Economic Decorating » Saving Tips

You’ve Been Asking for Some Decorating Tips

pitapuppy — Wed, 06 Jul 2011 19:34:51 +0000

French country design can be described as shabby chic with a French flair. Wooden tables should look well used and well made. If painted, it is white. There is a lot of wrought iron, as well as stone, terra cotta and wood. Rough plaster walls will add to the look. The rest of your attention should be on accessorizing. All you have to do is think French!

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The secret of shabby chic décor is that it isn’t really a style at all. It basically consists of recycling old furniture, fabrics, and rugs that are worn, and even faded…but not frayed or torn. If you have been hit by this nasty economy, and are living with hand-me-down furniture and linens, you’ve got it made! And if you haven’t been quite that lucky, never fear. Garage sales, thrift shops, and flea markets will have everything you need, at a price you can afford!

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One of the nicest things about country cottage décor is the use of slipcovers. You don’t have to refinish, reupholster, or replace that sofa, easy chair, or ottoman. You simply buy or make slipcovers…using a sturdy, washable fabric. Recover a few of your decorative throw pillows, and the whole room looks brand new.

You don’t have to buy new material, either. Remnants, age-worn drapery fabrics, tablecloths, and even bed linens can be used to make your slipcovers. A piece from an old lace tablecloth or curtains can go right over your old pillows to give them a vintage look.

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Just about everyone, in all walks of life is having to contend with the weak economy, cost of living, and fear of job loss. The way to survive this kind of uncertainty is simple. Keep living, but do it in an economical, money saving, and environment saving way. You will learn that you can still spruce up your home and not break the bank. Over the next few weeks I will show you several design schemes on a budget.

Rustic décor is the topic for today. If you live in a suburb, in the country, or in a rural community, rustic décor would be perfect for you. It is casual and comfortable, while still being chic and trendy. Best of all, it is quite affordable!

THE PITFALLS OF SHOPPING

pitapuppy — Fri, 03 Jun 2011 06:52:12 +0000

Window shopping is a form of masochism that I have never understood or practiced. Unless you literally have money to burn, why would you purposefully go out and walk the malls and department stores for clothes that you haven’t got the money for, have no use for, no room in the closet for…or for that matter, nowhere to wear. And having just spent the money, you can’t even afford to go out and show it off!

If you didn’t need it in the first place, why would you buy a blouse that you had no pants to match, then go shopping for the pants and find another pair that has no blouse to match? Now you have two more items in the closet that you HAVE to go shopping for, and the vicious circle begins all over.

Friends have told me that they want to know what is new and that is how they find out. I say if you didn’t know there was a new style out there you wouldn’t miss it. When you need a new outfit for a special occasion is time enough to go look for a replacement and buy what is now in fashion. Let’s face it, even if you have the will power to not buy that amazing jean jacket, you now feel like crap knowing it is out there in someone else’s closet instead of yours. Ignorance, in this case, my friends, is bliss.

The only time you should ever enter a kitchen gadget store is if you meet all of the following criteria:

Entertaining is your very favorite pastime.
Your family doesn’t find true happiness wallowing in junk food.
You have more money than you know what to do with.
You have a very large kitchen, with too much counter and cabinet space that you are trying to fill.

Fact: wine racks are great, if you drink and store delicate wines with corked bottles that require aging and cool dark storage. For the two bottles of white zin that you buy when the girls are stopping by with a rental movie, throw them in the fridge (laying the bottle down if it is corked, and standing it up if screw-top capped).And how many kinds of cork screws do you need to have? Do you live in a wine cellar or a house?

Unless you are kosher, do you really need three or four sets of dishes, plus a snack set, plus a set to use outside on the patio? Fine china, carefully stored, and brought out for those formal holiday dinners is great. Every day dishes that are microwave and dishwasher safe are a necessity. Paper plates are great for outdoors. Teas sets and snack sets are for the kind of people who don’t need to be reading this article!

Small appliances for the kitchen can get out of hand, too. Everybody needs a can opener, either manual or electric at some time in their lives. Microwaves have become a necessity in the kitchen. If you drink coffee, you have to have a coffeemaker. Coffee grinders are fine, if you really buy only whole bean coffee. However, you can grind you coffee for free at the supermarket when you buy it, too. On the other hand, coffee grinders also can be used to grind seeds, nuts, and some spices, which comes in handy at times. Think! Are you going to use this item, or do you just want it?

How many of you need both a toaster and a toaster oven? White and wheat sliced bread users can easily do with one or the other. If you are into bagels and other odd shaped breads you need the toaster oven, which can handle both. And speaking of ovens, don’t you think a portable electric roaster, a toaster oven and a Foreman grill are going a bit too far?

