5 Ways To Be Happier With Less

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Thrifty living is not for everyone (though everyone could stand to be a little more thrifty!) and it can take some hard work. But scratch cooking, clothes making, plastic baggie washing, and cloth diapering aside, the hardest part of being thrifty can actually be purely mental.

Many of us have ideas in our head of how we are supposed to live - big house, nice car (at least two if you are a  married household), new clothes whenever you feel like it, nice dinners out a couple times a week...and the list goes on and on. I am not saying that any of these things is necessarily a bad thing if you can afford it and that is where your priorities are. But we shouldn't just expect that we should have these things and should instead accept the fact that we can't have everything in life. Just as we are told as kids - life isn't always fair!

No, scratch that last idea. We shouldn't just accept that we can't have something; that implies that we still want it and do not feel that what we have is adequate. Instead we should learn to be truly happy with less and with what we do have. This is a simple task, but again, it can be so difficult! We are almost trained by society today to place so much value on things and stuff. The result is us feeling like we have to have more of this and the latest of that in order to be important and valued as a person. We can sometimes feel like we are going to be looked down on and judged by others if we don't try to impress with our belongings. 

And sometimes we will be. There will always be that person that tries to make someone else feel like less of a person for not having it all (and if you want me to go back to lessons learned as a child, these people may very likely be insecure themselves and trying to make themselves feel better by hurting others). But who really cares if we don't have everything? The answer is: not us and not anyone who truly cares about us! 

So how do we become happy with less?

1.  Stop comparing yourself to everyone else.
   
   We all have different resources and priorities in life. And that is fine, even how it should be. Once you have decided what your priorities are and what you can and can't live without, stop looking around at the belongings other people have and the choices they make. In fact, don't even look at what they have when you are decided. Make your decisions based on what works for you and your family. I have made the decision to live with less stuff, but sometimes I catch myself thinking that I need more stuff because someone else around me has it. If I were to let this thought consume me it would end one of two ways: 1) I am going to be bitter that I don't have a house full of stuff; or 2) I am going to have a house full of stuff and an empty bank account and full garbage can (because stuff generally produces waste).
   
   
   
2. Look at what you do have.
   
   For those who are religious, think of this as "counting your blessings." Though it may not seem that we have a lot, if you take the time, I bet you could come up with a huge list of things in your life that you do have. Make sure to include non-monetary items, such as health and a supportive family, as well as monetary items, such as shelter and transportation.
   
   
   
3. Change your wording.
   
   Instead of thinking "this house isn't big enough," think "I am so happy I have a roof over my head." This kind of thinking will help you to appreciate what you came up with in #2.
   
   
   
4. Decide what you do need and forget about the rest.
   
   There is a big difference between needs and wants. Learn to differentiate.  Nobody in my household needs 20 different outfits. I also don't need 8 spatulas or a small appliance for every task in the kitchen. I used to always be rearranging closets and cabinets trying to find a better organizational method for all my stuff when it occurred to me that I didn't need more space, I needed less stuff. So now I am always looking for what I can get rid of and do without. While the throwing things out doesn't necessarily save me money, it does make me appreciate simplicity, which saves me from spending money later on when I do not need anything.
   
   
   
5. Get creative. 
   
   This goes along with #4. When a need does arise, take a look around at what you have to see if you can use something else in its place instead of immediately running to the store. You may want new baskets for storage in your home, but do you have boxes already that will work just as well? The same goes for activities and entertainment. You do not have to go to the movies every week or take your kids to an amusement park every weekend. Instead make your own fun, seeing just how much you can have without spending a dime.

What about you? Have you made peace with less? If so, what did you do?

I got excited over foil

 No really. I did. You see, I am a bad environmentalist (stop laughing and roll with it) who uses foil, plastic wrap, and plastic baggies. I mostly use these things for freezing. Though I would like to use all glass and other reusable containers, that just isn't possible for me right now financially. Plus bags just work so well for things like baked goods and fruit!

