Leg Up on Rough Economy

**30s&DebtFree** · 05-16-2008, 02:32 PM

With the economy in the state that it is in, I can't help feeling proud of my frugal way of life. May not seem popular in the eyes of the masses (my parents included), but it sure gives me a sense of peace to know I can survive, even in a failing economy.

Anyone else feel this way? The more I see gas and food prices going up, up, up, the more frugal I want to become.

DH and I have been frugal for our entire marriage and it has paid off. We will be able to ride out this recession and come out ahead.

It gives me a sense of pride to know how to cook AND ENJOY things like beans and rice, potato soup and some fresh bread out of the oven, home made cookies, etc. So many people nowadays don't do these things and don't even want to be bothered.

**iida** · 05-16-2008, 02:58 PM

I feel the same.

**Frugal Cook** · 05-16-2008, 03:05 PM

Ditto, absolutely!

Originally Posted by 30s&DebtFree

So many people nowadays don't do these things and don't even want to be bothered.

Unfortunately those are the people you have to watch out for. Eventually reality will hit and they will attempt to take from others.

**halloweenfreak** · 05-16-2008, 04:23 PM

Originally Posted by 30s&DebtFree

So many people nowadays don't do these things and don't even want to be bothered.

exactly. my husband always takes leftovers to work with him and he always comes home telling me that everyone is jealous of the 'homecooking' he gets while they eat junk out of the vending machines. doesn't anyone know how to cook from scratch anymore?? i feel proud when i can go to my kitchen and whip up something and not have to depend on going to the store and finding it in box form on the shelf.

**Its_Donna** · 05-16-2008, 04:29 PM

I agree totally!

**hippytreehugger4ever** · 05-16-2008, 04:35 PM

Originally Posted by halloweenfreak

exactly. my husband always takes leftovers to work with him and he always comes home telling me that everyone is jealous of the 'homecooking' he gets while they eat junk out of the vending machines. doesn't anyone know how to cook from scratch anymore?? i feel proud when i can go to my kitchen and whip up something and not have to depend on going to the store and finding it in box form on the shelf.

OMG, they are the same way to my husband! I cook every meal we eat ( we've had fast food maybe twice in the last 2 1/2 years), and all the guys he works with are either bachelors or divorced! I guess he gets comments about the homemade runzas....and dinner rolls....... and the steak....... yeah, he's got it made

**tryingtodobetter** · 05-16-2008, 04:36 PM

Here in the UK they keep having so called experts on the TV telling people how to cut down on food, gas etc, sometimes I just feel like yelling at the TV as I have been doing these things for years plus hundreds more (sorry rant over!!!)

**Jamauk** · 05-16-2008, 04:53 PM

I am in my 30's and I fear that scratch cooking is an art that has been totally lost on my generation.

I've learned everything I know about scratch cooking from the internet & various cookbooks. My mom never cooked from scratch - in fact it wasn't until just a few years ago that I realized Bisquick was a "convienience food"

I think its sad...

**halloweenfreak** · 05-16-2008, 05:06 PM

I am in my 30's and I fear that scratch cooking is an art that has been totally lost on my generation.

i feel the same way. when others around my age find out im a stay at home mom who bakes bread from scratch, it makes me feel very old fashioned. not that thats a bad thing, but most of the people i talk to dont know how to cook without their microwave.

**Jamauk** · 05-16-2008, 05:14 PM

Originally Posted by halloweenfreak

I am in my 30's and I fear that scratch cooking is an art that has been totally lost on my generation.

i feel the same way. when others around my age find out im a stay at home mom who bakes bread from scratch, it makes me feel very old fashioned. not that thats a bad thing, but most of the people i talk to dont know how to cook without their microwave.

Most people I know don't even know you can bake bread from scratch....

**mommy4ever** · 05-16-2008, 05:27 PM

Originally Posted by Jamauk

Most people I know don't even know you can bake bread from scratch....

REALLY?? It's THAT bad??? I know college students were lost at it, but our age too(34 here)?

I guess I grew up with amom who did cook, and I was cooking for the family at age 12. My kids are learning to cook too, the 2 elders anyway, 13, and 11. They do lunch most weekends. They also bake quite well.

I'm always sharing recipes, very simple basic ones, with the families of the kids I care for because the kids eat well here, and are picky at home. I've even *gifted* crockpots with booklets of recipes so they can go home to homecooked meals after work. This is always well received.

