Your frugal idea

[spiderbear]

I'm a big proponent of the "scratch and dent" store.

$3 for a #10 can of tomatoes, two of those and I have almost five gallons of fresh, homemade San Marzano tomato sauce that my friends absolutely love me for. I'll use half, and give the rest away. Makes great pastas, manicotti, pizza, you name it.

I also can buy ribeye for $3/lb, fish for $1/lb, and pre-smoked pork ribs for $1/lb. Sometimes more processed than I would like, but honestly you can't beat the price.

I fix most of my own things. My husband and I build custom furniture as a hobby and to make a little extra cash. I barter with a friend for his home-brewed beers and wines. Eating out is our big vice, but we do that with coupons and specials.

I even make shampoos and soaps when I'm feeling creative. It all depends on my mood.

[carp killer]

If I get laid off my plan is to dump the cable TV, internet, land line. Put one of our vehicles non-op and drop the insurance on it. Shop at the warehouse grocery store, mostly potatoes, rice and beans. Put in a bigger garden. If I want meat to feed my family, hunt fish. Go to the government food distribution center for the $.75 grocer bags of food. Sign up for unemployment. Go to the emergency room for any medical problem and fill out the financial form that I only have unemployment as my sole source of income. Sign up for food stamps, I will definitely qualify. It really wouldn't be that much of a change for me as we have always lived like starving students all our lives. I know people who live in major denial that the economy will not effect them. They are just burning up the credit cards.

[Woof Woof Woof!]

Originally Posted by Woof

Here, I'll throw you a bone to chew on: Kurt Saxon wrote about some hardcore frugal prepping ideas, such as using bulk whole grains or raising catfish in a barrel.

Thanks, Woof.

I'll come back to this later when I need help falling asleep again. ZZZzzzzz

[susie815]

okay heres one for you

wait till you see cake mixes on sale for 75 cents a box, duncan hines,pillsbury any of those, like this week albertsons had them on sale for that price...

one box of cake mix, 1/2 cup vegetable oil and 2 eggs, mix all up and you just take a small ball,flatten out slighly and you have wonderful soft cookies. makes about 2 dozen for a buck..if you use white cake mix, wonderul sugar cookies. very soft and delish...

you can use different flavors and add chocolate chips like for chocolate cake mix....