Comments on: Frugal Cooking Carnival! http://www.keeperofthehome.org/2008/04/frugal-cooking-carnival.html Naturally inspired living for the Christian homemaker Mon, 15 Mar 2010 02:41:13 -0500 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.8.4 hourly 1 By: Nola http://www.keeperofthehome.org/2008/04/frugal-cooking-carnival.html/comment-page-1#comment-25194 Nola Sat, 26 Apr 2008 07:00:00 +0000 http://www.keeperofthehome.org/2008/04/frugal-cooking-carnival.html#comment-25194 Thanks for sharing! Your costs seem to be either similar to me, or less expensive than here. I don't think I could do the same budget as you. I live in a more isolated area, so I find that the shipping costs make the prices go up on things. Its always tricky to find natural/organic things for prices we can afford. Thankfully, its fairly available- but not always as affordable as I would like. You said you include cleaning and toiletries in your costs of I think it was $380.00. How do you fit that in? What types of things do you use? I find that even though I get my things through a co-op and get them when they go on sale, its still a lot. I use baking soda, vinegar, and a bit of a natural All purpose cleaner for cleaning, and a natural disinfectant that I use about 1 small container of a year. Our toiletries all all natural- and it really adds up. Even though we really only use the bare minimum (shampoo, conditioner, toothpaste and deodorant really). Even toilet paper alone is $10 minimum per package...and I find it rarely goes on sale here. I have my toiletries and such a seperate budget all together. I know how you feel- I try and try to be more frugal, but without sacrificing health/ nutrition, it seems this is as low as we can go. Thanks for sharing! Your costs seem to be either similar to me, or less expensive than here. I don't think I could do the same budget as you. I live in a more isolated area, so I find that the shipping costs make the prices go up on things. Its always tricky to find natural/organic things for prices we can afford. Thankfully, its fairly available- but not always as affordable as I would like.

You said you include cleaning and toiletries in your costs of I think it was $380.00. How do you fit that in? What types of things do you use? I find that even though I get my things through a co-op and get them when they go on sale, its still a lot. I use baking soda, vinegar, and a bit of a natural All purpose cleaner for cleaning, and a natural disinfectant that I use about 1 small container of a year. Our toiletries all all natural- and it really adds up. Even though we really only use the bare minimum (shampoo, conditioner, toothpaste and deodorant really). Even toilet paper alone is $10 minimum per package...and I find it rarely goes on sale here. I have my toiletries and such a seperate budget all together.

I know how you feel- I try and try to be more frugal, but without sacrificing health/ nutrition, it seems this is as low as we can go.

]]> By: Lori http://www.keeperofthehome.org/2008/04/frugal-cooking-carnival.html/comment-page-1#comment-25195 Lori Sat, 26 Apr 2008 07:00:00 +0000 http://www.keeperofthehome.org/2008/04/frugal-cooking-carnival.html#comment-25195 Stephanie, I commend you for all of the work that you've been doing for your family and the running of your household! It's ipressive indeed! I don't think I have the patience to sitand figure those things out. Even here in the states, the prices seem more and more inflated, and though I don't do much in the organic realm, I sturggle with keeping meals nutritous, yummy, and under budget. Some weeks work better than others. Keep up the good work! Blessings to you!!! Lori Stephanie,
I commend you for all of the work that you've been doing for your family and the running of your household! It's ipressive indeed! I don't think I have the patience to sitand figure those things out. Even here in the states, the prices seem more and more inflated, and though I don't do much in the organic realm, I sturggle with keeping meals nutritous, yummy, and under budget. Some weeks work better than others. Keep up the good work! Blessings to you!!!
Lori

