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Farm Kitchen:  Our Frugal Kitchens  |
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hudsonsinaf
True Blue Farmgirl
3162 Posts
Shannon
Rozet
Wyoming
USA
3162 Posts |
 Posted - Jan 03 2018 : 05:54:22 AM
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Sara - thank you... I'm quite sure there is more I need to do!!! Another thing I want to start doing is making my own condiments. I declare sometimes I think my kids DRINK the ketchup!
Joanna - I love the idea of watching for things going on sale, especially of what we go through quicker. Though GF, we do use einkorn flour for our sourdough. I buy the berries and grind those. After tax return, I'm hoping to buying a large bucket of the berries, rather than the three bags I normally buy at a time. As for bartering - we are hoping to do that more often this year. I raise a batch of broilers for my brother and barter with him for wild game and fish, pound for pound. My hubby just does not have time to hunt right now! We know the farmer we purchase a cow from each year wants one of our goats after they are born, so we are hoping to barter the buckling for part of the cow!
We are hoping to do more foraging this year... We went and picked mullein last year. I know we can get rose hips, yarrow, plantain, and cattails as well.
~ Shannon, Sister # 5349
Farmgirl of the Month - January 2016
http://hudson-everydayblessings.blogspot.com/ |
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YellowRose
True Blue Farmgirl
6791 Posts
Sara
Paris
TX
USA
6791 Posts |
Posted - Jan 03 2018 : 06:04:07 AM
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Joanna, great tips. Love that you barter for the honey.
For years I haven't paid full price for olive oil; sugar; raw sugar; tea/coffee; all paper goods; list goes on. If it cost more than 50 cents I try to buy it only on sale unless it's one of those items that never goes on sale or doesn't have coupons.
I have several pkgs of bath tissue but the brand I use is on "buy one get one for a penny sale". Too good of a deal to pass up. Will just have to find a place for two more pkg.
Store brand grated cheese is also on the "buy one get one for a penny sale". I like the store brand so how many I buy will depend on the "use by date". If it's out several months I will get 6.
For those FarmGirls new to foraging I will suggest they study up on wild onions so they know which ones are okay to eat. Friends of my in OK ate some wild onions they came across at their lake house and it sent both of them to the hospital for several days. The doctors determined the onions were poisonous.
My BIL on the other hand has a patch of wild onions he and my sister eat all the time. When it's in the wild you just have to know what you are doing.
Sara~~~ FarmGirl Sister #6034 8/25/14
FarmGirl of the Month Sept 2015.
Lord put your arm around my shoulders and your hand over my mouth.
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Red Tractor Girl
True Blue Farmgirl
6517 Posts
Winnie
Gainesville
Fl
USA
6517 Posts |
Posted - Jan 03 2018 : 07:08:35 AM
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Wow, Farmgirls, you all have done some serious scouting of available resources for your kitchens. I am impressed!! My kitchen rules have always been to purchase only what I need for one week, take advantage of the buy one get one free sales if they are products I use and stock up on, and eat most meals at home where I have control of ingredients. With just two of us, it is easier to keep it simple and healthy.
Shannon, you have done an amazing job figuring out how to feet a large family healthy food and avoid necessary allergens!! Hopefully, your new location and extra land will make it easier to grow more of what you need and expand your ability to purchase less.
One of my goals this year is to create more meat free meals that appeal to my carnivore hubby. Thankfully, he is easy to please and loves veggies, beans and legumes of all kinds.
Winnie #3109
Red Tractor Girl
Farm Sister of the Year 2014-2015 |
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hudsonsinaf
True Blue Farmgirl
3162 Posts
Shannon
Rozet
Wyoming
USA
3162 Posts |
Posted - Jan 03 2018 : 07:17:26 AM
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Sara - that is awesome!!!! I try so hard to purchase non-GMO and organic for everything, that often times it doesnt seem to go on sale. I cannot imagine having a surplus of toilet paper! With so many people, we go through quite a bit, lol
Winnie - Thank you <3 We love what our property affords us to do, but I must admit I miss EarthFare and Costco! Meat free meals do not happen here very often!!! With me being allergic to beans and squashes (all except zucchini!), it seems to limit our meals. I use to love replacing pasta with spaghetti squash, and we used beans and legumes in place of meat. Sadly we cannot anymore. I avoid tofu and most other soy products, so that isnt an option either. I think I need to do more research and try to figure it out. We do chop up mushrooms to use with our hamburg to bulk it up and not use as much...
