A Few Low Cost and No Cost Christmas Gifts

This time of year gift giving is one everyone's mind.  The reality is gifts do not have to be expensive and you can even make gives next to nothing or for no cost.  All you have to do is use your imagination and a little ingenuity.  Here's a few easy low cost and now cost ideas to get you going:

• plants - I simply take cutting from houseplants and root them in a recycled pot, add a recycled bow and hand printed tag for an easy gift suitable for any time of the year.
• terrariums - This is a spin off of the plant idea only using the 1 gallon pickle jars. A lot of restaurants will give these to you free if you ask and they make wonderful terrariums. If you want you can buy a small box of aquarium charcoal to help keep the terrarium fresh but a good bed of free stones under the soil works well too. I like to add a small figurine or a couple of pretty stones or even a couple of shells but even that isn't necessary.
• family cookbook - If you buy an actual notebook it will cost about 89¢ but if you are handy on the computer you can create a cookbook complete with pictures then burn it to CD or if you don't want to spend anything upload it to a free hosting site then give the recipient a card with the link so they can download the cookbook themselves. This also works for family scrapbooks and similar books.
• board games - We currently have 4 homemade board games, made from scrap lumber. One is the holy board played with homemade beanbags made from scrap material and stuffed with white beans (you can use rice). One is a crochono board made from a pattern, one is a joker board (something like Parcheese but played with cards), and one is a number board played with dice.
• mixes in jars - Depending on how well stocked your pantry is a surprising number of mixes can be made for gift giving without you having to out and buy something special. I'm partial to bread, cake and cookie mixes for gift giving but any mix can make a gift. Use a recycled jar or check freecycle for mason jars. Add a nice, hand printed recipe to use the mix tied with a piece of ribbon or twine and a wooden spoon (optional but can get a 4 pk at the dollar store).
• sticks - For the gardener in your life, stick trellises are all the rage. Collect three nice sized sticks about an inch or so in diameter and about 3 feet long. Add a nice size piece of twine and a hand written card. You can even collect enough to build a trellis ladder something any self respecting gardener would cherish.  Believe it or not sticks can make for gorgeous walking canes or hiking sticks as well.  If using for this purpose go just a little thicker and longer.
• pine cones - Collect pinecones then spray paint them metallic if you have the spray paint or what I prefer is to soak them in a solution of cinnamon and water then let them dry well for a nice, holiday scent.
• potporri - Homemade potporri is wonderful and doesn't cost you anything more than your time to collect and prepare. Don't forget to add thin slices of dried citrus as it will add a nice scent and it was something you would be discarding anyway.
• the go tos - Give the gift of a 'go to'. What this is really is a way to socialize without spending more than the meal prep. One of our kids does a go to with another couple each Saturday night alternating the nights they will provide a low cost frugal meal. The nice thing about this is you get to try foods you might not normally try and the emphasis is on frugal. For example one Saturday night the meal might be homemade pizza while the next Saturday night the other couple brings a homemade soup. The kids play together and the adults get a bit of adult conversation :)
• paint it - I mentioned I have a lot of crafty type things. Did you know the perfect shaped stone can be turned into a turtle with just a little craft paint? We have a gorgeous and I do me gorgeous flat rock that a local artist painted a beautiful mountain scene on so this type of thing can lead to a small cottage industry income as well. I don't throw out paint so even the last bits of room paint ends up getting used.
• rainy day kit - Kids love things like goop, homemade playdough, the "I Spy Jar", and that type of thing.  Throw in a few  dollar store finds like paper punches and crayons and you have the perfect kid friendly rainy day kit.
• hand knitted or crocheted items - I always have a large stash of yarn to use up but if you don't check your local Freecycle.  There are a number of free patterns available online as well so you don't have to pay for a pattern to make something.
• the movie night packet - One of the best gifts we came up with was a movie night packet.  It included a bottle of pop, a bag of popcorn, and the current VHS movie of the day. 

