DEAR SARA: I need tips on thawing frozen bread products. I’ve never been a fan of freezing bread products because I’m unsure how to thaw them, so they are either hard or soggy. Looking for suggestions, as I’ve been given a ton of bread products like hamburger/hot dogs rolls and will need to freeze them [...]
Baby-formula cans are sturdy and durable. You can reuse them as household storage containers. They work well as a gift container, to hold plastic bags, toilet paper, plastic utensils and napkins for a backyard BBQ and in your laundry room to place lone socks. Or, carry one in the car with baby essentials such as [...]
Article continues below ↓ advertisement | your ad here Congratulations ssindi. You’ve won the Kraft Sandwich Shop May contest which includes 4 bottles of KRAFT SANDWICH SHOP Mayo. Flavors include Chipotle, Garlic & Herb, Horseradish-Dijon and Hot & Spicy.. Thank you to everyone that entered and special thank you to Kraft Foods, INC. for sponsoring [...]
Moving can be exciting and stressful. Whether it’s your first apartment or a move into a new-to-you home, you’ll be tempted to buy new furnishings and home decor. Many interior decorating accents and solutions can be either handmade projects or purchased secondhand. Maybe your budget has room to splurge a bit. You can combine and [...]
DEAR SARA: How do I get dry paint off a Pergo floor? We painted our son’s room, and there are dry paint spots on the floor. I know some of them can be scraped up, but some look like they were stepped in and spread around the room. Those won’t come up with a scrapper. [...]
Is your wallet filled with loyalty, rewards or club cards? They get disorganized and you fumble at the cash register to find the card you need. You can organize them into a card-organizer holder, bundled with a rubber band, or try KeyRingThing (www.keyringthing.com) or CardStar (www.mycardstar.com), which puts multiple cards onto a single card. The [...]
When living on a tight budget, you realize quickly which skills are important. Often, basic skills can be the difference between a small bump in the road and a financial crisis. You can give the next generation a huge gift by teaching them skills that can help them as adults. There are plenty of skills [...]
When you think frugal family vacations, camping comes to mind. How much can a tent and some bug spray cost compared to airfare and hotel accommodations, right? Unfortunately, if you’re a novice camper and don’t plan ahead, it can be far more expensive than you anticipated. How have you camped on a budget? Do you [...]
DEAR SARA: I have many small bottles of hair conditioner, and I am sure they could be good for something. Since I do not use them on my hair, I would like to know how you suggest I should use them. — Myria, Florida DEAR MYRIA: They can make nice stocking stuffers or gift-basket add-ins. [...]
Ketchup isn’t terribly expensive to buy, but if you run out and have a few pantry staples on hand or have an abundance of tomatoes, you can make your own at home. Visit www.kissmyspatula.com/2009/05/31/homemade-ketchup for a homemade ketchup recipe that uses whole tomatoes. The first tip below has a simple version using canned tomato paste. [...]
Buying in bulk at warehouse clubs can help lower your budget, but it’s not the best money-saving option for everyone. You won’t save much, if anything at all, if you have to travel far to get to the store, are single and won’t consume products before they go bad or if you aren’t disciplined and [...]
DEAR SARA: How do I use a toaster oven? I just got a new (to me) toaster oven. No instructions. I need advice on how to use it, what to make in it, etc. I’ve never had one before. Never had one while growing up, either. — Julie, Florida DEAR JULIE: Toaster ovens are a [...]
Frugal people sometimes get teased for reusing items. For example, you might save aluminum foil to reuse later. While some may find that idea silly, frugal people know there are plenty of ways to put foil to good use. How have you reused aluminum foil? Here are a few suggestions. DRYER BALLS: Wad foil into [...]
photo by donut The mismatch amount of hot dogs to a package of buns often leaves you with leftovers. If you overplan a party, you’ll have extra, too. Don’t waste them. I like to call the following “reucipes” (ri-yoos-uh-pees), which are tips for reusing food and common household items. My readers share their tasty ways [...]
photo by span The first frugal tip I’m sharing is a new one for me. I usually let my frozen fruit thaw in the bag, or I use it frozen. I hope there’s a new one today for you, too.
D EAR SARA: What can I add to boxed cake to make it taste better? It’s not bad, but I’d like it to taste more homemade and not be so dry. — Penny, e-mail DEAR PENNY: You can add coffee in place of the water for chocolate cakes. Try carbonated soda pop, orange or pineapple [...]
There’s no need to buy ice packs. You can make them yourself. To make a gel ice pack, you’ll need two zip-enclosure freezer bags and some Dawn dishwashing liquid. Partially fill one bag, seal it and encase it in a second freezer bag. Place it in the freezer. Wrap it with a cloth before applying [...]
