photo by chotda The holidays are almost here. Many people could kick themselves for not setting aside money. Again. Not to mention the long list of people to which they “need” to give gifts. More people are making homemade gifts this year. Many of my frugal readers share their anxiety over whether their homemade gifts [...]
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? [...]
DEAR SARA: I’ve been looking for deviled-egg variations. How do you make your deviled eggs? — Debbie, Maryland
DEAR DEBBIE: I like my deviled eggs simple. I combine mayonnaise, yolks and mustard. It’s the basic and traditional way. I don’t like pale filling because it looks unappetizing. As for variations, I wouldn’t turn down stuffed eggs with the following additions: pickle relish, Dijon mustard, cheese, crumbled bacon, paprika, ham, olives, celery, chives, Tabasco sauce or Old Bay seasoning. Sometimes I pipe the filling and sometimes not.
photo by ilovebutter I haven’t noticed my eyes tearing up when cutting onions in a while. I attribute that to using fresh onions, working quickly, cutting the stem end before the root end and using a sharp knife. I’ve heard tips such as using chilled onions or applying vinegar to your cutting board. The first [...]
photo by eudaemonius Family celebrations are the perfect time for pies. If you’re a pie lover, you look forward to this time of year. While store-bought frozen or bakery pies are fine for some families, others wouldn’t dare serve anything but homemade for the holidays. Often, people don’t bake their own pies because they’re intimidated [...]
While price comparison shopping, shopping sales and pruning your gift list are viable ways to save some money on gifts, there are additional creative ways to save. There’s nothing wrong with spending money if you have it, but it’s silly to overspend and charge yourself into a deep hole. Regardless what you do or how [...]
photo by uhuru1701 On my frugal forums, we have a section for frugal-living challenges. This allows readers to set frugal goals and be held accountable by peers. This is one of the greatest motivators, because not only do you have a place to share your own peaks and valleys, you can get inspired by others. [...]
photo by exfordy DEAR SARA: How do you arrange in drawers those many plastic containers and lids? They take up so much room and are hard to “match” up when you need them. — Vickie E., New York DEAR VICKIE E.: I don’t have a good solution for organizing lids in drawers. A drawer is [...]
photo by thunderchild I’ve often looked at the silica-gel packets that come in shoes and wondered what to do with them. I know silica gel is sometimes used to dry fresh flowers, but I never thought to use it for saving seeds. The following tip got me to thinking about other ways to use them. [...]
photo by jswieringa If there isn’t money enough to go around, starting an emergency fund seems impossible. If an emergency happens, like a car breaking down, people pop the repair bill on their credit card. When life’s emergencies continue to happen, the debt increases and this cycle becomes a financial mess. You need money that [...]
photo by eudaemonius Family celebrations are the perfect time for pies. If you’re a pie lover, you look forward to this time of year. While store-bought frozen or bakery pies are fine for some families, others wouldn’t dare serve anything but homemade for the holidays. Often, people don’t bake their own pies because they’re intimidated [...]
photo by Bill Robertson Be smart when you’re in the market for new appliances. You don’t get much advance notice when a major appliance breaks. This leaves you in a vulnerable situation because you rely on these appliances on a daily basis. These big-ticket items can cost you a lot more if you’re not prepared. [...]
D ear Sara: I have some custom sheer drapery that came with the house. I can take it down, but dry cleaning is recommended. I would rather use the money for another project. Can you suggest a way to clean the sheers that does NOT require professional dry cleaning? — mfedor, forums Dear mfedor: There [...]
photo by roguesunmedia Tracking your spending is a good way to see weaknesses in your budget. Tracking is useful for weight loss, too. The first tip shares one way to do your tracking. How do you track your spending? TRACKING: I picked up a journal-type calendar for 75 percent off on clearance. It cost me [...]
