Wise Bread (Jeff Yeager)

Carving a Pumpkin This Fall? Don't Throw Any of It Away!

Jeff Yeager — Mon, 19 Oct 2009 13:00:02 +0000

"Jeff, can't we at least celebrate the holiday before you eat the decorations?" I've heard that more than once from my long-suffering wife during our 26-year marriage.

You see, cheapskates like to celebrate Halloween and other holidays just like everyone else. But we grimace at wasteful rituals like throwing away a perfectly good pumpkin after using it for only a few days as a decoration. Americans buy more than one billion pounds of pumpkins at Halloween, and the vast majority of those end up in the trash. But at the Green Cheapskate's house, we eat our jack-o-lantern, every last bit of it.

While some particularly meaty varieties of pumpkins are specifically grown to be eaten (including Sweet Jack-be-Littles, Cheese Pumpkins, Sugar Pumpkins and some delicious heirloom varieties), any commonly available pumpkin is perfectly edible. Best of all, at Halloween (and immediately after Halloween) you can usually buy pumpkins for less than half a buck a pound. At that price, why not pick up a couple extra just to eat?

Pumpkins are a true American vegetable, a favorite of the Aztec, Inca and Mayan people before becoming a staple of early European explorers and settlers in the New World. Pumpkins belong to the same family (Cucurbitacae) as gourds, melons and cucumbers. And, according to the American Institute for Cancer Research, pumpkins are packed with beta carotene, a powerful antioxidant that fights cancer.

If you're buying a pumpkin specifically for eating, the smaller ones are usually the best. If you're going to use it as a jack-o'-lantern as well, you can eat or freeze some of the pumpkin when you carve it, and then pickle the remaining rind when Halloween is over, provided that it's still in good shape. So, here's how to eat your jack-o-lantern:

Seeds First

Toasted pumpkin seeds are a healthy snack filled with zinc, magnesium, manganese, iron, copper and protein. They're also great in salads, muffins, bread, and in other recipes as a nut substitute.

Remove the seeds, rinse them in water to get rid of the stringy inner membrane, and dry them out a little on a towel. Flavor with coarse salt for a traditional taste, or let your imagination and spice rack run wild. Some options for flavoring designer seeds include: pumpkin pie spice; Cajun seasonings; ginger powder; garlic salt; curry powder; Tabasco; cinnamon; vinegar and salt. Once seasoned, bake the seeds on a lightly oiled cookie sheet (single layer thick) in a 250-degree oven for about an hour, stirring every 20 minutes. Or, my preferred method is to cook them in a spray-oiled skillet over medium heat on the stove top, stirring and shaking (the skillet, not your booty) constantly. On the stove top, they'll be toasted nicely brown in only about five minutes. Store in air-tight containers.

The Meat of the Matter

The thick, bright orange pulp lining the inside of the pumpkin is the real meat of the matter when it comes to making pies, cakes, bread, soups and most other pumpkin delicacies. Using a large spoon or other sharp-edged instrument, scrape and scoop the pulp from inside the pumpkin, working it down about an inch or so, to the whitish-colored layer beneath the skin. This will leave you with the outer shell to carve as a jack-o'-lantern. If you're not going to get double duty out of your pumpkin as a lantern, then it's easier to slice it as you would a melon and use a knife to peel away the outer skin and white layer.

Once you've extracted the pulp, steam it over a pot of water until it's tender (about 30 minutes or more). Run it through a food processor to puree or mash by hand (add a dash of lemon juice to prevent freezer burn), and freeze it in plastic bags or containers to use later in your favorite recipes. You can also eat the cooked pulp just like squash, but it's even better than squash. Here are some of my favorite pumpkin recipes:

Pumpkin Cider Bisque:

Make a cream soup by melting two tablespoons butter and mixing in 2 tablespoon flour, and then slowly stir in 2 cups of whole milk. Stir constantly over medium heat until thickened. Add one cup pumpkin puree (see above), and heat through. Slowly add 2 cups cider. Correct seasonings with salt and pepper. Serve hot, with a dollop of sour cream, or cold with apple slices to garnish. (4 servings / approx. cost per serving = 30 cents)

Pumpkin Milk Shake:

Try this one as soon as the pulp cools. In a blender, mix 1 cup vanilla ice cream, 1/4 cup milk, 4 tablespoons pumpkin puree, and a dash of any or all of the following: pumpkin pie spice, vanilla, nutmeg, rum extract. (1 serving / approx. cost per serving =35 cents)

Jack-o-Lantern Casserole:

The Green Cheapskate's salute to cosmetic surgery -- truly tongue AND cheek, but pretty tasty. Save the cut-out nose, mouth, eyes, etc. from your jack-o'-lantern carving to decorate this face-shaped casserole. Fry one pound of sausage and one cup of chopped onion on the stovetop until brown. Add two cups of cubed, raw pumpkin pulp (you can get about that much by cutting the pulp off from the bottom of your jack-o'-lantern lid). Cook it for about 5 minutes, until the pumpkin starts to soften.

