Make Ahead Bread Mix Day

This week our local frugal support group is going to get together to make  bread mixes. Bread mix is the dry ingredients, pre-measured and packaged together so you can make bread in a machine in less than five minutes. Making bread mix isn't expensive, actually, it is far less expensive than almost any other bread choice, if the ingredients are shopped for carefully.  Yet, how many people own bread machines and don't use them? Because there are so many people who have tried them and not used them, you can find a working bread machine in almost any thrift store or yard sale for $5-20. Well worth the money if you are going to use it.

Our bread mix day included making mixes for basic white bread, pizza dough, Hawaiian bread and two kinds of rolls.  The ingredients were measured into 5c plastic containers (a detail that matters- baggies are a pain to fill, 4c is not quite big enough for some mixes), the containers were labeled and the recipe was written on the lid. (Detail that matters- looking up your recipe to add liquid ingredients each time is an extra step that will make you less likely to use them when you are in a hurry.)  Label the front of the containers as well that way you can see them easily on the shelf.  
Here is what I currently have left in my pantry. Butterhorn rolls are a good recipe to use up extra eggs. I was not on the ball this year putting timed lights in my chicken house and they stopped laying for the winter, so I haven't used up my supply of those mixes.

How much is your time worth?

     Most people don't pay attention to most things they buy on a regular basis, but instead tend to shop at the same places for convenience or to "save time".   A little research and a little planning can save you hundreds if not thousands of dollars and I am not just talking groceries.  Saving time sounds reasonable, until you figure out how many hours of work your time saving cost.    Many people will calculate how much they make per hour and  consider that as how long it would be to pay for an item. While that is motivating for many, it is also unrealistic. From your hourly wage, you need to also subtract the money required to live, pay your mortgage/rent, food, gas, etc. In fact  the part of your wage you can put towards bills or any costs other than costs to survive and hold your job another month is quite a bit smaller than most people realize.  That is the amount you have to consider when thinking about how much time you are saving when spending money on "time savers".   So if you make $20 an hour, but 50 percent goes to your mortgage and 40 more percent goes to food, gas, car payments, utilities and savings, then realistically you only have 10%  or $2 an hour to put towards other items.   A $10 with tip lunch is really costing you five hours of work. You can insert your own wage and budget numbers into the formula to find out how much of your time at work a nonessential item actually cost.                                      

     We don't ever go to an emergency room unless there is no choice, we are literally on death's door or a bone is sticking through the skin.  Life threatening emergencies include inability to breathe, heart attacks and profuse bleeding that can't be stopped. Rabies treatments are only available at the emergency room in our town as well.   Other than that, we call the doctor's office and hope for an appointment that week. If the doctor is too busy to see us in a week or so after hearing the symptoms, we go to an urgent care facility and start looking for a new doctor.

     As a young mother, I foolishly took my child to the emergency room when she wasn't on the verge of death, but had a "fracture" or so I was told.  I was directed to make an appointment with a specialist orthopedic doctor, which I did.   At the appointment, more X-rays and I am told the fractured arm is more like a "dent" in the bone and it required no treatment. The cost for the visit was around $600.   I was rather appalled at the price for a single visit with a few (apparently unnecessary X-rays as we had the ones from the ER). But was told they have a "set price per diagnosis" and number of visits or even treatment didn't effect the price.  After I left, knowing the exact name of the fracture, medical codes, etc. I called around to other offices, some in nearby towns.  The price difference from office to office was significant, sometimes hundreds of dollars different.  Later I made similar comparisons with a few other fractures to see if one place was overall less expensive.  This was before healthcare costs were a popular national issue.

     Now that I am older and wiser, I tend to research  everything I spend money on, but especially anything with hidden high costs like healthcare.  Calling around to each pharmacy in your town and asking the price on each drug you take regularly or is over a certain amount can save you lots of money rather than just calling it into your conveniently located favorite pharmacy.

   Healthy living  is the best investment you can make, but even so many still have environmental and genetic factors that require health maintenance or intervention.   In the last few years, outpatient clinics that perform  screening tests and even surgeries have popped up all over the country.  It is generally known that they offer a better price than getting it done in a hospital. But the cost difference can be staggering.   Recently I investigated the cost of a routine colonoscopy. The price at the hospital was estimated at $2500- $3500 for use of the facility. The cost at the clinic was $550.  That is a huge cost difference and well worth a little time spent calling several facilities in driving distance of your home.

