Inspiring Friends of Frugal Family Fun Blog Round Up

Happy Labor Day!

Here are some fabulous, inspiring posts from some of our most loyal readers and commenters. You could be featured here next!

Sure to Please Recipes

• This recipe for Roasted Tomato Sauce became a family favorite instantly. It's so easy and incredibly delicious. Be sure to visit Val at Collecting the Moments... One by One. It is the best kept secret in the blogosphere with a treasure trove of ideas.


• Stephanie at Sunny Side Up posted a recipe for Apple Cinnamon Pancake Syrup. What a great way to use up apple peels!


• Can't make up your mind about dessert tonight? Visit The Entertaining Kitchen for instructions to make Rice Krispie Treats for the Indecisive!

Crafts to Make

• Make a travel felt board with instructions from Thrifty Craft Mama.


• The Magic Onions shows you how to make a Fairy's Bed.


• Visit Katie's Nesting Spot to find out how to make cute Ladybug Hair Clippies!

Things to do

• Have a special story time featuring Stories from Africa with the help of Christy at Superheroes and Princesses.


• Learn some very useful household tricks from Ivy at Into the Wind.


• Creative ideas for what to do with your child's artwork from 4 Crazy Kings.

More frugal crafty goodness tomorrow, so be sure to check back!

More Homemade Chewy Granola Bars

I am absolutely loving these homemade chewy granola bars! They take very little time to prepare, do not contain high-fructose corn syrup, and the recipe can easily be modified for those allergic to peanuts. They are also less expensive than store bought granola bars. This recipe makes about 18-20 good-sized bars.

I wish you could smell my house after we have made these.... it is heaven!

I wrap the bars individually in waxed paper, so we can grab a bar whenever we want a quick snack "on the go". Very convenient, and they store quite nicely. 

In place of peanuts, you could substitute cashews, or if nuts are completely out of the question --  try 3/4 cup wheat germ and instead of 3/4 cup sunflower seeds, increase it to a full cup. The recipe is really quite flexible. We've tried dried cranberries or chocolate chips instead of raisins, and it worked beautifully. As long as the ratios and textures are about the same, it will work fine!  

We've also made our own homemade granola cereal following the same recipe, but only add 1/8 cup of honey instead of 1/4 cup. Yummm! 

What does frugal look like...

The question is -- What does frugal look like in your life?

Awhile back I did a post entitled Top 7 Things About Being Frugal, but I feel some very important elements were missing from that list. I thought now might be a good time to get a more detailed, closer look at some of the changes we have noticed within our family.

Here are some more things I have noticed lately:

1. Gratitude --By cutting back on expenses, and re-evaluating how we want to spend our time, we have learned to cultivate a greater sense of gratitude for the things we do have: a happy home, healthy kids, a supportive marriage, etc.
2. Creativity --These tough economic times have lead to greater creativity -- beyond our wildest dreams. We are creating more projects together, and having more fun with less stuff.
3. Family Togetherness --Instead of going out shopping, we now schedule Family Painting Time. After my husband comes home from work, we clear off the kitchen table, bring out the paints, and everyone paints together as a family. We entertain at home a lot more, and our relationships with friends now have even deeper meaning.
4. Better for the Environment -- For the most part, being frugal consumes less resources, and produces less waste. We use cloth napkins, for example, that can be washed and reused instead of purchasing new paper napkins that end up in a landfill. However, there are exceptions (buying organic produce is usually more expensive), but in most cases a frugal lifestyle and a green lifestyle look very similar.
5. Learning New Skills -- Mark has taken on several home improvement projects from tiling to installing ceiling fans and kitchen sinks, (and probably learned waaaaay more about heat pumps than he ever wanted to), but learning these skills has saved us a significant amount of money and added value to our house. I learned to bake bread, make homemade chewy granola bars, and sew curtains, tablecloths, and place mats. We have also encouraged Emily's learning by building a Learning Studio with discounted craft supplies, a reading nook, an invention kit (made of items found in recycling bins) and plenty of working space with natural light.

I also want to emphasize that most of this takes hard work, and we did not change overnight. What you are seeing on the blog is the culmination of many years of marriage. When we first got married, Mark and I worked together. We had a dual income and no children. The financial decision we are most proud of, however, is that we never became accustomed to living with two incomes. Instead, we pretended as though Mark's income did not exist. It went directly to a high interest savings account and we did not even look at it. When I first became a stay-at-home mom, the financial impact was minimal because of that one simple decision.  However, it is the frugal lifestyle that allows me to continue to be a stay-at-home mom, keeps our family out of credit card debit, and allows us to enjoy family vacations. 

Making a lifestyle change is not easy, but it can be done. It is my hope that this blog inspires you, and I do my best to keep things here upbeat and positive. The world could use some more positive thinking right about now, don't you agree? 

What does frugal look like in your life?

Orange-Cranberry Scones and a Slow Morning

These homemade scones were a fabulous frugal breakfast treat! Mark left for work early this morning, but I was kind enough to save some for him.

No high fructose corn syrup in these scones! I am not much of a baker, but I am so proud of how these turned out.  They are so simple to make, and Emily enjoyed helping me with all the stirring and measuring. We had all of the ingredients on-hand in our well-stocked pantry. After serious taste-testing, Emily and I found that they go great with strawberry preserves and cranberry sage tea. I love tea!!  

