tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-43223838200743267432026-03-30T06:47:40.609-04:00Lazy Budget ChefA food blog about cooking quick healthy recipes on a budget and frugal saving money tips and hacksLisa Nelsen-Woodshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13731962631056727458noreply@blogger.comBlogger461125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4322383820074326743.post-19213661787150002262024-04-01T10:00:00.003-04:002024-04-01T10:00:56.451-04:00Quick and Easy DIY Car Air Freshener Hack
I use a vent clip air freshener in my car keep the inside of my car from
stinking up the joint in between cleanings. My personal go-to is
this Fabreeze car vent air freshener
, but I also love the scent of
these Yankee Candle car vent air fresheners. Depending on availability and sales, I tend to switch between the two.(Disclosure: I am including affiliate links for your convenience.Lisa Nelsen-Woodshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13731962631056727458noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4322383820074326743.post-86729615790190360952024-03-19T15:53:00.001-04:002024-03-19T15:54:20.361-04:00How to Hang Lights in a Tent That Doesn't Have a Center Hanging LoopWhen we bought our
camping tent, hanging camping lanterns from the ceiling of a tent
were not a thing like it is now. At night, we’d light a LED camping lantern similar to this one and put it on a bedside table (that is actually a folding stool like this one ) to light the inside of the tent.
There was plenty of light but there were also plenty of dark corners,
that we’d supplement by wearing a Lisa Nelsen-Woodshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13731962631056727458noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4322383820074326743.post-35082872976806005892024-02-21T17:19:00.007-05:002024-02-22T11:14:36.770-05:0027 Things I Make Instead of Buy to Save Money
Are you looking for ways to save money? You're not alone! It can be tough to
keep up with when you have surprise expenses.
By changing some of our daily habits, my family started to make some of
our household items instead of buy them to help use reduce waste, save money,
and frankly because it can be more convenient.
I added the items on this list bit by bit over the yearsLisa Nelsen-Woodshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13731962631056727458noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4322383820074326743.post-66871911724984407112024-01-30T14:53:00.002-05:002024-04-05T11:26:46.287-04:00DIY Insulated Resuable Water BottlesI always start my day with a
cup of coffee. But once I settle into my work, I switch to water. At
first, I just used a regular glass from my cupboard, but I quickly
realized it was too small. I was constantly interrupting my work to
refill it. And let's be real, I often didn't bother refilling it at
all.
I
discovered a simple solution already lurking in my cupboard: reusable
water bottles. I Lisa Nelsen-Woodshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13731962631056727458noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4322383820074326743.post-45805868360196190272023-08-17T13:10:00.000-04:002023-08-17T13:10:16.852-04:00Quick and Easy Pumpkin Bread RecipeAt the very last
minute, my schedule changed and I could attend a friend’s tea
party.
Which also meant I
had to scramble at the last minute to make a tasty and food allergy
friendly sweet treat.
I noticed a lonely
package of last fall’s pumpkin puree in the freezer. I decided to
give pumpkin bread a try. My quick and easy recipe is cheap to make
and, more importantly, delicious! Lisa Nelsen-Woodshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13731962631056727458noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4322383820074326743.post-75156572137992919902023-07-17T16:47:00.001-04:002023-08-02T11:38:21.335-04:0018 Things I Do Not Buy Ten years ago I wrote a post about 12 Things I Do Not Buy
because I gave up using the item (or found a cheaper option, found a
reusable for a disposable, or repurposed something to take its
place.) Some folks thought some of the items on my list took too much
time. Others said some of those items are not sustainable in the long
run. I thought I’d do a little update on what changed, Lisa Nelsen-Woodshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13731962631056727458noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4322383820074326743.post-21432040236969084672023-06-23T11:58:00.002-04:002023-06-23T11:58:51.106-04:00Strawberry Lemonade Cookie Cupcake RecipeI want to make
cupcakes for a family get together. I also want to jazz them up a bit
because, well, I’m me. I spied cookies at the grocery store when
it hit me – I can bake those cream filled cookies into my cupcakes!
Lately, I’ve been
dabbling with cake mixes because it is easier to swap out the dairy
ingredients for my food allergy than baking a cake from scratch. So
while I’m using a white Lisa Nelsen-Woodshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13731962631056727458noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4322383820074326743.post-24445728511231665182023-06-05T16:59:00.009-04:002023-06-06T14:04:30.700-04:00Effortlessly Travel with One Suitcase: 15 Space Saving Tips!
I'm always on the lookout for a good travel deal. One of the best ways to
reduce your travel costs is to travel with carry on luggage only to avoid
extra baggage fees on a plane. One bag travel (although truthfully my husband
and I usually travel with one carry on and a small backpack as our personal
item) also gives you the flexibility to use cheap public transportation than
pricey Lisa Nelsen-Woodshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13731962631056727458noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4322383820074326743.post-42941240680216813862023-05-25T17:27:00.002-04:002023-05-25T17:28:55.290-04:00Do Vegetable Gardens Waste More Money Than They Save?