    Anesthesia cost was not given from the hospital, at the clinic it would be another $350.    Some doctors and facilities won't even discuss doing the procedure without anesthesia, this clinic not only allows it, but it saves you $350!  It isn't any more uncomfortable than a bad gas pain, and that is only for a few seconds at a time. There is still the doctor's fee which for this office was $850, hospital or clinic.

    Back to our time vs money argument  if you earned an extra $10 a day to put towards your health care bills, then it would take you 120 days to afford the clinic colonoscopy. It would take you 331 days to 431 days to pay the bill at a hospital.  Either way would take most people longer, as most do not make an extra $10 a day. I would guess for many even coming up with $5 a day, along with all their other expenses would be a struggle.

    Now if you skip the screenings because you don't feel you can afford it and end up with colon cancer, here are the financial consequences.    The cost of treatment for colon cancer ranged from $30,000 to $120,000 in 2007 depending on the stage it was found.  That is 13 years to 70 years of working 365 days a year at our $5 a day savings. If you have health insurance, the costs may be considerably less out of pocket, but still it is a better deal financially to avoid cancer with early screening and prevention with a colonoscopy. They actually painlessly remove any polyps that may be growing in your colon. Most are benign anyway, but no polyps means no cancer can even start, so it is well worth it.

    Breast and prostate cancer screenings are also important. The screenings themselves won't prevent it like with colon cancer, but like any cancer, the sooner you find it, the less it cost and the better your chances of survival and quality of life.   In the case of heart attacks, which happen ever 36 seconds in this country, CPR training and an AED machine can save or improve the quality of life, but you need access to an AED within a very few minutes, probably before emergency personal can get to you.  It is most likely worth the investment to have family members trained in CPR and an AED at home, even though they are several hundred dollars, if someone in the house has a heart condition.  Shop, compare and plan are the best ways to save your money and time whether it is groceries, cancer or even heart attacks.   ;)

1 Minute breakfast burritos for the lazy cook with secret DIY egg mold

My recipes are for the cook who doesn't mind finding new way to do things if the end result is less mess and cleanup but good or even superior results. One of the reasons bulk cooking is so great is that you dirty up the preparation dishes one time and make many meals.  Another reason is that you can go gangbusters when you feel like it and slack off the days you don't want to cook at all.  This is particular useful for those with illnesses that give them "good days" and not so good days.  

This Breakfast Burrito recipe could be made fresh daily, or make up a bunch at one time and freeze them.  If you are going to make them fresh daily, I would at least pre-make the cheese and meat strips so you aren't dragging out knives and cutting boards to clean.  

Breakfast Burritos

Ingredients per burrito

1 tortilla (I used flour, the corn tend to be smaller so may not fit )

1 egg 

1 slice bacon (I used precooked.) 

and/or

1 slice ham, cut into 1-2" inch strip

1 slice cheddar cheese (cut long side of 8oz block, fits well) 

1 ziplock sandwich bag for freezing

Here is the left to right assembly line for the breakfast burritos. The ice cream container is repurposed to collect the egg shells to be ground  for the worm bin or chicken food.

1 egg, spoonful of water, premeasuring salt dispenser (invaluable tool), is scambled into a 1c. measuring cup.

Then poured into a breakfast burrito egg mold. This is made by cutting down a cereal box or find a properly sized box in your pantry to fit your tortillas, leaving folding room on one end.  Then line it with a non-stick baking sheet. This one was a circular shape that fits a layer cake pan.  I taped it to the box so it would stay put.  Make sure it completely covers the ends with some overlap so egg can't leak out to the cardboard. (Though if it does, no big deal, just toss it and make a new one for next time.)

Microwave 1 minute or so depending on your microwave.  You could just scramble up a huge pan of eggs,   but like strips of cheese vs shredded, I find this to be less mess to clean up and conveniently ready to use in the burrito if cooked this way instead.  Pour, cook, dump.

Layer cheese, bacon and/or ham on one side of a tortilla shell. I precut an 8oz block of cheese into strips long ways. They perfectly fit my tortillas so assembly went faster.

Dump egg out on top, folding in the bottom of the tortilla and rolling up.

Package in ziplock sandwich baggies, rolling up bag to minimize air.
Store in freezer inside a larger freezer bag or clear shoe box as they fit nicely.

To eat, heat in microwave about 1 minute or so.

 Fast Food for Christmas

A prepared woman, doesn't wait until black Friday to start on her Christmas plans or shopping.  So with the fall of summer, :)  I am starting to think of my own holiday plans.  

