Review of 2005

This is the year I 'discovered' frugality. It appeals to me on a lot of levels. I'm still learning, but having fun while doing it.

I've learned how to make more things from scratch. I'm not sure how much money I've saved, but it is some.

This year has been pretty good. It did start with my mother's passing, four months after my father. I have a very small family, so that really made me feel somewhat alone. But my partner has been wonderful, I'm healing and getting closer to my brother's family.

Tomorrow, those resolutions!

Barbara

Cooking

I got my Kitchenaid mixer and I love it. I made a loaf of bread. It didn't rise very fast, but the bread came out tasty. I'm going to make another loaf today. Practice makes perfect!

I made another batch of corn and potato chowder. It gets thicker and more veggies each time I make it. I do have to try some new things, so I'm going to try a new recipe a week.

I also need to actually read the Tightwad Gazette I bought, instead of just looking at it sitting on the shelf. :)

Barbara

Catching up

A few updates here. One, for Christmas my partner is getting me a Kitchenaid Artisan mixer from Amazon.com. With a $25 discount and an A9 search engine discount and free shipping, total price is $173. Pretty good for a $320 list price machine. It will make making bread a lot easier. And I know it will last a really long time.

It's amazing how living the frugal livestyle is changing how I view things. I'm not as frugal (yet!) as a lot of people, but I'm getting there.

For instance, when I walk through the grocery store, I really do "shop the margins". I have very little need to go down most of the aisles. And I'm so much happier about what we are eating.

Yesterday, we did some shopping. JCPenney had sent me and my partner $10 gift certificates. Plus they had just about everything on sale. So, we picked up some towels and a bath rug that we needed. Out of pocket, about 5 bucks.

We also stopped at a thrift store called Value Village. It was the first time my partner had shopped there. I found a Chicago Cutlery knife block for some knives we had gotten for free for 5 bucks. And my partner picked up 4 shirts for work and a really flashy gold/black sweater for the holidays for a total of 20 bucks. The sweater alone would have cost at least 50 bucks new in a retail store.

I'm enjoying the frugal life!

Barbara

Mac and Uncheese

Tried a recipe for mac and uncheese that I got from frugalveggiemama. It tasted very good. I didn't make enough noodles, but I worked it out. Definitely have to have my partner try it out too.

Have to make more thousand island dressing today. Going to have miso soup later.

Barbara

Morningstar Farms Steak Strips

I tried the steak strips today. I made stir fry with mushrooms, brown rice, some soy sauce and some of the steak strips. Pretty good. Bland without the soy sauce, so you will need to season them. But had a good feel to them. They are pricey though, so not an everyday thing. More a buy a bag for the freezer in case of no time at all to cook.

Barbara

Just going along

It is so true that vegetarian eating is frugal in and of itself. I've been eating great food and it doesn't cost much at all. I keep adding to my price book. The grocery bill has slowly been coming down. And we are eating much healthier!

Now, some things are more expensive. Ketchup, vegenaise, Earth Balance margarine, whole wheat bread (when I buy instead of make), all are more expensive. But they don't have high fructose corn syrup, or msg, or trans fats, or hydrenagated oils. That is worth the money, to me.

Barbara

Budgeting

I kept track of our expenses in November. Groceries were higher than I expected. I do have a handle on it and it is getting better. We have Julia's birthday next week and I'm making lasagna, her favorite. No idea what we are doing for Christmas yet. We're not big on presents, so we won't spend much there. We need to hit the thrift store for a couple of work shirts for her and a few storage containers for me, if we can find any.

Barbara