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Frugal hack: Homemade yogurt.

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I’m having a bone graft today, to prepare for a dental implant some months down the road. Generally I look at dental work as God’s way of saying, “Oh, go ahead – have a milkshake for lunch.” But since this isn’t just a filling or a root canal, I have no idea how long it will be before I feel like chewing. One milkshake is fine; several days’ worth sounds cloying. That’s why I made a fresh batch of yogurt over the weekend.

Greek yogurt with some of the rhubarb compote I put up last fall is a fairly satisfying meal substitute. Protein, with no need to chew! Turning some of the yogurt into a healthy smoothie is another option that I think will help get me through the owie-mouth days to come. (Seriously: No idea whether it will be one or two days, or lots longer. This is my first bone graft and, I hope, my last.)

As I put the new batch into the fridge, I was reminded once again how simple it is to make the stuff. Draining it adds an extra layer of complexity, but it’s not that complex.

And the cost can’t be beat. I can get about two quarts of Greek yogurt, plus almost two quarts of whey (more on that later), for $2.61 to $3.14, depending on whether the milk is on sale. When the milk is so close to its sell-by date that it’s 50 percent off, then I pay as little as $1.57.

By contrast: A quick search of supermarkets shows one quart of Greek yogurt going for anywhere from $4.29 to $5.99.

If I hadn’t drained it I’d have gotten almost a gallon* of regular yogurt. But I prefer the thicker texture and milder flavor of the Greek-style product.

Ready to learn how to do this? Keep reading. I’ll also provide a life hack for making Greek yogurt the easy way. 

 

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Giveaway: $25 gift card.

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I had the second COVID-19 shot on April Fool’s Day, two days after my most recent post. Felt okay for a while, meh by the end of the day, and uncomfortable enough to spend  the next two days mostly lying down, either napping or reading.

Was better on Sunday, took care of business Monday through Wednesday (even started writing a post), and on Thursday felt myself sliding back into mehville: fatigue, slightly sore throat, mild headache. Got one of those nice arm rashes, too. 

Now, one day later, I’m feeling a bit better. Well enough to put up a post, anyway. But when I sat down to finish the post I started writing on Wednesday, the crummy feeling returned. This could be my body telling me to stop staring at the screen for a while. Or it could be just plain old work avoidance.

Thus I decided on a giveaway, even though I’d done one fairly recently. Completely playing the COVID card: I just don’t feel like writing. Besides, most people are pretty cheerful about the chance to win some retail scrip.

What kind? That’s up to the winner. Any retailer that will let me send an e-gift card is fair game.

 

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Monday miscellany: Tiny greens edition.

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In a recent post called “National Agriculture Day Begins at Home,” I shared photos of DF using tweezers to plant celery seeds. They went into the (indoor) dirt on March 12. The morning of March 27 we finally had confirmed sightings of tiny greens, which made us ridiculously happy.  As you can see from the … Read more

Giveaway: Alaska handmade soap.

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This is another in my “support the local economy” giveaways. In past weeks I’ve given away things like a “Tundra“ calendar, a couple of batches of Alaska-made jewelry and an Aliy Zirkle “dog fan“ membership. This time around, I’ve chosen Denali Dreams, a company known for its handmade soap, salve and balm, is the source this time around. 

Denali Dreams’ soaps (which smell  divine) has been included in at least one previous batch-of-things giveaway. But this time around, I’m focusing only on Denali Dreams products.

And despite what the headline says, it’s not just handmade soap. The winner gets to choose up to $35 worth of Denali Dreams goodies. (Edited to add: Denali Dreams has decided to add a lip balm to the order, free of charge, which further extends the fun.)

For example, there’s the “Alaska Manly Man” section, which features some goofy, spoofy products such as Elbow Grease (“softens rough edges”), Lip Lube (to keep lips “soft, supple and in great working order”) and Beard Balm that will “keep your look sharp, just like your chainsaw blades.”

