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One Hundred Dollars a Month

I am your typical housewife living in high maintenance suburbia. I have a handsome husband, 2 kids and a flock of pet chickens. I try and feed my family with $100 a month. With the help of coupons, gardening and bartering I am able to squeeze the most out of our grocery budget and still manage to have a little fun along the way.


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Moving Hosta Plants, Planting Fall Vegetables, Teaching The Boy to Can, And Old Fashioned Clothes Pins

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canning

I few weeks ago The Girl gave The Boy a jar of homemade raspberry jam. Since then he has gone home with 3 more jars {all half pints}. Apparently he can’t get enough of the stuff. So yesterday, when I asked him how his jam supply was doing, he kind of gave me a funny look and I knew he was out again.

So The Girl took matters into her own hands and taught him how to make raspberry jam.

peeling tomato

Are you growing tomatoes this year? Have you starting canning them yet? Yesterday I put up 4 pints of heirloom salsa. My goal is to can 12 pints of salsa and 24 quarts of tomato sauce this year. Our tomatoes are just coming on so I suspect most of this will get done in early September. clothespins

Clothespins! I scored 5 dozen old fashioned clothespins at the thrift store yesterday for $2.99. They don’t make them like the used to I tell you. The springs on these suckers are AWESOME. Now all I need to do is install a {hidden} clothesline. 🙂 🙂 🙂 lucy the puggle dog

Lucy is grounded. I found her trying to dig under the fence yesterday. I’m not sure if she was digging for treasure or wanting to visit the cute little pup down the road.

hosta

Goodbye hosta plants…

growing vegetables in your front yard

Hello oak leaf lettuce, Detroit Dark Red Beets, and ornamental cabbage. Okay, so it’s not really ornamental cabbage. It’s the REAL THING. But I’m pretty sure no one on the snoopervising committee will be able to tell at this point UNLESS THEY ARE READING THIS. So for right now, I’m calling it ornamental cabbage.

The way I see it, if the lady down the street in the cottage type homes can grow zucchini in her front yard… I can grow some fall vegetables right with pretty foliage. Right? I mean the ornamental cabbages go for $3 a pot all over the place in the fall and I’m sure the neighborhood will be covered in them. I’m just ahead of the game because I’ll be able to EAT mine, right?

You’ve got to get your thrills where you can people.

Keep calm, and carry on.

~Mavis

P.S. No hostas or gladiolus were tossed {I moved them to a more shaded area in the back}.

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All the Cool People Pee in Their Garden

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bag of urine

I thought I was cool, but according to Rodale Wellness, really cool people pee in their garden {or at the very least, use their urine in their compost piles}.  Say what?  Yep, studies have shown that urine is a pretty effective way to add a great “nitrogen-phosphorus-Potassium ratio” to the soil–and oddly enough, it is generally recognized as safe to put directly onto plants {though, it is really better suited directly on the soil, instead}.

So, in the off chance you want to give it a whirl…{Or a wizz?  Sorry, bathroom humor has never been my strong suit} just collect your urine throughout the day and dilute it one part pee to five to ten parts water.  Then, sprinkle it around the base of plants or on the base of the plants.  It’s apparently particularly effective for “cabbage, beets, cucumbers, and tomatoes.”

I feel obligated to tell you that pee-fertilizer comes with a warning label:  wash your veggies reaaallly well before you consume them {duh}, avoid using it if you have an infection {gross}, AND because of the high salt content in urine, make sure to water it in well and don’t over-use it {basic fertilizing rules apply}.

I guess it’s one way to go really green.  Who knew you were literally flushing money down the toilet?

Now get out there and wet the {garden} bed.

~Mavis

photo credit

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Free Kindle Books, GAP Sale, Amazon Fire Phone Bundle, Kashi Bars, Toys and More

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umbrage

Word of the Day: Umbrage Definition: Offense, resentment Used in a sentence: Do not take umbrage at my criticism.

Is it really Wednesday already? Holy cow! I’m hoping to transplant a few seedlings to the garden this morning, toss a few loads of laundry in the wash and go for a long walk with the puggle princess before it gets too hot out. Yesterday I took Lucy on a 2 mile walk and totally wore her out. She napped all afternoon. 😉

Ahh summer.

♥ Mavis

*This deal post will be updated throughout the day so be sure and check back for deals. 

amazon fire phone

Amazon Gold Box Deal of the Day – Up to 27% Off a 32 GB Unlocked Amazon Fire Phone Bundle

sturhling watch

Amazon Bonus Deal of the Day – Stuhrling Men’s and Women’s Watches for $59.99

free kindle booksAvailable Kindle Books I think are cool…

The prices on Kindle Books can change quickly, so grab them while you can. Don’t have a Kindle? Download the kindle app on your other devices. It’s easy! 🙂

amazon subscribe and save

Amazon Subscribe and Save Deals

Managing First Day of School JittersBack to school can be a scary time for some kids. Check out these tips on Managing Back to School Jitters. Find more cool tips and ideas on my Back to School Pinterest Board.

dianty of a wimpy kid old school

More Great Amazon Deals

Cramer 1001-01 Kik Step Rolling Step Stool

WahooO! Right now you can get the Cramer  Kik Step Rolling Step Stool for just $41.59 shipped! {I’ve been using my red one for 15+ years now and LOVE it!}

gap

GAP.com is offering 30% off sale styles when you use code HAPPY at checkout. Plus save 35% off regular price styles or 40% off if you are a GAP  cardmember when you use STYLE at checkout. Shop the GAP SALE. 