]]> By: Stephanie http://www.keeperofthehome.org/2008/04/frugal-cooking-carnival.html/comment-page-1#comment-25189 Stephanie Fri, 25 Apr 2008 07:00:00 +0000 http://www.keeperofthehome.org/2008/04/frugal-cooking-carnival.html#comment-25189 I realized that I didn't add smoothie costs in, which we had for a snack each afternoon- that would have added about $3-4 dollars to our total (they were cheaper than usual because I got milk for yogurt and bananas on very good deals!). Thanks, Mary. That's funny about the milk, because I currently have a over a gallon of milk in my freezer, that I got for a discount! Amy, I feel your pain! On my recent special diet, I could only have goat's and sheep's cheese- sooo expensive! I'm glad my high prices made you feel better, LOL! And as for the dollar, when I started university over 9 years ago, I had an American roommate who joked that she would save her pennies to pay for my tuition! A lot has changed since then! Carrien, I had actually linked to the millet cobbler recipe, but I had an oops happen with my post, so I guess the links were lost and I didn't notice. I'll fix it and add them back in. Linds, I can post the scone recipe when I post the broccoli recipe. Lindsay, I calculated the bulk prices by guesstimating how many cups were in a 5 lb bag, and then dividing the cost of the bag by that amount, so figure out a per-cup cost. It was a lot of work! I did it in little bits and pieces of time over the course of a week. I made a huge list of all the basic ingredients in our foods- dairy, meats, grains, beans, veggies, fruits, oils/fats, honey, etc. I tried to do it all in easy to calculate amounts, such as a cup of uncooked rice, or per 1/4 cup honey, or per carrot, etc. Once I had that done, the meal calculations were very easy. Erica, I actually lived in PG from age 11-17! My parents still live there, up in the Hart. And your options for natural/organic foods are slim pickins! Do you shop at Ave Maria and Save-On, or do you order from somewhere and get it shipped to you? I'm actually typing as I breastfeed my son- I find it's a good time to catch up on emails and to moderate my comments! I realized that I didn't add smoothie costs in, which we had for a snack each afternoon- that would have added about $3-4 dollars to our total (they were cheaper than usual because I got milk for yogurt and bananas on very good deals!).

Thanks, Mary. That's funny about the milk, because I currently have a over a gallon of milk in my freezer, that I got for a discount!

Amy, I feel your pain! On my recent special diet, I could only have goat's and sheep's cheese- sooo expensive! I'm glad my high prices made you feel better, LOL! And as for the dollar, when I started university over 9 years ago, I had an American roommate who joked that she would save her pennies to pay for my tuition! A lot has changed since then!

Carrien, I had actually linked to the millet cobbler recipe, but I had an oops happen with my post, so I guess the links were lost and I didn't notice. I'll fix it and add them back in.

Linds, I can post the scone recipe when I post the broccoli recipe.

Lindsay, I calculated the bulk prices by guesstimating how many cups were in a 5 lb bag, and then dividing the cost of the bag by that amount, so figure out a per-cup cost. It was a lot of work! I did it in little bits and pieces of time over the course of a week. I made a huge list of all the basic ingredients in our foods- dairy, meats, grains, beans, veggies, fruits, oils/fats, honey, etc. I tried to do it all in easy to calculate amounts, such as a cup of uncooked rice, or per 1/4 cup honey, or per carrot, etc. Once I had that done, the meal calculations were very easy.

Erica, I actually lived in PG from age 11-17! My parents still live there, up in the Hart. And your options for natural/organic foods are slim pickins! Do you shop at Ave Maria and Save-On, or do you order from somewhere and get it shipped to you? I'm actually typing as I breastfeed my son- I find it's a good time to catch up on emails and to moderate my comments!

]]> By: Lindsay @ Passionate Homemaking http://www.keeperofthehome.org/2008/04/frugal-cooking-carnival.html/comment-page-1#comment-25187 Lindsay @ Passionate Homemaking Fri, 25 Apr 2008 07:00:00 +0000 http://www.keeperofthehome.org/2008/04/frugal-cooking-carnival.html#comment-25187 Wow! How do you calculate per serving prices? That seems like a lot of work...especially with bulk purchased items. I am curious as to how you see this as being beneficial. Very interesting. Good for you for mapping it all out though. Wow! How do you calculate per serving prices? That seems like a lot of work...especially with bulk purchased items. I am curious as to how you see this as being beneficial. Very interesting. Good for you for mapping it all out though.

]]> By: Erica http://www.keeperofthehome.org/2008/04/frugal-cooking-carnival.html/comment-page-1#comment-25188 Erica Fri, 25 Apr 2008 07:00:00 +0000 http://www.keeperofthehome.org/2008/04/frugal-cooking-carnival.html#comment-25188 Hi! I have been reading your blog for a while now and this is my first comment : ) I, too, live in BC, farther north. My husband and our 5 children live in Prince George (do you know it?) I just wanted to say that you're not alone---our grocery bill is high and we eat very similarly to you. Lots of whole, organic, vegan meals. It's tough to be healthy and see that eating less healthy is less expensive. I would love to say more but I'm typing one-handed while breastfeeding my son!!! Keep up the great blog! Hi! I have been reading your blog for a while now and this is my first comment : ) I, too, live in BC, farther north. My husband and our 5 children live in Prince George (do you know it?) I just wanted to say that you're not alone---our grocery bill is high and we eat very similarly to you. Lots of whole, organic, vegan meals. It's tough to be healthy and see that eating less healthy is less expensive. I would love to say more but I'm typing one-handed while breastfeeding my son!!!
Keep up the great blog!