Stir in one can of condensed Cheddar cheese soup and 1/4 cup milk, and remove from heat. Grease a round or oval casserole baking dish (about face size). In the empty dish, mix two cups Bisquick mix with 3/4 cup water, spreading the dough evenly on the bottom of the dish. Pour meat mixture on top of dough. Sprinkle one cup shredded Cheddar cheese on top of casserole. Spray "face parts" lightly with spray oil, and arrange on top of casserole. Bake in a preheated 400-degree oven, uncovered, for about 30 minutes, until face parts are lightly brown and the dough has cooked through. (6 servings / approx. cost per serving = 60 cents)

Truly Smashing Pickled Pumpkin Rinds:

If your lantern survives the night of hell-raising by neighborhood teens and shows no signs of worrisome rot, inordinate candle scorching, or excessive wax buildup, real cheapskates separate themselves from the rest by pickling the rind of their jack-o'-lanterns the day after Halloween. I'm told by Miser Adviser Doris Sharp that this dish is particularly popular in Northern Germany. Here's how:

Peel off the outer skin and cut the white-colored rind (about 1 inch thick) into two inch squares. For each pound of pumpkin, use 3/4 lb sugar, 2 cups vinegar and a piece of fresh ginger. Use a stick of cinnamon for the whole batch of several pounds. Put pumpkin in vinegar and let it soak overnight. Remove the pumpkin from vinegar (discard*) and let it dry on a towel. Bring fresh vinegar to a boil with sugar, ginger and a stick of cinnamon. Add pumpkin and simmer until pieces are translucent and golden yellow, about 3 hours on low heat. Never stir with a spoon; just shake the pot occasionally so the pumpkin doesn't fall apart. Can and seal, or store in the refrigerator for up to a few weeks.

This post from the Green Cheapskate by Jeff Yeager is republished with the permission of The Daily Green. Check out more great content from The Daily Green:

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Pedal Your Way to Health, Wealth and Happiness

Jeff Yeager — Thu, 13 Aug 2009 20:00:02 +0000

By Jeff Yeager

Thirty-five years ago this week, my brother and I took off on our Raleigh ten-speeds on the first major bicycle trip of our lives, a 3,200-mile pedal-powered journey from our parent's home in Ohio to the Black Hills of South Dakota and back again.

At the audacious ages of 18 and 16 — with the Allman Brothers Ramblin' Man playing on the 8-track in our minds — the world was ours to devour. To say that we considered ourselves invincible is an understatement; our young minds were crammed with thoughts of high-adventure, rowdy times, and pubescent fantasies. Fortunately, we got more than our fair share of each of those over the next two months, and on countless bike tours in the years to come.

That trip and that machine — the simple bicycle — changed my life forever. Still today, hardly a day goes by when I don't pedal at least a few miles, usually to run errands or just stretch my legs, which admittedly aren't as supple or strong as they were thirty-five years ago. I recently pedaled my 85,000th lifetime mile and in another couple of years — crazy drivers willing — I hope to cross the 100,000 mile mark. Not bad for having owned just two bicycles (both relatively inexpensive) in my adult life, with my "new bike" having only about 30,000 miles on it.

If you've not been on a bicycle since you were a kid, maybe this is the summer to rediscover the joy and freedom of what it arguably the fastest machine ever invented by man, when you factor in the energy it requires to build/buy and get on down the road.

Or better yet, why not make your family vacation this summer a bicycle trip? It's inexpensive, eco-friendly, healthy, and, I bet, will give you memories to last a lifetime: Here's some tips:

Go the distance

With just a little practice, novice cyclists and even children (approximately age 12+) should be able to comfortably pedal at least 10-20 miles a day. And for adults and older children, it doesn't take much practice before 50 miles or even further is a manageable distance to cover in a single day, depending on terrain and your physical condition.

Keep it simple (and cheap)

Start and end from home. It's as easy as drawing a circle on a map of say a 100-200 mile radius from home and figuring out what there is to see and do in your own backyard. I bet you'll be surprised.

