Budget Tip - Shoot for Zero Food Waste

Being a frugality master and having to watch our spending very tightly for the last couple of years, I've developed a pretty good strategy to prevent food waste and therefore budget waste.  Apparently 40% of the food produced in America gets tossed into landfills, and on average, Americans throw away 20 pounds of food per month per person!  After watching an episode of Last Week Tonight with John Oliver on the topic of food waste, I thought I'd put forth my tips on how to save money by throwing out as little food as possible.

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And I'm not talking about eating the leftovers in the back of the fridge that will bring you a nighttime of repentance for pain relief here.   I'm talking about property managing your food stores.  This requires knowing what food you have at home and what food you need before you head to the store.

It doesn't have to be complicated or tedious.  Practically every bit of food that I bring home is consumed.  Here's what has worked for us;

- First eat the foods that are fading:  spotty bananas, softer potatoes, sprouting onions, etc.
- Refrigerate!  I know that fruit looks pretty in a bowl on the counter, but everything lasts longer in the fridge.  You can even store tomatoes and bread in the fridge which are commonly thought of as a no-no.
- Freeze leftovers.  Soups, broths, pastas, casseroles, beans, grains, chilis, and stews store and reheat really well.
- Only open one packaged thing at a time.  You don't need to have 5 boxes of partially eaten cereal, crackers, or cookies.  Open one at a time.  Eat that box completely, then open a different one.
- Use bag clips to seal opened bags.  Clothes pins work just as well.
- If you have a surplus of fruit that you can't eat before it will spoil, wash and cut it.  Place the pieces on baking sheets in the freezer.  When they are frozen, throw the pieces in a freezer bag.
- Minimize leftovers. If you aren't the sort to eat leftovers...I'll refrain from lecturing here...reduce your food waste by cutting recipes in half when cooking at home and ordering lunch portions when going out to eat.
- Label and date your freezer food!  There will be no more guessing as to what frozen thing is what.
- Try to keep a mental inventory of what you have opened.  It's even better to write the opened date on the package so you know when it needs to be used up quickly.
- Keep your fridge and freezer decluttered and organized.  Things will be less likely to be shoved to the back and forgotten.

I hope you find these tips helpful.  They are just small steps to save some money and the planet. :)

Update - Day 20 on No-Spend Challenge

Greetings.  So I totally fell off the wagon on Saturday, but it wasn't a long fall.  I mentioned a few days ago that I made plans to spend the day in Indy, and I was concerned about breaking the No-Spend rules.  I did end up breaking a few:
 - Gas to get to and from Indy ~$7.50
 - Lunch $7.40
 - Frivolous fabric buy $2
 - Donation to Buddhist center $2

I don't regret spending a single cent because my cousin and I had a great time.
Our day began at the Indiana Buddhist Center.  Neither of us had ever been to a Buddhist center before, and we came for a meditation session.  We were treated to butter and milk tea and an impromptu teaching by Hlarampa Geshe Jinpa Sonam.  It was an honor to be there.

After a great meditation, we headed to Irvington for lunch at one of the best pizza places in Indy, Jockamo's.  Ashley had never been to Broad Ripple before, so we spent the rest of the afternoon walking around BR window shopping, walking the Monon, perusing the Indianapolis Art Center, and pining for ice cream.  We had very good self control though and only splurged on lunch.  

Day 15 - Half Way There

We made it half way!  15 days into the 30 Day No-Spend Challenge, and I'm not sure about you, but I'm feeling the struggle now.

I've made two plans with friends for this weekend.  Accommodating friends and this budgeting game has got me scratching my head.  I'm packing a picnic dinner for Friday evening to be enjoyed during an outdoor symphony - which I can get everyone into for free.  That's a nice bonus.

Saturday will be harder because I'll be taking my cousin around Indy, and who wants to pack a lunch when there are so many delicious restaurants around!?  The conundrum!

