When I was a child my family had milk delivered to our home from a local dairy. Every week a driver would bring milk in glass bottles and place them in the wooden box on our front step. The first cup of milk out of the bottle always tasted heavenly! Unfortunately, those days are long gone. I now live in a somewhat urban area. I don’t … [Read more...] about Rampant Reusing: Plastic Milk Jugs
Keeping the Home
Modern Lessons from Wartime Rationing
From 1941 to 1945, while the U.S. was involved in World War II, Americans experienced shortages of raw materials and consumer goods. To avert a potential economic crisis, the U.S. government instituted a rationing system. The government distributed impressive propaganda materials to garner compliance with the rationing and to bolster … [Read more...] about Modern Lessons from Wartime Rationing
Does Buying in Bulk Create Waste?
Whether it is colossal chunks of cheese, behemoth bags of beans, or cavernous cartons of cream, bulk purchases often have lower per unit costs. At first glance it appears these purchases will save money, but what if bulk purchases precipitate enough waste to negate this savings? I’ve recently examined 3 types of waste that can result … [Read more...] about Does Buying in Bulk Create Waste?
Mustering Enthusiasm for Ordinary Tasks
Our days are comprised of ordinary tasks: cooking meals, doing laundry, washing dishes, etc. Last month my husband had several days off of work and we had a family member visit, so I had several atypical days during which I didn’t complete a lot of these ordinary tasks. Now that the excitement has died down, I’m really struggling to muster … [Read more...] about Mustering Enthusiasm for Ordinary Tasks
The Lowdown on Microfiber Cloths
Microfiber cloths have bourgeoned in popularity in recent years. I’ve heard them described in a number of ways: amazing, awful, soft, rough, environmentally friendly, bad for the environment, etc. With descriptors that are this conflicting, it’s hard to determine if these cloths are something you should be using. While I’ve had several … [Read more...] about The Lowdown on Microfiber Cloths
Quick Jambalaya
My husband enjoys the taste of Cajun food every once in a while. I used elements from several recipes to create a version that I can make with ingredients I have on hand for this summer’s menu. My apologies to Cajun food enthusiasts—I realize this dish isn’t very authentic! Regardless, we’ve enjoyed the convenience and spicy taste of … [Read more...] about Quick Jambalaya
Sloppy Joe Macaroni & Cheese
No, you’re not experiencing déjà vu. This is indeed another variation of homemade macaroni and cheese! Unlike the Italian and Mexican varieties I’ve already shared, this version contains meat. Like the other varieties, this version is delicious, easy to prepare, and affordable. Ingredients 3 cups macaroni, uncooked measure 4 cups … [Read more...] about Sloppy Joe Macaroni & Cheese
Frugal TIPbits: Ways to Salvage Bruised Fruit
Sometimes it’s a rogue apple that rolls off the counter onto the tile floor. Sometimes it’s a carefully selected peach that is carelessly bagged by a supermarket cashier. Sometimes it’s a forgotten plum that becomes squashed in the back of the produce drawer. Whatever the cause, bruised pieces of fruit are unsightly and, in many cases, … [Read more...] about Frugal TIPbits: Ways to Salvage Bruised Fruit
