Shortcuts in the Kitchen

There is something just as exciting as saving money, and that is saving time – especially when it means either a trip into town or being able to stay put!

How many times have you started to get together the ingredients for a recipe when you realize you are one ingredient short! For me, it’s not optional to drive down to the store to pick up the needed ingredient. I only live a few miles out of town, but the mentality that I’m still out of town keeps me from running in. And these days, gas prices as they are, we’d do well to plan ahead, or make do when we don’t. So…here’s a few neat substitutes I’ve found that work when I’m missing an ingredient or two:

Eggs

• 1 Tbsp. ground flax + ¼ cup water = 1 egg
Heat this on the stove until ooey-gooey like an egg. This works great in any baking recipe I’ve tried. I don’t suspect it would work well for scrambled eggs – ha!!

Here’s a few others to try:
• 2 T. cornstarch = 1 egg
• 2 T. arrowroot flour = 1 egg
• 2 T. potato starch = 1 egg
• 1 heaping T. soy powder + 2 T. water = 1 egg
• 1 T. soy milk powder + 1 T. cornstarch + 2 T. water = 1 egg.
• 1 banana = 1 egg in cakes.
• 2 egg whites + 1 - 3 tsp. vegetable oil for each yolk omitted = 1 egg
• 1 egg white + 2 1/4 teaspoons nonfat dry milk powder + 2 teaspoons vegetable oil (may store 1 week in refrigerator or freezer) = 1 egg
• 2 T. water + 1/2 tsp. baking powder = 1 egg in cookies and cakes only.
• 2 T. flour + 1/2 T shortening + 1/2 tsp. baking powder + 2 T liquid (use liquid called for in recipe) = 1 egg for cookie and cake recipes calling for 2-3 eggs

A couple of places in the Bible it mentions to us to redeem the time (Eph 5:16 and Col.4:5). Making wise use of our time in one area will "free it up" (or redeem it) in another. The Lord is making a correlation here for us. You've heard of 'buying time'. Well, this is one way we can buy time as it were. Keeping tabs on time where we can save it, frees up time for other things. Try redeeming your time this week in areas you can. A few minutes here and there can add up fast to great time savings later. Make good use of that 'freed up time' by doing something nice for someone else - maybe, take them a good, hearty homecooked meal!

Stop by tomorrow for a few more substitutes!

Have a blessed day.

Lori

The Pantry - coupons = cash

Wow! I've been doing a bit more research on coupons. Most people don't use coupons. They feel it isn't worth the effort. Let's check that out.

* First off, coupons are like money. If you save 50 cents on an item you were buying anyway - that's 50 cents more in your pocket.
* Manufacturers print off 318 billion dollars worth of coupons annually.
* Only 3 billion dollars in coupons are actually 'cashed in'.
* 315 billion dollars worth of coupons go into the trash each year.

What do you think? I think there's 'buried treasure' waiting to be discovered!

Why we don't use coupons:
* We feel it isn't worth the effort.
* It takes too much time.
* We just don't think of it.
* We don't plan ahead.
* We don't know how to get it all organized in order to be beneficial.
* We want to spend extra money at the store (not really, but it makes a good point).

Now, I do use coupons, but not to the extent I could. So, I am challenging myself to get more educated in using coupons and sales fliers for maximum savings. I have read the Coupon Mom's book and am currently reading her e-books online. You may want to check out the e-book on www.mygrocerydeals.com also, for extra tips.

Many years ago, a few gals from our church got together and made a price book of our local area stores. That was a large, discouraging endeavor. Today, you can download an Excel version from www.mygrocerydeals.com and fill it in with the items you normally and consistently buy. That will probably be about 20 items or so. When you get that down, you can continue to add to your book, store it in your computer, make copies when you need them and even share them with friends. Price books give you a good idea of normal prices so you will recognize great deals when they come up.

The Coupon Mom uses Sunday fliers in a very easy to use way. Just keep your Sunday coupon fliers from your local newspaper (don't cut out the coupons) and label them with the date at the top. On her site you'll find your stores' deals and the coupons that go with those items according to the fliers (our area isn't in her database, but you can still use her coupons coupled with our area's store deals from www.mygrocerydeals.com) . She does the work for us. All we have to do is keep the fliers and label them for easy use.(You can also just print off the coupons you wish to use, just be sure to check with your store's usage policy of printed coupons.)This is all nicely explained on her website, so check it out. If you don't have time to do that now, just start keeping your Sunday fliers from your local newspaper.

My next venture? to check out our area's coupon policies. This also makes a difference in the way we can save $$. So check back again.

How's the $4 meal challenge coming?

The Pantry - A penny saved...Pt. 2

Learning to save money is rewarding. The cash dividends are great and you’ll become a savvier consumer all around.


Here’s a few ways I’ve found to save on groceries:
• Cook more at home and from scratch.
• Make a list before going to the store. This saves time in the store which saves money. Surveys reveal the longer we’re in the store the more money we spend.
• Learn the average non sale price on 20 of the most common foods you purchase each week. This will help you realize a good sale when there is one and when to stock up. Just because it is a sale, doesn’t mean it is the best deal.
• Use less processed foods. Processing costs more and likewise the product.
• Buy ‘in season’ produce. You will know by the cost what is in season and what is not.
• Make a few meatless meals. Learn to use beans and lentils to make stews, soups and main dishes with high protein levels and low cost.
• Stock up on sale items. If tuna is 40 cents a can – I stock up on it, knowing it may be another 3 months before it goes that low again.
• Use coupons on items you really need or use (unless you get the items free – then give them away if you don’t want them)
• Resist temptation to buy items you won’t use or don’t need just because they are on sale.
• Shop after eating, you'll be less apt to throw high priced munchies and sweets into your cart.
• Check out the dollar store for bargains - but remember a dollar for an item may not be the lowest price. That's where knowing the lowest price for your most common items will come in handy.

