http://www.frugalvillage.com Sat, 06 Feb 2010 23:18:10 +0000 http://backend.userland.com/rss092 en photo by oskay Some produce comes wrapped on foam trays. Rather than throwing them away, they can be reused as paint palettes, crafts or packing material. You can place them in your pantry under items such as oil or honey that might drip or leak on your shelves or make a ... http://www.frugalvillage.com/2010/02/06/a-second-use-for-foam-trays/ The two winners are Clay Rosenberg and frugalwarrior2. Enjoy your coffee and French press! Congratulations and thank you to everyone that entered. A special thank you to Starbucks for sponsoring this fun giveaway. http://www.frugalvillage.com/2010/02/05/starbucks-contest-winners/ photo scaleovenstove You can be one question away from saving money. If you don't ask for discounts, you're missing opportunities to hang on to more of your hard-earned cash. It can be tough to muster up the courage, but it gets easier once you've done it a few times. You don't ... http://www.frugalvillage.com/2010/02/05/it-doesnt-hurt-to-ask/ photo by bdjsb7 Frugal people have quirks. We can't help ourselves. We know that our frugal habits make a difference. Often, these little frugal ways can drive our families crazy. But we all know who is right in the thermostat wars. Ha! You deserve some validation. What frugal things do you ... http://www.frugalvillage.com/2010/02/04/lifestyles-of-the-smart-and-frugal/ photo by colinandangie Recipes with just a few ingredients are often cheaper, but they don't have to lack in flavor. They don't have a lot of steps and measurements so they are simple to prepare. You'll have most everything you need already in your kitchen, too. The following recipes can be ... http://www.frugalvillage.com/2010/02/03/quick-meals-with-few-ingredients/ photo by Tama Leaver DEAR SARA: I made a ham and just froze the bone and some ham for soup later, but what can I do with the drippings? Seems a shame to waste them. I've never done anything with ham drippings. At the very least, I could make some suet ... http://www.frugalvillage.com/2010/01/31/have-a-plan-for-ham/ photo by Bohman It's always useful to have a spare set of keys. Don't try to hide keys on a doorframe or underneath a doormat, garden rock or the body of your car. These are obvious spots that thieves look first. The first tip has a good suggestion for spare keys. ... http://www.frugalvillage.com/2010/01/30/prepare-with-a-spare-2/ photo by Nick Bramhall It's time for a frugal year in review. Financial gurus always encourage you to pay yourself first. This is important. All of the debt-reducing, money-saving strategies and ways to increase your income won't mean much if you don't take care of yourself first. When you reflect upon ... http://www.frugalvillage.com/2010/01/29/looking-back-on-frugality-2009/ photo by LizMarie The new year gives a fresh start for frugality. It's the perfect time to start planning, organizing, learning and challenging yourself. Some frugal strategies are harder than others. Master one tough area, and slowly add easier methods throughout the year to avoid burning out. But which strategies tend ... http://www.frugalvillage.com/2010/01/28/tackle-the-hard-stuff-first/ photo by Rubber slippers in Italy Valentine's Day is the perfect time for chocolate, and it's never too early to plan for the sweet stuff. These recipes are all quick and easy to prepare. The first two make a single serving, so they'll work well whether you celebrate with someone else ... http://www.frugalvillage.com/2010/01/28/for-the-love-of-chocolate/