Homemade mixes are popular gifts. Many are given in decorated mason jars. But you can use various containers such as bowls, mugs, reusable plastic or glass containers, boxes (such as Chinese takeout food boxes), tins, cellophane or fabric bags, or ask to buy coffee bags wherever whole-bean coffee is sold. Some containers will simply need [...]
Sometimes you might forget to measure a precise amount of a product. You tend to eyeball it and use more than is needed. This is especially true with pourable products. If you read the instructions for laundry detergent, you’ll discover it’s a lot like using shampoo. If you have less to wash, you can use [...]
Sandwiches often get soggy when packing them for lunch. You can butter the bread, but that adds unnecessary calories. You can add condiments between your meat and cheese instead of it spread onto your bread, or use whole grain bread instead of white sandwich bread. The first reader tip has another suggestion. REUSE PLASTIC BABY-FOOD [...]
Make potato patties from leftover mashed potatoes. Simply add an egg to 2 cups mashed potatoes, form into patties and fry in a pan with a little oil. You can add meat, seasoned breadcrumbs, cheese or onion for extra flavor. The first reader tip shares another way to use up leftover mashed potatoes. USE FOR [...]
As a child, you might have grown a sweet potato plant in a glass of water. The tuber’s eyes grow slips, and the slips can be removed, rooted and planted outside. You can plant avocado pits, celery bottoms (cut off the end from an entire bunch), garlic, carrot tops or green onions, too. The first [...]
Decoupage can give ordinary objects a new look. It’s simple cutting and pasting. You can use fabric, tissue or paper (magazine cutouts, wallpaper, greeting cards, old calendars, etc.) to achieve beautiful results on most any material, such as plastic, wood, metal, glass, canvas and wax, to name a few. Use decoupage medium such as Mod [...]
A dusty ceiling fan can damage the motor. Dust can fly around whenever you turn it on, too. Some people can reach their fan with a step stool or small ladder, but even that can be a hassle. There are ceiling-fan cleaning tools that have an extension pole, but why buy a tool when you [...]
Keep your recipe cards upright while cooking by using a clothespin, wine cork with a slit cut into it, business-card holder, a binder clip or two, or a clear, stand-up acrylic picture frame. The first tip shares another easy way to keep them off the counter and easy to view. DISPLAYING RECIPE CARDS: I have [...]
Don’t let your apples rot. Make applesauce, apple butter or baked goods, or add to oatmeal or pancakes. If they’re heavily bruised or mushy, use them for a simmering potpourri by putting the apples in a pot of water with cinnamon sticks, and simmer on your stovetop or in your slow cooker. You can even [...]
Kids often get grass stains on their clothes. You can soak the clothing or saturate the stain in a mixture of 1 part vinegar and two parts water to remove the stain, pretreat with an enzyme laundry detergent (Biz or Wisk), or make a paste with water and a digestive enzyme capsule (opened to get [...]
With a little paint and creativity, old spice racks can make unique and decorative organizers. The little bottles can be filled with flowers, or remove the bottles and use the rack to hold samples or trial-sized products or bottles of acrylic craft paints. Or keep the bottles and fill with bath salts. The first reader [...]
Fast-food toys can become a large collection quickly. Some are easy to toss or donate, but others seem destined to sink to the bottom of the toy box. Dig them out and put them to use. Make a wreath, give some away on Halloween, use some as cake toppers, ornaments or stocking stuffers, or attach [...]
photo by lovelihood Replacing items is pricy. Smart shoppers will buy secondhand merchandise as a backup. When it breaks, you don’t have to run out to replace anything right away. This gives you time to save money and pay cash versus credit, research products and find it at the best price. But if you’re frugal, [...]
Packing a lunch can help you save money at work. Keep foods at your desk or in an emergency snack box in your car with items such as granola bars, peanut butter, crackers, microwave popcorn, applesauce or fruit cups, soup, oatmeal, nuts, sunflower seeds, dry cereal or dried fruit. This helps in case you are [...]
photo by laffy4k I have a confession. It’s my homekeeping weak spot. I can’t throw away my kids’ art projects. I save more than the typical handprint art. I cherish the stick-figure drawings the most. I have them organized in near perfect evolution. The drawings started out as crooked circle heads with dots for eyes, [...]
photo by exfordy DEAR SARA: How do you arrange in drawers those many plastic containers and lids? They take up so much room and are hard to “match” up when you need them. — Vickie E., New York DEAR VICKIE E.: I don’t have a good solution for organizing lids in drawers. A drawer is [...]
Flavored coffee can be expensive. You can make your own at home for a fraction of the cost. The first reader tip shares a flavored creamer recipe. You can add flavor to your coffee grounds prior to brewing, too. Simply add 1 teaspoon cocoa and 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon to your coffee grounds. When it’s [...]
