DEAR SARA: Just wondered if there’s any tips out there on saving soggy celery. I think it’s just passed the cusp of being forever soggy, but I may be able to revive it. I am going to try cutting off the ends and standing it up in ice cold water or soaking it in water [...]
DEAR SARA: Do you have a recipe for making an outdoor window cleaner? I love using Windex Outdoor Multi-Surface cleaner, which attaches to a hose, but I go through one bottle every time I clean my outside windows, which is very often here in Florida. I have some empty hose-attached bottles. I wondered whether there [...]
DEAR SARA: Is there a way to make white sheets white again? My husband and I got some white sheets after we received a duvet and duvet cover for free (air miles reward item). I’ve been washing the sheets in hot water and bleach, followed by a cold water and Tide wash. The bleach smell [...]
DEAR SARA: I hate packing lunches. It is my absolute most despised chore. I will have to pack four a day, and only one kid can reheat leftovers. I’m thinking of setting up a sort of lunch-packing station — a hidden place stocked with individual portions of snacks and lunch stuff that I can just [...]
DEAR SARA: I have a friend who is due in a month and she asked me if I knew of any foods that freeze well. — Daphne, Virginia DEAR DAPHNE: Foods such as spaghetti sauce, soups, casseroles, pizza, lasagna, meatloaf/meatballs, chili, sloppy Joe’s, breakfast foods such as waffles, pancakes, breakfast sandwiches, and muffins all freeze [...]
DEAR SARA: What are some good ideas for keeping things tidy and attractive in a bedroom without a closet? This is a teenage girl’s room, so there is a lot of clothing and other random stuff. Do you have frugal storage ideas? — Carla, Canada DEAR CARLA: Use free-standing shelves or a book case (use [...]
DEAR SARA: My daughter just called and said she is cleaning out her dish cupboard and asked me if I wanted the stuff she is getting rid of. Of course I said yes. I’m not too proud. She has newer, nicer stuff. One of the things is a nice cheese grater. My question is: Is [...]
DEAR SARA: I need tips on thawing frozen bread products. I’ve never been a fan of freezing bread products because I’m unsure how to thaw them, so they are either hard or soggy. Looking for suggestions, as I’ve been given a ton of bread products like hamburger/hot dogs rolls and will need to freeze them [...]
DEAR SARA: How do I get dry paint off a Pergo floor? We painted our son’s room, and there are dry paint spots on the floor. I know some of them can be scraped up, but some look like they were stepped in and spread around the room. Those won’t come up with a scrapper. [...]
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. [...]
DEAR SARA: How do I use a toaster oven? I just got a new (to me) toaster oven. No instructions. I need advice on how to use it, what to make in it, etc. I’ve never had one before. Never had one while growing up, either. — Julie, Florida DEAR JULIE: Toaster ovens are a [...]
DEAR SARA: I have a few large jars of grape jelly that have been rotated to the front of the pantry and will be expiring soon. I have made the grape jelly/chili sauces, used it in BBQ sauces and melted it down for syrups. My daughter used to live off grape jelly, but now she’s [...]
photo by trialsanderrors Often, frugal strategies simply won’t work well depending on where you live or personal circumstances. For example, some people can’t hang clothes out to dry on a clothesline because of neighborhood restrictions, but you can still dry indoors. Although you might not be able to apply some frugal tips, there are still [...]
photo by glass_window A bare-bones food budget means buying just what you need to maintain proper nutrition. Mentally calculate how much it costs for a handful of items such as pop, chips, boxed cereal, ice cream, cookies, juice boxes and fruit snacks. If you free up that money and apply it elsewhere, you can stretch [...]
photo by trialsanderrors Parents who work outside of the home have to be creative. After a full day’s work, you have little time to juggle the rest of the evening of tasks and still make room for family. You probably have your own routine, but maybe I can share a new tip that can help [...]
DEAR SARA: Do you keep the little keepsake wedding favors given out at weddings? How do you decide on if/how to keep it? Is it kept because it’s something unique or practical? I’m trying to get an idea of how many people actually keep the favors. We’re considering not even having any. — Libby, Canada [...]
Freezer organization can be a challenge. It can be more difficult with a chest freezer. Ideally, you want the older food toward the top so it gets used sooner. You can remove food from bulky packaging and repackage into labeled freezer storage bags to save space or organize into plastic bins. The first reader offers [...]
