That's because for years our family "vacations" were known by another term- PCS move- that's Permanent Change of Station, or transfer, for you civvies out there. My husband was in the military for 20 years- he was in boot camp on our first anniversary. During his career, we combined our new orders with a road trip and a few visits to sites of historical or personal interest. He saved up his leave for these trips. This is how our family managed to live frugal and still visit places like Yellowstone, Mt. Rushmore, Lliard Hot Springs in Canada, the natural history museum in Regina Canada, campgrounds in Alberta, Saskatchewan, and the Northwest Territory of Canada, as well as all along the Al-Can highway, many a natural history museum, Little Big Horn, Chimney Rock, the Grand Canyon, the Painted Dessert, art museums in California, Nebraska, a cowboy museum in Texas, the Olympic Peninsula and so much more. We were moving, and we took a little detour here and a little detour there.

The military pays families who are transferring a per Diem rate for food. That is supposed to be enough to cover eating out a restaurant, but we never found that it was quite enough for our family- our daughters are surprisingly healthy eaters. It was, however, more than enough to cover picnics, and if we did those right we might even have enough left over for part of the museum entrance fee.=)

My husband retired from the Air Force six years ago, and we no longer get a per Diem travel rate, nor do we do as much traveling. (On the plus side, we do make a little more money in the civilian sector, and he doesn't go overseas without us for two months out of every year). Still, what we learned during our military travels still works for us. Here are some of the things we do while traveling with family.

Foods that travel well:
dried fruits and vegetables. Some of us love snacking on sun dried tomatoes (look for sales, or learn to dry your own), some munch on raisins, my husband's dried fruit of choice is prunes.
Granola- make your own.
Nuts
boiled eggs if you have a good ice-chest
summer sausage
jerky
oranges- they come in their own wrapping and don't get squished like bananas. On the other hand, they can be messy.
Cabbage- seriously, my husband loves to munch on wedges of raw cabbage.
Pretzels
bread and muffins- especially if you freeze it first, pack in single layers in a tupperware container, and store in the ice-chest. We're going to be trying these 'main dish' muffins later this month- they are really miniature quiches you can hold and eat one-handed. We know they work for short car trips as we've been doing that for a few weeks now.
snack mixes- like chex mix- made from scratch, of course.=)
bagels

Sometimes I like to pack meals that we can easily eat in the car, and then we use the time we would have ordinarily spent eating visiting a park or a museum.

We might bring brown paper lunch bags and fill up the bags with our snack items- things like carrot sticks, fruit, chopped wedges of cabbage, popcorn, celery sticks, crackers, cheese, slices of sausage, nuts, raisins, home-made cookies, dried tomatoes, and cherry tomatoes. The Headmaster likes to eat raw green onions. You can usually pick up dried prunes quite inexpensively at the local dollar store or discount grocery.

We like sandwiches in pita or pocket bread best, because the filling isn't so likely to fall out. One of our favorite fillings is this Chinese Pork, either on its own, or mixed with cream cheese. You can make up a batch of this, put it in pocket bread sandwiches and freeze them. Then pack them frozen and eat in a day or two when they defrost.

Sometimes I make sandwiches at home and freeze them in advance. Other times I just pack the fixings. A favorite lunch to have at a picnic table somewhere is miniature shish-ka-bobs. I set out olives, pickles, cherry tomatoes, cubes of cheese or sausage, mushrooms, and canned pineapple chunks (don't forget your can opener!). We supply toothpicks or pretzel sticks and napkins. Each person makes their own miniature shish-ka-bobs on the toothpicks or pretzel sticks (the pretzel sticks tend to break unless you poke holes in the food first).

We find that breakfast is usually the cheapest meal to eat at a restaurant, so if we are going to eat out, that's the time we choose. If we don't want to eat at a restaurant at all, I pack yogurt and homemade granola, and we eat granola and yogurt while driving. Yogurt keeps better than milk while living from an ice-chest.

