Composting for the lazy but patient

I am all for composting my kitchen and yard waste.  It's good for Mother Nature and a great way to build up the soil in gardens and flower beds.  And, it is frugal.

All your plant based kitchen waste can be composted as can grass clippings and leaves.  So much better to make something useful from them rather than put them in the landfill.

Usually, compost goes in big bins, is built in layers, and needs to be periodically turned so that the stuff from the outside end up in the center and the stuff from the center end up on the outside.  This helps things decompose into compost faster.

I get that.  Really.  But I'm just not thrilled with turning decomposing kitchen waste.  So I compost in a way that is much easier, although slower.  I use a series of garbage cans.

First, I have my husband drill some holes in the bottom, sides and lid.  Then, we place them on blocks or bricks to allow air flow.  The first layer is always newspaper followed by grass or leaves.  Then I start adding plant based kitchen waste and egg shells.  Don't add greasy things, fat or meat.  They slow the decomposing way down and could attract unwanted critters.

The holes provide drainage and airflow, and the holes in the top allow rain to get in and keep things moist.  This will aid in decomposition.

Once you start adding kitchen scraps you will be pleasantly surprised at how long it takes to fill the garage can.  This is because as things decompose they shrink down and settle, allowing you to add more.

Once the can is full, add a layer of grass, leaves or shredded paper,  wet things down, put on the lid and move on to can two.  I usually have three cans going at once.

Decomposition is faster in warmer months and slows down as things get colder.  I've found that where we live it takes about a year for things to reach compost level.  Different climates will be faster or slower.

It is compost when it looks dark and rich and you can no longer identify the ingredients that made it.

And no, it is not smelly.  If you begin to notice a smell add a layer of newspaper, grass or leaves and wet things down well.

Also, we have never attracted unwanted critters.

Best of all, it I easy.

Help Mother Nature.  Save money.  Save work.  A triple play.

Clean Without Cleaning Out Your Wallet

Manufactured cleaning products are expensive.  And, it seems you need a special one for every cleaning task.  The dollars quickly add up.

Also, upon reflection, you may not like that idea of using so many potentially harmful chemicals with names you can't pronounce in your home.  I know I don't.

I also was not fond of all the packaging that I kept sending to the landfill.

So, I did some research and started making my own.  The homemade versions work well for me.  I know exactly what is in them.  I reduce the packaging I need to dispose of.  And, I save some money to be used for something more fun than cleaning.

Below are some ideas for making your own cleaning products.  I would say enjoy but somehow that doesn't sound right when talking about cleaning.  :)


All Purpose Cleaner:  Mix 2T of Dawn with 2 cups water and put it into a recycled spray bottle.  This cleans kitchen and bathroom counters, stove tops, woodwork, fridge surfaces, kitchen tables and more.

Glass and Mirror Cleaner:  Mix equal parts of white household vinegar and water and keep in a recycled spray bottle.  Also good for stainless steel and metal kitchen sinks.

Toilet Bowl Cleaner:  Sprinkle baking soda on the surface of the water.  Pour in some household vinegar and let it fizz. Scrub with your toilet brush and then flush.  The vinegar will help kill germs.  And, if you have  pets that insists on using this big water bowl, you no longer have to worry about what dangerous chemicals they are all drinking.

Scouring powder:  Baking soda is a very gentle scouring powder.  Use salt if you need something stronger.

Rug deodorizer:  Fill an old parmesan container with baking soda.  Sprinkle on your carpet and let sit for a few minutes then vacuum.  Baking soda is a good deodorizer for lots of things.  Try it with funky smelling plastic containers, litter boxes, trash cans, smelly sneakers and more.

Counters:  To sanitize spray with vinegar, let sit for a minute, wipe.

Shower surfaces:  To help prevent mold and mildew spray with vinegar and let dry.

 To clean floors:  Use a solution of vinegar and water.  No soapy residue that seems to attract dirt.

