The Homestead Mindset Anywhere: by Donna Miller

At one time, that label was considered an insult. For a gentleman to take out a young lady and stress over the expense and count pennies to barely go anywhere or do anything was often a mark of shame meaning he thought her less worthy of any money spent.

Oh how the economy can help us to re-align our priorities. As I've spoken many times before of the 'homesteading mindset' - it's not a matter of doing without as much as it is doing differently. Looking at things outside the 'norm'. Going on a 'date' is no different.

My fantastic husband and I have been married for almost 25 years now. We've been on the income scales of below the poverty line, middle class and quite well-to-do, and each of them more than once during our years together. When we got married, I knew I was in for an adventure!

Some of our most romantic 'dates' had the least money spent and cost us no extra money. They simply took some creativity.

Here are some pretty THRIFTY ideas we've done over the years:

• When there is a movie we prefer to see in theaters, we only go to a matinee (for the discounted price)
• Coupons are used for dinners out (Hey, why be embarrassed to save money!)
• Putt-putt, Cosmic bowling, Go karts, Bumper cars, Ice-skating, all have hours that are cheaper than prime-time, go on a date then instead.
• Split meals and desserts. Saves calories and money at the same time. Plus you get to sit really close! (o:
• Work on a project together. Who says that's not 'date' material? We built a chicken coup together that has more fond memories than dinner and a movie.

Here are some practically FREE ideas that come from our history of 25+ years together:

• A picnic lunch and walk in the park, or hike to a view.
• He's cooked a full dinner (with appetizer, main course, sides & dessert) to surprise me when I got home from work (complete with candles).
• Swap out 'spend the night' child-care with another couple and stay at home, quietly by the fire place.
• Flowers picked from the yard for no reason at all make any evening special.
• Driving slightly 'off the beaten path' during a trip home from a winter outing, just to hold hands and 'ooo and ahhh' at the lights.
• Finding a rose pinned to the door and a note wanting to take a little walk around the pasture (or block) holding hands after dinner...
• A surprise 'brown bag' lunch for two that can be eaten either in his office or outside on a blanket.
• Go to a local book & music store and browse books of places you want to travel together, listen to music together. Leave buying nothing together.
• Talking, dreaming, planning and praying together - all are more bonding than expensive entertainment and meals. Choose those options.

Oh, don't get me wrong, even though a 'homesteader' - I can be as romantic and 'high maintenance' as the next girl, but it's where my priorities are focused that helps me see the real jewel in what others might see as a 'cheap date'. 

Donna Miller is an author, teacher and entrepreneur. Her favorite roles are that of wife and mother to three home-school graduates. Living with a Homesteading Mindset in the country, the city and suburbs has been an adventure! The Millers own and operate  Millers Grain House which offers Organic and Chemical-free Whole Grains, Bosch Mixers, the NutriMill, instructional tutorials, recipes and more.

Wow. We are almost to the end of the year.

You know what that means don't you?

The temptation to get 'malled' at the mall and shop for gifts we can't afford in crowds we may not enjoy and spend money we just don't have.

How does one avoid that mayhem and enjoy this end of the year season? The answer is, 'thoughtfully'.

Yes it Virginia, it does take some thought, but that's just creative juices and costs nothing and often producing much more deeply cherished memories than a 'gift card' from Wally World or some processed meat log.

Let's look at some things that cost little to nothing for our holiday ideas:

Christmas Tree Decor Ideas:

· Decorate from nature. Pine cones, birds’ nests (empty by now), twigs with glitter, raffia, grapevines and holly twigs.

· Second-hand ornaments from garage sales and thrift stores.

· Make keepsake items to hang on the tree along with your family. Time together is a better gift than new decorations.

· Use mix/matched candles this year from around the house for the Menorah; it's the Light that was the miracle, not the candles matching.

· Make a gift of serving rather than in wrapping. A gift of service each night or day for 8 days really shows our love without trying to 'buy love'

· Dreidles don't have to be store bought. Find a plan on line and make one for the fun of it!

· Cut snowflakes out of tin foil and hang around the house or tape up on the windows. The sun catches them and they sparkle.

· Scents do a world of memory making, so bake something, it makes any home seem more cozy for the winter.

· Coupons that say: "Dishes done after dinner", "30 minute back-rub", "Day off fishing/golf/etc." show someone how much you care.

· Hand-made items are often the most cherished gifts because of the time spent to make it. Don't think they are 'cheap.'

· Limit gifts. This isn't free, but it makes good sense. Overwhelming gift mountains do not a greatful heart make.

