Frugal Choices this week:

- All meals and snacks homemade
- Cooking from scratch, cheaper than shopping with coupons for us
- Air dried as much as laundry as possible
- Lowered the thermostat by 2 degrees during the day
- Donated some goods and received a coupon worth $5 for the Thrift Store :)
- Started taking online surveys again, earned $5 for 2 surveys, time spent answering questions 35 minutes
- Bought 10 pounds of organic onions on sale for 39 cents/lb, chopped and froze them in small batches
- Received a nice loyalty discount and a free pack of soup bones  from our Rancher for our grass-fed/finished beef :)

Frugal Tip: Grow your own

Growing your one fruits and veggies is cheaper & healthier than buying them at the store.
The best part you do NOT need a large garden to grow them, many fruits and vegetables can easily be grown in containers on your porch, patio or balcony.
To save even more $$$ start your plants from seeds, it is easier than you think.
I always use heirloom seeds, since they are not genetically modified.


Here are my Heirloom Tomato Seedlings :)

Top 100 Items to sell out during a disaster:


1. Generators
2. Water Filters/Purifiers
3. Medication
4. Seasoned Firewood
5. Lamp Oil, Wicks, Lamps
6. Coleman Fuel
7. Guns, Ammunition, Pepper Spray, Knives, Clubs, Bats & Slingshots
8. Hand-Can openers & hand egg beaters, whisks
9. Honey/Syrups/white, brown sugars
10. Rice - Beans - Wheat
11. Vegetable oil (for cooking)
12. Charcoal & Lighter fluid
13. Water containers
14. Mini Heater
15. Grain Grinder (Non-electric)
16. Propane Cylinders
17. Survival Guides
18. Mantles: Aladdin, Coleman, etc.
19. Baby Supplies
20. Washboards, Mop Bucket w/wringer
21. Cookstoves (Propane, Coleman & Kerosene)
22. Vitamins
23. Propane Cylinder Handle-Holder
24. Feminine Hygiene/Hair care/Skin products
25. Thermal underwear (Tops and bottoms)
26. Bow saws, axes and hatchets & Wedges (also, honing oil)
27. Aluminum foil Reg. & Heavy Duty
28. Gasoline containers
29. Garbage bags
30. Toilet Paper, Kleenex, paper towel
31. Milk - Powdered & Condensed
32. Garden seeds (Non-hybrid)
33. Clothes pins/line/hangers
34. Pump Repair Kit
35. Tuna Fish (canned)
36. Fire extinguishers
37. First aid kits
38. Batteries
39. Garlic, spices & vinegar, baking supplies
40. BIG DOGS (and plenty of dog food)
41. Flour, yeast & salt
42. Matches ( "Strike Anywhere" preferred. Boxed, wooden matches will go first.)
43. Writing paper/pads/pencils/solar calculators
44. Insulated ice chests (good for keeping items from freezing in Wintertime)
45. Work boots, belts, Levis & durable shirts
46. Flashlights/LIGHT STICKS & torches, "No.76 Dietz" Lanterns
47. Journals, Diaries & Scrapbooks
48. Garbage cans Plastic (great for storage, water, transporting - if with wheels)
49. Men's Hygiene: Shampoo, Toothbrush/paste, Mouthwash/floss, nail clippers, etc
50. Cast iron cookware (sturdy, efficient)
51. Fishing supplies/tools
52. Mosquito coils/repellent sprays/creams
53. Duct tape
54. Tarps/stakes/twine/nails/rope/spikes
55. Candles
56. Laundry detergent (Liquid)
57. Backpacks & Duffle bags
58. Garden tools & supplies
59. Scissors, fabrics & sewing supplies
60. Canned Fruits, Veggies, Soups, stews, etc.
61. Bleach (plain, NOT scented: 4 to 6% sodium hypochlorite)
62. Canning supplies (Jars/lids/wax)
63. Knives & Sharpening tools: files, stones, steel
64. Bicycles...Tires/tubes/pumps/chains, etc.
65. Sleeping bags & blankets/pillows/mats
66. Carbon Monoxide Alarm (battery powered)
67. Board Games Cards, Dice
68. d-Con Rat poison, MOUSE PRUFE II, Roach Killer
69. Mousetraps, Ant traps & cockroach magnets
70. Paper plates/cups/utensils
71. Baby Wipes, oils, waterless & Anti-bacterial soap (saves a lot of water)
72. Rain gear, rubberized boots, etc.
73. Shaving supplies (razors & creams, talc, after shave)
74. Hand pumps & siphons (for water and for fuels)
75. Soy sauce, vinegar, bouillon/gravy/soup base
76. Reading glasses
77. Chocolate/Cocoa/Tang/Punch (water enhancers)
78. "Survival-in-a-Can"
79. Woolen clothing, scarves/ear-muffs/mittens
80. BSA - New 1998 - Boy Scout Handbook
81. Roll-on Window Insulation Kit (MANCO)
82. Graham crackers, saltines, pretzels, Trail mix/Jerky
83. Popcorn, Peanut Butter, Nuts
84. Socks, Underwear, T-shirts, etc. (extras)
85. Lumber (all types)
86. Wagons & carts
87. Cots & Inflatable mattresses
88. Gloves: Work/warming/gardening, etc.
89. Lantern Hangers
90. Screen Patches, glue, nails, screws, nuts & bolts
91. Teas
92. Coffee
93. Cigarettes
94. Wine/Liquors
95. Paraffin wax
96. Glue, nails, nuts, bolts, screws, etc.
97. Chewing gum/candies
98. Atomizers
99. Hats & cotton neckerchiefs
100. Goats/chickens