The other day I was sitting in the office checking my email, and all of a sudden I heard this noise, an unfamiliar yet recognizable whir, and I started smelling something unusual. Mr. Money had kicked the heat on. As my stomach turned, I realized I was being a little over dramatic; after all, it is chilly out and normal people do turn on their heat in the winter. We’d just been trying to avoid turning it on by using our wood burning stove and being clothed properly. I knew breakfast was almost ready, so I walked into the kitchen, and immediately stopped in my tracks. There stood Mr. Money. In his t shirt and boxers. Because he already thinks I’m completely nuts, and sometimes rightfully so, I decided not to add fuel to the fire, and I decided I would casually walk over to the thermostat and yank it back down to 50 degrees, where it belongs. “Honey, why don’t you put some pajamas on? It’s not too cold in here, but I’d hate for you to be uncomfortable.” [...]

This recipe is inspired by Mr. Money.  They actually serve it at his restaurant.  Of course, this is not the exact recipe because I can’t steal all his secrets; plus, it has to be quick, easy, and frugal, and most of his recipes aren’t like that. This one is one of my favorites because it is so easy to make, even I can make it!   Ingredients: 1 spaghetti squash (should be in season now!) fresh tomatoes or crushed in a can 3 pinches of basil 3 pinches of oregano 2 pinches of salt 1 small onion 1 clove garlic 1 celery stalk 3 carrots 4 mushrooms any other chopped veggies you have on hand that will go well in the ratatouille.  Ratatouille is basically a meld of veggies that you need to use up. Sautee onions, garlic and celery in some extra virgil olive oil.  Add carrots and other veggies that you are using.  Sautee the vegetables until they are medium firmness. Cut your spaghetti squash in half, put it on a baking sheet, and bake in the oven at [...]

I’ve been putting this off for a few days, but it’s inevitable, and the sooner I write about it, the sooner I can come up with a plan.  On Friday, the financial institution I work for was purchased by another bank.  The only problem?  The bank has many branches already existing in the area I work.  The odds they’re going to shut down my branch (and leave me without a job) are very high right now.  It makes me sick to my stomach to think of this, but I need to come up with a plan, and make sure I can execute it. No spending month is going to be no spending ever. Well, really we can’t do that, but we can make sure we’re not spending money on things we don’t need. I think doing the no spending month has prepared me in many ways to cut back, and it’s also taught me a lot about what I can do instead of spending money, and how little things we actually need. We’re just going to have to be really [...]