Things which have nothing to do with food that I do to save money:

I cut everyone's hair in my house (husband, 3 kids, 2 dogs), except myself. And I'm good at it. BIG money-savings. My husband wouldn't let me anywhere near him, despite my track record with the kids, until I was laid off from my job in 2009. Silver lining.

I run instead of going to a gym. Okay fine that's also because I hate gyms.

I paint my own toenails. Also, good at it by now.

Thing I do to save money that has everything to do with food:

Make my own junk food.

And buy fruit in season. Like these plums. It takes, like, forever for stone fruits to really really really be in season.

And you know what happens when you eat fruit that's not in season. It costs a million dollars, and it doesn't even taste good. Plums especially. Out-of-season plums make me make a fish face when I eat them. I blame my looks on out-of-season plums.

But now is the time. And the season. For plums.

These bars have a humble shortbread crust (shortbread = no leavener) and a slightly jazzier crumble topping. They're what to do with your plums.

The crumble topping is just some of the shortbread with some brown sugar and cinnamon, and a bit more flour, thrown in.

Well, not necessarily thrown in, but you know what I mean.

I may not be Alice Waters or anything (a'doy), but I know when to eat plums. And, even better, I know how to bake 'em up just right. Here's how: