Organizing My Important Papers - The Binder

It has been really important to me that I make sure all of my paperwork is in order and organized in one place.  I took a large binder, some tab dividers and several sheet protectors and was able to do just that.

The binder holds all of our insurance and banking.  It also has our immunization records, birth certificates and the titles to our vehicles.  Eventually, once my Will is completed, a copy of

it will go inside too as well as funeral plans and final wishes.

I thought it would also be helpful to have a list of my online activities so if someone in my family needed to act on my behalf, such as pay bills or check my email, whatever, they could do that for me.  Pretty much everything they would need in the event of an emergency or my death is in there for them.

We keep it in a safe place and only my girls know where it is.  They also know that if I'm ever incapacitated or pass away the information they will need is there.  It is important too that I maintain this binder and keep it updated as things change.

My reasons behind this binder are two-fold.  One, I wanted all of this stuff neatly organized and stored.  And two, I wanted it available for my girls should something happen.  I imagine it would be traumatic enough for them without having to go through everything and try to figure it all out on their own.  In some instances, there are things that no one would even know about that would need to be dealt with.

Although talking with your children about your untimely demise may be unpleasant, once they are old enough I feel it is an important conversation to have.  We had that conversation not too long ago.  It was good too in that they were able to ask questions and know what might happen if worse came to worse.

They also made me promise to live to 99.  I told them I would certainly do my best.

Thrifty Meals Around $5 Or Less - Tomato Basil Pasta

This recipe comes in way under the $5 mark.  Not only is it thrifty, but super easy and delicious.  It's kind of nice to have a pasta dish that isn't covered in a heavy sauce.  My girls learned to make this when they first started cooking.

Cook and drain one pound of pasta.  

In the pasta pot empty one can of Italian style diced tomatoes.  Rinse out the can with about a quarter cup of water and add that to the pan too.  Add  one crushed clove of garlic (or more if you like) and a rounded teaspoon of dried basil. 

Bring to a bubble and remove from heat.  Toss in the pasta and serve with grated parmesan.

Pasta - 69¢

Tomatoes - 50¢

Garlic bulb and dried parsley - 10¢ ???

Parmesan - 50¢

Total = $1.79

We had salad leftover from a previous meal that night to go along with it, but even if I had to make up a new one it wouldn't have cost much.  You would still have room in a $5 meal budget for homemade french bread or bread sticks.  A little browned sausage or cubed chicken is nice in this too.

Everything I used was purchased on sale which helps curb the cost quite a bit.  There was more than enough here for four people or in our case a mom and her two ravenous teenage girls.  In fact everyone had seconds.

Good, healthy food doesn't really have to cost a lot.

In some cases costs are approximated.  Groceries prices vary depending on where you live.  I don't include condiments, oils, herbs and spices when I figure the cost of a meal as it would be incredibly tedious to do so.  Plus condiments are subjective as each person uses more or less.

Weather Update

Thankfully the freezing rain everyone was so worried about didn't happen.  It warmed up, rained and melted away about half of the snow which did lead to some significant flooding, but not in our neighborhood.  We all managed to clear the gutters and storm drains and keep the water flowing in the right direction.

Thank you soldier!

The county and the National Guard have been working hard to clear the streets.  They made it to our neighborhood, but did not come down our cul de sac.  It pretty much looked like the school bus routes were the priority.  We have pretty much one lane in and out of our subdivision.

Classroom picture courtesy of Idaho Statesman

Schools were closed a record number of days.  They went back last Wednesday, but closed on Thursday when they realized they hadn't cleaned up enough and it was hazardous for students.  They spent the day, even asking for volunteers to clean parking lots and clear walkways.  A few schools have seen some damage from frozen pipes and flooding.  It has been pretty crazy.

Courtesy of Idaho Statesman

A nearby apartment complex lost it cover parking area.  Unfortunately it collapsed at night when it was full of cars.  Fortunately it collapsed at night and no one was hurt.  The city has condemned that structure needless to say.  Carports around the valley have taken a big hit as well.

Weiser, Idaho bowling alley courtesy Channel 2 News

Weiser, Idaho lost its bowling alley and Parma, Idaho lost a warehouse when the roofs caved in under the heavy weight of the snow.  Several of our Walmarts closed until they got crews up there to remove the snow from their rooftops.

What I have noticed quite a bit is that people, for the most part, seem to be taking it all in stride.  Helping people when they get stuck, watching out for fellow motorists who need to cruise through a stop sign, and taking their time when driving.  Neighbors are helping the elderly with snow shoveling and friends are helping each other.  If nothing else, this winter has seemed to make people come together as a community.

I am grateful for all of the employees who made it to work at gas stations, grocery stores, hospitals and clinics.  To the firefighters and police officers who did their best to help people and respond to 911 calls.  I feel for my neighbor who works for a towing company and has worked round the clock to get people unstuck and pick up stalled vehicles.  And for our county transportation department that has worked so hard to keep the roads open and safe.

And as I wrote this, it was snowing.  Big fat flakes.

Last Week's Thrifty Moves

Sunday I shoveled another gob of snow that had fallen the night before, cleaned up the gutters and removed snow away from the roof so water could all drain properly.  I also cleared away snow and ice from the downspout.

I spring cleaned the laundry room and downstairs bathroom.  I also got all of the laundry washed up.  I added some water to an empty bottle of laundry detergent and gave it a good shake.  I ended up with enough soap to wash a load of clothes.

The path through our yard leading to the chicken coop

I hemmed three pair of Levis for a friend who bartered with me for a stick of RAM and a year of free internet security for my laptop.  Bartering is AWESOME!  He also let me keep the denim scraps for a craft project I have in mind.  😃

I polished my black leather work shoes.

I melted some saved beef fat I had in the freezer and mixed it with scratch grains to make the chickens a suet cake.

Albertson's had pot roast on sale for $1.99 a pound.  I bought three.  I also picked up a large bag of apples for 78¢ a pound. They had cereal on sale so I stocked up on that too.  I was planning to buy cereal next month but at two large boxes for $3 I decided to get it now.  I used money I had already set aside for February to cover the cereal purchase.

Monday evening after dropping the oldest off at the youngest and I headed off to ShopKo.  With no snow to shovel and the weather holding I was finally able to get in there and see if they had their Christmas gift wrap marked down to rock bottom yet.  They did!

We picked out a four pack of gift wrap for $2.39 regularly priced at $11.99.  I also found a package of 75 sheets of white tissue paper for $1.29.

Along with the gift wrap I found a snowman scented wax warmer on clearance for $3.19 and a package of the scented wax for $1.19.  First Christmas gift bought and paid for!  I also found bags of Hershey's kisses and a bag of hugs marked down for $1.24 each.  

Stored upside down in the refrigerator they will last a long time

On the way home I popped into Fred Meyer to pick up sour cream on sale and a couple bags of all purpose flour as I was running a bit low.  I found cottage cheese on markdown for 45¢ each.  I had a $2.00 OFF next shopping trip coupon which made two of my containers of sour cream free!

When I got home I separated all of the red and silver ones from the green ones.  I'll use the green ones to make peanut butter blossom cookies.  The red and silver ones I have put away on the gift shelf in my closet and will be given to my girls for Valentine's Day!

The young one and I tested a few to make sure they were still good 😍

Monday I was feeling a bit achy, which wasn't a surprise given all of the snow shoveling we've done over the past few weeks.  But I wasn't prepared for my body to completely revolt on me.  I woke up Tuesday morning and could barely walk.  The muscles in my lower back were inflamed as was my sciatic nerve on both sides.  It was excruciating. 

Best stuff in the world - OMG!

Long story short,  I was informed I had overdone it, needed to take it easy and to remember I am not 18 anymore.  Grrrr, but I didn't argue.  So what is a girl to do when she is laid up, in pain and trying to take it easy?  She makes granny squares.

Since sitting at my sewing machine was out of the question I had my youngest bring me my bag of yarn and crochet supplies.  I sorted through what I had and sat in my recliner with my heating pad and ice packs and crocheted a stack of granny squares using up scraps of yarn leftover from various projects as well as yarn I've picked up at thrift stores during the past year.  I was thrilled to find I had a significant amount of yarn in complimenting colors.  I decided to use the yarn to make an afghan for the retirement house.

