tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8698353263709816572011-04-21T15:02:58.249-07:00finding the limits of frugalityMrs. Vincahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15196284616882852563noreply@blogger.comBlogger511100tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-869835326370981657.post-36517328917436922002009-04-02T10:48:00.000-07:002009-04-02T10:51:08.848-07:00

This post astounds me. Seriously, this is my ideal.Handprints on the Wall: The True Queen of FrugalLaundry once a week, all line dried. Herbs from the garden. Grocery shopping twice a year! Oh, good, gosh, I think I stumbled into heaven.Seriously, I wish we could live like that. Unfortunately, life at the moment demands otherwise. But it's something to shoot for.

Mrs. Vincahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15196284616882852563noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-869835326370981657.post-56884524407188362522009-04-01T15:03:00.000-07:002009-04-01T15:14:53.404-07:00

A while back, much like this post on Tomato Soup Cake, I found cloth napkins on sale. My hesitancy matches up pretty well with what The Mama talks about on her blog (more laundry, stains, paper towels work just fine, etc.). And, like her, I went ahead and took the plunge.However, one other reason I didn't buy them for the longest time is because I had it in my head that I needed to buy napkin

Mrs. Vincahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15196284616882852563noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-869835326370981657.post-44332791023246939392009-03-25T08:26:00.000-07:002009-03-25T08:29:17.095-07:00

I'm going to only post the first episode to get y'all started. Have fun! :)

Mrs. Vincahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15196284616882852563noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-869835326370981657.post-7522895357144442142009-03-18T15:47:00.000-07:002009-03-18T15:49:22.995-07:00

I don't coupon, sorry to say. The foods I eat (whole grains in #10 cans and 20 lb. bags) usually aren't covered by coupons.However, some of those who read my blog do or at least have kicked around the idea. For those who are interested, here's a post on basic couponing.

Mrs. Vincahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15196284616882852563noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-869835326370981657.post-19512731953849833042009-03-09T08:55:00.001-07:002009-03-09T08:57:06.750-07:00

I found this really interesting article on making a solar cooker. It's by Steve Jones, a physicist from BYU. Enjoy.http://solarcooking.org/plans/funnel.htm

Mrs. Vincahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15196284616882852563noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-869835326370981657.post-22041973786154016672009-03-06T09:54:00.000-08:002009-03-06T10:01:44.206-08:00

This isn't really a review. In fact, this book is written in such a way that I don't think I could review it. It would be like reviewing the dictionary or the encyclopedia.Because this month is going to be very busy for me (all sorts of parties going on this month) I won't have time to talk about this book in detail. But to give you a taste of it, I'll tell you that this is the anti-Martha

Mrs. Vincahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15196284616882852563noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-869835326370981657.post-35771456361443326772009-02-27T14:04:00.000-08:002009-02-27T14:07:51.625-08:00

Beans are a fantastic addition to the frugal diet. They don't spike your blood sugar, they have no gluten (for those who are sensitive), they regulate the system and are the "other half" to grains like wheat and rice.Here's a site for those who love beans. I'll post more on this topic next month (March).http://www.dvo.com/newsletter/monthly/2003/april/0403tabletalk.html#6

Mrs. Vincahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15196284616882852563noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-869835326370981657.post-14715448367611730742009-02-27T06:49:00.000-08:002009-02-27T07:38:02.072-08:00

A while back there were some toys from China that were found to have too much lead in them. The media went crazy because 1) people hate the Made in China label in the first place and 2) ingesting lead is bad, especially for children and infants/toddlers have a tendency to put anything they find in their mouth.So, people wrote their congressmen (and women); a law was written (CPSIA) and passed;

Mrs. Vincahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15196284616882852563noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-869835326370981657.post-64678492015334004352009-02-26T12:29:00.000-08:002009-03-06T10:05:17.259-08:00

I really love washing dishes by hand. It's faster and, if done right, gets dishes just as clean, sometimes cleaner, than a dishwasher. I strayed from washing by hand last year due to an illness. I mistakenly thought it would kill more germs if I washed the dishes in a dishwasher. However, we used twice as much water, the dishes didn't come out as clean, and we still got sick. So, I've gone

