Tips for Keeping Projects Cheap

I hate letting a project get out of control expensive. Hate it. Because at some point I just run out of money and it isn't worth it anymore. Over the years there's a few things I've learned to do that help me keep my projects relatively cheap to complete:

1. Never walk past the paint rejects at the hardware store.

A fresh coat of paint is the quickest way to rehab any piece of furniture. As a rule, always check out the rejects in the paint department of your local hardware store, especially the chains. You can pay a quarter of the price for a fun color, and paint has a relatively long shelf life. Unless you've got a very specific color in mind, you can usually find some awesome cans on those shelves. I don't think I've ever paid full price for tinted paint.

2. Have a few choice tools on hand at all times.

I might be a lady, but I'm comfortable with power tools and you should be too. But since I live in an apartment, I can only keep the basics. Every person should have the following in their toolbox:

-A hammer (any hammer will do, nothing fancy needed)
-Screwdrivers, philip's and flat, in a few different sizes if possible
-An all-in-one tool

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-A level
-A drill with multiple bits (I got a cheap one from Ikea, works great)
-Sandpaper in a few different grits
-A basic wrench set
-Pliers, needle- and flat-nose

Again, that's a very basic list. I'm sure you could add quite a few more things to your own personal list of tools, but those are the ones I use the most. Also in my own toolbox I keep felt feet for furniture since I have hardwoods, and 3M picture hanging strips because I have plaster walls. If I need a power tool I borrow it from a friend. Always return tools, by the way. Don't be that guy.

Also, please don't feel pressured into buying a "girl's" tool set in pink. It's sexist marketing and it really bothers me.

3. Know what you want, and set a price limit.

I knew I wanted a coffee table, and I knew I didn't want to pay more than $10-$20. I found one eventually and refinished it (next post!), but it takes patience. If you're serious about saving money or refinishing your own furniture for sale or for keeps, drive around on trash night, spend your Saturdays at flea markets and yard sales, and scour Craigslist on the reg. My dad used to tell me there's a reason they call it fishing, not catching, so be prepared to fish for a gem.

4. Stock up on sale fabric or fabric quarters.

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Both can be very cheap and come in handy for throw pillows (excellent cheap gifts) and recovering small things like seat cushions. Fabrics are just useful in general. Keep some polyfil on hand as well, it's perfect for stuffing those throw pillows or refilling a scrawny stuffed animal.

5. Do research before you start a project.

Make sure you have everything you need before you start. Think of it as cooking - you're not going to want to run out in the middle of your project to pick up things you need. Paintbrushes too.

There you go, a few tips to get you started. Like I said my next post will be about refinishing a beat up coffee table, so stay tuned!

Tie-up Balloon Shades

When I lived with my cousin and her family, in my bedroom she had some linen tie-up balloon shades that I absolutely loved. They were casual, but the little bows added some formality. They were easy to arrange, and when I moved out I decided I wanted my own. The options I found online were way too expensive, so I took another look at my cousin's and set out to make them myself. The below instructions use a sewing machine and assume a basic knowledge of sewing, but with the right fabric you can use fabric glue as well.

My finished curtains. They fit my old apartment windows perfectly, but my new windows were a little bigger...

I started out measuring my windows, length and width, then adding two inches on the width for seams, and four for length, to allow a large enough seam at the top (3") for the curtain rod. For example, if your windows are 36" x 24", you'll need a peice of fabric measuring 40" x 26".

When you go to pick out your fabric, keep in mind that a yard is 36", and home decor fabric is usually 54" wide at  JoAnn's. I didn't use a curtain liner for this project since I used a men's suit fabric, and it's the same on both sides. When buying fabric, it's better to have too much than too little, but you don't want to spend a ton of money either, so check to see if anybody has coupons before you go. (Extra fabric is great for throw pillows). Also, a word to the wise, STAY AWAY FROM JERSEY FABRIC OR ANYTHING "DRAPEY" OR LOOSE. It's a b*tch to work with.

Once you've got a fabric picked, the next thing you need is ribbon. You'll need two spools for each window, with each spool being twice the length of the window (think about it, it's going up one side and down the other).