Not a bad stack so far

I did go back to work on Thursday and Friday, but that was all I did except for down time with the ol' crochet hook.  The food I had cooked ahead in case of a power outage really came in handy.

Saturday I felt a ton better so after picking up the oldest we checked out a new thrift store in our neighborhood and then stopped in at JoAnns to pick up a few skeins of yarn to complete the afghan.  The yarn was on sale for $2.79 each.  Once back home I settled in to rest and crochet.  I have about a two week recovery time and I can tell it is probably going to take that long.  Dang it!  I am not very good at this.  But on the bright side I'll probably have a finished afghan by the time all is said and done.

While I crocheted I also watched a ton of Youtube videos of this guy building a tiny house.  That was fun to watch.

How was your thrifty week?

Simple Thrifty Ways I Make Home Nice

There are so many ways to make a home nice and they don't have to involve a lot of money.  In recent years I have done many things to make our home comfortable, warm and pleasant and I didn't spend a lot of money doing so.  In fact, many of those things I've done have actually allowed our home to operate thriftier.  Today I thought I'd share some of the ways I like to make our home warm and pleasant.

Keeping House

The simplest and thriftiest thing one can do is to keep a clean and uncluttered home.  I know I spend a fair bit of time tidying up and cleaning my home.  It always seems there are dishes to do up and laundry to wash, but I much prefer to take care of it right away rather than allow it to pile up.  I routinely wipe down countertops and dust surfaces.  I run the vacuum cleaner often.

Before leaving the bathroom in the morning I make sure I've cleaned up after myself and everything is in order.  I spring clean each room twice a year as I find it goes much faster and easier than if I only do it only once a year.  I constantly work to keep clutter at bay.  At the end of the day each of us makes a "walk through" to collect our things and tidy up before heading off to bed.  It is always a joy for me to be able to walk into a neat and clean room and find that everything is in order.  My mind is able to rest and I can relax.

Our Dining Room

I have a set of placemats to put on our table to protect and decorate it.  In recent years I've made a few dozen cloth napkins and stopped buying paper ones altogether.  Not only are they useful and thrifty, but they look pretty too.  We eat all of our meals on an assortment simple dishes, glassware and silverware I've collected over the years.  I also have my grandparent's beautiful set of china as well as a set of Christmas china I purchased in phases several years ago, which we use.  Most importantly we eat together as a family at the table.

Our Kitchen

The heart of most homes is the kitchen.  It is where our meals are prepared and conversations had.  It is where we can nourish our hearts, our bodies and our souls.  I create in my kitchen.  I bake bread, make salad dressing, prepare lunches and cook dinner.  I slice and dice, whip and stir.  And while I do these things I think and plan and visit and chat.

In our kitchen there are terry cloth dish towels and cloths, muslin tea towels, hand embroidered cloths to cover the bread while it raises.  Quilted pot holders and handmade fabric bowl covers.  A cookie jar that never seems to stay full, a bread machine that constantly gets put to work, a crock filled with my favorite cooking utensils.  A refrigerator and pantry full of food I have carefully and thoughtfully selected for my family with thrift and nourishment in mind.

Light & Warmth & Scents & Fresh Air

When it is cold outside our home is warm and comfortable.  The fireplace is on to add heat and ambiance.  I buy scented candles to light and kerosene to fill the lamps and burn in the evenings while the lights are low.  There is always a kitty to curl up in a lap and a warm throw to snuggle up in.  I love the sight and scent of candles burning.  I find them at thrift stores and clearance tables at the store which makes them quite affordable. 

When the weather warms we open the doors and windows and let the fresh air  and sunshine in.  Especially when it rains,  I love that.

How are some ways you make your home special?

Emergency Preparedness

As I'm sure you have heard we here in Idaho have had some record breaking snowfall and temperatures.  With snow and freezing rain, plus a warming trend that is expecting to lead to flooding it is quite possible we could be in for some power outages and blocked roadways.

