photo by yvestown Ever clip or tear recipes from magazines? How about print them from a Web site? The first tip helps you avoid clutter — and grease stains and food splatters on your recipes. I like it better than using an accordion file. It makes a neat gift idea, too. If you like the [...]
photo by DeclanTM Going over your personal budget? You might decide to pare down on expenses such as premium cable or magazines. But some services can be great sources for frugal entertainment and/or contain information that helps you save time and money. So you might want to reconsider and cut corners elsewhere. As an alternative, [...]
photo by Mykl Roventine The new year offers a fresh start. It’s often the starting point to make changes. You might be great at creating resolutions and setting goals, but maybe you aren’t always successful at keeping and achieving them. It takes commitment to follow through, so your resolutions are more than wishes and broken [...]
photo by roboppy Canned fruit often goes on sale. While you prefer fresh, the low price and convenience are hard to beat. Open your pantry, and you might find you’ve got quite a few cans. Instead of opening it and simply dumping it into a bowl, you can use that fruit in delicious dessert recipes. [...]
photo by clairity DEAR SARA: I have been reading up on the use of cardboard shutters for the inside of your windows to help insulate against the cold weather. It mentioned that you cut the cardboard to a tight fit and cover it with tin foil. I was wondering if it helps. — Patty A., [...]
photo by clean wal-mart Ever store plastic grocery bags on the bottom of your bathroom wastebasket? The first tip is similar but even better. This would definitely help for the times the bag breaks as you’re removing it. LINE IT: Double- or triple-line your kitchen trash can. Just grab the full bag and go. The [...]
photo by janey henning Being frugal is eco-friendly. Some people don’t realize how frugality and green living go hand in hand. Both include being less wasteful, recycling and reusing items whenever possible. While you might want to invest in ways to save more money, such as buying a hybrid car, installing solar panels and shades, [...]
photo by CJ, Nevada Baking for New Year’s Day? You might focus on baking sweets and treats, but don’t overlook homespun baking for mealtime, too. Why settle for bread from the store when you can bake it yourself? There’s nothing as welcoming as the smell of freshly baked bread filling your home. Here are a [...]
For years, I’ve applied plastic to our windows, during winter, to keep the draft out. It’s not a fun job, and the plastic kits get costly. I love the first tip below. Plenty of stores and manufacturers throw it away, so you can probably get it for free by checking your local yellow pages and [...]
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 hawkshop Stores are flooded with seasonal merchandise. Decorations are bright and shiny, music is playing, and there’s bound to be something that you’re tempted to buy. It takes discipline to walk away without tossing things into your cart. Being aware of your spending means you can enjoy a debt-free holiday. Choosing cheaper alternatives [...]
DEAR SARA: How do I remove hot glue from clothes? My son left some hot-glue sticks in his pockets, and they got washed. I have hot glue on socks, and now I found some on some undies. Do you know how to remove it? Thanks. — Jettsmom, e-mail
When your pantry is low on supplies, it’s time to get creative. If you’re down to a box of lasagna noodles and don’t have any other type of pasta, don’t despair. They have uses other than to make lasagna. These tips will work if you have leftover cooked lasagna noodles, too. You can break them [...]
