Use witch hazel to reduce irritation:

I love witch hazel. I use it for a daily astringent and after I get my eyebrows waxed! I run home and wash the area, then wipe away. It reduces the irritation on my sensitive skin. — Anni, email

Easy focaccia bread:

This recipe is for people who are inexperienced with baking bread:
1 cup warm water
1 teaspoon yeast
1 teaspoon sugar
1/2 teaspoon salt
2 tablespoons olive oil
2 cups flour
roughly 1/8 cup additional flour
additional olive oil
herbs, Parmesan cheese or other toppings as desired

Mix together first five ingredients, then add 2 cups flour. Cover and let stand 5 to 10 hours at room temperature or until dough is doubled in bulk and looks bubbly. Sprinkle 1/8 cup of flour around edge of dough. Using a rubber spatula, pull dough away from bowl, letting flour drop between bowl and dough until dough ball is covered with flour. Use additional flour sparingly as needed. Lightly oil a 12 to 14-inch pizza pan with olive oil and dump dough onto pan. Spread out dough into circle. Brush lightly with more olive oil and sprinkle with Parmesan, garlic powder, herbs or toppings of your choice. Gently pat toppings into dough to help them stick. Bake at 400 degrees F for 20 minutes.

Cook’s note: I bake this on a 14-inch round cast-iron griddle in the oven. I’ve also made it at camp on the lids of two cast-iron Dutch ovens, with the pots turned upside down over the dough. Super-easy and always a hit. I also use this for pizza crust sometimes by prebaking it for about five minutes before adding the sauce and toppings, then finishing the baking as directed. — S.D., Minnesota

Replace tomatoes when they are out of season:

I love tomato powder. I get mine from the Spice House (thespicehouse.com/spices/tomato-powder). I’ve used it for homemade barbecue sauce and a ketchup substitute. I’ve added it to soup and sauces, too. You can find recipes for using it at the Spice House website, as well as this link to Emergency Essentials: beprepared.com/provident-pantry-dehydrated-tomato-powder-68-oz.html.
The small jar at the Spice House will give you enough to test without spending a lot of money, so you can see if it works for you. I now keep a No. 10 can of tomato powder on hand. I keep the jar stored in the refrigerator, because it’s a dry environment due to the frost-free feature. There are NO anti-caking ingredients in the powder; it’s pure tomato powder. I also put a silica gel packet in the jar to absorb moisture. Make sure you don’t leave the jar open in a humid kitchen.
Here are a few uses for tomato powder:
– For thick tomato paste, mix three parts water with one part tomato powder.
– For tomato sauce, mix four parts water with one part tomato powder.
– For pizza sauce: I mix three teaspoons tomato powder with three tablespoons water. I add a shot of vinegar and a little sweetener (for me, that’s agave nectar or honey), as well as some Italian or pizza spices.
– Karen, Kansas

photo by giammi

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My relative just gave me a nice set of cloth luggage, but the cases have a musty odor. Do you have any suggestions for removing it? — Kay G., email

Dear Kay:

I would leave it open outside on a porch to air out. Next, use an odor absorber, such as kitty litter, baking soda, coffee grounds, charcoal (which you can find in the fish section at the pet store) or newspaper. Place one or more of these absorbers in the luggage and close it tight. After a few days you can remove the absorber and the smell will be much better. In the future, place some crumpled newspaper in the luggage when storing it. You should also look into the line of odor-eliminating products from Smelleze (smelleze.com). The company sells a pouch product that is specifically made for gym bags; I would expect it to work equally well on suitcases.

Dear Sara:

I have a 15-pound Butterball turkey that I purchased frozen in November 2011. It has been in my freezer since then. Would you cook it? From what I have read, the general concern when food has been frozen that long is not so much safety as quality. I have read that one year is the threshold for quality, so I am thinking I could still go for it, but I would love to hear what you think. — Elizabeth, Washington

Dear Elizabeth:

My experience has been that meat or poultry that has been frozen in an at-home freezer for an extended period of time (over a year) develops freezer burn. Two years is really pushing it when it comes to quality. The USDA recommends frozen food be consumed within one year. They also encourage consumers to freeze turkey at 0 degrees F or below and caution that freezer storage times are for best quality. If frozen continuously, turkey products will be safe indefinitely. So yours is safe to cook and eat, but don’t expect high quality. I would thaw it and check the overall quality before cooking it.