The harder cheeses keep better than soft ones.

peanut butter, of course, unless you have allergies. Have the peanut butter in sandwiches, in celery, or mixed with powdered milk and a dab of honey for peanut butter 'play dough cookies' (we roll them into balls and eat them)

"Melba" toast- one of our kids favorite snacks when young was home-made whole wheat bread sliced and toasted at a very low heat in the oven for a long enough time that it was dried all the way through. This kept well while traveling (just store it so it can't be crushed to crumbs) and is delicious with a mixture of cream cheese and grated cheese.

For a couple of trips where we weren't sure of hitting a grocery store, I grew sprouts while we traveled. I soaked a jar of sprouts overnight before we left, topping it off with a square cut off from an old nylon stocking and a rubber band. Three times a day when we stopped somewhere I rinsed and drained them. I prefer drinking fountains and pumps at parks to gas station restrooms.;-) That way we had a fresh vegetable just about the time our other fresh produce was running out.

We have also put snacks in ice cube trays. This is fun, but a bit messy at times. I like the tupperware ice-cube trays that have lids. The fun part about this is that small children like having this smorgasbord of snacks to choose from all divided up into little containers, but they are not overwhelmed by the amounts.

We each get a bottle of water that we refill as needed. I like to put a sprig of mint in mine, and I like to wrap other mint springs in a wet paper towel so I can have more when my first sprig is ready to be tossed (or eaten). The FYG has her water rationed because, while we are not unreasonable about bathroom stops, we do think every hour is a bit much.

Where to Stop
Whenever possible I like to take our driving breaks at museums or sites of historical interest, but it's also good to stop at places where the children can run off their pent up energy.

When the children were younger we would stop at rest stops and have foot races, climb trees, ask the children race to the next tree by hopping on one foot, jumping, hopping backward, skipping, and somersaulting- we could ask them to do these things under a watchful eye while we were getting out the picnic stuff. I pack sidewalk chalk and a jump-rope. We can sketch out a hopscotch pattern on the sidewalk in a moment, and the jump-rope can be used in a covered picnic area or in a ground floor hotel room on a rainy day.

Things to pack:
can opener
tablecloth for rest area picnic tables. I also like a quilt to spread out on the ground
paper towels and home-made wipes
water bottles
plates- this is up to you- you can pack one dessert plate for each person, use foods that won't be too messy, and rinse them off after each meal stop, or you can pack paper plates. Or plan foods that don't need plates, and use napkins- cloth can be rinsed, rung out, and set to dry in a sunny window or on top of the ice-chest, or just relax and use the disposable ones. Consider how frugally green you are being by NOT eating at a restaurant=)
ice chest
cheese slicer
vegetable peeler
paring knife and small cutting board (I have one that is only about 18 square inches, it fits nicely inside a ziplock bag with the paring knife and in the side of our ice-chest.
salt and pepper
Ziplock bags or other food storage containers

Other tips:
Plan regular grocery store stops along the way to replenish a few fresh vegetables, fruits, cheeses, and yogurts. I would buy a package of cream cheese and one of grated cheese and mix them in a ziplock bag, kneading until well combined, for a cheese spread for crackers.
Cottage cheese, dill and garlic make a favorite dip for vegetables.
If you long for a hot meal, go through the drive through of a fast food place and order one hot thing from the dollar menu, supplement with your own fruits and vegetables.
Learn to drink water, make sure your kids are fine with water. You will save SO much money this way.

Do some advance planning and prep- cut up turkey ham and freeze it in cubes, bake and freeze muffins and cookies, mix up some snack mix (we like oyster crackers, peanuts, mixed with dill, garlic powder and buttermilk powder and tossed with a bit of oil), make and freeze sandwiches (spreading them with butter will keep them from getting soggy when defrosted), dehydrate some cherry tomatoes or other products, make granola...

What are some of your favorite meals while traveling? How do you save money on food during road trips?

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Use magazine or catalog pages (because they are glossy so hold up better) and make a set of paper boats.  Make them really small and give them in an old metal tin formerly used to house mints (altoids, usually). Paint the tin or decoupage it if you like.

