Why Stockpile?

• It really is a great resource to fall back on when money is tight.
• You know what you eat and you will have it on hand when you need that item.
• When items are on sale adding money to your budget on a later day.

How to Stockpile?

• Store the things you eat.
• Inventory the items you have
• Rotate- New items in back…older to front.

Where to store your stockpile?

• Beware of extreme heat or cold and an excess of light. Keep in a cool, dry and dark place. This may be your cabinets, under a bed in a box or under the stairs.

How can I stockpile when I am broke?

• You can start one or two can goods at a time.
•  Using your coupons
•  buy one get one free.

I stockpiling and am not hoarding. By stockpiling you have ingredients in your home and when you are really broke you can “shop in your cupboards” I have said many times when we are the most broke we eat the best. I prepare and plan our meals. When you really think about what you are going to eat you can save money.

If you have any stockpiling tips I would love to hear!  Have a great day, Candy

I have to say it feels so wonderful when you accomplish something…..enough for 23 pies in the freezer.

Apple Pie Filling

6 pounds apples- Washed, peel, core and slice apples.Treat to prevent darkening.

2 cups sugar

1/4 cup flour

1 1/2 teaspoon cinnamon

1/4 teaspoon nutmeg

2 Tablespoons lemon juice

Combine sugar, flour and spices. Rinse and drain apples; stir into sugar mixture. Let stand until juices begin to flow, about 30 minutes. stir in lemon juice. cook over medium heat until mixture begins to thicken. Ladle pie filling into freezer bags. Try to get as much air out of the bag as you can.  Lay bag  flat and let cool and place in the freezer.

Have a blessed day, Candy

and one week later look what we have….

The water needs to be changed every so often to keep the roots happy and healthy. Green onions can top potatoes, noodles or salads…..just cut them up. You can keep uses the plant you and eventually it will stop growing and then you know it is time to start another one!

Have a blessed day! Candy

While getting my popcorn out of the cupboard the lid popped off and spilled out…..Now my popcorn is 1/2 full!

God’s blessings, Candy

Taco Seasoning

1 1/2 tsp. kosher salt
1 1/2 tsp. ground cumin
1/2 tsp. ground black pepper
1/2 tsp. paprika
1/2 tsp. garlic powder
1/2 tsp. onion powder ( I had dried onions so I crushed them in a small dish and which the back of a spoon)
1/4 tsp. chili powder
1/4 tsp. dried oregano
1/8 tsp. cayenne pepper (we had some dried ones from our garden and I crushed them with the back of a spoon)
1/8 tsp. ground ginger

Directions:
Combine all ingredients in small mixing bowl

and mix well.

Store in an airtight container if not using right away. Makes enough seasoning for about 2 lbs. meat

I doubled the recipe and now I have more for when I need it again! Have a blessed day and New Year! Candy

Ham or turkey dinner-

• We like to boil the bones for broth and add the leftover meat to make soup. You would be surprised to see how much meat is left on the bone.Yesterday we made bean soup with the ham bone and ham my mom gave us from Christmas eve and turkey soup with the turkey carcass and leftover turkey from the turkey my husband made Christmas day. We are taking soup to a few sick friends today and freezing the rest for another day.
• Last night we cooked cut up turkey added some gravy and served over some toast. My husband said “now this is a meal!”

Leftover vegetables- I think I have said before I have a freezer container where I put leftover vegetables. This is when there are a small amount of Vegetables left from dinner instead of wasting…. I keep adding to it. I drain the juice and then add the veggies every time we have them. Well yesterday I added those frozen veggies to our turkey soup.

Leftover breads and rolls- I place them on a cookie sheet and let them dry out. Sometimes if I had to bake something when I am done I place the cookie sheet in the oven while it is cooling down for that extra drying power. Then when dry out I put them in a plastic bag and beat them with the rolling pin…..Great stress reliever

Leftover Mashed Potato- You can reheat them or we like to make potato pancakes.

What to do when you are facing unemployment?

I feel we have been in this predicament several times and I get in my provide for the family mode.

• Get prepared- Make sure to have all caught up or ahead as soon as you find out.
• “Don’t make your net worth more important than your self-worth!” Meaning just because you are out of work doesn’t make you worthless.
• Looking for work is my new job….
• For me my friends and family have been giving me leads on jobs….Let your friends and family know you are out of work.
• Look for what you can cut or get rid of what you don’t need.
• With our job we do not have unemployment, but if you are eligible for unemployment take care of it right away….it may take a little time for your benefits to kick in.

I would love to hear your tips too! Have a blessed day, Candy

Today, I am going to reflect on all the many blessings that surround me. I think so many times when we are struggling to make ends meet we don’t take the time to be grateful what we do have.

Have a blessed Thanks Giving! Candy

Living on Less

Someone once told me “Don’t make your net worth more important than your self-worth!” It stuck with me because when broke it is easy to have a poor me attitude. For me I have to get the attitude of providing for my family….a kind of hunter/gather  looking for ways to provide for my family. When we have been at our lowest financially I can remember looking around the house asking what can we sell.

Last night, we had spaghetti….. no garlic bread so we used bread and bagels toasted with garlic butter.It was great and no boys complained. SCORE one for frugal!

How are you living on less….. I would love to hear. Have a blessed day, Candy