Painting the house.

Well, we need to get the house painted before winter. I will probably end up doing most of it since Mike is going to be working extra hours in the next weeks and trying to get this documentary done that he's been working on the side.

When I do something like this I usually try to do 30 minutes or so a day. It doesn't seem like much but if you keep trucking along it eventually gets done. Our house will be easy because it is fairly smooth siding. We are also painting the same gray again so I won't have to worry about hiding another color underneath. I hate gray but we will probably try and sell next year so it's not worth painting the colors I want on it.

I got the paint at the Hazardous waste facility for $15 for 5 gallons. I got 15 gallons. I don't need that much but I am mixing the white and gray to get a lighter shade of gray so I needed extra white.

I dumped 1 bucket of white and 1/2 of gray in a large trash can and started mixing. Thankfully my brother had a paint mixer I could put on the end of my cordless drill (which was a Christmas gift from hubby 2 years ago! One of the best gifts I've ever gotten! :-).

I ended up mixing around 7 gallons of white to 2 gray. I got it all mixed up and did a test patch and thought it looked fine so I dumped the paint into two 5 gallon buckets. Not an easy task! (and I wonder why I stay sick all the time! LOL)

Anyway, today I painted the first 4 rows on one side and let it dry. I thought it looked great. I took hubby out to look at it after dinner and it was BABY BLUE! Augh! I hate pastels as it is but then to be on the house! YUCK! So now tomorrow I have to go and dump all the paint back into the trash can and add some black and try to get it darker.

Is this worth it? Yes, I think so. I will save about $150-$200 on paint by mixing myself. I will save around $2,000 by us painting it ourselves.

A couple of tips I wanted to pass along.

My 5 gallon buckets don't have a good seal on them. One doesn’t even have a lid. I don't want the paint to dry out so I put a layer of plastic wrap over the top laying it on the paint and that keeps it from drying out.

Spend the $3.00 for 100 pair of vinyl gloves or use some garden gloves. It's not worth the mess of cleaning up your hands each time when you can just slip those off and either throw them away or let them dry.

Don't wash out your roller and brush each day. Just wrap in a plastic bag and they will keep soft. If it's going to be couple of days in between painting then freeze them in the freezer. They defrost in a few minutes when you need to use them.


Tawra

www.LivingOnADime.com

Where I've been.

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I'm sorry for the lapse in posts. I have been having a hard time lately with horrible migraines, feeling very discouraged and fighting severe depression again. I just haven't felt like doing much.

I am trying to get back on track so hopefully I will be up to speed again.

Anyway, I just wanted to explain where I've been.

Tawra
editor@livingonadime.com


http://www.LivingOnADime.com/

Mashed Potato Madness

Wrote this for Mother's Day but I thought it would help for some ideas with leftover Mashed Potates. Enjoy! Tawra

http://www.LivingOnADime.com/




Mashed Potato Madness
by Tawra Kellam


As another Mother's Day rolls around, we once again get ready to show our moms how much we appreciate them and the great burden they have had to bear all these years. Only as we become moms ourselves do we then understand what they've been through--no I=m not talking childbirth but something we have to face day in and day out. What to do with those small amounts of leftover mashed potatoes. The guilt when you wash them down the drain is awful but if you tuck them back in a corner of the fridge and pull them out black and moldy 2 weeks later it=s even worse.
Well here's a couple of recipes and tips from Not Just Beans:50 Years of Frugal Family Favorites that might help you with the centuries old dilemma.

1. Use small amounts to thicken soups and stews.
2. Throw them in your next bread recipe for a nice texture.
3. Freeze small amounts for babies or toddlers' lunches.
4. On a piece of toast or bread, spread heated leftover mashed potatoes and roast and pour leftover gravy on top.

Potato Pancakes
(adjust to what you have on hand)
2 cups leftover mashed potatoes
2 Tbsp. flour
1 egg
margarine
Mix first 3 ingredients. Make into patties and fry in margarine until golden brown on each side. Serve warm with butter or margarine. Delicious served with applesauce.

