Tightwad
Tips
by
Patti Muma
November
9, 1998
"ENJOYING
THE SEASON"
Fall
is here and what a beautiful one it has been.
The
HARVEST SEASON has always been a time of celebration and praise
for
families throughout the centuries. The blessing of crops and wages
for
rural families; often the only income they would see, was always seen
as
blessings from the Lord. Nothing was ever taken for granted and nothing
was
ever wasted.
With
this in mind, I would like to spend this time with you considering
how
each of us can reduce waste in our daily lives.
I'm
not sure how many people would refer to themselves as "wasetful"
or
even "spendthrifts", yet how many of us truly do ALL we can to
SAVE?
Our gifts and resources are so precious.
Everyday
should be spent wisely, learning and working towards
our
goals which, for many of us, include financial security.
Money
is an obvious resource worth saving.
As
is food, energy and the Earth around us.
The
far stretching arms of conservation touch many areas
of
the life we share with those we love.
Teaching
our children frugal ways will bless them well into
their
future that you are working so hard to prepare them for.
With
Holdays quickly approaching, the budgets seem to be
tighter
than ever. All parents try their best to provide
a
"magical" and special Christmas. None of us want our little ones to
be
disappointed on Christmas morning.
The
Holidays need to start with THANKSGIVING,
teaching
our kids to focus on the blessings we each
have
been given, material and otherwise.
I
try to point towards HISTORY when teaching my own children.
Families
in the 1800's often made due with very little and
many
were willing to share that!
These
examples are found in such favorites as
"The
Little House" series and "Little Women".
This
THANKSGIVING we will share our dinner
with
a family who we are very grateful for; we want to share our food,
our
time and our lives with special people who bless our
daily
lives with joy and Christ-like love.
This
spirit will carry us into the beautiful Christmas Season.
We
are very careful not to over commit our time and energy
to
the "man-made" activities of the season.
SAVE
your energy, time, patience and attention for
praise
and worship with your family.
Protect
the sanctuary of your home...
all
of your loved ones will need the quiet comfort you can provide.
I
suggest keeping decorations to a minimum.
This
is much less expensive and easier on you
(and
you will thank me on January 2nd when it's time to pack!)
Let
Martha Stewart create heirloom cookies and decorate her garage...
you
have a home to manage, kids to teach and a husband to love.
He
won't notice you didn't make a wreath from hand-picked
fir
boughs! Dear Hubby will be grateful for a tree that doesn't
lean
left and miniature lights that work!
The
#1 resource you can save this Holiday Season
is
yourself. Save your time, energy and your JOY
for
He who deserves your best.
As
for the material advice I can share with you this month,
Look
to the experts.
Look
for the following books:
The
Tightwad Gazette, Volumes I, II and III
and
Miserly
Mom's
A
Few Frugal Recipe's
still
fancy enough for the Holidays
Orange
Cinnamon Coffee
1\3
cup ground coffee
1
1\2 grated orange peel
1\2
tsp. cinnamon
Place
these ingredients into the coffee filter
1\2
tsp. vanilla
(mixed
with water before pouring into coffee maker)
Pour
water into pot and brew!
(This
cost just pennies per pound...gourmet coffee
can
cost more than $6.99 per pound!)
Corn
Bread Pudding
2
boxes Jiffy Corn Bread Mix
1
egg
16oz.
can creamed corn
Blend
all ingredients well and place in a well
greased
8"x8" pan. Bake at 375* for 40 minutes
This
easy dish is elegant enough for Christmas Day!
Cheese
and Butter Bites
2
tubes refrigerated biscuit dough
2
sticks butter (1 cup)
1\2
cup grated parmesan cheese
Open
tubes of biscuits and cut each one into quarters;
set
aside. Melt butter and then add cheese; still until
smooth.
Dip each biscuit quarter into the mixture and
place
on oiled cookie sheet.
Bake
at 375* for 10 minutes
A
yummy snack or a great appetizer for a Holiday Party
My
Best Fancy Cookies
1
Box of Toll House Crackers
Smooth
Peanut Butter
Chocolate
Bark
(White
chocolate is beautiful but use
milk
chocolate if you prefer)
Make
little peanut butter sandwiches with the
crackers.
Melt chocolate in a double boiler.
Now
just dip the cracker sandwiches into the
chocolate
and allow to cool on wax paper.
These
look expensive and people will be amazed
when
you tell them how these are made! These
cookies
do not have a strong peanut butter
taste...try
'em!
Email
Patti
Go
to TIGHTWAD TIPS, page #1
Go
to "Living Beyond Adversity"
Go
to "Homeschooling Beyond Adversity"
~Happy
Holiday's From the Muma Family~
This
space courtesy of GeoCities
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