Pick a route

There are more than 38,000 miles of designated bicycle routes in the U.S. that connect two or more states, and many times that amount of local bike-friendly routes, hiking/biking trails, and other roads well-suited for cycling. Check with your state's Bicycle and Pedestrian Coordinator.

Don't overspend

You don't really need fancy and unnecessary equipment. For short trips, an inexpensive bicycle or even a used bike from a thrift store is fine. Don't go gear-crazy: ten-speeds are more than enough.

Pack light

Take along only the bare essentials. Wash your clothes along the way rather than pack more. Buy food as you need it rather than take it from home. Ask yourself: "What's the worst thing that will happen if I don't take this with me?" Once you're packed, take a ten mile test ride, then go through your gear again and see if you've changed your mind about anything.

Safety first

Helmets and reflective clothing/gear are a must. Learn the rules of the road. Riding safely with saddlebags (aka "panniers") and other gear on your bike takes practice; take some training rides and specifically practice the skill of riding in a straight line and controlling your bike with the added weight.

Take a course

Courses in safe cycling, bicycle repair, and bicycle touring are offered by many local community colleges and bike clubs, as well as online.

Stay cheap

Cycle touring lends itself to camping, couch surfing, staying at youth hostels, and using the "Warm Showers" network, a nationwide community of fellow cyclists who will put you up for the night.

Have fun, and stop and say hello if you see me along the road. I'll be the tall guy on the old ten-speed, wearing the Allman Brothers Band t-shirt.

This post from the Green Cheapskate by Jeff Yeager is republished with the permission of The Daily Green. Check out more great content from The Daily Green:

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5 Ways to Save Time and Money on Your Lawn

Jeff Yeager — Fri, 07 Aug 2009 13:00:28 +0000

By Jeff Yeager

I'm always struck when I travel outside the United States how rare it is to see large expanses of lawn in residential areas in most other countries. Americans are truly grass crazy. We're downright sod-o-maniacs, you might say.

But our dandelion-free, putting green-perfect lawns are tough on the environment and tough on our wallets. Between the water they require, the pesticides and fertilizers, and pollutant spewing, four-cycle lawnmowers, our lawns really aren't as green as they look.

And with U.S. lawn care services now a $12 billion annual industry, our lawns are cutting a lot of the green out of our bank accounts as well. Basic lawn-care service averages about $120-$150 per month, which could easily be an expense of $1,000 a year or more depending on where you live and the length of the growing season.

Author Michael Pollan wrote, "A lawn is nature under totalitarian rule." Down with the dictator!, I say. Why not reduce the size of your lawn this summer -- or even eliminate it entirely -- and save money, time and the environment too?

Here's how:

Mulch

Mulching over areas of your yard will help to control weed growth and retain moisture. This is particularly effective for shady spots and other areas where grass is hard to grow in the first place. And you don't need to pay a lot for mulch: Make your own from shredded leaves and twigs, or check with your highway maintenance department, landfill, or your local arborist to see if they have mulch for free/cheap.

Hardscaping

My dad, who hated mowing the lawn, was always threatening to "pave over the whole damn thing with green cement!" Apparently dad had totalitarian issues of his own. Environmentally friendly "hardscaping" alternatives to pop's cement plan include the use of river stone, gravel and flagstone as a sort of indestructible mulch. Think Japanese gravel garden or faux dry stream bed. It's best to put down a fabric weed block -- or a thick layer of old newspapers -- under your hardscaping material.

Ground Cover

A combination of ground cover and mulch/hardscaping is an ideal eco-friendly lawn alternative for most homeowners. It's much lower maintenance, far more cost effective, and so much more interesting than a boring expanse of grass. Choose ground covers that are native to your area or which otherwise don't require watering or fertilizer and block weed growth effectively. Some favorites include pachysandra, creeping thyme, phlox, liriope, sedum and creeping juniper. The cost per square foot to plant most ground covers is roughly the same as to plant sod -- but you'll save big money and time in maintenance over the years to come.

Tall Grass & Wild Flowers

For a beautiful, natural looking yard that still incorporates grass, consider using native prairie and other tall grass seed, mixed with wildflower seeds conducive to your climate. Just let this drought resistant combination do its own thing all year long and maybe cut it back once a year at the end of the growing season, if at all.

