About 15 months ago now, we embarked on a new "make our own" adventure: Vanilla Extract!

Making homemade vanilla extract is simple, and can save significant money long-term, especially if you do a lot of baking!

(Read more for the recipe and pictures...)

When Joshua and I were first married (almost 8 years ago), a friend introduced us to Whole Wheat Berry Pancakes, an easy whole wheat recipe that doesn't require a grain mill. We've made these pancakes ever since, and they're Joshua's favorite pancakes!

The whole grain wheat is put into a blender with some milk and blended until smooth. Add a couple eggs, brown sugar, baking powder, and salt and blend for another minute before pouring the batter on a hot griddle to cook. So easy and so delicious! :)

I added some frozen blueberries to the pancakes in these pictures. We ate them hot with a little butter! The brown sugar in the pancake batter makes them sweet enough for our tastes, so we rarely use syrup.

For anyone interested in using fresh whole grains, but not wishing to purchase a grain mill for heavy use, these blender pancakes are a fun and easy way to start! :)

Okay, first, this is not a link to sign up for free mailing supplies. (If it were, you'd probably be seeing it over at Money Saving Mom, and not here!) ;)

However, I have been requesting lots of free samples for all kinds of other things, and another perk is that some of the freebies come in little boxes or bubble envelopes.

I open them carefully, and then I can re-use the bubble envelopes (I just tape a paper with the recipient's address over the spot that had my address). Bubble envelopes are so nice for mailing things! :)

One handy little box became my children's crayon box. And the boys have had loads of fun playing with countless other little boxes that I didn't plan to re-use. :)

In the course of the past 4 months of receiving free samples, I now have a nice little stash of mailing supplies, mostly bubble envelopes. Those are like an "extra" freebie, right? :)

And while we're on the topic of freebies (can you tell I'm addicted?!), the free sample-size packets of granola bars, snacks, or other food items are just perfect for sending in Joshua's lunch. It's even more fun when he didn't see them come in the mail, and I get to surprise him with something new to try! :)

Now, head on over to Jessica's blog for more frugal ideas and tips! :)

This post was originally published in 2008.

Edited to add: When we moved last year, I used many of my free bubble envelopes to pack breakable items for our move! :) I still maintain a nice little stash of bubble envelopes, and it's so handy to have whatever size I need for mailing things! :)

I just ordered some new (unused) 41-cent postage stamps for 34 cents each. That means that the roll of 100 stamps cost $34.00 instead of $41.00 (includes shipping). How is this possible? Ebay. :)

For some time now (at least 2 years), my younger brother Phillip has been ordering unused postage stamps from eBay for less than face value. Often, the stamps are a cent or two below the current first-class postage rate. For example, my last roll was 39-cent stamps, and I had to add a 2-cent stamp each time I mailed something. However, the stamps were cheap enough that I was still saving several cents on each mailing.

Since I've never ordered anything from eBay myself, I interviewed Phillip to get the scoop on how he finds these great deals (which he passes on to me!). Read more...

I grew up in a home where beans were rarely served (and then, it was either baked beans or my mom's chili).

Joshua grew up eating lots of beans and rice, and when we got married he told me that beans really weren't his favorite... especially not beans and rice.

We've been married 7 years now and I've really expanded my recipe collection when it comes to beans! I've been able to find lots of yummy meals that include beans and satisfy my husband's taste buds! :)

One such recipe from the past year has been the dreaded... beans and rice. The first night I served beans and rice, I didn't even tell Joshua what I had made for dinner! I just served it up. ;) And as I had hoped... my version of beans and rice was acceptable to him! He actually said it was good!! I was so delighted, since the children and I all love it! :)

I don't have a "real" recipe, but here is how I make my beans and rice:

I cook pinto beans following this recipe. We like our beans nice and tender! :) Adding the salt and Tapatio hot sauce called for in that recipe makes for some fabulous tasting beans!

I cook some rice. Our favorite is basmati rice, which I get in bulk at Costco. But any rice will work! For some extra color in the rice, I sometimes add chives or paprika.

Then I layer the cooked rice, cooked beans, and shredded cheeses. If I'm taking the dish to a potluck, I can easily re-warm this part in the oven.

When serving, I add some sour cream to the top and serve with tortilla chips on the side.

We all love this way of making beans and rice, and I've taken it to our church potlucks many times, since it is affordable and everyone loves it! :)

Here's my price breakdown when making beans and rice for a crowd. And these amounts really will make about 16 servings. :) Prices are from Costco.