To make your own Orange-Cranberry Scones, you will need:

Nonstick cooking spray

1 3/4 cups all-purpose flour

1 cup rolled oats

1/4 cup sugar

1 Tbsp. baking powder

Finely grated zest from 1 orange

2/3 cup sweetened dried cranberries

1/4 tsp. salt

1/2 cup evaporated fat free milk

3 Tbsp. vegetable oil

1 large egg

In a large bowl, mix all dry ingredients.  In a separate smaller bowl, mix together the milk, egg, and oil.  Add wet ingredients all at once to dry ingredients and stir just until moistened.

On a lightly floured surface, knead dough and gently roll or pat into an 8 inch circle about 3/4" thick.  Cut dough into 12 wedges.  Coat baking sheet with cooking spray and carefully transfer wedges to prepared baking sheet.  Bake at 400 degrees for about 15 minutes or until golden brown.  Remove from baking sheet and let cool on a wire rack for 2-3 minutes.  Serve warm.  

Here are some pictures of our slow scone morning:

I knitted this jacket for Clara.  The grey matches her eyes beautifully.

She is growing so fast!

Samba is taking things slowly too.

Flowers on the windowsill in Emily's school room.

Early morning sun shining through the dining room window on the bowl of apples.

Clara's tiny hand.

Have a frugal breakfast treat idea that your family enjoys?  Leave us a comment and share with us!

Top 7 Things About Being Frugal

The parsley grows on our windowsill.

A few days ago, I realized how spending less money has made our family wealthy in many other important ways.  Here are some of the things I love the most about being frugal:

1. More Time With Family & Friends  -- Since we are spending much less time shopping, we have plenty of time to spend with family and friends.  We entertain at home more often, and enjoy simple pleasures that bring more satisfaction.
2. More Time Spent Outdoors & Freedom from Commercials -- We were hesitant to cut the cable at first, but looking back it was probably the best decision for our family.  Now we spend more time outdoors with nature hikes and trips to the playground (when the weather permits).  We have also enjoyed great freedom from commercials.
3. The Herb Garden -- It has been uplifting to watch our herbs grow, and hopefully the first step to growing a real garden in the Spring.  For someone with a completely black thumb, this will be a real challenge, but the rewards are definitely worth it.
4. More Resourcefulness -- Attempting to waste less means we have become much more resourceful.  Emily and I enjoy making creative art projects and other learning activities from materials we already have in the house.
5. More Home Cooked Meals -- We hardly ever eat out, and this has given me the opportunity to sharpen my homemaking skills by cooking more nutritious home-cooked meals.  We also avoid packaged convenience foods, which can be high in preservatives.  Better nutrition means we get sick much less often.
6. We Drink More Water --  Since we hardly ever buy soda, and juice is sparingly used, we drink a lot more water.  Oh, and tea.... I love tea!!
7. Time Slowed Down --  We are not over-committing ourselves or trying to "keep up with the Joneses".  Having a newborn in the house, I am particularly grateful for this. Clara is growing up so quickly, and I do not want to miss a second of it. Here are some of my favorite photos from this morning:

Clara's bib hangs to dry in front of the kitchen window.

Tiny little toes.

Holding on to her big sister's finger.

What does your family enjoy most about being frugal?  Leave us a comment and share your thoughts with us!

10 Best Gifts for a Tightwad

Looking for the perfect gift for a fellow tightwad?  These are some of my absolute personal favorites!  Try these simple suggestions for gifts that help the recipient save even more money:

1. Entertainment Book --  Tons of great coupons for those special occasions that call for eating out.  Many places feature "buy one, get one free" deals.  Order through uPromise for added college savings.
2. InginuiTEA --  This is one of my all-time favorites.  As an avid tea-drinker, one of the biggest frustrations keeping me from enjoying loose-leaf tea was finding tea leaves that were left floating in it.  I tried tea balls, strainers, everything.  Finally, my brother-in-law (thanks, Mike!) gifted me with this ingenious device!  Buying loose tea saves money, and is better for the environment.  Now I am hooked!
3. Barnes & Noble Membership --  Another passion of mine is reading - oh, and going to cafes!  So when my in-laws gifted me with a membership to Barnes & Noble, I was thrilled!  Now I can enjoy further discounts on books, gifts, and even coffee for the next 365 days.
4. Subscription to Money Magazine --  This magazine is worth reading, and subscriptions start at just $19.95/year (12 issues) from Magazines.com.
5. The Complete Tightwad Gazette --  This book belongs on the bookshelf of every Tightwad.  Of course, I borrowed it from the library.  Having a copy on hand is worth the purchase price because I find myself referring to recipes, tips, and ideas found in here quite frequently.
6. Breadmaker --  No, you don't need a breadmaker to make bread, but it will save a ton of time.  I have a newborn, so spending 25 minutes kneading bread is simply out of the question.  Thanks to my Cuisinart Breadmaker, I can have fresh bread, pizza dough, and even soft pretzels baking in minutes.  Before you go NUTS over the price of this model, you might want to check out a thrift shop.  I frequently see pre-owned breadmakers for $10 or so.  Click here if you are looking for the owner's manual to a breadmaker.
7. Water Filter & Reusable Water Bottle -- Bottled water is a complete waste of money.  Instead, purchase a water filter, and reusable water bottle.  My favorite filter is Brita, and I really love the Sigg water bottles.
8. Pizza Making Kit --  Instead of buying pizza, it is more fun (and much less expensive) to make it yourself.  Here is a good example of what to include.
9. Compact Fluorescent Light Bulbs --  By replacing iridescent light bulbs with CFL's you will notice a significant savings on your electric bill.
10. Goodwill Shopper's Card --  True Tightwads enjoy shopping at Goodwill for great buys on used (or sometimes new) merchandise.  Check with your local Goodwill to purchase a Shopper's Card good for various discounts throughout the store.