February Budget

Well, how's this for transparency? Here's my February budget. It is done in percentages. Why? Well, because it makes me more aware of the money. I like slashing these numbers, lol.

Total Income: 100%

Rent: 33.53%
Car: 6.72%
Geico: 1.90%
Time Warner: 1.82%
NYSEG: 2.73%
Hulu/Netflix: .41%
Squaretrade: .34%
Cell Phones: 2.19%

So, there's our standard, every month, can't be adjusted bills.

Seth: 4.8%
Miranda: 2.4%
House: 3.65%

That's our "spending" money. It's basically the cash we use for discretionary spending. Fun money, stuff for the kids, if I break a dish or whatever. This is also non-negotioable, and a system that works well for us, and gives us each some control over "our own" money. This month, "house spending" goes to cloth diapers and essential oils.

Groceries: 14.6% this month (we're due for a huge pantry restock)
Gas: 6.09%

So, what's left? 18.64% And that goes to pay more on credit cards. 4.11% will pay yet another one completely off. Then we just continue working on down the list.

The issue here is rent, clearly. And we found a place that will save us about $400/month. We move in May.



Now, my budget does need tweaking. We want a maintenance fund. Cash always on hands for vehicle repairs, medical deductibles, and so on. I have seen budgets that separate each little category out ($75 for car, $50 for this, $100 for that) and I'll be honest- I'm not that organized. For me, $2500 in a savings account is all we need. If we need to use it, the next month, we pay minimums on everything until it's replenished.

So, there it is. The last 5 categories will be pulled from the bank, in cash, on Friday. Then there's no way to overspend.

Easy Peasy Black & Beany

Along with the vegan change, I've also gone gluten free. Partly in due to reading "Wheat Belly", a book about the effects of modern wheat on the body. You see, wheat as we know it is a modified crop, and not a great one. In fact, an emerging study confirms the thought that consumption of wheat leads to obesity, diabetes, etc.

My downfall is CARBS. Breads, pastas, pastries, etc. I assumed finding GF replacements for these things would be hard. Well, no. My grocery store carries several lines of gluten free bread products. My favorite so far are Sandwich Petals. They are basically an oval tortilla. Load up half with sammich fixin's, fold the other half over, done. But I've also learned my city has a gluten free bakery. So I'll be headed there this weekend. Eventually, I'd like to make my own breads and such. That'll happen when I sleep more than 3 hours at a time.

I am EXHAUSTED. Two kids is no joke! So I've been relying on some convenience products. And while good, $4.00 for two gluten free vegan veggie burgers is a bit steep. So today I made some. And you can too.

Mash the bejeezus out of two cans of organic beans. I use Goya organic black beans and chick peas. Add in 1/2 cup each of oats (or whatever GF grain you like), flax meal ($1.50 a bag right now at Big Lots), and water. Then spice to your heart's content. I just did a splash of Bragg's liquid aminos and some salt and pepper. But I bet some roasted red peppers, caramelized onion, chipotle, whatever.. would be amazing.

Then just form into patties and fry over medium with the oil of your choosing. I like coconut oil- always virgin, organic, cold pressed.

I had one for lunch, and there's enough stuff for at least 10 more. So, costwise, you're looking at about 22 cents a burger as I made them. Even with some fancy bread, veggies for toppings, etc, it's still a meal for under 50 cents.

No 'Poo and deodorant free.

No poo. Wouldn't that be nice? No more poopy diapers.. ahhhh.  A mama can dream. Or stop making babies. But, since the latter isn't likely to happen, dreaming it is.

This post isn't about poop. Or diapers. But about getting rid of shampoo. I had a frugal fit last year and began stocking up when there was a sale. Mostly on personal care items. So I now have a big box of shampoos, body wash, etc. Guess who's developed sensitivities to all of it? I've even tried some hypoallergenic snake oil type products, to no avail. I'll spare you the photos, but I broke out in a an oozing, gross rash from mid arm, down my arm pits, and onto my breasts and belly from a supposed hypoallergenic deodorant.

Lovely.

What fixed it? Coconut oil, a few drops of tea tree oil, and keeping my arms in the air for days. Though that last part is more due to the pain of lowering my arms. So, I stopped wearing deodorant entirely. Mostly of fear of the rash coming back. Since then, I've noticed something weird/good. I don't stink. Well, not right away. As long as I wash out my pits, apply a dab of coconut oil, and remember to do that daily, no smell. Sweat is how the body flushes toxins. So I don't mind a little sweatiness here and there. Coconut oil is anti fungal and anti microbial, among other things. So, no more buying deodorant. My plan for if I know I'll be getting sweaty and gross is to also use some baking soda.