Use the old metal tins to hold the beads from several pieces of costume jewelry picked up at a thrift shop or yard sale (or from your old stash)- take apart the costume jewelry and give the beads, findings, and a bit of floss or fishing line to a child interested in making her own necklaces or bracelets.

We have found lots of old classic board games and puzzles at the thrift shop.  Games are easier to check to be sure they have all the pieces, and you can either take a chance with a puzzle or watch for puzzles that haven't been opened.

A small basket of 'go-together' things from the thrift shop and your own head:

• A couple of matchbox cars, a book about cars, a toy stop sign or house, and a plastic or vinyl placemat upon which you have drawn a few roads.
• A toy shark, a book about sharks, and a framed picture of a shark (you frame it from a picture from an old calendar or a book that the thrift shop tossed in with a batch of other books because it was falling apart), or some viewmaster cards about ocean creatures.
• A 'bedtime basket: two or three bedtime story books, a stuffed animal, and a comfy pair of pajamas made from a pair of sweat pants and a co-ordinating t-shirt.
• A jump rope, a set of jacks, and a book of jump rope rhymes (you could put this together yourself from jump rope rhymes you find online.
• Blocks and toy soldiers or toy animals.
• Have you ever noticed how many Christmas ornaments would also make nice items for the dollhouse?  Don't do this if any of your children still mouth their toys, as Christmas ornaments are not tested for child safety issues, such as lead paint and other hazards.  Use common sense.
• A few wood scraps, some old tools (simple things, a small hammer, a screw-driver, a wrench), and some nuts and bolts.
• A home-made batch of play-dough and some cookie cutters and a rolling pin from the thrift shop, along with other odds and ends that would make interesting shapes and patterns in the dough.

For young cooks or older cooks, look for small kitchen gadgets and build a present around that. One year at our house the 'easter basket' for each of our little girls was a stainless steel mixing bowl, a small wooden spoon, a small whisk,  and a small baking tin, and it was a big hit. Other kitchen related presents I thought of while browsing the thrift shop:

A nutmeg grater (I picked one up at the thrift shop for .50), a couple of whole nutmegs (this package could contain as many as a dozen whole nutmegs so you could make several little presents with them), and a batch of a recipe using grated fresh nutmeg along with a copy of the recipe (or forego the batch if you the present won't be opened for a while).  We like nutmeg muffins, immensely.

Cookie cutters, colored sugars (you can make your own by putting sugar and some food coloring in a small jar and shaking very, very well), and a recipe for sugar cookies.  Include a batch of dough if the present is to be opened immediately (this freezer recipe looks good).

A fluted pastry cutter and a recipe for these cookies (instead of cookie cutter shapes, roll out the dough and use the pastry wheel to make squares and diamonds), or for home-made noodles.

A teaball or tea infuser, a teacup and saucer (or a pair) and some looseleaf tea (check your local natural foods store, or consider making your own blend).

An apple corer-slicer and a recipe for an apple dip. If  you find a pretty bowl with a lid this would go nicely with this present , especially if you fill it with a batch of the dip.=)

For somebody with a green thumb:

If your recipient has a sunny window, consider a pretty pot of soil (I saw lots of pretty planters at the thrift shop) and some herb seeds, or buy some mint at the grocery store (produce section) and plant it in a pot.

A book on gardening , some seeds, graph paper, and an out of the ordinary gardening catalog (Johnny's Selected Seed, Seeds of Change, Territorial, Peaceful Valley Seeds, for example)- I saw lots of nice books on gardening at our thrift shop- not all 'how-to' books, but also pretty coffee table books, devotional type books, gardening memoirs both funny and sad.

A pretty shallow bowl, some flat glass beads, and a bulb for forcing.

For a young couple:

A basket of Christmas decorations

A pair of matching mugs or bowls and home-made hot cocoa mix, spiced tea, or ice-cream topping; add a deck of cards or some other game.

For a man:

Find a nice  'manly' tin, and wrap up a batch of cookies or home-made bread.  Include a home-made certificate entitling the recipient to one refill (or one refill a month, or membership in a 'cookie of the month' club).

