Adrienne's Corner

Saving Money Saturday

Get a Foodsaver

*****I've had a Foodsaver for well over fifteen years and there is no doubt in my mind it paid for itself within the first few months of use.

*****Even if you only have two people in your family it a time and money saver. We buy all our meat at Costco and by vacuum sealing we can keep vast amounts of meat fresh in the freezer for long periods of time.

*****Both hubby and I really like tri-tip steaks and they have gotten very expensive by the pound. I purchase an entire tri-tip at Costco and cut it into steaks myself saving almost half on the per pound cost. I slap them on cookie sheets, pop in the freezer, and vacuum them after they are frozen in packages ranging from 2 to 6 steaks. That will supply us with steaks for an entire year, and the steak I take out in 12 months will be just a fresh as the first one.

*****The other attachments that gets a real workout at our house is the jar sealer. It makes it possible to buy expensive items like spices in bulk. I keep out only what I will use in a few months and the rest is put in a mason jar and vacuumed using an ordinary mason jar lid. I actually have spices that I've used for up to three or four years with no loss in flavor.

*****I re-use the bags until there is no bag left to use, and while looking about the internet I've learned there are generic bags available at places like WalMart which I plan to investigate. I only have the few canisters that came with my Foodsaver, but I can see that they would be a good thing for some folks to have extras.

*****The new models of the Foodsaver take up very little room on the counter and are quite lovely compared with my much older version. I'm jealous!! I suggest you take a look at their website and check out all the uses. There is also an active Yahoo Group for sharing hints and uses for a Foodsaver.

Vinegar vs Fabric Softener

*****It's been a week of using nothing but vinegar as my fabric softener and I couldn't possibly be anymore pleased with the results than I am. While putting towels away a few days ago the ones rinsed with vinegar were many, many inches fluffier than the ones rinsed in fabric softener. I picked up more vinegar at Costco and it cost $3.59 for two gallons. Sure beats the cost of fabric softener.

30 Easy Ways to Save Money (and No, you are not doing them all!)

*****Let’s keep this one simple and clean - just a bunch of relatively easy ways to save money. As you incorporate more and more of these tips into your life, the savings add up and it wouldn’t surprise me if you could save thousands over the course of a year. read more

Lent

The season of Lent is fast approaching. Use this weekend to get together your plan, reading materials, website links, et al. Wednesday will be here before you know it.

Let us all know what you have planned for Lent. It would be fun and informative for me to be able to put them all up together in one post.

Ash Wednesday Prayers

Jesus, you place on my forehead
the sign of my sister Death:
“Remember you are dust,
and to dust you shall return.”

How not hear her wise advice?
One day my life on earth will end;
the limits on my years are set,
though I know not the day or hour.
Shall I be ready to go to meet you?
Let this holy season be a time of grace
for me and all this world.

“Teach us to number our days aright,
that we may gain wisdom of heart.”

O Jesus, you place on my forehead
the sign of your saving Cross:
“Turn from sin and be faithful
to the gospel.”

How can I turn from sin
unless I turn to you?

You speak, you raise your hand,
you touch my mind and call my name,
“Turn to the Lord your God again.”

These days of your favor
leave a blessing as you pass
on me and all your people.
Turn to us, Lord God,
and we shall turn to you.