My oldest daughter is a fresh(wo)man in college and my youngest daughter was just notified of her acceptance to the college of her choice. I'm very pleased that both of my girls have received substantial scholarships for merit and financial need. They've also benefited from the wonderful gift of a 529 plan from their grandmother. This combination of funding has reduced my burden tremendously. But, there are still expenses involved that I must cover (books, supplies, the remainder of the room & board not covered by the above listed aid) and this leaves my budget tight. I have told the girls that their tuition, room, board and books are covered, but anything else, they must provide. This has led to some creative strategies by my oldest daughter.
She does not have a car at college. She doesn't really need one, except to make the trip home. She uses the bus system to get around town but most of what she needs is within walking distance of her dorm. She also rides with other students as they make trips to the mall or other shops for groceries and supplies. This saves the gas money, insurance, parking permit fee, and hassle of maintaining a vehicle.
She obtained a really great job, working in the nursery of a church just a few blocks from her dorm. The church has taken her in and treats her very well. She works for a few hours on Sunday morning and Wednesday night, no conflict with her school schedule at all. The pay is good enough that she is able to get the spending money she needs from this. The church members have asked her to do some private babysitting and even work as a server for a catering job. These extra jobs are great because they give her the flexibility of looking at her schedule to decide if she can do them and, if so, provide her some extra income. The added bonus is that she's networking and creating her own friendships and sense of community beyond the college environment.
On weekends, the cafeteria at the school only serves brunch. Because of this, I send my daughter supplies to make her own meals and she buys fresh ingredients locally. I've taught her how to cook and she does very well. Following Christmas break, I sent her a cooler with some tilapia, salmon and other frozen items for her to enjoy on her weekends. This past weekend, she was cooking in the dorm kitchen (which is located across the hall from the head RA for the dorm) and visiting with the RA. When asked what she was cooking for dinner, my daughter rattled off her menu, "Pan-seared salmon with mango-chipotle chutney, wild rice and baked sweet potatoes." (Yes, the mom here is saying, "where's the green veggies?"... but hey, it's not pizza!) To which the RA responded in some sort of awe, according to my daughter. Then, my daughter expressed that she felt sorry for the kids she saw heating up Easy Mac in the microwave and those who obviously hadn't a clue how to cook. From this conversation was borne the idea (and permission) for her to cook meals on Saturday and Sunday and sell the plates first-come, first-served to any takers. She posts her menu in the lobby, with a sign-up sheet for planning purposes. She charges $5 or less (depending upon the menu) for a plate. I think this is fabulous, and as I told her, if she only gets enough to pay for the groceries/supplies, then she's still ahead because she's basically eating for free. If she makes a little money, great!
There are other opportunities to save or make money. You'd be surprised how many kids don't know how to do laundry. Some have become so frustrated that they take theirs to the local "Wash-n-Fold" place. For someone who doesn't mind doing laundry (not my daughters) there is the potential to take over some of the Wash-n-Fold business by taking in dorm mates laundry and doing it at the laundromat when doing their own.
If you want to save some money, make sure your young adult knows some very basic living skills before they jump out of the nest. Learning to cook, do one's laundry, maintain a vehicle and network are key skills that will save them (and you) money.
Additionally, teach them things about living frugally. For example, don't buy your supplies at the campus bookstore. A trip to Wal-Mart, Target, Michaels, Hobby Lobby, Best Buy or several other places provide notebooks, art supplies, calculators, etc at a price far less than available in the bookstore. Always check online to see if you can buy your textbooks cheaper (use ISBN number). There are several excellent online sites that sell college texts. And, likewise, check online before selling your book back to the bookstore. If the school offers you $3 for the book you paid $30 for a few months before, then do like my daughter did and offer to sell it to someone taking the class the next semester or next year. She got $15 out of it, which was win-win for her and the student who needed the book. Also, apply this technique to books you need for a class; ask around, someone may have them in their room. This is where networking with classmates pays off. Finally, don't rush to buy every book on the syllabus. They should be available in the library and some will not be needed until later in the semester and some are not needed at all.
