I am on day five of my all-home-prepared, all-the-time monthly challenge. So far, so good. There’s a part of me that’s sad that I’m missing pumpkin latte season, but I can make plenty of pumpkin dishes to enjoy at home, too.

I don’t have too much time to post with classes going on, but I thought I’d offer you some valuable links I’ve discovered lately:

Simple Steps to Mental Wealth, which is Frugal for Life’s take on How to Not Feel Poor at Debt-Proof Living.

Save Money: Reuse Mailing Boxes and Packing Supplies, at FIRE Finance. This is something I’ve been known to do–I save every padded envelope and piece of bubble wrap that comes into my house. Still, it’s important to follow a few caveats. First of all, the USPS doesn’t like it when you reuse things like Priority Mail boxes, even if you turn things inside out. Some places will give you trouble for it; but at the same time, some places won’t. This is when it pays to be friends with your postal employees. Secondly, be sure that any rough edges or corners that could tear are covered by packing tape–you don’t want your recycled package bursting open because it caught on a piece of postal equipment.

MoneyNing asks Do You Live Frugal Just to Buy Fancy Luxuries for Yourself? I’ve often asked myself if it’s better to scrimp on necessities to save money for the “fun” things, or if it’s better to give up luxuries to have enough money for the necessities. For me, the answer is: what are your goals, and are you spending according to them? And: when you have that luxury, what will you want next?

Bean Sprouts has a Ginger Beer Plant. I’m jealous!

The Frugal Law Student posted this listed of 12 Meals That Are Easy, Cheap and Healthy several weeks ago, but I just got around to trying out the first item on the list: White Beans and Tomatoes. With a lot of garlic, and slow-cooked for a veeeery long time, they just melt in your mouth. The texture and the flavor make a great harmony. (Of course, my husband had to “improve” the recipe by adding bacon, which makes it somewhat less cheap and healthy).

I just discovered and am in love with the e-book Possum Living. It really strikes me how keenly intelligent and well-read the author is while still being very down-home and practical. I love this exchange from chapter two:
“But don’t you want Nice Things?” people ask. “Don’t YOU like to go out and have a Good Time?”
“Nope,” we answer. “Get a lot out of staying home reading.”
“Oh yeah? What do you read that’s so interesting?”
“Our bankbook.”

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