One of the people who came to my last Frugal Living to Accomplish Your Goals presentation sent me an email about what recipe I use to make pizza dough. I use the bread machine recipe that came with my machine and tinker with it to get it to my taste.
When I first started making bread with the bread machine, I would dump in the ingredients and walk away. I learned that the bread machine usually needs a bit of help mixing the ingredients. I put them in, start it and come back in 5 minutes and scrape down the sides. I do it a second time after a few more minutes. I also adjust the moisture in the recipe or the flour, if I need to. Part of the reason I do this is because bread machine flour is much more expensive than regular flour. But regular flour seems to take more water in the recipe. I haven’t figured out the amount so I frequently add some water or some flour. If you are just starting to use the bread machine don’t use regular flour. Get some experience behind you with the machine. Then “doctor it up”.
The cheapest source of yeast is the Newark Natural Foods store. You can also try another health food store. I get 8 oz. for about $3.00 and that lasts a long time in my freezer. If you go there, check out the bulk spices which are very cheap and fresh. I get most of my spices in bulk from there.
Additionally, if you don’t have a bread machine, check out the dozen or so in the Goodwill. Before you buy one, make sure to test it in the store.
Here is the recipe:
Bread Machine Pizza Dough
1 1/2 c. very warm water and an additional 2 TBS of warm water
1tbs. sugar
1 tbs. oil (I use olive for pizza)
1 1/2 tsp salt
4 1/2 c. bread flour
2 1/2 tsp yeast
Put it in the machine in this order. Before putting yeast in smooth the flour so it lays pretty flat. Then sprinkle yeast on top. Set the machine to the dough setting. When it is done, divide into 2 thick crusts or 3 thin crust pizzas. Spray your cookie sheets with oil. Roll out the dough to fit the cookie sheet. Place on top. Add sauce to taste. Add toppings to taste (I always fry up the meat toppings before hand and drain fat off). Cover with cheese (about 1 cup or to taste). Bake at 450 degrees for 12-18 minutes. (depends if it is thin crust and if it is in the center rack of the oven)
Total time is about 2 hours.
If you only want one pizza, freeze half in a bag but leave room for expansion. It will keep rising for a bit in the freezer. Defrost it starting in the morning in a covered bowl in a warm place.
Enjoy!
Tuesday, March 31, 2009
Thursday, March 26, 2009
The Fifth Season of the Year!!! Garage Sale Season!
I am completely excited! Garage sale season is beginning! I am starting to see ads in the paper and signs about town! The thrill of the hunt is on. In the old days men would hunt and women would gather their food. Now, the women have become the hunters, the hunters of the best bargain! Garage sales are where I hone my hunting and negotiation skills.
The best sales to go to are the neighborhood sales. These are great because you can get to 5 -20 individual sales at a time. I usually get a lot of walking in when I go to a neighborhood sale. Last year I went to the Washington Woods and Patriot’s Glen community yard sales. I did a lot of walking and bought some nice things. I also saw a van load of Amish with a non-Amish driver. The van had a huge trailer attached to it to haul their booty. Everyone participates in the hunt!
To prepare for sales, I first make sure to budget money in my monthly budget. I try to get money on Fridays in ones and fives. When I run out of cash, it is the end of my garage sale morning. Many times I have left over cash. I carry it over to the next week or stick it in my savings account. Since it is budgeted but not spent, it makes sense to save it. When my daughters were young, I would take them with me and give each of them $2 to spend. My only guideline was "NO stuffed animals!" They loved to go with me.
Usually I peruse the Friday Cecil Whig ads with my Saturday morning tea and stake out a route so I can hit several sales (5-8) that are near each other. I try to leave the house by 8 am so I can get the best bargains. I make sure to bring a bottle of water and a snack or two. I don’t want to spend money on food out if I get hungry or thirsty.
People are usually happy to bargain with you if you don’t like a price. I do not bargain often but if I see something I want but find it priced too high for me, I will ask for a price reduction. If they say no, I usually just leave the item there.
