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We Paid Cash: A New Kitchen
A testimony from Liz
Shortly after we were married, my husband and I started house hunting. Our budget was pretty limited but we finally found a builder who was building houses in our price range.
The downside to a brand-new home in our price range meant that everything was budget grade. We were so excited to have a new house that we didn’t care. Fast forward 15 years, the trendy counter top I picked out was outdated and our budget cupboards had seen better days.
I was so dissatisfied with my kitchen that it was influencing the joy that I felt in my home. I constantly nagged my husband about it. It may seem petty, but I actually prayed for the discontentment to be taken away. I truly wasn’t expecting the answer that I received from my prayers.
While listening to the radio one day, my husband found out a local kitchen remodeling store was offering a giveaway for $4,000 worth of free counter tops. We both agreed that if we won we would get new cabinets.
To our delight, my husband’s ticket won!
We told the builder that we would need to wait to install so we could save money for cupboards, too. The plan we immediately implemented was to:
- Curtail our eating out
- Cut our grocery budget
- Significantly cut back on Christmas spending
- Sell items we no longer needed
We had the floor plans drawn up right away so we had an idea of how much money we would need. We wanted to get higher-quality cupboards, new appliances, a garbage disposal, and a better kitchen layout.
To keep our expenses down we:
- Re-used the existing cupboard hardware
- Had the plans fit the existing footprint eliminating the need for new flooring
- Re-used our dishwasher even though it didn’t match our new stainless steel appliances
Shortly after Christmas I found out I would be getting a nice bonus that would help pay for the cupboards. I called the builder to let them know we were ready to start.
Much to my delight the cupboards we had picked out were on sale — saving us about 15% off the original quote! At this point, the only items left to worry about were the appliances. To help pay for those we sold our refrigerator, stove, old kitchen cupboards and counter tops, and saved our tax return money.
When it came time to buy appliances, we mercilessly shopped for the best price. We watched for deals, price matched, and used a last-minute coupon to get a terrific price on a stove, refrigerator, and microwave.
It took us about nine months to save enough money. Our total out of pocket for the remodel and new appliances was about $9,000 — which (between my bonus, our tax return, the items we sold, and the money we saved) was paid for completely with cash!
In addition to being a wife and mother, Liz works outside the home and blogs at Wonder Woman I’m Not – a home management blog for the busy woman striving to find balance in their lives.
Have you saved up and paid cash for something — large or small? Submit your story for possible publication here.
Do-It-Yourself: Button Headbands
SnailPaceTransformations.com shows you how to make homemade your own button headbands.
Do you have a fun and frugal DIY idea to share? I’d love to hear about it! Read the submission guidelines and submit it here.
Who needs a sewing machine when you can use tape?
Reader Tip: Re-Grow Your Own Veggies
Stephanie emailed in the following tip:
Did you know that instead of throwing out the stems of romaine lettuce or celery you can re-plant them?
Just cut the ends off of the plants (about two inches from the base), put in a shallow dish of water, and let them sit for a day or two.
Then plant the pieces in the vegetable garden with the stalk side up and water thoroughly. You could also plant them in any container filled with dirt if you don’t have a garden, just make sure they get plenty of sun.
Once you have them growing, you can cut off your new lettuce/celery on an “as needed” basis.
What a great way to save yourself some money at the grocery store! -Stephanie
40 things you can create from toilet paper tubes
DIY Crafty Projects has pictures and links to 40 different things you can create from toilet paper tubes, including the wall-hanging shown above. Talk about creativity at its finest!
Ask the Readers: What are some of your most frugal recipes?
Today’s question is from Bobbie-Jo:
In lieu of the $30 grocery budget post… I would love know what readers’ most frugal recipes are that they turn to when money is really tight. -Bobbie-Jo
Do you have a question you’d like to ask Money Saving Mom® readers? Read the submission guidelines and submit it here.
Books We Love: Taken (plus a special offer from the author!)