Mrs. Vincahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15196284616882852563noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-869835326370981657.post-9877882846259616852009-02-25T12:00:00.001-08:002009-02-25T12:40:58.958-08:00

I found this book while shopping at a local bookstore. It was marked down to $5.99 from $26.99. I figured, why not? It's about preparedness and it's relatively cheap. Even if it only has one or two good things in it, it'll be worth the price.It turned out to be a very, very good deal.As a side note for those who would rather not be prepared or think preparedness means having food and water

Mrs. Vincahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15196284616882852563noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-869835326370981657.post-44841404177000498682009-02-24T07:11:00.000-08:002009-02-24T07:22:27.691-08:00

We got the results back from our soil sample. We've seen some weeds that love soil low in nitrogen, so we weren't surprised when we saw next to no nitrogen on the results. Phosphorous needs to be added as well. It's good to know all this, especially now that we must get our first seeds out into the garden.Already planted: broccoli seedling, two types of lettuce, and spinach. Sometime this

Mrs. Vincahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15196284616882852563noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-869835326370981657.post-17943060369346682872009-02-23T15:36:00.001-08:002009-02-23T15:36:57.578-08:00

Last time we talked about wheatgrass and other seedlings. BTW, did you know you if you plant leaf lettuce, you can pick off the young leaves as it grows and eat them? Your own baby lettuce leaves right at home.I digress.Today, I'm going to talk very briefly about using sprouts in cooking. Why would you use sprouts in cooking? Doesn't that kill the little things and destroy their goodness? Well,

Mrs. Vincahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15196284616882852563noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-869835326370981657.post-2054089599711544672009-02-18T06:16:00.000-08:002009-02-18T06:48:09.418-08:00

I've been wanting to write this review ever since I was in the store last week and saw a book by a well-known environmentally-friendly cleaning solution company. I flipped through it and realized very quickly that most of the book seemed to be fluff. Oh, there was some good stuff in there, but mostly it was the why and not the how. I guess they figured if they put their name on a book the

Mrs. Vincahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15196284616882852563noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-869835326370981657.post-67239679081755589432009-02-17T09:03:00.000-08:002009-02-17T09:22:31.918-08:00

I can feel it in the wind and in the increasing storms. :)I've sent off my soil sample to the appropriate location -- well, technically my husband did but I was the one who collected the sample so maybe I should say "we"? Maybe so. We have sent off our soil sample. We are looking forward to the results.However, I still have to get the lettuce and onions planted this week. I'll have to look

Mrs. Vincahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15196284616882852563noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-869835326370981657.post-83511534184255987852009-02-15T13:25:00.000-08:002009-02-15T13:34:16.362-08:00

Today, I plan on doing some writing and reading some of my more spiritual books. I really wish I had a copy of Made From Scratch on hand. It's by Jean Zimmerman and it's a look at what homemaking has meant over the centuries, from vital half of the domestic life (even spiritual in some cultures) to redefined roles in the Industrial age (carrying over to the Fifties Housewife), to the present

Mrs. Vincahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15196284616882852563noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-869835326370981657.post-90697550631788762772009-02-13T10:32:00.000-08:002009-02-13T10:36:22.135-08:00

First, the series on using bulk grains is going to be on hold for a couple of weeks while I work something out. I'll still blog in the meantime... there's plenty out there to blog about.Second, I've discovered this wonderful blog by a mom of many children. I'm going to add her button to this blog because the pictures I've seen so far are... well, I just like them. :) They stir my creativity.

Mrs. Vincahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15196284616882852563noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-869835326370981657.post-80659487471875636482009-02-11T08:26:00.000-08:002009-02-11T11:10:36.706-08:00

This was so beautiful I just had to share it. Check out these lovely valentine's day flowers at maya*made. (Picture used by permission.)