Faucets and shower heads:  Soak with vinegar to remove calcium and lime deposits.

Softener in your wash:  Just a quarter cup of vinegar will soften the entire load.

Laundry detergent:  There are several versions.  You can make a liquid by dissolving soap and adding borax and soda;  you can make a dry version by grinding up the bars of soap;  or you can be lazy and just add Dawn to the dry ingredients and mixing well.  When I first started I made the liquid but it took a long time and needed a lot of storage space.  Then I figured out how to make a powdered version.  Faster and easier to store.  Then one day I needed detergent and was out of soap so I figured out how to make a super easy and fast version with Dawn.  I now use both powdered versions depending on how lazy I feel.  (Just keeping it real.)  Below are the actual recipes.  Wal-Mart stocks the needed ingredients.

Liquid: half a cup each of washing soda and borax, one third bar of Fels Naptha soap and 6 cups of water heated until everything dissolves.  In a LARGE container add the mixture to 5 quarts water and stir.  Let sit overnight to gel.  Use one half cup per load

Powder:  grate 8 oz of Fels Naptha, mix with 1 cup each of washing soda, baking soda and borax.  Mix well.  Use 2Tbs per load.  I use my food processor to grate the soap and mix everything together.

Powder Version Two:  one half cup each of borax, washing soda, baking soda and Dawn mixed together well.  Use 2Tbs per load.  Again, I use my food processor to make sure everything mixes well.


Dishwasher Detergent:  1 cup each of borax and washing soda mixed with one half cup kosher salt and one half cup unsweetened lemonade mix ( I use two packets of unsweetened lemonade Koolaid and it works fine).  Use 1Tbs per load.  Use vinegar in the rinse aid dispenser for fewer spots on your dishes.

So, go out and buy a LARGE box of baking soda, a box of washing soda, a box of borax, a jug of household vinegar, a bar of Fels Naptha, a bottle of Dawn and some unsweetened lemonade Koolaid and you are set.

Wish I could honestly say enjoy.  :)

Shop Till You (see your budget) Drop

This last month I have gone grocery shopping many times and in many places.  This breaks a rule that many people follow:  Shop only once a week or less.

Why do I break this well known rule?  Because for me it saves money.

 I shop many times in many stores to take advantage of loss leaders being advertised.  A loss leader is an item that the store sells at or below cost as an incentive to get you into the store where they hope you will do all your grocery shopping for that week.

But, if you have the resolve to go in and just buy the loss leaders you can save a lot.  And, you can buy things you might not normally have the budget for.   For example, let's look at my shopping this last month.

I carefully read the local grocery store adds of several stores, compared the advertised price with normal price, and went to each to purchase only the loss leaders that worked for me.

Here are some of the things I bought:

Steak for $1.99 per pound (a manager's special and a nice treat); boneless skinless chicken breast for $1.79 per pound;  pasta at $1 per pound; eggs at 49 cents per dozen; Bird's Eye frozen vegetables at $1 per pound; bread, English muffins and bagels for 75 cents each; chobani yogurt for 69 cents; two boxes of cereal for a total of 98 cents after coupons; 10 ears of corn for $2; ribs for $1.99 per pound (wonderful for the grill); sweet baby Ray's bbq sauce for $1; a watermelon for $2.99; assorted berries for $1.99 per pound(some for now and some frozen for later); cheese at $2.99 per pound; ground beef at $1.99 per pound; Smithfield bacon at $2 per pound (we love it but not it's usual price)

Many of these items are frozen or stored as part of my stockpile.  We will be eating them until their next good sale.

I went to a few stores to get these deals but to me they were worth it.  We will eat well thanks to these bargains.

Summing up June

Ok.  We went over budget and into the cushion this month.  But I stand behind what we bought and how much we spent.

