What are your frugal and sustainable tips and tricks?

[fuzzi]

I would think pelleted pine bedding would work great if your cats accepted it as litter. Like changing over to many new things, maybe you could gradually mix in more and more of the pelleted pine bedding into your current cat litter, gradually training your cats to the new pelleted pine bedding litter. Just my guess, as I have never owned cats myself. But I think it might work.

I tried pelleted litter, my cats hated it. One of my cats was declawed (before I adopted him!) and I read online that declawed cats often have issues with litter because their toes stay sensitive after declawing. I kept trying different varieties of litter until I found one that he liked. It's made of finely ground walnut shells, almost like powder, and worth every penny. It also smells good longer, and clumps without added chemicals. I buy it when they go on sale, and one bag lasts for months.

 

[Hillbilly Hen]

I tried pelleted litter, my cats hated it. One of my cats was declawed (before I adopted him!) and I read online that declawed cats often have issues with litter because their toes stay sensitive after declawing. I kept trying different varieties of litter until I found one that he liked. It's made of finely ground walnut shells, almost like powder, and worth every penny. It also smells good longer, and clumps without added chemicals. I buy it when they go on sale, and one bag lasts for months.
View attachment 4101487

How is it for dust? I can't stand all the dust from the clay litter. Then I found a wood based litter called okokat? But I still have a lot of dust to deal with. I figured if it's that dusty when I'm scooping, I don't want my cats in there scratching around. I have put the pine pellets in one litter box and it took a week or so but they did start peeing in it. They rarely use that particular box. Even before putting the pellets in there.

 

[gtaus]

I do this, but I use pickled beets brine only. I save the brine from regular cucumber pickles as well.

I think the oldest pickled eggs that I have eaten were 5-6 months old. They were fine, but a bit rubbery. I won't keep them as long in the future.

I have made pickled eggs using just the brine from a large jar of pickle slices. That's good too. With the sliced pickled beets, I just add the sliced beets to the pickled egg jar as well because I put some sliced beets and a pickled egg from the same jar on my salad. But if you don't want to comingle the beets and the eggs, then all you really need is the juice.

The pickling process of the eggs must make them "rubbery" compared to just a hard boiled egg. I have noticed this in about 2 weeks in the pickle jar.

Well, unfortunately, I discovered that "rubbery" condition when I broke my little egg slicer trying to slice my pickle eggs in beet juice. I broke the wire(s).

Since then, I use an onion holder to hold the pickled eggs and then slice them with a knife.

Since I don't sterilize or hot bath my pickled egg jars, I use the pickles up in a few weeks.

 

[fuzzi]

How is it for dust? I can't stand all the dust from the clay litter. Then I found a wood based litter called okokat? But I still have a lot of dust to deal with. I figured if it's that dusty when I'm scooping, I don't want my cats in there scratching around. I have put the pine pellets in one litter box and it took a week or so but they did start peeing in it. They rarely use that particular box. Even before putting the pellets in there.

No dust. No smell.

 

[igorsMistress]

I have made pickled eggs using just the brine from a large jar of pickle slices. That's good too. With the sliced pickled beets, I just add the sliced beets to the pickled egg jar as well because I put some sliced beets and a pickled egg from the same jar on my salad. But if you don't want to comingle the beets and the eggs, then all you really need is the juice.

The pickling process of the eggs must make them "rubbery" compared to just a hard boiled egg. I have noticed this in about 2 weeks in the pickle jar.

Well, unfortunately, I discovered that "rubbery" condition when I broke my little egg slicer trying to slice my pickle eggs in beet juice. I broke the wire(s).

View attachment 4101564

Since then, I use an onion holder to hold the pickled eggs and then slice them with a knife.

View attachment 4101570

Since I don't sterilize or hot bath my pickled egg jars, I use the pickles up in a few weeks.

I just did a batch of pickled eggs the other day. If I don’t make the brine myself then we use the juice from the spicy dills from the store which is my favorite.

 

[gtaus]

I just did a batch of pickled eggs the other day. If I don’t make the brine myself then we use the juice from the spicy dills from the store which is my favorite.

I just don't know if I am using the term pickled eggs correctly, given that @fuzzi said that her eggs lasted 5-6 months. I don't go through the whole canning process of sterilizing and sealing the lids. I just put my eggs and brine in a jar in the refrigerator. I don't think they would be safe to eat after a few weeks, like most other leftovers with a limited time.

Do you can your pickled eggs properly, or just put them in jars like I do?

Having said that, I know a jar of regular pickles lasts for months in the refrigerator after opening it.

Well, I asked this question to MS CoPilot to see what it would find: I make pickled eggs by putting hard boiled eggs in pickled sliced beet juice from a can. How long is it safe to eat those pickled eggs if kept in a refrigerator?

Here was the response...

******************************
When stored properly in the refrigerator, homemade pickled eggs like yours can typically last 3 to 4 months. To ensure safety and freshness:

• Keep the eggs fully submerged in the beet juice to prevent exposure to air.
• Use a clean, airtight container to minimize contamination.
• Always refrigerate the eggs at a consistent, cool temperature.

