Once a month cooking, or “oamc” is a wonderful tool you can use and modify to suit your needs. It is a simple idea, really, of cooking ahead and then preserving your food using a variety of strategies: freezing, canning, drying, refrigerating. The most important tool in oamc is your freezer, whether you have a…
Vintage
OAMC: The Turkey Plan
Turkey is a far more versatile meat than most of us think. Many people relegate it to holidays and “leftovers,” but why not make it part of your everyday fare? Turkey is delicious, low in fat (unless drowned in gravy!) and can be substituted for chicken in most dishes. It is a little bit coarser…
OAMC: The Hamburger Plan
Here is my “Hamburger Plan”, probably one of my most used so far. I love having all of my favorite recipes in one place, and I find myself referring back to it often. Game PlanSince hamburger is loose and you don’t have to cut it up into different sections (such as chicken and turkey), it…
OAMC: The Ham Plan
Here is my “Ham Plan.” I am finding it easier and more economical to have bulk cooking plans for when meats and veggies are on sale or in season. I do a big cooking that lasts a few months (Hopefully! I am still new at this) so I don’t have to cook that particular meat…
OAMC: The Baking Plan
My Strategy: I have been doing “bulk baking” for quite a while, and I really love it! If you’re not quite ready to take the big plunge, simply double or triple the recipes you make to go with dinners or for snack (or breakfasts!) and freeze the surplus. Then the next time you have no mess,…
OAMC: The Chicken Plan
Here is the first plan I wrote, out of necessity! I couldn’t figure out how to deal with so many different parts of the chickens I was doing unless I had everything written down and the recipes gathered together. This plan is constantly being revised as I find better ways to do things and more…
Vintage FMs: Get In Charge of Your Credit Cards (Before They Take Charge of You!)
Needs major updating!The majority of Americans carry a credit card balance. These balances can add up fast! Banks are in the credit card business to make money, not give it away, and they will try anything to dig further into your pocket. The entire system is designed to get you in debt and keep you…
Vintage FMs: The Price Book
Needs Updating for the modern world! This is my favorite tightwad tool, and so simple! Here is what you need:One 3-ring binderLoose-leaf paperPenSome time to do thisReceipts 1. Start by listing all of the groceries you buy on a sheet (or two or three) of paper. Don’t list things you occasionally buy, list things you…
30 Ways to Cut Your Grocery Bill
Here is a collection of strategies and tips for cutting your grocery bill. Some of these ideas I use religiously, others I am working on or struggling with! I have gleaned some of these from books, frugal relatives and my own improvising. By far the best resources are any relatives you have who remember the…
Frugality 101: Getting Started
Ok, you want to save money and tighten your budget, but where do you begin? Lots of people know they need help, but where do you start? Here are some ideas to get you started: Set Goals-What is it you want to achieve? It may be something simple, like not living paycheck to paycheck, which…