       One tradition I started with my kids years ago was to make one of their gifts some favorite convenience or fast food they don't normally get.  I make lots of things from scratch but one of my fondest memories was a proud quote from my first child after visiting a friend.  "Mom, we had macaroni and cheese for dinner and there wasn't a bit of real cheese in it!"   That Christmas each child got a few boxes of mac n cheese in their stocking and they were thrilled.

       As an adult, most of us don't really like the taste of prepared food as well as homemade, but kids taste things differently.  So now is the time to start using your coupon savvy to collect some special convenience food if that is a rare treat in your house or for grocery boxes to share with those who might need them.  Getting an entire package of Oreos is also a big favorite at my house.

       My son in law  works for the postal service, December is the busiest month for them, everyone works overtime and no one is allowed vacations.  So I made him a "lunch advent" with 25 of his favorite microwaveable soups or lunches, which is a big help for their food budget for the month.  He didn't have to worry about no time to go out,  or make his own, but could just grab it and go or even keep them in the car.  You can pack them in holiday lunch bags or add little amusing favors or comics to brighten a busy day as well.  

         

          

Running out of freezer space...time to can

Running out of freezer space...time to can.

This week we butchered the last of our first batch of chickens. I started running out of room in the freezer for them and so decided to pre-cook some of them.  I put 3.5 or so (about 15 pounds) of chicken in my roaster with some water and cooked them all night slowly. This way they were done by morning. I removed them from the broth and added three more raw chickens to the roaster and started cooking them.  I separated the drumsticks, the skin and bones which left me with about five pounds of boneless cooked meat.  I repeated the plan with the rest of the chicken that evening.  

As I am sadly out of freezer space, I was inspired to can that super strong broth. I ended up with about 8 pints canned in the pressure cooker, bought at a thrift store for just such an occasion last year.  I have canned chicken before but frankly I just don't like the taste/texture of canned meat, even from the store. So I squeezed out a bit of space for the 10 1lb packages of cooked chicken I ended up with.  I flattened them and removed the air so they all fit upright in a shoe box.  Looks so organized...I may have to take a picture. :)  The legs we will eat this week for dinner. 

With the next batch of chickens I am going to try canning a single thighs in a pint jar with the double strength broth. I did it a couple of years ago and it was so easy. The final product ended up as convenient and tasty as name brand chicken noodle soup.   I put a raw chicken thigh, with skin and bones, in a pint jar, add broth (made from the necks, feet, etc that you don't want to bother freezing) and salt. Process 90 minutes.  To use I heat in a pan and add a jar full of water, ( just like store bought), remove bones and skin, it falls right off.  Add a handful of noodles and cook until noodles are done.  Taste was so similar to the  $1 or more a can name brand chicken noodle.  

But even if you don't raise chickens you can make this. Leg quarters are often the least expensive chicken to buy per pound.  Look for marked down 10lb bags.  Break the leg off and cut through- poultry shears are helpful.  Make an oven fried meal out of the drumsticks or freeze in meal sized portions for later.  Can the thighs as above. 

 

Broth or "chicken stock" can be made from any skin, bones and fat, raw or cooked.  A picked over rotissere chicken from the deli makes a good broth, boiled in water to cover or simply left in the crockpot all day or all night.  Season to taste and add stock vegetables of your choice if you have them in the fridge.  Boiling the carcass from a rotissere chicken for stock is a good way to get one more meal or add gourmet "umpf" to your next meal for free from something most people toss in the garbage.  

Frugal basics for newbies

Lesson 1

What is Frugal?  I like catchy and direct definitions.  So mine for frugal is getting the most bang for your buck, whether it is with time or money.  Sometimes you must choose between the two depending on which is in greater supply. Wasting, is getting negative bang for your buck, so I am big on avoiding that.    

When a new person comes to my class, they often have varied expectations.  Many are drawn by  low grocery totals, many are just struggling financially and want to find better ways to stretch the budget.   Most know a little about different aspects of frugality, and have specific questions.   It is difficult to give a person enough information in a one or two hour sitting to be really useful without being overwhelming.  On one hand it is the details that will mean success or not- even as tiny a detail as the dimensions of the organizer you choose. (Too big and you won't keep it with you, too small and it becomes unorganized or falls apart with use which leads to discouragement or giving up.)   On the other hand, without some experience or basic knowledge, the details aren't attended.  At first there tends to be hit or miss attendance which has led me to the unfortunate practice of trying to give as much information as possible when they make it.   I have decided to change that, and stick to a set format

Here are some basic requirements for learning frugality or changing habits that are currently unsustainable.  These particular rules are probably true for many habits you are trying to change or skills you are attempting to learn.  For most people growth takes place because of some interest,and is spurred on by success or example.