Here’s what will happen:
• You’ll end up with a stocked pantry in a short time.
• It will be easier to plan meals based on what you already have as you will ‘shop’ from your pantry first. (Check out Sue Gregg’s cookbooks for this – she has an index according to ingredients.)
• It will be easier to see what you need to keep an eye out for to replace on your next shopping trip.
• You will be amazed at the savings.

To get the most mileage from sales fliers and coupons from the Sunday paper - use them together! Clip coupons or print them from coupon websites (there are many now online). Keep them and use with sale items at your store. Some stores will even give you double coupon value. I have also discovered there are ‘cycles’ for sale items. Most stores go through their sales about every three months and if one store has a sale on an item this week, most likely the other two stores in town will have one within a week or two. Just watch the fliers (I like www.mygrocerydeals.com for my area fliers. They do comparisons for you. If a store you shop at isn’t listed, email them the request, they will likely try to add it with enough requests). There are some sites that check your sales fliers and coordinate the Sunday coupons for you like www.couponmom.com and www.thegrocerygame.com . The Grocery Game costs $5 a month…I’m too cheap for that and I have found the Coupon Mom does not have our area stores in her data bank. So, I do invest about 25 – 30 minutes a week figuring out my menu plan, grocery list and coupons.

Here’s another little grocery tip, all stores have loss leaders – these are the really great buys you see advertised in their fliers each week. What they hope is you will come in for these deals and stay and buy your other groceries and non grocery items. Resist. Most likely you’ll be driving by the other store with better prices on those extra items sometime during the week.

Combine your trips to include another store, the library, music lessons, hospital visit, etc, so you don’t defeat your savings potential by spending it in gas. Most families grocery shop twice a week or even more frequently. Many shop every night on their way home from work…this isn’t the most savings minded shopping method as you might have guessed. Try to plan better and condense your trips for greater savings. I even number my stops according to the best route to take to save time and money. I know the Proverbs 31 woman “bringeth her food from afar” – but with gas prices these days…

It’s all a part of - “looking well to the ways of our households” – Prov.31:27.

Challenge for the week:
Try to make the biggest $4 meal you can and post your menu here.

Lori

The Pantry - A penny saved...

I’m sure you’ve heard the famous quote by Ben Franklin, “A penny saved is a penny earned.” But, what does it really mean? I have read about a dozen or so ideas about this…and really nothing hits the mark like my own experience. So…let’s take a look at my... pantry.

Hmmm……..standing there it looks …kind of …full and …the attempts at organization are there…sort of. No real flashy packaging and a lot of items stored in Rubbermaid containers with little labels on them. But…let me tell you - this is a treasure trove of savings!!

Did you know that the food budget is a family’s second or third major monthly expense? And it also is the easiest place to save money. Saving money can even become a fun game of challenge and strategy each week. Our family of 6 (includes two hungry teenagers and a preteen) can easily live on less than $100 a week for groceries – most of the time I spend about $360 a month or less including toiletry items. Yes, I’m talking about today – not five or even 10 years ago. (Maybe I should interject here that one of my favorite books is The Tightwad Gazette and one of my favorite interests is seeing how well we can live on less. This did come about by necessity in the early years, but now is a real full-fledged hobby!)

I don’t like sacrificing quality and you won’t have to either, but you will have to alter the way you buy your groceries. Saving time is also a great factor to me – and let’s face it – it has to be easy or I won’t stick with it. If you are an avid menu planner – this plan will shake you up a bit. I don’t plan my menus first and then shop…but that’s for later. This is about strategy…arming you with money saving techniques that will save you big $$$ at the grocery store.

Here’s something to whet your appetite for savings: Let’s say your weekly food budget is $180. Saving only $15 a week equals a yearly savings of $780 a year (maybe that new sewing machine you’ve been wanting?). Let’s say you put into practice some of my tips – and are able to save even more or half. That would net you $4680 that you didn’t have before (and no part time job for this either). I know this sounds a bit like an infomercial, but it really is biblical - and it will take some effort.

While it is God that prospers us, He does expect us to do our part. Proverbs gives us some great advice: “He that tilleth his land shall have plenty of bread.” (Pro. 28:19).He also expects us to wisely provide for our families by watching the busy little ant. “Go to the ant, thou sluggard; consider her ways and be wise: Which having no guide, overseer, or ruler, provideth her meat in the summer, and gathereth her food in the harvest” (Pro. 6:6-8). In the passage found in Matthew 25:26-29, we are encouraged to be good stewards (managers) of what God has provideth for us. So....“Be ye strong therefore, and let not your hands be weak: for your work shall be rewarded” (II Chron.15:7).

Sound…interesting? Check back in the next few days for more.

Lori

PS. You may want to check out a few websites while waiting for the next post.
www.mygrocerydeals.com (get the latest flier prices from your local grocery store)
www.smartsource.com (get the latest coupons)
www.couponmom.com (this site has a lot of 'free offers' you have to navigate through before getting to the coupons - just so you know)