$150 Challenge

Hubby and I were discussing what would happen if we were to not have an extra $150 each week, ie it would be spent on something else, like rent.

We decided to try it and see if we would actually be able to handle it. Then use that $150 where we see fit, either to save for something I need before things get tougher, or to put onto credit cards.

We're only on the second week of this challenge so far, and it has been successful.

There was an emergency at the end of last week and I was very glad I had that cash on hand, but I would have been able to get it from another source if needed.

This week I have another $150 set aside, hiding this time. Out of sight, out of mind! I think this week's $150 will go towards our holiday next week. A night out to a romantic dinner with hubby sounds like a wonderful idea.

We did the $150 challenge, because that's how much we'll end up being out of pocket for if circumstances change, but you could do a $50 a week challenge, and set that aside for whatever you want.

The Experiment

The last little while I have secretly been doing an experiment on my family. Just how long can we get by on Food Storage?

It started mainly to start saving for, and to clean out the fridge before the big celebration we had a few weeks ago for my son's 8th birthday. We ended up with a fridge full for a couple of days after that and gleefully lived on roast beef, pork and salads until that ran out.

Then the lack of food in the fridge hit, and my refusal to buy any more (because I've been saving for other things) and I really wanted to see how long my family would be able to handle living just on what we have available. Apparently the answer is "Two weeks". Poor hubby cracked today and is craving all sorts of things, which just aren't in the cupboard any more. No more chips, soft drink, cordial, meat (we're having the last of the bacon tomorrow), fried chicken, 'normal' soup (he likes brand name soup).

Heaven help us if we actually have no choice but to live off our food storage!

So, would your family be able to complete this challenge? Would you be able to survive on just what is in your pantry cupboard? Do you have appropriate food in there that you can make complete meals out of? Would it be a reasonably balanced diet? Do you know how to make bread/pasta/tortillas etc without running to Google for help?

The 'two weeks' was a bit of a lie. We actually have survived for a few months, with a $100 spend in the middle of that for fresh fruit, veggies, milk, bread and sandwich meat for hubby to take his lunch to work (plus washing powder, tissues, toilet paper, dishwashing detergent etc that I hadn't stored up on, all in that $100 too).

Not a bad experiment, if I may say so yourself.

Try it, you may be suprised!

What to do with powdered milk

I'm planning on stocking up on some powdered milk this year, but as per usual, before I actually buy bulk anything and store it, I want to be able to make sure I can actually use it, and that I know how to use it.

So I did a little Googling, and here's what you can do with Powdered Milk to make it 'useable':-

Whole milk

1 cup water
1/3 cup powdered milk

Evaporated milk

1 cup water
2/3 cup powdered milk

Whipped evaporated milk

Makes 3 cups

1 cup evaporated milk
2 Tbsp lemon juice

Thoroughly chill evaporated milk.

Add lemon juice and whip until stiff.

Sweeten and flavor as desired.

Condensed milk

1/2 cup hot water
1 cup sugar
1 cup powdered milk

Blend thoroughly in a blender.

Can be stored in refrigerator or frozen.

Buttermilk or sour milk

1 cup water
1/3 cup powdered milk

1 Tbsp vinegar or lemon juice

Drinkable powdered milk

To improve the flavor of powdered milk, mix it half and half with 2% or whole milk. Another suggestion would be to try adding a little sugar or vanilla to enhance flavor. Let chill several hours before drinking.

(I found this info on 'cookmyfoodstorage.blogspot.com')

Home made musical instruments

Have to love those rainy days with the kids, when all they want to do is make noise. Here are some musical instruments you can make with them:-

Maracas Two small, dry, empty water/juice bottles with lids.
Fill about a centimetre from the bottom with rice or beans.
Tape lids on and decorate.

Drum A large ice cream container with a lid on makes a fantastic drum. Add wooden spoons for a 'professional' effect.

Shakers Two toilet rolls, one end taped on each.
Fill 1/4 way with rice or dried beans.
Tape other end (I tape over a piece of thick paper).

Cymbals Saucapan lids make fantastic cymbals, but they may never look the same again (or fit on your saucepans)

Rubber Band Music Put a rubber band over two cupboard handles. My kids loved to 'twang' them for ages.

Tapping Sticks Find two thick sticks out of the garden, or wooden spoons will do, and tap them together.

Clappers Two metal teaspoons back to back, hold between three fingers, with your index finger in the middle.

Guiro Cheese grater and a wooden spoon. Hopefully you don't have a very very sharp cheese grater, or you may go through a few wooden spoons.

