Frugal Friday
Dec. 13th, 2024 07:42 am![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
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!
Even More CDs / Windham Hill & Co.
Date: 2024-12-13 01:54 pm (UTC)I have found even more CDs. Local classical radio stations and NPR affiliates WGUC and WVXU are moving and yesterday I was told they'd be giving away mystery boxes of CDs sorted by genre. So I headed over there after work and picked up three boxes. I had something to do a bit later so was short on time going through more. The rule was you couldn't take just one CD out of a box. You could look to see what was inside, but if you wanted one CD you had to take the whole box. I got a collection already and space for new books and music is tight (even as I still collect) so I limited myself to three boxes. They had it sorted by genres of:
Classical, Classical Vocal, Opera, New Age, and Americana/Pop.
I took two New Age boxes that had CD's from the Hearts of Space ambient label, Vangelis, and Windham Hill related titles, and one Classical Vocal box that had a few Hildegard Von Bingen albums that I didn't have (score!).
Anyway, it seems the trend to unload CDs has hit the radio stations and they are downsizing their library. If they are still giving them away this afternoon after work, I may go back. After I sort through them, I'll donate the rest to the library or the thrift store.
The guy I talked to from the station did say they aren't throwing them away, and whatever remains will be given to my workplace, the public library.
Justin Patrick Moore
Library “Suggest a Book”
Date: 2024-12-13 03:49 pm (UTC)Anyone with a library card is able to suggest up to 5 books a month for the library to consider for purchase. It has been my experience so far that if the suggested book is still in print and available to purchase — they do!
I have suggested numerous books that I otherwise perhaps would not have had the money to buy yet wish to read, including a handful of books by our host, JMG! (I am especially excited for the new Ariel Moravec novel, which my library says should be in their system soon).
I encourage you to reach out to your library and see if they have a similar program!
Cheers,
J
Re: Library “Suggest a Book”
Date: 2024-12-17 04:36 pm (UTC)I have had to give up on out library system
Atmospheric RIver
Re: Library “Suggest a Book”
Date: 2024-12-17 10:46 pm (UTC)It's quite rare that I can't get an unusual book and it's free!
Checkout periods vary wildly from a week on up to three months. It depends on the lending library.
We've also gotten DVDs via the Interlibrary loan.
Ask at the library if yours offers this service.
We are also, because of where we live, eligible to join two library systems. Hershey where we live and the entire Dauphin County System because Hershey is located in Dauphin County.
You must ask about library availability because they don't always make it clear.
Re: Library “Suggest a Book”
Date: 2024-12-18 04:02 am (UTC)But, I am heartened to know that in other areas of the country you can browse in a large collection and talk to your librarian in the building actually and request books that you would like to see and not be force fed the publishers favorites-- so, it s a good tip for alot of places.
Atmospheric River
Re: Library “Suggest a Book”
Date: 2024-12-19 10:49 pm (UTC)Hershey has a pretty big library.
Dauphin County is much larger, with multiple branches. Some small, some gargantuan.
What's interesting about Dauphin County's system is the books move from branch to branch as patrons request them. They are tracked centrally so the library knows which branch a given book is located at. I, using their online catalog, request the book. It gets moved from the faraway branch to my local branch. I check out the book and return it.
This is the important part: the book remains at my local branch until someone else requests it. Thus, very slowly, books move about from branch to branch so even if you DON'T use the online catalog to request a book, a given branch's books change over time.
Not every book moves around. If no one requests it, it sits on the shelf with all the other wallflower books. A popular book rotates around the system. The Dauphin County library doesn't need to buy as many copies of a hot book because they move around. This frees up $$ for more obscure books.
They do the same thing with DVDs, CDs, puzzles, board games, and video games.
Re: Library “Suggest a Book”
Date: 2024-12-19 11:16 pm (UTC)The same is true, on an even more localized level, of book purchase requests. Some library systems love those, some ignore them, some are in between. I'd like to see more libraries pay attention to their patrons' interests instead of stocking what the industry tells them to stock, but I'm not sure how to make that happen.
Getting more light from the electricity you already pay for
Date: 2024-12-13 04:09 pm (UTC)Then clean the glass fitters on your light fixtures!
Decades ago, in South Carolina, I washed the glass fitters on our ceiling fan. Bill thought the glass was yellow. It was clear. Afterwards, the identical lightbulbs (which I also wiped down) gave out far more light because they weren't fighting layers of dust.
Every glass shade and fitter on every light fixture in your house collects a film of greasy dust. Make a point of handwashing them every time you change the lightbulb. Or, wash them all on an annual basis if the lightbulbs last for years.