Pick up a good thermos, if you can find one (I've seen a Stanley thermos at our thrift shop a couple of times), or a couple of sealable lunch containers.  Promise to keep them filled.=)

Put together a shaving kit- I found a boar hair bristle brush one year (admittedly, this will not be a common find, but you never know, and the point of this post is to prime your pump, not give you a dot to dot list), and included the brush, a bar of goat's milk soap, and mug to put it all in.   You can add a good razor and some aftershave.

A tie and a tie-pin- and if you cannot find a tie-pin you think he'll like, put together one of your own by finding a plainish, flat tie tack and using something like a dab of Gorilla Glue to attach a better front- look through thrift shop jewelry, craft supplies, and even on the fastentings of clothes to find something you think he'll like.

If your guy travels, you can put together a traveling kit for him- look for a nice small and manly bag at the thrift shop and add things like:

• small bottle of shampoo
• nail clippers
• pain-killer
• chapstick
• unscented lotion
• mouthwash
• toothpaste
• toothbrush
• floss
• laminated photo of you and the kids

While the items on this list are not exactly frugal, this is a really good source for ideas on all things manly.

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Those are a few of the ideas I had while browsing the thrift shop.  What are some of your more creative ideas for frugal gift giving?

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© DeputyHeadmistress for Frugal Hacks, 2009. | Permalink | 3 comments | Add to del.icio.us

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I have a purple thumb, but I'm persistent. I have killed two of just about every plant I've ever tried to grow. I've learned that annuals in a large pot on the front porch work for me. I just have to remind the kids to water them. Thank God it's rained most of the summer! lol

Other than commercial gardens, the only private gardens I've ever toured were members of the garden club I belonged to several years ago. I only joined in hopes of learning something, which I didn't, or to be inspired, which I wasn't. I was completely intimidated. Many of these women were master gardeners and most of them were retired with y-e-a-r-s of gardening experience. They had amazing gardens. I had 3 boys under the age of 6, the ability to kill marigolds and a raw property that needed serious landscaping to be even a little plantable. Gorgeous dream gardens weren't going to happen at my house.

One of the ladies from church invited me to her house last week. When I pulled in to the driveway I was completely blown away. From the red, white and blue buntings and rockers on the front porch; to the white picket fence with arbor, gate and climbing roses; to the hostas growing in the shade, somebody should take pictures of this place for a magazine! I was smitten. I asked her about her experience, how she did it, where she started, etc. Because it was raining I didn't get a tour, but I was able to go back today.

Sally is a mere mortal with a job, husband, several grandkids and a normal life. She has no master gardener certificate and told me she's killed her share of plants too. She said she just wanted to garden and starting planting things she liked, one plant at a time. Some grew well and some didn't. She learned what worked and moved or killed what didn't. I love the style that she's established! Romantic cottage gardens with lots of roses make me swoon.

So often we get intimidated by the "master gardeners" of frugality. We see how many amazing things they are doing, how much money they are saving, how many thousands of dollars of debt they've paid down or what great finds they nab. Sometimes it's discouraging to those starting out. But like my friend Sally just picked one plant and put it in the ground, you only need to embrace and apply one frugal idea at a time. You also need to find someone with a garden you love to answer your questions and inspire you as you get started. The same goes for frugality.

When you read blogs on frugality, I encourage you to pick up hints and tips, but also remember that this person, like my master gardeners, may have spent the last 10 years learning how to be frugal. I also encourage you to find bloggers whose lifestyle is similar to yours. I don't read blogs on serious portfolio building. That's Rich's thing. I read frugal blogs written by moms like me trying to be better homemakers. They inspire me, like Sally's garden.

Today I realized it won't take too much to transform the gardens the previous owner left into something that will make me smile. When I read frugal blogs I know that by applying a couple ideas I can save my family some additional money. Gardening doesn't seem quite so scary anymore. Frugality hasn't been scary for quite awhile. And if I need a bit of inspiration or a garden question answered, I have Sally's number. Or I can pop on over to the Frugal Hacks blogroll and rub shoulders with some of frugality's finest.

