Upcycle: Build a Bag

Love up-cycling: Taking old clothes and remaking them into cool reusable bags you can gift to another is way fun!

1. From one gently used piece of clothing, cut 2 matching size pieces of cloth in the shape of the desired bag or one long rectangle piece that is 3 inches longer than twice the height of the desired bag 
2. Cut two 22 x 3 inch strips of material to be used as the bag’s handles
3. If two separate pieces of cloth, place right sides together and sew ¼ inch seam along the bottom
4. Pocket bottom seam between the front and back panels 1½  to 3 inches deep
5. Sew together the front to back panels along sides using a ¼ inch seam, catching the pocketed bottom so to create a nice bottom for your bag. 
6. Turn bag inside out
7. Roll top under by a double ¼ inch, pin and iron in place and set aside
8. Iron handles in half length-wise
9. Fold edge into center crease, pin in place
10. Pocket edges of handles inside by a ¼  inch and iron in place
11. Top-stitch both long sides of the handles
12. Pin one handle end, ¼ inch deep and 2-3-inches in from the left edge of the bag inside of back panel of the bag.
13. Pin the other end of the same handle ¼ inch deep and 3-inches from the right edge inside of the back panel
14. Repeat previous two steps to attach the 2^nd handle on the inside of the front panel of the bag 
15. Finish top of bag by sewing the top folded ¼ inch seam, catching the edge of the handles 
16. Top stitch the bag around the opening, which will help secure the bags handles 

Wala! You are now ready to go J

Summer Savings

The garden is in and we are beginning to harvest the fruit (and vegetables) of our labor.  With this in mind, I got thinking about the benefits of a home garden.  You can do this even if you live in an apartment, using container gardens, or a small raised bed.  We are fortunate that we have the space for a big garden and even a coop for free reign chickens who provide us with fresh eggs.

With a little bit of time you can save big at the grocery store by planting what you eat.  Tomatoes are easy to grow and one to three plants will feed a family all summer. Leaf Lettuce and Swiss Chard will grow continuously till frost. If you have more than you can keep up with,  you can freeze or can to save them for winter.

Lettuce, beets, spinach and Swiss chard are now being harvested and it makes for great salads. We will be able to put in a second planting so we have these vegetables fresh going into fall.

Besides the fresh vegetables, other benefits include:
Ø  You save money by less shopping at the grocery store
Ø  You eat better with higher quality fresh vegetables
Ø  You have time to enjoy working in the garden and harvesting what you planted
Ø  You may loose weight because you are exercising more and eating better
Ø  You have a stress release from your busy workday.

To see what we are up to, check out our other blog:  https://walkerhomesteadcsa.blogspot.com

Happy savings, gardening, eating well, stress reducing, being healthy and happy.

Frugal While Waiting for Fitness

I have been injured, busy, on travel and a thousand other reasons for not staying fit.

Ramification: Weight gain. Temporary of course, but there is nothing worse than busting your budget buying clothing for a size you don’t want to stick with.

Short-term solution: A quick remake. I had a jacket to a nice suit which still fit but it has been a stretch since I have been able to shimmy into the skirt. I took two non-fitters from the back of my closet and made one fun skirt with attitude. Three hours later and I have a fun new addition to my wardrobe with attitude.

Cost: $0.00 Very frugal while working on getting fit. 

Modern Day Gypsy Guide: 7 Tips on How to Make Your Money Last

While in Belize with a group of MBA students, I met Vienda, self-proclaimed ‘Modern Day Gypsy’. Her life is the true essence of frugal fun. In the spirit of spring break, we invited her to share a posting on the topic of travel, fun and frugality.

Modern Day Gypsy Guide: 7 Tips on How to Make Your Money Last

I've been travelling around our pretty globe for 10 years now covering over 30 countries, with a couple of pit stops along the way; 18 months in London and 2 1/2 years in Sydney. People whom I meet along the way often ask me how I do it. I work, naturally, and have several different income streams but that's a post for another day. 

How much money you have is generally less important than what you do with that money. Travels can last much longer if you use your money in thoughtful and clever ways, and think outside of the box. Here are seven of the most poignant tips on how to make your money last.

