Monday Message

"A cardinal principle of the gospel is to prepare for the day of scarcity. Work, industry, frugality are part of the royal order of life." (Bishop Keith B. McMullin)

It is amazing how well all of these work so well together to improve quality of life.

While we are consumed with with what is going on right now, we need to remember there are others all around us who have lost jobs and who have lost loved ones, those whose world has been turned upside down.

I think most of us have been affected financially and need to stretch our resources to live more frugally.  Is it work? Yes. I won't lie, it is work but we can do work, we can push on and do hard things.

So learn skills skills skills! Learn as much as you can... learn to put up food.

With funds tight right now if you cannot buy any equipment at this time do other things  like...

If you have herbs, you can tie those like a bouquet and hang them upside down.

Learn to be more frugal. Freeze the little bits of food. For example, if you have just a few green beans leftover, put them and the liquid into a container and freeze it. Maybe another meal it will be corn or carrots, just keep adding to this container, even leftover chicken or beef. When the container gets full make a soup with it and start this again saving for the next soup.

Dry out the last pieces of bread. When I worked in food service we would toss the crusts in a large pan. Then after it was full we put in blender and made bread crumbs which could then be used in meatballs or as a topping on casseroles.

Food is a huge area where we all could be more frugal.

Learn to bake bread...

Making your own bread stretches your budget.

While things seem so scary we need to do what we can to not let fear take you over. Missy says you got this!

I know it is harder to do things now but if you are learning a skill, involve the kids. They love helping and learning WITH you.

If you are thinking of purchases look into buying used first.

These needles saved sooooo much money. I got them at a thrift store. The cookbooks were from two different yard sales. Hy-Vee is a grocery store chain here and these books hold employee favorite recipes.

While the virus prevents me from going to thrift stores or yard sales now, I'm showing you that buying used is very frugal.

Learning skills greatly enhance our lives... Above is a picture of a dishcloth I'm working on.

Growing food is a skill that is good for you and your family and kids love to see the seeds they planted grow.

Having food is an added blessing. I wash jalapeno peppers and pop off their stem hats then I freeze them. When a recipe calls for a can of chopped chilies, I take one out of the freezer and let it sit for about four minutes then I chop it while still frozen. I make jam from them as well to have on crackers with cream cheese.

Gus wants us all to be safe!