DEAR SARA: Please help me! I need a way to keep my spices and salt from turning into one big hard ball when it gets humid out. I have tried putting grains of rice in the salt and other spices because I heard that would take the moisture out of them but have yet to [...]
Rubber bands can be reused easily. Use wide produce rubber bands to grip and open jars or hard-to-open plastic soda pop bottles. You could also place one around your TV remote to keep it from sliding off the table and to keep the battery cover attached. If you have young children, you can wrap wide [...]
Money can be a great gift: You know the recipient will use it. But you can be more thoughtful and creative than simply sticking it in a card or stuffing it in a plain envelope. Jazz it up by wrapping it in a more personalized and fun way. How have you given cash as a [...]
DEAR SARA: I need ideas for storing foil. How do you store saved foil to reuse? I don’t have any extra space in the drawers in my kitchen, so I keep the foil in a plastic zipper bag in the cupboard. The bag falls out nearly every time I open the cupboard. It is so [...]
Drawer carts are great for organizing closets. They contain items and tuck into the closet so they aren’t taking up space in a room. They can be used to store hats, mittens or scarves, as a mini dresser, to organize toys or as a file cabinet. The first reader tip shares another way to use [...]
Frugality can be integrated into your daily routine. It can become second nature. The potential annual savings from some frugal tips might not be enough to buy a new car or pay off a large debt, but it’s money you normally wouldn’t have, and you can choose the best place to spend it or save [...]
DEAR SARA: I was wondering if you have a suggestion on how to clean stainless steel. I have a hard time keeping my refrigerator looking nice. — Virginia, e-mail DEAR VIRGINIA: There are tons of stainless-steel appliance cleaners on the market. I’ve tried a few with good results (Stainless Steel Magic, Sheila Shine and Weiman). [...]
This contest is sponsored by Savvycents. Images and information provided by Savvycents. Melinda Claudepierre first designed the Savvycents wallet for those who do the cash envelope system of budgeting. She was tired of the loose envelopes in her purse and they definitely were not attractive to carry around. After she made the wallet, she realized [...]
Congratulations to mek42. You’ve won 12 boxes of Salada assorted green teas and a Salada tea reusable water bottle. Special thank you to Salada for sponsoring the contest. And thank you to everyone that entered. Grab a Coupon: Savor new flavors without paying full price. Print a coupon for $.75 off any Salada product. http://www.unbottleyourtea.com/coupon/ [...]
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, [...]
Coffee cans are great storage containers. They have a tight-fitting lid, come in different sizes, are portable, and some even have a wide-grip handle. Their durability makes them a smarter choice than glass jars for many storage solutions. How have you reused them? Here are a few ideas. KITCHEN USE: Organize your pantry. Store kitchen [...]
DEAR SARA: I saw that Lowe’s has 1.28 gallon/flush toilets for around $90. I was thinking of getting one for each of my two bathrooms. They say they save $90 a year, so they would pay for themselves. Do they really help the water bill go down significantly? — Leigh, Florida DEAR LEIGH: A good [...]
photo by jurvetson DEAR SARA: I need an idea for cheap spring party gifts for my daughter’s classroom friends. There are 28 kids in the class, and they are in kindergarten. I want to send in something different from the standard homemade cupcakes. I’m looking for something more fun. Ideas? How can I keep it [...]
photo by yugoq I’m lost without my daily coffee, or at least tea or hot cocoa. Sometimes they perk me up and other times they completely relax me. We’ve become old friends through the years. They were my hand warmers during my long nights of studying in college. They are my go-to drinks when I’m [...]
photo by zappowbang Gas prices are down, but grocery-store prices are up (with many downsized products). It seems you simply can’t catch a break. Look for small ways to save on costs. If you make a few different choices, it’s like getting a pay raise. While you know many of your options, it can be [...]
photo by southern foodways alliance DEAR SARA: I bought a bunch of wooden spoons at the thrift store the other day, but I’m not sure how safe it is to use them. I mean, if I run them through the dishwasher, they should be OK, right? Or should I just toss them? — Nishu, Washington [...]
Keep a few snack or appetizer recipes on hand. You can whip something together in no time rather than ordering takeout. For example, you might want pizza or donuts. Try making cinnamon tortilla strips. Cut tortillas into strips (a pizza cutter works well) and spread a small amount of butter on top, or spray with [...]