Return of the Push Mower

If you still have a patch of grass that needs to be cut and you haven't tried an old fashioned push or "reel" mower in the past 20 years, you'll be surprised at how far that old piece of technology has come. They're now incredibly light, easy to push, and oh so wonderfully quiet -- not to mention pollution free and low maintenance. With the soft clipping sound of the razor sharp blades and the smell of fresh air and fresh-cut grass, cutting the grass with a reel mower seems more like meditation than yard work.

This post from the Green Cheapskate by Jeff Yeager is republished with the permission of The Daily Green. Check out more great content from The Daily Green:

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10 Ways to Get More Wear Out of Your Clothing

Jeff Yeager — Thu, 30 Jul 2009 17:00:05 +0000

By Jeff Yeager

With the average American family of four spending almost $4,000 per year on clothing, think of the money you can save by extending the life of your clothes and hanging onto them longer. Here are some practical ways to do just that:

1. Launder Less Often, and Only in Cold Water

Many of us are guilty of over laundering our clothes, which costs time and money and is usually unnecessary. Washing and drying is often actually harder on clothing fabric than wearing it! Consider wearing apparel items more than once between laundering, and wash most clothing in cold water only; cold water costs less, is gentler on fabrics, and will get most clothes just as clean.

2. Hold the Bleach

Bleach can cause clothing to disintegrate more quickly. If you need to brighten white clothes, try using baking soda and hot water instead.

3. It Pays to Get Hung Out to Dry

Electric- and gas-powered clothes dryers not only cost a pretty penny to own and operate, but they cook and beat the life out of your clothing too. Drying your clothes on a good old-fashioned clothesline can increase the lifespan of some garments by as much as fifty percent...plus your clothes will smell terrific.

4. Zip Up Before You Wash

Metal zippers on jeans, jackets and other apparel items are like tiny chainsaws in the washer and dryer, ripping away at other clothes the whole time unless you zip them up first.

5. Don't Let Small Problems Become Big Ones

Most rips and tears start out small, so check your clothes carefully after every washing to catch and mend snags while they're still small and easy to fix.

6. Soggy Shoes

The lifespan of footwear is often cut short by the effects of moisture, even more so than by pounding the pavement. To make your shoes last longer, don't wear the same pair every day. Give each pair at least a day in between to dry out from the moisture they absorb from your body and the environment. In humid or rainy weather, crumple up a couple of pieces of newspaper and stuff them in your shoes before you go to bed at night; by morning, the paper will have wicked-up the excess moisture. Frequently shining or sealing shoe leather helps protect it from moisture as well.

7. Don't Throw It Away, Remodel It Instead

Even if you're challenged when it comes to needle and thread, there are a lot of simple, fun things you can do to customize and update clothes that you're bored with or that are out of fashion. Check out the book (from the library, silly) Sew Subversive (Taunton 2006) for some easy and creative clothes remodeling ideas.

8. Think "Vintage" Not "Used"

We're getting rid of a lot of our threads before they're threadbare. Only a small percentage of the clothing we throw away in the U.S. is truly "worn out." Fortunately, some of those duds make an encore appearance at thrift stores, yard sales and resale/consignment shops, where you'll usually pay only ten or twenty cents on the dollar compared to new/retail. Also, form a clothes swapping club with friends and family members who wear similar sizes, so that when you get tired of a garment you can pass it along to someone who will wear it.

9. Storage and Organization Are Key

"I forgot I even had that in my closet!" How many times have we all said that? Store off-season clothes in plastic totes and add a couple cedar blocks for extra protection. Keep a written inventory of your clothes, and make a "progressive shopping list" of new things you'll need to buy in the near future; that way you can pick them up the next time you see them on sale.

10. Buy Classics, Not Fads

Build a wardrobe around just a few colors that look good on you and that combine well with one another, giving you diversity without needing to buy so many clothes. Look for classic styles, well made garments, and durable fabrics, and don't get suckered into trendy fashions and colors that will become outdated before you even get out of the store. When it comes to paying top dollar for the latest designer fashions, remember what billionaire Warren Buffet once said: "I buy expensive suits. They just look cheap on me."

This post from the Green Cheapskate by Jeff Yeager is republished with the permission of The Daily Green. Check out more great content from The Daily Green:

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The 7 Rules of Budget Travel

Jeff Yeager — Wed, 22 Jul 2009 20:00:06 +0000

By Jeff Yeager

I'm a big believer in the popular environmental mantra: "Think Globally, Act Locally." When it comes to saving the planet, that saying is as true as it is simple.

