photo by Rickard Berggren Breakfast for dinner is a popular frugal meal. But sometimes serving plain old eggs and toast doesn’t go over well at the dinner hour. Adding sides such as yogurt, hash browns, oatmeal, cheese, fruit, biscuits or bagels can make a simple egg meal more appealing. When that stops working, it’s time [...]
photo by clicksense DEAR SARA: I have about 10 plastic three-ring binders that I bought for back to school two years ago. My kids never used them. Do you have any great ideas on ways to upcycle them? — Andrea, West Virginia DEAR ANDREA: You can decorate the outside with fabric or contact paper. Insert [...]
photo by oskay Some produce comes wrapped on foam trays. Rather than throwing them away, they can be reused as paint palettes, crafts or packing material. You can place them in your pantry under items such as oil or honey that might drip or leak on your shelves or make a compass, too. The first [...]
photo scaleovenstove You can be one question away from saving money. If you don’t ask for discounts, you’re missing opportunities to hang on to more of your hard-earned cash. It can be tough to muster up the courage, but it gets easier once you’ve done it a few times. You don’t have to be a [...]
photo by bdjsb7 Frugal people have quirks. We can’t help ourselves. We know that our frugal habits make a difference. Often, these little frugal ways can drive our families crazy. But we all know who is right in the thermostat wars. Ha! You deserve some validation. What frugal things do you do that make your [...]
photo by colinandangie Recipes with just a few ingredients are often cheaper, but they don’t have to lack in flavor. They don’t have a lot of steps and measurements so they are simple to prepare. You’ll have most everything you need already in your kitchen, too. The following recipes can be jazzed up with additional [...]
photo by tale kinker DEAR SARA: How long will chicken last in the fridge after it has been cooked? I pressure-cooked a package of boneless, skinless chicken breasts five nights ago and used some of them. I planned to use the rest the next night, so I put the leftovers and the chicken broth from [...]
photo by marlana Frugal people know how to make things. It’s not just a way of combating costs. For many, these are basic life skills and a way of life. A little self-reliance goes a long way. It’s easier to start out small and build your way up. This sets you up for success instead [...]
Change affects people differently. Some people thrive on it, while others absolutely hate it. A little self improvement goes a long way toward personal happiness and growth, so some purposeful changes are worth making. When you think about self improvement, you might think of an expensive endeavor such as going back to school. But there [...]
D EAR SARA: In a recent newspaper article, a lady inquired about dry-pack canning. How long will flour keep using this method? Also, will this method prevent weevils from hatching out in flour, as they sometimes do? Does it matter if it is bleached or unbleached flour? Thank you. — Jim Smith, email DEAR JIM: [...]
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, [...]
