Frugal Measures: November 2024

Monday, November 25, 2024

Monday Message

"Our Heavenly Father created this beautiful earth, with all its abundance, for our benefit and use. His purpose is to provide for our needs as we walk in faith and obedience. He has lovingly commanded us to 'prepare every needful thing' (see D&C 109:8) so that, should adversity come, we may care for ourselves and our neighbors, and support bishops as they care for others." (All is Safely Gathered In pamphlet)

I feel like harder times are coming. As I was thinking about this, our ancestors always hoped for a better year. Sometimes it was better and sometimes it wasn't. How do you think they managed on those harder years? They made it through with skills for sure. They made things last longer and stretched what they had. When the snow comes, the first measurable snow we get, I crack out The Long Winter by Laura Ingalls Wilder. This is a very good insight into how they managed.

We need to continue stocking up our pantries and building those skills.

I know in hard times you can make do and also come up with ways to make it through.

I am doing the Arne and Carlos Christmas stocking knit-along again this year...

So far this is working well. I used, as always, what I had on hand. We get only six rows of the chart a day - this is free while the knit-along is going, then they put the pattern up for sale. So it is a free, fun thing to do and is helping me to develop my colorwork skills in knitting at the same time.

Last year, I did this too and here is what that stocking looked like in the end.

So building your skills does not have to be grueling, make it fun.

Learning to bake bread can be a tasty way to learn to perfect this skill.

https://frugalmeasures.blogspot.com/2015/07/monday-message.html - this has a lot of breadmaking info to get you started on making bread.

https://frugalmeasures.blogspot.com/2017/06/monday-message.html - yummy things here as well.

I had watched a video of a knitting recap and saw some price tags on yarn hmmmm... incredible, thirty dollars on up for just one skein of yarn. So a skill of mine is learning to make my own yarn. That one year for my birthday, a gift I gave myself was to spend the day dying fleece to spin.

https://frugalmeasures.blogspot.com/2022/01/monday-message_17.html - it was a fun birthday may have to do it again.

https://frugalmeasures.blogspot.com/2019/05/monday-message_20.html

This week, I moved the rug loom to the other end of living room. That might be the last time she gets moved. I tugged, I pulled, I pushed and ten minutes later I have only moved an inch. So it takes more work with her.

https://frugalmeasures.blogspot.com/2019/12/monday-message_9.html

So while some of these pics show skills you can build...

Try to find the ones that you would like to build and most importantly have joy and don't postpone joy.

We need joy more than ever and remember to do kind things for others.

Missy says learning new things can be more fun and tastier than you think!

Tippy says find joy in all you do.

Monday, November 18, 2024

Monday Message

"You do not need to go into debt, may I add, to obtain a year’s supply. Plan to build up your food supply just as you would a savings account. Save a little for storage each pay-check." (President Ezra Taft Benson)

When you go to the store, always pick up at least one item to put in your storage. If you can only spend a dollar, then pick up something that your family likes. Think how many times you go to the store in a week. This is not as painful as big purchases. You'll be surprised how fast your storage adds up.

Be sure to stock up on those basics: flour, sugar, rice etc.

The election will be over by the time this comes out. We voted early and at that we were in line for fifty minutes.

At the time I am writing this the election is five days away. I try to keep a couple messages ahead incase I get sick or have computer issues.

My husband took off his "I voted" sticker and put it by the door bell. What a great idea - stops all the flyers and such.

https://frugalmeasures.blogspot.com/2013/10/monday-message-fugal-christmas.html - look at that date... 2013. Back then I was a Provident Living teacher and teaching classes in my home. So ignore that part about classes at our home, now I just do the blog.

I have been busy working on things for Christmas which is coming very fast. So is winter. Tonight is to be 32 degrees brrrr! I know some of you are going into warmer weather, but it is brrrrr here.

Soon this will be coming our way... oh dear.

The garden looks dead and cold. The leaves are blowing off the trees. Soon white cold snow will appear.

https://frugalmeasures.blogspot.com/2014/10/monday-message.html

So those of you who are heading into winter, are you ready? Make sure your hoses are disconnected.

Make sure you have your winter car kit in the car.

https://frugalmeasures.blogspot.com/2014/09/monday-message_15.html -this has info on a car kit and what should be in your car for if you get into trouble on bad roads.

Make sure you have non-perishable items in your storage in case you are snowbound for a time. Also, pack a box for an elderly neighbor or friend as well.

I always start watching the weather more closely to be ready for blizzards and such.

I like to set the shovel inside by the door for when it is needed.

Those of you heading into warmer weather, be putting seeds in the ground or pots because every little bit helps that budget.

https://www.countryliving.com/diy-crafts/tips/g645/crafty-christmas-presents-ideas/ - some fun Christmas gift ideas.

https://permies.com/wiki/handmade-gift-ideas - more ideas.

https://wholefully.com/homemade-soup-mixes-in-a-jar/#mv-creation-292-jtr - soup mixes as gifts.

https://julieblanner.com/how-to-make-a-teepee/ - so I would love this if I were a kid.

