What did you do to save $ today?

[Dace]

I'll join ya'll except I am about to crack open a cold one.

Today I saved money by getting together with a couple friends to try out a few new body scrub recipes...the three of us are going to do homemade gifts this year, so we are putting our heads and our 'sniffers' together to come up with great combinations. We made a Mojito scrub with smells like heaven! Not sure how fresh herbs and lime zest will do but we'll do the difficult job of road (or should I say shower) testing them. They want to go in on making soaps with me so my cost of jumping into that just dropped! Yay!

 

[FarmerDenise]

bbh, thanks for joining me. A glass of wine is better when shared with friends Dace you're welcome too. Beer/wine it's all about relaxing.... [insert relaxing smiley here]
Dace, sounds like good clean fun to me. Enjoy your endeavor and good luck to you.

 

[keljonma]

Went to the local grocer today and found 4# of bananas for 49 cents!!

 

[VT-Chicklit]

I made 9 jars of raspberry jam today from raspberries that I froze last fall. I got tired of moving them around to make room in the freezer and decided that it was time to make some jam from some of them.

 

[FarmerDenise]

I worked in FIL's garden today. SO came along and did some of the work I can't do. We had a nice visit too. FIL gave me a bottle of wine and paid both of us for the work we did, even though we don't expect to get paid. It is nice that he appreciates it. He is just so depressed about not being able to work in his garden anymore. I always feel good, when I leave, that I did something nice for him.
I put the tried wild plums in a jar and cooked up green beans from the garden for our dinner. Stepson picked most of the big Santa Rosa plums from the tree, before they fall on the ground. Guess I better get some canning done tomorrow.

 

[keljonma]

I worked in FIL's garden today. SO came along and did some of the work I can't do. We had a nice visit too. FIL gave me a bottle of wine and paid both of us for the work we did, even though we don't expect to get paid. It is nice that he appreciates it. He is just so depressed about not being able to work in his garden anymore. I always feel good, when I leave, that I did something nice for him.
I put the tried wild plums in a jar and cooked up green beans from the garden for our dinner. Stepson picked most of the big Santa Rosa plums from the tree, before they fall on the ground. Guess I better get some canning done tomorrow.

FD - I'm envious of your plum harvest. It will be a while before we have locally grown. Here is one of the things I make with plums.....

Plum Butter

10 cups chopped, pitted plums (about 5#)
5 cups cane sugar

At just below medium heat, cook at a very mild boil for about 1 hour.

Take the pot off the heat and puree mixture with an immersion blender until very smooth. Return the pot to the stove and cook for about another 30 minutes. Stir frequently, this is the point where it easily burns and sticks.

The butter will be ready when you place a small amount on a plate and no water seeps out. It should be rich, dark and smooth.

After filling sterilized jars, return to a boiling water bath for 5 minutes. Take out and allow to cool. Jars should seal within an hour.

Makes 9 8-oz jars

A family tradition for toast or cookie fillings. I make several batches every year, as I include it in gift baskets during the holidays.

 

[miss_thenorth]

This time of year, I always spend money, but it saves money in the long run. With all the strawberries that the kids and i picked, I saved ~$50 if I had bought them, but after making jam from some, and if you figure out how much it would have cost to buy them already prefrozen at the grocery store, I saved over ~$100. It will be the same with all the raspberries,, blueberries, peaches, peas and beans, and corn.

I went to the farmers market yesterday with the kids, and I saw that rabbit was selling for $4.99/lb. I asked if rabbit was a good seller, and she said"yes" very emphatically, so that is good news to me. I have 50# of rabbit in the freezer right now, with more to be added soon. If it gets to the point where I have more rabbit than what we eat, I know there will be a market for it--for a good price. (although I will now have to figure out the cost of keeping rabbits--I haven't done that in a while).

So, while it wasn't just today, I have saved over $300 picking my own fruit and raising and butchering my own rabbits.

 

[FarmerDenise]

keljonma, I like your plum butter recipe. I'll have to try it another year. This year we didn't harvest that many plums.
I'll be canning what is left after eating and giving to immediate family. some went ot the chickens, coz they fall from the tree no matter how hard we try not to let them.

 

[freemotion]

Whew, busy week, didn't get to post here, so I'll play catch-up now.

I got all the suet rendered, it is in the freezer until I have time to make some soap. I keep having people ask me, those who bought my experimental batch, when more will be available! It is so funny, because it was rough, just dumped in the storage tote and cut very sloppily, the ridges from the bottom of the tote showing, and lumpy tops and rough edges, no two bars the same size or shape! I made a label sort of as a joke, calling it "homestead-style" to explain the roughness and lack of color, scent, or size consistancy.

I also got a bunch of herbs picked and run through the food processor and fermented in a jar so I can keep it for weeks and weeks in the fridge without spoilage. This is our salad dressing mix. Instructions on the fermenting thread soon. It is a hit.

I found some ORGANIC garlic at the discount grocery for .99 per pack of five, so I got three to experiment with fermenting it so I can have the convenience of diced garlic in a jar in the fridge without the chemicals. I promise to finally grow my own this fall! I never remember, I am hoping it will be mentioned here and jog my memory. If I like the results of this experiment, I will run over and get some more, enough to last for me and my folks.

I have four quarts of milk warming up in the kitchen now for a gallon of yogurt, making that tonight.

I cut a bunch more hay today, and had the sense to keep the goaties out of it until I pick it up. I saw the farmer neighbor while walking my dog on his farm, and asked him if it would be helpful if I cut the little poplars and maples and such that grew up around his xmas trees to feed to my goats. I'd noticed that they'd cleaned up a couple of the fields. He was thrilled. He said they are such a nuisance. I said, "Consider it done! Glad to give back for a change!"

So the goats have had a couple of big meals from these trees, and tonight they got a huge pile as an apology for keeping them out of their pasture. Baby Ginger got her own private pile in her stall tonight, hanging from her hay rack. She is going through a little growth spurt again and is always hungry.

I am working on building a major hay rack for them, a freestanding version for the communal stall. All from trees from my woods and scraps of salvaged lumber. Ginger gave us a big scare when she flipped over into the feed tub that I feed communal hay from during the day when weather is bad. The rest of the time, the little goats take turns curling up in it during cud-chewing and nap time. Ginger got stuck upside down, and was perfectly still but crying and soaked in urine when I found her. I thought her neck was broken. She is fine. I am still traumatized!! I just cannot bear any more loss right now!! So the big tub is outside their fence now, and Ginger is safe.

Whew, what else? Oh, finally we have some weather to make some lawn hay for the chickens and turkeys for the winter. I am usually all done by now, and I am just starting my first batch! DH uses the bagger, and spreads it on the driveway. I go out and turn it now and then, and pack it into feedsacks. I leave the sack open a few days, just in case there is a little moisture left, then I sew them shut with big, loose stitches so I can store them on a high shelf until needed, held in place with big bungee cords. So we have nice yellow/orange yolks all winter, too.

 

[big brown horse]

Wow!