Here are the specifics for the second half of the month:

What we bought:

CSA:  strawberries, snow peas, zucchini, rhubarb, lettuce,onions, radishes, cherries   $10
CSA:  strawberries, cherries, green peas, zucchini, kale, cucumber. $17.00

Aldi:  instant coffee (for iced coffee), Greek yogurt, prunes, onions, half and half, Worcestershire sauce, corned beef, pretzels,sugar, mayonnaise, garlic, peaches, honey, grapes, French baguette, eggs (3),   $36.50

Save a Lot:  steak (4), hotdogs. $5.73

Tops:  chicken breast( 5lb); tuna (4), Swiss cheese; pasta (9lbs); hotdog rolls; ice cream; eggs; frozen vegetables (9)  $29.07

Bread Store:  bagels, English muffins, maple cinnamon Monks bread.  $2.78

Whole Foods Co-Op:  Pomona pectin (for low sugar jam)  $4.79

Giant Eagle:  chobani yogurt, peach and raspberry tea (for lake)  $4.69

Dollar Tree:  onion powder  $1.00

CVS:  cereal (2)  $0.98

Price Rite:  fresh mozzarella $2.99

Aldi:  mandarins, plums, peaches, feta, blue, cheddar (2), mozzarella,Swiss, parmesan, pepperoni, cottage cheese, blueberries, prunes, half and half, shredded wheat, brats, Monterey Jack, pepper jack, cheetos, ice cream cones  $25.50

Giant Eagle:  corn (10)  $2.00

Tops:  strawberries(3 lbs.), blueberries, raspberries, tomatoes, ribs (2 slabs), chip dip, Oreos, orange juice, bbq sauce, paper towels, whole watermelon. $31.66

What we ate at home:

Mexican frittata;  beet greens and bacon salad; cheeseburger scalloped potatoes; homemade chicken Italian sausage with homemade applesauce and vegetable pancakes; marinated steak on the grill; leftover cheeseburger scalloped potatoes with salad and sauteed beet greens with feta;Pittsburgh style steak salad with brie and figs; homemade sausage pizza with peppers and olives; crockpot chicken and noodles; bratwurst; stirfry, fried rice and Chinese pancakes

Meals Out:

Lunch on way to beach house:  at Arby's. $8.20
Dinner at beach house:  Strombolie and chips. $13.50
Breakfast at beach house:  donuts. $4.75
Lunch at beach house:  Taco Bell $2.38
Lunch on war home:  KFC. $12.00
Breakfast after the Clinic:  sausage and egg wrap. $2.49
Lunch with Angela: Thai. $13.77

All told during the second half of the month we spent $168.69 in the grocery store and $57.09 in restaurants for a total of $225.78
For the month we spent a grand total of $374.39in the grocery store and$146.08 in restaurants.  The allover monthly total was $522.47.  That means we went into our cushion for a total of $153.17  Our cushion now sits at $307.25.

What did we buy/stock up on that justified going over budget and into the cushion:  eggs, steak, chicken breast, tuna, cheese, pasta, frozen vegetables, cereal, peanut butter, ground beef, bacon, corn, strawberries, ribs, and lots of other fruit.

Yes, I'll stand behind spending the extra money.  In the long run, it will save me money and allow me to serve better meals.  And really, that is what the cushion is for.

Make Green Your Favorite Color

Being thrifty saves money.
But it can also save Mother Earth.

Did you know there is about a 90 percent overlap between being green and being thrifty.  Do something to save some green and you're probably also being ecologically green.

If you buy less, less will probably end up in the landfill.
If you make your own cleaning supplies there's less packaging to go into the garbage.
If you buy used something new does not have to be manufactured for you.
If you cook from scratch your car will not have to be used as much since you won't always be heading to restaurants or picking up take out.
If you compost, your food scraps will feed you and your soil.