There have also been instances where I've wanted to get frivolous with the ingredients I have at home.  I've stopped myself quite a few times from making cookies, brownies, or something else sweet.  We don't really need these, and it would be sort of wasteful when that flour could be used in something more nutritious, like bread.

But...I have made a mug cake or two to subdue my raging sweet tooth.  It's only a single serving and that's how I've justified it.  My go-to mug cake comes from Not Quite Nigella's blog, and you can find the recipe here.

This photo comes from Table For Two's blog.  Aaaand I'm making their mug cake recipe right now.  It's been one of those days.  How do you cope with stressful days and a tight budget?

Kitchen Tip - Regrowing Your Scallions

Whenever I buy green onions at the store, I think of them as a tiny investment.  They are a wonderful cut-&-come-again food that can easily be grown inside.  I bought some recently and planted them so I can have perpetual onion-y goodness in my windowsill.  

They are extremely low maintenance plants to regrow.  When you are buying them, look for the bunch with the longest roots.  Use the green parts as you would, but reserve the bottom two inches to plant into potting mix or compost enhanced soil.  Keep a little of the stalk above the soil level - about half an inch.  Water it regularly, don't let the soil dry out completely, and you're on your way to your second cutting of green onions!

Fried Food. Why.

Why do people eat fried food?  Let me redirect this question.  

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Self, why did you eat that fried food?
Now you feel like a lethargic drone with a gurgling stomach.
Good job.
An entire day wasted as you melted into the couch whilst your eyes were shellacked over by the glow of YouTube videos that you weren't even that interested in.
Way to go.

Thanks french fries, deep fried falafels, and diabetes inducing beignets.  You were totally not worth it.  My arteries and thighs hate you..  They also hate me now for consuming you.

Salt and fat, why are you so alluring and yet so hazardous?
Let this be a lesson, self, before you face-plant into a funnel cake at the State Fair.

Old School Frugality at its Finest

Working at a living history museum has been extremely eye opening.  Our ancestors were so thrifty and creative!  Without them and all of their trials and errors, we wouldn't be living the comfortable lives we live today.

Since this blog is dedicated to modest and economical living, I wanted to suggest to you a very popular book in it's day, the American Frugal Housewife.

Obviously some of it's advice is quite out of date, but she does have many good ideas on living well with little.  If anything it's simply a fun and quick read.

On Eating Simply

Meal planning can get overwhelming sometimes when you're trying to prepare a "well-rounded" meal.  But meals don't have to be complicated or elaborate.  We westerners are used to eating four to five different things at one meal.  It's not a necessity though.  For example many Tibetan monks eat very simply, eating only one type of food per meal such as only bread or only fresh fruit and fresh vegetables or only cooked fruit and cooked vegetables or just starches.

It. Is. OK.  As long as you get all of your dailies in throughout the day, you're fine.  You can make all of your meals very simply.  Sorry to get on the smoothie train again, but I like to get the majority of my fruit in in the morning so that I can starch and veg out simply the rest of the day.  I feel pretty dang great on this method.

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Here are some simple meal suggestions:

- Rice with some frozen mixed veggies tossed in.  Season to taste with soy sauce or lemon juice and herbs or spices.

- Quinoa with a bit of dried fruit, chopped nuts, and almond or coconut milk.

- Baked potato fries with sriracha or curry ketchup

- Beans and rice tossed with a bit of hot sauce and chili powder

- My go to summer salad - 1 cup each: diced tomato, diced bell pepper, cooked sweet corn, cooked black beans, seasoned to taste with chopped red onion or green onions, lime juice, cilantro, salt, and pepper

- Hummus with pita and veggies

- Boiled & drained new potatoes seasoned with lemon juice, parsley, and chives

- Whole wheat pasta with your favorite tomato sauce

- Oatmeal made with rolled oats or steel cut oats with warm spices and a bit of maple syrup

- Baked sweet potatoes with a bit of brown sugar, cinnamon and/or cayenne

- Wraps filled with anything!

