Cutting Back and Saving Money!

[benshelpmeet]

I usually do not like posting the same thing twice, I just posted this in ''devotional thought'' along with an encouraging sisters post included.
coveredbaptists.proboards.com/index.cgi?board=devotions&action=display&thread=2933&page=1

Alot of people out there are struggling to make ends meet on one income, with large families. The price of food has gotten really high, and other needed items, even our Vit C has gone up over a dollar. It has forced folks to become frugal, and to cut back on non essentials.

We can use this thread to post our helpful hints and frugal ideas that will be helpful to those who read this site.

Please also use this thread to post frugal cost cutting recipes that will be helpful for those of us having to really tighten down our belts.

We have some really big constructions bills to pay, one due in a few days 656.87 and a 902.17 the beginning of January, and around 800.00 in property taxes due the end of Feb. The baby is due mid Febuary...we have a mid wife to pay as well. So we decided to just pay our bills, and save food money.. etc. to pay these extra bills... I'm use to having money for food when we need a jug of milk, cheese, eggs, etc. I do not even know how to cook without needed items...I'll learn, it will be good teaching for my girls as well. Ben is looking for a second job, but with his health (bones) being limited...it's hard

We give this all to God...do I worry? some, but I turn it over to God when I feel worry coming on. I have to say my pride makes me feel bad too see the mid wife with no money to give her yet...she hasn't said anything, but I dread that she will. She is worthy of being paid a good amount.

I am use to having enough money to make ends meet. But God must want us to learn once again to pray much, and walk by faith. We've done it before, we can do it again.

This sisters post was so uplifting and encouraging to me. She has 9 children also. I hope this will be encouraging to someone out there struggling.

Let me add..Sunday we went to a small newly started church in a neighborhood to encourage the pastor and his wife. It was a small congregation of about 10 including all the children and pastor and his family. The message was very uplifting to our heavy spirits. The pastor also mentioned in his message that he had another message to preach, but that the Lord changed it at the last min. He also told about his freezer going out last night and that his father had just caught and dressed bags and bags of crappy fish, and that he would be giving everyone some after church. It's neat how the Lord provides and encourages. After church we went home and cooked up all that good fish, it was just enough for one meal, we had some Tater Tots in the freezer to go with it, we were blessed and filled, and our children saw the good hand of the Lord upon us.

The very next day (Monday) some dear friends from up North sent us a care pkg, full of little notes, pictures, hand made gifts, letters from their precious children, family pictures, their 5 year old daughter sent a dollar...it brought tears to my eyes...(that precious little girl) ,some zippers ,close pins "which we needed", some iron pills which are very expensive, "which we needed", A drawing pad for my second oldest daughter, she loves to draw, and... a gas card, and a Wal Mart card! They sent this pkg on Saturday...we decided Sunday to stop buying groceries, etc. to pay for our upcoming bills..Gods mighty provision again.

There is nothing we can sell except for our 1992 15 passenger van which we need. We have started to use the out house during the day to save on water (flushing the commode), we make our own detergent, we cut off hot water to our bathroom sinks to save the money on the hot water needing to heat up every time we wash our hands, we've cut down on showers, we do not use the dryer at all for any reason...Thats a big statement because this is the second week it has rained, just when my close are almost dry it comes down a gully washer and drenches them again. , we do not use lights during day light hours and few after dark, we cut our downstairs air conditioner off during the day, we got rid of our long distance, and caller id, and all of that.. which will save us about 70.00 a month! We have cut all the corners we can. When I start feeling better I'm going to start washing by hand. I love washing by hand! If I can think of any other ways to save money I'll sure do it. ~ Darlene ~

[katpants]

Great idea for a thread!

Let me get out the frugal soapbox here lol...

Hubby and I live on a super tight budget. We save alot of money by eating vegetarian food. Meat here is crazy, 2 pounds of roast cost about 17 US dollars..it's crazy.

We eat alot of beans and rice, there are tons of ways to sup them up and they taste great. Beans and rice as well as beans and cornbread make a complete protein.

Water usage is weird here too. I wash on the quickest cycle, 30 minutes and use cold water. The clothes come out the same and actually fade less.

About toilet usage..there is a saying some might find gross..If it's yellow let it mellow, if it's brown flush it down...it does help with water saving though.

I also bulk cook (also MIL lives with us and we're not kitchen compatible lol) twice a week. This way we're not tempted for junk food and I find it easier to cook 3 days of food in about 2 hours.

If something breaks you can always ask around if your friends or neighbors have an extra whatever you need. You can trade it for some homemade bread or something. Bartering is a good frugal tool.

Storebrands save a ton of money, I don't ever buy anything brand name.

Having breakfast for dinner once a week is a great way to stretch out money, pancakes are very frugal. I call it cereal day and we eat a cold meal and it's one I don't have to cook.

Ethnic food is usually very cheap, you can't beat it. I try to cook more with rice and it stretches out many meals.

If you do need supplements you can buy them from Dollar Tree or Dollar General, they are just as good as brand name. I get all mine from there (when we're home).

