Wednesday, October 31, 2007
Cleaning Your Financial House
By Lynn Forgy A fellow writer of this blog, Agatha Curtis, recently submitted an article on decluttering your home. Her very informative (and motivating) article made me contemplate my “financial clutter”. I have a file system, but it’s not updated as often as it should be, and I of course forget where I’ve put certain papers so I make a new file. Then 6 months later I’ll find the original file, but can’t seem to locate the second file. Sound familiar?  To get started – GET ORGANIZED! My problem seems to be the I keep EVERYTHING!! I have receipts from 5 years ago for Pete's sake. Fortunately, Crown has a list on their website of critical papers that your family should be able to obtain in the event of an emergency. Once you have this information gathered (and it’s accessible to those in your family who will need to know where to find it), you’ve accomplished the most difficult part! Sorting out the wheat from the chaff. Now, how long should you keep certain documents? It depends. Certain documents (like tax returns) are kept for 7 years, others forever. EHow has a short list of documents and their retention length. Another website that is much more thorough and detailed is Pueblo.gsa.gov. It might be a little less daunting if you take it a step at a time. Start at the beginning of the list and work your way down. Just keep at it - and before you know it, you'll financial mess will be well-organized!  Hopefully, this information will get you started on the path to decluttering your financial life. If you have tips or tricks that you’d like to share, please email us by using the link on the top right. |
Tuesday, October 30, 2007
Save, Save, Save With After Holiday Shopping
| By Agatha Curtis Don’t forget that your best chance to get fantastic savings on decorations, candy, candles, etc. are the days right after the holiday. Take a stroll through the Halloween aisle, or check out the sale buggies at the front of the store and see what you can find that will work for Thanksgiving decorations for your table and, sometimes, you can even find Christmas gifts.  Yes, I said Christmas gifts. Think about what goes in your Christmas stockings. We usually put some kind of candy as a filler and to “sweeten the pot.” Candy kisses come in colors that are specific to each holiday, but these can often be used for more than one holiday. The red and green at Christmas can also be used for Valentine’s Day and for St. Patrick’s. I know you don’t give gifts on St. Patrick’s, but you do have get-togethers, and little green candy kisses will dress up your snack table. I’m pretty sure that the kids won’t notice if the candy in their stocking is red and green or purple and orange, as long as its candy. Don’t worry about the color of the wrapping…think about the money you’re saving (at least half price) that can be put toward that big Christmas item on your child’s wish list. And, you’ll have some of your shopping already done.  Kids of all ages love makeup. Why not grab some of those leftover Halloween makeup kits and put together an actor’s make-up kit. Or assemble a dress-up box to go along with the makeup. Pick up some mix and match items at your local thrift shop or Goodwill store (party dresses, cowboy hats, striped pirate shirts). Take a cardboard box and cover it with contact paper, wallpaper, or just cover it with pasted on pictures and stickers. Together with the make-up, this would make a wonderful gift that will entertain the kids for hours. Just take a few minutes to scout the sale aisles after the holiday. Look at everything with an eye to using it for one of the upcoming holidays. You’ll not only save a ton of money but think of the free time you’re going to have when the next holiday rolls around. |
Frugal Halloween Tips
| By Lynn Forgy When I was younger and dressing up for Halloween, I had so much fun coming up with ideas and being creative. The more "homemade", the better. Certainly when I had a child, it was a requirement that I be creative and come up with a costume. When you're on a budget, it's necessary to think outside the box. Not everyone can afford a Hannah Montana wig, right?  Here are some ideas that I've stumbled across to help get those creative juices flowing: Face Paint 1 tsp. corn starch 1/2 tsp. water 1/2 tsp. cold cream food coloring Mix all ingredients together in an old muffin pan and you are ready to paint. This amount makes one color. Edible Slime Pour lime gelatin into a glass bowl. After it is partially set, add gummy worms. Chill until lightly set. Then serve slopped all over the plate. (From: Stretcher.com) Farmer Costume: Overalls, galoshes, straw hat, flannel shirt. Could carry a stuffed farm animal, plastic pitchfork or toy tractor. (From: Childfun.com Prom Dresses, Wedding Dresses, etc. purchased for a song from your local Goodwill make great costumes. Perfect for angels, princesses, etc.  Sunflower For the body, use a white sleeper or sweatsuit. Paint the child's face yellow, adding black spots to simulate seeds if you like. Make a flower to fit on the child's head out of felt or glue sunflowers on a white hat. Pea Pod Cut 2 small foam balls in half with an electric knife or a knife with a serrated blade. (Note: Do this BEFORE attaching them to the child!) Wrap in green fabric and pin them to the front of a green sweatsuit. Make a hat out of 2 shades of green felt and a little brown felt for a stem. (The Sunflower and Pea Pod originally from: Frugal Family Check out their website for other great ideas!  If you need further inspiration, visit About.com for photos of costumes. |
Monday, October 29, 2007
Halloween Ideas
| By Lynn Forgy I have found some of the cutest ideas online for Halloween. Martha Stewart has some awesome ideas! Below are a couple of my favorites with their original links below. They're not really "FRUGAL", but very SPOOKY stuff!!!! MONSTER EYES:  Ingredients: - Mini square pretzels, sometimes called Snaps - Hershey's Kisses - Orange Color M&M's Preparation: Preheat over to 250 degrees. Place as many pretzels as desired on a baking sheet. Top each pretzel with an unwrapped Hershey Kiss. Bake in oven for approximately three minutes, until kiss begins to soften. Carefully remove baking sheet from oven, and immediately press an M&M on top of each kiss. Allow to cool. From: About.com HEAD-WAITER  Sometimes you need more than a hand serving guests...you need a head. Create a helping head to entertain your captive dining companions. Preparation: 1. Two days before your party, crumple 10 paper towels and several swaths of gauze (enough to cover the display surface). Dip each in brewed coffee, and set to dry, in their crumpled state, where they won't be disturbed. This will give the towels and gauze a wrinkled, veiny appearance. 2. Then prepare the head: Mix a solution of 2 tablespoons flour, 1 tablespoon corn syrup (or use Mod Podge glue), and 1 tablespoon coffee. Stir with a craft stick, then use it to apply a thin layer to one section of a Styrofoam head. Uncrumple paper towels, and spread over that section; repeat until surface is covered. Place the gauze on a tray and the head waiter in the center, or display him on a sideboard or buffet. From: Martha Stewart LADIES' FINGERS  If Halloween night were to find you in a misty graveyard, suddenly feeling the touch of ghoulish fingers on the back of your neck, those fingers would probably bear a strong resemblance to our Cookie of the Week. And with red-stained blanched almonds standing in for fingernails, these creepy confections will beckon to you from beyond the grave, summoning you right over to their serving plate. Ingredients: Makes 30 - 2 tablespoons red food coloring - 30 blanched almonds - 2 large eggs - 1/4 teaspoon pure vanilla extract - 8 tablespoons unsalted butter (1 stick), room temperature - 1/2 cup confectioners' sugar - 5 tablespoons granulated sugar - Pinch of salt - 1 2/3 cups all-purpose flour Directions: 1. Heat oven to 350 degrees. Line two baking sheets with Silpats (French nonstick baking mats) or parchment paper, and set aside. 