . . who thrive on cramming each day as full as possible . . . but I suspect that most of us feel somewhat overwhelmed in the midst of that kind of week, and relieved when the checklist of tasks is complete.

     What causes these frantic times of juggling commitments?  Sometimes the needs of others take precedence over other duties, and we re-work our schedules to meet them.  We drive grandma to her doctor's appointment, or return DVDs to the video store for a neighbor whose kids are sick.  Other times we run into a busy season . . . a temporary phase when the demands of work, school, illness and holiday shopping all need to be met simultaneously.  But often, we find that we're chronically busy because we're afraid, or unwilling, to say "no". . . to ourselves or to others.

     This inability to set and accept limits applies not only to our time, but also to spending, acquisition, and 'expansion'.  We spend to have more time-saving devices, yet later realize that they often require time to be used, maintained, stored, and eventually 'off-loaded'.  If we don't regularly edit our "stuff", we spend more money to rent storage space to capture and hold our excess.  If no amount of improvement ever satisfies us, our homes, wardrobes, gardens, automobiles and hobbies continue to expand to fill -- and spill beyond -- all available time and space.

     While it may seem restrictive to set limits for ourselves, it can actually be freeing.  With five acres of property, my husband and I could be tempted to create another garden bed (or ten), mow a larger area of "lawn" (I use this term loosely, because in our world, "lawn" is anything relatively green and uniformly short enough to walk on) or expand one of the existing structures.  Yet every expansion requires additional expenditures of time, money and energy to create it and maintain it.  At some point, we have to ask ourselves, when are we done?

     Setting reasonable limits for the expenditures of our energy, money and time isn't always easy.  It's hard not to be tempted by the "new" and the "different".  But every time we consider adding anything to our lives, whether it is a time commitment, an acquisition or an upgrade, we need to first remember that everything has a cost.  Setting reasonable limits on the costs we are willing to pay to acquire, expand, maintain and people-please can release us from the frenzy we experience when we're over-committed and over-spent.  We can have time, money and energy left for things that really matter.  And the greatest thing we save may be our sanity.  I could certainly use more of that.

--Susan Rodebush  © 2009

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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

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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

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Thrift and Financial Success

     There is an attitude I frequently encounter when I talk to people about thrift.  It is a perception that using thrift strategies to save money is "for people who are broke, who are struggling financially.  I make a good income. . .we live a comfortable life. . .I don't really need to do this stuff."  The thinking seems to be that using money-saving tools is beneath certain people, although I don't know if they would acknowledge that out loud.  Clipping coupons, shopping at discount stores, purchasing secondhand clothing -- those are activities for 'losers', for the financially down-and-out.

     The interesting thing about this perception is that it doesn't align with reality.  Why?  Because people have confused the difference between external symbols of affluence and actual wealth.  They have believed the marketing which tells them that if they purchase certain brands, shop at more exclusive stores, and don't engage in "cheap" activities they will be perceived as financially successful.  The message, then, is that if I look wealthy, and I act wealthy, people will believe that I am wealthy.  In actuality, studies of people who are genuinely wealthy, from a net-worth standpoint, indicate that they engage in much different behavior.

     Dr. Thomas Stanley has studied millionaires for more than twenty years, and the description he gives of millionaire behavior is very different from the "look rich" perception promoted in the media.  Dr. Stanley has determined that, when examining first-generation millionaires (those who earned rather than inherited their wealth) 84% of their households shop with a grocery list, 65% use discount coupons for groceries, and 57% buy goods in bulk at warehouse stores. (The Millionaire Mind, p. 299.)

     Why would people with so much money be so price conscious?  Because they have realized early on that the less money they spend on consumable items, and things which depreciate in value, the more they have to invest in real assets -- purchases which grow in value over time.  They recognize that clothing, electronic gadgets, new cars and gourmet groceries don't increase in value once they bring them home from the store.  Thus, they will buy reliable used cars and secondhand clothing as they are building wealth.

     Robert Kiyosaki, a writer on wealth-building, agrees with Dr. Stanley's observations.  He states:  ". . .rich people buy luxuries last, while the poor and middle class tend to buy luxuries first.  The poor and middle class often buy luxury items such as big houses, diamonds, furs, jewelry or boats because they want to look rich.  They look rich, but in reality they just get deeper in debt on credit.  The. . .long-term rich built their asset column first.  Then, the income generated from the asset column bought their luxuries.  The poor and middle class buy luxuries with their own sweat, blood and children's inheritance."  (Robert Kiyosaki, Rich Dad, Poor Dad, p. 91.)

     So am I saying that every thrift strategy applies to every person?  Of course not.  The point is simply that most status items are consumables, and most wealthy people bother to use the thrift strategies which will free up more money for assets and investments.  If being thrifty works for the wealthy, then maybe it's not a bad idea for the rest of us.

     There is one area of spending which may seem like consumption spending, but is not, and that is charitable giving.  When we spend money to meet the needs of another, we are investing in a person who is eternal -- and in a cause greater than our own financial status.  It is asset investment in the greatest sense, because we are pouring our resources into something lasting, something which is bigger than ourselves.  Not only does thrift allow us to build wealth, but it frees up our finances to enable us to give. . .to use our money for things that matter.

--Susan Rodebush  © 2009

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Now is a Great Time to. . .

     The day (or so) after Valentine's Day is a great time to purchase marked-down Valentine candy.  Not only can you pick up some sweets to snack on, often the discounted chocolate is cheaper-per-ounce than chocolate chips, and can be coarsely chopped to use in cookies or baking.

--Susan Rodebush  © 2009

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