There are few things we hate more than waste. Waste results in unnecessary garbage, pollutes our environment and tends to cost money. In our home, we have learned to deal with waste in one of the following ways: we recycle, we re-use, we re-invent, we compost and we discard. By paying close attention to how we manage our waste, and by carefully making purchases which will ultimately produce the least amount of waste, we have reduced the amount of stuff that we simply throw out by a whole lot.
One of the things that we hate to simply get rid of is food. Whereas many people hate leftovers...we LOVE them...in fact, we thrive on them. It is rare that you will find us composting or throwing away food - because unless it is spoiled (and it should not get to the point where it is spoiled) there is always something to do with it. So, cheese rinds are kept in the refrigerator or freezer until they can be used to flavor soup, leftover spaghetti sauce goes through a metamorphosis, becoming a delish chili and seen-better-days-veggies are tossed together into stir-frys.
And bananas....well, bananas present their own unique challenges. Have you ever noticed that bananas can go from "just perfectly ripe" to "yikes...what the heck am I going to do with all these rotting bananas" in about 4 hours ??!! What a crazy fruit ! So, in an attempt to keep you all from tossing these nutrient rich treats into the compost heap or (yikes) the garbage bin...here are a few suggestions for your rotting bananas.
1. An over-ripe banana may be yucky to eat, but works really well in a smoothie. Try mixing a banana with some milk or soy milk, frozen yogurt and some frozen berries. Or, try making our 7 year old's favorite drink: banana milk. Put some milk in a glass, blend in a banana...ta dah...banana milk !
2. Over-ripe bananas make delicious dessert. How about some Banana's Flambé (also called Bananas Foster (we think))? Melt lots of butter and combine it with brown sugar in a sauce pan. When hot and bubbly, add some sliced up bananas and heat them through. Add a splash of cognac and, if you are feeling particularly ambitious, set a match to it....flambé ! (no worries if you are too afraid of singeing your eyebrows..the flame adds only dramatic effect and no flavor). Pour over ice-cream or pound cake or both. YUM !
3. Bake a banana bread. Here is the most fantastic banana bread recipe ever, adapted from the Jewish General Hospital's cookbook called Panache. Not only is it delicious, it makes plenty. There is enough batter to fill a loaf pan and a bundt pan (or three loaf pans). Freeze what you won't consume immediately or share with your friends. And, speaking of freezing...if you find yourself with lots of very ripe bananas but no time to use them before they are no longer usable...pop them into the freezer. Just thaw them on the counter when you are ready to bake with them...we are convinced this makes them even sweeter. Keep in mind that freezing them may make the skin and flesh turn a bizarre dark brown / black color...this is normal :)
BEST BANANA BREAD EVER RECIPE (our version)
It takes about 20 minutes to whip this together, and another hour to bake.
Ingredients:
2 cups whole wheat or whole grain flour
1 1/4 cup all purpose flour
1/2 tsp cinnamon
1/2 tsp salt
4 large eggs
2 1/3 cups sugar (we use a mix of brown and white sugar)
1 cup vegetable oil
8 very ripe bananas (we know, we know...that's a lot of bananas !)
1/4 cup sour cream or applesauce or plain yogourt
2 tsp vanilla
1 1/3 cups walnuts or chocolate chips (optional)
Preheat oven to 350 degrees
Whisk together to blend well the flours, cinnamon, and salt.
In another bowl beat the eggs, sugar, and oil.
To the egg mixture, slowly mix in the flour mixture. Once combined, mix in the bananas. Then, add and mix in the remaining ingredients.
Pour into 3 loaf pans or 1 loaf pan and a bundt pan (greased and lined with parchment pan). Bake in the middle of oven for about an hour (or until toothpick inserted into center comes out clean).
Could this be any easier ???!!!!
xoxo
The Tightwads
Sunday, March 20, 2011
Monday, March 14, 2011
Disney on a dime
We Tightwads feel really lucky to have just spent a week during March break in Orlando visiting Universal Studios and the Disney World Theme Parks with our girls. Actually, truth is, this was our third visit in about 2 and 1/2 years. Very "un-Tightwad like" you may be thinking, but the there is a way to make a Disney vacation affordable. Each time we have gone, we have done things a little differently. So, here are our simple tips on how to save some bucks while not missing out on the fun.
Tip 1: If you are going to stay at a Disney resort, think about one of their budget hotels. Disney classifies their resorts as either Budget, Moderate, or Luxury. The difference is the quality of the rooms, the hotel amenities and the proximity to the parks. Truth be told, we have only ever stayed at the Budget hotels, (we are Tightwads after all :) )for a few reasons. One reason is obviously the price, and the fact that we don't really care too much about the hotel, as our main reason for going to Disney World is to ride the roller coasters and to see the Princesses. Spending time at the hotel is not high on our list of priorities, especially since you are free to dine at and visit the Luxury hotels if you wish too.
We have stayed at both All Star Movies and All Star Sports Resorts. The latter, which was where we stayed this last trip, was by far a better experience. Our room was newly renovated, the pool was fantastic, and transportation to the parks was super easy using the shuttle buses, which run regularly and are free for resort guests. In some cases, the shuttle buses travel to all 3 All Star Resorts (Movies, Sports and Music) before heading to the parks, and then on the return as well. Due to it's location, All Star Sports is the first pick up spot of the 3 and the first drop off spot. Incredibly important since first on pretty much guarantees you a seat on the bus (much appreciated by tired little legs), and first off means you are back in your room sooner rather than later (again, much appreciated by tired little and not so little legs).
Although when we stayed at All Star Movies our room had not been updated in a long while (think aqua laminate furniture - yikes!), in both of our stays in Budget Resorts the staff was Disney friendly, and the rooms were spotless.
Tip 2: If you are staying on site, choose a meal plan. The first time we went to Disney, we actually drove (how can two girls travel 24 hours to and fro without arguing for a moment, when they can't even make it home from school without wanting to pull each others hair out is a mystery to us...but we digress). That time, we rented a condo/hotel with a full kitchen. We had breakfast in our hotel, packed a lunch and had dinner back at the condo. Definitely a money saver - but having to cook during a vacation sometimes sucks. Our second trip, we just paid as we went....and did we ever pay! Eating at the theme parks is costly! So, this time we got a meal plan, made our reservations before we traveled, and enjoyed being able to eat our meals, and snacks, without having to pay for anything but tips. Nice.
Tip 3: Don't get suckered into buying stupid souvenirs. Yeah...that Goofy hat with the floppy ears is really cute when you're riding Splash Mountain...but what are you going to do with that thing when you get home??? Same goes for Mickey ears, Fantasia hats and Fairy wings. Unless you are convinced that you will cry with regret for years because you passed on this purchase ...pass.
Tip 4: Take pictures of your pictures. We think that some of the funniest pictures ever are the ones that are taken of you when you're on these crazy rides. Your mouth is wide open because you're screaming with fear or excitement (or both), you have this psychotic look in your eyes, and the Goofy ears on the stupid hat you're wearing are flopping in the wind. Hilarious ! and if you want to take the memory home, it will cost you about 20$. Now, although we didn't do this ourselves, we did see other riders taking out their cameras and snapping photos of their photos as they were being displayed on screens in an attempt to lure you into purchasing them. When EN commented to another lady that this was a smart idea, she said that the pictures come out a bit blurry....but we bet they're still funny.
Tip 5: Speaking of pictures...Disney has a great service called PhotoPass. There are photographers scattered all over the parks, ready to snap your picture, which is then loaded onto a PhotoPass card. When you get home (or even in certain locations in the parks), you can view your photos, email them to friends for a limited time, and purchase them. They are really nice, but again, pretty expensive. We learned that if you give your own camera to the photographer, he or she will take the same shot with it..and then you have essentially the same pose...for nothing. Pretty smart huh?
