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)

Still the government is shut down at the time of this writing.

They are talking hard times ahead and higher prices still.

https://www.livewell.optum.com/sec_BeWell/sub_bw_CopingResiliency_CopingPeaceofMind/cnt_art_H0005_BuildingHabitsToHelpPrepareforToughTimes?accesstoken=80B38A21-9BE8-11EB-AC53-CBBFBA87E4EC - there are a few ideas here.

https://thehomesteadinghippy.com/ways-to-prepare-for-hard-times/ - ideas.

https://heartscontentfarmhouse.com/how-to-prepare-for-hard-times/ - more ideas here.

https://www.equifax.com/personal/education/personal-finance/articles/-/learn/five-ways-to-prepare-for-a-recession/

I have put a few things up there to read for ideas.

Tippy Longstockings wanted to pop in here and give you a TIP! This week, we had two birds hit the window. We researched what we could do to prevent it and this is the tip we found: If you take a bar of soap and draw on the outside of the window, it breaks that reflection. I think you can have the kids do it for a fun project.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=r4UsgU4q4q4 - I thought this would be helpful or give you inspiration to make your own.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=r4UsgU4q4q4 - this is a second version.

https://getorganizedhq.com/meal-planning-with-an-all-in-one-kitchen-binder/ - this is a bit different, it is my favorite of the three but I wanted you to have a choice. Pick and choose, but I like that the third has an area to write your menu.

I think making your own menu saves so much time and money and that this would be a frugal thing to do. It would be a great gift idea too for your kids who will be leaving home and ones that have left home.

A reminder - cooking from scratch is a skill we all need, especially with food costs rising.

https://dayswellspent.com/cooking-from-scratch-to-save-money/ - ideas.

https://www.goodhousekeeping.com/food-recipes/cooking/a32416409/how-to-make-a-sourdough-starter/?utm_source=google&utm_medium=cpc&utm_campaign=mgu_ga_ghk_md_dsa_prog_mix_us_19954466556&gad_source=1&gad_campaignid=19954466556&gbraid=0AAAAADA2MEpDp5_o0_P9n-QDaxh3yrgr8&gclid=CjwKCAjwu9fHBhAWEiwAzGRC__D4qQB6x2BPtPtVGUQCmbLLgTBr5MvukTNaTqlLBt1VCYJhLiR-EhoC8JIQAvD_BwE - how to make sourdough.

I cannot stress it enough - learn to make bread and store stuff to make bread!

I store white flour in five gallon food grade buckets. I put two bay leafs on top of the flour before I put on the lid, then I put the date and label and make sure to rotate the flour in my storage.

I store white wheat berries the same way.

I have big packages of yeast from Sam's Club or bulk places - I keep them in the freezer, except for one quart jar that I keep in the refrigerator. That is the jar I use from and refill it from ones in the freezer.

I store salt.

I store sugar and honey.

I store shortening.

I store vital wheat gluten. I have this in jars I have vacuum sealed, except one in the refrigerator as a using jar.

I store oats and other grains as add-ins.

Learning how to make bread is very very important and to learn takes practice. If you have trouble ,find someone to show you. From that point, the things you can make are unlimited. You can bake cinnamon rolls, danish, donuts, english muffins, english muffin bread, etc.

Just be sure to store the items needed to make them.

It is good to learn by hand, but equally important to use a bread machine. I can do by hand and do if I need to make a lot at once. But my plug is to get a used bread machine. The reason I plug this is we all are busy. I make up my bread mixes. I put the water in and dump my jar with my pre-measured ingredients (yes, yeast is in it). I dump in the jar ingredients and set it to the dough setting and go do other things. That is the beauty in having a bread machine. All of mine are used and I see them all the time.

https://frugalmeasures.blogspot.com/2015/07/monday-message.html

https://frugalmeasures.blogspot.com/2015/03/monday-message_16.html

Get the recipes in this booklet HERE.

Things are hard now and may yet get harder. Take time now to learn this and you will be in good shape!

Missy says keep working on what you can. If you do nothing, you will wish you had done something.

Tippy Longstockings says to build those skills. Sometimes we feel exhausted but keep working on preparing for harder times.