As you’ve probably noticed from my weekly goal posts, we’ve been reading Quest for Truth: Taken together over the past few months. It’s a thick book and it’s a little above Kathrynne’s level, but she really got into it — as did our whole family. 🙂
Brock Eastman, co-author of one our family’s favorite Imagination Station books, found out we love the Imagination Station books so he asked if he could send us one of his other books. And I’m so glad he did!
From the moment I picked up Taken, I was pretty sure it was going to be a book Kathrynne would enjoy. Boy, was I right!
The characters are fascinating, especially if you love mystery, science fiction, and high-tech gadgets. The storyline is fast-paced and packed with adventure and cliff-hangers. (Kathrynne was on the edge of her seat while I was reading aloud. She kept begging for “Just another chapter, please!”)
If your family is looking for a family-friendly science fiction novel, you’ll definitely want to consider getting a copy of Taken. We’re already anxious to get started on the just-released second book in the series — Risk.
Special Offer! Get a Signed Copy of Taken or Risk for Just $7.49 + Shipping!
I was chatting with Brock the other day and I mentioned I was going to be doing a short review and plug for his book on my blog. Well, being the generous guy he is, he offered to put together some special prices on signed copies of his books.
There are limited numbers of these available, so if you’re interested, I wouldn’t hesitate to jump on this deal — it’s the best deal you’re likely going to find online. In fact, Brock’s not making a penny by offering these: he just wanted to bless my readers with a great deal!
So, what are you waiting for? Go get your signed copy of Taken or Risk for just $7.49 plus shipping. You can also get a copy of HowlSage for $9.99 plus shipping or a copy of The Imagination Station Series Book #5 for just $2.99 plus shipping.
Why I Think You Should Give Getting Up Early a Try
I try to get up between 5 and 6 a.m. most mornings. If I go to bed early enough, I’ll get up even earlier than that.
Yes, it might sound crazy to some of you night owls and yes, there are seasons of life when I’ve skipped early rising in favor of much-needed sleep (when I was pregnant and/or waking up multiple times in the night with a baby/child), but I’ve found that I get so much more done by getting up early than I ever do by staying up late.
Even if I can’t get up really early, I have found that getting up just 15 minutes before my children do makes a world of difference in my day. I start the day out with more clarity and purpose, I’m more organized, and I’m a much more cheerful and relaxed mom.
In addition, when I get up early, I usually go to bed earlier, which results in better sleep for me. (I’m not sure what it is, but I seem to get a much more restful night’s sleep when I go to bed before 10 p.m.!)
I know that getting up early doesn’t work for everyone, but I’d encourage everyone to at least give it a try for a six-week period to see if it makes a difference. As I always say, you can’t knock something until you’ve at least tried it. 🙂
Since getting up early has made such a difference in my life, I was especially excited to read Laura Vaderkam’s new ebook, What the Most Successful People Do Before Breakfast. It’s a short read, but packed with lots of inspiration as to how to use your mornings well.
It’s not enough to get up early, though, you also need to make sure that you wisely prioritize your time and energy in the early morning hours so that it effectively benefits your day — and your life.
In this ebook, Laura shares a peek into the lives of some very successful people — and how they are structuring their lives to make the most of the morning hours. What works for them might not work for you, but I promise you’ll be inspired to make the most of your mornings — whether or not you are an early riser.
Be sure to check out Laura’s guest post from Monday on What the Most Successful People Do Before Breakfast. In addition, you might enjoy Carrie’s post on What the Happiest Moms Do Before Breakfast.
Want some practical help with setting up your day for success? Be sure to grab a copy of my brand-new online course, Make Over Your Mornings.
This 14-day online course includes videos, a workbook, and step-by-step projects and is designed to help you revolutionize your productivity, streamline your routines, invest your time in things that truly matter, and find more joy and peace in the process.
