It's that time of year when you can juuuuuuust about smell spring in the air, but there's still snow on the ground. That time of year when the days are getting longer but still not long enough. That time of year when you start thinking about how nice it will be when fresh fruit and vegetables start growing again.
For those of us who aren't lucky enough to be able to "grow our own" for reasons of time, money, or simple lack of garden space, a great alternative is to buy a farm share or participate in a community farming association. Community Supported Agriculture programmes are available in several countries and regions. Just google "CSA [your area]" to find one near you. By doing this, I've found CSA farms in many Canadian provinces and US states, as well as in England.
Here's the basic principle:
A farmer sells a certain number of "shares" to individuals in the community.
Individuals purchase these shares in late winter or early spring (aka NOW), providing farmers with starter income for the upcoming season.
The farmer then provides its shareholders with weekly or bi-weekly 'baskets' of produce from the farm throughout the production season. Shareholders usually have to pick up their shares at a pre-determined location.
However, if the farm has a good season, shareholders can make gains too, as the equivalent cost of the produce is higher than the initial cost of the share.
So you're supporting local farmers, and getting discounted produce at the same time. Oh, and did I mention that these farms often use organic methods, and many are actually certified organic? Sounds like win-win-win to me!
IMPORTANT NOTE: This is a gamble. If there is a poor harvesting season,
or if the farmer is unable to maintain the farm for whatever reason, you
may not receive your food. Read the terms and conditions of the shares
closely before you buy to make sure you understand the potential risks.
Look around to find a farm which suits your needs. There are certified organic farms, there are some which allow you to substitute fresh produce with preserves, there are some which provide smaller baskets, or more flexibility, or who offer home delivery. Some also provide meat or eggs. Also consider the growing period - some farms grow produce with a smaller harvesting window, so will provide you with fewer baskets through the summer, whereas others will continue into the fall.
This year, I'm splitting a farm share with a friend. Each share should be enough to satisfy both of us and then some. We're getting 23 weeks' worth of baskets, starting in May. You can be sure there will be photos in good time! I can't wait!
Showing posts with label cheap. Show all posts
Showing posts with label cheap. Show all posts
Friday, 22 February 2013
Tuesday, 12 February 2013
Accepting the things we cannot change, and changing the things we cannot accept
If you haven't heard of the horsemeat scandal which is shaking the UK, here's a brief overview. Cheap minced meat from several low-priced product lines (for example 6/1pound burgers) has been found to contain horse DNA - sometimes up to 100% of the product is proven to be horse. Blame abounds, with fingers pointing at everyone from consumers to supermarkets to European mafia.
Side note: another big problem is the traces of porcine (yes, pig) DNA found in halal-branded food. That's a problem. A big problem. But outside my present argument.
In fact, food fraud seems to happen fairly frequently - we just don't realize it. I'm fairly certain the honey in my fridge (which I bought from a bulk bargain store) is actually coloured corn syrup, and I wouldn't be at all shocked that the cheapest store brand olive oil in my cupboard is just a cheap alternative. But you know what? I'm ok with that. The products serve their purpose in my food preparation. Also, I can't afford pure honey bought from a beekeeper, nor can I afford pure olive oil. I've accepted this. I'm ok with it, if not happy.
As for horsemeat, my personal view is that horsemeat must be pretty tasty if it's been passed it off as beef for so long. I personally have no problem with eating horse. However, I do have a problem when packaging says "100% beef" and the contents turns out to be Black Beauty rather than Buttercup. In England at least, the horsemeat industry is not as regulated as the beef one - the meat may contain many chemicals which may be harmful to us as consumers. This is a big problem.
If you do have an issue with eating horsemeat, then consider the wider picture. If a manufacturing company has managed to fool everyone with what animal is in their food, what else are you being tricked about? How have they managed this?
The only answer I can give is that the manufacturing chains are too damn long. We have no idea what's in our food anymore. Mostly, it's food - but what food, where, and how was it produced? We just don't know.
So we as consumers have two options:
It's also possible to get CSAs for meat, but I just don't have a big enough freezer to store half a cow or a whole pig. Sadly.
The capitalist world we live in emphasizes profit over quality. That's a shame, and it makes living on a tight budget an occasionally morally questionable practice. So my challenge to myself, to you, to the world is to choose what is acceptable and what isn't.
I've made my choices, what are yours?
Side note: another big problem is the traces of porcine (yes, pig) DNA found in halal-branded food. That's a problem. A big problem. But outside my present argument.
In fact, food fraud seems to happen fairly frequently - we just don't realize it. I'm fairly certain the honey in my fridge (which I bought from a bulk bargain store) is actually coloured corn syrup, and I wouldn't be at all shocked that the cheapest store brand olive oil in my cupboard is just a cheap alternative. But you know what? I'm ok with that. The products serve their purpose in my food preparation. Also, I can't afford pure honey bought from a beekeeper, nor can I afford pure olive oil. I've accepted this. I'm ok with it, if not happy.
As for horsemeat, my personal view is that horsemeat must be pretty tasty if it's been passed it off as beef for so long. I personally have no problem with eating horse. However, I do have a problem when packaging says "100% beef" and the contents turns out to be Black Beauty rather than Buttercup. In England at least, the horsemeat industry is not as regulated as the beef one - the meat may contain many chemicals which may be harmful to us as consumers. This is a big problem.