~ Shannon, Sister # 5349
Farmgirl of the Month - January 2016
http://hudson-everydayblessings.blogspot.com/ |
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YellowRose
True Blue Farmgirl
6791 Posts
Sara
Paris
TX
USA
6791 Posts |
Posted - Jan 03 2018 : 07:28:10 AM
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Shannon and Winnie I use mushrooms, Worcestershire Sauce, and tomato paste to "beef" up my vegetarian dishes. Along with fresh mushrooms I use dried mushrooms and home canned mushroom broth. Sometimes I use all three kinds of mushrooms to layer flavor. Mushrooms are also a good source of minerals and few calories.
Sara~~~ FarmGirl Sister #6034 8/25/14
FarmGirl of the Month Sept 2015.
Lord put your arm around my shoulders and your hand over my mouth.
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Sobyn
True Blue Farmgirl
752 Posts
Sabrina
Kansas
USA
752 Posts |
Posted - Jan 03 2018 : 5:29:30 PM
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Oh man! Shannon's list is most things I would love to try or plan to try eventually. I buy milk directly from the farm and have been making my own butter, yogurt and sour cream. Some of it is saving money, some of it isn't but it is healthier. We buy pork and beef in bulk....I would love to get a goat and pigs and more chickens but we are trying to take it slow. I lost my bee hive in early fall so I have to start over with that project. I'm hoping to get some meat rabbits this year sometime. So many things to do/try. Oh and we don't have a costco or sams but my mom does and she lives 2 hours away, I'm thinking of trying to figure out a schedule to get out there every other month or quarterly and stock up on things that are cheaper there. Just need to work that into my plan.
Sabrina Farmgirl Sister #3275
February 2016 Farmgirl of the Month
http://kidscrunchandchrist.com
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HodgeLodge
True Blue Farmgirl
662 Posts
Tiana
Berkeley Springs
WV
USA
662 Posts |
Posted - Jan 03 2018 : 6:11:17 PM
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Wow, I'll be taking notes on what most of you have said. Some great suggestions for sure.
Farmgirl #4817-The greatest gift of the garden is the restoration of the five senses. ~Hanna Rion
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JojoNH
True Blue Farmgirl
1984 Posts
Joanna
Dunbarton
New Hampshire
USA
1984 Posts |
Posted - Jan 04 2018 : 05:32:26 AM
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For those that don't know, I live in the mountains and our local food store, well, let's just say it's expensive to shop at. To shop at a decent place we travel 1.5 - 2 hours away. Very quickly I decided to learn how to shop online for the same items at better prices. And this is how I shop now.
You need to look everywhere. You don't want to limit your thinking to the basic stores that come to mind. If you shop the Office supply stores, you will often find things on sale, free shipping too for the basic cleaning supplies including paper towels and napkins. Coffee, organic cleaners, it's amazing. Just think outside the box when you start.
Also, the best. . . and I mean the best advice I can give you is this. Have a list of what you purchase, the actual size in ounces, pounds, grams, and the price you typically pay for it. This is extremely helpful once you begin looking. Something can look like a great deal until you do the math on it. (buying a four pack at regular price vs a 6 pack on sale. The thought is the 6 pack is the deal, however, looking at the size and then factoring the price you will soon discover the 4 pack was the better deal)
Suggest you start with one item. I know, you have lots to shop for, however, by focusing on just one item until you find it in several different online venues and then do your price comparisons, watch for the sales etc. is easier then doing it for 20 items. There is a sales cycle to the online sales for certain items too. As well as better pricing at certain times of the day (amazon is great for this!) So take your time and be patient. This has taken me 2 years to finally be able to shop online for everything I need except Milk and Butter.
Joanna #566
JojoNH
http://www.stampinup.net/esuite/home/joannavaughan
http://www.GiftsandHomeDecorUS.com
http://www.RusticMountainPrimitives.com
http://www.eastwooddesignsinnh.com
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Sobyn
True Blue Farmgirl
752 Posts
Sabrina
Kansas
USA
752 Posts |
Posted - Jan 04 2018 : 05:44:47 AM
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Thanks for the tips Joanna!! I actually HATE going to the store so I'm all for finding things I can order. I currently use amazon and vitacost and have looked a bit into thrive but haven't spent enough time to see if anything is actually a decent price. I'm working on a price book to track prices across everything. Eventually I hope to have an inventory of everything we normally use and how much we use in a month with the lowest regular price and a "BUY NOW" price listed for each item.