So how do I justify my use of these products? I reuse them of course (well, not the plastic wrap). As long as they were not used to hold raw meat, they get washed (by hand) and dried. With many baked goods they just get shaken out and reused. Bags are easy to clean. They simply get put in the sudsy water and washed out with a rag. Foil can be a little trickier because you have to be careful not to tear it but it isn't much work at all. I just put it on the bottom of the sink and gently wipe it off with a rag. I don't hand wash very often, so about once a week (who am I kidding? once a month sometimes!) I wash all my bags and foil.

Not only does this practice save me money because I don't have to buy these products very often, but it also helps me move closer to being a Zero Waste Home.

So what was it that caused me to get so excited? Well, very occasionally the husband gets something sent to work in his lunch box wrapped in foil. I used to always remind him to bring home the foil. But no more. He remembers to do it all on his own. That may seem silly to be happy about to you, but if you had a spouse with a horrible memory like mine, that would seem pretty smile worthy to you :)

Green & Thrifty Links

Here are a few links I have found today that I thought fit in great here as they are all about saving money and living more naturally.

You already know how I love vinegar for its versatility and low cost; but if you are looking for even more ways to use it, check out 1,001 uses for distilled white vinegar. Not only are there suggestions for using it for cleaning but the website also shows you how to use it in other areas such as health and automotive.

One thing that I've struggled with in the past is learning to say no to buying something, even if it is at a deep discount. I get it from my mother, she can't pass up a good deal (which I will say has come in handy as she finds ridiculously good deals on items sometimes)! But as Amy from The Finer Things in Life points out in her post The Best Way to Save Money, it is not a good deal if you can do without it or it will get thrown out. This just creates more waste and pollution and robs you of your hard earned money. I am grateful for this reminder as I am really trying to remind myself lately not to spend money on an item when I already have something else that will work.

I have written before about how I love leftovers because I hate waste. What I don't think I have ever written about, however, is my love of my freezers. Well Kristin from 52 Baby Steps has saved me that trouble with her two-part series on the freezer. I especially loved part 2 when I read it because it gives so many helpful hints for ways to utilize the freezer that I had never even thought of! While I always freeze cooked and portioned meat as well as baked goods, who would have thought to freeze homemade cream of X soup in muffin tins to make it easy to use later? Definitely check out these posts. 

Eco-Wipes

A friend posted on Facebook the other week that if she could have a lifetime supply of anything, it would be toilet paper. I replied that if she switched to family cloth she would!

So obviously if you have never heard of family cloth before, you still may have figured out what it is - reusable toilet paper! I'm not talking about toilet paper made out of recycled paper but rather out of soft cloth. Toilet paper is one thing that most people are very picky about. It can be too thin, too thick, too rough, too soft, too linty...and the list goes on. My biggest problem with toilet paper (I'm getting personal here!) is that in my experience when it is soft and luxurious, it just doesn't get you clean. I am not a fan of toilet paper being left behind! Not an issue with family cloth. 

Family cloth (which by the way we call eco-wipes at our house because my husband like that term better) is simply squares of fabric generally in size from 4"x4" to 8" x 8". They can be bought pre-made or make you own out of nice fabric. You can even just cut-up old clothes or use baby washcloths.

I currently use a mix of serged flannel/ribbed cotton and flannel/flannel wipes along with the same material combination turned and topstiched. I also have one layer flannel wipes that are frayed on the edges that I never got around to sewing. But they work! When I first started I cut up an old terry cloth robe and used those squares (and rectangles...and triangles...) un-hemmed. They were not fancy at all but worked great and I washed them with my towels because I didn't have the kid yet (my sister is cringing as she reads this last part). 

my oh so fancy hanging bag for used wipes

After use,the wipes are placed in a bag or bucket until wash day. If you already cloth diaper then this is real easy, just throw them in with the diaper wash. If not, you could save them up and do a load of just family cloth a week, or you can simply throw them in with your towels or other hot water laundry. Now I realize that a lot of people would be squemish about doing that, but to some it would be the same as putting the clothes from a soiled child in with the wash. Plus, some people only use family cloth with #1, reserving toilet paper for #2.

Either way you decide to do it, it saves money as well as valuable resources.

Menu Planning (in five easy steps!)

