Prepared Foods - Do It Yourself

Ready-Made Pasta

Cook up a big batch of noodles to last a couple of days
Cook pasta until it's al dente or firm-tender
Drain and rinse in cold water
Let cool completely
Mix several batches each with 1/2 tsp of olive oil
Transfer to separate plastic containers (in serving sizes that you need)
Store in refrigerator

When you're ready for some pasta, simply microwave it in the container that you stored it in
High for 1 - 2 minutes
Add your favorite sauce and serve

What to do with leftover ready-made pasta:
Cold Pasta Salad

Toss with some Italian Dressing
Parmesan Cheese
Grated Carrots
Sliced Cucumbers
Green Pepper, Chopped
Anything else you like

Homemade Pudding

1/2 C packed brown sugar and
2 T butter or margarine in heavy skilet and cook over low heat for 5 minutes

Add 1-1/2 C cold milk (preferably whole milk) to 1/2 C all-purpose flour - Mix well

Transfer hot mixture to double boiler set over simmering water

Add cold mixture and cook for 15 minutes

Stir in 2 well-beaten eggs and cook for 2 minutes

Spoon into serving dishes and chill

Basil Butter

Flavor a mashed stick of softened butter or high-grade margarine

3 T minced basil or 2 tsp chives
Bruised slightly with back of spoon

Store in fridge


Vanilla Flavoring for Coffee

Mix 2 tsp vanilla extract with
1/2 C granulated sugar
Then spread the mixture on waxed paper to dry completely
Store the flavored sugar at room temp in airtight container

Chocolate-Dipped Fruits

Melt 1/4 C (1/2 stick) butter and
12 oz. package of semisweet chocolate chips
In double boilet or the microwave
***Be careful not to burn it***

Use tongs to simply dip strawberries, pear slices, pecans, raisins, tiny pretzels, or whatever you wish into the chocolate
Or toss into the chocolate and use spoon to retrieve
Let cool on foil-lined plate
Refrigerate until the chocolate has hardened

Enjoy!

SPECIALTY / GOURMET FOODS - Do it Yourself!

T = tablespoon
tsp. = teaspoon

Herbal Cheese

Mash 4 oz. light or reg. cream cheese with
1 T butter
Add 1 T white wine or splash of balsamic vinegar
Add 2 cloves minced, mashed garlic and
2 T finely minced fresh herbs (chives, parsley, or basil - your preference)

Mix it all up, add some black pepper, and refrigerate for several hours

No fresh herbs on hand? Use 1/2 tsp. each of dried thyme and oregano


Sun-Dried Tomatoes

Preheat oven ot 450 degrees
Halve the tomatoes, remove seeds if you like
Rub the edges with olive oil
Sprinkle lightly with salt
Arrange on a rack placed in a light oiled jelly roll pan
Put the pan into the oven and immediately reduce heat to 250 degrees
Bake for 6 hours

To store your homemade sun-dried tomatoes for later use (for up to one month):
Brush the dried tomatoes with white vinegar
Let stand for 5 minutes
Pack lightly in a screw-top jar
Cover with olive or canola oil
Store in fridge for up to one month

Fuel Costs - Getting the Most for Your Money

AT THE PUMP

Most of us feel the temptation to just "top off" the tank while we're at the gas pump. You may want to reconsider.

Most of the extra gas is subject to evaporation or will ultimately end up on the road. Most of the vehicles made today have a gas overflow tube. If the overflow tube of your vehicle is full, the excess gas will evaporate and/or drain while you are driving. This lends new credence to the idea of "flushing money" away.

WATCH YOUR DRIVING

Frequent and sudden acceleration and then slow-downs and then immediate excessive acceleration wastes fuel. You are not getting the most fuel usage for your money.

Try to maintain a steady and consistent speed.

CLEANLINESS IS NEXT TO VEHICLE GODLINESS

Make sure that your air filter is clean and clean it on a regular basis. You may want to consider doing this monthly to really save big.

To clean your air filter yourself: Remove it and tap it on the concrete to remove all debris from it. Do not attempt to wash it. That will result in the ruin of it.

You can clean the filter housing with a cloth that has been moistened with a bit of gasoline or just a smidgen of hand cleaner formulated for mechanics.

If you follow these air filter tips, your vehicle will operate more efficiently. It will run cleaner.

CLOSE YOUR WINDOWS

When you are driving, keep your windows closed.

Open windows result in wind drag, and therefore, it slows your vehicle down. An open window adversely affects the dynamics of vehicle operation.

So, keep your windows up and save $$$.

TIRE PRESSURE

Keep a tire pressure gauge in your car, and regularly check your tire pressure. This is a good task to complete when you are already at the gas station to get more fuel.

Flatter tires increase fuel consumption because more fuel is needed to move your vehicle when more of the tire's surface is exposed to the pavement.