2. Place food coloring in a shallow bowl. Using a small paintbrush, color one rounded half of each almond. Set aside to dry. 3. Separate 1 egg. Set aside the white. In a small bowl, whisk together yolk, remaining egg, and vanilla. Set aside. 4. In the bowl of an electric mixer fitted with the paddle attachment, combine butter, confectioners' sugar, granulated sugar, and salt. Beat on medium speed until well combined. Add egg mixture, and beat until smooth, about 2 minutes. Add the flour, and mix on low speed just until incorporated. Wrap the dough in plastic, and chill until firm, 20 to 30 minutes. 5. Divide the dough in half. Work with one piece at a time, keeping remaining dough covered with plastic wrap and chilled. Divide the first half into fifteen pieces. On a lightly floured surface, roll each piece back and forth with palms into finger shapes, 3 to 4 inches long. Pinch dough in two places to form knuckles. Score each knuckle lightly with the back of a small knife. Transfer fingers to prepared baking sheets. Repeat with remaining dough. 6. When all fingers are formed, brush lightly with egg white. Position almond nails; push into dough to attach. 7. Bake until lightly browned, about 12 minutes. Cool completely. From: Martha Stewart |
Sunday, October 28, 2007
Leftover HALLOWEEN CANDY Recipes
| By Lynn Forgy Maybe you're one of the few people who have Halloween Candy left after all the little ones have been by, or maybe you're really frugal and bought your Halloween candy for next year the day after Halloween and went a little overboard. Whatever the reason, below are some recipes for using up all that candy: Homemade Fudge  Fudge squares make a great gift for coworkers and neighbors. Wrap up a few squares of each variety on a plate and it's a gift they're sure to enjoy. You'll need: 2 1/2 c. sugar 1/2 c. butter 2/3 c. evaporated milk 4 cups chopped candy (anything you want to use!) 1 tsp. vanilla Line a 9 inch square or 13x9 inch pan with foil so that foil extends over sides of pan, and butter the foil. In large saucepan, combine sugar, margarine and evaporated milk. Bring to a boil over medium heat, stirring constantly. Boil 5 minutes, stirring constantly. Remove from heat. Add candy and blend until smooth. Stir in walnuts and vanilla. Pour into buttered, foil-lined pan. Cool to room temperature. Score fudge into 36-48 squares. Refrigerate until firm. Remove fudge from pan by lifting foil; remove foil from sides of fudge. Using large knife, cut through scored lines. Store in refrigerator. Makes about 3 pounds: 36-48 squares. From: Squidoo Candy Bar Cookies  Some candy bars make GREAT cookies! Try this with Baby Ruth, Snickers, Milky Way, chocolate bars, or other misc. chocolate pieces. 3 c. sifted flour 1/2 tsp. salt 1 tsp. baking powder 1 1/2 c. sugar 1/2 c. softened butter 3/4 c. smooth peanut butter 2 eggs beaten 1 1/4 tsp. vanilla 2/3 c. milk 5 small candy bars, chopped up Pre-heat the oven to 375 degrees F. Cream the butter, peanut butter, and sugar until it is light and fluffy. Beat in the eggs ad mix well, then add the vanilla. Sift the dry ingredients together and add alternately with the milk. Stir in the cut-up candy bar pieces. Spoon teaspon sized dropps on greased cookie sheets. Bake about 12-15 minutes or until golden brown. Makes about 18 cookies. From: Squidoo Leftover Candy Cake 2 c. coarsely chopped leftover Easter (*or Halloween, Christmas, etc.) candy 2 3/4 c. sifted flour 1/2 tsp. salt 1 tsp. baking soda 1 tsp. vanilla 8 oz. unsalted butter 1 1/2 c. sugar 3 lg. eggs 1/4 tsp. almond extract 1 c. sour cream Optional: Confectioners' sugar Such as: Chocolate eggs, marshmallow chicks, chocolate bunnies, candy eggs, jellies. Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Butter a tube or bundt pan (10 to 12 cup capacity) and dust with fine bread crumbs. Tap out excess crumbs. Set pan aside. Sift together the flour, salt and baking soda and set aside. In large bowl, cream butter until soft, add vanilla, almond extracts and sugar. Mix well. Add eggs, one at a time, mixing well after each one. On low speed, alternate adding dry ingredients with sour cream, scraping bowl as necessary. Place 1 1/2 cups mixture in prepared pan. Add candies to remaining batter, fold in gently. Pour this mixture into pan over plain batter. Bake 1 hour or until tests done. Cool 15 minutes. Cover pan with rack and invert. Remove pan. Let cake cool. Serve plain or with confectioners' sugar dusted on top. From: Cooks.com If for some reason you don't want to eat the leftover candy (Gasp!), here are a few other ideas on what to do with all that candy: 13 Things to Do with Leftover Halloween Candy 10 Things to do with All That Halloween Candy Labels: cake, candy, cookies, Frugal recipes, fudge, Halloween |
Frugal Links
| By Lynn Forgy Living On a Dime - good information on making the most of what you have. HotCouponWorld - I love this site because it has a link with postings about free items. I've signed up for numerous samples and freebies, and continue to do so about once a week. FreeCycle.org - It's a grassroots and entirely nonprofit movement of people who are giving (& getting) stuff for free in their own towns. It's all about reuse and keeping good stuff out of landfills. Bankrate.com - Great information, and calculators to help you with things like calculating your savings if you pay off your mortgage early. Hillbilly Housewife - Excellent site! The focus here is on low-cost, home-cooking from scratch. Tightwad Gazette - Check these books out from your local library. Chock full of money saving advice! Angel Food Ministries - Angel Food Ministries is a non-profit, non-denominational organization dedicated to providing grocery relief and financial support to communities throughout the United States. BookMooch - BookMooch is a community for exchanging used books. BookMooch lets you give away books you no longer need in exchange for books you really want. Fabulous site for book lovers! Websites for frugal cooking and other useful information: Frugal Recipes Miserly Moms Mommy Savers Cheap Cooking All Things Frugal Frugal Cooking Cheap and Easy Recipes |
Saturday, October 27, 2007
You Can Have a Clutter Free Home
