Our family loves potato soup, but they are incredibly particular about the recipe. For them, this is the only recipe that will do. It makes a wonderfully rich and creamy soup that serves 6 at our house.
Cream of Potato Soup
5-6 large potatoes, cubed
1 small onion, diced
1/2 cup margarine
3/4 cup evaporated milk
1 cup flour
1 egg (Plus 1-2 Tablespoons water if needed)
1/4 teaspoon salt
additional salt to taste.
Place potatoes, onions, and margarine in a large pot. Add enough water so that potatoes are covered with about an inch of water. Cook uncovered on medium high heat until onions are transparent and potatoes have softened. Stir frequently.
In a medium size bowl, mix flour, egg and 1/4 teaspoon salt. Mix until dough begins to hold together in the shape of small dumplings. You may need to add a tablespoon of water at a time to get the correct consistency. Try not to get the dough too moist. (This may take some experiementation, but don't worry. The appearance may suffer a little but the soup should still taste fine.)
Add dough to boiling soup mixture and stir. Reduce heat to medium. Immediately add evaportated milk. Stir constantly until soup begins to boil again. Remove from heat. Season to taste. Ladle into bowls.
Tuesday, March 25, 2008
Friday, March 14, 2008
Money saving Recipe: Make your own granola
My family loves granola. I keep ours in a clear container in the kitchen where passers-by with an urge to munch can see it. Inside the container is a small measuring cup that I use as a sort of "dipper" for transferring the cereal to a bowl. My 10 year old son is my biggest customer. I'm glad he's just as happy with granola as most kids would be with cookies or chips.
For decades, granola has been my favorite cereal too. But reading the boxes left me disappointed with the sugar content of those commercial brands. And I was no fan of the pricing, either. That's why I've been making my own granola for a while now.
Mixing up my own cereal has lots of advantages. I can buy and add in things without any artificial colorings or preservatives. I get to control how much sugar goes into the mix. I can make "designer" granola with all kinds of healthy things my family likes, like dried cranberries and walnuts. I can mix the spices in a way they prefer (lots of cinnamon and vanilla, please!), and I can control the cost. I can buy a large box of oats for about $1.49 at the "no frills" grocery store where I shop. (A package of raisins costs slightly less.) With just those two ingredients, plus syrup, I can make a LOT of cereal. When I don't have lots of "add ins" on hand, I make a basic recipe and put in what I do have. It still gets eaten in a hurry!
For a bare-bones kind of basic Granola recipe I use:
4 cups rolled (old fashioned) oats
1 cup raisins
1/4-1/2 cup maple syrup or honey (We often use a combination of the two.)
1 teaspoon cinnamon
1/2 teaspoon vanilla
In a large bowl, mix oats and raisins and anything else you'd like to add. (See list below for some of the things we've used.) Set aside. In a small saucepan, thin syrup by heating. Add spices to syrup and pour over the oat mix. Stir well.
Divide granola and spread onto two large cookie sheets. Place in oven. (No need to preheat.) Set oven at 250 F. After 8-10 minutes, turn off heat, but leave granola in the oven for the next hour. (Be absolutely sure to turn oven off. This gentle cooking will give the fruit a nice, chewy texture. Continuing to cook the cereal ruins the dried fruit. If you prefer to bake your oats longer, or at higher temperatures, wait until you bring your oats out of the oven to add the fruit.)
Break up granola and store in an airtight container. That's it!
Depending on what I have in the pantry, I've added the following items to our granola.
Dried cranberries
walnuts
almonds
pecans
wheat germ
sunflower seeds
soybean nuts
We don't usually buy other types of dried fruit, but I'm sure other fruit, especially dried apples would work well, too. Feel free to experiment and make this recipe your own!
For decades, granola has been my favorite cereal too. But reading the boxes left me disappointed with the sugar content of those commercial brands. And I was no fan of the pricing, either. That's why I've been making my own granola for a while now.