Homemade pads for women and girls are a big money saver. If you have diaper material floating around they are super easy to sew. It's not gross at all to use these. Just get a bucket with a closed lid. If you have many girls at your house you can write their names on the bucket lids.

That's all I can think of right now but I'll post some frugal recipe links and stuff.

Kat

[katpants]

Some frugal food recipe places, I'm sure alot of you know many of these already:

Food Stamp Recipes: Great site, I've used tons of these

recipefinder.nal.usda.gov/

Hillbilly Housewife: I learned to cook from her

www.hillbillyhousewife.com/category/recipes

Link to Homemade Pads:

www.hillbillyhousewife.com/sanitarypads.htm

Great blog to find good grocery deals:

jane4girls800dollarannualbudget.blogspot.com/

Great recipe sites to find all sorts of stuff:

www.cooks.com/
allrecipes.com/
www.recipezaar.com/

Kat

[katpants]

Some of my favorite online frugal recipes:

These are vegetarian ones

vegetarian.about.com/od/sidevegetabledishes/r/broccolisweet.htm

www.hillbillyhousewife.com/scrambledrice.htm

These bread sticks are great, just like from the pizza place. We eat these as a side with spaghetti. They also make TONS.

www.hillbillyhousewife.com/garlicbreadsticks.htm

We really like teriyaki rice, here is a good recipe that keeps forever for homemade. You can do great fried rice with a dash of this stuff.

The only change is that I don't use ginger and I boil all this with about a cup of extra water for 5 minutes.

www.recipezaar.com/Teriyaki-Sauce-Homemade-21221

Some good recipes with rice I haven't tried yet but look good:

www.hillbillyhousewife.com/italianbeansandrice.htm

www.hillbillyhousewife.com/garlicbutterricemix.htm

www.hillbillyhousewife.com/beancheesericesquares.htm

www.hillbillyhousewife.com/onionrice.htm

[katpants]

I typed these up for my sister and these are some of our favorite frugal recipes. We eat bacon and hotdogs every so often since they're cheap and up here they're diet.

These are from a 60s cookbook and another one, they're not my recipes but I've modified them for Hubby and I:

Sweet n Sour Tuna (or chicken) 2 servings for main meal, 3-4 as a side

Drain large pineapple can, keep syrup. In saucepan, combine 1/3 cup pineapple juice, pineapple bits,
1/2-1 cup chopped green pepper, 1 small vege bouillon cube (or 1/2 of a big cube), and 1/2 cup of water.
Heat to boiling, simmer 5 minutes.

In another bowl, mix 3tbsp sugar (or less, I do about 2), 1 tbsp corn starch, add rest of pineapple juice, 1 tsp vinegar (I leave this out, pineapple is sour anyway), and 1 tsp soy sauce.

Stir into simmiring pineapple mixture, cook until thick and bubbly.

Add 1 can drained tuna (or chicken), and 1/2 tbsp butter (optional). Heat through, and serve over noodles. This stores well and we eat it on top of plain egg noodles.

Hotdog Soup 4 large servings

1.5 cup frozen corn
2 cups hashed taters
1/2 cup chopped onions
1/2 cup green peppers chopped
6 hotdogs cut into 1/2 inch pieces
1 tbsp of ketchup
1 bouillon cube (the large kind)
dash of hot sauce is optional
dash of garlic powder
dash of black pepper

Bring 5.5 cups of water to a boil, add bouillon cube. Add taters, corn, onion, peppers, and hot sauce. Bring to a boil over high heat. Add spices.

Add hotdogs and ketchup. Mix well, boil 10-12 minutes on medium high heat. Really easy, I use this when I can't cook early because sundowning.

Layered Potato Bacon (or hotdog) casserole 4 main meal servings, 6 side servings .

4 cups hashed taters (6 cups is better for main meal)
1/2 cup chopped onions
4 slices cooked crumbled bacon (or 6 hotdogs cut into 1/2 inch pieces)
2 cups cheese sauce (homemade or canned)
black pepper

Preheat oven to 350F

Grease 2 qt. casserole dish or 8x8 pan.

Layer 1/2 of taters, onion, bacon, and cheese sauce. Repeat layers once more.

Sprinkle black pepper on top of casserole.

Bake uncovered for 45-55 minutes, good right out of the oven. Bacon is really good with this, but hotdogs too.

Hoppin John 4 main meal servings

4 strips bacon, chopped
1 large onion, chopped (medium is fine too)
1 tsp garlic powder (or 2 cloves garlic chopped)
1 medium can white beans, rinsed and drained
2 cups chicken broth (made with bouillon here)
1-2 tsp chili powder or hot sauce
3-4 cups water
black pepper if wanted

2 cups cooked rice.

Fry bacon, set aside when done if wanted. Sautee onion and garlic in bacon fat for 2-4 minutes on med-high heat.

Add beans, broth, water, hot sauce, and put bacon back in again. Bring to a boil, then reduce heat to medium-low. Simmer for 15 minutes.

Ladle soup over cooked rice.

