photo by Le petit poulailler
With the holidays approaching, there are a lot of people carrying cash and valuables when out shopping. Often, people are dressed up, in a hurry and not paying attention. This offers increased opportunities for thieves, so it’s important to take some precautions. If someone is determined to take your purse or wallet, they will. But you can take steps to decrease the risk and a few …

photo by iowa spirit walker
Paper is often wasted. Maybe you use both sides of a sheet of paper, use the backs of your mail envelopes for grocery lists or reuse newspaper to wrap gifts. All are good ways to waste less paper. Many households put their mail and paper through a shredder to protect against identity theft or to follow state and federal laws. An average home can accumulate quite …

photo by mike burns
It’s easy to keep or toss some items. You might have an idea for ways to reuse something and, if you don’t, out it goes. But it can be tough to decide what to do with some items, such as vinyl shower curtains or liners. They’re cheap to replace, so many people opt to throw them away and replace with a new liner (consider replacing with cloth). …

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 tips? — Rachel, e-mail
DEAR RACHEL: Congratulations! There are many decisions to make when it comes to …