These will get you thinking of ideas.

Missy says keep your eye on the grocery store flyers this time of year for stocking storage.

Tippy Longstockings says when you cannot take it any longer, it is OK to block out the world and rest.

Monday, November 11, 2024

Monday Message

"Preparedness, when properly pursued, is a way of life, not a sudden, spectacular program. We could refer to all the components of personal and family preparedness, not in relation to holocaust or disaster, but in cultivating a life-style that is on a day-to-day basis its own reward." (President Spencer W. Kimball)

Yes, if we incorporated preparedness into our daily life, it would just become everyday, the same goes for living frugally.

It isn't such a hard thing to do. I can tell you that if you live frugally and then something happens that is financial, it is just what you are used to... hope that makes sense.

It is also not such a huge step when something goes wrong.

This brings us back to storing the basics - stuff to make things with. For example, you can get a muffin mix or you can get flour and things that are basic ingredients. And now you could make biscuits, bread, pancakes, cookies, pies... I think you get the idea. The basics are flour, sugar, brown sugar, salt, baking soda, baking powder, shortening, yeast. If you store basic things, you can make so much more and stretch what you have.

https://www.thepioneerwoman.com/food-cooking/a10476/stocking-up-the-printable-list/ - this site has a printable list.

https://food.unl.edu/article/basic-foods-checklist-how-stock-your-kitchen-simple-meals

https://www.goingzerowaste.com/blog/make-at-home-instead-of-buying/

https://www.cooksmarts.com/cooking-guides/create-a-functional-kitchen/pantry-essentials/

https://www.tasteofhome.com/collection/pantry-staples-you-can-make-at-home/ - this has things that that you can make at home.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rIjoSjmssLg&list=PLjIyprssAj9I5qiv-yCa8f5VkG1YTxtt4&index=1&t=61s - this is a very good pancake mix you can make that you only need to add water to when you make them.

https://www.littlehouseliving.com/scone-mix-recipe.html#scone-mix-recipe - this is also one I keep on hand as you just need water and whatever you want to put into them - wonderful!

And what a great tip - you can make it up, put in a jar, and add a tag then give as a gift. That goes for either of these recipes.

https://www.tasteofhome.com/collection/grocery-store-foods-to-make-at-home/ - things that would cost less to do yourself.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?app=desktop&v=T6Zn_mR6awU - making things instead of purchasing. I think when the price of canned soup went way up this became a great thing.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8gVCBZSx4Pw - she has some great ideas.

I think we just need to try things. I, too, made yogurt that was awful at first but now we have it every day.

I make the yogurt cubes up as someone in the comments mentioned doing these and it really does save us tons of money. I just put a batch in the freezer to use as my yogurt starter because I just used up the last of the cubes I had in the freezer. So I'll be getting those stocked in the freezer for the next batches I will make. When those run out, I make them again. Thank you for suggesting making these yogurt cubes - you know who you are :)

When I say everyday I mean it....

https://frugalmeasures.blogspot.com/2023/12/monday-message_11.html - scroll down, you will find the recipe here and yes, that is how thick it is. Now I don't add sugar so you will need to add jam or syrup on it. We like it with maple syrup and my granola on it.

https://frugalmeasures.blogspot.com/2023/06/monday-message_19.html - you can find the recipe here on this post. It's the best recipe. I have been using it for the past few years, same with the yogurt.

If I had quit after the first time I made it, I would not have kept trying till I got these recipes. In fact, I have yogurt going now in the ice chest.

So save money and try some of these things.

Missy says to store the basics and you will be making things when storms rage outside.

Tippy Longstockings says yes to storing food and to show you she does this too, she is showing you a picture...

Monday, November 4, 2024

Monday Message

"Our Heavenly Father created this beautiful earth, with all its abundance, for our benefit and use. His purpose is to provide for our needs as we walk in faith and obedience. He has lovingly commanded us to ‘prepare every needful thing’ (see D&C 109:8) so that, should adversity come, we may care for ourselves and our neighbors, and support bishops as they care for others." (All is Safely Gathered In pamphlet)

Well finally some fall temps arrived. Remember to do your winter preps by unhooking your hose, clearing gutters, and the like.

Now we all need to be thinking ahead to Christmas, getting gifts ready and such

We went and voted early yesterday at the time I'm writing this and I thought we'd just go into vote and be out... ha! It was a fifty minute wait. Wow! And the line was still long behind us. We haven't been in this kind of line for voting in over forty years. It has just been in with two people ahead of us, vote, and back out. Not this time.

So we had this big cardboard box and I was telling a young friend about it and that I was going to do something for the cats with it. She pulled out her little sketchbook and designed a thing to make for the cats. I took her designed and tried to closely follow it...