Butch's Bean Soup 4 servings

2 tbsp oil
1/2 onion chopped
2 garlic cloves or garlic powder (1 tsp)
1/2 cup yellow pepper chopped (or green is good)
1 large bouillon
1 can white beans, drained and rinsed
3/4 cup frozen corn
1.5 cups frozen hashed taters
1 cup celery, chopped
1/4 cup of rice
1 carrot grated (optional, I don't use it)

A deep, wide pot is good for this. I've burned it in smaller pans lol.

Fry onion, garlic, and peppers in oil. When they start to get dark, put in 5.5 cups of water. Add bouillon cube and bring to a boil.

Add beans, carrot, corn, celery, taters, bring back to a boil.

Add rice, drop to medium heat and cook 20-25 minutes or until rice is done.

Italian tuna (or chicken) tater bake 4 main servings

4 cups hashed taters
1 med onion sliced
1 tsp oil (1 tbsp okay too)
1/2 tsp salt
black pepper
2 cups pasta sauce
1 can drained tuna (or chicken would work)
3 tbsp shredded cheese

Preheat oven to 400F.

In 2qt. dish, layer half the taters and onions, half the oil, salt, and pepper. Repeat layer once more.

Bake covered 20 minutes until taters are tender.

Add tuna or chicken in the pasta sauce meanwhile.

Remove the cover from the baking dish, pour pasta sauce over the taters, top with cheese. Bake 10-15 more minutes until cheese is brown and golden.

I haven't made these recipes yet but they look pretty easy and good.

Quick Meatball Soup 4 main servings

1 package meatballs
2 cans tomatoes
4 cups beef broth
1/2 bag mixed veges
1/2 cup small macaroni, uncooked
1/2 tsp oregano

1) Thaw meatballs if needed.

2) Place all ingredients in large saucepan, bring to a boil.

3) Reduce heat, cover and simmer 15 minutes until pasta is tender.

Salmon Loaf 3-4 servings

1 can salmon, drained and flaked
2 cups soft bread crumbs
1 tbsp chopped onion
1 tbsp butter, melted
1/2 tsp salt
1/2 cup milk
1 egg slightly beaten.

Preheat oven to 350F.

In bowl combine: bread crumbs, salmon, onion, butter, and salt. Combine milk and egg in another bowl. Add then to salmon mixture. Mix well.

Shape into loaf in loaf pan or baking sheet. Cook 35-40 minutes. Serve with cheesy peas for good side or piquant sauce.

Sauce:

Cook 2 tbsp onion in 3 tbsp butter, don't brown. Blend in 2 tbsp flour, 1/2 tsp mustard, 1/2 tsp salt, pepper. Add 1.5 cups milk, 1 tsp soy sauce. Cook until thick.

Honey Dijon and Hotdog Vege Stirfry 4 servings

2/3 cup ketchup
2 tbsp mustard
1 tbsp soy sauce
8 hotdogs, chopped
1 red bell pepper, cut into strips
1 onion, cut into thin wedges
2 cups broccoli

In small bowl, combine ketchup, 1/3 cup water, mustard, soy sauce.

In a pan, brown hotdogs and then remove. Add pepper, onion, broccoli, stir and cook 4 minutes.

Return hotdogs to skillet, stir in ketchup mixture. Heat. Serve with rice.


I'd say that with the soups it's a good idea to have some homemade bread or sandwiches to round out the meal. Butch's Bean soup is the most filling and is easily doubled. It's my favorite.

[katpants]

Also here is a great stand in for Bisquick, I LOVE this stuff.

"Bisquick" Substitute I (P, TNT)
Source: Unknown
Yield: 1 cup

1 cup flour
1-1/2 teaspoon baking powder
1/2 teaspoon salt
1 tablespoon shortening

Combine all ingredients and use as a substitution for Bisquick (Baking Mix).

[katpants]

Some more recipes I forgot about lol:

www.bettycrocker.com/recipes.aspx/hot-dog-casserole

www.bettycrocker.com/recipes.aspx/vegetarian-shepherds-pie

www.bettycrocker.com/recipes.aspx/impossibly-easy-vegetable-pie

[Sister Pamela]

WOW! ;D Sister Katrina I think we should crown you queen supreme of frugality! This was a lot of great info you posted and I plan to read through it all. Lots of good ideas and food for thought. I grew up with a mom that wash and reused aluminum foil and bread bags so recycling is in my genes. Mother never thought we were poor, just wise with what we had!
Thanks for all the great info.
Blessings and prayers,
Sister Pamela
P.S. Let me know where you want this snow shipped, I will gladly give it to you! ;D

[katpants]

Thanks, I hoard frugal recipes and links lol. I would of had more but my computer dumped all my favorites last week.

Some people wash out and dry ziplock bags too. I always end up tearing big holes in ours so I just use lots of little Tupperware containers.

LOL Thanks I wish we had snow, it's cold but really humid this fall for some weird reason.

Kat

[benshelpmeet]

It's global warming.

Thank you so much for all the great helpful tips and recipes.

I need all the help I can get.

[katpants]

Sure!

LOL Come Feburary with 4 feet of snow on the ground, I wish we'd have some global warming lol!

Kat