tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-72563763495087980272010-05-08T09:59:15.910-06:00Extremely frugal tips, quotes, comments and advice from an extremely frugal person, Pat Veretto.Pathttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11122457524036298067centsible@iname.comBlogger228125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7256376349508798027.post-71984781222168507102010-03-09T11:00:00.003-07:002010-03-09T11:04:41.278-07:00

Blogger.com (Google blogspot) has decided that they will no longer support FTP blogs, which this one is, as it's hosted on my own site. I have a choice to migrate the blog to Blogger.com, to change to a different format altogether or to get a custom domain through Blogger. I choose none of them, so May 1 of this year is the end of the line for this blog. I may pick it up in a different format

Pathttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11122457524036298067centsible@iname.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7256376349508798027.post-53980090170552935262010-01-23T18:11:00.002-07:002010-01-23T18:19:11.193-07:00

So you know to turn off the water when you brush your teeth, you flush the toilet with your bath water, water the house plants with leftover water. Do you use dish water to mop the kitchen? If you use a dishwasher, it may be harder to do, but on the occasion when you make up a pan or sink of dish water, don't let it go to waste. If there are suds left, it will clean your kitchen floor. Saves

Pathttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11122457524036298067centsible@iname.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7256376349508798027.post-22859004913086876882009-12-10T23:25:00.003-07:002009-12-10T23:31:42.734-07:00

Frugally priced beef and pork is often tough, but you can make it as tender as the most expensive roast or steak by marinating or cooking it with vinegar. That can taste a lot better than it sounds! Barbecue sauce made with vinegar or mustard sauces with vinegar will do the trick, as well as cooking pork with sauerkraut. For a nice roast, though, splash a little plain apple cider vinegar over it

Pathttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11122457524036298067centsible@iname.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7256376349508798027.post-45369580891331346192009-12-02T11:02:00.003-07:002009-12-02T11:05:29.155-07:00

Need a quick and cheap way to brighten up a room? Use a floor cloth... or rather, a blanket as a floor cloth. Some blankets are quite pretty and stylize, especially the nonwoven kind. If you don't have any extras handy, thrift stores often have them. Even if you have to buy one new, they're cheaper than buying a floor cloth or area rug.

Pathttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11122457524036298067centsible@iname.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7256376349508798027.post-35005732268417281032009-11-28T10:34:00.003-07:002009-11-28T10:39:48.139-07:00

I don't know if you've found it yet, but in case you haven't, there is a Christmas page up here. Some frugal advice, some nostalgia and a couple of fiction stories, plus things that can't quite be categorized. If you enjoy Christmas, visit the page and let me know what you like or dislike about it. Christmas! is the name of the page. (Creative, huh?)

Pathttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11122457524036298067centsible@iname.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7256376349508798027.post-3434935801659481382009-11-24T10:19:00.001-07:002009-11-24T10:21:53.131-07:00

Ok, I'm back... just couldn't stand it when I have only a little to say. :) You could buy something to hold the bacon flat when you're frying it (it can curl even in the microwave, I've found!), but simpler and cheaper because you don't have to buy anything extra: Lightly dust the bacon strips with flour before frying. The fat will fry out of it, and the flour will lightly crust and make the

Pathttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11122457524036298067centsible@iname.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7256376349508798027.post-71408540318538569942009-09-11T18:09:00.000-06:002009-09-11T18:09:33.181-06:00

I have enjoyed writing this blog, but time just gets away from me and I haven't been posting nearly as often as I intended. So... I am going to ignore this one for awhile, and maybe permanently. I will post extremely frugal tips on my original blog when I can. I might change my mind and if so, I'll post that on my other blog. Thanks to all of you who have followed me here. I'll see you over

Pathttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11122457524036298067centsible@iname.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7256376349508798027.post-24748741267641419812009-09-08T14:59:00.004-06:002009-09-08T15:05:45.890-06:00

The cheapest way to get stains from fabric is to use bar soap and scrub. It will remove "ring around the collar," grease stains, ball point ink stains and a lot more. Wet the fabric, rub the bar soap into it, scrunch the fabric and scrub it against itself hard. It may take a little work, but most of the time it will happen. (Do NOT dry a stained item in a dryer as the heat will set a lot of

Pathttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11122457524036298067centsible@iname.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7256376349508798027.post-15492190916763410702009-08-31T09:43:00.004-06:002009-08-31T09:47:48.988-06:00

You can make a cheap, tough cut of meat as tender as an expensive one by mixing a tablespoon of baking soda in a cup of water. Make as much as you need to barely cover the meat, pour it over and refrigerate overnight. In the morning, rinse the meat thoroughly and then cook.

Pathttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11122457524036298067centsible@iname.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7256376349508798027.post-26200257064459620952009-08-28T00:42:00.003-06:002009-08-28T00:44:32.483-06:00

Need a cookie cutter? or a biscuit cutter? Save the next tuna or cat food can. They're the perfect size, wash well and last forever. If you're handy, you can even drill a hole and attach a handle to the center of the bottom (which would be the top when you use it for a dough cutter) with a small screw and nut.

Pathttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11122457524036298067centsible@iname.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7256376349508798027.post-16323698766166070342009-08-24T11:48:00.002-06:002009-08-24T11:51:50.948-06:00

In the spirit of using it all up, save the silk from sweet corn that you buy in the husk (or grow yourself). A handful, about equal to the silk from two ears of corn, boiled in a cup and a half of water for about 15 minutes, makes a delightful drink. Try it. If you like it, you can dry the silk in a dehydrator, in the hot sun or on very low in the oven, and save it for cold weather. Use a little

Pathttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11122457524036298067centsible@iname.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7256376349508798027.post-85742155277418118222009-08-20T12:17:00.003-06:002009-08-20T12:21:31.314-06:00

If you buy tea or coffee and don't care for it, use it to dye fabric. Even herbal teas can tint white cotton - good for scarves, light curtains, etc. Just make it up as if you were going to drink it, then put the material into it while it's still hot. Let it set for 30 minutes or so and rinse in cool water. Set the dye with salt and always wash in cold water.

Pathttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11122457524036298067centsible@iname.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7256376349508798027.post-11374261728820492792009-08-17T21:30:00.003-06:002009-08-17T21:34:51.031-06:00

I came across this somewhere... don't remember where, so if anyone knows, let me know so I can give proper credit. 1 cup sugar1 package of Kool Aid or generic drink mix3 cups of milk Stir all together until sugar is dissolved, then pour into a shallow freezer container. Freeze for about an hour, then beat until smooth and freeze until firm. Let it stand at room temperature a few minutes before

Pathttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11122457524036298067centsible@iname.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7256376349508798027.post-80468775659254550832009-08-12T09:44:00.003-06:002009-08-12T09:52:33.755-06:00

If you come up with too much food, whether it's cooked or fresh, fruit or vegetable, the chances are that you can dehydrate it for future use. If you have a vehicle, place food (check to see if it needs pretreatment first) on trays or food safe screens (screens with cloth placed over them are fine) and set them inside a vehicle parked in the sun. Open a couple of windows an inch or so. Or set

Pathttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11122457524036298067centsible@iname.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7256376349508798027.post-52499359953607187552009-08-11T01:29:00.005-06:002009-08-11T01:33:44.664-06:00

If you have a local farmer's market, go (or stick around until) nearly closing time. When the vendors begin packing up leftover produce to take back home is the time to strike good deals. Don't be shy about asking and don't be put off if they decline. You'll never know until you ask. Most producers would rather sell their stuff than take it home to feed to the chickens.

Pathttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11122457524036298067centsible@iname.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7256376349508798027.post-6646202678010348962009-08-09T21:18:00.001-06:002009-08-09T21:21:18.564-06:00

If you have samples of shampoo that you don't like, don't toss them. Put them in a pump bottle, add half again as much water or even as much water as you have shampoo and use it for hand soap at the sink. Bonus is that some of it smells great! Each sample is usually around 2 tablespoons, so if you add 2 tablespoons of water, you'll have around a quarter of a cup of free liquid soap for each

Pathttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11122457524036298067centsible@iname.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7256376349508798027.post-77009815942779008512009-08-07T01:34:00.004-06:002009-08-07T01:42:44.227-06:00

Got zucchini? Even with the unusual weather this year, many gardeners (and their friends!) have a glut of zucchini. A good way to eat up the bigger ones is to scrape out the seed cavity, stuff it with a cooked ground meat mixture and bake. Don't throw out the seed/pulp, though! Add it back to the stuffing mixture and it will stretch the meat, but nobody but you will even know it's there.

Pathttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11122457524036298067centsible@iname.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7256376349508798027.post-19265695611241596562009-08-05T15:57:00.002-06:002009-08-05T16:03:24.954-06:00

Witch hazel is very inexpensive and one thing you should have around all the time. It can't be beat for skin irritations, insect bites, sore muscles and poison ivy. It will immediately take the pain out of a bee or hornet sting, and reduce the swelling. And as a bonus, it's a mild astringent so it's great for a quick face cleanser. It's also a very good aftershave, I'm told.

Pathttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11122457524036298067centsible@iname.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7256376349508798027.post-26262377809422052252009-08-01T21:42:00.000-06:002009-08-01T21:43:25.181-06:00

Put dry potpourri in the middle of a napkin or handkerchief, bring up all four corners and put a rubber band around it, then tie a ribbon around that. Use for a lingerie sachet, or use it in the car - or even give it as a gift. A small bag of potpourri (if you buy it) will make many sachets.

Pathttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11122457524036298067centsible@iname.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7256376349508798027.post-81148570230965456732009-07-20T14:20:00.004-06:002009-07-20T14:28:08.872-06:00

Hot enough for you? If that phrase has you ready to strangle the next person who says it, you might want to try some personal evaporative cooling. Evaporative coolers work best when the humidity is low, but this method helps even when it's high. You have to do it only when you're at home, to be polite. Wet your clothes, wring them out and put them back on. That's it. You'll feel a lot cooler

Pathttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11122457524036298067centsible@iname.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7256376349508798027.post-28419297678188374972009-07-16T05:07:00.002-06:002009-07-16T05:14:57.756-06:00

Paper towels, paper napkins, plastic wrap, dishcloths, potholders, minute rice, plastic wrap, tv dinners, canned soup... you get the idea. There are good substitutes or homemade versions that are cheaper and better.

Pathttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11122457524036298067centsible@iname.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7256376349508798027.post-1983766999399295402009-07-15T11:51:00.001-06:002009-07-15T11:55:05.703-06:00

Any dairy or dairy like product can be used in baking. Non dairy coffee creamer, mixed with water (try one part creamer and 3 parts water), ice cream (thaw first and cut back on sugar), cream or half and half (add three times as much water as cream). Use potato water in bread instead of milk.

Pathttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11122457524036298067centsible@iname.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7256376349508798027.post-20666711999902570372009-07-08T13:33:00.002-06:002009-07-08T13:37:28.134-06:00

I can take a shower and wash my (long) hair in two gallons of water. It's a lot easier than it sounds. Fill two one gallon containers with warm water then stand in the tub or shower. Pour enough water over your head to wet your hair, put down the container, shampoo and pour enough water to rinse. You'll be thoroughly wet by this time, so lather up all over. Pour the remaining gallon or so over

Pathttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11122457524036298067centsible@iname.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7256376349508798027.post-38698700577213340582009-06-29T12:04:00.002-06:002009-06-29T12:12:46.630-06:00

What we don't buy defines us, at least at times. Here's a challenge: Every month for the rest of the year, decide upon one new thing that you now buy that you can make yourself or substitute for something cheaper. Ideas: Napkins, paper towels, canned soup, popsicles, pudding, note pads, potholders, dishcloths, rag rugs, iced tea...

Pathttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11122457524036298067centsible@iname.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7256376349508798027.post-60671722725336392632009-06-24T19:12:00.001-06:002009-06-24T19:15:23.735-06:00

What's your best frugal tip?? I think mine is "do nothing." When I don't go anywhere, don't get involved in a project, don't do much of anything except read what's already in the house, or knit or sew with what I already have... I don't spend any money at all. And that's pretty frugal!

Pathttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11122457524036298067centsible@iname.com5