Old Fashioned Turkey Stock – Make That Bird Last Like Grandma Did

November 7, 2011 By 2 Comments

Homemakers in the old days really knew how to stretch a meal!  This image from a 1907 magazine gives the clever cook suggestions for using up all that Thanksgiving turkey.

Using up turkey leftovers is nothing new to the frugal Mom.  We all know about turkey casseroles, salads, and soups.  But, perhaps some of us have missed one of the most basic uses for our turkey – boiling the carcass for stock.

Yes, this may be something you haven’t seen since you were little and had Thanksgiving dinner at Grandma’s house, but this frugal cooking tip is well worth resurrecting.

Making soup stock out of the leftover carcass of the turkey seems to be a process that’s gone by the way of other old fashioned frugal cooking methods.  It’s time we brought it back.

So, I decided to share my simple explanation of how to go about boiling those bones for stock.

In order to get your turkey carcass ready, thoroughly scrape the stuffing out of the turkey and put it in a separate container in the refrigerator.  Then, of course, remove all the big, usable, pieces of turkey meat from the bones.  You’ll save those for casseroles, sandwiches, and soups.  Keep the skin, fat, and gristle with the carcass,  as this adds to the flavor of the stock.  Don’t worry, you’ll be straining this all out and skimming the fat off the stock when it’s all done.

Grab your biggest soup pot and place your turkey carcass and all the drippings, skin, etc. in the pot, breaking the carcass into smaller pieces if necessary until it all fits.  Throw in a couple onions, celery stalks, peppercorns, and salt.  Don’t go crazy with the peppercorns or salt because when you use this stock for soup, you’ll be seasoning again.  Now cover your ingredients with fresh, cold water.  Put on the burner and bring it to a boil, uncovered so it doesn’t get away from you.  Once it’s come to a boil, turn it down to a nice, slow slimmer, cover loosely (tip lid) and continue to simmer for a good couple of hours.

When you’re tired of watching it simmer, remove the pot from the stove and let cool enough to handle.  Then, place a colander or strainer in a large bowl and pour contents of turkey pot through to strain out everything.  Throw out all the bones and vegetables.  They will not have any flavor left and will be basically mushy.  You’ve saved enough turkey meat to add to a future soup recipe when you took the good meat off the bones before you boiled the carcass.

Now, you should be left with a bowl of stock.  Put the stock in the refrigerator, lay a piece of parchment paper or waxed paper loosely over the top of the pot (do not tightly cover), and leave it overnight.

The next day, you will have a layer of fat on top.  You can spoon that off of the surface and throw it away.  Or, you can save it to use in something else if you like.  But, you’ve got enough fat and flavor left in the stock without that extra fat.

If you wish, you may strain the stock again to remove any tiny flecks, but it’s not necessary.  Divide the stock between freezer containers, freeze what you want and put the remaining stock in the refrigerator to use up in the next week in anything that you want.

Believe it or not, you will be hungry for turkey again. Having your own homemade turkey stock on hand makes using up your turkey meat even easier – and better tasting!

Warm regards,

Susanne – The Hillbilly Housewife
www.HillbillyHousewife.com

p.s. I invite you to stop by HillbillyHousewife.com to see what other frugal, fun tips we have to share. And, while you’re there, be sure to leave a comment and let us know your thoughts.

Graphic courtesy of Vintage123.com – from November 1907 issue of Delineator magazine.

 

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Two Birds Are Better Than One – Let’s Talk Turkey

October 31, 2011 By 3 Comments

Norman Rockwell’s picture of a bountiful table.

This is the image that comes to mind when we talk about the American family celebrating a traditional Thanksgiving dinner.  That huge turkey is the star of the meal!

Just look at those happy faces gathered around that big table.  You don’t see a lot of fancy side dishes – just that delicious giant bird.

Yes, I have roasted a few of those huge birds myself.  And, yes, a twenty-plus pound turkey is impressive.  But, recently I’ve made a change in our plans for Thanksgiving dinner.  It’s not very radical, really.  It just makes sense to me.  Here it is:

Instead of one huge turkey I roast two smaller turkeys.