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© Janel for Frugal Hacks, 2008. | Permalink | 3 comments | Add to del.icio.us

My frugal philosophy has always been very simple: pray and wait on the Lord. Everything else is just a variation of that theme. If the object or problem in view is truly a need or a desire of the heart, the answer will turn up whether it's 10 minutes or ten years from now. I pray and wait and let God do his thing. He always does. God has shown me over the years that if money's the "problem", I have no problem. I'm his child. He owns the cattle on a thousand hills. He will provide all I need.

Although it's probably frugal blasphemy to admit that I have never read the Tightwad Gazette, I was intrigued when Meredith posted a link to a recent interview of the author. This Q&A caught my eye:

Have you ever considered writing The Tightwad Gazette again, perhaps in online form? I think it’d make a killer blog.

No, no. I’m really retired. Every once in a while I run across something that I think would be a cool topic and I wish I were still writing the newsletter, but there’s not that much that I’ve come across that’s enough different from the stuff I already wrote about to make a new newsletter. Read the Complete Interview

I relate. Although I've written a lot about frugality here at Frugal Hacks and at my blog for the last 2 years, there aren't many more frugal ideas - either inside or outside of the box - kicking around in my head. Unlike some others, frugality is not my passion. Frugality for me is part of Christianity. It's good stewardship and prudent living. Because of that, there is a part of frugality that knows when to pack the boxes and close up shop.

Whether it's a job, volunteer work or hobby, being frugal means examining not only the things we spend and save on, but how we spend and save our time. Along with the old cliche a penny saved is a penny earned, we know that time is money. If we're spending time doing things that we don't love, that drain us mentally or emotionally when we could be doing other things that energize us or would be a better use of our time, we need to stop and ask ourselves if what we're doing is what we're supposed to be doing. Sometimes it's yes, stay there for a season of learning; sometimes it's no, you must go. It's my time to go.

Being at Frugal Hack has been incredible! I wouldn't have missed it for the world. You gals (and guys) rock! But now, God has called me on to other things. I need to be prudent (and brave!) enough to pack up the boxes and move into a new stage of my life. It looks cool, but it's a little scary.

I want to leave you with one last Out of the Box thought. I contemplated what it should be. It's simple but honest: Don't look to the obvious. The obvious is spending even less, agonizing more, Googling for more frugal ways to save and the list goes on and on. So many times I've gone 'round and 'round with what ifs and thoughts and solutions only to waste precious time and yet be completely blown away when the answer finally arrived. If I can think it, it won't happen that way. God always shows up with an answer in the most amazing ways. Embrace prayer and be astounded with the answers...

Pop over and visit me from time to time. I'll never really ever truly give up writing about frugality. That would be like never shopping at another thrift store! Bah humbug on that! lol Besides, I gotta share my cool finds with gals who understand. 

Hugs,
Janel

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© Janel for Frugal Hacks, 2008. | Permalink | 7 comments | Add to del.icio.us

Some of my favorite ideas are using orphaned stemware for vases, candle holders and displaying little things the kids drag in. Using clothes dressers to hold normal everyday stuff, like my good dishes or games in the family room. And decorating with plates.

Have to many to list? Choose your favorites!

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© Janel for Frugal Hacks, 2008. | Permalink | 4 comments | Add to del.icio.us

I've already shared some of my thoughts on preventing boredom in kids, how to take advantage of your AAA membership for summer fun and where to find yearly passes to get into air conditioned museums for "free." So I went Googling for some other cool ideas for the hot summer to come. (Sorry, couldn't resist.) These are some my favorite finds...

Get discount tickets to amusement parks, vacation Bible school, Ariana's new favorite thing: sidewalk chalk, summer reading programs at your local library, swimming lessons, afternoons at the beach or kiddie pools, doing messy science projects and activities outdoors where you are close to the hose, long bike rides, picnics in unusual places and lazy afternoons in the hammock making up outrageous stories of adventure and beauty. (Or something like that... I ad libbed a bit.) 

