Bleach disinfects your laundry, but not everyone wants to use bleach, or maybe you’re out of it. You can use products such as Lysol, ammonia, vinegar, grapefruit seed oil/extract, sunshine or hydrogen peroxide. (Don’t use it on colored laundry.) The first reader tip has another suggestion. DISINFECT LAUNDRY: When I was a young girl, I [...]
It’s easy to waste products by using too much. This is especially true with products that are pourable or in squeezable containers. No one wants to feel like there’s a daily audit on product usage, but if at least one person in the household measures only the amount that is needed or makes an effort [...]
photo by raneko In a past column, I mentioned spending that saves money. It included products and decisions that seem costly upfront but can help you save money in the long run. At the top of the list were steam cleaners, freezers, wood stoves and reusable containers, to name a few. You can probably think [...]
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 [...]
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: How do you repel flies? Every time we sit outside or eat outside, we are bombarded with flies. How do you keep them away? — Julie, Florida DEAR JULIE: We have mosquito problems here. Flies aren’t really a problem. They’re mostly an occasional pesky nuisance. My cat gets any flies that get inside, [...]
Money is a great gift because you know the recipient will put it to use. But much like lottery tickets, concert tickets and gift cards, sometimes simply giving it in a plain envelope seems unimaginative. The first two reader tips share a couple of creative ways to give cash gifts: A way to give money [...]