Tip 6: We're actually not sure how we feel about this...but it IS a money saver...and we did see lots of people doing it. Picture the scene. You are having a buffet breakfast. The food is aplenty, and, generally quite yummy. You load your plate with things that are fried, sauced and generally unhealthy. To compensate, you grab a few apples or bananas. Lo and behold, after scarfing down your meal, you find that you have no more room for the fruit you lovingly chose. What to do???? Putting it back would be unhygienic, throwing it away is wasteful. Oh, how about just tucking that banana into your backpack, for a snack when you feel peckish...you know, instead of buying a banana later on. We did this once with a couple of apples. EN felt guilty, FF didn't think about it too much (he wasn't carrying the backpack!), but when the girls were hungry a few hours later..tah dah...Disney magic...the apples made an appearance.
Tip 7: If you decide to go to Universal Studios (do go ! the Wizarding World of Harry Potter is phenomenal), stay at a Universal "affiliated" hotel. These are MUCH cheaper than the 3 Universal hotels and most offer transportation to the Universal Parks, and extra hours, so that you can enter the park an hour early - a must, especially if you go in a busy season. We stayed at the Fairmount Inn...it was great. The price was reasonable, the staff was incredibly friendly and helpful, the room was basic but spotless, the pool was great, and a yummy continental breakfast was included.
Tip 8: If you book your Disney vacation on-line through the Disney website, check it periodically, up until your departure date. If there is a sale that comes out after you have booked, Disney will honor it. Thanks to this good advice, we saved 350$ this year. With the money we saved we could have bought about 15 sets of Mickey ears !!! (but we didn't).
Tip 9: Set a spending budget and stick to it. This is really easy if you have a meal plan, because your food costs are already accounted for. There are so many nice things to buy both at Universal Studios and the Disney Theme parks. Decide how much you want to spend on souvenirs and gifts, and stick to it. If you're traveling with children, it's doesn't hurt to remind them that they can't have EVERYTHING they see.
So, although a Disney vacation can be costly, it doesn't have to break the bank. Shop around, cut corners that don't really matter to you, and enjoy a beautiful and magical vacation...it really is one of the happiest places on earth.
Happy travels
xoxo
The Tightwads
Tip 1: If you are going to stay at a Disney resort, think about one of their budget hotels. Disney classifies their resorts as either Budget, Moderate, or Luxury. The difference is the quality of the rooms, the hotel amenities and the proximity to the parks. Truth be told, we have only ever stayed at the Budget hotels, (we are Tightwads after all :) )for a few reasons. One reason is obviously the price, and the fact that we don't really care too much about the hotel, as our main reason for going to Disney World is to ride the roller coasters and to see the Princesses. Spending time at the hotel is not high on our list of priorities, especially since you are free to dine at and visit the Luxury hotels if you wish too.
We have stayed at both All Star Movies and All Star Sports Resorts. The latter, which was where we stayed this last trip, was by far a better experience. Our room was newly renovated, the pool was fantastic, and transportation to the parks was super easy using the shuttle buses, which run regularly and are free for resort guests. In some cases, the shuttle buses travel to all 3 All Star Resorts (Movies, Sports and Music) before heading to the parks, and then on the return as well. Due to it's location, All Star Sports is the first pick up spot of the 3 and the first drop off spot. Incredibly important since first on pretty much guarantees you a seat on the bus (much appreciated by tired little legs), and first off means you are back in your room sooner rather than later (again, much appreciated by tired little and not so little legs).
Although when we stayed at All Star Movies our room had not been updated in a long while (think aqua laminate furniture - yikes!), in both of our stays in Budget Resorts the staff was Disney friendly, and the rooms were spotless.
Tip 2: If you are staying on site, choose a meal plan. The first time we went to Disney, we actually drove (how can two girls travel 24 hours to and fro without arguing for a moment, when they can't even make it home from school without wanting to pull each others hair out is a mystery to us...but we digress). That time, we rented a condo/hotel with a full kitchen. We had breakfast in our hotel, packed a lunch and had dinner back at the condo. Definitely a money saver - but having to cook during a vacation sometimes sucks. Our second trip, we just paid as we went....and did we ever pay! Eating at the theme parks is costly! So, this time we got a meal plan, made our reservations before we traveled, and enjoyed being able to eat our meals, and snacks, without having to pay for anything but tips. Nice.
Tip 3: Don't get suckered into buying stupid souvenirs. Yeah...that Goofy hat with the floppy ears is really cute when you're riding Splash Mountain...but what are you going to do with that thing when you get home??? Same goes for Mickey ears, Fantasia hats and Fairy wings. Unless you are convinced that you will cry with regret for years because you passed on this purchase ...pass.
Tip 4: Take pictures of your pictures. We think that some of the funniest pictures ever are the ones that are taken of you when you're on these crazy rides. Your mouth is wide open because you're screaming with fear or excitement (or both), you have this psychotic look in your eyes, and the Goofy ears on the stupid hat you're wearing are flopping in the wind. Hilarious ! and if you want to take the memory home, it will cost you about 20$. Now, although we didn't do this ourselves, we did see other riders taking out their cameras and snapping photos of their photos as they were being displayed on screens in an attempt to lure you into purchasing them. When EN commented to another lady that this was a smart idea, she said that the pictures come out a bit blurry....but we bet they're still funny.
Tip 5: Speaking of pictures...Disney has a great service called PhotoPass. There are photographers scattered all over the parks, ready to snap your picture, which is then loaded onto a PhotoPass card. When you get home (or even in certain locations in the parks), you can view your photos, email them to friends for a limited time, and purchase them. They are really nice, but again, pretty expensive. We learned that if you give your own camera to the photographer, he or she will take the same shot with it..and then you have essentially the same pose...for nothing. Pretty smart huh?
Tip 6: We're actually not sure how we feel about this...but it IS a money saver...and we did see lots of people doing it. Picture the scene. You are having a buffet breakfast. The food is aplenty, and, generally quite yummy. You load your plate with things that are fried, sauced and generally unhealthy. To compensate, you grab a few apples or bananas. Lo and behold, after scarfing down your meal, you find that you have no more room for the fruit you lovingly chose. What to do???? Putting it back would be unhygienic, throwing it away is wasteful. Oh, how about just tucking that banana into your backpack, for a snack when you feel peckish...you know, instead of buying a banana later on. We did this once with a couple of apples. EN felt guilty, FF didn't think about it too much (he wasn't carrying the backpack!), but when the girls were hungry a few hours later..tah dah...Disney magic...the apples made an appearance.
Tip 7: If you decide to go to Universal Studios (do go ! the Wizarding World of Harry Potter is phenomenal), stay at a Universal "affiliated" hotel. These are MUCH cheaper than the 3 Universal hotels and most offer transportation to the Universal Parks, and extra hours, so that you can enter the park an hour early - a must, especially if you go in a busy season. We stayed at the Fairmount Inn...it was great. The price was reasonable, the staff was incredibly friendly and helpful, the room was basic but spotless, the pool was great, and a yummy continental breakfast was included.
Tip 8: If you book your Disney vacation on-line through the Disney website, check it periodically, up until your departure date. If there is a sale that comes out after you have booked, Disney will honor it. Thanks to this good advice, we saved 350$ this year. With the money we saved we could have bought about 15 sets of Mickey ears !!! (but we didn't).