Strangely enough, I've had people look at me and feel sorry for me, as I'm only a house wife and mom. They pity me because I *have* to cook because we *can't afford* to eat out or all the convenience foods. I inwardly laugh... it's not an affordability issue(most of the time) it's a conscious choice. Ilook at the kids in those families, allergies rampant(to EVERYTHING), behavior issues, and I really can't help but wonder if it's poor quality food causing it. We know it isn't the cause for *all* allergies and behavior, but it makes me wonder, if more people went back to the basics, less chemicals, less colorants, less artifical things, would these things ease back to better health??

Growing up I didn't know anyone with allergies besides ME(medical allergy not food)~ I knew 1 kid with behavior issues, and by today's standard, it was just a busy bored kid, not a behavior problem by today's standards..but I grew up in a communtiy of SAHM, so everyone cooked for the families. So I wonder, really wonder, if we not only last the art of home cooking and baking, but of "normal" health and behaviors?

*Disclaimer- I'm not saying all allergies and behavioral problems are food related, but some I have no idea what % would be.

**Marie78** · 05-16-2008, 07:06 PM

[QUOTE=Jamauk;901050]I am in my 30's and I fear that scratch cooking is an art that has been totally lost on my generation.

I've noticed this, very often in the lunch room at work. I make homemade white/garlic pizza for our dinner once a week. I make my own dough from scratch and let it rise and then roll it out and add our toppings (cheese, tomato, garlic and seasoning).
I bring leftovers from my dinners to work with me and this meal always gets compliments and questions of where I "bought it." When I say I made it, co-workers ask where I bought the crust, I politely say I made that too.

At least one person will ask how you make pizza crust. I just smile and rattle off the ingredients. I get looks and suggestions of where I can buy already prepared bread dough. I just smile, because I already know where I can buy the bread dough (frozen/fresh or otherwise). I like my own recipe and I like always having the ingredients on hand to whip up a homemade pizza

I get the feeling that people think I am "poor" because I bring my leftovers from dinner to work each day. I like meals I prepare and I like not spending $10 on just lunch. What I make from scratch usually looks healthier and more appealing to me than the fast food lunches that surround me or the expensive take out salads and pasta meals. I just turned 30 years old and rarely (if ever) do I see a person at work between 20 and 40 with meals they made themselves. Over 40, there are a few that cook dinners and bring leftovers. It does sadly seem to be a lost skill!

**30s&DebtFree** · 05-16-2008, 07:39 PM

My hubbie brown bags his lunch with left overs from the night before or soups that I made and froze for him to take. There are some guys at work who tease him about "what's for lunch today?" DH is so dedicated to brown bagging it, that he keeps peanut butter in his desk drawer and will take some home made bread for sandwiches if there is a day that there really isn't much to pack. These same guys who tease him, are out everyday spending 10.00 at Salad Works for lunch.

Also, I am in my mid 30s, and growing up, my Mother didn't do a whole lot of "from scratch" cooking. A lot of what I have learned was from reading cook books, especially those geared towards "more with less". My meals are very homestyle, nothing gourmet, but really tasty!! Tightwad Gazette (the complete, with all three books in one) was a great read, as well as More With Less.

We bought some Keebler cookies (fudge stripes or something like that) not too long ago and they tasted waxy to me. I would take my home made choco chip over store-bought ANYDAY!!!

**Frugal Nurse** · 05-16-2008, 08:20 PM

Isn't it nice to know that you don't have to make cut backs and feel crimped?
You're already doing it right to begin with.

and you have the extra cash to show for it.

**xtena** · 05-16-2008, 08:40 PM

Originally Posted by 30s&DebtFree

We bought some Keebler cookies (fudge stripes or something like that) not too long ago and they tasted waxy to me. I would take my home made choco chip over store-bought ANYDAY!!!

My daughter is six. She likes sweets, BUT she's used to homemade goodies (I try and use less sugar than called for) and has been known to complain that the storebought stuff like Hostess Cupcakes are 'sickeningly sweet' and not eat them. If someone brings in storebought cupcakes to school for a birthday, the other kids gobble up the icing and she tells me she just eats the cake part because she thinks the icing is gross. She *loves* to help me bake, though I don't do cookies or cakes very often, mostly just homemade bread, rolls, tortillas, muffins and things like that.

It makes me proud!