Your best summer value: homemade ice pops
July 10, 2009 by Jennifer Chait
Filed under Frugal Gourmet
I blog about ice pops a lot because I heart their greenness and value. Then I recently realized we’re mid-way into summer and I’ve yet to utter a single word about them here at Thrifty Mommy. Bad me!
Why ice pops are essential for thrifty families:
You get to use up all the leftovers: I’ll freeze darn near anything – chocolate milk, old smashed berries, carrots that will go bed soon, older yogurt, bottom of the jar blackberry jam with water, and more. Seriously, if it can be blended in the blender, I’ll do it and freeze it, and there’s a 95% chance my son Cedar will eat it without thinking twice. Don’t believe me? I once made a huge list of things to freeze, and still it’s just the tip of the iceberg, or the ice pop as the case may be – 32 Unique Homemade Popsicle Recipes & Ideas
It’s so cheap compared to store bought: EVEN if you don’t use up the leftovers to make them, your homemade pops will cost far less than store bought. Get yourself some long lasting quality molds plus one blender and you’re in ice pop business for years to come (see some molds I like).
It saves on the garbage bill: Even if you don’t care a snot about the environment, I bet you do care about the garbage bill. In summer this can go way up. The kids are home, the garbage is full of ice pop trash – what a mess and an extra cost! Reusable ice pop molds end this issue.
It’s cheap entertainment: Now, maybe my son just likes the simple things, but going through the fridge, choosing ingredients, and concocting fun blender messes to freeze does keep him entertained for a good hour.
Personally, I’m hard pressed to find a better year round value, let alone summer value than homemade ice pops. What do you think? Let me know what your best summer money saver is in the comments.
