"Today, I emphasize a most basic principle: home production and storage. Have you ever paused to realize what would happen to your community or nation if transportation were paralyzed or if we had a war or depression? How would you and your neighbors obtain food? How long would the corner grocery store—or supermarket—sustain the needs of the community?" (President Ezra Taft Benson)
I think it will take all our skills in the coming years. Add to those skills as quickly as you can. Learn to make more from scratch meals and look for some frugal recipes and learn more frugal ways to save on the things you usually do. Try to cut down the spending even if you think you cannot do more, you will be surprised by little things you can do.
Try learning frugal meals so you can find favorites. If you learn frugal desserts and bread, I think your family will be okay with being testers. Then have them rate the meal one to ten and you build a binder of what everyone liked. Then make your basic purchases around these items.
I think you will like the meals that you find.
Also keep putting items in your pantry storage.
https://www.thespruceeats.com/standard-kitchen-supplies-for-your-pantry-1808020 - here are some ideas.
But remember, I keep saying store the basics and build your knowledge to know how to use them.
Frequent your thrift stores and yard sales to find things that can help you be more frugal like canners, dehydrators etc.
Over the years, I would gather things like these used and every bit of it has saved us money and has continued to serve us well over the years.
I have been working on this hat. I got the pattern free but the yarn that it calls for is $25 said the designer. Well you know that is not in my budget, so I decided to use some roving that I spin and use it by striping the same size from it and using that. As you see, it worked. I tell you this to show you to think outside the box. You could even undo a sweater using that size yarn from a thrift shop but check the inside seams to be sure they are not serged, those will not work.
https://blog.tincanknits.com/2021/02/04/how-to-recycle-yarn-from-second-hand-sweaters/ - this will help you understand how to.
Many years ago I found this pizzelle maker at a thrift store for five dollars. I had always wanted one. It is the black one in the picture here.
Here are the cookies I make in it.
The cookies are so delicate and taste like a waffle ice cream cones but can be done with other flavorings.
Hear is the recipe I used...
Krumkake (a Norwegian cookie)
One stick butter melted
1 c. Sugar
2 Eggs
A scant one cup of milk, I used powdered milk mixed up (a frugal tip from me)
1 1/2 c. Flour
You mix this all together, stir well. Then have your maker hot and ready to go. Then put a tbsp of batter on each and close. This cooks very fast so you need to stay with it.
I have always hear that these are Italian cookies but for this recipe it said a Norwegian cookie. I have seen several podcasters from Norway make these.
Wherever they come from, they're delicious!
I had always wanted one but they were too expensive. Finding it for five dollars was a wonderful surprise!
So as you start your new year, don't rule out thrifting to help you save money.
Missy says prices won't be coming down soon, so find a frugal work around.
Tippy says no matter how hard things get, keep a stiff upper lip - we can do it!