There are a few reasons for the change, which I’ll explain.

1)  We now have four drumsticks, as well as double the options for everyone’s other favorite cuts.

2)  Smaller turkeys are often a bit more tender and moist than the larger ones.

3)  You can make two different types of stuffing to really surprise and please your guests.

4)  If you have a big table you can grace each end with its own bird, or if you have two tables, each will get its own.

Oh, the reasons for cooking two birds are plentiful, indeed!

Rather than buy one 18 to 20 pound turkey, I buy two 10 to 12 pounders.  They fit in smaller roasting pans set side by side in the oven, and everything else remains the same.  With two birds I get more choices, more bones to boil for stock, and more leftovers!  That’s just fabulous as far as I’m concerned.  You can never have enough turkey leftovers!

Start a new tradition this year and present two beautiful roasted turkeys on your Thanksgiving table.  Your family and friends will exclaim “Why didn’t we think of that!”

Have a wonderful Thanksgiving!
Warm regards,

Susanne – The Hillbilly Housewife
www.HillbillyHousewife.com

p.s. I invite you to stop by HillbillyHousewife.com to see what other frugal, fun tips we have to share. And, while you’re there, be sure to leave a comment and let us know your thoughts.

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10 Steps to Successful Canning

October 24, 2011 By Leave a Comment

This “Old-Fashioned” way of preserving food is something that I’ve had on my list of Things I Wish I Knew How To Do for years and now my friend, Susanne – The Hillbilly Housewife, has created the perfect resource just for me.  OK, maybe not for me specifically, but certainly for people just like me that want to feed their family well and save money in addition to preserving “old timey” techniques to pass down to the next generation.

Canning 101 – What You Need to Know About Canning 

There is nothing like jumping into something headfirst without knowing what you are really getting into. Here are some quick tips that you need to know about canning before you start!

  1. Only use the finest quality foods. Fruit and vegetables should feel fresh and firm. Smell and look ripe, with good color and no blemishes.
  2. Wash your food thoroughly. Not only does dirt cause bacteria but it also is very unpleasant to grit in your bite of food.
  3. Do not soak fruit or vegetables as this will remove all the flavors from your food.
  4. Handle the fruits and vegetables carefully as they do bruise easily.
  5. Have a working area, canning equipment and jars with lids clean and ready.
  6. All jars and lids should be perfect. The jars should not be nicked or cracked and the lids should be soaked to soften up the sealing compound.
  7. Use a recipe book and be sure to follow all the recipes. It’s important that the steps are followed exactly. The accurate time and temperature of hot water bath or pressure canners will make the difference of good food prepared well.
  8. Leave enough head space in jars, and don’t over-stuff them with fruits and vegetables, as the produce in jars will expand when being heat processed. Also remove air bubbles from around food in jars. The air left will again endanger foods with bacteria.
  9. Clean mouth of jar before putting the lid on to ensure a proper seal all around. Tighten the rings firmly, as this will push the sealing compound tightly against jar mouth thus assuring a good airtight seal.
  10. Before moving jars into the pantry or on a shelf, make sure jars are vacuum sealed. A jar that is properly sealed is slightly dented in the lid.

By following these tips, you will ensure that your canning adventure will be a great success. And, if you are looking for a great canning recipe book, check out my ebook Canning Made Simple. Each page is filled with tips, tricks, information and lots of great recipes!

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Buy Locally And Eat Seasonally – Why Is It Important

October 14, 2011 By Leave a Comment

If you are fortunate enough to have a local farmers market, a farm selling what they’re growing, or a grocery store that sells locally grown produce, shop there.  Why is it important to buy locally grown food?

The idea is to; 1) help support your local economy, 2) help reduce energy consumption by eliminating long distance shipping, and 3) help reduce your grocery bill.

What happens when you buy locally is that you are also eating seasonally.  Why is that so important?  Let’s take a look at the beauty of eating seasonally.

We just got back from a trip to our local farmer’s market, our arms loaded down with a beautiful assortment of squash.  Why squash and not sweet peas, tomatoes, or corn?  Because it’s Autumn and there are countless varieties of squash available.