If you’ve ever wished that you could figure out how to get more done, have more organization in your life, and find time to spend on things you love, the Make Over Your Mornings Course is for you. Find out more about it here.
Homemade English Muffin Bread
Not only is this English Muffin Bread so delicious, it’s also extremely easy to make and is a very frugal alternative to store-bought english muffins!
Homemade English Muffin Bread is a winner!
As one of my do-it-yourself projects, I planned to make English Muffins.
However, after some blog commenters suggested I try English Muffin Bread instead, I decided it looked much, much easier to make.
I’m so glad I tried this recipe. It’s a winner. So easy to make, so frugal, and so good!
What is English Muffin bread?
English Muffin bread is a coarse-textured bread with a crisp crust that is ideal for toasting.
It tastes exactly like the English Muffins you’ve come to love (with those little nooks and crannies) but it’s way faster and easier to make!
English Muffin Bread Recipe Ingredients
- 2 1/2 cups warm water
- 3 1/2 teaspoons yeast
- 1 Tablespoons salt
- 1 1/2 Tablespoons sugar
- 5 1/2 cups flour (I used unbleached all-purpose flour.)
How to make Homemade English Muffin Bread
1. In a large bowl, mix together all ingredients (a KitchenAid works well — or you can do it by hand with a wooden spoon).
2. Cover bowl with a cloth and let dough rise in a warm place until doubled (skip this step if using rapid rise yeast).
3. Punch down the dough and “scoop” half of the dough into two well-greased loaf pans (dough will be extremely sticky).
4. Cover pans with a cloth an let dough rise again until it reaches the top of the pans.
5. While dough rises for the 2nd time, preheat your oven to 350º
6. When dough is fully risen, put pans in preheated oven and bake for 45 minutes, or until golden brown.
7. Remove pans from oven and brush the tops of loaves with melted butter.
8. Cool completely before cutting.
To freeze:
Let the loaf cool completely. Slice and put in an airtight ziptop freezer bag in the freezer for up to six weeks.
To thaw:
Remove the desired number of slices and let thaw at room temperature for 30 minutes to one hour (or thaw in the microwave). Warm in the oven or microwave or toast.
Recipe for English Muffin Bread Tips
Don’t freak out if the dough is very sticky — it’s supposed to be that way! You don’t need to worry about shaping it into loves — just literally scoop the dough into 2 loaf pans and let it rise.
Also, it freezes wonderfully — so save yourself a bunch of time and slice the bread before you freeze it, then you can simply pull out one or two slices whenever you want toast.
If you want to increase the nutritional value, you could make it with half whole-wheat flour.
My husband isn’t a huge bread person, but he absolutely adores this bread. He has raved about it repeatedly and often asks if we can have it with dinner!
How to store this Recipe for English Muffin Bread
I slice the loaves after they cool, then packaged them in freezer bags. We take out however many slices we want at a time — so easy!
Best Ways to Eat This English Muffin Loaf
English Muffin Bread is best served warm or toasted with butter and jam/jelly or honey.
A loaf of English Muffin Bread would be such a lovely gift, paired with homemade jam or honey.
Recipe English Muffin Bread FAQs
English muffin vs sourdough bread
English muffin bread uses store-bought yeast as its leavening agent while sourdough bread uses wild yeast from the air. Sourdough bread is “long-fermented” which helps to break down some of the carbohydrates and protein in the flour, releasing gas, which makes the bread rise (and makes it easier for many people to digest).
What is the difference between English muffin bread and regular bread?
English Muffin dough is quite wet and cannot be shaped into loaves like traditional bread dough. The texture of the finished bread is also unlike traditional bread in that English Muffin bread has a smaller crumb, a tougher crust, is slightly denser, and has more nooks and crannies (especially after toasting).
Is English muffin bread healthy?
Homemade bread is better for you than store-bought bread with all its added preservatives. However, bread made from white all-purpose flour doesn’t have much nutritional value (but it sure tastes good!) If you use freshly ground whole grain flour, then English muffin bread would be much more nutritious.
