In a way I am grateful for the turn in the economy. It has made our society more aware of the emphasis that we are putting on monetary things. A recent television show focused on a family whose variable rate mortgage had shot through the roof because of the turn in the economy. When the father of this family of 5 lost his job they in turn lost their home to foreclosure and ended up homeless. What touched me the most was not that they were poor, or that they had lost their Wii, or that they had to drag all their belongings around in a garbage bag, what really touched me was their ten year old son. When asked what he got for his birthday last year he ticked off a list of electronics, games, and other expensive toys. He shrugged when asked if he missed them. Then he was asked what he wanted for his birthday this year and he thoughtfully answered, "To know that my family loves me." he paused, then added, "Maybe a cake would be nice too."Back to basics. I have been spending time lately studying how to be more frugal with my money. I didn't grow up in a home where money was wasted. How could it be with 5 kids and a stay at home mom? (Thanks Dad and Mom for that sacrifice.) I hope my children too learn how to live frugally and not be seduced by credit. I've learned some cool things and I was thinking it might be fun to start a community blog on frugal living where a lot of us could be contributors. As a new mom I am learning cool tips and tricks, and it would be fun to share them with everyone. Also, I know some incredibly frugal people (channeling Julie Nye and others like her) with great ideas and tips too. If you'd like to join me or have some great ideas, please leave a comment.
Here's a tip or two I learned this week. They are really no-brainers, but I think it will help save quite a bit of money in the long run:
Perimeter shopping. Grocery stores are set up in such a way that the basic items needed to replenish your fresh supply (think fresh fruits and vegetables, dairy, meat, bread) are found along the perimeter of the grocery store. Make your list, and shop first the perimeter, ending with fruits and vegetables (so they won't get squished). Stick to your list and then allow yourself to only go down the aisles where items are on your list. If you go to the store to pick up just a gallon of milk, choose a route where you are less likely to pick up spontaneous buys (i.e. skip the cookie aisle and make a trip down the less tempting pet aisle...unless you are partial to dog bones, it should be pretty safe).
Fresh herbs. Last year for FHE (Family Home Evening - we have a night we dedicate once a week to spending with family) we decided to plant some fresh herbs like cilantro, oregano, parsley, etc. It was really relatively cheap and within a few weeks we had quite the stock. It lasted us for a few months and it was awesome to have yummy fresh herbs (free of pesticides too!).
While it's great to have these herbs on hand during the summer, you can continue to keep them through out the winter months too! Parsley, chives, and basil will freeze well. Wash the leaves and pat them dry, then finely chop and store each herb in a small labeled and dated plastic bag (squeeze the air out of it).
For other herbs you can wash, dry, and chop them. Place them in an ice cube tray, add just enough water to cover them and freeze. You can then throw them into storage bags and when you need a tablespoon of oregano just drop a cube into the pot of spaghetti sauce! Walaa!
You can also quick-dry your own herbs if you are worried about them going bad. Place them on a baking sheet and warm them in a 100 degree F oven until they are dry (not burned). If you have a gas oven like me, you heat it up to 200 degrees, turn it off, then set the herbs inside until dry. Cool huh?
