New trick for summer ice tea...saves money too...

Every summer I find myself focusing on iced tea.  I love it.  I like making sun tea, for the added vitamin D.  I usually have a few jugs of Arizona Diet Ginseng Tea (actually green tee with ginseng) around and fill bottles with them, add ice, and I'm off to wherever...

But this year I'm doing things a bit differently.  A few tea companies, including Arizona, have lovely little tea powder packets.  So, instead, I fill drink bottles half-way full of water and stick them in the freezer.  Then, when I'm going someplace I toss a couple of them in my bag.  When I want to drink some tea I add water and a tea packet, and ...voila...

P.S. This also works with sports drinks -- Gatorade makes tins of powder.  Not as convenient, but if you keep a tin where you are going to be, you are set. Also works with lemonade.

But still, my fav frugal version is to make my own iced tea (sun tea best) and add bottled lemon and lime juice and a sweetener other than sugar and put this in bottles and freeze it.  It will thaw slowly and you can have icy tea wonder all day...:-)

When in doubt...water it down...:-)

Somehow I managed to wean myself from drinking pop.  I don't know how, exactly.  I was drinking diet pop, but realized it was giving me nothing of nutritive value and I was paying for that.  So I switched to juices.  They are great, but have a lot of sugar.  So I have gotten into the habit of watering juices down, about half-and-half.  Still tastes great.  I find I do the same thing with soy milk (or almond or coconut, I have a dairy allergy to regular milk) when making hot chocolate.  Tastes wonderful, half the calories, and I am hydrating...can't go wrong with that...:-)

In a pinch, make your own dishwasher soap

I try to wait until I have a full load to run the dishwasher.  That usually happens every few days.  But I frequently fail to coordinate that with having enough dishwasher soap on hand.  So then I have to go out and get some, which can be annoying.  I could stock up, but that would be too simple. :-0

So I found a recipe online one day when I ran out and discovered that you can use Arm & Hammer Washing Soda, which I also use in making homemade laundry detergent, baking soda (for the grease) and lemon juice (to clean the spots off of glass) to make a very good dishwasher soap.  It works too!

Who knew? How to make your own lavender liquid castile soap

I have been a fan of Dr. Bronner's soaps for as long as I can recall. The fragrances are refreshing and wonderful.  The soap is versatile -- I use it as shampoo, for dishes, as handsoap of course, and just about anything else I can think of.

But it isn't cheap, especially when you use a lot of it.

So I began to wonder, more as an exercise in logic than as a necessity, if it would be possible to make my own version of this. The lavender scent is my favorite most of the time, so I focused on that.

Lo-and-behold, there are recipes online that can show you how to make castile soap, no less, as well as how to make liquid castile soap from a bar.  I didn't feel quite ready to tackle making the soap itself, but I remembered buying bars of Kirk's castile soap some time ago.  They sell for about $1 a bar, as opposed to a bar of Dr. Bronners which costs about $5.

So I went to Cub and bought 3 bars of Kirk's soap for about $3.  I shaved about a third of a bar and then put the shavings in a washed out bottle of a sport drink.   I filled the bottle with water and let it sit.  I turned the bottle upside down once a day.  In about five days the mixture was the consistency of liquid castile soap.  I then added a few drops of lavender oil, and voila...

And it smells almost as good as Dr. Bronners!

Make your own designer vaseline products...

Guess what?  I thought I had to buy Vicks or Mentholatum to have something to comfort my family and me when beset by a cold or coughs.  Not so.  Get some regular vaseline and add eucalyptus oil to it.  It smells wonderful and is very inexpensive.  You can also add a touch of a cherry oil if you like, for the wonderful cherry-vicks aroma.

I also happen to like baby powder aroma vaseline.  Don't have to buy that either.  Buy some inexpensive baby powder scented oil on ebay or wherever and add it to regular vaseline.  Ta-da....

Also, just guess what one of the secrets of the old movie legends was?  I got this straight from something attributed to Lena Horne, who happens to be one of my favs and lived to a ripe old age with glorious skin.  Vaseline!  You don't have to spend a fortune on the skin products that blur lines etc.  Just apply a bit of vaseline to your cheeks.  Not that they don't work -- they do; just that there is a cheap alternative.  Also, when I sit in a sauna or hot tub guess what goes on my face to moisturize it?  Yup.  Vaseline...

Love the stuff...

The Jockey Diet -- why it is such a good name!

