Posts Tagged ‘frugal’

Necessity is the Mother of Make Do

Tesco and Sainsburys own dishwashing liquid

Tesco and Sainsburys own dishwashing liquid (Photo credit: Kai Hendry)

 

All these years I’ve been a dish soap hog.

I admit it.

I wash with wild abandon.

A dish doesn’t feel clean unless it’s been bathed in luxurious soapy hot water. Ten squirts at least. Sometimes needing a fresh squirt all it’s own.

I’m shameless.

Until I forgot to buy dish soap last week.  I was perilously on the edge. Only enough for, in my past washing excess, 2 days at most.

I decided to quickly mend my ways rather than make a run to the store. Or better yet beg my husband to pick up some on his way home.

I was determined to squeeze it out.

I thought about making some. And while that is a good idea I don’t have any castille soap on hand.   And since, remember, we’re not running to the store just yet I had to make do.

So three times a day I fill the sink with hot water and a few squirts of dish soap. Much less than my usual ten (I know I’m shameless). I start with cups first per vintage instructions, then move on to plates, cutlery (that’s what I call it) and finish off with pots.

OHMYGOODNESS! With this way of washing I still have enough dish soap for several days. I’m going shopping tomorrow so I will pick up some just to be on the safe side but I rather pleased with this new revelation that I CAN wash dishes without half a bottle of dish soap!

 

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Happy New Year from Living on a Dime! Sale

 

Achieve some of your New Year’s goals with help from Living On A Dime!

Many people make a New Year goal of getting out of debt, getting organized,
and/or making healthier meals for the family?

In an effort to give you a jump start on these goals and help you stay on course,
our friends at Living On A Dime have offered 18 of their most popular e-books to our
readers at a ridiculously low price until January 9th only!

This set includes e-books that show how to save money in the
kitchen, put together delicious and easy dinners, get and keep your
home organized, save money on kids activities, move on a budget,
save money on creative gifts and much more!

The Living On A Dime New Year’s e-book package will help you learn
new strategies to stretch your paycheck and fight high prices! The
great news is that Tawra is offering this package of 18 e-books to
our readers at $20, a discount of over 80% off of the value of
these e-books. With the rising price of gas and groceries, it’s
good to know that some prices are actually going down!

This is the lowest price Tawra has ever offered for these e-books,
but it’s only good until Monday, January 9th, so don’t delay!

Check it out at: Living on a Dime

Preserving Lettuce a Wee Bit Longer

We love salad but the lettuce always wilts too soon. I try to only shop once a week so this has been a bit of a bother. But! Alas! Working from a tip in one of Emilie Barnes’ books.
I now have been able to save my lettuce a full week (we eat it by then) without the inevitable wilt.

So here is my method…

You will need a plastic food bag. I use freezer bags because they are so much sturdier and I can wash and re-use them. Some paper towels and your preferred lettuce! Oh and water. Yes! To wash your lettuce in. Let us begin…

First wash and dry your lettuce. I actually fill my sink (after cleaning it) and dump all the lettuce in there. Swishing heavily. I then drain it on paper towels or the less wasteful me lays it out on waffle weave kitchen cloths (as above). I do have one of those windy things but it’s put away so far I want to get rid of it. Emily Barnes says put it in the spin cycle in your washing machine. I can’t do that. I have a front loader and if I did that my lettuce would be smoosh!

Next get your paper towels ready. These will be at the bottom of your bag.

I use about 2 nice thick ones from Costco.

Fold your paper towels in half and place them at the bottom of your bag.

Mine has been through a few washing as you can see.

Now place your semi dry leaves in the bag. Mine always have a few droplets of water still on them.

The paper towels serve to soak up that excess liquid.

The lettuce bagged and ready to go.

    The lettuce bagged and ready to go.
  • Place two more folded paper towels on top and voila! Place the closed bag in your fridge and enjoy lettuce a wee bit longer.

Depending on how much lettuce I’ve worked with sometimes I’ll replace the paper towels mid week.

Enjoy!

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