While obtaining a college education is a costly endeavor, it can be made more affordable with a frugal mindset.
Wednesday, January 30, 2008
Tuesday, January 29, 2008
Chocolate Prices on the Rise!
Reading today's headlines I learned that Hershey's will be increasing the wholesale price of their chocolate bars 13%, effective immediately. They cite the rise in fuel, energy and commodities (milk) as the reason for the price increase. This is without a doubt a justified increase. But, it's bad news for chocoholics like me.
There are several ways to satisfy the chocolate cravings. One of my favorites is with Chocolate No-Bake Cookies. Because of their peanut butter and oatmeal contents, I like to think of them as somewhat healthy. Another is homemade fudge... and not the chocolate chip and marshmallow cream kind.
The key ingredient here is cocoa. This is one item I strongly recommend you don't buy the generic brand or an off-brand, unless you can test them in a small quantity first. I've tried buying the generic brands in the past and found that there was a definite difference in color, texture and most importantly flavor. Cocoa is a bit spendy, but a little goes a long way in recipes.
When I was a child, it was a rare treat to get an actual chocolate bar of any sort. A Hershey's bar was carefully eaten and savored one rectangle at a time. Mom made a lot of treats for us with cocoa, including cakes with a lovely cocoa buttercream frosting and fudge. On the news of the price-hike for chocolate, I've begun to prowl through some of the old church and community cookbooks I have from the 1950's and 60's. They have a lot of good recipes for cocoa based sweets.
In the meantime, I believe I'll whip up a batch of Chocolate No-Bake Cookies today.
Chocolate No-Bake Cookies
2 cups sugar
1/3 cup cocoa
½ cup butter
½ cup milk
Combine in saucepan and bring to a boil for 1 minute, stirring constantly. Remove from heat and Add:
½ cup peanut butter
1 tspn vanilla
3 cups raw oats
Drop by rounded teaspoonful on wax paper.
There are several ways to satisfy the chocolate cravings. One of my favorites is with Chocolate No-Bake Cookies. Because of their peanut butter and oatmeal contents, I like to think of them as somewhat healthy. Another is homemade fudge... and not the chocolate chip and marshmallow cream kind.
The key ingredient here is cocoa. This is one item I strongly recommend you don't buy the generic brand or an off-brand, unless you can test them in a small quantity first. I've tried buying the generic brands in the past and found that there was a definite difference in color, texture and most importantly flavor. Cocoa is a bit spendy, but a little goes a long way in recipes.
When I was a child, it was a rare treat to get an actual chocolate bar of any sort. A Hershey's bar was carefully eaten and savored one rectangle at a time. Mom made a lot of treats for us with cocoa, including cakes with a lovely cocoa buttercream frosting and fudge. On the news of the price-hike for chocolate, I've begun to prowl through some of the old church and community cookbooks I have from the 1950's and 60's. They have a lot of good recipes for cocoa based sweets.
In the meantime, I believe I'll whip up a batch of Chocolate No-Bake Cookies today.
Chocolate No-Bake Cookies
2 cups sugar
1/3 cup cocoa
½ cup butter
½ cup milk
Combine in saucepan and bring to a boil for 1 minute, stirring constantly. Remove from heat and Add:
½ cup peanut butter
1 tspn vanilla
3 cups raw oats
Drop by rounded teaspoonful on wax paper.
Sunday, January 27, 2008
Homemade Soft Pretzels
I'd never made pretzels before. I'd purchased them a few times at malls, ball games, airports... whenever the smell of hot, fresh pretzels hit me hard and I couldn't withstand the temptation. I really never even thought of making them myself. Until I was in the Bargain Store prowling the aisles and found a tub of Gourmet Pretzel Mix. Hmmm, I thought, "this could be fun." The tub was only 50 cents and extra bargain... they were marked buy one, get one free. I guess a lot of folks are intimidated by the prospect of making their own pretzels. But, they shouldn't be.
I decided to make the fresh pretzels for a treat this weekend. Following the directions carefully, they were quick, easy and fun to make. Although the mix from the bargain store is certainly a bargain, it will not be there for very long. And, I want to add these yummy pretzels to my cooking repertoire. So, I began searching for pretzel recipes.
