Personal care and beauty products can help you look and feel your best. But their cost can make them one of the first things to be cut when living on a budget. Instead of sacrificing completely, you can make every dollar count by seeking out lower-cost options. For example, you can make your own home [...]
Shower-curtain liners are fairly cheap. They can be washed and last quite a while before needing to be replaced. When ready to replace it, you can look into buying a cloth/fabric curtain that repels water and eliminate the need for a vinyl liner. You can reuse your old liner, too. Visit www.frugalvillage.com/2009/10/31/four-ways-to-reuse-an-old-shower-curtain/ for some ideas [...]
Reminder bracelets can be made cheaply. A beaded bracelet can help you remember to drink enough glasses of water or help kids to remember their homework, an early dismissal for an appointment, to return library books, or for daily tasks such as brushing their teeth or making their bed without being told. They work well [...]
Don’t buy new if you have something that works just as well. Often, you can repurpose an item and produce a unique and stylish piece to add to your wardrobe or decor. What have you turned from trash to treasure in your home? What do you have that you’re using differently than was originally intended? [...]
Baking can be quick and easy. Some recipes you can make ahead and keep handy to have fresh baked goods within minutes. This is wonderful for busy families. One example is keeping Amish friendship bread starter. Visit http://www.frugalvillage.com/2008/06/28/make-it-yourself-to-save-money/ for the recipe. The first reader tip shares another wonderful recipe that can be mixed and stored [...]
A melon baller is a handy kitchen tool. Don’t limit yourself to melon. Use it to make perfectly round butter balls, to scoop out tomatoes or mushrooms to stuff or to remove apple or pear cores. It’s a great gadget to remove the seeds from bell peppers and squash. Or use it to shape mini [...]
Leftover liquid whey from making yogurt or cheese can be added to recipes for extra protein. You can use it to soak beans or cook rice or in place of water for pizza dough, biscuits and oatmeal. The first reader tip suggests a few more ways to use it. WHEY BETTER: The recipe for yogurt [...]
The largest size of a product isn’t always the best buy. Compare unit prices. To figure the unit price, divide the price by the number of units. Which costs less per unit? Foods that cost less per unit are not always the better buy. The biggest size is not a good buy if you can’t [...]
Ice cream scoops are an easy way to portion and serve foods. Think: rice, macaroni dishes, mashed potatoes or Rice Krispies treats. Larger scoops can be used by kids in the sandbox or at the beach or use one to scoop soil or the pulp from inside a pumpkin. The first reader tip shares a [...]
Portioning out food is a frugal tactic. Typically it involves buying or cooking a bulk amount of food for less money, measuring and dividing it into smaller portions and repackaging into storage bags or containers. A kitchen scale, ice cube trays and an ice cream scoop can be handy to help with this. Of course, [...]
Peanut butter cookies don’t taste the same without cross-hatching the tops before baking. Some people use a fork, while others prefer to use cookie stamps, the bottom of a textured glass, a waffle head potato masher or silicon molds made specifically for peanut butter cookies. The first reader shares her own method. MISCELLANEOUS TIPS: I [...]
Dogs love treats. You don’t have to buy expensive boxed treats. Many dogs love to munch on small pieces of fruit and vegetables, and most absolutely love peanut butter. You can make homemade treats, so you can control the ingredients. The first reader tip shares a recipe for biscuits. If you’d rather make treats without [...]
You make money. You spend money. And hopefully, you save money, too. It can be tough to eliminate unnecessary spending. Many products, activities and services become a part of your life. The fact is that you probably don’t want to let go of any of them. But when the choice is between these comforts and conveniences and your financial health, it’s time to make the best decisions and not cling to the very things that keep you from debt-free living and a healthy savings.
photo by dbgg1979 Chicken Adobo is one of my favorite ways to make chicken. It’s tender, sweet and savory and a great way to use those cheaper dark cuts of chicken, but you can also use boneless, skinless chicken breasts. Leftovers are wonderful used as tangy chicken-salad sandwiches by just chopping them up and mixing [...]
For years, I’ve applied plastic to our windows, during winter, to keep the draft out. It’s not a fun job, and the plastic kits get costly. I love the first tip below. Plenty of stores and manufacturers throw it away, so you can probably get it for free by checking your local yellow pages and [...]
DEAR SARA: I asked my mother-in-law what my sister-in-law might like for her upcoming birthday. She told me she wanted a Mary Ann pan. I was too embarrassed to ask what it is. What is it? — Becky Cody, Kansas
photo by Dano The world is split between those who camp and those who don’t. I have never figured out the fascination with it. I love nature, hiking, cooking outdoors and being away from it all, but I just can’t get into “roughing” it. Camping friends have told me that my previous camping experiences weren’t [...]
