It's always amazing to read the self-help ways people find to turn a dollar into two. This week's selection of tips is no exception, ranging from babies to the pantry and then out into the garden.
Plingie from Christchurch writes: "Making your own baby food can save hundreds. There are a couple of ways of doing it. Easy but not the cheapest: buy tinned fruit and puree it, then freeze in ice cube trays. Cheapest but a bit more labour intensive: boil your own veg and puree and freeze as above. You can cook extra when you're making family meals and puree it and freeze. When it's frozen in ice cube trays you can simply pop them into a zip-lock bag and use one or two at a time."
S.S. says: "I make free cafe meals for my 2-year-old. He won't eat vegetables but loves pasta, so each weekend I make a big pot of thick minestrone soup for the whole family. I add tomato paste to make it red and small elbow pasta. Then I freeze single-serve portions in re-useable airtight containers. I take them with us still frozen and have yet to come across a cafe who wouldn't reheat one for us at meal time."
L.M. writes: "Our daughter is teething but buying rusks can be quite expensive. Instead, we buy discounted bananas, cut them into small pieces, skewer them on to plastic ice holders (bought from a second-hand store), then freeze. The end result is a tasty teether, which my 3-year-old can help me make and enjoy as a special treat."
Allie from Nelson says: "A good way to store and use celery in the winter is as follows. Cut off the base, and the very coarse top leaves, if necessary, and discard. Wash the remainder thoroughly. Dry and chop fairly fine (leaves and all). Store in the freezer in zip-top bags. Add handfuls to soups, stews, stir fry and casseroles as needed. No waste, quick and convenient, stays fresh."