I was bopping along the Internet when I found myself in a discussion about
frugal advice people hate. Basically, those tips to save money that don’t
apply to you.
And the number one way to save money that actually wasted money was – plant a
garden.
This was followed by people saying that vegetable gardens cost them more money
than they saved because it cost them $40 to grow Lisa Nelsen-Woodshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13731962631056727458noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4322383820074326743.post-68106593811769198212023-05-11T14:15:00.001-04:002023-05-11T14:15:14.600-04:00Smoked Salmon and Spinach Avocado Toast Recipe: A Quick and Easy Breakfast or Brunch Idea
I made a loaf of rye bread (I make bread dough in a
bread machine similar to this one
and then bake the dough in the oven to make the homemade bread come out light
and fluffy) after finally remembering to buy rye flour I went grocery
shopping. (Disclosure: I am including affiliate links for your convenience.)
After a few morning meals of homemade rye bread toast with honey Lisa Nelsen-Woodshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13731962631056727458noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4322383820074326743.post-27964091850805471962023-04-06T14:18:00.019-04:002023-04-06T14:20:20.640-04:00How I Get Free DIY Seed Starting TraysI never remember to buy trays or start vegetable garden seeds until
after our frost date. I end up directly sowing the seeds in my
container garden. My garden takes a bit longer to start producing
food we can eat.
Most of the time I
cheat and buy vegetable plants that have already been started. It’s
a little more expensive way to garden but as a novice vegetable
gardener it was a better way Lisa Nelsen-Woodshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13731962631056727458noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4322383820074326743.post-65035719463990253332023-03-29T18:05:00.001-04:002023-03-29T18:05:24.319-04:00Cashew Ricotta, Cream, Mozzarella, and Garlic Cheese RecipeThe problem with
vegan cheese (and a lot of allergy free food) is that the
manufacturers ignore that their ingredients start with a slightly
different taste profile than the originals. Instead of working
with those different tastes to create a unique foodstuff you can
use as a “cheese”, they just bodge right through and declare that
the finished product is tastes just like cheddar
cheese when at Lisa Nelsen-Woodshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13731962631056727458noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4322383820074326743.post-18023772215085700912023-03-07T16:15:00.002-05:002023-03-09T11:06:42.118-05:00What $175 Buys at Aldi for a MonthI try to grocery
shop seasonally to save money. I have to do it a little differently
by shopping according to the US national growing season when
nothing is growing here during the winter.
For further food
savings, I also keep an eye on the weekly online grocery store fliers
for sales due to a an industry month (like National Frozen Food
Month, seasonal events, or holidays (snacks and party Lisa Nelsen-Woodshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13731962631056727458noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4322383820074326743.post-67027874781037693352023-01-24T16:40:00.003-05:002023-02-22T11:22:25.729-05:00How to Repair a Leaking Reusable Water Bottle CapAfter years of heavy use my favorite insulated metal water bottle has a small leak near the cap after I dropped it. I wondered if I could repair my leaking insulated water bottle (I already wore out and replaced the original cap) since I thought the leak was on the rim of hydration bottle and not the lid.
It also turns out that yes, you can repair a leaking water bottle rim and cap.
Lisa Nelsen-Woodshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13731962631056727458noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4322383820074326743.post-83614899772020104022022-12-14T11:30:00.002-05:002022-12-15T10:37:11.688-05:00Easy Chocolate Cherry Cookie Bar RecipeI never knew how much I depended upon my Pryex baking dish until I
had to bob and weave after the dish leapt from the cupboard to attack
me and it smashed into a thousand pieces on the kitchen floor.
Which is a much more
entertaining way to say I accidentally broke it.
I put off replacing
it after reading reports of Pyrex dishes exploding in the oven
because they are now made from to Lisa Nelsen-Woodshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13731962631056727458noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4322383820074326743.post-74845306192214362342022-11-22T13:39:00.004-05:002023-02-13T12:59:55.312-05:007 Creative Ways to Use Mulling Spices (Besides Wine)
As the temperatures move downward, I like to fire up a hot beverage in the
evening. A fuzzy blanket on my lap, a warm mug in my hands, and Lacey snuggled
at my side is bliss on a chilly evening.