1. Be Flexible.

Being flexible is probably the No. 1 tip I can give anyone who wants to become a traveler. That means be flexible with your plans, with where you want to go, with whom you will meet and what you will do. Leave it up to the travel gods. They will always guide you to have the best experience possible! For example, late last year I had to make a decision. I had been in the UK for a month, doing some work, and had to decide whether to stay for the winter or move on. London is an expensive city if you don't have a conventional lifestyle, and though I could have stayed and worked, my heart was yearning to go somewhere warmer. Both India and Mexico were calling my name. So I started researching flights and my decision was made for me. I found a $250 flight from London to Cancun as opposed to the cheapest flight to Mumbai in India which was $800. I saved $550 simply because I was flexible, and have been having the most incredible time in Central America ever since. This is true for so very many different scenarios. It's so important to remain open and flexible at all times when you're a modern day gypsy, as you never know when and what kind of opportunities will appear.

2. Don't Make Solid Plans.

This may seem counterintuitive for many people who haven't had a lot of experience travelling, but actually making solid, fixed plans such as hotel bookings, trips and tours may be your demise because you often can't change them if something better shows up. In many parts of the less-developed world, you won't get the best deals and experiences by booking them online. You get them by talking to the local people, making friends and connecting in "real" life. Only a couple of weeks ago I was working at the ‘Envision’ music festival in Uvita, Costa Rica. They had camping sites available for staff but I wanted more comfort (I may be a modern day gypsy but I definitely enjoy and indulge in simple creature comforts!). So a friend and I went to a local cafe and started speaking with the waiter, the owner and some other locals. Luckily my Spanish is fluent enough to make these kinds of conversations and within minutes the news was out that we were looking for a place for two people with kitchen facilities. The next day we were taken to a beautiful row of local tourist apartments, each complete with a private kitchen and bathroom, a fabulous swimming pool, hammocks, a lovely outdoor area and a five-minute ride to the festival site. We wouldn't have found this if we hadn't gotten in with the locals, and we praised and felt gratitude for our lovely temporary home every day.

3. Always Barter the Price.

This is really important. Always, always, always - ask for a better price. You won't always get it but more than often than not, you will. I do this everywhere I go because I know that my buy is valuable to the seller and that if you don't ask, you don't get. Not only did we find a beautiful place to stay in, but we also got a really good price because we asked for it. When we initially spoke to the locals about finding an apartment to rent during our stay in Uvita, we told them that we were planning to stay for 15 nights and that our budget was $20 per night for the two of us, so $10 each. We knew that the prices in the area were mostly above and beyond this unless we wanted to stay in some dodgy backpackers but we both know from experience that you generally always get what you put out to the universe. It's just how modern day gypsies roll! Because we were staying for more than two weeks, and it meant that the owner of the Cabinas had a definite income for that entire time, and we paid in cash, he was happy to fulfill our needs. The apartment we received was normally priced at $60 per night so we actually saved $600, which is HUGE in the grand scheme of things.

4. Be Generous.

This tip is based on the law of attraction. What you give out you get back, and when you're on the road there's nothing more beautiful and fulfilling than giving something to someone who is in need. Not only does it feel great, but it also has the added benefit of your generosity being reciprocated in the most unexpected ways. This may not happen directly from the people you have been generous with, but you simply never know. The amount of times that wonderful things have happened to me is countless: complete strangers offering me a place to stay, free taxi rides to airports when I ran out of local currency, a shared meal with people living below the poverty line, generous gifts of books or other things that I've needed along the road. Being generous is a wonderful attribute to take with you wherever you go, and although this act should come from a pure place without any expectation, you will find that when it is reciprocated, it will often save you money in the most unusual ways.

5. No Bills.

One of the wonderful benefits of being a modern day gypsy is that I have no bills. I don't own property, I don't have any ties, I don't have telephone, electric or gas bills. I pay for the things that I need as I go. Certainly this makes the way I care for and spend my money quite different. I'm very aware of what my expenditures are and deal with money on a day-to-day basis.

6. Stay With Friends.

After having travelled for such a long time, and having made lots of friends wherever I go, I have the wonderful opportunity to stay with friends in many places along the way. I am always so incredibly grateful for every single individual who is kind enough to open their doors to me and share their home. I always make an effort to reciprocate their kindness and hospitality by putting my homemaking talents to work and making some beautiful meals and leaving some kind of light, love and inspiration behind wherever I go. This obviously also means that I get to save on accommodation expenses which is definitely one of the biggest costs when travelling.