Mrs. Vincahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15196284616882852563noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-869835326370981657.post-78087205714805229612009-02-05T15:08:00.000-08:002009-02-05T15:10:07.689-08:00

I like the sound of this new series on Frugal Hacks and thought I would pass along the info. It's about finding the time to be frugal. It starts next Tuesday, but this link will take you to the overview.Frugality and Time

Mrs. Vincahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15196284616882852563noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-869835326370981657.post-51779005152061750372009-02-04T10:23:00.000-08:002009-02-04T12:20:20.367-08:00

I've decided to take a brief break today from my series about grain to offer up a few ramblings about gardening. Don't worry. I'll keep it all in one post. ;)Last year, my garden was a disaster. I planted lettuce, carrots, radishes (because a still-dear friend of our family said anyone could grow radishes), tomatoes, habaneros, and a single jalapeno plant. The lettuce didn't even show up,

Mrs. Vincahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15196284616882852563noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-869835326370981657.post-43289258707352853822009-02-02T07:33:00.000-08:002009-02-02T07:41:16.142-08:00

It turns out that car dealers have been going out of business. Didn't know that but it makes sense. This little bit ticks me off though (from the linked article):When a car buyer still owes money on a vehicle he is trading in, the dealer promises to pay off the outstanding loan, then resells the vehicle. But as more dealers go out of business, some are sticking consumers with the bill. Lenders

Mrs. Vincahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15196284616882852563noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-869835326370981657.post-36854938340833657032009-02-02T06:22:00.000-08:002009-02-02T07:26:50.146-08:00

(I thought of using spanish in the title instead of french. Decided french was confusing enough.)(And no, I don't know spanish or french very well. I just know how to count in both languages. :)Last time I talked about making sprouts to sprinkle in soups and layer on sandwiches among other things. Today, we're going to take the sprouting concept a little farther in one direction. Next time

Mrs. Vincahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15196284616882852563noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-869835326370981657.post-7013805801666990302009-01-28T08:10:00.000-08:002009-01-28T09:11:46.770-08:00

Last time I talked about Rejuvelac. This time I'm going to talk about sprouting.Sprouting is also very easy. In fact, for those who are lazy (like me), this is a great science project for your kids. The amount you'll want to start with will vary, so please don't take the numbers I give as absolutes. I've seen anywhere from 2 tablespoons (for alfalfa) to 2 cups (for buckwheat). Each grain has

Mrs. Vincahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15196284616882852563noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-869835326370981657.post-44396535221891620382009-01-23T11:42:00.000-08:002009-02-11T11:22:17.417-08:00

I have never heard of this, but it makes sense considering the economy and how much stores spend on bags. In fact, I wouldn't be surprised if stores started charging people who didn't bring their own bags. I've heard they already do that in some other countries.Anyway, apparently there are some stores that will give you credit if you bring your own bag. These include, but are not limited to:

Mrs. Vincahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15196284616882852563noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-869835326370981657.post-65634912087049270202009-01-23T10:42:00.000-08:002009-01-23T11:35:58.669-08:00

... what on earth do I do with all this wheat?!(This, btw, is the result of my thoughts while I was composing my pancake post... which will eventually happen.)The most common complaint I've heard when it comes to stocking up on bulk whole grains is "But I don't have a grinder". In case that sounds snarky, I used to say the exact same thing early in my marriage. However, I've found some people

Mrs. Vincahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15196284616882852563noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-869835326370981657.post-76248413622081351302009-01-21T08:47:00.001-08:002009-01-21T09:24:29.805-08:00

I first heard about Freecycle through FlyLady. I didn't think much of it at first. Then I started seeing it mentioned on various frugality blogs/sites. I became intrigued and, once my curiosity regarding privacy was satisfied, signed up. I've been using it long enough now that I'd like to give my thoughts on it.OverviewFreecycle is actually one group encompassing a group of smaller

Mrs. Vincahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15196284616882852563noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-869835326370981657.post-167653111463254372009-01-14T13:54:00.000-08:002009-01-14T13:58:17.952-08:00