Recipe
Homemade English Muffin Loaf
Ingredients
- 2 ½ cups warm water
- 3 ½ tsp yeast (active dry)
- 1 tbsp salt
- 1 ½ tbsp sugar
- 5 ½ cups flour (I used unbleached all-purpose)
Instructions
- In a large bowl, mix together all ingredients (a KitchenAid works well — or you can do it by hand with a wooden spoon).
- Cover bowl with a cloth and let dough rise in a warm place until doubled (skip this step if using rapid rise yeast).
- Punch down the dough and “scoop” half of the dough into two well-greased loaf pans (dough will be extremely sticky).
- Cover pans with a cloth an let dough rise again until it reaches the top of the pans.
- While dough rises for the 2nd time, preheat your oven to 350º
- When dough is fully risen, put pans in preheated oven and bake for 45 minutes, or until golden brown.
- Remove pans from oven and brush the tops of loaves with melted butter.
- Cool completely before cutting.
Notes
To freeze:
Let the loaf cool completely. Slice and put in an airtight ziptop freezer bag in the freezer for up to six weeks.
To thaw:
Remove the desired number of slices and let thaw at room temperature for 30 minutes to one hour (or thaw in the microwave). Warm in the oven or microwave or toast.
Nutrition
Serving: 1slice | Calories: 130kcal | Carbohydrates: 27g | Protein: 4g | Fat: 0.4g | Saturated Fat: 0.1g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 0.1g | Monounsaturated Fat: 0.1g | Sodium: 351mg | Potassium: 42mg | Fiber: 1g | Sugar: 1g | Vitamin C: 0.002mg | Calcium: 6mg | Iron: 2mg
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Five Frugal Ways to Keep Kids Reading This Summer
Guest post from Caren of The Prudent Reader
As a parent and school media specialist, I know how important it is to keep kids reading over the summer months.
Now that school assignments are over, its time to focus on finding material that your child is interested in reading. My experience has been that even students who claim they don’t like to read, like to read something. Which is why providing a wide range of material to select from is so important.
Visit Your Local Library
A weekly visit to your local library should be part of your summer routine. An hour spent at the library, letting children look through books on any topic of interest, is time well spent.
Be sure to spend time looking at both fiction and nonfiction material. Some students have no interest in reading stories but love to read nonfiction.
Daily Reading Time
Depending on the age of your children, this may involve you reading to the children, or the children reading independently. Either way, approximately 30 minutes each day set aside for reading is a great habit to establish during lazy summer days.
When my children were younger, we would schedule reading time in the late afternoon. When the temperature was at its highest, a relaxing activity was most welcome.
Even if your children are reading independently, it is still important to read aloud to them occasionally. And if they are spending this time reading on their own, set a good example and use this time to catch up on your personal reading list.
Shop Garage Sales and Thrift Stores
You can find children’s books at amazingly low prices at garage sales and thrift stores. I have found great kid’s books for as little as a quarter.
Your library may also have a used book sale. Our local library sells children’s books for a dime.
Paperback Swap
When searching for a particular title, one of the first places I look is PaperBackSwap.com. Paperback Swap is not just for paperbacks. They have hardcover and audio books as well.
In a nutshell, this is how it works: You list books that you are ready to part with. If someone requests one of the books you have listed, you accept their request and mail the book via media mail. The cost to you is the cost of shipping your old book (around $2.50, depending on the book’s size). For each book you mail, you get a book credit.
When you see a book you would like, you simply request the book. You “pay” for the book with your book credit and another member sends the book to you.
Ebooks
For an unbelievable variety of reading material at a great price (often free), you can’t beat ebooks. For reluctant readers who wouldn’t be caught reading a book on vacation, the “cool” factor of holding a handheld device may overcome their resistance.
And ebooks are easily transportable. In fact, you can take your entire library with you on vacation.
