Making Some Changes

I am making some changes to facilitate having more time to complete importnat tasks in my life.  One of those changes is to stop posting on this blog.  While I feel the information I have shared is important and helpful, I also do not want to be redundant by posting on the same topic over and over. 

I am sure there are lots more topics I could cover, especially if I did some research on those things that do not apply to my life, like weddings and children and family issues.  Being single has its own issues and I feel I have addressed pretty much all of them here already.   I have touched on some of the others when something ocurred to me, but since I am working full time again, I no longer have the luxury of time to do research on extra things.

All that said, I thank everyone who has read the posts herein and especially those who have taken them to heart.  I hope some others may still stumble upon this blog and maybe learn something new. 

For those that would dearly love to have tips and hints and more to read each week or day, use this link http://blogsearch.google.com/

and enter a word like saving, frugality, simple life, recycling, thrifting and so on.  You will find many more sites to add to your reading list.

There is a possibility that I will add content at some future time if a pertinent subject comes up, but for now I need to cut back and regroup.  Thank you all again for reading. 

I will still be posting on my regular blog at http://canterburycottageherbals.blogspot.com/ all about my crafts, pets, gardening, herbs, and so on.

Simply Simplify

Go confidently in the direction of your dreams! Live the life you've imagined. As you simplify your life, the laws of the universe will be simpler. -- Henry David Thoreau

*

I read quite a lot of Thoreau in my late teen years.  It has always stayed with me even when I have not heeded his words.  The older I become, the more I read and the more wisdom I gain, the easier it is to see that Thoreau was right all along.

*

That man is the richest whose pleasures are the cheapest. -- Henry David Thoreau

*

I seem to be getting rid of things that I have long held onto because of silly reasons.  They were gifts, they were expensive, everyone else has one, etc.   I performed a major de-cluttering earlier this year and I am still working on it.  I think it may be an ongoing process for a while.  Almost every week I have a grocery sack of stuff to donate to the charity shop.

*

I'm not saying I have stopped buying things we need, nor have I stopped buying items like books that we 'could' live without.  I am not into depriving my mind of stimulation.  But I do buy most items second hand.  What do I care if there are notes in my newest cookbook?  Or a couple of dog-eared pages.  It is still perfectly readable and much more affordable.  Borrowing from the library is great except you can't keep it forever and some book I like to read over or refer to many times.

*

The cost of a thing is the amount of what I call life which is required to be exchanged for it, immediately or in the long run. -- Henry David Thoreau

*

I no longer use credit cards, I never use short term loans and so far we have had enough even when something goes wrong.  I had a car repair this week and thankfully had enough to take care of it.  I have cancelled the Direct TV totally even though I am now working again, because I found I didn't need it and I did not watch enough of it to justify spending a whole day's wage to pay for it each month.  Movies I own and my new found radio programs as well as my books are my entertainment.  This has simplified things and slowed down my pace. 

*

I am really enjoying the slower pace.  It is amazing how one can get all wound up on having to do everything quickly just by watching the fleeting images on the TV screen.  Commercials especially flip from one image to another so fast you don't have time to think, and thus feel you must go purchase that item because you just have to.  I don't feel that anymore.  My stress level is almost non-existant.  Of course my new job has a bit to do with that as I love it and I can move at my own pace.

*

A man is rich in proportion to the number of things he can afford to let alone. -- Henry David Thoreau

*

I feel very blessed and more real since I started on this simplifying road.  It may be the one less travelled, perhaps that's why it is so peaceful, but I encourage everyone to try it.

Drive Thru Breakfast Time

I have a confession to make.  Since I got my new job I have gotten lazy and have been buying my breakfasts.  I know it costs more, I know it costs too much even for a $1 sausage biscuit at McDonalds, when you do it every day.  I also know it is not healthy.  Some days I have even gone to the Donut Shop for a kolache and a donut when the line is too long at McDonalds.  I know all this, so why have I done it especially since it is also not very healthy?   Laziness pure and simple.

For less than it costs me to buy breakfast for 2 days I can eat for 2 weeks on oatmeal.  And I like oatmeal.  But it means I can't keep hitting the snooze button, that I actually have to get moving a litlle earlier.  I'm awake, just don't want to get out of my warm bed.  I told you, pure laziness.

