Finally Being a Scientist

When I was in high school I wanted to be a scientist, a neuroscientist to be exact. Earlier in my adolescence, I had wanted to be a writer, an actress, a painter, an astronaut, a doctor….

At one point, I wanted to be a mathematician. My mother informed me that was silly, that there was nothing left to discover in mathematics. As an eighth grader, I knew she was wrong. There were at least more numbers in pi to be discovered. I was right, but I didn’t end up discovering any of them.

If we think that it’s all been done, we won’t try anything new. What does that have to do with frugality? Everything.

I don’t think you can be frugal if you won’t try something new. Sure, you can have a small budget, and one that works for you. You can slowly shave a little off here, and a little off there, as an idea comes your way that you think meshes with your lifestyle. But I get satisfaction from continually slashing my budget down further and further, penny by penny. Am I the only one?

That’s why I do so many kitchen experiments. You may think this is odd, as I have only a two week menu rotation. But those two weeks of meals is my control group. I try something new with a dish, knowing its cost and taste before.

Did I improve it’s taste? Yes. Did I slash its cost? No, the cost is the same. So, I have improved our quality of life for free. Or, it may happen the other way around, where the taste is the same, but the cost is less. I still come out ahead. Sometimes, I win on both fronts, like with my new sausage, which is yummier and cheaper, not to mention healthier. But I am constantly trying, testing and trying again.

My stevia baked beans recipe is in the process of failing miserably, and I’m considering tossing it and replacing it with something else in our menu, but I have a few more ideas before I’m willing to do that. I’m going to try harder, because we really do love baked beans.

I probably do enjoy kitchen science experiments more than the average person, and experiments in general, so what do you do if you don’t? I would say try it, and see if you get satisfaction out of it. See if you save money, and if the time playing is worth it to you.

One commenter said they were working on their bread making technique. It took me a long time to get my bread strategies to where I love my bread. Now, a new variable has entered into my bread making. My son likes to help me knead. This takes longer for me, but improves my quality of life without affecting the cost. As long as I take the extra time to make sure it is kneaded thoroughly, I have won again.

I can’t win unless I try.

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