photo by henry bloomfield Souvenirs can be expensive. I suggest bringing home pieces of the scenery, such as rocks, sand or shells, to display in mason jars or in your garden. Or press flowers and leaves. Of course, check that there aren’t any rules against taking these items. You can take plenty of photos, and [...]
photo by boboroshi Frugality isn’t cheap living or voluntary poverty. Whether you’re frugal by choice or necessity, you make the most of your hard-earned money and waste less, too. When you strip away the excess in your life, you discover a sense of truth and authenticity. Your identity is less involved. It can be an [...]
It’s time to spring clean. One overwhelming task can be organizing toys. It can be next to impossible if your child knows what you’re up to. Suddenly, toys that have been long since forgotten become precious novelties. And, as a parent, you don’t want to be the meanie who threw away a childhood favorite toy [...]
photo by dunham Chicken again? Sometimes you have to change things up a bit, or meals become dreaded chores. You can make your dinner familiar but offer a new take on it. Everything but the salad is baked in the oven at the same temperature, so you can time it perfectly. You can swap out [...]
photo by AzAdam DEAR SARA: I ended up with several small bottles of tonic water. I feel bad throwing them out. What can tonic water be used for other than in mixed drinks? I don’t like the taste of it! — Becca, Texas DEAR BECCA: Tonic water contains quinine. It can help digestion and ease [...]
photo by ivoryelephantphotography The first three tips share ways to reuse milk jugs. How do you reuse them? Many people recycle them, but a large percentage are still hitting landfills. So it’s important to reuse them when possible and recycle instead of simply throwing them away. I shared additional ways to reuse milk jugs last [...]
photo by D’arcy Norman Not everyone is frugal. Often, you might think frugality is nothing more than good old common sense. Sadly, what appears to be obvious for some people isn’t even a consideration for others. Maybe you’ve heard frugal suggestions yet have never applied them. Frugality is in the news on a regular basis. [...]
photo by Liane In previous columns, I’ve mentioned organizing recipes and coupons, creating a price book to track product prices, a garden journal and menu planning. A frugal notebook is a place to organize all these useful tools. It’s easy to put together and cheap, too. All you need is a binder, page protectors, dividers, [...]
Pasta salads are classic dishes for spring and summer. Their vibrant colors, numerous flavor combinations and scalability make them a hit for family and friends. They’re easy to make ahead of time and with ingredients you have on hand. To give your pasta salad added appeal, experiment with fresh herbs, cheeses, interesting pasta shapes and [...]
photo by seanmcgrath DEAR SARA: How do you clean a flat-screen monitor? I could use glass cleaner on my old glass screen, but what do I use on this one? — Dee, New York DEAR DEE: I use a microfiber cloth. Flannel works well, too. Dampen the cloth with either water or water diluted with [...]
Gardening tips are my favorite. The first tip is a terrific way to haul your garden tools and a great second use for a household item. Just think, you don’t have to go running back to the garage or shed for a forgotten tool. With garage-sale season under way, you can keep your eyes open [...]
photo by Mark Strozier Money doesn’t buy happiness. If you take a look around, you’ll discover that there are joyful benefits to the recession. Not simply monetary opportunities in real estate, airfare, cheap stocks or from businesses struggling and discounting prices or liquidating and going under but in your personal life. It’s an involuntary pause [...]
photo by ecram1 It’s been said that everything old is new again. So if you have vintage accessories packed away or collecting dust, take a fresh look at them to spark creative new uses. If you don’t have anything boxed up or hanging around, a brief trip to a local thrift store can inspire you, [...]
photo by mel b Grocery prices are going up, and it makes sense to focus on your food budget. One way is to make an organized menu plan. For some people, it’s easy to do. You simply list your family favorites and organize them week to week. Keep the list handy in a notebook, on [...]
photo by Lel4nd Being frugal can be difficult when you’re just starting out as a young couple. Newlyweds are filled with hopes, dreams and challenges. To help young couples get off on the right foot, readers share their advice. COMMUNICATE: You have to be on the same page with finances, or it can cause huge [...]
photo by almostbunnies DEAR SARA: I’m always looking for new gift-wrapping ideas. Everyone loves the way I wrap their gifts. I’d like to use the first letter of a friend’s name on a wrapped gift box, but I’m out of ideas on what material to use to form the letter. I don’t want to use [...]
photo by antaresjhw The reality of the cost of a wedding hits hard fairly early in the planning. Something’s got to give, and it can be difficult to decide where to trim costs without looking cheap. With the majority of the budget typically allocated to the reception, one area where you can cut costs is [...]