Our dinner will include squash tonight because it’s that time of year.  You say your kids won’t eat squash?  How about eggplant?  An eggplant dish with cheese is usually a hit with kids.

Depending on what part of the world you live, there will be an abundance of certain vegetables and fruits at different times of the year.  Even in the coldest climates, you will find root crops oftentimes through December and beyond.  Your dinner may include rutabaga, carrots, parsnips, and potatoes.  A hearty pot roast surrounded by these root crops is always a welcome addition on a chilly Autumn evening.

You’ll always be better off, both nutritionally and economically, if you purchase your produce from the closest location possible.  Before mass transportation of food existed, we humans ate what was available to us.  I guarantee that if you eat vegetables and fruits that have very recently been picked from the tree or ground, the value you get for your dollar will be much better than produce shipped in from thousands of miles away.

Think about your produce supply before you buy.  Not only will you eat healthier, you’ll eat happier.

Enjoy the harvest!

Warm regards,

Susanne – The Hillbilly Housewife
www.HillbillyHousewife.com

p.s. I invite you to stop by HillbillyHousewife.com to see what other frugal, fun tips we have to share. And, while you’re there, be sure to leave a comment and let us know your thoughts.

p.p.s.  If you go overboard with your local seasonal produce and have an abundance far beyond your family’s needs right now, do what I do… start canning!  If you’ve never attempted canning, or if you haven’t canned for a long time, don’t fret.  Canning Made Simple will have you off and canning in no time.

This guide explains the process in easy to understand terms and gets you started with over 40 recipes to preserve the bounty of the season.  Click on and buy your copy of Canning Made Simple today and enjoy your abundant season!

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Halloween Costumes – Quick And Cheap

October 14, 2011 By Leave a Comment

Halloween is almost here.  It’s a great excuse to be silly and have lots of fun.  That’s why I love Halloween.

What I don’t love is the expensive costumes.  Even the discount stores have racks filled with expensive branded-character costumes.  I’m amazed, and appalled, at the prices of these much sought after costumes.

I can’t bring myself to spend hard-earned money to purchase a costume that will be worn once, or twice at the most.

Since my daughter understands what sacrifices we all make in our family so we can live within our budget, she agreed to try something fun and create her own costume – with my help, of course.

It just takes a little bit of creativity and a few frugal items to make your own Halloween costumes.  We put our heads together and came up with not just one costume for our daughter, but three costumes – one for each of us!

Here is how simple it is to create your very own Halloween costumes out of very little money, and even on very short notice:

Leaf Pile

We started with a big, old, dark colored T-Shirt that hung to my daughter’s knees, and a sack of Fall color leaves that we bought at a craft store.  We used fabric glue and glued the leaves all over the shirt.  Then, we took an old bandanna scarf and glued more leaves all over it.  Then she put on a turtleneck shirt and leggings, and we slipped the leaf covered T-shirt over the top and tied on the bandanna. She looked just like we raked up a cute little pile of leaves.

Hello My Name Is

I started by grabbing one of my old “Hello My Name Is” tags, but if you don’t have one around just put that phrase into Google and you’ll get a good look at one.  Starting with a big rectangular piece of poster board (this one is for me) I took poster paint and copied the design onto the poster board.  Then I wrote a name on the line with black paint.  Use a name that is fun, ironic, or just plain outrageous.  Then I made another one and wrote a different name on it.  I punched holes in the top of both ‘name tags’ and strung pieces of yarn through to form straps that would fit over my shoulders.  When the tags hung just right, I tied up the yarn and that was it!  After dressing in warm clothes, I just slipped the ‘name tag’ over my shoulders and I was good to go.  The name tag is certainly an icon that’s recognizable, and humorous.

