Welcome to My Frugal Home

For the past 5 years my family has been living on one income and finding it extrememly difficult to make ends meet. My husband and I sat down one evening to try to figure out what we could do about our very unhealthy debt problems. After much discussion the only solution was for me to return to the workforce, something I really did not want to do. Well the kids went away for the summer, and I started searching the internet for ideas and job opportunities and came across what I believed to be a very interesting opportunity.

I opened a link to a new world, The Frugal Life Community, and started reading. I didn't know that I could make my own laundry detergent (which saves me over $10 a month). I didn't know I could make my own household cleaners (heaven only knows how much I save there!) In a nutshell, I discovered I could save our family a lot of money if I didn't buy store brand products, if I preserved my own food (my parents bought us a freezer as a gift) and we cut back on many of the other things I could do easily at home.

I now shop only at bulk food stores, farmers markets and I get our vegetables and fruits from the farmers themselves. Living in a townhouse development, in Canada, doesn't leave much space for home gardening, but I do grow our own strawberries and raspberries. These are put in the freezer for jams and desserts for the winter. I will be canning other fruits and veggies for the long winter ahead to help our budget and by doing this I may not have to join the "rat race" again.

If anyone is interested in sharing their recipes and knowledge about how to "streeeetch" a dollar please feel free to e-mail me and I will share it with others. Thanks for dropping by and I hope to hear from you soon.

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Here are some ideas you may want to try.

• AIR FRESHENER - Few slices lemon, orange or grapefruit 1 pot of water. Put slices of fruit into the pot of water. Let simmer gently for an hour or so. A citrus scent will fill your house.
• AROMATIC CARPET CLEANER - 2 cups baking soda 1/2 cup cornstarch 5 bay leaves 1 tablespoon cloves. Mix all ingredients together and keep in a closed container. Sprinkle on carpet and let sit for a couple of hours. Vacuum carpet in usual manner.
• REFRIGERATOR INTERIOR CLEANER - 2 tablespoons baking soda 1 quart warm water. Scrub stubborn spots with baking soda on a sponge. Use this mixture to wash exterior of refrigerator and other appliances, also.
• GLASS FILM REMOVER - 1 cup household bleach 1 cup white vinegar. Fill dishwasher with all your dirty dishes. DO NOT put any silver, aluminum or brass in the washer with this method. Put a bowl in the bottom of the dishwasher. Pour household bleach into the bowl. Run through the washing cycle, but do not dry. THIS IS IMPORTANT! Fill bowl again with white vinegar and let the dishwasher go through the entire cycle. This will remove all film not only from your glasses, but from your dishwasher, too.
• VINEGAR SHOWER CLEANER - This is a wonderful, natural alternative to chemical bath and shower cleaners (and it's much less expensive). 1 cup white vinegar 3 cups water. Put into a large spray bottle and shake well before each use. Use to clean your bathroom, allowing the mixture to sit longer on more stubborn stains. The acidity in the vinegar will help clean the grout and remove the grime.

Links I found very helpful!

Cook Only Once a Month
How to Prepare Fruits and Veggies for the Freezer
Canning Links
Meal Planning and Cooking Ahead
Home Made Simple
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