Budget Planning!

Since I am wanting to stop spending money, I think that I need a Budget worksheet to see what money is actually coming in and what goes out. If I see it all in writing, I will be able to budget it better!! I hope. This is going to be hard, to not spend any extra money. But we have very little bills so we should save a bunch. I hope. That is the the whole plan ~ TO SAVE MONEY!! I want to have cash on hand in case of an emergency.


Download our free toolbar

Saving Money!

We have decided that we will start a spending freeze after the first of the year in our home. We will pay bills and buy food and that will be it. No eating out, no buying of anything unless it is something that we absolutely need. We have to build up a stockpile of cash and this will be the only way that we can do it. I will take the money out of the bank so I will not be tempted to go online and buy stuff. Since we have no car that is what I have been doing, shopping online. That will stop. But I did buy all of the back to school items and all Christmas gifts online! So January 1st - THE SPENDING STOPS!!







Download our free toolbar

Dehydrate Spaghetti Sauce

This would really come in handy if you buy bulk spaghetti sauce in extra large cans or jars. That way you could have them in smaller servings.



Download our free toolbar

Make Your Own Dehydrated Food

I did not get anything done this weekend that I wanted to do. I did not feel good. It must have been a 24 hour bug. But I did relax and read through a ton of great blogs about self reliance, survival, stockpiling food, and more. I found this post about making Dehydrated baby food and will be busy this upcoming weekend!! Great idea even if you do not have babies , I think. I am going to have so much fun seeing what all I can do with this. I need a new blender first though. But, I already have ideas in my head spinning around.





Download our free toolbar

Wood Burning Barrel Stove Kit

I saw one of these kits at the local True Value today and have to say that it is such a neat idea. I want one now. They only had one left and the salesperson walked by and heard me talking to my husband about it and how neat the idea was and she said that they had sold 29 of them today alone!!! How great that other people are thinking about being prepared and taking care of their families. I wonder where someone would get one of those big metal , burn safe, barrels from though????

ANYONE HAVE ONE OF THESE OR KNOWS ABOUT THEM PLEASE LET ME KNOW!!! SEND ME PHOTOS OF YOURS , ETC TO My EMAIL AND I WILL POST A WHOLE THING WITH ALL OF THE PHOTOS THAT I GET OVER THE NEXT FEW WEEKS.

Download our free toolbar

Dehydrate Food In Your Oven

This is what I will be trying this weekend. I do not have an actual food dehydrator , so I am going to try and use my oven. I have searched online and found some great information, websites, and tips on doing it. And since it is supposed to be cold and snowy here this weekend, it seems like the perfect time to try this out. Download our free toolbar

How Much Food To Store??

I have been wondering about this a lot lately. The times are not getting any better and more and more people are out of work. We all need to be stockpiling as much as we can , while we can. I found this Food Storage Calculator online that is helping me with some ideas on how much to have stored. This gives you an idea of what you will need and you can work off of from there.

We need to get prepared and be ready in case something , like an natural emergency or job loss, comes a long our family is well prepared for anything that comes.

Think about non food items also. Stockup on EVERYTHING that you normally use every day!! Soap, laundry items, tools, paper items, etc.

THINK THINK THINK AND PLAN PLAN PLAN.


Download our free toolbar

How Are You Keeping Warm??

It is snowing here and it is making me think of how every one is keeping warm.

Do you have enough blankets, an alternate form of heating your home, warm clothing, and more??
Have you gotten the windows secure and covered so there are no drafts??
Do you have enough food stocked up in case you can't get out to the store??

I hope that all of you out there have taken the precautions that needed to be taken that will ensure that your family is safe, warm, and well fed this winter season.

Cooking From Food Storage

This is something that I need to work on. I have trouble with the dates and stuff on the food. I am working on a list that will be pit up on the wall by my food storage to help me and then am working on remembering to cycle through everything to use the old items first.

Anyone have any tips and ideas on how to keep the food storage fresh??