If you do have an issue with eating horsemeat, then consider the wider picture. If a manufacturing company has managed to fool everyone with what animal is in their food, what else are you being tricked about? How have they managed this?
The only answer I can give is that the manufacturing chains are too damn long. We have no idea what's in our food anymore. Mostly, it's food - but what food, where, and how was it produced? We just don't know.
So we as consumers have two options:
- We accept that we will never know what we're eating again.
- We don't accept this, and we take steps to change.
It's also possible to get CSAs for meat, but I just don't have a big enough freezer to store half a cow or a whole pig. Sadly.
The capitalist world we live in emphasizes profit over quality. That's a shame, and it makes living on a tight budget an occasionally morally questionable practice. So my challenge to myself, to you, to the world is to choose what is acceptable and what isn't.
I've made my choices, what are yours?
Sunday, 3 February 2013
Tip #21 - Take advantage of your supermarket... legally
I went food shopping today! For most people, that's a pretty boring task. But for me, it's always an adventure, even more so since I started on my $35/week budget. Delicious-looking food seems to jump off the shelves, trying to force their way into my basket, and I have to fend off the onslaught.
I've found that the best way to spend as little money as possible in the supermarket is to know my supermarket's secrets - the ins and outs of their pricing and specials, to take full and legal advantage of what they have to offer.
Of course, the most famous example of taking large-scale legal advantage of supermarkets is from the TV show Extreme Couponing. This works very well in many US states, but not so well where I live. Coupons really don't exist to the same extent, and are only offered on brand name products, and the savings are often small.
Instead I use two tricks which have served me well in both the UK and back in Canada: reduced for sale items and multibuy offers.
Reduced for sale
These items are reaching their best-before or sell-by dates, and stores need to clear them out quickly. They may be placed in a separate section, or have identifying stickers stating the percentage reduction or the new price. In England, these stickers seemed to be universally yellow, but in the supermarket nearest to me now, they're giant and pink (often covering up the product name or description!)
When buying reduced for sale items, check the best before date. This could be a few days away, but the product will still be edible even after this date. If the product has a use-by date, make sure you will consume the entire product before that date.
Any item which is reduced for sale and which can be frozen (such as meat or bread) is an even better bargain! Put the meat into a freezer bag (in portions, if it's chicken breasts or thighs, or ground meat) and stick it in the freezer until you will use it. Then, fully defrost when desired and cook it immediately. Bread will last at least a few days after defrosting.
Sometimes these reductions take place at specific times during the day or week. A few hours before closing is often a good time - as the store tries to get everything sold as fast as possible.
Today I got lucky and found some reduced for sale yoghurt (best before the 7th) and orange juice (best before the 6th), both reduced by 50%. In fact, since the orange juice's reduction didn't go through at the check-out, I got a 100% reduction from customer services!
Multibuy offers
These can be useful, but also dangerous. Investigate the available multibuys before you get to the supermarket, either online or through the store's weekly flyer. Multibuy offers can lure you into the exhilarating feeling of getting a bargain, even when you don't need the item, and planning ahead will help you avoid these temptations.
Multibuys on pantry essentials are especially good. Stock up when the items are cheap. If there are multibuys for fresh produce, use it as an excuse to eat more fruit and vegetables or try new things. But make sure you use them! A multibuy offer is no good if the food goes to waste.
I'm having particular fun with multibuy offers in Canada, because the laws here seem to require multibuy pricing to extend to the individual items. So, for example, a 2 for $5 deal means that each item must be individually priced at $2.50 each. So my box of cereal, normally $5.58, currently on offer at 2 for $6, cost me only $3, even though I only bought one! Fantastic!
These are just two examples of ways to get the most out of your supermarket, which are well used in both Canada and the UK. Are there any tricks that you use?
I've found that the best way to spend as little money as possible in the supermarket is to know my supermarket's secrets - the ins and outs of their pricing and specials, to take full and legal advantage of what they have to offer.
Of course, the most famous example of taking large-scale legal advantage of supermarkets is from the TV show Extreme Couponing. This works very well in many US states, but not so well where I live. Coupons really don't exist to the same extent, and are only offered on brand name products, and the savings are often small.
Instead I use two tricks which have served me well in both the UK and back in Canada: reduced for sale items and multibuy offers.
Reduced for sale
These items are reaching their best-before or sell-by dates, and stores need to clear them out quickly. They may be placed in a separate section, or have identifying stickers stating the percentage reduction or the new price. In England, these stickers seemed to be universally yellow, but in the supermarket nearest to me now, they're giant and pink (often covering up the product name or description!)
When buying reduced for sale items, check the best before date. This could be a few days away, but the product will still be edible even after this date. If the product has a use-by date, make sure you will consume the entire product before that date.
Any item which is reduced for sale and which can be frozen (such as meat or bread) is an even better bargain! Put the meat into a freezer bag (in portions, if it's chicken breasts or thighs, or ground meat) and stick it in the freezer until you will use it. Then, fully defrost when desired and cook it immediately. Bread will last at least a few days after defrosting.
Sometimes these reductions take place at specific times during the day or week. A few hours before closing is often a good time - as the store tries to get everything sold as fast as possible.