If you are into health foods and juicing, it is a good idea to have a powerful, high end juicer. They cost a bit more, but are both healthier and cheaper than buying the juice, and I have been told by one who knows, that replacing cheap juicers ends up costing much more than buying the right one in the first place.

The same would go for blenders and food processers. If you only use your blender on rare occasions to mix up a batch of margaritas and crush some ice, go to Walmart and pick up something cheap. I cook a lot, and have been using the same food processer for twenty years…a cheap one at that. Only now, have I begun to think I might need a new one.

What I am trying to say is just this. A fork scrambles an egg very easily. You don’t need a special tool for that. If you bake all your own breads you probably need a bread machine or a heavy duty mixer. But for cake mixes, whipped cream, mashed potatoes and meringue, an inexpensive hand mixer is all you will ever need!

If you own a stove, a microwave and a pot, why would you ever need a special iced tea maker? Is it really difficult to throw a few tea bags into a pot of hot water, let it steep a while and then add ice cubes to it? And let us not forget those cute little electric egg poachers, the vibrating suction cup that scrambles your eggs in the shell, and those darling little pans that grill your cheese sandwich on both sides at once!

Kitchen gadget stores should be taboo to anyone who is struggling to make ends meet, doesn’t live for the joys of cooking in and cleaning a kitchen, and who doesn’t have a kitchen the size of a studio apartment.

Decorating for the Holidays…be Smart

pitapuppy — Sun, 07 Nov 2010 23:05:57 +0000

You don’t have to spend a lot of money when decorating for the holidays. By adding a few special accessories to your public rooms you will transform your “winter is coming blahs” into a warm, welcoming, and festive Thanksgiving!

Since you’ve already decided to have company for Thanksgiving dinner, and we’ve set you up with some easy to make and inexpensive h’or doeurves, let’s pretty up the place and get everyone in the mood. If you have a lovely dining room tablecloth, use it. Is it too plain? No problem! Add a simple runner down the center of the table, in your favorite autumn colors.

You don’t need to invest in an expensive centerpiece, flower arrangement, or fancy candleholders. Nope! Grab the kids, a couple of big bags, and go for a walk in the park, woods…anywhere you can find lots of trees and such. The kids will really enjoy this!

What are you looking for? Anything that is colorful, interesting, and small enough to use as decorations for your house. This will include interesting pebbles and rocks, acorns, leaves, pine cones and branches, wild grasses, and twigs. Unfortunately, wild flowers don’t hold up well when picked, so if you find some, wait till Thanksgiving Day to pick them.

Now to arrange them. If the kids made anything turkey-ish in school, make it part of your centerpiece! A bowl of pine cones and acorns (or substitute nuts in the shell…then you have after dinner snacks covered, too) can have a candle set securely in the middle of it. Scatter the colorful leaves down the center of your table . I personally prefer very low centerpieces…otherwise I am always squirming around trying to make eye contact with my guests.

If you don’t have the time or the inclination to do all that, how about a bowl of fruit scattered with a few nuts? Two small bowls on either side of the fruit can hold votive candles with a bit of potpourri . My favorite thing to do is to spend $4.oo for a few stems of button mums or mini carnations, and then pop them off their stems. I take several small clear glass bowls, fill them halfway with water, put a small floating candle in the two for the table, and surround them with the flowers. I then put the other bowls, with no candles in them, in each of my bathrooms. For just a few bucks, you have added a wonderful fresh scent and a touch of fall color! Instead of the fresh flowers, you can use a couple of spoons of potpourri. It will float as well, and smell as good…but toss it when you are through with it, as it will get moldy.

A tall vase, or even a bucket, or a basket can hold pine boughts, wild grasses, and twigs. Set them around your family room for a nice autumn feel and scent. Pine boughs are also nice to lay along your mantle. Be careful though…if you use the fireplace they will dry out quickly, so keep them from hanging down, do not place them on the hearth, and discard them when the needles begin to fall.

You will love how easy it will be to convert that look for Christmas once this holiday has passed. And again I ask you to share any good ideas you might have…especially if they are easy and inexpensive. The whole object here is to have fun and get in the spirit of things without going broke!

Thanksgiving, Christmas, New Years Eve… and No Money

pitapuppy — Thu, 04 Nov 2010 05:03:12 +0000

Listen up my friends! Thanksgiving, Christmas, and New Years Eve are coming whether we are in the mood and the money or not. It’s not going to be easy for any of us this year, but maybe the answer is to go back to older, more traditional times.

