Friday, October 12, 2012
Get things FREE with Listia!
Listia is a barter service where you earn points for each item you give away. Members bid on the items and the highest bidder gets the prize. You can then use the points you earn to "purchase" items from other "sellers." Little to no money changes hands, depending solely on the shipping arrangements (and then of course if the item is a gift card that might count as cash tender). What is great about this is that it really encourages sustainability and works outside of the economic system ( avoiding the concerns of money changing hands over the internet), yet still provides incentive for participation by earning points which can be used to receive other items and each trade is backed by Listia assurance.
Here are the rules:
"Buyers get a FULL REFUND of credits:
- If an item won on Listia is not received or significantly not as described in the listing.
- If a seller changes the listing terms (as outlined in the description) after it ends, and the buyer disagrees.
Sellers can KEEP ALL credits:
- If a winner does not pay shipping, is non-responsive, or otherwise experiences buyer's remorse.
- If a winner claims they did not receive an item, but the seller has provided a valid tracking number."
A few weeks back I wrote about bartering. This service is the modern day version of that. I am looking for seeds... perhaps the old man I met at the store with a strange idea was not so strange after all.
Receive 100 BONUS points by following this link to sign up:
https://www.listia.com/signup/2180486
Would you participate in something like this? What items would you give away? What items would you look for?
Sunday, October 7, 2012
Eat Cheaply: Home Made Gourmet Popcorn
These days I prefer to stay home and watch a movie on Netflix or Hulu and make my own popcorn. You don't need a fancy popcorn machine. All you need is some popping corn, a little oil, a pan, and a lid. At home you can tweak the recipe!
Popcorn is rather bland on its own so it can be flavored anyway you want. If you forgo the butter, and avoid salt you can make it a really healthy snack! Or slather it on for a more traditional treat!
Here are a few easy recipes:
Basic Ingredients & Tools (plain popcorn):
- 2 Tbs Oil- 1 handful popping corn
- 1 large pan or pot with lid (the lid is very important!)
- Stove
Flavor options:
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| Photo: CC Andy Nguyen http://www.flickr.com/photos/bigburpsx3/4524086636/ |
Curly French Fry:
- Butter, melted (optional)
- Garlic powder
- French Fry seasoning (Oops! Don't get Encore brand. Turns out it has MSG!)
- Cayenne pepper
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| Photo: CC edkohler http://www.flickr.com/photos/edkohler/2354328985/ |
Cheese Puff:
- Butter, melted (optional)
- Salt
- Macaroni and Cheese Mix Cheddar Cheese Powder (a little goes a long way!)
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| Photo: CC Geishaboy500 http://www.flickr.com/photos/geishaboy500/4340534267/ |
Parmesan:
- Butter, melted (optional)
- Parmesan cheese, grated
- Salt (optional, as the Parmesan tends to be a bit salty anyways)
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| Photo: CC Elle C. http://www.flickr.com/photos/cquem/2118941537/ |
- Butter, melted (optional)
- Lemon zest (finely zested)
- Dried chopped cilantro (optional)
- Lemon pepper seasoning or combine the following:
- Black Pepper or Cayenne Pepper
- Lemon infused salt (prepare a day before, put a few drop of lemon juice concentrate in a few tablespoons of salt and wait a few days, stirring every few hours)
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| Photo: CC Steven D Polo http://www.flickr.com/photos/stevendepolo/4710817662/lightbox/ |
Wasabi Ginger:
- Peanut oil (optional)
- Powdered wasabi or horseradish powder
- powdered or grated toasted ginger
- fish sauce (mix with peanut oil, optional)
(OK, I don't know if it really counts as Thai or not but it has peanut oil and fish sauce! SCORE!)
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| Photo: CC Dorothy Finley http://www.flickr.com/photos/santafeegret/4094816333/ |
Spiced Apple Crisp:
- Butter, melted (optional)
- Dry apple cider mix
-Brown sugar
- Salt
- Cinnamon, ground
- Nutmeg, ground (optional)
(There's an apple crumble recipe I'd like to try from the source of this photo!)
Directions:
1. Heat the oil on the stove and coat the pan.2. Add 1 popcorn kernel and place the lid on the pan.
3. Constantly move the pan. When the kernel pops, the oil is ready.
4. Add the handful of popping corn. Close the lid again.
5. Constantly agitate the pan as the popcorn pops. It will slow down eventually and stop popping.
6. When the popping appears to be complete, remove the pan from the heat.
7. Leave the lid on for a few seconds to make sure there are no un-popped kernels about to explode in your face (trust me, it is not as cool as it sounds. Those kernels are HOT).
8. Pour into a bowl.
9. If you are adding melted butter, add it now and toss to mix.
10. Add spices to taste.
11. Best served immediately.
Do you have any good gourmet popcorn recipes you'd like to share? Have any suggested flavor combos?
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 2.0 Generic License. Please follow links below photos for licensed attribution. All others CC Selena Marie Norris.
Saturday, October 6, 2012
How Far Would You Go To Save A Buck?
If you are like me, you are probably thinking,
"WHAT?!"
That's right. She washes her clothes with the water left in the shower after she washes herself. And she does not use toilet paper. Some people will go the extreme to save money, but I think that we all have a line we wouldn't cross and I definitely would not give up toilet paper unless we were in a survival setting. Granted, if I had one of those fancy bidets, maybe. While this woman is essentially making a low-tech bidet (she rinses and washes with soap instead of using toilet paper), she does " wipe off with a paper towel" when she is done. Let's not even go into the cleanliness issues of reusing a paper towel down there, even just for drying off....
I like saving money, but there is a line between cheap and cheapskate and it is probably the same line between $ and "ew" that I wouldn't cross. I have a good job. I am frugal, not a cheapskate. I have plans for the future that I am saving for. There's a lot I do that most people would not do to save a buck. I buy whole chickens and use all the bits. I make my own laundry detergent. This, however, is just too too much for me. Perhaps it would make sense in a third world country. Maybe I'm just too socially aware... I'm sort of baffled by this.
Watch TLC's Extreme Cheapskates for yourself and let me know your thoughts.
http://www.dailymail.co.uk/femail/article-2211283/Extreme-Cheapskates-Americas-tightest-money-savers-exposed-new-season.html
What do you think?
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