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Many people think that you have to be some super organized person to menu plan. Believe me, you don't. If I can menu plan, anyone can. The thing is, there is more than one way to go about it. The only point is to have at least some sort of idea of what you are going to be eating at some point over the next week/month so you can have some sort of game plan at the store and in the kitchen. Sounds real exact, huh? Menu planning is no a one-size-fits-all thing. There are many ways to approach it that appeal to different personalities/situations.  Here are the different ways you can approach menu planning:

3 Meals a Day + snacks

This is the most detailed of meal plans. This requires you to plan out pretty much everything you are going to eat. You plan what you are going to eat for every meal, including side dishes. You would also plan for any additional snacks or dessert you will be eating. One advantage to this is knowing exactly what you need to buy at the grocery store and how much. You can plan to use leftover ingredients on another day so that you have less waste. One disadvantage is of course the time needed to plan. It also makes it harder to take advantage of some unexpected sales and use unplanned for leftovers. I feel this type of plan would especially be beneficial to larger families, though.

Dinners Only

This is generally what I do (though I try to list ideas for breakfasts just to show you what we eat) because I am not organized enough to do three meals (though my goal is to slowly work my way there). I like to also plan my side dishes (though this doesn't always get done), especially if we are eating a meal that requires a certain side dish (like salmon patties). The advantage of this way is that you get what is generally the biggest/hardest meal out of the way in terms of planning. You are not standing in front of your fridge at 5:00 wondering "what the heck am I going to eat?" either. The disadvantage is that you still have to guess at what you need to buy for the other meals, as well as what you are actually going to eat.

General Idea

This is the most laid-back way to approach menu planning, but it can still save money! If you are the type of person/family that has a hectic schedule or you tend to eat the same meals on a regular basis, this could work for you. With this approach you simply have an idea in your head of foods you would like to eat during the week and keep food in the house that would allow you to make various meals. One advantage to this is when you have events that just pop-up, your meal plans are not wasted or messed up. It allows for you to be spontaneous and change your mind (because you never really made up your mind!) when your appetite changes. The disadvantage would of course buying too much/not enough at the store and being at a loss of what to eat on those  days you are feeling unmotivated/uncreative.


So now you know the three general approaches to menu planning - from the super organized to the laid back. But how do you do it? There are many ways to go about it based on the approach you take and the way you shop, but here is the basic game plan in five easy steps to help you get started if you have never done this. It can be adapted to fit your needs.

1. Take stock of what you already have in the house. You can do this formally, with a pen and paper, or in your head. Just look around and see what foods you already have in your freezer, fridge, and pantry. What kinds of proteins do you have in the freezer that maybe you have forgotten about? What about starches? Any produce that needs to be used up? Using what you already have is a great way to save at the store.
2. Make a list (again, this can be done on paper or in your head) of foods you already like or can make using the ingredients you have. Use recipe sites if you need to. Food.com and Epicurious are sites with great ideas and allow people to comment on the recipes they have tried. I especially love Allrecipes because it has a section where you can search using the ingredients you have.
3. Check the store circulars. Between the newspaper, home mailings, and the internet, most stores give you easy access to what is on sale. Is there anything on sale for a rock bottom price you can't pass up? Incorporate those in your meals for the week.
4. Make a finished list of the meals you are going to make for the week. Once you have done this, go ahead and add side dishes (again, based on what you have/what is on sale). You can assign specific days based on what you have going on that week (or if you like to have theme dinners like Taco Tuesdays) or just have a list to pick from during the week.
5. Now you are ready to hit the store (but not on an empty stomach!) with a list of ingredients you will need. Be prepared to make substitutions when you get there in case you find something that would work just as well at a better price. Ground turkey cheaper than beef? Substitute it! Green beans cheaper than broccoli? Substitute it!

So this is a very basic outline for menu planning but it should give you a good jumping off point. There are as many ways to menu plan as there are personalities and it seems that no two people do it the same. Start slowly and try it a few different ways to see what works best for you. Any way you do it it will still save you time and money !

Half off Lucky Vitamin

Today's Deal Pulp deal is to buy a $20 credit at LuckyVitamin.com for only $10. Shipping is a flat $5.95 (unless you order $100 worth of products) but even factoring that in you still save $4...and that is before the reduced prices you can get on this site!


