Frugal Friday

[ecosophia]

Welcome back to Frugal Friday! This is a weekly forum post to encourage people to share tips on saving money, especially but not only by doing stuff yourself. A new post will be going up every Friday, and will remain active until the next one goes up. Contributions will be moderated, of course, and I have some simple rules to offer, which may change further as we proceed.

Rule #1:  this is a place for polite, friendly conversations about how to save money in difficult times. It's not a place to post news, views, rants, or emotional outbursts about the reasons why the times are difficult and saving money is necessary. Nor is it a place to use a money saving tip to smuggle in news, views, etc.  I have a delete button and I'm not afraid to use it.

Rule #2:  this is not a place for you to sell goods or services, period. Here again, I have a delete button and I'm not afraid to use it.

Rule #3:  please give your tip a heading that explains briefly what it's about.  Homemade Chicken Soup, Garden Containers, Cheap Attic Insulation, and Vinegar Cleans Windows are good examples of headings. That way people can find the things that are relevant for them. If you don't put a heading on your tip it will be deleted.

Rule #4: don't post anything that would amount to advocating criminal activity. Any such suggestions will not be put through.

With that said, have at it!

Comments

When you're out walking, watch for discarded stoves and microwaves

[teresa_from_hershey]

Sometimes, when you're out walking, you'll run across a discarded stove or microwave. I'm choosing to focus on them although the principles apply to all discarded appliances.

Why do you care? Because discarded stoves have oven racks inside them. Oven racks are *GREAT* additions to your vegetable garden. Prop them up on (salvaged) bricks and use them as a drying rack for onions or other veg that need to be cleaned and dried.

You can also see if the rack fits your own oven. If it does, you've now got a third shelf in your oven which can be useful if you're backing a lot of flat stuff.

While you're at it, check the drawer under the stove. Sometimes, you'll score a broiler pan; very expensive to buy new.

As for microwaves, open it and see if the glass plate is still inside. These are stunningly expensive to replace but people throw them away every day with the dead microwave. If the plate fits your microwave, you've got a spare. If it doesn't, donate it to the thrift shop OR use it for small painting and craft projects. It's a heat-proof, easily cleaned surface for glue guns.

There's treasure in trash beyond its value as scrap metal.

Re: When you're out walking, watch for discarded stoves and microwaves

[(Anonymous)]

Hi!
That's a great tip!
Thanks

microwave plates

[randomactsofkarmasc]

I have also found that the microwave plates are good for placing under houseplants. (I still have the water-holding saucer under the plant, but I found that moisture can build up under those, and the microwave plate keeps the moisture away from my furniture. And catches extra water, if I was over-zealous with the watering can.)

And they are also good under fountains!

Re: When you're out walking, watch for discarded stoves and microwaves

[(Anonymous)]

If the microwave 'shell' (or whatever it's called) and door are in good enough shape, it could be cleaned up, a piece of cut-to-size plywood could be placed at the bottom to provide an even surface, the cord removed, etc. - it would then serve as sturdy storage container.

alternative health care

[michele7]

This is in no way medical advice, but check out any alternatives you may have where you live.

My daughter had her second child 6 weeks ago. Breastfeeding has been a struggle this time. Two cases of mastitis and daily plugged ducts. She has been in and out of her doctor's office getting antibiotics for the mastitis and advice on how to deal with the ducts. The pain and unresolved issues have made her consider stopping nursing. On my way to see her, I glanced up at a stop light and saw a sign advertising a lactation specialist. A phone call and one appointment later and things are better. How is this frugal? The lactation specialist has her own little office in a renovated house downtown. She takes insurance but only charges $100 for a 60-90 minute first visit. My daughter got more out of this consultation than all of her regular doctor visits. While I was waiting for her a sign in the waiting area advertised a chiropractor in the same house charging only $75 for a 45 minute chiropractic treatment. When I had insurance my co-pay for an office visit was $50. Then I had to pay for any other services received. I'd rather pay a health care professional directly.

I see small independent health care professionals as the wave of the future.

Re: alternative health care

[(Anonymous)]

It's in the air!

I literally had a conversation with someone this morning about how pay-cash-up-front for medical care was the wave of the future and we may as well just go ahead and get used to it...

What to do with whey

[(Anonymous)]

I've been making my own yogurt lately. I've been saving a lot of money. But what do you do with the way after you strained it for yummy Greek yogurt?

Re: What to do with whey

[teresa_from_hershey]

Use it for cooking?
Feed it to your pigs?
Water your plants?

Re: What to do with whey

[(Anonymous)]

Dogs can drink whey, it has a lot of protein, very nutritious.

Back in the day, when dogs worked guarding sheep and goats, dogs drinking whey was normal. Proctor & Gamble may not think so. Most vets are captured-- they want to sell you big bags of P & G kibble. (Huh, I wonder why that sounds kinda familiar!??)

People drink whey, too. For example: https://swissmade.direct/swiss-brands/rivella/

Re: What to do with whey

[(Anonymous)]

whey can be used for many purposes in cooking.

https://www.preservedgoods.com/post/2017/11/24/things-to-do-with-whey#:~:text=Substitute%20whey%20in%20any%20baking,legumes%20and%20even%20ground%20flours.