When you get everything home, cut your fabric to size and start pinning the seams. I allow and inch for seams, so I can make them 1/2" wide and then double it over to hide the ratty edges. Pin the top, creating a pocket for your curtain rod. Mine are thin so I only needed a 1" pocket. Once everything is pinned, sew the sides and the bottom, leaving the top for last.

Roll it up and tie it. BOOM - balloon shade.

Measure and cut your ribbon, cutting a V at the ends so it doesn't fray. Measure a few inches (depending on where you want your ties) in on either side of the top seam and pin the very middle of your ribbon length to the top of the curtain. pin it again at the seam, so when you sew your top seam you sew the ribbon onto the curtain with it.

Finally, sew your last seam. When you're done go ahead and iron your piece, being careful of the ribbon if it's not a cotton blend. Then hang it up, tie it ever so perfectly, and enjoy!

Other notes: if you don't want to use ribbon, you can spend some time making fabric strips to use instead. I preferred the look and the ease of a ready-made ribbon.

CHEAP AND EASY DINNER RECIPES

So you’re getting sick of Pop-Tarts for breakfast and Ramen Noodles for dinner, but you know you’re no Emeril Lagasse. And also, you have a budget of $5.00 a meal?  Well I’ve got some good news for you.  Cooking does not have to be an expensive, mysterious process.  Check out the cheap dinner recipes below! Most of these are easily kept in the fridge or freezer to last you the week or more. 

MACARONI & CHEESE: 

1 Box of elbow macaroni

8 Ounces of cheese ( I like a cheddar blend)

1 Cup of milk

4 Tablespoons of butter

Salt/Pepper to taste

Heat oven to 350 degrees. Cook the macaroni, but undercook it a little (pasta should still be firm). Drain macaroni. Spray or grease a cooking pan. Place ½ the macaroni in the pan. Sprinkle salt and pepper to taste, and top with ½ the cheese. Repeat the layering process. Chop the butter and dot the top with it. Pour the milk over the whole thing and bake for 30 minutes or until mixture is creamy. 

You can mix in chopped hot dogs or a can of tuna for a more filling meal.  Or add diced tomatoes, spinach, or broccoli for a healthier meal. For a "home-style" mac and cheese, sprinkle breadcrumbs on the top before baking. 

CHICKEN POT PIE: 

1 Can of cream of chicken soup

1 Bag of frozen mixed vegetables

1 Cup of milk

1 Egg

1 Cup of biscuit baking mix (like Bisquick)

Shredded or cubed chicken (leftovers work well!)

Heat oven to 400° F

Mix soup, ½ cup milk, vegetables, and chicken together and pour into a pie tin. Combine the other ½ cup milk, egg, and baking mix in separate bowl. Spread that batter over the chicken mixture. Bake 30 min or until golden brown and cooked through. 

SLOW COOKER CHILI:

1 Lb ground meat (I use lean turkey)

1 Can stewed tomatoes

1 Small can  tomato paste

1 Can kidney beans (drain)

1 Can chili beans (do not drain)

1 Can black beans (drain)

½ Onion (chopped)

1 Clove of garlic (chopped)

Spices:

1 Teaspoon red pepper flakes

2 Tablespoons chili powder

Brown turkey in a pan. Put in slow cooker and add all other ingredients. Cook 4 hours on medium. This is a very basic recipe to keep it cheap. You can also add extras. My favorite additions are some chopped bell peppers, ½ a bottle of beer, and Sriracha sauce.If you make a whole batch it is easy to reheat for a quick dinner during the week. I like mine served over white rice with some Greek yogurt on top.

6 MEAL WHOLE CHICKEN:

Meal #1: Roasted chicken with potatoes

Whole chicken (4-6lbs)

Potatoes (any sort, I prefer red)

This could not be easier. Brush on oil or butter, season to your liking, and pop it in the oven. Cook according to the package. Chicken is safely cooked at 165°. For roasted potatoes, just chop them into cubes, put them in a bowl, coat them in olive oil and bake at 375° until golden brown. You can season them with Italian seasoning, onion & garlic powder, or rosemary, but they taste great with just salt and pepper. 