Eating simply doesn't mean eating less, but just eating more of your simplified meal.  Instead of a side dish of baked potato with 3 or 4 other items, eat 3 or 4 baked potatoes.  Eat just until you feel satisfied.  That's it.  You're golden.  

I'm not going to tell you what to eat, but I will suggest that you stick to a whole food, starch based diet rounded out with lots of vegetables and fruit with the occasional whole food fats (nuts, avocados, olives) in moderation.  

And I'm not even suggesting that you do this for every meal.  Do what works best for you.  I'm only saying that when you're stumped on what to fix for dinner, just keep it simple.  There's no need to wrack your brain over a meal.  Ain't nobody got time for that.

Day 10 Update + First World Problems

So far in the first third of the No-Spend Challenge, there have been no grocery shopping binges, no road trips or outings, no U-Pick berry picking, or the like for me.  And I'm fine with that.  I've liked getting creative with the ingredients that I have on hand and/or eating more simply.

The electric toothbrush decided to die this week as well.  It's back to the free, manual toothbrushes from the dentist's office now.  And that's fine too.

I ran out of chili powder, but found that I had all of the components to assemble my own, and so I did.

$251 total savings in 10 days.

Wrangling with the "need" for instant gratification and buyer's high has been a good learning tool.  Most of us in this modern world are incredibly spoiled.  We can so easily and quickly get what we want, and we forget how very little we really need.

Please, please forgive me for posting a link to a horrible song related to this topic, but it's so true.

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What are your thoughts?  I hope that I haven't offended anyone, but if I did, it's for your own good.  How have you been going on this challenge?  Is it a struggle or does it lighten your burden?  

Banana Peach and Radish Tops Smoothie

Summer doesn't last long enough in my part of the world.  And local, summer produce is the best.  I've been drinking up all of the summer gems I can get my hands on, namely berries and peaches.  I was a little giddy after tasting this morning's green smoothie.  It contained just four ingredients:

 One frozen banana

+

 One juicy peach

+

A bunch of radish greens (about as much as pictured here)

+

One heaped teaspoon of ground flax seeds

Just throw it all into your blender, add at least a cup of cold water, and blitz.  Radish greens are great to throw into smoothies because they are so mild in flavor.  You don't even notice they are there except for the vibrant green hue they lend.  I'll be making this one again tomorrow!

Photo credits:  banana, peach, greens, flax

Bean Talk

Hello all.  I just wanted to share a few tips with you today.  For those who are overwhelmed by preparing your own meals, it's probably just a matter of planning and time management.  I'm here to help.

Let's talk beans.  

Photo Credit - These are my favorite beans BTW.

Beans are an amazing staple food that are nutritious, versatile, and super cheap.  If you purchase dry beans and cook them at home, not only will it cost a whole lot less, but you don't have to worry about all of the junk that is impaired to canned beans.  *See note below.

Aaand if you replace meat with beans in your diet, you'll save loads of money, help the environment, save some lives, and physically feel so much better.  (That's my only vegan preach of the day.)  

When buying dry beans, buy in bulk for even greater savings.  I like to buy mine from an Indian grocery store.  I can get four pounds of dried chickpeas (garbanzo beans) for $3, and they are delicious.  

Here is my bean routine.  This works with pretty much any kind of bean.  It takes an entire day, but it's mostly hands off.  Also you'll find that this method of preparation will make them more easily digestible and less...musical.
In the evening:
     -  Place two pounds of dry beans in a strainer.
     -  Wash the beans under running water while looking for any pebbles or bad beans.
     -  Place the clean beans in a slow cooker 
     -  Cover the beans with lots of water (at least 3 inches of water above the beans.)  
     -  DO NOT turn the slow cooker on.  The beans are just going to soak all night.
The next morning:
     -  Strain the beans, discarding the water, and give them a quick rinse.
     -  Return the beans to the slow cooker and cover again with lots of water.
        At this point you could add flavorings like onion, spices, etc.
     -  Set the slow cooker to Low for 8-9 hours or High for 4-5 hours.
That late afternoon or evening:
     -  Strain the beans again.
     -  Scoop out the beans into portions of 1 cup, 2 cups, whatever you prefer.
     -  Place them into plastic containers, canning jars, or plastic bags.
     -  Reserve some for this week's consumption and freeze the rest for future use.