Good, though long, post about worries others have toward those who choose to stay at home with suggestions on how to deal with it. I especially enjoyed the point about complaining. It's too easy, both to do and for others to misinterpret.Homemaking Without Worry

Mrs. Vincahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15196284616882852563noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-869835326370981657.post-54574613364726388352009-01-14T13:47:00.000-08:002009-01-14T13:54:16.201-08:00

Good information to have regarding this year's flu. I hope no one out there expects to rely on Tamiflu or similar treatments. I firmly believe the flu, due to variety and adaptability, can't be fought by our current medical system. Prevention is key, and if you're herbally-minded, hit it with the strongest stuff your common sense will allow. Most "treatments" in magazines are so weak and

Mrs. Vincahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15196284616882852563noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-869835326370981657.post-33921777220982460322009-01-07T14:33:00.001-08:002009-01-07T14:35:28.779-08:00

When I saw this I knew I had to link to it here. I've seen other homemade books but none looked as beautiful to me as this method. Enjoy.Lady Lydia: Book From a Box.

Mrs. Vincahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15196284616882852563noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-869835326370981657.post-28388086364603736472008-12-30T17:31:00.000-08:002008-12-30T17:32:49.078-08:00

... why so many women think all homemakers do is clean, cook and primp in front of the mirror.

Mrs. Vincahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15196284616882852563noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-869835326370981657.post-46478264390572890272008-12-29T08:43:00.001-08:002008-12-29T11:58:19.297-08:00

On Frugal Hacks there's a poll: Do you CVS?For those who don't know, it's possible, because of the way CVS has structured a particular incentive program, to use coupons, rebates, sales, and the incentive program to walk into a CVS and come out with a huge amount of stuff for next to or absolutely nothing. Money Saving Mom talks about this on her blog, so if you're interested I recommend reading

Mrs. Vincahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15196284616882852563noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-869835326370981657.post-28270933562769376552008-12-24T11:29:00.000-08:002008-12-24T11:43:22.176-08:00

I've almost finished the doll dresses I decided to make for my girls. Just a little hand sewing and they're done. I haven't gotten Mr. Vinca's present yet. Nothing has been wrapped yet. I have stocking stuffers and plan on making wassail tonight for our reading of the Christmas Story. I hope to make some dairy-free fudge as well (another recipe contained in Traci's Transformational Recipe

Mrs. Vincahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15196284616882852563noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-869835326370981657.post-52217212350907605142008-12-24T11:16:00.000-08:002008-12-24T11:28:52.723-08:00

I really like Kimberly Eddy's e-books, especially Thriving On One Income. One of these days I'm going to review it just so I can allow myself to gush about it in public. When I found out she had a blog, I bookmarked it (I'm old-fashioned) and visit it from time to time. This post really hit home with me, especially now that I've got seven little ones to look after. I didn't do very well with

Mrs. Vincahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15196284616882852563noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-869835326370981657.post-9547133730205870412008-12-22T08:54:00.000-08:002008-12-22T09:03:26.417-08:00

And I'm not even close to ready. At least I've got the toys for the kids and I have a few decorations up. No tree this year since I have nightmarish visions of my toddler yanking out all the branches. Instead, we have a mini-tree on the fireplace mantle. We've kind of managed to keep up with our advent calender, mostly because one of my kids has been obsessing about keeping up with it. :)

Mrs. Vincahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15196284616882852563noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-869835326370981657.post-88737840195767049062008-12-16T09:23:00.000-08:002008-12-16T09:32:29.846-08:00

Since Christmas is almost here and the last weekend for Christmas shopping is almost upon us, I thought I might post this video from The Street.com about haggling. The savings may not be big, but maybe someone will find it useful, especially if they can manage to get 20% more off an already deeply discounted item they need but may not be able to afford.And this is my first embedded video post!

