photo by synaptic happenings In a past column, I talked about taking care of yourself when you’re sick. Several readers reached out and said their homes fell apart whenever they were sick. Apparently, taking that much-needed break would result in more work for them to face than if they forced themselves to press on and [...]
photo by shell s One way to save on food costs is to create a meal plan. You don’t want to face the same old chicken every week, but it’s easy to get stuck in a rut. I tend to plan a week’s worth of meals at a time. Sometimes, I’ll have free time and [...]
photo by Athenamama DEAR SARA: What supplies do I need to freeze meals? I would like to make a bunch of meals on the weekend and freeze them for the week. What type of containers are the best and cheapest for doing this? — M.C., Minnesota DEAR M.C.: You can find food-grade plastic and quality [...]
photo by Rob The first tip was shared by a reader, and it seems like a good deal. Contact the airline, and ask them their policy and rules before buying vouchers on Web sites such as eBay. I called American Airlines, Northwestern Airlines and United Airlines. AA’s representative told me that the flight coupons given [...]
I ate a lot of Asian food as a kid. Too young to know better, I ate fried minnows, and we often had sesame candies instead of treats like gum or candy bars. Having a friend sleep over became an hour long explanation of what we were having for dinner. They’d ask questions like “What’s that purple stuff?” And I’d reply, “Don’t eat it, or you’ll be sorry.” Fortunately, my mom would use utensils when my friends visited. Of course, I’d have to ask her to do it. Read: Beg her to do it. While I appreciate my family’s culture now, as a teen, I simply wanted to fit in.
photo by jek in the box Being frugal doesn’t mean you have to sacrifice good food. Serving common foods in new ways helps to combat the frugal-dinner doldrums. Creativity can stem from having fewer ingredients to work with, too. Out of an ingredient or short on time? Some substitutions will give similar results for less [...]
photo by almostbunnies DEAR SARA: I’m always looking for new gift-wrapping ideas. Everyone loves the way I wrap their gifts. I’d like to use the first letter of a friend’s name on a wrapped gift box, but I’m out of ideas on what material to use to form the letter. I don’t want to use [...]
The first tip is great for pet lovers. It’s simple and easy, which makes it a good solution for craft shows, fundraisers and homemade gifts, too. KITTEN MITTEN: I started making catnip cat toys to sell. I use baby mittens, booties and baby socks that I find at thrift stores and garage sales. I add [...]
photo by hansol Whether you’re new or an old hat to frugality, you might face issues with clutter. You start saving or hanging onto things because you might need them someday. It can be challenging to figure out what to save and what to toss. One reader, Janet from Toronto, says: “There is a psychological [...]
photo by Elaine Birthday-party invitations roll in throughout the year. Usually, choosing a gift is fairly painless. Then there’s that one invitation that requests “no gifts” that stops us dead in our tracks. This divides people into three camps. One group thinks: Cool. Party on without spending any money. Another group of people wonders whether [...]
photo by claireb707 Once regarded as turning meals into gray mush, slow cookers have made a comeback as a frugal cook’s appliance of choice. And for good reason: They offer hands-off cooking, which can free up time for you to do other things while still serving a nutritious meal. Slow cookers are in such high [...]
photo by random dave A wok is a great addition to the kitchen. It can easily replace various cooking pans and appliances, because you can fry, boil, smoke and steam in them. The wok ranks right up there with the slow cooker as a must-have item for the frugal cook. NO-STOVE COOKING: I always use [...]
photo by Thomas Pix Are you prepared for the holiday season? Yes, I’m going there. What’s the matter? Too early for you to think about the holidays? If you’re always kicking yourself for waiting until the last minute, this nudge is for you. This year, it’s going to different. You have plenty of time to [...]
Packing a lunch can help you save money at work. Keep foods at your desk or in an emergency snack box in your car with items such as granola bars, peanut butter, crackers, microwave popcorn, applesauce or fruit cups, soup, oatmeal, nuts, sunflower seeds, dry cereal or dried fruit. This helps in case you are [...]
photo by RichinMN Hope chests are making a comeback. Parents want to plan ahead for their kids and save money. If you want to do the same, you can buy a quality cedar chest that can become a family heirloom, or simply start out with a box or use extra space in a closet. If [...]
photo by Gaetan Lee DEAR SARA: I heard that a plastic laundry basket could be used as a cheap bassinet/crib for a baby. What are your thoughts on this? — Lori, e-mail DEAR LORI: I’m not a medical expert, but I wouldn’t use it. I realize many people used to let their babies sleep in [...]
photo by ookikioo When I began my frugal journey, I was highly motivated to tighten the tightwad belt, but sometimes I felt poor. This feeling was due to the transition from living above my means to living within my means. I was making leaps and bounds with my personal finances, but it took hard work [...]