7. Travel Slow.

I like to take my time wherever I go. I'm not a tourist or a backpacker, I'm a modern day gypsy which means that I want to immerse myself in the place and culture that I am visiting. This means that I like to stay in one place for longer periods of time rather than move around quickly. And this can really help make your money last longer. When you live like a local, you pay local prices and you get to know the people. You can rent a place for longer periods of time at the fragment of the price of a hotel or other tourist accommodations. You learn to shop where the locals shop, prepare your own meals and live and love a more simple life. Taking your time when you travel is not only good for your pockets, but also much more fulfilling for your soul, as you get to really experience the place that you are visiting rather than just pass through it.

Life as a modern day gypsy has so many adventures, twists and turns, and how you use your money is definitely one of the important aspects that you face on a daily basis. What tips do you have to make your money last longer when travelling?

Bio: Vienda Maria is a writer, life coach and modern day gypsy. She is the creator of The Empowerment Project + the Build Your Own Business Blog guide. You can immerse yourself in her musings over at Vienda Maria, tweet her your love and joys on Twitter, as well as  join her on Facebook.



Can’t Buy Me Love – Happy Valentine’s Day

As Valentine’s Day quickly approaches, I think back to the Beatle’s song “Can’t Buy Me Love.” The Wall Street Journal was also thinking of the little things that show love in their article “Small Acts, Big Love.” By putting the other person’s needs above yours, spending a little time, and being creative in your approach, really shows that you appreciate and care for them and you don’t take them for granted.

Some key things to remember when you demonstrate your love through actions:

• Don’t expect a pay back

• Think about what your partner would like, not what is easy for you

• Put your partner’s needs first

• Show respect and appreciation

Here are a few little things that say ‘I Love You’ every day of the year:

• On cold days, start their car and scrape the ice off the windshield

• Make the bed

• Pack their lunch

• Open doors

• Leave the toilet seat down

• Leave the bathroom sink clean

• Pick up after yourself

• Empty the dishwasher

• Make a meal

• Say “thank you”

• Anything that your partner usually does for you, take your turn and do it for your partner

Show your love and appreciation 365 days a year, not just on Valentine’s Day. It doesn’t have to cost a penny and to quote the Beatles “Money can’t buy me love.” Happy Frugal Fun Valentine’s Day – every day of the year.

Building Blocks

Hosting a baby shower? Hate shower games? Pinched for funds?

Try this one. We took scrap wood and cut them up into 2x3x3 inch blocks, sanded and painted a baby-powder white. As the guest arrived, they selected a number or a letter to feature on their block. We had acrylic paint pens for everyone to work with. It was a fun opportunity to release our inner artist. We coated each block with a protective spray, and wa la! Our guest have collectively created a one-of-a-kind set of blocks.

The project cost $5 in paint material and provided not only a group project, but a very special gift for that little one.

Very frugal and fun!

Cleaning Up

Have you ever thought about making your own laundry detergent?  The other day, we were shopping at our local farm/home supply store and found coupons that had all the items necessary to make your own laundry soap on sale.  The total cost to make the detergent for 288 loads was just under $15.00 or about 5 cents per load, about 3 times the savings over commercial laundry detergent.

We tried the laundry soap and it works great!  Kristy is excited because she feels it works better and it is how her grandmother made laundry detergent. The directions:

• 2/3 bar Fels Naptha soap*
• ½ cup Borax
• ½ cup washing soda

Grate the Fels Naptha soap. Mix in the Borax and washing soda.  Store in an air tight container.  Use 1 – 2 tablespoons per load.  Can be used in HE washers.

* Freeze the Fels Naptha soap prior to preparing the mixture to keep it from clogging the grater. 

Happy Washing!

