Money-Saving

Homemade Cornbread Mix Recipe

July 20, 2020 by Sarah Leave a Comment

This homemade cornbread mix recipe makes the equivalent of 5 boxes of Jiffy Corn Muffin mix. Keep some on hand for quick baking any time of day.

portioned bags of cornbread mix with title text "Homemade Cornbread Mix"

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Cornbread is a quick and easy side dish or bread option to go alongside chili or served with honey for breakfast. Those boxes of Jiffy Corn Muffin mix make it so easy to dump and go, but what if you're out or are looking for a more cost-effective way to cook at home? This homemade cornbread mix is a delicious Jiffy copycat recipe and costs just pennies per batch.

Ingredients

All-Purpose Flour: You will want to use All-Purpose flour here, not Whole Wheat. However, if you are gluten-free, you can use an equal measurement of gluten-free flour as a substitute.

Cornmeal: For the cornmeal, you can use white or yellow. I recommend that you go for a small or medium grind on the cornmeal. If you use course-ground cornmeal it may be too gritty for your taste. The bag or container will state what kind of grind the cornmeal is.

Vegetable Shortening: I'm sure you're wondering why we are using vegetable shortening rather than butter or vegetable oil. The reason is that vegetable shortening is a vegetarian shelf-stable option that is really affordable. It also makes for a very tender crumb when baking the cornbread or corn muffins.

Granulated Sugar: Regular granulated sugar will work perfectly.

Baking Powder: Make sure that you are using baking powder, not baking soda. You'll find this in the baking aisle next to the flour.

Salt: Baking is one of the few times I really recommend using table salt. It is finer than sea salt and fully incorporates with the other dry ingredients.

Equipment

Large Bowl
Fork or Pastry Blender
Quart-Size Plastic Storage Bags or Reusable Storage Bags

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How to Save on Back to School Supplies

July 13, 2020 by Sarah Leave a Comment

Use these frugal tips to help you save money on back to school supplies shopping this year.

chalkboard background with school supplies scattered with title text "How to Save on Back to School Supplies"

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If you aren’t careful, back to school can completely ruin your family's budget. Before you know it you could spend hundreds of dollars on each child and still discover that something is missing. But, there are a few things you can do to save money on back to school supplies.

Reuse Lunch Boxes and Backpacks

Unless there is something obviously wrong with last year’s lunch box and backpack, it is perfectly OK to reuse them. It may not make them the coolest kids with the newest stuff, but chances are the only one who is going to know that they are reusing the previous year’s bags are your child themselves.

This is one area where I tend to purchase plain, high quality items rather than fun lunch boxes and backpacks. Many backpack companies, like Jansport and Eastport, offer lifetime warranties on their bags. It is worth the investment when your child can use it all through school.

Shop on Back to School Tax-Free Weekends

Some states have introduced Back to School Tax-Free weekends which are…well, exactly what they say. You can do your back to school shopping on these weekends and the savings really does add up!

As of the 2020, the following states offer Tax-Free Weekend: Alabama, Arkansas, Connecticut, Florida, Iowa, Maryland, Mississippi, Missouri, New Mexico, Ohio, Oklahoma, South Carolina, Tennessee, Texas, and Virginia. Each state has different stipulations on what is included, but you can regularly get not just school supplies but also coats, clothes, shoes, blankets, computers, and books.

Heather, from Passion for Savings, has the complete list of Tax-Free Weekend dates here.

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Uses for Apple Cider Vinegar

April 7, 2020 by Sarah Leave a Comment

There are many uses for apple cider vinegar so it is no secret that it is often a staple kitchen item that you will find in many homes. Not only can apple cider vinegar be used for cooking, it can also be used for cleaning, improving health, and as a natural beauty booster.

glass bottle of apple cider vinegar on pink background

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When it comes to apple cider vinegar, you have two options. You can use the pasteurized kind that you find in gallon jugs for just a couple dollars, or you can use raw, unfiltered apple cider vinegar that contains the "mother."

