What did you do to save $ today?

[Leta]

Insect repellant is really easy, you just go on eBay and look for the insect repelling blend of essential oils. Then you add a few drops of the e.o.s to water with a small amount of vinegar or alcohol (preservative). If you need a stronger product, just add more e.o.s. You can also add the e.o.s to UNSCENTED lotion and use it that way. If you have a very inexpensive local source of e.o.s, you can blend your own "bug off" mix. Google around. It's usually citronella, eucalyptus, rosemary, and some others.

Sunblock is homemade lotion with titanium dioxide and zinc oxide added. These are white powders that cost about $10/# on eBay or from a chemical supply house. They are naturally occurring minerals, but because mining is expensive, they are usually made in a lab nowadays (just like baking soda). Because airways can be irritated by loose flying particles, it is important that you mix the minerals into a lotion. If you want to use storebought lotion as your suspension, that's fine, but it won't be waterproof. When you are mixing the minerals in, wear mouth/nose protection if you have asthma or other respiratory issues. (This is not a great project for kids. I usually put a video on for mine when I'm making this.)

I do not use micronized titanium dioxide. This is controversial. Micronized TD is ultrafine. The advantage to this is that it doesn't not make you look paler. My sunblock does make your skin look about 1/2 a shade lighter, and you do have to rub it in really well. However, there is a theory floating around that micronized TD is unstable (ie, flyaway) even within the colloid suspension of the lotion. Plus, regular TD is cheaper. So I'm sticking with what I know. I am white as a ghost anyway, so I don't really care that I look a little paler- it's not like anyone would notice!

To make sunblock bug repellent, just add the e.o.s to it. To make it waterproof, you need to add shredded beeswax to the lotion while it's heated on the double boiler. I played with lotion recipes until I found one that was cost effective and nice to our skin. I suggest that anyone who wants to do this for their full time lotion/sunblock to the same, since our resources and sensitivities are all different.

It took me about 4-6 tries before I figured out my precise recipe, based on our resources and needs. So don't give up. My waterproof is REALLY waterproof- I use a little plastic spatula to get it out of the tub, and it takes a full seven minutes to properly apply it to a kid. But I only have to apply it once for a long day at the beach. Other people may have other preferences, which is why I encourage you to experiment.

 

[Living the Simple Life]

We quit the "budget" plan with our power company. It has worked well for us for a number of years, where they estimate how much electricity and gas you will use for the year and split it evenly between your bills. In summer we would have a small credit that would get used up in the winter. A couple of years ago when the economy started to fall apart, we got a HUGE increase in our monthly amount due. I called and ranted and they lowered it back down (in essence, since it is illegal to shut power off on non-payers during the winter months, they were raising the bills on those of us who do pay our bills to offset the anticipated increase in non-payers during the upcoming winter months.....grrrrr.) Well, I opened the bill this morning to pay it and they had increased our monthly again by $30!!!! We are at the end of our yearly cycle when they "re-evaluate and adjust. " The annoying part is that I had an $80 credit at the end of the year - so obviously we were paying a sufficient amount!!! DH and I figure that they anticipate an increase in costs and are adjusting accordingly - what they don't know is that we are working hard to reduce our electric and gas usage even more. The actual amount that we owed on the bill was $148 less than what they wanted us to send!!! I said no way am I sending them more money so instead of paying the budget plan amount, I sent in the actual amount and put the difference in a special savings account. I figure that if I need a little extra to send in the winter, I will already have that money set aside. If I don't need it, I have possession of that money to use for something else, it is not just sitting as a credit on my power company account!!!

 

[framing fowl]

We got off of that plan a couple of years ago for the same reasons. Just make sure you actually cancel the plan rather than just sending the proper amound so they don't hit you with late fees and all that other stuff they will want to ding you for.