Mixing up my own cereal has lots of advantages. I can buy and add in things without any artificial colorings or preservatives. I get to control how much sugar goes into the mix. I can make "designer" granola with all kinds of healthy things my family likes, like dried cranberries and walnuts. I can mix the spices in a way they prefer (lots of cinnamon and vanilla, please!), and I can control the cost. I can buy a large box of oats for about $1.49 at the "no frills" grocery store where I shop. (A package of raisins costs slightly less.) With just those two ingredients, plus syrup, I can make a LOT of cereal. When I don't have lots of "add ins" on hand, I make a basic recipe and put in what I do have. It still gets eaten in a hurry!
For a bare-bones kind of basic Granola recipe I use:
4 cups rolled (old fashioned) oats
1 cup raisins
1/4-1/2 cup maple syrup or honey (We often use a combination of the two.)
1 teaspoon cinnamon
1/2 teaspoon vanilla
In a large bowl, mix oats and raisins and anything else you'd like to add. (See list below for some of the things we've used.) Set aside. In a small saucepan, thin syrup by heating. Add spices to syrup and pour over the oat mix. Stir well.
Divide granola and spread onto two large cookie sheets. Place in oven. (No need to preheat.) Set oven at 250 F. After 8-10 minutes, turn off heat, but leave granola in the oven for the next hour. (Be absolutely sure to turn oven off. This gentle cooking will give the fruit a nice, chewy texture. Continuing to cook the cereal ruins the dried fruit. If you prefer to bake your oats longer, or at higher temperatures, wait until you bring your oats out of the oven to add the fruit.)
Break up granola and store in an airtight container. That's it!
Depending on what I have in the pantry, I've added the following items to our granola.
Dried cranberries
walnuts
almonds
pecans
wheat germ
sunflower seeds
soybean nuts
We don't usually buy other types of dried fruit, but I'm sure other fruit, especially dried apples would work well, too. Feel free to experiment and make this recipe your own!
Tuesday, March 11, 2008
Can You Afford To Be A Stay At Home Mom? Ideas For Saving Money
How much do you really earn? I mean really. Too often we take it for granted that we're increasing our spending capacity by an amount that's reasonably close to our salary. That being the case, we don't bother to do the math.
Would you like to spend more time at home with your family? Are you afraid you'd never be able to afford it? Don't give up yet. A large portion of two parent families who desire to do so, can afford to allow Mom to at stay home. For some families it may be possible by simply cutting back on expenses in some areas. But for most of us, there's little fat in our budget left to trim.
For these families, it's time to see how much difference there is between Mom's take home pay, and what it costs for her to earn that pay.
First, remember to think of what you're earning in terms of net pay. While it's true that some of those deductions may go to fund your future retirement--and that IS important--the truth is, it's the amount that's left over in your net pay that has an immediate impact on your family's budget, and will determine whether you can afford to stay home.
From your net pay you need to make plenty of subtractions to discover what you really "earn." Going to work costs money!
One of the most obvious costs for parents of young children is that of child care. Depending on where you live, the Center for Law and Social Policy (CLASP) estimates that the average cost of child care for a 4 year old ranges from $3,016 to $9,628 per child per year. The cost is even higher for infants. Calculate your family's cost, minus any child care credits you claim on your taxes, and subtract that from your net pay.
Also subtract out any costs associated with child care that you would not have if you stayed home. Include in your total, costs for special foods, entertainment and clothing, duplicate toys, etc., that goes beyond what your child would need at home. Do you have to drive out of your way to drop the kids off. Calculate that cost, too.
Next, is there a vehicle that you could do without if you stayed home? Many families these days own a car for each driver and a separate car or mini van for family use. Eliminate one of these, and at the very least you lessen your insurance, car tag, and maintenance costs for that vehicle. You may also lose a monthly payment as well. Subtract your savings from your net pay.
Now, what does it cost you, personally, to go to work? Does your job require a special wardrobe, special shoes, safety gear, etc.? How much do you spend per year on gasoline or public transportation to get to your job site? Do you eat out, or otherwise pay more for lunch or snacks than you would at home?