Playdough Recipes

I have tried and tested a few playdough recipes over the years, and these are the ones I liked the most:-

Homemade Playdough 3 cups flour
1/4 cup salt
1 cup water
1 tablespoon oil
food colouring

1. Mix flour with salt.
2. In a jug, mix water with oil and food colouring.
3. Add liquid to flour slowly and mix with hands until it feels like 'playdough'.
4. Store in an airtight container.

Koolaid Playdough (smells sooooo good and feels great to play with) 1/2 cup salt
2 1/2 cups flour
2 packets koolaid
3 tablespoons oil
2 cups boiling water

1. Mix dry ingredients.
2. Add oil.
3. Add water and knead (careful, I usually let this cool a bit first before handling).
4. Store in a plastic bag in the fridge.

Cooked Playdough 1/2 cup salt
1 cup flour
1 tablespoon cream of tartar
1 tablespoon oil
1 cup water
food colouring
1 teaspoon Orange/strawberry/vanilla essence

1. Combine all ingredients in saucepan, stirring all the time.
2. Take off heat and allow to cool.
3. Knead.

Finger paint (not playdough, but still fun on a rainy day)
1/4 cup cornstarch
2 cups water
food colouring of choice.

1. Add all ingredients together.
2. Paper down and off you go!

Stocked up on bacon? no problems

I always find if I am low on meat in my freezer, there is always bacon left in there. Bacon is cheap, really easy to buy in bulk, separate and throw in freezer bags. So just what do you do with all that bacon?

Here are a few ideas:-

Bacon Family Chowder
1 tablespoon oil
3 rashers bacon
1 onion, chopped
2 carrots, chopped
3 potatoes, diced
any other veggies you want (Celery, capsicum, sweet potato etc)
2 1/2 cups hot veggie stock (I use one cup veggie stock, one cup bacon stock)
440g tin creamed corn
2 tablespoons plain flour
1 1/2 cups milk

1. Heat oil in pan. Cook bacon and onion until cooked through.
2. Add other veggies until half cooked.
3. Put into a big oven proof pot along with stock and cook covered for 5 mins. Stir in creamed corn.
4. Blend flour with milk to make a smooth paste. Stir into soup. Cook for 10 - 15 mins.
5. Stir in dried parsley or seasonings if required, or add grated parmesan cheese or swirl in a little cream to make it creamier. (Note: I only add the parsley, because it's usually salty enough with the bacon and bacon stock in mine).

Bacon Wrapped Potato Gems
Bacon (whether you leave the rind on or off is up to you)
Frozen Potato Gems

Soooooo easy. Just wrap the potato gems with the bacon and bake for 15-20 mins until bacon outside is crispy. Fantastic entree, just not that great if you're on a diet!

Hawaiian muffin pizzas
1 rasher bacon
1 English Muffin cut in halves
2 Ring of pineapple, drained
2 slices of cheese

1. Lightly toast the muffin halves until only just golden.
2. Put slice of cheese, pineapple and bacon on top
3. Pop under grill until the bacon is crispy and cheese is melting.

Bacon Caesar Salad
Lettuce
Chopped, cooked bacon (dried on paper towel)
Croutons (cubed bread under the grill, lightly sprayed with cooking oil if you like)
Parmesan cheese

Add all ingredients together, drizzle with Caesar dressing (1 teaspoon white vinegar, 2 tablespoons mayonnaise)

We had the Bacon Family Chowder for dinner tonight, and my kids are already on their second bowls. A really fantastic family recipe!

Simple Savings

Simple Savings is a website that is designed to do, well, just that. Save!

Here's a little bit of what they have to say:-

Most people pay too much money for things but never realise it, so they are always behind. They are always in debt and continually playing catch-up. It is a pretty horrible time-deprived way to live.

They do have a 'vault' and you can pay $47 to access all the tips and tricks members have put in there, but you can also browse all the other things they have for free, and learn a few things along the way just by doing that.

What I love is the monthly challenges they have in their "ATTACK YOUR DEBTS MONTH BY MONTH":-

January was 'Find a Better Deal' on your service providers for eg home phone, insurance, internet or credit card.

February was 'Find Time'. Finding spare time to then be able to think about what you're purchasing.

March is 'No Spend Month'.
Here's the blurb about this month.

Sometimes we need a big jolt to shake up our spending habits. So here's one for you! Your challenge for March is not to buy anything non-essential. The ONLY things you can buy this month are pure essentials such as basic food and prior bills. Ask yourself at the end of day, did you buy any non-essentials today? If not, tick the day as a success, well done!
I'll add the new challenge for each month to my blog, if only to keep myself reminded of what's in store.