My Canning Project

I still need shelves in the cellar for my canning project which I'm starting. I got a pressure canner and some pint jars. I already had a water bath canner and quite a few quart jars. I plan to can green beans, dried beans, soup (beef and chicken), tomatoes (for making spaghetti sauce and salsa),jam, possibly corn and potatoes. I'll have to find something to do with the zucchini I'm growing. Any ideas? Last year I experimented with drying some veggies and it worked real well with squash. We are still eating them a bit like potato chips!

I think I'm a throwback to pioneer or depression-era times since there are things I like to do that don't fit in with "modern" ways. I take pleasure in using items that don't require electricity, like my Pampered Chef food chopper and slicers. If I could convert my sewing machine to a treadle, I'd do it! I admire the ingenuity of my ancestors.

Couponing and Shopping Sales

I'm trying to be green, while also acknowledging my "inner frugal person". I've learned from a friend how to "stack" deals and coupons, and to shop the sales in order to build up a supply of food. After you build up your supply, then you need to shop only to keep your supplies up. I used to worry about possible power outtages at the stores due to weather or a truck driver strike (hey, I was getting a little paranoid with all the high prices and talk of shortages!) but now we'd be fine if I didn't make it to the store for 3 or 4 weeks, and even then we'd probably only need eggs and bread! I bought everything on sales and some things I also had coupons for, which made it doubly sweet! If you wait until the coupon is about to expire, sometimes you will find the item on sale. I will buy store brands if they are cheaper than the name-brand item with a coupon. Today I found buns for $.99 and stocked up. My freezer is looking great! Look out for the 10 for $10 sales, though. A few times I was tempted by something that looked great, but then I realized that I wouldn't normally pay $1 for a can of beans, so I pass those up.

I converted a closet into a pantry for food. (You have to make room for the food you buy because it really starts to add up!) The toiletries are kept in a half-bath that has shelves for storage. I love to do Christmas Child boxes each November for Franklin Graham's ministry and this year we'll only need to buy toys, washcloths and towels as I have plenty of toiletries to include already.

For coupons, I use a zippered binder with plastic pocket pages for baseball cards. My coupons are in alphabetical order by the type, not necessarily the name brand, of the product. My name and phone number are in there in several places. I included a calculator and small pair of scissors. It can take a few weeks to build up your coupon supply. Don't be ashamed to ask family and friends for their cast-off coupons. Throw your store and product loyalty out the window (except for where allergies are concerned!). I learned a lot from moneysavingmom.com, and Couponmom.com (you have to fill out a lot of e-mail forms and go through a lot of offers on that site, but she has some great ideas and wonderful e-books). I also used The Grocery Game at thegrocerygame.com. I've learned a lot about shopping frugally for my family, which I pray that I'll shop wisely and well.

What do you do to keep costs down for yourself and/or your family?