We do not turn on the heater. Like others, quilts, layers of clothing. It doesn't get THAT cold, but...

I'd love to hear how to keep cool in the summer. Fans, lots of water, and cool ties. We have just a window air conditioner for the really hot days.

We have our furnace on a timer. At night we have it set to go down to 58. During the day it is set to 67. I lay under lots of quilts or fleece when I am sitting down and use an electric mattress pad at night. Usually if the 3 cats are next to me, it's like having 3 little heaters. I do tend to dress in layers but hands do tend to get cold at times. Our budget heating bill has gone down every year because of our savings. The timer is under $40.00 and easy to wire. There are usually 4-6 changes you can program in for the heat and/air if you have it. We saved enough in the first 6 months to pay for it.

I save money to make my own sausages,the ones in the store is also much to salt!) my own bread(I don't have a breadmachine), most of my own clothes. I buy general brands and if something is on sale I buy a lot and store it.
In summer we can eat from our vegtable garden where are also fruits. I love my garden!

Well we turn the heat way down at night and when put a wool blanket on the matress then made the bed it was so much warmer at night. And one on the top also. and long flannel PJ's.
Generic brands and coupons. We found some of the generic brands just as good as and some better than what we was buying. We stock up on thing when on sale. Have almost quilt buying red meat so high. We put our extra auto on park insurance and we called the phone company and said we are thinking of shuting it off, they put us on a lower program. I buy big bags of fresh vegis at CostCo's and cook and put in the freezer. They don't stay ther long and are just like fresh. Just the 2 of us so I cook for 6 and we freeze the extra or have 2 days in a row. And a snack. Make bread in machine. Only flush toilet if a big job or company. LOL Save's many gallons of water. We put the lid down, again just the 2 of us. Turn lights off if not really using it. Put up okey curtains between kitchen and living room. On a spring rod, makes a huge diff, the sky lights in Kitchen I made a cover for both windows also on spring rods. Made a diff too. We have not eaten out for months. And like one of the other ladies said more brown long cooking rice and dry beans and soups and stews. Wash only full loads or turn the water level way down for a smaller load and do one load rigth after the other so the dryer is still warm and I hang a lot in the down stairs bathroom. Never put under clothes in a dryer they last longer. Mae heavy curtains on pressure rods for all the livingroom windows at night when no sun shining through.
and I probably do more I am not thinking about right now, oh like only going in the car if ther is more than one thing to do then I map it out and do as much as I can in one day. I used to go to Joanns and quilt shops at least 3 times a week no if I get to go once every 3 weeks or so to use a 40% or 50% off coupon for a skin of yarn or a yd of fab for something.... This not working for 1year 4 months has put a crimp in my life and husband been out of work since last Aug. Less than half what we was used to. So we are cooler LOL, skinner, more time to walk, and trying to figure out what else to do to save a dollar. We plan on a huge garage sale this spring. I have a lot to get rid of. Some things still in boxe's. My husband folks passed away 1 year and 2 months apart and we have a lot of ther things. We gave so much away and still have too much. So I also have been very busy with my stach I have build for so long and getting an ETSY site set up.... If you are one still working and would like a nice gift for yourself or a friend or family please PM me at ConnieF To all those out there, we are all in this together and we will make it through it. We must have faith and trust in God.

Maksi,
Can you please show us how to make your own sausages? I would love to try something new.

panda

Yes I will, wich suasages do you want? It will takes a while because I have to translate it first and for some products I don't know the English words. I have to look them up in an online dictonairy.

I have a basic sausage for meat.
A basic sausage for pasta's, wich you can also use for home made pizza's. I even make my own teriyaki and tandoori sausage.
Some basics for salads
Clarrified butter in China and India they called it ghee and in Maroc they call it smeg. You kan save it for years out of the fridge.
And Hollandaise sause and bechamelsausages. Tell me wich sausages you want and I put them the recipescorner when I'm finished translating.
I LOVE to cook and it is a challenge to me to make as much home made as I can. About ten years ago I only made my own bread, stews and soups and al the other was right from the store in an can or package. But I think that home made is cheaper.

I love all of your thoughts~!

Maksi,
Please post a "basic sausage" recipe first. Could it be the one you can add any herbs or chilis or any other flavors?
I am soexcited to try your recipe.
I know of ghee, that is the butter made from the milk of water buffalo and is used in Indian curry, right? I love spicy food so much , that is why I know of it.

OH yes...post your recipes!!

We can/freeze vegetables from the garden all summer. Grow what you can in the summer, you will be surprised what you can get from a small plot.

Dry your own fruits and make your own fruit sauces. Sunshine is free all summer. Takes a bit longer than a dehydrator, but is cheaper.

Shop for meat early in the morning. The meat that is going out of date is up to 50% off and can still be frozen. Whole chickens are cheaper than pieces, and the carcass makes great broth that can be frozen.


Keep a freezer bag in the freezer and add small amounts of leftover vegetables, even if it is just a spoonful. When the bag is full, add some broth and make vegetable soup. My mother call is garbage soup, I call it freezer soup.

I like a shower, DH likes a bath. When I shower I close the drain to save the water, then he gets a bath. This works especially well when we are are on water restrictions which is happening more and more these days.

We keep our house cool (usually about 68 during the day) and if I get to feeling cool, I light a scented candle. There is something about it that just warms the room.