Happy Frugal Thanksgiving!

Got the turkey that was on sale and the fresh pumpkin you froze from Halloween? You're all set for a frugal Thanksgiving. Holidays seem to decree that we spend more money than ever, but it doesn't have to be that way. A frugal mindset can make even the most extensive meal cost mere pennies per dish.

Turkey is the most frugal meat when it's on sale right before Thanksgiving. If you can, grab an extra one or maybe two for later in the year. Turkey sandwiches taste good any time of year!

Don't let the other special sales get past you, either. Things like flour and sugar, olives and cranberry sauce can sometimes be found for a good price. Grab them, especially if you're going to need them for Christmas anyway.

Frugal shopping is more critical than ever in this economy, so don't let Thanksgiving sales slip past you without taking advantage of them.

Ways to Make Extra Money for the Holidays

With the holidays upon us yet again, and the economy still not so good, it may be time to look for ways to make some extra money. The Buck List is an awesome resource when it comes to doing that! I have used it myself to nudge my brain into finding ways to create extra income.

Another great list, not so much about where and how to make money as it is about how to make... well, look for yourself: Seth Godin

And I had to chime in: How to Make Money Without a Job

All of these posts aside, why not try your hand at baking Christmas cookies to sell, cleaning a house for a holiday party (either before or after!) or catering or just serving at a party?

There must be a jillion ways to make holiday cash. We just have to get our heads to working, then do it!

How to Make Apple Tea

If you eat apples in any form, you have probably thrown away some apple peel. Even if you eat the peeling, as you should, there is a little left over at the top and bottom of the core, and if you make apple pie from fresh apples, well... there are the peelings.

Keep them. Put them in a plastic bag in the freezer until you have enough, then make apple tea.

How much is "enough"? About a cup of apple peel will make a cup of tea.

Why should you go to the trouble of making tea from apple peeling? It's detoxifying and it tastes really good. You can drink it iced or hot, it's safe for kids, it's all around healthy for anyone, and it's free.

How do you make it? I thought you'd never ask.

Put the cup (or however much you want to make) of apple peel in a jar or glass pitcher and add one cup of water. Put the container in the oven and heat it to the lowest temperature, around 150 - 175. You can also just set it in the sun for awhile if it's not freezing outside - any way to warm it. Stir it once or twice while it's warming, then after it's warmed completely, set it on the counter and let it cool. Strain the peels out and add a few (very few) grains of salt to help bring out the flavor. Add sweetener at this point if you want it, then all you have to do is decide whether to add ice or heat it up to drink.

(Frugal note: Make apple peel tea when you're baking and take advantage of your stove's oven vent, usually a back burner. You might want to use a stainless steel container, just in case, if you put it on a burner.)

image source morguefile.com

Frugal Homemade Dormant Spray for Fruit Trees

If you have fruit trees, you know what a pain it can be to keep the fruit bug free. Dormant oil spray is expensive, but often has to be used. Here is a homemade Dormant spray that doesn't contain oil of any kind, but it's effective:

A gallon of water
2 TBS baking soda
5 TBS hydrogen peroxide
2 TBS liquid castile soap (like Dr. Bronner's)

Mix it all together and spray your fruit trees or bushes after they've gone dormant this fall and again in the spring before they wake up.

Image is my own; the apple is from my first apple harvest, noted here:  The relativity of an apple harvest