The no 'poo method I'm using a simple. I filled a spare peri-bottle (basically a water bottle with a pop top) with 8oz of warm water, 1 tablespoon of baking soda, and shook. It's hanging out in the shower. Every few days, I "shampoo" my hair with that. Followed by a similar dilution of vinegar and water as a rinse. Conditioner is the tiniest amount of coconut oil applied to damp hair. Done and done.

My hair is in the "ewwww greeeeeeeasy" mode currently while it figures out what to do with its own oils. This phase is temporary. and given that my current hair style is 'pin my bangs out of my effin face', not noticeable at all to anyone but me.

So, there you have it. 4 more products gone (deodorant, shampoo, conditioner, leave in treatment), and replaced with things that cost pennies per month.

Vegan

My new year has been off to great start. As of last Monday, I've (so far) adopted a completely vegan lifestyle... almost. I have two things that make me not fit within the parameters. However, I don't eat any animal products.. so I wouldn't say I'm vegetarian either.

Honey and wool. For me, adopting a vegan way of life is about the prevention of the mistreatment of animals. In my eyes, "Stealing" honey from bees does not harm them. In fact, I feel it promotes a plant-based diet by causing those little buzzy bees to go out and pollenate to resupply their honey. So, there's that.

I've seen sheep. On farms. Who supply wool. I don't feel a hair cut is mistreating them. Were they left to their own devices, the matting and other issues than come from an unkempt sheep's coat is far worse than a trim seasonly.

I don't regularly use honey, and I don't own wool. I just don't see issue with either.

So I definitely don't fit the hardcore vegan mold, but eliminating my impact on the cruelty done to farm food animals has made me feel like a whole person. I have always been an activist for the treatment of dogs, namely pit bulls, and other domestic animals. I've decided that ALL animals deserve that same treatment.

Anywho. Here's a soup I threw together.

Super Soup

1 can each - black beans, cannellini beans, chickpeas
1 cup each, chopped- onion, carrots, kale/spinach, celery
1/2 cup each- wild rice, quinoa, barley
To taste- salt, pepper, garlic
6-8 cups water or vegetable stock

Crock pot on low for 6 hours.

If wanted, you can also add a cup or so of precooked, diced chicken or beef.

And here's baby photos! Haven is 6 weeks old today, and Liam turned 2 years old on January 6th. The top photo is Haven cracking a real smile, which he now does regularly. The bottom photo is in Liam's newly created play/nap room. We still do a family bedroom, but we do not cosleep with either child. I made Seth go down to a queen size mattress, and he hogs the entire thing, lol. So, Liam is in a toddler bed across the room, and Haven sleeps in his bassinet next to me. I love cosleeping. But as it turns out, Mama doesn't actually sleep when there's babies in the bed.

Excuse the short post! We've been down with this nasty flu for days.

Holdable 5 minute LC Skillet Pizza

I'll get photos added the next time I make this, I promise.

Ingredients:
2 eggs
1/3-1/2 c. plus 1/3c. shredded cheese (pizza blend)
pizza spices (I used a preblended shaker)
pizza sauce
toppings

1. Combine eggs with 1/3-1/2c. cheese. Add spices. I find a little pizza spice, garlic powder, and oregano to be wonderful.

2. Dump into preheated frying pan over medium heat. For this recipe, you really need a good nonstick pan. Feel free to spray with Pam or melt a little butter before hand. Cook this until the bottom is browned and the top is mostly set. Then, slip a wide flipper (spatula, pancake turner, whatever term you like) underneath and flip the whole thing over.

3. While the top is on the bottom cooking, top your pizza. Sauce, cheese, any toppings you want. Go light on the sauce or the final step will be a little difficult.

4. You can do this last step one of three ways. If your toppings are precooked, just put a lid or foil over the top until the cheese melts. This is a great place to use up cooked veggies, those last few pepperoni chips, what have you.
If you're like me, you like your cheese a little browned and your pepperonis crispy. Sooo, flip the entire pizza again- so your toppings are now on the bottom. Let sit for 2-3 minutes, then invert a plate over the pan and flip the entire thing back over.
The third option is to just cook the crust this way, then assemble the pizza on a cookie sheet and bake or broil until your toppings are how you want them.

I found this to be the most realistic taste and textured low carb pizza crust. You can slice it and actually pick the slices up. Fold 'em if you want- it holds. And it's so easy, requires mimimal dishes, and can be done fully in a skillet in about 5 minutes.

Homemade Laundry Detergent

One of the biggest household expenses we all use is laundry detergent. I made a batch of dry detergent today that averages out to about a penny per load.