The first place I looked was my trusted Woman's Day Encyclopedia of Cook
ery. There I found an interesting write-up on the history of pretzels, but no recipe. Did you know that pretzel bakers are credited for saving the city of Vienna from Turkish invaders in 1510? Or that pretzels are on record as existing in the USA as early as 1652, when court records show a baker sold pretzels to the Indians. Some historical accounts credit the invention of the pretzel to monks somewhere between the 5th and 7th centuries and state the shape resembles a person's arms folded in prayer. Pretzels also showed up in marriage ceremonies and the pretzel shape was referred to as a "marriage knot". A gilded pretzel hanging outside a shop in Germany or Switzerland represents a bakery. I learned that the pretzel was very much a German staple.
I was even more determined to find a recipe after reading about pretzels. I have a strong German heritage, but somehow... I missed out on the pretzel baking!
I've now found 3 recipes which are similar to one another that I'll try before I post the recipe here. The similarity is that they all call for dipping the pretzel dough in boiling baking soda water. This step adds flavor and creates the lovely firm skin. Avoid quick recipes that simply call for frozen bread dough which you thaw, shape and brush with egg... they won't be the same and you really aren't saving much by purchasing frozen bread dough.
Mixing up your own dough is not difficult, especially if you have a mixer with dough hooks. While some folks find working with yeast intimidating, they really should not. It's quite simple and just requires some time to allow the dough to rise. I suppose that's easy for me to say since I recall baking my first batch of bread at age 9. We did a lot of such baking because it stretched our family budget. It was much cheaper for us to bake our own bread than to purchase it from the store. And, nothing beats hot, fresh bread from the oven slathered with fresh churned butter! Except, maybe a hot, fresh pretzel!
I decided to make the fresh pretzels for a treat this weekend. Following the directions carefully, they were quick, easy and fun to make. Although the mix from the bargain store is certainly a bargain, it will not be there for very long. And, I want to add these yummy pretzels to my cooking repertoire. So, I began searching for pretzel recipes.
The first place I looked was my trusted Woman's Day Encyclopedia of Cook
ery. There I found an interesting write-up on the history of pretzels, but no recipe. Did you know that pretzel bakers are credited for saving the city of Vienna from Turkish invaders in 1510? Or that pretzels are on record as existing in the USA as early as 1652, when court records show a baker sold pretzels to the Indians. Some historical accounts credit the invention of the pretzel to monks somewhere between the 5th and 7th centuries and state the shape resembles a person's arms folded in prayer. Pretzels also showed up in marriage ceremonies and the pretzel shape was referred to as a "marriage knot". A gilded pretzel hanging outside a shop in Germany or Switzerland represents a bakery. I learned that the pretzel was very much a German staple.I was even more determined to find a recipe after reading about pretzels. I have a strong German heritage, but somehow... I missed out on the pretzel baking!
I've now found 3 recipes which are similar to one another that I'll try before I post the recipe here. The similarity is that they all call for dipping the pretzel dough in boiling baking soda water. This step adds flavor and creates the lovely firm skin. Avoid quick recipes that simply call for frozen bread dough which you thaw, shape and brush with egg... they won't be the same and you really aren't saving much by purchasing frozen bread dough.
Mixing up your own dough is not difficult, especially if you have a mixer with dough hooks. While some folks find working with yeast intimidating, they really should not. It's quite simple and just requires some time to allow the dough to rise. I suppose that's easy for me to say since I recall baking my first batch of bread at age 9. We did a lot of such baking because it stretched our family budget. It was much cheaper for us to bake our own bread than to purchase it from the store. And, nothing beats hot, fresh bread from the oven slathered with fresh churned butter! Except, maybe a hot, fresh pretzel!
Friday, January 25, 2008
It's the Little Things
Little things add up. Keep a jar and toss your change in it every day, when the jar is full... start another one. This is a pretty obvious way to see that little things add up. Others aren't quite so glaringly obvious.