Today I got lucky and found some reduced for sale yoghurt (best before the 7th) and orange juice (best before the 6th), both reduced by 50%. In fact, since the orange juice's reduction didn't go through at the check-out, I got a 100% reduction from customer services!
Multibuy offers
These can be useful, but also dangerous. Investigate the available multibuys before you get to the supermarket, either online or through the store's weekly flyer. Multibuy offers can lure you into the exhilarating feeling of getting a bargain, even when you don't need the item, and planning ahead will help you avoid these temptations.
Multibuys on pantry essentials are especially good. Stock up when the items are cheap. If there are multibuys for fresh produce, use it as an excuse to eat more fruit and vegetables or try new things. But make sure you use them! A multibuy offer is no good if the food goes to waste.
I'm having particular fun with multibuy offers in Canada, because the laws here seem to require multibuy pricing to extend to the individual items. So, for example, a 2 for $5 deal means that each item must be individually priced at $2.50 each. So my box of cereal, normally $5.58, currently on offer at 2 for $6, cost me only $3, even though I only bought one! Fantastic!
These are just two examples of ways to get the most out of your supermarket, which are well used in both Canada and the UK. Are there any tricks that you use?
Thursday, 31 January 2013
Recipe: Gigantor pot of pasta sauce
Mmmm pasta. Food of the gods and the budget-conscious.
But what to put on those wiggly or fun-shaped noodles? Store-bought pasta sauces can be really expensive, and the cheap-o alternatives can be questionably tasteless or full of salt. Blegh.
And you definitely don't want to make fresh sauce each time you want pasta. Even for a big family, that can be a huge headache.
So here's the solution, which is also a family recipe. I'm naming it the Gigantor pot of pasta sauce. It's pretty darn big.
Ingredients
olive oil
2 medium onions, diced
4-6 cloves of garlic, minced (or more if you like extra garlicky sauce!)
2-ish pounds of lean ground beef (or other meat; get whatever's on sale, special, or reduced for quick sale)
2 large jars of plane jane spaghetti sauce (I used ones that are 700mL)
1 tin (540mL) of Lentils
1tsp Marmite*
1 sachet or cube Beef bouillon
3 bay leaves
Ground pepper/sea salt to taste
Instructions
1. Sauté the onions and garlic in a large dollop of oil until soft and translucent
2. Add beef. Attack the beef with a wooden spoon while it cooks, continuously breaking it up and turning it over until there's no pink left.
3. Add the spaghetti sauce, lentils, Marmite, bouillon, and bay leaves. Swirl a little water inside the sauce jars to make sure all the delicious saucy goodness is in your pot.
4. Bring to a boil, then lower the temperature and simmer for 45 minutes. Stir every so often to make sure everything's combining.
5. Add salt and pepper to taste - you may want to add a bit of sugar as well if the tomato taste is too strong. Remove bay leaves.
6. Enjoy!
7. Realize you have REDICULOUS amounts of leftovers, excavate all your freezer containers. Portion out and freeze.
Let's put it this way. When I cooked this two weeks go, I ended up with 6 Tupperware sack pots, and 2 soup containers, in addition to what I was eating. That's roughly 10 individaul servings. For less than $10, since I bought the beef when it was reduced for quick sale. I still have two pots left.
Side note: if you don't feel up to boiling water and making some pasta, this sauce also tastes great on a microwaved baked potato. Cover it with cheddar cheese for some added inexpensive deliciousness.
Side note 2 (18/2/13): I made more sauce today, and added in some bacon and a spare red pepper I had leftover in the fridge. Thrown in whatever you have on hand to bulk it out - don't waste good food!
*Marmite is, in my opinion, disgusting on it's own. It's like salted tar. But it's like magic beef sauce when used with mince.
But what to put on those wiggly or fun-shaped noodles? Store-bought pasta sauces can be really expensive, and the cheap-o alternatives can be questionably tasteless or full of salt. Blegh.
And you definitely don't want to make fresh sauce each time you want pasta. Even for a big family, that can be a huge headache.
So here's the solution, which is also a family recipe. I'm naming it the Gigantor pot of pasta sauce. It's pretty darn big.
Ingredients
olive oil
2 medium onions, diced
4-6 cloves of garlic, minced (or more if you like extra garlicky sauce!)
2-ish pounds of lean ground beef (or other meat; get whatever's on sale, special, or reduced for quick sale)
2 large jars of plane jane spaghetti sauce (I used ones that are 700mL)
1 tin (540mL) of Lentils
1tsp Marmite*
1 sachet or cube Beef bouillon
3 bay leaves
Ground pepper/sea salt to taste
Instructions
1. Sauté the onions and garlic in a large dollop of oil until soft and translucent
2. Add beef. Attack the beef with a wooden spoon while it cooks, continuously breaking it up and turning it over until there's no pink left.
3. Add the spaghetti sauce, lentils, Marmite, bouillon, and bay leaves. Swirl a little water inside the sauce jars to make sure all the delicious saucy goodness is in your pot.
4. Bring to a boil, then lower the temperature and simmer for 45 minutes. Stir every so often to make sure everything's combining.