PS. We have had questions following this blog posting asking for the liquid form of the detergent:
• 1/3 bar Fels Naptha Soap
• 1/2 cup Borax
• 1/2 cup Washing Soda
• 2 gallons water (32 cups)

Grate Fels Naptha Soap. Heat 6 cups of water and add grated Fels Naptha until soap melts. Add Borax and Washing Soda. Sir until dissolved. Remove from heat. Pour 4 cups of hot water into 2 gallon bucket. Add soap mixture and stir. Add remaining water and stir. Let sit for about 24 hours until it gels. Use ½ cup detergent per load of laundry. Can be used in HE washer.

Frugal Holiday Celebrations

It’s that time of year again, when the political ads cease and attention is now to get you to purchase and spend for the holidays. The height of consumer spending frenzies is commonly referred to as “Black Friday,” which this year took on Thanksgiving Thursday. I don’t want to bash the consumerism of the holidays, but want to provide you with a few frugal fun ideas to increase your holiday cheer without breaking the bank. Who knows, you just might start some new favorite holiday traditions.

Go Caroling
Bundle up and grab some hot chocolate with your friend and go door-to-door singing favorite holiday tunes. Have a pot-luck dinner or snack before or after the caroling.

Give the Gift of Time
Life is busy and it may seem as if you don’t have any time to give. It may seem easier to just buy presents, gift cards or give. Think about giving your time to a friend or family member. You can help them around the house, with special projects or just an evening of turning off the television and playing cards or board games and enjoying each other’s company and conversation. Your time is very precious and giving of it may be the most expensive gift you give.

Casserole Exchange
The holidays are busy and you may not have time to cook and enjoy a nice meal. Invite friends and family to participate in a casserole exchange. Make four of your favorite casseroles and invite everyone over for an exchange party. You will give away three of your favorite casseroles while having one in your refrigerator or freezer. The new casseroles that you exchanged for can provide some variety to your holiday meals.

Ornament Exchange and Decorating Party
Some of you may take great pride in decorating for the holidays and want total control, while others may dread putting out the decorations. If you are of the latter persuasion, or think more people always are more fun, you could have a decorating party where everyone brings an ornament or decoration. Get out the eggnog, crank out the holiday tunes and have fun.

Other Ideas:
• Drive around and look at holiday lights and displays
• Cookie exchange parties
• Take time to watch your favorite holiday movie or show
• Make your own holiday cards, wrapping paper, gifts

• Secret Santa with a low dollar limit

Travel
Now this might break the bank but our family has the tradition of only buying stocking stuffers and traveling as a family over the holidays. By allocating your gift giving budget to travel, you can do a lot of things and go lots of places. It is our gift to give and receive and focuses us on our values of family time. We all get away for a week or a weekend and spend quality time with each other. It is always fun to explore a different area and it doesn’t have to be far from home.

We wish you the best, to you and yours during this holiday season.

Bob and Kristy

Living off the Grid

It has been six weeks since we sold our house and moved into our motor coach. If you read our previous blog "Homeless" you know it was quite a shock moving from 3,000 to 300 square feet. The idea of living in our motor coach for 6 to 9 months while we build our next home was a great plan as we sat around the dining room table of our old house. The good news is that it gets better.

To bring you up to speed, we now have electricity as of two weeks ago but still do not have running water. When we were showering in the motor home, our 85 gallon water holding tank would last us about one week. Tuesday was our day to take the motor home out to empty our tanks and fill up with fresh water.

We changed our ways two weeks ago. We now get up at 5:00 am to head out to the Campus Wellness and Recreation Center (CRWC) for a work out and morning shower. We can now stretch our 85 gallons out for one month.

Lessons learned over the past 6 weeks:

1. Running water and electricity are great luxuries. There is nothing like a long hot shower.

2. We have a new appreciation for space. Bob misses his home office and fast Internet. Kristy misses her closet and room to get ready in the morning.

3. Living in a small space makes every other house seem enormous. We spent time at Kristy's parents’ house and our kids’ house and they both seem gigantic! Such a luxury to spread out and have separate rooms.

4. Public libraries are great places. Without a home office, Bob has been spending time working at the Coralville Public Library and he appreciates free Wi-Fi.

5. Laundromats have free Wi-Fi and you can do a week of laundry in less than two hours. They also have cable television and we can watch channels that we don't have.

6. Why did we pay so much for cable? We are using the antenna on the motor home and the reception is great. We get 27 channels from our pasture.