I thought this was a terrific list of two dozen frugal summer activities. Suggestions include bird watching, putting on your own circus or Olympic games and having a stay at home vacation complete with tourist brochures. (Where do I sign up??)

I really liked the serial story idea that Frugal Fun offered. They have a list of rainy day activities too. Oh, and don't forget to take good children's literature with you on a picnic!

Frugal Dad talks about starting a family fun jar. Those ideas will be great for rainy summer days.

So Moms, are you stocking up on your top secret warm weather fun arsenal? What are some of your favorite (and cheap) warm weather activities?

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© Janel for Frugal Hacks, 2008. | Permalink | 3 comments | Add to del.icio.us

During my errand run early this morning, I decided to stop at Sears Essentials. Although I came up with zero for sandals, their winter clearance sale was an incredible find! Most of their remaining winter clothing is 75% off the already discounted price of 60% off. That's my kind of sale: picking up good quality new pieces for about 10-12% of the original price.

Until the cashier noted that the winter coat I nabbed for my daughter at $8.50 was normally "rather expensive," I didn't think anything of the original prices. I had been doing the math with the pink sticker price. The original price for the coat? $70. Do people really pay that much for little girl's winter coats? I thought I was being extravagant when I spent $22 at Target to buy her a coat that she's worn for 3 winters.

Like everything else, you need to know your prices and understand quality. Sometimes buying new is cheaper for numerous reasons. The new shirts and sweaters I picked up for myself this morning were each less than the local Goodwill price for used. Because they came from Sears, they are on the side of better quality and will likely last longer.

Learning to get the best deals on clothing is a balance between good gossip, experience and drawing lines. A girlfriend swears that L.L. Bean jeans for little boys at $20 a pair are nearly indestructible and worth every penny. She doesn't have to deal with holey knees like I do. A decent pair of everyday shoes that I might pay $40 for, will determine if I'm still moving without pain at 7pm. On the other hand, I generally only buy dress shoes from the thrift store for $2 or $3 a pair. No matter the savings, I won't buy thrift store underwear...

So where have you consistently found the best deals? What do you think is worth spending extra on and what's worth grabbing where ever? Any frugal tips specifically for kids or adult clothing?

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© Janel for Frugal Hacks, 2008. | Permalink | 16 comments | Add to del.icio.us

After this winter, I'm finally feeling alive again. I've spent the last week cheerfully catching up on painting, projects and making a huge donation pile for Goodwill. I'm a happy, happy woman! Yesterday we started tackling the current catch all black hole known as the family room. I'm pleased with our halfway progress.

Some of you may envy me for having a big house and get testy when I whine about it. I can appreciate that. Unfortunately, if you magically got one like it tomorrow, you would find out that big houses come with hidden and unrealized costs. By the way, those expenses have nothing to do with the mortgage payment, closing costs or taxes.

Despite my occasional whine, it is wonderful to have two extra bedrooms and separate bath for overnight company and a living room big enough to fit 15 or so comfortably. It's helpful because we entertain often. But with the benefits come the oft forgotten expenses. You have to have extra linens, beds and pillows so overnight guests don't have to sleep on the floor, cold and shivering. There are chairs needed to fill the living and dining rooms. And you have to buy toilet paper almost weekly because with three active bathrooms and a spare, you don't want to find yourself lacking - if you know what I mean. e'hem

Big houses also take more time to keep clean, cost more to maintain and, if you are not ruthlessly diligent about dumping clutter like I haven't had the energy to do this winter, they become black holes for stuff that can mess with your schedule, your productivity and your sanity. But you've already heard me preach about stuff and the cost per square foot. Fill wisely. Dump generously.

Houses aren't the only thing that have hidden costs. Cars have their own missed expenses. Family hobbies, such as historical reenacting, can cost as much as skiing. Anybody got a pet? My parents are conservative about what they spend on their dog, but I am shocked and amazed at what they do spend. I don't want to know what people who pamper their pets shell out.

