It’s a shame to throw away shoeboxes. I’ve often reused them to hold household items such as mail, CDs, coupons, odd small toys, photos, over-the-counter medications and to organize dressers. By accident, I realized they make great gift boxes, too. I bought some travel toys and crafts for my kids and placed them in spare [...]
Buying frugal gifts can be a challenge. Baby showers are one example of a special occasion where you don’t want to look like a cheapskate. Buying practical gifts makes the most sense. But if you’re not careful, even little gifts such as diapers and rattles can add up. Here are some inexpensive and practical gift [...]
Cool weather brings cravings for comfort-food favorites. One of my favorite autumn flavors is pumpkin. Pureed pumpkin is versatile and can be mixed into a variety of foods, such as chili, mashed potatoes, spaghetti sauce, oatmeal and applesauce. Add small amounts, from a tablespoon to 1 cup or more, until it suits your taste. To [...]
DEAR SARA: I went into a local salon this evening to donate 12 inches of my hair. When I was talking to my mom, she told me that when my sister donated her hair, they didn’t charge her for the haircut. I’m mad that I was charged. Is this normal? I’d do it again in [...]
photos by mar mar There have been times when I’ve wanted to make stuffed shells or lasagna but didn’t have ricotta or cottage cheese. I’d nix the idea and make something else, or, if desperate, I’d make a special trip to the store. Then I discovered I could make my own Ricotta cheese. It ended [...]
My frugal living forums play host to a bragging section, where you can post your latest great deals. Sometimes the same bargains can be found in other states, so members will often take advantage of the same deals. Some of the great buys are from garage sales, dollar stores and thrift stores. From an outside perspective, it seems as if tons of people are saving money. But are they?
photo by troismarteaux People sometimes question my frugality. Some expect me to be in guerrilla frugality mode 24/7. It’s clear that I’m not the cheapest woman. But I’m not exempt from tough times and watching what I spend. Recently, our family income was cut in half for a few months. If I’ve learned one thing [...]
Fixing school lunches can be a challenge. You want to avoid packing snacks that end up traded or in the cafeteria trash. It’s easy to get stuck in a rut, but you don’t always have to rely on prepackaged snacks. Here are a few homemade snack recipes for when you start to feel like you’re [...]
photo by Todd Ehlers It’s interesting what people will give up when they have to. Equally interesting are the things people don’t give up even when they probably should. I see a lot of parents spending an enormous amount of money on summer camp for their kids. I get numerous fliers from my children’s school [...]
photo by framboise Affordable pasta is a staple in any frugal pantry. With so many types and recipes available, you could eat it throughout the year and not grow tired of it. Pasta is versatile and can be made elegant even on a budget. Ever serve pasta that didn’t seem quite right for your recipe? [...]
Halloween can leave you with an abundance of candy. You probably bought the types you like, but even if you like the candy you bought, how much did you eat before Halloween? What about all the treats the kids bring home? And how many days are there before you’re surrounded by irresistible Christmas foods? Get [...]
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 [...]
A kitchen-inventory list helps you to plan and organize your meals. You waste less, too. It can be as easy as using a dry-erase board, notebook or printable sheets; you can use a simple slash system to keep track of what you have on hand. One example can be found on my forums. The first [...]