Tip 9: Set a spending budget and stick to it. This is really easy if you have a meal plan, because your food costs are already accounted for. There are so many nice things to buy both at Universal Studios and the Disney Theme parks. Decide how much you want to spend on souvenirs and gifts, and stick to it. If you're traveling with children, it's doesn't hurt to remind them that they can't have EVERYTHING they see.
So, although a Disney vacation can be costly, it doesn't have to break the bank. Shop around, cut corners that don't really matter to you, and enjoy a beautiful and magical vacation...it really is one of the happiest places on earth.
Happy travels
xoxo
The Tightwads
Sunday, February 20, 2011
Big screen, small price
We love the movies. Our first date was a movie (The Untouchables) and there was a time (pre-marriage and definitely pre-children) when we would go to the movie theater almost every day. There were times when we couldn't go to the movies...because we had seen everything that was playing. From small budget B movies, to foreign films, to animated kid flicks, we would watch it all. Ahh... those were the days. Those of you who have lived in Montreal may remember - those were the days of the Palace, the Leows, the Imperial, and the Egyptian. Charming theaters, each with it's own personality, and all easily accessible in the heart of downtown. We certainly saw our share of duds (a horror movie called Popcorn comes to mind) but only walked out of one movie (one of the Batman movies if you can believe it...the one with George Clooney and Uma Thurman - sucked !).
As we grew up and our time became filled with things like full time jobs and diaper changes, the number of movies we went to necessarily diminished. When on maternity leave however, Economia Nia would pack up baby and baby essentials every Tuesday at 10am to go to "Movies for Mommies". A unique movie-going experience for sure. Mommies (and some Daddies) and their babies watching films with the volume turned down (to protect infant ears), lights dimmed, but not off (to prevent Mommies from tripping as they walked up and down the steps to quiet screaming babies), and a diaper changing station off to the side. For a stir-crazy new mom, it was a gift from heaven. It's really too bad that as we searched for the link to Movies for Mommies, we realize that the big gun theater that offered this service in Montreal when EN was on her maternity leaves, is no longer doing so. Luckily some smaller theaters offer the event though.
MoviesforMommies
These days movies are still a big part of our lives, but with the current cost of going to the theater and our commitment to tight living, it is a "special event" instead of an automatic "something to do". A family of four will easily spend in the vicinity of 35$ for admission tickets alone (and usually more). Of course, no movie going experience would be complete without "the snacks". Remember when the "snacks" were basically your choice of popcorn, chocolate and licorice? You would take your seat (which was utilitarian and not meant to be plush and reclining) and the only thing you would smell would be the butter on the popcorn and maybe the guy behind you who needed a shower. Now, you take your seat and are assaulted with the smells of french fries, pizza and hamburgers. When in the world did movie-going turn into a complete dining opportunity? You can get anything at the movies now. Forget nachos, you can practically order a roast chicken to munch on. Of course, no matter what your fancy, all this snacking is gonna cost you - figure a minimum of 20$ for a family of four (and that minimum is only achieved by having your children feeling deprived). What is a tightwad family to do?
Aha ! We actually know what to do. Yes, we can rent movies through our cable subscriber or a DVD rental place, but nothing beats going to the movies. Solution: The Dollar Cinema. Now, we realize that this is only a solution if you live in Montreal (although there may be similar places in other cities - there must be! ... and if they're aren't, then this is an excellent business opportunity!).
The Dollar Cinema used to be a regular kind of cinema, but instead of closing when the big franchises monopolized the industry, it was reinvented into what it is today. And what it is, is a place where a family of four can watch a recently shown (but now out of the mainstream cinemas) movie, for less than 15$ ...and that includes admission tickets and snacks. Today Economia Nia took the girls to see Gulliver's Travels for a grand total of 12$ and change.
Admission to the Dollar Cinema is 2$ for everyone, any day of the week, and any time of day. All snacks and drinks are 1$ (plus tax). Yes, the popcorn bags are not huge (hmmmm, saving money and calories...this keeps getting better), and the candy selection may be more limited than what you have gotten used to (you know, the way things used to be), but who cares. The seats are comfortable and were recently changed so they have that convenient cup holder thing, which is great for keeping your 1$ drink. And, the staff is really friendly. At the movie today, EN accidentally knocked her popcorn on the counter after paying for it. The employee (who may have actually been the owner) smiled and immediately passed over another full bag of popcorn. We have a feeling that the 16 year old kid at the Mega-Plex wouldn't have done that.
It is true, that if you're used to the modern day cinemas with their glitz and bright lights, you may be initially turned off by Dollar Cinema's more austere decor (and the fact that it is located in a mall that has really seen better days). But instead of focusing on what it is not, focus on what it is - a charming, low key, super affordable movie going experience.
http://www.dollarcinema.ca/
Happy viewing:)
xoxo
The Tightwads
As we grew up and our time became filled with things like full time jobs and diaper changes, the number of movies we went to necessarily diminished. When on maternity leave however, Economia Nia would pack up baby and baby essentials every Tuesday at 10am to go to "Movies for Mommies". A unique movie-going experience for sure. Mommies (and some Daddies) and their babies watching films with the volume turned down (to protect infant ears), lights dimmed, but not off (to prevent Mommies from tripping as they walked up and down the steps to quiet screaming babies), and a diaper changing station off to the side. For a stir-crazy new mom, it was a gift from heaven. It's really too bad that as we searched for the link to Movies for Mommies, we realize that the big gun theater that offered this service in Montreal when EN was on her maternity leaves, is no longer doing so. Luckily some smaller theaters offer the event though.
MoviesforMommies
These days movies are still a big part of our lives, but with the current cost of going to the theater and our commitment to tight living, it is a "special event" instead of an automatic "something to do". A family of four will easily spend in the vicinity of 35$ for admission tickets alone (and usually more). Of course, no movie going experience would be complete without "the snacks". Remember when the "snacks" were basically your choice of popcorn, chocolate and licorice? You would take your seat (which was utilitarian and not meant to be plush and reclining) and the only thing you would smell would be the butter on the popcorn and maybe the guy behind you who needed a shower. Now, you take your seat and are assaulted with the smells of french fries, pizza and hamburgers. When in the world did movie-going turn into a complete dining opportunity? You can get anything at the movies now. Forget nachos, you can practically order a roast chicken to munch on. Of course, no matter what your fancy, all this snacking is gonna cost you - figure a minimum of 20$ for a family of four (and that minimum is only achieved by having your children feeling deprived). What is a tightwad family to do?
Aha ! We actually know what to do. Yes, we can rent movies through our cable subscriber or a DVD rental place, but nothing beats going to the movies. Solution: The Dollar Cinema. Now, we realize that this is only a solution if you live in Montreal (although there may be similar places in other cities - there must be! ... and if they're aren't, then this is an excellent business opportunity!).
The Dollar Cinema used to be a regular kind of cinema, but instead of closing when the big franchises monopolized the industry, it was reinvented into what it is today. And what it is, is a place where a family of four can watch a recently shown (but now out of the mainstream cinemas) movie, for less than 15$ ...and that includes admission tickets and snacks. Today Economia Nia took the girls to see Gulliver's Travels for a grand total of 12$ and change.
Admission to the Dollar Cinema is 2$ for everyone, any day of the week, and any time of day. All snacks and drinks are 1$ (plus tax). Yes, the popcorn bags are not huge (hmmmm, saving money and calories...this keeps getting better), and the candy selection may be more limited than what you have gotten used to (you know, the way things used to be), but who cares. The seats are comfortable and were recently changed so they have that convenient cup holder thing, which is great for keeping your 1$ drink. And, the staff is really friendly. At the movie today, EN accidentally knocked her popcorn on the counter after paying for it. The employee (who may have actually been the owner) smiled and immediately passed over another full bag of popcorn. We have a feeling that the 16 year old kid at the Mega-Plex wouldn't have done that.