Download our free toolbar

Hand Crank Washing Machine

The hand crank washing machine is ideal for cleaning clothes when you don't have power available. If you spend any time on a boat or at a camp ground, you know that having an effective way to wash clothes that doesn't require you to put your vacation on hold and head in to town, is a life saver. Vacations are supposed to be fun, not time spent lugging laundry to and from a laundromat.

These little washing machines work by the use of a hand crank that rotates a cylinder or tub to produce the agitation action that washes the clothes. The rotation creates internal pressure in the tub or cylinder that forces the water and cleaning agent through the clothing. The pressure is contained in the unit by a pressurized cap that releases the pressue when the cap is unscrewed.

The rinse cycle works in the same manner, but instead of pushing soapy water through the clothes, the clean water is forced through the fabric, thus removing the soapy water.

Since there is no power required, clothing can be washed virtually anywhere where there's available water and the hand crank washing machine is light and compact making it ideal for traveling, camping or boating. Adding one to your boating or camping gear is an inexpensive way to spend less time on your vacation traveling to and from a laundromat. If you've ever had to wash clothes at a laundromat, you know that waiting around for a couple of hours for the clothes to be finished is a tedious, boring chore.

So where can you get a hand crank washing machine?

If you want to spend less time lugging laundry around and more time outdoors while on vacation, get a hand washing machine by visiting
MiniWashing Machine.


Download our free toolbar

Berries ~ Yummy ~ Grow them in your yard!

I have a huge list of seeds and bushes that I am planning on ordering from an online store. You can Click here to order a Free Nature Hills Nursery Catalog. But I am ordering some blueberries, raspberries, strawberries, and blackberries. I plan on having a yard full of edible plants next year!! I am also ordering some herb and veggie seeds. I want to be able to walk out my back door and be able to obtain anything that I need to keep my family healthy and fed. I am looking into getting some cherry trees also. That would be so fun to have one of those. When I was a kid , our back yard was full of cherry trees and me and my friends would make ourselves sick off of them!!

Download our free toolbar

Edible Wild Plants

I got 2 more books in the mail and I am now happy with my survival book shelf. I have 5 shelves of books that will come in handy in any situation. Today I received 2 more for the shelf and they are Edible Wild Plants: A North American Field Guide to Over 200 Natural Foods and The Complete Guide to Edible Wild Plants. They both will come in handy if ever we are on the lookout for food supplies. Both of them have tons of illustrations and information about wild plants that are edible. Even let you know which ones to stay away from because they are poisonous. These are great reference books that anyone should have on their survival bookshelf.


Download our free toolbar

The Easiest Way To Make Homemade Butter!!

I love this video on how to make homemade butter and just had to share it with all of you.

Download our free toolbar

Sew For Baby!

Great ways to save money and be prepared with a baby in the house.


Free baby sling and carriers patterns

Free Maya Wrap baby carrier pattern

Great resources for making cloth diapers - FREE

Free Cloth Diaper Patterns

How to sew a fitted diaper

Martha Stewert Tea Towel Bib

Martha Stewert Felt baby shoes

Free info on sewing cloth diapers and training pants

Free patterns for making baby toys and there is even one for making a cloth book


Download our free toolbar

Happy Thanksgiving

Download our free toolbar

The Frugal Homeowner's Guide to Home Security

4uthor: Ken Krysinski


The Frugal Homeowner's Guide to Home Security





If you want to keep your home safe but are put off by the cost of alarm systems, don’t despair. There are other devices you can use to keep your family and your property safe and secure and you don’t have to spend a lot. Here's how:





Determine your vulnerable points


Before you set out to buy anything, check your house first. Go outside and look around, test your doors and windows for any weaknesses (old hinges, rusted locks, weak frames, etc.). Sometimes it's as simple as replacing a few of your old hardware to keep your home safe.





Next, put yourself in the shoes of a potential thief. Imagine how you could enter your house unnoticed. Identify the most vulnerable points in your house - your front door, rear and patio doors and your windows. Another point of vulnerability is your garage or shed.





Install alarms


First things first. There ARE low-cost home security devices available on the market. These are usually the wireless systems which are easy to install and set up. Wireless systems are very popular because they provide the peace of mind that homeowners want at an affordable price.





