Haste Makes Waste, but Smart Hippies turn waste into safe, nutritious DOG FOOD!

One of the best ways to save money, is not to allow anything to go to waste if at all possible.

Having T.Paws Rescue and ARFranage in residence at our Whisper Creek farmhouse, we have a lot of mouths to feed. Just as we try to maintain a healthy diet for ourselves, we try to do the same for our animals. While purchasing more expensive kibble is not financially easy for us, two things make it possible.

1) Higher quality kibble is more nutritionally dense allowing us to feed less while still getting the tummies full and proper nutrition provided.
2) Adding our leftovers that are nutritionally proper and in amounts that will not cause intestinal upset. This allows us to replace some of their kibble with something we have already purchased and save money on dog food.

While Jamie covers the both in great detail in her book Secrets of a Vet Tech II: A Low Cost Pet Care Guide for Pet Parents, Animal Shelters, Rescues, & Homesteaders,   (coming Spring 2015), I would like to explain how the second one works in our house hold and saves us money while providing excellent nutrition to our pets. 

Prior to getting our groceries, we must clean out the refrigerator to make room for the new stuff. Its amazing what you can forget you have. In the last clean out, we discovered raw carrots and apples that had become too soft for our taste, celery, organic turkey broth, organic baked chicken breast, some leftover rice, acorn squash, egg muffins, and egg shells from our boiled eggs. 

A few notes about these foods before I go on. You have to know what is unhealthy and/or toxic to your pets when you are going through this process.   It is also important to note that regular non-organic chicken breast adds fillers to their meat to "plump up" the chicken. It is generally high in sodium among other things. Its why we chose organic only. Also note that apple pits and seeds can be toxic. Remove them before you add your apples.
 
Below you will find a list from Jamie's book to help guide you in foods to avoid. While we mostly use the food we make for our dogs, I have included the list for cats as well.

Food/Drinks Toxic or Problematic to Dogs:

• Chocolate – bakers chocolate is the most toxic; can cause seizures and death
• Caffeine products like coffee/tea – similar effect as chocolate
• Grapes and Raisins - cause liver damage
• Macadamia Nuts and Walnuts- can cause weakness, paralysis, avoid nuts in general, but it seems that occasional peanut butter is okay
• Onions and Onion Powders – destroy red blood cells causing anemia
• Xylitol- a sweetener in many chewing gums and other products, can cause liver failure
• Pits of Fruits such as peaches, cherries, and apples- contains cyanide; rest of the fruit okay
• Tomato plant and/or green tomatoes – can cause heart issues (member of nightshade family)
• Avocados/guacamole -can cause breathing difficulty and fluid accumulation
• Alcohol – causes liver damage, but is much more toxic in dogs than in humans because they are much smaller
• Fatty meats- meats in very limited amounts are okay, but there is a reason the rates of pancreatitis (which causes vomiting/diarrhea) increase at Thanksgiving when a turkey is on the table. MODERATION IS THE KEY
• Yeast dough- especially bad for dogs prone to bloat as it can expand in the stomach and cause torsion
• Mushrooms – safely assume most of the mushrooms in your yard are poisonous and get rid of them

Food/Drinks Toxic or Problematic for Cats:

• Milk- Most cats are lactose intolerant. It can cause major stomach upset. Cat milk from the pet store is an occasional okay treat. According to Linda P. Case, MS, adjunct assistant professor at the University of Illinois College of Veterinary Medicine and author of The Cat: Its Behavior, Nutrition, and Health. The only time cats are exposed to lactose is while they are nursing, so, much like humans, as they get older they can develop lactose intolerance. The issue can cause acute diarrhea. (http://pets.webmd.com/cats/guide/cats-and-dairy-get-the-facts)
• Tuna- although put in some cat foods, giving straight canned tuna on a regular basis can lead to yellow fat disease (steatitis). It can also lead to mercury poisoning. Most vets say a little bit occasionally is okay, but a regular diet of tuna is not.
• Liver- again in moderation as too much can lead to Vitamin A toxicity.
• Onions, Chives, Garlic-while garlic and chives simply cause stomach upset, onions can cause anemia
• Grapes and Raisins-can cause kidney failure in cats
• Caffeine and Alcohol – both can be deadly to cats, and there is really no antidote. It takes very little of either to cause death.
• Chocolate, Candy, Gum- Just like with dogs, theobromide in chocolate is life threatening. Xylitol found in candy and gum can be extremely toxic, eventually leading to liver failure if severe enough
• Raw eggs, meat and fish-the dangers in all of these is how it affects Vitamin B, one affecting the absorption of Vitamin B and the other destroying an important component of Vitamin B
• Raw Yeast Dough-once dough is consumed, it swells in the stomach and can cause lots of pain. Another interesting component of this is that the process to digest dough turns it into alcohol which can cause alcohol poisoning.