Do you review your monthly bills? Most people don't really look at them too much. They scan over them and pay the amount requested. However, bills need to be reviewed for accuracy. Do you really want to pay the phone company extra each month for services you aren't using? Remove the line maintenance fee! It's like buying an extended warranty. Check for other fees.
I have two phone lines, for one I was being charged a rate for having touch-tone, the other I wasn't. All my phones are touch-tone... why was I being charged for one and not the other? I asked for the charge to be removed. I'd requested bundle billing with my dsl, phone service and unlimited long distance. This was to save me some money each month. A review of my bill after requesting the bundle, showed that they didn't bundle it. Another phone call.
It can be frustrating to deal with these things and that's why I'm sure most folks would rather not. But, think of that change jar. If your utilities are hitting you for $1 here or $3 there in extra charges, it doesn't take very long for that to add up. Double check your meter readings... I've had them reported incorrectly. Take a good look at that bank statement, I've had the bank erroneously enter a $10 check from my account as a $100 check. That was a messy error. All of these entities rely on a combination of humans and computers... mistakes do happen.
So, take the time to really look over your bills and note any changes. If necessary, prepare to approach the entity regarding the error. Remain calm. It's not the person on the other end of the phone line's fault that an error was made and they aren't personally profiting from the mistake. Remain vigilant. It may take several attempts to correct the problem. If you keep decent records though, it should all work out in your favor.
Do you review your monthly bills? Most people don't really look at them too much. They scan over them and pay the amount requested. However, bills need to be reviewed for accuracy. Do you really want to pay the phone company extra each month for services you aren't using? Remove the line maintenance fee! It's like buying an extended warranty. Check for other fees.
I have two phone lines, for one I was being charged a rate for having touch-tone, the other I wasn't. All my phones are touch-tone... why was I being charged for one and not the other? I asked for the charge to be removed. I'd requested bundle billing with my dsl, phone service and unlimited long distance. This was to save me some money each month. A review of my bill after requesting the bundle, showed that they didn't bundle it. Another phone call.
It can be frustrating to deal with these things and that's why I'm sure most folks would rather not. But, think of that change jar. If your utilities are hitting you for $1 here or $3 there in extra charges, it doesn't take very long for that to add up. Double check your meter readings... I've had them reported incorrectly. Take a good look at that bank statement, I've had the bank erroneously enter a $10 check from my account as a $100 check. That was a messy error. All of these entities rely on a combination of humans and computers... mistakes do happen.
So, take the time to really look over your bills and note any changes. If necessary, prepare to approach the entity regarding the error. Remain calm. It's not the person on the other end of the phone line's fault that an error was made and they aren't personally profiting from the mistake. Remain vigilant. It may take several attempts to correct the problem. If you keep decent records though, it should all work out in your favor.
Thursday, January 24, 2008
Cleaning House
It's a slow internet day. There doesn't seem to be much of interest to read today. Now that I upgraded to a DSL connection it only takes me a few minutes to check my email, visit a couple of favorite forums, read the local news and post to my blog. This leaves me with more... "free time". As I was pondering what I should do with my "free time" today, the nagging images of my dirty dishes, dirty floors and the pile of laundry kept flashing in my mind like a bad slide show. I guess I'll be cleaning today. But, only after I make this post because now I have a topic!
I don't really spend a lot of money on different cleaning products. Anymore. I used to, back when I thought they really did save me time and got things super-duper clean, therefore I simply could not live without them. I will admit though I still have a few products that are just my favorite trusted friends. But, I don't have a cabinet full of various cleansers and polishes. I've found that I can clean just about anything in my house with ammonia, vinegar, bleach (but don't mix it with the ammonia) and baking soda.
You can find tips for using these products all over the internet. So, I won't go into all of the possibilities, but I will run down a few of the things I do.
Ammonia - mix 1 part ammonia with 3 parts water, place in sprayer bottle and use for general cleaning and windows.
Bleach - use to sanitize or whiten anything (pour into toilets).
Vinegar - add to dishwasher, add to laundry (the really smelly laundry or the fabrics that wrinkle badly), use to remove hardwater limescale everywhere.
