Knowing When Food Is Freshest Will Save Money!

Shopping at Farmers' Markets is becoming the "In" thing to do. Stopping by a road side stand to pick up fresh berries while on a road trip adds to the flavor of travel. Going out to the pumpkin patch to pick out the perfect pumpkin is all part of the fall experience. What may not be as obvious is the money we save by participating. Eating food that is in season and at its freshest helps the local economy by supporting farmers; it saves fuel because fruits and vegetables don't have to be flown in from other countries; and it limits the amount of chemicals that have to be used to force fruits and vegetables to ripen.



Not sure when fruits and vegetables are in season? Check out the Center for Urban Educations Sustainable Agriculture site where they have a chart for Fruits and Vegetables.

While you're at it, consider picking up extra and saving it for later. Most Fruits and Vegetables can be frozen or canned for later use. My family also makes a batch of apple sauce and jam to store for the year. I can't tell you the last time we purchased either item at a store.

Apartment Living Doesn't Limit Your Ability To Grow Your Own Food

Between the price of food skyrocketing, the interest in fresh food that actually tastes like I expect it should, and continuing scares of salmonella in tomatoes, I have been looking into gardening options. For those that live in a house, it may be a challenge if you're not into yard work, but for those of us that live in apartments it provides a lot more challenges.

Inspired by a posting on Wisebread by Linsey Knerl called "The Ultimate Green Workout," I began to examine ways to supplement my food budget. When I had a deck it was easy. I'd invest in large planters and grow cherry tomatoes, herbs, and peas. Hanging baskets are great for cucumbers and zucchini.

Today, I have a bigger challenge. I have no outside space and no deck or patio. So with determination I began to brainstorm ideas.

• Look into Community Gardens. For a small fee you can "rent" a small plot to plant.
• Family members and friends are often in need of help in the yard. Consider a labor swap for gardening benefits.
• Talk to landlord about planting an edible landscape. It's environmentally friendly to utilize garden space for food rather than high maintenance lawns or shrubbery.
• Check out Gleaning. Gleaning has a long tradition in farming communities where groups go out into fields after the crop has been picked to pick remaining produce that was missed. You can find information on Gleaning groups on-line, at local food banks, and Granges.

Cooking For One Versus A Family

If you are cooking for one or even two, you know how frustrating it can be. It's difficult to keep a variety of fresh meals in the house and eat everything before it goes bad. I have another confession to make to those that don't have to struggle through those daily frustrations of singlehood, we tend not to cook because its just as easy to graze on throw together food like a bowl of popcorn, peanut butter sandwich, or cheese and crackers. So when an opportunity to share cooking responsibilities comes up we jump at it.

I work at an office with a group of people that often eats lunch together. Today we discussed and decided to purchase groceries and prepare group lunches. This has great potential, but it also has the ability to get a bit expensive. I've agreed to participate in a moderate fashion at first. Tomorrow's big experiment will be salmon with asparagus. I'm going to keep track of cost and compare to both buying lunch and packing lunch.

If Its Not A Recession Why Is It So Difficult To Pay The Expenses

Forgive me for taking two months off, but my frustration level with my financial situation reached new heights. Its during those periods, when I go "off the wagon," that I get into lots of trouble. The good news is I didn't go out and spend lots of money. I did get the LASIK surgery so that's made a dent in my repayment plan. I also took a small vacation to Kauai, Hawaii, but thanks to generous parent of a friend and a flight certificate from United for a botched trip in December I only spent about $500.

So it looks like I've got a fresh start or at least that's what I'm focusing on to counter the frustration factor. During my two month hiatus I've been checking into green alternatives to everyday living. I'm most interested in those things that save money which includes trying to eliminate prepared foods and cooking more from scratch. I also remember an article I read some time ago that discussed the cost of clutter. In an effort to cut costs I'm evaluating all the things I own. The first step was to donate an old mattress, box springs, and frame to a local non-profit that gives household items to low income families getting back on their feet either because of leaving everything behind in a domestic abuse environment, getting a first apartment after living on the streets, or helping fire victims. To keep up momentum I took a few clothes to a consignment store. Tomorrow I'll be pulling things out for eBay and a yard sale. It's also time to start menu planning again. I've been guilty of living at restaurants lately and not shopping enough.

In reading through my blog roll I ran across a posting that introduced me to www.lovefoodhatewaste.com. Its a website that addresses the problem of throwing away an average of 1/3 of all groceries purchased. That's a huge waste of money as well as resources. The site provides suggestions on stocking a pantry, refrigerator, and freezer. It then provides dining suggestions and has a great tool that suggests recipes when you click on foods that you need to use up before it goes bad.

Goals for June:

• Hold garage sale
• Pay off 401k loan
• Catch up on expenses
• Earn an extra $200 to snowflake

You Never Know When Money May Knock On Your Door

I participated in the taste test today and discovered they are looking for more people next week. It looks like I will have another opportunity to make $20. It usually takes less than 30 minutes and I try to schedule it during my lunch hour so I get lunch as well. I also got a confirmation from the Mock Jury project. Yeah!

Take Advantage of Holiday Savings

Holidays are a great time to save money on groceries. Ham, pineapple, asparagus, strawberries, butter, breakfast sweets, eggs, and entertainment items, now is the time to push your grocery budget and stock up.

Unfortunately, I've never had any success freezing ham. It oozes water, becomes mushy and just doesn't freeze well. Instead, I'm looking for smaller portions to use in sandwiches, omelettes, casseroles, and soup. My favorite dish is an adapted spaghetti carbonara, a pasta with a parmesan, cream sauce, peas, and panchetta. Panchetta is an italian style bacon.

This is also the beginning of the growing season. California strawberries are at their best, big, juicy, and flavorful. Not only am I picking some up for breakfast and snacks, but I'm also getting some to freeze for smoothies later in the year. Stawberries also bring homemade jam to mind, but I admit I'd rather just eat them fresh.

Other items to think about picking up include:
For the freezer ~ butter. rolls, baked goods, and fish.
For next easter ~ baskets, easter grass, plastic eggs, and paper goods.

The Tax Man Cameth

I know it was my money already, but that doesn't make the day I receive my tax refund check any less exciting. Due to decent planning, my check was only a few hundred dollars. You may ask why that's a good thing, but it means that I didn't loan the government much interest free money.

My first stop was to make a 2nd payment on a Visa card. The second stop was to a department store to pay off a card. Yes, I agree that store cards are high interest, but this one is a rewards card and I pay it off quickly if not monthly. Felt good!

I did the shift this weekend, but didn't work as many hours as I hoped. At least I was able to put $5 towards my emergency fund and fill up the tank of my car. Tomorrow I have a taste test that will bring in another $20 for my emergency fund.

Lastly, I received an email from a local college asking me if I was still interested in participating in a mock jury. If I fit the criteria I will earn $100 for 5 hours of work. That will be a nice addition to the pot.