The steel cut Irish oats are my favorite as they are nuttier in taste and have some texture, they are not just mush.  But they do take longer to cook, at least 20 minutes.  So I am resolving to make my breakfasts from here on out and if that means I cook the oats in the evening while making dinner and just reheat them in the morning, then that's what I am going to do.

*

My heart will thank me, possibly my waistline will thank me and I know my pocketbook will thank me.  Even the planet will thank me for creating less garbage from all those napkins and bags and wrappers.  And if you are wondering why I don't just eat cereal with milk? its because my innards can't tolerate milk any more.

*

So, where could you save money and possibly be healthier and/or greener if you just stopped being lazy in one area?

Thrift Store Buying

I have written before about buying things you need from thrift shops like Goodwill, Salvation Army and a myriad of others you may have in your local area.  I thought I would bring up the subject again just as a reminder to those of you who don't usually shop these goldmines or have never thought of it.  I'd also like to clear up some confusion some folks have about these shops.

*

The items in charity thrift shops are usually donated by local people when they de-clutter or clear out after someone has passed away.  Sometimes local stores donate unsold items that are brand new with tags still on them.  A local motel donates used but very serviceable sheets to one of my nearby stores.  What I am trying to show is that it is not all junk no one wants or worn out clothes only fit for rags. 

*

Items I have gotten this year include 2 beautiful jackets nearly new for $17 that I am positive would have $75 or more each retail,  2 new corner shelves for my kitchen redo for $1 each, brand new books with the dust jacket in pristine condition for $1 each, peruvian wool yarn, enough to make a sweater for $5, a stack of about 20 or so cross stitch patterns to resell, some brand new, a box full of evenweave linen in various colors for cross-stitching, some still marked at $20-50 per piece and I paid $20 for the boxfull.  Several really nice shirts for my resident poet at $3 each and a vintage basket to keep my knitting in for $5.

*

Think about what you need and before you go off to the local department store or big box store, check the thrift shops first.  You may not always find what you need but sometimes you do and always at a rock bottom price.

One blogger I like to read set out to not buy anything new for an entire year and they are still mostly living this lifestyle.  They have discovered the joy of the hunt, the mystery of what can I do with this?, the satisfaction that they are reusing something that might have ended up in the landfill and the blessings that come from giving your money to a charity that uses it to help other people or animals.

*

Why not try your local charity shops this week.  You may be able to cut your Christmas present budget and not use that credit card, you can feel good about where the money went, you can even use it as a tax write off!

Soup to Save $

I have written about making soup before, about how time saving and money saving it is as well as how nutritious.  This week I tried something new I read about on another blog on cooking.  It was so very simple and delicious and saved uneaten food from being thrown out which is very wasteful, especially in the pocketbook.

 What you do is take all your leftover vegetables and whizz them in the food processor or blender with a bit of water or broth.  I had leftover potatoes and carrots from a roast pork dinner and we were tired of eating them, plus the pork roast was all gone.  So I whizzed up those while also sauteing some onions and garlic for a flavorful addition.  I whizzed those too.  Then I took some leftover smoked sausage and peeled off the casing, cut into chunks and whizzed that to add to the pot.  We had a bit of gravy left so in it went and of course water to thin things a bit. 

It was wonderful, a thick flavorful soup that we had for supper and lunches the next 2 days.  The lady who wrote the blog article says she uses anything left over and it always seems to come out good.  The one she had made was a green color from the green vegetables she used, mine was orangy from the carrots.  Make it as thick or thin as you want, it is wonderfully warm comfort food.

Excellent for someone not feeling well or who can't chew well and for babies too! 

Remember you can home can the leftovers!

Stockpile It!

Creating a stockpile of food is one of the best ways to save money and to be prepared in case of an emergency situation.  Some folks have a 2 week stockpile, others have 2 months or even 2 years worth of food.  The choice is yours.

