I really hate when there's more month than money. I'm going to have to do something drastic soon....
I've gotten to the point where i'm frustrated beyond belief job hunting. The temp agencies here are seriously unhelpful, and i'm really tired of the attitude here. Ugh. AND I hate interviews. REALLY hate interviews. Enough with the b.s. already!
Anyways, I'm hoping to find something (even in retail/bar) that will help me get through this joblessness.
Other than that, I had my first tomatoes from the balcony today for lunch. They were good! I baked bread this morning, almost have all the dishes done (I also hate washing dishes, but I like them more than interviews!), and I have food in the kitchen. I'm doing okay. I have a Boy who likes me, friends who love me, and i'm still mostly sane...
that's good, right?
Wednesday, August 10, 2011
Tuesday, May 31, 2011
Unemployed again...
Yet again, i'm out of work. I hate that feeling where you're broke and can't afford anything because you have no money coming in. Here are some of my frugal tips for surviving on almost nothing:
* find an apartment that is all inclusive. My rent covers my apartment, my electricity, and my water, which makes it that much easier than having a stack of bills and trying to rob Peter to pay Paul.
* grow your own food. I have a north facing balcony that still gets the afternoon light. I used containers that I had on hand, and potting soil the Boy bought for me last summer. Luckily for me, he got a HUGE bag, and I still have lots even after i've planted. If you don't have a balcony, your plants will still grow in windows.
* learn to cook. Even if it's only basic things you can make, it's still better for you than buying pre-made or convenience foods that aren't very tasty and are full of chemicals. I bake my own bread, make my own sauces (with the exception of gravy, but it's still good). I haven't much storage, but I have a bookcase in my kitchen that holds a lot of dry goods stored in containers. I'm trying to go completely 'no plastic', but that will have to wait until I can afford more glass containers. It's almost canning season, and large jars hold a lot.
* learn to wash your clothes in the bathtub. I like to use a pail and a clean plunger (from the dollar store) to clean, then rinse in the tub in cold water. If you're not sure, start small with socks and underwear then move on to larger items like tshirts and jeans. It's hard to squeeze all the water out, but hanging to dry actually makes your clothes last longer. Also, you don't need as much soap as you think you do. There are a lot of recipes for laundry soap on the internet, and they clean better (I find) than the commercial stuff.
* have an interview outfit clean and mended, ironed if possible. If you don't have a good interview outfit, check Value Village or other second hand stores. You can almost always find a nice 'suit' jacket or a nice blouse in relatively good shape there. If your funds are really low, just buy a piece at a time. Interviewers are usually more interested in you, not that your clothes are fashionable. Clean, neat and tidy are essential, though.
* learn to sew, or at least mend. Replacing buttons is easy, sewing seams just as easy. It just takes time and practice. Ditto ironing. It's a lot cheaper than sending it out to be cleaned! Just be careful of the settings - the more synthetic a fabric is, the lighter the setting. Natural fibres (wool, cotton, linen) can handle a higher setting, but don't leave the iron on the fabric or it will burn. Silk requires a lower setting.
* the library is your friend. You can borrow books to read, or learn how to effectively job search. You can also borrow music, videos, and access your internet there if you can't afford it at home. You can often find books with more hints on frugality (the Tightwad Gazette for one), or basic cookbooks to teach yourself how to cook.
* ask people you know to teach you things. You have friends, and they probably know things you don't. Talk to them, talk to older people (awesome if you can find someone who lived through the Great Depression!), they know a lot!
* if you can buy it, you can make it. Remember that everything had to start out somewhere, being made by someone by hand. I've made my own pillows, nightgowns, bathrobes, menstrual pads. There are free patterns for just about anything on the internet. All you have to do is search it out.
* find alternative uses for things around the house. Real Simple magazine has a lot of hints on this, and a lot of things you might think only have one use can be used in other ways as well. Reuse is easy and awesome.
You might read some of this stuff and think 'yuck! how can she do that', and really, it's out of necessity. I've not suggested dumpster diving, but that is also a 'poor skill'. You have to work with what is comfortable for you. Maybe you'll surprise yourself.
* find an apartment that is all inclusive. My rent covers my apartment, my electricity, and my water, which makes it that much easier than having a stack of bills and trying to rob Peter to pay Paul.
* grow your own food. I have a north facing balcony that still gets the afternoon light. I used containers that I had on hand, and potting soil the Boy bought for me last summer. Luckily for me, he got a HUGE bag, and I still have lots even after i've planted. If you don't have a balcony, your plants will still grow in windows.