Before eating, check for any signs of spoilage, such as an off smell, slimy texture, or discoloration. If anything seems off, it's best to discard them.
*******************************

 

[igorsMistress]

I just don't know if I am using the term pickled eggs correctly, given that @fuzzi said that her eggs lasted 5-6 months. I don't go through the whole canning process of sterilizing and sealing the lids. I just put my eggs and brine in a jar in the refrigerator. I don't think they would be safe to eat after a few weeks, like most other leftovers with a limited time.

Do you can your pickled eggs properly, or just put them in jars like I do?

Having said that, I know a jar of regular pickles lasts for months in the refrigerator after opening it.

Well, I asked this question to MS CoPilot to see what it would find: I make pickled eggs by putting hard boiled eggs in pickled sliced beet juice from a can. How long is it safe to eat those pickled eggs if kept in a refrigerator?

Here was the response...

******************************
When stored properly in the refrigerator, homemade pickled eggs like yours can typically last 3 to 4 months. To ensure safety and freshness:

• Keep the eggs fully submerged in the beet juice to prevent exposure to air.
• Use a clean, airtight container to minimize contamination.
• Always refrigerate the eggs at a consistent, cool temperature.

Before eating, check for any signs of spoilage, such as an off smell, slimy texture, or discoloration. If anything seems off, it's best to discard them.
*******************************

As I understand it, canning eggs is not considered safe. To each their own, I don’t want to argue the point but people should be aware of the recommendations.

That being said, I keep my eggs in the fridge and I think they’ve lasted maybe a couple of months before they were all gone. That’s the homemade version, I do them in half gallon jars. I wash all my equipment and hands with hot, soapy water and that’s it. I don’t sterilize when I make pickles either, it’s not necessary. When I do the eggs in the pickle juice they go quick too so I don’t know how long they’d last. I wouldn’t have a problem eating any version up to three months out, that would probably be my limit and that’s just my preference. Again, everyone’s mileage may vary.

 

[Smokerbill]

I'm making another 2 quart batch of yogurt this morning with $2 worth of milk. Cheap and easy. Put another batch of cabbage in the fermenter to make more sauerkraut last week too.

 

[fuzzi]

I just don't know if I am using the term pickled eggs correctly, given that @fuzzi said that her eggs lasted 5-6 months. I don't go through the whole canning process of sterilizing and sealing the lids. I just put my eggs and brine in a jar in the refrigerator. I don't think they would be safe to eat after a few weeks, like most other leftovers with a limited time.

Do you can your pickled eggs properly, or just put them in jars like I do?

Having said that, I know a jar of regular pickles lasts for months in the refrigerator after opening it.

Well, I asked this question to MS CoPilot to see what it would find: I make pickled eggs by putting hard boiled eggs in pickled sliced beet juice from a can. How long is it safe to eat those pickled eggs if kept in a refrigerator?

Here was the response...

******************************
When stored properly in the refrigerator, homemade pickled eggs like yours can typically last 3 to 4 months. To ensure safety and freshness:

• Keep the eggs fully submerged in the beet juice to prevent exposure to air.
• Use a clean, airtight container to minimize contamination.
• Always refrigerate the eggs at a consistent, cool temperature.

Before eating, check for any signs of spoilage, such as an off smell, slimy texture, or discoloration. If anything seems off, it's best to discard them.
*******************************

Let's call them refrigerator pickled eggs.

 

[gtaus]

Flash Sale on Pruning Chainsaw at Menards

For somebody that needs an occasional small pruning chainsaw for trimming around the yard, you might want to consider getting one of these newer 4-inch cordless pruning chainsaws...

I bought a Ryobi pruning chainsaw a year or two ago and paid about $70 just for the saw itself. This kit from Menards comes with two batteries, charger, and two chains. I don't know how they can sell it so cheaply, but if it works like my Ryobi pruning chainsaw, that is a heck of a deal from Menards.

Although I don't have this specific saw from Menards, I can tell you that I use my Ryobi pruning chainsaw all the time. It's just so much easier to have a one-handed operation with these pruning chainsaws compared to my other chainsaws which require both hands on the saw. For most of the small branches I cut up, it's just so much faster to hold the branch in one hand and cut it with the pruning chainsaw in the other hand.

Of course, you are not going to cut down a tree with a pruning chainsaw. But most of the time I'm not cutting down trees. I'm just cleaning up smaller broken branches off the ground after a storm, for example.

These Menard's Flash Sales usually sell out pretty fast, but sometimes they get more inventory in stock and put it back on sale. I have missed out on a few flash sales but later picked up that item a month later.

If nothing else, you can sign up for the Flash Sale emails and maybe get a good deal on something else you could use. I have taken advantage of the Menards Flash Sales on a few products and saved a lot of money. No regrets in what I did buy. And, if the item is not working out for you for some reason, you can return it to your local Menards. That's a pretty good deal.