There is a great article in The Tightwad Gazette, by Amy Dacyczyn about her garage sale strategies. Most every other book on frugality also has secrets to having good hunting at your local garage sales.
Let the season begin!
The best sales to go to are the neighborhood sales. These are great because you can get to 5 -20 individual sales at a time. I usually get a lot of walking in when I go to a neighborhood sale. Last year I went to the Washington Woods and Patriot’s Glen community yard sales. I did a lot of walking and bought some nice things. I also saw a van load of Amish with a non-Amish driver. The van had a huge trailer attached to it to haul their booty. Everyone participates in the hunt!
To prepare for sales, I first make sure to budget money in my monthly budget. I try to get money on Fridays in ones and fives. When I run out of cash, it is the end of my garage sale morning. Many times I have left over cash. I carry it over to the next week or stick it in my savings account. Since it is budgeted but not spent, it makes sense to save it. When my daughters were young, I would take them with me and give each of them $2 to spend. My only guideline was "NO stuffed animals!" They loved to go with me.
Usually I peruse the Friday Cecil Whig ads with my Saturday morning tea and stake out a route so I can hit several sales (5-8) that are near each other. I try to leave the house by 8 am so I can get the best bargains. I make sure to bring a bottle of water and a snack or two. I don’t want to spend money on food out if I get hungry or thirsty.
People are usually happy to bargain with you if you don’t like a price. I do not bargain often but if I see something I want but find it priced too high for me, I will ask for a price reduction. If they say no, I usually just leave the item there.
There is a great article in The Tightwad Gazette, by Amy Dacyczyn about her garage sale strategies. Most every other book on frugality also has secrets to having good hunting at your local garage sales.
Let the season begin!
More Good Thrift Store Sales!
I love church rummage sales! I love to go and shop and then sit and eat their hot dogs, or sip a cup of Maxwell House coffee (and believe me, that is the ONLY place I enjoy a cup of canned coffee!). I feel like my money is going for a good cause and you can get nice things there too.
Today, Friday and Saturday the Nearly New Shop in the Elkton Towne Center on Main St. in Elkton is having $3 bag day. Go down there and load up a bag for cheap.
On Saturday, 3/28, from 9am - 2am, Hopewll United Methodist Church is having a Rummage sale!!! They are at 1811 Hopewell Rd. in Port Deposit.
Today, Friday and Saturday the Nearly New Shop in the Elkton Towne Center on Main St. in Elkton is having $3 bag day. Go down there and load up a bag for cheap.
On Saturday, 3/28, from 9am - 2am, Hopewll United Methodist Church is having a Rummage sale!!! They are at 1811 Hopewell Rd. in Port Deposit.
Tuesday, March 24, 2009
Half Price Day at Goodwill
On the last Saturday of the month, the Elkton Goodwill has a half price sale on their clothes. This Saturday take advantage of it! Get there early because the 2 dressing rooms get lines from all the bargain shoppers. Someone told me that the last Saturday of the month sale was at all Goodwills. I can't confirm that, so call your local Goodwill before you go.
Friday, March 20, 2009
Prom is a Four Letter Word
When one of my four daughters says the word Prom, it strikes dread into my heart. I dislike proms for a number of reasons but the one that I will concentrate on here is the cost. A small fortune is spent every year by teenagers across the nation to go to the prom. A 2001 study done in North Dakota says the average cost of proms were $600 per couple. http://www.ag.ndsu.edu/money/news/2002%20spring.pdf I have to admit that completely baffles me and makes me nauseous.
Prom costs more for the girls than the boys. The dress alone runs over $100. So, what is a girl and a very annoyed parent to do??? Below are some suggestions for lowering the costs.
First, the dress.
Free options: The Elkton United Methodist Church is running a free Prom boutique. The boutique is open from 3 to 5 p.m. Fridays and 10 a.m. to noon Saturdays in room 29 on the upper level of the church off Main Street. Donations are being accepted too.
The other free option is to borrow a dress from someone else. May as well give the dress more than one night of life.