how to can green beans

Do you have beans galore? Check out How to Can Green Beans and enjoy them all year round. Get the recipe HERE or Pin it for Later. Find more recipes on my Canning Pinterest Board.

bento box pics

Amazon Home and Kitchen Deals

prAna Sabin Chakara Tank Top

REI Outlet Deal of the Day – prAna Sabin Chakara Tank Top $26.73 {was $60}.

bluetoothe speaker

Walmart Value of the Day – Ematic Ultra-Slim 2.1-Channel Wireless Soundbar with Bluetooth and LED Display $39.99 shipped {was $99.98}

motion lights

I am IN LOVE with motion detector lighting. It is such an incredible money/energy saver! Right now Amazon has the OxyLED Luxury Aluminum Stick Anywhere Bright Motion Sensor Activated Lights on sale for $14.99. 

Friskies Cat Food

Great a FREE Sample of Friskies Cat Food. Just go HERE and fill out the form. Meow!

sams club membership coupon

Livingsocial is offering a One Year Sam’s Club Membership for $45 plus you get a $20 Sam’s gift card and $21 in FREE food. Grab this deal HERE.

amazon bushnellEnter to win the Amazon Fall Sportsman Sweepstakes presented by Bushnell. One lucky winner will receive a prize package worth over $3,000.

magazine sale

Don’t miss the Amazon Summer Magazine Sale. All the titles above are just $5! Many more available for just a few bucks more.

zaycon ham picture

Zaycon Fresh is now taking orders for their upcoming events. Below are their offerings and prices in my area.Go HERE to find out if this deal is available in your area.

  • Boneless Skinless Chicken Breasts $1.89/lb $75.60/case
  • Fresh Ground Beef, Lean {93/7} – 40 lbs $3.99/lb | $159.60/case
  • Frozen Wild Sockeye Salmon Fillets 25 lbs
  • Frozen Premium Alaskan Cod $5.49/lb $137.25/case
  • All Beef Hot Dogs $3.29/lb 10 lbs $32.90/case
  • Polish Kielbasa Sausages $2.79/lb 10 lbs  $27.90/case
  • Meaty Back Ribs $3.99/lb | $143.64/case
  • Bacon-Wrapped Pork Fillet $3.79/lb  36 lbs 136.44/case
  • Pork Sausage Links $2.79 ln 20 lbs $55.80/case
  • USDA Choice or Higher Chuck Roast $5.79/lb  $208.44/case
  • USDA Choice or Higher Patio Steaks $6.49/lb  $214.17/case
  • Smoked Pulled Pork – 20lbs $4.49/lb  $89.80/case

Check out the post on how we process so much Zaycon meat at one time.

Seventh Generation Laundry LiquidCheck out these New Printable Coupons:

$1.05 off (2) DOLE Fruit in gel
$1.00 off any one HINODE RICE product
$1.00 off one (1) HOUSE OF TSANG sauce or oil
$3.00 off any ONE (1) AVEENO sun care product
$1.00 off (2) M&M’s Chocolate Candies
Buy 3 Renuzit Air Freshener Cones, Get 1 Free
$1.00 off TWO Welch’s Fruit Snacks
$2.00 off TWO Bags or ONE Box of Pampers Cruisers
$1.00 off any 1 Seventh Generation Hand Wash
$2.00 off any 1 Seventh Generation Detergent
$1.00 off 1 Seventh Generation Dishwash Liquid

Find More Printable Coupons

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Buttermilk Cornbread Recipe

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buttermilk cornbread recipeLeave it to my friend Jane to stun me with another unusual combination that I loved. I’d never even heard of buttermilk in cornbread, but let me tell you Bob, this cornbread recipe totally worked! It was so delicious with our chili dinner. But I suspect it would also be equally delicious with just some butter and jam. Or straight from the oven. Or with these baked beans.

corn kernelsIngredients

1 cup flour
1 cup yellow cornmeal
2 tablespoons sugar
2 teaspoons baking powder
1/2 teaspoon salt
1/2 teaspoon baking soda
1 cup buttermilk {how to make buttermilk}
1/2 cup corn
1/2 cup diced red bell pepper
4 tablespoons butter, melted
1 large egg, lightly beaten

 

buttermilk cornbread recipeDirections

Preheat oven to 425F. Grease an 8×8 baking pan and set aside.

Combine dry ingredients in a mixing bowl.  Make a well in the mixture and set aside.  In a separate bowl, whisk the remaining ingredients.  Fold the wet ingredients into the dry and stir just until moist.  Pour into prepared pan and bake at 425 degrees for 15-20 or until a knife inserted in the center comes out clean.  Enjoy!

Thy-Hand-Hath-Provided-Recipe-Book
If you love this recipe, you’ll love all the rest of Jane’s recipe found in her delicious cookbook: Thy Hand Hath Provided Cookbook. It’s simply AWESOME! She even has it on Amazon as an eBook!

This post may contain affiliate links. These affiliate links help support this site. For more information, please see my disclosure policy. Thank you for supporting One Hundred Dollars a Month.

Mavis Butterfield Etsy