It is true, that if you're used to the modern day cinemas with their glitz and bright lights, you may be initially turned off by Dollar Cinema's more austere decor (and the fact that it is located in a mall that has really seen better days). But instead of focusing on what it is not, focus on what it is - a charming, low key, super affordable movie going experience.
http://www.dollarcinema.ca/
Happy viewing:)
xoxo
The Tightwads
Monday, February 14, 2011
Our love ain't cheap.
Valentine's Day! Sigh. A day of marketing genius. It's difficult to remember (or to even care) about the origin of this holiday amid all the roses, heart shaped chocolates and red wrapping, but St. Valentine's Day did start out as a religious holiday. It appears that Valentine was a common name for Christian martyrs and two in particular are honored on the 14th of February: Valentine of Rome and Valentine of Terni. St. Valentine's Day was established as a special day by Pope Gelasius I in 496 AD (way before Hallmark), yet the day first became associated with romance when Chaucer wrote the poem Parlement of Foules in 1382. Translated into modern English he wrote :
For this was Saint Valentine's Day, when every bird cometh there to choose his mate
Awwww.....Chaucer wrote this poem to honour the first anniversary of the engagement of King Richard II of England to Anne of Bohemia, who eventually married when they were each 15 years old !
In 1969 Pope Paul VI, perhaps disheartened by the way the holiday had morphed into what we see today, deleted it from the Roman calendar of saints holidays, although still allowing for its religious observance. (We know what you're thinking...what religious observance???)
Anyhow, as we all know, today Valentine's Day is a day in which people express their love for each other by offering flowers, sweets, cards, and hopefully something sparkling. This gift exchange used to be reserved for lovers, but the great marketing geniuses of the world realized that not everyone has a lover. No worries, because they also realized that most everyone has a parent, a sister, a child, a cousin, a friend, a classmate, a teacher, a boss, a mailman, a dry cleaner. And if you don't...don't worry...you still have yourself ! That's right ladies and gents, there are now Valentine's Day cards and gifts designed for everyone on your Facebook friend list.
It's no wonder then that a lot of cash gets spent on this day, with some reports stating that on average, a person will spend about 170$ on gifts. Men typically spend more than women, probably because they have more to make up for, but the difference really ain't that big. So, before you go and open your wallets, we thought it would be a good idea to question some of the more common Valentine's Day offerings.
1. Roses, generally long stemmed and red, and a small fortune. Interesting symbol to represent and celebrate what one hopes to be a long and healthy relationship don't you think? Dying flowers (that's right...their fate was sealed the moment they were cut) which will wither and dry out and that have the potential to draw blood with one of their thorns. Nice. How about a potted plant instead? Cheaper, and it will last longer...like your love...awwww....
2. Valentine Chocolate. Sweet, smooth, rich, fattening, and, unfortunately, easily obtained at a drugstore (yuck). This latter fact makes cheap chocolate the perfect "Oh no I forgot today is Valentine's day, and I have exactly 5 minutes to go shopping" gift - so obvious. To complicate matters even more, chocolate of any quality should not be given to those who are diabetic, trying to lose weight, simply watching their weight, breastfeeding, lactose-intolerent, bulemic, or to chocolate dis-likers. Should also not be given to anyone who has children (they will eat all the chocolate).
3. Valentine's Day Cards. They are written by people who get paid a lot of money ("a lot" being a relative term, seeing as how we are writing this blog for nothing), who are able to eloquently, beautifully, and sappily express exactly what you yourself are feeling. Unless you are a modern day Chaucer, chances are you won't feel that you can add anymore to what is already in the card you so thoughfully chose. So, to the heartfelt printed prose, you add simply ...your name (and if you are feeling inspired, maybe an "I love you"). The recipient of this card will likely wonder why they aren't in a relationship with the actual person who wrote the card, but they'll say that they love it, and stick it in the recycling bin within a week. Instead, try making your own card (you know, like you did when you were a kid). Make up a poem (words that rhyme with love : glove, shove, dove, above), and it will be remembered forever - even if it really sucks.
There are so many lovely, inexpensive ways to celebrate Valentine's Day. Making a romantic supper, going for a walk holding hands, renting the movie you saw on your first date, decorating the house with red balloons...the list is long. So, use your imagination, save a few bucks, and remember to spread the feeling to the rest of the year.
Happy Valentine's Day
xoxo
The Tightwads
For this was Saint Valentine's Day, when every bird cometh there to choose his mate
Awwww.....Chaucer wrote this poem to honour the first anniversary of the engagement of King Richard II of England to Anne of Bohemia, who eventually married when they were each 15 years old !
In 1969 Pope Paul VI, perhaps disheartened by the way the holiday had morphed into what we see today, deleted it from the Roman calendar of saints holidays, although still allowing for its religious observance. (We know what you're thinking...what religious observance???)
Anyhow, as we all know, today Valentine's Day is a day in which people express their love for each other by offering flowers, sweets, cards, and hopefully something sparkling. This gift exchange used to be reserved for lovers, but the great marketing geniuses of the world realized that not everyone has a lover. No worries, because they also realized that most everyone has a parent, a sister, a child, a cousin, a friend, a classmate, a teacher, a boss, a mailman, a dry cleaner. And if you don't...don't worry...you still have yourself ! That's right ladies and gents, there are now Valentine's Day cards and gifts designed for everyone on your Facebook friend list.
It's no wonder then that a lot of cash gets spent on this day, with some reports stating that on average, a person will spend about 170$ on gifts. Men typically spend more than women, probably because they have more to make up for, but the difference really ain't that big. So, before you go and open your wallets, we thought it would be a good idea to question some of the more common Valentine's Day offerings.
1. Roses, generally long stemmed and red, and a small fortune. Interesting symbol to represent and celebrate what one hopes to be a long and healthy relationship don't you think? Dying flowers (that's right...their fate was sealed the moment they were cut) which will wither and dry out and that have the potential to draw blood with one of their thorns. Nice. How about a potted plant instead? Cheaper, and it will last longer...like your love...awwww....
2. Valentine Chocolate. Sweet, smooth, rich, fattening, and, unfortunately, easily obtained at a drugstore (yuck). This latter fact makes cheap chocolate the perfect "Oh no I forgot today is Valentine's day, and I have exactly 5 minutes to go shopping" gift - so obvious. To complicate matters even more, chocolate of any quality should not be given to those who are diabetic, trying to lose weight, simply watching their weight, breastfeeding, lactose-intolerent, bulemic, or to chocolate dis-likers. Should also not be given to anyone who has children (they will eat all the chocolate).
3. Valentine's Day Cards. They are written by people who get paid a lot of money ("a lot" being a relative term, seeing as how we are writing this blog for nothing), who are able to eloquently, beautifully, and sappily express exactly what you yourself are feeling. Unless you are a modern day Chaucer, chances are you won't feel that you can add anymore to what is already in the card you so thoughfully chose. So, to the heartfelt printed prose, you add simply ...your name (and if you are feeling inspired, maybe an "I love you"). The recipient of this card will likely wonder why they aren't in a relationship with the actual person who wrote the card, but they'll say that they love it, and stick it in the recycling bin within a week. Instead, try making your own card (you know, like you did when you were a kid). Make up a poem (words that rhyme with love : glove, shove, dove, above), and it will be remembered forever - even if it really sucks.