| By Agatha Curtis If you are trying to save money, time and effort in your household and in your life, one of the biggest and best ways to begin is by getting rid of clutter. We all have clutter of one kind or another. It doesn’t have to be jumbled on your dresser or piled in the corner of your room to be defined as such. Clutter is the non-essential “stuff” that fills our lives. After more than a half-century of accumulating things and then getting rid of them, I have a few suggestions that may start you on the way to a clutter-free home. If you get overwhelmed (as I do) when you take a look around your room at the end of the week, and you wonder where it all came from, don’t despair. Even the messiest room can be cleared. It just takes focus and some time. Start by getting several laundry baskets or medium size boxes. Pick up everything that doesn’t belong in your room and put it into a box. Don’t sort right now. Just clear the room of all items that are not essential to the function of your room. Let’s take a minute here and figure out what that means. A chair is essential. So is a lamp for lighting. Aunt Minnie’s lovely hand-crafted tissue box cover is not. We may decide to bring it back later, but for now, take it away. When you have reduced the room to its bare bones, you can stop gathering and start tidying.  Take a few minutes to run a duster around, sweep the floor, make the bed or straighten the cushions and pillows. Light a scented candle and sit down for a minute. When you look around the room, how do you feel now? My guess is that you get a feeling of accomplishment and a sense of calm instead of frustration and disarray. Ready for some more? Pick up the boxes and start on room number two. Again, don’t sort through anything. Gather the clutter, put it into the box, then tidy the room. By now, if you’re like me, you’re already beginning to dread the big “Sort Out” that you know is coming. Don’t worry; we have plans for that. Just keep up with your room by room clearing until all your rooms are done. Depending on your personality, you can break our de-cluttering process down into two work sessions or you can try for one big sweep. If you tend to procrastinate and you know you won’t get back to the job if you stop midway through, then definitely keep going. Believe me, you won’t be sorry when it’s all done and you can enjoy the results. Let’s assume you have de-cluttered all the rooms, tidied them, and you now have 5 overflowing boxes of stuff. Take these boxes to the largest clear work area you have and line them up in a row. Now is the time to call in the troops. If you have anyone other than babies living in the house with you, bring them in to help sort out everything that’s been gathered. If you are the only clutterer in your house, hopefully there are only 2 or 3 boxes and not 10. Believe it or not, sorting can be fun. It’s going to be up to you to make it so. The good news is, someone is probably going to find a least one or two items that have been missing for a long time and they’re going to be really happy. Other someones may have to be bribed with pizza or popcorn and a movie to get them going. Whatever works for your family, use it. A little preparation before the sorting is helpful. You’ll need boxes or baskets labeled with the room or area where the items actually belong. Also, a box for trash, one for donations and one for miscellaneous that you just can’t decide on yet. Now is the perfect time to think about recycling any unneeded treasures in various ways. It is not a law that Christmas gifts have to be purchased new at the mall. And most of us love getting little presents, used or new, Christmas or not, that may be mementos from our friends, thank you gifts for taking the kids to school, or just thinking of you gifts for no particular occasion. Be generous to others and kind to yourself. The less “stuff” you have, the better you will feel. As soon as the boxes are empty and the labeled boxes are full, have a helper take that box to the designated room and put the stuff away. Don’t wait to do this later. Get it out of the way and off your mind. If you simply cannot decide whether or not to get rid of some of your things, then designate a box “To Be Sorted Later” and put everything you’re unsure about in there. Move the box to a closet or storeroom, and don’t visit it for at least a couple of weeks. In the meantime, don’t let your rooms get cluttered again. Once a week, take a basket and pick up what has begun to gather in each room while you weren’t looking. These things have a way of creeping up on you when you’re not paying attention. When some time has passed and you have been enjoying the sensation of free space and easy movement throughout your house, then you can revisit your “To Be Sorted Later” box and decide if you need the items or whether they can be given to a friend or a charity. Or put in a yard sale. Or sold on E-Bay or Craigslist. You will realize more benefits than expected when you de-clutter your surroundings. Cutting the ties that bind you to unnecessary material things will not only give you more time and more space, but will also free up your mind and give you more energy to pursue your goals. |
Monday, October 22, 2007
Fun Children’s Game
| by Agatha Curtis One of the most enjoyable children’s games we ever played was a pirate’s treasure hunt. I did this one year for my granddaughter as a special treat for no special occasion. It would be hard to say who had the most fun, my granddaughter or me. It’s always nice to have a good excuse to act like a kid again and this type of game gives you lots of chances to do just that. I began by making a “treasure map.” This was a rolled up “scroll” tied with a ribbon. Using pirate speak (aye, matey!) and little sing-song lines of nonsense, it got the hunt started and sent her looking for clue number one. When she found the hidden location of the first clue, there was another little riddle to help find clue number two. And so on until clue number 10, where she found the “treasure”, in this case a movie dvd that was high on her wish list. You can take as much trouble as you like with the clues, use little treats at each location, and use your imagination for the final “booty” in the treasure chest. You can dress up like Cap’n Kidd and provide a pirate outfit for each treasure seeker--an eye patch, a tricorn hat made from newspaper or construction paper, a bandanna to tie around the head — dress up as much or as little as you like. The best part is, nothing in the costumes or the treasure chest has to cost any or a lot of money. The treasure could be a delicious batch of pirate brownies with your special chocolate icing, Long John’s ice cream cones, or whatever your child enjoys as a special treat. Don’t wait for a party to try out this game. Use it as a surprise treat on a rainy, stay-at-home day, or as a reward for extra special good behavior. Or maybe just for the fun of it. Be prepared, though. My granddaughter enjoyed hunting for treasure so much that she made me play the game again and again. I had to create more clues for her to hunt for the same treasure several times. It didn’t really matter what the treasure was, she just enjoyed figuring out the clues and discovering the final hiding place at the end of the hunt! Labels: children, frugal game, pirate, treasure hunt |
Saturday, October 20, 2007
A Tasty Halloween Treat
| By Lynn Forgy A very tasty, not to mention cheap, Halloween twist on an old recipe. I love Rice Crispy Treats. To make them a Halloween treat, you can add food coloring (orange would be my preference), and if you're really good you can make them into "scary" shapes. I'm not, but I can shape them into individual squares or circles and add a piece of candy corn to each little treat. *For a "healthier" version, meaning less fat, I use the Fat Free Parkay butter spray with marshmallows, or you can substitute light corn syrup, and just stir in the marshmallows. I'm afraid that for this recipe, I don't measure, I just pour in the butter or corn syrup, throw in some marshmallows, then when it gets "sticky" I add the rice crispies or cornflakes. Enjoy! |
Cookie of the Day Recipe