Now, with that in mind, I sliced the carrots and apples (making sure to leave the core and seeds of the apples out), added the organic chicken and turkey broth, and a little water, brought it to a boil and simmered it for 2 hours. 
 
Once cooked, Jamie added the other ingredients with some day old bread and processed it in the food processor until it was well mixed. 

The result was our own home made "canned" food. It make a LOT of food.  In fact, it made over 7 lbs of food that would have been considered "waste" in many households, and dumped in trash or down the garbage disposal. Smart hippies!!!

Then we stored it in the refrigerator. It will need to be used it within the next 5 days since we are not freezing part of it (although it can be frozen if you have fewer pets). 

The photo below shows you just how much food was made using this process. Jamie stored it in a large recycled red protein powder container. 

Sometimes Jamie does this in smaller portions. For instance, if we have salad leftovers (that have none of the toxic-to-dog ingredients in it), Jamie will throw the leftovers in the Ninja blender, add vegetable or low salt organic chicken broth, and blend for the next day's feeding.

For some of you, this probably brings two questions to mind. 

1) Why can't this be the primary food you feed your dogs
2) How can you avoid tummy upset from "people food". 

As Jamie explained to me, pet food must be nutritiously balanced. While one can make home made dog food with proper instruction, simply feeding leftovers do not qualify as properly balanced food. The point I am making in this blog is how to utilize, rather than waste, food. 

To avoid intestinal upset, a few guidelines must be followed. Be careful of the ingredients used and avoid fatty and spicy foods. Slowly acclimate your pet to eating a kibble diet with this home made addition. Use only a small amount per feeding. In the beginning, it is a helpful to add plain yogurt to the diet. 

Since we feed so many pets, Jamie finds it easiest to mix the food in a large bowl and divide the food according to weight of the pet. The following pictures show you her process in feeding the dogs. A few of our dogs take medication, so that step is additional. 

She used only about 2/3 the amount of kibble

Mixed well with a little hot water

Add the proper amounts to the bowls

Stack in order food is to be given and add medication to bowl as prescribed

 Our goal as Hippies on the Edge is to find the most efficient and ethical way to live that helps reduce our impact on the environment, produce less waste, help others, and live happy, fulfilled lives. Sometimes, its the little details that allow us to do this. Stay tuned for more cost saving tips to come!

And now for some reason, I feel it important to feed the cat.

Beast Mode Shopping Leads to JACKPOT!

O.M.G. I feel like the wellness fashionista and a super duper shopper after our jackpot find this weekend.

As I have said before, Jamie and I weight train. We work out for at least two hours 5-6 days a week and the things we need include workout wear, protein bars and protein powder. 

If it can be found at thrift stores and salvage groceries, we are thrilled, but sometimes, we simply cannot find them, particularly protein powder. However, saving big in several other areas allows us to have a little extra cash for those items we can't get at salvage grocery stores. Combine that with some serious comparison shopping and we make it work. 

In regards to workout gear, Jamie is happy in tank tops and shorts as she focuses mostly on weight lifting, saving her cardio for recumbent bike and lap swimming. My workout requires cardio acceleration which means one set of weight lifting followed by one minute of intense cardio work, then immediately back to weight lifting. I repeat this process throughout the workout. People say I'm a beast in the gym. I'm also a beast in the store.

Anyway, in addition to deodorant, being a beast in the gym requires proper support and compression which only comes in the form of compression gear.   

During our shopping day this past Friday, we happened to be in JCPenny as we were taking a short cut through to the mall. We decided to see what the compression shorts would cost there. Jamie cursed (more specifically "What kind of !@#$% dumb*** spends $40 for this @#$%%).  I nearly fainted (not from the cursing diatribe, but from the price).

So after escaping JCPennies and the mall, following our AWESOME trip to salvage groceries (which I will tell you about in a minute), we decided to try TJ Maxx and Ross, looking for compression gear.