Baking Soda - place on damp pots to remove tough burns (let sit about 5 minutes), use to absorb carpet odors.
For tough carpet stains, I dilute some "Shout" and spray it directly on the stain before cleaning the carpet.
And for those of you who simply must have some cleaning products because using the four I mentioned is just way too simple, basic and rustic for you... try stocking up at the dollar store in your area. You can usually find great bargains on such products in the aisles of Fred's, Dollar General and The Dollar Spot.
I don't really spend a lot of money on different cleaning products. Anymore. I used to, back when I thought they really did save me time and got things super-duper clean, therefore I simply could not live without them. I will admit though I still have a few products that are just my favorite trusted friends. But, I don't have a cabinet full of various cleansers and polishes. I've found that I can clean just about anything in my house with ammonia, vinegar, bleach (but don't mix it with the ammonia) and baking soda.
You can find tips for using these products all over the internet. So, I won't go into all of the possibilities, but I will run down a few of the things I do.
Ammonia - mix 1 part ammonia with 3 parts water, place in sprayer bottle and use for general cleaning and windows.
Bleach - use to sanitize or whiten anything (pour into toilets).
Vinegar - add to dishwasher, add to laundry (the really smelly laundry or the fabrics that wrinkle badly), use to remove hardwater limescale everywhere.
Baking Soda - place on damp pots to remove tough burns (let sit about 5 minutes), use to absorb carpet odors.
For tough carpet stains, I dilute some "Shout" and spray it directly on the stain before cleaning the carpet.
And for those of you who simply must have some cleaning products because using the four I mentioned is just way too simple, basic and rustic for you... try stocking up at the dollar store in your area. You can usually find great bargains on such products in the aisles of Fred's, Dollar General and The Dollar Spot.
Wednesday, January 23, 2008
Frugal Valentine's Day
Valentine's Day is a huge commercial holiday. Americans spent about $17 billion on the holiday last year. That's approximately $120 per person, including children. The money is spent on chocolates, flowers, wine, stuffed animals, cards and jewelry. Jewelry is the only item that lasts much longer than the holiday... not counting what the chocolates do to the hips. I don't think the amount of money spent includes the romantic meals as the numbers came from the retail industry. Regardless, that's a lot of money.
So, if you don't spend over $100 on your honey, you look like a schmuck. Right? Wrong. Unless, you have a high-maintenance honey. In which case, you really shouldn't be reading a frugal living blog.
We all like to feel special and loved. That feeling can be created without spending a lot of money. It will take some planning and some creativity. That's why I'm writing about it today. You have three weeks to plan and create a special day for the one you love.
I live in a small town without too many fine dining options. Finding babysitters on Valentine's Evening is difficult. As a result we began the tradition several years ago of creating a fine family feast for the festivities. Traditionally the meal includes rock lobster tail and filet mignon. Rock lobster tail is smaller, less expensive and sweeter tasting than regular lobster tails. Usually this portion of the meal costs about $4 - $5 per person - remember it's a special occasion!
To this base we add any number of side dishes from salad to twice baked potatoes... it just depends on what we're in the mood for that year. And, my honey always makes a very decadent dessert for the occasion. The table is set nicely, with candles and the good china. As our daughters grew to become young ladies, they now invite their sweethearts to join us for this special meal. This is a tradition I love.
Other special ideas:
Create your own conversation heart cookies. Make heart shaped sugar cookies. Glaze them with pastel colored frosting and use a piece of waxed paper or parchment paper to create a cone, place frosting in and write words on the hearts. Fill a basket full of them and deliver to your sweetheart, use for place "cards" at your special meal, let the kids pass them out for their special friends.
Make your own box of chocolates. I picked up some chocolate molds in all different Valentine's motifs at a craft store clearance sale several years ago. They are re-usable. I like to use the Ghirardelli melting chocolate, it's not waxy. Look for interesting things to add to the chocolate to make it special. A couple of drops of cinnamon oil can make a yummy chocolate.
Knit a nice scarf, it's cold outside. Can't knit? Get a Nifty Knitter and some yarn.
Make a photo collage, or a scrapbook, or create a nice frame for a picture of you.