I've been drinking raw milk for a while and the local food coop sells yogurt made from raw
milk which I also enjoy. I haven't gotten around to trying to make yogurt myself so I
haven't had an opportunity to experiment with whey.

JLfromNH/Umber Ecstatic Toadstool

Re: What to do with whey

[ecosophia]

Refrigerate it and drink it cold in hot weather. It's very refreshing.

Re: What to do with whey

[(Anonymous)]

Every gymbro knows what whey protein concentrate is. It's essentially the whey that's been spray dried. I suppose you could just drink it too.

Re: What to do with whey

[(Anonymous)]

This page has loads of ideas for whey:

https://www.spiceupthecurry.com/beverages-made-using-paneer-whey/
(Me, I would use raw honey instead of sugar.)

It also mentions that dogs like to drink whey.

And it mentions hot whey in winter.

Earth Machine Compost Bins

[(Anonymous)]

I have one of those type of compost bins (Earth Machines) shown in the picture. Actually, I have two. I fill one with kitchen waste over the year - watching a nearly overflowing one go to being half empty in a week or two in the summer is an amusing experience. Then in the fall, after the leaves come down, I switch to filling the other one. First before switching, I empty the other one of its compost which has been finishing over year. The lazy way to compost.

If you put the compost bin on ground, you are likely to attract rodents who try to get in by burying in under it. The plastic floor Earth Machine sells doesn't stop them. To stop them one can put the bin on a small stone or concrete surface. Four 16" x 16" stepping stones from a landscape supply fits perfectly. I learned the hard way that it's best to have two layers, eight pieces in total, for each compost bin. Rodents will try to dig out under a single layer of stepping stones to drop them down so they can get in. Smart little devils.

John of Red Hook

Request: deoderant recipe

[(Anonymous)]

So I am allergic to most commercial deoderants, and while I know many folks can get by without one, and many days I can, too, when I am playing cello I just can't. But at $12/container, I wince every time I use it!

Has anyone got a good recipe for a deoderant for someone who doesn't shave? (Yes, I am a proudly weird American.)

Thank you!
BoysMom

Re: Request: deoderant recipe

[(Anonymous)]

Hi Boy's Mom,
I have been using this recipe for years and it outperforms commercial products. I got the recipe from Mother Earth.
1/2 cup baking soda
1'2 cup corn starch
1/2 cup melted coconut oil
20 drops of essential oil if you want it scented.
Mix all that into a smooth paste and store in a shallow glass jar. apply with finger tips.

From Maxine who is also studying the cello.

Alternative to deodorant - answer

[(Anonymous)]

This doctor recommends clove and cornstarch/arrowroot https://x.com/witchdrtim/status/1818383299913388311?s=61 I can’t speak to personal experience of its efficacy, but I do trust this doctor implicitly.

House ants

[(Anonymous)]

Hello all,
We have had large trails and groups of tiny odorous house ants for years. They are attracted to anything sweet and have been searching the entire house for any tiny crumb. Most recently they found their way into my kitchen and they were everywhere! Because they were in my food and my attempts at stopping them with borax and sugar only seemed to make it worse, I finally gave in and had a bug spray service come and spray the outside of my house.

There are no longer ants coming in, but also there are also no birds in my yard this spring and summer. So I see immediately the chain of effects this approach has. So I plan to no longer use the bug service, and I don’t really even want to kill ants, I would just like to deter them from coming in. does anyone have any ideas of ways to keep them from entering?

Tamar

Re: House ants

[(Anonymous)]

You might try orange oil. I had some luck with it.

[(Anonymous)]

I have recently discovered that ordinary freezer paper is better for freezing solid food than plastic boxes, which the lids pop off of, or clear freezer bags, which don't stack well. I fold the paper around the grated carrots, chopped herbs, or whatever, maybe two folds, fasten with scotch tape, which actually sticks to the freezer paper and label with any handy marker, which will write on the paper. Good luck finding a marker which writes on plastic. Mary Bennett

[(Anonymous)]

Nice! I need to try this, as I've been struggling lately with how to reduce our plastic use. The freezer bags are a sticking point and it bothers me that we go through so many of them, as we buy meat in bulk.

I did recently start experimenting with using waxed paper to wrap up non-liquid type leftovers, like the last bit of a roast. Works great. Would've used foil, previously.

Fermenting herbs for tea

[kimberlysteele]

Does anyone have experience with freezing herbs and then fermenting them for tea? Supposedly this is common practice in Russia and Eastern Europe. Once the herbs are fermented, do you re-dry them?

Re: Fermenting herbs for tea

[(Anonymous)]

I don't know about the freezing part, but I do ferment blackberry leaves, then dry them to use in making tea.

For those, I gather brightly green new leaves, usually from their second (summer) growth, pile them up on a wood cutting board and smash them using my rolling pin. I rearrange the pile a few times, smashing as I go, to make sure all the leaves are a bit bruised, then roll the pile up tightly and cram it into a glass jar. I leave the jar in a dark cupboard for a few weeks, letting the leaves go nicely black, then pull them out to dry them. The resulting tea tastes a lot like a regular black tea, so it combines well with herbs like hibiscus and mints.

