Coffee cans are great storage containers. They have a tight-fitting lid, come in different sizes, are portable, and some even have a wide-grip handle. Their durability makes them a smarter choice than glass jars for many storage solutions. How have you reused them? Here are a few ideas. KITCHEN USE: Organize your pantry. Store kitchen [...]
What do you do for fun? Don’t you love that question? For some people such as sports enthusiasts or hobbyists, it’s easier to answer. You’ve probably noticed that as you get older, activities that are fun for some people are no longer what you consider to be fun. Redefining fun is a vital part of [...]
Choosing a gift can be tough. It’s even worse if you wait until the last minute. Don’t waste your time and money on a trinket that will be regifted or collect dust. Sure, not everyone wants a practical gift, but sometimes it’s getting what you need that matters. There are plenty of useful gifts to [...]
Cleaning your home can be time consuming. You can make it easier by cleaning in five- to 15-minute bursts of time. It’s easy to get carried away watching television or surfing online. Set a timer to limit your time so you don’t get sucked into wasting it. Idle time isn’t the same as leisure time. [...]
Change affects people differently. Some people thrive on it, while others absolutely hate it. A little self improvement goes a long way toward personal happiness and growth, so some purposeful changes are worth making. When you think about self improvement, you might think of an expensive endeavor such as going back to school. But there [...]
Warm weather motivates many of us to clean and organize. Storage containers can be expensive. While some can be well worth the cost (large Rubbermaid totes come to mind), others can be replaced with containers you already own or can acquire for free, such as baskets, boxes or a file cabinet. Ideally, you don’t want [...]
photo by di the huntress Garden season doesn’t have to be costly. If you head out to a retail store and buy everything all at once, it’s going to add up quickly. But if you do some careful planning and are patient and creative, you can enjoy a beautiful garden on a shoestring budget. What [...]
Your home can influence your mood. When it seems upside down or outdated, you might feel overwhelmed, stressed, frustrated or dissatisfied. Maybe you wish you could remodel a room or move into a new and improved house. You don’t need a high-cost solution. A few small tweaks can change your entire perspective, lift your spirits, [...]
Fels-Naptha soap is a multi-use product that’s been around for over 100 years. It’s manufactured by Henkel Consumer Goods Inc. I’ve mentioned it a couple of times as an ingredient to make homemade laundry soap (www.frugalvillage.com/2009/04/03/have-a-clean-and-green-home). But it can be used in many other ways in your home and garden, too. If you’re unable to [...]
photo by pretty in print Frugal living takes discipline, and long-term consistency matters. You have to reward yourself from time to time or you’ll feel frustrated and discouraged. These emotions can sabotage your efforts, undermine your goals and make you want to give up. Avoid comparing yourself to others, too. If you constantly focus on [...]
photo by mykl roventine No television. Does it seem possible? Many people are downgrading their TV channel packages or completely terminating TV services. Sure, there are options, such as watching shows on Hulu or renting from Netflix or Redbox. But what about temporarily or permanently cutting out all TV viewing? How did we ever get [...]
photo by house of sims Frugal people cook from scratch frequently. But there are some recipes they’re not willing to make themselves regularly. If you have time constraints or don’t have health restrictions, then there’s increased value placed on ready-made and convenience foods. Homemade isn’t always cheaper, but it’s a surefire way to control ingredients, [...]
photo by chocolate monster mel You can’t always get what you want. Sometimes you have to make do and be flexible. If you’re cooking and suddenly realize that you’re out of an ingredient, it might be more practical to go without it or to substitute something you have on hand. Why make a special trip [...]
Pre-packaged store-bought box mixes are expensive. Have you considered homemade alternatives? Made-from-scratch mixes are healthy, cost beneficial, store well, and taste great. Often times, you’re paying for the packaging of commercial “convenience” foods and you don’t have any control over the additives and preservatives they contain. When making your own mixes, you tailor the ingredients, [...]
photos by Le Petit Poulailler It’s never too early to get organized for the holidays. Don’t be a last-minute shopper. Get a jump-start on your gift list now. What homemade gifts have you made? Here are a few low-cost ideas for kids that can be standalone or add-on gifts. BOOKMARKS: Buy various bolts of thin- [...]
photo by hapal DEAR SARA: Do you have creative ways to decorate with dead roses? I hope that didn’t sound morbid. I’ve put them across my china cabinet before, and it looked pretty cool until the cats got bored. My husband got me a dozen for our anniversary, and I was thinking of creative ways [...]
A reader once shared that she made omelets, hash browns and even brownies in her waffle maker. I thought it was an interesting idea and one that I hadn’t yet tried, so when I read the first tip, I was excited to see another waffle-maker tip. Have you made anything in your waffle iron besides [...]