Flower Trellis

Yes, my husband got stuck going as a garden ornament.  That was mostly because when we looked around the house, that’s what we came up with last.  Luckily, my husband has a good sense of humor, so when we found a  wooden rose trellis that wasn’t being used, we thought we’d come up with something funny.  With my bins of miscellaneous silk flowers left over from crafts, he took wire, strung a bunch of flowers together and attached them to the trellis as if they were climbing.  Then he took a paper bag, cut it in the shape of a clay pot, and stapled it to the bottom of the trellis.  To attach it to his body, he took a couple lengths of big elastic which I also had left over from some sewing project, and tied each length over the top of the trellis, making a loop to slip his arms through.  To complete the look, my brave husband pinned some of the flowers on the top of a baseball cap and stuck it on his head. Now, that’s a good sport!

I know we all want to say “yes” to our children when they see the pretty costumes in the stores.  It’s not an easy thing to say “no.”  But, I found these projects to be so fun that it really took the sting out of the disappointment.  My daughter truly forgot about the expensive character costumes… especially when she saw her father dressed as a rose garden!

We’re already talking about what we’ll design for next Halloween.  I call that a frugal success story.

Warm regards,

Susanne – The Hillbilly Housewife
www.HillbillyHousewife.com

p.s. I invite you to stop by HillbillyHousewife.com to see what other frugal, fun tips we have to share. And, while you’re there, be sure to leave a comment and let us know your thoughts.

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Happy 4th of July – Celebrate Simply

July 2, 2011 By 2 Comments

Happy 4th of July!  Hope your weekend is a joy for you and your family.

Big cookouts, trips to the beach, hours on the road… these may not be your idea of a nice family 4th of July celebration.

Maybe it doesn’t appeal to you.  Maybe your budget won’t allow.  Maybe your family is very young and not up to the big meal or big plans.

For whatever reason, a simple 4th of July celebration may be what you and your family are planning.  So, I wanted to share a few relatively easy recipes and a little craft that is perfect for a simple celebration.  I hope you find something you can use.

Fly The Flag Smoothie

  • 1 cup vanilla yogurt
  • 1/2 cup milk or cream
  • 1 cup frozen blueberries
  • 1 tsp. lemon juice
  • 1/2 cup ice
  • whipped topping and sliced strawberries on top

Mix together the vanilla yogurt, milk, blueberries, and lemon juice  in a blender and blend until smooth, then slowly start adding ice and blend until frothy.
To serve, pour in tall glasses and top with a dollop of whipped topping and a few sliced strawberries.  Red White and Blue!

Sweet Freedom Punch

  • 6 cups prepared orange juice
  • 20 oz. frozen sliced strawberries
  • 2 cups cranberry juice cocktail
  • 3 cups Ginger Ale

In a big bowl, pour in the orange juice, add strawberries, and cranberry juice, mix well and keep cold.
When ready to serve, add the Ginger Ale, and serve immediately.
Makes around 15 to 20 servings.

Founder’s Favorite Fruit And Bleu Cheese Salad

  • 5 cups cubed watermelon
  • 2 cups sliced strawberries
  • 2 cups blueberries
  • 1 cup crumbled blue cheese
  • 2 Tbsp. fresh chopped mint
  • 1/2 cup raspberry vinaigrette

Toss together the fruit, cheese, and mint in large bowl.
Drizzle with vinaigrette, and toss again gently.
Makes enough for 4 to 6 people.

You may also want to try some simple kid-friendly finger-foods that are great for picnics, or any time you want kids to have easy foods to enjoy.  These are classic picnic, party, or snack foods made just about as easy as you can imagine.  Click on and make this 4th of July picnic a real treat:

Goldfish Cracker Chicken Nibbles
Grab ‘n Go Pizza Roll-Ups
Bundled Up Dogs

I also promised a simple craft to celebrate the 4th of July with your kids.  Here’s one of the easiest I’ve ever made.  I hope you enjoy it, too.

All American Windsock

Cut the bottom off a cylinder shaped oatmeal container, then wrap in blue construction paper.
Draw stars on white construction paper and cut out, then glue all around the blue construction paper.
Take red crepe paper and white crepe paper, and glue (or staple) lengths of alternating colors of crepe paper to one end of the cylinder.
Punch four holes along the top of the cylinder, (the side opposite the crepe paper streamers) evenly spaced.
Cut two pieces of string about a foot long. Tie one end of the string through one hole, and cross over and tie to hole on the opposite side, then do the same with the other string.
Take another piece of string and tie the pieces together at the top.  This last piece of string is what you’ll use to tie the windsock on to a hook from the ceiling, balcony, or tree.  Hang where it will catch a light breeze and enjoy the Red White and True Blue colors!