Garden Gnome
©2006-2010

Little Touch-ups When Selling a House

It is surprising how far a few little extras can go to make a house show a bit better when selling a house.  Aside from being squeaky clean and sparkly a few things can be added to give a little bit of pizzaz without breaking the bank. 

• Place a vase or two of fresh flowers in one or more rooms.  When placed in front of a mirror they will give double the pleasure.
• Buy a nice set of display towels for the bathrooms(s).  They need not be expensive just on the fancier looking side and co-ordinated to give the bathroom(s) that little extra.
• Place inexpensive but fancy soap in the bathroom(s) soap dishes.
• Add a touch of greenery inside and out (weather permitting).  Place a nice potted plant on coffee table and a seasonal plant outside of the front entrance if possible.  
• Place a loaf of fresh baked bread on the counter or a plate of cookies on the kitchen island or breakfast bar to create a cosy atmosphere in the kitchen.  An alternative to bread or cookies is a nice fruit basket.
• Add a couple of new throw pillows to the sofa.
• If you have a wood fireplace or wood burning stove, add a small stack of wood beside and be sure to have either on if at all possible.  If you have a gas fireplace be sure to have it turned on if at all possible.

Garden Gnome
©2006-2010

A Bit of an Update on the No-Poo Shampoo Experiment

I recently posted about trying the no-poo shampoo as an experiment.  So far my husband has resisted trying this method mainly because he does not like the smell of apple cider vinegar.  On the other hand I am experiencing rather good results with the no-poo shampoo method.  I have two food grade plastic squirt bottles meant for salad dressings.  I used one for a 1:1 baking soda solution for washing my hair and another for undiluted apple cider vinegar.

Preliminary results:

One of my primary concerns was my scalp and hair would not look or feel clean.  I squirted on the baking soda solution then massaged into my scalp and gently worked through the full length of my hair.  I rinsed with clear water and my hair felt squeaky clean.  Then I squited a generous amount of apple cider vinegar over my scalp and worked it into my hair.  Let me tell you apple cider vinegar getting into your eyes is not pleasant.  That was the only negative other than the towel smelling like apple cider vinegar. 

I towel dried my hair then used the blow dryer and styled as normal without a problem.  My hair was shiny and soft.  I refrained from using my normal anti-frizz serum just to see what would happen.  I was pleasantly surprised.  Instead of problems with frizzing I experienced considerably less frizzing but an increase in fly away hair.  I honestly was surprised at how good my hair look and felt.  I will report back at the end of the experiment.

Garden Gnome
©2006-2010

Freezer Basket

Yeas ago we were gifted with an ancient 20 cubic foot chest freezer.  Being young with a growing family we were very much appreciative of such a generous gift.  We've had chest freezers ever since and for the past several years have had two chest freezers plus the freezer component of the refrigerator.  A freezer basket comes in handy with the larger chest freezers but not so much with the smaller ones.  We currently have a 7 cubic foot and 5 cubic foot freezer.  The premise was one was slated for our bulk meat purchases while the other would be for in season produce I freeze and other miscellaneous freezer foods as needed.    The goal when we moved here was to use the freezers as the salesman that sold us the 7 cubic foot freezer said was now the growing trend.  He said people are buying two smaller freezers, then as one empties it is unplugged and cleaned out ready for the next large influx of freezer food.  Ideally that is our goal but so far have not got to the point of being able to unplug one of the freezers yet but we are still working on it so perhaps in the up coming year.

Smaller freezer items tend to get put in the refrigerator freeze compartment so I have little need for freezer baskets especially in the smallest chest freezer.  I removed the baskets from the smallest chest freezer.   I've picked up couple more freezer baskets along the way so decided to put them to good use.  I attached one freezer basket to one of the walls in the pantry where it holds snack items like potato chips.  Another one is used for root vegetables and squash to keep them contained and off the floor.  Yet another serves as temporary overflow for mason and other jars.  I use a smaller one (pictured) to cart frozen foods from the chest freezers to the refrigerator freezer compartment.  I even use one in the garden not only for carrying things but inverted to hold things like cleaned hand gardening tools and solar lights to be brought in for the winter.  Freezer baskets aren't just for freezer use! 

