Hidden Magnolias

While searching for information about saving money, I ran into this fun to read site outlining some of the creative things people did during WWII.  https://learnincolor.com/frugality-how-to-from-the-greatest-generation.html Samantha outlines 10 areas on"how to use it up, wear it out, make it do, or do without." Save Paper With my parents and grandparents being part of the Greatest Generation , this peaked my interest. I remember fondly some of the things my grandparents di that at the time in the 60's, I thought very old fashioned.  For one thing, on my grandfather's roll top desk, he kept a stack of envelopes he used as note paper. He would carefully open all mail with a sharp letter opener, turn the written side over and stack it with the back side and viola -- a scratch pad.  I do this now because of the huge amount of waste paper in my life. I noticed one day that most of my trash was paper -- used computer paper, envelopes and the like. Yeah, it could go into the...

We are staying at home. We are social distancing. We are masked. We have a pandemic. So many people have lost jobs, small businesses, and income. As a result, I have seen a resurgence online of younger people discovering some of “grandma’s” or “great grand ma’s” frugal tips, ways to cost costs and save money. So, I just had to join in. Some of web sites focus more on saving the environment. Some on sustainable living. Some on reducing waste. Here are my favorites. https://www.gracefullittlehoneybee.com/30-old-fashioned-frugal-tips-from-grandma/ https://retrohousewifegoesgreen.com/vintage-frugal-tips/ https://www.shoestringcottage.com/favourite-frugal-recipes/ https://www.shoestringcottage.com/favourite-frugal-recipes/ https://nanaisfrugal.wordpress.com/ https://www.frugalwoods.com/2020/05/27/reader-suggestions-what-to-cook-during-a-pandemic/ Hope you learn as much I have and enjoy these interes...

As someone facing retirement in the not too far future, I am saddened and dismayed by some of the blogs I read. One senior blogger tells of how many food banks and senior food services near her are closed, moved, or redistributed. She depends on a bus service to get her to the food banks and now it is a long walk for her to get any food at all.   She received grocery gift cards for Christmas but is too afraid to use because she might need later since food prices in her area are going up and up. This made me very sad for her and fearful for me and mine. This is a country where people are spending $300,000 on a car and this woman’s grocery budget is $30. Ouch. Don't get me wrong, I AM NOT ADVOCATING SOCIALISM. But I cannot help but feel we have the least prepared group of people fixin' to retire. I don't want to be one of ill-prepared people. What am I going to do about it?  Pull in the reins.  I have always been...

I just got back from my trip to Savannah. It was wonderful! I could bore you with tons of pictures, but I think I will just add my favorite for now. Of course, I spent a ton of $$$ but I had saved up for the trip so it really didn't hurt. But once I got home, I begin to feel a touch of guilt and decided with the holidays coming up to pinch some pennies. I have always been pretty frugal by some standards: I rarely buy Starbucks or other fancy coffees. I always bring my own coffee to work. I never buy bottled water. Our water in our town is really good and if I run it through my fridge filter, it beats anything in a plastic bottle. I take my lunch more often than I don't. And I use small soap slivers until they die. ( see post here ) But can I do better? So, I turned off the radio during my morning commute -- they were just going on and on about the usual -- so I missed nothing. And I pondered. What could I do? With Christmas coming up, I know we will s...