Enjoy your 4th of July, whether you have a big celebration or a small one.  Be safe and have fun.

Warm regards,

Susanne – The Hillbilly Housewife
www.HillbillyHousewife.com

p.s.  Be sure to stop by HillbillyHousewife.com to see what other frugal, fun tips we have to share.  And, while you’re there, be sure to leave a comment and let us know your thoughts.  Have a fun 4th of July and a wonderful summer.

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Can I Afford To Stay Home?

June 6, 2011 By Leave a Comment

There are many times when a Mom questions her choices.  One of the most difficult decisions is whether to work at an outside job or stay home.  I know from personal experience that this is not an easy decision to make.  When our daughter was born, I knew I wanted to stay home.  But, how would that be possible?  How could I stay home and still pay all the bills?

I also know that summertime brings this question back up for many Moms of school age kids.  When kids are home from school, it’s difficult to go to work every day for several reasons;  you’re paying daycare costs again, and you’re missing out on all the fun.

Revisiting the debate about working outside or staying home is frustrating.  I know.  It took us almost 3 years of struggling with this decision and working out the details… but we did it.  I am now a stay at home Mom.

Here I share a list of a few things we put in place that eventually allowed me to quit my job and become a full time stay at home Mom.  Read through them and see if they give you any ideas if you are struggling with the same decision.

  • We paid off all credit card debt and cars to get our overall bills down.
  • We knew we wanted to move and buy another house… to make sure we would qualify for a good loan with a low interest rate, we purchased the new home before I stopped working. Of course we made sure we could make the house payments without my job income.
  • We cut down on a lot of extras like a big satellite package, cell phones, and eating out.
  • We sat down and did the math. We listed all our expenses, figuring in that I would no longer have to commute every day which would save us in gas, work outfits, makeup, and lunches, and of course without the cost of daycare. Then we looked at the money coming in without my salary. When that was enough to cover all costs and then some, it was time for a trial run.
  • For the next three months, I continued to work, but we lived without my income… it went straight into a high-yielding savings account that would become our safety net. With just one person working, you need a good emergency fund in case that person loses his or her job and you’re left with no income at all.
  • After the three months we sat down and were pretty frank with each other what we did and didn’t like about living with quite a bit less money to spend. In the end we both decided that the sacrifices were worth being able to raise our child instead of having her in daycare or with a sitter.

As you can see, this decision wasn’t easy… or fast.  But, we’ve never regretted it.

We lived quite well for years with my job being to run the household, raise our daughter, and make our dollars stretch as far as possible. That meant creating a budget, cooking a lot more from scratch than before, shopping smartly, and coming up with fun frugal things for our family to do.  Because my husband was on board with our new frugal lifestyle, and our daughter was too young to notice any changes, these cut-backs were not difficult.  However, getting your family on board when older kids are involved will take a real commitment from everyone.

Once our daughter started school full-time, we had another decision to make.  Would I go back to work outside the home or continue staying home?  Working outside still had it’s drawbacks, like not being available for after school time, having to juggle work with school programs and other family fun, and of course, summer vacation.

That’s when we explored a third option… instead of being considered a stay-at-home-mom I would become a Work-At-Home-Mom.  I did a lot of research and started doing something I already liked – sharing frugal tips with other Moms.  My website HillbillyHousewife.com is the result.  Through the years I’ve learned a lot and have used that knowledge to produce a respectable income working right from home, while having the freedom to spend time with my family.

I know many families are struggling trying to raise a family on a limited income.  I also know that some families feel they have no options available to them.  I want you to know that becoming a Work-At-Home-Mom was a decision that I will never regret.  There is no such thing as easy money; working at home takes, well, work.  But, the rewards are well worth the effort.  Just looking at the relaxed smiling faces around our dinner table is reward enough!