Depending on how much you use your vehicle, you could "earn" up to $10 more per month just by keeping your tires inflated according to the manufacturer's standards. Not to mention save on the cost of replacing your tires since low pressure tires result in uneven wear and tear.

LOSE THE RACK

Roof racks and bicycle racks really cost you over the long haul. Again, it is all about the dynamics of operation. Add a rack, and increase drag.

Lose the rack and decrease fuel consumption by up to 5%. Not much, you may say, but if you implement other fuel-saving tips, your savings add up quickly.

LIGHTEN YOUR LOAD

Get rid of all excess "storage" in your trunk or backseat, and you can improve the operation of your vehicle by about 1%. Again, not much, but if you are commuting daily, and implementing other tips here, you will notice a considerable savings over time.

DON'T IDLE

There is no need to sit and wait for your vehicle to "warm up". If your car has electronic ignition, you are just wasting time and gas by doing so.

Take it a step further, and do not start your car until you are ready to begin driving. Check your make-up, your wallet, buckle up, get the kids settled down prior to starting the ignition.

This is true, even in cold weather.

SAVE FUEL BY THE MINUTE

Stopping and idling for just over one minute is a waste of fuel.

If you are going to be waiting with your car running for more than one minute, shut the car off. The fuel you use to restart your car will be less than if you had idled in place for two minutes or more.

Safety First: Please do not try this while driving and waiting at traffic lights.

LOSE THE A/C

Air conditioning is one of the most significant drags on fuel usage due to the extra work that your engine has to perform while the A/C is running.

You can, however, turn your vent on (high, if you wish), and turn the temperature to cold. But make sure your air conditioning is not turned "on".

This tip works especially well on the highway. The higher speed generally cools the air anyways.

PICK-UP TRUCKS

If you have a rear gate, remove it. It is causing additional drag on your vehicle. If you actually need the gate, try netting.

Remember that drag causes excess fuel consumption.

BREAK YOUR ROUTINE

If your daily commute takes you to another part of town, be sure to keep your eyes open for gas prices along the way. You may find that your neighborhood gas station or your regular stop isn't offering the best price on fuel.

Don't be afraid to break your routine to save more money at the pump.

Also do not be afraid of purchasing gas from an independent gas station. You don't need to worry about fuel quality when purchasing gas anywhere. It doesn't matter who the seller or brand name is - The federal government regulates the fuel quality.

More Grocery Shopping Tips

Find Your Calculator

You will want to keep your calculator nearby so that you can see what the price of convenience and junk food is costing you. Be sure to not just figure it out on a weekly but monthly and even yearly cost.

Find A Grocery Receipt

If you can find a grocery receipt, sit down with it and a pen and take a long, hard look at what you purchased. Now, what I want you to do is be very honest with yourself and cross off just a few items that really were not necessary for you and your family to live. Try to get rid of the junk food items and replace those items with fruit or fruit juice (Fill half a glass with ice, fill halfway with water, and then top off with a favorite fruit juice). It is just as satisfying, healthier, and better on the waistline and pocketbook.


Figure Out What You Can Cross Off Your List

And then choose 5 - 7 items or cut back on them. Example: If you normally purchase two candybars and four packages of gum each week, purchase just one candybar and two packages of gum from now on. Or cut these items out completely. Same thing goes for bags of chips or smaller "to-go" sized bags. Get some really cheap plastic sandwich bags and go for the larger bags and repackage them, if you must, but don't throw your money away on conveniently packaged items. Make your own cookies, if you have to have them.

Eliminate Sodas, Bottled Waters, and Pre-Mixed Drinks

No more soda. Seriously. Not only does it have no nutritional value whatsoever, it is a drain on your family's monthly grocery budget. Instead, drink milk or make your own iced teas. Remember homemade iced tea? How about sun tea? Remember that? Let's get back to basics. Compare a large package of tea bags - even name brand, if you wish - to a case of soda. The package of tea is cheaper, and it will last you much longer. It will also be healthier for you and your family, and you will know what is in it. Use sugar or sweetener if you'd like. Purchase green teas or any other variety of already flavored teas to liven up your drink choices. Experiment, and stick around because I will be posting recipes for some great iced teas!

If you have a bottled water addiction, reach instead for a good water filter and use tap water.

If you or your children want pre-mixed flavored drinks, then go back to purchasing the store brand name or even Kool-Aid brand drink packages, and do it yourself!


And please don't pay for orange juice in containers, either.
Remember how we used to make orange juice? Purchasing orange juice in my childhood meant that we went to the freezer section of the grocery store and purchased tubes of frozen orange that we watered down and shook up in a bottle when we got home. Doing things this way also kept us well-stocked because we always had a tube in the fridge. Less expensive and tasty, too.