You might also want to buy one of those small door-installed alarms that cost about $20 or less. Powered by cell batteries, once it's turned on and the door is opened, the alarm emits a sharp warning to alert you. It's cheap, unobtrusive and it works.





Bolts and locks


For doors and windows, you can install bolts and locks to reinforce an existing lock. As long as the bolt is solid and the hinges are properly screwed in place, you will have little worry.





If you have sliding doors that don’t have an anti-lift device, it would be a good idea to install one. Or, you could install two door locks – one on top and another at the bottom – to reinforce the hook lock.





The garage is a common point of entry for most burglars, so keep the door padlocked and the garage windows closed before you enter the house.





Keep the light on


Illuminate your porch, back door and garage. If you're willing to spend a little, invest in dusk-to-dawn lighting powered by photoelectric cells. These save a lot of energy and will be cheaper to use than electric-powered lights.





Keep things thorny


If you don’t have a fence or wall, keep thorny plants and shrubs around. Plants like roses, holly and hawthorn have spiny leaves and thorny stems are great deterrents because they can produce punctures and tear at the skin. They not only provide you with security, they are also great ornamentals.


Article Source: http://www.articlesbase.com/business-articles/the-frugal-homeowners-guide-to-home-security-125615.html


About the Author:

The above article was written by Sarah Miller on behalf of a buzzing online Residential Remodeling Contractors community where homeowners easily and painlessly find the right contractor for their home improvement projects and in turn, contractors can find the right Home Improvement Leads! Also check out the QuoteCity.com Blog for more related Remodeling Ideas and Articles/a>.
















Download Our Free Toolbar

Home Remedies - Huge List

1. Budweiser beer conditions the hair

2. Pam cooking spray will dry finger nail polish

3. Cool whip will condition your hair in 15 minutes

4. Mayonnaise will KILL LICE, it will also condition your hair

5. Elmer's Glue - paint on your face, allow it to dry, peel off and see the dead skin and blackheads.

6. Shiny Hair - use brewed Lipton Tea

7. Sunburn - empty a large jar of Nestea into your bath water

8. Minor burn - Colgate or Crest toothpaste

9. Burn your tongue? Put sugar On it!

10. Arthritis? WD-40 Spray and rub in, kill insect stings too, remove glue from labels on plastic containers.

11. Bee stings - meat tenderizer

12. Chigger bite - Preparation H

13. Puffy eyes - Preparation H (but don't get it in your eyes)

14. Paper cut - crazy glue or chap stick (glue is used instead of sutures
at most hospitals)

15. Stinky feet - Jell-O!

16. Athletes feet - cornstarch

17. Fungus on toenails or fingernails - Vicks vapor rub
17a. Infection in/around nails - White Vinegar
18. Kool aid To clean dishwasher pipes. Just put in the detergent section and run a cycle, it will also clean a toilet. (Wow, and we drink this stuff)

19. Kool Aid can be used as a dye in paint also Kool Aid in Dannon Plain yogurt as a finger paint, your kids will love it and it won't hurt them if they eat it!

20. Peanut butter - will get scratches out of CD's! Wipe off with a coffee filter paper.

21. Sticking bicycle chain - Pam no-stick cooking spray

22. Pam Will also remove paint, and grease from your hands! Keep a can in your garage for your hubby

23. Peanut butter will remove ink from the face of dolls

24. When the doll clothes are hard to put on, sprinkle with corn starch and watch them slide on.

25. Heavy dandruff - pour on the vinegar!

26. Body paint - Crisco Mixed with food coloring. Heat the Crisco in the micro wave, pour into an empty film container and mix with the food color of your choice!

27. Tie Dye T-shirt - mix a solution of Kool Aid in a container, tie a rubber band around a section of the T-shirt and soak

28. Preserving a newspaper clipping - large bottle of club soda and cup of milk of magnesia , Soak for 20 min. and let dry, will last for many years!