There’s Skeeter Away Natural Bug Repellent, which promises an environmentally friendly answer to pesky bugs. Anyone who’s visited the Kobuk Coffee Co. in downtown Anchorage will love the Samovar Soap & Tea pack, which combines a box of that gift company’s popular Samovar Tea with a soap that apparently smells the way the tea tastes (essential oils of cinnamon, clove, orange, and lemon).

Having a rough time? Try the Baby Bear Butt Balm (with calendula-infused olive oil “to help chase away even the most stubborn of chapped rumps”), the Fireweed Honey Lip Balm (“keep your lips protected from the harsh, dry Alaskan climate”) or the Dog Paw Salve (with beeswax and unscented oils) can help.

But about that handmade soap. 

 

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National Agriculture Day begins at home.

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Today has been proclaimed National Agriculture Day, so what better way to celebrate than with a picture of dirt?

Whoops. That’s soil, not dirt. As a master gardener once told me, “Dirt is what comes out of your vacuum cleaner. Soil is a living organism.”

President Joe Biden proclaimed National Agriculture Day in order to recognize “our commitment to and appreciation for our country’s farmers, ranchers, foresters, farmworkers, and those who work in the agriculture sector across the Nation.”

Well said, sir. But may I suggest that we also appreciate the nation’s fruit and vegetable gardeners along with the big-time growers? After all, they are providing food for themselves and, often, for lucky relatives and friends.

And, dear readers: May I suggest that you join us? 

 

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How are credit scores calculated?

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You try hard, but still have a mediocre credit score. You pay no attention and have a great one. Just how are credit scores calculated, anyway?

Good question – and it has a complicated answer.

This is a topic I tackled for the “How Credit Works” section at Self.inc. “How are credit scores calculated?” takes a deep and nerdy dive into the issue of credit scores.

<<Surviving and Thriving has partnered with CardRatings for our coverage of credit card products. Surviving and Thriving and CardRatings may receive a commission from card issuers. Opinions, reviews, analyses and recommendations are the author’s alone, and have not been reviewed, endorsed or approved by any of these entities.>>

Every so often I do a “read me elsewhere” roundup of articles I’ve written. Lately a lot of the work I’ve done is either editing someone else’s site, doing non-bylined stuff or writing stuff that’s so ridiculously specialized that I wouldn’t bore my readers by sharing it.

The topic of how credit scores are calculated is one that I think can help a lot of people, though. No matter how unfair you think the credit scoring system is, the fact is that we are currently stuck with it. A smart consumer will learn to operate within its confines. That is, unless you like paying many tens of thousands of dollars in extra interest during your lifetime.

From “very poor” to “exceptional,” credit scores matter. They determine the kind of interest rate you’ll get on housing, vehicle and other loans. They might determine whether you get that loan at all, at least from a conventional lender – and the others can somehow get away with charging loan rates of up to 35.99 percent. 

 

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Extreme Frugality: Coupon/rebate deals.

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This is one in an occasional series of articles about saving money.

Back in the day, the coupon/rebate combo got me a lot of free stuff. A lot. For years I didn’t have to pay for toothpaste, shampoo, lotion, deodorant and other toiletries, or for certain food items. On the rare occasions when I did pay, the tab was a few cents to just under a dollar.

This was a godsend at the time, since I was living on less than $1,000 a month and working on a university degree. Bonus: I got so much free stuff that I supplied my daughter with many essentials, and donated a bunch to a social services agency.

Coupon/rebate buying helped me stretch my limited funds. It helped me help others. What’s not to like?

<<Surviving and Thriving has partnered with CardRatings for our coverage of credit card products. Surviving and Thriving and CardRatings may receive a commission from card issuers. Opinions, reviews, analyses and recommendations are the author’s alone, and have not been reviewed, endorsed or approved by any of these entities.>>

But all good things must end, and coupon/rebate deals were no exception. The stores running these loss-leader promotions gradually fell out of the habit. Ever since I moved back to Alaska I’ve had almost no chances at getting the freebies.