Look at your lamp shades. If the shade is heavy, opaque paper, why are you using this shade? You're preventing the light you are paying from reaching the room. Use translucent lamp shades. They're cheap. You can even make your own lamp shade by wrapping lace around the bare metal frame.
After you've cleaned lightbulbs, fitters, and shades, place mirrors on walls behind the lamp wherever possible. Mirrors (dust them once in a while) double your light at no cost to you.
If you use solar lanterns or hurricane lamps, the same is true. You'll get more light if you keep the glass clean and, in the case of solar lanterns, if you keep the collecting panel clean.
Cleaning your light fixtures costs you nothing but time and it gets you more light for the same amount of money you're already spending.
Quick crotcheting resource
Date: 2024-12-13 04:54 pm (UTC)This girl has made the best crotcheting tutorial on the internet without any unwanted fuss or fake bubbly personalities.
She got me started with the basics
Part 1 https://youtu.be/aAxGTnVNJiE?si=n1Ia1QWMp4yUITKP
Part 2 https://youtu.be/jBj6MyMu9pU?si=RfS6gahKR92_beRG
P.D Someone showed me a hilarious way to remember how to do the beginning knot and wont forget it: "stab it, strangle it, scoop out its guts, throw it off a cliff..." Explicit, but it works. It works better if you do it with a funny voice.
Crepes Marie
Date: 2024-12-13 05:20 pm (UTC)For a batch you need:
This will make crepes for about 4 people. Divide the ingredients accordingly.
Crack the eggs, put a pinch of salt and the milk in a bowl.
On a small pan melt about 2 topped tablespoons of butter and add it then to the bowl.
Add the flour bit by bit and mix very well.
Add the beer in the end, about a ⅓ of a 355ml can (or more to taste)
The consistency that you want is very liquid. Not like water, but more like those drinkable yoghurts. It should not be thick enough that when you pour it, it wont come out as a single, neat almost watery thread.
You will get close, but if you need to tweak it, add a few spoons of flour or a squirt of beer or milk to get the desired consistency.
On a very hot pan (not enough that it will burn the butter) dab some butter and in the center pour ¾ of a ladle in it. Grab the pan by the handle and do circular motions so that the batter spreads out on the pan. This batter wont bubble like hotcakes (if it does, you poured too little) but rather you will know its ready when the edges dryout and peel a little. Check the crepe to see if its ready and get a spatula underneath and flip. Do the other side for 30s to a minute and then set aside on a tray with a cloth to cover it. Do the rest.
I like folding these in triangles by folding in half and then in half again but over the other axis.
You can do any filling you want. My favorite however is a quick sprinkle of brown sugar and a very generous squeeze of lime juice.
Re: Crepes Marie
Date: 2024-12-13 05:38 pm (UTC)Sorry, my fingers woke up in spanglish.
I forgot to mention too that the beer must be blonde, not dark, unless you are willing to experiment and create a dunkelcrepe.
Re: Crepes Marie
Date: 2024-12-16 03:29 am (UTC)Re: Crepes Marie
Date: 2024-12-16 05:03 am (UTC)A paquete is my attempt to say one of those little yeast sachets, according to an internet search they are about 7g.
Working from home
Date: 2024-12-13 06:10 pm (UTC)Re: Working from home
Date: 2024-12-14 05:17 am (UTC)When you have a job, you usually have to go there, and that costs time and money (whether it's gasoline or just boot leather). You have to buy or pack in a lunch. You have to maintain some minimum standard of appearance, which means buying clothes and keeping them clean. You might have to pay for continuing education or professional association dues. You might be living someplace where the rent is higher, so that you can be close to the office. If you sit and think about it, there's probably a lot of costs associated with any job - some come with more than others.
The point is that you should think of your pay as the net profit: how much the job pays you, minus how much it costs you to do the job. You might be better off taking a lower-paying job that doesn't cost you as much. In fact, some couples might find that they would end up with more money if one of them quit their job and did things at home instead.
Finding projects for thrifted yarn
Date: 2024-12-13 06:30 pm (UTC)If you have a yarn band (label), or can figure out by weight what you have, you can use the "advanced search" on Ravelry to find projects that might work for what you've found by choosing the parameters of yarn weight; yardage (or total weight) and yarn type etc. Ravelry lets you define the project pretty specifically, including choosing your craft; category (clothes, accessories, home, pets, ect); preferred techniques; age, size, fit, etc, etc. It even has a "free" pattern category for the ultra thrifty.