29. A Slinky Will hold toast and CD's!

30 To keep goggles and glasses from fogging, coat with Colgate toothpaste

31. Wine stains, pour on the Morton salt And watch it
absorb into the salt.

32. To remove wax - Take a paper towel and iron it over the wax stain, it will absorb into the towel.

33. Remove labels off glassware etc. rub with Peanut butter!

34. Baked on food - fill container with water, get a Bounce paper softener and the static from the Bounce Towel will cause the baked on food to adhere to it.
Soak overnight. Also; you can use 2 Efferdent tablets, Soak overnight!

35. Crayon on the wall - Colgate Toothpaste and brush it!

36. Dirty grout - Listerine

37. Stains on clothes - Colgate

38. Grass stains - Karo Syrup

39. Grease Stains - Coca Cola, It will also remove grease stains from the drive way overnight. We know it will take corrosion from car batteries!

40. Fleas in your carpet? 20 Mule Team Borax - Sprinkle and let stand for 24 hours. Maybe this will work if you get them back again.

41. To keep FRESH FLOWERS longer Add a lit tle Clorox , or 2 Bayer aspirin, Or just use 7-up instead of water.

42. When you go to buy bread in the grocery store, have you ever wondered which is the freshest, so you "squeeze" for freshness or softness? Did you know that bread is delivered fresh to the stores five days a week?
Monday, Tuesday, Thursday, Friday and Saturday. Each day has a different color twist tie. They are: Monday = Blue, Tuesday = Green, Thursday = Red, Friday =
White and Saturday = Yellow . So if today was Thursday, you would want red
twist tie; not white which is Fridays (almost a week old)! The colors go alphabetically by color Blue - Green - Red - White - Yellow, Monday through Saturday. Very easy
to remember. I thought this was interesting. I looked in the grocery store and the bread wrappers DO have different twist ties, and even the ones with the plastic clips have different colors. You learn something new everyday!
Enjoy fresh bread when you buy bread with the right color on the day you are shopping. Download our free toolbar

Ramen Noodles

One thing that i can never have enough of in my stockpile is Ramen Noodles. But they can get boring. Use some of the recipes in these cookbooks and you will not get bored. There are even desserts that can be made with them. Great way to add to your stockpile. They are cheap and can be stored for a long time. Also they do not take up a ton of room. Download our free toolbar

ArmyNavyMall

I think that we have found the place to get all of our gear. It is Army Navy Mall. They have all of the camping gear that we need. They also have all of the other items we need for an outdoor life, like footwear, camo, clothing, tools, and they even have giftware for the outdoorsman (or woman) on your Christmas list.
I like all of the survival gear that they have, so that I know that when we are out in the outs , we can take care of ourselves and be self sufficient.
If you have a police officer in your family they even have the equipment that they need for law enforcement. There is also a great selection of military supplies and books. I just love this type of gear and I am glad that we found this site so that we know that our gear will arrive in a speedy fashion, safe, and sound.Download our free toolbar

13 Ways To Kill A Cold

Cold and flu season is upon us.
Here’s a list of 13 things you can do to save money this cold season,
Prevention
The best way to prevent spending money on treating a cold is to avoid getting sick in the first place.

1. Wash your hands.

2. Get enough sleep.

3. Exercise.

4. Eat Right.

5. Get plenty of vitamin C.

6. Drinks lots of water.

Sometimes no matter what you do, you still get pegged with a cold. Here’s how you can treat it without spending a fortune.

7. Eat spicy food.

8. Linger in the shower with the steam.

9. Sip some hot tea.

10. Savor some Home Made chicken soup.

11. Gargle Salt. Is your throat feeling tender? Put a 1/2 teaspoon of salt into some water and gargle it. It will help reduce inflammation in your throat.

12.Drink lots of water when you are sick also.

13. Suck a mint. If you don’t have a cough drop on hand, substitute it with a mint. Sucking on the mint will help reduce the coughing reflex when you’re having a coughing fit.

I Got My Books!!

