photo by Joe Shlabotnik You try to get a lot done in a day. Maybe you make lists, label, set reminders, or create shortcuts to save some time or make the best use of it. Often, you do some tasks so frequently that you start to perfect them. It gets to where you can streamline [...]
photo by Tom Higgins Weekend cooking is the perfect time to make a hearty meal. You have more time to prepare dinner. The meat doesn’t need to be pounded, so there’s a mini-shortcut on time, but not on flavor. The following recipes can be altered to suit your tastes. For example, the meat tastes especially [...]
photo by miss rogue DEAR SARA: How hard is it to color your own hair? Is it messy? I want to use a more low-impact/natural hair color. However, all the hair salons in this town that use these products are so expensive. I don’t want to pay $130 for a haircut and color. I’d like [...]
photo by jc westbrook Ever cringe when you see your old nylon or natural bristle pastry or basting brush? They always look horrible. The first tip shares an idea for a modern replacement. You won’t have stray bristles in your food, and it can go directly into your dishwasher after you’re done using it. SILICONE [...]
photo by thebittenword Buying in larger quantities can save money, but that’s only if you use it up before it goes bad. Many households waste food. Having a waste-not, want-not kitchen can be a key strategy in this economy. How do you waste less food? Here are a few suggestions. FRUIT: Ripe bananas can be [...]
photo by aprilandrandy Frugality takes creativity. Sometimes you have to be a little sneaky when the family won’t buy into your plans to save money. Secret solutions can be revealed after family members have successfully accepted them unknowingly. Some people would never keep frugal secrets. I’m not suggesting you hide important financial decisions, but you [...]
photo by Brisbane falling Rice and potatoes are a mainstay in many kitchens, so it’s easy to get into the rut of preparing them the same way. Next time you want to make them, try one of the following recipes. Three are easy side dishes, and one is a main dish. Cream-Cheese Potatoes 10 medium [...]
photo by jamieanne Prepare your home for guests by making festive desserts that go well with coffee and tea. They’re a sweet ending to any holiday meal and a nice change from traditional desserts, such as Christmas cookies or fruit pies. The pumpkin squares and coffee cake can be wrapped and transported easily to send [...]
photo by koadmonkee DEAR SARA: What do you do when dinner doesn’t go as planned? We stick to a strict meal plan. However, we’ve run into problems with it sometimes when something goes wrong and it can’t be fixed. For example, if the meat for the meatballs is bad and I don’t know it until [...]
photo by postcool The first tip is a creative way to wrap and give a gift. You could easily replace crepe paper with yarn. These work well for Secret Santa gifts for co-workers or to have on hand for any emergency last-minute gifts. You can embellish the outside with a jingle bell, silk flower or [...]
Tightwads have their limits. If you’re frugal, you might buy the occasional convenience product, but you have a list of items you simply refuse to buy. The price isn’t worth the benefit of a mini shortcut that saves only a couple of minutes or seems absolutely crazy to spend money on, such as over-processed or fast food.
photo by Rubbermaid Products Transitioning to one income can be tough. The more time you have to plan, the easier it can be. It may seem impossible to make ends meet, but often, there are added costs to being a two-income family. Try this handy “how much does that lifestyle of hard work REALLY benefit [...]
photo by toofarnorth DEAR SARA: I have started to hang up a couple of loads each week on a clothesline rather than throwing them in the dryer. I was wondering how much money I save by doing this. Do you have any idea how much money it costs per hour to run an electric dryer? [...]
photo by o0karen0o Tortillas can be bought or made cheaply, so they make an excellent key ingredient for frugal recipes. You can make tortilla wraps by adding your favorite sandwich fillings. Tortillas are delicious as part of breakfast burritos, too. Add scrambled eggs and your favorite toppings, such as cheese, salsa, crumbled bacon or sausage, [...]
photo by Le petit poulailler With the holidays approaching, there are a lot of people carrying cash and valuables when out shopping. Often, people are dressed up, in a hurry and not paying attention. This offers increased opportunities for thieves, so it’s important to take some precautions. If someone is determined to take your purse [...]
photo by scholastica_ees DEAR SARA: I bought two large containers of Folgers a while back when the product was on sale. I recently opened one and found it is a very mild flavor. Can I get a stronger coffee and mix with the mild? Will it improve the flavor, or would I be wasting my [...]
photo by bcmom I’ll admit, I haven’t tried reusing dryer lint, so the first tip is on my must-try list. I hope there’s a new frugal tip for you, too. DRYER-LINT FIRE STARTER: I stuff my dryer lint into an empty toilet-paper cardboard tube. I melt my leftover candle wax and pour it into both [...]