There are so many lovely, inexpensive ways to celebrate Valentine's Day. Making a romantic supper, going for a walk holding hands, renting the movie you saw on your first date, decorating the house with red balloons...the list is long. So, use your imagination, save a few bucks, and remember to spread the feeling to the rest of the year.
Happy Valentine's Day
xoxo
The Tightwads
Tuesday, February 8, 2011
Beans, beans, they're good for your....
...wallet ! What did you think we were going to say?
Ahh....beans. We love them! Well, actually Economia Nia loves them, Frugal Freddie simply likes them. But, whether you love them, like them, or don't really eat them, one thing is sure...they are cheap ! Not sort of cheap, but really cheap ! So cheap in fact, that it doesn't even matter if they are on sale - how can anyone not love that!
So, how many of you out there eat beans on a regular basis (and by regular we mean at least every other day)? Come on, you in the back...don't be shy. Well, we know why you may be reluctant to fess up. For some reason (okay, for a very good reason), eating beans is often equated with...farting ! (note to readers: Economia Nia really wanted to put in a polite euphemism, but Frugal Freddie beat me to the keyboard). Well, polite or not, it's true that bean eating can lead to gas leaking, in some more than others. But, you want to know a secret? Despite what that little children's song says, the more you eat...the LESS you fart ! That's right, your meat-eating, processed-food-loving body actually gets used to digesting wholesome, healthy beans ! It's miraculous !
Now there are products out there that claim to help you digest beans and eliminate their noxious side effects. We've actually never tried them, but some bean-eating friends say that they do work. Check out the website for Beano...it's a riot (particularly the link to the "University of gas").
http://www.beanogas.com/
Gas aside, you really can't beat the benefits of eating beans. They are cheap (so cheap), healthy (so healthy!), delicious (really delicious....like really, really delicious), and they look pretty in glass jars (so pretty).
There are basically two ways to purchase beans at the market: in cans and in bags. For a long time we were can buyers, mainly because of the convenience. Recently however we have turned to the dried variety. They are tastier and a much better value for your buck (which is not really that important since the cans are pretty cheap too), but they are also healthier, since canned beans tend to be loaded in sodium and sometimes other preservatives. Plus, we are trying to move away from cans for a couple of other reasons. The first is environmental (it takes a lot more energy to produce and recycle a can than it does to produce and recycle a small plastic or paper bag). Second, we're just not sure what they line those cans with. Maybe nothing worrisome, but we seem to remember reading "something" about "something bad" being used to line cans. So, better safe than sorry.
Using dried beans is really not all that inconvenient. It takes time to soak them and then cook the beans, but it's not like you have to do anything during the soaking and cooking time. Soaking can be done overnight and cooking can be a breeze with the right recipe and the right method (think slow cooker or pressure cooker).
If you would like to become proficient in bean soaking methodology, then there are a plethora of resources available on-line and in most vegetarian cookbooks which describe in detail how long to soak every kind of bean imaginable. We're going to go ahead and assume that you're too busy for that (heck, you're already wasting enough of your time reading this blog), so here are a few simple rules.
1. Most beans can be soaked overnight (about 8 hours).
2. Some beans (namely lentils...which actually may not be officially classified as beans...but who cares), require little to no soaking (we tend to soak them for about 30 minutes, but it's probably not necessary).
3. If you want to increase your chances of not passing gas all night after eating your beans, do not cook them in the same water in which they soaked.
4. Beans should not be soaked or cooked in salted water. This will toughen the bean...add salt after they are cooked.
5. Cook the beans until they are tender...the bigger the bean, the longer the cooking time.
Below you'll find a link which actually lists the recommended soaking and cooking times for some popular beans.
http://www.weblife.org/beanchart.html
So, beans ! They're healthy, cheap, delicious and kinder to your body and to the environment than eating meat is. But there's more! Dried beans can be used as weights for blind baking pie crusts. They can be used to fill home-made maracas, for arts and crafts and to replace game tokens that invariably get lost. You can also sprout beans by placing them in a humid environment. Try doing any of that with a steak.
:) Love,
The Tightwads
Ahh....beans. We love them! Well, actually Economia Nia loves them, Frugal Freddie simply likes them. But, whether you love them, like them, or don't really eat them, one thing is sure...they are cheap ! Not sort of cheap, but really cheap ! So cheap in fact, that it doesn't even matter if they are on sale - how can anyone not love that!
So, how many of you out there eat beans on a regular basis (and by regular we mean at least every other day)? Come on, you in the back...don't be shy. Well, we know why you may be reluctant to fess up. For some reason (okay, for a very good reason), eating beans is often equated with...farting ! (note to readers: Economia Nia really wanted to put in a polite euphemism, but Frugal Freddie beat me to the keyboard). Well, polite or not, it's true that bean eating can lead to gas leaking, in some more than others. But, you want to know a secret? Despite what that little children's song says, the more you eat...the LESS you fart ! That's right, your meat-eating, processed-food-loving body actually gets used to digesting wholesome, healthy beans ! It's miraculous !
Now there are products out there that claim to help you digest beans and eliminate their noxious side effects. We've actually never tried them, but some bean-eating friends say that they do work. Check out the website for Beano...it's a riot (particularly the link to the "University of gas").
http://www.beanogas.com/
Gas aside, you really can't beat the benefits of eating beans. They are cheap (so cheap), healthy (so healthy!), delicious (really delicious....like really, really delicious), and they look pretty in glass jars (so pretty).
There are basically two ways to purchase beans at the market: in cans and in bags. For a long time we were can buyers, mainly because of the convenience. Recently however we have turned to the dried variety. They are tastier and a much better value for your buck (which is not really that important since the cans are pretty cheap too), but they are also healthier, since canned beans tend to be loaded in sodium and sometimes other preservatives. Plus, we are trying to move away from cans for a couple of other reasons. The first is environmental (it takes a lot more energy to produce and recycle a can than it does to produce and recycle a small plastic or paper bag). Second, we're just not sure what they line those cans with. Maybe nothing worrisome, but we seem to remember reading "something" about "something bad" being used to line cans. So, better safe than sorry.
Using dried beans is really not all that inconvenient. It takes time to soak them and then cook the beans, but it's not like you have to do anything during the soaking and cooking time. Soaking can be done overnight and cooking can be a breeze with the right recipe and the right method (think slow cooker or pressure cooker).
If you would like to become proficient in bean soaking methodology, then there are a plethora of resources available on-line and in most vegetarian cookbooks which describe in detail how long to soak every kind of bean imaginable. We're going to go ahead and assume that you're too busy for that (heck, you're already wasting enough of your time reading this blog), so here are a few simple rules.
1. Most beans can be soaked overnight (about 8 hours).
2. Some beans (namely lentils...which actually may not be officially classified as beans...but who cares), require little to no soaking (we tend to soak them for about 30 minutes, but it's probably not necessary).
3. If you want to increase your chances of not passing gas all night after eating your beans, do not cook them in the same water in which they soaked.
4. Beans should not be soaked or cooked in salted water. This will toughen the bean...add salt after they are cooked.
5. Cook the beans until they are tender...the bigger the bean, the longer the cooking time.
Below you'll find a link which actually lists the recommended soaking and cooking times for some popular beans.
http://www.weblife.org/beanchart.html
So, beans ! They're healthy, cheap, delicious and kinder to your body and to the environment than eating meat is. But there's more! Dried beans can be used as weights for blind baking pie crusts. They can be used to fill home-made maracas, for arts and crafts and to replace game tokens that invariably get lost. You can also sprout beans by placing them in a humid environment. Try doing any of that with a steak.