This year, and maybe for years to come - some of the best holiday memories may not have a price tag. When you think about it, the best ones really are priceless anyway, just give it some thought and plan for priceless memories this holiday season.

Best Blessings!

Donna

Donna Miller is an author, teacher and entrepreneur. Her favorite roles are that of wife and mother to three home-school graduates. Living with a Homesteading Mindset in the country, the city and suburbs has been an adventure! The Millers own and operate  Millers Grain House which offers Organic and Chemical-free Whole Grains, Bosch Mixers, the NutriMill, instructional tutorials, recipes and more.

You can stretch your budget and your menu with the one basic bread recipe that we send out with every newsletter.

"How?" – you may ask. Simply look at the lump of dough differently. This is a mindset - just start thinking outside the bread box.

Freshly Milled Whole Wheat Hot Dog Buns

The Basic "Fool Proof" Bread Recipe we send out second in our newsletter series can be shaped into:

~ Burger Buns
~ Hot Dog Buns
~ Hoagie Buns
~ Bread Sticks (filled and twisted or just plain, warm and toasty)
~ Bread Bowls for Chilli and Soups
~ and SO many more potentials….

Even once made they can become other things if you don't used all of them up. Just a few left over could become:
~ Croutons (any of the above, even if it's one loan bun)
~ Garlic Bread (best for the hot dog/hoagie buns with lasagna and salad - YUM)
~ Toasted Crackers (slice thin on an angle [if not split for burger or hot dog] and butter/toast) - good with slices of cheese and a salad!
~ Open Faced Cheese Bread (top with mixed cheeses and broil) to go with soups

So even as simple as the ONE recipe may be. Don't get stuck with it ALWAYS just being a loaf of bread! Shape and use it in multiple ways!

Best Blessings!~
Donna Miller

Donna Miller is an author, teacher and entrepreneur. Her favorite roles are that of wife and mother to three home-school graduates. The Millers own and operate Millers Grain House which offers Organic and Chemical-free Whole Grains, Bosch Mixers, the NutriMill, instructional tutorials, recipes and more.

Of all things! My bread machine (of 15 years) finally completely gave out!  Pretty sure it's past its warranty. Oh wait! I think got it at a garage sale so there likely IS no warranty.

I've done my due diligence with it over the years; soldering 'this' that broke, unscrewing and cleaning 'that' that leaked, reconnecting wires when there was a short, so what was different this time when it made that unfamiliar sound of ...... nothingness.....?

Well the time this week has been limited. Frankly, I have it apart already; inside out and everything, but I still can't figure out the problem. Could it be that using something daily (often twice to three times a day) really DOES ware it out eventually?  Nah....couldn't be that.

But alas, the disassembled machine is sitting in my pantry without a chance for revival. I mourn the fact that I cannot repair it. I got it when my baby (now 19) was 4. But bread must go on....with our without a machine.

So if I spend even more time trying to figure out just what might be wrong, I don't bake bread at all! Now that's a problem here in the Miller household.  So, do I buy a new one?  The current answer to that is 'no'.

There always is a third option when the time spent repairing something is not worth, well the time, and buying the replacement (either new or used) is out of the question for the time being. That option is to do without it.  Gasp! Yes. It is an option...although not a very popular one.

I have two hands. These are my 'new' bread machines.  The bread is actually the same and I get some much 'kneaded' therapy (sorry, couldn't resist the pun). 

Go ahead and spend time repairing before trashing and buying a new anything!  But remember, just because something breaks beyond repair - it doesn't mean we HAVE to replace it....there is always a third option.

Best Blessings and Budget Stretching!

Donna Miller

Come listen in or call in to my new Radio Show! http://www.blogtalkradio.com/millersgrainhouse

Our fridge (refrigerator) is a 17 year old, side-by-side fridge/freezer. It's narrow.  The light does not work. It actually won't turn itself off when the door is shut, thus heating up the fridge, which of course is quite counterproductive.  So rather than replace the whole mechanism on this 17 year of appliance - we have a dark and often scary refrigerator.

I say 'scary' because, well, not only is it dark, but the darkness and narrowness of it lends to things being pushed way back into the recesses of the abyss and hiding indefinitely. If I wait to long to dive into the depths of the dark narrow fridge, I find a plethora of 'science experiments' such as: a tiny bag of olives now smashed to oblivion, the last bit of pineapples that are fermented into something at about a 19% alcohol level, home-made pizza that has fallen out of it's baggie (who knows when) and turned to a concrete wedge that could be a wall decor rather than food.  So with the scary thoughts of what I'll find in mind, I do one thing...every week....a Fridge Purge and Plan.

