Learn to Make Your Own Everything

With the rising cost of gas and now groceries, you may find yourself having a harder than usual time of it just making ends meet. Tightening the reins on your budget is a great way to save, but do you think that you have to deprive yourself and your family? With the many websites and forums dedicated to helping people live a better life with less, it's possible to enjoy many of the same things without cutting back on them.

In fact, by making your own , you may find out that homemade is better quality and comes in larger quantities than what most people are used to.

One of the many items the adults in our household enjoys is coffee. We all love the flavored creamers, but they can put a pinch on your pocket when they're needed to be replenished as often as we go through them. By making our own flavored liquid creamer, we save quite a bit. I make double batches and flavor each a little differently. Below is my favorite recipe.

Vanilla Coffee Creamer
1 can condensed milk
1 and ½ cup milk
1 tblsp vanilla extract

Just mix and shake. Store in the fridge for about a week.
To save even more with this recipe, use the condensed milk that you make! It's easy and there are many recipes for it across the internet.

I mentioned that there are a lot of websites out there that give you ideas when it comes to saving money. One of my favorites and my top pick is:

Making By Saving

This website is owned by a wonderful lady in Washington State by the name of Shannon. She is a work at home mom with a small child. Shannon and her husband are in the process of adopting another little one. Shannon started this website when she decided that by saving, she was actually making money. On the homepage of this site is a link to the message forum. I cannot say enough great things about this forum. I have not come across a more friendly and open environment in a new forum. The many members are creative and a joy to talk with.

Another favorite of mine is:

HillBilly HouseWife