photo by lucyfrench123

DEAR SARA: I wanted to know if you have any suggestions for frugal beauty supplies. I use the foam makeup triangles to apply foundation and concealer and have been wondering if you had any other suggestions. I usually end up using those sponges way too long, and I am sure there must be something better for the environment as well. — Emily, e-mail

DEAR EMILY: There are eco-friendly makeup tools at www.ecotools.com and www.phxglobal.com. The latter also has foam makeup sponges that are made from soybean oil instead of petroleum-based.

DEAR SARA: I’m wondering if I can get some cans of pop at the grocery store and freeze them to use as cold packs in our small cooler. We are making a 10-hour drive to visit friends, and I am planning to pack snacks so we don’t have to buy them when we stop for gas. We don’t normally drink soda, but my husband likes to buy it when we travel. — C.H., Kansas

DEAR C.H.: No, you can’t. It will explode in your freezer because it will expand when it freezes. Donna in Canada shares a messy story: “A few years ago, my post-teen sons were coming out to visit me for Christmas. I had everything ready and even bought two cases of canned cola. I set them down near the inside doorway, and forgot about them. Unfortunately, even though the house temperature was 68 F, there was a slight crack around the weather-stripping of the doorway. In the middle of the night: BOOM! I got up and one of the cans next to the doorway had frozen and exploded all over the walls, ceiling and floor. As I was cleaning it up, another can exploded, and what was I supposed to do next? If I put the cans outside where they would do less harm, they’d all freeze and explode. If they stayed inside, there might still be more exploding cans. I grabbed towels and blankets and covered up the whole mess. One or two more exploded, and then all was silent. It was scary, and the biggest mess I’ve ever cleaned up after a Christmas celebration.” Soda pop isn’t fun to clean up.

DEAR SARA: Tissue or toilet paper? Which is cheaper to blow your nose with? I have never bought tissues, but my mind was wondering today for some reason. — Lindsey, e-mail

DEAR LINDSEY: Toilet paper is cheaper. Of course, prices vary store to store and brand to brand. You can use coupons or find store brands for less to save money. Consider the packaging for both and the space they take up, too. You can find information on the unit pricing on store shelves. Using a knife, you can pry open the square-shaped facial tissue boxes and take a roll of toilet paper and remove the cardboard center. Place the roll inside the square box, and pull up from the inside of the roll and through the opening of the box.

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