And when I travel, my rule of thumb for keeping it green and keeping it cheap is: "Think Locally, Travel Globally." You'll usually find the most eco-friendly and genuine travel experiences when you spend less — not more — and get local, no matter where in the world you're wandering. It's all about traveling independently (not in a tour group or packaged tour) and drilling down to the local level, getting a true sense of place by experiencing it as if you live there.

Here's how:

Guidebooks kill

Consult a good, locally researched guidebook like those in the Lonely Planet series for basic background and logistical info before you travel, but don't use it to plan your every move, like where you'll stay, eat and hang out. By the time a guidebook recommends something, it's usually overrun with tourists (and overpriced).

Travel without reservations

Except for perhaps the first night or two when you're traveling overseas and going to be suffering from jetlag, avoid making advance reservations at hotels and other accommodations before you leave home. You'll generally pay a lot more for lodging reserved from overseas, and they're rarely the type of local, affordable places you can only find once you're there. Plus, advance reservations limit your ability to be spontaneous in your travels.

The "Three L's Rule" (Look for Lines of Locals)

If you're looking for a good meal or friendly place to have a beer, put away your guidebook and open up your eyes and ears. Looking for where the locals hang out and chatting it up with them is the best — and cheapest — way to travel.

Local transportation and short distances are best

To travel slowly, covering short distances, and staying places longer is the key to really getting a sense of place and people. Linger in places you've never heard of and where you don't see another tourist; don't plan an itinerary that's just one popular tourist destination (AKA "trap") followed by another. Taking public transportation, hiking or bicycling will give you a great opportunity to meet local people and see how they live. Plus it will save you a busload of traveler's checks.

Cheap sleep

Americans can travel to almost anywhere in the world and pay top dollar to stay in an American-style hotel, just like the ones back home. Why even bother to travel if that's what you want? Look for locally owned, "mom and pop" places to stay, pensions and public camping facilities (sometimes free). Check out youth hostels, couch surfing and house swapping for a highly affordable, and rewarding, travel experience.

Prepare at least some of your own meals

Sampling the fare in local restaurants is one of the joys of travel, but you'll sell your trip short — and spend a lot more — if you don't at least occasionally pick up some groceries from a local market and prepare some of your own meals. Maybe it's just simple breakfast foods or picnic supplies. Shopping for food where the locals shop is one of the most enlightening cultural experiences I know of when you travel, and it just happens to make travel much more affordable.

Keeping it green when you travel

Not surprisingly to this Green Cheapskate, a recent study commissioned by eco-friendly lodging chain Element Hotels found that 41% of the people they surveyed said that their vigilance about conserving resources is "due to the economy" (i.e. "It saves me money!"), while just 28% said it was "due to the environment." The upshot is that when people travel, their eco-conscious habits often slip; they're not as vigilant about things like turning off the lights in their hotel room, since they're not paying the electric bill. Don't leave your eco-ethics at home when you hit the road this summer, because you can't fool Mother Nature.

This post from the Green Cheapskate by Jeff Yeager is republished with the permission of The Daily Green. Check out more great content from The Daily Green:

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6 Upsides of the Down Economy

Jeff Yeager — Sun, 28 Jun 2009 06:50:15 +0000

By Jeff Yeager

My father-in-law had a saying: "If you don't have a good time, you usually learn a good lesson." I'm reminded of that a lot these days during the current economic recession.

I'm not saying that the economic downturn is a good thing, particularly for people who have lost jobs or their homes. But fortunately that's not most Americans. For the rest of us, some involuntary belt tightening might have some silver linings. In other words, I think the current market corrections we're going through might just trigger some long overdue — and ultimately very positive — lifestyle corrections for many Americans.

Consider:

We're borrowing less and putting more into savings

We've truly learned a lesson — albeit the hard way — about living beyond our means. In 2008, savings rates rose to 1.7%, coming off the lowest savings rates since the Great Depression. And figures recently released for April 2009 are even more impressive, showing the personal savings rate for the month at a 14-year-high of 5.7%.

We're wasting less

AKA Using it up, making it last, doing without. This is clear from the increase in thrift store and re-sale store sales. Goodwill Store revenues in February were up 7.2% over last year, and for the first time in generations, many thrift stores are selling their wares faster than additional merchandise is being donated.

We're building smaller homes

It's bad for your bank account and bad for the environment to construct, heat, cool, electrify, decorate, maintain and pay taxes and insurance on unnecessary square footage. For the first time in more than 10 years, the average size of new homes being built dropped by nearly 300 square feet, or 11%. Studies show that we, as humans, are inherently uncomfortable living in too large of spaces, and the recent economy has shown that we're definitely uncomfortable trying to pay for them. In with "Not So Big" and "Little Boxes"!