Write a poem and frame it.
Create a memory box. Decorate a box (can be a cigar box, shoe box, shirt box...anything) with a collage of images and phrases. Place momentos inside - movie ticket stubs from the first movie you saw together on a date, the cork from the bottle of wine, etc.
Burn a cd of music.
You can force tulip bulbs to bloom in a pot (it's a little late for this project this year... it takes about 8 weeks, but keep it in mind!).
If you just have to have flowers, get an in-expensive mix a few days before Valentine's day or order bulk online and arrange them yourself. Most of us have a ton of flower vases and by picking them up a few days in advance, you will save money. Arranging them yourself will save some of the costs as well. You can turn that $5 or $10 bouquet into one that looks like it cost much more. My honey will sometimes find interesting twisted twigs or pretty foliage to add that makes them even more special.
I like receiving a gift certificate for a rose bush of my choosing to be added to my garden at the appropriate time. Or, several packages of flower seeds. Yes, I'm just that kind of girl, some of us are. I like looking at the flowers all summer and I do think of my sweetie when I cut them and arrange them. I also really like it when he cuts them and surprises me with a bouquet on the table.
If you start looking and thinking now, there are a lot of creative, romantic, special ideas to show the one you love how special they are to you... without spending $120 or more.
So, if you don't spend over $100 on your honey, you look like a schmuck. Right? Wrong. Unless, you have a high-maintenance honey. In which case, you really shouldn't be reading a frugal living blog.
We all like to feel special and loved. That feeling can be created without spending a lot of money. It will take some planning and some creativity. That's why I'm writing about it today. You have three weeks to plan and create a special day for the one you love.
I live in a small town without too many fine dining options. Finding babysitters on Valentine's Evening is difficult. As a result we began the tradition several years ago of creating a fine family feast for the festivities. Traditionally the meal includes rock lobster tail and filet mignon. Rock lobster tail is smaller, less expensive and sweeter tasting than regular lobster tails. Usually this portion of the meal costs about $4 - $5 per person - remember it's a special occasion!
To this base we add any number of side dishes from salad to twice baked potatoes... it just depends on what we're in the mood for that year. And, my honey always makes a very decadent dessert for the occasion. The table is set nicely, with candles and the good china. As our daughters grew to become young ladies, they now invite their sweethearts to join us for this special meal. This is a tradition I love.
Other special ideas:
Create your own conversation heart cookies. Make heart shaped sugar cookies. Glaze them with pastel colored frosting and use a piece of waxed paper or parchment paper to create a cone, place frosting in and write words on the hearts. Fill a basket full of them and deliver to your sweetheart, use for place "cards" at your special meal, let the kids pass them out for their special friends.
Make your own box of chocolates. I picked up some chocolate molds in all different Valentine's motifs at a craft store clearance sale several years ago. They are re-usable. I like to use the Ghirardelli melting chocolate, it's not waxy. Look for interesting things to add to the chocolate to make it special. A couple of drops of cinnamon oil can make a yummy chocolate.
Knit a nice scarf, it's cold outside. Can't knit? Get a Nifty Knitter and some yarn.
Make a photo collage, or a scrapbook, or create a nice frame for a picture of you.
Write a poem and frame it.
Create a memory box. Decorate a box (can be a cigar box, shoe box, shirt box...anything) with a collage of images and phrases. Place momentos inside - movie ticket stubs from the first movie you saw together on a date, the cork from the bottle of wine, etc.
Burn a cd of music.
You can force tulip bulbs to bloom in a pot (it's a little late for this project this year... it takes about 8 weeks, but keep it in mind!).
If you just have to have flowers, get an in-expensive mix a few days before Valentine's day or order bulk online and arrange them yourself. Most of us have a ton of flower vases and by picking them up a few days in advance, you will save money. Arranging them yourself will save some of the costs as well. You can turn that $5 or $10 bouquet into one that looks like it cost much more. My honey will sometimes find interesting twisted twigs or pretty foliage to add that makes them even more special.
