I need your input please

on Oct 3rd, 2008I need your input please

I need your help, please, if you can take a moment to click a button. I think most people have been affected by the failing economy — I certainly have — and I am wondering what course to take with this blog and even whether to continue it.

I’ve devised a poll that I hope you’ll participate in. It will remain open for one week. If more than one answer applies, you will be able to vote more than once. Thanks in advance!

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10 responses so far ellaella misc.

10 Responses to “I need your input please”

# Word Banditon 03 Oct 2008 at 10:56 am

Well, I’d hate to see you leave, but understand if you’d like to use your time more wisely.

It will be heartbreaking not to visit.

Perhaps considering archiving the blog and keep it running for better days?

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gqsT4xnKZPg&feature=related

Word Bandit’s last blog post..And the Winner Is!
# ellaellaon 03 Oct 2008 at 4:01 pm

Archive? That happens regularly. Heavens, I’d never destroy something that took me so long to create.

It’s not so much a matter of time as trying to figure out the needs and/or interests of return readers. Since I choose not to have ads I don’t have to worry about one-time people who get here via search engine, although that’s the bulk of my traffic as with any blog of this sort. It just makes no sense to prepare and post things such as, oh, crab bisque off the top of my head, if my returning and regular readers are focused on their budgets. I can splurge on something like that but not 4 times a week.

BTW, the link is the reason your comment went to moderation. Anti-spam measure.

Thanks for your input!
# Stellaon 03 Oct 2008 at 4:08 pm

I clicked “No, and I don’t expect it to”, but only because I’ve always been on a budget. For the past 10 years I’ve either been in school and broke, or paying student loans and broke! I just graduated with my Master’s, so I’m hoping I can loosen the budget strings a little - but I’ll still continue to eat basically the same foods I did before (which is mostly produce and lean proteins, very little processed foods). I do think it’s much cheaper to buy whole foods and cook at home “from scratch” (ha!). I don’t use coupons unless I had already intended on buying that item and happen upon a coupon or sale - it’s way too easy for me to buy things I don’t need because I think I’m getting a deal.

And please do continue this blog! I don’t comment often, but I check your page every day!
# ellaellaon 04 Oct 2008 at 11:23 am

Hi, Stella. Thanks for voting and especially for taking the time to leave the comment. I understand your situation fully and I believe thrift really is a virtue. I do practice the economies I write about and I use coupons but, like you, only for things I was going to buy anyway. I’m a sucker for new products, that often helps cushion the disappointment if they’re losers.

Not only is it cheaper to cook at home, it’s far healthier as you undoubtedly know. And having moved to bland New England after living in NY and DC, there are many ethnic foods I’d never be able to eat again if I didn’t make them. They’re just not found here. Often, the ethnic foods I do find in restaurants are so under-seasoned for the “delicate” local palate that they’re not worth buying.

But I digress! I probably will continue the blog but it might become more of a blogazine with more articles and fewer recipes. Could you live with that?

Thanks again and have a super weekend!
# thebeaddenon 04 Oct 2008 at 3:36 pm

I clicked on No, and I don’t expect to.
Just because we don’t eat out often. We grow most of our own veggies and freeze them. We buy local/organic meats and are used to paying more for it. But food is are one indulgence and I would give up many other things before I would change my eating habits.

thebeadden’s last blog post..I Just Opened My E-mail and Got This Gem
# MusEditionson 05 Oct 2008 at 1:03 am

Don’t go, ella!!!
Well, you must do what you will, but just thought I’d weigh in. And, speaking of weighing, I weigh less when I cook at home than when I go out…but now I think of it, there could be other reasons for that, like…flavor? (Nah, I’m not so bad.)
I checked “No, but might in future”. I don’t buy meat, so don’t have to worry about cheaper cuts, but had recently started to buy more grains and cereals in bulk. That makes a huge difference, as does getting my gourmet treats from Trader Joe’s.

MusEditions’s last blog post..I answer questions; you look at pictures
# ellaellaon 05 Oct 2008 at 8:12 am

bead - I envy your ability to grow those veggies. I don’t know what puts people off produce more: the inferior choices at supermarkets or finding good produce and cooking it to death. And I, too, would rather cut back elsewhere.

Thanks for participating.
# ellaellaon 05 Oct 2008 at 8:17 am

Muse - I’m not sure I’m going. See above.

Did I know you know don’t eat meat and forgot that? If so, my apologies. Brain on overload lately. You’re so right about the savings by buying in bulk. I find the most significant savings are in buying herbs and spices that way. ie: $5 for a small jar of bay leaves or 30 cents for the same amount in bulk. I keep a minimum of 50 or 60 herbs/spices on hand, so that really adds up for me.

Thanks for your input.
# MusEditionson 07 Oct 2008 at 4:12 am

Oh, no apologies necessary, I was just realizing that I wouldn’t have to cut back in that area. I do eat meat occasionally, I just don’t cook it; handling raw meat freaks me out! I’m sure I could get along quite well without it altogether, but if someone wants to make me a nice stew, I’ll happily indulge.
Spices! I hadn’t thought of that. There are some I hardly use, but for those few I do use a lot, I shall investigate; thanks!

MusEditions’s last blog post..I answer questions; you look at pictures
# ellaellaon 07 Oct 2008 at 9:51 am

Ah, that’s right, Muse. Try soy crumbles in the chili, although you don’t really have to handle ground meat. Just dump it!

The spices you don’t use a lot are a perfect candidate for buying in bulk too. Spices lose their power so quickly — a year or less in many cases — so you can buy just a small amount and not throw out any that go bad while they sit around.

Thrift, baby, thrift! (or is that drill…)