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Some people taste the bitterness in vegetables, so don't like them much. But more vegetables in stir-fries, soups, meat loaf, etc. might work. I can't get really enthusiastic about a bowl of say, broccoli, by itself--but I love the variety vegetables bring to the table. Also, aliums!
This week I went to Goodwill. It’s been months since I’ve been there. DH needed more shorts.
They don’t have any shorts in stock. Apparently they’re trying to mimic retail stores and stocking only seasonal stuff now. That is annoying because their shorts are $4. When I jump over to eBay men’s shorts they start at $10. This is not frugal when we both like the $4 shorts just fine, and DH is easy to fit in shorts.
I will say that one nice change they’ve made is to put a price tag on everything. That’s different because their bedding was never priced and I never knew how much things were. But the main improvement has printing size on the tags attached to each garment. That is a wonderful improvement.
I don’t think they are color-sorting anymore though. That was a trend they started a couple years ago where they sorted all the tops by color. I didn’t care about that.
Continuing to take breakfast and lunch to work. I realized that i wanted more caffeine from tea so I put two teabags in my 20oz travel mug and that does the trick. A wee bit of sugar and some milk. Continuing to play around with options on the rebreather I want as some are much less expensive than others.
More caffeine is always the right choice!Quote:
Originally Posted by Tradd
Continuing to eat free snacks at work.
My new hobby of fighting mask mandates is low cost so far. With cooler weather I am also walking more, continuing to read books I get from a library in an adjacent community, and I have used mainly paint on hand to touch up different areas of the house.
Going shopping doesn't appeal to me right now. I want to save in case city officials find some way to nitpick at my property because I am fighting them on mask mandates.
Turned off the air conditioning and made vanilla extract with the costco brand vodka. $12 vs $25 we'll see this time next year how it tastes. Thinking about not making a 2022 batch since I did not do much baking or socializing and just opened the 2019 batch because my mom asked for a bottle.
Got together with a friend at an outdoor festival which was less than an originally planned restaurant we had tried for earlier but she had to cancel.
Hana: I've always heard that Costco brand vodka is Grey Goose or similar and is one of their greatest bargains, so hopefully you will still have a high quality product.Quote:
Originally Posted by hana
I don't know if it is still going on, but there was a whole big "thing" several years ago showing moms how to *hide* veggies in meals so their kids would eat them. I was never a fan of that, as I always wanted my kids to know what they were eating, but it resulted in a lot of recipes on the internet with hidden veggies. The one I like is broccoli in the spaghetti sauce (not hidden but decent size florets) when serving over pasta. I like the taste of it. :)Quote:
Originally Posted by JaneV2.0
Wait…what?Quote:
Originally Posted by hana
you make vanilla from vodka?
If you're a recovering alcoholic, some addiction specialists will tell you not to use vanilla extract unless it's an alcohol-free brand.Quote:
Originally Posted by iris lilies
I used to make a vanilla spiced rum each year before vanilla beans went through the roof. It also had cinnamon, nutmeg and cardamom in it. I started it around Labor Day to have it ready for use in eggnog at Thanksgiving.Quote:
you make vanilla from vodka?
herbgeek, that spiced rum sounds delicious! I'm still hording a couple of vanilla beans. It's been difficult to find frugals to write about here - I seem to be lost in a money-spending miasma much of late. Trying to keep my head above the fog, lol. Not to mention the charge card and check-book... I have a decided lack of focus most days. But I have managed a bit - I've been hanging the laundry outside, although washing more in warmer water to combat the lack of brisk agitation in my current washing machine. So a trade-off frugal, not one that actually saves on the bottom line. We have been very careful with our current food stocks as far as limiting waste, but can't help some -ex.- the lovely looking spaghetti squash we cooked yesterday turned out to be inedible- very bitter. So it hit the compost and dinner plans were abruptly changed to a more expensive, quick cooking frozen convivence food. Which is why I have such things, really, so ok, I should not complain about that. But I really wanted spaghetti squash! Moved my routine dental exam/cleaning from December to January, as I had to have a filling redone and I get two office visits per year on our insurance. Those are generally my two cleanings, so bumping that appointment back a month saves an $85 visit charge for what would have been the third visit this year. I'm counting that as a frugal! Still doing most of the everyday things – watching the lights and water – esp. hot – usage, making 2 pots of coffee with the grounds for 1.5, keeping an eye on the charge card to be sure all charges are ours, and that re-occurring charges are still in line with what we want (subscriptions, donations, etc.). We also try to have coffee with us when we leave the house. That does not preclude a coffee shop visit, but will at least stave it off for short trips and keep it to one visit on longer ones! Ok, I feel a little better now, thanks for "listening", lol.
Stopped in the grocery store and a manager was putting up 50-75% off signs in a health food section. They are redoing the store in sections so got a cart and got some great buys. Bobs red mill oatmeal, quinoa, beans and lentils at 75% off, and Annie’s brands and organic canned fruits and tomato products. Now I have to rearrange my pantry to accommodate this new stuff.
Nice score!Quote:
Originally Posted by flowerseverywhere
Stopped at a place on the way home last night to get that rarity for me, a restaurant meal (well, really just a panini), but they were rude and wouldn't seat anyone, so I left and didn't go anywhere else instead.
When I brought my car in for service they told me even if the filters are discolored if air can still pass through them they do not need to be replaced. I asked my furnace cleaner does the same apply to furnace filters and he said yes, so I am changing them less frequently, plus due to warmer weather the heat has barely kicked on.
Quote:
Originally Posted by flowerseverywhere
Agree - congrats!Quote:
Originally Posted by frugal-one
Jeppy: I know you heat with oil, as I do, so we have the same type of fuel. My heating mechanism, for want of a better word, is steam, and there are no filters for me to replace. What is your heating mechanism? I'm just curious, because in my mind oil is associated with steam or hot water, and I didn't think either of those required filter changes by the homeowner. It sounds like maybe one can have forced hot air fueled by oil and I just didn't know it.Quote:
Originally Posted by Yppej
Yes, I have a forced hot air furnace. It sounds like you have a boiler.Quote:
Originally Posted by rosarugosa
Yes, I do have a boiler.Quote:
Originally Posted by Yppej
I found some four packs of toilet paper at Walmart for 68 cents and they look soft too. The rolls aren't as big as normal, but at that price I bought all three of the packs they had.
washed, mended, and put new foam insoles in my winter house-shoes. They aren't pretty but should make it through another winter. Found (in a pile of fabric in our hallway) two pair of jeans I can wear now. Just need to cut them off and hem them, which I should be able to get to later this week. Put in both DH and my order for this quarter for the free pharmacy items -a current perk of our Medicare plan supplement. I would never pay the drug store price for these items, but as they are at no cost, I will certainly use them! We each get $105. to spend on a select catalogue of OTC items, each quarter. I ordered a new blood pressure reader/cuff, (among other things) as ours seems really wonky.
Taking company on a tour of PEI. They paid for the ferry. We have free accommodation at relatives while they’re away. We brought food from home. Relatives told us to raid the garden. Life is good!
Early: That's a very cool perk!
RedSpruce: That sounds like a wonderful, frugal vacation. I would love to go to PEI someday.
DH and I went to a garden club lecture on perennials yesterday, so free entertainment.
Went to pick up my medicine and was told the total with insurance was $102. I used a Good RX coupon and it brought it down to $69.
Good fly-by at the supermarket yesterday. Typically, when I have to go to Burlington to drop off my son or run another errand, I always stop by the supermarket to get DH Diet Pepsi because they are always on sale there for 2 or 3 6-packs for $10 (depending on the sale), but on the islands, they're 2 bottles for $3.75. Yesterday on my fly-by, I also scored 3 bottles of organic EVOO that was on clearance at 50% off, grass-fed lamb chops 30% off, cooked chicken thighs and drumsticks 30% off, smoked salmon 50% off, and cans of tuna at 30% off. My total bill represented a 39% off savings.
Wow-- definitely worth shopping on the mainland!!
Up to WI for diving on Saturday. I’m driving up to Madison Friday after work. 2 hours. I have a hotel I always stay at. Booked with Wyndham points so the room was only $65 before tax. I’ll drive the remaining two hours to the dive site Saturday. Rooms are much more plentiful and cheaper in Madison than near the dive site and I get some decent sleep too.
I am starting on Christmas gifts this month since I will pay my auto insurance for the year next month and that way hopefully both months stay under budget.
It's pretty easy use 2-3 vanilla beans for every 8oz of vodka. With a sharp knife split the bean in half the long way and put into the container.I use mason jars, give it a shake once a day for two weeks and let it sit for 2 months in a cool dark place. If possible let it sit for 6-12 months since the longer it sits the more the flavors develop. For gift giving pour into amber glass bottles, add a pretty bow and label.Quote:
Originally Posted by iris lilies
I buy a pack of 25 vanilla beans from Amazon and divide them between two wide mouth quart jars. I add vodka one 1.75L bottle fills up both jars. That covered my baking needs plus gifts for a year pre covid.
It's pretty easy to turn the leftover vanilla beans into vanilla sugar. With the tip of a sharp knife carefully scrape all the seed from the bean. Add to 1 cup sugar in a food processor. Pulse for a few seconds until the seeds are distributed in the sugar. Pour the sugar in a container. Once complete put the pods in the sugar. Let set for a couple of weeks then enjoy.
If you're in a hurry add 1 tablespoon to 1 cup of sugar and mix well with a whisk . Cover a cookie sheet with parchment paper and pour the sugar on the cookie sheet. Try your best to smooth it out as flat as possible. Wait 1-2 hours then break it up the best you can and put in a nice container.
I have been looking for all cotton long sleeve tee shirts for layering this winter. Mine are old and ratty. Knit items at the thrift store are very often too worn to last much longer so I decided to splurge on several at LL Bean. They were back-ordered so I canceled the order plus I really didn't see paying $30 for a tee shirt. On my next visit to the thrift store, I found an almost new LLBean tee shirt in my size and the exact color I was going to order. With 30% off for seniors, it came to just over $5. Yeah!!
That is awesome pinkytoe!!!!
Thank you, Hana, I will try these things with the vanilla--very cool.
Hana: I've done the homemade vanilla with good results. :)
Pinkytoe: What a great score, and amazing that it was your preferred color even!
you are making me miss thrifting, pinkytoe. Congrats on the great find.
hana, I've been the recipient of homemade vanilla - it's wonderful! Thanks for the directions. I am saving them.
I was pleased with the pure Mexican vanilla I bought for $5.99/quart. It is the brand in a glass bottle with a rooster on it. Evidently, Mexican vanilla is less expensive because it is the only place in the world where the plant is naturally pollinated. In Madagascar the pollination is done by hand (instead of insect) which is a tedious process.
**What difference does it make when a vanilla bean is pollinated by hand vs. naturally by a bee?
As with everything related to nature, there is a powerful force at work. The main difference between hand pollination and natural bee pollination is that bee pollination has only ever taken place in Mexico. Outside of this location, it cannot happen. Hand pollination is exceptionally labor-intensive and very time-sensitive; it also requires constant monitoring over a specific time period. Both result in the same flavor profile, and there are just as many risks with bee pollination as with hand pollination.
With hand pollinations, workers dedicate themselves to pollinating as many flowers as they can within the optimal timeframes. There is no room for error as poor pollination can severely hamper the harvest.
I have heard some not so favorable things about vanilla from Mexico. Google "is vanilla extract from Mexico good?"Quote:
Originally Posted by frugal-one
Not ALL vanilla extracts are good. The brand that I specifically specified is the one to get.
Consumers should be cautious when buying vanilla in Mexico and other Latin American countries, the FDA advised. Look for "vanilla bean" on the label's ingredient list. Don't buy the product if it says "tonka bean" or has a vague ingredient list or no list.
I use Nielsen-Massey vanilla paste . DH got me a huge bottle of it and it lasts forever.