2.5 pounds C+F pinto beans      $1.29
Salt and Tapatio hot sauce       $0.05
2.5 cups dry (7.5 cups cooked) Basmati rice      $1.10
4 cups (1 pound) Tillamook shredded cheddar cheese    $2.20
2 cups (16 ounces) Darigold sour cream       $0.90
16 ounces Mission tortilla strips        $1.11

Total cost for 16 servings: $6.65

Reasons we love this beans and rice:

It's easy.
It's affordable.
It's yummy! :)

I don't take this to every potluck though... I still make my cheesy bread for potlucks, and have recently taken homemade pizza (re-warmed in the oven) which was eaten in a flash!! :) I like variety, so it's fun making various things to take. :)

Be sure to visit Jessica's blog for more Frugal Fridays tips and ideas! :)

As I finished up my previous posts about sightseeing in the Seattle area, I wanted to get some reader input on more fun and frugal things to do in the Seattle/Tacoma area!

Peggy asked:

I was wondering if you could make some recommendations on things to do and sites to see while in Seattle. Can you recommend places to shop as well? I enjoy flea markets and farmers markets. We all enjoy Living History museums so we will probably go to Ft. Nisqually.

I loved Pike Place Market in Seattle, which is somewhat like a farmer's market, live musicians, and lots of little shops (used bookstores, tea, musical instruments, spices, and probably a hundred more things we didn't have time to see!). After paying for parking, you can basically explore all over. :) I've bought bananas and some wonderful huge apples for snacking while there... and if you love tea be sure to check out the Vital Leaf tea shop there! :) (Read more here)

The Columbia Center in Seattle was another favorite, with a beautiful view (plus the fun of being transported to the top of a skyscraper!).

The Farmer's Market in Ballard (a north Seattle neighborhood) is well-loved by many but we haven't been there yet.

I've also heard that the Museum of Flight (on the south side of Seattle) is a great one!

We enjoy riding on a ferry (since it's something we have only done a couple times!) and after touring the battleship in Bremerton, we took the Bremerton ferry across to Seattle. (The ferry is cheaper that direction.) You can find all the ferry schedules and fares here. :)

There are lots of nice parks and hiking trails, though we've only explored ones north of Seattle for the most part. :)

So, dear local readers, what do you recommend for the Seattle area? :)

(Chili with chips, cheese, and sour cream)

After reading my price breakdown for homemade pizza, a reader asked if I'd be willing to share more about how to figure out the cost of food.

Really, it's all in the math. (Why does one of my least favorite things have to be such a part of everyday life?) ;)

1. Figure out the price per ounce/pound/cup/etc.

This is done by dividing the cost of the item by the units in the package/item.

Example: Package of 3 romaine lettuce hearts costs $1.99. Divide by 3 to figure the unit cost of one romaine heart, which would be $0.66.

2. Figure out the price of the amount used in your recipe.

This is done by multiplying the unit cost by the number of units your recipe calls for.

Example: If your recipe calls for one romaine heart, then the cost of the lettuce in your recipe will be $0.66.

Let's do another example:

(Read more...)

Like many families, we eat pizza every week, usually on Fridays. :) I almost always make our own pizza, unless we have a coupon for free pizza. (Sounds odd, but we've gotten two free Papa John's pizzas since we moved here 6 months ago!)

After making pizza so many times, I've pretty much got it just how we like it. Ordering pizza isn't much of a temptation when my homemade is better and MUCH cheaper!

We like a fluffier crust with a crispy bottom. I liberally butter the pan before spreading the dough. When all the toppings are on, I let the pizza rest for 20-40 minutes and the crust does it's rising before I bake it. This requires a little more time but not any more work. :)

I serve my homemade pizza with a salad or some kind of vegetable on the side.

Simple pizza crust price breakdown:

2-1/2 cups bread flour = $0.28*
1 teaspoon sugar $0.01
1 tablespoon active dry yeast = $0.12*
1 cup filtered water = $0.01
2 tablespoons butter = $0.10*

Pizza toppings price breakdown:

8 ounces (1 cup) sauce = $0.47*
16 ounces (1 lb.) shredded mozzarella cheese = $1.60*
2 ounces turkey pepperoni = $0.66

Total cost for 16-inch turkey pepperoni pizza with extra cheese: $3.25

Add an additional few cents for chopped veggies and Parmesan cheese (if using) and oven usage.

*Denotes items purchased in bulk from Costco. Other items are also purchased in bulk or on sale.

How did I ever cook without Costco?! :) While I am not usually saving a lot compared to Aldi's food prices, the quality is a huge step up!

After reading my other post about preparing for a new baby, a number of people have asked for more information about what I would consider to be necessary baby things to own.

So get ready for a photo tutorial of our baby stuff! :) We're currently a family of 5 living in a 900-sq.ft. apartment. Even though I didn't consider myself a packrat, I pared down even more when we moved here 6 months ago. Read more...

This week's frugal tip is one I've been relying on for years, whenever I happen to get a little bleach on my denim skirts or even when I'm repairing a small hole in jeans. Read about what I do to restore denim to wear-away-from-home condition!