| By Lynn Forgy My absolute favorite cookie recipe - Ginger Cinnamon Cookies Ingredients: 1/2 c. sugar 1/2 c. honey 1/2 c. butter (I use the Fat Free Parkay spray butter to cut down on the fat) 1 egg (I use "fake" eggs - you can also use soy flour, 1 Tbsp. flour + 2 Tbsp. water) 1 tsp. cinnamon 1 tsp. ginger 2 c. flour Mix the sugar, honey, butter and egg together. Stir in cinnamon and ginger. Stir in flour. The batter should be thick, not runny. Place by the teaspoonful onto a cookie sheet. Bake in 350 degree oven for approximately 7 minutes. These cookies are so good! I sometimes pack them for my daughter's lunch, and she love them. These cookies are not that expensive either, although I have noticed that the cost of honey has gone up, especially in my area. |
Friday, October 19, 2007
Do It Yourself (DIY)
| By Lynn Forgy There are many things that I've had to learn to do myself, particularly since becoming a homeowner. Not all of them are fun, and I often make mistakes. But I have learned that I can save a tremendous amount of money, as well as building my character and perseverance, by doing things myself rather than paying someone to do them for me. I have painted the exterior of my house - saving $2,000.00. My mom helped some, and I talked my brother into helping for a couple of hours. I bought the Wal-Mart brand paint (which I was told was actually made by a name brand company), borrowed a paint sprayer, climbed the extension ladder, and got to work. I have also cleaned the gutters. This has saved $150 every 6 months. I clean my own house. It would be much easier to pay someone else to clean, but in order to continue working towards my goal of becoming totally debt free, this is a luxury that I can ill afford. I mow the yard, weed eat, etc. This has saved approximately $50-$100 per month.  The point is that there are many things we pay others to do, that we can do ourselves. Now I am in no way suggesting that you rewire your whole house, or rip out the plumbing. That will probably call for a professional. But there are things that we can do for ourselves. Sometimes it may be hard, difficult, and time consuming, especially if you've never done it before. However, you may not only learn a new skill, but you may also learn something about yourself - you're stronger than you think. |
Thursday, October 18, 2007
Nadine's Story
| Nadine is a young mother of three, married to a wonderful man, PTA president, lives in a very nice neighborhood, stays at home with 2 of her children while the 3rd is in school, attends church faithfully, and volunteers often in her community and at church. To all outward appearances, Nadine seems to have it all together, to have the perfect life. But then you don't really know Nadine. She and her family are struggling to keep everything afloat. They have numerous credit cards, a mortgage, two car payments, and the regular monthly expenses such as utilities, groceries, doctor bills, ballet lessons, art lessons, piano lessons, etc. To be fair, they have done a good job of trying to keep the bills paid in a timely manner. This month, however, her husband's work hours have been cut which, of course, has affected his income. Nadine and her husband have some hard decisions to make, and not all of the choices are pleasant.  It's 5:00 pm, and her husband has just walked in the door after his hour-long commute. She sees the worried frown that is creasing his forehead, and suddenly feels as if the breath has been knocked out of her. "What?" she asks. Nadine knows something is not right, and mentally prepares herself for the news to come. After clearing his throat, Craig (her husband), says "Management sent out a memo to all the employees today". He pauses for a moment, too long for Nadine, who is beginning to have trouble controlling her breathing, along with her thoughts. 'What ifs' flit through her mind, but before she can form a coherent thought or question, Craig interrupts. "The pay for all workers, across the board, is being cut by 20%. Those who don't agree with this decision will be laid off at the end of the month." Nadine quickly calculates the 20% income loss, and feels tears forming in her eyes. Their income was already reduced 20% due to Craig's shortened work hours, and not being able to get overtime. A serious income reduction like this had not been taken into account when they purchased their new home several years ago. Nor had this been a factor in their calculations when they took out the 2 car loans, or the 8+ credit cards they had. Nadine and Craig stare at each other for a moment, both lost in thoughts of how this will affect them, and their children. Stay tuned for Part II of Nadine's Story... |
Words of Wisdom
By Pearl  Confusus (not to be confused with Confuscious) says: He who is constantly watching his back cannot see the path in front of him. Confusus says: One who stands idle, waiting to grasp at the golden ring as it passes, has already lost his chance. Confusus says: Fill your days with music and your spirit will be filled with joy. Confusus says: See the world through the eyes of your child and your life will be opened to new wonders. Confusus says: Small raindrops of wisdom which fall on the mind of one who is not open to the ideas of others are as the drops of water on the duck's wings. |
Wednesday, October 17, 2007
Cheap / Free Halloween Costumes
| By Lynn Forgy Over the years, my daughter has had some creative Halloween costumes. Sometimes this has been due to her last minute decision to go trick or treating, and other times it was my fault - procrastination. But I usually managed to come up with some homemade costume that was suitable..and cheap. Mommy's Little Angel: This was by far the most creative costume. She received so many compliments that year. Not to mention that most people said they were so glad to see something besides little ghouls and goblins. Whatever the reason, not only was this costume the most creative I have ever come up with, but also the cheapest - FREE! Everything required I had on hand. If some of the items are not readily available to you, they are cheap. Items Needed: 1) One sheet of white poster board ($.40-$.50) 2) One package of white stuffing (the kind that comes in a large bag, that looks like doll or pillow stuffing - $2.00-$4.00) 3) White dress (my daughter was fortunate enough to still be able to wear her flower girl dress, but if you don't have one on hand, Goodwill is an excellent place to find one) 4) White shoes (ballet slippers look great, but any white shoes will do) 5) Long string or rope Trace out the shape of wings on the poster board and cut the wings out. You will need to poke a hole on each side, about mid-waist, and insert a long piece of rope or string to attach the wings to the child; or you could poke 2 holes on each side and insert a piece of the string on each side - the child would then slip their arms through the string on either side. Next, take some of the stuffing, and glue in clumps on the poster board. I put the stuffing on both sides (front and back). Once the child has the dress and shoes on, all that's left is to tie the wings onto the child. A halo can be added for effect and can be made out of white pipe cleaners. A cute little costume, for a not a lot of money! |
Papier Mache Halloween Pumpkin
