Monday Message

"There is a need for diversification in places of storage and in types of containers. Perhaps not all storage should be concentrated in one area of the house, not all should be stored in tin or plastic containers, not all in glass containers." (Barbara B. Smith)

I thought this would be a good reminder for us to have different ways to store just like there are different methods to put up foods to be stored.

These are methods I use at this time...

canning
dehydrating
some freezing
vacuum sealing
buckets and bay leaves

I like the idea of not putting all our eggs in one basket.

I think it would be fun to have a sun oven and to be able to have a freeze dryer but one must work within one's budget and I use what I have and these work for me.

One other thing is to not limit your information, learn as much as you can!

Learn to make yogurt. This can be done very frugally. I know someone who uses a styrofoam ice chest, another who wrapped a towel around the jar and sat it on the water heater, and another who used her crock-pot. They all got wonderful yogurt.  

Learn to make bread then expand your talent. Learn to grind your wheat. This would need a grinder, a good thing to work towards getting but till then many other breads can be made.

Learn to make your own pasta. Yes, when we are busy this seems to not be on the list but oh how wonderful it tastes!

How to make your own laundry soap, so much cheaper! It is a crime how much is charged.

You can make your own fabric softener by putting two or three tablespoons of hair conditioner in a small spray bottle of water. Shake it and then spray a wash cloth, throw it in with your dryer load. Cost pennies compared to other products out there.

How to make your own mixes, always something to learn here.

Under this I would say it has helped tons to make up a few jars of bread mix ahead.

Also having hot cocoa mix on hand. On these cold days a cup of hot cocoa is so soothing.

Years ago I went to a hardware store near an Amish community they had the neatest thing...

You see here the square jar lamp and the far right jar lamp. The jars are canning jars. You get the metal parts that screw on the regular mouth canning jars. Put lamp oil in the jars then screw this in place, add a wick and a glass chimney and you get an oil lamp.

Okay, I have done some searching for this metal kit of sorts... The best price I could find was Lehman's. There phone number 1-888-438-5346 and the number you would tell them is...1005085 the price today is $6.99 but she said it's best if you ask as sometimes that changes. You can then build your own with any regular fruit jar, lamp oil, wick and a chimney. They do sell the whole kit with all but lamp oil but it would double that price so you might price which way you would want to go. Those of you who live near an Amish area might check out their hardware store close by. I like their logo for a simpler life and if you happen to be placed on hold they have a neat tip.

The tip I heard was for getting rid of fruit flies. I just put a couple tablespoons of apple cider vinegar in a jar and cover with plastic wrap, then poke holes in the wrap with a toothpick and they go in and cannot come out. They said to fill a small jar half full of apple cider vinegar and two or three tablespoons of dish soap. Shake it then cover like I do with the plastic wrap and poke holes. I will try theirs next time I get them which is usually three quarters of the way through canning season.

Not promoting them by any means but letting you know a frugal storage item.

Then as you have storage you can see I decorate with the items and that way they are ready to use.

Once we had a power outage in the evening. It was very dark so I lit an oil lamp and gathered several together in the center of the table. The whole town's power was out. We could see cars outside trying to see who was out. They would get to our house and almost stop to try to figure out why we had lights and no one else did...Yes, several oil lamps gave off a good amount of light, they're good things to have on hand.

So I have shared with you some of the frugal tips I use around the house. Share with us what frugal things you do in the comments below.