:) Love,
The Tightwads
Monday, January 31, 2011
The best things in life are (relatively) free
This is a post about water. When we were little (and really...it wasn't that long ago) and thirsty, life was simple. We would run into the kitchen and turn on the tap. If we were outside or at the park, (as kids most often were), we would find the nearest water fountain and slurp away, all the while being careful not to let our lips get too close to the actual spout - but not really caring if they did. And then, suddenly, without anyone really noticing, a third option emerged, a social phenomenon - the bottle of water.
In our last post Economia Nia spoke about how she gets annoyed having to spend money on un-fun but necessary items like toilet paper and tampons. Well, this post is about how annoyed we get at other people... for spending money on things that are, in our humble opinions, a waste of money. Bottled water SO tops that list. Come on people - buying bottled water is tantamount to buying a bag of air..and air of questionable quality..but we'll get to that!
Truth is, we don't know how large the problem is, because contaminated water supplies often cause intestinal problems that go unreported, since the problems may be short lived (in healthy people) and are probably not associated with the water. Also, the great review we mention was published in 1992, that a long time ago. The author concluded his paper by stating that more work and follow-up needed to be done...for some reason, we couldn't find an updated report ! This makes us say "yikes".
And now, moving on to assumption #2...that bottled water is convenient. Really? Since when is it convenient to run to the store when you're thirsty? Since when is it convenient to carry your pile of empty water bottles to recycling (please, please, tell us that you are at least recycling these things!). Nope, we don't buy it (literally). It is really much more convenient to rely on the tap. And, if you think you'll be in a place where there is no sink in sight, invest in a portable, re-usable water bottle. We've included two links to sites that you can visit (and purchase from) on-line, although you can certainly find these and other brands in stores. We recently changed our water bottles and bought some Kleen Kanteens through eCause. They also have a website.
http://www.ecause.ca/
http://www.kleankanteen.com/
http://www.myreusablebottle.com/
And, as a final thought, the motto for EvianTM is "Live young". We find that really cute, because if we lived young (or like we did when we were young), we would still have our mouths hovering over the spout of the water fountain with water dripping down our chins, and some extra change in our pockets.
Whew...all this typing has made us thirsty :)
xoxo
The Tightwads
In our last post Economia Nia spoke about how she gets annoyed having to spend money on un-fun but necessary items like toilet paper and tampons. Well, this post is about how annoyed we get at other people... for spending money on things that are, in our humble opinions, a waste of money. Bottled water SO tops that list. Come on people - buying bottled water is tantamount to buying a bag of air..and air of questionable quality..but we'll get to that!
We know, we know....there are those of you out there who are convinced that bottled water is just...better! It tastes better and it's better for you. And of course you believe that! The bottled water market is incredibly competitive and companies need to create great marketing strategies. Although bottled water was originally meant to be used for drinking, it has also been marketed as ideal for infant formula preparation, for use in reconstituting other foods, for cleaning contact lenses, for skin care, and for filling humidifiers. Smart people those marketing guys and gals!
So let's talk about taste. Now, let us start by saying that we happen to love (really love) someone who is convinced, not only that bottled water tastes better, but that a certain bottled water tastes better than others. Could this be true? Sure, we guess it can. Those of you who know us may think that we are the last people who should be commenting on the taste of water. We are coffee drinkers by day, milk drinkers by evening and alcohol drinkers by late evening. But still, water has flowed over our taste buds, and we just don't find the taste of tap water all that bad.
Truth be told, the only bottled water that we have ever tasted - which actually tastes very different (and yes, we'll admit, better) from tap is FIJI (and the bottle is darn cute!). But is it worth close to 3$ for a small bottle (regardless of how cute)? We don't think so. The cost is however understandable when you visit the website for FIJI Water, which describes in detail the very complicated and sophisticated water bottling process. The FIJI Water people are also proud to declare that their water is "Far from pollution. Far from acid rain. Far from industrial waste." Well, guess what folks? Unless you live near the lovely island nation of Fiji in the Pacific..it is also FAR FROM YOU! So, although your water is far from pollution, you're helping to pollute a whole lot more water, (and air, and land) by transporting these pretty bottles all over the world.
Still, taste aside, what we're really confused about is why people would spend money on something that they could get for next to nothing! We figure that there could be a couple of explanations for this:
1. Folks really believe that bottled water is better for you than tap.
2. Folks really believe that bottled water is just a lot more convenient.
3. Bottled water is considered a status symbol...for example: "I can afford to spend money on something I don't have to spend money on...so I must really be moving up in the world".
We'll get to assumptions 1 and 2 in a minute....as for #3...really, that's a sad excuse for a status symbol! Save your money and buy designer shoes.
Now, let's talk about quality... and safety.
We're sure that you know that not all bottled waters are created equal. Luckily, the FDA and Health Canada require that each brand of bottled water be labeled according to type. But do you know what these types mean?
Let's start with purified water. Sorry to tell you, but purified water is essentially tap water. Yup, purified water is surface or underground water that has been treated in order to be suitable for human consumption. It differs from tap water only through the way it is distributed (bottles versus pipes) and in cost. So, if you have ever purchased some AquafinaTM or DasaniTM, keep the bottle. That way you can refill it from the tap and have, pretty much, more of the same.
Spring water (like EvianTM) is underground water protected against pollution hazards. To qualify as spring water, it must be collected only at the spring or through a borehole tapping the underground formation feeding the spring. If the collection process uses some type of an external force, the water must be from the same stratum as the spring and must retain the quality and all of the same physical properties of water that flows naturally from a spring to the surface. Sound complicated.
As for mineral water...well, it contains not less than 250 parts per million total dissolved solids and is defined by its constant level and relative proportions of mineral and trace elements at the point of emergence from the source. No minerals can be added to the water.
And now, for safety. In a 2003 study published in the journal Emerging Infectious Diseases, looking at risk factors for Campylobacter infection (the most common cause of bacterial gastroenteritis worldwide), it was found that there were 5 risk factors which, taken together, could account for most sporadic cases of the runs. They included .....drumroll please...drinking bottled water ! In 1974 there was a very significant cholera outbreak in Portugal transmitted through bottled mineral water. Published reports have shown bottled water to be the source of the causative agent not only in cholera but also typhoid outbreaks, as well as traveller's diarrhea.
In Canada, prepackaged or bottled water is legally defined as a "food." So, when offered for sale to the consumer, it must comply with all of the provisions of the Canadian Food and Drugs Act and pertinent Regulations (Health and Welfare Canada 1982), just as all foods must. That's good, right? Well, although it's good that there are regulations and provisions, it doesn't mean that they're doing all they are meant to do.
In 1992 there was a review put out by the Canadian Food Directorate, Health Protection Branch, which looked at the microbiological quality of bottled water sold in Canada. What he found was scary. If you want to read the whole article...here's the link:
http://article.pubs.nrc-cnrc.gc.ca/ppv/RPViewDoc?issn=0008-4166&volume=39&issue=2&startPage=158
If you don't want to be up all night...here are a few key points:
During production and distribution, the cleanliness of the source water (which could be the cleanest you can imagine) can change dramatically at each step of the manufacturing process and during storage in bottles on the retailer's shelves. These changes can occur due to contamination. Also, the sleeping little microorganisms living in that clean, clean water can suddenly wake up when the environment of the water they were snoozing in changes (with a change in temperature, oxygen exposure, and other stuff)
Contamination can occur at the bottling plant. Sources of contamination, other than the water, include equipment used to pump or transport the water from its source to the bottling location, equipment used in the
So let's talk about taste. Now, let us start by saying that we happen to love (really love) someone who is convinced, not only that bottled water tastes better, but that a certain bottled water tastes better than others. Could this be true? Sure, we guess it can. Those of you who know us may think that we are the last people who should be commenting on the taste of water. We are coffee drinkers by day, milk drinkers by evening and alcohol drinkers by late evening. But still, water has flowed over our taste buds, and we just don't find the taste of tap water all that bad.
