Your garden can go from zero to a ton of zucchini all at once. You can sneak only so many onto your neighbor’s doorstep and into unlocked cars. You can donate some to your local food pantry or freeze it to use later. Zucchini is wonderful grated and added to sandwiches or tossed into spaghetti [...]
photo by ginnerobot DEAR SARA: When we have tacos for supper, we always have plenty of leftover taco meat. What kind of meals could I make with the leftover meat? Thanks! — Carrie, Kentucky DEAR CARRIE: You can make less meat or make most any dish that has ground beef, such as taco-salad, soup, casseroles, [...]
photo by deapeajay Having cafe-quality coffee at home is easy with the first tip. Even leftover coffee has a refreshing and tasty use, so it’s not wasted. If you don’t want to bother with frothing milk, add some chocolate syrup to the coffee and top with whipped cream instead. CHEAP LATTE: I start with a [...]
It seems simple: Protect your skin with sunscreen to avoid sunburn. But sometimes you might forget, and it’s hours before it becomes evident you’re burned. For serious burns, seek medical attention. But to get you through the first 24 hours of a mild sunburn (read: no blisters) that stings and causes discomfort, take some ibuprofen [...]
photo by toastyken As temperatures rise, staying cool can be a challenge. Some people simply blast the air conditioning. If you can’t give up the air, you can use fans in addition to it and program the thermostat higher to save. But if you don’t have air or you want to save money, there are [...]
photo by swanksalot Pineapple offers a sweet, tropical flair for summer dishes. It’s a good source of vitamin C, and when using canned pineapple, the juice can be reserved for drinking, cooking or baking. To cut fresh pineapple, place the fruit on its side. Use an electric knife, and cut a 1/2 inch to 1 [...]
photo by babyparentingguide DEAR SARA: Is it safe to put warm chicken in the fridge? — Linda S., e-mail DEAR LINDA: Often, you’ll hear advice to let food cool on the counter before placing it in the refrigerator. This can be helpful so your refrigerator doesn’t work harder to keep its temperature. However, according to [...]
photo by bigcityal The first tip might make you feel itchy, but keep it in mind if you ever get a poison-ivy rash. Learn to identify poison ivy so you can avoid it. According to Poison-Ivy.org, the oil from poison ivy is extremely stable and will stay potent essentially forever. So be sure to wear [...]
photo by misocrazy Meat and poultry can be a large part of your grocery bill, but there are ways to keep the cost down. Going vegan might not be something you’re interested in pursuing, but you can incorporate meatless dishes once a week or more frequently if you desire. How do you save on the [...]
photo by Andrea R. Summer dips are delicious to serve at backyard barbecues, parties and potlucks. They’re easy to make, can be served with most anything, transport well and are kid-friendly, too. Hot dips can be kept warm in a slow cooker, and cold dips can be placed on a container of ice. Homemade dip [...]
Summer can cost a fortune. For some families, many weekends are already accounted for. There are baby showers, weddings and anniversaries, reunions, birthdays, work and family picnics, and various other parties to attend. Cha-ching. You don’t want to look like a cheapskate, but affording it all can be tough on your budget. Here are a [...]
My frugal living forums play host to a bragging section, where you can post your latest great deals. Sometimes the same bargains can be found in other states, so members will often take advantage of the same deals. Some of the great buys are from garage sales, dollar stores and thrift stores. From an outside perspective, it seems as if tons of people are saving money. But are they?
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 Paul Mayne Channel your inner MacGyver. Why throw out common household items if they can be reused? Recycling is wonderful. Maybe you recycle what you can and then move on. But if you can reuse your ordinary stuff, that’s even better. Finding a second use for items such as milk jugs is simple. [...]
photo by adiything DEAR SARA: What’s the difference between a consignment shop and a thrift shop? — C. York, e-mail DEAR C. YORK: Consignment shops sell items that are brought in by individuals. The store helps people sell their unwanted items. In other words, they buy some of their inventory outright from people. They split [...]
photo by AlishaV The first tip serves as a reminder that you don’t have to buy a jet-spray mop. It’s a simple way to maintain a clean floor without a mop and bucket. Be sure to have good ventilation when using ammonia. A 50/50 mix of vinegar and water works well, too. SPRAY AND MOP: [...]
