Hey everyone,

Sorry for my long absence and non-responsiveness to any emails or comments these past months. Back around October 2009, our business started picking up and we’ve had to  focus our time and energy on getting our sewing orders out.

I’ve had a couple of questions about whether or not I’m still doing Pecuniarities. The answer is “Yes” but perhaps not as frequently as before. We will still be posting once in a while when we have some free time and good post ideas, but won’t be maintaining a regular posting schedule as we’d like to focus on developing our business now that the economy seems to be (fingers crossed) bouncing back.

As for the Carnival of Pecuniary Delights, I’m sorry to say that while it was a good idea and we had some great editions with great submissions, and while there was a lot of interest from bloggers wanting to submit posts each week, there was not enough interest in hosting an edition. Now that I don’t have as much time to devote to promoting and maintating it, I’m afraid the Carnival of Pecuniary Delights is on hiatus.

So, please keep subscribing to our feed to be updated when we have new posts. We may not post as often, but will make sure they’re are good when we do! In the meantime, we are re-posting an older post from our early days every week for newer visitors who weren’t with us back then.

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In days of old when I was much less informed in financial matters (not that I’m a financial whiz now, but I have improved a little), I used to think credit unions weren’t real “banks” or weren’t as good as banks — sort of like community colleges vs. universities. Well, in a way I was right in that they are not “banks” and they are not as good as banks — they are better than banks.

When we moved to our current hometown, located 40 miles from the closest Bank of America branch, we started researching local banking options of which there are three: 2 banks and 1 credit union. I visited all three websites and compared the account options and noticed that while the 2 banks charged monthly fees for checking accounts, the credit union didn’t. This led to a little research of banks vs. credit unions, and this is basically what I learned:

• Credit unions are not-for-profit organizations (and banks are for-profit organizations)
• Credit unions are “owned” by all of its members (anyone who holds an account and deposits money there)
• All credit union earnings after taxes and expenses are returned to the community by way of low-interest loans, higher dividends, and low-fee or free services
• Funds deposited in credit union accounts are insured by the National Credit Union Share Insurance Fund (NCUSIF), a federal government agency

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This is a really yummy, inexpensive recipe, easy and quick to prepare requiring only one pot. It’s great for kids, but I eat it all the time.

Ingredients

• Uncooked spaghetti (or other preferred pasta such as macaroni)
• Condensed tomato soup (Campbell’s or similar store brand
• 1 hot dog
• About 1 teaspoon sugar
• Optional: chopped onion (very yummy)

Preparation Directions

1. Slice hot dog into about 15 pieces
2. Cook spaghetti noodles until almost done
3. Pour out the water
4. Add tomato soup (or pasta sauce) into the pot with the noodles
5. (Add a little water to dilute the condensed tomato soup)
6. Stir in sugar
7. Toss hot dogs into the soup/sauce
8. Simmer until noodles are done and sauce is thickened.
9. When preparing for children, be sure to let cool sufficiently beforehand. Pasta is extremely hot right after cooking.

Pasta sauce can also be used in place of tomato soup.

Eat up!

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I have never had any luck with steel wool. Perhaps all of you who have got it together domestically ask, where is luck required in the use of steel wool? Well, I can use it just fine. It’s the best thing for scrubbing a burnt pan clean. But the problem is after I use it. Once it gets wet, steel wool rusts and not only does it look nasty, but it leaves red stains on the sink and counter.

I’ve tried airing them dry on racks, putting them in the dishwasher, and even polishing with Brasso, but I have never been able to keep my steel wool from rusting. So I stopped buying them several years ago and resorted to scouring with plastic scrubbers, baking soda, and other methods that require excessive effort with less than satisfactory results.

Then yesterday, I forgot the dogs’ dinner on the stove (which was to be chicken and white rice) and ended up with a lump of charcoal stuck to the bottom of a steel pot. Because I am short of time and have a lot to do, I needed a faster way to clear up the mess and came up with the idea of scrubbing with used aluminum foil. I got out a small tin from a pie, scrunched it up and voila! I had an excellent scrubber. It doesn’t even rust.

And so I wanted to share my discovery with other frugalites. Give your aluminum foil a second use. Scrunch it up really well so it doesn’t gouge your cookware. Use it as many times as you think proper and then throw it away. When you finish a casserole or lasagna, how convenient that you can use the cover to clean the pan? And if there should be a proper way to store steel wool and you should happen to know it, you might drop me a note.

Not that I’ll be buying anymore, but just out of curiosity.

Due to issues with our wireless router, I am currently in the market for a lengthy and affordable ethernet cable so that I can work online on a laptop while Madoline does her artwork (as can be seen in our CafePress Shop) on our desktop computer.

Prior to leaving to run errands today, I checked Amazon.com‘s pricing for ethernet cables so that I might pop into the local Radio Shack on my way home to compare prices. I wasn’t in Radio Shack for more than a couple of minutes before I was on my way out again as it was immediately apparent that their prices were 3 times what I would pay for comparable products online.

As I reached the door, the shopkeeper addressed me in the fashion typical of solicitous shopkeepers, and the following conversation ensued:

Shopkeeper: Did you find what you were looking for?

Me: Yes, I was just checking the prices on ethernet cables.

Shopkeeper: What length cable do you need?

Me: 100 ft.*

Shopkeeper: And?

Me: Well, they’re three time as much as I can get them for online.

Shopkeeper: Quality!

Me: Yes, well, the quality on Amazon is quite good.

Shopkeeper: Oh.

Me: Thanks, though.

Shopkeeper: OK.

*So I can work from my smaller and therefore warmer room during the winter.

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I love comments on my blog posts, especially those telling me that I’m absolutely right , but I appreciate the the occasional “debate” so long as it is presented courteously and rationally.

I received a comment today on my recent post When “Free” Things Aren’t Free: Beware the Hidden and Indirect Costs, on which I wanted to further commentate. The reader, Brenda, stated in her comment:

You need to change your mindset.

This comment was followed by her opinions and interpretations on the 7 points I made in my post, but I must respectfully state that while I admire a “glass is half full” point of view, some of her statements could also be interpreted as “justifications.”

Justification vs. Optimism

How one determines whether a statement is a justification or merely an optimistic point of view depends on the habits of the person saying it.

• If you are someone who tends to spend more than is necessary or wise, then I would have to say that these statements are justifications.
• If you are a prudent spender and see an opportunity to save because the offer is for something you happen to need or want at that very moment, then these statements are optimism.

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[singlepic=73,226,300,left] This project provided an attractive way to post incoming sewing orders without causing our home to resemble a warehouse or factory. It took very little time and cost about $3.

I started with a fancy picture frame from the thrift shop and cut a piece of black velvet slightly larger than the board which backs the frame. This velvet, padded with a piece of old fleece, covered the board and was glued to the back with hot glue. Black satin ribbons were arranged in an even lattice and glued securely in the back and crisscross points. The board was then re-inserted in the frame which now hangs on the wall.

An additional benefit from this project was that the glass cover from this picture frame replaced another which had been scratched.

Endless fabric combinations and styles are possible in making these memo boards. They can even have buttons or faux pearls where the ribbons cross. Those who do not have or wish to purchase fabric can salvage material from old clothing and bedding. Worn or faded fabrics may look shabby on a person, but acquire a vintage dignity when used in decorating.