We're driving less and staying around home more

When gas was at $4 a gallon, two-thirds of Americans said they changed their habits and drove less...and nothing awful happened because of it. It save resources, generates less pollution, and, because we're spending more time closer to home, it stands to bring our families and communities closer together. That's why I still continue to pay $4 a gallon at the pump, or, rather, pay myself the difference in my "$4 a Gallon Savings Club."

We're eating lower on the food chain, which is usually healthier

Sales of poultry are up, red meat are down. We're buying more staples, and fewer processed foods. We're eating more fruits and vegetables, and raising a lot more of those ourselves: Home vegetable gardens are projected to be up 40% this year compared to 2007. If these trends continue, the next dire headline out of the recession might just be "American Obesity Epidemic Declines!"

Hard times might help to revitalize local businesses/economies

In the long run, it stands to reason that the current recession might actually help to revitalize long struggling local businesses and economies. Consider these factors: * Transporting products from far away becomes less cost effective, making the produce at local farmers' markets, for example, more cost competitive. * Big national chains are going under in record numbers, opening the door to local/independent businesses. * Local businesses are more responsive to changing demands and have fewer, if any, demands by shareholders for higher returns on investment. * And many local communities, like those in the Berkshire region of Massachusetts, are taking matters into their own hands and finding creative ways to help local business not just survive, but thrive.

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How to Save Gas, $30,000 and Your Pride

Jeff Yeager — Sun, 07 Jun 2009 17:14:10 +0000

By Jeff Yeager

A brash foursome of 90210-good-looking American college jocks barged ahead of us in line, only to be told that all the cars available had manual transmissions. That's the case in most countries of the world other than the U.S., where only 5% of us drive a stick shift. They glanced at each other with uncertainty, and then their fearless leader said cockily, "A stick? Cool man! How hard can it be?"

After waiting patiently, my wife and I finally got the keys to our rental car and headed out to the parking lot. There sat the four pushy princes in their five-speed Fiat, lurching forward a couple feet at a time, then stalling, lurch, stall, lurch, stall....

Smoke rose from the tires. A series of foot-long skid marks trailed off across the parking lot behind their car, looking like the "Tear Here" marks on the bottom half of your electric bill. The lurching motion became so violent at one point that the driver's Smith sunglasses flew off his face and smacked against the windshield.

The cool dudes inside the car were not amused, although the gathering crowd of locals was having a blast watching. As I smoothly slid our rental car into first gear and rolled out of the parking lot, I gave a friendly shoulder shrug to the onlookers and said something in quasi English-Greek, like "Yish! Crazy Americans."

Save Serious Cash

Learning to drive a car with a manual transmission might not only save you some major embarrassment in life, but it can also save you gas and some serious money.

Consumer Reports found that cars with manual transmissions get two to four miles per gallon more than the same models with automatic transmissions. If you drive, say, 15,000 miles per year, that's going to save you about $350 annually at today's gas prices.

But that's only the beginning of the savings. New cars with manual transmissions generally cost about $800 less than those with automatic transmissions, and a manual transmission is less expensive to repair or replace when the time comes. Plus, because you're using the car's engine to help you decelerate, manual transmissions are easier on the brakes, which means added savings on brake maintenance and repairs.

All told, you'll probably save about 5,000 gallons of gas and $30,000 or more by only driving cars with manual transmissions over the course of your lifetime. And with a little practice, driving a stick is easy, fun, and oh sooo cool.

This post from the Green Cheapskate by Jeff Yeager is republished with the permission of The Daily Green. Check out more great content from The Daily Green:

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How to Save Money and Still Dress Green

Jeff Yeager — Sat, 06 Jun 2009 20:23:27 +0000

By Jeff Yeager

I'm now officially concerned that America's green movement may have run its course. My reason for sounding the alarm: A story on a morning talk show last week about the rush by high-end fashion designers to bring five-figure "green gowns" and other pricey "eco-apparel" to fashion runways and your nearest Saks Fifth Avenue.

You don't have to spend like a fat cat to dress well.

If there was ever a movement NOT in need of its own criminally overpriced designer fashion line, it's the green movement. You know, a movement that's about, well, "conserving" resources.

Call me jaded (because I am), but my real fear is that it signals the beginning of the end of the green movement, not because fashion designers are jumping on the hybrid bandwagon, but because many Americans -- too many -- will probably rush out to actually buy this Emperor's new green-label, high fashion attire. What better way to show your solidarity with Mother Earth ... and flaunt your fortunes in the process?