| By Agatha Curtis Okay, we’ve decided not to sacrifice a pumpkin for Halloween this year. Instead, we are going to try our hands at making a pumpkin from papier mache (the french spelling - some of you may know it as paper mache). I argue that using an inflated balloon for the form is a natural choice; my granddaughter says just use newspaper. I think we’ll try it both ways.  The basic formula for papier mache paste is: 1 cup flour to 1 cup water. For this pumpkin we’re going to start with 2 cups of each. Mix together to form smooth paste. Strips of newspaper or other lightweight paper (about 1 inch wide) are then dipped into this paste, excess paste removed and the strip is applied to the form, in this case, the inflated balloon. You’ll want to work on a newspaper covered surface; this will get messy, I promise you. The number of layers is up to you. Too many layers will take a long time to dry. Try about three layers and use your own judgment about how thick you want your pumpkin wall to be. When you have finished layering all your paper strips, let your pumpkin dry completely (we’re going to stick ours under a fan to speed the process); then apply the paint or decorations you choose. When you are finished and all is dry, pop the balloon and remove it from your pumpkin. If you decide to carve eyes and nose into your pumpkin, you will of course pop the balloon first. Make sure your form is dry enough to hold its shape. If you don’t want to paint your pumpkin, try using colored crepe paper strips to make the outer layers—instant pumpkin and/or piñata! You won’t be able to put a lit candle in this pumpkin, but you could put in a battery operated light. If you don’t use a light, but choose to paste on eyes, nose, etc., you may have to weigh it down with something to keep it on your porch in the blustery October winds. We’ll let you know how the newspaper form pumpkins work out...if they do. Once you get a little practice in papier mache, you can create your own piñatas for birthday parties and holidays. Inexpensive to make and lots of fun for the kids. Happy Halloween! |
Tuesday, October 16, 2007
Decorating for Halloween
| By Ima Spider (aka Lynn Forgy) When I was growing up, Halloween was great fun! We would dress up in our costumes, wearing them to school, where each class would parade around in front of the entire student body. The winners were given prizes, of course, which they would gloat over for the remainder of the day. After school was let out, we would rush home where we would eat an early dinner and head out for our treats. We started early, around 4:00 pm. This ensured that we were able to make it to every house within several miles. We were given homemade popcorn balls (by my grandmother), and loads of all types of candy. After a parent inspected the candy, we ate it with great anticipation. My fondest memory of Halloween when I was growing up is the treats given to us by my grandmother. I can't remember her handing out store bought candy, although she may have. But I do remember the popcorn balls and how I looked forward to those every year. It's not practical for the most part in current times to make and hand out homemade treats - the parents of the children will snatch it out of their child's little hands and rush with it to the trash can for fear that it's somehow contaminated.  I also remember making homemade decorations - bats made out of black construction paper, pumpkins, witches, etc. These items aren't so common anymore - most of the Halloween decorations I see are bought from Walmart or some other store for more than I pay for a month's worth of groceries. Craftown and FamilyFun.com both have some cute ideas on homemade Halloween decorations. I have a challenge for you - not just for this Halloween, but for other holidays that will be upon us in the months ahead. Why not try an old-fashioned holiday theme? Keep it simple, homemade, and not only will you save some money, but you might just make a few memories, which are not something that you can buy. |
Monday, October 15, 2007
Saving for Your Emergency Fund
| By Lynn Forgy I wrote in a post yesterday that the first step, after writing out your budget, to becoming debt free is to save for your emergency fund. Ideally, this would be $1,000, although if you have a lower income your fund would be $500. Today I want to discuss some ways to go about saving for the emergency fund. If you're just starting out, working the plan, you may be feeling a lot like I felt in the beginning. I had so much debt that I was overwhelmed. For some people, the amount of debt I had may be a drop in the bucket. But because my income was low (under $22K), the amount of debt I had was extreme. I did not at that point have a home, but I did have several store credit cards (Old Navy, Best Buy, etc.), at least 2 credit cards (MasterCard and Visa), a car payment, and a student loan. My debt load each month nearly equalled my income. Not to mention I had to pay for day care, groceries, gas, etc. So what did I do? First, I prayed, and I prayed A LOT. Then I made a very conscious decision not to use any more credit cards. I just stopped. It also helped that I cut them up and therefore couldn't use them again. That at least stopped any new debt from accumulating. Second, in order to begin getting traction I had to make another conscious decision to cut down my expenses even further. This added some "income" for me to utilize in funding my emergency fund. Groceries can be an area of the budget that I tend to splurge on. However, after writing down all my budget categories and the income I had at that time, I had very little room in which to splurge on much of anything. So I began cutting down drastically on this expense. Many of the pre-made or prepackaged meals that are bought for convenience sake can be made at home for much less. I have posted a few of my recipes, along with a weekly menu and as you can see my total for weekly dinner meals is around $25.00. My lunches are usually last night's leftovers. I don't eat breakfast (I know, I know - I shouldn't skip breakfast) so that cuts out that expense. Although there are many days, usually mid-morning, that I will have cereal. I buy the cheap cereal, $2.50 per box, which brings my weekly grocery budget to $27.50. (Look for our Frugal Menu Planner with Meal Guide and Recipes coming soon!)  Be creative to find other ways to cut expenses. Below are just a few suggestions: 1) Turn the thermostat up to 83 in the summer and 64 in the winter. 2) Don't use the dryer! In the summer, line dry your clothing. In the winter, dry your clothing inside by placing them on hangers throughout your house (makes a great decoration, too). 3) Learn to say NO - No, I do not need X at this time. If you plan carefully, you can place such "wants" in your monthly budget. 4) Fluorescent light bulbs last approximately 10 times longer than regular bulbs, can save around $30 per year in electricity costs, and use about 75% less electricity. It is important to note however that because these bulbs contain a small amount of mercury, they should be disposed of properly. You can visit Energy Star's website for more info.  5) Check out freecycle.org or other local places to get and give items for free. 6) If you must buy new clothes, for yourself or your family, what about checking out the local thrift stores or Goodwill first? Oftentimes you can find name brand clothing at a fraction of the cost. 7) Unplug unused appliances. 8) Turn the lights off! 9) If you have a landline telephone and a cell phone, consider switching to just a cell phone. Or you could compare the benefits of the VOIP service (if available in your area) versus the traditional landline. For a definition, check Wikipedia. 10) Before you throw ANYTHING away, take a moment to consider if you can reuse it. The plastic bags you get from the grocery or other store makes a great wastebasket liner. Or perhaps recycle it at a local recycling bank for cash. Aluminum cans, newspaper, and office paper are recycled at many places for cash. 11) Have a ginormous yard sale! Anything and everything that you're not using, or haven't used in the past 2-3 months, can't wear or don't wear, hate, etc., SELL IT! 12) Cut out the cable or satellite service. 13) Turn the water off when you're not using it. For example, when you're brushing your teeth turn the faucet off until you need it. This is particularly important for those of us living in a drought - we don't have a drop to spare! 14) Make your own bread and snack items. If you have other suggestions for cutting expenses that aren't listed above, please email me. It is important to know that for most people, your emergency fund isn't completed overnight. It takes time, dedication, and commitment. It is hard work, but well worth it when you have an "emergency" that you don't have to pay for with plastic. |
