photo by wordridden
I don’t mind sometimes using disposable baking pans. It’s a handy way to do a large baking session and not have to continue washing pans. You can pop them in the freezer or bring food to someone without worrying about getting your pan back, too. Often times, you can wash them with ease and reuse them, too. But please recycle and consider non-disposable options.

ROASTING PAN: I got sick of soaking and scrubbing my roasting and broiler pan. Maybe some people have more time and patience than I do. I started buying disposable aluminum pans. They cost only $25 for 100! My sanity has been restored. — Kelly H., Michigan
Added note from Sara: Aluminum foil and parchment paper can be used as liners. I love my Le Creuset enamel coated cast iron baking pans (favorite thing I’ve ever bought myself) and Nelco roaster (has a roasting rack) for their ease of clean up. You can soak your pans in a solution of hot water and powdered dishwasher detergent, too.

EYE-MAKEUP REMOVER: I use a plastic ketchup bottle, the kind you can purchase at a department store with the screw-on pointed top with cap to prevent spills. I fill it with olive oil. Using a cotton ball, I find this to be an inexpensive and soothing solution for removing eye makeup.

Also, a tip for next year: Each of my family members has his or her own Christmas stocking, and we love to fill them at Christmastime with little inexpensive extras, but I don’t have a fireplace from which to hang them. My daughter suggested that I use a wooden quilt rack and tie each stocking on with ribbon, spreading them equally along both sides to more evenly distribute the weight as they are filled. Quilt racks can often be found at antique stores or resale shops. I found one for $4. — Dorothy W., Indiana

ORGANIZE SPICES: I group my spices on a Lazy Susan by first letter to make them easy to find. They are in their original container or in a labeled container that I refill using a larger, economical bottle of that spice. — Darlene B., New York

REFILL: Purchase large cans of fruit, catsup, syrup, dill pickles, etc., from outlets. On a Friday night, the family can gather together with saved bottles and fill them up. Music for that hour is good, and a prize for the person who didn’t spill while refilling! Have young ones refill salt shakers, napkin holders or toothpick holder. — Ginner, e-mail

CLEAN SOCKS: I use white washcloths in the kitchen to clean counters. They end up stained. I soaked them in dishwashing detergent and water, and the stains came out. Guess what? It worked on socks, too. Bleach weakens socks, so this works great for us. — Paula, Pennsylvania

DUAL-PURPOSE HANGER: I couldn’t find my wreath hanger this year. Then I remembered I use it on the laundry-room door to hang clothes on hangers. You can use it on most doors. It’s handy when my husband or I need to wear a suit instead of buying a valet stand. You can find them cheap after Christmas. — Heather, e-mail

CLEAN FACES: My kids always had stained mustaches from colored drinks like Kool-Aid. It was always right before we needed to go somewhere. Another mom at school told me to use vinegar or toothpaste on a damp washcloth. I couldn’t believe it. It came off without scrubbing. — Dana, e-mail

SAVE ON TEXTBOOKS: You can rent books at chegg.com for a big discount. You can sell your textbooks, too. They plant a tree for every book rented, sold or donated. — Craig M., Ohio

SALAD BAR: I’ve noticed that if I need to make salad (I’m single), the salad bar at the grocery store often has cheaper prices than the bags of salad they sell in the produce section when you figure the cost of salad toppings that might be wasted. — Laura S., Florida

NO SPOTS: I use a couple of drops of dishwasher rinse aid in my rinse-water tub when I hand-wash my dishes. It prevents spots from hard water and air-drying. — Maggie, Maryland

What’s your best frugal tip or shortcut?

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