1. It requires a commitment.  We are sharing lifestyle changes- not magic bullets like, shop on Mondays and you will always save 50% off your bill. There may well be such details, but if it were that easy, you would already be doing it.   If you want to use coupons, you are going to have to collect them, organize them and know when to use them. If you don't want to use coupons but save on your current bill, you are going to have to shop elsewhere,  buy different products, or otherwise change "something". Seems like it would be obvious, but you can't keep doing what you are doing and expect different results.  If you already know you aren't ready to change anything about your lifestyle or habits, then now is not the time to pursue it.  Pretending to try and failing because of lack commitment is worse in the long run than waiting until you are ready. 

2. It takes time.   Learning any new skill takes time. Time to put into the project, time to learn the skill and lastly time to master the skills you are learning.  Eventually when the skills have become habits, it won't take as much time.   But being frugal is going to require time and effort on your part.  (Otherwise you would already be doing it.) 

3. It doesn't require sacrifice, but it does require change. I love this one, because most people rarely see this one coming.  Most people think that being frugal or saving money is going to mean they will be denied the current things they enjoy. If that is the case, you are doing it wrong...or have some really unrealistic  and unsustainable habits.  One of the first things we discuss is what do you currently spend your money on, and why?  What experience are you getting- quality, convenience, entertainment, etc.?  Knowing the reasons  can help you find ways to keep much of the enjoyment without incurring the same cost.   Often there are tiny little tricks or details that will have a huge impact.  I hope to help you find the best balance for your lifestyle.  

4. Maturity helps.   Once I went to a marriage seminar and the first thing they said was "Marriage requires two people willing to mature."  I knew we were doomed!  The reason so many teen marriages in this country fail is that our culture doesn't support teens, (or increasingly anyone) to be mature and responsible.   I have seen some very mature children and hopelessly immature seniors.  Maturity requires a measure of self discipline and attention to details, even if that attention is unconscious habit. Maturity requires thinking past immediate gratification. Maturity isn't self centered. Maturity is patient. (If the Breyers isn't on sale this week, you have to wait and plan better next sale.) This is starting to sound like a certain verse.... Lest I plagiarize God, I had better stop here.  

5. It takes education.  Frugality is something you learn to do, not a "gift" you are born with.  That means anyone can learn. That also means you must take the time to do so. 

Strike while the iron is hot!

This was one of my aunts favorite quotes. There will no doubt be post's with others!

     Yesterday I was cleaning off the kitchen counter and picked up a couple of sprouting potatoes.  My first thought was what can I make with these last two potatoes?  But  it is March, I looked outside, thought about it, and went on outside.  How long does it really take to plant a few potatoes?  I had cut them into pieces so each had at least one eye.  I cleared the weedy overgrowth from along the fence and turned over the soil in six or so spots and planted the pieces.  It probably took ten minutes in all.  Minor success in a world of unfinished projects and goals.

   Normally I am more inclined to set aside those potatoes with the intention of planting them when I " do the garden project".   How many times does a project get put off until it is a last minute rush or not done at all?  For me, too often so I am surrounded by bits and pieces of projects waiting to be done.

    David Allen of "Getting Things Done" fame recommends performing a task if it takes two minutes or less to finish and if it takes more time, then put it on your to-do list . (That is a major oversimplification of a small part of his plan.)  But I am finding with myself, that the best laid plans often lack motivation or discipline to start or finish.  So I try to grab any spark of encouragement I can to get some things done I may not really look forward to doing.

   Therefore I may change my personal guideline to 10-15 minutes instead of 2.  If I can accomplish a task that has been brought to my attention in 15 minutes, instead of put it off, I think I shall get more accomplished.  Obviously this won't work when you are in the midst of an important project, but for much of our daily routine, a ten minute timeout here and there will increase productivity rather than side rail us too much.

  Frugal-wise I have invested ten minutes and two old potatoes, with the potential gain of several pounds of new potatoes.  Also I cleared the kitchen of  two bits of counter clutter without turning them into garbage.  A frugal and environmentally sound ten minutes.