When I started working with horses in 2008 at a therapeutic riding center in Minnetonka, I began to realize what good exercise horses can be -- not just riding them, but catching them and turning them out, feeding them (especially in the bitter winter), and, of course, tacking and untacking them --particularly throwing heavy Western saddles in an unheated arena in the five or ten minutes between therapeutic riding classes.

I realized that my appetite for junk food was becoming lessened and my interest in food that gives one strength and energy increased.  I also got in touch once again with my childhood dream of becoming a jockey -- which ended when I grew five inches in one year and towered over most of the boys in my grade school class!  Despite the challenges my height placed on my dream (not to mention not having a horse or having any experience riding the racing seat) I have continued in awe and admiration of those amazing 'bug boys -- and girls!" who do live it.  They are weighed before and after each race.  They have to maintain a weight under the weight they might be asked to carry in different races.  Every bite of food they eat must of necessity give them as much energy and stamina as possible.  Why can't at least I eat like a jockey, I began to ask myself?

So I devised a diet that consists of (1) morning oatmeal (usually) or other hot cereal in winter.  I add dried fruit and nuts, sunflower seeds while cooking.  On occassion I make muesli (cheaper than buying), which is typically dry oatmeal with slivered or sliced almonds, dried apricots and raisens, plus shaved fresh apple.  I eat these things with yogurt usually, and add fresh berries.

Then, for lunch, I make a smoothie with protein powder, banana, soy milk and ice.  This gives me energy for the afternoon and manages to control my appetite as well.  (Yoga also helps with suppressing the appetite -- and of course, horseback riding makes you forget about food altogether!).

Before going to the barn (these days to ride and take care of my own horse!) I usually eat a snack including peanut butter, sometimes motzah, and some fruit.  I take snacks with me, including hummus and baby carrots, which pack a lot of energy and fill you up, and trail mix made of raisen bran and whatever seeds and nuts plus a sprinkling of candy, such as M&M's or jelly beans or chocolate covered raisens.

In the evening, I will try to eat a regular meal, focusing on veggies and protein, but not denying myself anything that I want.

But nobody is perfect.  And after I ride or exercise, if I don't have enough good food I will eat whatever I can find -- usually cookies!  Not good.  But that brings me to my insight -- the Jockey Diet works not only because it gives one the food regulation (for those of us who, when stumped by too many choices, will just eat too much) and appetite suppression -- but when you fall off of it, you do just what a jockey does, and climb right back on!

Getting the Most out of Your Citrus...you'll be surprised...

I have come upon something that works really well for me, and helps with the long Minnesota winters when one can not get enough citrus.  I take lemons and limes already squeezed of their juice and let them sit in a pitcher of cold water in the fridge.  Orange and grapefruit work too.  This releases the oils of the skins as well as the rest of the juice and gives the water a lovely citrus flavor.  It has to be good for us.  In addition, water that has sat for a while does not have fleuride, as that is supposed to evaporate.  I use this citrus water alone as a free alternative to Perrier, or in making frozen orange juice.  Yum...

How to stop smoking when all else fails

I experienced a miracle some years ago. Every time I talk to someone about it, they say, you must have this published. Everyone needs to know about this....

I was unable to completely quit smoking, even though once I had stopped for nearly three years. The smell of the smoke always brought me back; usually a Gitaine French cigarette, or a Galois, that have the most aromatic smoke. So I cut myself back to just one cigarette a day, in the evening. My husband and I would stand out on our deck, no matter what the weather, and have a smoke before turning in for the night.

All my attempts to quit completely failed, so I stopped asking God for help and forgot all about it. Until I came down with a nasty sinus infection. I have been prone to them all my adult life, and know that if I go to see the doctor, I'm probably going to end up drugged out on prescriptions meds and still feel lousy. I wanted something 'natural'. A friend of mine told me about the neti bowl concept -- it seemed like fun. They said it was ok to use a baby bulb (a new one, of course), and to add canning and pickling salt and baking soda to water as hot as you could stand it. I didn't really measure correctly (1/4 tsp of each) and ended up with a strong mixture. As I shot it up my nostrils with the baby bulb I remember feeling as carefree as I had as a child swimming in the Long Island Sound. It felt great.

But the mixture was too strong, and for the next few days I had brown chunks of stuff coming out of my sinuses. It was really odd. But I kept feeling better. But when I went outside at night to smoke my daily cigarette I became terribly nauseus at the smell of the smoke. It was unbelievable. God had answered my prayer when I wasn't even looking.