Monday Message

"Our bishops storehouses are not intended to stock enough commodities to care for all the members of the Church. Storehouses are only established to care for the poor and the needy. For this reason, members of the Church have been instructed to personally store a year’s supply of food, clothing, and, where possible, fuel. By following this counsel, most members will be prepared and able to care for themselves and their family members, and be able to share with others as may be needed." (President Ezra Taft Benson)

I feel certain things are not about to improve any time soon, so I want to urge you to step it up on getting your storage in.

https://www.littlehouseliving.com/practical-food-storage-and-preparing-for-price-increases.html?utm_source=convertkit&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=Sequence+-+707324 - I keep saying this, but I love this gal. She will tell you how to prepare for price increases.

I can tell you that we live on a fixed income. I have a set amount for groceries unless unexpected bills come in, then it can go all the way to zero. But with a set amount, I have to be very creative. And yes, every month I get less and less where others may have to spend more and more. This is unsustainable in either case. But things are not getting better so it is best to think ahead. What big bills do you have coming at you? For example, car tags. Stick a little back each month for this then it won't be a no-grocery month when it is time to get the tags.

Plan. Be as frugal as you can. It will be scary for a while, but we will make it through. Will you be able to shop like before? Nope and if you do, you will have a harder time.

Christmas is coming. Be HONEST with your kids. We have to cut back right now so let's find things that don't cost that we like to do. Write it on strips of paper and when it is time, draw out something everyone can do. Parents - read the Candle in the Forest. The little girl's parents were too poor to get the little girl what she wanted so they came up with free fun things and made them special. We can do that. If we are excited about this, they will be too. If you are all "poor me" they will be too. We can do this! Everyone share a free Christmas idea for a family in the comments below. We will all get ideas from each other!

They are saying health insurance is going to get a lot more expensive while also covering less. This will be very hard. The insurance we have now have already started covering less and have told us we are getting no benefits. So plan for that as you can.

The gal in the link at the beginning of this post mentioned gardening. Now you know why I do it even though I hate it so. It is like asking someone if you hate cleaning toilets so much, why do you do it??Because I have to, is the answer.

We are almost to the end of the garden for this year but it still is giving us produce. I am still putting it up.

So be thinking about how to grow food either in a garden or in containers.

When you go through the aisles in the grocery store and you see a nice side dish instead ask yourself - can I make this? Try doing that with many convenience foods, think - can I do this myself?

This is why I encourage making mixes plus I step up my mix making at this time of year as well. 

https://frugalmeasures.blogspot.com/2015/10/monday-message_12.html - there are mix ideas in this post.

https://frugalmeasures.blogspot.com/2015/10/monday-message.html - frugal Christmas gift ideas.

https://frugalmeasures.blogspot.com/2025/03/monday-message.html - mix ideas here.

https://frugalmeasures.blogspot.com/2025/02/monday-message_17.html - remember to give acts of kindness. They're so very needed. Have you noticed there's so many more unhappy people? Even a smile can warm a soul and it costs us nothing.

https://frugalmeasures.blogspot.com/2015/08/monday-message_31.html - more mixes.

https://www.littlehouseliving.com/scone-mix-recipe.html - I like her mix here. If you cannot eat eggs, this is a fantastic recipe I keep on hand always. Look around her site, she has more mixes as well.

Do you ever feel like you don't have time for making muffins? You want muffins for breakfast but it is hard to get them done in time. Here is what I do... I mix all the dry ingredients and in the morning add the wet ingredients and go from there. You can do this with lots of things.

There are many things on my blog posts, ramble around or type in the search what you are looking for.

Times are hard but they are going to get worse before they get better. We can do this. We are all in it together so let's share frugal ideas on getting groceries, on recipes, on Christmas gifts. Let's all share with each other!

Missy says work harder to get that storage in and build your skills...but also find joy!

Tippy Longstockings says keep pushing on, you are not alone!

Monday Message

"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 am still getting a little produce from the garden but for the most part it is almost done.

Our temperatures have finally cooled down here. It feels like fall now and geese are flying overhead to the south.

I finished the scarf I was weaving.

I am working on the next one.

I cut out a dress this week. I want to do the t-shirt cardigan for it as well. I watched this video to learn how to make bias tape - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fWVg6JcpyDI it was very helpful.

I made ten yards.

I plan to put it around all edges of the t-shirt in this picture. I also plan to cover buttons and put on the bodice.

