Dangerous produce

I recently came across this list in a book by Scott Stoll.  Most people don't buy organic produce because of the high cost however, you don't have to buy all organic to reduce your exposure to toxic pesticides.  The Environmental Working Group published this list of the twelve most and least contaminated fruits and vegetables.

Dirty Dozen:  peaches, apples, bell pepper, celery, nectarines, strawberries, cherries, pears, grapes

Cleanest:  onions, avocados, frozen sweet corn, pineapples, mangos, asparagus, frozen sweet peas, kiwis, bananas

This is useful as it might be worthwhile to purchase organic varieties from the dirty dozen list and purchase non organic of the least contaminated produce thus saving money.  I am working on a list of the best places to purchase produce at the lowest price however, it will take some time because I also want to compare the farmer's markets which haven't really started yet.  I am growing all I can right now and purchasing some marked down produce at Super 1 Foods as I have just about become a vegetarian recently in an effort to improve my health and energy level and it is working.  More on that later.

Free mulch and trash bags

  We have had a pretty severe drought in Texas recently so I am doing my best to get a head start on gardening before the heat hits and the rain stops.  One way I conserve water is by heavily mulching with leaves.  We have over an acre that can be mowed so we have no shortage of leaves to rake at home.  I usually just rake it into an old cart and wheel it over to the garden to unload but, I haven't started raking yet this year. 

  I've always driven by neighborhoods in town and seen their yards lined with several bags of leaves and thought I should stop and pick them up just to save time.  This past week I finally did.  I drive a minivan so I would just load up about 3-4 bags at a time when I was in the neighborhood and then dump them on my garden rows as soon as I got home.  I found that the leaves I chose were somewhat already mulched/broken up and the bags were clean enough that I could use them again either as a large kitchen trash bag or another use. 

  Now I still have to rake at home but, this will save me some time as it takes a lot of raking and moving leaves to cover each row.  At least now I have a time-saving head start and some free trash bags to go along with it.   Besides water conservation, another added benefit of mulching is you don't have to worry about the dreaded task of weeding!

Never buy envelopes again

  Years ago I learned that when the holidays are over, the card stockers have to come in and remove all the unsold greeting cards and send them back to the manufacturer for credit.  However, they don't send the envelopes back because it isn't required.  Some save them inside the case just in case they are needed and others just throw them away.  When I run across a card stocker, I have always asked if I could have their extra envelopes and have never been turned down.  Usually they are willing to give me all that I want and I have never run out of envelopes.  If I start to run low, I just check after the next holiday is over.  Note, just don't store envelopes in an area that has a lot of moisture or in an outside storage room as they will seal shut and be worthless. 

What to do with cereal crumbs

  This idea was inspired by the Tightwad Gazette written by Amy Dacyczyn.  She is one of the most influential frugal authors.  My husband eats Kelloggs Frosted Mini-wheats cereal almost every morning for breakfast.  He goes through about one box a week.  This cereal tends to make a lot of crumbs and therefore a lot of waste.  I started saving all the crumbs in a freezer container and when I get at least two cups, I can make up a batch of cookies.

  Chocolate Chip Crumb Cookies:

1 C. margarine (or butter)
1 C. brown sugar
1/2 C. white sugar
2 eggs
1tsp vanilla
2 C. flour
1/4 tsp. baking powder
1 tsp baking soda
1/4 tsp salt
2 C. oats
2 C. crushed dry cereal or other appropriate crumbs
1 C. chocolate chips

Cream margarine and sugars until sugar seems dissolved.  Mix in eggs and vanilla.  Sift flour, baking powder, soda and salt together and stir in slowly.  Add oats and crumbs mixing well.  If dough seems dry, can add a tablespoon of water at a time until moist.  Add chocolate chips.  Drop by spoonfuls on greased cookie sheet and flatten if necessary.  Bake 10-12 minutes at 375 degrees.  Do not over bake.  Remove and let cool.  I have used oil in place of the margarine and have used cereal crumbs in place of the oats.  You can cut back on the sugar if you are using really sweet crumbs like the frosted mini-wheats that we use.  Another variation would be to use raisins or craisins either in place of the chocolate chips or in addition to them.

Paying for expensive items that don't have coupons

  I need to go shopping for "staples" such as fruit fresh, cheese, kid cereal and so on that I have run out of and don't have coupons and sales for.  I've looked and looked for good deals but, can't find any.  The good news is I can buy other products that I have coupons for that are higher than what the item costs at Walmart and apply the extra coupon amount towards items that I don't have a coupon for.

  I used to dread shopping at Walmart because I don't like the large store and they almost always make a mistake on my receipt.  I started shopping there again when they changed their coupon policy to allow coupon overage to be applied towards other items you are purchasing or to give it to you as a refund.  It is too much of a hassle to get them to pay you but, I'm happy to buy other items I need and get them to pay for it.  Some recent coupons that have been higher than the product costs are Benefiber, Reach floss, KY jelly, BIC pens, Cortaid and Sunbird seasoning.  Check out iheartthemart.com and other sites for more information.  Several are printable coupons.  Please note that a few coupons such as Schick razors have started putting on their coupons, "No cash back if coupon value exceeds price".  In this case, you may not be allowed overage on these products.  What's not clear to me is whether you could still get the overage but, not get cash back if you were using these items.  I need to contact the manufacturer for clarification.

Getting paid to go on a date

  My Mom offered to watch the boys Friday night if my husband and I wanted to go out on a date.  I am signed up with a few mystery shopping firms and just happened to get some emails saying they needed a shopper for a restaurant and movie this week.  I applied for them and got them so now my husband and I get to go out to eat and spend up to $40 and we get to see a movie and spend up to $30.  We will be reimbursed for expenses up to these amounts and I will get paid $16 total on top of the expenses.  I don't do this very often just a few times a year.

  The cons are that I have to be very observant during the meal and the movie and take notes.  I also have to submit two reports within 24 hours.  The positive side is we could use a credit card and earn free rewards points as well as possibly be reimbursed by the time the credit card bill is due.  It takes me an hour to do each report however, I'm getting paid $8 an hour.  Knowing I'm getting paid to go out kind of makes me feel better about spending the money on entertainment.  Besides, the company is always great:).

Saving money on food by preparing ahead

  I've never been good about planning menus or being prepared for dinner every night.  It's actually something I dread.  But, I know how expensive it is to eat out.  Last night I was caught with one hour until dinner and no meat thawed out and no plan.  I ended up making some brown rice, sauteeing some onion and using a can of cream of chicken soup to make chicken rice soup.  Not the healthiest or most appetizing meal but, it was something to eat with little preparation time.

  The funny thing is that I had spent all day preparing filler foods so everyone wouldn't be hungry.  We are a family of six with two preschoolers and two teenagers.  Everyone likes to grab convenience foods instead of taking the time to prepare things from scratch so yesterday and today I made fruited jello, rice krispie treats, carrot sticks, chocolate chip cookies and pumpkin pie.  

  I also thawed out some meats for meals the following days.  I put some round steak in the crockpot overnight and I will marinate some kabob meat and cook some ham which should cover us through the weekend.  Maybe one day I will be consistent with menu planning and then it won't be such a chore.  I keep wanting to try the once a month cooking or something similar but, I am afraid the quality won't be very good.  I'll have to share some recipes soon.  Stay tuned.