5. Add salt and pepper to taste - you may want to add a bit of sugar as well if the tomato taste is too strong. Remove bay leaves.
6. Enjoy!
7. Realize you have REDICULOUS amounts of leftovers, excavate all your freezer containers. Portion out and freeze.
Let's put it this way. When I cooked this two weeks go, I ended up with 6 Tupperware sack pots, and 2 soup containers, in addition to what I was eating. That's roughly 10 individaul servings. For less than $10, since I bought the beef when it was reduced for quick sale. I still have two pots left.
 |
| That's a whole lot of pasta sauce! |
Side note: if you don't feel up to boiling water and making some pasta, this sauce also tastes great on a microwaved baked potato. Cover it with cheddar cheese for some added inexpensive deliciousness.
Side note 2 (18/2/13): I made more sauce today, and added in some bacon and a spare red pepper I had leftover in the fridge. Thrown in whatever you have on hand to bulk it out - don't waste good food!
*Marmite is, in my opinion, disgusting on it's own. It's like salted tar. But it's like magic beef sauce when used with mince.
Wednesday, 23 January 2013
Tip #20 - Cook in bulk, freeze in portions
I started a crazy budget plan last week. When I first planned it out I was positive the hardest category would be the food. I mean, $35/week for food? That's not a whole lot, right? Boy was I wrong.
Though I have gone over my weekly food limit for both weeks, that was mainly due to my stocking my cupboards with staples, spices, etc. In fact, I'll probably only spend about $15 next week, and that's partly because butter is on sale and I plan to stock up.
The way I've managed this is by first buying and cooking in bulk. I'm not talking about bulk in the normal sense - there are no 5kg bags of pasta or rice in my cupboards. But for my only mouth to feed, I certainly don't need 3kg of ground beef. But it was on sale, so I bought it. And then froze it in two 1.5kg batches. I also bought a whole chicken (also on sale - see how this works?) and froze it.
The next step is to cook in bulk. I'll make portions big enough for an entire family, even though it's just me eating. I take what I want for my meal, then separate the rest into freezer containers. This way, my food stays fresh, and future preparation takes all of three minutes.
In the past two weeks I've made:
- A giant pot of pasta sauce (9 servings)
- A shepherd's pie (4 servings)
- Squash soup (5 servings)
- Carrot soup (5 servings)
- Whole chicken (1 serving + 2 pots of leftovers)
- Chicken and vegetable soup (5 servings, from various leftovers)
- 2 loaves of bread (1 frozen)
- 2L of granola (this is about what I'll eat in a week and a half; no freezing required, but is possible)
I'll also admit to the fact that I also have frozen perogies as a lazy-day meal.
My normal shopping day is Saturday (only 2 days away), yet my freezer is full, and so is my fridge. So I will likely not need to buy anything aside from my butter this week. And maybe treat myself to some pickles. I know, I'm pretty intense.
This trend may change eventually. I may find that, one day, $35 is just not enough to feed me for the week. But for now, I'm buying in bulk, cooking in bulk, and freezing in portions.
Extra added bonus time: home-cooked food has made me feel incredibly full. I'm eating less by volume than I normally would. If I had a set of scales, I'd guess I'm probably losing weight too. So I'm saving money and taking care of my body too!
Though I have gone over my weekly food limit for both weeks, that was mainly due to my stocking my cupboards with staples, spices, etc. In fact, I'll probably only spend about $15 next week, and that's partly because butter is on sale and I plan to stock up.
The way I've managed this is by first buying and cooking in bulk. I'm not talking about bulk in the normal sense - there are no 5kg bags of pasta or rice in my cupboards. But for my only mouth to feed, I certainly don't need 3kg of ground beef. But it was on sale, so I bought it. And then froze it in two 1.5kg batches. I also bought a whole chicken (also on sale - see how this works?) and froze it.
The next step is to cook in bulk. I'll make portions big enough for an entire family, even though it's just me eating. I take what I want for my meal, then separate the rest into freezer containers. This way, my food stays fresh, and future preparation takes all of three minutes.
In the past two weeks I've made:
- A giant pot of pasta sauce (9 servings)
- A shepherd's pie (4 servings)
- Squash soup (5 servings)
- Carrot soup (5 servings)
- Whole chicken (1 serving + 2 pots of leftovers)
- Chicken and vegetable soup (5 servings, from various leftovers)
- 2 loaves of bread (1 frozen)
- 2L of granola (this is about what I'll eat in a week and a half; no freezing required, but is possible)
I'll also admit to the fact that I also have frozen perogies as a lazy-day meal.
My normal shopping day is Saturday (only 2 days away), yet my freezer is full, and so is my fridge. So I will likely not need to buy anything aside from my butter this week. And maybe treat myself to some pickles. I know, I'm pretty intense.
This trend may change eventually. I may find that, one day, $35 is just not enough to feed me for the week. But for now, I'm buying in bulk, cooking in bulk, and freezing in portions.
Extra added bonus time: home-cooked food has made me feel incredibly full. I'm eating less by volume than I normally would. If I had a set of scales, I'd guess I'm probably losing weight too. So I'm saving money and taking care of my body too!
Monday, 21 January 2013
Tip #19 - Cold-fighting on a budget
It's that time of year. I've got a cold. It's not the worst cold I've ever had. It's not a full-frontal assault, but more of a long, drawn out feeling of unwellness, slowly sapping my strength.