Speaking just for myself, Thanksgiving has always been my favorite holiday. My three daughters and I had a very traditional routine that we followed, starting after dinner on Wednesday, and going right through the cold turkey sandwiches late on Thanksgiving night. Wherever they lived, they always came home on that Wednesday.

That is no longer true, and it makes me very sad. Two of them live in other states and one lives in another country. The economy is such that we can no longer all be together. For a few years I traveled to one or the other for the holiday. This year even that is not possible. After wallowing in self pity for a while (to the point of making myself quite ill) I have decided to do something useful.

I haven’t cooked a stuffed turkey at home for years, but I am going to do so this time. And my plan is to invite anyone I know who is going to otherwise be alone or who has no place to go. The stuffed turkey and cranberries are on me. The price of admission will be good will and some sort of food contribution…it can be a vegetable, baked goods, apple sauce, fruit, nuts…but only something that that person can afford to share.

I am going to use my best dishes, cut flowers from my garden, and have linen napkins and tablecloth. It doesn’t matter if there are three of us or ten. Things have been pretty tough for a long time, but how bad is it if you can still offer dinner to a new friend?

I’m going to be sharing some of my tips and recipes for having an affordable holiday season from now through New Year’s. Why don’t some of you also share any money saving recipes or ideas you have for making this a joyous season for all?

The Secret of Stretching a Chicken (part 3)

pitapuppy — Tue, 21 Sep 2010 21:17:36 +0000

Do you remember that nice pile of chicken breast cubes that you set aside after making your chicken soup?Well we are going to make a wonderful stir fry, lo mein, fried rice, or chow mein from that leftover chicken. Of course, it is even nicer if you start with raw chicken for these dishes, but right now we are into the secret of stretching a chicken (part 3). Trust me…it will be delicious.

First of all, if you are accustomed to using fresh herbs and spices, you will need ginger and garlic for these dishes. When I am making them from scratch and for a special dinner, I do use fresh. However, when I am stretching a chicken for my own consumption, and have other priorities, I happily use garlic powder and ground ginger. Sesame oil or peanut oil are terrific in these dishes, but plain vegetable oil is fine. I usually use light olive oil, which doesn’t add flavor and is somewhat healthier for you.

As always, I check the fridge for my “oh-oh, better use soon” veggies and incorporate them into these dishes. So let’s do things a bit differently than usual, and I will simply give you a list of the various vegetables I have used and let you pick what you have in stock or the ones you and your family prefer. Fresh veggies that need to be sautéed first:

green, red, white or yellow onions, leeks.
red or green cabbage, Chinese cabbage, savoy cabbage, kohlrabi, bok choy.
bean sprouts, pea pods, peppers, broccoli, cauliflower, carrots, celery.
Mushrooms, zucchini, yellow summer squash.

Veggies that are canned can be added at the end, such as mixed Chinese vegetables, bamboo shoots, bean sprouts, mushrooms, water chestnuts.

This kind of cooking requires hot oil and fast sautéing. Heat your oil, add your garlic and ginger, pepper, crushed red pepper (if desired) and whatever raw veggies you chose. You want them to have some crunch, so put in things like carrots, broccoli, and cauliflower first. Then add the other ingredients. Once they are beginning to soften, add your pre-cooked chicken and a little soy sauce.

You need some extra moisture, so use some of that chicken soup you made instead of water. If you prefer a thicker gravy, rather than a thin sauce, add some corn starch to your broth, shake it up, and then add, remembering to stir continuously.

For stir fry keep everything crispy and serve with rice, For lo mein, use rice noodles or fine spaghetti, stirred into your pan with the veggies. Chow mein is served over rice with brown , crispy noodles. For fried rice you will need cold, cooked rice, so it should be made early in the day. All you do is heat your oil, add your rice, ginger, pepper, salt, a little bit of soy sauce, and start stirring it. Add some frozen peas and carrots, or perhaps some water chestnuts, and then shove it all to the side of the pan. Scramble a couple eggs, add to the pan, avoiding the rice, and do not stir until it has set. Then mix the whole thing together and add more soy if needed for flavoring. Don’t let it get too wet!

Have fun with it…and remember, it all came from stretching a chicken!

The Secret of Stretching a Chicken (part 2)

pitapuppy — Mon, 20 Sep 2010 21:36:46 +0000

Stretching a Chicken (part 2). If you read my recipe for turkey croquettes, consider that the first of the three recipes I promised you. All you have to do is substitute some of the soup chicken for turkey.

That chicken you had scooped out of the pot is now cooled and ready to be divided into three separate piles. The first thing you do is cut the breast into nice sized cubes (a little bigger than a Kraft caramel). That is your pile for recipe number 3.