Dear Sara:

I just bought a muffin pan to make six jumbo-sized muffins. Compared to regular-sized muffins, how much longer should they take to bake? — Jean, Missouri

Dear Jean:

Generally, at 350 degrees F, they bake for 20 to 30 minutes. I’d check at the 20-minute mark.

Dear Sara:

Can you freeze cereal? It’s on sale here, and I was going to stock up if it can be frozen. — H.F., Oklahoma

Dear H.F.:

Cereal has a long shelf life, so stocking up is a good choice. Check the date on the box. It typically has a best-if-used-by date that’s about nine to 12 months from the purchase date. You have plenty of time to store it and eat it. You can freeze cereal; the problem is the amount of space it takes. Keep in mind that cereal goes on sale often and there are coupons for it regularly, too. If you’re concerned about having multiple boxes open at a time, you can transfer cereal into plastic zip enclosure storage bags (gallon-size) and place the bag right back into the cereal box.

photo by photo jenni

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My friend informed me that although she and her husband are beyond tight with money, they are going on a trip to Europe. She just spent the past year slowly updating her wardrobe, swapping all of her items for newer versions. But even with her new wardrobe, she says she MUST go buy more clothes to wear while away. I’m just baffled why she can’t pack what she’s already got in her closet. Do you shop for new outfit(s)/wardrobe just for travel? — Libby, Canada

Dear Libby:

I wouldn’t buy much for a trip anywhere. I wouldn’t want to look too flashy while traveling abroad for fear of being a target for crime. Plus, packing light is ideal when traveling. I would want some extra spending money to possibly buy some clothing while I am there. For example, maybe my baggage gets lost and I’m stuck in track pants and an over-sized T-shirt. I’d probably buy a new bathing suit or comfortable shoes before my trip, but that’s because these are items I need to replace at the moment and would use during and after my trip. So no, I wouldn’t buy an entire wardrobe for a trip, but in a healthy budget situation, I don’t see any problem with buying a couple of new things (or even more if it’s in the budget). I’m sure many people would put together a new travel kit of essentials such as toothpaste, toothbrush, etc. If the climate is different, then I can certainly understand buying other new items, too.

In your friend’s situation, with money being tight, a trip to Europe is not a wise decision, and buying an entirely new wardrobe makes it an even worse decision. If I were in her situation, I wouldn’t buy anything new for a trip that was already a financial strain and since she has new clothing in her closet, she should go without.

But as we all know, people make their own decisions and get to live with them. As a friend, I’d ask her if she still wanted all of her clothes in her closet with tags on them. I’m kidding! This is a situation where I don’t think you can say much of anything without appearing envious, and I doubt she’d change anything, anyway. I’d wish her a safe and enjoyable trip.

Dear Sara:

What do you think of the SodaStream? I want one, but I’m on the fence. Can you talk me out of it? — Diana W., Wisconsin

Dear Diana:

From a frugal perspective, it’s not much of a money-saver (to be fair, it actually never claims to be). If you’re a pop drinker, it’s nice to have reusable bottles and control over the ingredients. I do like the actual product itself, and I can see the appeal for home and camping use. I have a SodaStream. It was a gift, and my kids enjoy it. I’m not sure how much use it will get when we run out of syrups and carbonation; it definitely won’t be a high priority on my shopping list. If I was considering buying a new appliance myself, I have to admit that I would prefer saving a bit more money and investing in a Breville juicer or a Vitamix. I love home appliances and kitchen gadgets, but I prefer to have appliances that multi-task and promote healthier choices.

photo by public domain photos

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Sign up for samples:

Get all the free samples you can find online, then actually use them! I am always using shampoo and conditioner samples, toothpaste samples, etc. They add up over time, so maybe you’re buying one or two fewer tubes of toothpaste a year, one less bottle of shampoo a year, etc. Every little bit counts! Also, I play the online instant-win games. I’ve gotten quite a few things this way, including a full-size jar of anti-wrinkle cream that arrived via FedEx just this morning! — F.F., Illinois

Re-purpose clothing:

This week, I cut up some clothing for rag strips, cut up some old handkerchiefs and placemats with ragged lace edgings to make cloth dust masks, and found some excellent leather and fur clothing materials at the thrift shop, which I’m going to make into mitts, gloves, slippers and moccasins. I have other clothes in my closet that I’m going to make into aprons and baking hats; last year I made some into dishcloths, dishtowels and pot holders. There’s no need to look further than my dressers, shelves and closets when I want something; it’s usually there in another form. — T.P., Canada

Pineapple ripeness:

Someone who grew pineapple told us to try to pull out an inner “leaf” — if it came out easily, the pineapple is fully ripe. We’ve used that method for many years, and it has proven to be true every time. — Judy S., North Carolina

Remove jar labels:

I use Goo Gone. A few drops on a paper towel, with some rubbing, removes all glue residue. Stickier residue requires more liquid and more rubbing. It leaves an oily leftover that must be washed off with soap and water. I have been using Goo Gone for years. Since you use so little at a time, a single bottle will last a long time. — Kathy G., Oklahoma

Homemade Worcestershire sauce:

This homemade version keeps well in the fridge. I think it tastes much better than the store-bought brands!
2 tablespoons olive oil
2 large onions, roughly chopped
1/2 cup tamarind paste
2 tablespoons minced garlic
2 tablespoons minced ginger
2 jalapenos, seeds removed and minced
3 tablespoons chopped anchovies
3 tablespoons tomato paste
2 whole cloves
2 tablespoons freshly cracked black pepper
1/2 cup dark corn syrup
1 cup molasses
3 cups white vinegar
1 cup dark beer
1/2 cup orange juice
2 cups water
1 lemon, thinly sliced
1 lime, thinly sliced

In a large saucepan, heat the olive oil over medium heat. Add the onion and saute until soft, about 6 to 7 minutes. Stir in the tamarind paste, garlic, ginger and jalapenos and cook for 5 more minutes. Add the anchovies, tomato paste, cloves, pepper, corn syrup, molasses, white vinegar, dark beer, orange juice, water, lemon and lime. Bring to a boil, reduce heat to medium low and simmer, stirring occasionally, for 2 to 3 hours, or until it naps the back of a spoon. Strain the mixture and refrigerate. Yields 6 cups. — Susie, Minnesota

photo by torbakhopper

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Use a toaster oven:

I use a toaster oven for 90 percent of my cooking. I have a Black and Decker model with convection. Tonight I’m cooking homemade lasagna in it. Another hidden benefit of cooking with the toaster oven: If you are cooking anything smelly (like fish), you can take it outside! — Wendy, Canada

Cast iron for frying:

I know people love stainless steel, but I’ve never had good luck with it when using it for frying. Maybe it’s because I’m used to cast iron, which in my opinion is the best bang for the cooking buck. It can be used for baking as well as frying, and its low-stick coating is completely renewable and gets better with age. I love stainless steel for other cookware, but not for frying. — S.D., Minnesota

Cutting down on holiday waste: I’ve been using reusable gift boxes for going on 20 years now. I discovered that men would rather give a gift unwrapped than deal with paper and tape. Gift boxes and bags were my solution. Christmas morning cleanup is so easy — just put the boxes back in the tub of giftwrapping stuff. — C.D., Wisconsin

Chocolate-dipped fortune cookies:

My kids have lists as long as their arms of people they would like to give gifts to, so I needed to come up with something cheap and cute for them to give out. I contacted one of our local Chinese restaurants to purchase a box of fortune cookies and discovered I could get 175 cookies for $11! With various sprinkles purchased at the Dollar Tree and dipping chocolate and wrapping bags (100 for $1.99) from a local discount party store, I’m looking at 100 great gifts for around $0.40 each. I am currently printing out tags that say “I am Fortune-ate to have you in my life.” And for anybody who did the math, I actually have 75 individually wrapped cookies to set out for my mom’s 60th birthday party, too. Thought I would share this in case anyone is still looking for cheap ideas. — S.S., West Virginia

Buy with a friend or family member:

When I was single, I did not need five pounds of ground chuck or 10 of any one item, and buy-one-get-one-free items would go to waste. So my friend and I decided we would split sales. Besides taking advantage of special offers, we would also split 10-pound bags of potatoes, oranges, onions, etc. — Sue, Texas
Note from Sara: This works well when shopping at wholesale clubs such as Sam’s or B.J.’s, too.

Pressure-cooking:

I like cooking in mass amounts. I save time by using a pressure cooker, which saves on energy because it cooks so quickly. I then can my meats, instead of using a freezer. I don’t have to pay for additional electricity, the food is cooked and ready to serve, it stores for years rather than months, and I only have to stay by the stove once for a limited number of meals.