Do you pay union dues, regularly buy unnecessary items that coworkers (or their children) are selling? Do you contribute to a slush fund for flowers or gifts for coworkers and bosses? Do you buy special supplies for your job? Do you have any type of education expenses associated with work, but not reimbursed by your employer? Add these up and subtract them from your take home pay, too.
Next, what could you SAVE by staying home? Remember money saved is the same as money earned. Do you buy fast food, bring home a pizza, or go out to a restaurant more often than you'd like, simply because you're too tired, or too short on time to cook? Would this change if you could be at home? Calculate your likely savings. Since this is money you are now spending, deduct it from your net pay.
As a full time Mom, would you be more likely to browse weekly flyers, clip coupons, or comparison shop for a wide variety of items your family purchases? If so, this is extra money that you could be saving. Subtract it from your take home pay.
Are there ways your spouse or other family members would save money by having you at home? Perhaps you'd choose to send your husband with a packed lunch, cut the kids' hair, do your own taxes, plant a vegetable garden, mow your own yard, etc. (Not that you NEED to do all of that, but would you do SOME of it?) If you are currently paying anybody to do anything for you that'd you'd do yourself if you had the time, calculate your potential savings and deduct it from the running total of what you really make.
Consider, too, that there are tax breaks for families with qualifying incomes. It's called the Earned Income Tax Credit (EIC), and was designed to offset a portion of Social Security and Medicare taxes. In 2007, if you had less than $39,783 (for a married couple filing jointly) in income, and had two or more qualifying children, you are eligible for the credit. Those with one qualifying child and income under $33,241 ($35,241 for joint filers) are also eligible. Depending on your income, you could get back up to $4716 for the latest tax year. If working at home as a full time mom would move you to this income bracket, be sure to consider this in your decision making process. You might want to do a search for online calculators that can give you a good idea of how much you can expect to save.
Finally, is there something you'd like to do from home to earn money. Would you provide child care on occassion, give piano lessons, or teach a craft? Estimate the amount. It may not be much, but chances are, it's something. Deduct this too, from your total.
To see how it all works, let's take a hypothetical teacher who's "salary" is $30,000. A worksheet of her real yearly earnings might look like this: (Costs are estimated for the year.)
Net Pay $24,362.00
YEARLY EXPENSES
Non Deductible Cost of Day Care for two children -9, 720.00
Extra Car Payment - 5040.00
Insurance for the extra car - 965.00
Maintenance, tires, car wash, etc. for the extra car - 750.00
Gasoline - 920.00
Lunch - 540.00
Union Dues - 750.00
Purchases from coworkers - 150.00
Slush fund contributions - 75.00
Out of pocket expenses for classroom supplies/materials -750.00
Non reimbursed education expenses - 775.00
Fast food savings (2 meals per week for family) - 1504.00
Savings on convenience foods - 830.00
Savings by couponing, comparison shopping, etc. - 120.00
Savings on clothing, shoes, hosiery, etc. - 850.00
Dry Cleaning - 360.00
Savings on husband's lunch (packs 2 x weekly now) - 325.00
Savings--Enjoys gardening & preserving food - 350.00
Earnings--Babysits two Wednesday Mornings per month - 840.00
______________
TOTAL DEDUCTIONS FROM NET PAY $25, 614.00
Would you like to spend more time at home with your family? Are you afraid you'd never be able to afford it? Don't give up yet. A large portion of two parent families who desire to do so, can afford to allow Mom to at stay home. For some families it may be possible by simply cutting back on expenses in some areas. But for most of us, there's little fat in our budget left to trim.
For these families, it's time to see how much difference there is between Mom's take home pay, and what it costs for her to earn that pay.
First, remember to think of what you're earning in terms of net pay. While it's true that some of those deductions may go to fund your future retirement--and that IS important--the truth is, it's the amount that's left over in your net pay that has an immediate impact on your family's budget, and will determine whether you can afford to stay home.
From your net pay you need to make plenty of subtractions to discover what you really "earn." Going to work costs money!
One of the most obvious costs for parents of young children is that of child care. Depending on where you live, the Center for Law and Social Policy (CLASP) estimates that the average cost of child care for a 4 year old ranges from $3,016 to $9,628 per child per year. The cost is even higher for infants. Calculate your family's cost, minus any child care credits you claim on your taxes, and subtract that from your net pay.
