Are you making plans to become more frugal this year?

[bluebird]

Here is a wonderful thread on starting gardening plants.

As for freezing rice, don't overcook the rice! Chill, and freeze. Thaw at room tempature and use.

[ellenmelon]

Ohhhh I love Rutgers for canning.
Brandywine are great eating too.

What do you mean by a grow room?

Maybe I should bring up my light table to the dining room and get it going again. Plants have never done well in the basement by the coal burner but upstairs they do well. Need to think of where I can put it. It's 4 foot wide and 6 foot tall. Right now a chinchilla and two birds are in that spot. (not mine! my house seems to be full of fur).

[seleach]

I saved flower seeds last fall. I let them dry on the plants, then put the seeds in a paper bag.

[simplysue]

Thanks bluebird I'll try again with the chill first and room temp defrost. I didn't do either of those things when I tried last time.
Anna, I had to buy my heirloom seeds through a company as I don't know anyone personally who sells them. I like the idea of saving seeds and being able to use them the next year and get the same plant verses buying the hybrid and it only being good for one season.
We have an extra bedroom upstairs with a fair amount of light so I'll be adding warm and cool florescents up there verses buying growers lights.

[LaurieS]

I have a grow light just no where to put it.

When I was married the first time my MIL had a grow room and I inherited the light from her.

[simplysue]

Bluebird, thank you for sharing that thread and the site in it....very cool. I'm not sure how much of this I could do up here but will try wsing my alpine strawberry and see how it does.Thanks again.

[simplysue]

LoriMay, Do you mean you're not sure where to put it in your home or in reference to the seeds/seedlings?
If in reference to seedlings I've read in more than one place that the lights should be anywhere from 3-6 inches, some say 3-5 and 3-4inches above them.

[bluebird]

Here is a article on bugeting with a worksheet!

[Minny]

I'm already pretty frugal, but I'm also going to cut back on some things. Usually when I cook my meals, I usually cook more than enough.. I freeze some of it & give my neighbor some of it.
The only clothes I need are undies & bras, I make most of my tops , shorts & pants. I have a few things that I have had for years that still fit, but I do have some things that I am going to either freecycle or give to Goodwill. I always look for sales on groceries, but most of the coupons we get here are for stores that I don't go to.. I'm not going to go 10 miles out of my way just to get something on sale. I'd spend the money on gas getting there, so just get whatever I want where it's closer.

[Sueanne]

We do go the extra few miles to shop at Walmart & Albertson Supermarkets. They have the lowest prices on everything. We don't have double coupons which would help alot.

We always check the circulars before heading out since most of the sales are on the weekend specials.
My Sister started driving there too and noticed the big savings on weekly shopping.

We don't spend as much on clothes since it is warm here and don't need to buy much heavy clothing. Have enough for the few cool days that we get.

My DH still cuts his own lawn and washes the house outside. Which is a big savings every month.

At my DH age do let him splurge to get something He really wants. In a way it pays to make ourselves feel good too since being happy is important. No sense being too frugal and leaving everything for our children to spend when we are gone.
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Sueanne