Leave Children at Home Whenever Possible

It is difficult to practice frugal shopping habits when you have children with you at the grocery store. From chips to cereal to candy, it will be an uphill battle that is best avoided, if at all possible.

Save Money on Groceries

Does Your Grocery Cart Need to Go on a "Diet"?

Maybe you need to go on a diet, but the diet that I am talking about has to do with your food costs. I am not talking about cutting calories but actual grocery costs.


Some Easy Tips

- Cut Back on Meat Costs

Simply change your recipes to less meat or no meat at all. For those of you who are carnivores who insist you cannot cut meat out entirely - not even to save money - use half the amount of meat in your recipes from now on. Bring meat home and cut it in half and store the second half in a ziplock bag in your freezer for your next meal that will be "meat-reduced". If you can do just that, you have already cut your meat-related grocery expenses in half.

- Keep a Few Extras on Hand at All Times

By this, I mean keep your pantry and/or cupboards stocked with pastas and sauces that you found on sale. Buy two to three of these at a time, if you can afford to, so that when something comes up unexpectedly (you don't feel like eating what is on tonight's menu, for example), you will have something else that is on hand and won't be tempted to pick up the phone and call out for pizza. I also keep on hand generic frozen garlic bread. It is great for sprucing up just about anything from pizza to pasta. You can even put some regular tomato sauce on it and add some mozzarella cheese to it and bake it as "pizza" for a nice change.

- Stay Out of the Grocery Store as Much as Possible

Avoid going to the store too often, and definitely do not run out to the store for just an item or two. How many of us ever come back with just those items?

- Take the Time to Plan Menus

Sounds like even more work, right? Well, you would be amazed how much time you will save, and best of all, you will be able to go through the next two weeks and make your grocery list right from the calendar. You can also take that time to see what items are needed the first week that you plan and see if you can incorporate some of those same ingredient for the following week's menu so that you can purchase enough food for two weeks, rather than just one, and one trip to the grocery store in two weeks versus one trip per week not only saves on your grocery bill, but it also saves you time and gas! Now, who doesn't also want to save on gas these days?

- What About Produce, You Ask?

Please find a local farmer's market or produce stand, and visit it weekly or once every two weeks, if you can. I have found that the produce at these places are less expensive than the local grocery store and better quality. The better quality is not just reflected in taste but also in "shelf life". Good produce lasts longer - even in the fridge. That saves money over the long run as well.

- Location, Location, Location

Sounds like we're talking about real estate now, huh?! Well, location is a good thing to consider when shopping, too, because shopping the perimeter or outer edges of the store will save you money. The inside aisles are loaded with convenience and processed items that can add up pretty quickly if you are not careful.

More Things You Can Do Right Now

Now, this one may seem even more tough, but I want you to go shut off your A/C. Yes, your air conditioner. If you have balcony or patio doors, you may crack each door or window a bit - a crack - pull all blinds and curtains closed, but don't cover the crack (there will be some sunlight coming in so that you can see what you are doing - - I don't want you having to turn on any lights). If you do this first thing each morning while the air is still a bit cooler outside, and keep the blinds and curtains closed for the most part, you'll be amazed as the day progresses. It will be nice and cool inside. If you wish, have an overhead or box fan on in the room you are in, and that is it. Trust me. I live in South Florida where the summer is very hot, and this method works. My place even feels cool when I return from being outside, and this is when I haven't had the A/C on all day long! I have even gotten to the point where I don't even use any fan during the day. I am completely comfortable, and I am here all day long. Every single day. Also, be sure that your A/C filter is always clean which will alleviate any additional energy drain from it.

Once the sun begins to set, or let's say you're about ready to prepare dinner and will be cooking, go around and close all of the windows, and turn on your A/C. Don't turn it way down, either. Just turn it back to the "on" position and keep it on to where you had it. However, I want you to start trying to turn it up about 1 degree each week until you get to about 4 degrees warmer than your usual setting, and keep it there. I also then want you to begin to use a box fan in your bedroom at night to compensate for the higher temp in your home. It should have 3 settings on it, and you could even get an ocillating fan, if you wish. You'll be amazed . . . at the very little difference in temperature in your home and at the VERY BIG difference in your energy usage and utility bill. Then, in the morning, whenever you think of it, but definitely before you leave for work, if you are working, shut off the air conditioner again.

Also, the next time you see them on sale, and if you have the money for them, purchase a 4-pack of those energy efficient compact flourescent light bulbs (they look like coils, if you are not familiar with them). Then, once more, replace the bulb in your favorite lamp next to your bed on the nightstand (the lamp that has been unplugged and is unplugged, as we speak here, right?). Replace bulbs in your bathroom and any overhead lighting. If you can only afford to replace 4 bulbs at a time, please just do it, and continue to replace bulbs as you can.