I used to run out to the drug store for expensive medication as soon as I felt the first sign of a stuffy nose. But I just can't afford those at the moment. So what to do?
Get lots of sleep
Sleep is absolutely, hands-down the best cure for a cold. Your body needs time to fight the viruses attacking it, and can't do that when it's over-tired.
Last night, I managed to sleep for 11 3/4 hours. I feel SO MUCH BETTER this morning.
I understand, however, that it's not always possible to sleep as much as that. You may have work or child commitments, for example. If this applies to you, make sure you get as much sleep as physically possible. Take naps during the day when you can. Miss out on that drink with your friends. Take a rain-cheque on that sports game.
If you keep forcing yourself to continue as if you weren't sick, your cold will drag on longer.
Oh, and work-time aside, sleep is completely, 100% free.
Drink lots of fluids
This sounds really obvious. But it has to be stated.
Fluids do NOT include: alcohol, coffee, sugary soft drinks (one exception, see below), sugary fruit juices, and it's best to avoid milk.
Fluids DO include: pure fruit juices, water, uncaffeinated herbal tea, water, and mixes like hot lemon and honey, hot lemon and ginger, and cranberry juice and gingerale, and more water.
Water, natural fruit juices which contain vitamin C, and ginger are all helpful to kick your immune system into action.
No-sugar added cranberry juice mixed ginger ale is a remedy I learned from a Chinese woman who owned a corner store near where I used to live in university. She saw me come in, still in my pyjamas, with a runny red nose, panic-buying throat lozenges and kleenex. Bad look. Simply mix the cranberry juice and ginger ale at a 1-1 ratio. The ginger and vitamin C both help fight your cold, and the bubbles help break up mucus. The science may be questionable, but it works.
Currently, I'm too cheap even for cranberry juice and ginger ale. So I'm drinking LOADS of water, with slices of lemon cut into it. The lemon slices help me get my vitamin C, and the citric acid helps my throat (at least, it seems to!)
Change humidity levels
If you're congested, I've always found the best way to ease some of the pressure is to change the humidity of the air around you. This can be with the help of a humidifier, but you could also use a kettle or a hot mug of tea, take a hot shower or bath, or go for a walk. The humidity levels between inside and outside will be very different, and will help you out in the short term.
Chicken soup for your soul
Chicken soup actually does have medicinal benefits when it comes to colds and flu. Yummy and good!
Gargle with salt water
If you have a sore throat as part of your cold fun, gargle with warm water mixed with a table spoon of salt. It tastes disgusting, but it works by sterilizing your throat and helping to kill some of the bacteria.
I also find that other salty food have the same result. Dill pickles and pot noodles are my two favourites. Just be careful if you are on a low-sodium diet.
Make sure you eat
Being sick can cause you to lose your appetite. But you absolutely need to eat. Your body needs calories and vitamins. So anything you can take in will help. Potatoes, lentils, red meat, green vegetables, and fruits are all full of lots of vitamins which your body needs. Last night for example I had a baked potato with spaghetti Bolognese sauce and cheese. It was just the right size, and very medicinal.
If you're on a diet, it may have to go out the window for the worst part of the cold. I'm not saying you should eat processed food. But most celebrity fad diets barely contain the number of calories required to get through a day normally, let along while sick. So eat up!
If all else fails...
If your cold is like the raging fire of hell, and you can't go on without some over-the-counter intervention, try to stick with store brands. The contents will be the same, the result will be the same, but your wallet will thank you.
Are there any home remedies that I've missed? Let me know!
I used to run out to the drug store for expensive medication as soon as I felt the first sign of a stuffy nose. But I just can't afford those at the moment. So what to do?
Get lots of sleep
Sleep is absolutely, hands-down the best cure for a cold. Your body needs time to fight the viruses attacking it, and can't do that when it's over-tired.
Last night, I managed to sleep for 11 3/4 hours. I feel SO MUCH BETTER this morning.
I understand, however, that it's not always possible to sleep as much as that. You may have work or child commitments, for example. If this applies to you, make sure you get as much sleep as physically possible. Take naps during the day when you can. Miss out on that drink with your friends. Take a rain-cheque on that sports game.
If you keep forcing yourself to continue as if you weren't sick, your cold will drag on longer.
Oh, and work-time aside, sleep is completely, 100% free.
Drink lots of fluids
This sounds really obvious. But it has to be stated.
Fluids do NOT include: alcohol, coffee, sugary soft drinks (one exception, see below), sugary fruit juices, and it's best to avoid milk.
Fluids DO include: pure fruit juices, water, uncaffeinated herbal tea, water, and mixes like hot lemon and honey, hot lemon and ginger, and cranberry juice and gingerale, and more water.
Water, natural fruit juices which contain vitamin C, and ginger are all helpful to kick your immune system into action.
No-sugar added cranberry juice mixed ginger ale is a remedy I learned from a Chinese woman who owned a corner store near where I used to live in university. She saw me come in, still in my pyjamas, with a runny red nose, panic-buying throat lozenges and kleenex. Bad look. Simply mix the cranberry juice and ginger ale at a 1-1 ratio. The ginger and vitamin C both help fight your cold, and the bubbles help break up mucus. The science may be questionable, but it works.