Other than this, my fall cleaning bug has bit, so I am starting that as well.

Time for us to be thinking of Christmas...

https://www.thepioneerwoman.com/holidays-celebrations/gifts/g33416427/diy-christmas-gifts/?utm_source=google&utm_medium=cpc&utm_campaign=mgu_ga_pw_md_pmx_hybd_mix_us_17963889983&gad_source=1&gad_campaignid=17957914252&gbraid=0AAAAABxutSq7ULBOD8hMxZvkfJweULpuR&gclid=Cj0KCQjwl5jHBhDHARIsAB0YqjwKv6wjjeJd-VLSu0yxOmv6oRFqhNCky56cyJZe0swi42QRQ5OCx-4aAjLWEALw_wcB - nice ideas.

https://www.gracefullittlehoneybee.com/ways-save-money-christmas/ - I like this gal.

https://www.frugalfamily.co.uk/24-days-christmas-frugal-family-fun/ - clever ideas.

So many people here in the U.S. will probably need to have a frugal holiday but we still can make it fun for our family. You never know, it might just be the one they love the best.

https://www.littlehouseliving.com/simple-frugal-christmas.html - she has great ideas.

https://zenhabits.net/the-cheapskate-guide-50-tips-for-frugal-living/ - there may be some ideas that can help at this time.

This is a gal I have been watching this week. You might enjoy it to so I'm adding it to this post - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JyHLiMPlHnI She has lots of helpful videos.

Missy says keep working on your storage, even consider putting together gifts of storage for your loved ones.

Tippy Longstockings says keep working on your skills, they are needed more than ever.

Monday Message

"Let us be in a position so we are able to not only feed ourselves through the home production and storage, but others as well." (President Ezra Taft Benson)

I picked this quote specially for now, because as of today, we have had a government shutdown.

Hoping that it will be open by the time you read this. I can tell you when my husband was in the military we had a government shutdown and we got no pay. The military does not get paid enough as is but we couldn't pay our rent or buy groceries and neither could our landlord, as he was military as well.  No one knows how long it will last. So if you know any government employees, ask how they are and perhaps take them a care package. 

So we need to continue to work on our skills and learn frugal ways and keep putting in storage because they keep saying the prices will continue to rise.

I have continued to work on my two projects that I am learning on.

I am moving along now on this scarf. It is fun to see the color changes. I am learning a lot from doing this.

I am really happy how that dishcloth has turned out. I learned an awful lot by pushing on through the hard to learn parts. I took really detailed notes so I can repeat it. There are many patterns to do these and with each one the directions are more cryptic than the one before - that goes for all of them. I had to really study to find the answers. To be fair, they probably thought anyone using them knew what they were doing.

The one I went with just gave you "do this many rows and that many rows" not where should the carriage be or what steps to put that stitch into play. Here again, to be fair, there are a lot of machines and they are so different anyway so it was up to me to learn and learn. I did and I made very good detailed notes. So I will make another and then maybe another using a different fiber and different tension, then it is on to baby booties. I need to restock my gift box. I like to have a box with gifts inside to help me to put together a gift no matter how poor or how busy I am.

We successfully made it through September without getting groceries. So if we get our check and it isn't in the mess of government shutdown this month, I will be getting groceries. Did I learn things? Oh, I would say so! I am thankful for storage. I learned I need more cheese on hand and more eggs. We had enough eggs but were running low. I have plenty of American cheese but not the hard cheese.  

It is easier to clean the refrigerator when there's not as much in it. Celery I ran out of. I have it dried but some recipes call for fresh, omitting can be done on lots of things.  

A big one is I had some brown sugar in a bucket. It turned funky, it's hard to describe but it's like the molasses over powers the sugar so that it is more molasses. When I made a recipe that called for one cup of brown sugar, I did half a cup and half a cup white sugar - it turned out perfectly! So that is important and of course, you can make our own from molasses and white sugar - both of which I keep in storage.

But most of all it is important to have storage and know how to make bread.

Did we have my chocolate cake you ask... we sure did! Yum!

I share this hard times month so you can learn. Think of the things you have on hand. Could you go four weeks not getting groceries?? Cause you never know when something will come up that will test you.