Also subtract out any costs associated with child care that you would not have if you stayed home. Include in your total, costs for special foods, entertainment and clothing, duplicate toys, etc., that goes beyond what your child would need at home. Do you have to drive out of your way to drop the kids off. Calculate that cost, too.
Next, is there a vehicle that you could do without if you stayed home? Many families these days own a car for each driver and a separate car or mini van for family use. Eliminate one of these, and at the very least you lessen your insurance, car tag, and maintenance costs for that vehicle. You may also lose a monthly payment as well. Subtract your savings from your net pay.
Now, what does it cost you, personally, to go to work? Does your job require a special wardrobe, special shoes, safety gear, etc.? How much do you spend per year on gasoline or public transportation to get to your job site? Do you eat out, or otherwise pay more for lunch or snacks than you would at home?
Do you pay union dues, regularly buy unnecessary items that coworkers (or their children) are selling? Do you contribute to a slush fund for flowers or gifts for coworkers and bosses? Do you buy special supplies for your job? Do you have any type of education expenses associated with work, but not reimbursed by your employer? Add these up and subtract them from your take home pay, too.
Next, what could you SAVE by staying home? Remember money saved is the same as money earned. Do you buy fast food, bring home a pizza, or go out to a restaurant more often than you'd like, simply because you're too tired, or too short on time to cook? Would this change if you could be at home? Calculate your likely savings. Since this is money you are now spending, deduct it from your net pay.
As a full time Mom, would you be more likely to browse weekly flyers, clip coupons, or comparison shop for a wide variety of items your family purchases? If so, this is extra money that you could be saving. Subtract it from your take home pay.
Are there ways your spouse or other family members would save money by having you at home? Perhaps you'd choose to send your husband with a packed lunch, cut the kids' hair, do your own taxes, plant a vegetable garden, mow your own yard, etc. (Not that you NEED to do all of that, but would you do SOME of it?) If you are currently paying anybody to do anything for you that'd you'd do yourself if you had the time, calculate your potential savings and deduct it from the running total of what you really make.
Consider, too, that there are tax breaks for families with qualifying incomes. It's called the Earned Income Tax Credit (EIC), and was designed to offset a portion of Social Security and Medicare taxes. In 2007, if you had less than $39,783 (for a married couple filing jointly) in income, and had two or more qualifying children, you are eligible for the credit. Those with one qualifying child and income under $33,241 ($35,241 for joint filers) are also eligible. Depending on your income, you could get back up to $4716 for the latest tax year. If working at home as a full time mom would move you to this income bracket, be sure to consider this in your decision making process. You might want to do a search for online calculators that can give you a good idea of how much you can expect to save.
Finally, is there something you'd like to do from home to earn money. Would you provide child care on occassion, give piano lessons, or teach a craft? Estimate the amount. It may not be much, but chances are, it's something. Deduct this too, from your total.
To see how it all works, let's take a hypothetical teacher who's "salary" is $30,000. A worksheet of her real yearly earnings might look like this: (Costs are estimated for the year.)
Net Pay $24,362.00
YEARLY EXPENSES
Non Deductible Cost of Day Care for two children -9, 720.00
Extra Car Payment - 5040.00
Insurance for the extra car - 965.00
Maintenance, tires, car wash, etc. for the extra car - 750.00
Gasoline - 920.00
Lunch - 540.00
Union Dues - 750.00
Purchases from coworkers - 150.00
Slush fund contributions - 75.00
Out of pocket expenses for classroom supplies/materials -750.00
Non reimbursed education expenses - 775.00
Fast food savings (2 meals per week for family) - 1504.00
Savings on convenience foods - 830.00
Savings by couponing, comparison shopping, etc. - 120.00
Savings on clothing, shoes, hosiery, etc. - 850.00
Dry Cleaning - 360.00
Savings on husband's lunch (packs 2 x weekly now) - 325.00
Savings--Enjoys gardening & preserving food - 350.00
Earnings--Babysits two Wednesday Mornings per month - 840.00
______________
TOTAL DEDUCTIONS FROM NET PAY $25, 614.00
Notice that the deductions from net pay are larger than the net pay itself! For this family, Mom could actually save money by staying home. True, the family had to give up a third car, and Mom's retirement contributions are at a stand still until she returns to work, but for Moms who are motivated to do so, staying home and caring for a family has more than enough value in itself to make up for these losses.