Halloween Treat
| By Agatha Curtis If you would like to do a special “Treat” for Halloween this year, here’s an idea. Gather up a bunch of little ghosties and ghoulies in their scary costumes and take them to visit your local nursing home. You’ll want to clear this with the home first, of course. I can’t imagine anything more rewarding than “treating” some of our homebound friends and relatives to a reminder of the fun of Halloween.  This is something our Girl Scout troop did years ago and it was a great hit with the kids of all ages! (Don’t forget to take your camera.) |
Sunday, October 14, 2007
Taking the First Step
| By Lynn Forgy To work towards the goal of becoming debt free, I believe the most important thing to promise yourself is to not incur any new debt. I know how hard this is. Cutting up the credit card can seem so drastic. In the back of your mind, you may be thinking "What if I have an emergency? How will I be able to pay for it?".  As I mentioned in my first post, I first started following the steps in Crown and have also been a follower of Dave Ramsey for the past year. The two plans are similar, however, there are some differences. Each have steps that are followed that will, in the end, lead to a debt free, financially independent life. Whether you follow one or the other is not my point, rather my point is that if you choose to start down this path (and it is a choice) you will have to make some temporary sacrifices. You may have to do without, gasp, cable or some other modern convenience that we are convinced we cannot live without. Planning and writing out your monthly budget should be your first priority. Each and every dollar you have coming in must be accounted for. Nothing should be spent that is not in the budget. Following this, the first step is to save for your emergency fund. This is true in both plans mentioned above. My emergency fund (EF) is $1,000 and I accomplished this step some months ago. I do not use the EF for such things like a new outfit, birthday gifts, etc. These expenses can be planned and placed into my budget. Your EF could be placed in a savings account where it is handy in the event of an emergency, but not too convenient or where it can be a temptation.  I will be posting more in the coming week regarding the next steps, so stay tuned. Below are some links that I have found helpful in writing out my budget, working the steps, and general support. I also belong to several yahoo groups dealing with finances and becoming debt free. Crown Financial Tools Dave Ramsey and Budgeting Bankrate's Budgeting spreadsheet Our Nation's Debt - Totally disgusting My Technorati Profile: Technorati Profile Labels: budget, Crown, Dave Ramsey, emergency fund |
Saturday, October 13, 2007
Websites Worth Visiting
| By Lynn Forgy I have quite a few websites that I visit frequently that pertain to saving money and frugal living. One of my new favorites is BookMooch.com. BookMooch is a site dedicated to book lovers - you give away your books that you no longer need or want, and in turn you are able to "mooch" books from others. The only cost to you is shipping your book when someone requests it. I have been able to get really nice books for my daughter this way - books that I could purchase at the store for $4 or $5 each, but instead I am getting them for free!  Another site that I LOVE is HotCouponWorld.com. This site is dedicated to coupons and freebies. I'll admit that I don't use coupons very much at all (I have found that buying the store brand or other generic brand saves more money than using a $.50 coupon for a name brand item). I do, however, get a lot of freebies.  One of my all time favorite sites is Freecycle.org. This is a site for you to give things away and also to get items from your fellow freecyclers...for free! There are groups for counties and cities - so if you're interested you should see what's available near you. I have given away lots of items, and have received bar stools, books, holiday decorations, and much, much more.  Do you have a favorite freebie site to share? Send us an email by clicking the link on the right. |
Friday, October 12, 2007
Scary Spider Pumpkins for Halloween
| By Agatha Curtis Make your own scary little spider this Halloween from a mini pumpkin and a few other inexpensive items, easily found. Spiders are easy and fun to make and can be used for decorating or for gifts. Mini pumpkins range around 4” in diameter, 3” in height including stem, and are found in the produce section of your grocery store. I have seen them priced at two or three pumpkins for $1. You will need the following items: mini pumpkin, black pipe cleaners, clear acrylic spray, black acrylic paint (craft paint), white or red or yellow acrylic craft paint, paintbrush. You can find the clear acrylic spray in the spray paint section of your store. Acrylic paints such as those used in crafts are my choice for the body of the spider, but you could substitute black spray paint if you plan to mass produce or if you have some on hand. Cover your work surface with newspapers and, if using spray paint, ventilate well. First, spray a light coat of clear acrylic spray on your pumpkin and let it dry. This will help seal the surface, the paint will adhere better and your painted pumpkin will last a little longer. Then, coat your entire pumpkin with black paint. Acrylics dry fast, so this won’t take too long. Paint the stem or leave it natural. Using the white or red or yellow acrylic paint, make circles for the spider’s eyes and let dry. Paint small black pupils in the eyes. When all paint is dry, spray another light coat (or two) of clear acrylic spray over the entire surface of your pumpkin. Let dry between coats. You have a choice on the spider’s legs. For long legs, take one pipe cleaner (these measure about 10 or so inches) and bend it into a vee in the middle of the pipe cleaner. About one-half inch from one end, bend the pipe cleaner end up. This gives you one leg for your spider, with the last little bend being the “foot.” If you would prefer short legs, cut your pipe cleaner in half, then bend the same way (or leave off the “foot” bend and just make one vee bend, if you prefer.) Take a pencil point and make small indentation holes in the top half section of your pumpkin. Four holes for legs beginning on the left from the spider’s eyes and four on the right side. Hold your pipe cleaner close to the end opposite the foot bend, and gently insert it about one-half inch into an indent. The legs can be adjusted up or down, close in or flare out, after you have all eight inserted. Scary Spider Pumpkins would be a great craft for kids or adults, but remember that they are not toys. Keep out of the reach of babies and young children due to the paint and pipe cleaners. Happy Scary Halloween!! Labels: Halloween, homemade craft, pumpkins, scary |