With so many out of work and probably losing their jobs as the president has threatened... I can tell you that it has happened to us - last hired, first to go. For anyone it is first shock then fear - how will we manage? My husband worked hard getting work. In that case, it was freelance work in the same field. For me, it was try to keep home life as normal as possible and bake that chocolate cake.

I would take stock of my pantry... what did we have, how far could I stretch it? Remember, any money coming in would need to go to rent and utilities and car payments first. So knowing how to sew for the kids and mend was important. A trip to the library was normal and would stay that way as it was close by. So these are steps we went through, it would be different for everyone. But everyone can learn from others.

So keep pushing on your storage including everything - not just food - it is everything one uses.

This has been a sad week for the members of our church. We lost our President and Prophet of our church. President Nelson passed away, he was 101 years old, a wonderful man. Then the next day while in a church meeting, an angry man drove his truck into the door of the church in Michigan and started firing and started a fire. Our prayers go out to those involved.  

I have to tell you that this has been something I have thought about a lot up till about six months ago. I would think which is the fastest way to exit. How many children can I herd that way. And that is exactly what the members did. They protected the kids. This has been a fear I have had, so hello old fear, you're back. I use to do that when I went to Walmart as well. I hated that area where you self checkout. It has gotten better now but they used to have you corralled with one way in and one way out.

So evil is growing, we must all stay safe. 

We need to beef up our kindness to others.

https://www.rtor.org/2022/11/11/5-ways-to-flourish-in-tough-times/ - I thought this might be helpful right now. I know I woke up after all those things happened over the weekend and told myself I must find joy.

Remember, we are not alone and we can try and find joy. We are all in this together.

https://www.crochet365knittoo.com/crochet-pumpkin-coaster-pattern/?utm_source=convertkit&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=Crochet+++Cozy+Vibes+%3D+The+Perfect+Weekend+%F0%9F%8D%82+-+19138345 - because it is October, I included this one.

I write in a journal every day and in October, I use the O in October to make it a pumpkin - tall ones, fat ones, teeth, no teeth but each day the O gets to be a pumpkin. It makes me smile.

I feel we might be in hard times for a while so find those things that make you smile and find ways to cheer others. It is so easy to do and does good for you and who you cheer.

Missy says, though it is hard to put in storage and you get tired, please keep going. It will be a job that helps you when needed.

Tippy Longstockings says she likes to show off her stockings in this nap, but she says be kind to others  - many are hurting right now.

Monday Message

"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)

We must be frugal more now than ever before. Prices continue to rise on everything so we need to get those skills up and going.

This has been a rough week but lessons were learned for sure. The scarf is off the loom. I still need to do the finishing stuff.

I was going to tie on another scarf but different fiber. I have tied on before with no problem on other things. I had my warp measured out beforehand.

This project is different. It has two warp threads going through each reed slot and then they separate and each go in their own heddle then continue to the back. I did tie onto the warp, it took three full hard days... What lesson I learned is - if I again do a project that has two going through and splitting like this in the future, I will just start from scratch - that would only take one day as this time it took three days.  It was soo hard as I had to bend over the reed and almost hang upside down to thread heddles.

Yes, it was this and worse.

Here are my supervisors.

At the end of three days it was warped. Those days were very very hard but I was worried, what if after all I went through the threads were mixed up?  I am happy to say they were all correct.

I am weaving now and waiting for it to be further along then I can put my loom catcher back on the front.

This project is different in that it is using a sock yarn and it shifts color so when I wind a bobbin, I need to wind it off the bobbin just wound onto another so the colors are in order.

The other thing despite all of the interruptions I have had over this month, I was finally able to finish my two dresses.

Then I made their belts.

Then I made a cardigan for the one out of a t-shirt.

Yes, I made a cardigan from a V-neck t-shirt. I thought I would make another and walk you through it.

This is the t-shirt before I started, just a plain V-neck t-shirt with 3/4 sleeves which is why I used these t-shirts. I like that sleeve length.

I start in the center of the V and cut straight down as shown.

I like to wear high waisted dresses so I wanted these to be cropped. Making sure hem is even with each other, I used the part I cut off the first as a guide, it is four inches I cut off the bottom.

Then I serged the bottom and both sides. You could zigzag or even leave it, the t-shirt knit does not fray.

Then I just straight stitched the folded edge like here.

