Monday Message

"I wish to urge again the importance of self-reliance on the part of every individual Church member and family. None of us knows when a catastrophe might strike. Sickness, injury, unemployment may affect any of us. We have a great welfare program with facilities for such things as grain storage in various areas. It is important that we do this. But the best place to have some food set aside is within our homes, together with a little money in savings. The best welfare program is our own welfare program. Five or six cans of wheat in the home are better than a bushel in the welfare granary." (President Gordon B. Hinckley)

I think it seems like each day things get worse economy-wise. To offset this as best we can is to be really frugal. That will take research and a bit of sacrifice and a lot of elbow grease.

It is easy to say I am tired and give in to eating out or convenience foods at the store but doing this will really take a bite out of your funds. To combat this is to plan, plan, plan.... When you are planning out your meals, make sure you have easier meals on that list so if unexpected things come up you can use one of those. Also, do double batches at once. Make your casserole two times everything and pop one into the freezer. For a really desperate day, then pull out and make that the meal, kind of like your future self knows you will need a meal instead of bringing you a casserole which she can't - this is a way that works.

Do that with a lot of things you make. Chili is great - actually any soup is great but just double the batch. We make burritos so here is how I do this.

My Burritos

Larger can of refried beans

Can of enchilada sauce

Cooked hamburger

I mix this all together and put into small crockpot.

If you doubled this, use a bigger crockpot then freeze half. It's the same amount of work but now you have a meal in the freezer that you could zap in the microwave in minutes to give you supper.

I keep flour shells and cheese and lettuce on hand.

You don't have to put this in the crockpot. You could just heat this up on the stove. The reason I do it in the crockpot is because I have more energy in the morning then by supper I have to work around fibromyalgia.

I use this as an example.

Also, if I know I want to make pancakes or muffins in the morning, I will mix the dry ingredients in a bowl cover and in the morning add the wet ingredients and make them.

One thing I emphasize is to make your own mixes - this saves a lot of money over their counterparts. 

https://heart-hands-home.blogspot.com/2012/02/all-purpose-quick-mix.html

https://tipnut.com/baking-mixes-seasonings/ - This one gives you how to make cake flour, self-rising flour, how to make your own brown sugar, how to make your own pan release - no more buying canned sprays, and lots more.

https://oldworldgardenfarms.com/2018/04/17/dry-brownie-mix-recipe/ - brownie.

https://www.littlehouseliving.com/scone-mix-recipe.html - this is my favorite plus she has other mixes in this. I write the recipes right on the jar.

https://thestayathomechef.com/waffle-mix/ just add water and butter.

https://thestayathomechef.com/pancake-mix/ just add water.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?app=desktop&v=96L_ljjz0Ko these are good.

There are no eggs in these so if you have egg allergies these are great. Plus, with the price of eggs so high this is a good thing to have.

https://chickensintheroad.com/classic/cooking/homemade-hamburger-helper/ - I put this in often.

https://extension.usu.edu/sanpete/files/Soup_or_Sauce_SOS_Mix.pdf - this one as well.

These last two I keep together in a binder so print off and keep handy.

Making your own mixes means most of the work is already done for you so when you are tired or busy you can have it tended faster.

The other two jars are the chicken and beef gravy mixes that I posted a few weeks ago.

I encourage you to find more ways to save and then share with us what you've done in the comments below.

Remember, soon in my neck of the woods it will be time to plant the garden. I encourage you to plant something, even if it's one tomato in a pot.  

I have cleared off the garden in preparation to plant which is weeks away at the time I'm writing this.

Remember, haunt thrift stores for dehydrators, canners pressure, canners, jars, vacuum sealer items that will help you to put up food.

Missy says keep your eyes open for the sales, this too will help with being frugal.

Tippy Longstockings says keep on your toes looking for ways to be more frugal.