-MSGulfCoast

Green Wizards forum

[(Anonymous)]

The Green Wizards forum appears to be back online. https://greenwizards.com/forum

Re: Green Wizards forum

[kayr]

There doesn't seem to be anything newer then a year and a half old posted on it. I wonder how David is doing?

101 Tips for A Zero Waste Kitchen book

[(Anonymous)]

This book by Kathryn Kellogg has quite a few good tips to save on your grocery bill and use more of what you buy.

"Wasting food can strain your wallet. The average American family of four will lose $1,500 annually on food waste. It’s time to turn things around! 101 Tips for a Zero Waste Kitchen is your guide to reducing waste in your kitchen. Kathryn will teach you how to buy in bulk, avoid unnecessary packaging, upcycle jars, and more. Plus, she’ll give you recipes that make use of your scraps: preserve your lemon peels for extra flavor, create simple syrup from strawberry tops, and revive shriveled mushrooms. With a little work and Kathryn in your corner, you’ll have the tools you need to reach the ultimate goal: no produce left behind!"

101 Tips for a Zero Waste Kitchen by Kathryn Kellogg, Countryman Press 2024

(possibly available at your local library!)

Justin Patrick Moore

easy plants to save seeds from

[(Anonymous)]

1) Legumes. They generally self-pollinate so you don't have to worry about weird accidental crosses or inbreeding depression, and you're already growing the plants for the pods/seeds anyway so you're almost there. Large, easy to handle seeds. Seriously, these are probably the best plants to start seed saving with.

2) corn salad. Seeds are smaller, still very easy. Will self-seed if you let it.

3) Lettuces and mustard. Best not to save seed from varieties of mustard right next to each other, seeds small and a bit fiddly, but I've had good luck.

I've also had luck with radishes, kale, assorted herbs, tomatoes.

Tomatoes can cross but usually don't, and you ideally want to ferment the pulp/seed mix before washing the seeds and drying them. So they're a bit harder, but I've had good luck with them.

Harder plants: brassicas tend to crosspollinate with other brassicas. Corn crosspollinates over large distances and is very subject to inbreeding depression. Unless you're growing LOTS, well away from other corn (yours or others), and know what you're doing you should probably not bother. Squash cross within a species.

Re: easy plants to save seeds from

[slclaire]

Peppers, both sweet and hot, are also easy to save seed from as long as you save them from fully ripe peppers - in other words, when they reach whatever color is the fully ripe color for that variety. Check the seed company you buy them from for the fully-ripe color, and save seeds from the earliest, most true-to-type peppers of that variety.

Peppers usually self-pollinate but insects may visit the flowers at times to cross them. I grow two different varieties of sweet peppers about 16 feet away from each other, with some tall tomato plants between them, and have not had any trouble with crossing in 20 years.

To save the seeds, scrape them off the core of the pepper and let them air-dry. If you save seeds of hot peppers, know that the core and seeds have the heat in them. Don't touch your eyes, mouth, skin, or any other sensitive parts while you are saving seeds, and be sure to wash your hands thoroughly afterward! Using disposable gloves will keep the heat off of your hands, but to be certain, wash your hands after removing the gloves.

Squash does cross within a species, but that's not a concern if you are growing only one variety of a species. Check the seed company to learn which species the squash varieties you grow belong to. I grow a pattypan variety (pepo species) and a butternut variety (moschata species), saving seeds for the butternut. To save the seeds, remove them from the ooky stuff that surrounds them and let them air-dry. Tip: if you put the ooky stuff with the seeds in it in a shallow container, uncovered, in the refrigerator for a few days, the ooky stuff dries out, making it easier and more pleasant to separate the seeds from it.

Free Christmas Cards

[randomactsofkarmasc]

If you are willing to endure some emails, if you subscribe to Walgreens' Photo News and Offers emails, they send out coupons once/week. Sometimes it is for a percentage off an enlargement or something like that, but this week, it is 6 free photo cards with envelopes. There are many nice vintage Christmas (or other) holiday images available online for free download. You upload it to Walgreens and create a card. The photo cards let you put something on the backside, too, so you can either do another image or leave room for a personal note. I ordered 6 through my account and 6 through my husband's, so I'm getting 12 fun Christmas cards (and envelopes) for FREE.

Re: Free Christmas Cards

[(Anonymous)]

If you like painting or drawing, you can also make your own Christmas cards, tailored to each person you send them to. This can be fun, and some people really appreciate having something unique and handmade. Mixed media paper or water color paper works well. I have saved a surprising amount of money over the years by doing this, and I like painting and drawing anyway...

US heads-up

[methylethyl]

In case you missed it, our Veep/D-Presidential candidate has floated the idea of price controls on food.

I don't know if they're serious enough to go through with anything that stupid, but if you aren't doing it already, right now seems like the right time to do everything possible to maximize the amount of food you are producing in your yard, and the number of local growers/farmers you are on first-name terms with.