You usually end up with several pages of patterns to review and you can add the interesting ones to your "favourites" or your "library" for later consideration. Once added you can tag them with the yarn type and amount required to make it easier to match them with future finds.
I recently found a mixed fibre yarn that was for suitable slippers. The yarn I have is a bit too heavy for the free pattern I found so my first slipper was enormous. Slippers don't take long to make so I don't mind ripping it out. I've adjusted the pattern to fit better and, on the plus side, they will be very thick and cozy.
Just one, no two, no three words
Date: 2024-12-13 07:23 pm (UTC)(no subject)
Date: 2024-12-14 04:56 pm (UTC)Garam Masala spice mix
Coconut Milk
Tomato Paste
That's it. I cook by whatever I have so a frying pan full of ingredients would warrant a spoonful or two of the spice, followed by a can a coconut milk and usually a half a can of tomato paste, but it's all taste.
I usually do this with leftover chicken but chickpeas are nice and it would likely be good on a panful of veg!
(no subject)
Date: 2024-12-15 07:22 pm (UTC)If you use that exact recipe but add stock and lentils, you get a delicious daal!
(no subject)
Date: 2024-12-17 05:36 am (UTC)How to take an herb that tastes awful?
Date: 2024-12-14 01:00 am (UTC)I like to take my herbs as infusions, viz., as “teas,” if you will. It’s simple and easy. It works fine for elderberry and dandelion roots. You steep the herb in hot water, strain it out and drink off the resulting beverage, perhaps with some honey.
But the flavor of eyebright is absolutely awful. It could understudy for wormwood. Yet I have reason to believe that I need to take it on a daily basis.
Can anyone suggest a way of preparing eyebright for consumption that is not too complicated, and that will result in something reasonably palatable? Something it might be combined with perhaps? Or in capsules? I’d be most interested to know what others have come up with.
Re: How to take an herb that tastes awful?
Date: 2024-12-14 09:57 am (UTC)I think capsules is the only way out and not always. Neem for example is extremely bitter and given we grew up with sweets it makes it almost unpalatable to the modern tongue. Many people take it in capsule form.
After a while I got used to the bitter and now, even though it is not pleasurable, I enjoy it. We can do that, I think that is what is behind acquired tastes: beer isn't exactly pleasurable to the tongue, nor a straight spirit but its taste is enjoyable later. So maybe it will happen with the eyebright?
If it serves as a tip, tinctures are more powerful than teas and are usually diluted in water, but they require preparation and knowing how to use them. Which is good in a way, because I have yet to find a comercial herbal product that works properly. If you don't cut it at the right time or prepare them in the right place or otherwise handle them appropriately, they are only worth their active chemical ingredients, and that is not what does most of the trick in herbal medicine in my experience.
Re: How to take an herb that tastes awful?
Date: 2024-12-14 04:31 pm (UTC)It's possible that, if you persist, your tastebuds may shift up the response to the bitter taste. In my experience this is quite common especially with things the body recognizes as beneficial. If not, I'm inclined to agree with Milkyway, below, "a spoonful of sugar . . . " etc, etc.
You may want to consider using Xylitol rather than regular sugar. It has the same sweet taste but has less harmful effects on the microbiome of the mouth and gut.
Re: How to take an herb that tastes awful?
Date: 2024-12-15 10:12 pm (UTC)I don't generally add sweeteners to things with the exception of deserts and my daily honey water to swallow the neem and turmeric balls I take before yoga. I like the taste of regular cane, brown or piloncillo sugar (what the hindus call jaggery and the colombians panela). Unfortunately for me, sugar substitutes leave an after taste I dislike, like aspartamen o whatever it is that they've been adding to consumer drinks these days (I went to the corner store the other day, and the only soft drinks without it were Mexican coke and Jarritos).
Does Xylitol have such an aftertaste?
Re: How to take an herb that tastes awful?
Date: 2024-12-16 12:13 am (UTC)But if you like honey, and use it with other medicines, do that. Honey has a fabulous energetic and healing properties of it's own. I was under the impression you were avoiding sugars completely.
Re: How to take an herb that tastes awful?
Date: 2024-12-16 02:43 am (UTC)Oh nice! I will try it if I see it.
Re: How to take an herb that tastes awful?
Date: 2024-12-18 11:36 pm (UTC)I ordered a remineralizing gum a few weeks back and it arrived today, I checked the ingredients and there it was. I had no awkward sensation or aftertaste so thanks!
Re: How to take an herb that tastes awful?