I wrote about ordering some books for my survival bookshelf about 10 days ago and I got them in the mail today and they are everything that I had hoped. I was really surprised that I got them so fast. I had to mail in the order with a check and it had to clear and then they had to send them , so really the turnover was very fast!!! I finally have an Edible plants book and this one is a very good one. By National Geographic. I got one about Living off The Grid, Save Your Ass, Homemade Contrivances, and Backyard Medicine. I got Free Shipping ,also.

I will be ordering from them again.


 Download our free toolbar

Hand Crank Radio & Light

No electricity? No problem! Just turn this radio’s hand crank to tune into important broadcasts and breaking news. Super-bright light is perfect for navigating in the dark. A must-have for any well-prepared household! Features include: AM/FM weather band radio broadcast; tri-LED super bright flashlight; 3.6V rechargeable battery pack; three-way power supply; mobile phone charger; and wrist strap. Plastic. Two AA batteries not included. AC/DC adapter not included. 4 1/4 x 2 1/4" x 5 1/2" high. Buy It HERE


Download our free toolbar

Reuse Old Clothes.

I always have tons of t-shirts and stuff that I keep and try to make something else out of it. I make cloth diapers, shorts, etc. I love doing this. It is basically free fabric. Jeans can be made into many things , also. Like purses, quilts, pillows, curtains, etc.

If you use your imagination , you can come up with tons of things to make and this is also a great way to save money.

I have found some great ideas online to make items out of clothing.
Recycled T-Shirt Patterns

Great Ideas can be found here

Sewing Projects Using T-shirts

Make Easy T-shirt pants for kids!!

Recycle T-shirts into underwear!!

25 Things to do with your old jeans

Repurpose Jeans

Fabric and Clothing Reuse: This is a mega list!!

Sew A Prefold Cloth Diaper From a T-shirt Check out the whole site for other cheap ways to make cloth diapers.












Download our free toolbar
Download our free toolbar

Home Made Laundry Soap

You can make your own laundry items for a lot less than buying them and usually the stuff it takes to make them is already sitting in your cupboard.

Homemade fabric softener:

1/4 cup of baking soda
1/2 cup of white vinegar
Fill your washing machine with water. Add the baking soda with the clothing. During the final rinse cycle, add the white vinegar.

Homemade laundry soap:

1/2 cup soap flakes
1/2 cup baking soda
1/4 cup washing soda
1/4 cup borax

You also need a clean 16 ounce plastic container with a good lid.

To make the soap flakes, lightly grate a bar of Ivory, with a kitchen grater.
In a large bowl mix all of the ingredients together. Store in plastic container. Use about 1/2 cup of the mixture in each load.



Download our free toolbar

$5.00 Meals

5DollarDinners is an awesome website that is chock full of recipes for low cost meals. It was even featured on Rachael Ray!! I just love this site and I still have not looked through it all. I love the low cost meals that are on this website. When times are hard it is great to still be able to make great tasting meals that do not cost a lot.


Download our free toolbar

Printable Lists For Survival

When things do go bad , I think that power will be one of the first things to go out. So, anything that is on your computer needs to be printed off. I found this Website that has a list of printable pages and more to help with survival and if you search on Google you will find many more. If you have no power - you have no computer! It is not a good thing to have every single thing on your computer, you have to have hard copies also. Print it off and put into folders or binders. Add it to your book shelf with all of your other survival and cook books. You can easily get to it and not miss your computer at all.

Download our free toolbar

Be Frugal About Stockpiling.

I want to stockpile and have my home ready with everything, but I do not want to run out of money doing it. I have found that the Dollar Tree has many items that are useful and can be stockpiled. they have many food items, first aid items, games, tools, toys, candles, cleaning supplies, and much more that can be stockpiled. I go to my local one about once a month and get a lot of items and I always keep my total below 40.00!! I love the Dollar Tree. Like I have said before, My little bitty house is starting to burst at the seams. But we will be prepared.

Download our free toolbar

First Aid Stockpile

Here is a great starting list of items that are needed to be healthy and safe in an emergency.