It took me a few days to realize what had happened. For months after that, I kept expecting cigarette smoke to smell good again. But it never has. That was about eight years ago.

Frugal fashion -- the new 'black' is ... BLACK!

If you are trying to dress yourself on a tight budget, think black. You can buy one black skirt, or pair of pants, and wear it repeatedly, if necessary. Very little of styling really shows with black, so it can be repeatable if needed. Anything goes with black. Any top, any sweater, any jacket, will work just fine with black. You can accessorize an all-black outfit with simply a scarf that you like. Black is always fashionable. It is understated and can be formal. Black is a validating color, too. If you are not feeling rich, or thin, wear black. You'll be surprised how that will enhance your mood. Remember not to skimp on make-up, though; as black around the face tends to wash color, so add a bright (red) lipstick and some black mascara, and you will look terrific.

Frugal Swiss Muesli breakfast cereal

If you are a fan of delicious Swiss Muesli cereal you know it is found in the health food section of your grocery store and is expensive. It also happens to be quite delicious and nutritious. However, muesli can be made inexpensively by using raw oats, dried fruits such as raisins or chopped dates, nuts such as slivered almonds (ideal) or any other type of nut you have on hand, such as walnut or pecan, or even peanuts. Mix them all togther and keep in a container. It does not need to be refrigerated.

When you wish to eat a bowl you can eat it cold with shredded apple on top , or heat it up. You can add any fruit you have on hand; bananas or strawberries are lovely too.

The Compact and My Compact

I have been a shopping maven all my life -- I can find the best prices on just about anything and do some great bargain shopping and stockpiling. Trouble is, I can also end up with years' worth of items. When I realized that I had, indeed, amassed a small department store, I knew it was time to get tough. I have also had issues with spending through emotion rather than by real need or by budget. As a result, I have ended up giving away countless items simply because I thought I might use them and didn't, or there was simply too much to be consumed or used in a reasonable amount of time.

So, a couple of years ago, I decided to join the Compact. That is a group that agrees not to buy anything new for a year, except food and other essentials such as gifts for others, socks and underwear that really need to be bought new. The experience was amazing. I had so much in reserve, the restriction didn't even begin to make a dent for almost a year. Since one of my weak spot is buying mostly out-of-print books, I hardly even noticed the restriction. I also joined Bookins.com at about that time, and began to circulate extra copies of my books to others on a more personal basis than just giving them to a charity.

Then I decided to up the ante -- I decided not to buy anything new to me, and see how that felt. That was, as they say, a horse of a different color. What a puzzling and yet invigorating experience. Even knowing that you will fail, the process puts your values into a new dimension. The learning experience can be startling and yet empowering. And, at the same time, you may find yourself comfortable with the same amount of change you had at the beginning of the week in your purse at the end of the week. You may find yourself making odd combinations of food at a meal just because they happen to all be in the refrigerator and need to be eaten. This level of austerity can be of value even for short periods of time. And, ironically, it does wonders for appreciating all that one has; not to mention the great bounty of goods that are available to us in this country.

When cash is short, think barter

There are many environments and neighborhoods where bartering is a part of life. This consists of establishing a value for something and exchanging with someone something determined to be of equal value. This may be housesitting in return for legal services, or jam in return for a haircut. There are a number of things for which we have no alternative but to use cash; but there are countless others where we may be able to barter. So keep an open mind to it...

Make-up; think palette and extend

Every season we are treated to the brand new array of colors we are supposed to be wearing on our faces, hands and feet. It is mind-boggling, and not inexpensive, to try to keep up with everything. But there is an answer -- rather than buying into the new shades for the season, think in terms of a palette of shades that you just like, and that work well with your coloring. Simply retire the shades that are 'unpopular' and use the shades that are the current favorites. Nothing really changes all that much; it is just the hype and packaging that makes it seem that way.

Also, think about extending the use of things you already have and like. One thing that can be really annoying is that the lip gloss that comes in tubes seems to dry up quickly and be used up quicker still. Take some vaseline or Bag Balm, gather a clump of it on the tip of the applicator, and stuff it back down the tube. You will end up using all the color that is there and postpone the need for a new one. With lipstick, when you get down to the metal on one you really like, use a lipstick brush to retrieve the rest of it.

Potato January, February and...

