Moving is stressful. There are many hidden costs that you might not consider before the big day. Be prepared to shell out for more than a moving van. The added expenses can be so high that you might be better off staying put. What unexpected costs have you experienced during a move? Here are a [...]
DEAR SARA: I have just been thinking that it would be fun to have some kind of festive adult beverage for the season. Nothing too complicated. Any ideas? — Jas, Florida DEAR JAS: You can make sangria, wassail, homemade cocoa, flavored or Irish coffee, flavored or chai tea, egg nog, daiquiris, margaritas, mimosa, mojito, etc. [...]
If you know a coffee lover, you can make him a special treat of chocolate-covered coffee beans. Use chocolate candy molds, melted chocolate (chocolate/wafer candy melts) and roasted coffee beans. Simply pour a little melted chocolate into the molds, add a couple of coffee beans and top the candy molds off with more melted chocolate. [...]
You can cut your spending and save money. But if you’re in a relationship and only one of you is frugal, you have a new set of challenges to face. Often, one partner is resistant because he or she doesn’t want to feel restricted, deprived or treated like a child. In order to live more [...]
For many, the new year means forming new habits. You might plan to bake more often in the upcoming year to save on the cost of snacks. If you have leftover holiday baking supplies, such as food coloring, chips, nuts or candy, you can use them for other holidays, such as Valentine’s Day or St. [...]
photo by syvwlch Our favorite cleaning products, supplies and tools help us save time and effort. If you don’t have a cleaning service or utility room and have been storing these items lined up in cabinets, try putting together a cleaning-kit caddy, which makes it easy to have everything handy to carry from room to [...]
DEAR SARA: Every time I buy a new shower curtain, I buy new shower curtain hooks to match. I have frogs, flowers, and angels that matched some decor in the bathroom in the years past. Besides donating them, is there any fun, creative things I can do with them? — Palooka, Missouri DEAR PALOOKA: It [...]
DEAR SARA: I read an article, and it discussed “shampoo bars.” What is this? — Christine B., e-mail DEAR CHRISTINE: It’s shampoo in bar form instead of liquid. Many people who make soaps make shampoo bars, too. They consist of natural ingredients — typically, glycerin, essential oils, fruit extracts and a vegetable protein. I recommend [...]