Currently, I'm too cheap even for cranberry juice and ginger ale. So I'm drinking LOADS of water, with slices of lemon cut into it. The lemon slices help me get my vitamin C, and the citric acid helps my throat (at least, it seems to!)
Change humidity levels
If you're congested, I've always found the best way to ease some of the pressure is to change the humidity of the air around you. This can be with the help of a humidifier, but you could also use a kettle or a hot mug of tea, take a hot shower or bath, or go for a walk. The humidity levels between inside and outside will be very different, and will help you out in the short term.
Chicken soup for your soul
Chicken soup actually does have medicinal benefits when it comes to colds and flu. Yummy and good!
Gargle with salt water
If you have a sore throat as part of your cold fun, gargle with warm water mixed with a table spoon of salt. It tastes disgusting, but it works by sterilizing your throat and helping to kill some of the bacteria.
I also find that other salty food have the same result. Dill pickles and pot noodles are my two favourites. Just be careful if you are on a low-sodium diet.
Make sure you eat
Being sick can cause you to lose your appetite. But you absolutely need to eat. Your body needs calories and vitamins. So anything you can take in will help. Potatoes, lentils, red meat, green vegetables, and fruits are all full of lots of vitamins which your body needs. Last night for example I had a baked potato with spaghetti Bolognese sauce and cheese. It was just the right size, and very medicinal.
If you're on a diet, it may have to go out the window for the worst part of the cold. I'm not saying you should eat processed food. But most celebrity fad diets barely contain the number of calories required to get through a day normally, let along while sick. So eat up!
If all else fails...
If your cold is like the raging fire of hell, and you can't go on without some over-the-counter intervention, try to stick with store brands. The contents will be the same, the result will be the same, but your wallet will thank you.
Are there any home remedies that I've missed? Let me know!
Sunday, 16 December 2012
Craft time: Christmas gift bags
I have a bit of a trend that I make people presents, rather than buying them. The trend is sometimes broken, but generally I bake or sew or make a big batch of something, then divide it up amongst my family. But I always have difficulty finding things to put them in... the gift bags that are in my price range (read: really really cheap) look it. So this year I decided to do things a bit differently. I swallowed my pride, and went on Amazon.
Oh gosh, I know, Amazon doesn't pay its taxes. But the items I purchased amounted to about ₤6, so I don't think the tax man is losing out on too much. I purchased 15 white paper bags with handles, 1 bottle of gold paint, "Cadburry" purple tissue paper, and some cellophane bags (for the as-yet mysterious goodies!). So my packaging was sorted with very little headache and even less expenditure!
Now to make the bags a bit more special. I bought some doilies from the local super market (unfortunately, we live in a time when doilies are hard to find, so I didn't have much selection of where to buy them or what pattern to choose) and a sponge.
I placed the doily on to the paper bag, and sponged the gold paint so that it came through the holes, creating a pattern. I then removed the doily, wrote the name of the recipients, also in gold paint, and voila! Beautiful, home decorated gift bags for very little.
I will be filling these with delicious unnamed goodies (yum!), with purple tissue paper coming out the top. Luxury on a budget, no artistic talent required!
Inspiration credit: http://ashleyannphotography.com/blog/2009/11/21/diy-doily-canvas-bag/
Friday, 14 December 2012
Tip #15 - Fun for free
I got really annoyed the other day by a commercial for a new board game called "telestrations". It's currently retailing at about ₤20. It involves one person picking a word or common phrase and drawing a picture of it, then passing it to the next person, who guesses the word or phrase and passes to the next person, who draws a picture based on that guess, and so on.
What annoyed me so much is that my friend Michelle taught me how to play this game using a ripped piece of paper folded like an accordian and a pencil, and I've used it in ESL classes as a fun way to teach certain verb tenses or idioms. It costs absolutely nothing, yet some company is trying to copyright it and charge a rediculous amount of money for it! So I started thinking about what other fun group activities I've played which cost nothing (many of which have since been copyrighted by greedy toy companies). Most of these won't be a surprise to many, but in an increasingly commercialized world I thought it would be nice to compile some of the more simple joys of large gettogethers. Perhaps this list can be useful for free family fun this Christmas!
Charades: Physically acting out a common word or short phrase or idiom. Talking is not allowed. If you've somehow never heard of charades, look on youtube for some hilarious examples.
Possible variations: Either the group gets together to write various phrases on bits of paper, and the person who's "in" picks one out at random, or (as my boyfriend insists is the correct way) if someone has an idea they just "have a go". It can also be played as a competitive team game or a free-for-all.
Pictionary: Similar to charades, but instead of physically acting out a word or phrase, it is drawn. No words are allowed, either spoken or written. There is usually a time limit, but this may be forfeited when small children are playing.
Possible variations: Same as above; Using an easle, whiteboard or chalkboard for a bigger picture; Using plasticine to create 3D models of the word or phrase.
Who am I?: Everyone writes the name of a famous person on a sticky note, and are randomly assigned to place the sticky note on another player's head. Each player then has to ask yes/no questions to find out who the famous person is.