]]> By: Linds http://www.keeperofthehome.org/2008/04/frugal-cooking-carnival.html/comment-page-1#comment-25193 Linds Fri, 25 Apr 2008 07:00:00 +0000 http://www.keeperofthehome.org/2008/04/frugal-cooking-carnival.html#comment-25193 Wow! That's great! I look forward to your broccoli salad recipe. Do you have your cinnamon scone recipe posted somewhere? Thanks for sharing! Linds Wow! That's great! I look forward to your broccoli salad recipe. Do you have your cinnamon scone recipe posted somewhere?

Thanks for sharing!
Linds

]]> By: carrien http://www.keeperofthehome.org/2008/04/frugal-cooking-carnival.html/comment-page-1#comment-25192 carrien Fri, 25 Apr 2008 07:00:00 +0000 http://www.keeperofthehome.org/2008/04/frugal-cooking-carnival.html#comment-25192 I would LOVE to see the recipe for that Millet Cobbler.It looks delicious, and I cook with millet a lot. Would you mind posting it? I would LOVE to see the recipe for that Millet Cobbler.It looks delicious, and I cook with millet a lot. Would you mind posting it?

]]> By: Owlhaven http://www.keeperofthehome.org/2008/04/frugal-cooking-carnival.html/comment-page-1#comment-25190 Owlhaven Fri, 25 Apr 2008 07:00:00 +0000 http://www.keeperofthehome.org/2008/04/frugal-cooking-carnival.html#comment-25190 Stephanie-- This was just great to read. Thanks so much for sharing. The truth is, I can't always get the eggs for that price, or the milk. I happened across good sales on both those things and bought a bunch. Actually at this very minute I have four gallons of milk in my freezer because I was able to get gallons for $2,29. I think your prices are awesome for going organic, and you realy had a nice variety of interesting food. I want to try the salmon melts, as I buy frozen salmon at times... Thanks so much for sharing your costs...I may need to go back and add some more details to the costs of my meals if I get the time. Mary, mom to many Stephanie-- This was just great to read. Thanks so much for sharing. The truth is, I can't always get the eggs for that price, or the milk. I happened across good sales on both those things and bought a bunch. Actually at this very minute I have four gallons of milk in my freezer because I was able to get gallons for $2,29. I think your prices are awesome for going organic, and you realy had a nice variety of interesting food. I want to try the salmon melts, as I buy frozen salmon at times...
Thanks so much for sharing your costs...I may need to go back and add some more details to the costs of my meals if I get the time.
Mary, mom to many

]]> By: Amy @ Experience Imagination http://www.keeperofthehome.org/2008/04/frugal-cooking-carnival.html/comment-page-1#comment-25191 Amy @ Experience Imagination Fri, 25 Apr 2008 07:00:00 +0000 http://www.keeperofthehome.org/2008/04/frugal-cooking-carnival.html#comment-25191 I, for one, feel better after reading your post! I was able to get eggs on clearance for $1.04 per dozen (and we used 13 of them), but we had some higher costs on organic veggies and non-dairy milk and cheese items. I buy organic soymilk for $3.15 per half gallon and goat and sheep cheeses for about $9.99 per pound. As a total aside, I just checked out an online currency converter, and WOW has the US dollar lost ground to the Canadian dollar in the last 20 years. :) I remember going to Ontario as a kid and the exchange rate was about US$1 to CA$1.50. Now it's about US$1 to CA$1.02. I, for one, feel better after reading your post! I was able to get eggs on clearance for $1.04 per dozen (and we used 13 of them), but we had some higher costs on organic veggies and non-dairy milk and cheese items. I buy organic soymilk for $3.15 per half gallon and goat and sheep cheeses for about $9.99 per pound.

As a total aside, I just checked out an online currency converter, and WOW has the US dollar lost ground to the Canadian dollar in the last 20 years. :) I remember going to Ontario as a kid and the exchange rate was about US$1 to CA$1.50. Now it's about US$1 to CA$1.02.

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