Date: 2024-12-20 01:05 am (UTC)Re: How to take an herb that tastes awful?
Date: 2024-12-15 12:40 am (UTC)Would you mind explaining this more please? Do you mean treating them as though for magical use (not cutting with metal) as well as knowing the right time of day to harvest? Anything else that one should consider?
Thank you
Re: How to take an herb that tastes awful?
Date: 2024-12-15 04:25 am (UTC)If you are using the flowers (elder flower, calendula), you harvest them at their peak bloom. With California Poppy, you can use the whole plant, so I was taught to harvest at peak flower.
To learn all about this, I recommend Rico Cech's books Growing Plant Medicine, volumes 1 and 2. Each plant entry talks about when to harvest for what use. Some plants are harvested at different times for different uses like Elder flower and Elder berry.
Herbal medicine was the first useful skill I began to learn back in 2005 when I realized the world was in deep *&#$. The knowledge I have gained in that time has saved me an enormous amount of money. I avoided an ER visit recently when I cut my finger by knowing that I could stop the bleeding by packing the wound with fresh Yarrow, one of my must have plants.
Some people find this arena daunting because there is so much to learn. If you are so inclined, just begin with something you are drawn to.
Re: How to take an herb that tastes awful?
Date: 2024-12-15 11:06 pm (UTC)Thanks for the resource! If I ever get a magical garden, I will use this. It would be very interesting to experiment with the interface of both approaches, they ought to match somehow, or complement.
Re: How to take an herb that tastes awful?
Date: 2024-12-16 01:50 am (UTC)Thank you.
You or someone else have mentioned Cech's books recently and they are on my must-get list. Most herb books are "nice", avoid a majority of topics and thereby don't address the real needs for knowledge to treat all types of ailment that we are going to be having to deal with, as you perceived, by ourselves. These in contrast sound like a serious resource.
Re: How to take an herb that tastes awful?
Date: 2024-12-15 11:04 pm (UTC)That is exactly what I mean.
Unfortunately, it is hard in cities to find a provider of fresh herbs willing to take such a picky order that they would have to plan their day according to the planets, so people have devised options. I know a hierbera who explained it to me like this more or less, which involves a little bit of a shift in how we relate to things that are alive but can't speak in the modern world. "How can we expect to benefit from them if we abuse them? If we put poison into their roots, exploit them until withering, treat them like a commodity --packaged and shipped-- and plunder their land? The plant will do the least it can do for you, sometimes with a grudge. You have to talk to your plants, it doesn't have to be in words, but in how you relate to them. Treat them with the respect living beings deserve, and that is doing something for you, and they will more than gladly get to work on their job".
What I was taught in Mexican medicinal herbology is that once you have the herbs, you have to clean and activate them. It would look something like this for the process of creating a tincture. You "garble" the herbs, as Aunt Clarice would say, by cleaning them of dirt, selecting the better parts of it, and neatly organizing them in a clean space. Clean doesn't mean sterile, but rather that it is not a place that gathers miasma, like a messy room or table. We did this on a mat on the floor made from basketry, any cloth is fine. Then we would do what I guess we could call an incantation, that is, while you are doing all this you are not casually doing it. You are in a constant prayer-like dialog with whatever spirits or powers govern the energies of the plant you are working with while holding in mind the intention of the plant being cleansed of the abuse or harm it might've received; that such things are healed for the plant just as the plant will heal us; and that the memories deep within the plant be awakened and put to use to the benefit of whoever uses it. Lastly, all the implements are incensed. You can make powerful remedies like this and the more in contact you get with the plants the more you get, and sometimes you learn stuff or get insights. The best way in my experience to relate to a plant and its "spirits", is to take a piece with you for a whole day, including sleeping with it underneath your pillow, and every once in a while you hold it, chew a little piece, etc.
I know how nuts that sounds to some people, but it works and fascinating things can happen.
A simpler version, which is what I do with food, cell salts and teas when I can sit with some time is to just do the whole process with respect, intent and a short prayer similar to saying grace. You can get nice plates or a cup you really like, a big jar for herbs or teabags that are kept in an appropriate place and handled carefully, handwritten labels etc. All this handling connects you to the process, and then, for the duration of my tea or meal, I try to not do anything else and focus on it.
Hope this helps!
Re: How to take an herb that tastes awful?
Date: 2024-12-16 01:59 am (UTC)It helps mucho, gracias. What you say feels exactly right. This is not about working in a laboratory.
Having grown the herbs oneself would take one a long way in the right direction too.
Re: How to take an herb that tastes awful?
