This has been a CRAZY year (and a month...)

.... but I have to say I have learned a lot. About myself, about my family.. one of the things that I have learned, probably the most important, is that homemade is better, and much less expensive than processed.

For example - beans. Come on, sing it with me... "Beans, beans, the magical fruit..." But seriously. I served my family refried beans, out of a can, heated up in the microwave. They were fine. Then I realized that those same refried beans cost at least a dollar a can. For a dollar or a little more, I could buy dried pinto beans, cook 'em up, and fry 'em up. About 10 times.

Tortillas - corn, thankyouverymuch. Unless they are on sale, a GOOD sale, they're $1.59 for a package of 36 tortillas, at Aldi. They're $1.15 for the same sized package at Mercado Central (a wonderful Mexican market/bakery/restaurant/tortilleria) in Minneapolis. Well, one 4 pound package of Maseca (corn flour) is $2.59. I can get about 200 tortillas out of that package.

And it's not just Mexican food! Or food, for that matter. Need a dish/pot scrubber? Just wad up an empty mesh bag that you bought onions or oranges in. Works like a charm.

It's amazing the things you can come up with, to keep your family's budget down. The internet is a wonderful thing. Swagbucks searches are your friend!