Retirement Finance Adjustments

 Most of you all know I am a frugal girl, sometimes a bit too frugal.

We recently received our monthly electric bill (Our house is all electric) and we about fainted. It was $366. Last year at the same time it was $100 less. Apparently, staying at home full time has it's downfalls. I must admit we have been using our energy efficient electric oven more. I just love to cook. We even warmed up our meals on a low setting. This will change.

I purchased a small Black and Decker Toaster Oven that uses convection heat. I can use this for warming up food. NO I DONT WANT A MICROWAVE. But my new best friend I had stuffed in a closet because I could not get it to slow cook was my Instant Pot. After watching videos I found out no one uses the slow cook setting. I guess my slow cooker will have to do. You can not believe the videos I watched. One particular You-tuber was very helpful. The name of her channel is 365 Days of Slow and PressureCooking. Example: Brown rice takes 12 minutes and you don't have to watch it, steamed 2C Broccoli takes 0 minutes. Its just pressurizes and cools down. How easy is that. The lady on the above you tube channel has a video that shows you some hacks, what accessories to get and what NOT to do in a Instant Pot.

Living on a fixed income makes you look at things differently. From electric oven to Instant Pot. From dryer to laundry line. Store bought bread and flour tortillas to homemade. If I see an item in the store that I want to buy I will make it if I can. My current craft is making crocheted bathroom rugs. I am on the first one and I will show pics when I am done. The best part is that I love to do things the old fashion way.

Future projects:

*Small non kitchen trash can liners with pull strings. After a couple uses I can just wash them....GETTING RID OF PLASTIC. (I have glass containers for food now)

*Make a cloth sewing machine cover

*Arm rest cover that will hold remotes and maybe a magazine

*Homemade apple cider vinegar

*My own dry laundry soap

This list will grow as time goes on, but I will get these completed.

Life is still sweet here in this One Horse Town. We have all we need. And I have time for these projects.