Garden Gnome
©2006-2010

Electricity Conservation

Originally the TOU electricity pricing came into effect in Ontario to promote energy conservation.  The concept was rather simple.  Shifting certain electricity usage to off-peak hours it would lessen the strain on the aging electrical grid in Ontario as well as to help phase in green sources of energy.  In light of this I thought I would share a few electricity conservation tips:

• lighting - In Ontario lighting comprises 4% of the electricity used portion of the bill which 43% of the total bill or $1.72 but in reality with service charges lighting costs $4 per month.  In the big picture aside of switching to CFL and/or solar there really is very little that can be done with respect to lighting to save money.  The mantra as always is off is better than on but quite frankly there will be little noticeable difference if you forget to turn off a CFL.  Now every little bit helps so get into the habit of turning off lights.  An alternative is to install solar tubes wherever possible in your home.  Candle light is nice at night but it does cost about 3X as much as electricity so while it is nice for atmosphere it is not a practical substitution.  
• washer - Switching running the washer using cold water from on-peak to off-peak hours with save 5¢ per load.  At one or two loads per week there isn't much incentive but at 5 loads that's 25¢ or $13 per year.
• dryer - If you have a gas dryer the electricity used is miniscule likely less than a penny per load if that.  If you have an electric dryer the best bet is to use air drying of some sort either by hanging the clothes indoor or outdoors to dry eliminating the electric dryer use entirely.  There are a number of outdoor and indoor drying devices, even fold up ones that take up little space when not in use. 
• in the kitchen - Some small electric kitchen appliances earn their keep while others are a waste of electricity.  Barring motility issues an electric can opener is a waste of electricity.  When it comes to cooking choose the least expensive piece of equipment or electrical appliance to get the same results.  Based on our previous prices that have gone up but comparisons remain the same, a table top roaster costs 18¢/kWh while an the oven costs 31¢, the slow cooker 4¢ and the large burner 25¢ per kWH.  On the surface the slow cooker looks to be the best deal but consider a slow cooker running for 8 hours costs 32¢ (almost doubled with new rates running between 7 AM and 9 PM weekdeays) while the same meal can be cooked in a pressure cooker in 40 minutes or about 18.75¢.  A table top roaster will give the same great results as an oven while using almost half the electricity.   A stand mixer is cheaper to run than a breadmachine and more versatile.  Manual options exist for a lot of small kitchen appliances so these are always an option.
• large kitchen appliances - Refrigerators need to be kept clean and decluttered to allow good air flow.  Use a refrigerator thermometer to ensure the cabinet temperature is set to the safe zone.  Freezers waste a lot of energy unless kept about three quarters full.  It's better to have 2 small chest freezers rather than one large one.  Use the second to take any seasonal overflow then allow it to dwindle down and leave unplugged until the next influx of freezer food.  The oven should be maximized for energy efficiency when using.  Cook the entire meal or multiple dishes it it at one time.  Unless baking, pre-heating is a waste of electricity.  When cooking on the stovetop match the size pan to the burner to prevent heat wastage.  Use a lid.  Choose steaming over boiling for vegetables.  The dishwasher should only be run wihen completely filled and during off-peak hours if at all possible. 
• the furnace - If you have a furnace that runs on natural gas it still takes a significant draw on electricity to run the fan.  If you have a natural gas fireplace it is cheaper to run it for radiant heat than the furnace in the cool but not cold months.  Solar heating is good for supplemental heat as well.  Radiant wood heat is also another good supplemental source of heat providing you can get wood for less than the cost of electricity.  
• hot boxes - Hot boxes include cable and satellite receivers, game consoles, and those types of electrical items.  They produce heat when they are running costing much more in electricity than you would think.  Even when they are off these boxes are using electricity.  These should be put on a power bar to be turned off when not in use. 
• phantom drains - A lot of little things add up to electrical enery wastage.  These include night lights, appliances with displays, alarm clocks, phone set adapters, programmable thermostats, battery charges, some small appliances and those types of things use a trickle of electricity on a constant basis.  Unplug and eliminate what you can.  Replace nightlights with flashlights and electric alarm clocks with wind-up models.  Unplug appliances especially those with lit displays when not in use. 

