I think that I’ll start posting a listing of ways to save money and would love to hear what anyone else has to offer also!
As I have mentioned before, I followed the Tightwad Gazette quite religiously in trying to save money while I stayed at home with my children. I am now returning to those roots, as I have a renewed desire to conserve and to continue to find new ways to do so. My goal is to be totally self sufficient as far as the necessities of a sustainable life for my family. I have had this goal for some time and have worked on it off and on. The current state of affairs of the country have given me the extra kick that I needed to get back to this important matter.
We have at least a year’s supply of food, but I am quite concerned about the water. We have very little, probably just a few days’ worth. In the past, I had found five-gallon containers with a polyurethane lining that could double as a toilet. I don’t know where I can get them currently. Does anyone know of a source? I also desire to build on my very small stock of toiletries, water purifier drops, first-aid items, etc.
I finally broke down and ordered my Fels Naptha soap online. I have been searching high and low for it but couldn’t find it locally. I wasn’t going to have it shipped, as that would defeat the purpose of its low-cost. However, I ordered a few Christmas items from Lehman’s, which I needed anyway, and this justified the shipping. As soon as it comes, or maybe after we use our current bulk detergent up, I’ll make the homemade washing soap. I am looking forward to it!
I have plans to start my garden again but this time do an efficient and healthy container garden. My son said that he would help me build a compost bin, which I’ll use for mulch. I can’t believe it but my husband suggested building a greenhouse! I could have bounced off the walls! He doesn’t have the fever that I do, as far as storing and growing our own wholesome food. So, for him to mention this was a shock. He also has been saying that we need to get a wheat grinder. We have pounds and pounds of wheat but no grinder—go figure! Again, he isn’t one to ruminate on things like this, so I was a bit caught off guard that he would bring it up two or three times recently. Hmmm…makes me wonder. You know how sometimes you’re lead to prepare for things unknown?
Well, my long-ago-started preparedness and frugal life took a back burner for the past 10 years, and its time has come to move to the forefront!
Any ideas that you would like to share on ways to store, what you store, and ways that you live frugally are welcome. :p)
How nice that God is working on your husband at the same time as He is on you! I hope you get a wheat grinder, they're *so* handy but the prices on them are really starting to climb!
ReplyDeleteParis
Well put, Mrs. G. I think that God must be working on both of us!
ReplyDeleteI know that grinders are quite spendy these days. :?/ We'll be doing more research on them.
Hello,
ReplyDeleteI just saw your Daybook comment at PlainJane's, and I want to know, What is Neffla Soup? I have German heritage, too, and Germans seems to be so good at comfort foods. Here in the desert it is cold (ha ha -- honestly, we are freezing, though we are probably about 65 degrees warmer than you are), and it is definitely a soup week. Would love your recipe!
Hi Diamond,
ReplyDeleteNeffla soup is chicken noodle soup substituting nefflas, or egg dumplings, for the noodles. It is SO good.
You just cook a whole chicken in a pot of water, debone, and add the meat back into the stock. I will also use boneless chicken breasts if that is what I have on hand. Like any good soup, I like to simmer it all day long. I’ll add bouillon (I use the paste kind, as I prefer it over the cubes) if it needs more chicken flavoring, and I also add pepper to taste.
About 30 minutes or so before you are ready to serve, make your neffla dough. Nefflas are made by beating an egg (I always do two because I make a large pot of soup). Once the egg is beaten, add a cup of water, and salt to your liking. Then mix in flour a bit at a time (I mix in with a fork) until the mixture becomes a ball and sticks together.
Bring the soup to a boil while you’re making the dough. Add teaspoon fulls of dough until used up. Cook for 15 minutes; the dumplings will swell and rise to the top. Serve up in bowls with bread and butter on the side.
Gramma always had homemade bread, which is the best. She would also make homemade noodles for other recipes.
I hope you enjoy it! If you have German recipes that you’d like to share, send them my way. :)