Article continues below ↓ advertisement | your ad here photo by galant Low-budget meals are in high demand. They have the reputation of being high in fat or lacking nutrition, but you have to consider the ingredients you’re using. If you’re cooking a fatty cut of meat, then avoid pairing it with high-fat side dishes. [...]
Article continues below ↓ advertisement | your ad here photo by Mavis DEAR SARA: I have a question about dry beans. Do they ever expire? My parents have sealed buckets of them that they stocked up on during the Y2K scare. Are they still safe to cook? They’re trying to pass some to me. They [...]
Article continues below ↓ advertisement | your ad here photo by donut The mismatch amount of hot dogs to a package of buns often leaves you with leftovers. If you overplan a party, you’ll have extra, too. Don’t waste them. I like to call the following “reucipes” (ri-yoos-uh-pees), which are tips for reusing food and [...]
photo by ms.Tea If you don’t have to be frugal, you probably let some of your penny-pinching strategies slide. But eventually you’ll notice that your budget is taking a hit because you’ve been slacking. You might even start wondering where your money is going. Don’t wait until you absolutely have to buckle down, because when [...]
photo by Jonny Hunter Coffee drinkers unite! It’s time to get green and frugal with your coffee grounds. Don’t home brew? Starbucks is on board with a program that provides free grounds for customers to use in their gardens. Establishments, family and friends can provide them, too. According to J. Trent of the University of [...]
photo by RBerteig Muffin pans can be a lifesaver when you have guests and don’t want to spend all your time cooking. Use your pan for brownies, meatloaf or cheesecake, or line them with foil and use them as gelatin molds. You’re limited only by your imagination. Here are a few frugal ideas to start [...]
photos by twelve paws DEAR SARA: I just found out that I’m pregnant, and I want to be prepared for baby expenses. I don’t see the need to spend a lot of money, but it’s difficult to pinpoint where frugality stops and excess begins. It’s such an exciting time. Can you offer a few frugal [...]
photo by crystl I’ve always been a cheap date. No, not the “check out my poster collection” type of cheap date, but the kind that enjoys a picnic in the park or splitting the bill. But there’s a fine line between being creatively frugal and fun and being downright tacky. On a first date, if [...]
photo by osbock My husband and I grocery shopped together for years. We weren’t the happy, hand-holding-while-shopping couple. No. We were more likely to be the couple circling the parking lot forever to find a close spot and having the great debate in Aisle 4 over which cereal to buy. Sometimes he even went as [...]
photo by ppdigital During my frugal journey, I learned that simplifying and decluttering were the keys to being better organized. It’s easier to keep a home neat and tidy when there’s not a lot of stuff in it. Being the perfectionist that I am, I became a minimalist. I used to pride myself on having [...]
photo by togood2b4gotton Backyard grilling is a great break from using the oven, which heats up the kitchen during the warmer months. My husband is the grillmaster, so I get to simply watch and supervise, or, as I like to call it, help. One of my favorite grilled meals is chicken kabobs. They cook quickly [...]
photo by laurenatclemson I’m not a total cheapskate, but I rarely purchase greeting cards. I am tempted on special occasions, but I resist. Looking through the card aisles, all I can think about is what I could give the recipient instead of a greeting card. I also can’t help but consider how quickly they are [...]
photo by Darlene B. We’ve grown to rely on some prepackaged foods. It’s become a force of habit to toss them into the shopping cart. But weekends are the perfect time to add a little down-home cooking flair to your standard meals. Making homemade bread, muffins or biscuits accomplishes that. Store-bought baked goods will never [...]
photo by ChezDeniseetLaudalino Small kitchen appliances can be an obsession. You don’t realize how many you own until you try to list them all. Some collect dust and serve as a reminder of your good intentions. One underutilized appliance is a conventional countertop blender. It’s often overshadowed by stand mixers with accessories, immersion hand blenders, [...]
DEAR SARA: I need tips on thawing frozen bread products. I’ve never been a fan of freezing bread products because I’m unsure how to thaw them, so they are either hard or soggy. Looking for suggestions, as I’ve been given a ton of bread products like hamburger/hot dogs rolls and will need to freeze them [...]
photo by crystl I’ve always been a cheap date. No, not the “check out my poster collection” type of cheap date, but the kind that enjoys a picnic in the park or splitting the bill. But there’s a fine line between being creatively frugal and fun and being downright tacky. On a first date, if [...]