Did you know that running your water heater typically accounts for 13% of your utility bill ? You can also lower the temperature of your water heater. Do that right now. 120 degrees is usually a good hot water setting for most uses; however, I recommend working on lowering that number even more as you go.

Also, did you know that the average shower uses about 20 gallons of water each time? Some of us have been known to exceed that as well. This is also the place to save on hot water costs and preserve the life of your water heater as well. Before stepping into the shower, turn on the COLD water first in a medium pressure stream and then add hot to that until it becomes comfortable. Think clean - - using shampoo, soap, and water to clean the hair and body. It shouldn't be a sauna, and quite frankly, I find the more warm the shower is, the more I tend to linger. And lingering is just exactly what we don't need right now. Shampoo and soap up and rinse. Repeat, if you must, but then rinse only to get the soap off, and then get out of the shower. You're done! I am also working on continuing to turn down the hot water as I go along in my daily shower. This hasn't hurt me any, but it has also saved me money. And men - - - please consider putting shaving cream on your face and using the bathroom sink and mirror BEFORE you get into the shower, and ladies, you can do the same for your legs also. Do it BEFORE. It will cut your shower time - and water waste - down to a minimum.

So, that's it for now. "That's it?" you may be saying sarcastically. And naturally, I'm going to conclude with what I always say: Trust me. You will be glad you did!

Things You Can Do Right Now

First thing I want you to do since you are obviously online is to go around your home, condo, or apartment and unplug everything that is not in use or being used at the present time. If you are going to use it later, that doesn't count. Go unplug all items - with the exception of your refrigerator, freezer, stove (I leave the stove plugged in only because it is so difficult to reach the plug). Yes, it will be "inconvenient" at first, but you will get used to it. Now is no time to be spending extra money just because you don't want to be inconvenienced. I also suggest turning off the television if you are sitting online and have the TV running because even though you had hoped to, you are so not watching the program that is on now. If you'd like, for convenience sake, figure out how many plug/outlet areas you use everyday, and go purchase power strips for each area. Then when you are going to use multiple items in that area of your home, you can just plug the power strip back into the wall (as it would ideally have all the items already plugged into it that you may use). I have done this; however, I still find myself having to unplug an item or two (think VCR or DVD or Playstation from the power strip) because I'm not using those items right then. At night, I typically only need to plug in the TV and box fan in the bedroom. I have even been known to get up from bed after using the remote to shut off the TV and unplug the TV before going to sleep. It's your choice however you choose to do it, but please do it. It really makes a difference in your electric bill. Even if you think that things haven't gotten that tough yet, why not have that extra money in your bank account or put it into your gas tank or use it to buy that take-out pizza or go to the movies. Why flush money down the toilet ever?

So . . . go right now. I'll wait for you to come back.

Okay, now, don't you feel better? By unplugging everything, you have stopped the electric hemorrhage because did you know that you pay for electricity for most items in your home that are plugged in - - even if you do not have them on or they are not in use? I'll bet you didn't know that! Yes, it is true.

From now on, the only time you will plug those items in is immediately prior to their use, and then you will unplug those items once more each and every time you are finished using them. The moment the TV or coffee pot gets shut off, you unplug. It is really that simple, and you will see - - it becomes second nature.

Frugal Living in Tough Economic Times

I grew up in a frugal household. It was the '70s, afterall.

Gas prices weren't as high as they are now, but there was a gas shortage, and this led to all kinds of economic concerns and woes. Plus, let's face it - if you lived back then, you know as well as I do that we just didn't eat then like we do now.

Fast forward to year 2008, and we are all getting slammed from many different directions. Maybe you were a two-income household that is now a one-income household, courtesy of these tough economic times. Perhaps you were one of the many unfortunate borrowers who took out one of the adjustable rate mortgages over the past few years (thinking that you could refinance into a fixed rate, into an even lower rate a few years down the road), but now, you cannot because your home or condo isn't worth what you borrowed, and you find yourself "upside down" in a big way.

So, your mortgage payments have gone up, your husband or wife or significant other has been "downsized" from his/her job, and everything from gas to groceries to your HOA has been increased. What do you do?

I have started this blog because I meet all of the above criteria, and I am somehow getting by. I thought I'd tell everyone what we are doing, in the event that it will help someone.

The tips I offer are not healthy or health-conscious nor are they always pleasant to implement, but they have saved us time and time again.

But you've already cut your expenses every which way you could, you say? Stick around. You might be amazed.

When you have no choices left, and all of the challenging conditions are beyond your control, the only thing that you can do is tighten your belts even more so. Pinch that last penny even more.

So, have a seat, grab another cup of coffee or your favorite drink and hang out for a bit. And don't forget to check back regularly because I have all kinds of tips on how to cut your current costs and save money.