Ingredients:
2c washing soda (found in nearly any laundry aisle)
2c borax (usually located right next to the washing soda)
3/4 bar Fels-Naptha laundry bar, grated (found next to the borax and washing soda)
1c baking soda
1/2c off-brand Oxyclean

Optional: 1oz essential oil of your choice (this will jack the price, and I don't need any more scent that the bar offers)

Mix all of this up into whatever container you like. Use about 2T per load of clothes. The 1/4 bar of laundry bar left can be used to pre-treat stains and will last about as long as the batch of detergent does.

With the containers of supplies I bought, I can make about 4 batches of detergent with just needing to buy the laundry bar again. The laundry bar can be substituted with Ivory soap, or whatever bar soap of your choosing, but do that at your own risk.

If you use this detergent, please add 1/2c white vinegar to your rinse cycle, as you should be doing anyway.

If you use this on cloth diapers, you may notice that you need to strip your diapers more frequently. I try to strip my diapers about every 8 weeks anyway.

Making Stock and Some Souper Tips

STOCK

 Having stock as a staple is a great way to save money. A good stock can be used for soups, gravy, sauces, to flavor up mashed potatoes, pasta, vegetables, rice, etc. On its own, it makes a hearty broth to drink and is wonderful for an upset stomach or sore throat. I try to always keep chicken stock in the freezer.

I'd imagine some people think making stock requires extra groceries or special purchases. I use garbage to make my stock. Really.

Some of the ingredients I keep in baggies in the freezer for chicken stock are the following:

• The bones, skin, juice, and uneaten bits of rotisserie chickens
• Wing tips or any scraps from any cut of chicken, including trimmings
• The ends of celery, onions, carrots, etc.- basically any 'trash' bits of a veggie you've cut, or even a veggie that may have gone past its prime and couldn't be served as is.

When there's about 2 quarts of these ingredients, or I need freezer space, it's time to make stock. The directions are as follows:

Dump everything in a huge pot, fill the pot 3/4 full and boil. I'm currently using a 12qt pot my mother gifted me.Boil until the broth suits your taste. Then strain it and put the broth in the fridge. When it cools, there will be a layer of fat on top. Scrape that off and either render the fat, or throw it away. Your stock should have the texture of Jell-O. If it does not, you need to put it back on the stove and boil it longer. Aim for 1/2 the amount you're starting with. A dark broth can always have water added to it, but the really dark broth will mean it takes up less freezer space.

To freeze, either put in containers, baggies, or freeze portions in an ice cube tray and then put in baggies. I just dump 2 cups into a freezer bag.

You can do the same thing to make beef, fish, or vegetable broth. According to Julia Child, fish stock only needs about 30 minutes. According to me, filling my house with the scent of fish is not something I'll ever do. We're not really fish people unless it's canned tuna or fish sticks. Yes, we eat fish sticks occasionally. We like our fish minced and indistinguishable... and slathered in tartar sauce. ;-)

SOUPER TIPS

Anytime you have a scrap of veggies, chicken, beef, cream, salsa, tomato paste/sauce, any tomato product really, potatoes, pasta, rice, whatever... freeze it! I put the veggies, chicken, and tomato products all together. Mixed with some stock and some spices, they make for an awesome and 'free' soup. If it was headed for the trash otherwise, it's free in my book. The cream can be added to soups or mashed potatoes. The pastas and rice can be tossed in to any soup to add some heartiness. There's really no reason to ever throw out a leftover- unless it tasted like crap to begin with.

If you're looking for a new starch to try in soups, barley is amazing! And lentils are great in beef based soups.

You don't need to follow a recipe for broth based soups.. and really, where's the fun in following a recipe for soup anyway? Throw a bunch of stuff you like in a pot and have at it. For cream based soups, I do recommend you not go throwing tomatoes or something in it without pureeing it when you're done, but outside of that, even those are 'whatever' as long as your base consistency is good.

So, go! Make some stock! Make a soup! Tell me about it.  :-) Are you a "throw some stuff in a pot" type of soup person?

Green & Frugal Laundry, Part 3: Detergent

You can try the following, or just take my word for it:

Take your freshly laundered clothing out of the dryer (or off the line, you thrifty gal) and put them directly into the washer. Seriously. Run a typical cycle, and watch during the wash and rinse portions. You'll see suds. If you repeated that cycle anywhere from 2-5 more times, you'd still see suds. Why? Because your laundry detergent is leaving residue on your clothes.

If you have dry skin or irritation, it could very well be related to the detergent residue rubbing onto your skin 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, for however many years you've been alive.  Even if you use less than the recommended amount, you'd still have some residue. Using detergent, I'd use about 2 tablespoons for a large load of clothes- and would STILL get suds during the suds test.