Forget about the good that you could accomplish by donating that same money to one of the thousands of nonprofit organizations working to protect the environment. And even forget about the size of the carbon footprint you're probably creating to generate that big bankroll in the first place.

The fact is that less than 2% of all clothing thrown away every year in the U.S. is trashed because it's truly "worn out" -- as in threadbare, falling apart, full of holes. The other 98%, for the most part, is dumped just because we want something new or we've outgrown our duds, and we're too lazy to pass them along to someone else who can use them.

Once again, the most eco-friendly thing you can do when it comes to your clothes closet is to be a cheapskate and simply consume less. Make your clothes last longer -- and save energy and $ -- by washing them less frequently and, ideally, in a front-loading washer (one without a clothes torturing agitator), using only cold water. Line dry your clothes whenever possible to extend the life of the fabric and reduce both your electrical usage and your monthly bill.

Most importantly, wear your clothes out. Help make threadbare the new cool fashion statement, the true designer apparel of the green movement. And when you're ready for something new, buy used. Rummage sales and thrift stores are treasure trousseaus of bargain-priced clothing, much of it high quality and barely used, and all of it representing energy and other resources that have already been extracted from Mother Nature's womb.

So don't be suckered in by the Emperor's pricey new green wardrobe -- the dude may not be naked this time around, but his vanity and stupidity are definitely in Full Monty mode.

This post from the Green Cheapskate by Jeff Yeager is republished with the permission of The Daily Green. Check out more great content from The Daily Green:

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17 Creative Things to Do with Phone Books

Jeff Yeager — Fri, 05 Jun 2009 15:06:54 +0000

By Jeff Yeager

Is it just my imagination, or are they sending out updated editions of the phone book and Yellow Pages a lot more often than they used to?

When I was growing up, it seemed like we had the same phone book the whole time. I remember it, because my Uncle George — who fancied himself the Human Hulk — said he knew a trick whereby he could tear an entire phone book in half with his bare hands. It didn't quite work out that way, although he did thoroughly mangle the A-G listings.

And the Yellow Pages; I don't ever remember getting an updated version. Our copy was sort of our family Bible, not only a source of information but a record of our lives. Especially the page with the phone listing for our family doctor, which was crammed with frantically written margin notes in my mom's handwriting, instructions from the good doctor's office for treating her two accident-prone young sons. Things like: "Induce vomiting immediately!", "Not contagious...as far as the doctor knows," and (multiple entries) "Should pass in his stool within 48-hours."

Okay, so maybe it is just my imagination, but certainly the phone company is distributing a heck of a lot more phone books than they need to in this era when so many of us retrieve the phone numbers we need on the Internet instead. More than half a BILLION phone books are printed and distributed every year in the U.S., which is nearly two books for every American. That consumes about 19 million trees. Here's how to help curb this waste of paper and make the best use of outdated phone books you have on hand:

Opt Out: Go to www.yellowpagesgoesgreen.org and register to be taken off the distribution list for white and yellow page phone books.
Recycle: Less than 10% of all phone books printed are recycled, even though they can be recycled into everything from ceiling tiles to cereal boxes. Go to earth911.com to find your nearest phone book recycling center.
Repurpose: As they say, "One man's trash is a Green Cheapskate's treasure." Here are some creative reuses for old phone books and Yellow Pages.
Child Booster Seats: Cover them in fabric remnants.
Press Autumn Leaves/Plants: Better yet, have the kids sit on them at the same time.
Flip Books: Here's a fun art project!
Window Wipes: Perfect for cleaning windows with a simple mixture of vinegar and water.
Phone Book Step Aerobics: Duct tape them together to use in stair-stepping exercises.
Fire Starters: Perfect for the fireplace, grill or woodstove.
Garden Mulch: Shred 'em (a few pages at a time, Uncle George), they're great biodegradable weed blockers.
Origami: Recreate the Tale of 10,000 Yellow Swans with a single book of Yellow Pages!
Pencil/Pen Holder: Here's a nifty craft project idea.
Papier Mache: It's not just for the Jr. High science fairs anymore.
Packaging Filler: Balled up or shredded.
Wax Paper Substitute: Use to separate baked goods and items in the freezer.
Paper Dresses: Careful, or his fingers may just do the walking through your Yellow Pages.
Make Your Voice Heard: Sign a petition to the Yellow Pages Association insisting that they move to an "on-demand system" of distributing directories (i.e. you only get one if you ask for one).