Date: 2024-12-16 05:10 am (UTC)That would be amazing, I will get to try it, hopefully not too far in the future. My windowsill pot will do for now.
Re: How to take an herb that tastes awful?
Date: 2024-12-16 02:53 am (UTC)If anyone in the US wants to purchase high quality organic fresh medicinal herbs, check out the Sonoma County Herb Exchange. All of the growers are vetted and they carry a wide variety of herbs. Shipping costs are high to insure freshness.
Re: How to take an herb that tastes awful?
Date: 2024-12-16 05:16 am (UTC)You are welcome! That sounds interesting. I just checked them out and they seem pricey for tea but since tinctures don't require much I will look into it. Thanks!
Re: How to take an herb that tastes awful?
Date: 2024-12-14 12:08 pm (UTC)This isn‘t the more frugal solution, and might not be applicable to your needs at all, but since you can‘t stand the tea, I thought I‘d mention it.
In general, if you want to continue with the infusions, have you tried adding something sour like lemon juice and/or something sweet (honey etc)? Both might take the edge of the taste.
Milkyway
Re: How to take an herb that tastes awful?
Date: 2024-12-15 04:28 am (UTC)https://www.midwesterndoctor.com/p/how-dmso-cures-eye-ear-nose-throat
Keeping my feet warm in cold weather
Date: 2024-12-14 06:30 pm (UTC)Indoors, nothing beats a pair of down-filled booties for keeping feet warm. They're sold both with waterproof soles (to walk around in), and without (for sleeping). Mine have soles.
I have no idea how waterfowl keep their feet from freezing as they paddle around on icy ponds.
Lathechuck
Re: Keeping my feet warm in cold weather
Date: 2024-12-17 06:50 pm (UTC)Counter current heat exchange. Artery and vein are close to each other, and warm arterial blood warms up cold blood returning from the foot through the vein before it reenters the body, once again at body temperature.
I don't know how the foot itself is adapted to not get hurt by freezing.
Thermos Cooking
Date: 2024-12-15 02:06 am (UTC)The method that has worked best for me uses an electric kettle, pot, and a short wide mouth thermos. Boil water in the kettle while bringing the noodles or rice to a boil in the pot. Once the kettle hits boiling, pour the boiling water into the thermos and seal. When the pot starts boiling, empty the thermos water back into the kettle and fill it with the noodles or rice. When time is up, the rice is ready to serve, and the noodles are ready for the strainer.
This method also works with box pasta or rice dishes whose directions have you mix the water and seasoning packet together at the same time.
Re: Thermos Cooking
Date: 2024-12-15 05:25 pm (UTC)BTW I found this link for a "Thermal Cooker" recently. It's specifically designed for cooking and apparently holds the heat much better than a regular thermos. It comes in different sizes. I have a much larger, older version (6L?) I found at a charity shop I don't use. It's much too big for us. I'd be happy to pass it on to someone with a larger family. If anyone is interested send me a message. If we can figure out how to get it to you it's yours.
https://www.hanstar.ca/collections/thermal-cookers/products/thermos-brand-thermal-cooker-1-5-rpf-20
Re: Thermos Cooking
Date: 2024-12-16 06:21 pm (UTC)https://www.thermosfacts.com/thermos-cooking/
I tried several different thermos types and had success with the 40oz sports bottle and 28oz food style double-walled vacuum sealed thermoses. Getting rice out of the sports bottle was a chore, but that style is well suited to pasta. The food style was best for rice and boxed dishes. I also tried a travel tumbler, but it lost too much heat through the lid to cook rice completely.
The Thermos Shuttle Chef looks like the Cadillac of this style of cooking. I bet that metal plate on the bottom of the pot stores enough energy to keep cook times in line with the stove.
Re: Thermos Cooking
Date: 2024-12-15 09:45 pm (UTC)Re: Thermos Cooking
Date: 2024-12-16 02:21 am (UTC)Lathechuck
Re: Thermos Cooking
Date: 2024-12-16 04:37 pm (UTC)I have found that pasta made from beans mostly turns to mush. Mary Bennett
One more reason to grow your own
Date: 2024-12-19 04:32 pm (UTC)https://mailchi.mp/cornucopia/grimmway-recall?utm_source=The+Cornucopia+Institute&utm_campaign=7045fe798f-grimmway+reca
That link has names of brands affected, including some trusted organic brands.
Carrots are not difficult to grow, can be winter sown or sown in place in early spring. Loose soil is best, but I have found a few varieties which are possible in heavy soils. Mary Bennett