Keeping Up With the Jones'
| By Lynn Forgy Ah, this is the life. Living in a house that isn't paid for, driving a car that belongs to the bank, wearing clothes that were purchased by our "friend" Mr. Plastic, eating at restaurants courtesy of Mrs. MasterCard, taking our children to every conceivable activity with the help of Mr. Visa. Why do we do this to ourselves? Who are we trying to impress? Does anyone think anymore of us simply by having "things"? Granted, there are some out there who wouldn't give you the time of day unless you were wearing all the right clothes and driving the right vehicle. However, I think that we need to constantly remind ourselves that we are not living for those people. As Christians, we are called to not be of this world - we are to live as visitors. I must admit, I struggle with this a lot, although not as much as in the past. I know that to be someone that I can live with, my focus must be on things other than the material. For example, when I watch a reality show that is all about money, and what money has bought for these people, I notice that I start feeling the desire to go shopping - I must have new clothes! What was I thinking wearing a shirt that I've had for 2 years?? And these shoes? And the list goes on, and on, and on. One of the ways I have begun to deal with this is to watch less television, of course (which in another way saves you money by using less electricity - what a great motivation!). I also quit going to department stores or the mall for new clothes and every other thing contained in those places. I can't even look at the labels of name brand clothing in those stores without calculating how many weeks of groceries equals one new outfit. Little by little, I am learning to live within my means. To do this, I have to constantly tell myself that the Jones' I may want to try to keep up with or emulate are fictional - they live in THE LAND OF CREDIT, a place in which I definitely do not want to live. Material objects are just that, and what's more, when we leave here they are not something we can take with us. I think I would rather leave my family and community with something that matters - rather than the knowledge that I spent my life attaining the unrealistic quest for the life of the Jones'. Labels: focus, Keeping up with the Jones', material items |
Thursday, October 11, 2007
Treasure Hunting at Goodwill
| By Lynn Forgy Can you remember the time when "ebay" was NOT a common household term? I can...vaguely. Ebay opened up doors for buyers and sellers alike. Particularly for me, as a seller. A year or so ago, I found a cute little stuffed monkey (circa 1960s I think) at the local Goodwill (another great store!). I did not buy this little monkey with the thought of selling him in mind. I bought him because my grandmother had one just like it, and I suppose I inherited her love of stuffed monkeys. The monkey sat around my house for a while, until one day out of curiosity I looked him up on the internet - just to find out his name and a little more about the hairy little guy. Can you imagine my surprise when I saw similar monkeys for sale for...gulp, $100??? I had paid $2.00 for him, and could multiply my earnings tremendously. So I did. He sold for around $70 if I remember correctly (he had a marking on his foot from a Sharpie - what cold-hearted person could do such a thing?). So what is the point of this long-winded rambling about monkeys you may be asking yourself. The moral of this story is NOT to go directly to your local thrift store and by anything and everything you can get your hands on (we're trying to get out of debt here, not fill up our homes with items we don't need and can't pay for). Rather, the point is that if you do your research, and you see items in thrift stores or at yard sales that you could sell on ebay for a profit, and IF you have the money available, a good way to earn extra cash to put towards your debt would be to snatch those items up. I've been lucky enough to find not only the monkey, but many old books as well. Most sold for at least 10 times what I paid for them, and some as much as 100 times (if I got the book for $.10 and sold it for $50.00 - that's a nice little profit). Your chances of finding a "pot of gold" are probably not that high, but I like to think of it as hunting for buried treasure. You just never know what you're going to find. Labels: ebay, Goodwill, online selling, treasure |
The Lost Art of Paper Doll Making
| By Agatha Curtis When I was about 10 years old, one of my favorite things to do was draw and cut out paper dolls. My friends and my little sister loved to draw dolls with plain little bathing suits and funny little vee-pointed feet. Arms would be bent at the elbow and tucked in front of or behind the body. We would color the dolls in with our crayons. In those days, we received regular issues of big and small catalogs, Sears, Penneys and Montgomery Ward, mainly. These were the sources for our outfits and accessories. You could always find a model wearing items that (with a little snip here and there) would fit your made-to-order paper doll. Her wardrobe was limited only by your imagination. We very seldom backed our creations with cardboard, choosing instead to make more dolls when those wore out from handling. I can still recognize a paper doll drawn by my little sister, Sandy, because she had a distinctive way of detailing her dolls. They always had a movie star quality and were very feminine. Mine, unfortunately, were not quite as glamorous, but geared instead to the more tomboyish pursuits, their wardrobes containing jeans and boots suitable for horseback riding. You don’t see a lot of paper dolls for sale in the stores, nowadays. They’ve been replaced by animated computer programs and our daughters and granddaughters choose the perfect outfit and shoes online for their virtual dolls. There’s a lot to be said for being able to open a catalog or a magazine and choose the outfit you think looks best for your doll, then cut it out (always making sure to clip the little tabs that will hold the clothing on your paper doll figure, of course). Being of the generation that was raised on Captain Kangeroo, we also proudly decorated and embellished shoe boxes to hold our precious dolls and wardrobes. (Captain Kangeroo was a children’s television program, forerunner to Sesame Street.) The Captain could take an ordinary shoe box, some construction paper, scissors and glue and create more wonderful things than you could possibly imagine. If you decide to make a paper doll for or with your young lady, I would recommend backing it with cardboard (used file folders are great for this) and giving her a helping hand with cutting out the “tabs” on her outfits until she gets the hang of it. If you don’t have catalogs around the house, try the magazine rack. Leftover bits of gift wrap paper make wonderful outfits. We designed, colored and cut out clothes from plain paper, too, which gave us the option to make evening gowns as fancy as any princess might wish. Don’t confine yourself to paper dolls, though. Little boys like to collect things, too. How about cutting out horses and their various accessories from magazines or catalogs? Dogs, racecars, or jungle animals are just a few suggestions. Whatever your child’s passion may be, chances are you can find a source of pictures from which to choose. Your kids will have hours of fun using their imaginations to create their own collections and, once you get them started, you will have hours of quiet time. Labels: art, homemade craft, paper doll |