Potato Fudge
3 Tbsp. shortening
3 Tbsp. butter
1/2 cup plus 1 Tbsp. cocoa
1/3 cup mashed potatoes
1/8 tsp. salt
1 tsp. vanilla
1 lb. (16 oz.) powdered sugar
1/2 cup chopped nuts (optional)

In a microwave safe bowl, melt shortening and butter in the microwave. Stir in cocoa until smooth. Add potatoes, salt and vanilla. Mix well. Blend in powdered sugar, mix and add nuts. Dough will be very lumpy. Kneed until smooth. Press into a buttered 8x8 inch pan. Cook in the refrigerator before cutting. Makes 64 pieces.
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Jill Cooper and Tawra Kellam are frugal living experts and the editors of www.LivingOnADime.com. As a single mother of two, Jill Cooper started her own business without any capital and paid off $35,000 debt in 5 years on $1,000 a month income. Tawra and her husband paid off $20,000 debt in 5 years on $22,000 a year income.

Clay Christmas Ornaments Recipe

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I have a "holiday tree". I love the ambiance of a Christmas tree so I decided last year to have a small 3 ft. tree up all year and decorate it different each month. I have wanted to do this for years and finally just did it this year. I came up with this idea a long time ago before it was the in thing to do. Now I'm in style I guess. :-) I love it! I find little things to decorate it at the thrift store, garage sales or end of season clearance.

Well, even though I found some really cut small pumpkins and gourds and small leaves for my Sept. fall tree (which at 90+ degrees it hasn't even come close to feeling like fall). I couldn't find any Halloween decorations. I love Halloween but I don't get into the real gory, scary stuff. I decided to make my own today. I used the clay ornament recipe from Dining On A Dime and Not Just Beans.

Mom has some small pumpkin and ghost cookie cutters that she uses for her gingerbread men so I borrowed those and will paint them with paints I already had. I will be able to do my tree for around $1 (I did find some cute garland).

It's kind of fun working on it and it does bring me joy. I can't really garden, decorate, decorate the house outside for the season (we really get into it!) or do my dried florals in this time of my life so that one little thing does help and is fun being creative with.

Tawra

http://www.LivingOnADime.com/


Clay Christmas Ornaments

4 cups flour
1 tsp. powdered alum
1 cup salt
1 1/2cups water

Mix ingredients well in a large bowl. If the dough is too dry, work in another
tablespoon of water with your hands. Dough can be rolled or molded and can be colored with a few drops of food coloring. To roll: Roll dough 1/2 inch thick
on lightly floured board. Cut with cookie cutters dipped in flour. Insert wire or make hole in top about 1/4 inch down for hanging. To mold: Shape dough no more than 1/2 inch thick. Bake ornaments on ungreased cookie sheet for 30 minutes in 250 oven. Turn and bake another 1 1/2 hours until hard and dry. Remove and cool. When done, paint and seal with spray varnish. You can lightly sand before painting. *Alum can be found in the spice section of your store.

Mom's Budget

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I have people ask all the time how to make it on Social Security. I used to live on $500 a month before I got married. Mom has lived that way for 18 years. Here is her budget to help those who are in that situation. It is not fun or easy by a long shot but can be done.

Before she got sick she paid off our house so she didn't have a house payment. When she moved and then moved again she lost 25K on the sale of her house and so she had to have a mortgage again. It's around $300 right now. We do help her with that now. We cover the leftover of what she can't.


This is her monthly budget.

Disability Income - $534
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Tithe- $50
Food- $89
Gas and Electric - $39
Water- $10
Phone- $10
Car Gas- $20
Car Insurance- $20
Trash- $6
Cable- $40
Thrift Store - $30
Wal-Mart- $30
Haircut - $10
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Total - $355



Gas and Electric- She keeps her heat at 55 in the winter and a/c at 80 in the summer. She only turns on the a/c for 2-3 hours in the afternoon when it just get too hot. She doesn't have a dryer.