* learn to cook. Even if it's only basic things you can make, it's still better for you than buying pre-made or convenience foods that aren't very tasty and are full of chemicals. I bake my own bread, make my own sauces (with the exception of gravy, but it's still good). I haven't much storage, but I have a bookcase in my kitchen that holds a lot of dry goods stored in containers. I'm trying to go completely 'no plastic', but that will have to wait until I can afford more glass containers. It's almost canning season, and large jars hold a lot.
* learn to wash your clothes in the bathtub. I like to use a pail and a clean plunger (from the dollar store) to clean, then rinse in the tub in cold water. If you're not sure, start small with socks and underwear then move on to larger items like tshirts and jeans. It's hard to squeeze all the water out, but hanging to dry actually makes your clothes last longer. Also, you don't need as much soap as you think you do. There are a lot of recipes for laundry soap on the internet, and they clean better (I find) than the commercial stuff.
* have an interview outfit clean and mended, ironed if possible. If you don't have a good interview outfit, check Value Village or other second hand stores. You can almost always find a nice 'suit' jacket or a nice blouse in relatively good shape there. If your funds are really low, just buy a piece at a time. Interviewers are usually more interested in you, not that your clothes are fashionable. Clean, neat and tidy are essential, though.
* learn to sew, or at least mend. Replacing buttons is easy, sewing seams just as easy. It just takes time and practice. Ditto ironing. It's a lot cheaper than sending it out to be cleaned! Just be careful of the settings - the more synthetic a fabric is, the lighter the setting. Natural fibres (wool, cotton, linen) can handle a higher setting, but don't leave the iron on the fabric or it will burn. Silk requires a lower setting.
* the library is your friend. You can borrow books to read, or learn how to effectively job search. You can also borrow music, videos, and access your internet there if you can't afford it at home. You can often find books with more hints on frugality (the Tightwad Gazette for one), or basic cookbooks to teach yourself how to cook.
* ask people you know to teach you things. You have friends, and they probably know things you don't. Talk to them, talk to older people (awesome if you can find someone who lived through the Great Depression!), they know a lot!
* if you can buy it, you can make it. Remember that everything had to start out somewhere, being made by someone by hand. I've made my own pillows, nightgowns, bathrobes, menstrual pads. There are free patterns for just about anything on the internet. All you have to do is search it out.
* find alternative uses for things around the house. Real Simple magazine has a lot of hints on this, and a lot of things you might think only have one use can be used in other ways as well. Reuse is easy and awesome.
You might read some of this stuff and think 'yuck! how can she do that', and really, it's out of necessity. I've not suggested dumpster diving, but that is also a 'poor skill'. You have to work with what is comfortable for you. Maybe you'll surprise yourself.
Sunday, February 20, 2011
yes, I am here!
No pictures today, but life's been crazy busy recently. Been working at a temp job that's giving me overtime and weekends, but not much in the cash department.. not good. At least I have a well stocked freezer, and a tiny emergency fund that will come in handy in the next several weeks.
Today (after doing some work), I felt like cooking, and ransacked the freezer for inspiration. I grabbed the leftover lasagna noodles, a half of a meat loaf, a small back of spinach, and the frozen grated mozzarella.. and the bag of manicotti. I picked up the manicotti (premade, no sauce) for $10. It will make a lot of meals, I still have half of the bag in the freezer. I only used 9 of them. In one (square) pan, I made manicotti with home made tomato sauce (I canned for the first time this past summer, and what a difference between that and canned! mine is sooooo yummy!) topped with mozzarella and grated parmesan. In a loaf pan, I made a lasagna with the spinach, and the meat loaf sliced thin (about 1.5 cm thick). I used a jar of store bought pasta sauce, and some of the cottage cheese I had in the fridge.
Healthy premade lunches for next week. Yay!
My next step is to make iced tea to take with me next week, and breakfasts.. I hate to eat before I leave, I find it gives me an upset stomach. .. so, anyone have ideas for breakfasts?
Today (after doing some work), I felt like cooking, and ransacked the freezer for inspiration. I grabbed the leftover lasagna noodles, a half of a meat loaf, a small back of spinach, and the frozen grated mozzarella.. and the bag of manicotti. I picked up the manicotti (premade, no sauce) for $10. It will make a lot of meals, I still have half of the bag in the freezer. I only used 9 of them. In one (square) pan, I made manicotti with home made tomato sauce (I canned for the first time this past summer, and what a difference between that and canned! mine is sooooo yummy!) topped with mozzarella and grated parmesan. In a loaf pan, I made a lasagna with the spinach, and the meat loaf sliced thin (about 1.5 cm thick). I used a jar of store bought pasta sauce, and some of the cottage cheese I had in the fridge.
Healthy premade lunches for next week. Yay!
My next step is to make iced tea to take with me next week, and breakfasts.. I hate to eat before I leave, I find it gives me an upset stomach. .. so, anyone have ideas for breakfasts?
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