I just saw this notice in my inbox and figured I would check it out to see what they offer. I am glad I did! They do not sell just vitamins and supplements but a lot of all natural cleaning and beauty products as well as food and many other products. I was particularly excited to see Kirk's Castile soap as I was just looking on Amazon to see if I could get it any cheaper there than locally (not on Amazon by the way, but they are cheaper at Lucky Vitamin!). 

So go check out what Lucky Vitamin has to offer and then go purchase your deal!

Make It Yourself: Chicken Stock

I said in my very first post that one way I keep my grocery budget low is by making things from scratch. It also allows me to be sure that I am not pumping lots of chemicals and preservatives into my family since I am in control of the ingredients. But I realize that cooking most things from scratch can seem like a daunting task. Believe me, I've been there and still struggle sometimes with how hard something seems to make.

I've been searching a lot lately on how to make my own version of many store bought treats and thought it would be fun to share these with you guys every week as I try them. I will also include homemade versions of foods that I already make. So every Friday I will have a new recipe posted that anyone can make at home with minimal to no special equipment.

Chicken Stock

I have found that chicken stock (or any broth) is almost essential to a frugal cook. The problem is that those little cans or boxes can get expensive and you aren't always assured of the quality. But this problem is solved with minimal effort and expense.

I start with a whole chicken and then take all the meat off the bones. Sometimes I cook this chicken as part of a specific meal and sometimes I cook it just to make stock and have shredded chicken in the freezer. This chicken was being used right away, but usually I separate the chicken into meal sized portions and freeze that way. That way I can get up to six meal from one chicken (not including stock)! Talk about a double-duty meal.

I then stick all the skin and bones into my crockpot (generally where I have cooked the chicken) and cover it with cold water. Here you can also add carrots, onions, and celery.

 I then turn the crockpot onto low and let it cook for 6-12 hours (it all depends on the time I am working with). The stock will reduce and this is what you are left with.

I then strain the stock first through a regular colander to get the big pieces then through a small mesh strainer (okay, actually a splatter screen) to get the small bits.

Once strained the stock is good in the fridge for about two days and After this is done you have two options. You can either put the stock into separate containers to freeze (I use glass canning jars, but do not put the stock in super hot or they will break unless they are also warm) or the big bowl of stock can be put in the fridge to cool. Once cool you can skim all the fat off the top. I've become less of a fat strainer as time goes on, but it is up to you. Either way, the stock is good in the fridge for about two days. There is also the third option of canning your stock; I actually hope to do that soon and will blog it when I get around to it :)

*keep in mind that this is just how I do it...I do it this way because it is simple, though it may not be the exact right way  to do it

Double-Duty Meals

 I personally love (most) leftovers. However, some people are not big on eating their reheated meals again. I understand their dislike, though. The good thing about many leftovers (except things like soup and most casseroles) is that you do not just have to eat the same meal. You can reinvent them to make something new and maybe even more delicious. While some may seem obvious and you may be doing them now without thinking, here are some ideas of what your leftovers could become:

• mashed potatoes = shepherd's pie
• meatballs & sauce = meatball subs
• meatloaf = meatloaf sandwiches or "meatballs" for spaghetti 
• refried beans = "sauce" for pizza, enchiladas
• fajita filling = topping for pizza (great with above)
• rice = fried rice or rice pudding
• cooked vegetables = quiche or soup
• taco or sloppy joe filling - pasties, taco/sloppy joe cups/muffins *
• chili = chili cups/muffins*, chili mac, tamale pot pie, pasties, chili cheese fries, taco salad, baked potatoes
• pasta = frittata

This list is only the beginning**. With a little creativity, those ingredients or meals you have in your fridge can be turned into something completely different. There are times when I cook just the right amount for us and times when I am left with odd bits of meals that I need to somehow throw into another meal or it gets thrown out. And who likes throwing out food? It is a total waste of money! Okay, I have reasoned with myself before that throwing out the leftovers isn't wasting money because I could just pretend it had been eaten since the same amount of uncooked food would be gone regardless. But if you are able to use part of one night's meal in another, then not only are you definitely not wasting money but you are actually saving money since you have to use less food that night.