Every family is unique. Chances are that yours is already being frugal, and would not save quite as much as our hypothetical teacher did. Still, you might be amazed at how much it really does cost you to go to work. Becoming a "domestic engineer" might be easier than you think!
Monday, March 10, 2008
Old Fashioned Pancake Recipe
Although it's March, you couldn't tell it by looking out our living room window this morning. There's about a foot of snow covering the ground.
Being snowed in has its advantages--and one of the best of those is "time." When roads, schools--and places of employment are closed, life takes on a deliciously leisure pace.
Because the morning is unhurried, there's time for what my family calls "The Big Breakfast." "Keep in mind, that our usual breakfast fare is cereal and milk!) "The Big Breakfast" can consist of many things, but it must be warm, home-cooked and plentiful. Eggs, sausage, pancakes, and biscuits and gravy are usually favorites in the line-up. (Considering the calories involved, it's a good thing that big breakfasts are fairly rare at our house!)
Homemade pancakes are one of my favorites. You don't have to keep a commercially prepared mix on hand when it's easy to make great tasting pancakes from scratch. Below is a favorite recipe.
Being snowed in has its advantages--and one of the best of those is "time." When roads, schools--and places of employment are closed, life takes on a deliciously leisure pace.
Because the morning is unhurried, there's time for what my family calls "The Big Breakfast." "Keep in mind, that our usual breakfast fare is cereal and milk!) "The Big Breakfast" can consist of many things, but it must be warm, home-cooked and plentiful. Eggs, sausage, pancakes, and biscuits and gravy are usually favorites in the line-up. (Considering the calories involved, it's a good thing that big breakfasts are fairly rare at our house!)
Homemade pancakes are one of my favorites. You don't have to keep a commercially prepared mix on hand when it's easy to make great tasting pancakes from scratch. Below is a favorite recipe.
Old-Fashioned Pancakes
1 1/4 cups milk
1/4 cup vegetable oil
1 Tablespoon sugar
1 egg
1 cup flour
1 1/2 teaspoons baking powder
1 teaspoon baking soda
In a large bowl, sift together dry ingredients. Make a well in the center and pour in the milk, egg, and oil. Mix until smooth.
Heat a lightly oiled griddle or frying pan over medium high heat. Pour batter onto the griddle, using approximately 1/4 cup for each pancake. Brown on both sides and serve hot.
Thursday, March 6, 2008
Fresh Food -- On Site
Gardening is another way our family saves money. You don't have to plant a large area to realize a savings on your grocery bill. Your "garden" can be in a window box planter, in flower pots on the deck, or even in small cups on your kitchen window sill--the perfect place for growing fresh herbs. Just a few well tended plants can produce a lot of food.
Gardeners tend to start looking forward to spring at about the same time Winter officially arrives. In late December, companies begin sending out their new seed and nursery catalogs. Our house receives about a dozen of these within a two week span of the new year. Obviously, I can't order from them all, but I welcome their arrival as a joyful reminder that spring will soon return.
Some of the garden catalogs contain wonderful deals on seeds, plants, trees and supplies. Catalogs such as Gurney's, Henry Field's, and Gardens Alive! contain coupons good for $25.00 off the total cost of your order when you spend an additional $25.00. Others, like R.H. Shumway's offer low cost seed, hard to find "old time" items and heritage varieties. Although their catalog has an "antique" look, and they don't offer coupon discounts, their garden guide has long been one of my favorites.