Until, that is, I discovered a new coupon/rebate combo.

Now I use some (or all) of the following: the Coupons.com, Shopkick*, Ibotta** and Fetch Rewards*** apps; the Swagbucks rewards program and the CouponMom.com website. While it’s not as crazy-lucrative as it once was, I can say that it’s been worth my while. Two recent examples: 

 

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“Speed cleaning” is life-changing.

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Back in the day, spring cleaning was an annual ritual: curtains laundered, rugs beaten, windows washed, cabinets emptied and wiped, floors scrubbed. Rather than trying to make up for six months’ worth of neglect through one long, physically grueling attack on your home, I’m going to suggest something different: speed cleaning. It’s efficient, effective and, yes, life-changing.

  1. Pick one spot to focus on.
  2. Assemble supplies (which should be stored all together, in the same place) and put on some of your favorite music.
  3. Set the kitchen timer for 20 minutes.
  4. Clean like mad. Get spouses/roommates/partners/your kids in on the action, too. Even preschoolers can and should do chores like dusting, pairing socks and emptying small wastebaskets.
  5. Stop when the timer goes off. Or not: If you’re in the zone, just keep going.

Less than half an hour of churning and burning can make a huge difference in how you feel about where you live. Once the place is in shape, you can keep up it that way with a few short bursts of activity. This is much less onerous than thinking, “This weekend I have to clean the entire house.”

And yes, I know how busy you are. But as Thoreau asked, what are we busy about? 

 

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Ode to my COVID shot.

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Finally, finally got an appointment to get the doggoned COVID shot. I thought they’d never ask.

In fact, I was a bit surprised it took so long. The vaccination door has been open to the 65-and-up-crowd for weeks and weeks. Yesterday they opened it up to people over 55, and I pounced on the opportunity like a raven on a French fry.

The website kept telling me that I could get the COVID shot at this pharmacy or that pharmacy – except that those pharmacies didn’t seem to have any vaccine available.

A very kind woman at the state department of public health stayed on the phone with me and walked me through the signup. I can’t quite remember what I was doing wrong, but she somehow figured it out and made it possible for me to get an appointment at 9:40 a.m. today.

My arm is a bit sore but I haven’t developed any major complications. I still intend to go to bed early because heck, why not? I love to sleep.

I was so happy to get the COVID shot that I felt like singing. Which is probably why I found myself humming the song “Maria,” from the musical “West Side Story.”

Moderna

I’m getting a shot called Moderna…

But first, let me acknowledge that Dolly Parton – who also got the Moderna shot – did the song parody better. (She also donated a bunch of bucks to help get the vaccine developed in the first place, bless her heart.) 

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Monday miscellany: Love and money edition.

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If the Policy Genius “Couples & Money” survey is any indication, one of the things COVID didn’t change was love and money. Specifically, it didn’t change how paired-up households manage their dough.

About 40 percent manage their finances together and 22 percent “keep and manage” money separately, which is consistent with PG’s previous two surveys.

A few other interesting tidbits:

About two-thirds (66 percent) say money doesn’t have any influence on their relationship.

Almost one in three (30 percent) have paid off a partner’s debts. In that group, 44 percent have plunked down more than $10,000 to settle their loved ones’ obligations.

Lots of partners aren’t sharing money specifics. That includes topics like salary (41 percent), retirement savings (49 percent), credit scores (54 percent), debt (42 percent), investments (48 percent) and monthly spending totals (53 percent). And one out of five respondents say they don’t know any of those things about their partners.

Speaking of not-knowing: Almost two-thirds (64 percent) of those surveyed said that lying or hiding money could mean the end of a relationship. Yet one in five of them have an undisclosed will or some kind of secret account (credit card, banking, retirement, life insurance).

One way to get around all the secrecy is simple: Talk about money.

 

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