Truth be told, the only bottled water that we have ever tasted - which actually tastes very different (and yes, we'll admit, better) from tap is FIJI (and the bottle is darn cute!). But is it worth close to 3$ for a small bottle (regardless of how cute)? We don't think so. The cost is however understandable when you visit the website for FIJI Water, which describes in detail the very complicated and sophisticated water bottling process. The FIJI Water people are also proud to declare that their water is "Far from pollution. Far from acid rain. Far from industrial waste." Well, guess what folks? Unless you live near the lovely island nation of Fiji in the Pacific..it is also FAR FROM YOU! So, although your water is far from pollution, you're helping to pollute a whole lot more water, (and air, and land) by transporting these pretty bottles all over the world.
Still, taste aside, what we're really confused about is why people would spend money on something that they could get for next to nothing! We figure that there could be a couple of explanations for this:
1. Folks really believe that bottled water is better for you than tap.
2. Folks really believe that bottled water is just a lot more convenient.
3. Bottled water is considered a status symbol...for example: "I can afford to spend money on something I don't have to spend money on...so I must really be moving up in the world".
We'll get to assumptions 1 and 2 in a minute....as for #3...really, that's a sad excuse for a status symbol! Save your money and buy designer shoes.
Now, let's talk about quality... and safety.
We're sure that you know that not all bottled waters are created equal. Luckily, the FDA and Health Canada require that each brand of bottled water be labeled according to type. But do you know what these types mean?
Let's start with purified water. Sorry to tell you, but purified water is essentially tap water. Yup, purified water is surface or underground water that has been treated in order to be suitable for human consumption. It differs from tap water only through the way it is distributed (bottles versus pipes) and in cost. So, if you have ever purchased some AquafinaTM or DasaniTM, keep the bottle. That way you can refill it from the tap and have, pretty much, more of the same.
Spring water (like EvianTM) is underground water protected against pollution hazards. To qualify as spring water, it must be collected only at the spring or through a borehole tapping the underground formation feeding the spring. If the collection process uses some type of an external force, the water must be from the same stratum as the spring and must retain the quality and all of the same physical properties of water that flows naturally from a spring to the surface. Sound complicated.
As for mineral water...well, it contains not less than 250 parts per million total dissolved solids and is defined by its constant level and relative proportions of mineral and trace elements at the point of emergence from the source. No minerals can be added to the water.
And now, for safety. In a 2003 study published in the journal Emerging Infectious Diseases, looking at risk factors for Campylobacter infection (the most common cause of bacterial gastroenteritis worldwide), it was found that there were 5 risk factors which, taken together, could account for most sporadic cases of the runs. They included .....drumroll please...drinking bottled water ! In 1974 there was a very significant cholera outbreak in Portugal transmitted through bottled mineral water. Published reports have shown bottled water to be the source of the causative agent not only in cholera but also typhoid outbreaks, as well as traveller's diarrhea.
In Canada, prepackaged or bottled water is legally defined as a "food." So, when offered for sale to the consumer, it must comply with all of the provisions of the Canadian Food and Drugs Act and pertinent Regulations (Health and Welfare Canada 1982), just as all foods must. That's good, right? Well, although it's good that there are regulations and provisions, it doesn't mean that they're doing all they are meant to do.
In 1992 there was a review put out by the Canadian Food Directorate, Health Protection Branch, which looked at the microbiological quality of bottled water sold in Canada. What he found was scary. If you want to read the whole article...here's the link:
http://article.pubs.nrc-cnrc.gc.ca/ppv/RPViewDoc?issn=0008-4166&volume=39&issue=2&startPage=158
If you don't want to be up all night...here are a few key points:
During production and distribution, the cleanliness of the source water (which could be the cleanest you can imagine) can change dramatically at each step of the manufacturing process and during storage in bottles on the retailer's shelves. These changes can occur due to contamination. Also, the sleeping little microorganisms living in that clean, clean water can suddenly wake up when the environment of the water they were snoozing in changes (with a change in temperature, oxygen exposure, and other stuff)
Contamination can occur at the bottling plant. Sources of contamination, other than the water, include equipment used to pump or transport the water from its source to the bottling location, equipment used in the
processing or bottling process (such as deionizing columns and filters, whatever they are), as well as bottles, caps, and other environmental sources.
Now, you may be thinking..."Yeah, but these things are regulated...and if we're going to worry about water..then I guess we should worry about all food". Well, maybe we should, but that's not for this post. Actually, we should be especially concerned about bottled water for 3 reasons:
(i) Up to 50 mL of water, when taken between meals, can pass immediately through the stomach into the intestine. This quick run of water means that gastric juices in the stomach don't have time to kill off any dangerous little bugs before they reach your intestines and cause a whole slew of problems.
(ii) You don't need to ingest a lot of pathogens in order to get ill, particularly between meals.
(iii) Consumption of bottled water by vulnerable populations, such as the elderly or chronically ill, will probably increase as these populations increase. Contaminated water supplies might actually be a more significant source of infection than foods, especially for infants.
Now, you may be thinking..."Yeah, but these things are regulated...and if we're going to worry about water..then I guess we should worry about all food". Well, maybe we should, but that's not for this post. Actually, we should be especially concerned about bottled water for 3 reasons:
(i) Up to 50 mL of water, when taken between meals, can pass immediately through the stomach into the intestine. This quick run of water means that gastric juices in the stomach don't have time to kill off any dangerous little bugs before they reach your intestines and cause a whole slew of problems.
(ii) You don't need to ingest a lot of pathogens in order to get ill, particularly between meals.
(iii) Consumption of bottled water by vulnerable populations, such as the elderly or chronically ill, will probably increase as these populations increase. Contaminated water supplies might actually be a more significant source of infection than foods, especially for infants.
Truth is, we don't know how large the problem is, because contaminated water supplies often cause intestinal problems that go unreported, since the problems may be short lived (in healthy people) and are probably not associated with the water. Also, the great review we mention was published in 1992, that a long time ago. The author concluded his paper by stating that more work and follow-up needed to be done...for some reason, we couldn't find an updated report ! This makes us say "yikes".
And now, moving on to assumption #2...that bottled water is convenient. Really? Since when is it convenient to run to the store when you're thirsty? Since when is it convenient to carry your pile of empty water bottles to recycling (please, please, tell us that you are at least recycling these things!). Nope, we don't buy it (literally). It is really much more convenient to rely on the tap. And, if you think you'll be in a place where there is no sink in sight, invest in a portable, re-usable water bottle. We've included two links to sites that you can visit (and purchase from) on-line, although you can certainly find these and other brands in stores. We recently changed our water bottles and bought some Kleen Kanteens through eCause. They also have a website.
http://www.ecause.ca/
http://www.kleankanteen.com/
http://www.myreusablebottle.com/
And, as a final thought, the motto for EvianTM is "Live young". We find that really cute, because if we lived young (or like we did when we were young), we would still have our mouths hovering over the spout of the water fountain with water dripping down our chins, and some extra change in our pockets.
Whew...all this typing has made us thirsty :)
xoxo
The Tightwads
Wednesday, January 19, 2011
Girls only ! Seriously!