But you don't have to spend a lot of money to get started. I always check out one or more of the many varieties of "dollar stores" in our area. They generally carry a nice selection of plant and vegetable seed for just a quarter per package. Most of this seed grows very well, but unless you tend them closely, it can be difficult to get things like tomatoes, peppers and broccoli to grow sturdy enough to transplant into a garden or larger pot. (I usually prefer to buy these items as plants.) Vegetables like leaf lettuce, cucumber, spinach, zucchini, radishes and beans however, are easy. Just follow the directions on the back of the package and plant them where you want them. If they have water and sunshine, they'll grow--just make sure to give them the space they need.
Whether you're new to gardening, or have been at it for decades, you might want to request to have your name and address added to the Gardens Alive! mailing list if you don't already receive their free catalog. Each year their spring edition includes an illustrated guide to insects and plant diseases to help you care for your plants. Don't want the extra mail lying around the house? Just stop by their website at http://www.gardensalive.com/. Scroll down until you find the "useful information" section, and click on the green "Pest & Disease Guide" icon.
I love to watch my plants grow! What's even better is knowing that I'll have fresh, nutritious food to feed my family that will cost much less than I would have paid for it at the store. It's also a great learning experience for the kids. My 10 year old enjoys being allowed to plant and take care of a few vegetables of his own. He's especially proud when it comes time to harvest what he's grown.
If you have the space (It grows LARGE.), I'd recommend planting zucchini for young, first time gardeners. Zucchini generally grows faster than the weeds and provides and abundant harvest!
Happy Growing!
Wednesday, March 5, 2008
Cell Phone Cents
With three teenagers and one preteen in our house, there's a whole lot of talking going on...but not necessarily on the cell phone. To save money, I encourage the use of our land line phone whenever possible, especially for local calls.
However, two of our children have a driver's license. Living in a rural area as we do, the roads tend to be a little trickier, and trips to anywhere take a little longer. Equipping our three oldest children and my husband with a cell phone is a safety measure. I know they can reach me if they need too. And what's more, I can call them.
A traditional cell phone plan for the four of them, however, was not in our budget. Instead we found a pre-paid plan that really works for us. I stress to the kids that the phone is primarily for emergencies. As long as they keep a couple of minutes on it for that purpose, I'm okay. Excess minutes, or minutes they pay for themselves, can be used texting or chatting with friends.
Here's how it works for us...
We chose Tracfone as our prepaid service. I researched our choice carefully a couple of years ago before we purchased our first phone from them. Not only was it the best fit economically for our needs, but it provided the best coverage in our area--something that really mattered to me since the purpose for getting a cell phone to begin with was to be ever available in case of an emergency.
People are still surprised at the coverage our Tracfones get. Often, when folks with a higher priced monthly service are getting "two bars", we're standing right beside them getting full service, and in remote areas where "no one gets service," we usually do.
The reason for this is that Tracfone doesn't actually own any cell phone towers. Instead, the company leases air time from a number of carriers, giving it the largest digital coverage area in the U.S.
Tracfone frequently offers a "bundle" that includes one reconditioned phone, (I've purchased several, and they're always nice phones) and two 60 minute cards for just under $20.00. Each card gives the user 90 days of service. If you activate your phone online, you get an extra 20 minutes of time and 60 days of service. In addition, Tracfone offers frequent bonus minutes of 20 to 60 minutes (occasionally more) on each card. Tracfone often sends these codes to its users via snail mail or e-mail. Extra codes can easily be found by doing a search online. I almost always get at least an extra 60 bonus minutes with each card.
In addition, new users who register their e-mail address with Tracfone will get another 20 minutes when they use their second card.
So, for $20, I usually get the following:
1 phone (most now are single rate phones with no roaming, and free in-coming text messages.)
280 anytime minutes
240 days, or about 8 months of service
If you do the math, you'll find this equates to $2.50 per month. I've decided that the peace of mind it gives me knowing that my kids have a phone at their disposal in case of an emergency is worth $2.50 per month--it's actually worth a lot more, but since our budget is very limited, Tracfone works especially well for us. My kids enjoy using up any minutes not reserved for emergencies, and they also like the fact that they can receive an unlimited amount of text messages free, as long as they have service time remaining. (Depending on the type of Tracfone, sending text messages usually costs .3 units.)
