I'm a 44 year old college student currently living on Social Security Disability Insurance because I have been impaired by bipolar disorder. It is my 5th (and final!) attempt at completing my BA and I am majoring in art, with the goal of becoming a freelance graphic designer after graduation.
Since 5/14/2007 I have embarked upon an effort to live deliberately... thereby living frugally and simply. My life is definitely a work-in-progress. I'm grateful to sites like these to gain the knowledge necessary to pursue my endeavours.
Thanks to you both, Shirley & Erica! I run a monthly "Family Art" day at a local arts center. I've been running out of ideas and this is perfect. The center is a non-profit, so I want to be able to keep costs down but still allow families to have fun and take projects home with them. I will definitely try the Kool-Aid because kids love vibrant colors. Thanks again! ... View related article.
I no longer stuff my turkey to keep it moist. I find it stays moister if I do what a friend taught me... stuff the cavity with cut up lemons and oranges, sqeezing some of the juice over the turkey. I also do what my stepmom did... I put an aluminum foil tent on the bird for most of the roasting time. I take off the tent about 30-45 minutes before cooking time is over. Also, I baste the hell out of my bird every 45 minutes to an hour that it's in the oven. ... View related article.
I wholeheartedly agree with you. White vinegar, baking soda, ammonia and bleach are the cornerstone of inexpensive cleaning products (as long as you use bleach on its own). I would also add Dawn dishwashing liquid and Borax to the list. I made the switch over to inexpensive cleaning products last year and I have saved over $200.
An added benefit with the vinegar and baking soda is that I can use it on my body. Vinegar is a great hair conditioner and baking soda exfoliates my skin. Combined, they make a nice foot bath. ... View related article.
I make my "quick no frills" spaghetti sauce with a large can of diced or pureed tomatoes, a can of tomato paste, garlic powder and Italian herb blend. (If I'm making meat sauce, I'll brown my meat first.) When I'm crunched for time, I'll put the above ingredients into my crock pot and add diced onions & peppers. I leave it to cook for several hours and all the vegetables are nice & soft. ... View related article.
I've never heard of the "whole onion method" before either, but it's sounds intriguing. I usually saute my onions to bring out the flavor too. I like them carmelized. A friend of mine makes her sauce by roasting all her vegetables, including a clove of garlic, first and then throwing them in a pot to simmer. It has a very robust flavor that goes well with her mother's meatball recipe (which she won't share with me, lol). ... View related article.
I moved from live L.A. in 2003 but I got rid of my car the previous year and was fortunate enough to utilize the train system. I lived in Los Feliz and could walk down to the Vermont/Sunset station. Also, there was a very convenient bus that could take me northeast through Glendale, Burbank, Pasadena & even to La Canada-Flintridge. It is possible to live in L.A. without a car!
I now live in the northwest corner of Massachusetts where a car is a necessity. Since I'm just 20 minutes away from Bennington VT, I go up there for major needs that I can't find in my own city. I use up less gas going there than I would if I drove south to Pittsfield MA. I limit my trips to Northampton (100+ mi R/T) and Boston (300+ mi R/T) or meet at a friend's house along the way to carpool.
I own a Honda Civic, so I get excellent gas mileage. The biggest change I've made to conserve gas is that I've scheduled my grocery shopping. Since I have a limited income I've had to learn to plan more so now I just have learned to plan my trips. I go out with my neighbor twice a month to do bulk shopping. If I have to pick up other things, outside those trips, I piggy-back it with other trips. It takes planning... lots & lots of planning.
Whenever I can, I shop on the internet as well. There's no sense in driving 30 miles to buy printing ink when I can have it delivered to my door. Overall, I'm just being mindful of how & when I use my car. ... View related article.
I don't know how my post got called "Reupholstering Patio Chairs" -- my chairs are living room club chairs, not patio chairs, and the picture was the closest thing I could find to the actual chairs. Also, I forgot to mention that the existing fabric is a very yucky vinyl, so dyeing them is not an option. Yes, the chairs might not have been made in one piece but taking them apart now is a job for a carpenter. And although I like the idea of using beach towels, it doesn't go with the decor of my living room.
These club chairs were once part of the decor of an old motel... very 70s (floral patterned barf green & yellow vinyl -- I think my mom had a tablecloth very similar to it) but very sturdy. I will be take photos of the actual chairs and repost my request. ... View related article.
A piece of plywood or an old door works and 2 saw horses fashioned into a table should do the trick for you. For the book shelves, why not use bricks or cement blocks with pieces of wood?
Another tip... walk around Hell's Kitchen or the Village to see what people throw out. My friend collected some great furniture from those neighborhoods when he lived in NYC, refurbished them, and still has that furniture today. ... View related article.
That's so true... I grew up in Manhattan (NYC) and found out my old neighborhood transformed in this way. My family lived in the same apartment building for over 20 years. Also, I live in L.A. during my 20s & 30s and I was in the same apartment for 13 years. The neighborhood became a trendy hotspot, and I was within walking distance of everything!
I'm living in a small city in western MA now, which is located in the northern Berkshire County. It's the poorer end of the county which saw better days when it was a mill town, but it's quaint and very affordable. Artists from the Boston area are flocking her to live in the lofts created by converting some of the mills. Trendy magazines in NYC have been reviewing my town for the last year or so, touting it as an art mecca and a place for affordable vacations & second homes. In the 5 years I've been, the town is turning around. I just hope rents & other prices don't go up disproportionately because of the influx of "richer" people.
I live in the top floor apartment, near the town center, in one of 2 flatiron buildings in town and have beautiful vistas of the mountains & downtown. My landlord is from the UK, via Boston, and has bought up a lot of buildings previously owned by the 3rd most notorious slumlord here. He's fixed up the buildings and the rents are affordable & generous. He's more into creating the sense of community here rather than becoming a land baron. ... View related article.
I used to have the nasty habit of leaving my keys in my front door, in my pockets or sometimes in my purse (then I'd switch bags) so I was forever searching for my keys. I screwed a hook (see pic) to the inside of my front door and started hanging them there when I walk in my door. Also, I lucked out by finding a small, thin wallet (just big enough for my essential ids/cards) with a key chain at my local Staples store for only 50 cents. I have my house & car keys on the same chain, but I kept forgetting my drivers license. Now I have it all in one place. The wallet fits nicely in my pocket or purse (even in evening bags) and hangs on my hook when not in use. ... View related article.