Now it doesn't keep the fridge from hiding things to do this, it just keeps them from growing into nondescript items and thus it saves me money! Yay for that!

My Fridge Purge and Plan is on the calendar each week the day before I make my weekly menu and list from the sales flyers.

It consists of having these items handy:

· Tupperware, Freezer Bags and the Perpetual Freezer Soup Container

· Room in the Freezer (we have two other than the side-by-side, one for meat the other for...other)

· A crock-pot ready and plugged in to GO ...

I pull out all of the shelf items and find what I have that needs using first. These items go onto the earliest menus for the next few days and we use them up. I put them now at the FRONT of the fridge so I know where they are for using early on in the week.

Anything that can be made into a soup or stew (two nights of left-over green beans, corn, potatoes, squash, peas, so on) goes right into the crock pot and dinner is now also made.  If I don't want to do the crock pot that night all this goes into my perpetual Freezer Soup container (see this video - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hBWx-SPRobQ&feature=PlayList&p=B895EFDBC11107FB )

Last, if I know we won't use it soon, it goes to the freezer. I usually re-package/label it so I know what it is and when I need to use it from there.

So once a week, doing the Fridge Purge and Plan or the Freezer, Fridge and Crock-pot Shuffle helps me in a few different ways. First it helps me to plan a frugal budget for the week’s meals, but then it also helps me keep my fridge less scary and stretch what I already have on into more meals. We can’t use them if they had 'rotted' back in the obscurity of the deep dark chasm that is my frightening fridge.

Clean out your fridge and save money. How cool is that?

Next post - I think I'll tell you what cleaning the OUTSIDE of it does for our budget!! Tune in again soon. Same bat-channel, same bat-station, same bat-time.... 

But, before I list and try to explain them.....If you would like a visual aide (I learn better by doing and seeing than reading!) then follow this link to this certain playlist on my youtube channel Quick Tips for saving time and money!

Using Aluminum Foil to the Max - Wash it and reuse it. Multiple times it can be washed and reused.  We often have our 'final' use of aluminum foil for raw meat (that is first wrapped in wax paper) THEN and only THEN after being used several other times do we toss it in the trash.

Organize on a Dime - Finding lids to your pots and pans can cause delay and waste time.  Those 'organizers' cost way too much.  Just two thumb tacks and some 1/2 inch elastic across your cabinet door gives a great place for these to store for easy access.

How to reuse a plastic ziplock bag - If it hasn't had raw meat in it (again, it's our last time of re-using it, like aluminum foil) then wash it and air dry it.  Just turn wrong-side out and wash with soapy water, rinse and hang to dry.

Freezer Soup - Keep a large glass container in the freezer for loading up all the small veggies and potatoes that are left over. Then thaw and add to soup or pot-pies.  Don't freeze meats with it so you can have more choices when you're making the meal. Also don't freeze rice or pasta with it as they go in at the end of cooking time.

Save the burnt toast - This is hard to explain, but unless you've burnt it through and through (which would likely mean you had a fire) you can scrap off the top layer of toast on both sides and have a perfectly good piece of toast.

Donna Miller is an author, teacher and entrepreneur. Her favorite roles are that of wife and mother to three home-school graduates. The Millers own and operate  Millers Grain House  which offers Organic and Chemical-free Whole Grains, Bosch Mixers, the NutriMill, instructional tutorials, recipes and more.

• Use less detergent than required. Often you won't need as much as the box recommends so play with the amounts.
• Make your own detergent for pennies.  There are numerous recipes for this on line. Everyone has their favorite.
• Learn stain removal tricks. From getting out grease with flour to how long and in what to soak grass stains. A little extra effort can save money.
• Line dry. Four loads dried a week, saves over $100 a year! One other thing this does is keep the wear and tear down on the clothing. Where exactly do you think that lint in the dryer catcher comes from? It’s cloth break-down.
• Re-wear. Hang up and use again any clothing that is not actually soiled or smelly.
• Buy at thrift stores. This is especially good for children's clothing. They grow so fast that what you bought this month may not fit next month. This goes for shoes too!
• Have different sets of cloths. Have some you only wear around the house, some that are for nice events and others for the garden. This will save on stains that don't come out for things that don't matter.
• Learn to stitch and sew at least a little. Even just some slight alterations or mending can keep an article of clothing usable for quite a while.
• Hand me downs. Save what one child may out grow for the next. If you don't have a next, maybe a friend, relative or neighbor does and also has an older child you can GET hand-me-downs from!

Have fun saving and Best Blessings!

Donna