Frugality: A dirty word?

According to wikipedia, frugality among others is the practice of acquiring goods and services in a restrained manner, and resourcefully using already owned economic goods and services.

With a looming large number of unemployment in our country, the buzz words now will be cost-cutting, savings, spend (or the economy won't grow!!) but only on necessary items, just to name a few. Whatever word that you use, it will come back to a little bit of frugality. So, is that a dirty word, in times of economic uncertainties?

Anyway, just wish to point out certain measures taken by others and myself included. These ideas may be of good use for others too.

1. A local bank has sent out its monthly statement using both sides of the paper. Usually, 2-3 pcs of paper were used but the recent one was just a piece of paper.
2. Some cos has resorted to using e-statement ie going paperless. Another membership co had sent materials to both husband-wife in one envelope as opposed to two envelopes before.
3. Plant some veggies and herbs for your own consumption. Use up the idle area in your lawn/backyard. (For examples, you can go through lamanoflife). P/S We've also gotten our share of betik from our parents.
4. Find alternatives to what you've been using all these years (I know it's hard to some), which are cheaper and if you can, locally-made items.

I can only have my hands dirty when doing gardening. Frugality, a dirty word? Think about it and be honest to yourself.

Kangkung - A Tiny Way to Self-Reliant

Don't worry, I'm not about to become another food blogger... But, just sharing something on self-reliant. Hey presto, my 'kangkung masak kicap', with the veggie harvested from my kitchen garden. Yes, why not find a way or two to become less dependent on the kedai runcit, pasar basah or even the big hypermarket. It's not hard to find one way especially if you've the skill, good attitude and willing to learn. Let us be more self-reliant and less dependent.

My daughters' nasi cawan!! They were hushing to each other before we came down for lunch the other day and no wonder.... Our own ulam raja but the coleslaw ingredients were not though. However, it was self-made. This small thing can make eating at home fun and interesting.

Vertical Farming

I snapped a pic on vertical planting and posted it at flickr a few weeks back. Today, an article in Time, issue Dec 22, 2008, titled Vertical Farming tells us that 'this idea can work in a big way'... with some drawbacks of course. It's an idea that can be looked upon deeper!!

Wedding Receptions

Wedding receptions are synonymous with school holidays. No weekend passes by without a single kenduri being held. Last weekend, we attended one in Taman Tenaga (previous neighbour and the colour theme was green). Today, there's one in Bandar Baru Bangi (ex-colleague's daughter got married). Next Sunday, a neighbour's son will end his bachelorhood. Come Dec, there are already three receptions in line. Putrajaya, Kuala Kangsar and Kajang. God willing, we'll be there.

Today, we got boiled eggs as the parting/thank you gift from the bride's family. Haven't gotten one for quite sometime since family nowadays are proned to have other type of gifts to be given away eg cakes or other mementos. It's interesting too, to find out that some of our friends are also the friends of the host. It's a small world after all.

With all these weddings taking place and me being invited, it just shows one thing.. Yours truly is getting older...Hmm...

Hari Raya Open House

We went to three open houses and a detour to a fast food outlet (courtesy of Na and Ridzuan) yesterday. Started from home at around 11am and headed straight to Taman Setiawangsa,KL. The traffic on MRR2 was tolerable. Food wise, the massala mutton was nice but decided not to eat a lot for fear of 'headache'. We had our Zohor prayers at Masjid Muaz bin Jabal. One new thing that I observed was the ATM-like machine for e-derma in the mosque.

From there, we went to Kota Damansara. Satay was the main food that we ate. At around 6, we congregate at A&W, Petronas, Kota Damansara. Been quite sometime that I had the last waffle so decided to order one. Hubby ordered the same. (picture: Mak, Ayah, Mar, Ani (partly hidden) and Aby enjoying the food)

After Maghrib, our last destination was Kajang. Nasi dagang awaited us there.... Reached home at 10pm and had a good sleep last nite.

After all the stuff that went in yesterday, today hopefully all the fats will be broken down. 3 of us are fasting today.

A 10-year cycle....

the stories today:

a. consumers urged to be careful in spending so that they will be in a good financial shape in the event of a recession.

b. Be frugal but don't stop spending

c. ...makanan, kewangan dan minyak....

d. isu ekonomi global turut.....

**It's time to visit my vegie patch.... :-)**

Part of a Wedding Plan

Planning for a wedding is not for the faint hearted. Lots are to be done in making things go smoothly on the big day. Preparations start as early as possible making sure even the smallest details are covered.

We are involved in preparing a wedding kenduri for our sister which is to take place at our home. Hubby started searching for a caterer once the date is set. The one he contacted declined since his workers will be on leave (the date falls on the 4th of Syawal) but fortunately he suggested another caterer. Alhamdulillah, this caterer agrees! Impressive, with 3 sets of menu to choose from, 'set makan pengantin', tables and chairs (which one? plastic or the banquet chairs...with or without the chair covers? but of course the price varies), tents.... There'll try to get the best things for you. As a matter of fact, the word is if you've the money, the more lavish you can have your wedding kenduri. But isn't the word moderate the 'in' word now. Yes, my sister and ayah will need to work within the budget set and we'll confirm with the caterer next week.

Eating Out

Bitten by a promotion bug, my daughter kept on suggesting to us to have dinner at an outlet. Apparently, they're having a promo whereby, the meal inclusive of a drink costs RM10. So off we go to their Nilai outlet last night. We ordered 5 promo meals and a drink. The dinner was fine. I had the barbequed chicken with rice and salad, plus of course the ice lemon tea. When the bill was paid (it came up to about RM60), then only I remember my previous post on 'How much can you buy with RM60'? Geez... RM60 for a meal compared to RM60 for a few days food.

What Can you Buy with RM60?

Here's the list of food items that I bought with roughly RM60 at Nilai wet market and a sundry shop in Taman Semarak this morning.
1. 1 whole chicken (RM13)
2. 3 ikan selar (RM5.50)
3. 1 packet of mee kuning
4. 2 carrots (RM1)
5. 4/5 limes
6. 5 buns
7. 5kg of rice
8. 1 bottle of juice
9. 1 small refill packet of Milo.

Well, some of the items will be gone in 2-3 days (eg the buns and mee kuning). I still need to buy carrots since my vegie plot still could not sustain our daily consumption yet...or maybe, i need some variety to add to the dish.

It needs some deeper thought I think, when I read a byline in the NST (July 13,08) on Feed The Poor. Here goes: If you think skipping that one fancy meal is a sacrifice, imagine having to send your children to a shelter home because you can't afford to feed them.

Jack of All Trade?

I'm no Amy Beh to cook up a storm in the kitchen. Neither am I coming close to those celebity chefs but hey, I'm the lady of the house, meaning I'm the cook to the whole family (though the other half do take over the duty when he's in the mood...).
With the recent increase in fuel price, there goes up the price for almost everything, food included. Creativity as opposed to frugality is the in-word now as to what to cook and how to save. And oh, it's becoming a great challenge to be a housewife in this too-dependent-on-fuel era. You've to be a Jack of all trade....

Nay, I'm not going to fight using these utensils.

1. The Jack that needs to come up with something from the leftovers in the fridge. Ideas anyone?
2. The Jack that needs to combat the garden pests that are trying to destroy my edible garden. (will share on my laman later)
3. The Jack that needs to come up with a recipe that evolves around things at home without having to go shopping for just one or two items.