Tracfone is not for all users, but our family thinks it's wonderful when reserved primarily for emergency use. If you like to talk a lot, but still want to limit your cell phone spending, you might want to search out other prepaid plans available in your area. There are many to choose from these days, increasing the odds that you'll find one that meets your needs and still saves you money.
However, two of our children have a driver's license. Living in a rural area as we do, the roads tend to be a little trickier, and trips to anywhere take a little longer. Equipping our three oldest children and my husband with a cell phone is a safety measure. I know they can reach me if they need too. And what's more, I can call them.
A traditional cell phone plan for the four of them, however, was not in our budget. Instead we found a pre-paid plan that really works for us. I stress to the kids that the phone is primarily for emergencies. As long as they keep a couple of minutes on it for that purpose, I'm okay. Excess minutes, or minutes they pay for themselves, can be used texting or chatting with friends.
Here's how it works for us...
We chose Tracfone as our prepaid service. I researched our choice carefully a couple of years ago before we purchased our first phone from them. Not only was it the best fit economically for our needs, but it provided the best coverage in our area--something that really mattered to me since the purpose for getting a cell phone to begin with was to be ever available in case of an emergency.
People are still surprised at the coverage our Tracfones get. Often, when folks with a higher priced monthly service are getting "two bars", we're standing right beside them getting full service, and in remote areas where "no one gets service," we usually do.
The reason for this is that Tracfone doesn't actually own any cell phone towers. Instead, the company leases air time from a number of carriers, giving it the largest digital coverage area in the U.S.
Tracfone frequently offers a "bundle" that includes one reconditioned phone, (I've purchased several, and they're always nice phones) and two 60 minute cards for just under $20.00. Each card gives the user 90 days of service. If you activate your phone online, you get an extra 20 minutes of time and 60 days of service. In addition, Tracfone offers frequent bonus minutes of 20 to 60 minutes (occasionally more) on each card. Tracfone often sends these codes to its users via snail mail or e-mail. Extra codes can easily be found by doing a search online. I almost always get at least an extra 60 bonus minutes with each card.
In addition, new users who register their e-mail address with Tracfone will get another 20 minutes when they use their second card.
So, for $20, I usually get the following:
1 phone (most now are single rate phones with no roaming, and free in-coming text messages.)
280 anytime minutes
240 days, or about 8 months of service
If you do the math, you'll find this equates to $2.50 per month. I've decided that the peace of mind it gives me knowing that my kids have a phone at their disposal in case of an emergency is worth $2.50 per month--it's actually worth a lot more, but since our budget is very limited, Tracfone works especially well for us. My kids enjoy using up any minutes not reserved for emergencies, and they also like the fact that they can receive an unlimited amount of text messages free, as long as they have service time remaining. (Depending on the type of Tracfone, sending text messages usually costs .3 units.)
Tracfone is not for all users, but our family thinks it's wonderful when reserved primarily for emergency use. If you like to talk a lot, but still want to limit your cell phone spending, you might want to search out other prepaid plans available in your area. There are many to choose from these days, increasing the odds that you'll find one that meets your needs and still saves you money.
Tuesday, March 4, 2008
Homemade Sandwich Buns
"Ruth" and her husband "John" are friends of ours. They are well into their 80's, and have experienced remarkably good health. They go places, do things, and enjoy life. They are the kind of couple that makes others sit up and take notice.
They are obviously doing lots of things right.
My husband and I are little more than half their age, and already there are days when we feel old, creaky, and generally unwell.
We love to listen and learn from our friends, and one thing we've discovered is that Ruth makes most everything they eat from scratch. They rarely eat out. They don't purchase highly processed foods. In addition they are active gardeners. Because they raise much of their own food, they know that what they're eating is fresh and free of pesticides and preservatives.
Perhaps they both are simply blessed with good genes, but I prefer to think that what they choose to eat has a lot to do with their good health.
Still, I'm sometimes stumped. I do a LOT of home cooking, but I was raised in the era of cake mixes, sliced bread, Bisquick, and Hamburger Helper. How is it that Ruth's shopping list is so short and basic? Is it really possible to make so many things yourself? And can it be done economically?