Water - She takes 4 minutes showers. Yes, you can shampoo, shave and wash in that amount of time. I have timed it. She doesn't leave the water running when brushing her teeth. Uses the dishwasher sparingly and doesn't water the lawn.

Phone - She gets a discount on her phone because she is disabled. When she needs to call my grandmother long distance she calls, let's it ring once, hangs up and my grandmother who has free calling calls her back. The one ring is a sign that it's mom calling her.

Wal-Mart - This includes toiletries and other misc. items. She uses her toiletries very sparingly. A bottle of shampoo and soap will last several months.

Thrift store - This includes all clothing, Christmas and Birthday gifts for 9 members of her family and all home decorating.

Haircut- She gets it cut every 2 months but when she doesn't have the money it can go 3 or 4 months.

Cable- This is by no means a necessity but she is sick and it does help to get your mind off of feeling bad and pass the time when you're too sick to do anything else.

Car Insurance and Gas- She drives a 15 year old car. She drives only when necessary and when she doesn't have the money she doesn't go anywhere.

Basically when she doesn't have the money she doesn't buy. Period. Other than being on Medicaid for medical she doesn't get any other assistance.

She does take in some ironing and makes gingerbread men at Christmas. (over 500 DOZEN) last year! (They are the best gingerbread you have ever had!) Anyway, that helps her cover extra expenses like car repairs and house repairs.

There are other things that do come and her budget just doesn’t work out paper but somehow God always provides a way for her to pay for it or get it fixed.

Tawra
http://www.LivingOnADime.com/

Many Uses of a Pizza Cutter.

One of our favorite tools in the kitchen is our pizza cutter. Here's some ideas to make life easier.

Cut homemade noodles
Cut French toast into sticks or small pieces
Cut pancakes and waffles
Cut brownies, corn bread, fruit roll-ups etc. (may have to lightly oil for the roll ups.
Cut hotdogs.

Ours wasn't cutting so well. I realized it had been 10 years since I had a new one. Make sure you get a new sharp one and that will make all the difference.

Tawra

Buying Cheap

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Things I will buy brand new but make sure it's on sale:

Cheap packing tape. Scotch works much better and you end up using less.

Tortillas – The Aldis kind just don’t taste as good and stick together.

Anti Virus software- Check out the reviews, don’t take a chance on this one.

Haircut- Ok, normally I am a huge fan of the beauty college to save money on haircuts but the other day was a flop. I took my 6 and 2 year old. We were there 1 ½ hours! I saved $2 and a long drive across town (about $3 gas) but it wasn’t worth the wait and chasing after a 2 year old for an hour. Most of that time was spent cutting their hair.
I will just take Elly to my stylist (only $6 anyway) and keep giving David his haircut at home.

Diapers – with our 3rd we used disposables and with the other two when we went out. I tried the cheap diapers and they just leak every time. I found that Loves are cheaper than Pampers but still work. I did get some really cheap diapers free. I used those for during the day when I changed him more often but not a night.

Major appliances- They are coming out with such energy efficient appliances that unless you know for sure it’s a year or less old buy a new one.

Shoes- Mike and I have feet problems. We can’t find used shoes that aren’t completely worn out so we buy new but on sale. The kids we buy used as much as possible but with our 8 year old it’s getting harder. Boys shoes are just worn out because they out grow them.

AAA- It's worth it not to worry about breaking down and trying to get someone to help you.

Kids Blow up Swimming Pool - Most used ones have holes.

Electronics - Unless you know how to fix them and know they are working it's not worth the chance.

Anything that is under $10 - If you buy something that's used that "needs a little work" and you save $5. Usually "a little work" ends up being a lot of work and it's not worth the hour or two to fix it.





Things I will try not to pay full price for:
Just about everything else that wasn’t listed above.

Clothes- I have noticed a difference when I buy Eddie Bauer (sp), Van Hauseen (sp) and more expensive clothes. The colors are richer, they don’t fade as bad and last longer than Wal-mart stuff, BUT I still wouldn’t buy them new unless they were dirt cheap. I can get them at the thrift store like new for less than $3 for dress shirts and .99 for T-shirts.

