Stinky Car

I'm still driving a '91 Nissan Sentra - still drives well and it has an added bonus of embarrassing my teenager. Yet, the trunk leaks. Only when it rains, of course. But then the whole car smells kind of mildewy for a few days or until I can get the entire trunk dried and aired out. Last fall, I purchased one of those car freshener things that you stick to the vents. It worked and smelled nice - but then I realized I was spending money for the replacement vial all the time. So - how do I get the car smelling nice again?

Take one of those scented candles (we all have way too many we have received as gifts). If you have one that half of it has melted off, that's even better. Then break it into little pieces. Please the pieces into an old pair (but clean) of pantyhose or an old (but again clean) sock. Tie the item and then put under a seat. No cost - but good, clean fun!

Losing Heat

I keep hearing this over and over, but it amazes me that I still find ways I haven't listened. The smallest of cracks or non-insulated areas in a home can loose heat (or cool air in the summer) and thus loose tons of money. I noticed my heating bill was quite a bit higher this past month than a year ago. Granted, the weather has been markedly cooler over a year ago - but as I have been on the lookout in recent days for cracks and seeps, I keep finding more and more. And why can my family not come in and out of a door quickly? Why do they have to stand there with the door wide open, yelling, or hanging out, or doing who knows what?

So - keep looking for seeping air. Even when you think you have it covered, you'll find more. And good luck on keeping the kids and husband from opening outside doors constantly :)

Library Shopping

My friend, SP, reminded me of this money saver a few days ago - go to the library. It's a rarity that I absolutely have to read a book right when it's published (Harry Potter doesn't come along that often). I keep an ongoing list and mag reviews in an envelope. I make regular trips to the library, and pull out a couple that look interesting. Most libraries also have the capability to request books from your home or work computer so that the book is there waiting for you when you do go to the library.

And libraries also have plenty of dvds to watch as well. If you have children, chances are you rarely see movies when they come out anyway, so just wait a little while until they are free from the library.

Crockpot Bean Soup

4 chopped carrots
1 chopped onion
3 chopped celery stalks
1 1/2 c. dried northern beans
1 packet dry vegetable soup mix
1 tsp salt
1/2 tsp pepper
basil and other seasonings to taste
8 cups water

Cook in crock pot on low for 9-10 hours. Lots of good, healthy soup at a low price!

Chinese New Year Dish

Egg Drop Soup

heat 6 cups of vegetable broth in a large pot; beat one egg in a cup and then add in a very thin stream to boiling broth; as the egg meets the broth, stir the broth with a chopstick or fork (this creates the thin strings)

add 1 tsp toasted sesame oil, 2 chopped green onions and chopped cilantro to taste.

Saturday morning brunch

Janet Evanovich called Costco the "senior buffet" in one of her Stephanie Plum novels. It's also the Saturday brunch place for certain members of my family. Teenage boy likes to sleep late (and I do too!), so many Saturday mornings it's a little after 10 before we are up and going. He doesn't like breakfast food too much, and everyone gets sick of cooking occasionally. Therefore - a number of Saturday mornings he and I hit Costco about 11 am. We first get the 58 cent soft drinks at the food court, and then we meander through the store, taking whatever free offerings are available. It's normally a pretty good selection about that time of the week. Breakfast and lunch - done!

Vegetable Barley Soup

Here's a cost saving recipe that is in my crock pot today -

2/3 bag veggie meat crumbles
1 chopped onion, sauteed
2 14.5 oz cans diced tomatoes
3 carrots, chopped
3 ribs celery, chopped
42 oz stock (I make this weekly from leftover veggie cuttings - just boil them for an hour in a large pot of water, and then drain the water and that's your stock)
8 tbsp barley
basil, thyme, parsley, salt and pepper to taste

Cook on low for 8 hours. My total cost - about $4.