Save Money when you Bring a Plate

Each week my Mother's Group takes turns in providing coffee and cake for morning tea.  In the nicer weather we have been meeting in our local parks (we live in a fantastic area for parks and playgrounds).  Mostly the mums bring a divine cake from the bakery, they are so yummy and look amazing.  But as I am trying to be good and save money, I try to bake something.  Comparatively, the cost of buying a cake or slice is much more expensive.  However, when baking the cost of time needs to be considered.  I have a lot on my plate, but if I plan ahead I can usually manage to whip up a slice or some cookies.

If a small cake or slice costs about $12 to feed 6 people, then I estimate I am saving at least $8, by baking something at home.

Below is the Brownies Recipe that I have been making since I was about 12 years old.  I got it from the wife of our American Baptist Pastor who was in Australia for a few years.

Brownies
1/2 cup cocoa
2/3 cup oil (I use olive oil, but vegetable oil is fine)
2 cups sugar
4 eggs
1 1/4 cups plain flour
1 tsp baking powder
vanila

Cook 180 degrees for 15-20 minutes (depending on your oven)  I check it after 15 minutes, just gently jab a knife into the slice and if the blade comes out clean, then it is ready.

I love this recipe because it tastes great before and after cooking.  I always make sure I leave extra in the bowl, so that I can enjoy licking it while the slice is cooking.  My estimation is that this recipe costs about $4 to make and you can cut it into around 30 good sized slices.  That is enough for my Mum's group, as well as to feed my ravenous husband when he arrives home from work.

Actually I'll just make a little admission here.  I love to bake.  The main reason is that I LOVE cake mixture, cookie mixture...almost anything raw.  I even went to Mrs Fields Cookies once, and asked them if they could just sell me their mixture.

Saving Money When Shopping

It was 4pm and I had only eaten two pieces of toast with strawberry jam and I decided to shop for my husband's lunches for work.  Thinking about carbon footprints, thunder thighs and actually trying to get LJ into his car-seat, my chosen set of wheels was the stroller...as I pushed it along.

I got to Safeway and found what I needed, and then some of what I didnt.  I'd forgotten to pack myself a bottle of water so I succumbed to a bottle of some red sweet drink from the fridge at the counter.  I also purchased three tins of baby food at full price!!! What on earth was I thinking.  First of all...full price!  Plus LJ wont eat tinned food.  I am so annoyed at myself.  Then, walking past a bakery, I saw that they had date scones.  I have been craving them for weeks, so I went in and got myself one, then looked at LJ and thought I should get him one too.  Then I thought it would hardly be fair if I went home without getting something for my darling, so I got him a cinnamon bun.  What I didn't realise is that it was full of cream, and he hates cream.  If I was to put a dollar value to my money wastage, buying unnecessary items today, then it would be in the vicinity of $18.  Two things could have prevented me from throwing away this money, first of all, I should have had a shopping list, and secondly I should have eaten and had a drink before I went out.