I like receiving a gift certificate for a rose bush of my choosing to be added to my garden at the appropriate time. Or, several packages of flower seeds. Yes, I'm just that kind of girl, some of us are. I like looking at the flowers all summer and I do think of my sweetie when I cut them and arrange them. I also really like it when he cuts them and surprises me with a bouquet on the table.
If you start looking and thinking now, there are a lot of creative, romantic, special ideas to show the one you love how special they are to you... without spending $120 or more.
Monday, January 21, 2008
Potluck Dinners
My daughter had to take something for a potluck lunch at school today. As I was helping her to prepare her dish, we discussed what other kids were bringing. She commented to me that a number of the kids didn't know what a potluck meal was. I dropped my spoon. How is that possible?
Potlucks are a great custom. I don't know if it's a regional thing or if it's a small-town thing. I just know that they've been a big part of my entire life. As a child, I recall potlucks at church after services, family potluck gatherings, club potluck gatherings, community potluck gatherings. And, as an adult, most of these continued and even included potluck meals at work.
At one place I worked we had a weekly mid-week potluck. Employees could either bring something or they could donate a $1 to our employee benevolence fund and just grab a plate. At another place we held a potluck once a month for fellowship. When I was a younger, single, working mom my co-workers and I decided to do potluck with a twist. We took turns cooking lunch and bringing it for everyone in the group. You only had to bring something one day a week and the rest of the week, enjoy everyone else's cooking. This helped all of our budgets.
In fact, potlucks are a great budget stretcher for families. I lived in a friendly neighborhood as a young mom and we often held neighborhood potlucks to stretch our budgets. It's a fantastic way to get to know your neighbors and create connections.
Today I sent Cranberry Meatballs for the school meal. The teens always love this and I think it's pretty good... and simple. As far as potluck dishes go, it's not too spendy. When I was at the store, I calculated that the cost was going to be about the same whether I bought the ground meat and made them myself or if I just bought them prepared. So, for time savings (also a part of being frugal) I opted for the prepared meatballs.
Cranberry Meatballs
1 can cranberry sauce
1 jar chili sauce
80 count bag of meatballs (2 1/2 pounds prepared, cooked meatballs)
Place cranberry sauce and chili sauce in sauce pan and heat until cranberry sauce has melted. Place meatballs in crockpot. Cover with sauce. Turn on high, stirring occasionally for 1 hour. Switch to low and cook for 2 - 3 hours, stirring occasionally. Serves up to 20.
Potlucks are a great custom. I don't know if it's a regional thing or if it's a small-town thing. I just know that they've been a big part of my entire life. As a child, I recall potlucks at church after services, family potluck gatherings, club potluck gatherings, community potluck gatherings. And, as an adult, most of these continued and even included potluck meals at work.
At one place I worked we had a weekly mid-week potluck. Employees could either bring something or they could donate a $1 to our employee benevolence fund and just grab a plate. At another place we held a potluck once a month for fellowship. When I was a younger, single, working mom my co-workers and I decided to do potluck with a twist. We took turns cooking lunch and bringing it for everyone in the group. You only had to bring something one day a week and the rest of the week, enjoy everyone else's cooking. This helped all of our budgets.
In fact, potlucks are a great budget stretcher for families. I lived in a friendly neighborhood as a young mom and we often held neighborhood potlucks to stretch our budgets. It's a fantastic way to get to know your neighbors and create connections.
Today I sent Cranberry Meatballs for the school meal. The teens always love this and I think it's pretty good... and simple. As far as potluck dishes go, it's not too spendy. When I was at the store, I calculated that the cost was going to be about the same whether I bought the ground meat and made them myself or if I just bought them prepared. So, for time savings (also a part of being frugal) I opted for the prepared meatballs.
Cranberry Meatballs
1 can cranberry sauce
1 jar chili sauce
80 count bag of meatballs (2 1/2 pounds prepared, cooked meatballs)
Place cranberry sauce and chili sauce in sauce pan and heat until cranberry sauce has melted. Place meatballs in crockpot. Cover with sauce. Turn on high, stirring occasionally for 1 hour. Switch to low and cook for 2 - 3 hours, stirring occasionally. Serves up to 20.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