Next best option: Check the Elkton Goodwill and local consignment shops. You may find a cheap gown and just need cleaning costs. Here is my article and it may help to locate the shops:
http://fltayg.blogspot.com/2009/02/thrift-and-consignment-shops-in-and.html
Next is shop a week or two before the event. That is when the sales happen. My daughter found a $190 dress on sale for $106 a week before her prom two years ago.
Or shop at Fancy Formal Boutique, 117 Ryan Dr Rising Sun, Phone: 658-5477. They have many gowns in the latest fashions for a lower price than you will find in the regular department stores.
Nails and hair can be done at a local beauty school for a much smaller price than a salon.
Schilling Douglas School of Beauty in Newark does updoes without a shampoo for $14. http://www.schillingdouglas.com/
The Delaware Academy, Paul Mitchell Partnership school, is located in Newark also.
http://www.thedelawareacademy.com/html/index.cfm
IBS is in Bel Air
http://www.ibs-belair.com/
(Disclaimer: I haven’t tried any of these and this is not a recommendation on the quality of the school.)
Prom costs more for the girls than the boys. The dress alone runs over $100. So, what is a girl and a very annoyed parent to do??? Below are some suggestions for lowering the costs.
First, the dress.
Free options: The Elkton United Methodist Church is running a free Prom boutique. The boutique is open from 3 to 5 p.m. Fridays and 10 a.m. to noon Saturdays in room 29 on the upper level of the church off Main Street. Donations are being accepted too.
The other free option is to borrow a dress from someone else. May as well give the dress more than one night of life.
Next best option: Check the Elkton Goodwill and local consignment shops. You may find a cheap gown and just need cleaning costs. Here is my article and it may help to locate the shops:
http://fltayg.blogspot.com/2009/02/thrift-and-consignment-shops-in-and.html
Next is shop a week or two before the event. That is when the sales happen. My daughter found a $190 dress on sale for $106 a week before her prom two years ago.
Or shop at Fancy Formal Boutique, 117 Ryan Dr Rising Sun, Phone: 658-5477. They have many gowns in the latest fashions for a lower price than you will find in the regular department stores.
Nails and hair can be done at a local beauty school for a much smaller price than a salon.
Schilling Douglas School of Beauty in Newark does updoes without a shampoo for $14. http://www.schillingdouglas.com/
The Delaware Academy, Paul Mitchell Partnership school, is located in Newark also.
http://www.thedelawareacademy.com/html/index.cfm
IBS is in Bel Air
http://www.ibs-belair.com/
(Disclaimer: I haven’t tried any of these and this is not a recommendation on the quality of the school.)
Cheap and Free Things to do in and Around Cecil
This weekend there are quite a few things to see and do in the area! I am excited!
North Elk Coffeehouse - Sat., March 21st. Mike Lopez playing guitar and singing blues, jazz, swing, and country music. Doors open at 7:00 p.m. Show starts at 7:30 p.m. and ends by 9:30. Admission: $8 adults; $6 children under 18. Snacks and drinks available for purchase. All proceeds benefit The Meeting Ground, a homeless aid and empowerment organization in Cecil County . Information: 410 287 5522 or at http://www.stmaryanne.org/ . North Elk Coffee House, 315 S. Main Street, North East, MD, 410 287 5522.