No, seriously boys...you probably don't want to read this post. In fact, Frugal Freddie has left the room. But before he made for the exit he made me promise to be quite clear that he had NOTHING to do with this entry...and in fact, he is very uncomfortable with the whole idea. Truth be told...his reaction makes me giggle.
Let me start by saying that there are certain things that I just really hate spending money on, but I do because...well, there is no choice. When I really think about it, I do not appreciate having to spend money on toilet paper, garbage bags or paper towels. I hate it in fact. These items are typically no fun, expensive and so darn practical. I also really resent having to spend at least 12$ a month on other un-fun, expensive and practical items....every month !!! (do you see where this is going ladies?). No matter how pretty the packaging or how cute the name or how "designed to fit" they are, tampons and pads are costly, and menopause is the only end in sight (with pregnancy being a temporary reprieve). Or is it????
In a health clinic many years ago one of the patients I was seeing spoke to me about her "keeper". She described it as a cup that is used to literally collect menstrual blood. (For any males that didn't heed my advice...don't say I didn't warn you). I listened politely, thought she was crazy, imagined her sitting around a fondue pot singing Kumba-Ya, and never gave it another thought....that is, until about 3 months ago.
At that time a dear friend (who has begged to remain nameless) and I were discussing menstrual issues, like unreliable tampons and bulky pads. Well, I was discussing...she just sat there smiling sweetly and then said "You should try the Diva Cup".
"The Diva Cup?" I replied quizzically.
"Yes" she responded. "It is fantastic".
"Why, tell me more," I begged.
It seems that my anonymous friend has been using the same sort of contraption that my hippie-like patient was talking about so many years ago. A keeper by any other name...is, well, cooler! "Diva Cup" sounds so much more inviting than "keeper", so after asking her about it I thought...I should try this!
Let me tell you lady friends (and any males who just can't stay away)...it is revolutionary! No matter what they are called, menstrual cups have been around for a really long time...but they seem to be the menstruating world's best kept secret. A secret no doubt protected by male tampon making tycoons! So, in the likely event that you have not heard of, tried, or thought about using the Diva Cup, I'm here to tell all!
First, the cost (of course). A Diva Cup, which you can find in most pharmacies, (often hidden behind the bulky boxes of pads), costs about 37$ (at least that's how much I paid for it). It comes in two sizes, and the size you choose depends on your age and whether or not you have had a child. It is recommended that you buy a new one every year. Quick calculation: if you spend 10$ a month on period supplies (and really, we all know we spend more than that) then you are spending 120$ annually. The Diva Cup has already saved you over 80$ a year! Add to that the bonus of knowing that you aren't polluting our already polluted earth with disposable products. (Hmmmm, come to think of it, have you ever noticed how smart financial choices are also smart for the environment? A future post topic I think.)
When I have mentioned the Diva Cup to a few people the responses have ranged from "cool" to "ugh...gross" to "um..yeah...but I could never do that". The that being referred to is the actual insertion and emptying of the cup. You really do need to be quite comfortable with your body in order to do this right. But I say, if you're not already...what a great reason to become comfortable! Let's face it women, we let our doctors and lovers poke around down there...why not ourselves???
Even if you are incredibly at ease with your body, using the Diva Cup can take some practice but don't worry, when you buy the cup it comes with detailed instructions in the packaging. My first month was good...but not great. Second time around, with a little tweaking...much easier, much better! I'm sure that month three will super!
You may be surprised to know that inserted properly, the cup is really comfortable - so comfortable you don't even remember that it is there. And, unlike tampons which should be changed a few times a day, the Diva Cup can be emptied as infrequently as twice in a 24 hour period (tee hee). And... no more fretting because you've used the last tampon in your purse. And... no more realizing that "super protection" ain't always that super !
So, that's it lady friends....I hope that I've given you something to ponder. I've included a link to the official Diva Cup website, where you can get more information... in case my testimonial isn't enough!
Happy bleeding,
xoxo
Economia Nia
a.k.a. Mrs. Tightwad :)
http://www.divacup.com/
Let me start by saying that there are certain things that I just really hate spending money on, but I do because...well, there is no choice. When I really think about it, I do not appreciate having to spend money on toilet paper, garbage bags or paper towels. I hate it in fact. These items are typically no fun, expensive and so darn practical. I also really resent having to spend at least 12$ a month on other un-fun, expensive and practical items....every month !!! (do you see where this is going ladies?). No matter how pretty the packaging or how cute the name or how "designed to fit" they are, tampons and pads are costly, and menopause is the only end in sight (with pregnancy being a temporary reprieve). Or is it????
In a health clinic many years ago one of the patients I was seeing spoke to me about her "keeper". She described it as a cup that is used to literally collect menstrual blood. (For any males that didn't heed my advice...don't say I didn't warn you). I listened politely, thought she was crazy, imagined her sitting around a fondue pot singing Kumba-Ya, and never gave it another thought....that is, until about 3 months ago.
At that time a dear friend (who has begged to remain nameless) and I were discussing menstrual issues, like unreliable tampons and bulky pads. Well, I was discussing...she just sat there smiling sweetly and then said "You should try the Diva Cup".
"The Diva Cup?" I replied quizzically.
"Yes" she responded. "It is fantastic".
"Why, tell me more," I begged.
It seems that my anonymous friend has been using the same sort of contraption that my hippie-like patient was talking about so many years ago. A keeper by any other name...is, well, cooler! "Diva Cup" sounds so much more inviting than "keeper", so after asking her about it I thought...I should try this!
Let me tell you lady friends (and any males who just can't stay away)...it is revolutionary! No matter what they are called, menstrual cups have been around for a really long time...but they seem to be the menstruating world's best kept secret. A secret no doubt protected by male tampon making tycoons! So, in the likely event that you have not heard of, tried, or thought about using the Diva Cup, I'm here to tell all!
First, the cost (of course). A Diva Cup, which you can find in most pharmacies, (often hidden behind the bulky boxes of pads), costs about 37$ (at least that's how much I paid for it). It comes in two sizes, and the size you choose depends on your age and whether or not you have had a child. It is recommended that you buy a new one every year. Quick calculation: if you spend 10$ a month on period supplies (and really, we all know we spend more than that) then you are spending 120$ annually. The Diva Cup has already saved you over 80$ a year! Add to that the bonus of knowing that you aren't polluting our already polluted earth with disposable products. (Hmmmm, come to think of it, have you ever noticed how smart financial choices are also smart for the environment? A future post topic I think.)
When I have mentioned the Diva Cup to a few people the responses have ranged from "cool" to "ugh...gross" to "um..yeah...but I could never do that". The that being referred to is the actual insertion and emptying of the cup. You really do need to be quite comfortable with your body in order to do this right. But I say, if you're not already...what a great reason to become comfortable! Let's face it women, we let our doctors and lovers poke around down there...why not ourselves???
Even if you are incredibly at ease with your body, using the Diva Cup can take some practice but don't worry, when you buy the cup it comes with detailed instructions in the packaging. My first month was good...but not great. Second time around, with a little tweaking...much easier, much better! I'm sure that month three will super!
You may be surprised to know that inserted properly, the cup is really comfortable - so comfortable you don't even remember that it is there. And, unlike tampons which should be changed a few times a day, the Diva Cup can be emptied as infrequently as twice in a 24 hour period (tee hee). And... no more fretting because you've used the last tampon in your purse. And... no more realizing that "super protection" ain't always that super !
So, that's it lady friends....I hope that I've given you something to ponder. I've included a link to the official Diva Cup website, where you can get more information... in case my testimonial isn't enough!
Happy bleeding,
xoxo
Economia Nia
a.k.a. Mrs. Tightwad :)
http://www.divacup.com/
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