Check out Frugal Community, a blog primarily aimed at graduate students in the Twin Cities, and originating from Luther Seminary’s Center for Stewardship Leaders. Even if you aren’t a grad student or living in Minnesota, you’ll find plenty of great tips and ideas for the fun and frugal life. (Photo by luis perez used under Creative Commons License. Thanks!)
My Journey Out of Debt Has Brought Me Closer To God
Click here to read Blogger Travis Pizel’s story about how God became more important to him during his family’s journey out of debt. Pizel grew up attending a Lutheran school and church every Sunday, but it wasn’t until a financial crisis hit that his faith strengthened, bringing him closer to God.
Take the 30-Day Financial Fitness Challenge!
Here’s a great way to begin the new year! How about a 30-day challenge to address your financial fitness? A new activity will be posted each day to help you become more financial fit in 2012. Click here to read more about the GOOD 30-day Challenge: Get Financially Fit.
‘Magic’ formula actually prevents empty pockets
Click here to read Trent Hamm’s reflection on what is really needed to exercise sound mon
ey management and prevent credit card debt. It’s called spending less than one earns, and one magic ingredient makes this recipe for success work. It may sound simple, but as Trent notes, it’s a lot harder to do.
(Photo by Daniel Moyle used under Creative Commons License. Thanks!)
How We’re Paying Cash for College
College debt free? Are you kidding? Absolutely not. Here’s the story of how a family set a course to send their daughter to school without borrowing. Good ideas and inspiration. Click here to view the post.
A recipe for home stewardship
As a privileged, yuppie newspaper reporter in the 1980s, I was surprised to learn tha
t the Salvation Army Citadel in my city was offering cooking classes for residents of its poorest neighborhood. I envisioned gourmet lessons a la Martha Stewart or Julia Child. What? Boeuf bourguignon avec champignons for the down and out?
Hardly, said the local Lieutenant in charge. Basic cooking classes teach poor people how to stretch their food dollars by making nutritious dishes from scratch, rather than buying expensive processed foods. It’s a stewardship two-fer, since it’s better for your pocketbook and your physical health.
The lesson has always stayed with me, and 25 years later I’m still eating well and saving money by making many meals the old-fashioned way.
I’m amazed at the variety of prepackaged meals available in the frozen-foods section. Today I saw ready-to-microwave frozen breakfast croissant with egg, cheese and sausage. Or the microwaveable hamburgers. Or the corndogs. My thought: Who eats these foodlike products?
Last year I started making my own bread. I like the feel of dough and the smell of bread cooking in the oven. It’s delicious, especially still warm from the oven and served with a swipe of butter. My bread has no preservatives or special chemicals to give it texture.
And true to the Salvation Army lieutenant’s observation, it is a lot cheaper
Here’s the breakdown:
0.25 – two cups of flour ($2.50 for a 5-pound bag, with 20 cups in a bag)
0.13 – one tablespoon of yeast ($6 a pound in bulk)
0.04 – one tablespoon of sugar ($3 for a 5 pound bag)
0.01 – one teaspoon of salt ($1 a pound)
0.06 – two tablespoons of canola oil ($2 a quart)
0.12 – cost of using electric oven at 350 for 30 minutes
Total: 61 cents
Of course, this is for the basic white bread made with the store-brand unbleached white flour. When I buy the fancy whole-wheat flour my wife craves, the price goes up. But just a little.
My family has come to love the taste of “Dad’s bread,” so I know I’m modeling good stewardship for the kids, as well as feeding them wholesome food baked with love.
The bottom line: If you want to eat well and make your food dollar go farther, you can make your own bread and learn how to cook from scratch. Your family will appreciate the effort.
Personal Finance: Asking the Important Questions
So you want to improve your personal finances? That’s a great goal, but first one must ask and answer some important questions. Brad Chaffee of Enemy of Debt offers a thoughtful reflection on six important questions that must be considered before embarking upon a personal finance overhaul. Click here or the headline above to read more. (Photo by striatic used under Creative Commons License. Thanks!)
Financial Fitness for Seminary–Car Payment
So you’re planning to enroll in seminary or another grad school program, but you have an uncomfortable debt load. One place to start is by eliminating any car payments. Read how Elle and her husband did it faster in this post from CoupleMoney. Click here or on the headline above. (Photo by Mr. Thomas used under Creative Commons License. Thanks!)