Add beans to soups, salads, rice dishes, burritos, bean burgers, etc.  Puree them to make dips, spreads, and sauces.  There are a million ways to eat beans, and I've got a few recipes to share with you.

So go and fill your freezer with beans.  Make sure to label each container with the date and type of bean.  Enjoy!


*Kidney beans are the only beans that I buy in cans.  They are a little more troublesome to deal with because they contain a toxin, Phytohaemagglutinin, that has to be boiled out.  You have to boil kidney beans for at least 10 minutes to make them safe to eat, then continue cooking them until they are soft.

First Trip to the Grocery Store on the No-Spend Challenge

Food is our highest expense at the moment.  We invest in good health by eating well and buying good, fresh food.  And it doesn't help my budget that grocery stores and farmers markets are my happy place.  I was avoiding shopping for groceries because I can easily get carried away.

This trip was a success for the most part.  I spent half of the amount of money that I would have normally, and I mostly stuck to the items on my list.  It is so easy for me to overbuy fruits, vegetables, and baking goods.

In fact, I recently took a count of all of the different types of sweeteners I have.  Sweeteners - not sweets.  Nine.  The number is nine!

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I have 4 of the ones shown above and FIVE more.  This is not counting dates, raisins, or chocolate.  I even have Golden Syrup for the love of Pete. 

So needless to say I'm pretty well covered as far as shelf-stable foods go, but it was the fresh veggies that I was missing.  And tortillas.  And hot sauce.  And probiotic drink....  I'm not going to beat myself up for buying way to many bananas, tomatoes, and bell peppers.  There could be worse things to spend money on.  

Any tips for sticking to your grocery list without going crazy?





New to the No-Spend Challenge?  Click here and here.

Day 5 Update + Strawberry Basil Smoothie Recipe

Hello again.  I hope that you've found benefit in these first few days of the 30-Day No-Spend Challenge.  I've kept track of the things that I would have purchased normally had I not begun this thrifty game.

The total amount of money I've saved so far is about $153.  Just in five days.  I'm a bit amazed and perplexed simultaneously.  I'm so glad that I decided to do this.  How has it been for you?  Has it been difficult?

Yesterday I mentioned green smoothies.  They are an amazing way to get greens into your system.  I've been playing with flavors for about a month now.  I've even gotten a five year old to drink them greedily.  The one I blitzed today is absolutely delicious, refreshing, and tastes like summer.  I'll be posting more green smoothie recipes along the way.  Let me know how you like it.

Photo Credit

Strawberry Basil Smoothie

- handful frozen strawberries
- handful chopped cantaloupe
- 1/2 handful chopped pineapple
- 1/4 cup fresh basil (or more to taste)
- juice from half of a small lemon (or more to taste)
- 1 tsp. ground flax seeds (optional)
- 1/2 cup water or more to help blend

Throw everything in your blender and blend.  Taste to see if it has enough basil and lemon juice.  Blend again and enjoy.

Makes 1 smoothie

On Eating Weeds

One man's inedible is another man's delicacy.  In France there's escargot a.k.a. snails.  In Mexico there's Huitlacoche a.k.a. corn smut.  In Iceland there's Hákarl a.k.a. buried, fermented, and cured shark meat.  Now that we've got that in mind, I'm going to elaborate on the abundant, free food that I've been picking and eating this summer: weeds.  

As a preface I will recount a story.  When I was three or four years old, I got into a passionate argument with my cousin about the categorization of dandelions.  I was quite sure that a dandelion was a flower, but she insisted it was a weed.  Perhaps I have always supported these underdogs, weeds.  Here is another quote that I feel is the truest of true.