The easiest way to do it is over time, a little at a time.  Buy extra when something goes on sale.  We are talking non-perishables here.  Filling your freezer with meat that is on sale is great until the electricity is out for a week, then whatever you haven't cooked and eaten is lost.  This is why I recommend learning to can foods using a pressure canner.  That way even meat will last indefinitely.  You can also buy food or condiments in the huge cans and can it in smaller jars, it saves a lot do that also.  But if you do not can your own food you can still purchase a little extra each trip.  If you can buy in bulk like at Sam's or Costco you can save money on your extras that way too.

(Do not store home canned food with the rings still on as this photo shows.  It traps moisture and causes rust which may rust through the lid as well.)

Think about what foods you want to buy extra of.  Rice, beans, canned goods, cereals, flour, sugar, peanut butter, nuts, dried fruit, pet food, toilet paper, soap, etc.  Only buy items you like as there is no sense in stockpiling stuff you will never eat or use.  Some items like pastas, beans, cereals, flour and sugar you may want to transfer to airtight containers to make sure you do not get pantry moths or ants.  Good plastic containers or empty jars with tight fitting lids of all kinds work well.  Clear containers work best for me as I can see at a glance what I have.  Check freecycle and thrift stores if you need to get some more containers.

Once you start stockpiling and your pantry is full, where do you put more?  Organize closets to give you more space or store things under the bed.  It's amazing how much stuff can be put under the bed and hidden by a bedskirt.  Some of those under bed storage bins are helpful.   How about under the sofa?  There are lots of unused spaces in our homes if we get creative.  Attics, sheds and garages are not good choices because of the temperature fluctuations.  Very short term only or for items like bottled water.  Those who live in hot climates sometimes build out cold rooms with insulation and a small A/C unit, some people have basements or root cellars which are excellent as long as they are not damp.

One thing you will want to do is to go through your stockpile and organize it as you use items and replace them.  Put new stock at the back just like the grocery store does.  You can use a marker to date the cans and boxes to make it easier.  Remember that the canned items are not bad just because the date on the can is past, as long as it is not bulging or rusty or leaking, it should be ok.  Cereals and dry beans will not be at their best for more than a few months.  Most home canned and tin canned foods from the store will last years.  If you ever open anything and it smells bad, throw it out.  Older fruits and vegetables sometimes will not be at their best color or they may break down but are still fine to eat.

Some folks, especially those with a large stockpile, make a list of what they have and keep it up to date.  It's best to clean and organize at LEAST twice a year so you don't end up throwing food away because it is no longer good to eat.

*

Check out this link for some more stockpiling tips and food recommendations: http://www.birdflumanual.com/articles/foodStockpilingTips.asp

*

The stockpile I started last fall when I was told I would be laid off in 5 months really saved me when I went on unemployment.  Groceries have not cost much and even though I am now employed again, I am keeping up my stockpiling as it saves money in the long run.

Banish the Vampires!

No, not your favorite Twilight vampires....electricity vampires!

*

I just received my newest electricity bill and it was half what it was last year this same time, less than $70.  Why?   I can only put it down to the fact I am using less electricity in 3 areas.  One is I am not using the dryer as it is not heating.  How 3 loads of laundry a week can make that much of a difference I don't know.

*

The other things are I am putting the computer to sleep when not in use and since I turned off the DirecTV I only turn on the power strip for the DVD player and TV when I'm actually watching a movie, it doesn't stay on all the time. 

*

Here's your guide to things that suck electricity like vampires suck blood even when not in use.  If it has a light that stays on or a clock that stays lit up even if you don't have it turned on or if it is run by a remote.  In my house it is the TV, DirecTV box, DVD player, clock/radio which I need for the alarm, microwave, window a/c unit, stove, power strips and battery chargers for phone, camera and weedeater.

*

The DirecTV box, DVD player and TV are all on one power strip so it's easy to just switch it off when not in use.  The a/c unit will soon not be needed--I'm in TX remember, and I'm trying hard to remember to unplug chargers when they are done.  The stove and microwave are impossible to unplug and I use the clock on the microwave as the house clock. 

*

So if you want to save some bucks on the electric bill, turn off and unplug.  One of the easiset ways is to plug stuff into a power strip and then when you're done using the stuff, just flip the off switch.   I can't promise your bill will be cut in half, but if you put up a clothesline as well it just might!