To prepare for any event that may occur I did the following:

Topped off our gas tanks in both vehicles

I took both vehicles to the gas station and filled them up.  I've also been making sure to keep them cleared off as much as possible and put the wiper blades straight up to keep them from freezing to the window.  Our truck is chained up and ready for snow.

Made a quick trip to the store to get the things we are low on

After fueling our vehicles I drove to the grocery store to pick up extra kitty litter, toilet paper, fresh fruits and veggies, milk, a couple loaves of bread and a big package of toilet paper.  I also picked up a three pack of propane cylinders for our camp stove - just in case.

Filled up water containers (in case the pipes freeze)

I keep extra containers of water on hand, but in case the power goes out and our pipes were to freeze I've been filling up our tea kettle and some other containers.  Our hot water heater holds 50 gallons of water as well to use for flushing toilets and washing dishes.

Cleaned the house and got all the laundry caught up

We spent a couple hours going through the house from top to bottom giving it a good once over and cleaning it up.  We vacuumed and dusted everything and mopped the floors.  We also made sure all of our laundry was washed too.

Cleared more snow and made sure the storm drain wasn't blocked

We shoveled a lot of snow clearing our sidewalks, driveway and into the street as well.  I also cleared out the gutter and dug the snow out around the storm drain, the water main cover and sewer manhole cover.  I cleared snow and ice from around the gutters and downspout on the house and made a nice path around the porch so we didn't have a lot of snow resting against it making places for water to drain off.

Charged up the electronics

We are making sure to charge our cell phones, laptops and tablets each night.  In the event of a prolonged power outage those devices would be our only communication to the outside world.  Used sparingly they would be usable for several days.

Talked to my kids

Without scaring them I talked to my kids and we came up with a contingency plan.  We will all keep our cell phones on us and check regularly for messages.  They know what their roles will be and how we will handle whatever situation comes our way.

Food

I keep a well stocked pantry and freezer.  Nonetheless a lot of this food might not be easy and efficient to prepare on a camp stove.  In order to be better prepared I made up two large pots of soup and cooked up a pot roast which was divided into meal sizes and put in the freezer.  Then I hard boiled half a dozen eggs.  I also made a plan for other easy to prepare meals like quesadillas, sandwiches, breakfast cereal, etc. that wouldn't consume a lot of fuel or require the use of a lot of dishes and pots and pans.

By planning and preparing ahead we are ready.  The likelihood of needing to do much, if anything, is slim but I'd much prefer to be ready and not need to be than not and need to be.

Thrifty Meals Around $5 Or Less - Taco Salad

You can make a taco salad as thrifty or as elaborate as you like.  I've even made them with the tortilla bowls, which are inexpensive to make and quite delicious.  Here is a thrifty version we enjoyed one evening that was more than satisfying.

For the base of the salad I wanted a nice assortment of greens.  I chopped up a third of a head of Romaine lettuce, added a healthy handful of baby spinach leaves and a fourth of a bag of shredded cabbage mix.  I use this as the base for a lot of my salads, actually.

I browned and drained a pound of ground beef with half a diced onion.  Then I added half a packet of taco seasoning with 1/3 of a cup of water.  I stirred it around until the water had cooked off and was left with a lovely pan of seasoned taco meat.

For toppings I served it with half a can of black olives we sliced, a cup of shredded cheddar cheese and a small bowl of tortilla chips to crumble on top.  I also set out a jar of salsa a friend had given us (because she doesn't like the spicy stuff) and some homemade Buffalo Ranch dressing.

Here is the breakdown:

1# lean ground beef - $1.89

Lettuce - $.43

Spinach - $.40

Cabbage - $.24

Onion - $.15

Cheese - $.50
Olives - $.50

Tortilla chips - $.25

Grand Total = $4.36

Everything I used was purchased on sale which helps curb the cost quite a bit.  There was more than enough here for four people or in our case a mom and her two ravenous teenage girls.  In fact everyone had seconds.  I could have added taco bowls and probably still come in under $5.

Good, healthy food doesn't really have to cost a lot.

In some cases costs are approximated.  Groceries prices vary depending on where you live.  I don't include condiments, oils, herbs and spices when I figure the cost of a meal as it would be incredibly tedious to do so.  Plus condiments are subjective as each person uses more or less.