"What is a weed? A plant whose virtues have never been discovered." - Ralph Waldo Emerson

On Eating Weeds

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I don't particularly find eating salads very enjoyable, unless someone else fixes them...I don't know why.  So, I drink my leafy greens in a smoothie almost every day.  My kale, red lettuce, and pok choy stash ran out yesterday, so I helped myself to the abundant weedy backyard.  

Not all weeds are edible, but many are.  Some even taste good.  At worst they are bitter and fibrous, but when liquefied with fruit and sometimes cocoa powder, these characteristics are barely noticeable.  Not only are these weeds bountiful and free, they are also loaded with vitamins, minerals, fiber, and even protein.  

Here are the weed leaves that I've been harvesting and their flavor profiles:  
Dandelion - bitter
Wild Violet - mild like spinach
Wood Sorrel - tart and lemony
Lambs Quarters - mild like spinach
Broadleaf Plantain - mild to bitter
Stinging Nettle - mild like spinach, but pick and wash them while wearing gloves!
Wild Lettuce - bitter

Please be sure that you know how to correctly identify any plants that you are planning on consuming.  Avoid picking in areas where it's polluted, by roadsides, by fire hydrants, where pesticides or lawn "care" sprays are applied, and commonly tread-on spaces.  Also don't eat the same weed daily.  Mix it up to get varied nutrients.

Another way to get your greens is to buy root vegetables like radishes, turnips, beets and carrots with their tops on.  Often we discard the leafy bits, but they are entirely edible.  Here is a complete list of plants with secondary edible parts.  

More on green smoothies in the near future.  Goodbye for now.  :)

Cheap Travel Attempt and Fail

Sooo...Megabus is a really great way to get from big city to big city on the cheap.  The kicker is that you need to book your tickets early and/or be willing to get dropped off at the bus stop at scary hours of the night/morning.  You have to get your tickets immediately when you see a great deal.  And there are some really great deals - like $2 round trip great deals.  If you can score travel bargains this cheap, I wouldn't even consider it breaking any No-Spend rules, but I wasn't fast enough this time.

My two best college friends live in Chicago.  

One of them is expecting her first baby (Natalie, in the middle), and I would love to be there for her baby shower.  I waited an hour or two too long to buy the bus tickets and the price SOARED.  So, I'll be booking my tickets to see her in December after her baby has arrived - waaay in advance.   Luckily she'll be having a shower in her home town as well, which is much closer and without all the insane traffic.

About those rules...

It didn't occur to me until today that yesterday when I mentioned the 30 Day No-Spend Challenge, I didn't set you up with any ground rules.  Slightly important...  The video that inspired my attempt at this challenge is one by Talk Raw.  I like Rachel's thoughtful rules as well as her reasons for promoting this challenge.  She recited one of my favorite quotes, "Necessity is the mother of invention."  I believe in this statement wholeheartedly.  It is one of the truest statements that I know.  

Photo Credit - Mummy Central

Below is a list of rules that are based from Rachel's suggestions.  I've added on a few to get more specific.  These rules are more like guidelines or suggestions.  You may pick the ones that work best for you, but try to push yourself.  You will find that you are more adaptable than you think.  

1.  No stockpiling allowed.  Begin where you are right now.

2.  Do pay your usual monthly bills: mortgage/rent, utilities, internet/phone, childcare, loan payments, credit card bills, etc.  Not paying those could cause you to lose even more money.  That is not the objective here. 

3.  You may buy gas for essential transportation, but no road trips or frivolous outings.  Try biking or walking more to cut down on gas usage.  

4.  The Food: No eating out or take out.  Cooking at home is so much more economical.  Pack your lunches.  Try to use the food you have at home first before going out to buy more.  This calls for some googling, brainstorming, and creativity which can lead to happy accidents and new favorite meals.  