So, how can we avoid washing our clothes in chemical water? You could buy special detergents that contain no fragrance or dyes, or hunt down overpriced eco-friendly laundry soaps and that's a step in the right direction. But the best option would be avoiding detergents all together while saving yourself a ton of money. We cloth diaper, so we know dirty laundry. I firmly believe that if I can get poopy diapers clean, I can get anything clean.

So, for a large load of laundry, I add 1 cup of Arm & Hammer baking soda, 1 cup of white vinegar, and wash on warm (or hot for diapers). That's it. If you want some scent to it, mix some essential oil into your baking soda. Mine is done up in a glass jar. I just add 15 drops of oil to the full jar of baking soda, then shake it all up.

Some people have advocated for using Dr. Bronner's Castile soap for/with laundry soap, but reports from users have said it does leave oil spots on clothing, so I cannot recommend it for that use. But, we will have a post soon about the many uses of the soap- just not related to laundry use.

NOTE: The highlighted links in this post will take you, via referral, to Amazon.com, where you can purchase these products.

Green & Frugal Laundry Part 2

I had planned on taking photos of our laundry situation, but the weather is rainy, so I'll just write instead.

The pros and cons of line drying laundry are pretty straight forward. On the pro side, it's free, easy, and your clothes smell like sunshine. On the con side, the weather affects the ability to line dry, people with allergies may be sensitive to clothes dried outside, and the clothes are sometimes stiff. That last one is a big deal for most people. But, alas, I have great news! You can line dry without wearing sandpaper! Here's how:

Option 1- After taking the clothes off the line, throw them in your dryer for about 5 minutes. They'll be soft.
Option 2- Just rustle or scrunch up the clothes a few times until they reach desired softness.
Option 3- Dry them overnight. The darkness and night air lends to a softer end product.
Option 4- Put 1 cup of white vinegar into the rinse cycle.

TIP: Using scratchy line dried towels is GREAT for your skin! It gets your blood pumping, and sloughs off nasty, dead skin cells.

Another issue that worries people is that the sun may fade their clothing. Again, this one is easy. Dry your whites and lights during the day and your darks overnight. "Sunning" is a great way to get stains out of cloth diapers and white/light clothing. To get stains out before the drying portion of your laundry, rub with a paste of baking soda and vinegar. Try to do this as quickly as possible after the stain/spot happens to make sure you get it out.

Tomorrow's post will focus on getting away from nasty chemical detergents.

Line Drying Your Clothes

We own a nice stackable washer/dryer that was a housewarming gift from my parents. During the winter, the electric portion of our utility bill is only about $30-50 per month. The furnace, water heater, and stove are all gas powered, and made up about 75% of our utility bills over the winter. I did use the dryer, vented into the house through a indoor dryer vent to not only help heat the house, but also to add some moisture to the dry air. With summer on its way, we know that our electric bill will increase substantially. With a newborn in the house (and a mama who is VERY grumpy when she's hot) we will be using an air conditioner. We did buy the most energy efficient model available, but I refuse to heat the house with a dryer while cooling it with a/c.

Drying clothes on a line is the most frugal way to get your laundry dry. There are many different ways to do this, and they each depend on your level of laundry, yard space (if any), and willingness to stick with it. Today I'll cover the different options for line drying, and tomorrow I will give tips on how to go about line drying your laundry. You may not realize that different clothes require different methods for line drying, or how great wearing a line dried item of clothing can be.

There are many different options available for the hardware involved in line drying. Here at our house, we have both a drying rack and a pulley line system. Other options include parallel or umbrella dryers, various retractable dryers , or the least expensive option of just hooking a length of clothesline between two points.

If you do not have a yard, or just have a small patio or balcony, the drying racks are likely your best choice. That is my preferred tool for drying cloth diapers and delicates. We have a large yard, so our pulley system spans about 50ft between a post and a tree. The system is simple. There's a pulley on either end, attached to heavy duty steel hooks. The rope is passed through both pulleys and cinched together to form a loop. Then you just pull/push the rope to hang the clothes on. Total, we spent about $20 to put it together, and it's something we'll use for years.

The problem with most of the line based drying methods is the sagging line. Even the heavy duty nylon or wire lines will sag with use. I prefer to stick to the cotton line and just tighten as needed. To do that, you'll need a line tightener, available through this link.

Tomorrow, we'll go into further detail of the pros and cons of these systems, as well as some tips.

NOTE: The highlighted links in this post will take you, via referral, to Amazon.com, where you can purchase these products.