If you were to ask Ruth, she'd say, "yes."
Take the following recipe for sandwich buns for instance. Until I met Ruth, it never occurred to me that someone could (or would want) to make their own hamburger buns, but these buns are wonderful! No wonder Ruth and John prefer them over anything they can buy at the grocery store!
So, a few years ago, I asked Ruth for her recipe. Although these are sandwich buns, my children also like to eat them fresh from the oven, just like a roll. I hope you enjoy them, too.
Thanks, Ruth!
Ruth's Sandwich Buns
1 Cup butter or margarine cut into pieces
1/2 Cup honey
2 Cups boiling water
2 packages dry yeast
1/3 Cup warm water
2 eggs, beaten
1 teaspoon baking powder
1 teaspoon salt
3 1/2 Cups Whole Wheat Flour
4-4 1/2 Cups All Purpose Flour
Place butter and honey in a large mixing bowl. Pour the boiling water over these and set aside to cool. In a small bowl, dissolve yeast in 1/3 cup warm water. Set aside. To honey mixture add eggs, baking powder and salt. Add in yeast mixture and whole wheat flour. Beat until smooth.
Stir in enough all purpose flour to make a soft dough. Turn onto a floured board and knead until dough becomes elastic. Place dough in a greased bowl, turning to grease top. Cover. Let rise one hour. Punch down and divide dough in half.
Roll dough out to 1/2" thickness. Cut with desired size biscuit cutter. (A 2 1/2" cutter makes 60 buns.) Let buns rise for another hour. Bake in preheated over at 350F. for 15-20 minutes. Place on wire rack to cool.
They are obviously doing lots of things right.
My husband and I are little more than half their age, and already there are days when we feel old, creaky, and generally unwell.
We love to listen and learn from our friends, and one thing we've discovered is that Ruth makes most everything they eat from scratch. They rarely eat out. They don't purchase highly processed foods. In addition they are active gardeners. Because they raise much of their own food, they know that what they're eating is fresh and free of pesticides and preservatives.
Perhaps they both are simply blessed with good genes, but I prefer to think that what they choose to eat has a lot to do with their good health.
Still, I'm sometimes stumped. I do a LOT of home cooking, but I was raised in the era of cake mixes, sliced bread, Bisquick, and Hamburger Helper. How is it that Ruth's shopping list is so short and basic? Is it really possible to make so many things yourself? And can it be done economically?
If you were to ask Ruth, she'd say, "yes."
Take the following recipe for sandwich buns for instance. Until I met Ruth, it never occurred to me that someone could (or would want) to make their own hamburger buns, but these buns are wonderful! No wonder Ruth and John prefer them over anything they can buy at the grocery store!
So, a few years ago, I asked Ruth for her recipe. Although these are sandwich buns, my children also like to eat them fresh from the oven, just like a roll. I hope you enjoy them, too.
Thanks, Ruth!
Ruth's Sandwich Buns
1 Cup butter or margarine cut into pieces
1/2 Cup honey
2 Cups boiling water
2 packages dry yeast
1/3 Cup warm water
2 eggs, beaten
1 teaspoon baking powder
1 teaspoon salt
3 1/2 Cups Whole Wheat Flour
4-4 1/2 Cups All Purpose Flour
Place butter and honey in a large mixing bowl. Pour the boiling water over these and set aside to cool. In a small bowl, dissolve yeast in 1/3 cup warm water. Set aside. To honey mixture add eggs, baking powder and salt. Add in yeast mixture and whole wheat flour. Beat until smooth.
Stir in enough all purpose flour to make a soft dough. Turn onto a floured board and knead until dough becomes elastic. Place dough in a greased bowl, turning to grease top. Cover. Let rise one hour. Punch down and divide dough in half.
Roll dough out to 1/2" thickness. Cut with desired size biscuit cutter. (A 2 1/2" cutter makes 60 buns.) Let buns rise for another hour. Bake in preheated over at 350F. for 15-20 minutes. Place on wire rack to cool.
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