I've found that there are frugal ways to handle hidden expenses. I pray a lot and God is always gracious to provide. I consistantly find needed things on clearance or at the thrift store. I now have plenty of dining chairs nabbed as a set at a church sale for $5. Yard sales and thrift stores abound with cheap dishes in old styles that make my heart skip a beat and mix and match wonderfully for a creative dinner table. Although I haven't mastered cleaning every room of the house in the same week, I have managed to train apprentices to do dishes, wash clothes and accomplish the fine art of toilet scrubbing.

I've also found that God doesn't just provide, but he often provides abundantly. Two years ago we had someone give us like-new Ethan Allen solid cherry sleigh bed with a new mattress and 3 sets of Waverly sheets. And although I regretfully declined it, I was offered a grand piano that included moving expenses. Praying and waiting is a powerful resource.

What hidden expenses have you unhappily uncovered? Have you found a way around them frugally or are you still looking?

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© Janel for Frugal Hacks, 2008. | Permalink | 3 comments | Add to del.icio.us

When we invite folks over, the first thing out of their mouths after they agree to come is, "What can we bring?" I used to answer, "Nothing, just come!" only to be met with guilt or insistence or have them show up with something anyhow, making everyone feel awkward. Bad, bad hostess.

It's taken awhile to suppress my inner Italian grandmother: "I cook; you eat!!" I've had to re-frame my thinking about why our guests want to bring something. I don't invite people over for the food they'll insist on leaving behind or to impress them with my "magnificent" {e'hem, cough} kitchen talent. I invite them because I like hanging out and enjoy their friendship! They come bearing gifts for the same reason.

Social issues aside, the main reason I hate to have folks bring anything is because I know that they will likely stop and purchase something that costs what the entire from-scratch meal cost to make. My frugal conscience goes into orbit at the extra expense of not buying things on sale and knowing I could make it for 1/4 the price of ready made. But if I don't suggest something, I know they'll feel awkward about coming empty handed. Or worse, they'll bring a gift that I won't be able to use and have to discretely dispose of. Or they'll bring a plant that I will kill! Much, much worse...

Rich and I have discussed the "what can I bring?" phenomena and my related guilt ad infinitum. On one hand we find that most people don't think anything of dropping $10-$15 or more for ready made stuff, and often splurge, because it's for someone else. (aaaah!!) On the other hand, although I enjoy cooking for a crowd, some of our guests feel like I'm slaving away in the kitchen. And that makes them uncomfortable! The conclusion we've come to? We (read I) need to get over it and accept their reciprocal offering of hospitality - no matter the cost. Considering others' feelings is frugal too.

Although I love to bake and have a whole host of delicious things up my sleeve, I generally suggest that company bring dessert. When dessert is taken care of, I can plan the basic meal around cheap, healthy ingredients and make a good, simple meal. That means no guilt for over spending on my end and I can take the gifts offered as they were intended: with love and friendship.

Curious about my menu? Last night, I fed 9 folks and have generous leftovers for about $15:

• Boneless chicken breasts stuffed with seasoned goat cheese - Chicken on sale for $1.79lb. I get the goat cheese for less at Sam's Club or Trader Joe's and only use just enough to flavor the chicken.
• Sweet brown rice risotto - I use a modified version of Rachael Ray's Easiest Risotto, only I made it with whole grain rice. If I'm using whole grain rice I have to use about a 1:3 ratio of rice to liquid, simmer rapidly, then after all the liquid is added, cover and simmer until tender. It takes about an hour with little fuss.
• Huge tossed salad with leaf lettuce, carrots, cukes & tomatoes and homemade dressing

For about the same price, our company brought 2 half gallons of ice cream, rainbow sprinkles, whipped cream and chocolate sauce. Everyone enjoyed the make your own sundaes.

What are some of your thoughts, struggles and resolution with "What can I bring?" Please tell me I'm not the only one suffering from "Italian Grandmother Syndrome"!

P.S. Has anybody done the math on cheap chicken pieces with bones vs. boneless breasts? By the time you fuss with the bones, it seems like it's cheaper, and you get more meat, when you buy boneless breasts even though they cost more per pound upfront.

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© Janel for Frugal Hacks, 2008. | Permalink | 24 comments | Add to del.icio.us