Sabrina Farmgirl Sister #3275
February 2016 Farmgirl of the Month
http://kidscrunchandchrist.com
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YellowRose
True Blue Farmgirl
6791 Posts
Sara
Paris
TX
USA
6791 Posts |
Posted - Jan 04 2018 : 06:11:14 AM
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I order all my clothes and shoes from QVC; books/kitchenware from Amazon; canning supplies from Ball; seeds/plants on line nurseries; and heirloom dried beans from Rancho Gordo but I have never thought about ordering food and household products on line. Will have to check it out. May start with dog food and pet supplies. It's one of my big expenses.
When I started this thread I was thinking along the lines of saving bits and pieces for soups - y'all have opened my eyes to a all knew way of keeping a frugal kitchen and household. Learning as I go.
Sara~~~ FarmGirl Sister #6034 8/25/14
FarmGirl of the Month Sept 2015.
Lord put your arm around my shoulders and your hand over my mouth.
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Sobyn
True Blue Farmgirl
752 Posts
Sabrina
Kansas
USA
752 Posts |
Posted - Jan 04 2018 : 06:23:10 AM
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Ordering canning supplies directly from ball....is that cheaper???? I'll def keep that in mind!
I would like to know where people order seeds for their gardens, I'm starting to look but not sure what companies are committed to heirloom seeds....
I would love to find a cheaper source of dog food and chicken feed. We feed both high quality food (poor cats get cheap cat food) and the cost is pretty high! Those aren't really kitchen things but somewhat related I guess.
Sabrina Farmgirl Sister #3275
February 2016 Farmgirl of the Month
http://kidscrunchandchrist.com
*Journal Through The Bible*The Life Giving Home Study*Homemaker's Bookclub*
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YellowRose
True Blue Farmgirl
6791 Posts
Sara
Paris
TX
USA
6791 Posts |
Posted - Jan 04 2018 : 06:55:05 AM
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Sabrina, I try to only order from Ball when they have sales. They have sizes I can't find locally. Did one comparison pricing with Amazon and Amazon was much higher. I also like the convenience of having my order delivered to my door. I don't have to handle a case of jars in and out of my car and into the house. At 75 years and dealing with MS fatigue I find I am as frugal with my energy and strength as I am with my pocketbook. Here's Ball's website http://www.freshpreserving.com/jars/
I have one dog to feed and she eats Rachel Ray's Delish. I supplement the dry food with cooked chicken livers, gizzards, and hearts. All are inexpensive sources of meat. She also loves veg soup. She gets the meat off of bones I use to make broth. One batch of chicken broth will feed Annie for a week.
It's her rawhide treats that are so expensive because I only buy American rawhide for her to chew on. I don't eat food from China so I don't give it to her. At two years of age she is still chewing. I count Annie's expenses in with groceries because I buy it at the grocery store. And it goes to getting 500 points I can redeem for 5% off bill or 10 cents a gal off at their gas pump.
Sara~~~ FarmGirl Sister #6034 8/25/14
FarmGirl of the Month Sept 2015.
Lord put your arm around my shoulders and your hand over my mouth.
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JojoNH
True Blue Farmgirl
1984 Posts
Joanna
Dunbarton
New Hampshire
USA
1984 Posts |
Posted - Jan 04 2018 : 06:55:41 AM
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Sabrina, a quick tip that will help you save lots of time and keep an accurate notebook. Write the date you open up something like condiments. When the jar is empty make a note in your notebook the two dates. After doing this for awhile, you will see certain things you use more by season. This will help you better plan your purchasing.
For example, mustard. We tend to use more in the winter season then the summer. So, when mustard is on sale to kick off barbecue season, we stock up for the year then. A great savings, a stocked pantry and a once a year purchase.
The same works for things like paper towels and toilet paper. write the date you opened the package then when you take out the last roll, make the note in your notebook. It's easier once these things have been figured out, since our routines and uses tend to stay the same year to year. (unless you have new members added to your family or older children move out onto their own)
Hope this helps!
Joanna #566
JojoNH
http://www.stampinup.net/esuite/home/joannavaughan
http://www.GiftsandHomeDecorUS.com
http://www.RusticMountainPrimitives.com
http://www.eastwooddesignsinnh.com
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YellowRose
True Blue Farmgirl
6791 Posts
Sara
Paris
TX
USA
6791 Posts |
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HodgeLodge
True Blue Farmgirl
662 Posts
Tiana
Berkeley Springs
WV
USA
662 Posts |
Posted - Jan 04 2018 : 08:58:56 AM
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Shopping online is good for some things, but we still try to shop local so that the business's in our area will stay open. Sometimes not so frugal though. I love rareseeds.com. I believe the owner may be a farmgirl. I do like to support them. So... I try to be frugal, but also try to support our community too.