Reusing leftovers also has a  positive environmental impact because it produces less garbage (from the actual food and the packaging). Less garbage means less having to be transported to landfills and dumps (it also means less trash bags for you, which also saves you money!). Less food waste means that you buy less, which reduces the carbon generated from producing, packaging, and transporting the food. So enjoying your leftovers is Green & Thrifty :)

* You make taco/sloppy joe/chili cups by putting biscuits (homemade of course) in muffin tins, pushing down in the middle, then adding filling before baking. You make taco/sloppy joe/chili muffins by making corn muffins and simply adding some filling in before baking.
**This list doesn't include intentional leftovers from meat like whole turkeys, chickens, etc.

Special Delivery

As I have stated before, I love Amazon...and Swagbucks. With such a small grocery budget, it helps to be able to purchase a few food items from Amazon for little to nothing out of pocket. Today two nice brown boxes arrived on my front porch. The first contained my organic pumpkin

Did you order your pumpkin? It is still marked down, though not as low as before.

the second box held organic raisins and raw almonds. I can actually get the organic raisins (store-brand, not that it matters) for slightly cheaper in the store, but buying them on Amazon frees up money at the store for perishables I can't order on the internet. The almonds were mostly for the Husband but the raisins will get gobbled up by all three of us in muffins, cookies, and just by the handful!

thriftstore shopping

I have been in need of new shirts for a while now but I am too stubborn to buy them. I hate spending money on myself. Don't get me wrong, love buying stuff, and I love shopping, but I hate the effect on my bank account. I have procrastinated shirts for a long time but yesterday I took the plunge and went to Goodwill. $16.xx later, I now have three new shirts and my husband has three new books.

the husband took one of the books with him to work

I know that for most people this is an awesome deal, but to tell you the truth, I hated spending that much money on shirts. Why?

They are used shirts. It is not that I have a problem wearing used clothing. I will gladly accept hand-me-downs or shop at thrift stores. I guess the problem is that I associate used clothing with yard sale prices of $1 or so, and when I go to Goodwill I have to spend almost $4 on a shirt that has been worn by who knows how many people for who knows how long! I could go to a regular store and get a brand new shirt on clearance for that price or close to it. So why did I do it?

photo courtesy of GettyImages

They are used shirts. I have been working hard to reduce waste and have really been making an effort to buy used...or at least not buy something new when I can re-purpose something I already have. It takes a lot of resources to produce goods. To produce a single t-shirt it takes 766 gallons of water and 1/3 pound of pesticides. When I buy a used shirt, that water and those pesticides have already been used. The fact that it has already been worn and washed many times also means that all the pesticide residue has already been washed out. Score! Sure, it would be nice to be able to have all organic clothing to begin with, but then again, more resources still have to be used to produce those. Used clothing means less oil being used because clothes are not being shipped across the country or globe.


So have I convinced you yet to buy used clothing? If you have never done it, these are my tips.

• Locate all the thrift stores in your area. Look in the phone book, ask friends, Google it. The Thrift Shopper has thousands of stores listed and you can search by location.

• Don't rush. Thrift stores can be a goldmine, but they can also house a lot of junk. They are an eclectic mix of everything and you have to really take your time to comb through them to find what you want. 

photo courtesy of GettyImages

•  Don't be too specific. It is perfectly fine, if not preferred, to go into a thrift store with a general idea of what you want. But going in with too detailed of a want may discourage you. You never know what you are going to find, so if you go in looking for a purple polka dotted, puffy sleeved, pink size large petite shirt that has four buttons and lace trim you will probably not find what you want. Instead you should go in with a list such as "pink short-sleeve shirt" or "button-down."

• Start looking. Some stores, just like department stores, are better organized than others.  You may find clothes organized by color, gender, size, or not at all. Don't be discouraged. Not all will be that way and you will soon find the ones you like or overlook the chaos. 

photo courtesy of GettyImages

• Check it out. Once you have found that perfect item, make sure to inspect it well. I found a beautiful shirt yesterday but after picking it up and carrying it around the store I noticed that the hemming was coming undone in one spot at the bottom. I certainly wasn't going to pay for that. Look for messed up stitching, holes, and other imperfections that could ruin your find.