Stockpile these items :

Alcohol Wipes
Aloe Vera
Antacids
Aspirin
Benadryl
Calamine Lotion
Claritin
Cough Drops
Epsom Salt
Hydrocortisone Cream
Hydrogen Peroxide
Immodium
Iodine
Motrin
Neosporin
Numbing Throat Spray
Rubbing Alcohol
Sudafed
Tylenol
Vicks Vapor Rub
Ace Bandages
Band aids and Bandages in Various Sizes
Surgical Tape
Ice Packs
Heat Packs

This is just a starting point and I also have found that I can buy many of these items at the local Dollar Tree. That way I am not breaking the bank as I stockpile.

Download our free toolbar

A Yard Sale At This Time Of Year???

I never would have thought that if I walked to the library on a nice , unseasonably warm day in November I would happen upon a yard sale, but I did. And on a Wednesday!! They did not have a lot , but I did find 2 useful books for a huge price of 50 cents each!!! So, with all of the coupons I had to use at the dollar store and finding these treasures this turned out to be a great day!!
I also added to my stockpile. Great day indeed. I am slowly running out of room though in our little house. We either have to get more shelving or move.


Download our free toolbar

My Thrift Store Trip's Today

I did not do too bad. I only spent about $16.00 dollars and got my 4 year old a bag full of winter clothes, a bundle of 10 pillar candles, a candle holder that hangs on the wall, a candle holder that looks like an oil lamp with a globe, and another candle holder that is wood and has place for 3 candles. My safety candles fit perfect in it. I hung the hanging candle holder , which holds 2 pillars, in the hallway. I had been wanting something for the hallway and now I do. That is all that I found, though. It was pretty slim pickings. But , at least I found a few things and did not spend a ton of money. We always need candles. And getting a bag of winter clothes for my little one was worth it , too. So, considering that we only got a chance to go to 2 different thrift stores - I am happy!!

This neat candle holder is wood and has the 3 places in it that safety candles fit in perfectly.

This one is just a cheap one to hang in the hallway. It has 2 of the pillars in it that I also bought today.

This candle holder is my favorite one. 

Wish me Luck

About once every six months my mom comes and gets me and we on a trek to some thrift stores that we know about that are less then 30 miles away. I am on the hunt for some stuff.
My list includes:
Oil Lamps
Games
Blankets
Fabric
Books
An old fashion juicer ( like those depression glass ones that you put half the orange on and push! )
Tools
and anything else that is useful. You never know what you might find at thrift stores. I would love to find some thing to hang clothes on inside to dry. This will be a fun day so I just hope that I have the added bonus of finding some of the stuff that I need!!!
Here is a list of prior posts showing some treasures found at thrift stores!
Thrift Stores Always Have great Books
Thrift Stores Are A Great Place For Survivalists

So get out to your local thrift stores and hunt. You will be surprised at what you will find. I have found solar powered items, and more. Saves you money while you are getting prepared.

Download our free toolbar

Stockpile Medicines

This time of year I get to thinking about cold and flu season, so I have finally started a medicine stockpile. I have gotten some cold and flu medicine, Tylenol, and other medical type items. First aid items will be in my stockpile also. Just trying to think of everything. You never know when someone in your family might get sick and you want to have on hand what you need.

Download our free toolbar

Upgrading My Bookshelf

I received a great book catalog in the mail yesterday. Bargain Books has a great selection of books. I am ordering some to go in my survival book collection. I will share my thoughts on them and the books when I receive them I just had to share because of the low pricing and the FREE SHIPPING for a limited time. (I am not an affiliate of theirs. LOL) This is just me sharing a tip for a way to add to a survival library at low-cost. I also am wanting my library as full of stuff that will be useful because I have a feeling that if the SHTF that we will have no power and no internet!! So the only way to get the info would be through books.


Download our free toolbar

Wood Burning Stove Or Pellet Stove?

The heating season is approaching quickly and it is high time to install that wood burning stove or pellet stove you have been thinking about. Which one will it be?

The first thing to check is the availability of pellets in your area. At this point in time, you might not be able to purchase pellets locally. And purchasing locally is important, since it means that there is a sustainable fuel supply in your area.