7. Living off the grid is frugal but the 'fun' varies.

8. Life is good. It's not the space you have but the people in your life that makes life good. When we are with family or friends, the space never feels small. For all our family and friends, we are very thankful.

Frugal Fun Night?

As classes have started and I’m back to teaching personal finance, I have a challenge for all the students taking this class and using “Personal Finance; Building Your Future” by Walker & Walker. I want to know who can come up with the best frugal fun night. Add your suggestions and ideas by adding it as a comment to this blog. Keep it clean (PG rating), include an estimated cost and how this Frugal Fun Night reflects your values – the values that you worked on in Chapter 1. Remember, being frugal is not being cheap, but it is the wise spending of money in accordance with your values.

I look forward to reading your responses and getting ideas of how I can spend a Frugal Fun Night!

Community Supported Agriculture (CSA) Basics

Question: What enables you to both eat healthy and be a good steward of your community? 

Answer: Buy a share membership to your local Community Supported Agriculture (CSA). Through a CSA membership, you are buying seasonal food directly from a local farmer. In a CSA, the farmer offers a set number of "shares" to the public. A share consists of a box of farm produce. You purchase a share up front at the beginning of the year and in return, you receive a box of seasonal produce each week throughout the season. Information about CSAs and how to find one in your community can be found at http://www.localharvest.org/

Advantages for the Farmer

• Market your produce prior to the growing season
• Receive payment early in the season, which provides cash flow
• Connect with those who will be consuming your produce

Advantages for You

• Fresh food, packed with flavor and vitamins as they will be consumed or frozen very soon after they are harvested
• Exposure to new fruits and vegetables and new ways to prepare them keeps you from getting bored with eating healthy options
• Good for the environment as you have a lower carbon footprint when there is a shorter distance from field to table

Consideration

• CSA will not meet 100% of your fruit and vegetable needs. For example, depending on the CSA, they may focus only on vegetables. You probably will find that you need to supplement your CSA share
• Eating seasonally is an adjustment. If you are not accustomed to eating seasonally, it may take you some time to transition from eating whatever is at the grocery store to a focus as to what is in season from the current week’s CSA box.  Many CSAs provide a list of what produce to expect and when
• Quantity varies. Farmers try to provide a variety of items in a reasonable quantity on a weekly basis. An important question to ask before you sign up with your local CSA is how much produce to expect to be delivered weekly as well as the expected variances throughout the full season
• Policies vary. For example, learn what arrangements can be made if you are out of town for a week; What does it mean for you if there is a bunker crop or low productions due to influences from Mother Nature

All in all, buying a share in a CSA provides you a way to invest both in your local community and in your own health, as well as it helps keep your environment healthy. Bon Appetite!

Skirts to Shirts

Gaining weight?

No fun.

Not fitting into your clothes?

No fun.

Buying new clothes for a temporary larger size?

No fun.

Remaking old skinny-butt skirts into funky fun tops for the afternoon graduation parties?

So fugal. So fun!



Brown Bag Valentine

It is Valentine’s frugal fun time. In keeping healthy hearts, label one of these healthy snack items and sneak it into your sweetheart’s lunch box. The following are a few sweet (as in thoughtful) sample valentines lunch box label treats for you to consider:

1. Apple: “You are the apple of my eye”
2. Cheese Slices: “Our love is so cheesy!”
3. Cupcake: “You are my little cupcake”
4. Cherries: “I cherish the memories”
5. Almonds: “I am nuts about you”
6. Pepper Packets: “You spice up my life”
7. Turkey Roll Up: “Don’t’ be a turkey, go out with me”
8. Ham Roll Up: “I am a real ham when it comes to dating you”
9. Peanut Butter and Jelly: “We go together like peanut butter and jelly”
10. Sushi: “You are the wasabi of my sushi”
11. Lettuce Salad: “Lettuce enjoy our time together”
12. Relish Salad: “I relish our time together”
13. Tickets to Lunch: “Let’s ketchup”
14. Jar of Mustard: “I mustard enough courage to ask you out”
15. Olives: “Olive you”
16. Pickle: “If I am ever in a pickle, I want it to be with you”
17. Bouquet of 14 Carrot Sticks: “14-carrots for you”
18. Corn Chowder: “It may be corny, but I love you”
19. Tabasco Sauce: “You warm my up with your spice.”
20. Ice Cream Sandwich: “Ice cream with delight when I think of you”
21. Miniature Box of Lucky Charms: “You are my lucky charm”
22. Miniature Box of Corn Flakes: “Just like corn flakes, you are great!
23. Miniature Box of Raison Bran: “You are my Raison Bran, you keep me regular”
24. Jimmie Bean Sausage Muffin: “You are my Jimmie Bean Sausage Muffin, a little ray of sunshine”
25. Mentos and Diet Coke: “Our love is like Mentos and Diet Coke”
26. Maple Syrop: “ I’m stuck on you like syrup”
27. Grilled Cheese and Tomato Soup: “We go together like grilled cheese and tomato soup”
28. Pears: “We make the perfect pear”
29. Sweet Potato: “ You are like a sweet potato and I want to butter you up”
30. Plums: “Plum love into you”