Most Furniture-
Couch - With kids why buy a new one? Unless it has a print to really hide the stains just get a used one until they are older or out of house. It’s not worth fighting. I spent $90 on the one we have now. I saved over $500 and can sell it for at least $50, probably more when I’m done with it. If you have already purchased an expensive one then a slipcover is worth it with kids!
Other furniture – Again why buy new with kids? You don’t have to worry so much about them scratching it.

Toys and almost everything for kids and babies- until they get a certain age they don’t know whether they are new or not. Even after they are 8 or so you can get buy with buying used by re-packing it. That way if they don’t play with it you haven’t lost as much.

Sheets - Clean with hot water or bleach.

Camping Equipment - Tents etc.

Books- Even new on the market adult books( like diet books, self help something seen on Oprah :-) can be purchased with some savings. Kids books defiantly!

Canning-Buy the time you buy the fruit of vegetables, sugar and spend hours canning it's not worth it unless you get most of the ingredients for free.






The thing is to figure what is worth it for you to buy new and buy used. It's differnt for everyone.

Tawra

http://www.LivingOnADime.com/
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Farm House Bread

I tried this recipe the other day. (Finally cooled down enough to bake. Praise the Lord!! :-)
It was really good. Hubby said it's the best homemade bread he's ever had. I don't have a bread machine but did kneed it in my kitchen Aid mixer. I just dissolved the yeast and sugar in the warm water and margarine first. Added everything else with the flour last.
We toasted in the toaster for breakfast.
Enjoy! Tawra


Farm House Bread.
From Roxie

Okay, I will share the recipe with you, but I confess I cheat. I use a bread machine to do the work. Now I bake the bread in my oven, in a regular loaf pan, usually while I am making something else for our supper. The bread machine does all of the mixing and the rising and I take the credit. This recipe makes very good rolls too. I have even used it for buns...

Everything should be at room temperature.


Farm House bread

1 egg

1 cup butter milk

1/4 cup water

3 tbs. butter (margarine works fine)

1 1/2 tsp. salt

3 tbs. sugar

2 tsp. yeast

4 cups bread flour



Put the yeast in the bread machine first. Then the liquids. Then the solid ingredients with the flour last. Push button and wait for a wonderful thing to happen. Dough forms.

After the first rise remove the dough and form a loaf...put into a buttered pan and bake at 375 for 25 minutes....



This makes the best toast. Honest. I like to make what my kids and husband calls skillet toast...just butter the bread and toast in a hot skillet....

Grandma's Homemade Apple Pie.

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My grandmother makes the best apple pie. We have always loved it. My mom was talking to her and asked her how she makes it taste so good. She said "I used canned apples". HA! Here is whole time we thought it was some great secret and it was just canned apples!

Tawra

Shop around.

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I didn't do very well in my shopping this week. I didn't waste a lot but it was annoying.
I needed a new address book. I didn't have enough addresses to make it worth the space my Rolodex took up. I got one a Wal-Mart for $5 that was ok but it was the best they had. Last night I put in all the address and of course today I go to the dollar store and saw one for $1 and Walgreen’s had one for $2.

I also needed a dry erase board. I bought one a Wal-Mart that won't stay on the fridge. The magnets keep falling off. I hot glued them on and they fell off and last night I glued them with Elmer’s in hopes that they will stay. Well, of course I found a dry erase at Walgreen’s for the same price but with a cute design on it.

Be sure to look at unconventional stores when you need something.

Oh well, that will teach me to remember to practice what I preach! LOL

Tawra

http://www.LivingOnADime.com/

Corn Bread

Order Dining On A Dime (fomerly Not Just Beans) today!
Over 1200 recipes and tips to help you Eat Better and Spend Less!

