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Thursday, September 16, 2010

Cost Cutting

It is amazing just how much money I have wasted over my lifetime. Living on a fixed income, as we are now, shows me just how much money I could have saved, if I had just been conscious of it. I just came back from the feria, where I try and buy as much of the week's food, as I can. But they don't sell granola, and I love a good granola for breakfast.

We used to by granola at Tienda Inglesa, but is a pretty expensive cereal (about $4.75 for 10 oz of granola). Just the other day, I wondered how hard it is to make granola. Duh! It is very easy, you control the ingredients completely and I make twice as much for about half the price. The local feria sells almonds (that I roast) for about $5/lb and even Tienda Inglesa sells rolled oats at a reasonable price. Add some honey, canola oil and vanilla and you have a pretty nice little granola. Next time I will experiment with coconut and raisins.

I think if I had been as conscious of the need to conserve in my younger days, as I am now, I would be much better off. Can't complain, though, since we are finding ways to enjoy everything we need, at more reasonable price. Just recently I have located a source of corn tortillas, which are not sold in this country. I have to drive to Punta del Este to get them, but some things are worth it.

2 comments:

Kaoru said...

But maybe you forget in "younger" days you didn't have the time to look for ingredients and cook them yourself....

It happens to me now, i work 10+ hrs a day and sometimes I just pick up the phone an order dinner... I KNOW its wayyy cheaper to cook and save money but.... when you get home late and forgot to pass by the market.....the phone is just a more practical easy solution....

Wally said...

That would be true of most people, but I have almost always worked part-time or been self employed for most of my life. I was just too lazy.

I just never had the mindset to economize. I'm learning, though.