Now take any parts that didn’t fall into the nice cube category and push them to another pile. Add to it smaller cubes or pieces from the thighs. It can be shredded if you prefer. You don’t know it, but that is recipe number 2.

What is left is the leg meat, and the small shredded bits that you have studiously pulled off of all the bones. That is what you will use for your chicken croquettes. Of course, you can always steal a bit from the other piles to make more croquettes.

Okay…lets move Now that you have learned to make perfect chicken soup, it is time to move on to The Secret of along to recipe number 2. Sandi’s famous (and healthful) chicken salad. Many people prefer tuna to chicken because it has more flavor. I used to be one of those folks. Then I decided to make my chicken salad better. Because I believe whole heartedly in eating vegetables and fruit with every single meal, I decided to incorporate them into my chicken salad.

So back to the vegetable bin we go…this time looking for veggies that need to be eaten soon. I have used radishes, kohlrabi, red cabbage, onions of all varieties, celery, and carrots successfully, and in whatever combinations that were crying out to be eaten. I had a few failures, too. Lettuce wilts too fast if you don’t eat it all at one sitting, cucumbers and tomatoes make everything too soggy, and cauliflower and broccoli seem to add a bit too much flavor.

So now that you have chosen your veggies, start chopping. Go for about half as much of each vegetable as you have chicken, and use at least three or four different kinds. Put it all in a bowl, add mayo to taste, salt, pepper, and dill (if you like it) and stir well. Then chop up a handful of either grapes (any color) or some apple to give it a nice hint of sweet. Need more crunch? Throw in some chopped almonds or walnuts.

This chicken salad recipe is not only delicious…it stretches your chicken, gives you your fruits and veggies without having to eat that same old salad, and can be served a number of different ways. So, to grab a quick sandwich for lunch (it’s great with a cup of that home-made chicken soup), pile it between two slices of whole wheat or oatmeal bread, add a slice of tomato and some lettuce and chow down.

Serving lunch to your card club? Stuff a large tomato with this chicken salad, nestled in a bed or lettuce, and serve some little crunchy wheat crackers on the side. And for that party you want to serve hors d’oeurves at? Chop it up a little finer, and serve it in a bowl surrounded by all kinds of crackers or party rye!

Look for The Secret of Stretching a Chicken (part 3) coming soon. If you want more things to do with chicken, I’ll let you in on some of my chicken breast recipes…for both singles and families. I wish you good eating…

The Secret of Stretching a Chicken

pitapuppy — Mon, 20 Sep 2010 19:27:09 +0000

This week large whole chickens were on sale, so I naturally bought one. Generally, since I am cooking for one, I buy a bunch of skinless and boneless chicken breasts when they are on sale for under $1.50 per pound, wrap them individually, and freeze them. You would not believe how far you can stretch one chicken breast! But I digress. Today we are discussing my $4.00 whole fryer. So here is Part 1 of the secret of stretching a chicken!

The first thing I did was to remove all of the skin, innards, and chunks of fat. After rinsing, it was thrown into a soup pot, covered with water, and brought to a boil Don’t just sit and watch it….this is when you efficiently chop an onion, a few stalks of celery, and three or four carrots into small chunks.

As the water begins to boil, a whitish, grayish, thickish foam will start to gather on the water. Don’t ask what it is…just skim it off and throw it away! By the time you are at a full boil, it will just be a thin foam and can be ignored. Add your veggies.

Fryers will not give you as rich a broth as a stewing hen because it cooks so fast. Your choice here is to either make a small amount of soup, or to add some chicken bouillon to the water to give you more soup for your money. Needless to say, I make more soup, eat it for days, and freeze a couple small containers for those winter colds that only chicken soup can cure.

Simmer until your chicken is done…about an hour (the way to heck it out is to try and remove it by holding only a leg. If the rest of the chicken splashes back into the pot, it is done). Remove the chicken and leave it out to cool for a while.

Now you continue cooking, because the carrots are probably still a bit too aldente. It is decision time. What to add to this soup in the way of carbs! You can make matzo balls (yum), which can be added right now to a slow boiling broth. Twenty more minutes and it will all be ready. Or you can add rice or pasta…preferably cooked separately and added a few minutes before serving.

Optional is adding back some of the chicken meat. I personally like to return the dark meat to the pot , but you can do whatever you please. However, I am going to offer you three delicious recipes for that leftover chicken, each of which will feed a family of four.

Not bad…if you do all three (and there is enough chicken to do this) You are going to have enough soup for two to three dinners, plus three additional meals (and some individual frozen dinners) all from stretching a chicken!