If you like this idea, I began by checking out YouTube videos by michigansnowpony. I can cook pinto beans in six minutes of cooking time (plus a bit more time to let the pressure release and whatnot). A four-pound bag from Save-A-Lot was $4.19 and made eight quarts. The equivalent in canned pinto beans from Wal-Mart would have cost $1.48 per can, for a total of $23.44! I use the beans for chili, soups, refried beans, tostadas, etc. — M.H., Michigan

photo by docentjoyce

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The first reader tip shares how she uses them:

Use for croutons:

When a recipe requires breadcrumbs, I use croutons that I have put through my mini food chopper. I can buy a bag of croutons for $1 or so, compared to $3-4 for breadcrumbs. We don’t eat a lot of bread in our home, so I don’t have leftover bread to use. The croutons are a quick, easy and inexpensive substitute. — Jill H., email

Reusing grocery bags:

I take my own bags to the store, but I continue to use the fruit and vegetable bags as needed. I have several uses for them:
I use a bag to collect the stems, leaves, skins and whatever else is removed from fresh vegetables. The bag goes in the freezer, and whenever it gets full, I make my own vegetable broth. I also use these bags when we travel, to store things like lotion, hair spray and anything else that could leak in the suitcase. The bags also come in handy when we take our dog for walks. — Nancy T., email

Multi-grain cereal:

I’ve started eating cold cereal. Unfortunately, the multi-grain cereal with fruit in it that I like is REALLY expensive, whether it’s on sale or not. So, I’ve started putting a “base layer” in the bowl, made up of corn flakes, unsweetened puffed wheat, Cheerios or whatever sort of plain cereal I can get cheaply. Then I put a layer of the expensive stuff on top. Works fine! — Judi, New Hampshire

Use for vinegar:

When I have a cold, I drink a tablespoon of apple cider vinegar in some water. I find it stops post-nasal drip and keeps the sinuses clearer, especially at night. If I catch it early enough, I am able to shorten the cold cycle by preventing the drip from going down my airways. — Nancy T., email

Detangle doll hair:

Use shampoo, conditioner and detangler, just like you would on your own hair. If it’s extra matted, try soaking the doll’s head in fabric softener and very hot water. Soak, rinse and then use a brush or comb. It just takes patience. — Pauline, Ohio

Save money for Christmas 2013:

Join the 52-week money challenge. Save money in small increments that gradually increase. Read more at frugalvillage.com/forums/money-challenges/151476-52-week-money-challenge.html.

Pressure canner tips:

I’ve taken an interest in canning over the past few years for nutritional reasons. Everything store-bought has way too much salt in it, not to mention other additives.
If you can grow your own produce, have access to excellent farmer’s markets or have nutritional concerns, I think canning is a good investment. It also helps if you can get the equipment inexpensively. I paid $2 for one of my canners at a garage sale, then spent another $8 online to get the manual for it, for a total cost of $10. I’ve picked up jars here and there, and I also inherited a bunch. If I had to go out and buy everything at full retail price in order to get started, I don’t think I would.
Here’s an excellent step-by-step illustrated guide that not only tells you how to can, it tells you why things need to be done a certain way: extension.usu.edu/utah/htm/fcs/food-preservation-canning/usda_home_canning. — S.D., Minnesota

photo by cooking gluten free

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Use leftover hamburger and hot dog buns:

I use them to make French toast. I fry them in a pan or on a griddle and sometimes bake them (at 350 degrees F for 45 minutes). –Lisa, Michigan

Homemade fabric softener:

I have been making my own fabric softener since I began making laundry detergent. I love this recipe:
2-3 gallons warm or room-temperature water
3 24-ounce or larger bottles of any scented hair conditioner
8-10 cups white vinegar
Immersion blender/whisk

Empty 3 bottles of conditioner into 5-gallon bucket. (Rinse the bottles with water to get all of the conditioner!) Add vinegar at these ratios, depending on the size of your conditioner bottles: 24-28 oz, add 8 cups; 32 ounces, add 9 cups; larger, add 10 cups. Your clothes will not smell like vinegar, I promise! Add 2 gallons water. Mix well with immersion blender or whisk. If mixture is too thick, add more water until it’s at a better consistency.
You can use this right away. Use 1/2 cup per load in the rinse cycle, or use it in your Downy Ball. A lot of people think that the conditioner is what softens your clothes, but it’s actually the vinegar. The conditioner is used just for its scent. — M.D., Ohio

Homemade fabric softener II:

4 cups Epsom salt
20 drops essential oil
Put in jar and mix well. Use 1/4 cup with laundry detergent. This works in hot or cold water. I use 10 drops lavender and 10 drops lemon essential oil. — Hope, North Carolina

Cleaning baked-on foods from pots and pans:

Add dishwasher detergent to hot water and soak the pan overnight. It works like a charm, but should never be used on aluminum, because it pits the metal. This method works well on CorningWare, stainless and Pyrex-type glass. — Dorothy “Doje” M., North Carolina

Homemade whipped cream:

Place a can of full-fat coconut milk in the fridge overnight. Open the can and pour off the liquid. (You can save the liquid for smoothies.) Scoop the remaining hardened coconut milk from the can and whip it until light and fluffy, then add flavoring, such as vanilla. Store any leftovers in the fridge. — Laura, New York

Uses for a coffee canister:

I use one as a scoop for planting soil out of the bag and for scooping pellets for my pellet stove. — Jaci, email

Tile grout cleaner:

Use in a well-ventilated area. Combine 7 cups water, 1/2 cup baking soda, 1/3 cup ammonia and 1/4 cup vinegar. Spray on grout, let set for an hour, then scrub with a scrub brush. — Amy J., Florida

photo by El Gran Dee

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Uses for pillowcases:

I made super-cute curtains from old pillowcases that were starting to get a bit thin. I just cut them open along the seam, folded over the edges, and pinned them down, then let the sewing machine do all the work! I inserted the rod through the cuff at the edge of the pillowcase. I keep all of my old linens and have made jewelry bags and cases for cellphones, sunglasses and even a GPS. — Carolyn, email

Cheeseburger sandwiches:

We love this recipe!
1 pound lean ground beef
1 teaspoon garlic-pepper blend
1 8-ounce package pasteurized processed cheese spread, diced
2 tablespoons milk
1 green bell pepper, chopped
1 small onion, chopped
2 cloves garlic, minced
8 sandwich buns

In a large skillet, brown ground beef and garlic-pepper blend until thoroughly cooked. Drain. In a 3- or 4-quart slow cooker, combine cooked ground beef and all remaining ingredients except buns; mix well. Cover; cook on low setting for 6 to 7 hours. To serve: Spoon mixture onto sandwich buns. — Denise, Illinois

Dust high shelves:

A window washing service will do it. My window washer routinely dusts my high ceiling fans and other hard-to-reach places. He will also change light bulbs and smoke detector batteries that are beyond the reach of a normal ladder! He helps with these small jobs when he is here for his “real job” of window washing. He has the appropriate ladders and equipment to do the jobs that most of us can’t reach. — Wendi, Arizona

Replacing paper towels:

Several years ago, I paid about $7 for a pack of about a dozen white terrycloth auto-detailing rags from Wal-Mart. The Wal-Mart website lists a 25-pack of mechanics shop towels and a 12-pack of blue terrycloth detailer towels. I keep a bunch of these durable towels on hand in the kitchen to save on paper towels. — Lloyd, Washington

Reuse glass jars:

I keep all glass jars and large containers that come into my house. I’ve used some for gifts and storing everything from dog food to sewing/crafting supplies and homemade laundry detergent. The recycling value on glass in my area is basically nothing, and I find a new use for glass containers almost every day! — Leigh, California

Toothbrush tip:

Pour boiling water over your toothbrushes or soak them in hydrogen peroxide. This cleans them and also straightens the bristles so they look like new. This will increase the life of your brushes and save you some cash! — Brilly, Australia

Wax your own eyebrows:

I wax my own eyebrows, which saves me about $15 a month! The wax/strips/sticks are inexpensive compared to the cost of having it done by a pro, and they last a long time. I have had the same tub of wax for close to two years! — Holly, Tennessee

photo by Beckyf

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I have a small carton of 35 percent whipping cream in the fridge. I believe I bought it for a recipe that didn’t come to fruition. I don’t want to waste it, but it’s not getting used and the expiration date is looming. Any suggestions? FYI: I don’t need to make whipped cream, so the obvious suggestion is out. — Libby, Canada

Dear Libby:

You can make butter (shake it in a glass jar), add it to cream soups, or make salad dressing, Alfredo sauce, mashed potatoes, scrambled eggs and more. You can freeze it, too. Use a pastry bag with a large tip and place dollops or spoon-drop mounds of it onto a wax-paper-lined or parchment-paper-lined cookie sheet and place in the freezer. Once it’s frozen, transfer it to an airtight storage container and place back in the freezer. Use it within two months. You can’t whip it after freezing, but you can use it in other recipes. It also works well for hot cocoa.
Here’s a recipe for five-ingredient ice cream, too:
1/2 cup cold milk
1 tablespoon vanilla extract
1 14-ounce can sweetened condensed milk
1/8 teaspoon salt
1 pint heavy cream
In a medium bowl, stir together cold milk, vanilla, condensed milk and salt. Set aside. In a large bowl, beat heavy cream with an electric mixer until stiff peaks form. Fold milk mixture into whipped cream. Pour into shallow 2-quart dish, cover and freeze for 4 hours, stirring once after 2 hours or when edges start to harden. Serve or store in an airtight container up to 10 days. — Q.M., Massachusetts