Amadeus – Millburn Stone Theatre, Cecil College – Fri., Sat. 8:00 p.m. and Sun. 3 p.m. (March 20, 21 & 22), Tickets $15 adults, $12 students, $10 children. http://www.milburnstone.org/
Voice Master Class with faculty Dr. Michael Larkin, baritone, The Wilmington Music School, 4101 Washington Street, Wilmington, DE 19802, 2:00 p.m. Free. Melinda Steffy - msteffy@wilmingtonmusic.org
Cultural Crossroads Program: Arts of Eastern Europe, The Wilmington Music School, 4101 Washington Street, Wilmington, DE 19802, Featuring music, dance and visual arts from Russia, Georgia, the Baltic States, Ukraine, Hungary, Germany and more! After the concert, performers will share cultural tidbits, such as language lessons or food, from their native countries. Art exhibit by Georgian painter Matiko Mamiladze. 3:00 p.m., $10 adults, $5 seniors & students. Melinda Steffy - msteffy@wilmingtonmusic.org
University of Delaware - Film: "The Curious Case of Benjamin Button"
7:30 PM
Location: Trabant movie theatre
URL: http://copland.udel.edu/stu-org/scpab/films.html
Phone: For more information, call (302) 831-8192
University of Delaware
Theatre: "E-52 Presents: Alice in Wonderland"
8:00 PM - 10:00 PM
$5 for Students, $7 for Others. Open to the public and campus. For six nights and six nights only, E-52 Student Theatre will be presenting the classic tale of "Alice in Wonderland." Join Alice as she meets some of your favorite characters like the Queen of Hearts, the Mad Hatter and March Hare, and that ever elusive Cheshire Cat!! Bring all of your friends, relatives, acquaintances, and even the random people you walk past on the street to see this hysterical performance!
Location: Pearson Hall Auditorium
Phone: For more information, call (267) 241-2936
University of Delaware
Ice Skating Public Session
Friday, March 20, 8:00 PM - 10:00 PM - Sat. March 21, 1 – 3 p.m. & 8 – 10 p.m., Sun. 1 -3 p.m.
Admission is $7 per person; $5 per person for youth 6 years of age and younger. Skate rental is available for $3.
Location: Rust Ice Arena, Phone: (302) 831-2868
http://www.udel.edu/icearena
University of Delaware – Women’s Lacrosse v. St. Bonaventure, Noon, Rullo Stadium – Not sure of the cost but free or cheap for sure!
University of Delaware – Softball v. James Madison, Delaware Softball Diamond, noon – no cost posted.
University of Delaware – Women’s Tennis v. George Washington, Delaware Field House Courts, 2 p.m.
University of Delaware, Concert: "Wind Ensemble", March 22, 8 p.m., Robert J. Streckfuss, director Featuring selections from the Danserye by Tielman Susato, instrumental dance music from the Renaissance, and Baron Cimetiere's Mambo by Donald Grantham. The Wind Ensemble will perform both of these pieces at the March MENC convention in Providence, RI. $12 adults; $8 seniors and $3 students.
Louise and David Roselle Center for the Arts, Puglisi Orchestra Hall
Havre de Grace Maritime Museum , 100 Lafayette Street Havre de Grace MD 21078
CHILDREN’S DAY, Saturday, March 21, 2009, 11AM-5PM
Bring the whole family for a day of maritime fun! Children and adults can learn how to tie knots, help build boats, play like a sailor and participate in other craft activities. Moon Bounce and kite flying. $10 per family of four ($2 for each additional member) or $3 for single admission. Children under 3 are free.
http://www.blogger.com/http:/www.hdgmaritimemuseum.org/special_events.htm
North Elk Coffeehouse - Sat., March 21st. Mike Lopez playing guitar and singing blues, jazz, swing, and country music. Doors open at 7:00 p.m. Show starts at 7:30 p.m. and ends by 9:30. Admission: $8 adults; $6 children under 18. Snacks and drinks available for purchase. All proceeds benefit The Meeting Ground, a homeless aid and empowerment organization in Cecil County . Information: 410 287 5522 or at http://www.stmaryanne.org/ . North Elk Coffee House, 315 S. Main Street, North East, MD, 410 287 5522.
