Epsom salt brings thoughts of a relaxing bath. You might pour it directly into your bath water or incorporate it into homemade bath salts or bath bombs. It can be used for more than just soothing aching muscles. How have you used Epsom salt? The Epsom salt council (www.epsomsaltcouncil.org ) shares various suggested tips for [...]
Rubbing alcohol is often shoved into the back of the cabinet. It usually gets pulled out as a first-aid item to prevent infection from minor cuts and scrapes. It’s time to move it toward the front of the shelf. It’s considered a frugal household staple because it’s cheap to buy and has multiple uses. How [...]
Frugal consumers are big fans of multipurpose products. Baking soda and vinegar top the list of thrifty household staples. I’ve shared tips for many other versatile products, such as baby oil, witch hazel, cornstarch, Borax, dryer sheets, and Fels-naptha, to name a few. Sometimes specific brands have more flexibility to perform a variety of tasks. [...]
Vintage items can be repurposed in your home. Old wooden highchairs, ladders or ironing boards can hold books. Old double kitchen sinks can become raised beds in your garden. Collectible tumblers and vases can hold a variety of items such as tooth, hair or paintbrushes, combs or pens. Vintage long and low ceramic planters can [...]
When prepping meals, do you throw a lot away? Often, we toss out potato or orange peels. Or maybe you don’t use the entire broccoli and eat only the florets. These can be eaten. Think: Potato skins and candied orange peels. And broccoli stalks? You can peel the woody stem with a vegetable peeler. Chop [...]
Summer is a great time to start frugal goals. Arm yourself with a game plan for budget busters such as summer school break, back-to-school costs, increased utilities and the holidays that will be here before you know it. Here are a few suggestions for summer savings: Garage sale: Declutter your home and gather potential garage [...]
Cornstarch is a frugal household staple. It’s primarily used as a thickener when baking and cooking (think: sauces, stews, gravies and casseroles). But much like baking soda and vinegar, it’s a versatile product that can be used daily around your home. How have you used it? Here are a few handy reasons to keep some [...]
Frugal families tend to buy multipurpose products. But sometimes there’s a household item you rarely use. You’ll either sell or donate it or dust it off and find new ways to use it. One such item is a microwave. It takes up a considerable amount of space, so it makes sense to use it for [...]
Craft recipes are fun to make. They’re ideal for preschool classrooms or as boredom busters for kids at home. In a previous column (www.frugalvillage.com/2011/02/14/make-craft-recipes-for-kids/), I shared recipes for chalk and mock silly putty, and readers requested more. While some craft recipes aren’t cheaper than their retail counterparts, it’s still a lot of fun and educational [...]
Dishwashers make clean up a snap. This timesaving appliance can clean more than dishes, too. Some items shouldn’t be cleaned in a dishwasher, such as cast iron, wooden or brass items, crystal, quality knives and many types of pots and pans. But there are plenty of household items that are dishwasher-safe. What have you cleaned [...]
Pet stores stock a huge variety of cat toys. Some are pretty cheap, but others are so shamefully overpriced you just know someone somewhere is laughing his or her way to the bank. If you get shiny-object syndrome, it’s easy to get sucked into buying several toys. Before overspending, consider homemade toys your cat can [...]
Colanders last a long time. But through heavy use, they get chipped, dented, partially rusted or melted. Eventually, you’ll need to replace your old colander with a new one. Don’t throw the old one away. There are multiple creative ways to use it even if it’s not in perfect condition. If your colander is still [...]
photo by muffet Cloth versus paper: Which do you use for napkins and cleaning towels? It’s common for newly frugal people to question whether they should switch from paper to cloth. For some people, it’s an easy decision. Plain and simple, it’s cheaper to use cloth. But it becomes a tougher choice when considering whether [...]
photo by jslander It makes sense to know when to buy and how to store produce so it will last longer and taste fresher. No one wants to find a great deal on fruit and later find a rotten, slimy mess in the refrigerator. Buying marked-down produce is OK if you plan to eat it [...]
photo by zorilla Frugality and decluttering can sometimes conflict. You don’t want to save everything, but you don’t want to toss a useful item that can be reused or be left without anything when something breaks. You might want a spare item for work, the car, when you travel or if something is lost, too. [...]
photo by jaye_elle DEAR SARA: What is a good place to find a used iPod Nano? I am looking for a 4-gigabyte one for my teen for Christmas. I just can’t see paying $140 for one gift. — Oct2667us, Maine DEAR OCT2667US: If you visit www.apple.com, you can often find refurbished iPods. The model you’re [...]
photo by Strata Chalup Our yard gets a lot of mosquitoes. The city sprays to control them, but it’s a losing battle when we get heavy rain. I burn citronella candles to combat them so family and friends can enjoy our backyard without being attacked by bugs. I’m going to give the first tip a [...]