Mrs. Vincahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15196284616882852563noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-869835326370981657.post-92180068676328322242008-12-08T07:13:00.000-08:002008-12-08T07:20:24.181-08:00

That's right, we have a new baby in our family. Unlike all my other children, this one came almost exactly on his due date (give or take a couple of days ;).My posting is going to be spotty for the next month and will consist more of links I found interesting than interesting posts. But I am back. One last thought before I end this post. I don't think my priority list has ever been more handy

Mrs. Vincahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15196284616882852563noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-869835326370981657.post-41448808540248227292008-11-27T08:36:00.001-08:002008-11-27T08:43:56.217-08:00

The plan this year is very simple. We're staying at home, we're going to eat a lot of veggies, very little meat (if any) and we're going to relax. I'm due this weekend, so I am not up to my usual "get the turkey in the oven first thing in the morning and work, work, work, until I crash that night" kind of Thanksgiving.This means I feel more than a little lost. I don't even have a timetable

Mrs. Vincahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15196284616882852563noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-869835326370981657.post-85185441791900165972008-11-20T14:19:00.000-08:002008-11-20T14:29:25.103-08:00

So far I've:Cleared out half the clutter in the master bedroom.Gotten two meals large enough for our family in the freezer (thank you Mega Menu Mailer for helping me organize that).Still needs to be done:Finish organizing my room.Get caught up on laundry and organize the laundry room (so that if anyone tries to help out they won't be completely lost).Make five more freezer meals by Monday of next

Mrs. Vincahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15196284616882852563noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-869835326370981657.post-15580945120982549042008-11-20T13:51:00.001-08:002008-11-20T14:16:12.672-08:00

Just thought it might be helpful to those out there to know where we get our grains from since I'm going to be talking about our journey through pancakes pretty soon.We get our hard red winter wheat (our primary grain) through LDS Distribution.Long-grain brown rice, kasha, oatmeal, and most of our legumes come through Wal-Mart.Specialty grains like millet and red lentils are acquired through a

Mrs. Vincahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15196284616882852563noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-869835326370981657.post-88037759902449901702008-11-19T07:11:00.000-08:002008-11-20T14:17:23.584-08:00

I've decided to review a cookbook two or three times a month since I've tried out various kinds over the past ten years. I've decided to start with the More With Less cookbook because it doesn't get any more basic than what's inside this book.Summary: Great cookbook for those just starting to cook from scratch and save money. Best for those with some experience cooking and/or baking. True

Mrs. Vincahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15196284616882852563noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-869835326370981657.post-27461485801093756952008-11-17T08:46:00.000-08:002008-11-17T09:16:29.442-08:00

I'm big on preparing as much as possible for future events. Often, in our house, this means tangibles, though we're working on knowledge as well and having an emergency plan.That's why I really liked this article about Investing in Skills at The Simple Dollar. In all my preparedness research, the thing that keeps jumping out at me is knowing the people in your community. It's one of the

Mrs. Vincahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15196284616882852563noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-869835326370981657.post-32623881484903677652008-11-17T08:24:00.000-08:002008-11-17T08:45:56.075-08:00

Sorry it's taken me so long to blog. It's getting pretty late in my pregnancy and I've been focusing a lot on what I need to do so that my husband won't be overwhelmed when he takes over the house for the first week after the baby is born.These things include:Lots of decluttering and cleaningMeal planningFreezing as many meals as I can so that all he has to do is cook the foodGathering necessary

Mrs. Vincahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15196284616882852563noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-869835326370981657.post-88000944645899128852008-10-10T12:36:00.000-07:002008-10-10T13:57:56.664-07:00

I talked earlier this week about the importance of setting time limits when it comes to homemaking tasks. Now, I'm going to talk about how to use those little bits of time.When I first started out as a homemaker, I tried the card file system Pam and Peggy used. I failed miserably. I tried lists, I tried planners, I tried many things, but what I finally realized is something that was mentioned

Mrs. Vincahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15196284616882852563noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-869835326370981657.post-58985558962309210152008-10-10T12:24:00.000-07:002008-10-10T12:36:34.889-07:00

In addition to spending five minutes at a time cleaning up a room, try taking two minutes to clean off surfaces... especially those surfaces where people set stuff down "temporarily". You can put it away as part of the two minute clean up or pick things up for two minutes and put them away after the timer chirps.If you do these two things every day, even if you only work in one room in your

