Posted on 02/29/2008 4:59:13 PM PST by RKBA Democrat
Rice can go a long way for little cash.
Non-sticky, low-cost Rice:
1. Fill about quarter of a cooking pot with rice (the basic kind that comes in 25 lb. bags)
2. Fry with margarine, oil, or whatever until browned. Add other ingredients to taste (celery salt, worcestershire sauce, or the like). The frying will give it a tiny bit of a nutty taste (or something like that).
3. Add water, until the water is about 1/2 inch to 3/4 inch deeper than the rice (depth depending on your elevation above sea levelabout the length of a clean thumbnail being the rule of thumb).
4. Bring to a light boil, turn the heat down as low as you can get it then cover with a lid.
5. Leave covered and cooking on lowest heat for about 20 - 40 minutes (length of time depending on elevation. Experiment!).
Check it. Add water and simmer longer if necessary. Youll get the hang of it. If its fat, soft and non-sticky, its done.
Try it with veggies and your favorite sauce (soy...whatever) and little or no meat. Or, if you want to get really full,...
Try it topped with pinto beans (and *small* amounts of spices like chili powder, cumin, jalapeno peppers, black pepper, red pepper, cajun spicewhatever), and a little cheese sauce on top of the beans, if you want to get really full.
Make it a super fat meal with home sliced, egg-battered and fried onion rings, hush puppies...whoooooooweeeee! And ladies, that stuff is cheap (check Sams Club for large containers of oil and such, Wal-Mart for corn meal)!
I dress well at a fraction of mall prices.
Men who dress well using TJMAXX BTTT
Another tip. Drop your mega-bank. This is in the category of if-you-lay-down-with-dogs, you’re-gonna-get-fleas. Their business tactics are machiavellian, to put it kindly.
You can get a much better deal on loans, credit cards, etc at a good credit union. Shopping around is the order of the day, of course. A lot of folks have been touting ING direct, and they do look to be a better deal than the mega-banks, but their rates on savings don’t appear to be as good as some of the larger credit unions.
The sooner you get used to life without the Beemer and Starbux the sooner you’ll think happy thoughts. Don’t prolong the agony by denying the inevitable.
However, it appears that Machiavellian tendencies will reap what they sow (with interest, of course).
For leftover white rice, you can make a good rice pudding by putting some milk in a pan, heating it and adding cooked rice. Cook till it thickens adding a bit of vanilla and sugar. Cool in the fridge and add raisins. You can also top with jam or stir in fruit. Yum!
Use your credit cards to buy things and get free loans for purchases from the provider for up to a month.
But pay off your credit card balances every month.
If you don't have the self discipline to do that cancel them and cut them up.
Follow the above advice on shopping using store sales and coupons to get the best deals.
Then, when you find a good deal stock up on your favorite foods as much as you can afford.
If you do buy ahead to stock up put all products like bread, rice, flour, pasta and wheat, flour, corn meal, etc. in the freezer for a few days.
If you have the space just leave them in the freezer until ready to use.
Almost all of these products contain weevils, larve or eggs to one degree or another.
Freezing them kills any nasty things that are alive and prevent possible loss of the food through infestation.
Shop for books at Friends Of The Library book sales as well as yard sales, etc.
Watch for valuable books for only a few cents or a dollar.
Sell your old books on eBay.
Check used book values on eBay and at:
Sell other items on eBay.
Before you throw away anything except worn out junk check eBay for the same items up for sale.
You would be surprised at the common items that are sold there every day.
People buy old concert T-Shirts, used blue jeans, clothing, shoes, costume jewelry, used dishes, pots, pans, car parts, used toys, models, video games, DVD's - almost anything.
Couldn’t happen to a nicer bunch. Unfortunately, they’ll be bailed out by the Fed in the end and you and I will pay for it.
I gave my Jag back to the bank in 1989, when I was 26. My house, a couple of years later.
It was pretty demoralizing to see the investment I picked sell for 5 times what it was auctioned for a few short years later.
If you think everyone who falls on hard times is a deadbeat, well, I sort think people who never do are.
Not the Beemer!
How about TITHING! We made a serious committment to tithe about 7 years ago and the last 7 years have been the most prosperous of our almost 30 year marraige. We already did most of the things on that list. God has really blessed us since we made the committment to give a portion back.
Thank you. Your rice pudding is fancier than ours has been! ;-) The kids love it. I’m a little older, like less sugar and tend to eat cold, leftover rice in a bowl with a little cinnamon (blood sugar regulator—see studies), a level teaspoon of sugar and only a tiny bit of milk (~ quarter bowl) the following morning (before coffee and walk). It’s yummy, too, and saves much against buying sugar bombs in boxes from stores.
If you have kids invest in one family museum or zoo membership a year try to get one that has the best swap program in your extended local area. When mine were real small we had the zoo now we have the science museum because of the great swaps we get to go to fine art museums, zoos, botanical gardens, aquariums, and other things for no admission charge. Those of you that have done Florida attractions know they are not shy about charging. The family membership is less than $100 per year. Take your lunch make a day of it.
The other item you can save big on is lean ground beef. The stores offer this pre-ground at very fancy prices but if you watch the sales for roasts or even London broil and have the butcher grind it for you it can be had for less than $2 per lb..
I buy what I need and dont worry about the price. Just so long as I can increase my financial net worth by $120K every year, I dont sweat the small stuff.
Then why are you on this thread? Your comment offered no help to anyone. Just wanted to brag?
Use Craigs list. We ‘upgraded’ to a huge frig with all the trimings, only few years old for $200. It was $1,100 new. Bought it for $350, sold our old one for $150.
Got a 3 week old 75 gallon water heater for under $200. Bought the ‘new’ one one for $250, sold my old one for $55. Craigs list.
Got a Jacuzzi tube $2,500 when new, for $350. 42 inches wide 6 1/2 feet long very deep.
$2,000+ pella sliding door for $225, never used, exactly the exterior color of our house.
Monday my wife got a brand new $1,200 loveseat for $150. Removed from a Parade of Homes.
Many, many more things. Craigs list. Spend an hour, earn a couple hundred in savings.
The problem with all these plans is that they all start, “First, have some money.”
Try getting a job if you’re someone like me.
“Invest in DRIPs....”
Just curious. Why DRIPs instead of say ETFs or a low cost mutual fund?
Well, the goal of this thread is to show how to be financially successful.
But the whole point of being financially successful is to be able to do as you like, and not always having to be looking to save ten cents on laundry soap. So I am saying that the whole premise of the article is wrong.
While cutting costs temporarily is a good way to start out, it is not the be-all and end-all. Wealthy people don’t waste their time on small matters.
Thanks, even though I’m not just starting out.
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.