Mama Says

Here’s an archived post from February 2009 that appeared on the old site.
We are having special visitors this weekend and my parents are coming the week after, so I’m busy with spring cleaning.  Starting with the laundry room – our washer gasped its last breath this weekend.  When the wet clothes inside the washing machine [...]

I used to write about television shows for one of my clients.  We had cable, then upgraded to a DVR, and I got a tax write off.  Oh my goodness, I would never have cable without a DVR again.  It’s fabulous and should be standard equipment.
However, cable and DVRs are expensive, and last fall we [...]

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We are moving to a more natural, real food diet.  We are also on WIC and food stamps (in Texas, if you qualify for SNAP aka food stamps, you are automatically qualified for WIC if you are pregnant or have children under the age of 5).  I’ll be blogging how we make the change on [...]

I spent $179.93 on food this week (a little over my allotment of $165.50 per week.)
I got… raw cheddar! I am so excited to try this.  I didn’t even know the regular groceries were aloud to sell it, but there this little brick was, tucked underneath the hanging bags of Kraft at H.E.B.
This whole buying [...]

Non-stick cooking spray is convenient.  It’s also expensive and full of propellants; finding one made without genetically modified soybean or canola oil is almost impossible.
My solution?  Grease the pan with shortening.  I buy non-hydrogenated vegetable shortening (it’s a great big tub of palm kernel oil)  and use that anywhere I would normally use cooking spray.

I [...]

Are you trying to decrease your disposables with the Kitchen Steward?  Or maybe it just pains your cheap soul to throw anything away.
Then why are you using aluminum foil?
If you need to cover a dish in the oven, use reusable aluminum.  No, I’m not talking about washing and saving your Reynold’s wrap.
Put your cookie sheets [...]

Hundreds of retailers participate in Free Shipping Day.  If you need to do last minute shopping, now is the time!
The Discovery Channel Store, CompUSA, and GanderMountain are just a few participating stores.
No room in the budget for shopping?  Download this free ebook, Recipes in a Jar for frugal foodie gifts.

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My husband got a job!  It pays nearly what he was making before, but he is scheduled for 40 hours of overtime.  He’s hourly, so that means time and a half!  Everyone who has been praying for us, thank you so much!  God has answered your prayers with abundance.
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The downside?  We were planning to visit [...]

I received a phone call from the admin assist at the food stamp office today, the local branch who messed everything up.  I was assured that our benefits will be put on our card within 24-48 hours and to make sure to call back if they do not get credited by Friday.  I don’t know [...]