One way to save money is to monitor your use of everyday household products. You can start by accurately measuring, rather than eyeballing a measurement or just simply squeezing, pouring or shaking. For example, you could be using more dish soap, shampoo, laundry detergent or condiments than you actually need. The first reader tip shares [...]
It’s back-to-school time. Kids often come home from school and go directly to the kitchen in search of a snack. Finding an after-school snack that won’t ruin their appetite for dinner can be a challenge. Fresh fruit and raw cut vegetables are healthy, but can become boring. Try including hummus with cut vegetables or dip [...]
D ear Sara: Twice in two years I have had to change the front brake pads on my husband’s van. (I am a mechanic.) His idea of stopping is to wait until the last minute before applying the brakes … hard. Many years ago, I remember hearing about a gadget that you could put on [...]
Pizza is a family favorite. Making it at home is easy enough, but you might not have time to prepare the dough. Luckily, there are plenty of options to use for a crust. You can use English muffins, bagels, French bread or tortillas to name a few. You can substitute a traditional crust, too. Visit [...]
You’d rather have too many hamburger buns than not enough. But when there are some leftover buns, you’re faced with a keep-or-toss decision. Don’t let them sit on the counter until they mold or hide them in the back of the freezer until ice crystals form. Don’t throw them away, either. They can be used [...]
D ear Sara: How do you make cheap lattes at home? I make my own brewed coffee and have no reason to get that from a coffee shop, but I still hit Starbucks about twice a week for a latte or a mocha because I don’t have an espresso machine at home. I used to [...]
Sometimes you buy appliances only to find that you don’t really use them. There are times they might not perform the way you expected, too. It’s great if you’re able to borrow an appliance from friends or family to test out before spending any money. The first reader tip shares another option to avoid buyer’s [...]
Summer brings people together for casual backyard barbecues. Some parties are potlucks and you simply bring a dish to pass. But there are occasions when you want to bring a hostess gift. Maybe you usually bring wine, flowers or a dessert. Another gift idea is to bring a few homemade dry dip mixes. The dry [...]
D ear Sara: We grow our own corn in the garden. Two years ago, I blanched the corn, then froze it. But it was so bad that I threw all the corn out that winter, when we wanted to eat it. Last year, I kept the husks on and sealed them in airtight packages before [...]
Homemade mixes are frugal and easy to make. You can make them to stock your pantry or give them as gifts. You can find a large variety of homemade mixes and gifts-in-a-jar recipes on my community forums. Simply click here. Recipes include: master baking mixes, spice blends, dips, flavored coffees, soups, brownies, stuffing, popcorn flavoring, [...]
Dry skin is common during winter. Not only is it unsightly, but it can be itchy and painful, too. There are plenty of expensive products available, but you can manage your dry skin on a frugal budget. Start with eating well, getting plenty of rest and de-stressing. I recommend you see a doctor if your [...]
photo by rogerjones I miss carnival season. I can’t resist the fat-laden, sugar-coated treats. I blame it on the music and flashing lights. The food often helps me divert my children away from the “win a goldfish” game, too. “Hey kids. How about some cotton candy?” Each year brings new treats that I have to [...]
photo by tiffanywashko DEAR SARA: I just found out that I’m pregnant, and I want to be prepared for baby expenses. I don’t see the need to spend a lot of money, but it’s difficult to pinpoint where frugality stops and excess begins. It’s such an exciting time. Can you offer a few frugal baby [...]
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. [...]
photo by playingwithbrushes The first tip is a good reminder to closely monitor the amount of products you use. She mentions laundry detergent as an example. I’d like to add that when using liquid detergent, the cap is not meant to be filled. By force of habit, many people simply fill it. The measurement lines [...]
