Since I am planning on making all of my adult gifts next year, I need so start early. I might even dabble with making some gifts for my grandchildren. So I plan on writing about some of the homemade gifts that can be made so that all of us can give nice Christmas and birthday gifts without a lot of cost. Birthday gifts will also be homemade. I won't be able to put pictures up of what I am giving for obvious reasons until after the gift date. Any retail store gifts will be purchased with earned giftcards from points programs, Amazon e-certificates from using Swagbucks, rebate or survey cash. Let's see how nice I can make this for my family.
Another thing that I will be doing is making all of my homemade cleaners. So I will give you recipes for everything that I will be using. I have a few store bought cleaners left that I am using up. After that it will be all homemade.
I have dabbled in making bread, popovers, and hamburger rolls. I want to learn to make good English muffins, hot dog rolls, and any other bread item that we might need. Believe me when I say that I am not a baker but I am going to teach myself. Bread prices are outrageous and I no longer want to pay that much.
Once my boxed pasta is gone, I will be making my own also....all kinds of macaroni and spaghetti and possibly even lasagna noodles.
Something that I have done in the past is make all of our yogurt. I will be doing that again after I buy the first plain one to use as a starter. I also want to learn how to make sorbet.
All of these ventures I will share with you. I hope you will share any ideas you have as I go along this path.
Matter of fact, if there is anything else that you would like me to write about that would be helpful to you, please ask by leaving a comment. If I have any expertise in the field, I will see what I can do. One thing I will not write about however is investing because I do not give that kind of advice.
24 comments:
Do you have a pasta maker?
I've made egg noodles- it wasn't as hard as I thought. Here's the post:
http://cookingluck.blogspot.com/2009/08/egg-noodles.html
What an inspiration. I was thinking of saving on gifts next year and had some of those same thoughts. I will be very interested in your ideas, for pasta and baking too. Enjoy your blog.
I'm relatively new to your blog; and so have not read a lot of past posts. But it sounds like you blog will be along the lines of what I like reading about.
I hope the very best for you in the new year on all your endeavors. Especially the bread and pasta making! I currently use a bread machine when I make bread; but am very interested in make bread from scratch and doing the kneading myself. My goal is to be able to make top-notch bread for my husband and myself...and maybe for my kids who live close by, but do it from off the top of my head, w/o looking to a recipe.
I'd like bread making to become 'part of me', you know?
I'm also interested in making gifts throughout the year next year and from now on...as this year will be slim on gifts; but BIG ON FAMILY!
(I must say, I like giving gifts,though)
I'm looking forward to reading more of your blog!
Merry Christmas and
Happy New~
Pat
Hi Lucky,
Yes I do. Thanks for the link to the post.
Hi Meg,
Thanks for your kind words.
Hi Corn in my Coffeepot aka Pat:
Welcome to my blog. There are tons of good frugality posts that I have done over the past 4 years. Some of them you can link to under labels on the sidebar. Others can be found by using the search box on the blog in the upperlefthanf corner.
Thanks for your kind words.
Making yogurt is so easy and the cost is a gallon of milk and a single plain Greek yogurt as the starter. Here is the site for the directions: http://brightbakes.wordpress.com/2011/01/05/greek-yogurtmade-from-scratch/
You will need a thermometer. It calls for a piece of cheesecloth but that is so flimsy. I bought square yard of muslin and stitched around the edge for draining the yogurt and then just wash it. It works great. Precious, maybe you could post that link on your blog.
Hi Kathy,
Yes it is. I have a machine that does the work for me. But this might help others so when I do a yogurt post, I will show the link.
I can't wait to see what you do with the pasta & I look forward to seeing your home made gifts.
Another great yogurt recipe is:
http://crockpot365.blogspot.com/2008/10/you-can-make-yogurt-in-your-crockpot.html
It doesn't need any special equipment except a crockpot. I was going to make it again just the other day but the kids ate my yogurt starter and drank all my milk...story of my life lately!
I stumbled on your blog several months back, and while I have never commented before, I wanted to say thank you for all the great tips. I will be checking back often. I look foward to hearing how your changes go as I am planning many similar changes in my household during the next year! Happy Holidays!
HI Precious!
I used to be afraid of baking my own bread, but then I found a GREAT site where she breaks things down, step by step.
http://jamiecooksitup.blogspot.com/
I've made her broccoli cheddar soup (which my 8-year old LOVES); her chicken and wild rice soup (a favorite of my 7-year old); the Fluffy Dinner Rolls, which my 8-year old will eat 3 of, straight from the oven; the soft bread bowls; her Fabulous French Bread; her white bread and many other things.
Another favorite of ours are the Hawaiian Meatballs (in the appetizers). My kids have asked for them already.:) Just thought I'd share, since you mentioned you were looking for bread recipes. Unfortunately, I don't see a recipe on how she makes her own pasta, but there are many good and easy bread recipes.:) I used to be scared of yeast. No more:)
It sounds like you are all set!! I'm trying to make a blog/life plan for next year and it's going to involve alot more savings! I haven't blogged as much lately and my account balances reflect that.
I can't wait to hear what you have in store and I'm on board
Hi Lucky,
Thanks so much for the link. I will be holding onto it along with Kathy's for when I make the yogurt.
Hi Marie,
Welcome and thanks for your kind words.
Hi Missourimommy,
That site is fabulous. Thanks so much for sharing.
Hi Tiffany,
Thanks for your kindness and welcome aboard again.
Just a comment, if you wish to have a thicker yogart, add 2 tablspoons of dry milk.
In my opinion, one of the worst ideas or schools systems have come up with, is to stop teaching some version of homec in schools. I am originally from Mississippi, the poorest state in the union, a hugh percentage of the population is on food stamps, and unless you are over 60, you can barely boil water. Only heat frozen pizza in the oven. Please address this issue (among others, of course. Jenny
Hi Jenny,
Thanks for sharing.
This is what my site is about. We don't have a large enough income to really make ends meet. Our savings comes in those same forms--homemade bread, homemade gifts using mostly repurposed items, feeding my family for less each year (this year it's .40 per person per day). I am working on getting up more tutorials for our homemade gifts; I just put up 2 this month. I will continue to add more frugal recipes as well.
Hi Prudent Homemaker,
Thanks for sharing via your website. I love your homemade gifts.
I think these are fantastic ideas.
I was just telling my sister yesterday that we should try and figure out gifts to give everyone this next year that didn't cost us a dime.
For example, sometimes when I donate blood they offer me free show tickets. I was going to donate anyway and that counts as a great gift and it didn't cost us anything. :)
I already make my own laundry soap and just last week made a batch of whole wheat bread. I know it is not a lot but it is a start and every bit counts in the savings department.
So excited to save again with you this year. :)
Hi Geri,
The way to wealth is through baby steps. I think you do plenty.
Just found your blog. “Mom’s Coupon Affair sent me”
Hi GramMarie,
Welcome to my blog.
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