• Try it on if you like. If the idea of trying on someone else's clothes that haven't been washed yet doesn't bother you, by all means, ask if there is a dressing room for you to try it on. Most clothes look much better on a person than they do on a hanger. Conversely, a shirt may look nice on the hanger but not so good on you. Bigger items like jackets can be tried on in the store while shopping. At the very least you can hold an item up to you to get an idea of how it would look.

 photo courtesy of GettyImages

• Check out the other departments. Thrift stores aren't just goldmines for clothes, they also sell books, toys, electronics, housewares, and many other items. But the same rules apply to other items as they do to clothes. Do not go in expecting to find X book if you know you are going to be disappointed if you don't. Inspect the item for holes, cracks, tears, and other imperfections. Many stores even have places for you to plug in electronics to test out before you buy.

I  hope that next time you are in the market for new clothes, books, or any other knick-knack that you will check out one of your local thrift stores. Help reduce waste while saving money. Now THAT is green &  thrifty and Works For Me.

While Goodwill is not my favorite thrift store, it was what was convenient for me yesterday and I am still glad I went. But tell me something, am I weird for thinking that Goodwill is too expensive? Am I that cheap or I am I not alone in this? ;)

Cloth Diaper Myths

There are a lot of myths out there surrounding cloth diapers. And no, I'm not talking about the ones that disposable diaper fans say, I'm talking about the ones that cloth diaper advocates tell you.

#1 - Cloth diapers are so much cheaper than disposables

This is a big argument that cloth diaper advocates use when they try to sell the idea of cloth diapers to someone. Let's face it, disposable diapers are expensive and kids, especially in the early months, go through a lot of diapers.  I think the average figure you get is 7,000 diapers until potty training at about $1800, so a little under 27 cents a diaper. Of course that doesn't include wipes and the diaper cream that you use, but we are just going to stick with diapers here. Of course 27 cents is just an average of sorts. The cost per diaper usually ranges from 20 cents to 36 cents a diaper depending on what brand you buy. It also depends on where you bought it, whether you had coupons, and if it was on sell.You can use Swagbucks towards diapers. If you are a couponer and stockpiler, you can diaper your child from birth for pennies a pack - the deals are out there.

Right now you're saying, but most people don't get disposable diapers for next to nothing, and you still have to throw them away and start over with the new baby unlike cloth. Cloth can be cheaper, much cheaper (we're talking less than $200 or even $100 if you're crafty from birth to potty training) but there is something else - cloth diapers are cute. Like insanely cute...and they can be addicting. Twenty-four diapers is really all you need for cloth diapering, but many moms do not stop at this number. Cloth diaper stashes are treated as prized collections and built up to insane numbers. And these diapers aren't cheap - anywhere from $12 to $40 a diaper, and some of those still requiring a cover! Even buying them used or making them yourself can get expensive depending on the type. But they are so cute and some moms have a hard time not buying diaper after diaper because of the cute prints. Baby need a diaper for the big game? Time to buy one with a sports logo! Baby need a Halloween/Christmas/Thanksgiving/Valentine's Day diaper? Time to buy a holiday print one! There are many women who admit to spending way more on cloth than they would have on disposables...even those who have used disposables on previous children! I will admit to getting caught up in the cute diaper madness...but since I'm broke it was never too bad :)

Why do I tell you all this? Is it because I am a disposable diaper supporter? Of course not. I am in full support of cloth usage, but I wanted to clear up the misconception that cloth is always cheaper. If you are contemplating cloth diaper use you may be thrown off by this post and think that there is no way you can afford to cloth diaper, but you can! Here is how to keep from breaking the bank with your kid's diapers:

1) Buy what you need. I think this is the most important one. Newborns go through 10-12 diapers a day (more if you are my kid) but this number decreases to about 5 in the toddler years. So realistically there is no reason you need 50-75 diapers unless you have multiples. It can be hard to resist the cute diapers, but doing so will save you so much money.