New Beginnings and Heartfelt Thank Yous

Hello World-

Tonight, the man in brown delivered to our door steps two copies of ‘Personal Finance: Building Your Future’ Walker & Walker 1e. After three years, hard work and much support and encouragement from the McGraw Hill editors, the 480 page book dropped on our door step and for the techie side of me, complete with QR codes that really work with the blog, which is too cool on so many dimensions.

The book arrival is not an end point. It is a kick-off to a whole new adventure. We look forward to classroom adoptions and interactions with the blog and how social media can influence student learning and help keep current events interwoven with discussion items in the class room.

We want to reach out just one more time to our friends at McGraw Hill. Hugs and cartwheels to Michele Janicek, Jennifer Lohn, Melissa Caughlin, Diane Nowaczyk, Jennifer Jelinkski, Ann Torbert, Bradley Woodrum, Johnna Barto, Elizabeth Hughes and all of the other editors, production staff, and marketing staff who have teamed up with us on this journey. However wonderful and beautiful the hard copy of this book, it is just the start.

And to those who gave us feedback prior to publication, thank you for helping us frame the book so that it is a fair and balanced perspective to personal finance. In this day and age, do you think we can find you on face book to say thank you directly? Zuckerberg would support that approach. In fact, he might throw stock at it.

So finally, in case we can’t facebook friend you, a sincere thank you to Angel Alexander ~Brenda Anthony~Michael Araujo~Sean Basford~Pam Bennett~Ross Blankenship~Karin Bonding~Walter Boyle~Craig Bythewood~Ron Camp~Peter Chen~Margaret (Meg) Clark~Fernando Conde~Barbara Connolly~Nirmalendu Debnath~Beth Deinert~Susan Feinberg~Chuck Finnell~Elizabeth Fletcher~Roy Fletcher~Paula Freston~David Fricke~Wayne Gawlik~Terri Gonzales~Judith Griffin~Jana Hosmer~Sandra Huston~Seonah Kendall~Jim Keys~Lee Kitchen~Juannae Landry~Jeff Livingston~Thomas Lynch~Bala Maniam~John Marcis~Mario Mastrandrea~Diane Masuo~Robert McCalla~Jamshid Mehran~Jim Meir~Tammi Metz~Dianne Morrison~Pattabiraman Neelakantan~Thomas O’Keefe~Dan Oglevee~Diana Parker~Martina Peng~Lori Radulovich~Andreas Rauterkus~Greg Richey~Andrew Salcido~Lawrence Schuffman~Patricia Shaw-Crabb~Michael Slates~Martin Spechler~Edith Strickland~Sven Thommesen~Steve Tolbert~Lilian Nnenna Ukadike~Shafi Ullah~Randall Valentine~Dick Verrone~Rubina Vohra~Andy Whitman~Walt Woerheide~Bruce Xiao

Fiscally Physically Fit

Money is a resource and so is your health. If you lose all your money, you can find a way to earn it back. You cannot always get your health back. The state of Iowa champions an annual 100 days, live healthy campaign, with the goal to bring together friends, families, businesses and communities in team-based wellness challenges.  This promotion for positive lifestyle change is part of Live Healthy America and kicks off January 23, 2012.