Thank you for taking time out of your busy day to visit me here on MomsInABlog.com.  Be sure to scroll down and leave a comment when you get a chance.

Warm regards,

Susanne – The Hillbilly Housewife
www.HillbillyHousewife.com

p.s.  Feeling stressed and overwhelmed trying to support and raise a family is not a new problem to our modern times.  Whether you work outside the home or you stay at home trying to make ends meet, it’s not easy.  Please read this interesting story and see if you can relate to any of the feelings the mom is having:  A Homemaker’s Story

Image of DollarCurvesAhead: scottchan / FreeDigitalPhotos.net

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Happy Mother’s Day – Gifts Of Love

May 2, 2011 By Leave a Comment

I was watching television this weekend and heard a business analyst talk about the increased prices in necessities like gas at the pump and food on the table.  He further explored the possibility that this tight economy with its rising prices is forcing people to spend less money on Mom this Mother’s Day.

“How sad!” the anchors lamented.

“Who cares?” I say.

Mother’s Day was never about the monetary value of any present I’ve received.  No, the gifts I receive are about the love that went into the gift.  No matter what I receive on that special day, I know it’s meant to show love and appreciation for me, and for what I do throughout the year.

My favorite Mother’s Day gifts are the homemade cards or special drawings my dear daughter so carefully prepares. I have a drawer filled with those, plus the many macaroni necklaces along with a beautiful array of gold-painted jewelry boxes. Then there are the tiny flower gardens and mini terrariums crafted with those tiny hands.

When a child spends precious time on these gifts, and presents them to Mom with such pride on Mother’s Day, well, that’s what it’s all about.

An expensive bouquet of flowers is gone in a week’s time.  I can buy the things I need for the home.  I can pick out jewelry pieces from a store if I want something.

If we turn expensive gifts into expressions of love, we are missing something very valuable – especially on Mother’s Day.

Little gestures of love have real meaning. Digging into a tight budget to buy Mom something on Mother’s Day won’t ever bring the kind of tears to her eyes as a pretty little card drawn in crayon or the funny little necklace or jewelry box crafted out of macaroni, beads, buttons, and yarn.

Many of us simply don’t have the kind of money it takes to give Mom flowers, a gift, and a dinner out.  It’s okay.  It doesn’t have to be sad.  Rejoice in your time together on this day created just to celebrate our mothers.  Take time to say “I love you, Mom.”  Maybe expensive gifts should disappear from this day entirely.  Maybe we would all be better off remembering that the simple expressions of love are the best expressions of love.

Happy Mother’s Day!

With warm regards,

Susanne – The Hillbilly Housewife

p.s.  Come visit me at www.HillbillyHousewife.com to find all sorts of fun and frugal ideas for the home, garden, and for gifts, too!  Here are a couple ideas to get you thinking about what Mom would appreciate on her special day.  Click on to take a look:  Frugal Mother’s Day Gift Ideas

p.p.s.  If Mom is a fan of fancy coffee, here are links to a few of my favorite homemade mixes that make beautiful gifts, too.  Click on and take a look at these recipes:  Cafe Latte -     Bavarian Mint Cafe -    Mocha Espresso Mix

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Fascinating Frugal Fun For Kids This Easter – Dye Easter Eggs With Food

April 18, 2011 By 1 Comment

If purple cabbage, a jar of beets, grape juice, ground turmeric, and a jug of white vinegar are in in your grocery cart, you are ready to dye Easter eggs! This simple method of coloring eggs will surprise youngsters who have never seen anything but the packaged dye packets.

Not only is using food a fun way to dye Easter eggs, it’s also a good opportunity to explore the abundance of the Earth’s renewable resources. Harvesting the earth’s bounty and using it in new healthy and frugal ways is a wonderful lesson for kids and grownups alike.

The method is rather simple and kid-friendly. You’ll need an adult, of course, to boil the water and chop and measure, but the rest of the project is made for family fun.

Here’s the process:

Boil water. Then, set out at least four glass cups or jars. Fill each container with about a cup of boiling water and a teaspoon of white vinegar.