2) Reuse. Okay, 'reuse' seems like it should go without saying, but I am not just talking about the day-to-day re-usage of the diapers. I am talking about reusing them on other kids. Whether that means using your same diaper stash on kids #1-5 or until they wear out or simply reusing anther person's diapers, reusing can significantly lower your out-of-pocket costs.  There are internet forums devoted to buying and selling used diapers and people are always listing diapers on Craigslist. Buying used, as long as they are in good shape, can save you a bundle.

3) Budget. If you decide you are going to go with cloth before the baby comes, you can stretch out your diaper buying over several months. You can set aside $X in the budget every month and use that to buy a new diaper or two until you have what you need without feeling any extra pinch.

4) Simplify. You do not have to have 50 $40 all-in-one diapers. You do not have to have the priciest wool longies or the most expensive wet bag. You can use flats and a cover. You can make your own diapers out of upcycled materials. You can go with a middle-of-the-line diaper system that is in your budget but works well. You do not have to have the most complicated or expensive - you only have to have something that works and that you can use.

5) Diaper Trials. I've said it before and I'll say it again: cloth diapers are confusing in the beginning! There are so many choices on styles and brands and so many variables such as your child's body type, that even if you are dead-set on a vertain diaper it may not end up working well for your child. Maybe one-size diapers don't fit him well. Maybe you don't like unstuffing her pockets when wet and restuffing them when dry. Maybe prefolds are more work than you thought. Whatever the reason, sometimes we change our minds. That's where diaper trials come in. For a certain deposit amount a company will send you a variety of diapers and covers to test-drive for a certain period of time, after which you send them back and all but a small amount of your money is refunded. Now you won't get to try every single diaper there is out there. It also certainly isn't the absolute thriftiest way, but if it keeps you from buying lots of diapers that you end up hating and are either stuck with or have to resell for a big loss, than it can save you a bundle! Two companies to try are Diaper Daisy and Jillian's Drawers.

...to be continued. I will be back to dispel more cloth diaper myths and with more tips on saving.

Ways to Save: One Pot Meals

One pot meals are quite commonly served around here. They can definitely be money-savers, since you can stretch the amount of protein in the dish with grains or vegetables; but they can also be time savers and "I'm tired and hungry...let's just go out to eat" attitude savers. They are quick and easy, and with a little bit of prep beforehand can be made even quicker. Just like any well-balanced meal, my one pot meals must consist of a quality protein, a whole grain, and one or more vegetables. When I get back to posting many of my meals and their cost breakdown, you will see more of these, but here are a few of our favorites to give you an idea:

• quinoa, salmon, green beans
• pasta, shrimp, tomatoes
• rice, chicken, black beans, corn, salsa

Okay, so those are the only ones coming to mind right now, but I am sure you get the picture. Starch  + protein + veggie = meal. Here are some examples of what you could use, though this isn't a full list, feel free to add to it:

Starch: brown rice, whole wheat pasta, whole grain pilaf (I use Kashi), quinoa
Protein: ground turkey/chicken, shredded chicken, canned salmon/tuna, shrimp, white fish fillet
Vegetable: green beans, broccoli, corn (let us not start the starch vs. veggie argument here, ok?), tomatoes, peas, carrots

These meals have seriously saved me, and my budget, too many times to count. I throw together what sounds and feels good to me at the moment (I don't do well with recipes, I am a feeler in the kitchen) and the end product never fails me. It may sound bland to some, but with the right seasonings (which don't include salt in my house!), almost anything is delicious. Also, when in doubt, just cover it in salsa :)

Free Potatoes!

If you have an Earthfare, this week you can use this coupon to get a 5 lb bag of organic potatoes FREE with any purchase.

You can also sign up for their newsletter where they send a new coupon every week, usually for free food! I used to get these emails, but they stopped for some reason. Maybe it is time to sign up again!

Thanks, MoneySavingMom!

