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Home » December 13th, 2009
Entries posted on “December, 2009”
Get crafty with old game pieces
photo by valerie everett DEAR SARA: Any ideas for odd game pieces? With three kids, I have a big plastic zipper bag of small game pieces. — Denise, Ohio DEAR DENISE: You can glue them to frames; make ornaments, magnets and jewelry; use for decorating cakes or gifts; or let kids use them in craft [...]
Buy clearance calendars for easy tracking
photo by roguesunmedia Tracking your spending is a good way to see weaknesses in your budget. Tracking is useful for weight loss, too. The first tip shares one way to do your tracking. How do you track your spending? TRACKING: I picked up a journal-type calendar for 75 percent off on clearance. It cost me [...]
Festive flair on a shoestring
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 [...]
How To Survive (and perhaps thrive) On A Teacher’s Salary book winner
Congratulations to the lucky winner. Thanks to everyone that entered and a special thank you to Danny Kofke for offering a copy of his book. http://www.dannykofke.blogspot.com/
Give low-cost gifts
The holidays can be stressful. If you’re not careful, you can overspend easily. But maybe this year is worse because you don’t think your budget will allow for many gifts. It can be especially tough if you have kids. Instead of being depressed, get creative. What types of low-cost gifts have you given? Here are [...]
Holiday baking as easy as pie
photo by kimberlykv Christmas celebrations are the perfect time for pie. You probably have a favorite that you look forward to during the holidays. Making piecrust can be intimidating, but the secret to a good crust is not to overwork the dough. You roll it out once gently. Lard provides a flakier crust and should [...]
Add pantry items to holiday wish list
photo by drewzak DEAR SARA: My sister drew my name for the family Secret Santa and asked me what I wanted for Christmas. I was thinking about working on our stockpile and asking for some of the more expensive stock items, and providing a bunch of ideas. We cook mostly from scratch, and I don’t [...]
Use up leftover jar candles
photo by Charles Williams The first tip is a great way to get the most out of your jar candles. It’s much easier than popping the wax out, melting the candles in a double boiler, and pouring into tart molds or adding a new wick. CANDLE WARMER: Get a candle warmer for less than $10. [...]
Seven things you hate paying for
photo by bitterjug Prices keep rising. On some items, it’s a few cents, and on others, it’s even higher. You’ve probably noticed at least one item you buy regularly costs more, or you’re getting less in the package. Sometimes we have easy-to-find alternatives, but there are some rising costs that are harder to avoid. What [...]
Stay fit on a budget
photo by jo-h Gym memberships are a luxury not everyone can afford. And over the holidays, you might pack on a few extra pounds. Fortunately, you can still enjoy the health benefits of exercise without the costly fees, and many can be done in the comfort of your home or while doing day-to-day activities, such [...]
Easy holiday side dishes
Try something new for the holidays. Whether dinner is at your house or you’ve been asked to bring a dish to pass around, the following side dishes are crowd pleasers. They’re all familiar, so they won’t be avoided and will go well with most menu plans. Mashed Potatoes 5 pounds potatoes, peeled and cooked 1 [...]
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Easy cookies and bars recipes
Packaged cookies are expensive. They taste inferior to homemade, too. Healthy snacks such as cut fruit and vegetables are tasty, but your family might want an occasional treat. For the days you don’t want to fuss with drop cookies, bars are quick, easy and foolproof. Keep them in your recipe box for holiday time, too. [...]
Home & family »
What to do with worn-out jeans
photo by mangpages DEAR SARA: My son has denim jeans that are torn in both knees and a pocket here and there. What do you do with the denim material once they are no longer wearable? Dust rags? I need ideas. I have five pairs that I need to do something with. I hate just [...]
Question & Answer »
Maximize your mileage
D ear Sara: Twice in two years I have had to change the front brake pads on my husband’s van. (I am a mechanic.) His idea of stopping is to wait until the last minute before applying the brakes … hard. Many years ago, I remember hearing about a gadget that you could put on [...]
Frugal Tips »
Keep the cold out this winter
During the cold months, your utility bills can be considerably higher. You can combat this by scheduling an energy audit through your utility company. They’ll give you tips such as insulating your water heater, attic and pipes, installing a programmable thermostat or switching to lower-wattage bulbs. Or you can do an assessment yourself. Visit energysavers.gov/your_home/energy_audits/index.cfm/mytopic_170 [...]