 

[Wannabefree]

wannabefree: I see you make a lot of laundry soap...what receipe? will try it...G Thanks

Actually, I don't even go by a recipe anymore. I go by feel I am not the measuring type not even in cooking I use about a bar of Fels Naptha or Ivory grated, about a cup of borax, and about a cup of washing soda, in about 4 to 5 gallons of water. I usually end up tossing a bit extra of washing soda and borax in later if the consistency isn't right. I heat the soap flakes in about 2 quarts of water until they melt. I don't "cook" the borax and washing soda in, I put it in the hot soap solution and let it disolve, then add the rest of the water warm and mix very well. Then the next day I mix well again after it has cooled. Sorry it took me so long to respond

I plan on saving money today by staying home and getting housework done. DH is home, and he has to go to town anyway, so he's running our errands What a sweet man!!

 

[Veggie PAK]

I just canned my 74th quart of stringless Fortex green beans from this year's harvests so far. That might sound like a lot, but 52 quarts is only one quart a week.

I already had all the equipment necessary since I began canning four years ago. Had all the jars and rings, but I did have to buy some lids. Boy! They went up to $4.00 for 12 regular lids.

I'm building my food storage for when the SHTF with this economy. At least we won't starve. Jellies and jams will be the next thing I can. Then I'll can other vegetables as they come in. Then applesauce and apple butter. Last year I canned 159 jars of food. I'll pass that number this year.

 

[Wannabefree]

I'm drying more peaches.

 

[TanksHill]

Vegie, how long do you pressure can your beans for? Do you like the texture?

g

 

[Veggie PAK]

TanksHill, first of all I use a pressure canner and put it on high on my gas stove burner. I let the steam come out until the metal pop-up valve actually pops up. From THAT moment, I time it for ten minutes blowing full steam with no jiggler. They say that makes sure all the air is out of the canner. When ten minutes is completed, I put the jiggler on, still with the stove on high. I let the dial gauge get to 13 pounds and then I cut back on the heat about halfway. THAT is when I begin my timing 25 minutes for actual canning. The pressure will drop to the recommended 11 pounds. The longer it cooks, the greater the heat buildup. I have to adjust the heat down again two maybe three more times to maintain the 11 pounds. After the timer goes off when 25 minutes is up, I turn off the burner and move the canner to a cool burner. They say to do that, but actually, a gas stove burner's residual heat compared to a 240 degree pressure canner can't be much. I move it nevertheless. I wait until the pop-up valve drops back down, then I remove the jiggler. I don't open it for at least 10 minutes for the pressure to equalize. Even with the jiggler off, there is a LOT of steam in there! Let it sit a few minutes for safety's sake. You don't want cool air conditioned air hitting those hot jars!

That's probably more than what you wanted, but I have a strong tendency to want to be very clear and thorough in my explanations.

Now having said all that, the reason I turn the burner on high is that it reaches the required pressure more quickly and steadily.

When I first used the pressure canner, I was overcautious about reaching the pressure. I would keep increasing the heat until finally it reached the correct pressure. Doing that, I think I ended up overcooking some things because it took so long to get the pressure right. So now I hit the pressure fast and maintain it. It works great for me.

Note: I use a digital timer for the 10 minutes for sterilizing jars; the 10 minutes after the pop-up valve is up; and the 25 minutes for pressure canning. I think I'll get another one and keep one set for 10 minutes and one set for 25 minutes. Very handy. Don't try to remember the time because there's too much going on. I just can't remember it exactly every time. The timers work great!

Oh yeah. We love the texture!

 

[tortoise]

I scored HUNDREDS OF DOLLARS worth of perennials! One of my parents' friends is getting too old to maintain her huge perennial garden. They are going to mow it down! I FILLED the back of the Explorer. I hope I can get more before they mow it down!

 

[Bettacreek]

I just canned my 74th quart of stringless Fortex green beans from this year's harvests so far. That might sound like a lot, but 52 quarts is only one quart a week.

I already had all the equipment necessary since I began canning four years ago. Had all the jars and rings, but I did have to buy some lids. Boy! They went up to $4.00 for 12 regular lids.

I'm building my food storage for when the SHTF with this economy. At least we won't starve. Jellies and jams will be the next thing I can. Then I'll can other vegetables as they come in. Then applesauce and apple butter. Last year I canned 159 jars of food. I'll pass that number this year.

That's CRAZY!!! I pay $1.63/dozen!