I’ll get those recipes to you soon! Happy cooking!

e.l.f. – Quality Makeup Without the Cost

pitapuppy — Sun, 29 Aug 2010 23:57:02 +0000

If you want quality makeup without the cost that goes with it, this cosmetics site is where you want to go, Ladies! Let’s face it; between the poor economic times and the environmental issues at hand, we need to change our old shopping habits.
e.l.f. cosmetics is an extensive online site that offers good quality products, encompassing all natural makeup, cosmetic tools, chip resistant nail polish, makeup artist accessories, and bath and body products…all at incredibly affordable prices.

Not to pick on Estee Lauder, a wonderful company that sells only good quality, tested, high end makeup collections, you will be amazed at the pricey cost of their product lines when you compare them to those of e.l.f. The automatic eyeliner pencil I have used for years costs me $23.50 at Estee Lauder. When compared to a similar eyeliner in the same color, I found a price of $3.00. I guess you know who is going to switch!

Right down the line, there are similar savings. The moisturizing lotions run at $4.00, compared to $38.00 at Estee Lauder. While it is true that Estee Lauder has some very specific repair products that are not in the e.l.f. beauty cosmetics line, you cannot go wrong by using their lotions, lipsticks, gels, nail polish kit, and cosmetic brushes! The price is within anyone’s reach for good face makeup that is safe and natural.

There are a number of delicious and fresh scents available in e.l.f’s moisturizers , bath and shower gels, body butter, and hand soaps. You will love the feel of the shea butter, aloe vera gel and hempmakeup tips seed oil used in these products.

It is the goal of e.l.f. Cosmetics to make you feel pampered and beautiful without breaking the bank or destroying the environment. Along with their amazing products, you can go online and get makeup tips from their trained professionals. You no longer have to patronize pricey retailers to enjoy some luxury!

Self Storage Units May Well be the Solution You are Seeking

pitapuppy — Mon, 12 Jul 2010 21:12:59 +0000

Self storage units may well be the solution you are seeking if you have sold your home and haven’t a new place. If foreclosure is imminent or you have married and don’t have a large enough place to use both his and her furnishings, this might save the day…a storage unit gives you the time you need to work things out!

Your husband is in the service and you have an opportunity to stay with parents or friends? Self storage makes it possible. Let that rented apartment go, keep your furniture in the storage center, and when your husband comes home, you can set up housekeeping again, with little additional financial strain.

Check out self storage units online to get an idea of what services are offered at self storage facilities. Be aware that there are items that aren’t safely or legally stored in self storage facilities. Flammable, toxic, or any other hazardous materials are not allowed. Perishable foods are a no-no; they spoil and attract pests that you won’t want in your belongings. You may not reside in a storage center.

Remove the clutter and indecision from your life by finding self storage facilities near you that offer services and prices you can afford. Go to Houston storage to locate the center that will make life easier for you now!

How to Choose a Credit Card

pitapuppy — Sat, 31 Oct 2009 17:45:59 +0000

The following is a shortened version that I pulled out of an ebook I am writing. With the way things are going economically, I thought it might be useful as a tip of the day…

When you are choosing a credit card, you need to know the percentage rate you will pay on purchases, the grace period, the amount of your credit line, and if there is a yearly service fee on the account.

Read the small print on any contract they send you. Is it a variable rate or a set rate? I have personally never accepted any rate that wasn’t set (that holds true for mortgage rates as well). I would rather know the rate than be surprised by a higher rate at a future time. And note that you will pay a higher percentage on cash borrowed than you will on purchases. A good rule of thumb is to never write a check off of a credit card for cash.

Be certain that a grace period is written into your contract. It is usually for twenty-five days or more, and refers to purchases made after the billing period closes. If you pay your bill in its entirety every month, you will not pay any interest on purchases made after the billing date. But if you are carrying a balance, and paying interest on the account, every single purchase you make will accrue interest from the date of purchase.

Your credit line may be increased if your credit is good, you are making payments on time, or if you call and ask for an increase due to unusual expenditures coming up. They will also offer expanded credit to you if you are keeping the charges close to the limit every month, to allow you to increase your debt, and their profits, even more.

Yearly service fees usually come with cards that offer other benefits, such as travel miles or cash back. They also charge you if you have had previous bad credit and are a risk. But many companies try to get them from unsuspecting new customers. My rule is to simply refuse to pay them. I tell them up front that I do not want to pay a service fee. If they refuse, I refuse the card. If they agree, and then bill me for it the following year, I call them and refuse to pay it. If they take it off the bill I give them one more year. If they bill me again, I cancel the card. I have five credit cards, all having a different purpose. None of them have a yearly service charge. You don’t have to have one either.