Some years ago a friend put me on to this place to buy books.  They have every type of book published, which means in the same catalogue you will find children's books and stuff that is definitley adult content.  But, they also have great garden books, cookbooks, and everything else.  They always have great selections of organic gardening and quilting books.  And I have ordered books from them for students I've tutored over the years.

One of the neatest things about them is that they charge a single S/H fee no matter how many books you order.  You just fill out the order form, print it and send it to them.  It cuts down their cost.  (We used to have to print the order form, hand fill it in, then mail it to them, so things have improved!)

For the book lovers among us: http://www.edwardrhamilton.com…..index.html

If you are interested, a couple of cautions.  They are very clear about some books being shop worn and really cheap.  But, if you find one you like, be sure that it isn't listed again at a different price.  Evidently they sometimes get the same book from multiple sources and the prices will vary.

Check out your local library.  Sometimes they sell used books, magazines, movies & DVD's anywhere from .10 to $1.00

Was just reminded of one way we economize.  We buy meats almost exclusively when they are on sale, and then get a lot of it.  Depending on the size, we may repackage it at home into smaller quantities.

For instance, I had a 5.5 lb package of ground beef which I just placed in quart freezer bags, labeled the bags (also purchased in quantity when they were on sale), and put them into the freezer.  I like to flatten them out, removing as much air as possible.  They take up much less space that way.  All the bags are now in a very large Tupperware container in the freezer that only contains these 1 and 2 lb packages of ground beef.  (Well, and the 1.5 lb one from today.)

The other thing we do when buying ground meat is to look very carefully at the packages.  We still have a local grocer with an in house butcher.  The ground meats are always good, but it is not unusual for the ground chuck to be pinker than the ground round, or even more frequently for the regular ground beef to look pinker than the ground chuck (which is what we usually buy).  It really pays to compare and not assume anything about ground beef!  But, many stores still have those pink lights at the meat counter.  I usually step away from the meat counter to make the comparison.

Also, don't forget to check with an independent meat market.  We buy very erratically there, but they have the very best of certain cuts of meat, and the cheapest and best stew meat around town.  Theirs is the only one I have found which does not require serious trimming, and at a cheaper price?  No thought required!

(Amanda, or anyone else around Charleston, I am talking about Johnny's Meats at the Capitol Market for the stew meat.)

We never buy any brand names either for clothes or foods.

Husband never trows out any wood, he made me a milkstand for my goats for no cost on material.

Turn out lights when you leave a room, even with the powersavingslights.

When I use my oven I use it for more…I mean not heat the whole thing up for just one batch of cookies, but make as many as my freezer can handle.

Buy in bulk.

After doing all this…I can spend some more time in my favorite fabricstore

I cut my husband and my sons hair, do that for years already.

When I only had the one boy, there was a course in town, actually it was for low income people, but when there were spaces left..everybody could sign up.

My neighbour and I did, after that she did my hair also, but than we moved to Canada.

Now I go to a friend who is a hairdresser works out of her basement..the whole works, wash, cut, style for 15 dollar.

I never tried the dogs..and I don't think I will, we let them shave/clip every spring and yes I have seen to many dogs look pretty bad lol.

okbarb said:

We were putting in an aviary at the ranch to raise quail and pheasants but now we are going to build a chicken house as well.  Going to get a few rabbits and goats.  Not sure about a cow for beef yet.

Planning my garden for better production and variety this year. 

Trying to use more of my food in the freezer.  I am not a good food manager at all.  Any tips on how to be better about this?

Take inventory of everything in your fridge and freezer and keep a list on the door so you know whats available.  I do this with my canned food as well.