Farmgirl #4817-The greatest gift of the garden is the restoration of the five senses. ~Hanna Rion
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Sobyn
True Blue Farmgirl
752 Posts
Sabrina
Kansas
USA
752 Posts |
Posted - Jan 04 2018 : 10:02:08 AM
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I definitely shop local when I can, still feeling out the local options around here though since we have only been here just over a year. It seems the box stores have mostly taken over though. Thanks for the notebook tip Joanna, I'll definitely keep those notes as well!
Sabrina Farmgirl Sister #3275
February 2016 Farmgirl of the Month
http://kidscrunchandchrist.com
*Journal Through The Bible*The Life Giving Home Study*Homemaker's Bookclub*
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saram
True Blue Farmgirl
521 Posts
Sara
Biggs
CA
USA
521 Posts |
Posted - Jan 11 2018 : 08:29:24 AM
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| Sabrina, I like to order seeds from Territorial Seed Company. They are in Oregon, small private business (ie not owned by the huge monopoly controlling a large majority of our seed supply) and they offer organic as well as not organic seeds. Their prices are a bit higher than picking up a pack of Burpee seeds from the hardware store, but well worth supporting them, in my opinion. TerritorialSeed.com |
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AuntJamelle
True Blue Farmgirl
569 Posts
Jaime
South Bend
Indiana
USA
569 Posts |
Posted - Jan 12 2018 : 10:35:19 AM
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Good thoughts on shopping at different places and even online for the best deals!
I am a big Aldi shopper and get a lot of our groceries there. I buy bread from a local brand name's bakery outlet at a fraction of the cost. I just freeze the extra loaves. It's very easy to pull out just the slices we need and thaw for a few seconds on defrost in the microwave - or even pop them into the toaster still frozen.
Meat is something I either buy on sale or even better when it gets marked down. I just freeze what we can't use right away. The main way I buy meat though is from a butcher shop in a neighboring town. There is a significant cost savings for buying 10lbs of something at a time so we make a big trip 2-3 times a year and load the freezers.
We also have a Sam's Club membership - dog food, shredded cheese, vinegar, chocolate chips, cooking oils, nuts, coffee, etc. all some of the things I regularly buy there because I can get a better deal. For example they have a huge tub of Feta crumbled for $8 where I would pay at least $4 for a tiny little tub a the normal grocery store. I also can't beat them for laundry detergent, fabric softener and bleach. One jug of their Ecos laundry detergent lasts us 6 months! Which I know because I write the date I open it on the jug with a shapie :)
I've not bought food online much at all. I did one Amazon Pantry purchase with coupons and some sort of deal where there was free shipping - but the prices just seem really high + you normally have an extra shipping charge.
For canning supplies I use Big Lots, Rural King, Menards and Walmart for the best prices. Garage sales are a great place to find jars too!
I don't use a LOT of coupons anymore but I do use Meijer store rewards program and always check their Mperks to see if there are coupons for what I am buying anyway. Usually can find at least one. I also check a blog that posts their deals every week called Meijer Madness and frequently find good deals that way - where store sales are combined with coupons you can print or Mperks coupons that are available.
Almost every grocery store has a blog out there somewhere that you can find where someone is doing the work for you - finding the deals and you can just skim through the list and pick the ones you want to do. You never know what you can find! |
Edited by - AuntJamelle on Jan 12 2018 10:37:56 AM |
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HodgeLodge
True Blue Farmgirl
662 Posts
Tiana
Berkeley Springs
WV
USA
662 Posts |
Posted - Jan 12 2018 : 1:01:31 PM
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Jaime, I have found that there are not a lot of coupons out there for people who don't buy processed foods. I love Aldi prices on vegetables and things too. Not so fond of their milk. Taste kinda weird to me. I did hear on the news that Sam's Club is closing 63 stores. We do buy their coffee and such.
Tiana ~ Farmgirl #4817
"If you have a garden and a library, you have everything you need."~ Marcus Tullius Cicero |
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AuntJamelle
True Blue Farmgirl
569 Posts
Jaime
South Bend
Indiana
USA
569 Posts |
Posted - Jan 17 2018 : 06:25:33 AM
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Tiana - Yes, coupons are hit and miss these days for sure! I use them for non-food more than I do food. Toothpaste, deodorants, shampoo, conditioner, body wash. I get these at a fraction of the cost by waiting for a good sale + coupon deal and then stocking up.
