Where does frugality go when you're no longer financially strapped?

Baking sourdough bread today because it's fun, and because I can.
And it saves money on groceries.

Does frugality go out the window entirely, or do most folks hang on to some frugal habits and patterns even when they don't need to?

First of all, I think most people become more financially stable over time and not overnight. Few of us have a rich uncle who will leave his entire estate to us. And few of us will win the big jackpot in the lottery in our lifetimes. In this vein, I believe that most people add in a few of the formerly unaffordable expenditures slowly and only in modest amounts. I know in my own case, we never had that moment where we suddenly felt so well-off that we could buy and do anything we pleased. Instead, as finances allowed, we added just a smidge more luxury to our lives than we'd previously had. For example, as we've been able to afford a higher utility bill than in early years, we've still only increased the temperature that we keep the house daily in winter by 2 degrees F. 

Another aspect to consider is the attitude toward one's early frugal choices. Did being frugal always feel like a burden, or did frugality feel more like a series of "smart" choices to achieve an end? I think if frugality was interpreted as some sort of punishment in life, then once a person had greater wealth, they'd be more likely to spend without much care. For my own family, we chose frugality as a means to an end, the end being me staying home with the kids while still affording the American dream of home ownership.

Further down this line of thought is how long one was frugal and how that impacts their choices after financial stability is achieved. If a person has simply always lived a financially careful life, from early childhood through adulthood, many frugal habits are just that, habits. If my husband and I had only needed to be frugal for the first couple of years of our marriage, frugality may not have become ingrained in our way of being. As it is, it took us close to 20 years to become financially well-off enough to not always feel like we were on the edge.

As my husband and I become more and more financially secure, we continue to make mostly frugal choices. We do allow ourselves to spend more in a few areas, but overall we choose to use our finances thoughtfully. We now spend a little more on higher quality items, especially in regards to food.We spend more to buy higher quality beef and more variety in off-season produce. But I still continue to bake all of our bread and cook almost entirely from scratch. We could afford for me to buy some more convenience foods or high quality bread products, but we choose to buy the basics and cook from those. At this point, it feels a bit like financial waste to spend more for convenience that we don't necessarily need.

We continue to build our cushion accounts for emergencies and our retirement. It's possible that we may wind up with far more than we will need in our later years. That's okay with us. We don't feel the need to spend up to the limit every month or use every last penny we have. I see both my husband and myself considering all manner of expenses every day. I believe that we will always carry frugality with us in this life.

How about you? Have you been careful with spending your entire life, or did circumstances lead you into frugal choices as an adult? As you grow more and more financially secure, do you think you'll significantly ease up with your spending, or will you just allow modest luxuries? Will you always consider yourself to be frugal?

Storage for My Dried Beans

Cleaning out the cool storage room today and I came across a few small bags of dried beans purchased in 2023. They're nearing the sell-by date on both varieties, chickpeas and navy beans. Of course I wanted to know just how much longer these will be good. I had other questions, too. So I did some reading. Here's what I found out.

Does that best-by date really mean that's when the beans will no longer be edible?

Several sites I read said dried beans are still edible even after expiry. It's a best-by date. The beans are still perfectly good to cook with for 1 or more years past the best-by date when stored in the manufacturer's plastic bag.

What are the enemies of dried beans?

moisture, direct sunlight, insects, oxygen, and heat

Can dried beans be kept in long-term storage for emergencies?

Yes, but they need to be kept from their "enemies." First, a little preventative work is recommended to kill off potential insect eggs by freezing the packages for 36-48 hours or heat kill on a baking sheet in a 250 degree oven for about 20 minutes prior to storage. Next, dried beans should be kept in airtight containers, like clean and dry canning jars. 

The jars do not need to be processed or heat sealed, and the lids can be previously used ones. Once in jars, or other airtight container, keep the beans in a cool and dark location. Storing in this simple manner, dried beans will last for up to 3 years past the best-by date. By the way, a 1-qt canning jar holds approximately 1 1/2 pounds of dried beans.

If you want to keep dried beans for 5 or more years, vacuum sealing is a better option, as it removes excess air from the package before sealing. Beyond vacuum sealing, various airtight containers used in conjunction with oxygen absorbers can extend the life of dried beans for a decade or longer. Finally, some folks store their dried beans in the freezer. Many sources indicate that dried beans will keep indefinitely in a freezer.

Do dried beans lose nutrients when stored long term?

Yes and no. The vitamins in the beans will degrade gradually. However, the protein, calories, and minerals will remain intact. 

How can I know if my dried beans have gone bad?

Smell and/or appearance will be the tell. If the dried beans have an off odor, beyond their usual dried bean-y smell, or if the beans have noticeable mold or fuzz on them, it's best to compost these beans. It's possible beans with a higher fat content can go rancid over time. And if moisture has become an issue where the beans are stored, and they're not in an airtight container, that's when mold can develop.

I went the simple route and stored my beans in clean canning jars, tucked into a cool and dark corner of our cool storage room. This room is on the north side of the house, and even in summer, this spot remains fairly cool. This is where I store our grains, vegetable oil, and canned goods. If nothing else comes of moving the found dried beans to canning jars, at least I'm now aware of how much I have and am making plans to use them up. I see some hummus in our very near future.

How about you? Have you ever had a problem with cooking old dried beans? How old would you think is too old for dried beans?