The goal of Live Healthy America is to provide the tools, resources, and technology to assist individuals, organizations, and corporations in creating a culture of wellness. It has grown to a wellness solution that motivates, educates and empowers organizations to make positive and lasting lifestyle changes to achieve optimal health. All this helps to drive down lifestyle-related health care costs, which benefits you, your family and your employer.

Shaving calories and increasing your activity will help you lose weight, save money, reduce medical expenses and can help you live a longer, healthier life. Go online and check out your options today. Pull together a team. Challenge your friends and neighbors to join the Live Healthy Campaign. Staying physically fit is one of the best things you can do to help you stay financially fit.

Frugal Festive Opportunities

Have you planned your New Year’s celebration yet? A little short on cash? Consider giving a last minute shout out to friends and acquaintances --The more random the better. Those that accept, have them pair up to provide a course of the meal. Each take turns serving, with one pair volunteering to do dishes. What you have is a gourmet evening with good company for the cost of making one dish at home. The entree to our last impromptu gathering this week was a hit (Chef Daniel Boulud's Pork Shoulder with Guinness, Dried Cherries, and Sweet Potatoes). 

All in all, it makes for a very frugal – very fun evening out. Hope you are gearing up to enjoy wrapping up 2011.

From the Heart

During the gifting season, it is sometimes difficult to find the ‘perfect’ present. Some of the best are those from the heart. Like the garden stone with our grandchildren’s’ foot prints, framed photos of special moments from the past year, lovely scarves from faraway places we have traveled. Sometimes the best gift can be the offer to undertake a dreaded task, like cleaning out and reorganizing a storage room or offering your services as dishwasher for your parent’s dinner party.


The very best gift is the present of presence, being there for one another, either in person or in heart. And to think – it doesn't cost a penny. How grand.

Upcycle Twinkle Time

It is the holidays and in the spirit of gifting and the joy of creating, make useful and fun things for family and friends this time a year. Tis the art of Upcycle: To make new from items that have lost their usefulness or value.

A few flavors of the day:

Paper bag stockings, perfect for gifts of movie passes, lottery tickets or gift certificates:

       Covering an old canvas so to gift a new painting:

Piecing together old jeans into a cozy blanket:

Everyone has a little elf inside them. Get out the glue and glitter and release your inner elf. Very fun. Very frugal.

Frugal Fun and the Holidays

“Frugal Fun”', “Holidays”: The two topics go hand-in-hand.  So much of the joy of the holidays is the time spent with love ones and surprising them with something special. The something special does not have to cost a mint. Gifts from the heart can be the least expensive and the most treasured.


Frugal-festive examples from our homestead this year include packets of homemade monogrammed stationary:

Stockings made from a fabric stash and old costume jewelry:

And grandparents teaming up with the grandchildren to make extra special surprises for the parents. These activities make the holiday glow -- from the joy of the planning, the making and the giving.

From our household to yours, we hope your holiday prep this year is joyful, frugal and fun. :)

Freezing Sweet Corn is Sweet Work!

This week a wind storm blew down three rows of our neighbor’s sweet corn. Luckily, the corn was ready to be picked. Now to be perfectly honest, picking sweet corn is hot work, especially in Iowa when the temps are in the 90’s and the humidity is in the 70’s. But here is what we have found to make the harvest enjoyable:

 Do it with friends: Many hands make light work – as well as good conversation while doing the work.

 Share a meal: We picked the corn at the farm, and then had a nice meal with FRESH (picked off the stalk less than an hour before eating) corn, with a home raised chicken, warm bread, great cheese and wine. And oh yes, a good desert before we started the shucking, cleaning, blanching, cooling, cutting and bagging of the corn.

 Divide and conquer: It is just the way it works, but while the guys are shucking, the girls are cleaning, blanching and cooling the corn. By the time the guys get done shucking, it is time to start cutting the corn off the cob. When is it all cut, we bag it up for the freezer, teaming together, getting it done.

 Share the profits: Now we didn’t make money by freezing corn, but we all saved money by having corn in our freezer to eat later. We shared what we harvested with those that helped and with our family and friend.

 Make it festive: Making an evening event around the activity, such as sharing a meal and drink, adds to the camaraderie. Productive activity with others makes the “work” fun and leaves you feeling well and good.