I still use coupons for things like black olives, green chiles, Newman's Own salad dressing, and just those random times there is actually a coupon available for something we can use.
One nice thing about Meijer is that they will have store coupons - either ones that print out at register or via their Mperks program online that offer X amount of $ off if you buy a certain amount in a category like produce or baking supplies. Those are nice!
Our Sams is not closing thank goodness but one in a nearby town is. Just remembered that I also have taken to buying Helmann's Mayo at Sams - two big jars for a good price! |
Edited by - AuntJamelle on Jan 17 2018 06:26:36 AM |
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YellowRose
True Blue Farmgirl
6791 Posts
Sara
Paris
TX
USA
6791 Posts |
Posted - Jan 17 2018 : 06:39:30 AM
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Good discussion on couponing which I do little of these days. I buy on sale and use discounts my store loads to my card every month for being a good shopper. Example: This week store brand 4lb sugar on sale for 2 bags for $4 and I have their discount for 75 cents off one.
Occasionally I get a $1 coupon in a pkg of dog food or 50-75 cents coupon glued to the top of a lid or box top.
Sara~~~ FarmGirl Sister #6034 8/25/14
FarmGirl of the Month Sept 2015.
Lord put your arm around my shoulders and your hand over my mouth.
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saram
True Blue Farmgirl
521 Posts
Sara
Biggs
CA
USA
521 Posts |
Posted - Feb 12 2018 : 09:55:52 AM
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| I just tried a frugal tip I got from a friend. I cut up a mesh onion bag and tied it into balls to form scrubbies for dishwashing, much like the one I like to buy at the grocery store. It works pretty well! |
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AuntJamelle
True Blue Farmgirl
569 Posts
Jaime
South Bend
Indiana
USA
569 Posts |
Posted - Feb 12 2018 : 10:52:36 AM
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quote:
Originally posted by JojoNH
Also, the best. . . and I mean the best advice I can give you is this. Have a list of what you purchase, the actual size in ounces, pounds, grams, and the price you typically pay for it. This is extremely helpful once you begin looking. Something can look like a great deal until you do the math on it. (buying a four pack at regular price vs a 6 pack on sale. The thought is the 6 pack is the deal, however, looking at the size and then factoring the price you will soon discover the 4 pack was the better deal)
Joanna #566
JojoNH
http://www.stampinup.net/esuite/home/joannavaughan
http://www.GiftsandHomeDecorUS.com
http://www.RusticMountainPrimitives.com
http://www.eastwooddesignsinnh.com
I totally agree with this approach! I learned about it years ago and it was called finding or being aware of the "unit price". When you look closely at the tags on the store shelves at the grocery store, you can find it on there even - or you can do the math yourself to find cost per item, per ounce, etc.
I've kept a Excel spreadsheet for years that has some basic formulas plugged in so I can easily compare unit cost between stores.
Sales cycles are trickier but after keeping the spreadsheet for years I can see patterns.
I input data into my spreadsheet off of my grocery receipts mainly, but also just use the sales flyers sometimes even if I didn't buy that particular item. That way I keep track of what I can expect to pay for say butter, or cream cheese, around certain holidays.
I'm sure the same principals apply when shopping online as well!
Sara - Great idea on the scrubbie! I always feel bad getting rid of those bags! |
Edited by - AuntJamelle on Feb 12 2018 10:53:12 AM |
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YellowRose
True Blue Farmgirl
6791 Posts
Sara
Paris
TX
USA
6791 Posts |
Posted - Feb 12 2018 : 11:10:01 AM
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Jaime and Sara great tips.
I've order dog food and treats on-line and will keep track on whether I save money. I know I will be saving my time and energy.
Sara~~~ FarmGirl Sister #6034 8/25/14
FarmGirl of the Month Sept 2015.
Lord put your arm around my shoulders and your hand over my mouth.
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windypines
True Blue Farmgirl
4100 Posts
Michele
Bruce
Wisconsin
USA
4100 Posts |
Posted - Feb 13 2018 : 03:25:29 AM
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lots of great ideas here. a thought- on the chest freezer thread, maryjane said she makes her dog food. That might be a good subject to get started.
Farming in WI
Michele |
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Farm Kitchen: Our Frugal Kitchens |
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Our Frugal Kitchens