Hot chocolate used to be my winter warmer drink of choice, but finding a dairy
free hot chocolate mix that actually tastes good can be hit or miss. Mostly
miss. (if you have a favorite Lisa Nelsen-Woodshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13731962631056727458noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4322383820074326743.post-40886354540994577402022-10-14T13:56:00.002-04:002022-10-14T13:56:45.534-04:00How to Vacuum Seal Tomato Sauce and Liquids the Easy Way!As much as I appreciate that I don’t have ice buildup and the need
to defrost my frost free freezer, I don’t appreciate how frost free
freezers can freezer burn the food inside. I tried just about every
food storage freezer hack, including freezing homemade broth in Mason
jars. I still ended up with freezer burned food and more often than
not, the glass jar would crack or split open after awhile Lisa Nelsen-Woodshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13731962631056727458noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4322383820074326743.post-16414817119527300922022-08-16T10:39:00.001-04:002022-08-16T10:42:52.605-04:00Save Money with These 14 Homemade Laundry Detergent, Static, and Stain CleanersWhen
I bought my High Efficiency (HE) washing machine I had a heck of a
time finding a HE laundry detergent that didn’t make me itch,
cleaned our clothes, AND didn’t make the washer stink. At the time
I couldn’t find a HE laundry detergent that accomplished all three
important tasks and ended up making my own powdered laundry
detergent. Problem solved. I had leftover detergent from the oldLisa Nelsen-Woodshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13731962631056727458noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4322383820074326743.post-16402627372816373332022-08-03T13:46:00.001-04:002022-08-03T13:46:17.195-04:00My Pizza Stone Tastes Funny and How to Wash ItI absolutely love my baking stone (I have a square pizza stone similar to this one because it is more versatile than a round one.) I use it all the
time and for pretty much everything I put in the oven. (Disclosure: I
am including affiliate links for your convenience.)
Which I learned is a mistake.
The food I bake on my pizza stone is starting to taste weird. The
stone smells and smokes when ILisa Nelsen-Woodshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13731962631056727458noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4322383820074326743.post-42076366340674325702022-07-13T16:54:00.009-04:002022-07-13T17:04:56.417-04:00How I Grow a Lot of Vegetables without a Yard
With supply chain issues and higher prices, my husband and I wanted to grow
more than one lonely tomato plant and a couple of leeks this year.
The first step was doing research through backyard gardeners who grow most,
if not all, of their own food. Why? Because they have a very good idea of
how many plants of x, y,z vegetable you should plant per person that
Lisa Nelsen-Woodshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13731962631056727458noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4322383820074326743.post-69243014300131690862022-06-21T14:15:00.003-04:002022-06-21T14:15:39.760-04:00Quick and Easy Cherry Coconut Fluff Dessert RecipeMy husband and I were invited to a summer cookout and volleyball extravaganza. Like all good Midwesterners, we automatically knew that includes bringing food for the potluck portion of the party.
Unfortunately, earlier in the week due to a raging thunderstorm that took down power line followed by temperatures that shot up into the 90’s (F ) our electric company gave a huge chunk of the state Lisa Nelsen-Woodshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13731962631056727458noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4322383820074326743.post-64836878832192559712022-06-13T16:05:00.003-04:002022-07-12T16:13:11.733-04:00How to Make Cold Brew Coffee the Easy Way Disclosure: This recipe is made possible through generous samples of Fire Department Coffee . This did not influence my opinion in any way as all opinions are my own.
I initially thought that cold brew coffee was pretentious speak for “iced coffee that takes longer to make and drunk from a Mason jar.”
Turns out cold brew is not the same thing as pouring strong hot coffee over ice like making Lisa Nelsen-Woodshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13731962631056727458noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4322383820074326743.post-53473716269541704322022-06-03T15:56:00.004-04:002022-08-09T12:34:24.237-04:00How to Safely Reuse Canning Jar Lids for Preserving FoodMy husband and I went to town and planted a bunch of tomatoes this year with the idea to can them for later. This isn’t a new idea and more folks are doing the same. So much so that canning lids and supplies were one of the first things to have supply chain issues.
When I ran into this problem two years ago, I used what new metal lids I had on hand and froze the rest. I also bought these exact Lisa Nelsen-Woodshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13731962631056727458noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4322383820074326743.post-63777034904425041812022-05-06T13:42:00.003-04:002022-05-07T10:28:17.317-04:00How to Make Eyeglass Cleaning Spray!
Ever since I first started wearing glasses as a kid, I cleaned them every morning by wetting the lenses and carefully cleaning them with a little bit of dish washing liquid on my fingers. I’d pat the lenses dry with a towel for a clean and clear view of the day before me.
It wasn’t until I got a new optometrist as an adult that I was introduced to the magic of lens cleaning spray. Paired with Lisa Nelsen-Woodshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13731962631056727458noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4322383820074326743.post-950276529363225692022-04-04T16:51:00.007-04:002022-04-05T09:07:48.783-04:00Tornado, Hurricane, and Severe Storm Preparedness Plan on the Cheap
As Midwesterners my husband I never really thought about making special
preparations for severe and tornado weather season (generally spring and fall.
Although tornadoes can form year round whenever warm and cold air collide)
beyond the school tornado drills we grew up with and lighting a few candles if
the electricity blinked out for an hour or so. We knew as long as we didn’t
open Lisa Nelsen-Woodshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13731962631056727458noreply@blogger.com2