DEAR SARA: What’s the best box for packing china? I have lots of china. I own about 16 place settings, plus a bunch of more complete pieces. I’m wondering whether it would be more secure in Rubbermaid totes, then I don’t have to worry about the bottom falling out of a cardboard box, and perhaps [...]
When prepping fruits and vegetables, do you throw a lot away? Often, we toss out potato, apple and orange peels. Or maybe you don’t use the entire broccoli and only eat the florets. These can be eaten. Think: Potato skins, applesauce and candied orange peels. And broccoli stalks? You can peel the woody stem with [...]
One common weight-loss tool is making choices from a food exchange list. Frugality works in a similar way. You can make decisions based on available alternatives. Instead of losing weight, you save money, use what you have on hand, repair and/or waste less. What type of cheaper options have you discovered? Here are a few [...]
Many people eat out because they’re too busy to cook. But some people simply don’t know how. It’s frustrating to waste food, so you might not want to try anything new. These are situations that start the downward spiral of buying prepared foods at the grocery store and restaurants. Check your grocery aisles. It can [...]
Cool and refreshing, colorful fruit salads can be served any time of the day. They’re a perfect light dish for indoor and outdoor gatherings. You can add your favorite seasonal fruit to any of the following recipes to make it to your liking. Use sugar-free ingredients to make them lower in calories, too. Enjoy! Tropical [...]
This contest giveaway is sponsored by Soaps Gone Buy. The homemade laundry soap kit contest giveaway that Stephanie Woods with Soaps Gone Buy sponsored a while back was a hit with readers. Pre-grated soap is a great option to save you a bit of time making your own laundry soap. But we realize that not [...]
May is national salad month. To celebrate, Red Gold generously sponsored this contest giveaway. The winners are Liane (entry 188) and Dean (entry 104) Congratulations! Enjoy your prize. Thank you to everyone that entered. For recipes using Red Gold canned tomatoes, please visit http://www.redgold.com/redgold/recipe_meal_ideas.aspx
DEAR SARA: Do you keep the little keepsake wedding favors given out at weddings? How do you decide on if/how to keep it? Is it kept because it’s something unique or practical? I’m trying to get an idea of how many people actually keep the favors. We’re considering not even having any. — Libby, Canada [...]
Hanging laundry to dry requires hauling clothespins. You can carry them in various containers such as a plastic ice cream pail, plastic milk jug, a pillowcase, a toddler dress or shirt (sewn on the bottom) or jean shorts, or you can wear an apron with pockets. The first reader tip shares another creative way to [...]
Warm weather motivates many of us to clean and organize. Storage containers can be expensive. While some can be well worth the cost (large Rubbermaid totes come to mind), others can be replaced with containers you already own or can acquire for free, such as baskets, boxes or a file cabinet. Ideally, you don’t want [...]
photo by di the huntress Garden season doesn’t have to be costly. If you head out to a retail store and buy everything all at once, it’s going to add up quickly. But if you do some careful planning and are patient and creative, you can enjoy a beautiful garden on a shoestring budget. What [...]
photo by EraPhernalia Vintage Peas are a summer favorite. They’re delicious steamed with mint, parsley, lemon, marjoram, rosemary or thyme. When selecting them, check for firmness and look for peas that are shiny and bright green. They should be eaten as soon as possible to get the most nutrients. But if you need to store [...]
photo by ClevelandSGS Frugality often seems like a lot of effort for a few cents. But it’s about making better choices that save larger amounts, too. Maybe you have a goal to pay down debt, such as your mortgage. One extra payment per year can shave a few years off your loan. But it’s tough [...]
photo by Arlette Cooking existed long before boxed and canned convenience goods. While some prepackaged products provide tasty shortcuts, it’s good to know how to make things yourself. You want your family to enjoy more than just add-water, heat-and-eat meals. Many from-scratch recipes are simple and don’t take a long time to make. In a [...]
Summer can cost a fortune. For some families, many weekends are already accounted for. There are baby showers, weddings and anniversaries, reunions, birthdays, work and family picnics, and various other parties to attend. Cha-ching. You don’t want to look like a cheapskate, but affording it all can be tough on your budget. Here are a [...]
photo by foshie DEAR SARA: A friend’s birthday is coming soon, and, before I started being frugal, I used to spend about $30 on friends for birthdays. But I need to get that number down now. I was wondering if you have given thrift-store finds as gifts and if there were any negative reactions from [...]
This week, I’ve compiled reader tips that will help you hide gifts, have frugal holiday fun, make a couple of gifts for kids and pets and chase away winter chills with seasonal hot drinks you can mix yourself. Hide Christmas gifts: When the kids were little, I hid everything in the artificial tree box. Everyone [...]