5.  Toiletries & Cleaning Products:  Only buy the absolute necessities or try making your own with the ingredients that you already have on hand.  The uses of baking soda and vinegar are seemingly infinite.  I will post more about this subject in the near future.  

6.  No buying clothes, shoes, home goods, or furniture.  Borrowing, trading, and bartering is encouraged.  

7.  No Starbucks.  Make coffee at home instead for pennies and I'm not talking Keurig here.

8.  Only free entertainment allowed.  No going to the theater, to a game, to a theme park unless it's free.  Keep an eye out for free events in your city, go for a hike, pack a picnic, fill a time capsule, make up your own treasure hunt complete with treasure map.... 

9.  No impulse buys in general.  This includes but is not limited to make-up, magazines, gum, candy, vending machine snacks and sodas, etc.  Example: when my humble chocolate stash runs out, I won't be buying more until the 30 days have passed.  Some may argue that chocolate is a necessity - and some days it totally is - but unless you are trapped on a desert island with the option of chocolate or grass, chocolate isn't vital.  And when I run out of cereal, crackers, and graham crackers (my go-to snacks for their magnificent crunch factor), I won't be buying more.  I only eat them when I want something sweet or salty and need to crunch on something, not usually because I'm hungry.  I will deal with my psychological need to crunch when that day comes.  

To help stay motivated, keep track of how much money you would have spent so that you can see tangible figures of how much you are saving.  

Let me know your thoughts on these "rules" and if you have any additional rule suggestions.  
Baby steps is walking none the less.  :)

Greetings! Welcome. I offer you a challenge.

Hello stumblers upon, passers by, et al.  My name is Sarah.

I don't know about you, but I have an itch.  An itch, a stir, an insatiable buzzing that gives me the sensation that something is amiss.

I wasn't going to write a blog.  I've blogged before.  I wrote loyally in a journal for 10 years and trickled off my writing for another three.  I even had a sweet gig as a food writer for a couple of years.  As frustrating as writing can be at times, it has been the most consistent form of self expression throughout my life.  And so it goes again.

I will elaborate as the pages turn, but let's start here - on a physical level, monetarily speaking.

I came across an alluring challenge on YouTube entitled the 30 Day No-Spend Challenge.  Money is not everything, being the root of all evil and such, but it weighs heavily on us none the less.  How many decisions do you make that relate to or stem from money?  It's socially ingrained in us to want more, "need' more, more and more and more.  Not just money, but stuff.  All kinds of stuff.  Stuff that we didn't even know that we "wanted".  How do you know if you really want something?  Is it even a good thing to want?

Let's journey together, beginning with money, to figure out how to use less of it whilst living a full and happy life.  Simplicity is the answer.  Let's walk towards simplicity together, at our own pace, in our own time.  Together.  Better yet, let's make a game of it.

I'll show and tell first.

Today was my first no-spend day.  My ever-aching sweet tooth began to pulsate after lunch and the many hours following.  What I wanted was some chocolate.  A good substantial chunk of chocolate.  But I reminded myself that this was Day 1.  So I fixed a cup of tea with sugar and didn't spend a cent.

Another needless yet delicious item I've been craving for a few days now is halva, a sesame seed or sunflower seed based block of sugary, Russian goodness.

This lovely photo was taken by Still Served Warm.  Their description of this unusual treat is spot on.  The only flavor comparison that I can match to halva is peanut brittle with added subtle, warm spices.  The texture is hard to describe, but I'll go.  It's crumbly, almost like a dry paste that dissolves into a nutty grit on the tongue.  It's sweet and nutty and RICH.  Sometimes dotted with other nuts and dried fruit.  My Estonian friend turned me on to it.  Evil woman.

So no chocolate or halva purchases for me today or for the next 29 days.  My wallet and my body probably thank me for it.

Let's do this again tomorrow.  Let me know how you go.  Good luck and thanks for keeping me honest.