We also have some Not Just Beans left in our discount bin if you
want a great deal!
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Corn Bread

2 cups baking mix
1 tsp. baking powder
1/2 cup cornmeal
2 eggs
1/2 cup sugar
1 cup milk
1/2 cup butter, melted

Preheat the oven to 350. In a large bowl, stir all the ingredients together. Blend until smooth. Pour into a greased 8x8 inch baking pan and bake for 30 minutes. Serves 9.

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Picky Kids?

Check out http://www.LivingOnADime.com/ and the cookbook Dining On A Dime: 1,000 Money Saving Recipes and Tips
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Picky Kids?
Kids eating habits could send you to the poor house! Between the pop-tarts, fruit chews, juices boxes and containers of cool applesauce it’s enough to spend the entire grocery budget in one week! Here are some tips from LivingOnADime.com to keep some more cash in your pocket.

The recommended amount of milk per day is 2 8 oz. glasses of milk. Stop giving your kids milk every time they ask for it. They don’t need more than the recommended amount.
The same is true of juice. 5 servings of fruits and vegetables a day is recommended. Did you know that for children under age five 3/4 cup of juice is one serving? How often do you just fill a glass with juice for your child to the top? Then they don’t drink most of it and you throw it away. Limit the amount of juice served to one or two small glasses a day and serve the rest of their fruit and vegetable in whole form.


French Toast Sticks
After cooking french toast cut each piece into 4 strips. Kids love to dip these in syrup.

Place some peanut butter and honey or corn syrup on a pancake and roll up for a snack. This is great for leftover pancakes.

Present oatmeal in a fancy glass such as a sundae dish. Place some granola, fruit, honey, brown sugar or nuts on top.

Stir any of the following into oatmeal.
sugar
cinnamon and sugar
brown sugar
margarine
molasses
maple syrup
applesauce
chopped apples
dried apples
raisins
berries
bananas
chopped peaches
jam or jelly
plain or fruit yogurt
wheat germ
dark brown sugar and 1 drop of maple extract makes oatmeal taste just like the store bought instant oatmeal

Snack Ideas
*Fresh fruit
*Hard-boiled eggs
*Apples, cut into quarters, with core removed

*Popcorn balls
*Popcorn
*Apples, quartered and cored with 1 tsp. peanut butter on each quarter
*Bagels
*Muffins
*Dried apples or bananas
*Breadsticks
*Oranges, peeled and quartered
*Pumpkin bread
*Banana bread
*Zucchini bread
*Bananas
*Bananas sliced in half and spread with peanut butter
*Crackers and cheese
*Frozen grapes
*Crackers spread with peanut butter and jelly or jam
*Veggies with ranch dressing
*Celery sticks, spread with peanut butter
*Cherry tomatoes
*Cheese
*Strawberry leather
*Cookies
*Puddings
*Yogurt Popsicles
*Homemade granola bars
*Beef jerky
*Pretzels,
*Tortillas with cream cheese
*Peanut butter snacks
*Yogurt with fruit or wheat germ added
*Milk
*Chocolate milk
*Bread or toast cut into quarters and spread with jelly, jam, peanut butter, spiced honey or honey butter
*Cocoa
*Creamy Orange Shake
*Milk shake
*Fruit shakes


~Have a snack sitting at the kitchen table for the kids when they come home from school. This way they won’t be grouchy from being hungry. This will also prevent them from digging though the kitchen cabinets looking for something themselves and messing up your neat, well-organized pantry. It is also the perfect time for you to sit and visit with them about their day at school.
~To discourage bad snack habits, don’t buy unhealthy snacks or keep them in the house.
~Present your snacks with a plate, place mat, napkin and maybe a flower from the garden. This way your snacks always look inviting.

~Have jars sitting on the counter with sunflower seeds, raisins, granola, prunes or peanuts for the children. If they see healthy snacks they’re more likely to want them.

Tawra Kellam is the publisher of the website http://www.LivingOnADime.com/ and the author of the cookbook Dining On A Dime: 1,000 Money Saving Recipes and Tips.