Freezer Cooking

In order to make save much needed time during their busy days, many moms do something called Once A Month Cooking, or OAMC. This means that they will spend one (long!) day making as many meals for the rest of the month as they can before sticking it all in the freezer to pull out as needed. This is a nice concept. Except not everything I want to eat can be frozen. Nor do I have enough time to do that. Enter MoneySavingMom and FishMama. They team up once a month to host a virtual Freezer Cooking Day. They come into the day with a list of foods they want to prepare, but their list is not made up of 37 different casseroles like you expect. Sometimes those foods are casseroles, sometimes soups, and sometimes meal components (such as shredded chicken or marinated beef) to make a fresh cooked meal go faster. They also usually include breakfasts and snacks, too. I usually like to participate to some extent, but this time I am prepared with a plan (or at least a list of foods):

Breakfasts

breakfast cookies done

banana muffins done

bagels (egg & cheese on some)

instant oatmeal

mini apple pies

pancakes done

breakfast burritos done

mini egg frittatas

Snacks

cookie dough done

pretzels

granola done

Lunches/Dinners

shredded chicken done

tortillas

bean burritos

pizza pockets

brown rice done

lentils

beans done

This list does look a little long and ambitious, but I am confident in my ability to get things done. It may take a few days, but all these foods will get cooked and put away in my freezer to be pulled out during some hectic time. See, that is the beauty of freezer cooking. You pick a time (be it 3 hours or 30 minutes) that works for you, cook a little bit of food, then stash it away. You can also just make a double batch of a food you are already cooking so you can stick one in the freezer. Then when you have no time (and are this ------- close to picking up a pizza or going out to eat) to cook or just don't feel like it, you can grab something out of the freezer. Freezer cooking is also especially helpful in the mornings when the husband gets up at 4 am and needs a quick something to eat before rushing to the gym and something to eat once he gets to work. Since I am still in bed with the kid, he is able to grab something either out of freezer or something that I had put out for him on the counter the night before that was previously made.

Wanna participate too? Then go check out MSM.

Ways to Save - Coupons

Yes, I said coupons. While it is true that a lot of coupons for unhealthy, processed junk, there are also coupons to be found for healthy staples like whole wheat pasta, whole wheat flour, rice, milk, meat, frozen and canned produce, and yes, even fresh produce when you're lucky. And these are just the ones found in the Sunday paper. It is true that you are not going to find lots of great coupons every week. There are still many, many coupons that I put in the recycling bin every week because they are not for toiletries or food that fits into my lifestyle. I actually would not even bother with these most weeks if I did not have a free source for them (my parents). The coupons that I clip every week are for frozen vegetables (these coupons are pretty abundant), nuts, toilet paper, pasta (I am still on the fence about organic with this one...anyone want to help me out?), organic yogurt (Oikos puts out coupons every so often), and similar items. Manufacturers are increasingly putting out coupons for organic items, so if you are interested in whether or not it would be worth it to you to buy a newspaper each week, you should check out the Sunday Coupon Database to see what coupons will be available.

If you do not want to get the Sunday paper or do not have excess to it, you can always order these coupons. For a handling and processing fee, you can buy only the coupons you want, in the number that you need. Some sites for these are:

• Coupons & Things by Dede


• Coupon Clipping Crew


• My Coupon Hunter

These come in handy when there is a coupon for one product you buy a lot or when there is a sale you can combine the coupon with. Or both! That is when I suggest stocking up. With these, though, it is important to note the expiration date and take that into consideration when ordering.

But newspaper coupons are not the best ones. If you own a printer a whole new world of coupon possibilities is open to you.  If there is a certain product that you like, go directly to the manufacturer's page. More than likely you will find a coupon. Some of the main sites you can go to for organic coupons are:

• Stoneyfield Farm (makers of Oikos and YoBaby)


• Horizon Organic


• Organic Valley (these are reset once a year and will reset again in March so hurry!)

These are just a few to get you started. In order to print the majority of coupons you will need to download special software and will be prompted to do so the first time you print, but it is simple, quick, and about as safe as anything else you would download. Most coupons can only be printed twice but are often refreshed or replaced with different ones after a certain amount of time.

There are also entire sites dedicated to just free printable coupons. Many of these coupons are not for items that fit in with my lifestyle, but milk, produce, and other coupons can still be found. Some of the main sites are:

• C0upons.com (coupons changed every month)


• Smartsource.com


• Redplum.com

Knowing how to use coupons to your advantage can really help you, even if you do not use them very often. Each week I will post the coupons I have printed in the past week. Whether you are just starting the journey towards a healthier lifestyle of have been "on the wagon" for awhile, there is something for everyone to be found.