Mrs. Vincahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15196284616882852563noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-869835326370981657.post-92062280241542265152008-10-06T10:49:00.000-07:002008-10-06T11:58:04.340-07:00

Sorry it's been so long between posts. Several things took precedence this week, including a sudden emergency with my teeth. Everything's better now and hopefully there won't be any more interruptions for a while.Back to the series. :)I have found the most important thing in cleaning my house is my timer. It's not only a great motivator but it's also a wonderful limit.In the past, I had a

Mrs. Vincahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15196284616882852563noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-869835326370981657.post-89238596127950615092008-09-30T13:47:00.000-07:002008-10-06T10:49:21.504-07:00

I happen to like FlyLady. She's very down-to-earth in her advice and doesn't try the "let's get everything clean now" approach I see far too often in books on cleaning. She'd rather get at the root of the problem. The very first thing she asks her "FlyBabies" to do is shine their sink (you can even get directions on how to do it from her website).Because each sink is different (and each

Mrs. Vincahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15196284616882852563noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-869835326370981657.post-49034332686592393772008-09-24T08:36:00.000-07:002008-09-24T11:38:53.019-07:00

You may wonder what cleanliness has to do with frugality. I know I used to think the two weren't at all related. I've since found otherwise. When your house is clean and organized, it's easier to find what you need (or find it in the first place). So much money and time get wasted in a disorganized house. I know because it's how I used to live and what I'm currently trying to avoid. I'm not

Mrs. Vincahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15196284616882852563noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-869835326370981657.post-14933172311852721532008-09-22T08:21:00.000-07:002008-09-22T09:09:53.327-07:00

Ugh. The kids were sick this weekend, so "nothing" turned out to be fairly expensive. Still, I feel proud of myself that I only got things we needed. I didn't buy anything with the idea of "oh maybe we'll need it someday" or get extra of anything. It's fascinating seeing what we truly need in our house. Finding that bottom line has been a revelation in many ways.If you haven't started this

Mrs. Vincahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15196284616882852563noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-869835326370981657.post-24167022191922941502008-09-22T07:31:00.000-07:002008-09-22T09:09:36.517-07:00

Last week I talked about the pre-shopping part of thrift store shopping. Now, I'm going to take you through one of my more successful trips so that you can get a sense of how I do it. The key part of this by the way is speed. If you try to find "good deals" you'll end up spending an hour or two. Focus only on what you need and things go a lot faster.And now, one of my trips.Finding what you

Mrs. Vincahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15196284616882852563noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-869835326370981657.post-4297618015550727662008-09-19T06:42:00.000-07:002008-09-22T09:09:21.713-07:00

Inspired by a post on HeavenlyHomemakers.com, I've decided to write today about how I've found good deals at my local thrift stores.For those with little time, I'll summarize:* Start with a plan (limit time and money)* Where you live matters (some areas just don't have good deals... in those cases it might be better to find other sources... also, try to go to thrift stores that are near a place

Mrs. Vincahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15196284616882852563noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-869835326370981657.post-69940772855245189672008-09-18T10:53:00.000-07:002008-09-22T09:09:04.372-07:00

There's an excellent post by Owlhaven on her blog about the 30 days of nothing challenge and our sense of entitlement. We've discovered things are tighter with our finances than we realized and this challenge really appeals to me. Could we really make it through a whole month buying nothing? Well, we'd have to buy fruits and vegetables, and there would most certainly be a couple of staple

Mrs. Vincahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15196284616882852563noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-869835326370981657.post-36460202159488966002008-09-16T08:19:00.000-07:002008-09-22T09:08:40.078-07:00

Before I describe my current efforts, I feel I need to give a little background. I mean, I could just start writing about sewing, cooking, cleaning and somehow managing to feed eight people on about $100 a week but the places we draw the line are different from some other families. So, I'll explain.Everyone has their line in the sand. Everyone. I can't think of one person who doesn't have a

Mrs. Vincahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15196284616882852563noreply@blogger.com0