If you don't zigzag or serge, you can fold it over, pin and sew. So you have options.

Going back to the dresses - the striped one cost $1.79 for the belt hardware and the fabric I got from freecycle.

The blue dress the fabric was from Salvation Army for $2.99  and the belt hardware for some reason was $1.99. 

Thread and elastic I had on hand.

The t-shirts I got free and the thread I had.

Having some sewing skills has been frugal for me. A little time and I have some new clothes.

Also, just today, I had a half of a half gallon of milk prematurely go sour, so I made rhubarb cake and a coffee cake. Still have some that I will make into pancakes for supper.

Waste not want not.

How are you coming with your storage? What frugal things did you do this week? Let us know in the comments below - we all learn from each other!

Missy says keep working on your skill building - every little bit you can do will help!

Tippy Longstockings says sometimes with all that's going on, you feel like hiding, but keep looking for joy, keep helping others and keep working on your storage and your skill building and learning frugal ways. We will get through this together! We are not alone!

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)

Still warm here but fall is in the air! I made my pumpkin muffins - they are so yummy.

Pumpkin Streusel Muffins

I mix and set aside the topping: 

1/3 cup flour 

3 Tbsp brown sugar 

2 Tbsp cold butter 

In bowl, mix well: 

1/4 cup soft butter 

1/2 cup sugar 

1/4 cup brown sugar 

2/3 cup pumpkin 

1/2 cup milk (I add tsp of vinegar to it) 

2 eggs 

1 Tbsp molasses 

Then, don’t stir again until all dry ingredients are measured in. 

2 cups flour 

1 tsp dried orange peel 

2 tsp baking powder 

1 tsp baking soda 

1 tsp pumpkin pie spice 

1/4 tsp salt 

Then, stir well and fill 12 regular muffin cups. I use liners, but it's not necessary. 

By spoon, divide topping over all evenly. Bake in preheated oven at 375 for 20-25 minutes. Delicious!

I think they are like bakery muffins.

I went to Salvation Army as we happened to be in town for something else. It just happened it was on a Wednesday which is senior discount day. And I found this dress. The price said $3.99 but after the discount it was $3.

I thought I would show you on the blog what to do to save money by remaking clothing. I thought it would be the perfect project to show you how you can remake clothes into something useful.

The dress was way too long, like drag on floor too long, and the bodice had huge flower buttons and the button holes were stretched out. So you see hemming this would ruin the flower border at the bottom.

First thing, I washed the dress. Then I separated the bodice from the skirt. Then I took off the buttons  and because I didn't need to undo buttons as it could go over my head, I chose to sew the button band closed on both sides of the buttons. Next, I needed to stitch closed those stretched out button holes.  Then I found buttons in my button drawer that would be better than the flower ones it had. I saved those flower buttons in my button drawer.

Next, I needed to cut off the extra length at the top of the skirt to make it the right length for me. Then I sewed big stitches at the top to make the skirt gather to fit the bodice and sewed it in place. Pressed it and top stitched the skirt in place.

And the total cost of this dress was $3 plus some time and buttons I already had.

So you see, you can be thrifty and find things to remake clothing for your family.

On that same trip, I got a pizzelle maker. I already had one but thought two would make it faster to make. It was just over two dollars after discount. It even was the same design even though different brands.

After cleaning it up, I tested it and it was so much faster making four at a time rather than two at a time, so this was way worth it to me.

So don't rule out those thrift stores. Yes, prices have gone up but still cheaper than buying new. We are still watching our pennies but I wanted to share how to make that dress over. It was well worth it. Just take your time and look for the best price.

Gardening is winding down. I just unloaded the dehydrator of the last of the tomatoes. I still have about seven very green ones. We will just eat fresh if they turn red.

This season seems like it is ending early. I did pick three more bags of rhubarb and put them in the freezer. That will be it for this year for them. I also picked two bunches of mint and washed and hung to dry. While the temps are still warm, the outdoors looks like October.

Still not gotten groceries for September so see how helpful having storage is? I did see on the news that prices on groceries are to even go way higher so I hope you have been able to stick some things into storage.

Missy says stay the course, don't be lured into complacency! Every little bit you can get and every skill you learn will be a huge help to your family.

Tippy Longstockings says work hard putting frugal ways into place at your home too.