Gift in a Jar. Chocolate Peanut Butter Cookie Mix

From Dining On A Dime and Not Just Beans
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Chocolate Peanut Butter Cookie Mix

1 1/2 cups flour
1 tsp. baking powder
1/4 tsp. salt
1 cup brown sugar, packed
1 1/2 cups powdered sugar, packed
3/4 cup cocoa powder

In a bowl, mix first three ingredients. Beginning with flour mixture, layer ingredients in order given in a one quart wide mouth canning jar. Press each layer firmly in place before adding next ingredient. Wipe jar after each layer.

Attach this to the jar:

Chocolate Peanut Butter Cookies
Empty jar of cookie mix into large mixing bowl. Thoroughly mix. Use your hands if needed.
Add:
3/4 cup butter or margarine, softened
1/2 cup creamy or chunky peanut butter
1 tsp. vanilla
1 egg, slightly beaten

Mix until completely blended. You will need to finish mixing with your hands. Shape into balls the size of a quarter. Place 2 inches apart on greased baking sheets. Press balls down with a fork. Bake at 350 for 9-11 minutes (until edges are lightly browned). Cool 5 minutes on baking sheet. Makes 3 dozen cookies.

Bathroom re-do.

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I really hated our downstairs bathroom. The lady who re-did it before we moved in did a horrible job with the wallpaper. It was peeling, you could see the edges, they didn't even come close to matching and it was just plain ugly.

I also didn't like the fixtures in our upstairs bathroom. They were silver but I had a warm garden theme in there that would have looked better. I
We have navy towels for the downstairs so I kept those. I mixed three 1/2 gallons of leftover paint together to get the right color, use up the paint and save some money.

I then took the towel rods and light switch covers and mirror and put them in there instead of upstairs.

I did buy a new bathmat ($9), light fixture ($20), caulk ($2) and soap dispenser ($4) and clock ($7).

Mike is looking for a better paying job so we may end up selling this house and moving. We really needed to get this bathroom fixed up. I figured if we fix it up the house will sell better and if we don't we can enjoy the new bathroom! I spent $42 total but we did have to replace the old light fixture, it was not working and a fire hazard. We also needed a clock in there. The only things that I bought that were "frivolous" were the bathmat and soap dispenser.

I ended up caulking the entire thing too since they did a bad job on it. I also painted the vent which was rusty and a water spot on the ceiling from a previous leak with some Kilz I had on hand.

It looks wonderful!! It's a warm tan color, navy and silver. Look just like a hotel or spa. I could just go and sit in there all day! LOL

I am doing a little bit in the upstairs bathroom. I am putting up new towel rods. I painted the light fixture to look better. I made a new mirror out of an old window my brother gave me. I used the old mirror from downstairs and had the glass place re-cut it to size for me. ($2) I asked for new towels for my birthday so I will be using those. I could still use the old ones but I really just want something new after 11 years. I only needed to buy one new towel rod but I painted the old one to match the light and it turned out ugly. I can't really re-fix so I am just going to get a new one. I will have spent ($15) in the upstairs bathroom.

Be sure to try and paint anything you can before buying new. The towel rod paint stuck really well and I painted the switch plate covers and they look great. I might try and think of anyway to paint the towel rod before I buy new.

It's amazing how much a little thing like that will change your attitude. I hated cleaning that bathroom because it was so depressing but now I am vigilante keeping it clean because I want to keep it looking nice.

It doesn't cost much to fix things up in your house. Try to find ways to decorate so you are inspired to keep it clean!

Tawra

http://www.LivingOnAdime.com/

ebay and the thrift store.

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Be sure to check ebay if you are looking for something. I wanted a Denim & Co. shirt from QVC that I loved. It was $25 which I couldn't bring myself to pay that much. I looked on e-bay and it was around $10-$15. I also went to the thrift store and found a similar one from Denim & Co. I didn't get it, it wasn't my size but the point is you can always find things cheaper, usually.

Tawra

http://www.LivingOnADime.com/