Amadeus – Millburn Stone Theatre, Cecil College – Fri., Sat. 8:00 p.m. and Sun. 3 p.m. (March 20, 21 & 22), Tickets $15 adults, $12 students, $10 children. http://www.milburnstone.org/
Voice Master Class with faculty Dr. Michael Larkin, baritone, The Wilmington Music School, 4101 Washington Street, Wilmington, DE 19802, 2:00 p.m. Free. Melinda Steffy - msteffy@wilmingtonmusic.org
Cultural Crossroads Program: Arts of Eastern Europe, The Wilmington Music School, 4101 Washington Street, Wilmington, DE 19802, Featuring music, dance and visual arts from Russia, Georgia, the Baltic States, Ukraine, Hungary, Germany and more! After the concert, performers will share cultural tidbits, such as language lessons or food, from their native countries. Art exhibit by Georgian painter Matiko Mamiladze. 3:00 p.m., $10 adults, $5 seniors & students. Melinda Steffy - msteffy@wilmingtonmusic.org
University of Delaware - Film: "The Curious Case of Benjamin Button"
7:30 PM
Location: Trabant movie theatre
URL: http://copland.udel.edu/stu-org/scpab/films.html
Phone: For more information, call (302) 831-8192
University of Delaware
Theatre: "E-52 Presents: Alice in Wonderland"
8:00 PM - 10:00 PM
$5 for Students, $7 for Others. Open to the public and campus. For six nights and six nights only, E-52 Student Theatre will be presenting the classic tale of "Alice in Wonderland." Join Alice as she meets some of your favorite characters like the Queen of Hearts, the Mad Hatter and March Hare, and that ever elusive Cheshire Cat!! Bring all of your friends, relatives, acquaintances, and even the random people you walk past on the street to see this hysterical performance!
Location: Pearson Hall Auditorium
Phone: For more information, call (267) 241-2936
University of Delaware
Ice Skating Public Session
Friday, March 20, 8:00 PM - 10:00 PM - Sat. March 21, 1 – 3 p.m. & 8 – 10 p.m., Sun. 1 -3 p.m.
Admission is $7 per person; $5 per person for youth 6 years of age and younger. Skate rental is available for $3.
Location: Rust Ice Arena, Phone: (302) 831-2868
http://www.udel.edu/icearena
University of Delaware – Women’s Lacrosse v. St. Bonaventure, Noon, Rullo Stadium – Not sure of the cost but free or cheap for sure!
University of Delaware – Softball v. James Madison, Delaware Softball Diamond, noon – no cost posted.
University of Delaware – Women’s Tennis v. George Washington, Delaware Field House Courts, 2 p.m.
University of Delaware, Concert: "Wind Ensemble", March 22, 8 p.m., Robert J. Streckfuss, director Featuring selections from the Danserye by Tielman Susato, instrumental dance music from the Renaissance, and Baron Cimetiere's Mambo by Donald Grantham. The Wind Ensemble will perform both of these pieces at the March MENC convention in Providence, RI. $12 adults; $8 seniors and $3 students.
Louise and David Roselle Center for the Arts, Puglisi Orchestra Hall
Havre de Grace Maritime Museum , 100 Lafayette Street Havre de Grace MD 21078
CHILDREN’S DAY, Saturday, March 21, 2009, 11AM-5PM
Bring the whole family for a day of maritime fun! Children and adults can learn how to tie knots, help build boats, play like a sailor and participate in other craft activities. Moon Bounce and kite flying. $10 per family of four ($2 for each additional member) or $3 for single admission. Children under 3 are free.
http://www.blogger.com/http:/www.hdgmaritimemuseum.org/special_events.htm
Monday, March 16, 2009
Buying and selling books, DVDs and CDs
I love garage sales! I spend many of my Saturday mornings in spring, summer and fall going to the many garage sales in our area. I look for books, DVDs and CDs that I like and purchase them at a reduced rate from what I would purchase in the store. I look for items with good resale value too. Many times I buy things that I don’t want to read or watch because for a $1 purchase, I can get a resale value of $3 - $10.
Here are my secrets of getting cheap entertainment and then making a profit on them!
First, find cheap things at garage sales in good condition. The condition of an item is the key to resale value. Check the CDs and DVDs for scratches. Stay away from broken plastic cases, ripped paper covers, etc. Books shouldn’t be creased on the spine, have ripped covers or bent corners.
Books at garage sales can sell anywhere from a quarter to a dollar or two. The best garage sales have hard backs for $1 each or less and soft covers for 50 cents or less. Do not purchase romances if you wish to resell the book. Romances are not bought by second hand shops. Probably because you can get them for a quarter or less and one romance author is as good as another. In other words, there are few people who are dying to read X author’s latest work. If you love to read romances you will hit the jackpot at garage sales. They are plentiful and cheap.