Wednesday, October 10, 2007
Neighborhood Bring and Barter
| Neighborhood Bring and Barter By Agatha Curtis A good way to get to know your neighbors, save some money, and get rid of unwanted stuff at the same time. Sound too good to be true? It’s not. Do you remember the old-fashioned block parties? Neighbors used to come out of their houses, cook good food and have a meal together. They got to know one another better and formed a community. Here’s an idea to bring that back to your neighborhood, but with a new twist. Most folks have a few things (or more than a few) around the house they would like to get rid of. Maybe have a yard sale? Donate to the Goodwill? Before you take that box or two away, try having a Bring and Barter in your neighborhood. Pick an area with enough room for everyone to set out fold-up chairs if needed, boxes of stuff and plenty of space to “mingle.” Set a tentative date and time, but be ready to negotiate this. Then call or visit your neighbors and tell them you’re planning an hour or two of community time. Explain that all they have to do is show up with one or two boxes of unwanted possessions and “shop” from the riches provided by others. No money—barter only. If you’re refreshment oriented (as I am) each person could bring enough donuts, cookies, fresh fruit, or whatever for one or two people (this is a great chance to try out that new cookie recipe.) To make it easy, everyone brings their own mug of coffee or preferred drink. A roll of paper towels for plates and napkins. All you should need is one card table to hold the goodies. More than likely, the kids in your neighborhood will think this whole thing is a great idea and they will definitely want to participate. You can give them a separate area with “kids only” toys and trading, but be sure to enlist an adult or two to supervise and help the negotiations along. Keep it simple. Enjoy the day. Take the time to make new friends without leaving home. Labels: barter, block party, Goodwill, neighborhood |
Tuesday, October 09, 2007
Make “Frugal” Your New Family Game
| By Agatha Curtis Here’s a way to make saving money fun. If you’re lucky enough to have a large family, you already have a team of players to help you get started. Regardless of the size of your family or the age of its members, with a little advance planning and organization, you can save money right now and teach some important life lessons, too. First, decide what your goals are....both for your family and for the individual members who will be playing the game. Try to get everyone in on the act. Be sure to choose a time when there are no distractions from video games or the television and when all can join in. Sitting at the supper table together would be a great start. Second, start the ball rolling by explaining the idea behind your new family game: Come up with ideas to cut costs around the house and from daily routines. The best ideas win rewards (make sure everyone gets a reward at some point). Suggest what some of the prizes could be and take notes of ideas (more about this later). Then hand out the game requirements: small notebooks, freshly sharpened pencils, and a deadline for the first batch of ideas. You can gather the ideas daily or weekly, whatever suits your players. (Suggestion: Hit up the local Dollar Store for those little 10 or 25 cent wirebound hand size notebooks. They’re not only cheap but also easy to carry around.) If you have very small children, you’ll probably have to take some dictation. For the older kids (who may think this is the corniest idea you’ve ever had) you’re going to have to capture their attention and interest by having some good ideas for the prizes of the game. A graduated payback may be the best way to start. A trip to the park, a game of catch, playing cards with Mom or Dad, or exemption from taking out the trash for one night; these first incentives shouldn’t cost you anything. Third, make your large goals and rewards fit the needs and wants of your family. Playing “Frugal” in order to buy a new washer for Mom is not exciting, though possibly necessary. Using the money you’ve all saved to buy trail bikes (used, of course) for the whole family is awesome. The possibilities are endless. Labels: entertainment, family fun, frugal game |
Sunday, October 07, 2007
Your Recipes Wanted
| In my pursuit of living frugally, at least my attempt at living frugally, I have come up with some creative concoctions in the kitchen. One of my favorites is Leftover Soup (it may sound disgusting, but is quite tasty). I will be posting the most creative recipes I receive through the end of October. Do you have a recipe you would like to share? If so, email me at krista12345_2000@yahoo.com and include your name, city and state so I can give you credit for it. You can also include a link back to your own site. Labels: creative, kitchen, leftover soup, recipes |
Frugal Recipes
| There's a lot to be said for convenience, particularly in this day and age when everyone seems to be living in the fast lane. However, saving money (and at times a great deal of money) is oftentimes more of a motivator. I have found that although I may be tempted to buy a packet of pizza dough mix for $.78, I can make my own for around $.10 - $.15. This may not sound like a great deal of money, but if I can save that amount of money on many items I have found a way to substantially save on my grocery budget. Last week, I posted a 1 week menu with a total cost for 7 dinners of $26 and change. Below are some of those recipes: 1) Homemade Pizza Dough: 3/4 c. warm water 1 Tbsp. butter/oil (I use the "fake" butter - the Parkay spray/fat free and have NOT noticed a difference in taste) 1 1/2 tsp. salt 2 1/4 c. bread flour (when using all-purpose or self-rising, the taste is AWFUL) 1 tsp. sugar 1 tsp. yeast You can use a bread machine for this, setting it for dough only. Place the wet ingredients in the bowl, then the dry ingredients. Stir with a fork. Let the dough rise (anywhere from 10-30 minutes). I like to roll the dough out with a rolling pin; it seems to work better. The dough will be somewhat stretchy. There is enough for 2-3 medium pizzas, or several calzones. If you have enough left over, you can use it for the topping on the Chicken Pot Pie. 2) Chicken Pot Pie Crust - I use the same dough recipe (#1). 3) Homemade Condensed Soup Mix (this is used in the Tuna & Rice dish, as well as the Chicken Pot Pie): Non-fat dry milk (about 1 c.) Chicken powder or bouillon (about 2 tsp.) Spices (you can use basil, salt, pepper - I use whatever I have handy in the cupboard) Cornstarch (about 1/4 c.) Mix the above ingredients, then place in pan on stove with water. Start with about 1 1/2 c. water on medium heat. Mixture will thicken and if too thick you can add more water. It should be the consistency of store-bought condensed soup. If it is too runny, you can add more cornstarch (HINT: I've learned from experience that if you add cornstarch after adding water, you'll get clumps. You should put a little cornstarch in a separate cup, mix in about 1-2 tsp. of cold water, stir, then add this to your mixture). Labels: condensed soup, dough, Frugal recipes, homemade |