There are benefits to both. I buy the pasteurized, cheaper version in bulk and use it for all of my cleaning and beauty products. I go through it like crazy and don't see the point in paying a lot when it is used in these applications.

For those occasions when my family will be eating or drinking the vinegar, I go for the raw version, so really you can choose which one best fits your budget.

Uses for Apple Cider Vinegar in the Kitchen

Add apple cider vinegar to the pot when making broth to help release gelatin and minerals from the bones.
Use apple cider vinegar in salad dressings and vinaigrettes.
It is thought that apple cider vinegar can help aid digestion. Start with a small dose daily of 1 tsp of raw, unfiltered ACV.
Apple cider vinegar can be used as a wash for fruits and vegetables. Fill your sink half full of water and add one cup of ACV. Let fruit and vegetables sit in the wash for 5 minutes. Dry completely before storing.
Mayonnaise and apple cider vinegar are the base for many salads such as coleslaw and potato salad.
Use apple cider vinegar in your pickling solution.

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Container Gardening For Beginners

February 28, 2020 by Sarah Leave a Comment

Who doesn't love the sight of flowers blooming on a summer's day? What about being able to pick your own ripe red tomatoes? But you say you only have a small porch or terrace? Well, that's all you need to grow a fabulous flower or vegetable container garden that will make you famous in your neighborhood.

Start with a Plan for your Container Garden

It's a good idea to plan your terrace garden before you start planting, a good winter project. There are so many possibilities that it might seem overwhelming at first.

Try to notice how much sun each section of your space gets so that you can plan and plant accordingly. Then try to choose flowering plants that will bloom for most of the summer; you don't want to waste space on plants that will only give you a week or two of blooms. Some of the sun-loving flowering plants that do well in containers include petunias, begonias, geraniums, salvia, nasturtiums, lobelia, marigolds, and lilies. Popular shade plants are impatiens, coleus, and hostas.

This hydroponic indoor garden from AeroGarden is my favorite way to have fresh herbs growing year-round. It sits on my kitchen counter, taking up very little space, and even reminds me when I need to add water or plant food. I have basil, dill, chives and mint growing at all times.

Pots, Planters and Soil

Once you know what you want to plant, start with plastic pots and containers. They're cheaper, lighter, and water doesn't evaporate from them as fast as ceramic containers, unless they're glazed. Use a combination of long planters and various sizes of pots for variety.

Wooden boxes and barrels add interest, but are prone to rot. Make sure that you use untreated wood so that you don't have chemicals leaching into the soil If you have an overhang, use hanging baskets. You can even get creative and have a vertical garden, growing things up instead of out.

mailboxes repurposed into vertical garden planters

Don't go cheap with the potting soil. You want the best, so get a soil like Miracle-Gro Moisture Control. It's specially formulated for container gardening, holds 30% more water, and will feed your plants throughout the summer.

Arrange and Plant your Container Garden

Now that you know generally what to plant and where to plant them, set out your pots and containers in the areas best suited for them. Fill your containers with soil and start planting. Start slowly by purchasing no more than you can plant at a time. This will give you a chance to rearrange your garden if you notice that one plant looks better next to another, something your plan may not have considered.

Place taller plants next to shorter growing varieties for interest, using lilies or tall spikey grasses. You might even want to place a small goldfish pond in a shady place between some flowers. Don't forget to experiment each year with a new and different flower or vegetable. Now that you've planted, all you have to do is keep aware of the watering requirements of your garden and soon your neighbors will be looking up and admiring your blooming creativity.

Tips for Getting Started

Start small with just a few plants until you get the hang of how much space they require or how often you need to water them
Start your seeds inside in March so that they are strong enough to survive when you move them outside when it gets warmer
Make the most of your patio or space by using containers of different heights or place them on different levels of a stand
Research what plants grow best in your growing zone. Use this chart to find out what zone you live in