When Potato January happened to me and my children, a long time ago, it never occurred to me that there might be a day when we lived in a Potato January environment. Everywhere we turn jobs are being lost, people are being betrayed, elitists are trying to secure bailouts for themselves while leaving the common people homeless, jobless and starving. It is a dreadful situation, and probably one that is not going to improve until it becomes even worse.

So let me say once again, when you feel down and out and your food budget seems to be going through the roof, grab yourself a bag of idaho russet potatoes and dig in. A baked, or nuked (poke holes in it first) potato, drizzling with olive oil if you like, topped with whatever vegetables you have on hand to steam, is a good and nutritional meal with no fat and not a lot of calories. Add shredded cheese or, my favorite, cottage cheese, to it, sprinkle with some cajun seasoning and it is delicious; it fills you up and keeps your tummy warm in cold weather.

Stick to the Natural

With all the enticements to buy junk food that is easy to serve, we need to remember to stick to the basics, and stick close to the earth. Legumes, rice, whole wheat, vegetables and fruit give us nourishment. They are also less expensive than the prepared foods. Drink water and 100% juice for nourishment. Grapefruit juice has vitamin C. It's sour taste can be mellowed by adding a few strawberries to the container and letting it sit in the refrigerator. In fact, fresh fruit juice is the best, when you have a juicer. Then, fruit that is less than perfect, as well as vegetables, can be used for juice.

Family-go-rounds

For over 10 years our family and extended family has been circulating pc's to one another. This is something so simple and obvious, it is surprising everyone doesn't do it. When one of us gets a new pc, or monitor, or printer, etc, we give the old one to whomever can use it. It does help to have someone in the family who is computer-savvy who can diagnose problems and install a new hard drive or whatever when needed. This way we know that nothing is going to waste.

This informal process has been such a success that we've expanded it to include tv's, dvd players/recorders, and just about anything anyone might have use for. Before donating to a charity or selling in a garage sale, it is nice to know that our family and friends may have good homes for things we no longer need. Needless to say, we also have circulating libraries for DVDs, books, and lots of other things others might need.

This is such a simple thing, and also fun. I hope you will take this idea and improve on it.

Vacation-in-place

One of the things that always takes me by surprise is how excited others are about the Twin Cities, where I live. I had tended to take the area for granted, in part, because it is no fun to even travel around the area during the long bouts of nasty weather. And, of course, most of these excited newbies visit during the halcyon summer months. But I gradually learned a valuable lesson; one that in this time of dreadful gas prices, seems valuable to share -- that we can learn a great deal about the town we live in by digging in during our free time, researching and experiencing some of the places and events that visitors brag about. In my case, it is a simple thing -- studying the Mississippi River, with its locks and bridges, and its different ports in Minneapolis and St. Paul, that are the focus of attention this year. We have followed the flooding events, viewed the herd of barges moored along the river from South St Paul all the way down to Winona, where they stayed until the flood waters farther down had receded. There is a great deal to learn and experience, and at very little cost -- especially considering that day trips frequently take us to that area. So dig in and look around and discover the gems for you and your family to experience without spending much in gas.

Some Simple Food Ideas

When I posted my first post I came quickly to the realization that discussing money with people I don't even know does not come easily. However, considering the fact that I've spent such a good deal of time trying to make sense of it and make it work for me, I do consider myself to have experience. But talking about food comes easy. So here goes.

The point of my family's Potato January is to use whatever you have and hunker down with it when you reach a period of time when all you want to do is survive it. In my case, we had a bag of potatoes -- good nutrition, and something we still enjoy. Put together whatever combinations of food you happen to have on hand -- even if they don't seem to go together. You might be surprised at the interesting flavor combinations. Peanut butter can be a good and inexpensive staple -- a 'Healthy Elvis' sandwich of toasted bread, peanut butter and sliced banana makes a good lunch that will stay with you for a few hours.

Learning how to shop for my children was a tricky thing. We didn't even have pre-sweetened cereal except on their birthdays. As a result, they have great teeth and no cavities. However, I received my share of complaints during the interim. We also ate yogurt sundaes instead of ice cream -- vanilla yogurt with toppings of oats, nuts, seeds, raisens and whatever fruit we might have. That provided a fun dessert that had some nutrition.

It can be difficult to rework your children's demands and wishes when it comes to preparing food for them. Cutting out junk food (on our budget, it just wasn't feasible most of the time) and substituting fruit and veggies, cheese and nuts, can be tricky, but rewarding when your children have lots of energy, stay a healthy weight, and don't have mood swings triggered by sweets and chocolate.