Now you can start creating your “dye.” You can experiment with other food items, but the ones I mentioned are readily available in most areas and normally found in my kitchen. That’s why I chose them. This is how you would prepare the colors.

  • Blue: Chop up the purple cabbage and add a few chunks to one prepared cup.
  • Yellow: Stir in a couple teaspoons of ground turmeric into a prepared cup.
  • Pink: Pour in the juice from the jar of beets into a prepared cup.
  • Purple: Pour grape juice into a prepared cup until it turns deep purple.

You won’t get brilliantly colored eggs from this natural dye, but you will have fun creating a nice assortment of pretty pastel Easter eggs. And, you’ll have fun creating something unusual with your youngsters.

Along with having fun, you can look forward to eating the rest of the cabbage, and the beets, and drinking the remaining grape juice. That’s not to mention eating the wonderful hard boiled eggs. This is definitely one of the most frugal Easter treats our family has ever enjoyed!

I hope you and your family have a very Happy and Blessed Easter!

With warm regards,

Susanne – The Hillbilly Housewife

p.s.  If you’re looking for ways to explain Easter to your children, you may want to do what I did – put together plastic “The Story Of Easter” eggs.  With 12 plastic eggs and a few trinkets, you can talk about each of the events during the Easter season in a simple way that kids will understand.

p.p.s.  Please stop by and visit me when you can at www.HillbillyHousewife.com for even more frugal living tips and ideas.  Take a minute to comment, too.  I love to hear what you have to say!

photo credit: geri-jean

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Frugal Moms Know How To Get Fit Without A Gym Membership

April 4, 2011 By Leave a Comment

Perhaps you have always belonged to a gym and, although it’s way beyond your budget right now, you continue to pay the membership fees because you need to exercise someplace where you have a commitment and encouragement.  You’re not alone.  Many of us need an exercise program mapped out for us, with all the equipment ready and waiting, surrounded by supportive people.

However, if you go to the gym because you truly believe you cannot get the same workout or support anywhere else, you may want to start searching a little harder. There are many ways to get fit and lose weight without the expense of a gym membership.

If you decide to leave the gym and all the fancy equipment behind in order to save money, don’t get sucked into buying an expensive piece of equipment.  That defeats the purpose.  There are many exercise programs that will fit your budget, using basic resistance and weight systems.  No, you don’t need to move a whole gym into your house to get a good workout.

To begin, you might want to check the library, bookstore, online, and even thrift stores for exercise videos and equipment.  You’ll be overwhelmed with the variety available to you.  Once you narrow down your choices to workouts that appeal to you, start pricing the equipment.  A simple seven inch ball used for abdominal work can be found for as little as $10.  Once again, check online for a whole host of exercise options, from actual exercises to forums designed to offer daily support for your personal goals.

Many people maintain a gym membership because they are afraid without it they won’t exercise.  Here’s where you need to ‘phone a friend.’  You won’t believe how many of your friends and family are having the same debate with themselves!  They, too, want to exercise and need the encouragement and commitment from someone else so they don’t just quit.  It’s simple:  instead of driving to the gym, drive to your friend’s house, put on the video, and have fun!  Or, take a walk, ride a bike, swim, or whatever you can find to get active – no membership fee involved!

This may seem like a no-brainer to get rid of a gym membership when you are trying to tighten the budget.  However, many Moms are serious about getting and staying in shape and don’t want to give up on reaching for those goals.  But, if your budget doesn’t really have room for a gym membership, get rid of it!  There are so many frugal ways to get in shape!

Because the worse part about getting fit is finding an exercise program you like, and sticking to it, you need to get creative.  There are so many fitness programs available…. choose one, call a friend, and have some fun!

Thanks for taking time to stop by and visit with me here.  If you want to read more frugal tips about everything from exercise to eating well, come and see me at www.HillbillyHousewife.com.  I look forward to seeing you!  Be sure to leave a comment when you come by.

Warmly,
Susanne – The Hillbilly Housewife

www.HillbillyHousewife.com

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