Possible variations: You could do certain categories, such as athletes, politicians, etc.; Playing in teams, where, like charades or pictionary, the player pulls a famous person out of a hat and has to describe them to their team;
20 Questions: The player thinks of a noun (proper or not), and answers up to 20 yes/no questions until the group figures out what they have thought of. If they get to 20 questions without guessing correctly, the player wins.
Possible variations: "He(She)'s a he(she) and he(she)'s dead/alive" My Mum's family used to play this one when she was a kid, essentially 20 Questions but narrowing to only famous people.
Categories: We played this in English class. Grade 12 English class, to be exact, and yes at age 17/18 it was awesome fun. Players sit in a circle (or some sort of identifyable order). Each player in turn names something in a specific category, such as items of clothing, fruit, animals, etc. Too much pausing results in the person being "out" and a new category being chosen.
Possible variations: Alphabetized, where each sequential item has to be the next letter of the alphabet (ex: Apple - Banana - etc); Clappng game version, where a pattern is started before the start of the game - in English class, we used *knee slapp*knee slapp*clap*clap*snap*snap* - during the *snap*snap* section of the pattern was the time where the individual had to state their contribution
Hide-and-seek: this requires a big enough house or outdoor area, and areas such as the kitchen should probably be out of bounds for the kids, but it provides hours of entertainment for kids of all ages! The player who is "it" counts to 100 while the remaining ones hide. They then find all the remaining players. The last player found is the new "it".
Possible variations: Sardines, basically reverse hide-and-seek, where the player who is "it" hides and the remaining players have to find them. By the end of the game, there are usually limbs flying everywhere and some very squished people and loads and loads of giggles!
Stay tuned over the next few weeks for some more Christmas treats (although I won't post my actual Christmas presents until after Christmas to avoid anyone on my list catching wind of my plans!)
Stay tuned over the next few weeks for some more Christmas treats (although I won't post my actual Christmas presents until after Christmas to avoid anyone on my list catching wind of my plans!)
Friday, 7 December 2012
Tip #14 - Eat less meat
I'm not a vegetarian, and I can eat platefulls of baked or roasted ham or bacon. But with the price of meat so high, and set to increase in Canada next year, it may be worth finding some alternatives.
Anyone who has a vegetarian friend has probably seen the meat substitute products, usually made from ground mushrooms or soya, but these too can be very expensive. I also find them hit-and-miss - some aren't bad, but some just have a strange aftertaste or texture.
So I'm going to put in a plug for that most basic of protein, the one we sing about, the one which makes family gatherings that little bit more odorous.
Beans.
Canned, dried, fresh, it doesn't matter. Beans are incredibly good value for their weight and volume, and they're packed with nutrients like protein and iron. They're a good source of complex carbohydrates and fiber as well, so can act as both a veg and a meat substitute. And they're just so cheap!
I tend to have several different cans of beans in my cupboard for when I want to bulk something out. So I'll add chickpeas to curries, or pinto beans to tacos (this is relatively new), or lentils to shepherd's pie or bolognese sauce.
Lentils are especially good for bulking out ground beef-based meals. If you add a can of lentils to a pot of shepherd's pie filling or spaghetti sauce, you can cut out the equivalent volume of ground beef. And, it hides the lentils for picky eaters! I never spotted them in my Mum's cooking until I was much older and able to appreciate them more.
If, unlike me, you're a meat and two veg cook (I'm a one-pot cook so the beans trick works well for me), you can cut down on your meat bill by only buying what's on sale or special (i.e. going off that day), in bulk, and freezing it until you are ready to eat it. Freezerbags are great for this - you can freeze individual chicken breasts or steaks out of a value pack, or stick a whole chicken in one. Just make sure that you take the freezing into account when you cook, and make sure you consume the products within about a month!
Finally, a trick for you turkey or ham lovers. The week after Thanksgiving or Christmas, go to your supermarket, and buy one or two frozen turkeys or hams. They and their leftovers will last for a good long time and are at huge markdown! It's like the adult equivalent of buying marked down halloween or easter candy.
Anyone who has a vegetarian friend has probably seen the meat substitute products, usually made from ground mushrooms or soya, but these too can be very expensive. I also find them hit-and-miss - some aren't bad, but some just have a strange aftertaste or texture.
So I'm going to put in a plug for that most basic of protein, the one we sing about, the one which makes family gatherings that little bit more odorous.
Beans.
Canned, dried, fresh, it doesn't matter. Beans are incredibly good value for their weight and volume, and they're packed with nutrients like protein and iron. They're a good source of complex carbohydrates and fiber as well, so can act as both a veg and a meat substitute. And they're just so cheap!
I tend to have several different cans of beans in my cupboard for when I want to bulk something out. So I'll add chickpeas to curries, or pinto beans to tacos (this is relatively new), or lentils to shepherd's pie or bolognese sauce.
Lentils are especially good for bulking out ground beef-based meals. If you add a can of lentils to a pot of shepherd's pie filling or spaghetti sauce, you can cut out the equivalent volume of ground beef. And, it hides the lentils for picky eaters! I never spotted them in my Mum's cooking until I was much older and able to appreciate them more.