I'll let the pictures speak for themselves, otherwise I'll get just too darn giddy talking about it. 

Underarmor: MSRP $57.99 only $24.99

Puma: MSRP $24.00 only $7.99

Reebok: MSRP $35.00 only $6.49

Adidas:MSRP $16.00 only $6.99

In addition to the items in the photos above, we scored a $42.00 Calvin Klein toboggan for $5.00 and  a $30 pack of puppy pads for $12.99, and good quality weight lifting gloves for $6.99. All of this at TJ Maxx and Ross.

At the risk of sounding like a weird infomercial personality, I will say it.....wait, there's more!!! I'll even post a cool picture saying the same thing just to keep your attention.

<-----------------------------------------See?

In our trip to our salvage grocery stores we found protein bars, normally $2.00 (or more) each for...wait for it...10 cents each! You read it right.

McCoy's sold us a case of 173 protein bars for $17.00. In addition we found boxes of other brands at 6 bars per box for $1.49 each, and Think Thin bars only 39 cents a bar. We couldn't make our own protein bars for that price! Keep in mind, these are good quality bars that are not outdated or stale.

In case you are wondering why protein is so important for us as we weight train and why we are so freaking excited, here is what protein does for the body:

"Protein is used for the production of muscles. Proteins are also used to manufacture hormones, enzymes, cellular messengers, nucleic acids, and immune-system components. Without adequate protein, our bodies can't put together the structures that make up every cell, tissue, and organ, nor can it generate the biochemical substances needed for cardiovascular function, muscle contraction, growth, and healing.... " Delivering protein to your muscles immediately after a workout allows it to  "begin healing the "micro tears" (very small tears in the muscle tissue, caused by intense contraction of the muscle during workout) in the muscle." (from Bodybuilding.com)

Being vegetarians, it has the added benefit of ensuring enough protein in our diet.

So while I decide if I'm hot and hyper with excitement or a middle age hot flash, please feel free to marvel at the savings.

Bringing Sexy Back and Saving $264.12

So I have a story.

Recently, we overheard a conversation regarding the cost of hair cuts and coloring.  Prices ranged from $60-100+ dollars.

After we picked our jaws off the floor, we giggled and gave each other a high five. Its  awesome to feel like we have saved
money, and for us, it is like a game.... a necessary cost saving game, but a game none the less.

Having no television, we talk a lot and some of that time is brainstorming on ways to save money.

For years, Jamie has cut her own hair. Normally, I pay about $25 for a haircut which is $300 per year and doesn't count coloring.

So when the time came for me to get a hair cut, I decided to put my hair in her hands. While stereotypically, gay men are known for their superb hair styling abilities, butch women fix stuff, have a membership at Home Depot, and can use a weed eater. While I'll admit that the last image frightened me a bit I was also a bit nervous having naturally curly hair which makes cutting so difficult.

Unbeknownst to me, Jamie had a secret. It took two haircuts before that secret was revealed.

So I sat down in the chair, closed my eyes, and then heard the buzz. I imagined G.I. Jane and mounds of hair falling to the floor. 

Once the cut was completed, she dyed my hair. I had purchased a high quality brand for $2.99 at the salvage grocery store. It was my favorite color "Sangria" which, for most people refers to red wine. When Jamie read the color, she said, "Oh, cool! Blood!" I kept my eyes closed and hung tightly to the seat.

My hair was rinsed, and voila! A freaking awesome hair cut and color for only $2.99!! That's only $35.88 a YEAR!  See???!!!!

And yes, this is a shameful advertisement for Sew Vac & Long Arm Quilting

Afterwards, Jamie cut and clipped her hair. She chose a closer cut than she had when I first met her and I love it.

I was so excited! $2.99!

As she was cleaning and oiling her clippers, Jamie mentioned she needed to order a new #10 blade soon. Spring was coming and the dogs would need a shave. Wait, she used dog clippers? High quality dog clippers...but...but...dog clippers?

 Meanwhile, the dogs said...

We brought sexy back, lived happily ever after with cool hair and shaved... I mean saved money. $264.12!!!!!

 

                                                             Sexy back music video

Shopping Bear Naked and the Key to Affording Organic Living

When we say that we live organically on a very small budget, many people ask us how. We look at the large picture, not just our food costs. We consider how much money we can save hanging our laundry out to dry vs using the dryer. We spend more for light bulbs that will lower our electricity cost and last longer. We don't eat out. The average American family eats out 5 times a week! That's a lot of money wasted!