How do you encourage summer reading for your kids?
Find more tips about frugal ways to obtain reading material at The Prudent Reader.
Do It Yourself: Framed Chalkboard
TheFamilyCEO.com shows you how to make homemade framed chalkboard.
Do-It-Yourself: Raspberry Banana Frozen Yogurt Popsicles
AngelaStrand.com shows you how to make homemade Raspberry Banana Frozen Yogurt Popsicles.
This week’s menu
English Muffin Bread
Breakfasts
Green Monster Smoothies (plus cereal or oatmeal for the children)
Whole-Wheat Peanut Butter Pancakes, fruit
Omelets in a Muffin Tin, fruit
Morning Glory Muffins, hard-boiled eggs
Toast, scrambled eggs
Oatmeal
CerealLunches
Chicken, sweet potatoes, peas
Salad, hard-boiled eggs, toast, fruit
Peanut Butter & Jelly Sandwiches from the freezer
Snack-y lunch
Brown Bag Burritos
Leftovers x 2Snacks
Grain-Free Peanut Butter Chocolate Chip Cookie Dough Bites
Strawberry Ice Cream (dairy-free/sugar free)Dinners
Leftovers
Steak, baked potatoes, steamed veggies
Chicken, steamed veggies, wild rice, fruit
Barbecued Meatballs, sweet potatoes, steamed veggies, fruit
Dinner out at Subway
Pizza Pockets from the Freezer, fruit salad, steamed veggies
Lasagna Casserole, English Muffin Bread (toasted), steamed broccoli, fruit
What’s on your menu this week? Share details and/or your link to your menu plan in the comments.
10 Goals for This Week
The HEAV conference last week was fantastic!
There were so many details that came together, so many answers to prayer, and so many exciting things that happened in those few short days and the whole thing was a wonderful experience. I am so thankful to those of you who prayed for me, who took time to chat and share with me at the conference, and for those of you who made sacrifices to come to my workshops.
I was especially excited that I thoroughly enjoyed speaking five times, even if it was a little exhausting! It is truly God who is helping this once-very-shy-and- scared-to-death-of-public-speaking girl to actually feel at ease and confident in front of a room full of people!
This week, it’s back to regular life again — and there’s nothing I love more than quiet, slow-paced days at home with my children!
Last week’s six goals:
Family/Mothering Goals
1. Pick out new books to start reading aloud to the girls individually, as well as to everyone.
2. Write a love note to Jesse.
Personal Goals
3. Finish reading The Referral Engine: Teaching Your Business to Market Itself
Without a Word: How a Boy’s Unspoken Love Changed Everything
4. Sleep for at least 7.5 hours every night.
Business Goals
5. Finish tweaking workshops and powerpoints for Virginia Homeschool Conference.
6. Travel to Virginia Homeschool Conference with Jesse and Kathrynne for speaking engagement.
And this week’s six goals:
Family/Mothering Goals
1. Start reading The Railway Children aloud to all the children, The Missing Video (reading to Kathrynne), and Little House in the Big Woods (reading to Kaitlynn).
2. Go to a baseball game as a family.
3. Write a love note to Jesse.
Personal Goals
4. Finish reading The Referral Engine: Teaching Your Business to Market Itself
5. Run at least five times; start weight-lifting program.
6. Listen to 2 hours of The One-Minute Entrepreneur.
7. Sleep for at least 8 hours every night.
Home Management
8. Clean out my bathroom drawers.
9. Experiment with one new homemade cleaner recipe.
Business Goals
10. Start new 4-week blogging series (more details coming this week!)
How did you do on last week’s goals? What are your goals for this week? I’d love to have you share your progress on last week’s goals and your goals for this coming week in the comments. Of, if you’ve blogged about it, leave your direct link below. Let’s cheer each other on to live purposeful and productive lives!
You can download a free customizable weekly goal-planning sheet here.