Maybe some people hope to catch a Leprechaun to fund their dreams, but we tightwads know that real pots of gold come from being creative with what we have!
Frugal Poem Contest
Leah Ingram graciously sent me a copy of her book, Suddenly Frugal, How to Live Happier and Healthier for Less, so I could review it. I read it from cover to cover and posted the review on my Examiner.com column.
So, who wants the review copy of the book for free? Send me your best poem about creative frugality, no more than 12 lines, by Friday, March 26. I'll announce the winner in the April newsletter.
America comes to the Cooke House!
The PBS show BizKid$ wanted to show the nation what a frugal family looks like, so they picked the Cooke house, and the Cooke kids! Taping took place February 25.
We had about four days' notice, which was just enough time for the adults to panic about having the (gulp) whole nation come 'round, and to try to coach the kids a bit about our lifestyle.
"So," I began brightly, "what do we do around here that's frugal?"
Silence. After looking at each other for ideas, one of them finally ventured, "Well, we have a vegetable garden…"
"And you never let us play video games!" added another.
"Well, that's not necessarily a frugal thing. That's more about you needing to get chores and homework done first."
"Oh." More silence.
This wouldn't make for great television, but I couldn't have been more pleased. The kids really didn't see anything terribly unusual about wearing hand-me-downs, doing chores, making meals at home from leftovers, buying most of our durable goods used and reusing what we have in creative ways. Hubby and I can only hope that this sense of "normal" will stay with them into adulthood!
My three loved being stars for a day, saying lines, showing off their pet chickens and demonstrating their frugal know-how. The cameraman, Scott, turned out to have three kids close to their age and he was a tightwad too, so we hit it off right away.
The show, Episode 303, "More Bang For Your Buck," will air sometime in May. Hopefully, I'll have more details in time for next month's newsletter.
Hardening Off
It doesn't look much like Spring around the country right now, but warmer weather will be here soon enough. Before transplanting pampered garden seedlings outside, however, take the time to get them used to the Great Outdoors. Otherwise, the shock from the variable temperatures could slow growth, compromise yield, or even kill the plant.
The process for acclimating seedlings to cooler conditions is called "hardening off." Start by putting the pots outdoors in a sheltered place during the warmest part of the day for a couple of hours. Gradually increase the time the plants spend outdoors for a week (in warmer climates) or two (in cooler zones) until they can spend the night outside. Plant cell walls thicken with extra carbohydrates to help protect them from the cold during this time. Light outdoor breezes will also cause plants to strengthen their frames with more calcium, making them sturdier for transplant. (Yes, you can simulate this by lightly brushing across their tops indoors, too.)
By hardening off seedlings before transplanting into outdoor garden plots, plants will be able to "hit the ground running," to reach maturity and set fruit without delay.
Strategic Eating is a no-nonsense guide to eating better and making smarter choices when it comes to buying food. Author Elise Cooke shares her smart and savvy shopping and cooking tips with a side dish of humor. ...This book offers good practical advice. ...I'm certain many people could use a helping of Elise Cooke's Strategic Eating.
However, one criticism offered, "While Cooke makes the idea of baking one's own breads and making one's own sauces seem easy and delicious, it is hard to imagine doing everything she suggests while also working full-time and taking care of a family."
The BizKid$ producer echoed this sentiment recently. "You're a stay-at-home mom, right? Working moms can't make meals from scratch."
Yes, full-time job-holding moms can make meals from scratch! Strategic Eating offers many time-saving tips, including:
It all begins with a plan. Build a menu for the work week based on what's available in your pantry, and your time constraints.
Take advantage of technology. The price of a slow cooker, stand mixer, microwave oven and even a pressure cooker will quickly be recouped in fewer takeout meals. With a stand mixer, your bread kneads while you load the dishwasher.
Cook in bulk. It takes about the same amount of time to make several meals at once, and freeze the excess for busy days, as it does to make just tonight's dinner. (Psst! Sauces freeze, too!)
It all ends with a plan, too. With a menu plan, you'll know just what to load into the slow cooker or set out on the counter to thaw before heading to the office. With a plan, you'll know to start the beans soaking the night before.
Meal preparation is more a matter of timing than labor!
We at Simpleton Solutions guarantee our products. If, for any reason, you don't find Strategic Eating to be the immensely helpful health-enhancing, money-saving guide we say it is, send it back for a full refund.
This month's Leprehaun Pot o' Gold Special promotion code is LPG10. Use it to get Strategic Eating for only $10, postage included! It's our best deal yet!
May this month bring fresh opportunities and inspiration to Live Large on Less!
Elise Cooke
www.SimpletonSolutions.com
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Leah Ingram graciously sent me a copy of her book, Suddenly Frugal, How to Live Happier and Healthier for Less, so I could review it. I read it from cover to cover and posted the review on my 
The PBS show 