Contact the nearest store that sells pellet stoves and ask about a list of pellet suppliers. Theres should be at least two in your area. Ask about prices, availability and where they get their pellets from. You want to make sure that the pellets for your stove are from a local and sustainable source. As with anything, shop around and compare prices, proximity, and delivery guarantees.

What Are The Differences Between Wood And Pellet Stoves?

Pellet stoves burn more efficiently and cleanly than wood burning stoves.

All pellet stoves require an electrical connection, while only those wood burning stoves with blowers require an electrical connection.

Wood burning stoves require a functioning chimney or approved vent, whereas most pellet stoves require a conventional flue. Important: check your particular model and your localcodes!

Pellet stoves distribute the heat by blowing hot air into the space. These stoves do notget very hot to the touch. This can be a deciding factor if you have small children. Pellet stoves are quick to provide heat, and quick to cool down, once the fire is out.

Wood burning stoves radiate heat. Some models also have fans to blow hot air into the space. Wood burning stoves get very hot to the touch and keep radiating warmth, long after the fire has burnt down.

Wood pellet stoves require less attention than cord wood burning stoves:

Pellets are delivered in bags, or filled into a pellet bin in your basement. You will have to bring the bags into your house.
Pellets are fed into the stove via augers. You fill the pellet hopper, which is integrated into the top of the pellet stove, with approximately 40 lbs. of pellets.
You set the temperature dial at the stove to the desired temperature. The stove can be a self-igniting model or be started with a starting gel and match. The pellets will feed automatically as required to maintain the temperature.
A wood pellet stove can heat your home for up to 40 hours, without requiring any more of your attention
You refill the pellet chamber as needed
You empty the ash bin every few days

Wood burning stoves require a good amount of work:
Wood is "dumped" in front of your house and you will have to stack the wood, cover it and bring it into the house as required.
Kindling is required to start the stove. You can buy kindling, collect it in nearby woods or from a wood-processing manufacturer (such as flooring or furniture manufacturers) or chop it yourself.
You will have to build the fire and start it manually.
You control the temperature by adding more wood, opening and closing the air supply damper. Keeping in mind that the wood burning stove is slow-reacting.
Your wood burning stove will heat your home, unattended, for up to 12 hours, depending on stove size, wood being burnt, and setting of the air supply damper.
You will need to empty the ash bin daily.

Wood pellet stoves are considerably more costly than wood burning stoves. You can find a good wood burning stove for under $ 1,000, whereas a good, reliable pellet stove will cost over $2,000.
Cost for pellets and cost for cord wood depend to a large extent on the region you live in. In some regions pellets are more expensive, in other areas cord wood tops the list. Some areas have experienced pellet shortages, with the increase in popularity of pellet stoves.

Wood burning stoves are more messy than pellet stoves.

Your Personal Preferences

After reading the above comparison, your personal preferences will also help you decide.

How important is it to you to have the cleanest burning and most efficient stove?
How much work are you willing to do? Some people like stacking and chopping wood. Building a fire in the stove every morning can be a wonderful ritual to start the day.
How much money do you have a available and are willing to spend on a stove?
Do you prefer the radiant heat of the wood burning stove or the hot/warm air blowing from the pellet stove?
Would you like to cook a winter soup on the wood burning stove?

Other Deciding Factors
In addition to the personal preferences, the following factors must be considered:

Are you physically able and willing to do the work required for a wood burning stove?
Do you have the time required to tend to the stove?
How easily can you install electrical power for you pellet stove?
How easily can you add a chimney or vent stack?
Are power outages a real possibility in your area? Will you have a back-up generator for the pellet stove, or will you need the wood burning stove as a heat source?
Heating your home with wood, be it pellets or cut wood, requires considerably more work than simply flipping a switch on your oil or gas-fired furnace. The benefits though, in my opinion, outweigh the hard work and the sometimes messy living room. No matter which option you choose, you can heat your home with a sustainable fuel with either a wood burning stove or a pellet stove.

