Repair your clothes and save a bundle

Repairing your clothes instead of shopping for new ones is a great tip, and one that I’ve mentioned before.  But it is worth bringing up again, because I recently had an expensive leather jacket repaired and it reminded me just how useful this tip is.

Josh has a leather jacket that is only a couple of years old.  Unfortunately the zipper broke on it, and it’s been hanging useless in the closet for months.  Finally, in our rush to get everything done on our to-do list before our big move, I took it to the dry cleaners who repaired it for me.

The final cost: $13.  That’s it - just $13 and the leather jacket was wearable again.

My new slogan:  Don’t pitch it, find a way to fix it!

Follow up: Homemade Christmas gift

Since everyone was so helpful in providing suggestions on how to make homemade Christmas gifts, I thought I would follow up by revealing what I chose to make, and what I received.

I made my sister a magnetic meal planner.  It was laminated so that she could plan her meals for the week using a dry erase pen.  It also had a section titled “shopping list” so that she can record the groceries she needs to buy as the week goes on.

I also made a set of Archie Comic refrigerator magnets - and, unbelievably, she made me the same thing! (Must be a twin thing.)

I also gave my sister some instant homemade hot chocolate powder, the kind that was featured here.

My sister and I gave joined forces to make gifts for my parents. Collectively, we made candied peanuts, salty & sweet almonds, trail mix, muesli, mulling spices, infused tea and white & dark chocolate peppermint almond bark, among other things.

My sister gave me a set of homemade placemats.  Each one is a collage on poster-board and each one has its own theme - travel, nature, music and food.  She had them laminated to keep them clean.  She also made a set of map coasters.

My mom surprised me with a set of 9 homemade soups, each individually packaged in its own tupperware container.  Each soup was healthy and delicious, and extremely convenient. Even though we were busy packing after Christmas and had very little food in the fridge, we had something healthy to eat, and didn’t have to rely on fast food entirely. It was great!

I loved hearing about everyone’s homemade gifts - especially Catherine’s story which nearly brought tears to my eyes! 

Homemade doggy treats

I thought this was a great idea, and perfect for a homemade gift this year: Bake your own doggy treats!  Very simple recipe, and a healthy, tasty treat for your loyal companion!  Check out the blog at pawluxury!

Frugal hot chocolate mix

Why buy hot chocolate mix when you can make it yourself? Yesterday, we whipped up a batch following Alton Brown’s recipe.

• 2 cups powdered sugar
• 1 cup cocoa (Dutch-process preferred)
• 2 1/2 cups powdered milk
• 1 teaspoon salt
• 2 teaspoons cornstarch
• 1 pinch cayenne pepper, or more to taste
• Hot water

Combine all ingredients in a mixing bowl and incorporate evenly. We actually used a food processor - trying to mix it in a bowl was just too messy and too difficult with this much powder!

We also cut up some marshmallows we had and put them in too.  However the key is to add the marshmallows at the end.  They nearly exploded in the food processor!

In a small pot, heat 4 to 6 cups of water.

Fill your mug half full with the mixture and pour in hot water. Stir to combine. Seal the rest in an airtight container, keeps indefinitely in the pantry. This also works great with warm milk.

It’s tasty and much cheaper than buying pre-packaged hot chocolate in the store.  You can make this recipe even cheaper by buying some of your ingredients at the Bulk Barn or other bulk foods or baking stores.

The multi-purpose kleenex box

A fun way to stay organized and recycle packaging - reuse a kleenex box as a plastic bag holder.  Simply cut-out the plastic part and stuff your plastic grocery bags inside.  I did the same with an empty ziploc box for all my bread bags.  I recently ran out of my stash of ziplocs (we stocked up at a big loony sale at Price Chopper last spring) and now I’m trying to come up with a stand-in solution so I don’t have to buy new ones.  For now, I’m using bread bags and plastic vegetable bags.  The empty Ziploc container is useful to hold them all.  I love finding new things to do with packaging!

A homemade Christmas

My sister and I have decided to take a trip together this winter.  I am so excited because we haven’t taken a trip together with just the two of us since we completed our first year of university. That was nearly a decade ago. 

To help us save for the trip, we have agreed to share homemade presents between us this year.  I can’t wait. I am just as excited to make a gift for my sister as the creative juices are already starting to flow.  And I can’t wait to see what she makes me!  My sister is a very crafty person who is excellent in the kitchen.  I have realized that at this stage in my life, I am very happy with my frugal living and don’t really feel that there is anything I truly “need” or even want.  Except for, perhaps, a bigger closet.  And she can’t very well give me that.

In fact, I think I will be happier with her homemade gift than anything she could buy me.  

This Christmas, consider exchanging homemade gifts.  If it is a mutual decision, it takes the pressure off from fearing that you will look “cheap.”

Already the music of my favourite Christmas song by Kenny Rogers, “it’s just another homemade Christmas in Kentucky” is running through my head…

Does anyone have any suggestions for homemade gifts?  

The tea party

Several weeks ago, we had a party for my friend’s birthday.  While considering what to do, one of my friends suggested that we go to have High Tea at a fancy downtown hotel.  I LOVE High Tea.  It was one of my favourite things about living in Oxford, and every time I go back to England, having “cream tea” in the afternoon is always must-do.

