Just curious who else is living super frugal

[In His Service]

yakibert and mickey328

 

[newfoundland]

When I was a child there was a formula for stretching out the meat ration. On Saturday, as late as possible (because butchers often reduced their meat then, being as they didn't open on Sunday, and many didn't on Monday), mum bought either a joint of beef, topside, or silverside, we call them, or a leg of lamb. We had this roast on Sunday, cold sliced on Monday, minced in a shepherds pie on Tuesday, and in Cornish pasties on Wednesday. We had sausage and mashed potatoes with onion gravy, or liver and fish on Friday. No meat at all on Saturday, we had either sliced cheese and onion cooked in milk and served on toast, or egg and cheese flan. Every family had it's own variation on this theme, but coming out of the war and after several years of strict food rationing people we lighter, fitter and healthier than they are today.

 

[mickey328]

It's too bad we don't have access to such things these days. I try to have lots of "sides" so as to use less meat, and I always have a look at the older packages in the meat case...most stores have an area for these with discounts. I'm a bit more careful with pork and chicken, but you can sure eat beef that's well aged. Stir fry is an excellent way to cut consumption...in most Asian cuisine, meat is just for flavoring, not a "main dish".

 

[EweSheep]

I've been finding less and less discounted meats at the stores nowadays. Looks like leaner times will be ahead of us in due time!

 

[HeatherLynn]

Hey guys what do you serve for breakfast thats cheap. I make cream of wheat and oatmeal. I make omelets and pancakes. I premake waffles. And that is where my home cooking ends. I tried egg bakes and as long as its a not very often thing they are ok with it but not enough that I can put it on a meal schedule. I am trying to give up cereals. Wow thats hard. I need easy and quick. I want healthy. The kids and hubby want yummy and to feel full. I've been looking for home made breakfast bars.

Found out about an amish store near me also. How many of you frequent these?

Might want to check you local goodwills and thrift stores also. I am finding that they are all putting out winter coats now. Generally I can always find what I need if I shop way before I need them. If I wait till its colder there is almost no selection at all. I picked up a full size beautiful wool coat for $3. I have went ahead and spent the money on refreshing the wardrobes for my husband and I too. Some things were looking a bit worn out and I swear right now those types of stores are glutted with merchandise. You can find some very very pretty, quality clothes if you are willing to dig.

 

[Beekissed]

Fried potatoes, poached eggs, homemade breads, grits and gravy, creamed tomatoes(home canned) over biscuits, scrambled eggs(any variation of eggs), fried squash(in season), fresh tomatoes(in season), slumgullion(canned and fresh), homemade bread toast and jam/honey, deer meat(when available, canned or packaged) and gravy made with the same, soups.

 

[mickey328]

I recommend checking out allrecipes.com They have tons of recipes there for just about anything you can think of.

How about a French Toast Casserole? It's great for any meal of the day. You can use your own eggs and get stale bread from one of the discount stores. Comes out really inexpensive and is really, really good!

My Hubby used to live right in Amish country and got a lot of goods and services from them...quality for a reasonable price. Unfortunately, there aren't any around here.

We both work weekends, so can't get to many garage sales, but they can be a great place for bargains if the people are really wanting to sell...I swear some are priced so high I think they have issues with letting the stuff go, LOL

Love, love, love the thrift stores and flea markets! My secret weapon is Hubby. He has a great eye for stuff. All I have to do is tell him to keep an eye out for an item and usually within a week or so he comes home with it for a buck or two.

Canning, drying and freezing food is a great way to save money and you know exactly what you have in it! You can grow some in your garden or shop local farmers markets for good, fresh fruit and produce. I like to get together with a couple of like-minded friends and have canning bees...we take turns...go to one house and all work to get her stuff done, then move on to the next. We share stuff too. Many hands make light work and we have a blast!

 

[erinszoo]

We make a "cereal" bar type thing with a fruit filling and whole wheat and oatmeal crust. It's a bit fiddly to put it all together but they make a lot, taste yummy, and are filling and healthy.

Fruit Chews

3/4 cup flour
1 cup whole wheat flour
1/2 oatmeal
1 tsp baking powder
1/2 tsp salt
1 tsp cinnamon (you can add other spices to taste like ginger and cloves)
1 tsp almond extract (vanilla is fine too)
1/4 cup melted butter or oil
3/4 cup frozen apple juice concentrate (don't mix with water)

Combine all dry ingredients and then mix in liquids until combined. Divide into three portions and roll each into a strip 3 inches wide by 1/4 inch thick on greased and floured foil or parchment paper.

For the filling use any flavor you like with the following portions:
1/3 cup jam or jelly (i've used apple sauce before but the filling is a little more runny)
2 cups dried fruit (I use a combination of dates, they add sweetness, and whatever ... apricots, cherries, apples, blueberries, strawberries)
you can add some nuts in too if you like

Blend in a food processor until combined, using more apple juice concentrate as needed to make a spreadable consistency. Then spread a strip 1 inch wide down the center of each piece of dough. Fold the dough over the filling sealing edges as best as possible. Then cut into bars (whatever size you like) and cook seam side down on a greased and floured baking sheet at 350 for 25 minutes.

 

[erinszoo]

When I was a child there was a formula for stretching out the meat ration. On Saturday, as late as possible (because butchers often reduced their meat then, being as they didn't open on Sunday, and many didn't on Monday), mum bought either a joint of beef, topside, or silverside, we call them, or a leg of lamb. We had this roast on Sunday, cold sliced on Monday, minced in a shepherds pie on Tuesday, and in Cornish pasties on Wednesday. We had sausage and mashed potatoes with onion gravy, or liver and fish on Friday. No meat at all on Saturday, we had either sliced cheese and onion cooked in milk and served on toast, or egg and cheese flan. Every family had it's own variation on this theme, but coming out of the war and after several years of strict food rationing people we lighter, fitter and healthier than they are today.

Sounds like what my grandmother did. Roast or roasted chicken on Sunday and then made the leftovers into various other dishes all week with a few eggs and vegies from the garden thrown in to stretch it out. Because my grandfather was in the newspaper business he got extra gas ration for his car and they would save enough to drive to my great grandparents house on Saturday where they would get a freshly butchered chicken, a can of goat's milk, some eggs, and a basket of vegies from the garden. Then the men would go fishing and clean up their catch and that's what they ate all week. They did it because they were coming out of the depression and dust bowl days here in the great plains and didn't have money for food. You ate what you could grow in your yard or what your neighbors had to share. But it's shaped my life and how we eat and use food as well even today. My dad's family was even worse off because they didn't have any grandparents to help out. If they literally didn't grow it or find it on the roadside, they didn't eat it.

 

[HeatherLynn]

i will look for the french toast casserole recipe. That sounds like something they would like. Thanks for the cereal bar recipe. They do like that sort of thing. We are forever busy so the older ones even like something quick and filling. We all have farm chores first thing and then its school so breakfast is squished in there somewhere.

I have been getting somethings off ebay too. More and more are offering free shipping and still the prices are reasonable. I got dance shoes for my daughter for $10 with free shipping. They sell for 40 AND I have to drive 1.5 hours locally. It really was a win win situation for me. Its just very hit and miss and I need to think ahead to what we need to get those deals which is not always easy.