Christiane Perrin is a registered professional HVAC engineer with a passion for the environment. She is excited about the building industry going green and wants to support homeowners on their journey to building and remodeling green homes. http://www.greenandsustainablehomes.org

Wood Burning Stoves - Not Just a Heat Source

There are many things to love about autumn. It could be the leaves, turning into glorious shades of red and gold or the fresh mushrooms picked from a field and eaten for breakfast still damp from the morning dew. It could be the horse chestnuts and the memories of conker battles in the playground. Or it could be the reassuring smell of burnt wood as the stove crackles in the corner.

A wood burning stove gives off a friendly orange glow which lights up the entire room. It feels warm and personal which is why animals love sitting in front of them, basking in the warmth. There are many different stoves available in the marketplace. From the traditional cast-iron wood burner to stylish contemporary designs there is an option for everyone. And where would we be without roasted chestnuts at Christmas? Roasting them over a fire gives them a delightfully piquant flavor, something you cannot replicate in the oven. Even roasting hazelnuts is much easier with a wood burning stove as long as you are careful and wrap them in foil first. Jacket potatoes in October with lashings of butter is another favorite, especially when straight from the fire.

Often the choice to get a wood burning stove lies in the availability of the fuel, the chimney arrangements of the house and the space to store the wood. It's worth noting that even if you live in an area where the smoke from fires is controlled by your local council or authority, there are certain types of wood burners that are exempt from the usual restrictions because they burn fuel very efficiently. So enquire at your local stove dealer who is best placed to advise you.

Sometimes wood can be sourced from local joiners or factories who would otherwise send it to landfill. Alternatively, you may ask a local landowner if there is any excess wood that you can cart away. Prices of wood may vary depending on where you live but managed carefully it can be a cheaper option than gas or oil. Most importantly, wood is an environmentally friendly fuel unlike coal or oil and can be sourced locally.

Whilst it is easy to buy split logs, there is a lot of fun to be had splitting your own logs. The exercise is great and it's a simple but surprisingly satisfying way to spend an hour - especially when something is on your mind.

A wood burning stove is so much more than a heat source. It's a memory, a style and, for so many, something they wouldn't change for the world.

Notes for editors: Claire recommends Wood Burn Stoves who offer
Wood Stoves


Download our free toolbar

Free Camping & Dutch Oven Recipes

We are all going to have to cook by campfire or by using a Dutch Oven sometime. I found a ton of recipes online for this. Great ideas, tips, and recipes for campfire cooking. There are a ton of free recipes online. Print them off and start cooking!!

FREE CAMPING RECIPES

FREE DUTCH OVEN RECIPES

How You Can Benefit From Solar Cooking

Solar cooking may be well known for being environmentally friendly mainly because it doesn't use electricity, fossil fuel, charcoal, or wood, but it certainly has a lot more to offer.

One advantage of using this type of household cooking is that the solar ovens are easily portable, allowing you to carry them almost anywhere. You can carry use them in the yard, in the park during picnics, or on the beach while on road trip vacation.

Another benefit is the huge amount of time that you get to save from using solar ovens. You don't have to spend much time preparing, tending or even cleaning up the food after cooking. This is because solar ovens are designed to produce even temperature that keeps the food from burning or from being overcooked. As a result, you get to enjoy and eat perfectly and evenly thawed and cooked food.

You also use this cooking implement during power outages. Because it doesn't make use of electricity, you can still boil water and cook food even during power outages.

Moreover, solar cooking is one of the most inexhaustible and least polluting means of cooking food. This cooking method is advantageous both for people living in tropical countries and those in colder regions.

Most importantly, solar cooking doesn't emit harmful elements into the environment that can be harmful to human health. Because it doesn't make use of charcoal or wood, there are no harmful chemicals or gas released to the environment, reducing or even eliminating the risk of acquiring various lung diseases, such as pneumonia, tuberculosis, and lung cancer.

Resource Box:

Sun Ovens International is a global manufacturer and distributor of solar cooking equipment called solar ovens. Based in Elburn, Illinois, the company touts solar powered ovens as the perfect alternative to traditional cooking devices not only because they are environmentally friendly, but they also can improve the taste of food. For more information, visit SunOven.com or call 1-630-208-7273.
Download our free toolbar