CDs are for sale at garage sales but they are not as cheap as books. Depending on the popularity of the singer or band, they are usually $2-3. However, many of them have good resale value.
DVDs are usually for sale at $2-5. I don’t pay more than $3 for DVDs. I think the market is getting flooded with different ways to view movies and a price must reflect this. If I have a subscription to Netflix, $3 is a high price to pay for a DVD. But, they can get great resale value at the resale store.
Videos deserve special mention here. I have many videos that I get for 50 cents or a dollar. They are well worth it to me since it still costs less than getting the movie from anywhere but the public library. My husband loves old movies and many are for sale on videos at garage sales. We still own our VCR and will continue to use it until it dies. If you still own your VCR get videos for cheap at garage sales and enjoy them. You can’t resell them but they are cheap entertainment.
The final piece of the puzzle is where to resell items. You can resell them at Rainbow Records in Newark, DE. I love Rainbow. It is a small business that buys and sells records (as in vinyl!), DVDs, CDs and books! When you resell items at Rainbow, bring them in a batch not just one or two items. You can get store credit, or cash. Store credit gives you more than cash. We use the store credit to do some of our Christmas and birthday shopping for our teenagers. Because Rainbow is a small business, I usually shop there for our book and CD needs, too.
Another place to resell is on Amazon. I have been an Amazon seller before but gave up since they take a huge chunk out of the sale for their commission. There are also many people selling the item and the money I had to charge to make a sale was so small, it wasn’t worth my time to pack and ship the item. But, you may wish to try your luck there or on half.com.
Here are my secrets of getting cheap entertainment and then making a profit on them!
First, find cheap things at garage sales in good condition. The condition of an item is the key to resale value. Check the CDs and DVDs for scratches. Stay away from broken plastic cases, ripped paper covers, etc. Books shouldn’t be creased on the spine, have ripped covers or bent corners.
Books at garage sales can sell anywhere from a quarter to a dollar or two. The best garage sales have hard backs for $1 each or less and soft covers for 50 cents or less. Do not purchase romances if you wish to resell the book. Romances are not bought by second hand shops. Probably because you can get them for a quarter or less and one romance author is as good as another. In other words, there are few people who are dying to read X author’s latest work. If you love to read romances you will hit the jackpot at garage sales. They are plentiful and cheap.
CDs are for sale at garage sales but they are not as cheap as books. Depending on the popularity of the singer or band, they are usually $2-3. However, many of them have good resale value.
DVDs are usually for sale at $2-5. I don’t pay more than $3 for DVDs. I think the market is getting flooded with different ways to view movies and a price must reflect this. If I have a subscription to Netflix, $3 is a high price to pay for a DVD. But, they can get great resale value at the resale store.
Videos deserve special mention here. I have many videos that I get for 50 cents or a dollar. They are well worth it to me since it still costs less than getting the movie from anywhere but the public library. My husband loves old movies and many are for sale on videos at garage sales. We still own our VCR and will continue to use it until it dies. If you still own your VCR get videos for cheap at garage sales and enjoy them. You can’t resell them but they are cheap entertainment.
The final piece of the puzzle is where to resell items. You can resell them at Rainbow Records in Newark, DE. I love Rainbow. It is a small business that buys and sells records (as in vinyl!), DVDs, CDs and books! When you resell items at Rainbow, bring them in a batch not just one or two items. You can get store credit, or cash. Store credit gives you more than cash. We use the store credit to do some of our Christmas and birthday shopping for our teenagers. Because Rainbow is a small business, I usually shop there for our book and CD needs, too.
Another place to resell is on Amazon. I have been an Amazon seller before but gave up since they take a huge chunk out of the sale for their commission. There are also many people selling the item and the money I had to charge to make a sale was so small, it wasn’t worth my time to pack and ship the item. But, you may wish to try your luck there or on half.com.
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