Dear Sara:

I’ve heard coffee grounds can be reused to make additional pots of coffee. Any tips? I heard it was best to refrigerate the old grounds as soon as the pot is done brewing, to prevent mold. What ratio of new grinds to old grinds (plus water) do you use?
I do reuse coffee. I immediately remove the carafe from the burner when the coffee is fresh. Whatever is not immediately consumed is allowed to cool to room temperature before refrigerating. This coffee is either reheated in the microwave until piping hot to be drunk, or it is used to make iced coffee drinks. — Stacey, Pennsylvania

Dear Stacey:

Yes, you can reuse coffee grounds if you want to. This probably isn’t an appealing idea to some people, but if you don’t mind the taste, go ahead. Some people don’t like the taste; it can be bitter because the good flavor has already been extracted. Regarding the ratio, you’ll have to experiment. You might find topping it off with one extra scoop of fresh coffee grounds is enough, but someone else might want to add more scoops to get the flavor where they want it. If the flavor is weak, you can combine it with hot cocoa and make a thrifty mocha. Reusing the grounds in a French press might work best, and I would reuse them as quickly as possible (back-to-back brewing). I’m a bit of a coffee snob, so I recommend reusing the grounds in other ways, such as sprinkling them in your garden. You can freeze your brewed coffee in an ice-cube tray to use later, too. If you find that you are refrigerating a lot of leftover coffee, you could cold-brew it in a French press instead (let it set for 24 hours in the press).

photo by cookipediachef

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Use leftover Easter ham and hard boiled eggs:

Amy’s ham and cheese spread recipe (from a previous column) would be a great stuffing for deviled eggs, so you can use up your leftover ham and dyed Easter eggs. — Kathy, email

Amy’s Ham and Cheese Spread
2 cups cooked ham, chopped
2 cups cheddar cheese, shredded
1/2 cup mayonnaise
1 tablespoon prepared mustard
bread or crackers for serving
Combine all ingredients in a food processor and pulse until blended. You may need to stir a little more by hand to make sure that the mayonnaise and mustard are blended thoroughly. Chill in the refrigerator. Serve on bread or crackers.
Optional: Add diced onion, dill-pickle relish, chopped hard-boiled egg or chopped celery. — Amy, Ohio

Reuse giftwrap:

I honestly believe gift wrap is one of the biggest scams of modern society, but you look like a weirdo if you don’t wrap gifts. So I started saving ALL the giftwrap from gifts given to me: I open wrapped presents carefully so I can reuse the paper and I fold tissue paper nicely so it can be reused as well. When I had my first baby, I ended up with so much baby-themed gift wrap that I have reused it for every shower since! And I still have plenty more. Ribbon is also great because it can be saved for art projects and a wide variety of other uses. But the best thing is gift bags! Aside from reusing them, I’ve sold them at yard sales. — Archer, Texas

Coupon warning:

I regularly put my unused coupons in the “take one, leave one” basket at our library. However, after I left a few Internet printables and someone copied them, I was temporarily banned from using SmartSource coupons (smartsource.com) because they thought I had copied them. A word of advice: Be careful who you give your Internet printable coupons to, as they can be traced back to you. — Lea, Virginia

Ribbon organizer:

Place ribbon spools in a small plastic basket with holes (the kind you can find at any dollar store). Organize spools so they’re upright, like books on a shelf. Thread two inches or so of ribbon ends through the holes and you can pull the length of ribbon easily. You can also use an old shoebox with holes poked into it, a five-tier slacks hanger in the closet, or even a baby wipes container. For a pictorial, visit instructables.com/id/Recycled-Ribbon-Organizer/?ALLSTEPS –Melanie, Florida

Reuse cases:

I use plastic VHS cases to hold small household items such as cords, game pieces, pens, pencils, markers, crayons, Barbie accessories, etc. Mine are just like the old cases from video rental stores, but you could reuse any type for the same purpose. — Tina, Ohio

photo by jmurawski

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