After you’ve enjoyed your roasted chicken, remove all the meat from the bones and store it in a Tupperware container in the fridge for leftover meals. Your first step should be to make chicken stock out of the carcass. This can be used for a variety of recipes in the future.

How to do it:

Put chicken carcass in a large pot (bones, skin, the whole thing)

Cover with cold water

Add chopped celery, carrot, onion (the amount will vary depending on how large the chicken was and how much you have left. Use your judgement, and don’t worry, you can’t really ruin it)

Season with salt, pepper, and Italian seasoning mix

Bring to a boil. Reduce heat and simmer for 4 hours. Skim off any foam from the surface.

Strain stock. If you'll be using it within the week, you can keep it in the fridge. If not, freeze it. 

Meal #2: Curry Chicken

leftover chicken (chicken breast and thighs work best)

1 onion (chopped)

2 carrots (chopped)

1 potato (peeled and cubed)

1-4 cubes of curry mix (to taste) 

 

I like Medium Hot style Golden Curry brand. $2.50 when on sale at H-Mart.

Sauté onions in a large pot. Add leftover chicken, potato, and carrots. Fill pot with water until it just covers the ingredients. Bring to a boil then reduce heat to simmer for 30 minutes. Add curry cubes 1 cube at a time, and wait 1 minute for each cube to thicken the mixture (I usually use 3 cubes total). Serve over white rice.

Meal #3: Chicken Salad

I don’t eat mayonnaise, so I make my chicken salad with Greek yogurt, lemon juice, and celery, or with Dijon mustard. For extra flavor I’ll add a chopped apple or grapes if I have them. Of course, you can always do it the traditional way with mayo. This is great on a sandwich or as a salad topper for lunch.

Meal #4: Shredded Chicken Quesodillas

Leftover chicken

Can or jar of salsa 

Shredded cheese (cheddar mix or Mexican mix work best)

Shred some leftover chicken using a fork.  Mix shredded chicken with salsa. Spray a pan with cooking spray and lay a tortilla in pan. Place chicken and salsa mixture on tortilla and top with cheese. Place another tortilla on top. Cook on medium heat for 2 minutes or until golden brown. Flip and cook on the other side for 2 minutes. Cut like a pizza and serve. 

Meal #5: Chicken Noodle Soup

Leftover chicken (chop whatever is left into bite sized pieces)

Chicken stock (see above)

½ Onion chopped

2 Stalks of celery chopped

1 Bag of frozen mixed vegetables

1 Box of noodles (I like bowtie)

Cook chopped onion and celery in butter until tender. Pour in as much chicken stock as you want to make. Add vegetables, chicken, and noodles.  Keep at a light boil until pasta is fully cooked. 

PUMPKIN SPICE PANCAKES (OR WAFFLES)

Get out two large bowls. In one bowl, mix together:

1-1/4 cups flour

2 tablespoons sugar

2 tablespoons baking powder

½ teaspoon cinnamon

½ teaspoon ginger

½ teaspoon nutmeg

(if you have allspice, you can add 1 teaspoon of it and skip the last two)

½ teaspoon salt

In another bowl, mix:

 1 cup of milk

½ can of canned pumpkin puree

2 tablespoons melted butter

1 egg

Combine the two and cook on a greased skillet for pancakes or in a greased waffle press for waffles.  You can also use Bisquick or any brand bakers mix. Follow the regular recipe but add ½ can of pumpkin puree and the spices. You may need to add a little more milk or mix to get the consistency right.

 

FRITTATAS:

Whisk 8 eggs and a splash of milk together in a bowl.  Chop any desired fillings & add to mix

Southwestern frittata: Bell peppers, onions, cheddar cheese

Italian frittata: Spinach, tomato, mozzarella cheese

Meat lover: Bacon & ham

Garden frittata: Chopped zucchini, squash, & tomatoes

Heat oven to 375 degrees and bake for approximately 25 minutes, or until eggs are firm.You can make them in a pie pan and cut them into wedges or bake them in a muffin pan for a good portable breakfast. Make sure you grease the pans so the eggs don't stick.