Garden Gnome
©2006-2010

Rural Versus Urban Living

Until we moved here a few years ago we had always lived in smaller communities with the exception of a brief 18 month stint in Edmonton when a couple of the kids were toddlers.  The smallest community we lived in was a village of about 400.  Clearly we enjoy living in small communities.  Even though we currently live in a rural area it is a community of about 20 families on a dead end road.  There are a considerable number of benefits living in smaller communities or rural areas that more than off-set the drawbacks.  Here's a few benefits we have discovered:

• a real sense of community - Folks tend to know their neighbours in small communities and rural areas fostering the true meaning of community.  Neighbours become someone you can depend on in good and bad times.  They are the best security system you could ever have!
• fewer restrictions - Smaller communities and rural areas tend to have a lot less bylaws and restrictions than urban centres.  That means you have a lot more freedom to live the way you want with respect to gardening, raising small livestock (eg. rabbits, chickens, goats) and the chances of you getting a complaint in a rural area of turning your front yard into an edible garden is nil.  Leaf and garbage burning is the norm in smaller communities and rural areas.  
• peace and quiet - Smaller and rural living means peace and quiet.  Unless crops are coming off there is very little noise.  Home becomes a true haven, a place to relax and get away from the hustle and bustle of hectic city living.  The night skies come alive at night freed from the blaring lights of an urban setting.  Wildlife scurries about bringing further enjoyment.
• saves money - Rural living comes with an additional cost of commuting but by far it saves more money than you can imagine.  It quickly curbs the take-out and fast food habit.  It forces a bit of stockpiling so you don't have to drive anywhere in case you run out.  A larger gardens space
• fosters self sufficiency - Rural living fosters self sufficiency through learning how to fend for yourself.  You quickly develop DIY skills because minor repairs are costly to get someone to come to a rural location and if they will come there's usually a waiting time.

Garden Gnome
©2006-2010

Ontario Clean Energy Benefit

The Ontario government announced the Ontario Clean Energy Benefit, a 10% electricity rebate applicable to the entire electric bill, as part of their fall economic update today.  The rebate will go into effect January 1, 2011 but some will not see the rebate until May of 2011.  The rebate is retro-active to January though.  In perspective as a result of TOU pricing and the HST our hydro rates have gone up 17%.   So even with the rebate the end result will be a 7% increase on the hydro bill.  Initial predictions were by the end of 2011 hydro prices would be increased by 32%.  Finance Minister Dwight Duncan announced today that hydro rates will continue to rise with a projected increase of 46% by 2015.  The reality is as hydro prices continue to rise the rebate of 10% means virtually nothing!

As a result of today's announcements, I have stepped up our plans to get off the grid (going completely solar, not connected to grid at all).  We had a 5 year plan but now I'm rethinking that.  We will be using both passive and active solar.  I am seriously tired of being held hostage by the Ontario government and Hydro One.  The only consideration is the house being on the market.  If we sell, a solar system will be installed upon moving in at a DIY cost of $5,000 to $7,000.  If we don't sell then we will install a DIY solar system here.  We have no intentions of installing a solar system that would feed back into the hydro system (grid-tied) either.  Rather it will be a completely have no use for the grid including feeding into it.  At $5,000 the pay back period with average current hydro bill of $125 would be 3.4 years so even if we went as high as $10,000 with a pay back of about 7 years we would still be well ahead and no longer dependent on the grid.  After that the system is basically making money for us.  However, with the projected rate increases the system will realize a shorter payback period 6 years at the $10,000 price tag.

A bit of research found a few in southern Ontario that are fully solar.  One house in particular is very impressive.  This house is considerably larger than our current house or any we are likely to buy.  I find this very encouraging because if others are doing it, we can too!

Garden Gnome
©2006-2010