Unfortunately, it is also unbelievably expensive here in Canada, and we were looking at approximately $45 a person to eat - not including treating my friend.  Since money is a little tight for all of us right now, my sister came up with the great idea of creating our own tea party.  Here’s how we did it:

1. Scones - I made cranberry scones, mock Devonshire cream, and my sister served them with our Grandmother’ infamous homemade strawberry jam

2. Finger Sandwiches - another friend brought the party sandwiches - they are only $22.99 for a box of 5-dozen at The Pickle Barrel in Toronto

3. Tea - my sister brewed a couple of pots of loose leaf black tea

4. Deviled Eggs and Salad - my sister prepared both of these tasty additions to the meal

5. Processo - another friend treated us with a little of the bubbly to kick off our luncheon

6. Petite Fours - another friend picked up an assortment of goodies from local bakeries

7. Decor - my sister had set the table beautifully, using a variety of teacups and other antiques, passed down from my Grandmother

We had a wonderful time!  And it was probably even more special being at my sister’s home.  Plus, this way we were able to sit and talk for more than 5 hours - something we wouldn’t have been able to do at a restaurant or cafe.  Plus, I learned how to make scones! The bottom line: why assume that you need to pay top dollar for something fun?  Learning how to Do It Yourself can be just as special, perhaps more meaningful, in addition to being more cost-effective.

If you have other ideas for homestyle parties or activities, please share!

The dress-up trunk

I recently had a comment from one of my visitors in response to “More Shopping Tips.”  Many of my readers agree that shopping at thrift stores is a great idea.  Here is what Cara had to say:

“I go to the sally ann in two different towns! I am always looking for clothes in the next size up for my daughter! And now I have thought of a great idea to start a dress-up trunk! Today the Sally Ann had a bunch of costume stuff and I got some tu-tus for her to dress up! They are adorable and a great chance for her to be creative!”

I love this idea - a dress-up trunk!  Hours and hours of fun for not a lot of money.  I recall having a dress-up trunk that consisted of my Mom’s old clothes, and my sister and I love it and used it for years. It was a great opportunity for us to use our imaginations. Now is a perfect time to go - just after Halloween - to find cast-off costumes.  The tu-tus are perfect!  

You could always save some for Christmas or birthday presents, too!

Happy hunting… and please come back to share any great finds!

10 suggestions for breakfast on the go

Recently my sister asked for some good suggestions for breakfast on the go.  

It is hard making time for breakfast in the morning.  Especially if you are like me, and want to sleep until the last possible second until I just can’t possibly hit the snooze button one more time.  Here are my suggestions:

1. Get into the routine of putting the coffee pot on first thing in the morning.  It actually takes less time to brew your own than it does to stop and wait in line for a coffee.  If you throw on the pot before you get ready, it will be waiting for you by the time you leave the house.  Just pour it into a travel mug and go.

2. If you are using whole bean coffee (like me) there are two ways to trim down those valuable seconds spent grinding your coffee in the morning.  One, grind it the night before and leave it in the grinder.  Not as fresh, but not dramatically so. Two, switch to ground coffee.  Again, not as tasty but chances are the coffee you are buying at Tim Hortons is not going to taste any better.  Save your whole beans for the weekend.

3. Every weekend, do a big batch of baking - muffins, banana, lemon or pumpkin bread, or other breakfast foods like homemade power bars.  Wrap them individually in saran. Then you can just grab one and go in the morning.

4. Buy small yogurts and fruit to take with you, and eat them on the subway.

5. The night before, wrap up a bagel with cream cheese, cheddar cheese or peanut butter so that you can just unwrap it and eat it on your way - or make up a pb&J sandwich to take with you.

6. Take a thermos of milk with you - or leave a carton in your work fridge - and keep some oatmeal or cereal at your desk.  

7. Or, purchase Bob Green’s cereal tupperware ensemble - it comes with a separate chilled compartment to keep your milk cold, and another compartment to keep your cereal fresh.  Eat it at your desk or, if you take the go-train, during your commute.  (I forget the actual name of this product but they sell it at Binz, which is just across from my house - if anyone is interested, I can find out for you.)

8. If all else fails, keep your desk stocked with snacks, so that if you are just too late in the morning, you know that you still have some snacks at work.  This could include fruit, crackers, granola bars, etc.

9. Remember that even if you have to rely on some pre-packaged food from a grocery store, like granola bars or yogurt cups, it will still be cheaper than buying breakfast at a cafe.  

10. If you cave, McDonalds is your best choice - the muffin is only 20¢ when you buy a coffee.

Save bucks by bartering

A couple of weeks ago, Oprah Winfrey did a show on Money Saving.  In case you missed it you can catch the straight goods at Oprah’s website. In fact, her website is loaded with money saving tips!

Unfortunately, most of the tips seem to be old news to those of us already enshrined in the money saving culture.  However, one great tip that stood out to me was the usefulness of bartering with friends.

On the show, Cassandra and Stacy shared with Oprah how they swapped couches, and swapped services with other friends.  For example, Stacy provides free dance lessons to her neighbors’ children, and in return, her family can eat at her neighbors’ restaurant for free.

Recently I watched a children’s film - the most popular children’s film in Japan, actually - called Kiki’s delivery service.  In the movie, a young witch named Kiki leaves home at age 13 and is able to find a place to stay and enough food to eat, and she starts her own delivery service.  She accomplishes all of this in part because she finds adults who are willing to barter with her - they provide food and rent while she takes care of their bakery part time.

It got me thinking why we don’t use this system more.  Why are we so focused on accumulating new stuff all the time?  There is enormous potential - we all have extra ’stuff’ that we don’t need or don’t use, and we all have skills that we could share.  Meanwhile, we spend our time shopping and the stuff we no longer need ends up in landfills.

So here’s an exercise: think about what you currently want and need, and see if you can trade something with your friends to get what you need.  Have a book you’d like to read, a movie you’d like to rent?  About to go shopping for fall clothes?  Need a babysitter? A plumber? Someone to help you fix your computer? Simply ask around and you might find exactly what you need - for free!