photo by Shane Pope Eating out can be a large expense. While it’s easy to rely on it as a quick solution, it’s often not the best choice. It’s easier said than done to have meals prepared in the freezer for emergencies. Slow cookers work well if you know ahead of time that your schedule [...]
photo by Scott Lepage Winter is the perfect time for home-baked bread. It’s not hard to do, but it can be time-consuming. The smell that fills your home and the taste makes the effort worthwhile. I’ve included three easy recipes that will round off your bread-baking repertoire. The monkey bread is so simple that kids [...]
photo by corey ann DEAR SARA: How long does it take before food goes bad when the fridge gives out? — Denise, Missouri DEAR DENISE: Whether a refrigerator dies or you have a power outage, refrigerator food needs to stay 40 F or below and freezer food 0 F or below. You have about three [...]
photo by uzvards The first tip is a great idea during school vacations or whenever kids get bored. The same concept can be used to create tasks for chores (pick a chore a day) or for journal prompts. If you’re making a journal jar, you can write prompts on slips of paper and have your [...]
Starbucks has sponsored this contest giveaway. Two random entries will each win two packages of Starbucks coffee and a French press.
photo by vivekrajkanhangad Chase away the winter chills with seasonal drinks you can mix at home. Plain coffee, tea and hot cocoa are delicious, but there are times you’ll want to make something different. The following recipes have high fat content, so they’re a special treat, and you shouldn’t drink them daily. But they can [...]
photo by maveric2003 Where do you draw the line between being frugal and cheap? You’ve gone overboard with frugality if it harms or takes advantage of someone else. But even that has gray areas for some, especially when people can be at different ends of the frugal spectrum, depending on whether they’re frugal by choice [...]
photo by erix DEAR SARA: I need a paper-towel intervention! I am trying to be more “green” in our home. Not only because it’s better for the earth but mainly because I can’t stand choking on chemical fumes when I’m cleaning and because it isn’t frugal to spend $10 a month on paper towels. I’ve [...]
photo by loop oh The first tip shares a way to keep your recipe card upright while using it. You can use a clothespin, business-card holder, a binder clip or two, or slide the recipe card onto fork tines and place the fork into a glass tumbler, vase or jar. If you have larger recipe [...]
photo by Shyald What is frugality? According to dictionary.com, it’s being economical in use or expenditure; prudently saving or sparing; not wasteful. But it means something different to each person. For years, it has been synonymous with being a cheapskate or miserly or a temporary wagon to jump onto because of a setback or the [...]
photo by Jonny Hunter Coffee drinkers unite! It’s time to get green and frugal with your coffee grounds. Don’t home brew? Starbucks is on board with a program that provides free grounds for customers to use in their gardens. Establishments, family and friends can provide them, too. According to J. Trent of the University of [...]
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 Todd Ehlers It’s interesting what people will give up when they have to. Equally interesting are the things people don’t give up even when they probably should. I see a lot of parents spending an enormous amount of money on summer camp for their kids. I get numerous fliers from my children’s school [...]
DEAR SARA: What are some good ideas for keeping things tidy and attractive in a bedroom without a closet? This is a teenage girl’s room, so there is a lot of clothing and other random stuff. Do you have frugal storage ideas? — Carla, Canada DEAR CARLA: Use free-standing shelves or a book case (use [...]
Do you have missing socks? Some people are organized and wash socks in a mesh bag or clip them together. But if you have lone socks, you can pin odd socks to a corkboard or use a magnetic clip and hang them on the washer so they’re easily accessible to match. Or use a pillowcase, [...]
