photo by Darwin Bell Ever get onion smell on your hands when cooking? I always seem to forget little tips to remedy this. The first tip reminded me that you can use a stainless-steel knife or spoon, or used coffee grounds. I’ve been receiving a lot of requests for homemade gifts, so I have three [...]
photo by flattop341 While cutting back on dryer usage, using coupons, packing a lunch and canceling costly add-ons like premium cable and phone features can help you save money, there are other strategies that should not be ignored. FOCUS ON YOUR ATTITUDE ABOUT MONEY: Bad attitudes often include denial, lack of knowledge and a sense [...]
photo by trialsanderrors Parents who work outside of the home have to be creative. After a full day’s work, you have little time to juggle the rest of the evening of tasks and still make room for family. You probably have your own routine, but maybe I can share a new tip that can help [...]
photo by jonny hunter DEAR SARA: With the price of eggs going through the roof, does the size of eggs really matter that much in recipes that call for eggs? I figured if I downsized my eggs, I might be able to buy them without feeling sick to my stomach. (There is a 70-cent difference [...]
photo by webg33k Many frugal folks buy items that pay for themselves over time. For me, this includes compact fluorescent bulbs, a cooler, a cappuccino machine, a battery charger, low-flow shower heads, a rechargeable shaver, a thermos, a TiVo, quality cookware, carpet cleaner and a water cooler, to name a few. Some of my choices [...]
photo by twid There never seem to be enough hours in a day. Sometimes you can’t even remember the last time you laughed or simply enjoyed a moment of doing nothing at all. Ever in your car at a stoplight and glance over at the car next to you and everyone in the car looks [...]
photo by trialsanderrors Often, frugal strategies simply won’t work well depending on where you live or personal circumstances. For example, some people can’t hang clothes out to dry on a clothesline because of neighborhood restrictions, but you can still dry indoors. Although you might not be able to apply some frugal tips, there are still [...]
It’s time to plan ahead for the busy gift-giving season. Why not make something yourself? Homemade gifts from the comfort of your kitchen will stretch your holiday budget. They contain inexpensive ingredients and are simple to make. They can easily be made ahead of time, and, when given early, they can be enjoyed and shared [...]
photo by D’arcy Norman DEAR SARA: How do you keep your butter soft and spreadable? We’ve switched from margarine to butter. — Carol, e-mail DEAR CAROL: I simply take it out of the refrigerator before I need it so it has a chance to soften. I’m not very picky. I’ll scrape thin layers for bread [...]
photo by erix! photo by geek2nurse Homemade gifts are a popular topic this year. While do-it-yourself baked goods and gift baskets are great, I really like the first three creative tips from readers. They would be well received by most anyone. They’re fairly cheap, too. PHOTO GIFT IDEAS: Grab your camera and look for letters [...]
photo by 427 The holidays are approaching quickly, and the tension is building. Readers are sharing their seasonal planning tips. Some people have it broken down to weekly tasks. They’re cleaning and organizing and buying ingredients, and holiday cards are ready to be mailed. But even with the best plans in place, the holidays can [...]
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 common household items. My readers share their tasty ways [...]
Foil-packet meals are ideal for camping and open-fire cooking. But they can be made at home and cooked in the oven or on the grill, too. You can make sides such as potatoes or vegetables or entire meals. Grease your foil with nonstick cooking spray. Stack the ingredients in the middle of the foil, and [...]
photo by trenttsd New parents can have a tough time being frugal. There are so many baby products available. Some are easier to do without than others. Whether or not a baby product is useless is debatable. But you can adopt a few frugal strategies to save money, such as buying some used baby items [...]
photo by D’arcy Norman DEAR SARA: How do you keep your butter soft and spreadable? We’ve switched from margarine to butter. — Carol, e-mail DEAR CAROL: I simply take it out of the refrigerator before I need it so it has a chance to soften. I’m not very picky. I’ll scrape thin layers for bread [...]
You can look fashionable on a budget. Buy solid-colored and classic clothing with clean lines, such as crews, turtlenecks, V-necks, tailored jackets and cardigans, pencil skirts, pants and jeans. You can pare down to 10 to 20 articles of clothing that are easy to layer, mix and match, and add accessories. When your wardrobe is [...]