If you buy less, you will spend less.
If you clean with baking soda, vinegar and dishwashing liquid you will spend less not having to buy so many one purpose manufactured cleaners.
If you buy used items, some with the tags still on, you will save hundreds.
If you cook from scratch you will save a fortune in money, and also in calories.
If you drive less you will end up pumping fewer gallons of gas and more green will stay in your pocket.
If you make your own compost you won't have to buy anything to enhance your soil, or lug it home.

Small things can make both you and Mother Nature richer.

Thrifty

As anyone who knows me would tell you, I am thrifty.  For example, today I bought $66 dollars worth of clothing for$3.66 at Penny's.

Some people think of thrifty as cheap.  I don't.  I think of it as making the best use of the resources you have.

Originally, the word thrifty actually corresponded to success and respectability.  It was a complimentary word.

It meant an individual was thriving and prosperous.

Recently, it has taken on a more negative connotation.  It makes someone seem poor and ungenerous.  Cheap.  Lacking in appreciation for quality.

I disagree with the modern connotations.

Thrift allowed us to retire early.
Thrift allowed and allows us to travel.
Thrift means we are able to be generous to others.
Thrift means we are not at all poor.

Want a good life?  Embrace thrift.

June So Far

June sees us with a budget of $369.30 and a cushion of $450.42.

We are able to add to the cushion due to a $10 off a purchase of $10 or higher Staples coupon.  So, our cushion is now $460.42.

We Ate:
Meatloaf sandwich with chips and dip, tuna macaroni salad and fruit, chicken fried rice and Asian peanut and almond salad, oyster stew and salad, sloppy Joe, shrimp crepes with asparagus salad, leftover oyster stew, mooshu pork and fried rice, leftover shrimp crepes and salad, Rotatouille pizza, beef and bean nachos, leftover pizza, hotdogs and baked beans with three bean salad, leftover smorgasbord.

We Bought:

Whole Foods:  vital wheat gluten, unsweetened coconut.  $4.54

Staples:  Dunk in Donuts coffee.  $11.99

Aldi:  Chips, dip.  $2.38

Salvage:
Cheezits, jerky, cold brewed coffee (2), Regalia coffee (2), decaf coffee, natural peanut butter (3), cashew butter, horseradish, sees me seeds, refried beans, hatch green chili enchilada sauce, tomato puree, spaghetti sauce, green beans, pancake syrup, Newman's balsamic vinaigrette, ketchup, microwave popcorn, rice a Toni, Mac and cheese, saltines, teabags, frosted mini cheats, crunchy and soft taco shells. $37.33

Tops:  6 pounds ground beef ( stocking up), Quaker poppers. $12.04

Aldi:  corn, grapes, cream cheese, strawberries, asparagus.  $ 7.67

Bakery Outlet:  wheat and oats bread, pumpernickel rye bread, whole grain English muffin, plain mini bagels.  $3.54

Tops:  cereal (5), bacon (5), orange juice.  $23.97

Save a Lot:  broccoli, cucumber, olives (2), ground turkey (2), tomatoes, romaine lettuce.  $12.54

Aldi:  flour, sweet peppers, peaches, oatmeal.  $7.52

Save a Lot:  dry milk. $7.99

CSA box:  $20  (the strawberries were wonderful)

Hopefully we are stocked up enough that we won't have to spend much the next couple of weeks.  We spent more than we should have this half of the month when you add in our too frequent restaurant meals.

Restaurant Meals:

Papa John's Pizza:  3 item large pizza after one of those days.  $8.47

Lunch with Angela: $22.64

Lunch with Bob and Berwyn:  $22

 Lunch to use free sandwich coupon:  $4.76

Lunch with Angela:  $15.32

Lunch with Dad and Sharon:  $15.80

Our groceries cost us a total of $150.61.  Eating out was another $88.99.  So, combined our cost to eat was $239.60 or a whopping$16 a day for the two of us.  And, we only have $129.70 left from the monthly allotment to get us through the next fifteen days.  I believe we will be literally eating into the cushion before the month is over.  Luckily, it is a healthy amount.