That being said, our approach to shopping makes a huge impact in our ability to buy organic, non-processed food.

First, we only shop twice monthly. We're firm believers that the more often you walk into a store, the more money overall you will spend. Second, we keep a running list of what we will need. As I cook, Jamie, who is usually writing at the kitchen table, writes down the items I mention, most which are food staples. Third, I create meal plans that incorporate the food we already have and determine if there are any additional items we may need to purchase.

My meal plans are taken from internet databases of recipes which I evaluate based on 1) the nutritional value breakdown (proteins, fats, vitamins, etc 2) the number of ingredients needed 3) the time it will take to prepare the meal from scratch.

Next I sub divide the items by the department (produce, dairy, etc). This makes for a quick trip, in and out of the store, so we are not tempted to buy other items.

Its important to note that we never coupon shop. Coupons are usually for processed name brand food items. We would end up buying items that we don't need, and we can't afford to do that. We rarely buy anything that is not on our list unless we find an amazing deal on something we couldn't otherwise afford.

When shopping day comes, its on like Donkey Cong. We get excited, because for us, it is like a treasure hunt. We shop at salvage grocery stores first. We ♥ salvage grocery stores.

Within a 15 mile radius of our home, we have found four salvage grocery stores that we really like. Birdbath's was a huge discovery for us and I had to hug the guy. McCoy's, The Savvy Shopper, and Birdbath's is pictured. The amount we save buying overstock or slightly damaged items, is unbelievable. To give you an idea, we took photos of our trip, including individual items, to show you retail cost at big box stores and what we paid.

This is just a VERY small sampling of items we purchased. We also found organic tomato sauce for 50 cents each, Starbucks coffee for $2.99, all natural blackberry preserves for $1.29, and Stash Brand hot teas for 99 cents per box (we drink gallons of hot tea). Our carrots were even organic and only 49 cents a bag! Organic broth was only 99 cents. Our finds were not just limited to food items.

Below are just some of the great non-food items we found:

Although great in the kitchen, we use it as a lotion

Our biggest surprise was dog and cat food! Normally Jamie purchases 4 Health Grain Free Brand Pet Food at Tractor Supply. When she saw these premium foods that were cheap only because they had been cut open with a box cutter and taped, we grabbed them and mixed them in with the food we already feed. My babies LOVED it.

We also went to a new grocery store in our area called Aldi's. There we were able to purchase plantains for 25 cents each, a 4 lb bag of naval oranges for $1.69, and avocados for 49 cents each. Mushrooms were 79 cents for an 8 oz container. A 16.9 fl oz extra virgin olive oil was only $2.99.

Our final stop was Krogers where we purchased a couple small things we had yet to find. Their Simply Truth Natural Cage Free, Grain Free Fed Eggs are $1 cheaper than most area stores.  We even filled up our gas tank with our Kroger points for $1.59 a gallon! 

We calculated what it costs for us daily to eat keeping in mind that I cook most of our meals from scratch and that our weight training can boost our caloric needs. The cost was about $6 per day per person. So $12 total per day to eat organic, home cooked meals. 

Although salvage grocery stores are filled with processed junk foods, we have learned the importance of by passing those for healthy food staples, and we save money because we do. We eat well and we eat healthy. Drinking only water and hot tea means we don't spend money on sodas and can afford the protein shakes we need before and after workouts.

While some believe that organic living is expensive, we've been able to show that it can be done on a budget. Its all a matter of priorities. Many people refer to our hippy way of living as simple. It is not. It takes work and planning. It means researching and making meal plans, being willing to shop in several stores instead of one, shopping the healthy perimeter of the grocery store and ignoring the unhealthy processed food in the middle. Sundays are spent as prep day. I make many of our meals for the week, our protein bars, dog treats, and home made cleaning products.

But it is SO worth it. We hope that by living this way, we will be here for one another for a very long time.  That means everything to us. 

To give you the big picture of what we came home with after our shopping trip, here's the photos:

AND the back seat was full!

For more pictures of some of the items available at salvage grocery stores (some which we didn't buy but thought were awesome prices), see our Facebook page HERE.

In upcoming blog articles, we will cover additional cost saving measures to help you lead an affordable, healthy life. Don't miss it!