This post from the Green Cheapskate by Jeff Yeager is republished with the permission of The Daily Green. Check out more great content from The Daily Green:

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Chicken GUTS & Author GLORY: Tales From My Cheapskate Book Tour

Jeff Yeager — Mon, 04 Feb 2008 23:56:27 +0000

By Jeff Yeager

Editor's note: Wise Bread blogger Jeff Yeager is promoting his new book on frugal living with the cheapest book tour ever! He'll bike instead of drive and couchsurf instead of staying in hotels. This is part 2 of his story. Read part 1 here.

Having been an author for all of three weeks now, I admit that I still get a definite ego buss whenever I’m introduced as such. “Author” is one of those occupations that gets people’s attention. It conjures up images of busy book signings, thought provoking lecture series, and a glamorous life of penning deep thoughts in far off places.

It was 5:15 in the morning, and I just couldn’t get the second chicken into my saddlebags. I’d managed to cram the pre-roasted bird in among the vegetable scraps, cooking utensils, and whole potatoes I’d brought with me from back East the day before, but the second chicken – the raw one – just wouldn’t fit. I fumbled around in the dark, not wanting to wake my CouchSurfing host, but I knew I needed to get that slippery yellow fryer stowed pronto or I’d never have time to bicycle the 12 miles across town for the “cheapskate cooking” demo I was scheduled to do live on San Diego Living that morning.

With the stance and determination of an Olympic shot-putter, I grabbed the bird in my right hand and pushed with everything I had. The plastic wrapper snagged on a metal rivet on the inside of the saddle bag, and a geyser of cold, gelatinous chicken juice squirted over my hand and ran down into the pack, the same compartment that would carry all my clothing and other gear in the days and weeks to come. Ah, the enchanted life of an author ...

Despite the trickle of chicken juice seeping from my saddlebags as I bicycled through the empty streets of predawn San Diego, I was plenty psyched about doing the cooking demonstration on Fox Channel 6. I love to cook – in large part because I love to eat – and I’ve written a lot in my book and elsewhere about the beauty of cooking and eating on the cheap. My contention is that when it comes to food, like so many other things in life, the best options also happen to cost the least.

In fact, one of my rules of thumb is that I’m hesitant to pay more the $1 a pound for foodstuff when I go grocery shopping. That may sound impossible, but as I discuss in my book, it’s actually very practical and steers you toward a healthier and more enjoyable diet. It forces you to eat more of the types of foods we should be eating the most of (according to the USDA Food Pyramid) since they tend to cost the least, buy fruits and vegetables that are in season, and limit your consumption of fatty meats, dairy products, and processed foods. It also forces you to shop smart, and actually think about what you’re going to eat rather than rely on the same old tired recipes.

The show’s producer had asked me to come prepared with all the ingredients to “stage cook” (i.e. “fake cook”) a three course cheapskate menu, hence my “before” and “after” chickens. I vowed to cook using only ingredients costing under $1 a pound and, as an added hook for the Channel 6 viewing audience, I promised to incorporate creative ways to use up those little packets of condiments we all seem to take too many of whenever we get carryout.

Here’s what I cooked that morning and a link to the Channel 6 website where you can find the recipes. Trust me, these are really tasty, economical, healthy dishes, despite their gimmicky names/cooking techniques:

Tomato-Garlic Bisque with Fresh Egg and Stale Bread (using ketchup and half-and-half packets from the carryout)
Compost Pile Roast Chicken (marinated in soy sauce and spicy mustard from your last Chinese takeout, and roasted with fruit and veggie scraps otherwise destine for the compost pile)
Hobo Potatoes (cooked in recycled aluminum foil)
Pineapple/Bananas Foster on Bicycle Spoke Kabobs (an old long-distance cyclist’s trick)

With the cooking segment and a couple of other local TV spots successfully under my belt, I’d almost forgotten about the spurting chicken juice as the sun began to set and I bicycled back toward my host’s house for the night. Why not celebrate with a quick beer? I was parking my bike by the door as two professionally dressed young couples entered the inviting little neighborhood pub. Seated next to them at the crowded happy hour bar, they politely asked, “Are you a bike messenger?”

“No,” I said. “I’m an author.”

Their expressions, even their posture, were immediately transformed. They reached over each other to eagerly shake my hand. I gratefully obliged, only hoping that they didn’t detect the residue of the chicken juice from that morning.

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