Then and now

photo by squirrel_cottage

DEAR SARA: When you started down the frugal road, are there tips that you said you would never do but are doing now? — Michelle, Texas

DEAR MICHELLE: I never thought I’d be the one to encourage eating at home. I enjoy eating out and was accustomed to it. Now I’m the first to mention how quickly I can make a meal at home instead of eating out. I also never thought I’d use a chicken carcass to make soup or even eat bone-in chicken. I don’t know what my problem was with bone-in chicken, because I now buy whole chickens more often than not.

DEAR SARA: Is there a frugal way to remove pillings from clothing? — Kris, New Mexico

DEAR KRIS: I’ve used a disposable razor on some clothing, such as fleece, with great success. You can purchase a pilling comb or a sweater stone, too. They typically cost less than $5.

DEAR SARA: I’ve never had a gift closet with gifts purchased in advance, on sale and stored for special occasions. I have a hard time deciding exactly what I should choose to buy. I get to the store sales, and my mind goes blank. Any gift suggestions? — Heather, California

DEAR HEATHER: You would know better than I do the types of gifts your friends and family would love, but there are a few general gift items you can pick up if you find them on sale.
For children: arts-and-crafts supplies; hair accessories; toys, puzzles and games; mittens, hats, scarves; ornaments; school supplies; night lights.
For women: candles; beauty items or gift sets; calendars; kitchen items such as dish towels, cookbooks, oven mitts, teas or coffee and placemats; journals; seed packets; magnets; frames.
For men: wallets; key chains; CDs or DVDs; water bottles; mixed nuts; mugs.

DEAR SARA: My infant son is almost ready to start solid food. I’d like to make homemade baby food once he’s used to cereal, but I’m not sure where to start. Any suggestions? — Shell, Canada

DEAR SHELL: I can’t understand why people pay for jarred baby food, such as bananas, when mashing a banana is quick and painless. I’ve made homemade baby food for all of my children. It’s nutritious and frugal. You control the ingredients, so you know exactly what’s in the food.

It’s as simple as washing, peeling and steaming foods and either using a blender, food processor or hand mill/grinder. Freeze the food in ice-cube trays or make it in smaller amounts. Start with fruits and vegetables, such as apples, pears, peaches, sweet potatoes, beans, carrots, peas, potatoes and squash. You can use fresh, frozen or canned. If using canned, I’d look for foods that are unsalted AND unsweetened.

Go to your local library and borrow “Blender Baby Food: Over 125 Recipes for Healthy Homemade Meals” by Nicole Young and Nadine Day (Robert Rose, 2005). It contains sample meal plans and easy-to-make recipes with food combinations you might not consider on your own.

Also check out “Top 100 Baby Purees: 100 Quick and Easy Meals for a Healthy and Happy Baby” by Annabel Karmel (Atria, 2006). It contains nutritional information, food preparation and storage, and has lovely photographs. Some of the recipes are a bit more expensive and time-consuming than making baby food has to be, so keep this in mind.
Be sure to talk to your son’s pediatrician about his diet.