Tips & Quips

I don't know about your refrigerator, but mine tends to hide things. I put leftovers in and they disappear! I wish I could tell you that some wonderful family member had eaten them, but no...our fridge is enjoying a wonderful game of hide-n-seek with them.

Now, it's really sweet that our fridge just wants to be included in our family fun times, but quite frankly, Fridge's little game is costing this family some precious dollars, not to mention the fact that we are wasting enough that could literally feed one or two adults.

This isn't being a good steward of our finances or the food that God has blessed us with. In our home, if a leftover hasn't been eaten within a day or two, chances are it's not going to be eaten.
Yesterday I decided to clean out the fridge and what I found made me totally ashamed. I threw out an ice cream bucket full of food.

God was dealing with me with each swipe of the spatula around yet another bowl of wastefulness when He finally got through this thick skull and said, "What is good, freeze." I said, "But it's just a bite here or a bite there." He reminded me, "It's enough for one."

Then ding!!! That little light bulb turned on and the result was this:



4 bags of leftovers. Some stroganoff, a pork chop, some bbq and some polish sausage/sauce mix (family favorite from my growing up days!).

Looking at this food separated into these bags made me realize that even more than I thought was being thrown out and I was very disappointed in myself.

So, my tip....if you haven't eaten those leftovers, freeze them. Do them in single serving sizes for those times when it's just one or two eating, or when you don't want to cook and take out would strain that budget.

We are BLESSED!!!!!!! It's time we began taking care of all of our blessings including leftovers..

Tips and Quips

With Christmas quickly approaching, most everyone I know tries to find ways to save a bit of money and make that budget stretch a bit farther. I'm no exception. I love to make my budget stretch period!!

Here are a few ideas to reuse some things that might otherwise be thrown away.

~~When you get a Christmas card....or any other type of card for that matter..instead of throwing it away after you've enjoyed it for a while, cut the front off and either reuse it as a post card or cut it down to make a name tag for your gifts!!

~~If you send gifts out of town, then you know the importance of careful packing, save those grocery fliers and old newspapers. They are wonderful to keep those special treasures safe as they travel. Even better if you can shred those papers up!!

~~ Speaking of shredded paper....we shred our newspapers and such and then use them in our garden and compost pile. They just rot away in the ground while helping to hold the moisture in...and in our (usually) dry area, that is priceless!!!

~~We love blueberries...even my picky son!! Want to know how to give those blueberry bushes a boost and make them smile?? Save those used coffee grounds and leftover coffee. Just sprinkle around the bushes and watch them liven up!!...My roses love coffee as well...think it runs in our family??

~~Got an old towel that has a few holes in it?? Don't throw it away!! Even the most illiterate seamstress (and that would be me) can sew a somewhat straight line. Cut that towel apart and make wash cloths from it!!

~~Don't throw those soap slivers away either. After you've saved up 3 or 4, shred them up in a sauce pan. Add about 2 cups of water and heat until melted. Cool and pour into a liquid soap dispenser--saved of course from your previous liquid soap purchase. Now you have liquid hand soap and it didn't cost you an extra cent!!

Tips and Quips

It is still raining at my house!!! It has been many, many years since I've seen this much rain during the fall of the year in our neck of the woods. It takes me back to when I was a little girl and fall and winter were always wet!!

With all of this rain, my sweet little umbrella is working overtime!! But what to do with that wet thing when I get in the car or go into a store, library or even church??

Easy.......

Do you have an overload of plastic bags that you get from almost every store you frequent? You get them at Wal Mart, K Mart, the dollar stores, grocery stores...bags everywhere!!!!!!! I have become a big fan of reusable canvas bags, but I still rely on those plastic bags for a few things, especially when they can save me money. I use my canvas bags a lot, but when I catch myself running low on the plastics, I say, "Plastic please." Why would I do that you might ask? Well.......

~~Use those plastic bags to stick that wet umbrella in. Keeps your car dry and it also keeps you from dripping water all over the place and maybe causing someone to fall when you go in the store. You can also use those plastic bags to line your small garbage cans in your bathrooms and office. We also use those bags for used kitty litter. Just put kitty's....business...in one, tie it up and throw it in the trash. No odor!! Fantastic!!

~~If your family is like mine, you find yourself with only a tablespoon or two of leftover veggies after a meal. Don't throw those leftovers out!! Put a plastic ice cream bucket or bowl (anything with a lid) in your freezer. Put those bites of veggies in that bowl and let them freeze. When the bowl gets full, you're ready to make some homemade veggie soup and it didn't cost you a thing!!

~~And along those lines, not many people are fond of the heels in the loaves of bread. Just put those in your food processor, give it a whirl, add some seasonings and you have bread crumbs. Don't need those bread crumbs tonight? Put them in a plastic bag and stick them in the freezer. Ready when you are!!

~~Everyone loves a bargain and bell peppers are rarely cheap where we live. So, when they do go on sale I stock up. When I get home I wash them, seed them and chop them up. I then put them in individual portions and stick them in the freezer. Ready when I am and it also saves me time when I'm preparing a meal!!

~~I do the same things with onions as well. Don't let them go bad!! Chop them up, portion them out and stick them in the freezer as well!!!

Have I mentioned that a deep freezer, even a small one, is a great investment?? :o)

Tips and Quips

Yesterday morning was so awesome!!! It was overcast and there was a chill in my house. I know....you're pretty sure I'm off my nut, right??

Well, I'm not...completely...

It was the perfect day for homemade chili and it was so simple to throw together!!!

What made my prep time considerably easier??

Planning ahead. Just a little here and a little there can make a big difference.

~~Brown all of your ground beef at one time. When it cools, put it in bags or freezer containers in ½ or 1 pound amounts. Then the next time you're making chili or tacos, spaghetti or sloppy joes, it's as easy as grabbing out the amount you need and heating it up!! Makes it easier to feed those drop in guests as well!!!

~~Don't let that crock pot just set on the counter collecting dust!! Soak 2 pounds of pinto beans over night. The next morning, rinse the beans and put them in your crock pot. Add some water and seasoning, turn that pot on low and forget about it. I let my pintos cook around 24 hours. Let them cool and put them in quart bags. Lay them flat to make more room and stick them in the freezer. Handy deal next time you want to make chili or just want some pintos to go along with that cornbread!!

~~Hate ironing?? I do. But what I hate more is what to do with the cord when your storing it. I've got the same problem with my blow dryer, curling iron....Of course, I could buy those handy dandy ties and tie those cords up...but why spend the money?? Next time you empty a roll of toilet paper save that tube!! It's perfect for storing those cords in and allowing you to put up those appliances neatly!!

~~Need just a tablespoon of tomato sauce or pesto?? Get some ice cube trays, measure your sauce and put a tablespoon in each hole and freeze. When frozen, pop them out and put them in a bag. Ready in an instant when you need them!!

~~I love my floor swiffer. I have hardwood floors and it seems as if every time I look at them there is dust of crumbs or something staring back at me. That drives me nuts!! Swiffer pads can get very expensive but there are two things I do to save money. I use the microfiber rags or used dryer sheets. The microfiber pads can be bought at the dollar store for a buck and will last forever. Just use them and throw them in the washer--but make sure you don't use fabric softener on them!!

Hope these handy little ideas will make your day easier and your wallet happier!!!