If, unlike me, you're a meat and two veg cook (I'm a one-pot cook so the beans trick works well for me), you can cut down on your meat bill by only buying what's on sale or special (i.e. going off that day), in bulk, and freezing it until you are ready to eat it. Freezerbags are great for this - you can freeze individual chicken breasts or steaks out of a value pack, or stick a whole chicken in one. Just make sure that you take the freezing into account when you cook, and make sure you consume the products within about a month!
Finally, a trick for you turkey or ham lovers. The week after Thanksgiving or Christmas, go to your supermarket, and buy one or two frozen turkeys or hams. They and their leftovers will last for a good long time and are at huge markdown! It's like the adult equivalent of buying marked down halloween or easter candy.
Saturday, 1 December 2012
CHALLENGE: Day out in London for ₤10
I'm visiting my Aunt in London this weekend, and thought I'd set myself a challenge: to have a Saturday out in London for only ₤10. Sound impossible? Well, there's more.
You see, I know London. I lived here for a year. So I thought I'd up the ante. The ₤10 must include all transportation, all food (not including breakfast and supper, which I'm having at my Aunt's), and include at least 1 museum, 1 gallery, and 1 live performance. I used some of the tricks from my previous blog post on entertainment on a shoestring, but still I was nervous that I couldn't pull it off...
Sunday, 25 November 2012
Tip #13 - What's in a name?
More often than not, brand names mean you're paying for the product's name, not its contents. If you insist on buying only brand named products, you will be spending too much money.
Here are my general guidelines on buying products:
- Think of the use of the product: Will it be used once or repeatedly? Will it be mixed in with something or eaten as-is? Will you use all of it or waste half?
- What benefit does this product offer: Do you know that your hair will be silky and smooth or does it only promise? Will your garbage be truly smell-free (unlikely...)? When mixed in, will these brand name lentils realy add extra protein above the standard lentils?
- What benefit does the company offer: Do they refuse to test on animals? Do they give back to charity or invest in the community? Have you investigated the criticisms of the company (Wikipedia is a good place for this...) and find it to still be a company you want to give money to?
- Finally, the most important question: Which is cheaper? Brand name products are more likely to have sales, which can bring the unit price below that of a store brand.
I'm a big fan of store brands, and for most products find that they are equivalent to brand name products, with a very few exceptions. One for me is a facial moisturizer from Lush, which is the only one I've found which deals with both my dry skin and my oily breakouts. Another is curry paste, which needs to be done by a reputable company which understands the balance of flavours. Yet another is salad dressing - I'm sorry, but I just love Kraft Golden Italian, and no matter what else I've tried, I can't find a suitable cheaper replacement.
Are you a brand fiend? I challenge you to take one product per week which you would normally insist on being brand named, and try the store brand version. Perhaps chopped tomatoes. Or beans. Or frozen peas. Or if you're really going out on a limb, maybe try store brand cleaning pruducts. I promise you will find some savings, if a bit difficult along the way :)
Here are my general guidelines on buying products:
- Think of the use of the product: Will it be used once or repeatedly? Will it be mixed in with something or eaten as-is? Will you use all of it or waste half?
- What benefit does this product offer: Do you know that your hair will be silky and smooth or does it only promise? Will your garbage be truly smell-free (unlikely...)? When mixed in, will these brand name lentils realy add extra protein above the standard lentils?
- What benefit does the company offer: Do they refuse to test on animals? Do they give back to charity or invest in the community? Have you investigated the criticisms of the company (Wikipedia is a good place for this...) and find it to still be a company you want to give money to?
- Finally, the most important question: Which is cheaper? Brand name products are more likely to have sales, which can bring the unit price below that of a store brand.
I'm a big fan of store brands, and for most products find that they are equivalent to brand name products, with a very few exceptions. One for me is a facial moisturizer from Lush, which is the only one I've found which deals with both my dry skin and my oily breakouts. Another is curry paste, which needs to be done by a reputable company which understands the balance of flavours. Yet another is salad dressing - I'm sorry, but I just love Kraft Golden Italian, and no matter what else I've tried, I can't find a suitable cheaper replacement.
Are you a brand fiend? I challenge you to take one product per week which you would normally insist on being brand named, and try the store brand version. Perhaps chopped tomatoes. Or beans. Or frozen peas. Or if you're really going out on a limb, maybe try store brand cleaning pruducts. I promise you will find some savings, if a bit difficult along the way :)
Thursday, 1 November 2012
Flower headband for under $2
I taught myself to
crochet last week, because I'm separated from my fabric and sewing machine, and
this was cheaper than buying a new machine in utter desperation. My first
project was a bunny rabbit, which has major issues with lopsidedness. But my
second project was this super-cute flower headband.
It was incredibly easy to
make. I used this free pattern for the flower from the Scrapbook & Cards Today blog (which I found while searching on
Pinterest) and I made the band by doing a continuous chain from the light
coloured yarn until it was the right length to go around my head, and then
putting a double crochet into each stitch all the way along. I then attached
the loose ends of the band to the flower to make the headband.
The hook cost $1.69, and the
coloured yarns cost $1.99 each, but I already had the hook, and I only used a
small portion of each ball of yarn, so I work out the cost to be under $2. It
would probably cost about $10 if bought ready-made (although it might also look
a bit more polished!).
I’ll be coming back with
a new tip next week, but it’s taking a bit of time to put together and
research.
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