Monday Message

"Start now to create a plan if you don’t already have one, or update your present plan. Watch for best buys that will fit into your year’s supply. We are not in a situation that requires panic buying, but we do need to be careful in purchasing and rotating the storage that we’re putting away. The instability in the world today makes it imperative that we take heed of the counsel and prepare for the future." (L. Tom Perry)

We need to not put off learning skills and putting in storage. I know it is hard and I know money is very tight but even if you pick up a few extra things when you get groceries, like a box of pasta and can of pasta sauce, it adds up. What I try to do is, when I can, I will get a bag of flour one month then sugar the next time I get groceries and so forth. Can I do this every time? Nope. Sometimes it is a box of salt or a jar of peanut butter. Just do the best you can. Money is tight for us as well as most I fear. 

I try to make what I get stretch very far, leaving a little extra that I can get something for storage. I get our groceries once a month. I plan very frugal meals so I can get something for storage and can stretch what I have.

Missy is horrified that the prices keep going up so she suggests the site below...

https://www.littlehouseliving.com/the-cheapest-meals-to-make-on-an-incredibly-tight-budget.html?utm_source=convertkit&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=Sequence+-+669454 - I really like this gal, her site has much to offer.

Remember, do not waste anything today. I made burritos using leftover taco meat from when our kids visited a couple weeks ago. I placed the leftovers in the freezer. So remember to do that with those leftovers. Also, when I put away leftovers after a supper, I will make meal plates from this food and freeze. All this helps to stretch your dollars.

When you have just five green beans left, do not toss them. Put them in a container, juice and all, then every little veggie leftover, add it to this. When the container is full, time to make a tasty soup. And if you have been working to build your bread making skill, make rolls to go with. That sounds great to me! If you have a little rice, add it as well. There's so much we can do!

Are we tired? Yes, most of the time we are but don't give in to takeout or going out. This adds up. You could get a lot of storage for that amount. And I don't think it would taste as good knowing that.

Here are some videos worth watching... I watch videos while walking on the treadmill - just a tidbit about me.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7t8wWynGicY - she shows how to do the building a pantry.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Mr0_NDanG5o - very nice to see.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-HSO5ZtjAtQ - how to find space.

How are you coming on skill building? 

I have had a fun time with family visiting these past two weeks. We enjoyed very much our time with them.

I am still learning on the knitting machine, taking it one step at a time.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-vB9UvBx9xc - here is a good tutorial on knitting a dishcloth. I suggest you start here. The yarn is cheap, has to be a cotton yarn she will tell you but I suggest this. Once you learn this, you can make many for your home and for gifts.

https://www.littlehouseliving.com/crocheted-dishcloth.html - here is a crochet version of a dishcloth if you prefer. Note, it is from the site I like, she is so good.

Try to learn these. They will be addictive after a while and very calming to do, way better than store-bought.

Things are getting pretty stressful out there. Try to not watch so much of the news and such on these things.

Get along with others, even if they don't believe like you do. Missy and Tippy Longstockings are showing you how. It is a hard time, don't waste your time stressing. Don't worry about tomorrow. Prepare for it. Learn the skills that can best help your family. If you have kids, boy or girl, have them learn to do a dishcloth as well.

Don't throw away leftover yarn from making these. Use them in the next or all in one as a Franken-cloth.

Think outside the box!

I like how in the make-it-do video, she didn't care if things weren't perfect. She did them anyway.

Keep looking for a dehydrator, food saver, canner and equipment, and jars.

Times will be getting harder so I want you to check this book out from the library as a homework assignment as well as working up a dishcloth. Read the book. I will as well and we will do this together. And I really want you to learn to make bread and store the ingredients to make it. Get your family used to eating it - way wonderful toasted I say! Be on the lookout for a bread machine. I saw one the other day for eight dollars at Goodwill but I have seen them for less too. Use the bread recipe in this booklet.

I can't afford to store bread flour as well as all-purpose flour. So I make my bread flour by using 1 tsp. vital wheat gluten to one cup of flour which equals one cup bread flour - this is what I use.  

I store wheat berries in my storage and grind them into flour. I store vital wheat gluten as well to go with the wheat and I use it in my all-purpose flour as well.

Feel free to get bread flour if you want but this is the route I went due to our low finances.

If you do not want to use a bread machine, that is fine too. Just do the same recipe and do by hand but do not add any more flour. You will be tempted but don't.

Here again, get the kids involved. It is a skill they will appreciate having and the money saved.

I know this sounds like a lot but a lot is going on and we need to step up our learning.

Remember to store the ingredients to have in your storage the ability to make bread items...

So when I buy flour, it is a 25 pound bag. I get all-purpose, it is around ten dollars right now but that will change I am sure. Refer back to Missy's picture of being shocked over prices.

Again, I only store all-purpose flour so I can make the bread items and another time my chocolate cake, another time might be cookies.

I need my flour to be versatile. 

https://frugalmeasures.blogspot.com/2020/05/monday-message_25.html  - you can see in this post my sliced bread. I use an electric knife that most people use for slicing turkey. I see them at thrift stores a lot. This will also help the switch from store-bought to homemade.

Missy says we need to do the best we can to learn skills and be as frugal as can be.

Tippy Longstockings says, give the things on your homework list a try:

1. Make a dishcloth

2. Read the book and take notes that you could do

3. Make bread

You can do it!